Holiday Breakfast

Disabled Whangamata residents will be able to make the most of the summer, with two new beach wheelchairs.    Toes in the Water fundraised for the specialised chairs, and two walkers.  Chairperson Dave Ryan told Tim Dower traditional wheelchairs aren't good on soft sand.  “These wheelchairs are really terrific, and we’ve followed on from what Waihi Beach community project have done, by purchasing...

A new book by Kiwi chef Annabel Langbein, has hit the shelves.   Summer at Home is particularly special for Langbein, who co-wrote it with her daughter, Rose.   Langbein told Tim Dower, Rose has been living in hole in the wall apartments for a long time.  “She can make do with very little, and the brilliant thing about this book she said, mum I want to have a restricted pantry so that you don’t go...

Top urban planners will be gathering in Christchurch for three days next March to tackle the country's biggest challenges for the coming year.   Housing affordability and climate change are key topics.   NZ Planning Institute CEO David Curtis told Tim Dower in terms of housing affordability; they're looking beyond normal market forces.   He says looking back 20 years, Auckland's Long-Term Plan off...

High hopes visitors would flock to Queenstown over summer have been crushed ... so far.   Businesses believe Covid restrictions and uncertainty are making people fearful of travelling to the tourist town.   Around the Basin general manager, Steve Norton, told Tim Dower a third of businesses have shut up shop for good.  “And there’d be probably another third that are really struggling at the moment...

Four children are in intensive care after a serious crash near Matamata late on Monday night.    Five children aged 10 to 13 were seriously injured after being flung from the vehicle.   Police have confirmed the vehicle was stolen from Hamilton, and likely linked to a burglary.  Local mayor Ash Tanner told Tim Dower the road isn't notorious for accidents ... and it's not yet clear what happened. ...

Into the central North Island this morning as we continue our road trip calling on District Mayors.  As you know, domestic tourism is all the more important this summer, with the borders closed.  On the upside ... some of the hotspots like Mount Ruapehu and Tongariro Crossing are more appealing, because of the lack of overseas travellers.   And both have high hopes.  Ruapehu District Mayor Don Cam...

The UK has recorded a new record high daily Covid-19 case number – of more than 129-thousand.   Meanwhile, in the United States, self-isolation requirements have been halved for asymptomatic cases.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower it comes as case numbers are on the rise – at nearly 250-thousand daily cases.  “The CDC, the Centre of Disease Control, have just changed the rules for...

Trampolinist Dylan Schmidt was one of our successful Olympians this year, earning himself a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.   Since then, he's made it to the finals of the World Champs in Azerbaijan in November.   Dylan joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is putting the heat on Whangamata's rental market.   Demand for holiday homes is creating a shortage of rentals, and pushing up prices.  Whangamata Real Estate principal Murray Cleland says a lot of people are also selling, rather than having to upgrade old baches to meet rental regulations.  He says that's impacting locals.  “Some of the retailers are having to rent houses to house their s...

Cromwell 's forecast to have relatively fine weather this afternoon, but some may still get wet.   Straight shooters will be lining up to hoik their way to the national trophy this afternoon, for cherry pit spitting.   Competitors will be pursing their lips from 3pm at Cromwell's Heritage Precinct.   Strict Covid-19 precautions will be in play.   Cromwell Promotions Group Chair Carolyn Murray told...

One of the Government's most popular private sector partners isn't shying away from the title.   According to numbers compiled by Newstalk ZB, Robert Walters has made more than 40 million dollars from the Government through consulting and contracting.   Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls has more.  “In the last financial year, the public sector spent close to 1 billion dollars on contractors and...

Auckland's mayor thinks 501 deportees are clearly playing part of an increase in gun violence.   In the past week, two people have died in separate firearms incidents in the city.   Phil Goff is concerned, and has raised the issue with the Police Minister.   He told Tim Dower he's not happy Australia's sending 501s here, especially those who haven't lived here most of their lives.  “How can it be...

United Kingdom residents are wary of heading to the shops, with Omicron still spreading rapidly.   Britain recorded 98,515 new Covid-19 cases today, and 143 deaths.   The Government's ruled out any new Covid restrictions before the New Year.   UK correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower Boxing Day sales were quiet for retailers.  “The suggestion therefore is that, you don’t really need these restri...

A bitter sweet moment for the Wairoa District.   The district originally entered the Covid traffic light system at 'red', but shifted to 'orange' on December 13.  Regardless, the Rhythm and Vines New Year's festival in nearby Gisborne has been postponed until Easter next year.   Wairoa District Mayor Craig Little told Tim Dower they're still expecting huge numbers of people to pass through to holi...

The French may be waiting with bated breath ahead of potentially more Covid-19 restrictions.   France recorded more than 104-thousand cases on Saturday, topping 100-thousand for the first time since the pandemic began.  Its government is moving to make vaccine passes only valid with a booster jab, and President Emmanuel Macron is weighing up other measures.    Correspondent Catherine Field told Ti...

Warbirds over Wānaka is promising to be back with vengeance after being cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions.   All going well, he show will take place at Easter.   Warbirds over Wānaka general manager, Ed Taylor joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the road with mayors in various parts of the country, we roll into Eastern Bay of Plenty.  Great beaches and consistently solid sunshine hours.  And nice towns; Whakatane, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki to name just a few.  Ōpōtiki mayor Lyn Riesterer joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time to continue our catch up with the leading politicians of 2021.   And it's fair to say Christopher Luxon has had a pretty big year.   Less than a year into being a MP - he thrust himself to be the Leader of the Opposition after Judith Collins imploded.   So how is the new National Party leader feeling a few weeks in? And what does 2022 bring?  Christopher Luxon joined the Summer Breakfast.  LI...

It has turned from a questionable novelty just a few years ago to a regular part of the Christmas cycle.  Thousands of unwanted gifts are already up for sale on trade me.  Ruby Topzand from Trade Me joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are sales galore right now, with retailers desperate to make up ground lost during lockdowns.  And the prospect of a bargain has upwards of 500,000 New Zealanders turning to buy now, pay later schemes.  It's doubled in the past two years.  But there's concern over the potential consequences down the track.  Chartered Accountants financial services leader, John Cuthbertson joined the Summer B...

It's been a very bad spell on the roads, with 17 deaths in the past 10 days.   Five of those have been in the holiday road toll period, which runs until the fifth of January.   Police assistant commissioner Bruce O'Brien joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadia Lim has become a household name in perhaps record time  She graduated from Otago University in 2008 in human nutrition and worked as a clinical dietitian, specialising in diabetes.   She won the second series of MasterChef in 2011 and it's been up, up and up since then.  A lot more TV, business ventures and now based in Central Otago running a big farm with husband Carlos  Books including on...

A new technological development is creating a bit of a stir in the farming industry; Fitbits for cows.  Cow-manager have come up with an ear sensor, which tracks everything each cow does and stores it all.  It monitors when she's standing still, staring at something, having a little run, chewing grass and importantly for farmers, it detects when she's in heat.  Manawatu dairy farmer, Jared Whittfi...

Slight detour as we travel around the country for summer with the mayors.   A good summer is certainly what Kaipara mayor Jason Smith wants; tourism, business travel, the lot - as well as families coming together again after a long time apart.   Jason Smith joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Defence Force is celebrating Christmas in many places around the world - including Antarctica.  While most New Zealanders relax and enjoy some sunshine on Christmas Day, the festive season looks a bit different for those with the Royal New Zealand Navy at Scott Base.  Briar Miller is one of those serving there and told Tim Dower this will be her first white Christmas.  LISTEN ABOVE...