More rugby clubs around the country are ditching junior fees in a bid to ease financial pressure on families and revive grassroots participation.

What began as a small initiative in 2024 has gathered momentum, with more clubs opting to waive registration costs in 2026.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further.

LISTEN ABOVE

More rugby clubs around the country are ditching junior fees in a bid to ease financial pressure on families and revive grassroots participation.
What began as a small initiative in 2024 has gathered momentum, with more clubs opting to waive registration costs in 2026.
Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further.
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

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on rugby clubs going fees-free for kids

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/df7d0261-427c-47a1-9df4-b4120042b682/transcript

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 10 April, 2026, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown signs the country's first city deal. He tells us why he couldn't get the bed levy across the line this time.

Judge Ema Aitken gets to keep her job. Former Attorney General Chris Finlayson tells us if that was the right call.

What was Melania Trump up to with that press conference? Bo Erickson is Reuters US Politics correspondent and was in the room. He gives us the inside scoop.

And Alex Powell and Andrew Gourdie discuss why parents don't volunteer on their kids sports teams anymore.
 
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, 10 April, 2026, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown signs the country's first city deal. He tells us why he couldn't get the bed levy across the line this time.
Judge Ema Aitken gets to keep her job. Former Attorney General Chris Finlayson tells us if that was the right call.
What was Melania Trump up to with that press conference? Bo Erickson is Reuters US Politics correspondent and was in the room. He gives us the inside scoop.
And Alex Powell and Andrew Gourdie discuss why parents don't volunteer on their kids sports teams anymore. &nbsp; 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: 10 April 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/20bf0144-3484-4b6b-8a4c-b4280076b3a1/transcript

Hands up—who knew the ANZ Premiership starts tomorrow?

This is netball.

I’m guessing not many hands went up, which is a worry. It’s somewhat forgivable, given the state of netball’s head office at the moment. It doesn’t have a permanent CEO, and the chair and several board members have recently resigned. So you can understand why things are a bit of a mess and the communication strategy isn’t quite working.

But it’s also not forgivable, because this is a pivotal season for netball. This season has to work. It probably won’t, but it at least needs the best possible chance, because professional netball in this country is fighting for its life.

There’s no broadcast deal this year. Sky pulled out at the end of last year, so netball has had to pay TVNZ just to get it on TV2. That means there’s no money coming in from Sky, and players have had to take a 20% pay cut—those who are still here, anyway.

Nine Silver Ferns have already moved to the Australian competition, where they earn double what they do here. And that will keep happening unless the local competition can start generating revenue again and paying players properly.

So you can see how important it is that this season gets things moving in the right direction.

It seems netball bosses are pinning their hopes on free-to-air TV being the game changer. Before, you had to pay to watch; now you can watch for free on TV2. The idea is you might fall in love with it again, start watching regularly, maybe even go to matches—and before long, netball secures another deal with Sky.

But will you watch it again? Will you love it again when nine Silver Ferns are already gone, and the competition isn’t as strong as it was last year—when you probably weren’t watching anyway?

Probably not.

And the fact that neither of us even knew the season was about to start is probably not a good omen.

LISTEN ABOVE

Hands up—who knew the ANZ Premiership starts tomorrow?
This is netball.
I’m guessing not many hands went up, which is a worry. It’s somewhat forgivable, given the state of netball’s head office at the moment. It doesn’t have a permanent CEO, and the chair and several board members have recently resigned. So you can understand why things are a bit of a mess and the communication strategy isn’t quite working.
But it’s also not forgivable, because this is a pivotal season for netball. This season has to work. It probably won’t, but it at least needs the best possible chance, because professional netball in this country is fighting for its life.
There’s no broadcast deal this year. Sky pulled out at the end of last year, so netball has had to pay TVNZ just to get it on TV2. That means there’s no money coming in from Sky, and players have had to take a 20% pay cut—those who are still here, anyway.
Nine Silver Ferns have already moved to the Australian competition, where they earn double what they do here. And that will keep happening unless the local competition can start generating revenue again and paying players properly.
So you can see how important it is that this season gets things moving in the right direction.
It seems netball bosses are pinning their hopes on free-to-air TV being the game changer. Before, you had to pay to watch; now you can watch for free on TV2. The idea is you might fall in love with it again, start watching regularly, maybe even go to matches—and before long, netball secures another deal with Sky.
But will you watch it again? Will you love it again when nine Silver Ferns are already gone, and the competition isn’t as strong as it was last year—when you probably weren’t watching anyway?
Probably not.
And the fact that neither of us even knew the season was about to start is probably not a good omen.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Is netball a dying sport?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b87b3c5e-cf93-4527-baf8-b428007a4631/transcript

A new alliance has formed to oppose the proposed LNG facility including groups like Master Electricians, Consumer New Zealand, and the Sustainable Energy Alliance.

Smart Energy Alliance spokesperson Gareth Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "our view is that it's very short-sighted, that it doesn't really address the real challenges that New Zealand's electricity system faces."

LISTEN ABOVE

A new alliance has formed to oppose the proposed LNG facility including groups like Master Electricians, Consumer New Zealand, and the Sustainable Energy Alliance.
Smart Energy Alliance spokesperson Gareth Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "our view is that it's very short-sighted, that it doesn't really address the real challenges that New Zealand's electricity system faces."
LISTEN ABOVE

Gareth Williams: Smart Energy Alliance spokesperson says LNG terminal doesn't address 'real challenges'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ee713f31-d60a-441b-b399-b4280078887f/transcript

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on rugby clubs going fees-free for kids

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