Podcasts about aucklanders

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU economist Craig Renney and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Why has the CTU been excluded from the Budget lock-up? The green bins debate- do they need to go? Simeon Brown suggested Aucklanders could shave 2 percent off their rates bills if they went away. What do we make of this? The IRD is cracking down on chasing up people overseas who haven't paid back their student loans. Why have they taken so long to do this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor is calling for more leadership - and labelling the city's innovation and tech sector 'random'. Wayne Brown has laid out a to-do list for central Government before it releases its Budget this month. He wants a tourist bed tax, looser transit visas, and more preparations for major population growth. Brown says a bed tax would fund bigger projects he has planned for the city - and he's hoping the Government will reconsider one. "We've just had two-thirds of the Aucklanders thinking it's a hell of a good idea to get some funds in to watch big events - and the hoteliers up here think it's a good idea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 15 years since Auckland became a supercity, and new data has revealed what people believe the city needs in order to improve. A total of 575 Aucklanders participated in the survey, casting 46,000 votes on statements, creating what's been called a “digital snapshot” of the city's sentiments. Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk, outlined some other point of concern - as Brisbane prepares some upgrades ahead of the 2032 Olympics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders air and water quality could be impacted after a fire broke out at an industrial business on the North Shore. People have been told to keep windows and doors closed and stay away from the area. Newstalk ZB reporter Emily Ansell talks to Tim Beveridge about the fire, issues with National's tax break promise and South Auckland's long awaited Mill Road project. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Wednesday last week, Auckland and the wider Northland region were warned of heavy rain and winds expected across the North Island.  On Friday night however, as severe thunderstorms struck Auckland, residents were not sent severe weather alerts until after the worst part of the storm had already arrived. Many Aucklanders have called out the slow response system, in an effort yet again to revitalise discussions around Auckland's storm and natural disaster preparedness. As well, Auckland's public transport system is under the microscope this month as Aucklanders endure just over a fortnight without train services, as workers seek to speed up the completion of Kiwi Rail. Yesterday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop also announced a multi-billion dollar project for a Northland Expressway that he says will improve public transport.  In the meantime, public transport prices have increased — for ratepayers and users —- translating to less bang and more buck for Aucklanders.  Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, firstly by asking if she was satisfied with Auckland Council's response pace in the lead up to severe weather conditions.

Vector staff will be out in force today with some households still without power after stormy weather at the weekend. Auckland Emergency Management General Manager Adam Maggs spoke to Paddy Gower.

New images have given Aucklanders a closer look at the Western Springs Stadium proposal backed by Auckland FC and their billionaire owners. The images and a new video feature in a campaign to generate public support for the stadium, which has been called Auckland Arena. The website said there would be zero cost to the ratepayer with $300 million in private funding secured already to deliver the project. Auckland FC co-owner Ali Williams says Aucklanders deserve a smaller, intimate 'family-friendly' stadium - and this presents the perfect opportunity. "You've got to remember that the sport is not just about the product on the field, it's about the vibe outside the field, around the field, it's about families feeling comfortable, it's about people being passionate and bringing communities together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody at the Blues or the Crusaders gets to take Good Friday off. The Super Rugby Pacific season is continuing through the public holiday, with the Canterbury side hosting the Aucklanders at Apollo Projects Stadium. Crusaders vice-captain Ethan Blackadder spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has warned Aucklanders should be prepared for the chance of a volcanic eruption. Civil Defence estimates there's a 10 percent risk it could happen in the next 50 years. It could cost $65 billion in building damage alone. Victoria University's Dr Finn Illsley Kemp says we'd get a decent warning before an eruption - but every aspect will be expensive, including evacuating the city. "We do think we'll get a warning when it is on the way, because this magma has to come from quite deep - we should be able to see it when it's on its' way, but when it's on the move, it doesn't hang around." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watercare's tunnel boring machine has completed a four-year journey, breaking through this morning. The development comes as Watercare has announced a $14 billion investment to renew ageing and failing pipes over the next decade. Meanwhile, Auckland water charges will rise by 7.2% from July as Watercare becomes financially independent. Incoming Watercare CEO Jamie Sinclair talks to Ryan Bridge about what the investment means. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders' water bills are set to increase as Watercare prepares to become financially independent and spend billions of dollars improving the city's water services. Jessica Hopkins reports.

