A nurses union says having more staff will reduce violence in emergency departments.

There have been more than 7,000 assaults of public health employees in the two years to April.

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine is calling for around-the-clock security guards in all EDs.

NZNO's Kerri Nuku says reducing wait times will lower the tension.

"If we had more nurses, more doctors on the floor to be able to deal with the crisis- ED departments across the whole workforce are short."

LISTEN ABOVE

A nurses union says having more staff will reduce violence in emergency departments.
There have been more than 7,000 assaults of public health employees in the two years to April.
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine is calling for around-the-clock security guards in all EDs.
NZNO's Kerri Nuku says reducing wait times will lower the tension.
"If we had more nurses, more doctors on the floor to be able to deal with the crisis- ED departments across the whole workforce are short."
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

Kerri Nuku: New Zealand Nurses Organisation spokesperson says more medical staff will reduce tension and violence

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the issues of the day - and more! 

Is there a case to be made for cutting down the Government departments? Newstalk ZB's revealed Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche recommended the Government reduce the 42 agencies. Do we think this is a good idea? 

Former Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s rebuke of the airline was 'not cool'. This follows the airline posting a $242 million after-tax loss in the last financial year. What do we make of this?

Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams have come to the rescue to save domestic netball in New Zealand. Do we like this idea? What could it all mean for the future of the sport?

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and former Auckland mayor Phil Goff joined in on a discussion about the issues of the day - and more!&nbsp;
Is there a case to be made for cutting down the Government departments? Newstalk ZB's revealed Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche recommended the Government reduce the 42 agencies. Do we think this is a good idea?&nbsp;
Former Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s rebuke of the airline was 'not cool'. This follows the airline posting a $242 million after-tax loss in the last financial year. What do we make of this?
Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams have come to the rescue to save domestic netball in New Zealand. Do we like this idea? What could it all mean for the future of the sport?
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: Does Rob Fyfe have a point about Chris Luxon's comments?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ee75b8d9-8eef-4d26-b433-b4b8007d5468/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday  1 September.

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 Tuesday 1 September. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 01 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6993141c-8546-412b-8c50-b4b80076afa6/transcript

Let's not underestimate just how bold Netball New Zealand's decision is to hand control of the ANZ Premiership to private investors.

To be fair, the netball bosses have probably had little choice. The sport was heading towards ruin in this country without outside help.

Eighteen of our best players have signed contracts to play in overseas competitions next year. That includes almost the entire Silver Ferns squad that went to the Commonwealth Games, with the exception of just two players, one of whom has suffered an ACL injury.

No broadcaster wanted to put netball on television without Netball New Zealand covering the production costs. And in a single season, Netball New Zealand lost $3.7 million simply trying to keep the engine running.

This could not continue much longer. Probably not even for another year. That's why the netball bosses have likely had no real option but to let private money take over.

But the fact their backs were against the wall doesn't detract from how bold this decision is.

Netball is the first of our traditional sports to truly pull the trigger on handing control to private interests.

You could argue rugby went first with Super Rugby, but rugby's administrators never really ceded much control. In fact, they didn't give up any meaningful control at all.

You could also argue cricket got there earlier with the T20 deal announced this year. But we don't know the full details of that arrangement, if the parties themselves even do. And that competition isn't due to start until January 2028, whereas this netball deal has to be finalised within weeks.

The licence will soon be handed over to Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray. It's happening.

This is the beginning of the privatisation of our traditional sports.

Netball has probably been forced to move first because it's in the greatest financial trouble. But that may also prove to be its silver lining. Going first means getting the money first.

And not just the money. It also means gaining the commercial expertise of successful business people such as Anna Mowbray.

Don't underestimate the value of that.

Here's hoping it works.

Frankly, it probably couldn't have gone much worse than where it was headed.

LISTEN ABOVE

Let's not underestimate just how bold Netball New Zealand's decision is to hand control of the ANZ Premiership to private investors.
To be fair, the netball bosses have probably had little choice. The sport was heading towards ruin in this country without outside help.
Eighteen of our best players have signed contracts to play in overseas competitions next year. That includes almost the entire Silver Ferns squad that went to the Commonwealth Games, with the exception of just two players, one of whom has suffered an ACL injury.
No broadcaster wanted to put netball on television without Netball New Zealand covering the production costs. And in a single season, Netball New Zealand lost $3.7 million simply trying to keep the engine running.
This could not continue much longer. Probably not even for another year. That's why the netball bosses have likely had no real option but to let private money take over.
But the fact their backs were against the wall doesn't detract from how bold this decision is.
Netball is the first of our traditional sports to truly pull the trigger on handing control to private interests.
You could argue rugby went first with Super Rugby, but rugby's administrators never really ceded much control. In fact, they didn't give up any meaningful control at all.
You could also argue cricket got there earlier with the T20 deal announced this year. But we don't know the full details of that arrangement, if the parties themselves even do. And that competition isn't due to start until January 2028, whereas this netball deal has to be finalised within weeks.
The licence will soon be handed over to Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray. It's happening.
This is the beginning of the privatisation of our traditional sports.
Netball has probably been forced to move first because it's in the greatest financial trouble. But that may also prove to be its silver lining. Going first means getting the money first.
And not just the money. It also means gaining the commercial expertise of successful business people such as Anna Mowbray.
Don't underestimate the value of that.
Here's hoping it works.
Frankly, it probably couldn't have gone much worse than where it was headed.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Let's hope the private investment into domestic netball works out

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/459b2670-8891-4d3a-8c1d-b4b80078ee80/transcript

Kerri Nuku: New Zealand Nurses Organisation spokesperson says more medical staff will reduce tension and violence

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