On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 19 June 2025, New Zealand has pulled almost $20 million of funding to the Cook Islands. Cook Islands News journalist Rashneel Kumar broke the story, he tells Heather how he found out and how terrible our relationship is right now.

Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr is celebrating a surprisingly good GDP number for the first three months of the year - but still thinks more cuts to the OCR are desperately needed to boost the economy.

Another talkback-walkback! The Government u-turns on proposed changes to Fringe Benefit Taxes for utes.

Heather speaks to the only one person in the country who can prescribe magic mushrooms, Professor Cameron Lacey.

Plus, the Huddle debates whether it was a mistake to pull funding from the Cook Islands.

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 Thursday, 19 June 2025, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/rashneel-kumar-cook-islands-journalist-on-new-zealand-pausing-funding-to-the-cook-islands/">New Zealand has pulled almost $20 million of funding to the Cook Islands. Cook Islands News journalist Rashneel Kumar broke the story, he tells Heather how he found out and how terrible our relationship is right now.</a>
Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jarrod-kerr-kiwibank-chief-economist-issues-warning-after-gdp-figures-unveiled/"> is celebrating a surprisingly good GDP number for the first three months of the year - but still thinks more cuts to the OCR are desperately needed to boost the economy.</a>
Another talkback-walkback! <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-hooper-federated-farmers-transport-spokesperson-on-the-backlash-to-the-governments-new-ute-tax/">The Government u-turns on proposed changes to Fringe Benefit Taxes for utes.</a>
Heather <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/cameron-lacey-psychiatrist-on-getting-approval-to-prescribe-magic-mushroom-treatment/">speaks to the only one person in the country who can prescribe magic mushrooms, Professor Cameron Lacey.</a>
Plus, the Huddle <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-was-it-a-mistake-for-new-zealand-to-pull-funding-for-the-cook-islands/">debates whether it was a mistake to pull funding from the Cook Islands.</a>
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

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: 19 June 2025 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/88857b61-d7bc-490e-9211-b3010076aa24/transcript