Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Climate Change Minister James Shaw says it's time the agriculture sector pays for the emissions it produces, just like everyone else.   This is in response to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change.   The government will make a decision this year as to whether agriculture will be bought into its own emission trading scheme.   Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard j...

An expert's outlined how a head of state's actions could be considered war crimes.  Photos and video have appeared showing bodies shot at close range in Ukraine's Bucha, left after Russian troops retreated.   US President Joe Biden wants Russian President Vladimir Putin put on trial.  Otago University senior law lecturer Stephen Smith told Andrew Dickens direct orders could qualify as proof ... bu...

The controversial Fair Pay Agreement Legislation gets its first airing in Parliament.  The Defence Minister wanted to send military hardware to the Ukraine but Cabinet refused.  The Crown accounts, Robertson says show the resilience of the economy, but does it?  Political editor Barry Soper joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiger Woods' practice round at Augusta draws massive crowds.  Crusaders hooker Shilo Klein is suspended for three weeks.  Ross Taylor finishes his career with the last catch of the game.  Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warnings hospitals will remain as overwhelmed as ever ... after the Omicron peak.   Australia's College of Emergency Medicine says overcrowded emergency departments have been a problem since well before the pandemic.  The New Zealand Medical Association's deputy chair is calling for a comprehensive support plan for after this outbreak.   Vanessa Weenink told Andrew Dickens hospitals have had to ke...

So, the fight against Covid continues just when we thought that maybe we were getting closer to an end.  Maybe it's a case of an abundance of caution or maybe they were just looking at what's happening across the Tasman, where hospitalisations doubled over the second half of March as a second wave came through.  Or maybe that second wave is just the first wave given a chance to build up again as V...

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban Thorn has won a fourth term in a landslide.  A 60-year-old man allegedly had himself vaccinated against Covid-19 up to 90 times in Germany in order to sell vaccination cards to people who did not want to get the jab themselves.  More than 50 people have been arrested as protests at a UK oil terminal enter a third day.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey j...

Australia and India have signed an ambitious interim free trade deal over the weekend.  It's being called a significant step in diversifying export markets and reducing Australia's reliance on China.   Australia and New Zealand both began trade deal talks with India around 2010, but both got suspended in 2015.  Suzannah Jessep, director of research and engagement at the Asia NZ Foundation and our...

Hospitality and the events sectors are gutted that we continue to stay in red.  Were you surprised by the Government's move to keep us in red?  Do you think it's the right decision?  Should the Govt do more to support the affected sectors?   NZME business commentator Fran O’Sullivan joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is staying in the red light setting with a review scheduled for Thursday 14 April.  Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told Andrew Dickens red doesn't mean stop.  “We have to keep doing this on the basis of what’s best for New Zealand overall, and as I say, people are out there enjoying their lives under red they can keep doing that, there is a few restrictions.”  LISTEN ABOVE See o...

A series by Jehan Casinader is covering the issue of our police recruits and whether they're badly prepared for the job they jump into. If the real job is so different from Police College, are we getting it wrong?  The Traffic Lights Announcement – fingers crossed for orange – what difference will it make to you? Do you still keep up with the rules?  There are calls for tougher action against Russ...

Police college graduates say they're hitting the frontline underprepared, undertrained and under pressure.  Four recent graduates say they felt bullied and unsupported once they completed the sixteen-week training course and two of them left the force not long after.  Police have also revealed that they've launched two reviews into the quality of training for recruits and are now making major chan...

If you've got a mortgage, you may have breathed in sharply reading this headline today:  Kiwibank has lifted its standard 5-year home loan rate to 6.79 percent, the highest rate in eight years.   Home loan rates have been rising for months... But the reserve banks only just started lifting the official cash rate. So, how much higher should you prepare for them to go?  Economist and property commen...

New Zealand tenor Simon O'Neill has won a Grammy for Best Choral Performance.   The award is for his work on the LA Philharmonic rendition of Mahler's Symphony Number Eight.    O'Neill told Andrew Dickens there were more than 370 people performing.   “I’m just fortunate to be one of the ones who gets named at the top of the list, I’m over the moon that the recording has been successful.”  LISTEN A...

NZ Events Association General Manager Ségolène de Fontenay told Andrew Dickens the traffic light decision is frustrating.  “Disappointing, particularly for Auckland and, I guess, Wellington. There was a bit of a hint last week that there might be a regional approach, and that would have certainly been very welcome for Auckland.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recap of the Traffic light announcement.  Labour is worried about National's fund-raising ability, and with good reason.  Act's not buying into Mallard's wish to appoint a behavioural commissioner at Parliament.  Political editor Barry Soper joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election date is to be announced this week as Morrison closes gap with Albanese.  Rollout of the fourth Covid jab starts today.  Could the bin chicken be the mascot of the Brisbane Olympics?  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ross Taylor's final match ever is underway right now in Hamilton.  Paul Coll wins the British Squash Open and retains his world number one status.  Phil Gifford joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ross Taylor is currently playing his last match for the Black Caps.  16 years is an awfully good run.  Particularly for a Samoan big hitter from Masterton who excelled as a kid swatting the ball to boundaries.  But to master the red ball game and end out our highest scorer at the highest level is a feat-and-a-half.  7683 runs, including 19 centuries from 112 matches between 2007 and 2022, with a b...

Air New Zealand has announced its long awaited recapitalisation strategy. The strategy is a $2.2 billion equity and debt package. The aim is to repay its existing Crown loan, strengthen its balance sheet, improve liquidity and help position the airline for recovery post-Covid.  Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China and the Solomon Islands have signed a draft version of a security pact that could see Chinese police and other forces take up duties in the Pacific Island nation, drawing concerns from traditional partners New Zealand, Australia and the United States. The Solomon Islands government on Thursday said the draft agreement had been initialled by representatives of the two sides and will now “be c...

Team NZ will be defending the America’s Cup abroad. The next edition of the America’s Cup will be held in Barcelona in September and October 2024 after Team NZ rejected a $99 million bid from the Government and Auckland Council to host the competition. Barcelona was selected as the next host over fellow Spanish city Malaga, Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Ireland’s Cork. Warriors CEO Cameron George want...