Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 6 October 2025, Foreign Minister Winston Peters tells Heather about the protesters that keep turning up outside his house night after night. Heather applauds the Government's tough love attitude to unemployed teenagers. The Finance Minister Nicola Willis gets a grilling over ex-RBNZ governor Adrian Orr's $416,000 golden parachute payment. Just 60% of 13-17 year olds know how to cook three or more meals - does this reflect badly on us parents? Plus, the Huddle debates young people on the benefit and Adrian Orr's big payday. 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.

Former Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr is in for a significant payday. He resigned in March, following a funding disagreement, with tensions between Treasury, the bank, and the Finance Minister. The central bank's annual report shows Orr will receive a $416,000 restraint of trade payment this month. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she wasn't informed of this until today. "I had been assured that they had done those negotiations in accordance with the terms and conditions in his contract, which had already been agreed when he was reappointed as Governor in 2022." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On these protesters who've been harassing Winston and his neighbours - even as recently as last night - they really have to call this nonsense off. Turning up at someone's house in the evening, or as the Prime Minister said to Mike this morning, at 11 at night or 4 in the morning is not protesting. That's actually just intimidating. Particularly, I think, in the case of Winston, who I know has been actually dealing with this for a number of months. Now, I don't think he's actually gone public yet. Even when I asked him, I don't think he's gone public with the extent of the harassment that he's been dealing with - and it was probably because he didn't want to encourage it to continue. But I have been aware for months that this has been going on outside his house. What makes it worse is that like with many heritage suburbs in central Auckland, Winston's house is right on the roadside. He doesn't have a yard out the front between him and the protesters. He doesn't have a long driveway between him and them. If you stand outside his house, you're basically touching his porch and his front door is about 1.5 to 2 metres away. I think that makes the intimidation even greater. And what these protesters need to understand is that they're not drawing attention to Gaza by harassing a senior politician - just like with the flotilla kids, right? Because they're not drawing attention to Gaza. They are only drawing attention to themselves and getting us talking - not about Gaza, but about whether the thing that they are doing as their protest or their activism is appropriate. They're simply drawing attention to themselves. Now, there is a planned law to stop this business about the protesting outside people's houses. It's in the submissions phase, so it hasn't passed yet and it's a while away from passing Which means, of course, that in the meantime these protesters can pretty much do what they like by the looks of things. But what they should understand is that it is inappropriate and most New Zealanders with families will look at this and think this is inappropriate, and so all they're doing is risking goodwill towards their cause. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auckland Business Chamber’s bracing for the new incentive to encourage more teens to join its youth employment programme. It uses its business network to connect them with jobs. Chief Operating Officer Leah Gates says it's tough right now for teens. "And in a tight labour market, they're disproportionately affected and they're competing against more experienced workers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research reveals more Kiwi kids are losing out on learning key life skills, with cooking at the top of the list. 77 percent of parents say it's vital for children to learn to cook before they grow up and leave home, but only 21 percent get their kids involved in the kitchen. Just 60 percent of 13-17 year olds can cook three or more meals, according to recent data. LittleCooks tutor Dalene Gourley says many parents want to get their kids involved, but they don't feel they have the time, patience or know-how to make it work. "I also think they feel that the kitchen will turn into chaos or that it's quicker to just do it themselves - and I can completely understand that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People protesting the war in Gaza were back outside the Foreign Minister's Auckland home last night.  Winston Peters says they stayed until about 8.30pm, when police moved them along.  The Government's currently progressing a law to make protesting outside someone's home an offence. Peters says they were blasting away about two metres from his front door, and he told the cops he'd had enough.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland courtroom has seen confronting footage of tourists running for their lives during the 2019 eruption of Whakaari-White Island. A coronial inquest is looking into the disaster that killed 22 people and injured 25 - almost all in tour groups. Newstalk ZB reporter Jordan Dunn says this inquest will cover an 'extensive' list of factors. "They're going to be looking at how emergency responders did actually respond, and who was actually in charge with that emergency response and who was supposed to be centring it and who was supposed to be focusing that communication."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says the Government's resetting expectations for under-25s to not rely on the unemployment benefit. A $1,000 bonus is being introduced for certain young people who stay off the benefit for a year. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this announcement isn't anything new, but something needs to be done to encourage young people into work. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 60-year-old man's been arrested in Sydney, after a gunman opened fire in the suburb of Croydon Park last night. At least one person was hit and seriously injured - and 16 hurt - with up to 100 shots fired between 7.45 and 9.30pm. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the shooter's motivation remains unknown, but investigations are still ongoing.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no further movement on the Silver Ferns coaching saga front. Netball New Zealand and Dame Noeline Taurua are stuck in mediation with no resolution in sight. Sportstalk host Jason Pine outlines the situation - and wonders if Taurua will want to return. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.