One industry expert says the downfall of David Jones is the sign of a bigger problem impacting the retail sector. 

The Australian department store has officially gone into voluntary administration, following failed discussions between the 188 year old company and its landlord Scentre Group.

Australian consumer and retail analyst Barry Urquhart says all department stores around the world are struggling - including Saks Fifth Avenue.

"This is not so much an issue of retail competitiveness, advertising and marketing, it's a simple case of undercapitalisation."

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One industry expert says the downfall of David Jones is the sign of a bigger problem impacting the retail sector.&nbsp;
The Australian department store has officially gone into voluntary administration, following failed discussions between the 188 year old company and its landlord Scentre Group.
Australian consumer and retail analyst Barry Urquhart says all department stores around the world are struggling - including Saks Fifth Avenue.
"This is not so much an issue of retail competitiveness, advertising and marketing, it's a simple case of undercapitalisation."
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

Barry Urquhart: Australian consumer and retail analyst on David Jones being placed into voluntary administration

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0b202e6d-5952-4e42-932f-b4f90062b868/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday  5 November.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5 November. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 05 November 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1bc4cd2e-262d-4067-a19e-b4f90066b46c/transcript

Rabobank's newly released November Agribusiness Monthly report is reporting some positive results, but there's some industry concerns surfacing ahead of the summer season.

The report shows there's strong livestock returns and firmer dairy prices, but the incoming El Niño could create adverse conditions, impacting farming costs.

The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.

LISTEN ABOVE

Rabobank's newly released November Agribusiness Monthly report is reporting some positive results, but there's some industry concerns surfacing ahead of the summer season.
The report shows there's strong livestock returns and firmer dairy prices, but the incoming El Niño could create adverse conditions, impacting farming costs.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.
LISTEN ABOVE

Jamie Mackay: The Country host on the findings from Rabobank's November Agribusiness Monthly report

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/788255b7-5c71-4690-accf-b4f90068667d/transcript

I am no defender of what Michael Laws has said, and I made it pretty clear that I think what he said was quite weird and gross.

But I would also find it really weird and over the top if it turns out that New Zealand First fires him as an MP for this.

I mean, that does seem to be a possibility here, right?

It's possible that Winston is just stalling for time. He's saying there's going to be a board meeting and so on, but nothing is being done before the election. Then, once the election is out of the way and all the high drama has died down, nothing will happen.

But it's also possible that Michael Laws is gone because Winston has said it is a live issue whether he remains a potential MP. Winston is clearly, as he put it, "mad to beat the band", or words to that effect.

It is weird because this is a party that has made a virtue of being controversial. They have racked up plenty of controversial comments in the past year alone, not least from their own leader, who told Lawrence Xu-Nan of the Green Party to "go home to China".

Now, there is only one other occasion where a New Zealand First MP has been immediately punished for saying something a bit naughty and that was Stuart Nash over the maternity leave comments.

What do these two incidents have in common? What Stuart Nash said and what Michael Laws has said?

Women.

The thing they have in common is women. And this is probably why New Zealand First is reacting the way it is.

Women are a problem, as I've told you before, for the coalition. All three coalition parties have lost the women's vote in a big way to Labour and the Greens, and probably to the Opportunity Party as well.

Maybe it's because of the pay equity issue. Maybe it's because women are often the ones managing household budgets and they know just how tough things are out there.

But the coalition, frankly, cannot afford to lose more women because women make decisions.

And if women are annoyed about something Michael Laws has said, they will go home to their husbands or partners and let them know exactly what they think about it.

So I think that is why Michael Laws is, at least in a performative sense, in trouble.

Whether it actually turns into a firing, well, we'll have to wait and see.

LISTEN ABOVE

I am no defender of what Michael Laws has said, and I made it pretty clear that I think what he said was quite weird and gross.
But I would also find it really weird and over the top if it turns out that New Zealand First fires him as an MP for this.
I mean, that does seem to be a possibility here, right?
It's possible that Winston is just stalling for time. He's saying there's going to be a board meeting and so on, but nothing is being done before the election. Then, once the election is out of the way and all the high drama has died down, nothing will happen.
But it's also possible that Michael Laws is gone because Winston has said it is a live issue whether he remains a potential MP. Winston is clearly, as he put it, "mad to beat the band", or words to that effect.
It is weird because this is a party that has made a virtue of being controversial. They have racked up plenty of controversial comments in the past year alone, not least from their own leader, who told Lawrence Xu-Nan of the Green Party to "go home to China".
Now, there is only one other occasion where a New Zealand First MP has been immediately punished for saying something a bit naughty and that was Stuart Nash over the maternity leave comments.
What do these two incidents have in common? What Stuart Nash said and what Michael Laws has said?
Women.
The thing they have in common is women. And this is probably why New Zealand First is reacting the way it is.
Women are a problem, as I've told you before, for the coalition. All three coalition parties have lost the women's vote in a big way to Labour and the Greens, and probably to the Opportunity Party as well.
Maybe it's because of the pay equity issue. Maybe it's because women are often the ones managing household budgets and they know just how tough things are out there.
But the coalition, frankly, cannot afford to lose more women because women make decisions.
And if women are annoyed about something Michael Laws has said, they will go home to their husbands or partners and let them know exactly what they think about it.
So I think that is why Michael Laws is, at least in a performative sense, in trouble.
Whether it actually turns into a firing, well, we'll have to wait and see.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Will NZ First have to fire Michael Laws over these comments?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/15ab1d8b-d5a4-4884-bbe2-b4f9006577be/transcript

Barry Urquhart: Australian consumer and retail analyst on David Jones being placed into voluntary administration

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