Holiday Breakfast

Formed in 1996 and named for the California-Mexico border town, the indie rock band Calexico is returning to New Zealand once more for three shows this February.   Frontmen Joey Burns and John Convertino originated the band, the shows they’re playing a part of their 20 th anniversary tour for their original album: ‘Feast of the Wire.’   Joey Burns told Tim Dower that back when they first created t...

Dire Straits Legacy are bringing rock to NZ stages for ‘A Summers Day Live’, drawing songs from the British rock legends’ six platinum albums.   Alan Clarke was the original keyboardist and co-producer for Dire Straits and has reprised his role for Legacy.   The original band played their last gig in 1992, and Clarke told Tim Dower that he didn’t think they would perform again.   It was another 25...

People shouldn't hold their breath for sunshine on Christmas. There'll be a mixture of muggy and wet days as people travel in the lead up to the 25th. But MetService Forecaster Heath Gullery told Tim Dower the big day is looking overwhelmingly rainy, with exceptions for the east coasts of the North and South islands. He says it's likely to be warm and rainy in central and northern New Zealand.   L...

The Health Minister believes falling immunisation rates come down to access, and trust. The government's aiming to lift immunisation rates at Maori health providers, with a 50-million dollar package. Shane Reti says told Tim Dower that this will prevent children ending up in the emergency department with measles, mumps, and rubella. He says Maori health providers carry mana, and have trust, which...

Gin Wigmore, Kiwi indie singer songwriter, will be back in the country in April to perform at the Harvest Moon Festival in Napier alongside Welsh singer Tom Jones and the Magnificent Seven. Wigmore Spoke to Tim Dower to discuss her upcoming performances and how she has adjusted to life outside the country now she lives in Los Angeles.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

After a busy year of making music kiwi indie-folk singer Mel Parsons is joining the Tesky Brothers on tour.   She released her latest single ‘Offer Down’ in 2023, the first track for her upcoming album.   The song describes the journey that indie artists go through, the hustle and persistence they have to have to make it in the music industry.   Parsons told Tim Dower that the song is specifically...

Before you finish up your summer roadie, take a stop at the Crimson Coast.   The Pohutukawa are in flower right through Thames and up the coast to Coromandel, Mayor Len Salt calling the sight “absolutely spectacular.”   He told Tim Dower that any tour of the Coromandel starts with a stock up, and there’s no better place the heritage and history filled town of Thames.   Once you’ve had your fill, f...

Satellite technology has been launched as a backup to bolster mobile coverage.   SpaceX successfully launched a rocket containing Starlink satellites to go alongside One New Zealand's mobile network.   One New Zealand Chief Executive Jason Paris told Tim Dower that it's a layer of resilience in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.   He says power to cell towers was a problem, and it was a safety issue t...

A woman is facing numerous fraud charges in relation to an alleged wedding dress scam in Queensland, Australia.   70 people have been allegedly defrauded by the woman; the situation called a 'wedding disaster' by some.   Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that she's accused of re-cutting wedding dresses and selling them as new, selling fake designer frocks and selling off dresses h...

More than 170 people are named in court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.   A thousand pages of documents have been released from a court case involving the convicted sex offender and associate Ghislaine Maxwell.   In 2022 Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being convicted of sex trafficking.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that one of the most famous nam...

There’s confidence the future of Mount Ruapehu's ski operations is positive, despite the asset value of its infrastructure being lower than originally estimated.   The first receivers report regarding Ruapehu Alpine Lifts has been released, showing it plans to sell off its assets at a much lower value.   RAL owes numerous creditors millions.   Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton told Tim Dower that potent...

The further south the better for people wanting to make the most of the summer weather today.   MetService forecaster Alistair Gorman told Tim Dower that there's a cloudy day ahead for most of the country, with rain coming for many parts in the North Island.   He says a front over the Westland and Canterbury area is moving northwards, but places south of that will clear up during the day.   LISTEN...

A suggestion that it's time to re-evaluate our approach to foreign aid to ensure it more closely aligns with our values.   The Taxpayers' Union is questioning why we're dishing out millions to countries who have state-sponsored space programmes.   Investigations Coordinator Oliver Bryan told Tim Dower that if a country can invest in these ambitious projects, it shouldn't expect to receive payments...

