Holiday Breakfast

Winston Peters says sticking to the basics has led to NZ First’s position in the polls.  Based on current polling, the party is set for another term in government, one of the first times it will have a consecutive run.   Peters told Andrew Dickens that there’s a whole lot of things going on in New Zealand that New Zealanders do not like, and they’ve sought a voice to express their concer...

The UK is introducing a law making it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images following growing concern over Elon Musk's AI chatbot.  Officials in countless countries are condemning the lack of regulation of sexualised content on the app X, formerly known as Twitter, including depictions of children.  ACT MP Laura McClure, author of the Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bil...

Donald Trump is risking further inflaming matters in Iran, urging anti-government demonstrators to keep protesting, adding "help is on its way".  The US President has raised the possibility of intervention in Iran, and his national security team meets today to discuss its options.  Thousands are feared dead, as the country's regime violently cracks down on anti-government protests. ...

Tougher penalties for energy companies caught breaking the rules.   From next year the Electricity Authority will be able to order fines of up to $10 million, or 10% of a company's turnover – up from the current $2 million.  The fines can be issued if companies distort the market or take advantage of customers.  Octopus Energy CEO Margaret Cooney told Andrew Dickens one of the issue...

'Deliberately absurd' is how a Christchurch mountain biker describes his idea to cycle around a McDonald's drive-thru for 24 hours.  21-year-old Matthew Fairbrother clocked up 500 kilometres on the ride on Christmas Day.  Fairbrother told Andrew Dickens it may be a world record of some sort, as he's not aware of anyone doing something similar.  He concedes the idea was a bit pointle...

A spotlight on student achievement, with NCEA results now available nationwide.  About 158 thousand Year 11 to 13 students can access their exam results, including Course Endorsements and University Entrance.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Andrew Dickens literacy and numeracy co-requisites are now incredibly important.  He says students can't get NCEA without those, which ha...

Another Tory has joined the ranks of Reform UK.  Nadhim Zahawi is the highest profile member of the UK’s Conservative Party to defect, having served as Chancellor of the Exchequer for Liz Truss and as the Party Chair under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.   However, UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Andrew Dickens, there is a caveat.   He says Zahawi was asked to resign from his positi...

Morgana O’Reilly is one of New Zealand’s brightest screen talents.   She first broke into the spotlight with the cult hit ‘Housebound’, appeared in the Australian series ‘Wentworth’, and rubbed shoulders with award winners and music royalty in season 3 of ‘The White Lotus’.  The third season of HBO’s award winning series aired last year, and it seems to have changed O’Reilly’s life.&nbsp...

Fears of Russian aggression will see France re-introduce national military service.  Nearly three decades since conscription was scrapped, the plan will see young men and women volunteering for a 10-month military service.   The new “national service” will focus mostly on 18- and 19-year-olds, and will initially be restricted to 3,000 volunteers, which should rise to 50,000 by 2035. &nbs...

The Government's being urged to reverse a decision to scrap the contract for the Cook Strait's emergency tug.  Transport Minister Chris Bishop last year confirmed the 'MMA Vision' would leave service in February, saying its cost outweighs the risk, and it hasn't been required in most major incidents.   But the Maritime Union's secretary Carl Findlay says with new Interislander ferries st...

A big decision for shareholders of homegrown Kiwi tech firm Rakon.  The Auckland-based manufacturer of high-precision microchips and frequency-control components has received a takeover offer from California-based electronics manufacturer Bourns.  Bourns is offering $356 million for the business.  Rakon independent director Chris Swasbrook told Andrew Dickens it's a quiet Kiwi succe...

A historic first for Warbirds Over Wanaka this Easter.  One of the world’s most advanced fighter jets, the US Air Force F-22 Raptor, will appear on all three days of the April air show.  It’s the only US-built fighter never sold overseas, and this will be its first visit to New Zealand.  General Manager Ed Taylor told Andrew Dickens the demonstration will showcase the aircraft’s ful...

An anti-Iran regime activist says deadly demonstrations there have become a fight for freedom.  Hundreds of people have so far been killed amid a deadly crackdown on anti-Government protestors.  President Donald Trump's warning the US is considering very strong options to intervene, and Iranian leaders are vowing to fight back if attacked.  Anti-regime activist Leila Dadian told And...

Hundreds are feared dead in what started as a cost of living protests in Iran, which spiralled into general protests against the regime. The protests escalated as protesters were killed and the internet was blacked by the Government.  UOA international relations professor and human rights expert Dr Maria Armoudian joined Andrew Dickens to chat about the ongoing situation.   She said...

Kiwi student Arki Hunter has been accepted into New York's Columbia University in the early admissions round - with only 10-15% of students worldwide being accepted at that stage. Hunter co-founded '12oz', an AI platform tackling NZ's drug and alcohol issues which won her a Crimson Education scholarship and the Deloitte Individual of the Year award.  Hunter plans to major in sociology and pol...

Costs from grocery suppliers to supermarkets increased again in December 2025 by 2.4%pa. Proteins saw the largest increase, and dairy's price increase slowed but still remained above the average.  Although, Brad Olsen says the latest numbers give him hope for better food costs through this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday the Government announced a new platform, Open Electricity, to compare power plans. A Beehive press release claims that approximately two million households and 165,000 small business customers will benefit. Energy minister Simon Watts chats to Andrew Dickens about the new platform and a focus on increased transparency for consumers across industries.  "We think the average household...

The United States has had a busy start to the year with mass-protests over the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, the invasion and takeover of Venezuela, and now, potential plans to become involved in Iran.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold joined Andrew Dickens to chat Minneapolis and Iran. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Bondi terrorist attacks is beginning, examining antisemitism and social cohesion.  Gunmen killed 15 people at a Jewish event at the popular Sydney beach last month.   Australia's Prime Minister has asked former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the Commonwealth Inquiry, with a report expected back by year's end.  Australia Correspondent...

Hundreds are protesting in Minneapolis after and Immigrations and Customs or ICE officer shot and killed a woman.   The 37-year-old was protesting against the Trump administration's crack down on immigration in the Minnesota city.   The city’s mayor is calling it reckless, unnecessary, and demanding ICE leave Minneapolis.   But federal officials are backing the agent, claiming the w...

When it comes to California rock, no one does it quite like Counting Crows.  They’ve sold more than 20 million albums, captivating listeners with their soulful sound and roof-raising live performances.  They’ve returned to tour the world 30 years after their global explosion, and they’re kicking it off in 2026 with a March show in Auckland.  Adam Duritz, founding member and frontman...

It’s been ten days since Manage My Health was the victim of a data breach that involved over 100,000 Kiwis.  Last night the company confirmed that half of the affected patients had been contacted, leaving tens of thousands of people still uncertain.   Meanwhile, it’s been revealed that the Privacy Commission was aware of the security vulnerabilities as of six months ago.  One of tho...

One of the country’s fastest growing economies, Christchurch has well and truly bounced back since the earthquakes.   Mayor Phil Mauger called in for a chat about the city’s growth and what’s to come in the future.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Tim Shadbolt went to great lengths to help others.  He was a great New Zealand character and one of our longest-serving mayors, with terms in Waitakere and Invercargill.  He died yesterday, aged 78.   He's being remembered as making people proud to be from Invercargill.  MP Penny Simmonds told Andrew Dickens he was a compassionate man, and recalls when a Chinese student die...

The large majority of about 50 pilot whales stranded across Farewell Spit near Nelson have returned to sea.  DOC and Project Jonah crew have returned to the site of yesterday's stranding, helping cool the creatures in the rising sun.  Some mammals appear to still be stuck on the high tide line, with only a small window of time to get them out to deeper water.  Project Jonah Voluntee...