Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 27 September.
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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The Dunedin Mayor says he is expecting thousands of people to protest tomorrow over a proposed downgrade for the city's new hospital. 

The Government has asked Health New Zealand to cut costs - after an independent review found it's hurtling toward an overspend. 

Mayor Jules Radich says he is urging the community to march against what amounts to clinical cuts for the critically needed facility. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan the Government must re-engage in contract negotiations. 

Radich says he believes the project can be completed if prices are brought back within reason, as the piles and plans are all done. 

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The Alliance Group says a drop in our livestock numbers is behind a proposal shut a Timaru meatworks. 

It's called an all-staff meeting today to announce a proposal to close its Smithfield freezing works.

It would stop sheep meat, calf, and night shift venison processing after this season, and remaining venison at the end of the year, at the latest.

Group chair Mark Wynne told Heather du Plessis-Allan there's been a change in how farmers are using their land.

He says the fundamental reason is declining livestock and in particular sheep - and the flow on effect that is has on the processing industry. 

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A view that puberty blocker use for trans youth in New Zealand needs tighter supervision. 

New Zealand's use of puberty blockers is seven times higher than comparable countries. 

Paediatric Endocrinologist, Paul Hofman says they shouldn't be banned as they can be effective in some cases. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's not settled science. 

Hofman says the evidence for puberty blocker's efficacy is not as strong as many think.

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What about Liam Lawson? A kid from Pukekohe from potato country, has just been given a Formula One seat for the rest of the season. What an absolutely amazing achievement that is. There are only 20 seats available each season in F1. 20 seats.  

And the absolute best drivers around the world compete for those twenty seats.  

And a 22-year-old kid from New Zealand, population just slightly over 5 million, that's just a big city somewhere, just took one of those twenty seats. I mean, talk about overachieving. Well done him.  

How proud do you think his parents are right now? How much are they not regretting that move to Pukekohe so he could be near the racetrack? It's paid off, hasn't it?  

I was listening to Liam talk to Mike this morning and the thing that struck me about him is how mature he is.  

I mean, for a kid of 22 years old, he is unbelievably cool, calm and collected, and I reckon even more so than people, sometimes twice his age.  

I mean, this kid knows what's on the line. He knows this is his one shot, he understands he's got about 6 races to prove himself if he wants to keep the seat next year.  

And he just sounds like he's taking this whole thing in his stride completely.  

The impression that I got from him this morning is even if he wasn't one of the best F1 drivers in the world right now, and you just met him somewhere in New Zealand on some random occasion, it would be hard not to be impressed with his composure for his age. 

He's going to need that composure. Since the announcement that Daniel Ricciardo's been rolled and Liam Lawson's taking over, he is copping it  online from fans who are upset with the whole way that Riccardo's been treated.  

And who are they blaming wrongly? Obviously, Liam Lawson.  

And you know how social media is nowadays? It's not something out there that's just in the nether nether. It's in your phone, in your pocket, and you can read it if you want to.  

So I imagine he's going to have to draw on that mental fortitude to be able to cope with the pressure that he will now be under from people out there who've got opinions.  

But somehow, having listened to him talk this morning, I think he's going to be absolutely fine, don't you?

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Former industry giant Intel used to dominate the computer chip market - with significant presence in the world of PCs and servers.

However, the company's market share has plummeted and it runs the risk of being bought out by rivals.

Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains what went wrong for the business.

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Kiwi dairy farmers can breathe a sigh of relief following Fonterra's successful results.

The dairy giant posted a $1.1 billion dollar net profit and confirmed a 55 cent total dividend for the past financial year.

The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this news means for the wider dairy sector.

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Leading Kiwi retailer The Warehouse Group has posted a significant net loss off the back of a tough trading environment.

The company today posted it announced a net loss of $54.2 million - a contract to last year's $29.8 million net profit.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says it's unclear if the Warehouse can recover from this.

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Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

The Warehouse has posted a record-setting net loss today - what's it going to take to bring consumers back?

The Government has announced another crackdown on student attendance - with teacher only days barred from happening during term time and prosecution for parents of truant kids. Do we agree with this approach?

The Dunedin Hospital project's costs have blown out, and the Government is looking to rescope it. What do we make of this?

The Hastings District Council has today voted to let non-elected Youth Councillors vote in sub-committee and committee meetings. They will also be paid $500 per meeting. Is this a fair move?

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​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 September 2024, fines for parents of truant kids and no more teacher-only days during school time. Northland principal Pat Newman reacts to the Government's plan to boost school attendance.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop defends changes to the new Dunedin Hospital because of cost blowouts.

The Warehouse has delivered a bloodbath of a result, Interim Chief Executive tells Heather how he's planning to turn the company around.

Plus the Huddle debates whether Hastings District Council was off the mark when it decided  to allow unelected Youth Council members to take part in votes.

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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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.