Podcast appearances and mentions of Queen Street

A new three-level luxury department store is set to open on Auckland's Queen Street next year. The new store will be located at 131 Queen St and is set to include valet parking and an espresso music bar. Luxury retailer Faradays is behind the $30 million development. Faradays Co-Founder and Chief Executive Eddie von Dadelszen said to Heather du Plessis-Allan, "the building itself, we're inheriting something truly, truly unique ... it's just an amazing historical embrace to do something contemporary and fresh and modern inside." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of Auckland's homeless say a tougher stance on rough sleepers in the central city could mean they're pushed into the suburbs, or even into crime. Rayssa Almeida spoke to some of the people who live on the street in Auckland.

On Saturday night I was in Lyttelton for a gig and saw a guy sleeping on the bench outside the local supermarket, which took me a little bit by surprise. Maybe I need to get across to Lyttelton more often. But that's the kind of thing we will see way more of if the Government goes ahead with this idea of banning homeless people from congregating and sleeping rough in central business districts. Because instead of being an answer, it just raises another question: where would they go? We know where they'd go. The suburbs. They wouldn't go away. And even though I can't stand being asked for money all the time when I walk through town, some sort of CBD ban isn't the solution. It would start in Auckland apparently and eventually be implemented elsewhere around the country. This hasn't come from the Government itself, which is being all mealy-mouthed about it. It's come from Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent, Barry Soper. He says the Associate Housing Minister, Tama Potaka, has been talking to community housing providers and has suggested to them that such a law is on its way. Now I'm a realist and I know that we are never going to get rid of homelessness. That's because there are so many things that lead to someone not having a roof over their head. And I reckon most of us are only two or three steps away from being homeless ourselves. It wouldn't take that many setbacks in our life before we looked up one day and realised we were sleeping under a blanket on Hereford Street or Queen Street. But banning rough sleepers from downtown areas is not the answer because what happens when the rough sleepers start moving into the suburbs? I know the Government will say “aww, we're not just kicking them out, we're providing the old wraparound services.” But this isn't a solution, it's just moving the problem elsewhere. And, if I had to choose where in town the rough sleepers should be, give me the CBD any day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A month ago to this very day, Heart of the City, the business association for Auckland City Centre, released a scathing report that found store owners and offices believed homelessness, too few police, neglect and disorder, and frightening anti-social behaviour were crippling their businesses. Amongst the most dire findings was 91% of those surveyed saying rough sleepers and begging were affecting their business. 81% believed the city centre was not in a good state to attract significantly more people and investment. The findings came from 102 business owners in and around the Queen Street valley area in late September who were asked about the state of the city centre and what factors were hindering their financial success. This isn't news. There have been problems with rough sleepers for years now. But the business owners I've talked to in Queen Street say although there was always the odd person around before Covid, it was when Labour turned the inner-city hotels and motels into emergency housing during Covid that things became absolutely dire. Because when everything was freed up, the people stayed. They'd made a home there, they'd found a home there, they weren't going to be moved on, they'd found their people. In Ponsonby, when I was living there, there were about three or four characters, men and women, who were either sleeping rough or living in halfway houses. But they were part of the community. You knew them by name, you greeted them. They were they were different. They were odd, but that was okay. We're all different and odd at different times and perhaps not quite as odd as these ones, but they were there first, and they were part of the community. And I think we all do have empathy for those who are doing it tough or are going through a tough period in their life or who are just wired a little bit differently. But when you are swamped with people in need, when you are one district, one area that is overrun with people who are odd, who are wired differently, who don't behave as you would imagine civilised humans would behave, who quite literally crap on your empathy, inevitably you will start to take a tougher stance. And I think that's what's happened to the store owners and retailers in Queen Street. It's back in the news again. As I said, homelessness is seldom far from it because Labour has suggested that the Government is looking at introducing a ban on rough sleepers in the city. Well, as Chief Executive of Heart of the City Viv Beck told Mike Hosking this morning, bring it on, something needs to change. VB: What I'm seeing is we need a game changer. We can't just keep moving people around. As long as there were really good solutions for vulnerable people, I think a majority of the people that we represent would support a scenario where you don't lie on streets or you house people. MH: I don't know if you were watching Parliament yesterday, but they seem squeamish about it. Why don't we just be a bit blunt about it? And the cold hard truth of homelessness is that it ruins central cities, and we need to clean it up and clear it out. I mean, it's that simple, isn't it? VB: I believe so. And what's been really pleasing in the last four weeks is that there has been constructive debate and people are recognising these are real issues. We need to be bold about this. We do have to care for people. We've got a track record of caring for people. The reality is though, we cannot leave it the way it is. It does need a game change and I really hope the politics don't sabotage a really important issue that needs resolving. Oh, I think it probably will. Politics generally does, especially when there's an election looming. I was listening to Ginny Anderson and Mark Mitchell this morning, on the Mike Hosking Breakfast. Ginny said, "Well, where are they going to go? People don't want the homeless outside schools or their homes." Well, no, they don't, but they also don't want them outside their bloody businesses either. Hairdressers and cafe owners and accountants and clothing retailers and the like in Queen Street have had enough of looking after them. And I don't think many of the retailers would have a problem with rough sleepers if that's all they were doing. Looking for a warm, safe, dry place to sleep, then packing up and moving on. It's the detritus and the bodily fluids and the aggressive, pugnacious attitudes that most retailers have the problem with. Sleep in the doorway, but it's the associated issues that come with it that are the real issue, the real problem. We have got people out of motels. There are no children on the streets, and that's got to be a good thing. There are places, as Mark Mitchell referred to, for people to go. It's the associated issues, the problems that they have that mean they don't feel either safe staying there, they don't want to stay there, they don't feel comfortable being within four walls, they're quite claustrophobic, especially those that have done time. It is a huge issue, way beyond just putting a roof over heads. If only that billion dollars into mental health had actually done some work. So, I don't blame the retailers for saying, okay, make a law, move them on. At least if they are in communities, 24/7 communities, not retail areas, they might become part of the community. They're dispersed throughout the community. You can adopt a homeless person, a bit like it was in Ponsonby back in the day. I don't know what the answer is. I really don't. With so much money going into mental health, it doesn't seem to be affecting the very people that you would hope would be benefiting from that massive contribution of taxpayer money. Those who are living on the edge, those who are wired differently, those who do need extra help, and those who are making it almost impossible to run a business in the central city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Creator Method Podcast, Gary sits down with Aaron Spivak, serial entrepreneur, storyteller, and co-founder of Hush Blankets, which he sold for $48 million by the age of 25. Today, Aaron is the founder of Founders Club, a rapidly growing community redefining what it means to be a modern entrepreneur. Aaron's journey started with just $140 in his bank account and a big idea to build a product that helps people sleep better. What began with a handmade prototype on Queen Street in Toronto became one of the most recognized sleep brands in the country, powered by authentic storytelling and community. He opens up about the early hustle behind launching Hush Blankets, the viral Kickstarter campaign that changed everything, and how one LinkedIn post led to selling his company to a publicly traded brand. Aaron shares why he believes content is the single most powerful tool founders have today, why being the face of your company is leverage, not a liability, and how community compounds over time. This conversation is an unfiltered look at how modern founders can use content to build trust, scale their businesses, and create movements, not just companies. Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/ Follow Creator Method on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creator.method/?hl=en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bjs61g10V8MEBjg2pfJFi?si=1a8b57227c8b41d7 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & Aaron's Entrepreneurial Start 04:00 $140 in the Bank & the Birth of Hush 09:00 The Viral Kickstarter Campaign 14:00 Selling the Company Through a LinkedIn Post 19:00 Content as a Founder's Superpower 23:00 Community vs. Marketing 27:00 Why Attention Is the Real Moat 32:00 Balancing Building and Creating Content 37:00 How to Build Trust Through Storytelling 41:00 Scaling Founders Club and the Future of Entrepreneurship 46:00 The Power of Compounding Relationships Follow Aaron Spivak: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spivak/ Founders Club: https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersclub/ Follow Gary on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylipovetsky/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garylipovetsky

