Holiday Breakfast

Four weeks after the northern beaches outbreak began, contact tracers in NSW are still scrambling to find out where 14 out the state's cases have come from. There had been a total 12 cases of unknown origin found since December 16, including three detected before Christmas, but yesterday that increased again by two. The two cases – from the Canterbury-Bankstown and Lane Cove council areas – have b...

The U.S. House pressed swiftly forward Tuesday toward impeachment or other steps to forcibly remove President Donald Trump from office, even as Trump blamed Democratic foes and not himself for last week's deadly attack on the Capitol. He targeted the lawmakers who are pushing for his ouster, saying that it's “a really terrible thing that they’re doing.” “To continue on this path, I think it’s caus...

The Government says it's begun writing the cheques for a Covid-19 vaccine. Some countries have already begun administering vaccinations, but New Zealand's vaccine timetable isn't expected to begin until the end of March. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told Tim Dower rolling out a vaccine is a priority, but he says there are other countries in worse positions than us. But he says they will h...

A New Zealand epidemiologist has described the latest Covid-19 testing protocols announced by the Government as a "step in the right direction". The Government has announced wider-ranging testing rules for passengers coming into the country. They include travellers arriving on all flights from the UK and US needing to have returned a negative test result in the 72 hours before their departure. Cov...

A public relations consultant believes New Zealand-born Chris Liddell is inextricably tied to Donald Trump's US presidency. Liddell has come under fire for his job as Trump's deputy chief of staff. Matthew Hooton describes Liddell as one of Trump's enablers, and told Francesca Rudkin Liddell it would be difficult for him to continue his career here. "He is the only non-family senior staff member w...

A suggestion the United Kingdom's Covid-19 cases might be starting to tail off. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns they are at a perilous moment in the pandemic, but UK correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower he has noticed the number of infections is slightly down. He says it was in the area of 54,000 a week ago, but now have they have about 46,000 to 48,000 cases. But, the Prime Minister...

It has been a tough start to the year for cherry growers, with around 50 million dollars in exports potentially being lost  from Central Otago orchards. Heavy rain at the start of the month caused flooding which brought major damage to fruit ready to be harvested. Although the full extent has yet to be quantified, it is feared up to 50 per cent of the season’s bumper cherry crop has been lost due...

Westpac has heaped pressure on its competitors and dropped its one-year fixed mortgage rate to 2.29 per cent - the lowest amongst the four major banks in New Zealand. There is, however, a catch in that the special rate is only available on a one-year fixed term for customers with 20 per cent equity in owner-occupied homes. The Umbrella Company mortgage advisor Sara Hartigan told Tim Dower it is a...

There is an anxious wait for all involved on the bid to hold concerts at Eden Park. A decision is expected today on a resource consent application to host six concerts a year at the central Auckland venue. In 120 years of the ground there has never been a concert. It has been fiercely opposed by some locals, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark. But Eden Park Residents' Association spokespe...

Europe has slid further into crisis as multiple countries face overwhelming numbers Covid-19 cases and deaths. Germany reported its highest daily death toll of the pandemic with 1,188 fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours. The previous record was 1,129 on December 30. The country, which was praised for its handling of the first wave of the pandemic, is currently under a stringent national lockd...

National leader Judith Collins has taken aim at the Government, urging them to accelerate the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination, given the increased risk of the new variant which is devastating the UK and South Africa. Collins and her party want front-line workers, such as those working in managed isolation and quarantine facilities (MIQ), to get the vaccine as soon as possible. She told Tim Dow...

Newstalk ZB is back with another edition of Hidden Spots on Summer Breakfast. This is where we take you on a bit of a virtual road trip around the country - and give you tips on attractions you may not know about. The Maniototo Curling rink is the centre of the winter sport in New Zealand, and a must to visit if you are on a road trip in the small town of Naseby, situated between Oamaru and Cromwe...

