Holiday Breakfast

It may be a rally of arguments today in court for Novak Djokovic as he fights to stay in the Australian tennis open.  The world tennis star is appealing a deportation order, after failing to produce evidence of his Covid vaccination.   Djokovic's lawyers will rely on his prior Covid infection to argue his medical exemption and get his visa cancellation overturned.  Australian Correspondent Murray...

Kiwi motocross rider Courtney Duncan has had an incredibly successful last few years.   This year, she won her third consecutive Women's Motocross World Championship.   It's been a tough time otherwise though, in terms of actually trying to get back home to New Zealand via MIQ, but she's recently made it back.   Courtney Duncan joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

A Christchurch woman is meeting up with 501 deportees as part of a class action lawsuit against the Australian Government.   Over the next month, Filipa Payne is talking to 75 deportees around the country, as part of a hikoi to get grassroots support for her campaign.   Payne told Tim Dower she's encouraging all New Zealanders to throw their support behind the lawsuit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

There should have been more clarity around Novak Djokovic not being able to enter Australia without a Covid-19 vaccination.   Djokovic is in a Melbourne quarantine facility awaiting a Federal Court hearing on his deportation on Monday.   The tennis star was granted a medical exemption by the Victoria State Government, but when he landed - officials found a medical exemption wasn't permitted.   Syd...

There's concern the Government is making it harder for people to buy a home.  Data released by Kāinga Ora shows it spent nearly $2 billion on buying existing homes for state housing over the past five years.   The housing agency bought more than 1600 homes in that time - at least 700 of those in Auckland.   National's housing spokesperson Nicola Willis told Tim Dower it's not good for first home b...

New Zealand scientists have helped discover a new gene that could be a game changer for farmers.  The P-A-R gene allows some plant species to clone themselves and hold on to favourable traits that might otherwise get lost in the natural reproduction process.  Dr Ross Bicknell is one of the scientists who worked on this research, he joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Concerns are being raised over a lack of money to improve roads in New Zealand.  Modelling by Waka Kotahi released to the Herald reveals potential problems with the transport agency's funding.   If too many people replace cars with bikes and public transport, the shift could cause a $600 million gap in the agency's transport budget by the end of the decade.  Its due to the budget being funded by f...

Earlier this week we were blown away by those amazing images of the North Island, shot from the International Space Station.  A few days later we've been wondering if a giant lump of Russian space junk was going to smash into the South Island.  It hasn't, but it is going to come down somewhere - and it illustrates the extreme nature of space exploration.  Astronomer and space scientist Dr Duncan S...

Novak Djokovic is being held at Melbourne Airport and is not being allowed to enter Australia.  This follows major controversy over the Australian Open defending champ being granted an exemption to play at this year's tournament.  Djokovic has always refused to give his vaccination status.  Political journalist with The Age in Melbourne Paul Sakkal told Tim Dower border officials have their doubts...

The threat of Covid is far from over - and neither is the national vaccination roll-out.  Jacinda Ardern has made a plea to New Zealanders who were vaccinated at least four months ago to start receiving their booster shots.  She's encouraging people in Auckland to take advantage of walk-in centres, like the Auckland Airport Park and Ride facility on Verissimo Drive in Māngere.  Otago University cl...

The New Zealand test cricketers have succumbed to Bangladesh for the first time in 16 tests, losing by eight wickets.  The result breaks the hosts’ run of 17 consecutive matches without a loss and eight straight series triumphs at home.  Spin secured six of the 32 dismissals in the match.  Conjecture surrounded the omission of Black Caps left-arm orthodox Patel from the squad, after becoming the t...

Rob Hewitt, Kaihautu with Water Safety New Zealand, joined Tim Beverage this morning to give practical advice on what to do if you get into trouble in the water.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rhythm and Alps continues today with new acts stepping in.   Headliner DJ Dimension's pulled out after testing positive for Omicron – becoming New Zealand's first community case, after ending self-isolation before getting a last test result.  Performers DJ Friction, Lee Matthews and DJ Sin – have also had to cancel, as close contacts.  Rhythm and Alps Founder Alex Turnbull told Tim Dower they had...

What a legacy Ross Taylor is leaving the international game.   He's announced his record-breaking international career, spanning 16 years, is coming to an end after this summer.  By that stage he'll have played 112 tests, equal to Dan Vettori's record.   Bryan Waddle joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is slamming the actions of the British DJ who has become our first Omicron case.   The Act Party Leader says Robert Etheridge, known as DJ Dimension, should be deported.   The musician had completed 10 days isolation, but didn't wait for the final test result before entering the community.  Seymour told Tim Dower the DJ's taken New Zealand for a ride, and should be issued with a depo...

Dancing is back on the cards in Auckland nightclubs for New Year's Eve.   Nightclubs in the orange traffic light setting can re-open to capacity for vaccinated customers and there's no longer seated service requirements.   From today, everywhere is now in orange, except Northland, which remains in Red.   Sapphire Nightclub owner Aryan Soin told Tim Dower they're looking forward to tonight.  “I rec...

Australia has re-defined what Covid-19 close contacts are.   The National Cabinet met yesterday to agree on changes.   Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a close contact is someone in a household – or a work colleague with four or more hours spent together.   New Covid-19 cases in Australia topped 20-thousand yesterday.  “Plus, there’s a new rule...

Rangitikei's district mayor says today's new freedom is a highlight  Andy Watson says although the move at midnight to orange traffic light may not change much, he told Tim Dower it makes a difference for event planners.  “What it may do is give surety to some people that are planning events, we’ve had a large number cancelled.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 case numbers are continuing to soar to new records in the United States.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower the latest daily tally is approaching 500-thousand.   He says it's causing cancellation havoc.  “The airline system’s still chaotic, there have been more than a thousand flight cancellations again today, events are being called off, one of the main film festivals leadi...

What a time to be in charge of an airline.   We're about to reach two years of a near fully closed international border. If you don't count that short-lived bubble with the Aussies.   The saving grace, a good domestic summer rush – this time last week was the busiest day for flying, with 30 thousand of us taking to the skies.  Air NZ CEO Greg Foran joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

The community Omicron infection of UK DJ Dimension is spreading ripples across the entertainment industry.   He was set to play the Rhythm and Alps festival and spent time at Auckland CBD locations before his positive test was returned.   About 81 international music artists have been given a spot in MIQ, to come to New Zealand – to get a border exemption they have to get a certain visa.   NZ Prom...

The South Taranaki town of Patea is famous again, this time for something nothing to do culture or music.  It's the price of a house. The average is up by sixty per cent in the past year, making it the hottest district in the entire country  And prices are still climbing almost everywhere else in Valocity's new figures.  James Wilson from Valocity joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

The Omicron case, a UK DJ here for a festival, returned a positive day nine test after isolating for 10 days – but went into the community before getting the result.   He spent time in Auckland CBD while possible infectious – with locations of interest including a nightclub and bar.   Otago University's Lesley Gray told Tim Dower it's important red traffic light setting rules were followed at the...

The Italian Government is mulling over whether to mandate vaccination for workers.  Nearly 100-thousand new Covid infections and 148 deaths were reported in Italy yesterday.  Correspondent Angela Giuffrida told Tim Dower it's prompted the Government to consider more measures.   She says there hasn't been a lot of reaction from the public yet.  “We should know tonight whether the government confirm...

Covid hasn't stopped Taranaki's housing market booming this year.   South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon says in a whirlwind year, growth in the area has been a highlight.   Housing demand has been so high, developers have brought forward the next stage of site sales for a new residential community – known as Longview – by five months.   South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon told Tim Dower it's been fantasti...