Podcasts about newstalk zb

Chris Luxon says Labour is spreading lies about Government pay equity changes. Legislation rushed through under urgency last week cancels ongoing claims of gender-inequity in pay - and raised the bar for applying. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins spoke on social media saying the Prime Minister's taking money out of women's pay packets. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Hipkins has dug his heels in over his position - but it feels like a leap. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 13 May 2025, even more details have come to light about the kind of pornographic material that Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming allegedly had on his work device. NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage tells Heather the details. Auckland Council's Justine Haves defends the little food rubbish bins, after Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown claimed the council could shave 2% of our rates bill by getting rid of them. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls gets into a heated debate with Heather about who is allowed into the Budget lockup. Plus, Public Service Minister Judith Collins on why she is thinking about getting rid of DEI hiring policies for the public service. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister won't comment on the resignation of New Zealand's second most powerful cop, Jevon McSkimming. The Deputy Police Commissioner had been on suspension since December - but Police Minister Mark Mitchell has now confirmed he's resigned with immediate effect after new serious allegations. Mitchell says the Prime Minister had already been considering recommending the Governor General immediately remove McSkimming from office. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Newstalk ZB's political editor, what's the difference between pay equity and equal pay?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports Journalist Lavina Good and Newstalk ZB's Adam Cooper join the Huddle. The Huddle discusses Netball New Zealand's current rules stating players must play in the ANZ Premiership to be available for the national team. Nine Kiwi crickets have left Pakistan as the Super League transfers to the UAE amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India. Where does this leave the players? New Zealand Rugby has posted huge losses despite a record income last year. Could we expect job losses? The Huddle discuss all this and more. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With two weeks left to go until Budget day, Chris Luxon addressed a crowd at a BusinessNZ event in Auckland today. Luxon reiterated that the Government won't be splashing the cash this year - and claimed the Finance Minister was right to promise it won't be a Budget lolly scramble. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says this wasn't the kind of pre-Budget announcement that would make the nation sit up and take notice - and that was by design. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final stage of a bill to increase the threshold of pay equity claims is expected to pass in Parliament. It'll extinguish 33 active claims, requiring them to re-start under the new model - with the changes expected to impact hundreds of thousands of workers. This bill has been met with outrage from unions and the Opposition - describing it as a 'dark day for women'. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls weighed in on the bill's progress. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pāti Māori has been granted a stay of execution from the Privileges Committee - at least until tomorrow. Te Pāti Māori was referred to the Privileges Committee following a haka performed during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill in November of last year. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Committee Chair Judith Collins confirmed the decision on Te Pāti Māori's fate has been delayed until 8:30pm on Wednesday - after the next meeting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says it's too early to understand the potential impact of tariffs on New Zealand films. Donald Trump has most recently written he'd like100 percent tariffs on all movies produced outside the US. Chris Luxon says he's seen the social media post, but we'll need to know a lot more. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has expressed interest in getting more Bollywood productions to come to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a stat for you: 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market. They're being smuggled into the country and criminals are making millions selling them on Facebook Marketplace and construction sites. All over the place. And you probably don't have to go far to find a dairy selling them, either. That figure has been put out by the tobacco industry in New Zealand. Although, there was an expert saying this morning that he reckons it's not quite as bad as the tobacco companies are saying. Either way - whatever the figure actually is - there are smokers balking at the cost of a packet of cigarettes and pouches of tobacco and they're quite happy to buy the illegal stuff. And I reckon the time has come to have a re-think about how we're dealing with cigarette smoking. Because the approach that's been taken so far - aside from treatment programmes and all that - has largely been about punishing people in the pocket if they want to smoke. More and more taxes, to the point where people are paying a small fortune. And, if we want to try and reduce the amount of illegal tobacco trading going on, then I think we need to think whether piling more tax on tobacco is worth it. I don't think it is. I'm not saying that we should make cigarettes cheaper - but I don't think we should make them more expensive than they are now. Because, if we do, then the illegal trade is going to grow even more and that will mean less tax revenue for the Government through the legitimate tobacco market. The thing too about not adding more taxes to ciggies and tobacco, is that it would still keep the price out of the reach of people like teenagers. People who could become the next generation of smokers. I was talking to someone who said their partner used to make a special trip into town to buy tobacco from a dairy in Christchurch that was selling pouches that were about $20 cheaper than what the legitimate stuff was going for. And they were saying that their partner would go into the dairy, ask if they had any of the cheap stuff and, sure enough, reach into the drawer and out it would come. It was worth the drive into the city to get it, apparently. Customs is saying today that these groups are bringing truckloads of the stuff into the country - mainly by sea - using what customs describes as “sophisticated smuggling tactics similar to the tactics used by drug smugglers". It says they are serious criminals. Not just opportunists having a go because they're worried about the price of tobacco”. The expert from Auckland University who was on Newstalk ZB this morning says the solution is getting more people off smoking. I agree. But I also think that's your ideal scenario kind of thing. Which is why I think the time has come to stop piling more taxes on cigarettes and tobacco. It's done its job. Making cigarettes more and more expensive is just going to feed demand for the illegal stuff. Which is ripping us off. Because with every packet of illegal cigarettes sold, there's no tax revenue. Money that we could all benefit from. And why would we continue to let that happen?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prominent businessman, author and former politician Sir Robert Edward Jones —better known as Sir Bob Jones— has died. The 85-year-old died peacefully at his Wellington home surrounded by family after a brief illness. As recently as a few weeks ago, Jones was still writing on his ‘No Punches Pulled' blog, calling US President Donald Trump “a world-class ignoramus”, and rallied against the “working from home racket” in his last blog on April 16. Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Matt Heath and Tyler Adams every conversation with Sir Bob was one to treasure and hard to forget. “He was deliberately obnoxious at times, but for those of us who knew him well, we knew the cut of the man's cloth, and he was a thoroughly decent individual.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister is standing by the current pay offer to senior doctors. Thousands of planned procedures have been delayed following yesterday's strike action, while Health New Zealand is applying to the Employment Relations Authority for urgent facilitation. Union members have told Newstalk ZB their pay rates aren't keeping up with the private sector or with Australia. But Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the pay offer is "credible" given Health New Zealand only has so much money to go around. He says the health budget has to cover hospital services, GPs, aged care, and a range of other things, and there's pressure across the board. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unshakable insistence from Indian Panthers boss Parveen Batish that their indefinite ban from the National Basketball League won't be permanent. The first year team were handed an immediate ban mid-season following serious allegations of payment issues and player unrest. The Panthers can return to the NBL if they meet various conditions set by the league's commission. When asked if has been asked if their catalogue of off court issues have been sorted, Batish told Mike Hosking they're 100% sorted. He says when they come back they're going to be much stronger, as the positivity around what they can do and deliver is enormous. Newstalk ZB understands the other 11 NBL teams were unanimous in revoking the Panthers league license. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alright it's time for Friday confessional. With the Pope passing away, all this focus on Catholicism's got me feeling repentant. There are two things I predicted would happen last December as I was signing for Christmas here at Newstalk ZB. One of those things hasn't happened and the other one is about to not happen. Poilievre winning the Canadian election and Albo losing Australia's. We all know who's to blame. You know who – the wildcard, the kamikaze, the outlaw, it was the Trump Bump that did it for both of these guys. Carney, while he's won, will have a very tough term in office given the whole rally round the flag effect in support of Canadian sovereignty will fizzle out as quickly as Jacinda's Covid election high – the underlying problems Canadians felt before this month-long love-in will remain. This will surely be his high tide mark. But that's no excuse. I got it wrong. Fair cop. And as for Dutton, who's been looking behind every couch and under every rock for something relevant to say, he's now beating up on the return to country. Which during a cost of living crisis people want sorted, is akin to Judith Collins' attack on fat people at the ill-fated 2020 election. Remember that? If you want to lose weight, then eat less. Actually, not an unreasonable thing to say for most but it's the timing, isn't it? It's the focus on that when it should be on bigger things. And that brings us to the elephant in the White House: Donald Trump. While I predicted he'd win last November, I think most of us underestimated just what “America first” meant for the rest of the world. When somebody comes first, somebody loses. And both Albo and Carney have been beneficiaries of that. His power of course has swung global political pendulums before. Remember the rise and international star power of Jacinda Ardern was born out of an anti-Trump backlash. The liberal young female prime minister banning assault rifles in a country post mass-shooting became the darling of global left – just the tonic for those who not just dislike, but despise Trump and his band of merry MAGA supporters. So the political lesson is don't underestimate the Trump Bump and Dump on any foreign election. The question is, what does it mean for our election next year? We're less affected by his tariffs, unless China implodes. We're not yet being threatened with invasion. Unlike the Aussies and Canadians, our incumbents are bent to the right. So the risk of a Trump Bump getting Chippy over the line here if he starts singing from Phil Goff's songbook is perhaps more limited – but not non-existent. When Washington coughs, somebody gets a cold. How Luxon and Winston et al. navigate the next 18 months will determine whether it's them that catches it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her seemingly never-ending ability to surprise, Tory Whanau fronts on the local Newstalk ZB morning show in her beleaguered capital yesterday and scores herself a 9/10. If she had come from comedy I could have seen the joke she was making. But she doesn't come from comedy, which is not to say her reign hasn't been comedic. She is the Meghan Markle of local body politics - so self-absorbed and she doesn't appear cognisant as to just how destructive and useless she is. I wasn't going to even comment on Whanau given it's a local issue, she has announced she's off, and the sooner the Whanau era of terror ends the better. But fly in the ointment: she is still standing for a seat and bringing potentially all her 9/10 madness with her. Now the guard rails on this part of her future are of course in the hands of the public of the capital. You don't have to have more of it. You can in fact vote for someone else. As such she is free to take her record, put it in front of you and test it. But it takes a special sort of narcissist to think of herself so highly, having just been bundled out of the big race because she knows she can't win. If she is a 9/10, she should be bolting home. But that's the problem with narcissists, isn't it? They continue to bluster even when they know the game is up. She is also a wider problem by remaining as part of the wider picture. She puts people off. Local body politics is crying out for decent, hardworking, competent contributors, but who in their right mind is interested in sitting round a table with buffoons? A bunch of do-gooding lifers, who as often as not, are not actually able to get work in the normal world. Not all of Wellington's many, many problems are on Tory. But she led the team that wrought the havoc and the stuff she inherited, she didn't help. Her advice to poor, old Nick Mills, who had to listen to this tripe, was every time you see a road cone, you see progress. It's that sort of fairytale, fanciful nonsense most of us realise isn't remotely true. Maybe that's her ultimate problem. Maybe she lives in her head In her head Wellington is a riviera and Tory is the queen of that riviera. The pipes didn't burst, the city boomed, and Tory oversaw a renaissance. Maybe that's how all narcissists delude themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A children's support charity says a mix of heightened awareness and more abuse could be the reason for more reports to Oranga Tamariki. The Ministry for Children estimates its seen a 45 percent increase in reports of concern in the year to April. It comes as Newstalk ZB reveals more than a-thousand children are overdue to be assigned a social worker. Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge it's aware of a large volume of under-reporting - especially in serious cases. She says increased reporting is certainly not indicative of just more awareness. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of Kāinga Ora tenancy terminations is being described as a far cry from what's needed. Newstalk ZB can reveal the agency terminated 299 tenancies in the year to March – more than double the 134 in the year before. Much of the increase is from Kāinga Ora taking a stronger line on disruptive tenants and rent arrears. Litigation lawyer Adina Thorn told Mike Hosking Kāinga Ora needs to evict 1,000 to 1,500 tenants by her own calculations. She says nobody wants to live in public housing when they're next people described as the worst of the worst. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has admitted the number of families it said would be eligible for the full $75 a week benefit of its flagship childcare tax policy was wrong. The government said 21,000 families would be eligible - but just 249 families had received the full entitlement since the policy came into force last year. So who is responsible for the blunder? Also, police have launched a wide-ranging investigation of hundreds of police recruit applicants after learning some prospective cops who failed physical tests got approval to start police college anyway. How many officers are impacted? To answer those questions, Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Big League Podcast - We hear from Warriors lock Erin Clark on his return to the Mt Smart club, his standout performances and what he's learning from the coaches. Newstalk ZB's Nathan Limm and Nick Bewley talk the Warriors' top eight hopes, review the emphatic win over the Knights in Christchurch and look ahead to Magic Round.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC have officially claimed the Premier's Plate after Melbourne City drew with Adelaide United. The Auckland team beat Perth Glory 1-0 at home yesterday. Newstalk ZB sports editor Elliott Smith joins the show for a weekend sports wrap. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussions around the next Pope are heating up. Eighty-eight year old Pope Francis has been laid to rest after a funeral in front of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday night. One hundred and 35 cardinals will soon be locked in the Sistine Chapel to vote on his successor in secret - the candidates must be aged under 80. Newstalk ZB's Jo McKenna, who's at St Peters' Square, told Ryan Bridge she's been told the Italians want to see a European Pope. She says her source has told her they didn't like that an outsider from Argentina had come in and shaken things up, as they see it as a family business. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm trying a different tack on Newstalk ZB. It's something I use with teachers and kids at school: the meaning of scientific names of living organisms helps to remind us how certain creatures operate or how they can be identified. Once you get that in your gardening vocabulary it becomes a lot easier to prevent or control the problem that's causing you regular troubles. Taphrina is the name of a parasitic fungi (belonging to the family Taphrinaceae) that produce asci in a superficial hymenium having an indeterminate margin and cause leaf curling and malformations like blisters on various vascular plants. It literally tells us it's a name of Rotter-Fungus that causes curling, malformation, and blisters. The second name (deformans) repeats the symptoms: it causes deformations. That tells us it is a real bummer to have on your plants (especially on stonefruit: peaches, nectarines, plums, peachcotts, peacherines, apricots, etc). Ladies and gentlemen: we're talking about leaf curl on peaches (and Bladder Plum/Plum Pocket on plums). Spring and summer are the main months of queries on our Gardening programs: how to deal with Taphrina deformans and, while we're at it, Taphrina pruni. Short answer: in spring and summer you're too late. Yes, the disease starts in spring, but you can't spray copious amounts of copper on the new and tender leaves – young leaves will burn! Right now, in the middle of Autumn you can avoid the infection. Around mid to late April, when the leaves are falling off the deciduous stone fruit trees, the new buds for the next season are formed. Taphrina deformans will then be invading those new buds and overwinter on those buds to infect the trees again in spring. First thing to do is to remove all fallen leaves from under the trees. That reduces infection chances. Next thing is to spray a double dose of copper spray (copper oxychloride, liquid copper, or copper-sulphur mixtures, available form garden centres) on the remaining leaves and on the branches/twigs of the tree. Use a “sticker” if you can to increase coverage and stickability. Do this again a few weeks or a month later and ensure good coverage of all parts of the tree. Some people use Lime sulphur. That's okay too as a winter clean-up – seeing as the trees are getting to dormancy, Lime Sulphur won't harm the leaves, but I think that lime may not be a great material for apricots as it has the ability to raise the pH levels. A last smack of Copper spray before budburst should “mop up” the last surviving spores before the flowering and fruiting season begins again. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this edition of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, actress Rebecca Gibney opens up about her newest TV project and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Richard Roxburgh and journalist Peter Gresta joined Francesca to discuss their new movie The Correspondent - where Roxburgh portrays Gresta's 2013 arrest in Egypt. And Amanda Knox tells her story of being wrongly convicted of murdering her flatmate in Italy in 2007 and surviving 4 years in prison in her new book Flee. Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session. Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

Thousands of people are descending on Rome ahead of Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday. It's already a busy time for the city, with Easter and other local public holidays falling this week. Newstalk ZB's Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking she's spoken to people who have waited in line for four hours to catch a glimpse of the Pope. She says the Vatican is considering keeping the doors open past midnight tonight because of the demand. Security checks will also be stepped up ahead of the funeral, with the Vatican working out the arrangements tonight. McKenna says they will include firefighters who specialise in terrorism and chemical warfare. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Big League Podcast - Warriors half Chanel Harris Tavita reviews the golden point victory over the Broncos and looks back at his season so far. Newstalk ZB's Nathan Limm and NZ Herald's Michael Burgess highlight Luke Metcalf's composure, Kurt Capewell's pace and why the Warriors are going to run straight over the top of the Knights on Anzac Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crowds are gathering to mourn following the death of the Pope. The head of the Catholic Church died overnight at the age of 88, following a stroke, coma, and subsequent heart failure following a battle with double pneumonia. Nine days of mourning is now underway before his funeral and his burial at Saint Mary Major. Newstalk ZB's Catherine Field is in Paris – one of many parts of the Catholic world now mourning the Pope's loss. She told Mike Hosking while Francis divided opinion in Europe, everyone agrees he was a man of humility and compassion. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers and partner at Freebairn and Hehir lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Donald Trump said he could stop the Ukraine war in 24 hours, but he's recently been threatening to abandon peace talks. Should we have seen this coming? The all-female Blue Origin flight has copped some backlash - do we think this was just a spectacle or did it help further women in STEM? A new year brings renewed debate about the future of Easter trading laws. Do we need to get rid of them and open up the shops every day? Should we scrap holiday surcharges too? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks midfielder Jordie Barrett has revealed his partner in crime Rieko Ioane reached out for some advice before signing a sabbatical deal with Irish club Leinster for 2026. Despite receiving interest from Japan, Ioane made the bombshell move by following in Barrett's footsteps with a move to Dublin to play in the United Rugby Championship (URC), which features teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa. Ioane will make the move at the end of the year for a six-month stint between December and June, which rules him out for the Super Rugby Pacific season with the Blues but he remains eligible for the All Blacks. Ioane's announcement was met with a mainly positive response, although some Leinster faithful were clearly still bitter after his feud with the club's favourite son and all-time leading points scorer, Johnny Sexton, which started after the All Blacks knocked Ireland out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After plenty of backchat on the field, Ioane told Sexton to enjoy retirement and to not miss his flight home after New Zealand's quarter-final win. With Sexton relitigating that personal clash in his book, Ioane was widely painted as public enemy No 1 in the build-up to the All Blacks and Ireland rematch in Dublin last November. Ioane led the haka before the match and played a key role on the field as the All Blacks went on to snap Ireland's 19-game unbeaten run at home. Ioane posted a picture to social media with the caption “put that in the book” to double down on his villain status in Ireland. Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Jason Pine, Barrett said he believed Ioane can stamp his mark in Ireland. “He sounded me out about 10 days ago and just asked a few questions,” he said. “He didn't say a whole lot, so I didn't get a good inkling of where his head or heart was, but look, I woke up on my day off and the news had dropped on my phone. “It gave me 24 hours, without having a barrage of questions at training the morning I went in there, so I got all of them yesterday. “He'll go great. It's a great place to develop and he'll see a lot of improvements up here as a player, and get out of his comfort zone in Auckland and the Blues and [it's] a chance to grow. “I think it's a great challenge for him.” Leinster's Tommy O'Brien and Jordie Barrett celebrate following the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in Ireland. (Photo by Damien Eagers/PA Images via Getty Images) Barrett admits it's been an adjustment for him, but he's loving life in Ireland, especially on the golf course. When Barrett announced his move to Ireland, it came as a shock as most players tend to take their sabbatical in Japan, like his brother Beauden did last year. In fact, he was the first All Black since 2009 to choose Europe over Japan, when Dan Carter signed with Perpignan. While there were concerns around his workload due to the demands of European rugby, Barrett said he had an extended break while the Six Nations took place in February and March. During that time, a limited of matches were played and when they were, youngsters were given opportunities to prove themselves. That rest has helped Barrett stay focused to help Leinster charge towards winning titles. In the URC, they have only lost once this season – by one point to the Bulls in Pretoria – and hold an eight-point lead over the defending champions Glasgow Warriors with four games remaining in the regular season. They face the Warriors in the final match of the season but will be confident after crushing them 52-0 in the European Championship quarter-finals last weekend. Barrett, who has played nine games thus far between second five and fullback, admits there have been some easier games, but plenty of tough battles. Overall, Barrett believes he's become a better rugby player for the experience. “I reserve that judgment for people watching on the telly, but I feel like I'm growing my game,” said Barrett. “It was a challenge to come up here, become familiar with another system and different coaches and players in a different culture and environment. “I feel like my rugby's improving, which is nice, and, it's neverending, like any footy player just wants to improve, and I feel like I'm making slight improvements. “Hopefully we give ourselves another chance and earn the right to make a European final in a few weeks' time and then push deep into the URC competition.” Should Leinster go all the way in both completions, the European Rugby Champions Cup final takes place on May 25, with the URC final on June 15. That would give Barrett enough time to return to New Zealand for the All Blacks' test series against France, starting on July 5 in Dunedin. Barrett says he has been in touch with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and is eager to square off against the French. “Razor has sent the odd text, which is nice, and it shows he's keeping an eye on things, and so have the other coaches. Just touching base and making sure things are tracking well and that I'm healthy and playing good footy. “I feel like I'll be ready to go and hopefully take some form into an All Blacks jersey, which is the main reason why I wanted to come up here in the first place.” Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zuru Toys co-founder Nick Mowbray speaks on the impacts of United States tariffs on China. He said businesses were “in a holding pattern” as they grappled with the uncertainty of changeable policy. US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on April 2. Kiwi billionaire Nick Mowbray says “it's hard to say we're not worried” about US President Donald Trump's tariffs and his administration's “chaotic” policy decisions. “We'll ship about $2 billion worth of goods to the US this year. So, at that run rate, that makes our tariffs worth about $3 billion at the moment.” Speaking from Los Angeles this morning (New Zealand time), the toy mogul said it was difficult to read the mood on the ground there. New Zealand businessman Nick Mowbray could not say he wasn't worried about the impact of tariffs. Photo / Alex Burton The co-founder of Zuru Toys told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast it was impossible to plan around the tariffs. He also said it would be “obviously impossible” to shift manufacturing of his products from China to the United States to skirt the 145% tariff rate. His business, along with retailers, were “in a holding pattern”. “It's hard to say we're not worried. Everything seems to change each day. We're in a state of stopping everything at the moment because it's impossible to plan,” said Mowbray. “We're all hoping it doesn't continue for very long, but the [US] administration is definitely very chaotic.” He believed it was possible the tariffs would ultimately be negotiated down. Trump announced huge tariffs on different countries on April 2. In a whiplash change of tune a week later, he said all targeted countries but China would face a 10% rate for 90 days. Photo /The New York Times The $3b worth of tariffs his company would have to pay would be passed on to consumers in significant price increases. Mowbray said he was in the US, at his office, trying to work through the impact of the tariffs. The US has become Zuru's main export market, supplying the likes of Walmart, Target, Costco and Amazon. An escalating trade war ensued after the US imposed tariffs on China, seeing Beijing put in a retaliatory 125% rate on US imports. Trump announced huge tariffs on different countries on April 2. In a whiplash change of tune a week later, he said all targeted countries but China would face a 10% rate for 90 days. The trade war has created fears of an economic downturn as the dollar drops and investors part with US government bonds, normally considered a safe investment, Agence France-Presse reported. The impact on New Zealand remains uncertain. Kiwibank economists have outlined three possible scenarios for the country: Quick negotiations of tariff deals and little relative economic damage, longer dealmaking and prolonged economic insecurity, and the least likely scenario, recession. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blues coach Vern Cotter has commended Beauden Barrett's influence on the Super Rugby team since returning from a hand injury. The All Black steered the Blues to a 19-point win over Moana Pasifika and Cotter says the number 10's talent is unmatched. Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Treaty Principles Bill is dead, voted down by all parties except ACT - 11 to 112 - before a packed gallery. Fiery moments included Labour's Willie Jackson being kicked out for calling ACT leader David Seymour a liar. The Speaker reminded people multiple times not to clap, sing, or interject during speeches - in which the Bill was labelled 'embarrassing', 'grubby', and a 'stain on our country'. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped a memorable day in the House. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green MP Benjamin Doyle has conceded it was naïve to not delete old social media posts with sexually suggestive captions, as suggested by the party. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters spearheaded criticism of the private Instagram posts - escalating a barrage of extreme, violent threats against Doyle. Doyle has returned to Parliament - after taking leave since the onslaught. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks today's statements. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ginny Anderson says former party leader Andrew Little would make a great mayor. Newstalk ZB yesterday revealed Little is actively considering running for the Wellington Mayoralty after previously ruling it out. Little says the city needs a change, and he's been approached by many to run. Andersen told Mike Hosking he'd improve the council She says Little's level headed, and would be a safe pair of hands which the city desperately needs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul is again dismissing criticism of her views on policing. Billboards depicting Paul and Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick have popped up in Wellington and Auckland -- with the tagline - 'Defund the Police, vote Green'. The Sensible Sentencing Trust is behind the ads, and claims the Greens have expressed copyright concerns about their use of official candidate photos. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the reactions from today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says a multi-billion dollar boost for the Defence Force is about our national interest. The Government's unveiled its Defence Capability Plan, including $12 billion dollars of funding over four years - with $9 billion of new spending. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the plan's 'surprising'. "Remember, we said last week when it comes out that it'll be a 15-year plan. Well, this is more short-term - they're going to be spending, over the next four years, $12 billion dollars." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The great Swiss city of Zurich is one of the more picturesque, pixel-burning European gateway destinations. Within minutes of exiting Zurich Airport, armed with my trusty Eurail Pass, I was blissfully whizzing into the city centre on a 10 minute train ride. Strolling across the cobbles of this time-honoured city in the crisp spring air, there's so much urban eye-candy to lift the spirit. I sized up the largest clock face in Europe, on the edge of the Limmat River. It's bigger than Big Ben. Riding the skyline, the historic tower of St Peter Church is imbued with a trusty timepiece, as are the oh-so punctual church bells that loudly reverberate across the Old Town from the four historic churches, including mighty Grossmunster Cathedral. No wonder everything runs to time in Switzerland. According to legend, Zurich's 13th-century landmark cathedral was founded by Charlemagne, built on the graves of the city's patron saints, Felix and Regula. It was also the starting place of the Protestant Reformation in Zurich. Culture is writ large in Zurich's Old Town, where the narrow-cobbled streets gave rise to the Dada art movement just over a century ago. I popped into Cabaret Voltaire, at Spiegelgasse 1, which was the birthplace of Dada and the avant-garde artistic movement in 1916. Absinthe is the drink of choice here, among Dada's ghosts. Strolling along Bahnhofstrasse, flanked by chic designer boutiques and swanky department stores, Café Sprungli deserves a pit-stop. This prized Zurich institution is rightly lauded for its heavenly macaroons and hand-crafted chocolates. They are like exquisite works of art – as were the Easter chocolate displays. It's like a bespoke art gallery in chocolate. Don't mind if I do. Further down the street, if feeling a little decadent, make a date with Teuscher for its famed champagne truffles. In a city of water and stone bridges, a top vantage point to survey the elemental landscape, above the twisting lanes of the Old Town, is the Lindenhof. This was the site of a former Roman customs house and fourth-century fort, perched above the water. Alongside soaking up the city vistas, this elevated park with its Linden trees and giant chess sets is the pitch-perfect spot for a cheeky picnic. The vast assortment of guildhalls is core to Zurich's backstory, and they're great fun to explore. In 1336, Zurich's first independent mayor, Rudolf Brun, established the guild laws, effectively shifting power from the abbeys to the merchant nobility. The handsome guildhalls, with all their intricate decorative features, lend themselves to a leisurely inspection. I started at the bakers' guild, in Oberdorfstrasse, before heading over the river's east bank to Niederdorf, to admire the guilds of the carpenters, builders, the food and wine dealers, the textiles and spice merchants, all along Limmatquai. Then, on Munsterhof, you've got mansions of the weavers, saddlemakers, painters and winemakers. In German-speaking Zurich, the street food tradition of wurst remains wildly popular – particularly for lunch. In the Old Town, tuck into some great sausage at Wursteria by Hinz and Kunz. This part-butcher shop and part deli serves up super spicy bratwurst in a fluffy bun. So good! As its name suggests, Cafe Conditorei 1842, on Napfgasse, is an old-school establishment, chock-full of sweet indulgence. Spanning four floors, food lovers can enjoy patisserie, cakes and hot drinking chocolate – they claim to be Zurich's best. On the ground floor of this historic confectioner's store, impressively decorated in neo-baroque style, you'll struggle to find a finer array of patisserie, cakes and tarts. I could have stayed there all day. And yes – the steaming mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream was magnificent. Speaking of chocolate, the Lindt and Sprungli factory has called Zurich home, since 1899. Seven years in the making, Lindt Home of Chocolate, was designed to complement the historic building and serve as a beacon to chocolate lovers everywhere. From cultivation to production, the interactive museum does a sterling job telling the story of Swiss chocolate making, not only about Lindt, but its predecessors. While the maze of white, milk, and dark chocolates is impressive, the Lindt Home of Chocolate also boasts another record: the world's largest chocolate fountain. Standing at about 30 feet tall, even Willy Wonka would be impressed by this show-stopper. Zurich is home to FIFA's world headquarters and in a bid to stop pesky football fans from loitering in the lobby, the FIFA Museum was created nine years ago, in the heart of town. Spread over three floors and loaded with interactive exhibitions, the FIFA Museum examines all aspects of the global game and how it passionately stirs people's emotions. Football is the great equaliser. Along with the original FIFA World Cup Trophy, the museum displays over 1,000 items of exclusive memorabilia and apparel, including the national shirts of all FIFA member associations. The original trophy, which features a gold statuette of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, holding a cup, was permanently awarded to Brazil after they won the cup for the third time, in 1970. The current trophy contains 5kg of pure gold and its estimated value is over NZ$30m. A highlight amongst the interactive games gallery is the gigantic pinball machine, where you can test your own ball kicking skills. With the next World Cup just a year away and featuring the All Whites for just the third time, add this museum to your check-list. Creating quite a buzz in recent years, Zurich-West has been spectacularly transformed from a once scruffy industrial district. Emerging as a vibrant cultural quarter of trendy eateries and edgy art, factories have been repurposed as theatres and shipyards reimagined as art galleries. Viadukt is an exemplary example of the makeover, with a host of eateries, pop-up shops and art spaces housed inside the arches of the disused, 550-feet long railway viaduct. You'll also find Prime Tower here, a 35-storey skyscraper (Switzerland's