The Government has announced a two-year delay to changes to NCEA.

Auckland Grammar Headmaster Tim O’Connor tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the delay comes as a relief after poorly communicated time frames previously caused confusion. 

Five different websites must be visited to access information on the change rollouts.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government has announced a two-year delay to changes to NCEA. 
Auckland Grammar Headmaster Tim O’Connor tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the delay comes as a relief after poorly communicated time frames previously caused confusion.  
Five different websites must be visited to access information on the change rollouts. 
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

Tim O'Connor: Auckland Grammar Headmaster on relief for the delay of NCEA changes

Do you know what I'm not going to miss? Public payphones. 

Spark has finally reached the end of the road. They've made the decision to rip 90% of these public payphones out of the ground. 

They tried to save them. They tried to talk Auckland Council into a deal where they could modernise the payphones in Auckland and operate them on behalf of the public. In exchange, Spark would have been allowed to run digital advertising on the sides of the phones. 

But Auckland Council said no and for good reason. The council already operates its own digital billboards and these phones would have eaten into that revenue stream. So the answer was no. 

The government didn't step in to change anything, and now the phones are simply too expensive for Spark to maintain in their current form. The copper wiring has been removed, so they're going to go. 

And I'm happy to see the back of them because I can't tell you the last time I used a payphone, or even saw one being used. In fact, I don't believe anyone uses them anymore, even in an emergency. 

Surely you'd be more likely to ask the nearest person, who would almost certainly have a cellphone you could use, than run a kilometre down the road looking for a payphone. 

All they are now is visual clutter. They're often tagged, vandalised, or broken. The handset is hanging off the cradle, the glass panels are scratched, and they generally look neglected. And all of that would still be true if they were upgraded, right? They'd look great for five minutes, and then somebody would come along and write "Limp" on one or something. 

And then you'd have to look at the advertising screens on the side. 

Personally, I'm not gagging to see more moving billboards in an urban environment. There are parts of Auckland that would be beautiful if there weren't digital billboards constantly changing and flashing at me. 

So, to me, this doesn't feel like a sad end to an era. 

If there's a payphone near you, pay your last respects. Lay some flowers. Take a photo, maybe, so you can tell the kids in years to come what that thing once was and what you did with it. 

And then say goodbye to a technology that has definitely had its day, hasn't it? 

Do you know what I'm not going to miss? Public payphones.&nbsp;
Spark has finally reached the end of the road. They've made the decision to rip 90% of these public payphones out of the ground.&nbsp;
They tried to save them. They tried to talk Auckland Council into a deal where they could modernise the payphones in Auckland and operate them on behalf of the public. In exchange, Spark would have been allowed to run digital advertising on the sides of the phones.&nbsp;
But Auckland Council said no and for good reason. The council already operates its own digital billboards and these phones would have eaten into that revenue stream. So the answer was no.&nbsp;
The government didn't step in to change anything, and now the phones are simply too expensive for Spark to maintain in their current form. The copper wiring has been removed, so they're going to go.&nbsp;
And I'm happy to see the back of them because I can't tell you the last time I used a payphone, or even saw one being used. In fact, I don't believe anyone uses them anymore, even in an emergency.&nbsp;
Surely you'd be more likely to ask the nearest person, who would almost certainly have a cellphone you could use, than run a kilometre down the road looking for a payphone.&nbsp;
All they are now is visual clutter. They're often tagged, vandalised, or broken. The handset is hanging off the cradle, the glass panels are scratched, and they generally look neglected. And all of that would still be true if they were upgraded, right? They'd look great for five minutes, and then somebody would come along and write "Limp" on one or something.&nbsp;
And then you'd have to look at the advertising screens on the side.&nbsp;
Personally, I'm not gagging to see more moving billboards in an urban environment. There are parts of Auckland that would be beautiful if there weren't digital billboards constantly changing and flashing at me.&nbsp;
So, to me, this doesn't feel like a sad end to an era.&nbsp;
If there's a payphone near you, pay your last respects. Lay some flowers. Take a photo, maybe, so you can tell the kids in years to come what that thing once was and what you did with it.&nbsp;
And then say goodbye to a technology that has definitely had its day, hasn't it?&nbsp;

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: I'm glad to see the back of public payphones

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2d6cdc3e-700f-4700-8a7b-b4e5006e7289/transcript

Tonight on The Huddle, Newstalk ZB sports reader Andrew Alderson and New Zealand Herald sports journalist joined in on a discussion about all of the latest New Zealand sporting issues.

Today a judge rejected a bid from NZ Rugby to stop the launch of a new Chiefs NRL team in Papua New Guinea. Is this the end or should NZ rugby fight more?

The Kiwis lost to the kangaroos in the Rugby League World Cup yesterday by the slimmest of margins. How badly did the referees screw the Kiwis? Where does the the team go from here?

Auckland FC kick off their season this weekend but a controversial lifting of a suspension for Sam Cosgrove has filled the headlines. Was Cosgrove right to fight back against media? 

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, Newstalk ZB sports reader Andrew Alderson and New Zealand Herald sports journalist joined in on a discussion about all of the latest New Zealand sporting issues.
Today a judge rejected a bid from NZ Rugby to stop the launch of a new Chiefs NRL team in Papua New Guinea. Is this the end or should NZ rugby fight more?
The Kiwis lost to the kangaroos in the Rugby League World Cup yesterday by the slimmest of margins. How badly did the referees screw the Kiwis? Where does the the team go from here?
Auckland FC kick off their season this weekend but a controversial lifting of a suspension for Sam Cosgrove has filled the headlines. Was Cosgrove right to fight back against media?&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: Where do the Kiwis go after losing to the Kangaroos?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/373654a2-d0f6-40f5-b353-b4e5006c04cd/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 16 October.

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 Friday 16 October. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 16 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7aefe599-11f8-4607-b929-b4e50066c07d/transcript

Tim O'Connor: Auckland Grammar Headmaster on relief for the delay of NCEA changes

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