Holiday Breakfast

Ahmed Al Ahmed, who disarmed one of the shooters in the Bondi Beach attack, along with other first responders and community members, were honoured in a special ceremony before the first day of the final Ashes test in Sydney. "There was this rolling applause, standing ovations. It was tremendous, it really, it gave you goosebumps," Australian correspondent Murray Olds said. Olds spoke to Andre...

On December 22 New Zealand reported that 70 people had lost their lives from drowning, in the nine final days of 2025 eight more died.  Water Safety NZ's CEO Greg Scanlon joined Andrew Dickens to analyse how we fared in the water last year, and how to stay safe for the remainder of the summer.  "Look at the common sense things you can do to keep yourself and your friends and your family...

At around 2am local time on January 3 the USA conducted strikes on Venezuela's capital city of Caracas in an alleged effort to remove sitting President Nicolás Maduro.  The US has accused Maduro of leading a criminal drug-trafficking organisation. A mix of celebration and protest have spread through Venezuelan communities, but the question remains on whether the US is breaking international l...

The Hoodoo Gurus are returning to New Zealand to perform at the Greenstone Summer Concert series, alongside Iggy Pop and Joan Jett, and New Zealand's very own Zed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study by Strava found that only 8-9% of people stick to their New Year's resolution until the end of the year, and over half give it up by the second Friday of the month.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your house catches fire today, you better hope it happens after 1pm.  The Professional Firefighters Union is set to strike again today at 12pm - but only for one hour.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major breach of the country's largest collection of health data has privacy experts concerned.  Manage My Health is an app which allows patients and their GPs to privately communicate, send prescription information and share test results.  Due to a cyber attack, 120,000 of the app's 1.8 million kiwi user's data has been compromised.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor John Glover joins to sum up the year for the countries leading district in tourism. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data breaches aren't as uncommon as you'd like to think - if you don't think your passwords are being sold somewhere online you're dreaming! But when it comes to some of your most private data, like doctor's appointment notes and test results, you'd probably be right to be a bit more concerned.  This is the case for users of Manage My Health, a patient portal where up to 120,000 users' data h...

She made history at the 2022 Winter Olympics, bringing home a gold medal in the slopestyle and a silver in the big air.  But after an injury disrupted her 2024, she's once again dominated this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The provisional number of road deaths in 2025 is currently 272, down from 292 in 2024.  This marks three years in a row that road deaths have seen a reduction, due in large part to Operation Open Roads.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You wanted to celebrate the new year appropriately, but you don't want the first day of the year to be a complete write-off - so what do you do?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've seen the photos and videos on social media going viral every year, showing the mountains of rubbish that have to be dealt with after every new year's festival. Tents that got hit by the weather, covered in mud, with festival-goers who just don't want to deal with packing it back in their cars.  But the clean up still has to be done, so what happens to all the rubbish left behind? ...

Israel has announced it will stop dozens of humanitarian organisations from working in Gaza from January 1st.  It says these organisations - including Doctors Without Borders - have failed to meet new requirements to hand over details of international staff in the territory.  But the Israeli Embassy says the combined contribution of these organisations make up less than 1% of total aid e...

Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale joins to sum up his second year as mayor, discuss councillors getting a 15.56% raise, and One Love cancelling its 2026 event.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An 81-year-old's smashing stereotypes - choosing DJ decks rather than knitting needles. Molly Pardoe - who goes by the stage name DJ SuperGran - is making history as the oldest performer to take the stage at Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines Festival. She also chairs festival partner charity, SuperGrans Tairawhiti Trust. Pardoe says music has always been part of her life, and this is another chance to t...

One of the country's leading figures, in motorsport is becoming a Knight in today's New Year Honours List.  The country's most successful modern motorsport champion, Scott Dixon, claimed his sixth IndyCar Series championship and his fourth 24 Hours of Daytona victory in 2020.  With 59 victories and six series championships, the “speedster” has been a hero to young fans while tirelessly f...

Three new Dames have made today's New Year Honours List.  Former judge Coral Shaw has led a range of public sector reviews, notably, chairing the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and faith based care. She served as a district court judge before becoming the first female employment court judge from 1999 to 2009. She told Andrew Dickens that her career has been gruelling but rewa...

Leighton Smith is being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Broadcasting. He hosted the Mornings Show on ZB for 33 years, and after retiring in 2019, he started his podcast which is running to this day.  When asked about his commitment to the industry, he told Andrew Dickens that, "Radio is radio. It represents everything that I that I ever wanted to be, to be perf...

Leading figures, in motorsport, business, medicine and the arts are becoming Knights in today's New Year Honours List.  Xero founder Rod Drury, of Ngāi Tahu, has supported multiple infrastructure and philanthropy projects - particularly in Queenstown Lakes District.  He told Andrew Dickens that the title, "Doesn't kind of roll off the tongue yet, that's for sure." LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

New Year's Eve celebrations in Nelson tonight will have a tinge of sadness, as the city marks one year since Police officer Lyn Fleming was killed on the job. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers will be joining beat patrols in the city tonight. Chambers says he wants to back up staff who were working alongside Fleming a year ago, and to remember her. Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Andrew Dickens th...

Northland local government leaders are reacting cautiously to news of Te Tai Tokerau’s first proposed rates freeze in a decade. The zero-rate increase has been put forward by Northland Regional Council for its 2026/2027 financial year and would affect 100,000 ratepayers. Chairman Pita Tipene told Andrew Dickens that council had been looking for savings and reductions that would not  impact th...

Wind warnings remain in effect across the lower North Island, upper South Island and West Coast. Foxton residents are being asked to urgently conserve water, and thousands of homes are without power in Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast and north of Westport. State Highway 57 is closed south of Palmerston North, and motorists on the Desert Road are being asked to take extra care. MetService foreca...

It's New Year's Eve tomorrow, and many Kiwis will be celebrating the New Year with parties and late nights. However, accidental overdoses and spiked drugs are the major issue with hospital visits for cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine use.  Know Your Stuff General Manager Casey Spearin told Andrew Dickens that, "We work with the end user to say, 'will you take this?' and if so, let's try and...

Organisers of Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines festival are prepared for every eventuality. Thousands have descended on Waiohika Estate vineyard for the three-day music and camping festival - running since 2003. Festival-goers remain in high spirits - despite heavy rain last night and light rain forecast today. Live Nation Festivals Director Kieran Spillane told Andrew Dickens the team is well prepared...