Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

More tributes for heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne, who's died aged 76. Band-mates of Black Sabbath's lead singer say they've lost a brother. Musos from Pearl Jam, Metallica and Aerosmith are calling Osbourne a hero, and an inspiration for generations. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Osbourne helped bring metal music into the mainstream - at least, in the US. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The findings of a coronial inquest into the death of a charity boxer in 2018, criticised by a mother for “pulling my son’s integrity apart”, recommend a tightening up of rules and regulations for future corporate events. The findings come as the Government proposes to repeal the Boxing and Wrestling Act of 1981. Kain Parsons died on November 6, 2018 – three days after taking part in the “Fight for Christchurch” charity boxing event at the city’s Horncastle Arena, now Wolfbrook Arena. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington’s mega concert drought is officially over, after Ed Sheeran confirmed he was returning to New Zealand next January. The capital’s last major concert was the Foo Fighters in 2024 - and since then, global superstars like Lewis Capaldi and Lorde have skipped over Wellington when announcing their tours. Wellington NZ chief executive Mark Oldershaw says Wellington's a big city that manages to attract events, but there's plenty of challenges involved. "We recognise that we've got a significant stadium and another arena that holds five and a half thousand people with not a lot in between - so there are some challenges there, but there's all sorts of challenges at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, the Government is looking into a review of the state pension age to see if it needs to be increased. The review will consider whether the current state pension age - currently 66 - is still appropriate, based on factors such as life expectancy. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this comes as Denmark pushes the pension age back to 70, and it's raised some concerns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been raised among economists as inflation data suggests things may not be as on track as they seem. Inflation has hit 2.7 percent, with big food increases led by massive hikes in food prices. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains what this could do for the Reserve Bank's outlook going foward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand red meat exports earned an extra $1.2 billion this year, due to good livestock pricing and tighter supplies.  But the country's $10 billion-plus red meat sector has raised the alarm that it was struggling to get the numbers of livestock needed to satisfy international demand. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former High Commissioner to the UK and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Sky TV has bought Three for $1. What do we make of the deal? What does this mean for the future of the industry? New Zealand has joined the international calls for an end to the ongoing war in Gaza - but do we need to let actions follow words?  A new Talbot Mills poll reveals the majority of the nation thinks the country is on the wrong track, and half of NZ First's voters think National doesn't deserve to be re-elected. Do you think we're looking at a one-term Government? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns over whether the costs for the new Waikato University medical school will blow out and be passed on to taxpayers. Cabinet will contribute $80 million to the $230-million-dollar Waikato University school, which is expected to open in 2028 for 120 trainees.  University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor Neil Quigley says the university is on track for a surplus of $20 million this financial year. "The university is in really good financial shape, enrolments have risen very quickly this year...and we have no debt at the moment either." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 22 July 2025, Sky TV chief executive Sophie Moloney tells Heather why she bought Three for $1. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says enough is enough in Gaza, but what will it really take to end the war? Reserve Bank Governor Neil Quigley gets a grilling after new claims about the events that led to ex-Governor's Adrian Orr's resignation. Why are we seeing such a huge rise in gym related injuries? Plus, the Huddle debates a new poll that suggests the Government will lose power at the next election - and NZ First voters are keen on Labour again. 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.

The big news of the day is another $1 deal in the media, which probably tells you everything you need to know about the state of the industry. But this is, on balance, good news for everyone - I would have thought. It's good for you, for viewers, good for Sky, and good for Three. And I'm gonna work backwards on that - Let's start with TV3. It's good news for Three and for the people who work there, because Three continues to exist. A very real alternative must have been for Warner Brothers Discovery, the owners, to shut Three down completely. Now that they've sold it for $1 to Sky, it continues. It's good news for Sky, because it gives Sky TV a chance to make money again off stuff that they already own. For example, and I'm just picking this randomly, let's say White Lotus. Sky TV buys the broadcast rights for the country to White Lotus, they earn the money off White Lotus by sticking it on Sky TV, sticking it on Neon, and we pay a subscription to watch it. Now, they can wait a few months, maybe until all of us who've paid for it have watched it, and then they can dump White Lotus for free on TV3 and Freeview - which is TV3's app - and then they can make money off White Lotus all over again through advertising around the free content. Now, they can already do this with their Sky Open channel, which is a free-to-air channel they already have, but who even knows where on the TV Sky Open is? I have no bloody idea what number it is. Never even watched it before in my life. And does it have an app? Wouldn't know. I know everything you need to know about TV3, I've got the TV3 app, I know where to find it. There is a very strong brand attached to Three. More importantly, I would have thought for Sky TV - this strengthens its arm for sports, right? Sky TV has now got to be the only real choice in town for sports content. Beforehand at least domestically, TVNZ was a real competitor, at least for the free-to-air portion, given so many people watch TVNZ - both its on-air channels and its app. But now, Sky TV's got Three - same same. It doesn't need to have anything to do with TVNZ. Finally, it's good for you and me that this deal was struck today, because who doesn't want excellent free content landing on an app that you already have or a TV channel that you already watch? So good day all round, I would say. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.