Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Shock in rugby league as the Melbourne Storm reluctantly grant fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen an early release, with one year left on his NRL contract. Papenhuyzen says he's taking a break away from the game to consider his future. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has offered Donald Trump a day's golfing in New Zealand with Sir John Key - if he visits.  Chris Luxon had his first face to face conversation with Trump on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in South Korea. The US President mentioned visiting New Zealand a long time ago, calling it beautiful.  Key, says he'd have no problem having a round with Trump. "I showed Obama round New Zealand, he was the former president at that point - but beautiful golf courses, why not? It'd be an entertaining chat for four hours on the course, wouldn't it?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten people went on trial in Paris charged with online harassment of Brigitte Macron over the latest case linked to unsubstantiated gender claims made against the French first lady. This trial comes after she and President Emmanuel Macron filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States in connection with false claims that Brigitte was born male. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Macron's daughter Tiphaine Auziere also testified on her mother's behalf. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 29 October 2025, teachers resistance to the new school curriculum is in full swing. History Teachers' Association chair Craig Thornhill explains the problems he sees.   Transport Minister Chris Bishop explains why he wants you to only get your WOF every two years rather than every year. Bill Gates says we worry too much about climate change - and there are more important things to fix more urgently. Climate change professor Adrian Macey reckons he might have a point. Heather argues Chris Luxon can relax a bit now that we've seen Labour roll out policy - in quite a shambolic fashion. Plus, the Huddle debates climate change doomsayers and the capital gains tax. 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.

Labour recently confirmed it aimed to campaign on the introduction of a capital gains tax on commercial and investment residential property. Leader Chris Hipkins also claimed the money raised would be used to fund the health system, but questions have been raised over whether this proposal can work. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny weighed up the idea, and whether Labour can be trusted to spend the money wisely. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a tough couple of years for the economy, but there's hope things will pick up sooner rather than later. There's been an improved outlook on the NZX and NZME recently posted that it had upgraded its earnings forecast. Jeremy Hutton from Milford Asset Management explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If yesterday told us anything, it's that National doesn't have to replace Chris Luxon as urgently as some in the party were saying just a couple of weeks ago. Because if Labour carries on like they did yesterday, National is probably going to be fine for next year, aren't they? That chat, by the way, was real. There really are senior people within the party who think that Chris Luxon needs to be replaced. And from the sounds of things, they were starting to get pretty anxious in the last few weeks because of the recent polls showing Labour pulling ahead and Luxon getting less popular. Surely they're gonna be feeling a little better today, because what we learned yesterday is Labour looks credible - until they start talking. The minute they start releasing policy, it goes south. Yesterday, they couldn't even get the policy out without it being leaked first. And then they did manage to get it out and it was the same old 'come for your money' that Labour always reverts to - and then Chippy wasn't at all credible on it when he had to start answering questions. Same with last week when the doctors' policy got released before Chippy was even ready for it. Now, this doesn't actually solve National's problem altogether. Luxon is still unpopular by previous Prime Ministers' standards. But I'd have to wonder, does he not look quite as bad when you see what the alternative is now? Is it possible that Labour has actually saved Luxon's skin by sending voters back to National by just being predictable money grabbers, and then incompetent at explaining it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Bill Gates has cautioned against the 'doomsday' view on climate change and claimed there's more urgent things to worry about. Do we agree with the calls for calm? Education Minister Erica Stanford unveiled some new changes to the social sciences off the back of the maths and English updates - and some educators have voiced concerns? Do they have a point - or is this just a fear of change?  Labour's capital gains tax has spent a full day in the public arena - do we think this will impact their changes of getting back into Government?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rate Labour settled on for its capital gains tax policy is partially below the recommendation made by the tax working group six years ago. The proposed 28 percent rate would apply to commercial and investment properties from July 2027 - with the revenue going towards health system. Independent tax expert Geof Nightingale weighed up whether this proposal would bring in what Labour's promising. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billionaire Bill Gates is shifting his tone on climate change, cautioning against a 'doomsday' future view.  In a lengthy online memo, the Microsoft co-founder says he still believes it is a major problem needing solving. But Gates says innovation and breakthroughs shouldn't come at the expense of funding global health or development.  Victoria University adjunct professor of climate change, Adrian Macey, says he agrees. "I see what he's saying is - don't assume it's going to be Armageddon if we sail past the 1.5 degrees, which we have already, but think about the positive things you need to do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.