Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollier) has died at the age of 71. He was the face of the WWE in the 1980s, and stayed involved in the sport long after his retirement from professional wrestling. Sharon Mazer, author of ‘Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle’, told Heather duPlessis-Allan, ‘He was the one in the bright light at the end of the night, and generally the victor.’ She also said that Hogan was known to stay behind after events to sign t shirts and pose for photos with children and young fans. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark wants New Zealand to recognise Palestine as a state.  The United Nations calls the war a nightmare of historic proportions - as concerns are raised over aid being withheld.  French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined his support for a two-state-solution, recognising Palestine.  Helen Clark told Heather du Plessis-Allan New Zealand needs to do the same - and other countries should ramp up pressure on Israel.  She says its urgent that aid can get through to Gaza.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced the first major changes to the GP clinic funding model in over 20 years.   He says from this time next-year, the money will be better distributed based on the needs of the population.   But Royal Colleges of GPs President Samantha Murton says clinics could lose money if the funding pool stays the same.   She hopes funding will be level - and boosted for those with higher needs.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India and Britain are set to sign a free trade deal to cut tariffs on goods and increase market access for the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the UK to sign the deal, and he's set to have further discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America's healthcare sector is at a crossroads. The US spends almost 20 percent of GDP on healthcare - nearly double the OECD average - but there's pressure to cut down on wastage. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protestors who are not fans of being pepper-sprayed, handcuffed or locked up in a police cell were taught how to avoid these unsavoury events at a training event. The Protest Skills Night event, organised by Climate Liberation Aotearoa was held in Otago and aimed to show protesters how to demonstrate their points using "non-violent direct action techniques". The Country's Jamie Mackay had some strong opinions on this event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 24 July 2025, the Government is making significant changes to voting rules. Same day enrolments are gone and you must now enrol to vote before early voting starts two weeks before election day. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith speaks to Heather. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she still has confidence in the chair of the Reserve Bank, Neil Quigley, as more details are revealed about Adrian Orr's alleged behaviour before he quit his job as Governor. A group of doctors and nurses want politicians to waive their right to private healthcare while they're in power, so they can get a better feel for the constraints of the public health system. Plus, the Huddle debates whether people who enrol to vote on the day are dropkicks.   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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  A group of healthcare workers want MPs to waive their and their families' private healthcare during their time in office to ensure they're not insulated from the realities of our public health system. What do we make of this? The Government is set to scrap same-day enrolment as part of a planned electoral law overhaul. Is this change necessary - or bad for democracy?  Does Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley need to resign because he failed to mention that Adrian had lost his cool at a Treasury staffer? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's be honest with each other about something. That increase in rough sleeping that the cities are anecdotally reporting to that homelessness report will be caused by the shutting down of those emergency motels. I know the Government's trying to avoid having to admit that, but that is the big thing that's changed since the election. They've shut down the motels and some of the people who were in those motels, or who might have gone to those motels, have ended up on the streets. And I don't think that that's unexpected. That is not an unexpected consequence of taking a tougher line on the motels. Now, don't see me as tough or hard-hearted on this. I don't want anyone sleeping on the streets and I venture most of us don't. But I still think that shutting down those motels was a good idea because that was out of hand, wasn't it? I mean, spending $1.4 billion on emergency accommodation in six years was just way too much money. I prefer the line the Government's taking at the moment, which is to put the obligation where it actually should be, which is on family and friends. Which is to say that if someone finds themselves, God forbid, without a roof over their heads, the first place that they should go for help is not the state. It should be their mum or their brother or their auntie or their son or their friend. And only then when all of their options are exhausted and they really have no one to turn to, then should they turn to the state. But that is not what was happening with the emergency motels. The state was the first port of call. If you think about it, the state has stepped in to take over a lot of roles that we normally would have relied on each other for. And in some cases, it's unavoidable and in some cases it's for the best, for example - police, or whatever. But in this case, let's be honest, $1.4 billion is a lot of money that could have been spent on anything else that we are running dry on right now. Healthcare, cops, education. So actually, the first place you turn to if you don't have somewhere to sleep is your family. Only at the end of the road should the state step in. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for politicians and their families to give up private healthcare when making decisions for the country.  A letter signed by health workers argues MPs should rely on the public EDs, waitlists and services used by everyone else.  Spokesperson Doctor Marcus Lee says health workers are frustrated with the public system.  The Northland cardiologist says it comes down to accountability and integrity - and means politicians will have skin in the game.  "It's personal for us, it's personal for lots of Kiwis - they make policy decisions that impact a lot of people in New Zealand. So it is personal." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.