Holiday Breakfast

More businesses are expected to be caught failing to comply with the Covid-19 Protection Framework.  Worksafe has slapped Auckland martial arts gym, Oliver MMA, with a $12,000 fine for allowing unvaccinated staff to work.  Under the red traffic light setting, gyms can only open - with limits - if staff and customers are jabbed.   Head of General Inspectorate Simon Humphries told Tim Dower they've...

Questions are being raised over the spending priorities within corrections.  Head office numbers have blown out to more than a thousand.  But it's the salary structure that Sensible Sentencing wants to know more about, 541 staff are earning between $100,000 - $200,000.  The number paid over $200,000 has tripled from 21 staff to 57.  On the front line though, there are complaints about staff shorta...

South of Auckland lies the mighty Waikato region and nestled comfortably within it the lush district of Waipa.  Cambridge and Te Awamutu are the main towns and Waipa is home to more than 56,000 people.  Mayor Jim Mylchreest is one of them and he joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Conservation is warning swimmers in the Tauranga area to stay watchful with a rise in shark sightings.  Reports of Great Whites have increased since May 2020, and recent photos have identified six individuals.  Last January, a 19-year old tragically died in a shark attack in Bowentown, so questions are being asked as to whether we should be worried about going in the water this s...

A new study from Germany is sending warning signals to those who like to enjoy a beer in the sun.   The researchers found drinking in the sun can cause your skin to burn faster.  But there's more to it than people drinking and then forgetting to use sun cream.  Molemap dermatologist Dr Niyati Sharma joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sol3 Mio have wowed listeners for years, with a number of chart-topping albums and sold out nationwide tours.   They’ve branched out into radio hosting the Flava Breakfast show.   Now they're back with their first studio album since 2018 - Coming Home.  Sol3 Mio joined the Summer Breakfast.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The craze of adopting a puppy over lockdown is backfiring.  Owners who haven't thought it through before taking on a dog, are now looking to re-home their pet.   There's concern from pet organisations over the number of people ditching their animals.  Amanda Fraser Jones, of the Chained Dog Rehabilitation and Rehoming New Zealand, told Tim Dower while they take on as many as they can, they can't s...

Comedian Brynley Stent is this year's Billy T Winner for her set soft carnage.  It explored how she deals with her emotions through the tried and true medium of making inappropriate jokes.   You've likely seen her on tv a fair bit. In Taskmaster New Zealand, Celebrity Treasure Island and on Shortland Street.  Brynley Stent joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Airlines are feeling the turbulence after recent border changes.  The start of non-MIQ travel has been delayed to late February, impacting tens of thousands of travellers.  And, anyone coming to New Zealand in the meantime will have to do 10 days isolation in MIQ instead of seven.  Director of the board of airline representatives Justin Tighe-Umbers told Tim Dower people won't want to come here ev...

Covid booster shots will be available four months after a second dose, instead of six months.  The announcement is part of the government's response to the Omicron variant.  The government won't put anyone up today, so what do the doctors think?  GP Chair of the Medical Association, Vanessa Weenink, joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extreme disappointment for New Zealanders in Australia longing to fly home for summer.  They're out of luck, with the reopening of the border, pushed back until the end of February.  Australian newspapers are reporting Omicron cases could reach up to 200-thousand cases a day next year, without tougher restrictions.   Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower many in New South Wales are questioning...

Covid cases in the United States are reaching staggering heights.  The country is suffering its worst-case numbers yet, just days out from Christmas.  Omicron is dominating, with the variant accounting for 73 per cent of infections.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower the rapid rise is staggering.   He says shut downs and cancellations are widespread.  “This is a serious spike in case...

Back on the road again...and with our internal borders open again, one area that's eager so see visitors is the Hauraki District.  Hauraki District Mayor Toby Adams joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government isn't giving too much away when it comes to today's announcement on our moves against Omicron.  Cabinet met yesterday to get advice on bringing forward booster shots, and possibly changing the settings at the border.  There are people in Australia banking on the borders to open, without the need for MIQ, on January 17.  Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told Tim Dower they don't...

Strong calls for the country to switch to using its own local ships and crews – to ensure a reliable service.  That's the message from the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild representing maritime workers.  Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on the global supply chains – sparking shipping delays.   Merchant Service Guild vice president Iain MacLeod told Tim Dower being stuck down the bottom of the world, N...

Restrictions on arrivals from UK into France and Germany.  Booster vaccinations ramping up in France.  Correspondent Catherine Field joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer with the Mayors road trip continues into South Waikato this morning.  It's been a weird 2020, with Covid cases popping up out of the blue, and various restrictions.   But out of the confusion, new leaders emerged in the community.  South Waikato District mayor Jenny Shattock joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new birthing unit designed to handle 24-hundred babies every year will open in Christchurch in early 2023.   The Canterbury District Health board's announced a new unit located near Christchurch Hospital has been approved.  It will feature family rooms and education areas.   Christchurch midwife Jay Waretini-Beaumont told Tim Dower it's fantastic news.  “It being something that we have, or I hav...

New Zealanders stuck overseas are waiting to hear if they can come home next month or not.  Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins will make an announcement this afternoon on the Government's response to Omicron.  It's getting advice on bringing forward booster shots, and possibly changing the settings at the border.  As things stand, those in Australia can come home and skip MIQ from January 17...

What a weird year for any government.   An historic election win, but it all came crashing down in August when Delta arrived – Auckland has had more than 100 days in lockdown.   So, with the traffic lights now in place, the borders gone – how does the government feel the year went? And what does 2022 have in store?  We had a talk with Sir Ian Taylor yesterday, you'll likely know his thoughts on th...

What a year the Black Caps have had.   They're test championships, beating India in June in a stunning victory.  And of course, the incredible T20 World Cup they just had – only to fall at the last hurdle against a very strong Australian team.   This year the summer schedule starting January 1st includes Bangladesh, Australia and South Africa.  Kyle Jamieson joined Tim Dower.  LISTEN ABOVE  See om...

Confidence in the water may have taken a Covid-induced hit.  Swim schools are concerned kids have missed out on more than three months of lessons, due to Auckland's lockdown.   SwimTastic CEO Mark Bone told Tim Dower statistics show swimming lessons between the ages of one and four, can reduce drownings in New Zealand by 88 per cent.  “With all of the fact of Covid and the closures of swimming les...

Tasmania's bouncy castle tragedy has claimed a sixth life.  Chace Harrison died in hospital yesterday afternoon.  Nine children were on the castle when a gust of wind sent it 10 metres into the air, during year-end celebrations at Devonport's Hillcrest Primary School on Thursday.  Two children remain in a critical condition in Royal Hobart Hospital, while another is in recovery at home.  Australia...

The Tai Tokerau Border Control is claiming success.  The fixed checkpoints run by police and iwi, which were set up near Waipu and Maungaturoto, have been dismantled - replaced with spot checkpoints and roving patrols.  Tai Tokerau Border Control Regional Co-ordinator Reuben Taipiri told Tim Dower their goal was to stop every car, but they're happy with how they did.  “Everybody came through doubl...

A sense of impending doom is hanging over Britain in the build up to Christmas.  More than 12-thousand new Omicron cases are confirmed in the UK, as Covid numbers soar close to 83-thousand.   That's down from the record highs of the past couple of days, but up week on week.  The Government's Cobra emergency committee sat down about two hours ago.   UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Tim Dower...