On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 27 February, 2026, we talk to the secondary school teachers' union about teacher shortages.

A Wall Street Journal reporter on the significance of Netflix walking away from a deal with Warner Brothers Discovery.

Weta maestro Sir Richard Taylor tells us about his new robot project after receiving his latest international award.

And on the Sports Huddle, Nicky Styris and Jeff McTainsh discuss the mess the Wellington Phoenix are in.

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

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Tell me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me that every single year the Anglican Church in this country delays repairing the Christchurch Cathedral, the public cares a little less about seeing it restored. And yet again, the Anglicans are asking for money to fix the thing.

You might recall that 18 months ago they asked the government for $60 million. They got a no. So this time, they’re targeting Christchurch ratepayers. They say they’ve stopped any meaningful fundraising and they’re asking ratepayers to plug the gap — a gap of about $45 million. This will now go out to consultation. If ratepayers say yes, the additional cost will simply be added to rates. Whatever your rates are now, expect that cost on top.

I don’t rate the Anglicans’ chances here because rates in Christchurch — like everywhere in the country — are already at record highs. And in Christchurch, they’re proposed to rise another 8% this year. On top of that, the Canterbury Museum has also just asked for another $260 million for its rebuild. There is not a lot of spare money around.

I have to say, as I did 18 months ago, I still find it slightly cheeky of the Anglicans to do this when they own $3 billion worth of assets in this country alone. And that valuation was done six years ago — with inflation, they almost certainly own more now. There is enough there to pay for the entire reconstruction of the cathedral, not just the first stage they’re talking about.

Every year the Anglicans spend trying to find someone else to pay for the restoration of their church, public appetite to restore it must surely diminish. Because every year that passes, more new venues open in Christchurch. Whether small — restaurants, bars, shops — or large, like the convention centre or the new stadium, the city is rebuilding. It’s becoming increasingly beautiful and increasingly fun.

I know the cathedral can’t be replaced by a stadium or a convention centre or a shop. It has a special place for Christchurch. But the Anglicans risk that special place being diluted every single time another special place opens up.

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Premium apple demand is at the core of a strong financial result for T&G Global.

Its revenue has increased by 14% to $1.6 billion and its net profit after tax is $16 million, up from a loss of $9.9m.

Global Chief Executive Gareth Edgecombe told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the Chinese and US markets in particular have been buying more of the premium Jazz, Jolie and Envy apples.

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An economist says benefit sanctions aren't working.

The traffic light system was introduced last year and beneficiaries who failed obligations like taking part in Work and Income assessments.

Infometrics principal consultant Rob Heyes says the number of beneficiaries has continued to rise after they were introduced.

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it's goal of getting people into work hasn't come to fruition, and says the job market has been tough with vacancies drying-up.

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No individual has had more of an impact on modern Hollywood visual effects than Sir Richard Taylor.

The Co-Founder and Chief Creative force behind Weta Workshop has now received well deserved recognition from his peers, as he has won the Visionary award from the Visual Effects Society in LA.

Sir Taylor told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wasn't expecting to win the award.

"I was a little overwhelmed when I heard that I was going to collect this. I actually thought maybe they'd made a mistake, but it turned out they hadn't."

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Netflix has backed away from its proposal to buy Warner Bros Discovery, clearing the way for Paramount Skydance to win the months-long bidding war.

Warner Bros, which put itself up for sale last year, says Paramount's latest bid was superior to Netflix's, which in turn refused to raise its offer.

The massive media company owns Harry Potter, DC Comics and CNN.

Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint told Heather du Plessis Allan that there are now concerns about major job cuts in the impending merger.

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Students may be short changed by a lack of secondary school teachers.

The latest Ministry of Education figures show a predicted shortfall of just over seven hundred high school teachers this year.

Post Primary Teachers Association President Chris Abercrombie says the Ministry of Education's prediction that the gap will be filled by 2028 is overly optimistic.

He says we need to take the politics out of teaching and get down to a solution with a long term plan for staffing.

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There is disagreement between the ACT and NZ First leader over the Government's stake in Air New Zealand.

ACT Leader David Seymour proposed selling the Government's stake, which Winston Peters called 'economic lunacy'.

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that, 'David Seymour and Winston Peters have never seen eye to eye at all and it's remarkable really that both have been part of the same cabinet for two years.'

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