Podcasts about Far North

We told you co-governance was alive and kicking in local councils, and now the government has finally stepped in to stop it. While mainstream newsrooms looked the other way, local communities were left in the dark about major agreements affecting their rates and properties. Duncan is joined by Far North councillor Davina Smolders to break down what went wrong and how we fix local government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we hold the tension between automation advancements intended to make everyday life easier, with the intimacy that can only come through the work of our hands? What can we learn from Cree worldviews and ways of living? And what does it mean to navigate hardships that arise from systemic injustice next to the ones that come from a deeper participation in life?In this episode, Green Dreamer's Kaméa Chane speaks with Adrian Sutherland, a roots-rocker-with-heart from Attawapiskat in Ontario's Far North.Join us as Adrian offers a glimpse into the Cree traditions, crafts, and worldviews that have influenced his life as a musician, and more.We invite you to…tune in and subscribe to Green Dreamer via any podcast app;tap into our bonus extended and video version of this conversation on Patreon here;and read highlights from these conversations via Kaméa's newsletter here.The musical offerings in this episode are "Notawe" and "Precious" by Adrian Sutherland.

A Far North Councillor is accusing the council of keeping details of iwi agreements under the rug. Davina Smolders says the council is in the process of negotiating and signing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe with five iwi and one hapu. She is demanding these agreements be made public so voters and other elected officials can have their say. Smolders says the deals are binding statutory agreements. She says they establish permanent Māori governance and are completely 'uncosted'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dom talks with Pāmu CEO Mark Leslie about its new initiative with BNZ to unlock value in existing native forests and how it could help improve NZ's land and biodiversity. They also discuss the proliferation of Madagascar Ragwort in the Far North and what Pāmu is doing to help alleviate the situation. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Far North dairy farmer Julianne Bainbridge about her ongoing battle with Madagascan Ragwort, the effect it's having on farms in the area and why her pleas for help are largely being ignored. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Doug Avery, aka The Resilient farmer, about his trip to the United States last year to deliver a keynote address at a resilience seminar at Oregon State University and what he learnt about the US sheep industry while he was there. They also discuss his subsequent dealings with the American Sheep Industry Association and his ideas around collaboration in the face of staunch US protectionism... And he talks with Pāmu CEO Mark Leslie about its new initiative with BNZ to unlock value in existing native forests and how it could help improve NZ's land and biodiversity. They also discuss the proliferation of Madagascar Ragwort in the Far North and what Pāmu is doing to help alleviate the situation. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

In the Far North's Hokianga locals are feeling isolated and afraid following two violent deaths in the district. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf reports.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Hamish Mackenzie from Braemar Station about he and his farmer mates' latest motorcycle tour to Kazakhstan, why they chose to visit the former Soviet Republic and the surprises they encountered as they traversed the terrain from desert to mountains... And he talks with Far North dairy farmer Julianne Bainbridge about her ongoing battle with Madagascan Ragwort, the effect it's having on farms in the area and why her pleas for help are largely being ignored. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Opposition seizes new data which shows property prices have dropped. Up to 12 suspected asylum seekers are in custody after being detained in the state's Far North. And All the latest from the wedding of the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition seizes new data which shows property prices have dropped. Up to 12 suspected asylum seekers are in custody after being detained in the state's Far North. And All the latest from the wedding of the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode features Blair McBride, Production Editor at The Northern Miner, in conversation with host Adrian Pocobelli about the development of Canada's Far North. McBride examines the Canadian government's proposal to grant national interest status to the C$2-billion Mackenzie Valley Highway and Grays Bay Road and Port initiatives. He explains how economic priorities, critical mineral development, national security, and Arctic sovereignty are increasingly intertwined, and highlights the major mining projects in the Far North that are awaiting infrastructure before they can move ahead. All this and more with host Adrian Pocobelli. This week's Spotlight features Brien Lundin, CEO and organizer of the New Orleans Investment Conference. Lundin previews what attendees can expect from this year's conference, including its lineup of high-profile speakers and key investment themes. To learn more about attending, visit: https://neworleansconference.com/ “Rattlesnake Railroad”, “Big Western Sky”, “Western Adventure” and “Battle on the Western Frontier” by Brett Van Donsel (⁠www.incompetech.com⁠). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0⁠ Apple Podcasts:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-northern-miner-podcast/id1099281201⁠ Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/78lyjMTRlRwZxQwz2fwQ4K⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernMiner⁠ Soundcloud:⁠ https://soundcloud.com/northern-miner

