https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/rss NZME Tune into Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive, 4pm-7pm weekdays. Keep up with the latest news and developments from New Zealand and the world on Newstalk ZB Mon, 25 May 2026 10:47:52 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-turkish-police-storming-offices-of-main-opposition-party/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-turkish-police-storming-offices-of-main-opposition-party/ Police stormed the offices of Türkiye's main opposition CHP party, concluding a long-running standoff. Supporters had barricaded the courtyard entrance with buses and the building with furniture, and pictures and videos showed police  tear gas and rubber bullets at party supporters and officials. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 07:45:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/shane-solly-harbour-asset-management-expert-on-what-markets-are-planning-for-the-ocr-this-week/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/shane-solly-harbour-asset-management-expert-on-what-markets-are-planning-for-the-ocr-this-week/ It's a big week for the economy, with the next OCR announcement set to be unveiled this coming Wednesday. Markets are expecting the Reserve Bank to leave the OCR unchanged at 2.25 percent, but a hike hasn't been ruled out. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 07:36:50 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jacqui-lloyd-new-zealand-cruise-association-ceo-on-the-decline-in-cruise-ship-visits/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jacqui-lloyd-new-zealand-cruise-association-ceo-on-the-decline-in-cruise-ship-visits/ Cruises are being scaled back further next summer season, with ports already feeling the pinch. Preliminary data released to Newstalk ZB shows the North Island will lose 41 port calls, but they'll rise in the South - up 23.  Last season, the number dropped by more than 250. Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd says there's growth in other parts of the world, but there's plans in place to make New Zealand more attractive to the right clients. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 07:21:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-25-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-25-may-2026/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 25 May, 2026, Energy Minister Simeon Brown explains how the Government's going to help businesses get off gas. Former Labour Cabinet Minister Stuart Nash tells us why he's switched sides to New Zealand First. Warriors boss Cameron George on plans for an Anzac Day clash at Eden Park. And on The Huddle, Trish Sherson and Gareth Hughes discuss whether Labour should focus on writing policy instead of doing media training. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 07:11:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-why-is-labour-spending-more-time-on-media-training-than-policies/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-why-is-labour-spending-more-time-on-media-training-than-policies/ Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Green MP Gareth Hughes joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  As the New Zealand greyhound racing ban looms, there's talk of sending at least 70 greyhounds to Australia. What do we make of this?  Labour's Barbara Edmonds is under fire after she called Finance Minister Nicola Willis a 'duck-faced horse'. Were these comments out of line? And why is Labour spending more time on media training than policies? Ahead of Budget 2026, the Government has introduced bank loans to help businesses reduce or eliminate their dependency on gas. Is this a good move? What did we think of Auckland FC securing the A-League title? How good is this? LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 07:11:50 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-what-does-auckland-fcs-victory-say-about-ambition/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-what-does-auckland-fcs-victory-say-about-ambition/ We've got to start this week talking about that Auckland FC win on Saturday night. Did we not discuss on Friday's show the need for us in this country to be more ambitious for success? To have more confidence to back ourselves more and then a day later, just one day later, we have an example of exactly that. Now to be fair, obviously, this wasn't exactly us backing ourselves. It was an American billionaire Bill Foley backing us. But his attitude is the kind of attitude worth adopting. When he put his money into a football team in Auckland, he set them a goal of winning the A-League within three seasons. They did it in two. He did the same thing in Las Vegas with the team that he has there, he set them a goal of winning their competition in six seasons. They did it in six. Now of course, having heaps and heaps of money helps. If you're a football team, it helps to have the best of everything that money can buy. The best data, the best physio, the best premium accommodation, whatever it is. And we're going to find out just how much difference money really makes next year when the high salary cap that new teams get for the first two years disappears and they are on par with all the other clubs. But while I think money helps, I have a suspicion it's not the secret sauce that leads to Bill Foley constantly being successful. Because we've got myriad examples of money being thrown at things and them still failing. LIV Golf. The rugby league, the Rebel Rugby League, and that's just in the past year. I'd love to know what his secret sauce is. Is it getting the best coach? Is a coach more important than a team? Is there a formula to setting up a winning team? Is it the attitude of expecting success? Either way, when I stood there in that crowd on Saturday night in the minutes after the team won, actually just shocked, kind of speechless for a bit to think that they actually managed to pull it off. The thought occurred to me that this was good for Auckland. This is a city with high unemployment, grumpy about the past few years. Now a football team winning doesn't change that, right? But it is not a bad thing for a place like Auckland to score a win, to feel like it can be the best at something in Australasia. It's not bad to have all the free publicity in the Australian media market for our biggest city. It's not bad to get the kids really excited about a game and it is not bad to illustrate what can be done if you simply believe it can be done. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 06:46:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-addresses-comments-made-by-labours-barbara-edmonds/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-addresses-comments-made-by-labours-barbara-edmonds/ Some more leaked audio has gotten the Labour Party in trouble, with MP Barbara Edmonds apologising for off-colour comments directed at the Finance Minister. The audio obtained by the Herald features a moderator asking various Labour MPs whether they'd rather fight "100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck." Edmonds' answer apparently referenced Nicola Willis.  Willis says she's accepted Edmonds' apology - but this event says a lot about Labour's conduct this election year. "Step one - demonize your opponent. Step two - waffle on about values. Well, how about just answering the question? I guess that would require some actual policies." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 06:30:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/edward-rennell-greyhound-racing-nz-ceo-on-the-plan-to-send-70-dogs-to-race-in-australia/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/edward-rennell-greyhound-racing-nz-ceo-on-the-plan-to-send-70-dogs-to-race-in-australia/ Greyhound Racing New Zealand's boss says perspective's needed, as the agency considers flying dogs to Australia.  The sport's formally banned in New Zealand from July 31, but GRNZ is considering chartering a plane to fly up to 70 dogs to Queensland. One activist's claimed money's being put ahead of the dogs' welfare.  GRNZ CEO Edward Rennell says no decision has been made.  "All we are doing is gauging whether there's any interest from our participants in sending some dogs to Australia. We're projecting there's going to be about 1700 dogs still to be rehomed at 31 July."  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 06:18:25 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/cameron-george-warriors-ceo-on-the-team-returning-to-eden-park-in-2027-anzac-day-clash/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/cameron-george-warriors-ceo-on-the-team-returning-to-eden-park-in-2027-anzac-day-clash/ The country's biggest stadium will host arguably the Warriors' biggest home game of the season. Eden Park will play host to next year's ANZAC Day match, after Mount Smart, Christchurch and Wellington hosted the last three years. CEO Cameron George says he's looking forward to drawing in a 'massive' crowd for the big event. "We've finally got the game back, about three years ago - and we had it Auckland for the first time at Go Media Stadium... and we just believe the event's growing."  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 25 May 2026 06:04:00 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/davina-smolders-far-north-district-councillor-on-the-council-reportedly-planning-to-sign-agreements-ceding-sovereignty-to-five-iwi/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/davina-smolders-far-north-district-councillor-on-the-council-reportedly-planning-to-sign-agreements-ceding-sovereignty-to-five-iwi/ ACT-aligned councillor Davina Smolders is spreading claims the Far North District Council plans to sign agreements ceding sovereignty to five iwi. She previously challenged a recent Council decision to expand a Māori liaison committee - appointing 10 iwi members with voting rights, out of a total 16.  Smolders says it's not co-governance, but rather outright iwi governance. "So it's going to affect everybody...if you want to move dirt, you have to pay for cultural impact reports, it's a grift - pure and simple. It's holding development hostage."  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 05:48:33 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/simeon-brown-energy-minister-on-the-government-launching-the-gas-transition-loan-guarantee-scheme-ahead-of-budget-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/simeon-brown-energy-minister-on-the-government-launching-the-gas-transition-loan-guarantee-scheme-ahead-of-budget-2026/ The Government is introducing a new scheme that will make up to $1.2 billion of bank loans available to help businesses reduce or eliminate their dependency on gas. The Crown will guarantee 80 percent of lending under the Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme, so banks pass on lower interest rates. Energy Minister Simeon Brown says offering banks the loan guarantee will mean they can give businesses better interest rates.  "I think the advice we've received around one and a half percent lower - obviously, that will depend on the individual business." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 05:33:31 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-the-government-unveiling-the-gas-transition-loan-guarantee-scheme/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-the-government-unveiling-the-gas-transition-loan-guarantee-scheme/ A new initiative will make up to  $1.2 billion of bank loans available for businesses, to enable them to reduce or eliminate their dependence on gas. $48 million dollars is set aside in this week's Budget to cover potential losses from the Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this stands to benefit many Kiwi businesses.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 05:24:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/oliver-peterson-australian-correspondent-on-queensland-calling-for-a-shark-cull-following-recent-attacks/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/oliver-peterson-australian-correspondent-on-queensland-calling-for-a-shark-cull-following-recent-attacks/ Queensland MP Bob Katter has called for a shark cull following the death of a fisherman in a suspected shark attack in Far North Queensland. The attack came just a week after another man was killed by a great white shark near Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the SPCA has voiced concerns over this move - but Katter aims to take this to Parliament.