An Auckland Councillor says he's leaning towards choosing an improved Eden Park to be Auckland's national stadium. The other option is a new stadium at Quay Park. Council staff say neither proposal is entirely feasible - relying on funding from the Council or the Government. Stadium Working Group chair Shane Henderson says Aucklanders want certainty - and they need to decide in Thursday's vote. He says Eden Park's looking preferable. "We can stage that development, the risk is a little bit more manageable. And honestly, looking at the report and the advice - they've got a few less issues out of the two." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod: basketball legend Casey Frank tells us about what's surprised him so far in this year's NZ NBL season; Alex Baird in Doha reports on Academy Award winning director Hamdan Ballal who was detained by Israel yesterday and we ask Aucklanders what they think of the food scraps bin two years after the system was introduced First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

Aucklanders are split on whether the council should approve a new stadium in the city centre or upgrade Eden Park instead. This week councillors will vote on which of the competing proposals should go ahead. Felix Walton has more.

In what could be the ultimate Christmas present for Aucklanders, IKEA is hoping its new Sylvia Park store will be open in time to get your holiday gift shopping done there. IKEA's chief sustainability officer Karen Pflug spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Aucklanders are being warned to go easy on the long showers and car washes as the city begins to 'prepare for drought'. Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne spoke to Corin Dann.

Auckland Council's Community Committee has sent a ‘please help' letter to the government after reports from their Community Impact team showed a 53% rise in the number of people sleeping rough over the past four months. This follows changes last year by the Ministry of Social Development to the rules surrounding emergency housing, introducing stricter entry criteria and new requirements which make it difficult to stay.  While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, earlier this week, denied that these changes have led to an increase in homelessness, Housing First Auckland programme manager Rami Alrudani said that outreach workers have been stretched thin, dealing with “more and more homelessness every day”. Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about the rise in homelessness in Tāmaki Makaurau.  As well, Auckland Council are trialling an AI digital assistant to help improve their customer support services. The ‘Ask Auckland Council' pilot, presented at February's Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee, is being funded by Google Cloud at no cost to ratepayers. Auckland Council receives 1.5 million calls every year and coordinates region-wide services across multiple platforms. The new system is designed to bridge the gap between Aucklanders and digital services, reducing the effort required to seek out information Starting on the topic of homelessness, Sara asked Julie if she was surprised to see a stark increase in the latest data around the number of people sleeping rough.

Auckland Council's Community Committee is urging the Government to help the city as rates of homelessness grow. This comes as new data shows the number of people sleeping rough in the city has gone up by 53 percent since September. Committee Chair, Councillor Angela Dalton, says she's never seen a spike like this before. She also explained that this tied in with a number of other changing factors that were putting significant stress on Aucklanders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders have called today 'cold', Queenstown is looking to fast-track a new transport option, and people aren't happy about the closure of a much-loved speedway. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A planning expert is suggesting Aucklanders look to New York City for the impacts of congestion charges. A report, commissioned by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, has found traffic will cost the city $2.6 billion a year by next year. Auckland University Architecture and Planning Senior Lecturer Timothy Welch says New York and London have effectively implemented congestion charges. He told Mike Hosking revenue in New York City has already increased because of faster buses and more foot traffic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From couples' axe-throwing to an R-18 zoo exhibition, Aucklanders are finding romance in some strange places this Valentine's Day. While some couples are sticking to flowers and dinner dates, others are being seduced by less conventional activities. Felix Walton has more.

Some good summer news for Aucklanders.... There's a new pool in town! First Up reporter Leonard Powell went for a dip.

Aucklanders returning to work are facing much longer commuting times, thanks to a month-long rail shutdown which started on Boxing Day. Reporter Lucy Xia has more.