Police have put the brakes on training new officers, despite a rise in gun violence and gang activity. The delay has left hundreds of recruits in limbo and means the Government is still well short of its promise last term to put an extra 1800 cops on the streets by last year. Candidates of an upcoming training wing were initially scheduled to attend the Royal New Zealand Police College in February...

There is dissatisfaction amongst New Zealand employees. According to a Council of Trade Unions (CTU) survey, half of New Zealanders say their income has not kept up with the cost of living while their workload has increased. The survey also shows 40 per cent of workers have less job satisfaction compared to 2019. The CTU says these are systemic problems and the whole framework of employment law ne...

The biggest tenancy law reform in 35 years is almost upon us. From next month, landlords will not be able to evict for no reason after 90 days. Other changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, include allowing tenants to make minor decor changes and install fibre broadband. Some landlords are concerned, with one investor threatening to leave his properties empty as it is going to be too hard to evi...

Act Party leader David Seymour was one of a few New Zealand politicians who enjoyed a successful 2020. Seymour and his party secured 10 seats in the General Election. He told Tim Dower it was not a good year generally for opposition parties due to Covid-19. "When there's an external threat... people like to rally around the leader, we've been doing this since we lived in caves. Opposition parties...

The biggest tenancy law reform in 35 years will come into effect next month, and many landlords are unhappy. From February 11, major changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 become law, embedding tenants more firmly and making it harder for landlords to evict, with a far more limited range of reasons. Anthony Appleton Tattersall - an accountant specialising in property - says it's not a singl...

Kiwi conservationist Pete Bethune has walked out of a hospital in Costa Rica after a deadly snakebite almost claimed his life two weeks ago. He was bitten by the highly venomous Fer De Lance snake in a South American jungle just after Christmas. Initially fearing he would not make it out alive, Bethune managed a difficult three-hour trek, clambering and dragging himself through unforgiving terrain...

We are on the road again, down south this time to the Banks Peninsula in the South Island. Okains Bay is a hidden gem in the area, which has a museum that is home to one of the most important collections of Māori taonga, art and carvings. Okains Bay Museum chair Helen Brown told Tim Dower the unofficial mayor of Okains Bay Murray Thacker was the founder of the museum. "He was a local farmer who st...

The summer holidays have seen many of us take a break from work - and, it turns out, that break could provide a chance to correct how we're sitting when we get back to work.  Sports biomechanists Greg Pain - who works largely with rehab - joined Francesca Rudkin to explain how we are sitting incorrectly, other forms of pain, and to answers questions from listeners.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

It's been five years since Sir Barry Gibb, of the record-breaking pop group the Bee Gees, last released a solo album - but he's ringing in the New Year with his brand new country duets album Greenfields.  The album features some of the biggest names in country and Americana - including Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crown, Jason Isbell, Olivia Newton-John and many more - Greenfie...

The summer holidays have seen many of us take a break from work - and, it turns out, that break could provide a chance to correct how we're sitting when we get back to work.  Sports biomechanists Greg Pain - who works largely with rehab - joined Francesca Rudkin to explain how we are sitting incorrectly, other forms of pain, and to answers questions from listeners.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic saw a lot of people take a financial hit, with many losing their jobs or seeing their pay cut as a result. Now it's 2021 and the economy is bouncing back - and a New Year means many are looking to look over their finances and make up ground.  Financial expert Hannah McQueen joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss what people can do to guarantee their financial success, an...

He may still be recovering from surgery on his knee, but that's not stopping gardening expert Ruud Kleinpaste getting out in the summer sun!! He joined Francesca Rudkin to share his summer tips and tricks, and to take questions from callers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was both stunning and predictable, the result of a Republican Party that has repeatedly enabled President Donald Trump's destructive behaviour. When Trump was a presidential candidate in 2016, Republican officials ignored his call to supporters to "knock the crap out" of protesters. Less than a year after he took office, GOP leaders argued he was taken out of c...