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 05:12:24 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-pine-sportstalk-host-on-auckland-fcs-historic-a-league-victory-over-sydney/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-pine-sportstalk-host-on-auckland-fcs-historic-a-league-victory-over-sydney/ Auckland FC are celebrating hard, after they managed to snag a historic A-League title. The team's midfielder, Cam Howieson, scored the decisive goal in the grand final against Sydney FC over the weekend. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 04:58:06 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/stuart-nash-former-labour-minister-reveals-why-hes-made-the-switch-over-to-nz-first/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/stuart-nash-former-labour-minister-reveals-why-hes-made-the-switch-over-to-nz-first/ Former Labour Cabinet Minister Stuart Nash says he's found his true home in New Zealand First. He's contesting the Napier electorate for the party this election - against National's Katie Nimon. Nash had to lay low last year after getting in hot water for making vulgar comments about women. He's taken aim at his former party, and claims NZ First is the only party that stands up for hard workers. "This is the party that works hard to celebrate success, it stands up for those that work the hardest as opposed to complain the loudest."  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 25 May 2026 04:42:36 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-are-we-surprised-by-the-latest-andrew-trade-envoy-files/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-are-we-surprised-by-the-latest-andrew-trade-envoy-files/ Is there any real surprise in what we've learned from the latest Andrew trade envoy files? So, we've found out Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor got the job as the UK trade envoy because his mum, the late Queen, pushed for it. It was the Queen's wish - she was very keen that he should have a prominent role. We've learned he wasn't vetted for the job. We've learned that he was a brat - that he told them he preferred the ballet to the theatre, that he liked visiting more sophisticated countries rather than less sophisticated ones and that he should not be offered golfing functions abroad. Now, this is no surprise whatsoever, is it? There's no surprise in this. We already know the Queen had a blind spot for her favourite child. We already know he's an entitled pain. And it surprises absolutely no one to learn that he didn't earn the job - he got it because his mum wanted him to have it.  What he had done beforehand would not have qualified him for the job, would it? Other than being born a royal - that's the only thing. Now, of course, a lot of republicans will be feeling reasonably vindicated by this because it shows nepotism in action. It lays bare the fact that huge amounts of taxpayer money are spent finding things for spare royals to do, to keep them in the news and amused.But everyone else - and even some republicans - will probably be unmoved by this because yes, it is a story about an archaic institution trying to justify itself and probably stretching the limits of taxpayer tolerance  But it's also the story of a mum who kept trying, for as long as she was alive, to protect her boy - who is a dropkick - and who couldn’t see all the way through just how much of a dropkick he really was. In the end, that’s what this story is about. And that’s a pretty human story about a family, isn’t it? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 24 May 2026 04:07:28 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-22-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-22-may-2026/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 22 May, 2026, $35 million from the Government and more donations coming in. St John's chief executive tells us about a boost for the ambulance service. Customs has a new tool in its war on drugs. Minister Casey Costello on the remotely controlled underwater vehicle. We hear how excited The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive is about his new music app, Lume. And on the Sports Huddle, D'Arcy Waldegrave and Alex Powell on the chances of another penalty shootout for Auckland FC in the A-League grand final. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 22 May 2026 07:11:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordon-robison-us-and-middle-east-correspondent-says-us-support-of-war-is-slipping-very-dramatically/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordon-robison-us-and-middle-east-correspondent-says-us-support-of-war-is-slipping-very-dramatically/ A vote in the House of Representatives was heading towards a resolution that would require President Donald Trump to come to Congress for formal approval for his war in the Middle East. But, the Speaker of the House pulled the vote as it became clear the Republicans were going to lose it. Although it was unlikely that if the vote had gone through that anything would have resulted, yet US and Middle East correspondent Gordon Robison says this shows falling support for the war.  "The fact that the vote was going to pass in the House indicates that support for the war is slipping and slipping very dramatically," he told Heather du Plessis-Allan. "So it doesn't change anything in the short run, but as we approach elections in November, it indicates that the politics around the war are changing very quickly." LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 22 May 2026 06:50:16 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/carolyn-young-retail-nz-ceo-on-6-spending-increase-last-quarter/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/carolyn-young-retail-nz-ceo-on-6-spending-increase-last-quarter/ New Zealand saw a 6% spending increase in retail last quarter with the South Island overtaking the North, likely due to farming and tourism.  Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young told Heather du Plessis-Allan that a jump in pharmaceutical spending can be attributed to the increasing popularity of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy.  "There's certainly high volume of those drugs now being sold, and they're really expensive on a monthly basis. So that just keeps going up and up and up," she said.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 22 May 2026 06:29:40 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-bradley-hato-hone-st-john-ceo-says-35m-from-government-will-improve-response-times/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-bradley-hato-hone-st-john-ceo-says-35m-from-government-will-improve-response-times/ Health ministers Simeon Brown and Casey Costello have confirmed that the Government will give an extra $35 million to ambulance charities over the next four years. Hato Hone St John CEO Peter Bradley said the government has asked them to direct the money towards specific things including new ambulance stations, and an electronic patient record system.  Bradley told Heather du Plessis-Allan the upgrades will "certainly help with response times".  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 22 May 2026 06:16:06 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/casey-costello-customs-minister-on-the-underwater-crime-fighting-robots-set-to-protect-our-borders/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/casey-costello-customs-minister-on-the-underwater-crime-fighting-robots-set-to-protect-our-borders/ NZ Customs has announced the introduction of robots that can be used to search underwater for drugs to help prevent illegal substances from entering New Zealand.  "We know that we've had, sea chests and we've had things attached to ships, and that's an overseas trend as well," Customs Minister Casey Costello told Heather du Plessis-Allan. "So, that means that we can search more vessels and we can reduce the need for dive teams to go down." LISTEN ABOVE Fri, 22 May 2026 05:54:54 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-new-kiwi-music-app-lume-has-what-it-takes-to-succeed-confidence/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-new-kiwi-music-app-lume-has-what-it-takes-to-succeed-confidence/ Tell you what I’m loving about this new, New Zealand-made music app that’s been unveiled: predominantly, it’s the confidence these guys have that this thing is going to work—and that it’s going to go global. Now, if you haven’t caught up on it, let me get you across the details. The app is called Lume and it’s going to launch, I think, in the next couple of weeks or something like that. On Lume, you’re not going to be able to stream music like you do on Spotify. Instead, you’ll buy albums—and then you’ll own those albums. They’ll come with some extra stuff as well, if you’re a real music nerd—bonus material, that sort of thing. You’re not going to pay a monthly subscription; you’re going to pay $25 an album. Now, I don’t know if this is going to work but I think there’s a really good chance. I mean, it’s got some very smart people behind it. Duncan Greive, for example, who started The Spinoff at a time when everybody else in the media was in retreat—he’s very clever at seeing small gaps in the market and then exploiting them. He’s got financial backing from the guy who founded Substack. He’s got backing from the guy who co-founded Letterboxd. He’s got backing from Lorde. It’s launching right at a time when people are complaining about the AI slop being fed to them by Spotify and the weird algorithms that now determine what music we hear. It’s being launched at a time when young people are nostalgic for owning things instead of just streaming them—when artists are complaining they don’t get enough money from streamers like Spotify. This will give them much, much more money and it will give fans a chance to support artists financially. And it’s coming at a time when Spotify has jacked up its price again, in a never-ending series of small increases that just end up costing heaps every month. So there is a chance it could work. I mean, I think it’s going to be a smaller, die-hard fan market than the big, lazy, “press a button and listen to music” Spotify market—but it could work. But what I love most about it is that the guys building this really believe it will work. They’re already talking about taking it global—not in a “maybe one day” way but in a “we’re starting in New Zealand, next Australia, then the US and the UK” way. They’re already workshopping what they’ll do with problematic artists like Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and Kanye West because they think it’s going to get to that. They are confident it’s going to work. They’re already preparing. I love that. I reckon that kind of confidence is sometimes the difference between whether something is successful or not. And I reckon here in New Zealand, we could do with a lot more of that big thinking. LISTEN ABOVE Fri, 22 May 2026 05:38:34 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-rachel-reeves-responding-to-heckler-at-petrol-station/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-rachel-reeves-responding-to-heckler-at-petrol-station/ Chancellor Rachel Reeves had to hit back at a heckler while trying to answer questions from the media at a stand-up. Reeves was announcing that a planned increase in fuel duty would be scrapped to help consumers at a petrol station - while a man yelled pro-Reform comments from his truck. UK correspondent Enda Brady explained why more politicians in the UK seem to be copping backlash from certain fringe groups.  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 08:13:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-dickie-fisher-funds-expert-on-nvidia-reporting-its-latest-quarterly-results/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-dickie-fisher-funds-expert-on-nvidia-reporting-its-latest-quarterly-results/ Nvidia, the world's largest listed company and a critical bellwether on the health of the AI sector, posted record first-quarter earnings on Thursday of more than $136 billion. That's up 85 percent on a year ago, with forecasts for the next quarter of over $153 billion. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 08:03:59 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jamie-mackay-the-country-host-on-zespri-delivering-a-strong-2025-season-result/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jamie-mackay-the-country-host-on-zespri-delivering-a-strong-2025-season-result/ Zespri has improved its profitability by selling more fruit at a higher value, according to new reports. The grower-owned kiwifruit marketer released its full-year results for the 2025/26 season, and it sold 248.1 million trays, up from 220.9m the year prior, with New Zealand supply reaching 215.6m, increasing from 193m.  The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 07:59:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-will-the-governments-social-housing-overhaul-fix-the-issues-in-the-system/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-will-the-governments-social-housing-overhaul-fix-the-issues-in-the-system/ Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and and artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Why is Napier's mayor in a feud with the city's Youth Council? What do we make of this?  Will Chris Bishop's social housing overhaul fix the issues with the system, or will it contribute to the existing problems? Is this the right move?  Do the Corrections arrests indicate we need a more sophisticated system to control prison power? LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 07:50:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-new-zealands-corruption-problem-is-growing-rapidly/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-new-zealands-corruption-problem-is-growing-rapidly/ For anyone still labouring under the impression that New Zealand is an innocent little place like it was 50 years ago, those prison busts should absolutely shatter that delusion. What happened was the single biggest bust in our prison system: 20 people arrested and charged across three different prisons - Mount Eden, Spring Hill and Auckland South.  They have been charged with allegedly smuggling meth and phones into prison in exchange for cash payments. There are bribery charges and there are allegations that prisoners were organising drug importation and transactions while still in jail. It is not just Corrections guards either, it is also senior officers. That is actually more worrying because it tells you this is not about junior staff just recruited who were not properly vetted. These are people who have been there for a while. These are people on decent money - the kind of money you would not necessarily expect to be corruptible. That is what a network looks like right there. And it is not just in our prisons, by the way, that this sort of thing is happening.  We have just had a police officer busted for leaking intelligence to her Killer Beez boyfriend this year. We have had people busted at ports, baggage handlers caught at airports - and this is exactly what we have been warned about by the crime advisory group working with the Government, which produced a series of reports last year. They warned that corruption is rising and that insider threats - where trusted people are corrupted - are a rapidly growing problem. And it is growing rapidly. Think about this - it was 2011 when we had our first corrections officer in this country jailed for corruption. Fifteen years later, we have allegedly uncovered an entire network. And it is the gangs. It is the fact that we have more sophisticated gangs coming in from Australia. It is the high price of drugs here, which makes New Zealand a more lucrative place to do business. It is the relatively low wages we pay our prison guards, police officers and baggage handlers. If you still think we do not have a corruption problem, just look at what happened. Twenty people are not just a few bad apples - they are a sign that we are now like the rest of the world and we have a corruption problem. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 07:31:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-keall-nz-herald-senior-business-writer-on-what-spacex-filing-for-ipo-could-mean-for-elon-musk/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-keall-nz-herald-senior-business-writer-on-what-spacex-filing-for-ipo-could-mean-for-elon-musk/ Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to go public - allowing people to trade shares in the firm on the stock market. The initial public offering (IPO) on the US stock market will likely be one of the largest in Wall Street history. NZ Herald senior business writer Chris Keall says this will likely come close to making Elon Musk a trillionaire.  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 07:26:00 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-hyde-hawke-s-bay-editor-on-napier-mayor-richard-mcgrath-being-criticised-by-the-citys-youth-council/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-hyde-hawke-s-bay-editor-on-napier-mayor-richard-mcgrath-being-criticised-by-the-citys-youth-council/ Leaders of the Napier Youth Council wrote to the chief executive of Napier City Council after a public event they attended, claiming Napier mayor Richard McGrath called them a 'bunch of idiots who can't use pen and paper'. McGrath denied he said that and said he believed the Youth Council had been unfairly dragged into a political game. Hawke’s Bay editor Chris Hyde has been following from the sidelines and he says McGrath's been off to a rough start as mayor.  "There are a lot of people still in the council who don't think that he is suitable for the job, and so he's had a really challenging six months."  