The new top cop says Aucklanders will be feeling better about a police station in the city's centre. Police plan to have the new Federal Street base open to the public by the middle of next year. It will sit close to Aotea Square and the new CRL station, making it easier to deploy officers right across the central city. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking that soon we'll have 51 beats working 24/7 around the community, increasing visibility and safety. He says it's back to basics policing, with officers walking the beat and getting to know the people around town. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Brown is proposing major reforms to Auckland's council controlled organisations in his draft budget proposal. Brown wants to scrap the council's urban regeneration and property management arm Eke Panuku, and return its functions to the council. Tataki Auckland Unlimited could lose its economic development, events and tourism marketing roles, becoming solely focused on managing stadiums, theatres and other facilities. Brown says he's 'hopeful' Auckland Council will be on board with these changes. "I think that Aucklanders should be in control of Auckland, frankly. And that means I'd like to get a bit less input from Wellington, as well as independent councils." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've actually been surprised at the level of anger I've heard expressed today at that Treaty Principles Bill hīkoi crossing over the Harbour Bridge - and I don't think it's a good thing for this particular cause. Yesterday, completely out of the blue, I got an email from a mum I know complaining about the impact it will l have on kids trying to get to their NCEA exams on time. Today, I bumped into someone this morning furious about the timing because it was rush hour. And someone in my family is raging about it as well. To be fair to these people, it's understandable anger and I can see why they're so cross. Basically, it's because this protest feels like it was designed to create disruption. Either that or the organisers didn't think it through - which I doubt very much because they have proven to be quite deliberate in a bunch of the things they do. What happened to facilitate the hīkoi today was that authorities had to close two lanes on the Harbour Bridge in our biggest city from 8 in the morning - at peak morning traffic time. That will have messed up the day for thousands of people coming in from the North Shore. If these guys were decent to the people of Auckland just trying to do their jobs and get their kids to school, they would've shifted their walk time back by a couple of hours, when most people are in the office and won't be messed around. It's not as if the hīkoi would lose attention because it caused less disruption. They are all over the online news feeds, they're being covered by radio shows like ours, they'll be all over the TV news later because the protest is big. And it's about a very contentious issue, that being the Treaty Principles Bill. These guys did not have to muck Aucklanders around to get the coverage they wanted. Ultimately, I don't think it's a smart move from them. Just like I don't think it's too smart to have gang members join the hīkoi with their patches on display. All it's going to do is frustrate middle New Zealand and make middle New Zealand more sympathetic to the other side, because that's how politics works nowadays - we pick sides. We don't like that side, we go to the other, that's how this works. And that's ultimately an own goal, because the only hope David Seymour has for this bill is that it becomes very popular and that it gets rescued because enough people want it. And this hīkoi, I reckon, won't have hurt his chances at all. A lesson to people planning future protests - try not cause disruption on purpose, because that way we're more likely to be sympathetic to your cause, not less. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The hīkoi working its way through New Zealand has disrupted the commutes of thousands of Aucklanders today. Is this the right move? Will they lose favour from the public if they keep negatively impacting people? Donald Trump has started setting up his political team - including putting Elon Musk at the head of his new Department of Government Efficiency. What do we make of this? The Government has launched a new online calculator designed to help companies address their gender pay gaps. Can the Government address this issue? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sarah Sparks and Peter Dunne to discuss the Black Caps 3- 0 whitewash of India and the cost of the campaign to encourage Aucklanders to feel better about their city.

Aucklanders say they're still paying steep rent for damp and mouldy homes, and they're not seeing any flow-on benefit from landlords' tax relief. Melanie Earley reports.