Gianina Schwanecke is talking bulls at a bull sale on the East Coast. Tangihau Angus stud is famous for setting the nation's top prices. Can it do it again this year? Sally Round is at a coffee tree orchard in the Far North whose trailblazing owner Rob Schluter is on a new path to focus on the mystique of coffee and Anisha Satya sits down for a yarn on the farm with Bill Deans whose family farm in Canterbury is home to the rare and “chunky" mudfish. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:55 - On the Farm8:09- On-farm planting creates mudfish haven14:46 - A bullish market at the East Coast bull sales28:18 - Brewing up a taste for New Zealand-grown coffeeWith thanks to:Bill DeansPaul Hickman, Phil Shea, Dave Martin, Sarah Hussey, Neville Clark, and Dean McHardy of Tangihau AngusMarie-Elodie Proust, Haobo Tong, and Rob Schluter of Ikarus CoffeeMake sure you're following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don't miss new episodes every Friday evening.Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A new fire detection system in the Far North has seen see 250 solar-powered sensors installed across the Waitangi Endowment Forest.

Our meth use continues to break records. According to the latest wastewater drug test, methamphetamine use is up 15% since the last quarter. And wastewater testing is pretty accurate. Consumption of methamphetamine and MDMA both increased. MDMA use does have a seasonal component though, they said, with increases during the summer music festival period from January to March. People pop a pill while they're at the festivals and then pretty much get on with their lives. But meth use, up 15% since the last quarter, and my question is why? Why? Why are people taking up this pernicious drug when there is so much harm associated with it? Do they think that all the stories they hear, all the stats you read or hear, all the pearl-clutching is just middle class, middle New Zealand moral panic? Surely not. Meth use seems to be across all socioeconomic groups, but even on TikTok, Instagram, you've got former users who are saying how much better their lives are now that they've got free of the clutches of the drug and the gangs who control it, that they can't believe that they let themselves get hooked, that they were so low that they wanted to die and now they're out of it. Why are people still picking up the pipe and giving it a go? To a certain extent, I can understand how people become sellers and pushers of the drug. They don't actually want to work to make a buck. They see a way of making easy dollars, far more than they could ever earn in their small town with their small skills, and the lure of the money is just too great to withstand the overtures from gang members. So selling it, I can understand how you would get into that. You don't want to work, you don't want to work hard, you haven't got the ability to earn the sort of money that you get from selling drugs, I sell drugs. But why become a user? There was much hoohah yesterday with a major drugs bust in Northland. Operation Phoenix has dismantled an operation manufacturing and supplying meth in remote parts of the Far North – it's a huge problem up there. 14 people have been arrested with links to the Tribesmen and Head Hunters. Police say the gangs were getting single mums addicted to meth with the intent of turning them into dealers of the drug. So give it to them for free, get them addicted, get them to pay off the debt in the time-honoured way that desperate women pay off debts, get them becoming dealers, and off you go. Nothing new here. Kids from private schools have also been targeted for decades. Good looking boys hang around the girls' schools, good looking girls hang around the boys' schools, they give them drugs for free. They know that even if these kids don't have money, they know people who do, and off you go. So yay Operation Phoenix for busting this gang operation, but even the police know that meth use won't drop. They said in the press conference that it's a long game they're playing, it's not about one off jobs. It will have an impact on this particular gang for a certain amount of time. But why? Why are people using? Sir Paul Holmes, bless him, once he saw the damage that drugs could do within his family, he was on an absolute rampage against the drugs and the pushers of the drugs. We've all known the dangers of it, the dangers of being associated with it after all the publicity, the horror stories from former addicts. Why are people still picking up the pipe? I get that the world is a tough place if you feel like you can't get out from under the crushing weight of bills and debt and trying to be somebody, trying to do better, trying to escape a dreadful childhood, you just want to turn off. But nowhere have I ever seen somebody say, well, that meth use really helped, that turned my life around for the better, boy do I feel like a better, more whole human being as a result of using meth. Nobody. Not one person. There are other drugs, there are legal drugs. Alcohol does terrible, terrible harm too, but at least you're not in the claws of the gangs. If you need a drug to switch off, there are other far less damaging drugs than meth. Why? Why? I'd love to hear from those who might have been there, done that, who've got family members. And if you are trying to get off or you have managed to, how hard is it to get away from the gangs, to settle your debts to your dealer and walk away, and then how hard is it to get off the stuff? Because it's only by getting rid of the users that you get rid of the sellers and the pushers. If the gangs don't see a market in it, they won't be selling it, they'll move on to something else. It's the dumb shmucks who allow themselves to get hooked that ensure that the gangs keep earning good money, that they keep riding the flash bikes that you've bought them. Your money's funded their lifestyle while you're living in squalid, desperate poverty. The gangs are travelling the world in first class, the gang leaders, laughing all the way to their crooked accountant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders drink 3.7kgs of coffee per person every year ... that's according to data from the International Coffee Organisation .. which puts us just out of the top twenty coffee consuming countries .. but well above the global average. It's fair to say, we've cracked drinking coffee and making coffees, so it seems only right that our attention turns to growing coffee. More than 9 thousand coffee trees have been planted from Bay of Plenty through to the Far North and crop trials are happening in other places too. Over the weekend, the second annual New Zealand Coffee Producers Association conference took place to share what's happening on the ground in this growing industry. Here to tell us more is NZ Coffee Producers Association officer Justine Stuart.

