Holiday Breakfast

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...

The number of family harm incidents is continuing to rise, with authorities concerned about a potential summer spike.   The numbers over the past decade have almost doubled, with about 200,000 reports over 2023.    Women's Refuge Chief Executive Ang Jury told Tim Dower that violence tends to increase around Christmas and New Years, as more people are home and spending lots money to try make the pe...

Better news for mortgage holders, with Kiwibank the latest bank to cut home loan rates.   It's also reducing term deposit rates following a decrease in wholesale rates for banks.   Infometrics Economist Brad Olsen says these lower rates for banks are still not being fully passed on to customers.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerning data on the numbers of Kiwis who exercise as obesity rates soar.   Figures released by the Ministry of Health reveal only 46% of adults are meeting global exercise guidelines, down 5% from the year prior.   Exercise New Zealand's Richard Beddie told Tim Dower that it's a growing health crisis which needs immediate action.   He says we're the worst western country in the world in this ar...

Economic development in Germany has come to a halt.   High inflation, rising interest rates, and weak global demand has come home to roost, the final quarter of 2023 seeing a 0.3% decrease.   Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Tim Dower that a recession is possibly on the cards for 2024, which itself is not off to a good start.   She said that Germany has started the year with a hole in the...

Auckland ferry commuters are left frustrated as cruise ships are leading to regular services being delayed and cancelled.   Close to 100 ferry sailings were affected by cruise ships arriving or departing at Princes Wharf last month alone.   North Shore Ward Councillor Chris Darby told Tom Dower that there's a big contest for this water space, but commuters are the priority.   LISTEN ABOVE   See om...

Concerns are being raised about the price of school uniforms, with some parents saying they go without food so they can afford them.   Secondary school uniforms can cost hundreds of dollars.   Secondary Principals' Council chair Kate Gainsford told Tim Dower that as the cost of producing a uniform rises, this will likely become more of an issue.   She says while the fact they're used every day can...

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins is due to begin the year in opposition hot on the heels of attending his predecessor’s lavish wedding over the weekend. Hipkins was among the many famous faces at Dame Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford’s Hawke’s Bay wedding over the weekend. The former Prime Minister spoke to Newstalk ZB this morning, saying the wedding was “lovely”. Chris Hipkins and Toni Grace s...

Union members at One NZ are working remotely for the next fortnight -- in protest at the telco's work from home policy. Formerly Vodafone, the company's asked all contact centre employees to come into the office for at least three days per week. Unite Union National Secretary, John Crocker told Tim Dower it's about multiple things including transport costs, emissions, and time on the roads. He say...

An Auckland city-centre business leader says public transport is vital. The Government's officially scrapped the $15-billion-dollar Auckland Light Rail. There were projections the cost could blow out to $30-billion. In six years, not a metre of track has been laid. Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck told Tim Dower there needs to be quick action on the city's transport -- and we need to mak...

The Transport Minister says the Government has other transport plans for Auckland. It's formally scrapped the $15-billion Auckland Light Rail project after estimates that the cost of the project could blow out to almost $30-billion. Nearly 230-million-dollars has been spent on it in six years and not a single metre of track's been laid. Minister Simeon Brown told Tim Dower they need to invest in b...

Brothers-in-law Daniel McLaughlin and Mark Neal have been running Scapegrace for around ten years. They established the brand in 2014, and in the last financial year they sold more than 100,000 cases of product. They're now in the final stages of building New Zealand's largest distillery, and are making a push from gin into single malt whiskey. McLaughlin told Tim Dower that the brand began when t...

The Upper Hutt mayor says they've been let down as water usage is set to tighten. The Wellington metropolitan area — that's Wellington, Porirua, Hutt and Upper Hutt cities — will move to level two water restrictions first thing Wednesday. The ban applies to all irrigation systems, soaker hoses, and unattended watering systems. Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy told Tim Dower that they've been talking a...

The Black Caps are taking on Pakistan.   The first T20 clash for the team is this evening at Eden Park, the game kicking off at 7:10pm.   Coach Gary Stead told Tim Dower that Pakistan is always a formidable opponent, and a great foe to play against.   He said that the team is pretty close to full strength for this game, with about twelve or thirteen games to work out the team makeup for the World...

Australia’s Opposition leader has taken up arms against Woolworths.   The chain supermarket has decided not to sell Australia Day merchandise this year, citing a significant decline in demand.   Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that Peter Dutton has called for Australians to boycott Woolworths, demanding they reverse the decision.   According to Dutton, “until we get common sense...

Wellington Water says it's focused on fixing the city's massive water leaks before it'll address supply.   The metropolitan area will move to level 2 water restrictions on Wednesday.   It means garden sprinklers are banned in the cities of Wellington, Porirua, Hutt, and Upper Hutt.   Wellington Water's Charles Barker says heaps of the water already available is being lost.   Barker says they're lo...

Health warnings over potentially toxic algae in Lake Rotorua will likely last weeks.   It can be harmful for people and animals.   People should avoid contact with water if it looks discoloured, smells unusual, has green or brown particles or scum, or leathery algae mats floating or on the lake floor.   Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Tim Dower that it's brought on by the hot temperatures.   LIST...

Many questions for the owners of a blueberry orchard in Hawke's Bay after around 700 bushes were stripped by thieves. Hastings-based Bay Blueberries — hard hit by Cyclone Gabrielle in February — has had hundreds of kilograms of berries stolen from its premises on Railway Road South. It's believed to have happened in the middle of the night between January 1st and 4th. Owner Marian Hirst told Tim D...

Warm weather conditions are here to stay for the day ahead of a rainy weekend.   Most of the country will see temperatures in the mid to high 20s today.   Canterbury was a scorcher yesterday, with the mercury reaching above 30 degrees.   MetService Meteorologist Mark Todd told Tim Dower that today will remain warm, though coasts will get some cooler air.   He says the hottest temperatures today wi...