I never thought I would support Auckland in anything. I mean —duh— I'm from Christchurch. When I was a kid, it was a given that Aucklanders were nothing more than latte-swilling, overpriced-haircut-donning, ostentatious-sports-car-driving primadonnas. My parochialism isn't the only force working against Auckland City FC. When the brand-new club kicks off in its very first A-League match this evening, it faces the unique challenge that comes from trying to launch a new team and a new club in a competition which is already well-established. Think about it. Most of the teams we support in sporting competitions have either been around since the competition's inception or have built up a fan base over many decades. I support the Crusaders because I was born and raised in Christchurch and when Super Rugby was established, they were everyone-in-my-life's team. I support Liverpool because when I was 6 or 7 and watched football highlights on the news, I asked Dad what English club we supported and stuck with that. The Warriors inspire my loyalty because for all the highs and the lows —so many lows— they have endured for thirty years and never really shaken that underdog status. And they're the New Zealand Warriors. Not the Auckland Warriors. So we're good. Theoretically at least, it's a bit harder to inspire loyalty in a team that arrives late to the party. Especially when that team is the third Auckland-based professional football club to compete in the Australian top league. RIP the Auckland Kingz and the New Zealand Knights. Also, I really love the Wellington Phoenix fan culture. And the club has been playing so well! Maybe I'm wrong, but there's a risk that any rivalry in a Kiwi derby could feel a little forced, at least early on. But, for all of that, Auckland FC has one massive dynamic working in its favour. People in the 09 are so ready for a proper football team. You see it every time the Phoenix play at Eden Park. You see it at All Whites games. You see it on the sidelines of how many thousand junior football games on Saturday mornings. Sure, it may take a few seasons to deepen the well of loyalty, but you would be hard-pressed to find a city or a market on Earth that isn't hungrier for a team to support. And so tonight, I'll be there. One of more than 20,000 at a sold-out Go Media stadium. I must have a dozen friends attending. Some have already bought season passes. You can hold the fancy haircut. Hold the latte. But I'll be proudly crossing the Rubicon and dressed in blue. And if in years to come anyone should question my loyalty to AFC, well, at least I can say I was there from day one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passionvine Hoppers came up in conversation a week or so ago: a nuisance for gardeners, especially in the warmer north (but more and more a pain-in-the-South as well!). I also remember that Aucklanders often called them lacy-winged moths. Shows you that entomological knowledge has always been slow to sink in up there in the North Island. They are certainly not moths, these critters belong to a totally different insect order: the Homoptera, or sap-sucking bugs. Yes, these are some of the insects you can legitimately call “bugs” in entomological parlance. LIFE CYCLE: Eggs hatch in October – the timing relates to warmth in spring. The tiny fluffy bums (“nymphs”) suck sap from a wide variety of host plants and slowly grow bigger and bigger. They also become nimbler and can hop greater distances as they grow larger in spring. Late in spring (December onwards) the Fluffy Bums will moult their last moult and turn into a winged adult Passionvine Hopper. One nymph of passion vine hopper (fluffy bum) and three winged adults in summer. They will still suck sap from your favourite plants – they will also continue excreting sticky honeydew all over the plants and leaves below. (And as we all know, honeydew is a perfect place for sooty mould to grow – black, ugly fungal material that looks as if a miniature fire has burnt your plants). This is also the time for mating and female Passionvine Bugs will lay eggs in the autumn. They prefer to insert the eggs in thin branches, leaving a patterned oviposition site, which keeps the eggs in good nick during the winter months CONTROL and PREVENTION: Keep an eye on the new fluffy bums hatching in your garden right now! Those tiny nymphs often congregate in large flocks at the ends of new growth; they are still very feeble in their movement and won't be able to escape a cloud of fly-spray aimed at them on a wind-still morning. Small, young nymphs Spray these young passionvine hoppers in October with a good dose of fly-spray. In autumn there is a second chance for control: spot the new egg-sites on thin twigs and tendrils, cut these off and burn them in the fireplace (Fried Eggs!). Eggs laid in thin twigs and curly tendrils LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders are ignoring warnings to stay off storm-damaged walking tracks in the Domain. Jessica Hopkins went for a walk.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown is confident in delivering Auckland's City Rail Link on time with no network issues. KiwiRail has assured the $5.5 billion project will cut delays down to a maximum of 1 minute 20 seconds when it opens in 2026. Official papers show Brown and Auckland mayor Wayne Brown are working to improve confidence in the wide rail network. Simeon Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's also aware of the rail fatigue among Aucklanders. He says he gets the frustration about more maintenance and renewals and is determined to ensure they get as much done as possible. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time's up for Aucklanders with 2023 storm-affected homes to register for council buyout or remediation, amid concern those unregistered may be living in potential death traps.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown aims to disestablish the city's tourism and economic development agency. The mayor is progressing plans to fold Tātaki Auckland Unlimited back into council control and reduce its functions. He says the agency spent more than $700,000 on a campaign promoting Auckland to Aucklanders. He says these things need to stop happening with ratepayer money. Hospitality New Zealand CEO Steve Armitage Tātaki says is essential - and plays a pivotal role for the city's tourism. "There are a lot of ancillary benefits, there are jobs created - particularly off the strength of Auckland's visitor economy in recent years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only 40 per cent of Aucklanders eligible for a council assessment on their flood-affected property have signed up. Today is the last day for Aucklanders living in storm-affected homes to register for a council assessment of their property. Auckland Council's Natural and Built Environment Lead, Craig Hobbs, spoke with Corin Dann.

