Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There'll be a wait until we learn the outcome of today's court case between expelled Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and her former party. The High Court at Wellington today heard arguments relating to the MP's expulsion from the party last year, which followed allegations she misused party funds. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says Kapa-Kingi's lawyers suggest the party was trying to hold her responsible for comments by her activist son, Eru Kapa-Kingi, who called out Te Pāti Māori's leadership. "Kapa-Kingi's lawyers say that she's not remotely responsible for her son's comments." The court's decision has been reserved.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A change in student progress reports, with schools now required to give parents more clearer information about how their child is progressing. Nationally consistent assessment and reporting will be implemented in primary and intermediate schools for the first time this year. The new system replaces a 20-year-old framework and provides parents of Years 0-to-10 students with progress markers and twice-yearly learning updates. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what these changes mean for Kiwi students. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia,  the former Coalition parties are trying to get their numbers back up amid ongoing leadership struggles. Support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is growing, while support for the Liberal Party and Nationals has continued to drop. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is looking to make some changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teenage running sensation Sam Ruthe is confident his record-breaking mile in Boston only marks the beginning of his capability. The 16-year-old's broken Sir John Walker's overall national mark by two tenths of a second with a three minute 48.88 dash indoors. Ruthe races again in North Carolina this weekend. Sportstalk host Jason Pine speculated about Ruthe's athletic future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running phenom Sam Ruthe set another middle distance record - and there's belief it could go deeper than good genetics. The 16-year-old broke Sir John Walker's overall national mile mark set at Oslo in 1982 at an indoor meet in Boston. Ruthe's grandfather, Trevor Wright, is also a skilled runner, but he says genetics only contribute to a small part of the teen's success. "I put it down to dedication, talent and a good coach and a good manager...definitely dedicated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 30 January, 2026, police say they're drawing a line on protests across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. A Westport life-time resident and real estate agent tells us about the struggle to get house insurance. Why a company that sells dung beetles to clean up water on farms is in trouble. And on the Sports Huddle, Paul Allison and Darcy Waldegrave discuss if it's a done deal that Jamie Joseph will be the next All Blacks coach. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now, listen — I think it’s a little early in the year to be making too many predictions about election year. But having said that, I do think there is a very strong chance that Winston Peters might be the story of the year. If he carries on the way he is in the polls, he could well be in the double digits — well into the double digits — by the time November’s election rolls around. He’s already sitting somewhere between 10 and 12 percent in the past couple of polls, and generally minor parties go up in polling the closer we get to election day because of the extra attention they get during the campaign. Commentators are already talking about the possibility of the next government being just National and New Zealand First — no ACT in there — with the two of them together potentially being enough. That could happen if Winston keeps climbing the way he is, and obviously if National can get its act together and lift its vote share. If you don’t believe it’s possible that Winston will climb further, just look at what he did this week. He pulled out that classic Winston trick of whipping up the anti‑immigrant rhetoric again. I honestly didn’t think there was much of that sentiment around at the moment — until he started talking, and suddenly the texts about immigrants started rolling in. Winston can sniff out an election platform like no one else. He knows there’s probably an increased number of people who are gagging for a conspiracy — like “the government is trying to hide the FTA documents they’re trying to roll on us". And what we were also reminded of this week is that he’s completely unencumbered by the facts. A lot of what he said was just complete nonsense. Here’s a question for you: if it does end up being just New Zealand First and National, and Winston is 81 years old, is this the election where he finally pushes for a turn at being Prime Minister? Like I said, he could become the story of this election year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stench emitting from a faulty wastewater treatment plant in Christchurch has gotten worse in recent weeks.  The smell, nicknamed, 'The Big Stink,' has been affecting Bromley for nearly 4 years, resulting in locals having to check wind direction before socialising outside or hanging washing.  Community Advocate Stephen McPaike told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'It's just as bad as what happened when the fire happened, if not a little bit worse.' The council says it's going to be another week before they can get it back under control. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tough times in the dung beetle business have prompted a call for a dump of funding from the  Government. Dung Beetle Innovations was launched in 2014 in Auckland's Whenuapai.  Co-Founder Shaun Forgie says the dung beetles can be used to clear manure from farms, preventing it from sliding into rivers.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that his sector receiving funding will benefit others.  Forgie says his business can make livestock cultivation more efficient.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international relations expert says it would've been hypocritical for New Zealand to sit on Donald Trump's peace board.   The  Prime Minister and Foreign Minister announced this morning that New Zealand won't be accepting Trump's invitation to join the board.  The denial comes days after the Government signalled it was considering the offer.  Otago University Professor Robert Patman told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Trump lacks the credibility to run a board of peace.  He says he's threatened the territories of two democratic allies this term -- and if  person wants to chair a peace board they have to walk the talk.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.