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Nelson-based fuel company NPD has remained 100% Kiwi owned. 

The company left the hands of the founding family, selling a majority of the shares. 

One Kiwi in particular now owns the company, current CEO and longtime employee, Barry Sheridan. 

Sheridan told Mike Hosking that their goal is to bring the most competitive fuel prices they can as they expand through New Zealand, while still maintaining that strong New Zealand family-owned position. 

He said that it helps the economy, as they retain all the funds within New Zealand, which then helps to strengthen the families within New Zealand. 

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A public transport advocate believes we're paying the price for a lack of investment in trains. 

Only 22.5% of Wairarapa trains arrived within five minutes of being on schedule in April. 

It's a slight improvement from February, which had only around 5% of trains within target. 

Jon Reeves from the Public Transport Users Association told Mike Hosking that there's a lot to catch up on. 

He says new trains are coming in 2028 and there are issues with tracks and tunnels, impacting both passengers and freight. 

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A struggle to staff the country's radiation oncology services is turning more cancer patients to private care.  

RNZ is reporting that a service caring for patients in five regions across the North Island is not allowed to recruit the staff it needs, despite recommendations from Te Whatu Ora.  

Cancer Society Co-Director Kate Gregory told Mike Hosking that the shortage is just one reason for the patient shift. 

She says the private sector also has more cancer medicine options available. 

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- Charles Leclerc’s first win since July 2022

- Max Verstappen started and finished the race sixth for Red Bull

- Early crash took out Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc won the restarted Monaco Grand Prix from pole position today for his first Formula 1 victory in nearly two years.

Leclerc was on pole for the third time in four years, but had previously never finished on the podium at his home race. His first win since Austria in July 2022 took his career tally to six, all with Ferrari.

“Tonight’s going to be a big night,” he told his team over the radio.


A Monaco victory felt extra special for him, having grown up in a flat overlooking the start-finish line watching cars zooming past below.

“No words can explain that. It was the race that made me want to be a Formula 1 driver one day,” the 26-year-old Leclerc said. “Seeing so many of my friends on the balcony, so many people I know. It means a huge amount to me.”

The last 15 laps were the most difficult as the realisation of how much winning would mean dawned on him.

“I must say I was thinking about my dad,” Leclerc said of his late father. “It was a dream of ours for me to race here and win, so it’s unbelievable.”

Championship leader Max Verstappen is bidding for a fourth straight F1 title and saw his lead trimmed to 31 points over second-place Leclerc — 169-138 — with eight races completed.

Verstappen started and finished the race sixth for Red Bull, whose other driver Sergio Perez went out of the race after a big first-lap crash.

The crash also took out Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, and caused it to be interrupted by a red flag for 40 minutes. The drivers were not hurt.

The race restarted on Lap 3 of 78 and the drivers pulled away cleanly but slowly, with Leclerc managing his tires on a track notoriously difficult for overtaking.

Leclerc finished about 8 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and 9 seconds clear of Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. in third.

McLaren’s Lando Norris was fourth and Mercedes driver George Russell held off Verstappen to take fifth place.


Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh, with Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Alex Albon (Williams) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) completing the top 10. It was the same order as the starting grid, reflecting Monaco’s reputation as the hardest track to overtake in F1.

“The pace at the beginning was incredibly slow,” Piastri said. “But it’s been a great weekend for the team.”

All of the drama came at the start.

Perez’s right rear wheel was clipped by the front left tire of Magnussen behind him and put Perez into the crash barrier. Perez’s car almost split in half and also sent Hulkenberg’s Haas spinning as he followed behind.

A red flag came out with debris littering the track to allow Perez’s mangled Red Bull to be cleared away by a crane. The Mexican driver walked back accompanied by two race marshals. His team said he did not need medical checks.

Then, two Alpines tangled near the tunnel with Esteban Ocon’s front nose sending teammate Pierre Gasly’s car up in the air. With other cars just behind and the tunnel approaching, a serious accident was avoided. Ocon will serve a five-place grid penalty at the next race, the Canada GP on June 9.

“Today’s incident was my fault,” Ocon said. “The gap was too small in the end.”

Governing body FIA ordered a standing restart with Leclerc in pole ahead of Piastri and Sainz going from third, despite puncturing moments after the start. He was trying to pass Piastri and had to use a run-off area at Casino Square.

French football star Kylian Mbappé and FIFA president Gianni Infantino were among the guests enjoying the bright sunshine.

But the race proved a processional affair.

Following the restart, cars trundled around the 3.3-kilometre (2-mile) narrow street circuit as Leclerc seemed determined to make h

The secondary teachers union says the Government's pre-Budget teacher recruitment announcement is a good start but it needs to ramp up.

Education Minister Erica Stanford's announced a 53-million dollar package to train and recruit 1500 teachers over four years.

It includes establishing 1200 places for aspiring teachers to learn on the job.

PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Mike Hosking that there's a lot of demand for teachers coming from offshore.

He says it can take six months for a teacher to come here and trying to get a teacher that's a right fit for our system, is also an issue.

 

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The UK Prime Minister has made a big pre-election promise - ahead of July's general election.

The Conservative party wants to bring back 12 months of national mandatory military service.Eighteen year olds could choose between a fulltime military placement or one weekend a month of community service.

Rishi Sunak's party has not stated the planned punishment if the compulsory service is not completed.

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking it'll appeal to right wing voters.

He says it'll cost roughly five billion New Zealand dollars and Rishi Sunak says it'll foster national spirit.

 

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