tallest), serving up a panoramic treat across Zurich's rooftops, gleaming lake and snow-coated peaks beyond. Take in the sweeping scenery over a drink or two at Clouds Bar – and salute your return to Europe. The locals are very proud of the city's brilliant and bizarre festivals. In August Zurich hosts Street Parade, one of Europe's biggest celebrations of peace, love and electronic music, attended by millions of people. In a couple of weeks, the city grinds to a halt for Seschselauten. This annual April spectacle involves setting on fire a giant straw snowman called the Boogg. The time it takes for the Boogg's head to explode indicates whether it will be a good summer, apparently. The word is Zurich is in for a long, warm summer. Perfectly poised overlooking Paradeplatz, the city's most prestigious address, the Mandarin Oriental Savoy Hotel offers a stylish stay to remember, when in Zurich. Just steps from the city's iconic shopping sweep of Bahnhofstrasse, it's been just over a year since the Mandarin Oriental revitalised what has been Zurich's oldest grand hotel, reaching back to 1838. Elegantly and artfully refreshed, with a boutique hotel vibe, the 80 impeccably redesigned rooms and suites raise the bar on luxury and indulgence. There's four distinctive dining venues including the Michelin-starred Orsini, where the Italian fine dining experience is helmed by acclaimed two-Michelin starred Italian Consultant Chef Antonio Guida. Then there's 1838, the effervescent rooftop bar with its spell-binding panoramic vistas of the city, lake and serrated Swiss Alps. Plus Savoy Brasserie & Bar is a sure-bet for a stupendous breakfast, with an delightfully presented buffet selection, in addition to a la carte menu items. Accommodations take their design cues from the natural palette of Zurich, headlined by the artisanal hand-painted silk wallpapers, inspired by the aqua green and blue hues of the lake and sky, to the mist of the surrounding mountains. Meticulously crafted design elements and materials adorn the rooms. Accents of colour are also reflected in custom furniture and carpets. Principal materials include walnut as a common thread, touches of bronze and brass and enamelled lava together with the comfort of luxurious textiles. Throughout the hotel, I loved admiring the multitude of sculptural lighting fixtures and lamps. I stayed in the Munsterhof Suite, accentuating the sumptuous sense of comfort, glamour and space, loaded with indulgent touches. There's a personal cocktail bar, built-in headboards, sublime marble-clad bathrooms and expansive walk-in dressing areas. As is the case with all Mandarin Oriental properties, you'll soon get a sense of the strong local connection the hotel has with the city. Local artists are proudly showcased with numerous pieces of art to admire, throughout the hotel. Grab a peek at the storied meeting room on the second floor, which is still home to the Guild of Tanners and Shoemakers. These traditional Swiss craftsmen have been meeting here for over a century. Service personifies whip-smart Swiss efficiency and the charismatic staff are highly personable, outgoing and engaging. You'll struggle to find fault with this gorgeous hotel which has mastered the art of fusing contemporary comforts with timeless opulence and celebrating a deep respect for history, tradition and proud sense of place. www.mandarinoriental.com Grab a ticket to ride on the European railway network with a Eurail Pass. For over 65 years, Eurail Passes have enabled flexible borderless rail travel across Europe. 7000 Kiwis purchased such a pass last year, which gives you access to 30,000 destinations across 33 countries, allowing you to chart your own amazing rail adventure. On popular rail routes, it certainly pays to make a seat reservation in advance. Lock in your rail plans ahead of your trip, by booking tickets or a rail pass to suit with Eurail direct. The mobile pass is the way to go. The Eurail app is easy to navigate, packed with helpful information and benefits, network disruption notifications, and enabling you to check timetables, lock in bookings and seat reservations on the go, via your mobile. www.eurail.com Fly to Zurich with Cathay Pacific who operate ultra-contemporary A350-1000s, from Auckland via Hong Kong. The cabin air quality is decidedly better, the aircraft are noticeably quieter and I experienced minimal jet-lag. The extensive CX Entertainment system kept me suitably engaged with excellent movie and box-set selections, live news channels - all in vivid 4K, plus in-flight WiFi is available. www.cathaypacific.com Mike Yardley is our resident traveller and can be heard every Saturday with Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Whites goalkeeper Jake Gleeson says he contemplated taking his life after prolonged surgeries turned into a battle for survival and forced his early retirement. In August 2018, while contracted to the Portland Timbers in the United States, Gleeson had surgery to treat stress fractures in both legs. It should have been a routine procedure, but he developed osteomyelitis from an infection. What followed was not only a physical struggle but an emotional descent that would push him to the brink. Fourteen surgeries later, and nearly five years after Gleeson began legal action, a jury found doctor Richard Edelson guilty of medical negligence for failing to properly disinfect the plates inserted into Gleeson's legs before the initial operation. Gleeson, now 34, was awarded US$20.4 million (NZ$35.7m) in damages. What was meant to be a three-month stint on the sidelines turned into a nightmare of medical complications and forced Gleeson to retire, having made 59 appearances for the Timbers and winning eight caps for the All Whites between 2011 and 2014. The fallout has been brutal for Gleeson, who struggles to complete mundane tasks such as exercising. The mental toll has been equally devastating. Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Jason Pine on Weekend Sport, Gleeson says he reached a point where he considered taking his life. “I'd been prescribed so many opioids, like painkillers and anti-anxiety medication, I filled this pill jar up with enough pills that I know that if I took it all at once it would kill me. “I drove out a few times to different places around Portland with that. I had that around me for ... a few months and there were some close calls where I thought that that was going to be the day. “There were points I just didn't want to live any more. Simple as that. “But I never went through with it, which I'm happy about. The last few years have been a slow climb out of a very deep, dark hole.” After his initial surgery, things appeared normal but, after two weeks, an infection on his right leg appeared. Antibiotics initially worked, but the infection worsened and he needed a second operation. At this point, pus was coming out of the wound and Gleeson was given a PICC line - a type of catheter - that was pumping antibiotics from his leg to an artery near the heart. It was a further two weeks before the plate in his right leg came out. Days later, problems began in his left leg. Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson shows his disappointment after the the 4-1 loss against Real Salt Lake in 2017. Photo / Getty Images “I saw that same redness, same warmth, same everything that was a sign of infection, and they pulled that plate out straight away. “Because I developed osteomyelitis in my right leg, essentially the infection had travelled through my blood and settled on the foreign hardware on my left leg. “If they had just removed the plate on the first surgery, or even checked the underside of it to know that that's where the infection was, we could have avoided a lot more of the surgeries that I went through.” Gleeson had another appointment with Edelson, who was pleased with the recovery of the left leg, but problems were still occurring with the right. Despite raising concerns, Gleeson was told “it's just bad blood flow, the wound will heal and you're fine”. An angry Gleeson consulted another team doctor and was immediately rushed to hospital, where he had three surgeries in five days to clear the osteomyelitis and dead bone. “They had to go in and chunk out parts of my bone and there was dead tissue in there,” he recalls. “My body had gone septic and I had a 40-degree temperature, cuddling a bag of ice on my couch with all this medicine still coursing through me every week.” It was at this point that he found out Edelson had not properly sanitised an orthopaedic plate, after realising he was missing one and bringing one in from an outside facility during the surgery. As Gleeson improved after working with a new doctor, he opted to have metal rods inserted into both legs in February 2019 in an effort to save his career. He had four more operations but the rod in his right leg became immediately infected. Three weeks later, doctors said the rods had to come out. In July 2020, Gleeson formally began legal action. Finally, on March 29, a Multnomah County jury in Portland agreed that Edelson had violated his duty of care and awarded NZ$35.7m to Gleeson. “This is the first step and, once again, a very long path,” says Gleeson. “I don't think it's sunk in yet. I'm very tired still. “The money is a bonus once we figure out what it all looks like, because I'm not currently sitting with a huge cheque in my account. “Once it settles and is confirmed, I've already started conversations with some local groups around here to highlight this, and I want to kind of utilise it also to bring attention to mental health, especially for athletes. “I would like to go somewhere nice with my fiancée and throw my phone in a lockbox somewhere and take a week to take some deep breaths and start to put this all behind us as we move forward with our lives.” He says the Timbers club was poorly managed at the time and “swept me under the rug”. The figures involved have since gone and he is excited about attending his first Timbers match since the ordeal later this month. He says he would do anything to be able to step onto the pitch one last time, but is looking forward to be involved again in the sport he loves, having initially walked away from it. He is also looking forward to seeing the All Whites in action at next year's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. “I couldn't be more excited for the All Whites and the boys on the team that I know and all the young guns coming through. “They're an impressive bunch, so I'll be there supporting them for sure. Hopefully they can cause some upsets.” SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION Where to get help:• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)• Youth services: (06) 3555 906• Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234• What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737• Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call or text 1737If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's sports news director Clay Wilson and sports journalist Nicky Styris join the Sports Huddle. It's been a terrible week for Liam Lawson who was dropped by Red Bull, who are saying part of the reason was due to his mental health. What do the Sports Huddle make of the decision? Nicky Styris says it depends on whether you think he should've been in the car in the first place. Four of the top six Super Rugby sides are from Australia, why? And the Sports Huddle discuss whether New Zealand should fund the Americas Cup. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back once more to Wrap the Week with Mike Hosking. They discussed going for a coffee run in the stormy weather, compulsory Shakespeare in schools, and Mike's 25 years at Newstalk ZB. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The irony was not lost on me this week as two things job related happened. The first was the survey that suggested over half of us regret our career choice. That struck me as profoundly sad. Say whatever you want about work and work-life balance, but a lot of hours are spent in a lifetime grafting. Virtually everyone, at least at the start, has to work. Everyone of course should work because it's good for you. But to have a lifetime of regret is to not have really lived at all, or at least not to your full potential. Juxtaposing that was the surprise, to me anyway, that I had been here at Newstalk ZB for 25 years. A smaller surprise was on the same day, April 1st, Morning Report at Radio New Zealand was marking 50 years. I spent a short stint at Morning Report in moderately, although ultimately, I think, successful circumstances. Without word of a lie I have loved every day, of every week, of every month, of every year. Not just at Newstalk ZB, but the 44 years I have been in this game. Of course I had bad days. I had bad employers, I had ropy times and I've been sacked twice by morons, but I've never regretted picking doing what I do. Which is a small miracle, given I have never really been able to tell anyone with any clarity why I picked this game in the first place, other than it seemed appealing. I had no mentors or people I knew in media. As a kid I listened to the radio and thought that sounds fun. As it turns out, I was right. The other small saviour has been the fact that not only didn't I regret it, it worked out moderately well in terms of gainful employment, because at no stage in the past four decades have I been able to conjure up an alternative. I literally cannot think of anything else I would want to do. I would like to think though, and this goes to the survey, that if it hadn't gone well or I did regret it, I would have done something about it. Because life's big lesson is life is short. And if you aren't rolling with it, you are fighting it. And that's no fun and it wears you out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has finally unveiled his sweeping tariff plan - and many countries have been caught up in it. The US President's announced 10 percent tariffs on almost all imports to the US. They're much higher for some countries and products - including 25 percent on vehicles, 34 percent on China, and nearly 50 percent on some other countries. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Trump's focused on protecting the US from "unrelenting economic warfare" - but it's unclear what that could do to global relations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pāti Māori says it isn't sorry its MPs did a Haka in the house last year - and would do it again in a heartbeat. An MP has been called before the powerful Privileges Committee today, but the Party's snubbing the summons. Te Pāti Māori says the Committee turned down its request to change the date so its counsel could be present. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Māori won't attend a Privileges Committee hearing tomorrow - despite being summoned over a haka performed by MPs during reading of the Treaty Principles Bill last year. Te Pati Māori says its request for a joint Party hearing was turned down, and its legal counsel isn't available. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper wonders why the party isn't playing by the rules. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's asking people to dob in too many road cones at work sites. A telephone hotline is planned - for people to report excesses. It'll be manned and funded by WorkSafe. It's been announced at the same time as Health and Safety at Work Act changes, with a focus on reducing the load on smaller businesses. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has voiced support with this idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson and Crusaders commentator Nick Bewley join Ryan Bridge on the Huddle. Auckland Council has voted to go ahead with Eden Park upgrades, but they're hanging out for money elsewhere. Will they get it? Liam Lawson has been dumped by Red Bull after two races. Has it been fair? The Huddle discuss it all. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're tripping your way around Europe independently, travelling by train is the incomparable transport mode of choice. It's the fast, efficient and faff-free way to travel, with the added bonus of depositing you in the absolute heart of dream European destinations. But across Europe, their grand and venerable railway stations also house some remarkable restaurant experiences – the real hidden treasures housed within these grand-scale transport hubs. So why settle for an underwhelming grab-and-go sandwich when Europe's busiest stations host some brilliant trackside brasseries and bistros? They're also a great way to herald your arrival or departure from some glittering destinations. More and more of these station restaurants have really upped their culinary game in recent years. So where should you go to sample some of the best in class? Starting in London, Booking Office 1869 is located within St. Pancras Station. As the name suggests, it was originally the vast ticket office for the station. Four years ago, the space was redesigned as a Victorian-style winter garden, with towering palm trees and plant-themed chandeliers. Each one of features 275 hand-cut brass leaves! Backed by exposed brickwork, a superb 22-metre-long bar, carved from marble and walnut. Dining? Expect British classics alongside nods to far-flung destinations. The Scottish charcuterie board is perfect for lunch. It's also a great spot for high tea. Paris? You cannot beat Le Train Bleu at Gare de Lyon. Dating back to 1901, this explosion of Belle Époque grandeur fast became a meeting place for artists, poets and playwrights, and the decor was inspired by the Mediterranean coast's most glamorous destinations. The walls are lined with priceless watercolour paintings, while chandeliers, gilt-framed mirrors, frescos and leather banquettes ramp up the luxury. Headlining the delectable menu, Provençal-style octopus stew and the roast leg of lamb, carved tableside. You may recall this is the restaurant from the Bean Movie, where Mr Bean had some trouble trying to swallow the king prawns. For a memorable first-class dining experience in Amsterdam, the Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas is located by Platform 2 of the Centraal Station. It also embodies the timeless romance of rail travel, with the restaurant preserving its original look and elegant style of the 19th century. It was originally the first-class waiting hall. The extensive menu offers quick turnarounds, while the croquette and bitterbal tasting is very popular. True to the weird and eclectic Dutch sense of humour, a rather talkative cockatoo called Elvis, perched by the bar. Tripping to Spain? Estación Barcelona-Sants station is home to La Mundana. This recent Bib Gourmand recipient serves up masterful takes on Spanish, Japanese and French classics, tapas-style. Artistically plated, it's a stirring dining experience, but also sharply-priced and unpretentious. For steeply-priced posh nosh in Brussels, La Brasserie de la Gare Brussels Midi has earned the Michelin Guide's stamp of approval. But aside from the cuisine, it's the décor that is the big draw, with antique train lanterns, train timetables and railway workers' hats richly adorning the restaurant. For a bite that won't weigh too heavily on your wallet, whistle up some shrimp croquettes. If you're Itay-bound and find yourself at Stazione Centrale in Milan, check out All'AnticoVinaio. This exuberantly decorated eatery and its owner has become a Tik Tok sensation, with videos galore of him constructing his double-decker Italian subs. Made using the freshest schiacciata bread, sink your teeth into the ‘Favolosa' sandwich, which is stacked with salami, pecorino cheese, artichoke spread and spicy eggplants. If you're after a Golden Arches experience to blow your hair back, Nyugati Railway Station in Budapest, Hungary, is home to what is claimed to be the world's most beautiful McDonald's. It has just reopened after a tip-to-toe restoration to the 150 year old building. The antique lamps and painted stucco ceilings have been refreshed, keeping the vintage designs in place, including the huge glass windows that go around the entire building, as well as copper-covered light fixtures. Amid all the neo-Classical glory from the Hapsburg empire, the touch-screen ordering kiosks look curiously out of place. Finally, a newcomer to the star-factor scene of railway restaurants can be found in Athens at Rouf Station. Greek actress Tatiana Ligari founded Wagon Restaurant restoring several vintage train carriages - including the original dining car from the 1926 Simplon Orient Express. A century later, the carriage is a fabulous restaurant and bar once again. The evocative romance of rail lives on. Spending some time in some of these restaurants is virtually worth missing your train for. Grab a ticket to ride on the European railway network with a Eurail Pass. On popular rail routes, it certainly pays to make a seat reservation in advance. Lock in your rail plans ahead of your trip, by booking tickets or a rail pass to suit with Eurail direct. The mobile pass is the way to go. The Eurail app is easy to navigate, packed with helpful information and benefits, network disruption notifications, and enabling you to check timetables, lock-in and change bookings on the go, via your phone. www.eurail.com Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB's resident traveller and can be heard every week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green MP Tamatha Paul has copped more criticism from her political peers. The Wellington Central MP's been under fire over comments she made last week criticising police beat patrols - and suggesting all they do is throw away homeless people's possessions. Tamatha Paul reiterated those claims in further interviews. She also claimed a woman was imprisoned for stealing $12 worth of items - and when questioned, could not verify whether what she was told was true or not. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this isn't a good look. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outrageous and 'a load of rubbish' are the Prime Minister's words to describe a Green MP's comments about police. Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul spoke at an event last week, saying all beat police do is walk around - and throw away homeless people's items. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this makes the Greens look like a laughing stock. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Kent Johns—former broadcaster turned health coach—about a topic that's becoming increasingly relevant in today's high-pressure world: burnout. Having worked extensively with executives and professionals, Kent has seen firsthand the common patterns that lead high-achievers to the brink of exhaustion.In this conversation, Kent shares his insights into distinguishing between ‘good stress'—the kind that fuels performance—and ‘bad stress,' which leads to breakdown. He explains how burnout isn't just a mental issue but has profound physiological consequences, and how recognising the early warning signs can be key to prevention.They discuss the role of lifestyle factors—like nutrition, sleep, and movement—in building resilience, and the specific interventions Kent finds most effective for those struggling to balance their health with demanding careers. He also explores the mindset traps that executives often fall into, such as the pressure to be ‘always on,' and how he coaches clients to shift their perspective. This is a thought-provoking and highly practical conversation for anyone looking to take charge of their health in a high-performance world. Enjoy!Kent is a certified Health and Mental Wellbeing Coach and Nutritional Counsellor. He established Kent Johns Health to assist businesses to help their employees better look after themselves and thrive in life. He is an experienced public speaker and former award-winning sports broadcaster, and the host of “Take It From Us”, a radio programme and podcast that deals with mental wellbeing and addiction issues. He is also a regular health contributor on New Zealand's largest radio station, Newstalk ZB, and is a proud ambassador for Men's Health Week.Kent lives with his partner Laura in Auckland, NZ, with their two young children. As well as a passion for sport, he plays tennis and walks to stay fit, loves to cook, and his local beach is his special place.Kent https://kentjohnshealth.co.nz/about/ Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden