Podcasts about listen abovesee

"Such a joyful thing": Jimmy Carr talks comedy, upcoming NZ tour Jimmy Carr is well known for a couple of things, his controversial comedy and distinctive laugh chief among them. And he's bringing both to Kiwi audiences early next year, travelling right across the country, stopping in 13 different cities. He's got a prolific career in standup, as well as being a household name in UK television, not only hosting an array of panel shows, but a regular guest on many of the rest. Carr has a busy schedule, and he told Mike Hosking that he works as much as he possibly can, as his work is such a joyful thing. “If I have a night off, what am I doing? I'm sitting at home having my tea,” he said. “If I come out and do a show, it's such a joyful thing." “I also think I do have a propensity to get cancelled once in a while,” Carr confessed, the comedian having seen his fair share of controversies. “So you never know when your last one's going to be.” When it comes to cancel culture, Carr is a big advocate for freedom of speech. “I'm not for everyone, and edgy jokes, there's you know, limits of it, sometimes it's not for everyone,” he told Hosking. “But the whole cancel culture thing, you go, well, as long as you don't get cancelled by your own audience, I think you're golden.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed McKnight has been working in personal finance for a fair few years and although he typically tries to be encouraging when giving advice, he does have some more brutal truths to tell. He joined Jack Tame to offer up the three brutally honest pieces of money advice that most Kiwis will need to hear. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longevity: What's the secret to living longer, healthier lives? People are becoming increasingly more interested in living longer. Health, wellness, dieting, and fitness are more and more prominent on social media, and health monitoring technology are becoming increasingly popular. Cardiologist Dr Eric Topol has been researching longevity for decades, and is considered to be one of the top five voices on the subject. He's just released his latest book, ‘Super Agers', a detailed guide to living a longer, healthier life. Topol told Mike Hosking it's not necessarily about living longer, but rather extending the years someone lives with intact health. He says living to 90 and being perfectly health throughout ought to be more important than trying to live to 110 and having many years of dementia, or profound frailty, or poor quality of life. Although there are revolutions happening in regards to anti-inflammatory and hormonal medications, Topol says it's never going to be as simple as a pill. Things like lifestyle factors, environmental pollution, microplastics, and forever chemicals also need to be controlled, he explains. Listen to the full interview for a detailed explanation of health, longevity, and the new developments in the medical sector. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is an iron deficiency holding you back? Dr Libby Weaver discusses A common deficiency could be holding you back. Iron is the most common nutritional deficiency, both globally and in New Zealand, and it plays a role in everything from energy to brain function and development, thyroid function, and anxiety prevention. Dr Libby Weaver is biochemist, nutritionist, and author, and her latest book ‘Fix Iron First' delves into the role of iron in the body, and how a deficiency could be impacting your life. She joined Mike Hosking to discuss her research. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Knox talks new book Free: My Search for Meaning In 2007, Amanda Knox was arrested for the brutal murder of her flatmate while studying in Italy - and it was a case that captured international attention. Amanda was found guilty, convicted of the murder and spent four years in an Italian prison - but she was later found to be wrongly convicted. 10 years after she was officially exonerated of the crime, she's told her story in her new memoir Free: My Search for Meaning. "I was immersed in a very restrictive environment...it was really important, for my sanity, to develop a sense of place and purpose." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session expert gardener Jo McCaroll joined Francesca Rudkin for Garden Hour to answer listeners questions about getting rid of stubborn weeds, growing peaches, safe pest control, and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"A wild, unhinged romp": Annie Murphy and Murray Bartlett talk 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Kiwis will be able to experience the drama as ‘Nine Perfect Strangers' returns for a second season. Nicole Kidman's Masha Dmitrichenko has invited a new cast of characters to join a transformational wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps, pushing them to the brink over the course of a week. Annie Murphy and Murray Bartlett are among the cast, playing alongside Henry Golding, Lena Olin, Christine Baranski, Lucas Englander, King Princess, Dolly de Leon, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Mark Strong, Aras Aydin, and of course, Nicole Kidman. For Murphy, the ensemble nature was a huge draw, telling Mike Hosking she was thrilled by the prospect. “We were there for six months Munich, with a whole bunch of really talented, really theatre, dorky actors... I was thrilled.” Bartlett was also excited to be a part of the show, having watched and “devoured” the first season. Season 2 will be releasing on May 22nd worldwide on Amazon Prime. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ Breakers are set to honour four-time ANBL champion Tom Abercrombie. They will retire the iconic number 10 singlet Abercrombie famously wore throughout his 429-game career. Abercrombie caught up with Jason Pine to chat about the achievement. "Obviously it's an incredible honour, and a great chance to reminisce on some great memories once again, and remember all the awesome people that were along that journey with me," he said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

English striker Sam Cosgrove was announced to have been signed by Auckland FC in August. He was brought on with the hope he could boost head coach Steve Corica's attacking options. Cosgrove joined Jason Pine to chat about the decision to move to New Zealand, and the differences to playing football in England and NZ including the summer heat and trans-Tasman travel. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American sports analyst Leon Busby joined Jason Pine to chat about the latest in US sport from the NFL, NBA, and NCAA Football. As 'Black Monday' approaches a high turnover rate is increasingly expected. "There's a lot of rumours going on and as, as per ESPN's Adam Schefter, he's a senior NFL insider for the network. He's projected there'll be anywhere between 7 and 9 openings as the regular season comes to a close. "At this time, there are already 2 vacancies, and Monday, January 5th will be the day of reckoning, commonly referred to as Black Monday," Busby said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up-and-coming New Zealand golf star Eunseo Choi won the New Zealand Women's Stroke Play Championship in 2024, placed third in the 2024 Australian Women's Amateur Championship, and was ranked #54 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). She joined Jason Pine to chat about studying at Pepperdine College in California, and the upcoming Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in Wellington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Time to move": Mark Robinson unpacks resignation from NZ Rugby Outgoing New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson believes he's leaving the game in a better place than he found it. He's confirmed he will leave the job at the end of the year, bringing to an end a six-year tenure that started just before the Covid-19 pandemic. Robinson says he's proud of what's been achieved during a turbulent period. He told Mike Hosking that the next six months are critical for their role both domestically and internationally, with both their involvement in the establishment of international calendars and competitions as well as the opportunity they have to reset the financial model for the New Zealand game. Robinson likes to think those would both be signed off by the end of the year, and that in conjunction with his family moving over to Australia, makes him feel it's time to move on. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Absolutely no idea": Joseph Parker uncertain of his next opponent Joseph Parker's next fight is still up in the air. The Kiwi boxer was set to challenge Daniel Dubois for the IBF Heavyweight belt, before pulling out last-minute on medical advice. Since then, Parker has called out Oleksandr Usyk, but Dubois may be first in line for that fight. Parker told Mike Hosking that there's a lot of different ways the timeline could play out. He says he has no idea what's happening next, and for now, is just focused on training, spending time with family, and finding a good balance in life. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking once again to Wrap the Week that was. They discussed clothes shopping and quiet luxury, Mike's problem with some supermarket collectables, and who has the best voice for advertising jingles. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"You can't rewind": James May takes to the stage with 'exciting' new show When you hear the name ‘James May', it's likely you think of cars, Top Gear, and The Grand Tour, but much like his co-stars, May has plenty of other projects. He owns his own pub and gin line, and has done countless shows visiting other countries, rebuilding toys and machines, and exploring life's questions. May's now onto his next journey – a live theatre performance that brings the stories of explorers to the stage. It's called ‘Explorers: The Age of Discovery', and May's bringing it to Kiwi audiences in August. It's been quite a busy year for May – something he told Mike Hosking was quite unintentional. “This year was going to be my, what I called a ‘dry run at retirement', to see how much I liked it,” he revealed. “But I've ended up doing a live tour, a couple of TV shows, various other odds and ends – it's actually the busiest year I've had for probably a decade, in terms of demands on my time.” “But maybe that's a good thing,” he said. “Maybe if I was left to my own devices, I'd sit in the garden and rot.” Despite his vast experience in the entertainment industry, May isn't terribly experienced with live performances. “We used to do Top Gear Live and then Clarkson, Hammond & May Live, but there were three of us doing it, plus our stunt driving team and various other circus performers,” he explained. “This one is quite intimidating because it just me." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often trust have been seen to be province of the uber wealthy. But are they? And often people don't think about this issue until it is too late So when should we think about these issues - our family. inheritances and what's gonna happen to our money when we aren't around to look after it? Managing Director for New Zealand Family Trust Services Limited Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge to give her advice on trust accounts, and how they should be used. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whilst many of us are decking the halls and merrily celebrating, spare a thought for those who suffer from Christougenniatikophobia. Literally translated from Greek means Christ-related-birth-fear i.e., a phobia of Christmas. Is it a real phobia? Not really. Dougal Sutherland of Umbrella Wellbeing talked to Jack Tame about the discomfort and anxiety that surrounds Christmas for some people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a little kid, I always slept terribly on Christmas eve. I'd try and go to bed early. I'd tell myself that the sooner I went to sleep, the sooner I'd wake on Christmas morning. But sure as anything I'd be up all night, listening for any sound of activity on the roof. Together with my three little brothers and sisters, we'd be desperate for mum and dad to throw open our bedroom doors at first light, and we'd scramble down to our spindly-and-slightly-off-centred Christmas tree to see if Dad's old football socks had been attended to by Santa. I suspect this Christmas eve will be another poor sleep. Not because I'll be excitedly listening for the sound of shuffling reindeer on corrugated iron, but because it's my first Christmas morning with our ten-month-old son. We're taking both our boys to their cousins' place. Five kids. Average age: four-and-a-half. Our eldest is already fizzing. Our baby will have absolutely no idea what's going on but will sure as anything wake up a minimum of three times in the night to demand cuddles and a feed. Christmas is a kind of touchstone for our family. Like many Kiwi families, it's the one time of year when all of us (or at least as many of us as possible) are in one place at the same time. Weddings, funerals and Christmas are the only occasions we're all together. And Christmas is the only regular date. As a child you never think of this stuff, but as you grow older you are gently confronted by the reality that for better or worse, the numbers in the room change. The grandparents whom I shared Christmas day with as a little boy are no longer with us, no longer sitting on the couch, sipping their coffees and wryly commentating as the kids tear into the wrapping paper. Granny was a very active woman. Every Christmas morning after we'd stuffed ourselves with chocolates and junk, she'd lead a brisk stroll through the neighbourhood as we worked up an appetite for lunch. Dad and my grandad would stay at home and race through a cryptic crossword. Now it's different. For the kids it's more or less the same. All magic. A whirlwind. A blur. But for the rest of us, a new baby just reinforces our awareness of having stepped up a generation. Where once I was struggling to sleep through the night on Christmas Eve, now it's my boys and their cousins. My parents have become the grandparents sitting on the couch, sipping their coffees, wryly commentating proceedings. My siblings have become the parents, the aunts and uncles. People who once were there, are not. New, excited little bodies have taken their place. There's sadness in it. But there's something quite beautiful about it too, placing yourself in a generational context like that. It's a circle of life thing. It's funny that it comes at Christmas. Other cultures and religions probably have many more of these moments. But we're a bit short on touchstone traditions. For me at least, Christmas is a short little window every year where the busy lives in my family are about as aligned as they're going to be. It's a touchstone where if you want to, you can step back and observe what's changed in the family. My son's first Christmas will mean seeing myself in a slightly different light… not as a kid, or a gift-giver, or someone setting stocking sunder the tree, but as a bridge between different generations of the same family, hoping the spirit of these traditions will continue for many years to come. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no more iconic a reality franchise than The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – which is back for its 15th season. And there is perhaps no Housewife in history that has a heftier and more prestigious CV than that of Bozoma Saint John. Boz joined the series last year off the back of a 20-year run as a marketing executive working with brands like Apple, Netflix, Uber and Pepsi and has been recognised by Forbes as the world's #1 most influential CMO. She quickly became a fan favourite for her ability to bring boardroom realness to the drama of the 90210. She joins Jack Tame to chat about authenticity, watching herself on TV, and marketing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From tax changes to interest rates to regulation changes, there's an ever growing list of reasons for kiwis to be a bit more hesitant to invest in property. Now with changes to foreign buyers laws, we may be staring down the barrel of a completely different property market. So here's the question, has the model for property investment fundamentally changed? How are investors going about it these days, and is it even worth it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail service could come off the tracks if it becomes too expensive for rate payers. Waikato Regional Council is writing to the NZTA board to ask for a one-year extension of the service, through to 2027. They want to test full integration with Auckland's City Rail Link, which opens next year. Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher told Heather du Plessis-Allan 60% funding through the Land Transport Fund will be vital to keep it going. He says if it drops back to 51%, they want the review of the trial to go ahead at NZTA's April meeting, and that could be the death nail for Te Huia. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The resignation of Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie had to happen. That's the view of former New Zealand men's netball skipper and commentator Kruze Tangira. Tangira told Heather du Plessis-Allan he believes the drama around the standing down then reinstatement of head coach Dame Noeline Taurua has plagued the year. He says it started all the way back in January at the Sydney training camp, and it's taken until December for there to be a real resolution. It was unfortunate that Taurua had to lose her job and have her name tarnished in the process, Tangira told du Plessis-Allan, but change needed to happen in order to rebuild the reputation of netball within New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of December, we cover off the better-than-expected Q3 GDP number, which is signalling some hope for next year. Jennie Wyllie has resigned as the CEO of Netball NZ, but does it need to go further than that? And for the final time for the year Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson joined Heather to Wrap the Week and discuss their Christmas plans. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The $8 billion Waihi North mine has been given the approval to go for gold, and there could be many millions of ounces out of it. It's been given the green light through the Government's fast track programme. The permit secures 350 existing jobs and creates more than 100 new roles. Oceana Gold Chief Executive Gerard Bond told Heather du Plessis Allan they're investing one billion dollars of capital to get things going. He says that will be put towards a tunnel to go under the forest park and hundreds of millions will be spent during its operation at well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has unveiled a new Presidential Walk of Fame in The White House. It includes portraits of all the previous presidents and corresponding descriptions, written in the style of social media posts. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allan Trump has helped write some of them. The one for Joe Biden refers to him as Sleepy Joe, the worst President in the history of America. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction that 2026 will be a very good year for the economy. GDP grew 1.1% in the September quarter. Former Associate Finance Minister Richard Prebble even suspects we could see a turnaround in unemployment, which has ticked up since 2022. He says Stats NZ data is always backwards looking. Prebble told Heather du Plessis-Allan job ads are on the up and Seek numbers up 7%. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final time this year, Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week that Was. They discussed the Vanity Fair photoshoot of the Trump Administration, festive clothing, and their plans for the Christmas holidays. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push for the Government to use its powers to begin dismantling Gloriavale. The Secretary for Education has cancelled the Christian sect school's licence, forcing it closed from January. The call comes just a week after former leader Howard Temple was sentenced to more than two years in prison for sex offending. Leavers' Trust Founder Liz Gregory told Heather du Plessis-Allan she's now urging the Government to go further, starting with de-registering the community's charity. She expects that to be the next step and anticipates it could be shut down before Christmas. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view school violence is changing, with fewer mass fights, but far more frequent outbursts. New data shows 12,300 students were disciplined for physical assault this year – up 49% on 2019. Most incidents involved students attacking other students. Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Heather du Plessis-Allan increasing neurodiversity in classrooms is likely one factor. He says devices are also a problem, with social media trends often sparking more organised assaults. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several of the major banks expect a significant bounce back in GDP for Q3 when Stats NZ releases its economic figures later this morning. Westpac and ANZ both predict a gain of about one percent, putting that down to a jump in activity across the board. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Heather du Plessis Allan while she's nervous some of that could turn up in the revised numbers down the track, it's looking positive. She says some of the corners should be knocked off the volatility in the economy and the overall level of GDP will be revised up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly minted Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Pannett says he's up for the challenge as he starts the job. His predecessor Jevon McSkimming was given nine months home detention yesterday, for possessing objectionable material. Pannett told Heather du Plessis-Allan the reputational damage from McSkimming is something police need to take into account. He says policing is even more complex and dynamic now than it has been in the past, and there's some big challenges ahead of them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools and kura could have an important role to play in preventing youth suicide. Coroner Tania Tetitaha's inquiry into the self-inflicted deaths of six young people finds they were effectively lost in a fragmented system. Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad says we need to make sure getting help is as easy as possible at the earliest stages of distress. She told Heather du Plessis-Allan school-based services like counselling and social workers provide a lot of benefits. Achmad says their presence makes them more accessible and more trusted by children and young people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not a Kiwi summer without Six60, and the county's highest selling live band is rolling on. They've dropped their latest single, ‘We Made It', coming in the wake of their bestselling Australian performance at the Sydney Opera House. They'll also have the honour of being the first live act to perform at the new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch and are curating a new country and roots music festival, taking place this summer in Matakana. Lead singer Matiu Walters told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's just a one-day festival at the moment, but they have plans to grow. “It's definitely a tough time for the arts, music, and for everyone really, to be fair,” he said. “We didn't, we never want to kind of just, to like, rest on our laurels.” Over the years they've been performing, Six60 has smashed records, being labelled as the country's first-ever Chart Icon at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, and Walters says their drive stems from their desire to do “cool stuff”. “Our goal was, was always just to write and perform music, and my purpose is to sing and play guitar, and all these things that kind of happened around us,” he told du Plessis-Allan. “We're aspirational dudes.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Thursday 18th of December, we speak to the new Deputy Police Commissioner and preview the Q3 GDP number. The Government is saying the road cone hotline's performed as desired, so they're shutting it down – six months early. Six60 lead singer Matiu Walters stops by for a chat and performs their new single 'We Made It'. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi classic with added convenience. Rotorua has its first hot pie vending machine, stocked with the famous Maketū Pies. All ten varieties are on offer in the machine, which sits just outside the I-site and besides the Redwoods Treewalk. General Manager Craig Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan the site was selected for visibility, with around 700,000 tourists passing through per day. He says a lot of international tourists are looking for a hot pie as part of their Kiwi experience, and the novelty of the machine will capture attention. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes a Reserve Bank move will translate to better prices for borrowers might be overly optimistic. It is changing the mix of capital banks are required to hold, aiming to reduce funding costs and freeing up around $5 billion in equity across the sector. It's also targeting closing the gap between bigger and smaller banks, making the market more competitive. Financial Markets and Banking Expert Andrew Body told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the change might result in a couple more chicken dinners for your average borrower, but nothing substantial. He says the big deal here is competition, which will require political leadership like we've seen in housing, education, and health to solve. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government maintains its road cone hotline has been worthwhile. The pilot, which encouraged the public to report excessive cone use, ends tomorrow, six months ahead of schedule. Site visits found 86% of work sites were already compliant. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden told Heather du Plessis-Allan the hotline has found there are issues with the traffic management plans councils design. She says the people on the ground putting the cones out aren't the problem. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions over whether the postal voting system is working after a South Auckland local body election was overturned. Judge Richard McIlraith ruled irregularities altered the outcome of the Papatoetoe vote for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. The case involved stolen voting papers and fraudulent use, and a new election must be held by April 9. Former Deputy Chair Vi Hausia told Heather du Plessis-Allan this was discovered when names of people who didn't cast a vote, showed in the system. He says groups of people also went to cast a special vote after not receiving their paper but found they supposedly had already voted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A possible win for the General Practice Owners Association, as they take on the so-called healthcare duopoly and cost pressures. Their proposal for a breakaway Primary Health Organisation is gaining traction, with 116 GP practices, covering 833,000 enrolled patients, showing interest. If approved by Health New Zealand, it would become the country's largest PHO, representing around 16% of total enrolments. General Practice Owners Association Chair Dr Angus Chambers told Heather du Plessis-Allan that there's widespread dissatisfaction within the GP community. He says some of it's because PHOs have gone off their path and are doing things that aren't best for GPs, but they've also had years of underfunding and woeful workforce planning. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 17th of December, Nicola Willis responds to the surplus being pushed out another year, the third blowout in her two years as the Finance Minister. Indycar champ Scott Dixon is on to talk his career and the launch of a new world class karting facility in Auckland. And Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen cover all the highs and lows of 2025 on the final Politics Wednesday for the year. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The son of Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner is being held on suspicion of the murder of his parents. Police say 32-year-old Nick Reiner's been booked for murder after Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home. They say he's a suspect in the case and is being held on a US$4 million bail. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Reiner and his wife had apparently taken their son to a holiday party, where he had apparently been disruptive, the day before their bodies were found. He says it allegedly led to a shouting match between the father and son. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell to recap the highs and lows of 2025 on the final Politics Wednesday for the year. They also discussed the retail crime numbers, the state of the Government's books, the need for a social media ban, and the situation with Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A momentous day for New Zealand motorsport. The Sir Colin Giltrap Raceway, a world-class karting facility in Auckland, is officially opening. The track builds on the country's heritage and pathway to the world stage. It will be opened by Indycar champion Scott Dixon, who told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's going to be huge, especially for the young talent in this country. He says that we pack a big punch for such a small country, so it's really great to see that everyone's pulled this off. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Critics aren't convinced the Government's new mega-Ministry will work. It's merging the environment, housing and urban development, and transport ministries into a new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport. Right-wing think tank NZ Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich says it will still report to the same number of ministers. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan having it fully operational in six months is also ambitious. Hartwich says the ministries are busy with RMA reforms, which are taking up all their resources. He says putting a super merger on top of that could be asking too much. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government insists it has a plan to turn the economy around. Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows the country is first forecast to be in the black by 2029-2030. The Finance Minister has admitted the country is borrowing money to pay the interest bill on the debt. Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis Allan that bill is about $9 billion a year. She says around 80% of borrowing over the next few years will be for capital assets like hospitals, schools, and roads. There may also be more cuts to the public service as they aim to get back down to surplus. Economic growth is expected to be just 1.7% next year, and Willis says there's still room for efficiency in the public service. She will be sending letters out to her cabinet colleagues to give them ideas on where they can make some savings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view that New Zealand's still a while away from being a 'rockstar' economy. Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update documents are coming out early this afternoon, carrying key economic metrics. Treasury's also releasing a Budget Policy Statement outlining priorities for upcoming spending. Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Heather du Plessis-Allan it was a pretty average year for the economy, and next year looks to be better. Joyce says getting core spending below 30% of GDP is the goal, but it won't happen overnight. He says Bill English spent eight years after the Canterbury quakes and the global financial crisis wrestling to get back into surplus. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows the service sector has now dipped in activity for six months in a row. The most recent PSI recorded performance at its lowest since May, at 46.9. For growth, it needs to sit at 50 or above. ABC Business Sales CEO Chris Small told Heather du Plessis-Allan the results were a surprise. He says the data had suggested the low point would be during Winter. The sector is blaming the weak economic environment for the downturn, Small saying that in comparison, the retail sector saw a boost around Black Friday. He says this shows things are turning around and services are just the lagging factor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bondi Beach massacre has propelled the Australian Government to overhaul its already-tough gun laws. Sixteen people died and dozens were injured when two shooters opened fire on a Jewish gathering on Sunday night in what's been labelled a terror attack. Now 26 victims remain in hospital, with six fighting for life. A 24-year-old suspect is also in hospital under police watch while his 50-year-old father, who's also believed responsible, died at the scene. The older man had been a licensed firearms holder for about a decade and owned six registered firearms. 9News Australia correspondent Charles Croucher told Heather du Plessis-Allan the federal government now wants to cut down the number of guns a person can own and conduct more regular checks on those with licences. He says it also wants to restrict gun ownership to Australian citizens only. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students are still battling to find consistent work leading into the summer break. Fifty thousand people applied for work through Student Job Search in November – the highest number this year. Chief Executive of Student Job Search Louise Saviker told Heather du Plessis-Allan while there are more jobs being listed, these are largely one-off or casual roles. She says this means students need even more jobs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Splore's announced it'll come to an end next year after hopes of a Government lifeline fell through. Next year's instalment of the annual boutique music and arts festival at Auckland's Tapapakanga Regional Park will be the last due to low ticket sales in recent years. Long-time owner John Minty says they weren't considered for the Government's $70 million Major Events Fund. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that while ending the festival is potentially premature, the writing is on the wall. Minty says he could hang on for another year and hope things will get better, but from a financial point of view, he can't take that risk again. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.