Disgraced royal, Prince Andrew, has been named in American court papers again showing connections to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.   The documents have been unsealed in relation to the case of Epstein's partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.   The BBC reports Prince Andrew is accused of groping a woman in 2001, something he denies.   Royal Commentator, Victoria Arbiter, told Tim Dower that Andrew maintained...

One of the men who rescued a fisherman who spent nearly 24 hours in the water off the Coromandel says he's glad things worked out the way they did. Will Fransen was 30 nautical miles out to sea and had a brush with a shark before the reflection of his wristwatch caught the attention of some fisherman. He says he can't thank his rescuers enough, and hopes to shout them a drink. One of them, Max Whi...

With last year’s release of ‘Monopoly’, kiwi singer-songwriter Georgia Lines’ success continues to grow.   She’s made a name for herself both in New Zealand and overseas, a string of gigs over in the States catching the attention of one of America’s biggest booking agencies: Wasserman Music.   Lines claimed the Breakthrough Artist award at the 2022 New Zealand Music Awards and was nominated for Be...

2023 marked the long-awaited return of the ASB Classic, and next year’s event looks like it’ll be bigger and better than ever before.   Some of tennis’ biggest names will be playing, with Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki, and Cam Norrie already confirmed to be taking part.   ASB Tournament Director Nicolas Lamperin told Tim Dower that they’ve taken everything they learnt from the last tournament to...

Kiwi driver Liam Lawson had a fantastic year in 2023, stepping into Daniel Riccardo’s AlphaTauri seat while the Australian was out with an injured hand.   He competed in five races, gaining two championship points for the ninth placing at Singapore.   Lawson told Tim Dower that he didn’t expect it to unfold the way it did.   He said that while it’s not a set of circumstances he would choose to go...

No longer flightless, Kiwis are taking to the stars as New Zealand’s space sector continues to grow.   Rocket Lab in particular had a busy year, with a total of ten missions launching in 2023.   While rockets tend to steal the show, Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told Tim Dower that 2023 was a major year for satellites, with two thirds of their business being in space systems.   Beck told Dower that th...

Only a couple hours' drive from Mount Cook is Waimate, home to wallabies, the rocky coast, and native bush.   The district has beautiful campsites on the shores of Lake Aviemore, the perfect place to spend a day, the night, or even the whole summer.   Waimate District mayor, Craig Rowley, told Tim Dower that they’ve seen a real resurgence in rural New Zealand, as kiwis from across the country look...

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the UK.   Harry Pitman was attacked in North London on New Years Eve as he and a group of friends watched the fireworks display.   The 16-year-old was stabbed in the neck, dying shortly before midnight.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower that while it is a horrible story, it is not alone.   He said that knife crime in London i...

A graphic video showing a pregnant shark being cut open, while still alive, has been circulating the internet.   The video shows beachgoers at Christchurch's New Brighton Beach carrying dozens of baby sharks from the mother's stomach back into the ocean.   Shark scientist Dr Riley Elliott told Tim Dower that there’s a bigger message here.   He said that instead of targeting certain people for cert...

A wet end to the week for some could lead into a weekend of nice weather.   A wet front is making its way through the country this week.   But MetService forecaster Alistair Gorman told Tim Dower that there's a chance Kiwis will enjoy some sunshine over the weekend.   He says although there may be the odd summer shower, we can expect more settled weather.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listen...

Donald Trump is hitting back after Maine's Secretary of State ruled to strike the former president's name off the ballot.   Trump has challenged the ruling, which would see him ineligible as a candidate in the state's primary elections due to his involvement in the attempted insurrection on January 6, 2022.   Newshub US Correspondent Mitch Mccan told Tim Dower that his legal team are labelling it...

There’s political outcry in Italy after a man was injured by a gun owned by a government minister at a New Years eve party.   Lawmaker Emanuele Pozzolo is a member of Italy's far right Government, and says although he did not fire the shot, he does own the firearm.   The victim was taken to hospital with what is being described as light injuries to his leg.   Newstalk ZB Italy Correspondent Jo McK...