Holiday Breakfast

The New Zealand Defence Force is making more cuts in a bid to help its nearly $130-million budget shortfall.  Documents obtained by the NZ Herald under the Official Information Act show the NZDF is looking to scrap flu vaccines for all civilian staff, international travel for sports teams, some support to Gallipoli and staff gym memberships.  The documents acknowledge the move could lead...

Foreign-trained doctors will now have a greater chance at joining the New Zealand workforce, with a rise in the number of exam spots for those looking to get accredited.  The medical council announced it is increasing the number of spots for New Zealand registration exams from 60 up to 180 from 2025.  Health New Zealand have been instructed to move to secure the clinical placements neede...

Hollywood is abuzz over a lawsuit brought by actress Blake Lively against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni.  Lively claims in a lengthy filing that on the set of their film It Ends With Us, Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment and then tried to smear her after she raised concerns about his behaviour.  US correspondent Richard Arnold tells Tim Beveridge the complaints were graphic...

Popular rideshare company Ola has reportedly cracked down on staff for their “very poor office attendance”.  In a company-wide email, fed-up CEO Bhavish Aggarwal warned that action will be taken against those who have “misused the freedom”, cautioning staff to maintain “basic self-respect" and not take advantage of the company.  Australia correspondent Murray Olds tells Tim Beveridge the...

Just north-east of the capital, and part of the Greater Wellington region, Hutt City hosts quiet cafes, galleries and museums.  And, if you venture out just a little, the area also offers plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy.  Campbell Barry has been Hutt City Council Mayor since 2019 and joins Tim Beveridge on Summer Breakfast to discuss the town’s summer events and best secret...

Gumboot Friday returns this week on 1st November, as communities come together to raise awareness for youth mental health around the country. This year’s event involves the auctioning of the Hope Home, built and donated by Fowler Homes, with the proceeds going back into I Am Hope. It comes as founder Mike King had his custom e-bike stolen from him during his I Am Climate ride around the country to...

The long weekend's brought the worst out of boy racers. Six people were arrested in Wairarapa, with fireworks, bottles, and rocks all hurled at Police. The Government's already hinted tougher legislation could be on the way, which can't come soon enough for those who've had a gutsful. Masterton mayor Gary Caffell told Tim Beveridge the gatherings are getting worse and worse. “Unless the Government...

Both US Presidential Candidates are looking to finish their campaigns strong, as election day draws closer. 10 days to go, the latest polls have narrow margins in the seven key swing states, with just one to two percentage points separating Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Beveridge the race is shaping up to be one of closest in America's history. “Trump wil...

Millennials are facing more memory problems – but it's not exactly clear why. The Boston Globe reports those in their 30s and 40s are becoming more forgetful. Brain Research New Zealand co-director Cliff Abraham says there are many factors impacting memory - including anxiety, technology and Covid-19. He says it's getting harder to remember, with more information and distractions coming in than ev...

It was hardly surprising Mitchell Santner woke up sore the morning after his match-winning heroics. Twenty-nine straight overs while bowling the  Black Caps to a famous victory would have that effect. Santner’s 13-wicket haul inspired a 113-run win  in Pune on Saturday, recording the third-best figures by a New Zealander and the third-best for any bowler against India. The spinner held u...

The Resources Minister is hoping to use an Australia trip to entice investment in New Zealand mining. Shane Jones is leaving today to attend and speak at the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney. The Government is including mining projects in the fast-track consent legislation and revising overseas investment criteria. Jones told Tim Beveridge it’s important to amplify the messa...

Far-right commentator and conspiracy theory promoter Candace Owens has been blocked from Australia. The American announced a speaking tour of Australasia next month. Australia has cancelled her visa application, while Immigration New Zealand is still assessing it. Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Beveridge it seems Owens was originally allowed to come to Australia before being blocked...

The Israeli-Iranian war looks to have been put on pause for now. Egypt's president is proposing a two-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for hostages. The proposal follows retaliation strikes from Israel's army on Iranian military targets, including in Tehran – killing four soliders. Israeli journalist Gideon Levy told Tim Beveridge Iran's defence systems were likely damaged. “If Israel would like...

Frankie McNair is an up-and-coming Australian comedian who won best comedy award at Melbourne Fringe 2018 and best newcomer and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2022.   Her critically acclaimed one-woman show, ‘An Intimate Evening with Tabitha Booth’ is coming to Q Theatre – starting tomorrow evening – and runs until July 6 th .   She plays ‘medicated lounge singer’, Tabitha Booth in...

The fifth annual dolphin and whale count is taking place nation-wide this weekend.   The count contributes both a snapshot at the same time every year, and information about the marine mammals close to shore across time.   Whale and Dolphin Count Organiser, Christine Rose, told Tim Beveridge “We encourage people to go to the coastline and stare out to sea for a couple hours and report what you see...

Te Anau-born Swiss-Kiwi tennis player Lulu Sun has qualified for the ladies singles at Wimbledon.   Sun is placed 123 rd in world rankings - she eased past Filipino, Alexandra Eala, in the third round of qualifying.   We’ll find out who she'll face when the draw is made overnight.   Newstalk ZB Sports Journalist, Dean McLachlan, told Tim Beveridge “It’ll be her second Grand Slam appearance after p...

A new Uber-style app for truckies is launching nationally next week after being trialled in Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.   The Road Ninja app - dubbed the "Uber for truck drivers" will match businesses to truckies in their area.   Road Ninja Founder Bodhi Vette told Tim Beveridge drivers can set their own rates and get paid what they’re worth.   Vette said “It’s a driver-first platform.”  ...

The latest Crime and Victims survey reveals New Zealand's most common offence is fraud.   The Ministry of Justice has surveyed more than seven-thousand people, and it shows 10% have experienced fraud in the year to October 2023.   66% have been scammed by unauthorised bank transactions, and 20% were scammed making online purchases.   Cyber-security company Aura’s Principal Advisory Consultant, Ali...

Wellington Council’s decision to sell its 34% share in Wellington Airport may put rates up in the future.   The highly contested decision to sell the shares has passed - and the proceeds will be invested in a perpetual fund.   At least three councillors, who previously agreed to sell the shares, now say they've changed their minds - and the move to sell would fail if a vote happened today.   Mayor...

Transporting New Zealand says the Government's struck a good spending balance – with investment in the future.   The government's announced the finalisation of its Policy Statement on Land Transport, to the tune of $22 billion.   It'll be used to improve road maintenance, build roads of national significance, improve public transport, and bring in roadside drug testing.   Transporting NZ Policy Le...

Self-taught rocket scientist Sir Peter Beck had humble beginnings as a Fisher & Paykel Appliances apprentice.   Since 2006, he’s been chief executive of Rocket Lab – which has been pivotal in growing New Zealand’s $1.69 billion space industry.   Employing 1,800 staff, Beck’s Rocket Lab is second only to Elon Musk’s Space X as the most prolific commercial launch provider globally.   It has work...

Around 70 Kiwis turning 18 from August will become the first cohort legally allowed to seek details about their donor parent from Births, Deaths and Marriages.   As officials prepare for requests about donor-biological parents, a team of University of Auckland researchers are asking their own questions in a new nationwide survey.   Since the Human Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Hart) register...

In 1999, Theresa Gattung became the first female chief executive of a major New Zealand company at Telecom (now Spark).   She broke through a major glass ceiling – paving the way for a prolific corporate career - co-founding My Food Bag, sitting on the board of healthcare start-up Tend, as well as the dating website Compatico.    She’s been named a Dame in this King’s Birthday Honours alongside Jo...

The construction of new builds is coming to a halt.   About 35,000 new builds were given consent in the last year – more than a 20% drop from the period ending April 2023.  This is being chalked up to inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.   Chief Executive of Building Industry Federation, Julien Leys, told Tim Beveridge “The Covid building boom is over.”   Leys said “Interestingly enough, the r...

Prime Minister Chris Luxon will visit Niue and Fiji this week to develop and reaffirm New Zealand's cooperation with the region.   This will be Luxon’s first visit to the Pacific as Prime Minister.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Tim Beveridge “He’s expecting to be received warmly and get a good welcome. It’s a strategic area of the world for New Zealand.”   Walls said “He’s been in the job fo...