Use code BAOS50 to get 50% off your Sourpalooza tickets: https://exchangebrewery.com/product-category/all/sourpalooza/ Niagara-On-The-Lake is world-renowned for being one of the most prominent wine-making regions in Canada, but one thing it doesn't get enough props for is its impeccable craft beer. The Exchange Brewery, nestled on the corner of historic Queen Street on one of the most gorgeous main thoroughfares in the region, has been serving up its impeccable brews with a sour focus for the best part of a decade. Marketing & PR Coordinator Sara Divinski and Assistant Brewer Hunter Ross joined Cee to chat about their history in craft beer, how their clean beers differ from their renowned sours, team off-flavour training, how they leverage locally-grown fruit and wineries, their approach to their barrel-aged beer and blending process, their Sourpalooza festival that's going down October 10th and 11th, 2025 and what thirsty drinkers can expect. They got into five killer Exchange brews - Extension: Coffee Porter, Niagara Fruit Stand India Pale Ale, Spontaneous Ale: Chenin Blanc with Big Head Wines, Peach Spontaneous Ale (brewed for Sourpalooza 2025) and Flanders Red Reserve (also brewed for Sourpalooza 2025). This was a beaut - cheers! BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

Global Malts Ambassador for Brown-Forman, Stewart Buchanan stepped into Queen Street earlier this year to talk about his whisky adventures with Mads Schmoll. From his early days on the island of Mull to travelling the world to talk all about all things BenRiach today, he's worked in nearly every part of the industry. Tune in to hear more and watch as Stewart and Mads try The Vaults Collection, Cask No. 12.80: Heaven in a leather hammock.

