Holiday Breakfast

The media is now turning on itself in Britain's Huw Edwards scandal. The BBC News at Ten presenter was named by his wife yesterday as the person at the centre of the fuss over paying a young person for explicit images. Attention has now turned to The Sun's original reporting, and how the BBC is treating its staff members. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Tim Dower that The Sun says it didn't name...

Retail NZ is giving the tick of approval to the ACT Party's latest policy for tougher penalties for attacks on workers. The party wants judges to consider a person suffering violent crime at work as an aggravating factor to toughen up the sentence. It would allow consideration of things like attacks on a person working alone, or someone who has an adjoining home. Retail NZ's Aimie Hines, says it's...

A Hollywood shutdown could be imminent. The Screen Actors Guild —representing 160-thousand television and movie actors in the US— are poised to strike alongside screenwriters who've been picketing for more than 70 days. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that it could be the first time in 60 years that the two professions are striking at the same time. He says actors are suggesting thi...

Australia has similar nursing problems to ours. The aged care sector across the Tasman is struggling, with a lot more people needing to go into care and not enough nursing staff available. Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that a report into the sector has found that there needs to be a registered nurse available 24 hours a day, in every facility. But, he says the aged care provi...

A New Zealand company is involved in an environmental awareness stunt at Australia's famous Bondi Beach. A large poo-shaped plastic sculpture has been installed at the Sydney beach to highlight the amount of waste being dumped in the ocean. The four-metre high piece represents the volume of plastic dumped in oceans every 30 seconds. Better Packing Co co-founder Rebecca Percasky told Tim Dower that...

Jo Brosnahan says that founding Leadership New Zealand is the highlight of her life. She's been made a Dame Companion in this year's King's Birthday and Coronation Honours for services to governance and business. Brosnahan founded Leadership New Zealand in 2003 and has been chair and director of a wide range of other organisations. She says it's a special organisation with a growing network of peo...

Most New Zealand employers expect to raise salaries this year. The latest Salary Guide from Hays Recruitment shows about 95% of organisations intend on raising their workers’ pay, with most planning pay rises of more than three percent. Hays Recruitment Regional Director Adam Edwards says inflation remains high, and businesses are becoming more transparent about pay. He says the lack of skilled wo...

China's Defence Minister is defending the decision to sail a warship across the path of an American ship transiting the Taiwan Strait. The US Indo-Pacific Command says the Chinese ship overtook the American ship, and then veered across its bow in an unsafe manner. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that relations were poor before this, and seem even worse now. The developments come as...

David Seymour admits that his new plan to establish a "Ministry of Regulation" isn't an entirely new idea. The plan —unveiled at the Act Party's AGM in Auckland yesterday— would see a ministry set up to specifically eliminate red tape from all sectors of government. The Act Party leader says the Treasury and MBIE already assess regulations. But, he told Tim Dower, their advice is often ignored by...

New Zealand is cosying up to Japan — signing a new deal for greater military cooperation in the midst of rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Strategic analyst Paul Buchanan says that Defence Minister Andrew Little is making it clear that New Zealand's choosing a side when it comes to China. He says he can only see deeper integration of New Zealand Defence Forces into the regional security...

The fall-out is continuing across the Tasman over the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. The Victoria Cross recipient has lost a defamation case over three newspapers, that published articles about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and bullying of former SAS colleagues. Roberts-Smith could now face criminal charges. Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that the verdict has been raisi...

Major General Lindsay M Inglis was one of New Zealand's most prominent soldiers, and left behind a wealth of notes, letters, and a memoir. Nathalie Philippe is the editor of Death Among Good Men,  a new book consisting of these texts. Nathalie joined Tim Beveridge to chat about the process of editing the book, and the importance of this kind of text. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

RSA National President Sir Wayne Shelford was at the Wellington Dawn Service. He told Tim Beveridge that there were good numbers in attendance. The Anzac day National Service will be held at Wellington's Pukeahu National War Memorial Park at 11am. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The only birthing unit in Christchurch is closing at the end of June. The maternity contract between Te Whatu Ora and St George will not be renewed, even after the deadline was extended due to protests last year. Co-leader of Meras, the Midwives Union, Jill Ovens joined Tim Beveridge to discuss the situation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insurance is on the chopping block for many kiwis as the cost of living continues to rise. Many kiwis are cutting costs by opting out or straight out cancelling their insurance plans, particularly their home and contents insurance. Insurance Council CEO Tim Grafton says that anyone who is considering opting out of their insurance should discuss options with their provider first. LISTEN ABOVE See o...

$53 million dollars have been spent on Auckland speed limit reductions over the past five years. Despite Prime Minister Chris Hipkins saying last month that more reductions were off the table, National says that Auckland Transport are about to propose further reductions across the city. Simeon Brown, National's transport spokesperson, says that the Government needs to repeal their blanket speed li...

Defence Minister Andrew Little is in Gallipoli for Anzac Day. It’s been 108 years since the ANZAC corps landed during the First World War. Of the 17-thousand Kiwi soldiers who fought, about five thousand were wounded and almost two-thousand-700 never came home. Little will attend the Dawn Service and New Zealand National Service. He says that it's an amazing feeling being there. LISTEN ABOVE See o...

Guy Williams joined the show from his hotel swimming pool in Melbourne to chat about comedy, Australian versus kiwi audiences, and the upcoming New Zealand International Comedy Festival. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are children acquiring the practical skills they need to navigate “adult life”? On top of a traditional education, should schools be teaching children how to do things like open bank accounts, taxes, or the basics of our political system? Secondary Principals Association President Vaughan Couillault says that while they aren’t packaged as a “life skills course”, these skills are covered in subject...

The Qatar World Cup highlighted that alcohol isn’t necessary for an enjoyable sporting experience, so a question has been raised: is it time to look at New Zealand sporting grounds going alcohol free? Around 20 to 25 percent of adults in New Zealand have harmful levels of alcohol consumption, with higher percentages among different subgroups. Alcohol Healthwatch Executive Director Rebecca Williams...

Damage assessments will be done this morning following a tornado in East Auckland last night. It caused roofs to be blown off houses and damage to cars, but there are no reported injuries. Fire and Emergency Incident Controller David McKeown told Tim Dower that the damage covered a decent residential area, stretching about four kilometres. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Concerns are rising about how an off-shore gambling platform is targeting New Zealanders. England cricket coach Brendon McCullum is an ambassador for 22Bet: a Cyprus-based bookie which has been heavily advertised on YouTube for the past month. The Problem Gambling Foundation is worried the former Black Cap's role legitimises and endorses them for audiences here. Spokesperson Andree Froude says tha...

The Democrats are calling for an ethics inquiry amid a storm of controversy surrounding US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. It has emerged that for more than 20 years he's been taking luxury holidays paid for by Republican mega donor, Harlan Crow. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that details are continuing to emerge. He says that for instance, Crow gave half a million to a gro...

Russia is seeking to expand its sphere of influence as it struggles with the war in Ukraine. It's moved nuclear weapons into neighbouring Belarus, despite public statements against the practice of shifting weapons past borders. Strategic Analyst Paul Buchanan says Russia is critiquing the US storage of nuclear weapons in Guam and Turkey. He told Tim Dower that it's part of an effort to court anti-...

A shearer from the Tararua District has smashed a shearing world record in Southland. Sacha Bond shore 601 lambs to set a solo women’s eight hours strongwool lambshearing record on Saturday afternoon. It's 91 more than the previous record of 510 lambs, set by Canadian shearer Pauline Boly in 2019. The 29-year-old mother-of-one says the day couldn't have gone any better. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...