We reizen de halve wereld rond, in het spoor van Noormannen en -vrouwen. We zijn getuige van plundertochten en vreemde rituelen, luisteren naar oude sagen en kronieken en vragen ons af of Vikingen wérkelijk de gehoornde terreur van de middeleeuwen waren. WIJ ZIJN: Jonas Goossenaerts (inhoud en vertelstem), Filip Vekemans (montage), Benjamin Goyvaerts (inhoud) en Laurent Poschet (inhoud). MET BIJDRAGEN VAN: Prof. Peter Petré (Engelse en algemene taalkunde, UAntwerpen - Anglo Saxon Chronicle), Niels Engelen (vertaling kronieken en getraumatiseerde monniken), Ward Bal (bijnamen en mythes), Greet Moonen (vikingreis), Leví Sigmarsson (Ijslandse tekst), prof. Brigitte Meijns (middeleeuwse geschiedenis, KULeuven - kritische lectuur tekst). WIL JE ONS EEN FOOI GEVEN? Fooienpod - Al schenkt u tien cent of tien euro, het duurt tien seconden met een handige QR-code. WIL JE ADVERTEREN IN DEZE PODCAST? Neem dan contact op met adverteren@dagennacht.nl MEER WETEN? Onze geraadpleegde en geciteerde bronnen: Barraclough, E. (2025). Verborgen levens: Wat de nieuwste vondsten ons vertellen over de Vikingtijd (C. van Paassen & W. van Paassen, vert.). Omniboek.Brink, Stefan, & Price, N. (Eds.). (2008). The Viking World. London, UK: Routledge.Byock, Jesse. (2001). Viking Age Iceland. London, UK: Penguin Books.Price, Neil. (2002/2019). The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia. Oxford, UK: Oxbow Books.Price, Neil. (2020). Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings. New York, NY: Basic Books.Ibn Fadlan. (2012). Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North. (P. Lunde & C. Stone, Trans.). London, UK: Penguin Classics. (Origineel werk ca. 10e eeuw)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Text us your questions to answer on a future episode (if you want me to contact you, please include your email)Jennie and Jay's long time friend Josh sits down with them to talk about his adventure driving from his home in Victoria BC to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories on the Arctic Ocean in March 2025.Josh's websiteFollow Josh on InstagramJoin the Alaska Planning Club on Patreon and ask me anything!Jennie's digital workshops and planners (save 10% with code: podcast)Sign up for Jennie's email list (and get the free packing list)Follow Jennie on InstagramSupport the show

What is really going on at the Far North District Council? Duncan Garner is joined by councillor Davina Smolders, who says major governance changes are being pushed through without proper public scrutiny. She raises concerns over unelected iwi representatives getting voting rights on a council committee, ratepayer-funded requests, new Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements, and language recognising Ngāpuhi sovereignty. Smolders says another five agreements could be signed soon and argues the public deserves to know exactly what these deals mean before they are locked in. Duncan asks the big questions. What power do these agreements actually create? Why has there been no proper consultation? And when will the Government step in? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Local Government Minister says they're restoring democratic accountability to councils. The Government's amending a bill currently before Parliament to bar non-elected council members from voting on committees. It follows councillors in the Far North voting to expand a Māori liaison committee. Simon Watts explained such examples give voting rights to people not elected by the community. "You've also seen instances in the last term with someone under the age of 18 being appointed onto Hastings Council. None of that stuff can happen going forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 20 years, all from the comfort of a makeshift desk at her Doubtless Bay cottage, Annette Hall has been keeping boaties in the Far North safe. Last week, the volunteer radio operator signed off for the last time, and we wanted to meet the woman affectionally known as "Mum" by the boaties.

ACT-aligned councillor Davina Smolders is spreading claims the Far North District Council plans to sign agreements ceding sovereignty to five iwi. She previously challenged a recent Council decision to expand a Māori liaison committee - appointing 10 iwi members with voting rights, out of a total 16. Smolders says it's not co-governance, but rather outright iwi governance. "So it's going to affect everybody...if you want to move dirt, you have to pay for cultural impact reports, it's a grift - pure and simple. It's holding development hostage." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shiny resin on balsam poplar buds turns to airborne molecules during spring leaf-out. Those molecules contain a myriad of chemicals that are useful to the tree -- and beneficial to us! Thriving in the far north -- farther than any other broadleaf tree in North America -- balsam poplar is poised to make drastic changes to the tundra as summer temperatures warm. Read more about this amazing tree in this week's Natural Connections, or listen to the podcast. 

For the past 20 years Annette Hall has been the voice of a vital maritime radio service, checking in on fishermen, providing forecasts, and coordinating rescues. For those on the water in the Far North, she's seen as something of a guardian angel. At 6pm tonight, however, the long-serving volunteer with an infectious laugh will hang up her handpiece for the last time and the channel will fall silent. Reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

Title: The Arctic Paradox: Extreme Heat in the Far North Timestamp Breakdown00:00 - Introduction: The Paradox of Arctic Temperatures01:04 - Record High Temperatures in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic 03:25 - Part 2: The Recipe for Extreme Heat (Ingredients 1-4) 05:36 - Ingredient 5: 24-Hour Daylight and Solar Angles08:04 - Part 4: The Energy Budget - Why the North Pole Wins 09:54 - Surface vs. Top-of-Atmosphere Insolation10:39 - Part 5: Sun Angle vs. Duration - Thought Experiments (Fairbanks vs. Death Valley) 12:09 - Continued Thought Experiments: Death Valley's Sun Angle in Utqiagvik 14:13 - Part 6: Why the Real Arctic Doesn't Bake - Limiting Factors15:19 - Part 7: Seasonal Lag - Why Records Peak Near June 2116:53 - Part 8: The Latitude of Peak Heat - Why Death Valley Wins18:35 - Additional Factors for Subtropical Desert Heat19:49 - Part 9: Could the Arctic Reach 121°F?20:52 - Climate Change Attribution and Extreme Events21:54 - Part 11: Humidity - Why the Far North Can't Replicate the Gulf Coast 22:58 - Environment Canada Heat Warnings & Calibration23:59 - Part 13: UV Index in the Arctic 25:02 - Conclusion: The Arctic Paradox in a Single Sentence20 Hashtags: #ArcticHeat #ExtremeWeather #ClimateScience #SolarInsolation #HeatDome #ArcticCircle #ClimateChange #WeatherPhenomenon #Permafrost #SiberiaHeat #AlaskaWeather #YukonWeather #LyttonBC #DeathValley #NorthPole #SeasonalLag #UVIndex #Meteorology #Geography #WeatherRecordsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

A Far North settlement could become the first in New Zealand to move because of climate change. Peter de Graaf reports from Whirinaki in the Far North.

After years of devastating floods, a small Far North settlement could become the first place in New Zealand where an entire community relocates to higher ground. Ruth Tautari, Chair of Whirinaki Trust spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Three dead in a boating tragedy off the far north coast of New South Wales... the United States shoots down multiple Iranian missiles... and Brisbane Lions player Koby Evans accepts responsibility for using a homophobic slur. - रिजर्भ बैङ्कको आज बस्ने बैठकले ब्याजदरका बारेमा निर्णय गर्दै, न्यु साउथ वेल्सको शिविरमा एक शिशुको मृत्यु भएपछि घरबार विहीन हुने अवस्थामा अन्त्यका तत्काल कदम चाल्नु पर्ने सरोकारवालाहरूको भनाइ र भिक्टोरियामा राज्य सरकारले आज बजेट ल्याउँदै लगायत आजका प्रमुख अस्ट्रेलियन समाचार सुन्नुहोस्।

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Three dead in a boating tragedy off the far north coast of New South Wales... the United States shoots down multiple Iranian missiles... and Brisbane Lions player Koby Evans accepts responsibility for using a homophobic slur.

The government says they aren't intervening in the Far North, but we've seen the letters that say otherwise. Officials are at the table, reporting back to Wellington, and the pressure is mounting. We dive into the co-governance creep National promised to stop and ask why they're still being so soft. Plus, the panel reacts to Winston Peters' most brutal tweet in 40 years. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plans for a new social housing complex are raising hackles in the Far North town of Kawakawa. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf reports.

Days after winning a world title at Madison Square Garden in New York, boxer Lani Daniels is already back working on the family farm in the Far North. Hailing from Pipiwai - a blink and you'll miss it town 40 minutes north of Whangarei - Lani won the IBF and WBO world super middleweight belts via technical knockout. It's the third weight class she has won a world title in.

According to new data from Consumer NZ, there is a big difference in how much you pay for power depending on where you live. It has analysed the April 1st electricity price rises and discovered that the Far North will have annual cost increases in the range of $140 to $420, while in Wellington, the same household can expect an annual increase of between $102 and $305. Kerikeri currently has amongst the highest average electricity prices in the country, which was about 20 percent above the national average. So, why is the cost of electricity increasing a lot more in some regions than others? Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge is with Jesse.

You'll be aware of the Far North Council and their unelected Māori voting plan. It is of course a scandal, but more importantly it is part of the overall de-Māorification of the economy this current Government, in one form or another, promised to address. The fact this stuff is still going on proves they are failing. ACT's Todd Stevenson the other day wrote to Public Service Minister Judith Collins asking about Māori names in government departments. She said there was a war on, and we had better things to do. Fair point? Or convenient excuse? The simple truth is what they promised and what has happened are two different things. Enter ACT, who are now promising to ban the Far North type of behaviour. Is that a double promise? Didn't you already say you would do that? Here is the problem with it: 1) ACT aren't running the Government; they are merely part of it. Unless they make it a bottom line, which they won't, it may or may not see the light of day after the election. 2) Given their well-promoted stance on race-based policy, going into another election having had the opportunity to fix it already, you have a credibility problem. And 3) My sense of this as a broad-based issue is it isn't what it once might have been. Personally, I find Māorification problematic. To give someone rules, or money, or decisions of names, or a job based on race is simply irrefutably wrong. But the fervour with which that was argued a couple of years ago doesn't appear to be quite as white hot. Yes, there is a very vocal group who seem to have made it their raison d'être, but they are small and many of them are rabid, which makes the appeal of the overall argument to the broader populace less enticing. You might also argue that against this wall of determination was an even bigger wall of determination, i.e. those who believe in it, think it's good, who have held the line and carried on. And can I suggest that at this point, and the Far North Council are your gold star example, it is they who are the more successful of the two camps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to the Local Government Act could be on the way after controversy at the Far North District Council. Councillor Diane Smolders claims a committee made-up of six councillors and 10 unelected Iwi and hapu representatives is co-governance on steroids. Local Government Minister Simon Watts says he's looking at changes to give to cabinet. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he'll have a proposal soon. Watts says he expects it to take about a month. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-standing, but newly expanded Maori relationships committee is proving controversial in the Far North. It's seen locals turn out in support of the change but there is backlash, too, despite the committee being advisory only. Council decisions are still made by elected members. Reporter Peter de Graaf headed to Wednesday's meeting to find out what the fuss is about.

