Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner is confident of getting upwards of 40,000 people at the stadium for Sunday's clash between the Blues and the Hurricanes. The move to alert level 1 meant restrictions around mass gatherings has been lifted, giving live sport a huge boost ahead of the start of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season this weekend. Nick Sautner told Simon and Phil the response from punters has been...

National Party Deputy Leader Nikki Kaye was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song.  She discussed her early interest in politics, her success as a endurance athlete, who she gets on with Jacinda Ardern, moving into the Deputy Leader role, and of course her favourite song.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Price Waterhouse Coopers argues rebuilding the New Zealand economy post COVID-19 should include tax reforms and addressing the 'elephant in the room' of capital gains tax. The professional services firm makes the argument as one of ‘Seven planks’ to get the economy back on track and in better shape, in its just released Rebuild New Zealand report. Among the other ‘planks’ are further targeted wage...

A plan to overhaul New Zealand's fisheries system proposes the Crown buy back all commercial quota shares, and allow for independent monitoring of commercial fishing operations. The Quota Management System was set up in 1986 as a way to stop the depletion of fish stocks, but growing concerns continued to be raised about it’s impact of fish stock and biodiversity. NZ Sport Fishing Council President...

The former police officer accused of killing black man George Floyd in the US, has made his first appearance in court. Derek Chauvin faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter over Floyd's death in Minneapolis last month. Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Greg Stanley, who was in the court, told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford the accused remained quiet during today's hearing. He says D...

Queenstown ski patrol head of department Brad Saville had been doing a three-month avalanche training programme with his rescue dog Bomber, in the mountains of Colorado, when the Covid-19 lockdown tore them apart. Brad was able to get home before New Zealand closed its borders in late March, but Bomber had to stay behind and carry on the myriad tests and vaccinations to come back home. Bomber fina...

The Justice Minister's dismissing claims the Government's rent relief package is too little, too late.  Coalition negotiations have taken almost two months - after the plan was mooted in April. Andrew Little told Simon and Phil New Zealand First provided an alternative on Friday - but withdrew the proposal after a day. He says the package has come later than he would've liked - but it's a good dea...

Multi Squash World Champion and former Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy was Simon and Phil's guest for this weeks Six and a Song.  The discussed her entry into the world of squash which she came to dominate, her famous 52 day walk for charity, her time as Race Commissioner, her favourite place to holiday in the world, and of course her favourite song.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/l...

Dan Carter will put on the boots on New Zealand soil for the first time since 2015, after signing with the Blues for Super Rugby Aotearoa. Carter's spent his last five years in France and Japan, but wants to give back to New Zealand Rugby. He will be a player-mentor for the Blues, with Stephen Perofeta suffering a season-ending foot injury. Carter's father Neville told Si and Phil he told Dan he h...

The former editor of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly is hoping the iconic magazine will be revived. Jenny Lynch’s new tell-all memoir is Under the Covers – Secrets of a Magazine Editor, which looks at the golden years of print journalism. As her book hits the stores, the former editor of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly reflects on the demise of Bauer Media in New Zealand, and with it her old magazin...

Gareth Abdinor is an employment lawyer and partner with Malley & Co solicitors.  We have him on regularly to answering your employment related questions.  Great to have him back in the studio today to tackle the raft of issues arising with the Covid-19 lockdown and the ramifications on employment.  Questions today included the wage subsidy, 90 trial period, and more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

The owner of a cow that pulled off a great escape during a trip to a Southland abattoir has been found thanks to a humble classified ad. Stock agent Terry Cairns put an ad in the Southland Times seeking sightings of a 'solid black Heifer' described as being 'mildly agitated'. He told Simon and Phil she was in a secure pen in a sale yard when she bolted. Terry says the good news is someone found he...

New Zealand comedian Ben Hurley is pleased to see the Covid-19 lockdown in his rearview mirror as he gears up for a nationwide tour 'Straight out of Lockdown'.  He was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song. He told Simon and Phil he was excited to hit the road and get back into the great kiwi venues which are crying out for punters to come back right now. Ben Hurley says the show will avoid most...

Gareth Abdinor is an employment lawyer and partner with Malley & Co solicitors.  We have him on regularly to answering your employment related questions.  Great to have him back on today to tackle the raft of issues arising from the Covid-19 lockdown and the ramifications on employment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrity chef and TV host Michael Van de Elzen joined Simon and Phil on the show for this weeks Six and a Song.  He's been a food icon on our tellys for many years, hosting the wildly popular The Food Truck, and Kiwi Living.  Now he and restauranteur Ganesh Raj are co-hosting TVNZ's hit 'Eat Well For Less' based on the top rating UK hit.  They help typical kiwi families slash their grocery bills,...

A leading economist says an extra public holiday would only work if businesses were subsidised by the lost working day.  The Prime Minister wants to hear what businesses  think about creating a new public holiday. Jacinda Ardern says the government looking at a range of different options to boost the tourism industry. Ardern say there are pros and cons and she's interested in different views. Info...

Simon Bridges can't win an election. That's the message from a political commentator, who believes the opposition leader is likely to be rolled. The party's called its MPs to an emergency caucus meeting on Friday ahead of a possible leadership challenge. Matthew Hooton says [told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford] further research backs up polls showing Bridge's lack of popular appeal. See omnystudio...

Eden Park management are strategising different ways to transition to having spectators back post-Covid 19.   Coronavirus restrictions have prevented any events, sporting or corporate, from proceeding at the venue.   CEO Nick Sautner says it has a massive impact on many people's lives.   He told Simon and Phil they’re currently looking getting spectators back soon by segregating groups around the...

It's a game we play every Friday. You Da Man, the guys pick their favourite songs of the week and the audience picks their favourite. First to 3 votes takes it out. This week Producer Tyler picked an 80's classic which characterised what many of us were probably feeling when we got to level 2!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders should be wearing masks while flying domestically during level 2 to keep the risk of a coronavirus outbreak minimum.  Domestic flights have resumed under level 2, with airlines undertaking social distancing regulations and handing out voluntary face masks.  Otago University epidemiologist Michael Baker told Simon and Phil people really should be taking the wearing of face masks in t...

There are accusations that 'loose spending' is in the Government's nature. The Finance Minister today announced a $50 billion relief fund to rebuild the economy. It includes a business support package, infrastructure investment and new funding to strengthen health and education. But National's Finance Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford it's too vague. “We need to remem...

The Government has been praised for their growth plan. The Finance Minister's announced a targeted extension to the Wage Subsidy Scheme and $3 billion  for infrastructure. Treasury forecast the package could return unemployment to 4.2 per cent by 2022. KPMG Head of Financial Services Bruce Bernacchi told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford keeping people in work is critical. "We've got forecast unemplo...

The Calgary Zoo in Canada is sending two giant pandas back to China due to a shortage of bamboo. The zoo said in a statement that it usually flies in bamboo from China to feed the animals, but the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted flights and caused delays in supplies. The duo, named Er Shun and Da Mao, were supposed to stay in Canada until 2023 as part of a 10-year agreement with China, but the zoo...

A Christchurch barber will be shaving beards and cutting hair the second he's allowed. Cathedral Junction Barbers will open as soon as New Zealand moves into Level 2 - just after midnight on Thursday morning. Owner Conrad Fitzgerald told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford he's already just about booked out. He says he's got ten locked in - but another fifty have tried to make appointments. LISTEN ABOV...

Every day during lockdown Simon and Phil are catching up with well-known kiwis to see what they’re getting up to in their bubble. Today's guest was Rhys Darby, one of our most loved and successful comedians and actors. He’s starred in Flight of the Concords, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Yes Man with Jim Carrey, Jumanji, and countless other huge hits. His latest series has been crafted while in lockd...