Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

New rules aimed at protecting homeowners should be formally introduced next year. The Government's announced plans to require all warranties for new homes three storeys or less, and all renos worth at least $100,000. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk admits homeowners will pay a bit more, but it's worth it. "It's around half of one percent of the cost of a build, so I think that's a lot of of peace of mind - so I think that's a good trade off for the council not having to be involved in ratepayers being on the hook to the extent that they are now." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says National's KiwiSaver election pledge will be a bottom line in coalition negotiations. National's announced plans to lift default contributions to six percent by 2032. Employer contributions would increase by half a percent from 2029. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says most of the policy is sound, but he raised concerns over some employers taking the increases out of their workers' pay checks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Search teams have been unable to find a man who went overboard on a Melbourne to Auckland Disney cruise.  Reports claim a 73-year-old jumped from the Disney Wonder in the early hours of Saturday morning.  The vessel turned back for about five hours to search alongside search efforts from the air.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this will likely come as 'harrowing' news to the passengers and crew members on board. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks will review their campaign in the coming weeks as they take stock of a mixed year. The side are heading home in groups as they contemplate a 10-win, three-loss record. Those losses include a record demise to South Africa, a first defeat in Argentina and the disintegration of Grand Slam hopes to England. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 15,000 passengers could be disrupted if Air New Zealand cabin crew go ahead with strike action next month. The airline's largely unionised crew plan to strike on December 8th demanding greater salaries and allowances. The flagship carrier's assessing the potential effect on operations. Expert and advisor to business leaders, Bruce Cotterill, says people have high expectations when it comes to Air New Zealand and CEO Nikhil Ravishankar's response has left some disappointed. "You do expect a level of performance and that level of performance isn't there at the moment. So it's frustrating - it's frustrating for travellers, I'm sure it's frustrating for Air New Zealand as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 21 November 2025, Heather finds out more about the disquiet in the National Party about Christopher Luxon's leadership.   Auckland Pride are seeking a judicial review of the government's call to withdraw guidelines for transgender athletes in community sport. We find out the DIY medical tests may be as reliable as a coin toss. Plus, the Sports Huddle debates whether Scott Robertson is under pressure as 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.

Rumours have been swirling of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon getting rolled by his party. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith denied the rumours saying no one in National’s caucus had raised with him the idea of replacing Luxon.  In recent polls National has lagged behind Labour with 33% versus 38% in the Talbot Mills/Anacta poll conducted between November 1 and 10.  This has fanned the flames of conversation regarding the likelihood of National's re-election next year. Although, Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "essentially you've got Labour on the ropes, whereas you've got, the coalition government headed by National in a much stronger position." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A LGBTQ+ advocacy group is taking the Government to court over issues with transgender athlete inclusion.  In July, Sport New Zealand announced it'll abandon its guidelines outlining how transgender athletes can be included in community sport.  Auckland Pride says documents released through the Official Information Act show Sport and Recreation Minister Mark Mitchell had directed Sport NZ to withdraw the guidelines.  Spokesperson Bhen Goodsir told Heather du Plessis-Allan Mitchell should be having a serious look at this.  Goodsir says it sends a message from the Government that they don’t see the inclusion of the transgender and rainbow community as a priority.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been no signs of easing anxiety in the stock markets despite record Nvidia results.  Investment director for Craigs Investment Partners Mark Lister told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the apprehension is a result of not wanting to overestimate the appropriate levels of optimism. "It's more of a case of a healthy pullback, a healthy correction rather than something that's going to develop into anything more sinister," he said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump is set to meet with recently elected New York mayor Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday following months of public conflict.  The US President announced the meeting in a Truth Social Post which said the "communist mayor" requested the meeting. US correspondent Charles Feldman told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "Trump is at heart a New Yorker, and I think he's going to want to present himself as somebody who does have New York's interests at heart." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.