When I heard the Green Party co-leaders were holding a press conference yesterday, I thought fleetingly, ever the optimist, "Oh, they might be holding a press conference calling for the cessation of protests outside the home of a fellow parliamentarian." Undoubtedly they'd couch it in greeny language – they would call out the Foreign Affairs Minister for his lack of courage at the UN, etc, etc, but ultimately they would make the point that protesting in a personal sphere is wrong, and they would call off the hounds and remind people that yes, we have a right to protest, but with that right comes responsibility and it is quite clearly irresponsible to make the attacks personal and bring the protest to the door of an MP's home. That's what I thought, fleetingly. But no, nothing of the sort. In fact, it was a PR stunt for the flotilla to Palestine. No mention was made of the protesters outside Winston Peters' home. In fact, one of them was alongside the Green co-party leaders. Chlöe Swarbrick lectured us again about our responsibility to ensure the safety of the three New Zealand citizens detained by the Israeli government after the flotilla was intercepted, and that was that. A bit of tearful beseeching of the government to do something. Love for the detainees, and that was about it. Can you imagine what would happen if Groundswell decided to protest Green policies, and they decided to take that protest to the door of Marama Davidson's home or Chlöe Swarbrick's home? I would be absolutely appalled, and I would demand they be arrested or leave immediately. There is absolutely no excuse for it. You might disagree vehemently with policies, you might think you have moral, intellectual, scientific right on your side, on the side of whatever argument you're putting forward, but there are standards and there are limits and there are boundaries. The lot outside Winston's house, you're perfectly entitled to hold a point of view. You may well feel that you're on the right side of history. That does not give you carte blanche to invade a man's home, and that's exactly what you're doing, and that of his neighbours. The noise invading somebody's home. You know, if you have had really ugly neighbours who have made your life hell because of the noise they're making, It's an invasion. So too is the bloody rock through the window. If anybody thinks that the new legislation around protests at people's homes is going to provide any protection at all for public figures, for anybody, think again. The bill is before the Justice Select Committee. Submissions on it closed yesterday, but critics say it's way too vague to do much good. Constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler said as much to Mike Hosking this morning. “There are offences which deal with this already. And I, my suspicion is that the new offence, that the draft, at least at the moment, is so complex, perhaps so difficult to prove, you know, was that the reason they're doing that? Was it, you know, just all the difficulties in proving it, that police may just continue to use the criminal offences that already exist, which kind of have the similar penalties. “And when people aren't sure what's covered and it's a criminal offence, courts tend to err on the side of, well, if you wanted to make this clearly legal, you'd have done a better job of writing it. So if it's not clear, you tend to favour on the side of the criminal for criminal cases. And so, hopefully the government can sort of narrow this and fix it to cover exactly what it is they want. I mean, it's sort of protests near residential areas. I mean, Queen Street's got massive apartment buildings on it – are those residential areas and no protests down Queen Street? I mean, no one's going to apply the law that way. The police aren't going to apply that law that way. The courts aren't going to apply the law that way. And so it's really going to do much of anything.” No, it's not. So we're going to have to rely on existing laws to give people a measure of protection in their own homes. That and inculcating a sense of decency and fair play. If anyone attempted to disturb or frighten or harass the Green Party co-leaders and members of their families in their own homes, it would be absolutely inexcusable. The Green Party co-leaders have pointed out how inexcusable the internet trolling and the abuses of their MPs, and indeed of other women MPs, but mainly theirs, but women MPs, non-gender specific MPs, they are absolutely ropeable about the level of vitriol and harassment and violent language being used against MPs on social media. What difference is it being outside somebody's home? Absolutely no difference whatsoever. They are the first to point the digeridoo at people who have a different point of view and express it vocally and violently, and rightly so. Nobody should be subject to that. They want the police protection, they demand the people have a right to be safe and secure in their workplaces and to be able to do their jobs. What the hell do they think these people are doing? Their internet trolls come to life and on the backyard of the home of a fellow parliamentarian. It would be absolutely inexcusable if they were experiencing the same thing from those who had a different political viewpoint. The weight of the law should come down upon any protesters who did that to them, and to these righteous, sanctimonious vandals outside Winston Peters' house. Any point they are trying to make is being drowned out by their own noise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has had a gutsful. And I don't blame him. I'd be the same if I had protesters outside my place and especially if I had a window smashed, which is what happened at his Auckland home last night. And I reckon the time has well and truly come for us to decide where it is appropriate for people to protest, and where it isn't. Outside people's homes is a no-no for me, because families don't deserve to be targeted by protesters. But what about other locations? Remember during Covid how livid we were with all the anti-vaxxers protesting outside schools? So does that mean schools should be no-go zones for protest action? I would say yes. Because protest action outside schools impacts the kids and they don't deserve that. The same way protesting outside people's homes impacts their families, and they don't deserve that. These protesters at Winston's place have been turning up after he announced that the Government isn't ready to recognise a Palestinian state. The window was smashed just after 5:30 last night, with a guy handing himself in to police a few hours later. There's no formal confirmation that he was connected to the pro-Palestine crew, but as Winston said to a reporter last night: “Either 1 and 1 make 4 or 1 and 1 make 2. It's up to you.” But we know it's connected. Which is why I support the Government's plan to ban protesting outside people's houses, but I also want it to go further than that. Tell that to law expert Graeme Edgeler though, who thinks the draft law —in its current form— would be difficult for the police to enforce in places like Queen Street, in Auckland, where people do live, but it's also, for all intents and purposes, a public space. And Graeme Edgeler says if this ban on protesting outside people's homes happens, there are going to be times when the police won't actually know what to do. But here's the bottom line for me: however strong you might feel about something, it's not on targeting people in a way that also affects their families. And what often happens when you get a groundswell of protest action is you get the people who are genuine and not out to cause any real trouble, but they can very easily lose control and get all sorts of muppets joining in. Just for fun. Which is why I think people's homes and schools should be out of bounds for protest action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland city centre store owners believe homelessness, anti-social behaviour and not enough police is crippling their trade. Heart of the City surveyed 102 business owners - with 91 percent saying rough sleeping and begging was affecting their business. Seventy-two percent weren't satisfied with the standard of Queen Street's cleanliness. Chief Executive Viv Beck says enough is enough - and it's important the needs of businesses, like the enforcing of public by-laws, are met. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunday morning in town, its a bit breezy, people making the shortcut through the graveyard, a flock of pigeons or Rock Doves as they used to be called, air con units, aircraft heading away from London, a lady whose perfume I detected before I saw her, I feel like I have to behave differently in this urban environment as I can't blend in to being a tourist, I'm more on guard, a man asking if he was in my way, I wave him through, people aren't here to look at the attraction they're on their way to somewhere else so why would I be sitting in a graveyard with a lot of recording kit on a Sunday morning feeling vulnerable? The concerned man walks back through the other way with a drink less concerned this time, a car with loud music travelling down Queen Street, a gull, a man sneezing, ‘Morning!' said a man who took a photograph of the ruins, and exclaiming child in a push chair. It's warm on the outside, warm on the in, I can feel the effects of my (non-psychedelic) mushroom gummy, my 21st day of sobriety, I made it to 47 days last time so let's see how I get on, I do have more clarity but I also feel slightly removed from some situations, its a new feeling as I take a step in to the next stage of my life, leaving a lot of things behind, embracing the new, and trying to be kinder to myself, a Robin, a man running, a woman on a phone call, the Rock Doves taking to the air and flying past the microphone, someone clapping, the shadows moving slowly but perceptibly, dapples, gravestones with names eroded away over time, a lady with a Nirvana t-shirt, I'm writing more today as I have my head down as a defence mechanism, not wanting to engage with passers by, the wind has died down a bit but I only notice as it picks up and moves the trees, a lady in her Sunday best, the fragrance of a woman after I have seen her, a man with a hand in his pocket, the Robin again, I need to take some tips from this experience as I'll be recording in Ipswich Town Centre soon where I imagine there will be lots of passers by, I have done lots of urban recording before but not with film, and not for as long durations, Church bells but from further away than St.Botolphs, a motorbike, the Church bell of St.Botolphs, nearer with longer intervals whilst the further faster bells still play, here it sounds like a ‘Campanology Course for People with No Sense of Timing', a Jay, a cough, curious children, a man with crocs who says ‘Allo mate!' but wasn't talking to me, people wearing all black even though it is still really summery, a man with a striped t-shirt, a woman with a spotty dress, at first it was interesting that the soundscape was punctuated with a bell nearby and somewhat haphazard but now it's annoying that they haven't got any better and it hasn't formed in to a one note polyrhythmic masterpiece, the Robin's warning call, some lads being laddish, a woman with blue hair. Piece of Paper Under the arch Sheltering Then after 10 minutes Wheels across the path to the grass Someone let it go without screwing it up Which is rare Gave it a chance to leave To go on its own To seek sanctuary Within the confines of wherever the wind takes it We could all learn a lesson from that.

Another iconic retailer is calling it a day at its Queen Street store in Auckland, falling victim to changing times in the once vibrant CBD. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews James Burton, Founder and Managing Director of Percy Ellis, a Purpose-Built Rental development company, about the current real estate market and two interesting projects he is currently developing in Leslieville. James discusses the current state of the real estate market, particularly focusing on purpose-built rentals with some commentary on pre-construction condos.He explains that while the condo market has slowed significantly, the rental market remains relatively stable, especially in the lower to middle price points. James notes that economic conditions, including a challenging job market for young people, have affected higher-priced units but have not significantly impacted the lower-end market segment where they focus their business. He emphasizes that the longer-term nature of purpose-built rentals allows them to be less concerned with short-term market fluctuations, as the sale of units is not necessary to move a project forward. By understanding more permanent market trends, such as population growth and upcoming supply shortages, they can focus on what things will look like at the end of their projects rather than the beginning.James also discusses two rental development projects in Toronto's Leslieville neighborhood. Eastern Logan, located at the northeast corner of Eastern and Logan, is near the upcoming East Harbour transit hub, which will connect subway, GO train, and streetcar lines. The second project, Laing, is approximately one kilometer east of Eastern Logan, near Queen Street and Leslie. Both projects emphasize walkability and transit accessibility, with limited parking, reflecting Leslieville's urban lifestyle. The Eastern Logan project is also touched on and Brian closes the show with an outline of an opportunity for accredited investors to invest in a secured convertible debt security issued by The Eastern Logan project. 

The ASX 200 hit a new record high, up 36 points to 8881(0.4%) as the RBA cut rates as expected. Banks pushed higher with the Big Bank Basket at $284.55 (+0.6%), CBA on pause ahead of results tomorrow. ANZ the standout up 2.2% with other financials firm. ASX up 0.9% and insurers fighting back, QBE up 2.1% and SUN bouncing 2.9%. REITs were mixed but generally up, CHC up 0.8% and SGP up 0.2%. Industrials mixed, JBH bounced well on analyst reports, SGH fell hard on a disappointing outlook. XRO dropped 2.2% as tech went now here with the All-Tech Index up 0.2%. REA fell 0.5% with CAR up 5.0% on broker comments post results. BXB under a little pressure down 1.5%. Resources were mixed, lithium stocks gave back some of the gains from yesterday, LTR down 8.0% and PLS down 0.9%. Iron ore stocks better, BHP up 1.0% as futures in Asia remained firm, FMG up 1.2%. Gold miners mixed as the tariff chaos works through the market. Oil and gas stocks mildly higher, Uranium stocks fell again, DYL in deep red down 3.8%. Coal stocks better, WHC up 2.8%.In corporate news, SGH disappointed, SWM down 6.7% on results, 360 did well on results and a C-Suite change, SGR announced a new deal for Queen Street and rose 23.6%. OML appointed a new CEO from SBS. On the economic front, the RBA cut rates and remains cautious. Asia markets heading higher, Japan at record, up 2.2%, China up 0.5% and HK flat.10-year yields steady at 4.25% Want to invest with Marcus Today? The Managed Strategy Portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you. If you're looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.  Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

The play Nancy's Philosopher being staged by the Arkle Theatre Company, with Nicole Burnett Smith as Nancy Ord is on daily (not 10 August) at The Royal Scots Club.The story centres on a young woman who scandalised Edinburgh society by falling in love with the much older David Hume, historian and philosopher.David Black, the former journalist who write the play lives and works in Edinburgh and here he talks about the idea for the play and the story - which is set in the capital's Queen Street.

A reported 131,000 submissions were made on the Regulatory Standards Bill. The Bill, proposed by the ACT party, includes a set of principles outlining “responsible regulation.” Notably, it does not include any mention of either version of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Last weekend, hundreds of Destiny Church members marched on Queen Street in a rally that they called “in defence of faith, flag, and family.” And the Labour Party has criticised the framing of a poll question by the Taxpayers Union/Curia on whether or not Cook Islanders should retain automatic New Zealand citizenship.  For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.

New Zealand is attracting overseas investors who have the potential to bring in $845 million in new investments, the Government says. Since April, Immigration New Zealand has received 189 applications for the Active Investor Plus visa, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. The Government describes the new visa as the 'golden' visa. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour's comments to a London audience calling smokers “fiscal heroes” – and declaring people should “light up” to save their government's balance sheet – are reprehensible and make light of addiction, tobacco researchers say. When challenged today, he doubled downDonald Trump challenged with his own words around the war in Iraq and asked what's the difference with bombing Iran?Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki claimed Christianity was the “official religion of New Zealand” during a rally in central Auckland on Saturday afternoon. An estimated 500 church members gathered for the “Faith, Family, Flag” event, marching from Aotea Square to the bottom of Queen Street.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Greg Brady spoke to Harrison Lowman, Managing Editor The Hub about an injured woman he came across lying in a pool of her own blood at the front door of a clothing shop on Toronto's Queen Street. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Brady spoke to Harrison Lowman, Managing Editor The Hub about an injured woman he came across lying in a pool of her own blood at the front door of a clothing shop on Toronto's Queen Street. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's all over for Auckland's iconic department store Smith and Caughey's. Last year, the store permanently closed its Newmarket location and reduced its flagship Queen Street store to a single floor. Yesterday, the business announced it's shutting down completely after 145 years. Jessica Hopkins spoke to customers outside Smith and Caughey's who were shopping while they still can.

Isn't it cruelly, cruelly ironic that yesterday we were talking about just how tough it is in retail, and we have the news that after 145 years, Smith and Caughey's, the last of the great, grand department stores, famous for the high-end goods, the beautiful Christmas window displays, will close its doors for the final time by July 31st. Ninety-eight jobs will be lost, but it's more losing a bastion of retail, it goes beyond the closure of just the store. It survived two world wars and two severe depressions. It was battling online retail but then a “perfect storm” in 2024 and 2025 meant that it just couldn't carry on. Once it's gone, we won't be seeing the likes of that again. So ironic that we were talking just yesterday about the man from JLL saying we need more retail space, a quarter of a million more square metres of retail space over the next five years, and we were like really? How about filling the retail space that exists? That led into the conversation about just how tough it is selling stuff in this day and age. Mike Hosking was talking to Viv Beck of Heart of the City this morning, and they agreed that the changes made to the inner city had proved too difficult to navigate. “We hoped they'd be able to get through to the opening of the CRL and we have absolutely laid it out, clear as day, to both Auckland Council and Auckland Transport what they needed to do to reduce the barriers to get into the central city. And I think the lack of action is inexcusable. There are fundamental flaws in the way this is being managed, and it has to stop. “The reality is it's been an obsession with getting cars out. We've already lost 44% of them since 2015, and yet Auckland Transport seems to think fining people in our nighttime district in Queen Street is acceptable. But the reality is we've got so much good stuff and it is a positive future. The City Rail Link will make access easier, but we cannot tolerate this behaviour anymore. It has to stop.” There's so much that went wrong all at once, that so many businesses have been trying so hard to navigate and it's not just an Auckland. We're talking about Auckland right now, but look at Wellington and Hamilton as well. The inner cities are really struggling because of the ideological brain farts of city planners, because of the ideological bent to get vehicles out of the inner city without actually replacing them with any kind of decent public transport, because of Covid, because inner city hotels and motels were turned into waste stations for transients and waifs and strays making it an unappealing place to visit, because of online retail – there are so many reasons why it has been incredibly difficult. They're trying to hang on trying to hang on until the promise from these urban planners, the promises from the transport departments, the promises from the ideologues, that this is going to be a new and bright and beautiful future. That the streets are going to be teeming with throngs of happy people who are desperate to buy whatever it is you've got to buy. And so these businesses are hanging on by their fingernails. “Better days are coming. Better days are coming.” Well, some of them cannot hang on any longer, their fingernails are losing the grip in there, slowly scraping their way down the side of the wall. I was on Ponsonby Road yesterday and a fashion designer who's been on Ponsonby Road in the same store for 26 years, she's conceded defeat. She can't do it anymore, she said, she just can't. She's been waiting and waiting and waiting for things to come right and she's run out of money and run out of time. And again, it's the economy, it's Covid, it's the new employment relations rules, it's all of those things. And then just when things start to come right, along comes Trump. There's so much that's happening. But she also made the same comment that a lovely young woman from the New Zealand fashion powerhouse Zambezi made – Zambezi's not renewing its lease on Ponsonby Road. Both women said that along with all the difficult times they've experienced over the last five years, they said that their customer base had aged out and they weren't being replaced. That they were trying to reinvigorate their customer base, but the younger generation are just not interested in buying the more expensive New Zealand designed, New Zealand made fashion. The younger woman don't want to pay those prices. So, the kids may well bunk off school to take part in climate emergency protests, and they may well harangue the older generation for bequeathing them a world on fire, but they're not willing to settle for one outfit a year from a New Zealand designer when they could have 50 dresses from Temu. Rather than actually putting their money where their mouths are and not contributing to the ecological environmental climate change disaster of fast fashion, and rather than support New Zealand designers in New Zealand, machinists in New Zealand, pattern makers in New Zealand, they'll go and do their climate protests at lunchtime and then be home in time to make some clicks on Temu and Shein to get their fast fashion. You can see the mountain of fast fashion waste from space. And the kids could do something about it, but they choose not to. And that means that we're going to see more of these closures and more skills and crafts lost as the younger generation just don't care. So I don't think I'll be harangued by a young one about the state of the world anytime soon and take that lightly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the third-best machinery operator in the world (self-proclaimed but heavily decorated), Trev 966, joins the Proper True Yarn Podcast for a round of hard laughs and heavy yarns. From shaggy pickup lines and tiger-sized dreams to marble rings in Augathella and losing his virginity at a snail's pace, Trev doesn't hold back. There's guidepost carnage, fairway-crossing driving, and a trophy room overflowing with employee of the month awards. A lighthearted, piss-taking, Aussie-as chat with the king of the cab and the smoothest operator this side of Queen Street.#propertrueyarn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 1655th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with jazz singer Holly Cole about her career, the Queen Street scene of the 1980s, being big in Japan, Lilith Fair and more. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at mike@torontomike.com

What's in a name? For the Queen Street Hospitality Group, the restaurant, 82 Queen, and the location, 82 Queen Street, are front and center. Plus, 82 Queen was founded in 1982 – an alignment that makes things easy to remember. In this episode of Biz-eWerk, Jonathan Kish, CEO, shares his journey in the finance and restaurant industries, discussing the history of Queen Street Hospitality Group and his careerprogression from server to managing multiple restaurants. Highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced during the pandemic, as well as the importance of adaptability, hard work, and staying informed about industry trends and political factors affecting the business, Jonathan emphasizes the significance of staffing, employee benefits, and balancing expansion plans with economic factors in the restaurant industry.

On this episode of Snacky Tunes, host Darin Bresnitz sits down with two of his favorite voices in the LA restaurant scene—Ari Kolender and Joe Laraja of Found Oyster and Queen Street. They dive into the inspiration behind Queen Street, the Charleston-influenced seafood spot that's quickly become a local favorite, and what it's like running two standout restaurants at the same time.Ari also shares insights from his new cookbook, How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea, a must-have guide for cooking seafood at home. Whether you're grilling, shucking, or just getting started, this book demystifies the process and highlights sustainability in the kitchen.Then, we dip into the Snacky Tunes archives for a special performance from Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Prima, who stopped by the studio in 2017 to play tracks from her debut EP.For those looking to support LA restaurants, check out the Snacky Tunes Substack for donation links and action items. Also, a quick note: if you're looking to support the ongoing relief efforts for the LA fires, World Central Kitchen remains one of the best places to donate.Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world's top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It's an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Auckland's Council has signed off on the $15 million restoration of the St James Theatre on Queen Street. Owner Steve Bielby spoke to Alexa Cook.

Two people are recovering after being hit by falling derbis from a building on Auckland's Queen Street this morning. Both pedestrians were injured and taken to a nearby medical centre. Reporter Victor Waters was at the scene and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A large part of the footpath on lower Queen Street remains blocked off on Tuesday morning, after falling masonry injured two pedestrians on Monday. Reporter Finn Blackwell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Main streets across New Zealand are run-down and struggling, but we can look to Oxford Street for inspirationAfter years as a 'national embarrassment', Oxford Street is thriving. The realtor behind the revamp has advice for Auckland.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, January 21, discussing town news and events. He expanded on the recent issue with vultures congregating near Queen Street, including further feedback from the community and the potential timeline for the town to take action. He also previewed the upcoming meeting of the Hillsborough Town Board of Commissioners, where they will discuss residential zoning and the importance of maintaining a zoning balance, and more.  The post Hillsborough: Vultures, Snow, Housing appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

A man who caused more than £24,000 worth of damage to a Lamborghini parked in Ashford has been ordered to pay compensation.The 49-year-old had been having a drink at the Low Key Taproom in Queen Street when the expensive car was parked nearby.Also in today's podcast, a yellow weather warning for strong winds comes into force today and lasts until 6 on Sunday morning.Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of the season and is expected to bring damaging winds and heavy rain to some parts of the county.More than 30 people have been arrested as police crack down on county line dealers supplying drugs in Kent.Over the course of a week, £120,000 worth of illegal substances were seized - knives, knuckledusters and imitation firearms were also found.The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury has made his final speech in the House of Lords, saying it was 'clear' he had to stand down.Justin Welby is leaving over failures in the Church's handling of historical abuse cases.A group of children have recorded two, original Christmas songs to raise money for their choir.The Aylesford Community Youth Choir is struggling for funding and came up with the idea of releasing their music as a unique fundraiser. Hear from their musical director.In sport, the Kent man who has been chair of the British Olympic Association for the past eight years has told kmfm it's time London bid to host the Games again.Former Faversham MP Sir Hugh Robertson was the Olympics minister during London 2012.And in football, Gillingham welcome Salford City to Priestfield in league two this weekend.They'll be looking to bounce straight back from Wednesday night's disappointing 2-1 defeat at Bromley.

A Christmas tree going up in Te Komititanga Square, between lower Queen Street and the Waterfront is causing controversy due to the cost. Viv Beck from Heart of the City spoke to Alexa Cook.

In this 1568th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Adam Faux about Pigfarm, the Queen Street scene of the late-80s, and his current challenge with a Toronto university. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at mike@torontomike.com

Is it possible one of the great mistakes of the modern era has been made around our cities?  There are increasing areas of life in which the theory, the promise, or the dream is not only not coming to pass, but it's possible it never will  The EV industry globally is in a major state of flux. Any number of large producers have not only promised to stop selling engines by 2030-ish, they've now realised that's not real so have had to back track. But they've also realised that all the money they didn't spend on the next generation of engines has been lost and they now have to fill the gap.  Renewables are in a similar place. Larry Ellison this week told investors AI is so crazy when it comes to power consumption that they are building a data centre that will be run by three small nuclear reactors.  The world largely doesn't have such reactors right now and it certainly doesn't have the renewable capability to run data centres.  Then to downtown New Zealand. Reform of city centres was predicated on several theories; essentially, we wanted to save the planet while living like Europe.  What we have ended up with is downtown Auckland, downtown Tauranga, and downtown Wellington all, if not destroyed, certainly in a state no one is proud of.  As the bike lanes, bus lanes, and lack of parking has taken its toll, the businesses have closed, people have gone home to never come back, the malls have popped up in suburbia, and the CBD is shot to pieces.  We weren't Europe, aren't Europe, and never will be Europe.  Do we live in an age where the concept of the illusion, of what could be, is driven by the bandwagon of the day? Something the ideologues leap on board, with no real insight as to what might actually be required for it to come to pass?  It's driven by good intention but appalling planning, urged on by NGO's and the like who need a buzz phrase or agenda to keep pushing to maintain relevance and, often, funding. People who want to be on the perceived right side of the hot new trend, and it all comes at a huge cost.  These so-called downtown areas of tomorrow. Just when is tomorrow? When is Wellington going to be the pedestrian magnet, the cobbled hub?  When does Auckland wear itself out with all the new outlets opening in Queen Street?  When does Tauranga cut its umpteenth ribbon on the mecca that is the revitalised CBD, drawing fans from near and far?  Or was it simply a good picture on a whiteboard that will never in fact happen? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historic Auckland department store Smith and Caughey's is living to fight another day.   The 144 year old business announced in May it would close next year, but today revealed measures to let it stay open.  It will downsize physical trading to the ground floor of its Queen Street store, cut about 100 staff and close the Newmarket branch, and ramp up online operations.  Chair Tony Caughey told Mike Hosking that it won't be the scale it was before and it won't be the same sort of retail operation, but they think they can make a go of it.  He said they're shrinking their brick and mortar because they think it's appropriate for the market, so they'll see how the balance with online retail plays out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historic Auckland department store Smith & Caughey's is living to fight another day. The 144 year old business announced in May it would close next year - but today revealed measures to let it stay open. It will downsize physical trading to the ground floor of its Queen Street store, cut about 100 staff and close the Newmarket branch, and ramp up online operations. Chair Tony Caughey says the reality is fewer people shop in the city and they must adapt. "There'll be different ways of doing things - and I think it will evolve. We won't see the old days of how it was, but we'll see a new, different sort of Queen Street." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps Great Kyle Mills joins ACC Head G Lane & Manaia Stewart live from Hallensteins on Queen Street to rake over the coals of a disappointing T20 World Cup including where it all went wrong and who we should get in behind now that our team is out (0:00). Plus Kyle shares a couple of war stories from his playing time including Shane Bond's biggest regret and an ill-fated hunting trip on Heath Streak's farm (25:54)...Brought to you by Export Ultra - The Beer For Here!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The imminent closure of Queen Street's landmark department store, Smith & Caughey, Simon discusses the issues, which have led to this. 

Aucklands oldest department store Smith and Caughey's is set to close in 2025. The retail store on Queen Street has been a fixture for 144 years Jesse speaks with CEO of Auckland's Heart of the City; Viv Beck.

In this caffeine-loaded episode of The Common Creative podcast, hosts Chris Meredith and Paul Fairweather explore the stimulating connection between caffeine and creativity with guest Dean Merlo, the founder of Merlo Coffee. The discussion brews with insights into the impact of coffee culture on business innovation and how simple changes revolutionise consumer experience. Dean shares his journey from the practice of law to pioneering café culture in Australia, highlighting the importance of staying ahead of the crowd, As a young man, Dean spent some time in California and was inspired by the quality of the American service model. With restaurants well and truly in his genes, he followed the footsteps of both his father and grandparents and launched his first coffee shop on Queen Street. A little while later, frustrated with the quality of coffee he was sourcing, he decided to give roasting his own a crack. The rest, as they say, is history. LINKS: Dean Merlo- Special Guests Instagram  - http://www.instagram.com/merlocoffee Facebook  - http://www.facebook.com/merlocoffee YouTube    -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQycAuGuuwBJtpfnMqpIBXA Website     - https://www.merlo.com.au/ Paul Fairweather - Co-host https://www.paulfairweather.com Chris Meredith - Co-host https://www.chrismeredith.com.au Two Common Creatives https://www.twocommoncreatives.com/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready to dive into the world of comedy with us on the latest episode of The Wolf of Queen Street podcast! This week, I had the pleasure of hosting Edd Rivera, a Mexican comedian who's making waves in the NZ comedy scene. Join us as we unravel Edd's hilarious journey through comedy in NZ, from his best to his most brutal jokes. Get ready for some laughs as we discuss why people need to loosen up and embrace the humour around us. We'll also explore the differences between Mexico and New Zealand, how lucky we are to be in New Zealand, and much more. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation. Hit the 'Subscribe' button to stay tuned for more uplifting stories and insightful conversations!

Step into the world of Will Fleming with us on the latest episode of The Wolf of Queen Street podcast! This week, I was honored to host Will Fleming, an absolute legend and OG in the world of podcasting in NZ. Join us as we uncover Will's journey through his early podcast fame, trying to become a vlogger and he shares his riveting run in with Jordan Peterson. We delve into the power of talk therapy through podcasts. He shares a heartfelt story of recording his late mother's legacy with AI, known as ‘Ghost Mum' and how to make your loved ones go viral within your family for generations to come. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation. Hit the 'Subscribe' button to stay tuned for more uplifting stories and insightful conversations!

This week, I'm thrilled to welcome JP Robertson to The Wolf of Queen Street podcast! JP is the creative genius behind Word On The Street, known for his random public interviews, and part of the team at Matai Watches, offering a fresh perspective on marketing. Join us as we dive into JP's fascinating journey, from the inception of Word on the street to his innovative approach to marketing with Matai Watches. Tune in to discover how he got started, invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and a whole lot more! Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation. Hit the 'Subscribe' button to stay tuned for more uplifting stories and insightful conversations!

Let the legacy live one! New owner buys Queen street's Black Bull Tavern, a historic part of Toronto that was set to close for good just a few weeks ago. Host Alex Pierson speaks with Mitch MacDougall, director operations for the Score Pub Group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben is hungover after a mini housewarming jam seshIone embraces her new role as the Queen of Queen Street, the Woollahra Dostoyevski.To hear the rest of this episode, support our Substack for only $5/month!https://weirdertogether.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the world of wrestling with us on the latest episode of The Wolf of Queen Street podcast! This week, I was honored to host Sam "Spartan" Black, the IPW Heavyweight champion and a true icon in New Zealand's wrestling scene. Join us as we uncover Sam's remarkable journey, from secretly watching the WWE as an 8-year-old to rising through the ranks to become one of New Zealand's finest wrestlers.

Join Steve as he sits down with a few of the Lowcountry's best small business storytellers -- Liza Vilnitz of Beyond Trending, LaCrystal Robinson of Cre8orZone, and Michael Gasser of Squeeze Marketing.

Alex Pierson speaks with Sheryl Genser, who's dubbed herself the last vendor on Queen Street. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone! This is a bit unusual, but we wanted to share a cool event happening in Toronto on November 16 and 23, and if you stick around to the end of this, you'll get to hear a teaser for the next episode of Hi Nay - 34.2, Kapitbahay (Neighbor). Stay tuned!-Infidelity, sibling rivalries, undercover aliens—nothing says ‘luxury space travel' like a ‘fairly minor workplace accident'

Summer hiatus is outta here, so Jordan and Shapiro are back to answer audience questions and it's all Paris and San Sebastian reccommendations, Papa Cristos gyro, 818 Kismet Rotiss, coffee is healthy and Max doesn't care, Poltergierst at Button Mash, IG food reviewers, Michelin talk, the post-Animal tres leches game, weight loss and gain, more Beverly Center slander, L.A. sushi talk, Found Oyster vs. Queen Street, and the five hour boozed out Gjelina brunch.