Tauranga residents are up in arms over NZTA's plan for a second toll point on the new Eastern Link.

Drivers passing through the Pāpāmoa East Interchange would be charged $1.10, on top of the $2.30 already charged.

A public meeting tomorrow's expected to be fiery. 

City Councillor Steve Morris says it's not fair for people living in Pāpāmoa East.

"What's worse is that 80 cents out of that $1.10, according to NZTA, is going on transaction charges."

LISTEN ABOVE

Tauranga residents are up in arms over NZTA's plan for a second toll point on the new Eastern Link.
Drivers passing through the Pāpāmoa East Interchange would be charged $1.10, on top of the $2.30 already charged.
A public meeting tomorrow's expected to be fiery.&nbsp;
City Councillor Steve Morris says it's not fair for people living in Pāpāmoa East.
"What's worse is that 80 cents out of that $1.10, according to NZTA, is going on transaction charges."
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

Steve Morris: Tauranga City Councillor on NZTA's plan for a new toll point on the Eastern Link

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f3ce4f45-7498-430f-be0f-b480006ad807/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday  7 July.

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 7 July. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 07 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/12383290-999c-4cdf-aeda-b4800076b5da/transcript

Let's talk about the Chinese test of that nuclear-capable missile. More specifically, let's talk about New Zealand's response to it, which was quite full-throated in its criticism of China.

I find myself unable to get as worked up about this as Winston Peters because, please correct me if I'm wrong, I can't see that China has actually broken any rules here. Before firing the missile, China alerted New Zealand, Australia and Japan, as required under international regulations governing tests of this nature.

And even though there's been a lot of noise about China firing a nuclear-capable missile into a nuclear-free zone, it was only nuclear-capable; it was not actually carrying a nuclear warhead. It was a dummy.

Sure, I'd admit they were pushing hard up against what people would be comfortable with. But then again, missiles are generally not things people are comfortable with.

As far as I can see, the New Zealand Government's angry response is largely posturing because we're required to posture. The reason I'm not quite as worked up is that this doesn't actually surprise me. 

Anyone who's followed what China has been up to lately knows that it's building up its military and not just so it can put on impressive displays.

I do wonder, though, whether China has made a bit of a mistake here, just as it may have done last year when it conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. This kind of activity from China could freak people out a bit, or, if not freak them out, at least wake them up to the fact that China is not simply a benign trading partner. It is a military superpower with clear strategic ambitions, probably involving Taiwan.

So I wouldn't be surprised if this creates greater support in New Zealand for increased defence spending, which is actually something we need to do. Nor would I be surprised if it unsettles some of our Pacific neighbours and drives them closer to New Zealand and Australia, which is arguably what we want.

In a way, I don't actually mind that China did this, if only because it might help us collectively wake up a little to what is really happening in our region.

LISTEN ABOVE

Let's talk about the Chinese test of that nuclear-capable missile. More specifically, let's talk about New Zealand's response to it, which was quite full-throated in its criticism of China.
I find myself unable to get as worked up about this as Winston Peters because, please correct me if I'm wrong, I can't see that China has actually broken any rules here. Before firing the missile, China alerted New Zealand, Australia and Japan, as required under international regulations governing tests of this nature.
And even though there's been a lot of noise about China firing a nuclear-capable missile into a nuclear-free zone, it was only nuclear-capable; it was not actually carrying a nuclear warhead. It was a dummy.
Sure, I'd admit they were pushing hard up against what people would be comfortable with. But then again, missiles are generally not things people are comfortable with.
As far as I can see, the New Zealand Government's angry response is largely posturing because we're required to posture. The reason I'm not quite as worked up is that this doesn't actually surprise me.&nbsp;
Anyone who's followed what China has been up to lately knows that it's building up its military and not just so it can put on impressive displays.
I do wonder, though, whether China has made a bit of a mistake here, just as it may have done last year when it conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. This kind of activity from China could freak people out a bit, or, if not freak them out, at least wake them up to the fact that China is not simply a benign trading partner. It is a military superpower with clear strategic ambitions, probably involving Taiwan.
So I wouldn't be surprised if this creates greater support in New Zealand for increased defence spending, which is actually something we need to do. Nor would I be surprised if it unsettles some of our Pacific neighbours and drives them closer to New Zealand and Australia, which is arguably what we want.
In a way, I don't actually mind that China did this, if only because it might help us collectively wake up a little to what is really happening in our region.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Did China break any rules with their nuclear missile test?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/84953aa8-d9d7-4242-9f40-b480007a9ac2/transcript

Genesis is backing a Parliamentary petition to ban incandescent light bulbs, and it's prompted concerns from some.

These bulbs are already banned in the Australia, the EU, the US, Canada and many other countries. 

However, physique specialist Tim Bean says people who are constantly exposed to LED lights have a strong 'blue spectrum' and it interferes with our sleep-wake cycles.

"It does disrupt things like circadian rhythm patterns and sleep patterns as well...and we've known this for a very long time." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Genesis is backing a Parliamentary petition to ban incandescent light bulbs, and it's prompted concerns from some.
These bulbs are already banned in the Australia, the EU, the US, Canada and many other countries.&nbsp;
However, physique specialist Tim Bean says people who are constantly exposed to LED lights have a strong 'blue spectrum' and it interferes with our sleep-wake cycles.
"It does disrupt things like circadian rhythm patterns and sleep patterns as well...and we've known this for a very long time."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Tim Bean: physique specialist voices concerns with proposed ban on incandescent light bulbs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/279bbc9c-6379-4ba5-ba11-b48000785bf8/transcript

Steve Morris: Tauranga City Councillor on NZTA's plan for a new toll point on the Eastern Link

In 1 playlist(s)

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips