Podcast appearances and mentions of andrew dickens

If I was asked whether I'd back Defence Force professionals over politicians on Defence protocols and training, I'd back the professionals every time. ACT and New Zealand First, Winston and David, have asked questions of the Defence Minister Judith Collins on the amount of Māori culture, lore and language which is part of the Defence Force's preparation for combat. This is not a new complaint. Questions about Karakia and haka come up from time to time. Some see this a against the old God, King and country ideal. But the Defence force has always used Māori tikanga to build cohesiveness. They use haka to bring the forces together. It's a war dance after all. They use Karakia, Powhiri and other tikanga Māori a lot because a lot of Māori serve in the defence forces. Proportionately more than other segment of the population. It's part of their organizational identity because the culture is unique to New Zealand and therefore beneficial in bonding the team. And when serving in multi-national military actions it differentiates us from all the other grunts with guns. The question is whether all this multi-cultural woke stuff detracts from making us fighting fit. Well, I'd like to see David Seymour say that to a Māori SAS officer. And we've had race-based military before. The Māori battalion. And they made us proud and the world take notice. The military has always embraced Māori culture because they see it as a strength and not a weakness. It's only performative politicians in their shiny suits in election year that sees Māori culture in the Defence Force as a problem. As any of the 150,000 people at the Edinburgh Military tattoo over the weekend will tell you. The Māori stuff is well liked and is respected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is proposing a law which would allow Police to order someone rough sleeping or begging, to leave a public space for up to 24 hours. They could be fined up to two thousand dollars or three months in jail if they don't. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith joins Andrew Dickens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Walk-In Talk Podcast, Chef Ryan Yost joins us in studio after traveling from Western North Carolina to Lakeland for a full production day. Ryan is a chef-manager with Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization providing disaster relief through food, clean water, medical care, and rebuilding efforts. His path has taken him from fine dining kitchens to feeding communities in crisis across the U.S., Jamaica, and Ukraine. In this episode, we explore what it means to cook for people who need food, not just want it. We talk about discipline under pressure, humility in service, and how chef-level technique still matters, even when you are cooking with limited resources in disaster zones. Ryan also steps into the studio kitchen to prepare two dishes, bringing the same respect for ingredients and precision he applies in the field. Because for him, whether it is a donated ingredient or a premium protein, it deserves care. This episode continues Walk-In Talk Media's global storytelling expansion. Recently, Frederic Casagrande conducted his first live fire interview in Dubai with Chef Andrew Dickens, further extending the show's reach into international culinary conversations. From disaster zones to global live-fire stages, the mission remains the same — elevate chefs and the impact they create.  This conversation is about purpose, responsibility, and how chefs can use their craft for something bigger than themselves.

US correspondent Richard Arnold caught up with Andrew Dickens to chat about the biggest news in America. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is facing backlash following a number of mentions in the most recent Epstein file release. Among the release was an email allegedly written by Epstein about Gates which claimed he hid a sexually transmitted disease from his wife after contact with “Russian girls”. Meanwhile, a search is underway in Arizona for the mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since January. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following this weeks wastewater spill in Wellington Gillian Blythe, Water NZ CEO, has emphasised the need for a reform of water infrastructure and oversight. "I think what's really critical is that we need to have regulatory oversight and we need to be able to highlight what it is that the the type of non-compliance is," she told Andrew Dickens. "Sometimes those non-compliances can be at the lower end, whether a report was filed at the right time, whether a sample was taken in the right time period, but some of them will be at the more complex end, and we need to make sure that we are focusing on that information." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins joined Andrew Dickens to chat about Waitangi Day hecklers, co-governance, and equal opportunity. He also spoke about moving back towards using te reo for official titles, something the National coalition has moved away from. "There's nothing to be scared of by embracing te reo Māori and having, Māori names for government departments," Hipkins said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the economic news in New Zealand and around the world. They discussed European interest rates, the global dairy trade, and the US job market and dollar. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, were heckled during Waitangi speeches with conflicts surrounding treaty principles interpretations remaining the primary contention point. Although, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says that, despite the evident tension, progress is being made. "We attended the National Iwi Chairs from a couple of days ago on Wednesday, and there's a real constructive and positive vibe, and appetite to do things together," he told Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brenton Harrison Tarrant was jailed for life in August 2020, with no possibility of parole, after he plead guilty to the murder of 51 people and wounding 40 in the Christchurch terror attack. Tarrant is now, five years later, attempting to overturn his conviction with claims he was not in a rational state when he plead guilty. Criminal defence lawyer Steve Cullen spoke to Andrew Dickens about the appeal saying, "It's a very difficult situation for all, but we have to let the wheels of justice grind on and let it be dealt with properly so that hopefully, whatever the outcome is, we'll get finality and closure this time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New START treaty, signed by the United States and Russia in 2010, was a nuclear arms reduction treaty which has now expired. US President Donald Trump has now called for a brand new nuclear treaty, prompting fears of a new global arms race. International Law Professor Al Gillespie told Andrew Dickens, "Mr. Trump is the one who let it void, he was saying, well, it's not fair that only America has these restraints in Russia. "He wanted other countries like China to also have restraints, but China wasn't interested." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Winter Olympics are set to kick off in Milano Cortina, Italy this weekend with the opening ceremony taking place on Saturday February 7 at 7.30am NZT. New Zealand team Chef de Mission Marty Toomey joined Andrew Dickens to chat about how the team is settling in, and the high hopes for this year. "I think from a New Zealand team perspective, there's no doubt that this team is made up of athletes that are stronger across the board than we have been previously," Toomey said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the economic news in New Zealand and around the world. They discussed European interest rates, the global dairy trade, and the US job market and dollar. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've been fascinated to watch Donald Trump's Board of Peace change as time goes on. When it was first suggested, it seemed to me to be part of a land grab by the United States. A real estate consortium whose goal was to raise finance and rebuild Gaza into a new Riviera. A gaudy Trumpist holiday city more for the rich than the dispossessed people of Gaza. But as time has gone on, it's transmogrified into something with far bigger ambition. It's become a new international club led by the United States. A golf club on steroids. First the President has to invite you and then you have to pay a billion dollars to get into the club - and away you go. The President has now stated that its mandate is not just Gaza but to broker any peace anywhere in the world, and it's starting to sound very much like the United Nations - but a United Nations under US control. Donald Trump and many like him have often railed against the UN and other globalist bodies like the WEF and World Health Organisation, they've claimed they take away a nation's sovereignty and puts it in the hands of unelected bureaucrats. They might be true if the UN actually had any power. Any power it has has been voluntarily ceded to it by nations who can't be bothered cleaning up any messes. But the UN has never had power, or else they would have stopped any number of conflicts and solved any number of crises. But that hasn't stopped panic mongers claiming the UN is coming to take away our rights. So they say the Board of Peace is not a formal replacement for the UN. But it sure looks like Donald Trump's Trojan Horse to collapse the UN. Whether it becomes influential or remains symbolic depends on how many countries ultimately join and how it operates in practice. 35 countries have paid the sub and signed up for it. New Zealand on Friday decided not to and kept with the UN as the global body of peace. They did it very carefully with no admonishment on the United States, which is a smart thing to do. It appears that Trump not only wants to make America great again, but also make the world American. Good luck to him on that. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dream continues for a teen running sensation, Sam Ruth. He became the fastest ever 16-year-old to run the mile following this weekend's Cook's Classic. He stopped the clock at 3:53.83, but he was beaten by fellow runner Sam Tanner, who is 25. Father Ben Ruthe told Andrew Dickens that, "we just want to keep giving him the opportunity to do what he loves." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown's seeing a surge in ultra wealthy overseas buyers looking to purchase houses. A luxury real estate agent is reporting a 600 percent increase in overseas enquiries for properties across the lakes district. There's increased interest from former Soviet bloc countries, suggesting buyers are trying to get away from the conflict in Europe. Oliver Road Luxury Real Estate Founder and Managing Director Cam Winter told Andrew Dickens that the issue of affordable accommodation in Queenstown is separate from the luxury real estate market. He says buyers don't want to buy a home here and spend so little time in it that they feel like aliens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So yesterday the Otago Daily Times ran an article about the thoughts of Grant Kitto, a former Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) worker. Grant Kitto argues that showcasing the USAF F-22 Raptor at Warbirds Over Wānaka effectively legitimises US military power and the weapons systems that have been used in conflicts where civilians were killed. The Raptor is made by Lockheed Martin and back in 2015 incident, a US Air Force gun ship —also built by Lockheed Martin— attacked a Doctors Without Borders hospital, killing 42 people, including 14 staff members. He also worries the huge emissions from the planes. A local councillor echoed his concerns and said that the current global environment was not good for a display of US military power. And he said because this is kit in current use, it makes a difference compared to the older planes. What a load of tosh. Firstly I guess the giveaway is the name of the event: Warbirds. This is a celebration of war machines, but more so the ingenuity of the people who built the amazing planes. And I wonder where all the dissent was back in the day when American F16s visited, the Australian F-111s. How about the Soviet-era MIGs, which at the time were the height of weapons of mass destruction? What about the Vulcan bombers that have killed thousands? Or even the mighty Spitfire? Do these guys also have a problem with shooting at the Olympics, or Archery? The javelin is based on spear work. I understand the concern but the thing I'd say is maybe it's better to understand the weapon rather than ban it. And maybe it's not the planes or the guns that do the killing, it's the people controlling it. And the F22 Raptor is a mid bogglingly good piece of kit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mt Maunganui's community is stepping up to help families and first responders a day after a landslide drove through a campground and hot pools. The Herald understands from a source involved in rescue efforts that there could be up to nine people unaccounted for. Hundreds of emergency responders have been at the base of Mauao since from just after 9.30 yesterday morning. Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale told Andrew Dickens volunteers and locals have been very generous during what is a tough time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel costs are keeping inflation higher for longer than the Reserve Bank would probably like. Stats NZ is providing its latest CPI update at 10.45. Three months ago, the annual inflation rate was 3% - at the very top end of the Reserve Bank's target range. Economists expect it now to be between 2.9 and 3.1%. Economist Cameron Bagrie told Andrew Dickens inflation is looking to be a little bit sticky towards the top end of the target zone. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ACC lawyer believes the crown entities new plan to improve costs completely misses what the Accident Compensation Act is about. Its new plan's been released after a critical report that found its deficit would balloon to $26 billion by 2030. It focuses on getting people back to work quicker and increasing the number of clients who have their own case manager as a single point of contact. ACC lawyer and researcher Warren Forster told Andrew Dickens the act required all parties involved in an injury to get together to make a plan, which isn't happening. He says ACC's plan has failed to address its statutory obligations that led to the cost blowout. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long runway for an economic recovery is thought to be the main reason for a November election. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's set November 7th as election day – the latest election since 2008. Early voting will open on October 26, with final results due in early November. Political Commentator Liam Hehir told Andrew Dickens that the Government's hoping that if they have as much time as possible, people will start to feel more confident regarding the economy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump's delivered his two cents on the state of Europe, as tariff threats over the Greenland issue loom. Trump's spoken at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, confirming he still wants to buy and control the Danish territory, but won't use force. He's already threatened increasing tariffs on eight European countries if he doesn't get a deal. University of Iowa Economics Professor Anne Villamil told Andrew Dickens the threat of a tariff war is extremely concerning, as it could do a lot of economic damage to the world. She says everybody involved loses, which is why it's not something we should be doing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Builders across the country are starting to feel the benefits of the rise of employment opportunities. SEEK NZ's latest Employment Report shows a drop of 0.3% on overall job ads. But demand for construction workers continues to add volume, with a rise of 3.4% nationally, up 43% year on year. Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Andrew Dickens jobs are coming from across the country. He says employment agreements in January are up 20% on this time last year - which is positive at this quieter time of year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am becoming even more impressed with Mark Carney as time goes on. I said that yesterday on the radio and got a text that Carney is just Trudeau but without Katy Perry - a snappy one liner fed to my texter by the President's camp, and nowhere near the truth. Carney yesterday gave a speech to Davos that may go down in history as era defining. He said great powers can go alone. They have the size and the money and the military to do whatever they want. But that does not mean the middle powers don't exist. He made a call for countries like Canada, Australia, South Korea, and others to build strategic autonomy and collaborate to stabilize the global system. He argued that middle powers could no longer rely on great powers to maintain order - they appear hell bent on sewing disorder. Carney framed the moment as a pivot point: either middle powers coordinate to build a more resilient, cooperative system, or the world slides deeper into fragmentation. And then he said some words that completely freaked out the conspiracy class: he said the old era is gone and it's time to build a new world order. But his new world order is not built on power and subjugation, it's built on co-operation. He named the rupture, explained its causes, and argued that the future will be shaped not by superpowers alone, but by coalitions of capable mid-sized nations. He's brilliant. Trump is not. Trump is a big bully. Carney may be the smart guy who always wins at the end of the movie. We're not a middle power. We're not even a small power anymore. The world order has changed and New Zealand's virtue signalling no longer carries weight. It's time to find our friends and maximise our relationships with them. The elephants are dancing. Us mice need to find a safe place so we don't get crushed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leaders in the UK are concerned following through with plans for a giant Chinese Embassy in London. The UK Government's approved the mega embassy, located near Tower Bridge in the central city. Opponents have been warning the embassy could be used as a spying base. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens there are fears the embassy will be used to eavesdrop on both data, and people. He says the embassy's so big, and there are lots of rooms that appear to have no use. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might be today that the Government announces the date of the election. Some have called for an early election. They argue that the job to fix us up needs more time. The Government could argue they're the ones to do it. They could ask for a mandate for another three years to finish the job, and the sooner we get on with it the better. I can see that, but I don't agree with it. We've been through a tough two years. Government's always get the blame for tough years. So the Government is currently at a low ebb in their popularity, but as we're starting to hear there are good signs in the economy. Not just here, but everywhere - geopolitical events not withstanding. So why not wait until the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop? And with Christopher Luxon's State of the Nation speech being portrayed as a yawn fest with little new vision, there's no silver bullet in the chamber that might excite the electorate. So why pull the trigger early? My pick is still nearly November. And that will mean every party will be looking at the economic indicators with extra trepidation. Labour hoping that economic dissatisfaction lasts while National hoping the economy turns the corner and blows favour on their campaign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher Building's calling time on its construction arm after a difficult few years. It's signed a sale deal with French multi-national Vinci Construction, subject to regulatory approval. The final reckoning could sit on about $334 million, and it'll move its focus to manufacturing and distribution. AUT Construction Professor John Tookey says it's a seismic shift, but Fletcher's been overstretched in recent years, so it's not a big surprise. He told Andrew Dickens the question is going to be whether the removal will significantly impact the profitability and sales of the building products side of things. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As prices for everyone's favourite sweet treat soar, chocolate makers are searching to find cheaper alternatives. A Rabobank report reveals manufacturers are exploring ways to replace cocoa beans, including lab-grown options, as climate pressures disrupt supply and make global cocoa prices rise. Raglan Chocolate Head Maker Mike Renfree told Andrew Dickens the commodity price of cocoa has been double what it was in 2023, but it's mostly impacting the large multi-nationals. He says it was $2 a kilo in 2023, went up to $12 a kilo in 2024 and 2025, and it's now lower down at $5, but there's a lag in the system. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools hit by staffing shortages are being forced to adapt as vacancies climb nationwide. Around 450 teaching and principal roles remain vacant - 12% more than this time last year. Secondary Principals Council Chair Steve McCracken told Andrew Dickens vacancies are taking longer to fill than in the past. He says schools are doing everything they can to manage with the staff and resources available. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election Year is off and running with Christopher Luxon's State of the Nation address. We should know the election date later this week. What we do know is the theme of National's campaign: “Fixing the basics and building the future”. Not a shock. It's a variation of the way they've positioned themselves for a while. The party that concentrates on the need to haves and not the nice to haves - Labour trashed the economy in six years with their spending, we're the guys who'll fix it up. But the real question is what are they fixing and what are they building. Treasury's figures from the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update delivered just before Christmas, show the Government has both cut capital expenditure since its election and lowered forecasts for new spending. Capex fell by $6 billion between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 fiscal years, and spending was $1.6 billion less in 2024/25 than was budgeted. There's not a lot of fixing of leaky hospitals and rickety courtrooms going on. And yet despite that, their spending has gone up. And that's because the big ticket items like benefits and pensions have gone up, and so have costs in services like education and health. So there's not a lot of invigorating news in the near future. Our fundamentals will remain unchanged. The great hope is that private sector just gets on with it understanding the limits to our capacity. And so we get back to the unofficial slogan: "Vote for us, we're not as bad as the other lot". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded in New Zealand. One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between two and 14. Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide - a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd told Andrew Dickens despite it being a short-term fix, it's like any other medicine. He says it's the same as heart disease or blood pressure medication - as soon as you go off them, they lose their effect as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business sector will want to know how the Government will support them - as the Prime Minister prepares for his State of the Nation speech. Chris Luxon will give the address at the International Convention Centre in Auckland this afternoon - the first event to be held at the new centre. Newstalk ZB understands he will try to draw attention away from turbulent affairs overseas - and to the Government's successes back home. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens that he will question if economic relief is set to continue. He wants to know what fresh Government ideas are coming through which will keep business confidence up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe may be on the cusp of implementing a never-before-used law, to turn up the heat on the United States. President Donald Trump's announced increasing tariffs on eight countries starting next month, unless a deal allowing him to buy Greenland is reached. European leaders have condemned the decision, with France now set to urge the EU to enact its anti-coercion instrument, if the tariffs go ahead. Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the international economic counter-measures will enhance their retaliation, within international law. He says no one quite knows what it means as it's never been needed until now, adding things are getting very serious. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday just before most of us came back to work Auckland Transport announced that public transport fares on the rise from February 1st. They're going up by 5.1% which is higher than inflation, but they claim transport costs have risen by up to 16%. Meanwhile parking costs in AT controlled buildings and areas are going up by 50 cents an hour. For adult commuters, this means a 10 to 25 cents increase per bus or train trip, and 40 to 60 cents more per ferry journey. Now I understand prices go up but I'm not sure that AT realise the consequences. I use a ferry. In fact, I used one on Saturday to go to a Sail GP watching party. That meant I spent $15 return. From February 1st it'll be 16 bucks. That's all very well if it was just me. But if I took A partner that'd be 32 bucks return. And that's getting very close to a price point that says I can't justify using public transport. If there three of us I might as well just get an Uber. But that defeats the purpose of public transport which is to get cars off the road. I also wondered what the thinking was that meant the Southern line from town to Ed Sheeran was closed for maintenance. This was a chance to let people experience alternative transport options. Instead, people ended out in buses clogging up the motorway and some North Shore residents were still trying to get home at 2am and it reinforced the idea that not just trains are unreliable. AT get a load of bad press, but it's not helped if they keep shooting themselves in the foot with their decision making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business sector will want to know how the Government will support them - as the Prime Minister prepares for his State of the Nation speech. Chris Luxon will give the address at the International Convention Centre in Auckland this afternoon - the first event to be held at the new centre. Newstalk ZB understands he will try to draw attention away from turbulent affairs overseas - and to the Government's successes back home. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens that he will question if economic relief is set to continue. He wants to know what fresh Government ideas are coming through which will keep business confidence up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions continue to swirl over Scott Robertson's departure as All Blacks coach. He's left halfway through his four-year deal after player frustration simmered and boiled over in a scathing internal review late last year. NZ Rugby Chair David Kirk denies a player revolt forced Robertson out. But former Chief Executive David Moffett told Andrew Dickens the organisation's a bit of a mess. He says you're going to get bigger problems if players get to determine who their boss is. Moffett says told Dickens he's given up trying to understand the organisation's strategy or purpose. He says they currently don't have a chief executive, a coach, and are missing some senior leaders. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online hate speech in New Zealand is becoming more targeted and our system can't keep pace. Netsafe's latest survey shows since 2018, the proportion of ethnicity-based hate speech has risen from 18% to 36%, becoming the most common reason people are targeted. Political-based hate has also increased to 25%. Netsafe Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons told Andrew Dickens regulation is a really important part of dealing with it. He says that when people clearly understand where the laws sit and there's a framework to deal with that harmful content, then the platforms can better deal with it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for the Government to force streaming giants to invest in New Zealand content as local productions struggle. The Screen Producers' Association says Netflix, Disney, Apple and Amazon should be forced to commission local programmes or pay into a fund from their local revenue President Irene Gardiner says declining ad revenue means TVNZ and Three have cut local productions by $50 million dollars, and Kiwis are missing out on their own stories. She told Andrew Dickens that streaming services have completely broken the traditional business model, so they're looking to them to be part of the solution. Gardiner says they're not asking for charity, just fairness and a level playing ground. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump is threatening to deploy troops to Minnesota, with heated clashes on the streets over the presence of ICE. US Homeland Security says a federal officer has shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel as he tried to make an arrest. Protests have erupted in the city since an anti-immigration officer shot a woman dead last week. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Andrew Dickens things are very intense. He says Minneapolis' Mayor, Jacob Frey, says the city's being put in an impossible situation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tourism leader in Kaikoura says they're having their busiest summer season since a major earthquake almost a decade ago. Visitor numbers reached about 220 thousand in November, up nearly 30 thousand on the year before. Destination Kaikoura Chair Chris Sturgeon told Andrew Dickens tourism and hospitality players says things are booming. He says there's a positive feeling throughout the town, and says Kaikoura's beautiful landscape offers tourists a true New Zealand location. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many, Six60 is an undeniable part of the New Zealand summer soundscape. Their classics such as ‘Don't Forget Your Roots', ‘The Greatest', and ‘Please Don't Go' are a staple of every backyard barbeque summer get together, and soon a few new songs will be joining the playlists. Their fifth studio album ‘Right Here Right Now' is set to be released in February, but two new singles are already available. Frontman Matiu Walters told Andrew Dickens that hands down, it's their best music ever. “Quite often music can get quite tedious and boring if you're just trying to plough through it all.” “But the time feels right and we have some stories to tell, and it's all captured in this new album and this new music.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's new hate speech laws have hit a speedbump. Parliament was recalled early to pass reform that would create serious offences for hate in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. However, the Opposition and the Greens are refusing to accept the laws in their current form. Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Andrew Dickens the Opposition is saying the timeline is ridiculous, and that the bill is unsalvageable in its current form. He says everyone was in favour of fighting antisemitism as hard as they could, but it's now dissolved into a political bunfight. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK will be deciding this week whether or not to allow the construction of a Chinese ‘mega' embassy in London. The project has been debated for years, with concerns over the potential security risks it could pose for the UK. Critics fear the embassy, which would be located close to London's financial district and crucial data cables, would be used as a base for espionage. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Andrew Dickens he doesn't think the embassy will get the go ahead in the end. The argument in favour, he says, is that the UK needs a good relationship with China to get money and investment, but this is a bridge too far. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you haven't heard the name Gianmarco Soresi, you may have seen his clips. The American stand up comedian is a staple of shortform video platforms, with over two million follows across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. He's become known for his crowd work and his distinctive physicality, clambering over chairs and folding himself up as he performs. And he's bringing it to New Zealand, performing two shows at the Sky City Theatre in Auckland tomorrow night. Soresi's style leans towards “wholesome boundary-pushing", which he told Andrew Dickens he plans to push as many as he can whilst performing in New Zealand. “Some of it's traditional, the edgy, the political, but some of it's emotional, some of it's like, oh you, you don't talk about people's dads like that.” These days you'll see plenty of comedians complaining they can't joke about anything anymore, but Soresi is among those proving otherwise. “I honestly think it's what I talk about,” he told Dickens. “Even when it's about edgy things or whatever, it's usually like me, it's making fun of myself or using myself as the ruler to examine other things.” You have to bring your own humanity into it, Soresi explains. “I find that if you're honest about how you fit into the world, you find people aren't necessarily mad, they might disagree with you, but as long as you're like, taking in your own foibles as you discuss the topic, you can talk about anything you want.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another tourism announcement is set to come – another round in the Regional Tourism Boost plan. The goal is to get international travellers out of the main centres to explore all that New Zealand has to offer. Round two will focus on the April to June season, when there's typically fewer travellers and less activity. Tourism Minister Louise Upston told Andrew Dickens it's about spreading visitors throughout the country, making sure they stay in different places and sample our amazing food and wine. It's part of the $10 million fund they announced last year as part of the overall $70 million major events and tourism boost, she said, to the tune of $3.69 million. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra's boss says farmers are used to volatility in prices and payouts. Its midpoint forecast farmgate milk price for this season now sits at $9 after a string of falls in global dairy prices. That's more than 10% lower than last season's final payout. Chief Executive Miles Hurrell told Andrew Dickens most farms are intergenerational, so farmers understand the ups and downs of the commodity cycle. He says the pace of the northern hemisphere increase in supply may have caught some people out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has approved OceanaGold's Waihi North mining project, extending gold and silver extraction in the Waihi area until 2043, delighting the pro-mining crowd. It's a decision I agree with. Waihi has already been extensively mined and the environment beaten up. The decision will keep the town alive and provide hundreds of jobs. But make no mistake, this will not be an El Dorado for the whole country. The royalties are still at the excruciatingly low level they've always been at. Waihi North will generate $5.2 billion in additional gold and silver exports over its 18-year lifespan — averaging $286 million per year. Meanwhile, Crown revenue from corporate tax, PAYE, and royalties is expected to total a net present value of $422m over the life of the project. That's not an economy-saving sum, and it represents an 8 per cent yield on the output. But a deal is a deal. What concerns me is thoughts of new claims — the area behind Pauanui and Tairua on the Coromandel. Or the new work proposed for Bendigo. Until the whole nation truly benefits from the work that damages our land, is it worth it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumers are being warned of a price hike for technology like phones and computers due to the rise of AI creating a shortage of computer chips. The cost for parts like RAMs have also sky rocketed with some products already costing double, or triple, what they did a year ago. "There's only so much production capability on the planet, and what we're seeing is where these chips are fabricated, they are diverting their production away from the RAM that's used in our consumer devices to the high bandwidth memory that is being used in the AI data centres," Gorilla Tech CEO Paul Spain told Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley joined Andrew Dickens to chat about the latest news out of America. The alleged Brown University shooter, who killed two and injured more, was found dead. The House Oversight Committee Democrats released 68 more photos from Epstein's estate, including images of Bill Gates, Steve Bannon and Noam Chomsky. And, TikTok has agreed to a deal which will end the threat of a US ban. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwibank has scrapped it's plans for partial privatisation after the Reserve Bank announced it's reduction of the amount of capital it requires banks to hold to protect their depositors in the event of a crisis. The bank had been talking to investors, seeking a $500 million capital raise after the Government gave it the green light to raise money to become more competitive. Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich talked to Andrew Dickens about the change and the future of the market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France has sentenced a doctor to death after he poisoned 30 patients, killing 12. The EU has agreed to provide Ukraine more money after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged leaders to use frozen Russian assets to fund Kyiv. But, the money may not be enough. "Bit by bit it's getting worse and worse for Ukraine, no matter what support they've got," Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.