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 07:14:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-21-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-21-may-2026/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 21 May, 2026, Chris Bishop on a social housing overhaul that'll leave some people worse off. The Corrections boss on cracking a network of corruption among her staff. Former Defence Minister Ron Mark tells us how our troops could help Ukrainian armed forces. And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Thomas Scrimgeour on the Napier mayor's beef with the youth council. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 07:11:51 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ron-mark-former-defence-minister-on-nzdf-personnel-training-ukrainian-troops-in-poland/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ron-mark-former-defence-minister-on-nzdf-personnel-training-ukrainian-troops-in-poland/ A former Defence Minister says our forces will help plug a gap in Ukraine aid. The Government's revealed New Zealand will be involved in an initiative to train Ukraine forces in Poland.  It includes personnel from countries like Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. Ron Mark says Ukraine soldiers do basic training before learning specialties.  "What does New Zealand offer? They take the pressure off of the Ukrainian training system, and getting their soldiers through that first phase. That's pretty essential."  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 06:56:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-bishop-housing-minister-on-the-changes-coming-to-social-housing-ahead-of-budget-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-bishop-housing-minister-on-the-changes-coming-to-social-housing-ahead-of-budget-2026/ Ahead of Budget 2026, the Government has confirmed changes are coming to social housing costs. State housing tenants will pay a minimum 30 percent of their income on rent - up from 25 percent from next April. Accommodation supplements for private renters will increase. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says the current system doesn't work for taxpayers or Kiwis on the list for social housing. "There's actually a lot of people on the social housing register who'd like to get in, but can't, because we've got this system where people are essentially trapped in social housing. And we've got a view in society that it's a social house fore life, when it actually should be timely and temporary." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 06:45:43 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rachel-leota-corrections-acting-ceo-on-the-corruption-probe-that-led-to-20-people-getting-charged/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rachel-leota-corrections-acting-ceo-on-the-corruption-probe-that-led-to-20-people-getting-charged/ The acting head of Corrections says staff integrity is a priority, after revelations of a major prison corruption investigation. Twenty people have been charged, including 15 Corrections and Reintegration officers at Auckland's Mt Eden, Waikato's Spring Hill, and Auckland South Corrections facilities - and five members of the public. They're accused of smuggling phones, drugs and tobacco to prisoners in exchange for cash. Corrections' acting chief executive Rachel Leota says they will continue to support staff. "Work with our unions - and I met with them last night - there are many other things that we can be doing, and we will continue to commit to doing that to ensure our staff are safe."  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 06:13:57 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-the-governments-overhaul-of-social-housing-ahead-of-budget-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-the-governments-overhaul-of-social-housing-ahead-of-budget-2026/ A major overhaul of social housing will see costs for renters going up. From next April, 30 percent state tenants' income will go into rent - up from 25 percent, about $31 dollars more a week. That'll be re-invested into increasing the Accommodation Supplement. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says the Government wants to reduce social housing costs, saying it's not getting bang for buck on what it spends. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 05:52:09 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-the-diphtheria-outbreak-impacting-australians/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-the-diphtheria-outbreak-impacting-australians/ Australian media is reporting over 230 cases of diphtheria in 2026, primarily in the Northern Territory, but also in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. The outbreak is the largest in decades, with the disease previously considered largely eradicated - and one person has reportedly died as a result. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the federal Government aims to get workforce numbers up in order to boost vaccinations amid the ongoing outbreak. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 05:39:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-jennah-wootten-being-appointed-netball-nzs-new-ceo/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-jennah-wootten-being-appointed-netball-nzs-new-ceo/ Netball New Zealand have appointed experienced administrator Jennah Wootten as their new chief executive. Wootten has held a number of roles at various organisations including Sport New Zealand, ATEED, and the 2021 women's Cricket World Cup. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 05:29:16 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/tory-relf-taxpayers-union-spokesperson-on-the-calls-for-more-government-agencies-to-factor-cost-benefit-analysis-into-planning/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/tory-relf-taxpayers-union-spokesperson-on-the-calls-for-more-government-agencies-to-factor-cost-benefit-analysis-into-planning/ A new research report from engineering firm WSP and the Helen Clark Foundation claims more Government agencies need to factor cost-benefit analysis in planning their projects. The report, Measuring what Matters, found hat despite billions of dollars being spent on infrastructure each year, New Zealand lacks a mandatory, system-wide requirement for demonstrating value for money across investment decisions. Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Tory Relf says it's 'ludicrous' that there aren't clear standards in place.  "They know how to do this, they know whether a project is going to be value for money for taxpayers - and yet, they're not using it."  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 May 2026 05:24:24 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-uk-loosening-russian-oil-sanctions-amid-fuel-crisis/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-uk-loosening-russian-oil-sanctions-amid-fuel-crisis/ The UK Government has loosened strict sanctions on Russian oil refined into diesel and jet fuel in third countries as prices rise.  The effective blockade of the key Strait of Hormuz has continued to generate supply chain concerns, and jet fuel and pump prices are getting higher - with no hope for change in sight. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says experts are predicting fuel prices will go higher in the next few weeks. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 07:56:30 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jenee-tibshraeny-nz-herald-wellington-business-editor-on-the-reactions-to-labours-lack-of-info-on-the-future-fund-policy/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jenee-tibshraeny-nz-herald-wellington-business-editor-on-the-reactions-to-labours-lack-of-info-on-the-future-fund-policy/ Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn't think the public much cares about which companies would be in the party's Future Fund.  It won't be revealing key details - including the cost to the Crown and which state assets would go into it - until after voters go to the polls. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacked the reactions to this announcement. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 07:50:07 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jeremy-hutton-milford-asset-management-expert-on-bond-yields-and-interest-rates-going-up/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jeremy-hutton-milford-asset-management-expert-on-bond-yields-and-interest-rates-going-up/ The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to bond yields and interest rates going up all over the world, and it's prompted concerns among experts. This will impact Kiwis as well, as many KiwiSaver portfolios have taken a hit as a result. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 07:31:36 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-can-ai-really-benefit-the-public-service-sector/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-can-ai-really-benefit-the-public-service-sector/ 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!  The Government has confirmed there's more public service cuts to come ahead of Budget 2026. What do we make of this? Do we think AI can really replace all these jobs?  What are the chances of Auckland Council's rates rise being kept to less than 7.9 percent? LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 07:23:18 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-ai-is-just-a-distraction-in-the-public-service-discussion/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-ai-is-just-a-distraction-in-the-public-service-discussion/ I’ve got to tell you something – I’m embarrassed.   Watching this public debate about how many public servant jobs are going to be cut in order to make way for AI is just embarrassing.  The fact we’re having this debate at all is ultimately Nicola Willis’s fault, because she listed three expectations when she announced the reform of the public service:  1) That agencies amalgamate  2) That there is a cap of 55,000 people in the public sector  3) That the public sector digitises and adopts AI  Because AI is the new bogeyman that everybody is supposed to be afraid of, the media then became obsessed with it. They started contacting ministers’ offices and demanding to know what we’re actually meant to do with AI. The verdict, however, was many ministers weren’t actually sure what they would be doing in their portfolios.  And it’s embarrassing in the same way it’s embarrassing watching your parents or grandparents discuss that newfangled technology that’s absolutely going to change our lives, without any real grip on its uses and limitations, because they don’t actually use it.  It feels like blaming the public service cull in the 1980s on those new computer devices that were going to replace all the workers. Except we’re all still working, we’re just each using a computer.  Let’s be honest about AI, okay? For those of us out there who don’t use it and ask, “What is this?”, AI is probably hugely overpromising. It’s not going to do all the things or replace all the workers that you think it will. At the moment, it’s mostly really good for summarising, drafting, searching documents, handling repetitive admin, and managing customer service.  There are some obvious applications for AI, like helping a beneficiary find all their entitlements by going through an AI system on a computer, without having to tie up a person on the phone for an hour.  But AI cannot really be relied on for more complex tasks that require humans, like risk assessment, ethical judgments, or political management.  No one who actually uses AI thinks it’s going to replace 8,700 jobs – or even a quarter of those jobs, or even a tenth of them. Having this debate actually feels quite silly.  Public service numbers need to come down with or without AI. AI doesn’t have to be part of this debate. We have 16,000 more public servants than we did nine years ago, and no one’s getting better service. So you don’t need all those people – that’s the argument.  AI, here, is just a distraction. Wed, 20 May 2026 07:23:00 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-20-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-20-may-2026/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 20 May, 2026, we ask Regulation Minister David Seymour if 267 regulators in New Zealand is too many. Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson tells us if it's landed three more Air New Zealand international flights because Auckland Airport is charging too much. In an exclusive interview, we hear why new Breakers coach Gordon Herbert was attracted to the NBL. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Maurice Williamson tell us why they want more detail on plans to slash public servants. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 07:11:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/greg-smith-generate-investment-specialist-on-infratil-selling-contact-energy-stake-to-fund-future-growth/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/greg-smith-generate-investment-specialist-on-infratil-selling-contact-energy-stake-to-fund-future-growth/ Infratil says it has agreed to sell 53.53 million shares - representing a 5 percent stake - in Contact Energy through a fully underwritten block trade. The sale is at $9.25 per ordinary share, generating expected gross proceeds of about $495.17 million, and taking Infratil’s shareholding down to 9.08 percent. The sell-down is expected to complete on May 25. Generate investment specialist Greg Smith says Infratil will have other opportunities they'll want to take advantage of, like data centres.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 06:57:32 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/justin-watson-christchurch-airport-chief-executive-on-the-new-non-stop-international-flights-announced-from-christchurch/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/justin-watson-christchurch-airport-chief-executive-on-the-new-non-stop-international-flights-announced-from-christchurch/ New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity. From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and Singapore, Tokyo and Perth.  Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says Christchurch is in a really good place, and more people will want to experience the city. "People want to come and visit, they want to go to events, they want to see the place, they want to access the South Island - and so I'd say that's the primary draw card."  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 06:49:10 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordon-herbert-new-breakers-coach-reveals-what-he-can-bring-to-the-role/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordon-herbert-new-breakers-coach-reveals-what-he-can-bring-to-the-role/ The New Zealand Breakers have pulled off a massive coup by securing experienced coach Gordon Herbert on a two-year deal. He replaces Petteri Koponen, who parted ways with the Auckland-based franchise in February after two years in the role. Herbert says he's 'incredibly excited' to join the team in this new role.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 06:34:22 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordy-lockhart-youbeyou-founder-on-the-string-of-dating-app-assaults-in-invercargill/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordy-lockhart-youbeyou-founder-on-the-string-of-dating-app-assaults-in-invercargill/ There's growing calls for a string of dating app attacks in Invercargill to be treated as a hate crime. Two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds have been charged with aggravated burglary, after four alleged incidents in which people were lured to secluded locations through dating apps and attacked. YouBeYou founder Gordy Lockhart says it appears to be a targeted attack, taking advantage of gay men's vulnerability. He explained the LGBT community are typically more alone, have less family and support networks - and have to meet people in places like parks. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 06:10:42 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/david-seymour-regulation-minister-calls-for-consolidation-after-267-different-regulators-discovered-in-new-report/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/david-seymour-regulation-minister-calls-for-consolidation-after-267-different-regulators-discovered-in-new-report/ Regulation Minister David Seymour says New Zealanders should only have to knock at one regulator's door to get something done. A Ministry report out today identifies almost 270 different organisations within our regulation system.  They're spread across central and local Government, and statutory bodies, committees and tribunals. Seymour says this feels like New Zealand is a small country with a too-big Government, and changes need to be made. "You just feel that a lot of things would be easier if we looked at these and said - hey, maybe we need fewer agencies focused on doing things that are essential, we'd getter better results, less costs, it'd be easier to fix things." LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 05:52:58 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-mfat-avoiding-cuts-ahead-of-budget-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-mfat-avoiding-cuts-ahead-of-budget-2026/ The Finance Minister says she's disappointed by revelations MFAT is exempt from cutting spending this year. It's been confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade won't be given a reduced baseline budget. Most agencies face two percent cuts - but MFAT will be subject to the same five percent reduction for most agencies next year, and the year after. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 05:09:44 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordon-robison-middle-east-correspondent-on-whether-trump-will-direct-further-strikes-on-iran/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gordon-robison-middle-east-correspondent-on-whether-trump-will-direct-further-strikes-on-iran/ President Trump's reiterating he's prepared to do what it takes to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.  He announced yesterday he had called of plans for another attack this week, at the request of some Gulf states. Donald Trump today told media US officials are still negotiating, but Iran may need another 'big hit'. Middle East correspondent Gordon Robison says it's unclear what will happen next, but Vice President JD Vance has claimed they can't allow an 'arms race'. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 05:01:44 Z