Private healthcare is experiencing a surge in demand as public wait-lists keep expanding.

A new private hospital has opened in central Auckland, and Epsom's Mercy Hospital is expected to add dozens more beds and at least 10 new operating theatres.

At least 1 third of Kiwis now have private health insurance, with Southern Cross reporting a 3.5 percent increase in memberships over the past year.

Otago University's Robin Gauld says more people are worried about accessing healthcare as stories surface.

LISTEN ABOVE

Private healthcare is experiencing a surge in demand as public wait-lists keep expanding.
A new private hospital has opened in central Auckland, and Epsom's Mercy Hospital is expected to add dozens more beds and at least 10 new operating theatres.
At least 1 third of Kiwis now have private health insurance, with Southern Cross reporting a 3.5 percent increase in memberships over the past year.
Otago University's Robin Gauld says more people are worried about accessing healthcare as stories surface.
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

Robin Gauld: Otago University Director of the Centre for Health Systems on the rise of private healthcare

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 16 September 2026, a National policy that has Heather saying WTF. We ask Nicolas Willis what the value is in splitting up Foodstuffs. 

The popular campground at Piha is shut because of flooding worries. We find out if it's likely to re-open in time for Labour weekend. 

Do too many Kiwi men think they're bulletproof? There are new stats on who isn't buckling up that may alarm you. 

And on The Huddle, David Farrar and Jack Tame discuss whether they'll be into the American-style pretzels and ice cream coming into the country. 

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 Wednesday 16 September 2026, a National policy that has Heather saying WTF. We ask Nicolas Willis what the value is in splitting up Foodstuffs.&nbsp;
The popular campground at Piha is shut because of flooding worries. We find out if it's likely to re-open in time for Labour weekend.&nbsp;
Do too many Kiwi men think they're bulletproof? There are new stats on who isn't buckling up that may alarm you.&nbsp;
And on The Huddle, David Farrar and Jack Tame discuss whether they'll be into the American-style pretzels and ice cream coming into the country.&nbsp;
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 16 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5d04faa5-1172-46dd-ba6e-b4c70084798f/transcript

If my reaction to the National Party's supermarket policy was an emoji, it would be the one with the brains blowing out the top of its head. It would be WTF. It would be: Was the Greens' policy not nutty enough for you? Did you have to find something even more cooked and release it?

Because that's what's just happened.

The National Party has announced, completely unexpectedly, with nobody getting a heads-up that this was coming, that it wants to break up Foodstuffs into two separately owned businesses. One would be Pak'n'Save  and the other would combine New World and Four Square.

It won't be forcing any owners to sell their businesses because, by the way, these businesses are owned by Kiwi owner-operators. They're not going to be forced to sell. But they are going to be forced to move with their chosen brand.

Now, if what the National Party wanted was a water-cooler announcement, you know, the kind that gets so much attention everybody ends up talking about it at the water cooler, then they got it.

And for all the wrong reasons.

Because this is completely bonkers. Especially because it comes from a party that should know better: the National Party.

Now, I'm not defending supermarket prices here. I'm not saying it's okay that you're paying $300 to $400 a week just to feed your family. But what I am saying is that the Nats pushing the red button and going nuclear here may actually be worse.

Think about what this is going to do to confidence in investing in this country. Who is going to put serious money into business in New Zealand if this is the kind of country that just goes around splitting up corporates?

And it's not theoretical to say this is going to have a chilling effect. We know it will.

We're still trying to convince oil and gas companies to bring their money back into this country and back into the gas sector after Jacinda Ardern announced the oil and gas exploration ban. That was eight years ago and there is still no sign that confidence is returning.

It takes decades to undo this kind of damage.

Even having the so-called business-friendly party in New Zealand discussing a policy like this is damaging our international reputation right now.

And is it worth it?

Is it worth it?

Have a guess how much money this is going to save you each week when it's finally baked in at the end of the process.

Maybe $3.80.

$3.80 a week.

For all of this.

Is it worth it?

No. Of course it's not.

This is an incredibly damaging idea for apparently very little gain.

As you can imagine, I've had countless texts and conversations about this since it was announced. And the one that sums it up best is this:

"New Zealand is not a serious country anymore."

LISTEN ABOVE

If my reaction to the National Party's supermarket policy was an emoji, it would be the one with the brains blowing out the top of its head. It would be WTF. It would be: Was the Greens' policy not nutty enough for you? Did you have to find something even more cooked and release it?
Because that's what's just happened.
The National Party has announced, completely unexpectedly, with nobody getting a heads-up that this was coming, that it wants to break up Foodstuffs into two separately owned businesses. One would be Pak'n'Save &nbsp;and the other would combine New World and Four Square.
It won't be forcing any owners to sell their businesses because, by the way, these businesses are owned by Kiwi owner-operators. They're not going to be forced to sell. But they are going to be forced to move with their chosen brand.
Now, if what the National Party wanted was a water-cooler announcement, you know, the kind that gets so much attention everybody ends up talking about it at the water cooler, then they got it.
And for all the wrong reasons.
Because this is completely bonkers. Especially because it comes from a party that should know better: the National Party.
Now, I'm not defending supermarket prices here. I'm not saying it's okay that you're paying $300 to $400 a week just to feed your family. But what I am saying is that the Nats pushing the red button and going nuclear here may actually be worse.
Think about what this is going to do to confidence in investing in this country. Who is going to put serious money into business in New Zealand if this is the kind of country that just goes around splitting up corporates?
And it's not theoretical to say this is going to have a chilling effect. We know it will.
We're still trying to convince oil and gas companies to bring their money back into this country and back into the gas sector after Jacinda Ardern announced the oil and gas exploration ban. That was eight years ago and there is still no sign that confidence is returning.
It takes decades to undo this kind of damage.
Even having the so-called business-friendly party in New Zealand discussing a policy like this is damaging our international reputation right now.
And is it worth it?
Is it worth it?
Have a guess how much money this is going to save you each week when it's finally baked in at the end of the process.
Maybe $3.80.
$3.80 a week.
For all of this.
Is it worth it?
No. Of course it's not.
This is an incredibly damaging idea for apparently very little gain.
As you can imagine, I've had countless texts and conversations about this since it was announced. And the one that sums it up best is this:
"New Zealand is not a serious country anymore."
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: The National Party should know better when it comes to business

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/79e88dd9-7cbc-40a3-9703-b4c70071ce0c/transcript

There's mixed results out of Briscoe Group, with the homeware and sporting goods retailer reporting a small lift in revenue and a downgrade in profit in its 2026 half-year results, with key sporting events helping boost performance.

For the 26 weeks ended July 26, 2026, Briscoe Group reported total sales of $374.2 million - up over $3 million compared to last year.

Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke says the number of high-profile sporting events in rugby, football and the current NRL season have contributed to the boost, but the Iran war remains an economic concern. 

LISTEN ABOVE

There's mixed results out of Briscoe Group, with the homeware and sporting goods retailer reporting a small lift in revenue and a downgrade in profit in its 2026 half-year results, with key sporting events helping boost performance.
For the 26 weeks ended July 26, 2026, Briscoe Group reported total sales of $374.2 million - up over $3 million compared to last year.
Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke says the number of high-profile sporting events in rugby, football and the current NRL season have contributed to the boost, but the Iran war remains an economic concern.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Rod Duke: Briscoe Group managing director on the retailer reporting a lift in revenue

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b6c22b4d-5213-473c-b347-b4c70070e352/transcript

Robin Gauld: Otago University Director of the Centre for Health Systems on the rise of private healthcare

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