Holiday Breakfast

A heated face-off last night between those vying to be the Republican nominee for US President.   Florida's Ron DeSantis and South Carolina's Nikki Haley have clashed, days ahead of the Iowa caucus where registered Republicans will pick their favourite.   Trump did not attend the debate despite qualifying, though his record was attacked from DeSantis and Haley.   Correspondent Richard Arnold told...

Comedian Tom Sainsbury has broken onto the big screen, writing, directing, and starring in his debut feature film 'Loop Track.' The psychological-horror film reframes the scenes of New Zealand's picturesque tramping tracks. He told Tim Dower that content wise, it's a deliberate, but not calculated, departure from his usual comedy. "I love comedy so much, but my kind of heart lies in dramatic and k...

It took five years to get here, but the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark has become the first UNESCO accredited Geopark in New Zealand and Australia.   There are nearly forty different sites across the district such as the iconic Moeraki boulders, the Ōmarama Clay Cliffs, the Elephant Rocks, and Anatini Valley, featuring million-year-old marine fossils.   Waitaki District Mayor, Gary Kircher, told Tim D...

A series of events featuring pro-Russian speakers visiting Italy has caused a conflict with the Ukrainian embassy.   The embassy is urging local authorities to cancel the events, including one that was going to feature the far-right Kremlin ideologue, Alexander Dugan, whose concept of a Russian world helped to inspire the war in Ukraine.   Italy Correspondent, Jo McKenna, told Tim Dower that autho...

A Wellington Councillor is appalled a Wellington Water employee has bragged online about doing nothing at work.   The staffer uploaded a video clip —since deleted— labelled:  'one day slacking off and no work.'   The company is investigating.   City Councillor Ray Chung told Tim Dower that some of it must be down to the culture and management.   He asks why management aren't overseeing such things...

The number of students in home education has continued to rise.   About 11,000 students are in home education as of November 2023, compared to more than 6,000 in 2018.   The Education Ministry's noted a decline in the number of applications since the peak in November 2021, but this is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.   National Council of Home Educators government liaison Cynthia Hancox says...

Cloud cover is keeping a warm blanket over much of the country this morning.   MetService Metereologist Mads Naeraa-Spiers told Tim Dower that it was a very warm night, with many regions seeing 20 to 21 degree temperatures.   He says the cloud will burn off, so much of the North Island will be warm/hot and muggy today.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American tourists are eyeing up a near $15 thousand train journey across New Zealand.   The New York Times has named the KiwiRail Great Journey trains as one of the top things to do this year.   KiwiRail's Journeys Manager Tracey Goodall told Tim Dower that the American market prefers this all-inclusive bells and whistles tour.   She says to be acknowledged at this stage is brilliant, because they...

British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been caught up in the UK post office scandal.   The British Government is seeking a law change to overturn hundreds of wrongful convictions towards postal workers, wrongly charged with fraud.   Correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower that Starmer was the director of the Crown Prosecution Service between 2008 and 2013.   He says Starmer oversaw these cases...

An alleged incident involving Green MP Golriz Ghahraman at a boutique Auckland clothing store happened just two days before Christmas. Ghahraman, who was justice spokeswoman for the Greens up until yesterday, has stood aside from her portfolios after being accused of shoplifting, Newstalk ZB Plus understands. Police have now confirmed they received a report about an incident at a Ponsonby retailer...

Kiwi shotput champion Tom Walsh had a busy year last year, his 2023 season filled with highs.   This year he’s gearing up for the Paris Olympics, missing most of New Zealand’s summer in favour of taking part in the World Indoor Tour.   He gave the 2023 season about an eight, telling Tim Dower that it was his best season stats wise thus far, with only his shortfall at the World Championship leaving...

There’s a sharp decline in the number of physiotherapists and medics offering their services to our national rugby game.   Historically medical professionals have offered their services free of charge, but the rising workloads and rates of burnout have seen volunteers drop off.   Physiotherapy NZ President, Kirsten Davie, told Tim Dower that there’s nothing in the tank for volunteer work.   She sa...

The Warehouse Group must pay a former worker who suffered burnout almost $50,000.   The Employment Relations Authority has ruled in the favour of Noel Leeming employee, Stephen Perry.   The Waikato specialist and salesman complained his workload and sales targets were too high, affecting his mental health.   The dispute escalated and he was suspended and resorted to mediation, with his employer ar...

With 38 kilometres of coastline, 500 hectares of parks, and 80 kilometres of tracks, trails and horse-riding paths, the Kāpiti Coast is a haven for the outdoorsy.   The district is growing fast, Mayor Janet Holborow attributing the growth to the “fantastic lifestyle” that Kāpiti has to offer, and the beautiful, walkable developments being created.   If you’re just looking to visit, the Paekākāriki...

Our commercial aviation sector says it's losing international students due to delays in visa processing. In New Zealand it takes up to 30 working days to action visas.   Aviation New Zealand claims we're missing out to Australia and other countries with shorter processing times.   Chief Executive Simon Wallace says it's making us less competitive.   He says we had fewer than a hundred students com...

A travel management provider says more people are extending their corporate trips into personal holidays.   Corporate Traveller Manager Angie Forsyth told Tim Dower that it's a clear trend post-Covid and allows for a better work-life balance.   Forsyth says many employers have no issue with workers tacking on a couple of extra days to the end of their corporate trips.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystud...

Authorities in New South Wales are warning the Australian state is seeing its highest levels of Covid in a year.   The surge comes at the tail end of the holiday period, with about 1,400 people going to emergency departments and 400 being admitted to hospital each week.   New South Wales Health advises people to stay home if they have symptoms.   Australia correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower...

A Washington DC appeals court is hearing arguments over whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for his actions after the 2020 election.   Trump looked on as his legal team sought to convince a panel of three judges that former presidents should not be prosecuted for actions they took in office.   He argues he was working in his official capacity as President to ensure election integrity....

Expect high 20's in many parts of the country today as the summer sun continues to shine.   Warm temperatures are forecast for many areas including Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.   MetService Meteorologist Montenero Spears told Tim Dower that the only place spoiling the party is the South Island's West Coast.   He says they've had a ridge of high pressure giving us very settled and hot we...

Comedian Guy Montgomery is heading back on the road.   With the filming of the next season of ‘Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee’ “in the can”, Montgomery is now preparing for his upcoming tour: ‘50,000,000 Guy Fans Can't be Wrong’.   He told Tim Dower that he’s now getting the new show, the new jokes on the road to stress test them in front of smaller audiences.   “To make sure they’re funny...

Palmerston North is in bloom this summer, their award-winning botanical gardens a sight to see.   The New Zealand Gardens Trust has awarded the Victoria Esplanade a five star rating, one of few in the country.   It’s got entertainment for the whole family, with the miniature railway in the Rose Gardens, the Wild Base Centre, and a variety of playgrounds.   If you’re not a fan of the gardens, try t...

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has resigned.   It comes as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to give a new impetus to his second mandate, ahead of European parliament elections and the Paris Olympics this summer.   He hasn't yet named the 62-year-old's successor.   The change in Prime Minister comes after a year marred by political crises triggered by contested reforms of the pension system a...

A teachers’ union is calling for clarity from the Education Minister over plans to shake-up sex education guidelines.   National has agreed with New Zealand First to scrap and replace gender, sexuality, and relationship-based guidance for schools.   But the Post Primary Teachers' Association says no valid explanation has been put forward for the change or what it will look like.   Acting President...

A top winemaker is backing the rise in popularity of cask wine.   Also known as boxed wine, the packaging has long put off many wine connoisseurs.   But a glass bottle generates 1.25 kilograms of carbon dioxide in production, and James Dicey, co-owner of Bannockburn Winery, says cask wine is a far more sustainable option.   He says a lot of drinkers are being converted.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnyst...

A former cop says when police are trying to subdue suspects, the situation can swiftly deteriorate.   New figures released to our newsroom show Police have resorted to the tactical use of pain to bring violent or resisting offenders under control more than 2,600 times since 2016.   Māori account for 48% of cases.   An Auckland Council member, Alf Filipaina, says pain should be more of a last resor...