Holiday Breakfast

Starting today the Desert Road will be closed for two months.  Up to 20,000 vehicles could be diverted to regional roads and it will take motorist through towns like Ohakune and National Park. It is a welcome boost to Ruapehu businesses, but does this disruption mean people could give the region a miss all together? Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton joins the show to discuss what the diversion will...

Fires in Los Angeles have been ravaging the city for almost a week. The worst of the wildfire has scorched nearly 23,000 acres and is only 11% contained.  What started the fires that have claimed sixteen lives?  KNX News presenter in Los Angeles Charles Feldman joins the show to give an update on the deadly wildfires.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

The Prime Minister has headed to the United Arab Emirates. Christopher Luxon will hold talks with Emirati leaders and witness the signing of the New Zealand-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The two-way trade between New Zealand and the UAE is valued at NZ$1.3 billion and promises duties will be eliminated on 98.5% of New Zealand’s exports to the UAE from day one of the agreement....

Wind has been the rain parade of summer, but it is set to gradually ease in eastern coastal areas.  Wanaka, Queenstown and Waikato are the places to be today as warm temperatures make their way in.  MetService's Mark Todd joins the show for a weather update.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian and British former child star Rory Sykes has died in the wildfires tearing through Los Angeles.  The actor appeared on Kiddy Kapers in 1998.  His mother said she tried to put out the flames on her sons property but was unable to due to a lack of water.  Australian Correspondent joins the show to discuss the stars death, Sydney police searching for two people attempting to...

Major wildfires are still burning in Los Angeles, as the death toll rises to sixteen. Conflicts are erupting between the mayor and the fire chief, and incoming President Donald Trump is adding his two cents about what he believes to be ‘incompetent’ leadership. US Correspondent Richard Arnold joins the show to provide an update. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The strong US jobs report is out and raising questions about further interest rate cuts. A quarter of a million jobs were added to the market in December, causing the unemployment rate to drop to 4.1%. As employment rose stock prices fell as a result of such strong labour market data. Economist Brad Olsen joins the show to discuss how this will affect New Zealand, the Prime Ministers trip to the U...

More than 550 notices threatening tenants with losing their home have been issued by Kainga Ora, since Ministers directed the state housing agency to toughen up on disruptive tenants.  The year before, only 41 warnings were given out.  Housing Minister Chris Bishop says second notices are also declining, showing tenants are aware of the crackdown.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li...

The Warriors have been dealt a crucial blow before the season has even started.  33 year old captain Tohu Harris has been forced into an early retirement due to a wrist injury.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds have packed into Washington's National Cathedral to mourn 39th US President Jimmy Carter who died last week aged 100.  All five living US Presidents attended the service, before officials began transporting Carter's body to his home state and final resting place - Georgia.  Canterbury University Associate Professor Peter Field says Carter signed the 1978 peace treaty between Isr...

Situated on the scenic west coast of the South Island is Buller, full of walks from inland at the Buller Gorge and old coal mine sites, to along the coastline passing countless beaches and estuaries.  Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine joins with how the year has been for Buller.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just two hours from Auckland sits Whangarei - the gateway to the north.  It's easily accessible and with plenty on year-round, it's earned its title 'the winterless north'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Maori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says many people submitting on the Treaty Principles Bill had never done so before.  The Justice Select Committee is meeting today to discuss accepting late submissions after people reported technical issues with the Parliamentary website, ahead of Tuesday's deadline. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Reading Cinema Complex has sat empty on Courtenay Place for six years, but has now been purchased by Wellington's Prime Property Group.  Epic Hospitality Group owner Greig Wilson says the building's closure in 2019 had an immediate effect on business revenue on the street.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NIWA's Annual Climate Summary shows the average temperature was about 13 degrees - the 10th warmest year on record. 2022 was the warmest.  NIWA's Principal Scientist Chris Brandolino says this year, we're seeing El Niño-like patterns. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group fighting misinformation says Facebook's solution to moderation shouldn't just be switching off fact-checkers.  Meta, which also owns Instagram, says it will change to community based moderation like that used on X.  Its Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg says the third party fact-checkers it uses have become too politically-biased. But Fact Aotearoa spokesperson Stephen Judd says th...

Dairy farmers are hoping for a win at the Global Dairy Trade auction following a slip in the latest prices.  The first auction of the year this morning has overall dairy prices down 1.4% and the price of whole milk powder down 2.1%. Fonterra Cooperative Council Chair John Stevenson says it's still a great time to be a farmer in New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Point Chevalier local, Andrew McMartin, says shopping trolleys are frequently abandoned on his street, estimating he has spotted more than 50 in recent months.  He says he lives less than two blocks from the nearest supermarket, and has collected 17 this week alone.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin Trudeau's resignation as Canadian Prime Minister could have a flow-on effect on New Zealand's security.  The opposing Conservative Party has been polling significantly higher than Trudeau in the lead-up to Canada's next general election - which must be before October.  International Law Professor Alexander Gillespie says New Zealand often uses Canada to justify security policy.&nb...

The Bus and Coach Association questions whether a century-old policy is still fit for purpose after it caused school bus routes to be cut.  Chief Executive Delaney Myers says the Ministry of Education decides bus services on cost, the number of students, and available public transport - but things have changed in the past 100 years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the privately owned plane was trying to take off from the water near Rottnest Island, around 4pm local time.  Police were told the aircraft took off, clipped a rocky outcrop, and went down into the ocean.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook and Instagram are ending the use of third-party fact-checkers in favour of user-based moderation.  Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg says fact-checkers are too politically biased, and it's time to return to the roots of free expression.  Correspondent Richard Arnold says it means platforms will now rely on user-notes and comments, following the example of X, formerly Twitter.  LIST...

The Bay of Plenty holds several small towns worth exploring - Whakatane, Ohope, Matata, and many more.  With plenty of beautiful beaches, it's a great place to take the surf board or kayak to enjoy a day out on the water.  Whakatane District mayor, Victor Lucas, joins to wrap the year for the district.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back-country hut users say the Department of Conservation needs to step up maintenance if it wants to increase charges.  A proposal suggests charging people up to $57 a night to use many huts, as well as switching from a first-come-first-served system to a hotel-style booking system.  Federated Mountain Clubs President Megan Dimozantos says the community has no issue with paying a modest...

Comedian Nikki Glaser was the first woman ever to host a Golden Globes ceremony and got good marks all around for a funny performance, without any bad low blows.  Emilia Perez and The Brutalist came away with four and three award respectively, perhaps a good indicator at what's to come at the Oscars.  For TV shows, Shogun, Hacks, and Baby Reindeer took home most of the awards.  Ente...