Today is the last day for Aucklanders living in storm-affected homes to register for a council assessment of their property. Those properties deemed to need work could be eligible for construction and consenting grants, while those that cause an "intolerable risk to life" will be offered a voluntary buy-out. But with one day to go, only 40 percent of eligible property owners have signed up. Lyall Carter is a spokesperson for West Auckland is Flooding and spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss

Some residents of medium density homes surveyed by Auckland Council say the upper levels of terraced houses and duplexes are so hot in summer, they are difficult to use.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman and panellists Leonie Freeman and Chris Wikaira discuss how some Aucklanders are sweltering in over-glazed, under-ventilated units with too many toilets and not enough storage. They also look at whether a so-called 'rich pricks' attitude is stopping Aotearoa from getting to grips with growing inequality.

Today on the show... the man and his group promising to bring a better deal on power prices  for all Aucklanders. We are all paying ridiculously high prices and getting poor returns on the power assets we own and the only winners are the corporates. But Patrick Reynolds says vote his group in and that can change And NZ actor Aidee Walker is my team on Celebrity Treasure Island. She appears to be getting impatient with the team play... lets play she says. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The goal of getting Aucklanders to halve their car use by 2030 is delusional and needs a complete rethink according to one councillor. The Council's Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway lays out a series of targets for reducing Auckland's transport emissions by almost 65% within the next 6 years. Here are a few of the goals; car trips make up 94% of distance travelled around the city - the aim is to cut that to 47%, pump cycle trips up from 1% to 5% and increase bus trips from 3 % to 12%, Auckland Councillor Daniel Newman spoke to Lisa Owen.

Winston Peters has found a strong ally in his bid to disestablish Auckland Transport.   The New Zealand First leader's proposed a bill to give the city's Council full control of the agency.  AT currently operates somewhat independency.   It already has the backing of Mayor Wayne Brown, who says anything putting control of Auckland's transport back in Aucklanders' hands is a good thing.  Peters told Mike Hosking that if common sense prevails, it will go hosing through Parliament.  He said that AT was set up in 2009 and has been a serious failure, with massive complains continuing year after year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 27th of June Auckland Council passed their long term plan, setting an agenda for council for the next 10 years. On July 1st the Government introduced some of their most high-profile reforms, including the end of the regional fuel tax in Auckland. For City Counselling Wire Host Caeden asks Councillor Shane Henderson about how both these things will impact Aucklanders.

The Labour Party is out and about wooing Auckland - as it starts to think about policies to take to the next election. The party has lost a significant chunk of the city's support and concedes it didn't listen or engage enough with Aucklanders at last year's election. Political reporter Giles Dexter has more.

Labour Party MPs are in Auckland to hear from its communities, as the party grapples with it electoral loss. Labour lost a significant chunk of the Supercity's support in the last election, and concedes it didn't listen or engage well enough with Aucklanders. Leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Corin Dann.

Aucklanders should be waking up to an eleven-and a half-cent drop in fuel prices today as the Auckland Fuel Tax comes to an end. The Government says removing the fuel tax should help ease the cost of living. Principal policy advisor for the Automobile Association, Terry Collins, spoke to Ingrid Hipikiss

On today's episode, LSV military staff have suffered serious mental distress following physical assaults, two Ministry of Justice workers have been called out for using foul language to complain about a researcher in an online chat, concerns that Biden is too old for the job have reached new highs after he stumbled over several answers, police crackdown on illegal street racers and Aucklanders should be waking up to an eleven-and a half-cent drop in fuel prices today as the Auckland Fuel Tax comes to an end.

Confusion reigns over claims police foot patrols in Auckland CBD have increased 60 percent since National came to power. Police Minister Mark Mitchell's used the figure in the wake of a law and order meeting last night, where a number of central city Aucklanders told him they dont feel safe and want more officers on the beat. But Auckland central's top cop is unable to confirm the figure. Auckland Central Area Commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff speaks to Lisa Owen.

A top Auckland property developer says claims of an increased police presence in the CBD are far from obvious. At a law and order meeting last night, a number of central city Aucklanders told the Police Minister they don't feel safe and want more officers on the beat.

Simon details the rates rises facing Aucklanders, mounting concern about crime and safety in the inner city, traffic calming measures out West and blockbuster turn out to the Auckland Writers' Festival.