As global attention remains focused on the Middle East, a parallel contest of influence is unfolding in the Far North, where NATO troops have recently carried out a large-scale exercise simulating a Russian invasion. Armoured vehicles, ships, helicopters, and thousands of soldiers braved sub-zero conditions to test their readiness and send a clear message to Moscow. This report from our colleagues at FRANCE 2 and FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

Right, here's a question I'd like to answer: Do we all have strange priorities in this country, or is it just the evening TV news that does? Last night, I sat through 13 minutes of TV One telling me nothing had happened with the cyclone before we finally got to the Iran situation, where something actually had happened. First, One News took us to a reporter in the Bay of Plenty, who told us a tree had come down on the main street. A couple of older women joked about going for a swim in the swell, but really, nothing much had happened. Then we went to Gisborne, where wastewater had flooded, and the guy in the caravan from the previous night was barely affected - because, again, nothing much had happened. Next stop was Hawke's Bay, where nothing had happened yet. Then the Coromandel, where Simon Mercer reported large storm surges in Whitianga - but nothing had happened.After that, the Far North, where the river was high - but nothing had happened. Then the weather presenter wrapped it all up, and we were told Breakfast would be covering it in the morning - just in case something did happen. Finally - after 12 minutes and 45 seconds of this - we got to the Iran situation, where peace talks had broken down and the US delegation had left. That is a conflict that will affect every single one of us. The weather will impact some people - potentially quite severely - but the situation in Iran will affect everyone here. Diesel is tipped to hit $4 a litre, food prices will rise, inflation is forecast to peak higher than after COVID at around 7.5 percent, and ANZ is predicting three OCR hikes this year as a result. I wondered whether this reflects audience interest - maybe people can't get enough of the weather and don't care about a conflict in Iran. But I checked the Herald this afternoon. Both stories were top trending, and there wasn't much between them. So, I'd suggest the evening TV news might want to rethink leading with 13 minutes of nothing. I understand that pictures matter in television. And yes, they've paid to send reporters around the country, so they need something to show. But pictures of nothing are still nothing - and there's only so much time people will spend watching nothing before they simply switch off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a council stops looking like democracy and starts looking like intimidation? That's where we begin today, as Duncan digs into the government's warning to the Far North District Council and asks whether local democracy is being pushed off course. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins us to talk through the claims, the growing pressure on the government, and what happens when elected representatives say they're being frozen out or threatened. We also get into the wider question here: who gets to make decisions in New Zealand, and how far ministers should go when councils appear to be losing control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some residents in the Far North town of Kaikohe say a dire jobs shortage means they have no choice but to leave to find work or else languish on the benefit. About 6000 people in the Far North region are on the job seeker benefit, and a local employment adviser says she's snowed under with people desperate for work but nowhere near enough jobs available. On the day Checkpoint visited Kaikohe, all of 15 jobs were being advertised. Teuila Fuatai has more.

We are diving into a shocking breakdown of local democracy today. Duncan shares a blunt, two-word email from Far North Mayor Moko Tepania that has left us gobsmacked. After serious allegations about unelected influence at the council table, the Mayor was offered a right of reply. His response? A personal "f off". We ask if it is time for the government to step in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is back, and he is not just making up the numbers. With a massive surge to 13.6 percent in the latest poll, the New Zealand First leader is eyeing up the top job while National and Labor drift. We also dive into the co-governance rows erupting in Hastings and the Far North, where local councillors say democracy is being pushed aside for unelected boards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

States of Emergency have been declared in Whangarei and the Far North with storm conditions expected get worse overnight. Northland east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangarei is under a red weather warning until 4am tomorrow. 25 schools closed throughout the region, affecting nearly 4000 students. State Highway 1 is also closed at four different locations around Northland. Civil Defence Co-ordinator in Whangaruru, Noeline Whitehead spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's been a wet and wild 24 hours for the top of the country, with some areas seeing more than 200 millimetres of rain. Whangārei District Council and the Far North District Council have each declared states of emergency. The deluge has closed roads, including the two routes that connect the tip of the Far North to the rest of the motu. Locals are now bracing for another night of rough weather, with Civil Defence warning the worst could be yet to come. Teuila Fuatai reports. 

States of local emergency remain in place in Northland this morning, as the wild weather moves south. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania spoke to Corin Dann.

