Holiday Breakfast

An employment expert is outraged over comments that young people are at high risk of exploitation during their summer jobs. First Union is warning younger employees often don't know a lot about their rights, leaving them vulnerable to workplace exploitation. But Whitehead Group employment specialist Max Whitehead says the comments are outrageous and unnecessary, especially as employers struggle to...

A big task ahead for officials to piece together what caused a mid-air collision between two helicopters on the Gold Coast, which claimed four lives. One helicopter landed safely near the Sea World theme park on Monday, with a pilot, four New Zealanders and a Western Australian on board. The other crashed, killing the pilot, a British couple and another adult. Aviation Commentator Peter Clark says...

Holidaymakers are clearing out of campgrounds in mass numbers as a subtropical storm makes its way down to northern parts of the country. MetService has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for Northland and Coromandel until early tomorrow morning. Campgrounds report visitors have fled in droves, with only a few campervans left. Earl Adams from Earl's Paradise Camp at Whangapoua on the Coromandel s...

Two boys are fighting for their lives, and four others remain in hospital after the mid-air collision of two helicopters on the Gold Coast, killing four people. One helicopter landed safely near the Sea World theme park, with a pilot, four New Zealanders and a Western Australian on board. The other crashed, killing the pilot, a British couple and another adult. Australian correspondent Murray Olds...

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after experiencing cardiac arrest during a game. Damar Hamlin collapsed unconscious during the Buffalo Bills NFL showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals after tackling a Bengals receiver in what looked like a standard play.  Players from both teams surrounded him while Hamlin was administered CPR, in an attempt to give him privacy from the...

Arguably one of the best regions in the country is next on our Summer Roadtrip. The next stop on this journey is Napier, known as New Zealand's Art Deco capital. Napier offers fantastic views from Bluff Hill, historic sights and duck ponds at their Botanical Gardens, and opportunities to see a diverse range of aquatic animals, including little blue penguins, at the National Aquarium of New Zealand...

A claim an article in a conspiracy magazine sold in Whitcoulls could cause readers to run afoul of the law. The book chain is stocking a copy of New Dawn, a magazine with anti-vax conspiracies and an article insinuating that the Christchurch Mosque attack was a false flag operation. Disinformation Project Director Kate Hannah says that while some of the articles will be harmless, the one about the...

The health system in the U.K. is under severe strain. 24 hour waits for Accident and Emergency have become common, and some patients have been forced to spend that time in corridors. Around 500 people a week are reported to be dying because they can't get into accident and emergency. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle says that there are a variety of factors to blame, not just under funding. He says Scot...

Fire officials are bracing for a busy summer ahead as hot weather dries out much of the country. A high fire danger is expected for the West Coast over the next couple of days and residents are urged not to light outdoor fires, even if they have a permit. Fireworks have also caused headaches, with crews estimating the volume of call outs this New Year's Eve to be higher compared to previous years....

A call for a cautious approach as the country waits for the decision of whether it will require a negative Covid test from travellers arriving from China. An announcement is expected today, with other western countries such as Australia set to bring in the measures on Thursday. Auckland University epidemiologist and data scientist Janine Paynter says that China hasn't been very forthcoming with da...

An information vacuum out of China is forcing countries to put COVID restrictions in place. The Asian country is grappling with a surge in Covid cases and outbreaks, at a time where it's abandoning its Covid-zero policy, and allowing people to fly in and out. Some countries, such as the US, Japan, and India, have taken action by introducing negative test requirements for all Chinese air travellers...

The National Party leader is talking up his front bench heading into this election year. Polls are leaning towards National, with a recent Taxpayers Union Curia poll finding the party slightly favoured as economic managers over Labour. Chris Luxon says the current Government has been too reliant on working groups and, if elected, his ministers would have real world expertise in their portfolios. L...

Some of New Zealand's well-known athletes are planning to race the length of the North Island in an effort to normalise mental health. Former World triathlon champion Rick Wells, along with former All Black Ian Jones, and the Blue70 athlete crew will be swimming, biking, and running from Cape Reinga to Wellington's Beehive in 16 days next month. Their goal is to raise funds for Mike King's charity...

Some of the big names in tennis are set to take to the courts as Auckland's ASB Classic begins today. After a three year hiatus, organisers had just six-months—compared to the usual 12—to prepare the event at ASB Tennis Arena. Tennis star Venus Williams will be among the first up in the Women's Week, along with rising star Coco Gauff, before the men play next week. Tournament director Nicolas Lamp...

A tragic start to the year as a close-knit Gisborne community grapples with the death of two people near the Rhythm and Vines festival. A man in his thirties and a teenager died when they were hit by a car on Back Ormond Rd shortly after 9pm. Gisborne Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga says that there has been a massive outpouring of love for the friends and family of those involved. He says they've rec...

Australia is looking at changing some building rules because of climate change. Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has floated the idea of banning building on flood-plains, coming at the end of a year plagued by floods and bush fires. Australian Correspondent Murray Olds says that building on flood-plains is a practice that's been in place since the European settlements. Olds says state and local...

Big changes in the property market. The average value has fallen below the million dollar mark for the first time since August 2021. One Roof Editor Owen Vaughan told Tim Dower that there's been a complete turnaround with price declines of up to 20 percent in the last 12 months. He says the biggest driver of the earlier prices rises was low interest rates and the drop is the result of the steady r...

Australia and Canada have joined other countries including the U.S and U.K in requiring visitors from China to do pre-departure Covid-19 tests to gain entry. China has seen a massive spike in cases after ditching strict protocols. US Correspondent Richard Arnold says that the move has been controversial in Canada, with some saying it won't be effective. He says others argue it will at least buy so...

Taxpayers have forked out 30 million dollars worth of ACC claims for e-scooter related injuries since 2018. The more than 10 thousand claims have an average cost of nearly 3000 dollars. Advocacy group Living Streets Aotearoa says they are dangerous and put people off walking on footpaths. President Tim Jones told Tim Beveridge that the law allowing them onto footpaths is set for review in Septembe...

A dog trainer says no fault should be laid after a pet dog was shot dead after attacking police in Christchurch. It occurred during a manhunt that ended in Linwood, after two offenders abandoned a stolen car and fled on foot. A pet dog attacked a police dog by biting its throat ... before going after the handler, and then re-attacking the police dog around its face. President of Association of Pet...

After a one year hiatus Auckland will bring in the New Year with a boom. A five minute light show and fireworks display on the Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge will start at midnight tomorrow. Covid-19 prevented the display last year. SkyCity Chief Executive Calum Mallet says this year's display will dip into the six figure price range. He says that there are plenty of spots to watch the show from. LI...

A change in China's Covid-19 policy has led to tighter travel restrictions in the US. From January, people arriving from China will need to show a negative test within two days of arrival to the US. It follows China ditching mandatory isolation for those infected with the virus. US Correspondent Richard Arnold says cases are rising rapidly there. He told Tim Beveridge that's translating to serious...

A stubborn attitude to safety by men is the main cause of our near record drowning toll. So far, 90 people have drowned this year —the same as last year— the highest number recorded since 2011, when there were 91 drowning deaths. In the last few days, one man died after his canoe capsized on a Christchurch lake on Christmas Day, while two people drowned in Auckland and the far North on Boxing Day....

A number of aid agencies have halted operations in Afghanistan over the Taliban's ban on female aid workers. The move has been justified by Taliban officials, who say some women have not been adhering to the correct dress code. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark supports the agencies taking a stand ... which include UNICEF and Save the Children. She says that the Taliban has crossed a red line. Cla...

More travel chaos for UK commuters as rail and Border Force staff launch a fresh wave of strikes. One thousand border workers are walking off the job today until New Year’s Eve over their pay ... they've been replaced by civil servants and military personnel. Driving examiners, train drivers and signallers are also striking. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Tim Beveridge that they want a 10 percen...