On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 18 August, 2026, Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith is told off for pulling out of meeting his Australian and Japanese counterparts - by a former Defence Minister.

A mum tells us how she won a dispute with Kmart for selling asbestos-contaminated sand.

Top scientist Sir Peter Gluckman on whether he's worried about our birth rate being the lowest since the Second World War.

And we ask Phil Goff and Maurice Williamson on The Huddle if they'd prefer the Warriors playoff games at Mt Smart or Eden Park.
 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 18 August, 2026, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/wayne-mapp-former-defence-minister-on-paul-goldsmith-missing-meeting-with-australia-and-japan/">Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith is told off for pulling out of meeting his Australian and Japanese counterparts - by a former Defence Minister.</a>
A mum tells us how she won a dispute with Kmart <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/elle-chrisp-impacted-mother-on-taking-kmart-to-disputes-tribunal-over-asbestos-contaminated-sand/">for selling asbestos-contaminated sand.</a>
Top scientist Sir Peter Gluckman <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sir-peter-gluckman-former-chief-science-advisor-on-new-zealands-population-increase-being-the-lowest-since-world-war-ii/">on whether he's worried about our birth rate being the lowest since the Second World War.</a>
And we ask <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-does-paul-goldsmith-have-too-many-portfolios/">Phil Goff and Maurice Williamson on The Huddle if they'd prefer the Warriors playoff games at Mt Smart or Eden Park.</a> &nbsp; Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Full Show Podcast: 18 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/adc2bfbc-d648-43d1-a35b-b4aa0076b37f/transcript