Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 23 May.
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's talk about this business with the pension age.

Chris Luxon has said today twice that he wants the pension age to go up to 67.

He said it once on Kerre’s show this morning, and then at a post-budget lunch speaking to business leaders, he repeated it and he told them that this is basically going to be election policy for National next year.

Now, regardless of how you may feel about this, I mean, you'd have to be coming around to the realisation, wouldn't you, that we are inching closer and closer to this thing actually happening.

Especially after the changes that the government made to our KiwiSaver retirement funds yesterday.

It's not long now.

I think that the government will have completely wound down its government support of KiwiSaver, and then it's gonna come after the pension next, isn't it?

This is where I think it gets tricky, because this is not just about money for people.

This is emotional.

Let me lay out the emotional argument for you as it plays out in my head, OK?

It goes like this: Don't touch my pension. You can touch anything else. Do not touch my pension.

I don't care if they take away every other piece of welfare that is available to me and other people.

In fact, I would actually welcome it, because I think there is way too much welfare in this country for the middle class who don't actually need it.

You get a best start payment for having a newborn. You're having a baby. They give you money.

You get the winter energy payment. You get Working for Families, which I think is a crime.

You get the subsidised childcare for sending your kid to kindy. You get free tertiary education for the 3rd year, God only knows why.

Free government money for your KiwiSaver.

Now, as far as I'm concerned, there's way too much of that stuff going on. They can take all of that away. If they don't want to take it away, they can means test it so that actually the most, and only the most needy in this country get it.

But I will do everything I can to stop them touching my pension. Because I have earned that money.

This is not a question about whether I need that money, it is that I have earned that money.

I, like you, have contributed huge amounts of tax to this country, and actually I have not claimed very much back for myself.

It's certainly not anywhere near how much I have put in.

The only thing that stops me from being very sour about how much money they take out of my pay packet every year and the wasting of that money and the bludging by some on that money is the knowledge that when I hit 65 and want to retire, I will get a little bit back.

Call it a goodwill gesture from the government, if you like, a government who I have helped prop up just like you have for donkeys' years, by the time that money comes into my bank account.

So, good luck to Chris Luxon getting this one across the line.

I think it's going to be one of the hardest fights to win because of the emotional argument that I have just laid out for you. I think they might find it easier to take away a lot of other welfare first.

And unless they take away a lot of other welfare first, I am not budging on the pension.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer is "on the wrong side of humanity." 

It's after Starmer called for an end to the war in Gaza. 

Meanwhile 20 prisons in England will pilot the chemical castration of sex offenders, and Denmark's set to have the highest retirement age - 70-years-old.

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first real indicator of the impact of the trade war is coming out of China.

The country cut their key lending rates by 10 basis points on Tuesday in an effort to boost the economy.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) trimmed the 1-year loan prime rate, which influences corporate and most household loans in China, to 3.0% from 3.1%.

Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about what it means.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the week that was.

What were the highs and lows of budget day?

The debate about the punishment for three Te Pāti Māori MP’s begun ... but didn’t head anywhere quickly.

And Winston Peters had an argy-bargy run in with a member of the public.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hit go on commercial building developments, oil and gas exploration, dam builders and more.

In a new investment boost programme, businesses can now deduct twenty percent off the cost of a new asset.

There’s no cap on how much the asset can cost.

Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the new scheme.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB’s Andrew Alderson and Sports Journalist Nick Bewly join Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Sports Huddle.

Supercars will officially race in a Kiwi double-header in New Zealand from 2026-2028. Can the country sustain two Supercars events?

Super Rugby referees have admitted they got it wrong in the Blues-Moana game. How far back should the video referee be able to go? Are they too hogtied to the rules?

The Sports Huddle discuss all this and more.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another huge weekend is in store for Go Media Stadium with two sold out games.

Auckland FC’s second semifinal's on Saturday, before the Warriors take over on Sunday.

The stadium’s just won the prize for the best stadium atmosphere by the football players association.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media influencer and mental health advocate Jazz Thornton says a social media ban would be dangerous for kids mental health.

She says kids are able to access free mental health resources through social media.

But is it worth the negative effect it comes with?

Clinical Psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the implications of a social media ban for kids.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday’s budget confirmed there will be no changes to superannuation.

Means testing for KiwiSaver input’s in, but nothing for super.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reaffirmed his party’s support for raising the retirement age to 67.

But his deputy and coalition partner Winston Peters doesn’t agree.

Associate Finance Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the idea.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.