We sit down with author Ryan Rodgers to explore the legendary life of Bob O'Hara, a master paddler who spent fifty years navigating the remote Arctic without GPS or a lifeline. It's a captivating conversation about the "Green Light" philosophy, the evolution of wilderness exploration, and the eternal allure of the Far North.    Presented by Kinetico (kineticoMN.com/), Star Bank (star.bank/), & Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota (https://davmn.org/)

A Far North community has rallied around its local electrician after three vehicles and his tools were stolen from outside his Tauranga Bay property. 

Another dream-come-true interview for me here at the InfatuAsian Podcast! Michelle Krusiec has been acting since the 2000's. You've no doubt seen her in something: Star Trek DSN, Sweet Home Alabama, Monk, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Weeds, Dirty Sexy Money, Far North, Fringe, CSI, Hawaii 5-0, and dozens more. She was Wil Pang in Alice Wu's Saving Face, and Anna May Wong in Netflix's Hollywood. She has directed and written her own shorts as well. She's done and seen a lot in Hollywood over her prolific career, so she has lots of insight into the inner workings. It was a real joy to speak with her for an hour. Follow Michelle @michellekrusiec on social media. And keep your eyes out for her next projects.  As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast  Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by Invictus Quartet. Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World) #asianpodcast #asianamerican #infatuasian #aapi #representationmatters

What do a slip jig, a sailor's lament, a whiskey - soaked anthem, and a timeless Irish air all have in common? They're all in episode 748 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast — and you won't want to miss a single track  -  -  Subscribe now at CelticMusicPodcast.com! Irish Millie, Alex Sturbaum, Kera - Lynne Newman, Kinnfolk, Jenny and the Weazels, Tiller's Folly, Sean Heely, Beth Patterson, Lane to the Glen, Sue Tillotson, Jim Cunningham, Jim Tillotson, Dan Possumato, Kevin Burke, Frances Cunningham, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, The Far North, Shades of Green, The Muckers, Rogue Diplomats, The High Kings GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2026 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now! THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:07 - Irish Millie "Slip Jig" from GRACE 1:55 - WELCOME 5:05 - Alex Sturbaum "Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part / The Coachman's Whip / My Maryanne (feat. Kera - Lynne Newman)" from Slash 8:26 - Kinnfolk "The Hat Song" from The Knotted Circle 13:48 - Jenny and the Weazels "The Goldfinch (Live at the Jackson Theater)" from Single 18:33 - Tiller's Folly "Far End of the Road" from Far End of the Road 22:34 - FEEDBACK 25:57 - Sean Heely and Beth Patterson "Socair Ort, a Dhòmhnaill, Seall!" from Stir the Blood to Fire 30:31 - Lane to the Glen "Aughamore : The Bog of Allen : Tom Maguire's Fancy (Reels)" from Lane to the Glen 34:02 - Sue Tillotson & Jim Cunningham "Bonnie Ship the Diamond / Celtic Society Quickstep (feat. Jim Tillotson)" from Water Horse 37:21 - Dan Possumato "Da Eye Wifey (feat. Kevin Burke & Frances Cunningham)" from An Teachín Gorm 39:57 - Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones "The Galtee Mountain Boy" from Let Ye All Be Irish Tonight 43:19 - THANKS 45:39 - The Far North "Sailor And The Sea" from Songs For Weathering Storms 49:08 - Shades of Green "I'm Irish" from Conversations We Never Had 51:46 - The Muckers "Whiskey Tango" from Whiskey Tango 56:37 - Rogue Diplomats "Come Out Ye Black And Tans" from Whiskey Picnic 59:57 - CLOSING 1:00:56 - The High Kings "Red Is The Rose" from Decade: Best Of The High Kings 1:04:05 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California. Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at   www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward. The Executive Producer for St Patrick's Month is John Sharkey White, II. The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Pub Songs & Stories. Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email the artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. These musicians are not part of some corporation. They are small indie groups that rely on people just like you to support their music so they can keep creating it. Please show your generosity. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. Email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast and you will get a free music - only episode. IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODFEST Join us Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 12 to 6 PM for the Irish & Celtic Music PodFest and Arts Market at The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Spend the afternoon surrounded by live Celtic and folk music from Kinnfolk, The Muckers, May Will Bloom, and Marc Gunn. Grab a pint, enjoy the tunes, and share the energy of a true Celtic gathering. While the music plays, explore our Arts Market filled with handmade crafts, art, and unique gifts from local creators. It's a celebration of music, creativity, and community — all in one place. Come for the songs. Stay for the spirit. We'll see you at The Lost Druid on March 8.

This week on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, we travel from kitchen sessions to open seas. Fiddles. Waltzes. Pub songs. And modern Celtic voices you're going to want to hear again on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #743  -  -  Subscribe now at CelticMusicPodcast.com! Nerea The Fiddler, Socks in the Frying Pan, Shannon Heaton, The Irish Rovers, Boxing Robin, Whiskey Faithful, Mary Beth Carty, Michael Joseph Ulery, Blackwillow Starling, CaliCeltic, Hugh Morrison, Jiggy, The Far North, SeaStar GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2026 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now! You can follow our playlist on YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks. THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:07 - Nerea The Fiddler "Kitchen Music" from Off The Beatn Path 3:20 - WELCOME 7:32 - Socks in the Frying Pan "Willy Annes Waltz" from Waiting for Inspiration 10:58 - Shannon Heaton "Tattered Wings" from Perfect Maze 12:32 - The Irish Rovers "Back to Sea" from No End in Sight 16:30 - Boxing Robin "An Dro -  Trois Matelots du Port de Brest" from The View From Here 20:19 - FEEDBACK 25:30 - Whiskey Faithful "Whiskey in the Jar" from single 27:37 - Mary Beth Carty "A' Challuinn : 'S e gillean mo rùin / Walking the Floor / Capers Jig / Miss Anderson's Jig" from single 31:23 - Michael Joseph Ulery "All I Really Needed" from Mild November 35:03 - Blackwillow Starling "Wild Maiden" from Blackwillow Starling 38:46 - THANKS 40:29 - CaliCeltic "Hotaling's Whiskey" from Whiskey Mustache 45:05 - Hugh Morrison "Blinkers" from Lift Your Head Up 48:11 - Jiggy "Dekho" from single 52:22 - The Far North "Sailor And The Sea" from Songs For Weathering Storms 55:51 - CLOSING 56:56 - SeaStar "Auld Lang Syne" from single 1:00:10 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward. Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California. Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at   www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Pub Songs & Stories. Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email the artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. These musicians are not part of some corporation. They are small indie groups that rely on people just like you to support their music so they can keep creating it. Please show your generosity. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. Email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast and you will get a free music - only episode. We have a Kickstarter that is running until January 30. The initial goal was to fund our 2025 Best of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast album. Happily that goal was reached within three days of the start of the campaign. Now we have a secondary stretch goal to fund the… IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODFEST AND ARTS MARKET This is a one - day music festival and arts market that will take place on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, GA, 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta. There are four bands performing at the festival. I am performing one show solo and one show with May Will Bloom, where my daughter takes the lead. Kinfolk will join us as well as I mentioned last week. But the final band performing at the festival is a 3 - piece version of The Muckers, our local Celtic punk band. That will complete our lineup. Follow our event page on Facebook for more details. Or Follow us for Free on our Patreon page. Now my next goal is to raise $3200 so that all of the bands are paid a decent wage and to promote our first - ever Celtic festival. To that end, I added three new rewards for Kickstarter. Each is a chance to sponsor individual bands at the festival. When you do, you'll get one of the first album pins from each of these amazing Celtic bands. That's because we are highlighting album pins at the festival as well, as another means to promote the music of bands. Our album pins are wooden lapel pins themed to a particular album released by a band. The buyer gets a digital download of the album, then they can wear their album! There's just 8 days left on this Kickstarter. So please make a pledge to support Celtic culture through music. THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST! Because of generous patrons like you, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast releases new episodes nearly every single week. Your support doesn't just fund the show—it fuels a movement. It helps us share the magic of Celtic music with thousands of new listeners and grow a global community of music lovers. Your contributions pay for everything behind the scenes: audio engineering, stunning graphics, weekly issues of the Celtic Music Magazine, show promotion, and—most importantly—buying the music we feature from indie Celtic artists. And if you're not yet a patron? You're missing out! Patrons get: Early access to episodes Music - only editions Free MP3 downloads Exclusive stories and artist interviews A vote in the Celtic Top 20 Join us today and help keep the music alive, vibrant, and independent.