On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 July, 2026, we ask New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones if Stuart Nash's criticism of a rival taking maternity leave really was a resignation-level offence.

We talk to the brother of builder Michael McGrath, murdered by his childhood friend David Benbow in 2017, about the no body, no parole bill.

One Year Out author Charlotte Bell tells us about her story of getting sober.

And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and David Farrar on whether too much has been made of ACT candidate Paul Henry's "shoot, shag or marry" radio gag.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 July, 2026, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/shane-jones-new-zealand-first-deputy-leader-on-stuart-nash-stepping-down-following-controversial-comments/">we ask New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones if Stuart Nash's criticism of a rival taking maternity leave really was a resignation-level offence.</a>
We talk to the brother of builder Michael McGrath, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/simon-mcgrath-brother-of-murdered-builder-michael-mcgrath-on-the-proposed-no-body-no-parole-law/">murdered by his childhood friend David Benbow in 2017, about the no body, no parole bill.</a>
One Year Out author Charlotte Bell <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/charlotte-bell-one-year-out-author-on-her-story-of-overcoming-addiction/">tells us about her story of getting sober.</a>
And on The Huddle, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-was-paul-henry-really-threatening-chris-hipkins/">Oscar Kightley and David Farrar on whether too much has been made of ACT candidate Paul Henry's "shoot, shag or marry" radio gag.</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: 23 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a4aadb0e-2e14-4601-b759-b4900076b37b/transcript

Folly Press is set to release their first book - about one woman's story of addiction, rehab and recovery.

One Year Out covers Charlotte Bell's addiction journey, mental unravelling and an unexpected move to Bali where recovery collides with wellness coaches and influencers selling their products.

Bell says the book is full of essays about her journey, as she looked to avoid uncomfortable feelings.

"It was so ingrained in my behaviours that I didn't think about it, I didn't understand what I was doing - all I sort of knew was that I was very uncomfortable, when I knew how to make it better, and that was how I made it better...I didn't have to do any work." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Folly Press is set to release their first book - about one woman's story of addiction, rehab and recovery.
One Year Out covers Charlotte Bell's addiction journey, mental unravelling and an unexpected move to Bali where recovery collides with wellness coaches and influencers selling their products.
Bell says the book is full of essays about her journey, as she looked to avoid uncomfortable feelings.
"It was so ingrained in my behaviours that I didn't think about it, I didn't understand what I was doing - all I sort of knew was that I was very uncomfortable, when I knew how to make it better, and that was how I made it better...I didn't have to do any work."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Charlotte Bell: One Year Out author on her story of overcoming addiction

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b3616d8d-c6ee-446f-aa94-b4900081e0a4/transcript

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

Paul Henry has copped some backlash from Labour after saying he'd shoot Chris Hipkins as part of a risqué radio game. Does this really count as a death threat - or is Labour making a big deal about an innocuous comment?

Stuart Nash has resigned following his controversial comments about Katie Nimon's parental leave. Was this the right call?

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
Paul Henry has copped some backlash from Labour after saying he'd shoot Chris Hipkins as part of a risqué radio game. Does this really count as a death threat - or is Labour making a big deal about an innocuous comment?
Stuart Nash has resigned following his controversial comments about Katie Nimon's parental leave. Was this the right call?
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: Was Paul Henry really threatening Chris Hipkins?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f170e7e8-87c5-4fb0-89cf-b490007c6d74/transcript

Right, is it just me, or is there anyone else out there who thinks it's mighty rich of New Zealand First to force Stuart Nash to resign, given the candidates and MPs they have defended for some of the most outrageous things they have said?

Is it not rich that Shane Jones was on the radio saying, "Mm, yeah, sensible for Stuart Nash to have resigned," when he is the guy who referred to the Prime Minister needing to get out the kneepads for Narendra Modi when he visited, and he is the guy who used the phrase "butter chicken tsunami"?

Now, I was aware of what was happening about 7pm on Wednesday. What was going on was basically that New Zealand First told Stuart Nash that he needed to quit or be fired. He tried to fight his corner but he was unable to do so and he was basically told that was the end of it.

I have to be honest, I was really surprised by this. If this were any other party, it'd be fine, but it's New Zealand First.

It feels off-brand for New Zealand First. This is a party that's made a virtue of resisting the wokesters and resisting the mainstream media. And then, the minute the wokesters and the mainstream media get upset at Stuart Nash, New Zealand First doesn't even hold its line for 12 hours. It just folds immediately.

I mean, that has got to shake the confidence of voters who are attracted to New Zealand First because they think the party is going to provide some sort of bulwark against the creep of political correctness and so-called wokeness. Apparently not. They will fold within 12 hours.

Now, I can only guess at why New Zealand First has folded on Nash and not on Jones. I'm guessing it's because there are more women voters in New Zealand than there are Indian voters. I'm guessing it's because Winston Peters prides himself personally on chivalry towards women and this would actually personally offend him.

I'm guessing it's because Nash was already on his last chance after the "What is a woman?" thing and the aggro texts to Todd McClay. I'm guessing it's because Nash was not going to win the seat of Napier anyway so this gets New Zealand First out of an embarrassing defeat by a woman who's apparently distracted by her toddler.

Because otherwise, immediately agreeing with the wokesters and the mainstream media does seem like quite a weird thing for New Zealand First to do, don't you think?

LISTEN ABOVE

Right, is it just me, or is there anyone else out there who thinks it's mighty rich of New Zealand First to force Stuart Nash to resign, given the candidates and MPs they have defended for some of the most outrageous things they have said?
Is it not rich that Shane Jones was on the radio saying, "Mm, yeah, sensible for Stuart Nash to have resigned," when he is the guy who referred to the Prime Minister needing to get out the kneepads for Narendra Modi when he visited, and he is the guy who used the phrase "butter chicken tsunami"?
Now, I was aware of what was happening about 7pm on Wednesday. What was going on was basically that New Zealand First told Stuart Nash that he needed to quit or be fired. He tried to fight his corner but he was unable to do so and he was basically told that was the end of it.
I have to be honest, I was really surprised by this. If this were any other party, it'd be fine, but it's New Zealand First.
It feels off-brand for New Zealand First. This is a party that's made a virtue of resisting the wokesters and resisting the mainstream media. And then, the minute the wokesters and the mainstream media get upset at Stuart Nash, New Zealand First doesn't even hold its line for 12 hours. It just folds immediately.
I mean, that has got to shake the confidence of voters who are attracted to New Zealand First because they think the party is going to provide some sort of bulwark against the creep of political correctness and so-called wokeness. Apparently not. They will fold within 12 hours.
Now, I can only guess at why New Zealand First has folded on Nash and not on Jones. I'm guessing it's because there are more women voters in New Zealand than there are Indian voters. I'm guessing it's because Winston Peters prides himself personally on chivalry towards women and this would actually personally offend him.
I'm guessing it's because Nash was already on his last chance after the "What is a woman?" thing and the aggro texts to Todd McClay. I'm guessing it's because Nash was not going to win the seat of Napier anyway so this gets New Zealand First out of an embarrassing defeat by a woman who's apparently distracted by her toddler.
Because otherwise, immediately agreeing with the wokesters and the mainstream media does seem like quite a weird thing for New Zealand First to do, don't you think?
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why would New Zealand First make Stuart Nash resign?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/67bff4b0-2e90-46e5-a376-b49000772888/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 23 July 2026

In 1 playlist(s)

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips