It has been 25 years since the release of the first Lord of the Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring. 

Actor Bruce Hopkins, who played Gamling in the series, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about the ongoing popularity and tourism pull in New Zealand. 

Hopkins said the support for the franchise is 'astounding'. 

LISTEN ABOVE

It has been 25 years since the release of the first Lord of the Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring.&nbsp;
Actor Bruce Hopkins, who played Gamling in the series, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about the ongoing popularity and tourism pull in New Zealand.&nbsp;
Hopkins said the support for the franchise is 'astounding'.&nbsp;
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

Bruce Hopkins: Lord of the Rings actor on the series' continued popularity after 25 years

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c8b5fc04-0bd5-45c8-a164-b41a00636b40/transcript

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 27 March, 2026, Finance Minister Nicola Willis' "keep calm" message as she sets out what it'll take to start fuel rationing.

New Zealand First's plan to put millions of dollars into a Christchurch Cathedral rebuild.

Lord of the Rings actor Bruce Hopkins on why the film's still a big drawcard for tourists.

And on The Sports Huddle, D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jim Kayes debate the IOC's u-turn on transgender women.

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 Friday, 27 March, 2026, Finance Minister Nicola Willis' "keep calm" message as she sets out what it'll take to start fuel rationing.
New Zealand First's plan to put millions of dollars into a Christchurch Cathedral rebuild.
Lord of the Rings actor Bruce Hopkins on why the film's still a big drawcard for tourists.
And on The Sports Huddle, D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jim Kayes debate the IOC's u-turn on transgender women.
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 27 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/40c76c77-9e01-49e9-8925-b41a00662b09/transcript

The Warehouse Group has reported a first half net profit after tax of nearly $16 million.

CEO Mark Stirton told Heather du Plessis-Allan he is 'pleased' with the result

But, like most of the world, concerns over Iran and fuel costs plague future outlooks. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Warehouse Group has reported a first half net profit after tax of nearly $16 million.
CEO Mark Stirton told Heather du Plessis-Allan he is 'pleased' with the result
But, like most of the world, concerns over Iran and fuel costs plague future outlooks.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark Stirton: Warehouse Group CEO is 'pleased' with first half results

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3134c3fb-2ce2-4c21-b01b-b41a0067a27d/transcript

Now look it may not altogether surprise you today to hear that the International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women from competing in female events because this was so obviously going to happen once Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the IOC. She was clearly going to do it, given that she campaigned on doing exactly this.

But, you may be surprised to realise what an enormous U-turn this actually is.

I had to go back and have a look to actually believe it.

Five years ago, the IOC publicly praised Laurel Hubbard for having “courage and tenacity” as the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. They said everyone agrees that trans women are women.

So, to go from that position to now banning Laurel Hubbard from competing in a female category again, in the space of five short years, is actually—when you think about it—quite an extraordinary turnaround.

Now obviously what’s happened is public opinion has shifted.

Five years ago was before the Cass Report was delivered in the UK on the dangers of puberty blockers for children.

Five years ago was before the Bud Light controversy.

Five years ago was before the Algerian boxer won gold despite questions about whether she was actually female.

Five years ago, the prevailing opinion was that inclusion of transgender athletes mattered a lot more and that discussing transgender-related subjects was pretty taboo.

Today, the prevailing opinion appears to be more about fairness to women and we are openly debating transgender-related subjects.

Clearly the IOC, like any global sporting body, is sensitive to politics. 

They may say sport is paramount and we may like to believe that sport is the only thing they care about—and maybe it still is the most important thing for them—but they are not deaf to public opinion. They would have to be stupid to be.

Now how you judge the IOC for this is really up to you. You could see them as fickle, blowing in the wind of public opinion, or you could see them as simply trying to be pragmatic in the times they live in, whatever that is.

And today, possibly, we are somewhere closer—at least, I would argue—to a fairer outcome for women.

LISTEN ABOVE

Now look it may not altogether surprise you today to hear that the International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women from competing in female events because this was so obviously going to happen once Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the IOC. She was clearly going to do it, given that she campaigned on doing exactly this.
But, you may be surprised to realise what an enormous U-turn this actually is.
I had to go back and have a look to actually believe it.
Five years ago, the IOC publicly praised Laurel Hubbard for having “courage and tenacity” as the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. They said everyone agrees that trans women are women.
So, to go from that position to now banning Laurel Hubbard from competing in a female category again, in the space of five short years, is actually—when you think about it—quite an extraordinary turnaround.
Now obviously what’s happened is public opinion has shifted.
Five years ago was before the Cass Report was delivered in the UK on the dangers of puberty blockers for children.
Five years ago was before the Bud Light controversy.
Five years ago was before the Algerian boxer won gold despite questions about whether she was actually female.
Five years ago, the prevailing opinion was that inclusion of transgender athletes mattered a lot more and that discussing transgender-related subjects was pretty taboo.
Today, the prevailing opinion appears to be more about fairness to women and we are openly debating transgender-related subjects.
Clearly the IOC, like any global sporting body, is sensitive to politics.&nbsp;
They may say sport is paramount and we may like to believe that sport is the only thing they care about—and maybe it still is the most important thing for them—but they are not deaf to public opinion. They would have to be stupid to be.
Now how you judge the IOC for this is really up to you. You could see them as fickle, blowing in the wind of public opinion, or you could see them as simply trying to be pragmatic in the times they live in, whatever that is.
And today, possibly, we are somewhere closer—at least, I would argue—to a fairer outcome for women.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Olympics decision is an 'enormous U-turn'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a31d9daa-0e17-41d3-be63-b41a005e49f2/transcript

Bruce Hopkins: Lord of the Rings actor on the series' continued popularity after 25 years

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