Holiday Breakfast

Don’t You (Forget About Me), Alive And Kicking, Belfast Child, all well-known songs from one of the UK’s most successful rock bands: Simple Minds.   Fans will have the opportunity to hear these iconic songs live as the band take to the stage for their Summer Concert tour and New Zealand is the first stop.   The band formed in 1977, lead singer Jim Kerr telling Tim Dower that they dreamed it up the...

The Maritime Union wants the Government to take the mega-ferry project off the chopping block in the wake of legal action against Interislander's operators.   Maritime NZ, the entity which oversees safety on our seas, has filed a charge on health and safety grounds against KiwiRail.   The charge relates to the Kaitaki incident, where roughly a year ago the ship lost power in Cook Strait with hundr...

Mediation in the unlawful termination case between the ABC and Antoinette Lattouf has hit a stalemate.   Just before Christmas Lattouf was given a one-week contract to present the morning program on the ABC radio station in Sydney.   She was fired after three days, according to ABC she defied instructions and made a controversial post about Gaza on social media.   Lattouf maintains that she is a v...

It’s a series of major failures that should not have happened.   The US Department of Justice has released its report into the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in 2022.   For over an hour, 33 students and three of their teachers, many of whom were shot, were trapped in a room with an active shooter while law enforcement remained outside.   In the end 21 people lost their li...

Food prices look to be cooling, potentially bringing some relief to consumers.   Stats NZ's latest figures show annual food price inflation's fallen to 4.8%, its lowest level in two years.   Grocery inflation fell notably, increasing by only 5.4% compared to the 11% increase from 2021 to 2022.   Meat only rose 2.3% last year.   Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Tim Dower that a numbe...

Black Caps coach Gary Stead's backing Devon Conway's class to re-emerge after a lean run with the bat in T-20 cricket internationals.   The opener's been dismissed for a duck, 20 and seven in the three matches against Pakistan.   It follows a three match T-20 series in England last year where he failed to score double figures.   Stead's been asked what Conway needs to do to turn things around.   T...

Civil Defence staff are standing by on the West Coast as heavy rain rolls in.   The wet weather is expected to batter Westland and the Grey Districts, with the worst arriving around midday between Otira and inland from Haast.   West Coast Civil Defence Te Aroha Cook told Tim Dower that staff have been deployed to emergency operation centres in Westland, Greymouth, Franz Joseph, and Haast, to manag...

The Māori Development Minister is defending the Prime Minister's decision to skip a gathering organised by the Māori King.   The National Unity Hui is expected to bring thousands of people to Ngāruawāhia's Tūrangawaewae Marae tomorrow.   Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka told Tim Dower that it's his responsibility to go, but it's not a platform for politicians.   He says it's primarily for th...

It was another big year for kiwi cyclist Aaron Gate.   He took the gold at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, claiming the second rainbow jersey of his career.   Glasgow was the first time that all cycling events together in one location for what was deemed a ‘Super Worlds.’   Gate took gold in the points race, telling Dower that it was a race he had wanted to win for a very long time.  ...

The UK’s controversial Rwanda bill seems to be causing great trouble for the Tories.   Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has attempted to strike a compromise, saying that they will continue to send migrants to Rwanda, but at the same time won’t circumvent the European Court of Human Rights if they try to stop them.   He faced enormous backlash, with 60 members of his own party voting against him.   UK Co...

A fresh move to overhaul Easter trading laws.   ACT MP Cameron Luxton has lodged a private members bill to relieve the restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.   He says forcing businesses to close doesn't make sense for a diverse modern nation.   Luxton told Tim Dower that this is one of those small issues that lead to a big problem.   He said that currently there is confusion around the ru...

There’s concern about the number of people living in dirty and unsafe conditions.   The Public Health Communication Centre has surveyed local and regional councils and Aged Concern networks, and every single one reported cases of people living in squalor.   It included homes cluttered in rubbish, infested by vermin, with decomposing food, and stench.   Research lead Johnathan Jarman says living in...

Italy is pushing for an EU maritime security mission in the Red Sea following Houthi attacks.   A US mission is underway in the passage as countries hope for restoration of shipping.   Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister wants a decision by next Monday.   Newstalk ZB Italian correspondent Jo McKenna told Tim Dower that it would help deter Houthi threats but may not be as combative as the UK and US ha...

A challenging time may be coming for retailers.   Data released by Stats NZ has revealed a 2% fall in December’s spending compared to the month prior.   Spending on consumables such as groceries experienced the smallest fall at 0.1%, while things such as furniture and clothing are down by 2% and 2.9% respectively.   Infometrics Principal Economist, Brad Olsen, told Tim Dower that the data reflects...

“Try to keep on the straight and narrow.”   That'll be one of the messages at the annual National Party caucus kicking off in Christchurch this morning.   On the agenda is issues such as how to act in a coalition and expectations for MPs.   Herald Deputy Political Editor Thomas Coughlan told Tim Dower that with many new MPs in the team, Christopher Luxon will be giving them the "hard word" about s...

After-effects of Covid-19 pandemic school decisions are being blamed for dropping NCEA results.   Provisional results indicate pass rates dropped for a third consecutive year.   Almost 50,000 students had accessed their results by late yesterday evening.   Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault told Tim Dower that it's not entirely unexpected given the gaps in knowledge tea...

Ellesse Andrews is heading into the New Year with a lot of momentum behind her. The kiwi track cyclist is coming off the back of a massive win at the UCI Track Champions League, taking the crown for the Women's sprint.  "Looking back on it now," She told Dower. "It was a really crazy year." "It's a bit of a blur, so much was going on." Andrews said that, especially when it came to the final straig...

Festival season has seen multiple drug overdoses in Australia, with some victims left in critical condition, and eight in induced comas.   Victoria’s Premier is seeking advice on pill testing, which is not currently legal in that state.   Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that they’re looking for a way out of the corner they’ve painted themselves into.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnyst...

A warning to the Government from one EV leader: if the Government doesn't put measures in place, the clean car market will slow right down.   It comes as the Government has confirmed that owners of EVs and Plug-in Hybrids will pay road user charges from April.   Drive Electric Chair Kirsten Corson told Tim Dower that the move will slow EV uptake —which is disappointing— and will have flow-on effec...

It's been a quick turnaround for Donald Trump, from a victory speech to defamation trial.   The former President has won a landslide victory in Iowa, the first vote in the Republican race to the White House.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that Trump is now in New York, where he's being sued for $10 million in defamation damages by E Jean Carroll for a second time, over statements...

Students are being urged to remember it's not the end of the world if they don't get the exam results that they wanted.   NCEA results will be released online today.   More than 160,000 students will be able to see their provisional results and whether they've been awarded course endorsements, a certificate endorsement, or university entrance.   PPTA acting president Chris Abercrombie told Tim Dow...

The Justice Minister is standing firm on the Government's decision to rule out lowering the voting age.   Reducing the age from 18 to 16 is one of 140 final recommendations just released by the Independent Electoral Review.   Advocates say they're incredibly disappointed the Government is rejecting the idea.   But Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Tim Dower that keeping the voting age at 18 is...

It's being suggested that a systemic, cultural problem exists with the abuse politicians face.    Golriz Ghahraman resigned from parliament yesterday after three allegations of shoplifting, claiming work stress has affected her mental health.   Green Party co-leader James Shaw says she faced continuous sexual and physical threats.   Former Green MP Gareth Hughes told Tim Dower that the abuse Ghahr...

Dairy prices are continuing to rise.   Overall prices are up 2.3% in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction overnight, the fourth consecutive rise this summer.   Prices are down about a third from the record high reached in March 2022 but up about a quarter on the low reached in August last year.   Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says told Tim Dower that it's a positive sign.   He says t...

The British Defence Secretary is urging the country to prepare for further wars as global conflicts continue to escalate.   Secretary Grant Shapps is saying that they are in a “pre-war phase”, and Britain should prepare for wars involving China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran to erupt in the next five years.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower that he’s been urging other European nations t...