Podcasts about Rotorua

Jenna Hastings joins The Ride Companion for an incredibly honest and hilarious conversation about life as a professional World Cup Racer. The Pivot Factory Racing rider and 2022 Junior Downhill World Champion opens up about the pressure of qualifying, questioning whether she can still ride a bike during World Cup practice and crying between Q1 and Q2 before fighting back to finish fifth in Andorra. Jenna explains why winning at Crankworx hasn't automatically translated into World Cup success, what separates the fastest women in downhill and why making a final can still feel like winning. She also reveals that she sometimes vomits inside her helmet! Away from racing, Jenna talks about growing up riding BMX in Rotorua, leaving school at 17 to pursue her dream, travelling overseas with Eddie Masters and joining Bernard Kerr's Pivot Factory Racing programme. She also shares what it's like living in a renovated caravan in Wales, chasing summers and building a future beyond professional racing. This is a real look inside the life and mind of one of the World's fastest bike racers. We hope you enjoy it and don't forget to leave a like and comment. Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Christopher Luxon: 8/10 Stared them down, again, and they folded like an umbrella. Chris Penk: 1/10 Not only did he get sucked in in the first place, he paid the ultimate price for a flop. Chris Bishop: 2/10 He can say what he likes, but we know. Erica Stanford: 3/10 She can say what she likes, if she was saying anything at all. Let's put it this way; if they ran the country like they ran a coup, we'd really be in trouble. Hipkins in Rotorua: 3/10 "Emergency housing got a bit out of control." Did it Chris? Honestly. And no apology? The guy is a robot. Trump in the food delivery truck: 8/10 And he takes Hegseth but leaves Rubio, Miller, and Bessent on board the old one with the blinds down. Who needs enemies? LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With speculation over his leadership swirling, National's Christopher Luxon is calling all National MPs to the capital for an urgent in-person caucus meeting tomorrow. He's just come off a fortnight defending his comments to Rotorua small businesses, his Foreign Minister telling a Chinese-born MP to go back where he came from, and announcing on live radio he wants a referendum on MMP - without having told his caucus. Political reporter Russell Palmer has the story.

Labour says small businesses are our economy's engine room, as the party launches a new election policy in Rotorua. It's campaigning on a $2 million annual fund to help smaller businesses adopt AI tools. It would also go into topping up an advisory group to help with AI use, and boosting mentoring and support. Leader Chris Hipkins says small businesses want to adapt to this new technology, and they want additional support to make this happen. "So that they can weigh up how AI could help them, what the risks of using AI could be - it's just levelling the playing field." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour says small businesses are our economy's engine room, as the party launches a new election policy in Rotorua. It's campaigning on a $2 million annual fund to help smaller businesses adopt AI tools. It would also go into topping up an advisory group to help with AI use, and boosting mentoring and support. Leader Chris Hipkins says small businesses want to adapt to this new technology, and they want additional support to make this happen. "So that they can weigh up how AI could help them, what the risks of using AI could be - it's just levelling the playing field." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's a critical juncture in the run up to November's election. National will set its party list, meaning those MPs who either aren't standing in an electorate or are unlikely to win an electorate seat will be keenly waiting to see the numbers next to their names. If the current polling trends don't improve, National's in line to lose something in the vicinity of ten or eleven MPs from its caucus. Perhaps even more concerning to the party than the total number of MPs who'd be lost, is the experience under threat. MMP maths always makes this a bit of a tricky equation, but even if the party loses several of the electorate seats it currently holds, very few MPs are likely to get in on the list. Perversely, the party might find itself quietly hoping to lose more electorates in order to protect some of its most senior ministers. In an absolute worst-case scenario, any or even all of Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop, Gerry Brownlee, and Paul Goldsmith could be gone. A result like this would be devastating for National, even if the party is returned to government. Just consider for a moment the influence ACT and NZ First have been able to exert in the coalition this term, and now imagine a significantly smaller National caucus without some of its most senior and experienced Cabinet ministers. The list rankings are surely a bit of a penny-drop moment for members of the caucus. Unlike many of my media colleagues, I haven't thrown myself into frenzied speculation over Christopher Luxon's future at every opportunity, but as many have already noted, this was among his worst weeks as Prime Minister. Some will say his patronising comments to the Rotorua business audience and his off-the-cuff musings in this studio over the future of MMP were simply communication gaffs from a Prime Minister who by his own admissions, isn't always as strong a communicator as some of his predecessors. The problem with that of course, is that communication is such a big part of the job. Not just speaking to media, but speaking to voters, and being aware of how your communication is received. The thing I found most interesting about the Rotorua comments was that the PM apparently lacked the EQ to see that his bland, empty corporatese-riddled answer wasn't landing. Not only that, but his office doubled down. They released the transcript. And only when that garnered even more of a backlash did they pull back and apologise. The same thing could be said of his MMP referendum. It's hard not to be left with the impression that at times he lacks an instinct for understanding how his comments will land. And in an election campaign where those skills are going to be continuously tested, it constitutes a not insignificant liability. As National confirms its list rankings, the question isn't simply if Christopher Luxon can lead the party to an election result that allows them to form a government, it's what that government looks like. And whether the party risks being so diminished in coalition that it's a win in name only. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Luxon's MMP vote a stroke of genius to avoid an otherwise problematic week? His apology for Rotorua was a cluster, the Māorification issues that haven't been resolved despite all the talk, the Corrections massages, MBIE, Treasury love-ins, the Justice Department cock-up on the Harrison bloke, and the unemployment rate to the upside – it's all looked like very bad news. But then out of nowhere, "let's have a look at the entire way we elect Governments". It makes sense to the extent we are going to vote on four-year terms anyway. But here is your trouble with revisiting MMP; it's been too long between drinks. There is an entire generation of voters, and I include my kids, who have never known anything else. Constitutional change needs to be debated when an obvious issue has arisen i.e. Governments keep falling over and we lack stability, or we have recently had the debate and the ideas are still fresh in our minds. Neither scenario is in play here. Making it also problematic for the first-past-the-posters is Labour 2020-2023. They were an FPP Government and an example of why you would not in a million years let a single party near anything. Good parties take you good places. Ardern and Hipkins blew the place up. Is that a result of FPP or a singular example of incompetence? And do you want to run that risk? Obviously the counter is, on balance, our small players have not proved to be wonderful representatives of the broad idea that MMP brings wider representation. The representation they have brought is more calamity and chaos, than insight and brain power. The Māori Party have imploded, again, the Greens are insane and quite possibly dangerous, and not really "green", and New Zealand First are racists and stirrers. Having said that, if we insist on MMP overall, this current Government is the first full example of the art i.e. three parties in a full arrangement. It's been executed pretty well so Luxon comes off a strange run-up, given he's conducted it professionally and successfully. If you want to run a book it was 58% for MMP last time. I reckon it would be even more this time. And that's from a person who, push comes to shove, would probably vote FPP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has not seen jobless numbers like this for a decade. Bernard Hickey of the Kākā joins Toby to talk through the latest quarterly numbers, the reality they reflect, whether there is something brighter on the horizon, and how they fit with the mood Christopher Luxon encountered in Rotorua the other day.Plus: In How Good, Tara Ward gives her verdict on the new NZ television drama Ms X.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week so far. Labour has received more details on National's social media ban bill – how are they feeling about it now? They also discussed the now-paused plan to roll Rongoa Māori health services to all prisons, including traditional massages, and Christopher Luxon's comments to Rotorua business owners. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's mayor says Chris Luxon doesn't need to feel sorry, after igniting backlash for comments at a local business event. The Prime Minister last week told business owners they have a parent-child mentality, and too often ask the Government for help. Yesterday he backtracked, saying that was wrong and didn't acknowledge the challenges many face. But Tania Tapsell says Luxon was right on the money and his comment was taken out of context. "Yes, times are tough - but actually, don't rely on the Government to be bailing you out. And I 100 percent agree with that, because, we don't need to keep getting into debt, we need to make sure we're innovating." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two types of people in the world. There are the ones who think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon shouldn't be apologising for what he said to business owners at a meeting in Rotorua the other day. And there are the ones who think he should. And I'm one of them. Because what he said was so dismissive and so tone deaf, that he had no other option but to apologise. Which he did yesterday. What happened, is the Prime Minister was at a business breakfast in Rotorua organised by the local Chamber of Commerce. Which, you would think, would be the type of gathering where there'd be absolutely no chance of him putting his foot in it. Because business people are his people, aren't they? But he did. And, quite rightly, he has apologised. Because if I was one of those business owners at that event, I would be furious. It happened when the Rotorua Business Chamber's Melanie Short stood up and said the city had experienced the “sharpest fall” in business confidence in almost a decade. She said: “The affordability of doing business, it's getting harder and harder. How long can we hang on?” Christopher Luxon, though, wasn't having any of that sort of talk. He told her that her view was “quite negative”. He said New Zealand businesses needed to move away from a “parent-child mentality” of waiting to see what the government is going to do for them. “Who cares what the government will think or do?”, he said. Which I thought was a staggering comment to make, considering he is the leader of a political party that bangs on all the time about National being the party for business people. Thankfully, the Chamber of Commerce boss wasn't going to be shut down and went on to tell him about the Chamber's Business Pulse survey, that's done twice a year. She told him that the latest survey had found optimism among members in relation to where the economy is going had dropped 62 percent. And that members' confidence in their own businesses had dropped 43 percent. And that they were absorbing a lot of the rising costs they're dealing with, rather than passing them on. Because business is down enough, without giving customers more reasons not to buy their products or use their services. But Luxon was having none of it. He told the people in the room that, if they weren't “retooling and radically disrupting” their businesses then “you ain't doing your job”. He said he knew the reality of running a business. And said when he was, “the last person I wanted to ever talk to as a CEO was the government.” He said: “I'm a business person. I'm building a kick-ass company that actually has commercially superior returns, great customer experience and awesome internal culture.” And he went on to say that, when he returned to New Zealand after working overseas, he found that business people here had a “parent-child mentality” and were too hung up on what the government was going to do for them rather than just getting on with it. He said: “Who cares what the government thinks or does? Our job is to be adult, adult, adult”. Telling his audience to “go out there and smack it and go create the road”. Over the weekend, his office was complaining that his comments hadn't been reported accurately. But, by late yesterday, he realised he'd put his foot in it and apologised. As he had to do. Because, even though he's a former chief executive of Air New Zealand and even though he's had very senior roles with Unilever in Canada and the U.S., Christopher Luxon has never done what most of those people in that business breakfast have done. He has never started or owned his own business. He's been the highest paid employee of some big business organisations, but he's got no experience of opening or running a business of his own. Particularly, a small business. Which most businesses in this country are. Which, apparently, are best represented by the party Christopher Luxon leads. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is in damage control mode after telling struggling business owners in Rotorua to “be adult”. Christopher Luxon made the remarks at a business event, and they’ve sparked a fierce backlash. He’s since had to apologise after being labelled out of touch and patronising. So, is this a gaffe that’ll keep haunting him, or just a bad week in a challenging political environment? And what does it say about how the Government sees its role in supporting or stepping back from struggling businesses? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Chief Political Reporter Jamie Ensor joins us to break down how National’s caucus is reacting, and what next. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A friend of mine said to me the other day, “do you have the cliff notes of Labour's policies going into the election? I haven't heard much from Chris Hipkins.” I said, “well, you haven't heard much from Chris Hipkins because he doesn't need to say much.” The best tactic for Labour right now, and they've they copped onto that very early, was to stay shtum and let National and its coalition partners do their very best to lose the election. Christopher Luxon's suck it up cupcake to business owners in Rotorua and then the subsequent apology was yet another case of him having to explain himself. “I didn't mean it like that, you know what I'm saying.” He's done it so many times before. He did it with the bottom feeders comment, he did it with the sorted comment. He doesn't mean it, but it comes across badly, it's mischaracterised, it's misrepresented, he has to explain himself, and when you're explaining, you're losing. He doesn't trust journalists because he feels he's misrepresented, mischaracterised, misspoke every time he opens his mouth, but then that makes it very difficult to get the message across that National is the best party to lead the country. Why should Hipkins open his mouth? He'll only cop flak every time he does. Far better to stay shtum. He doesn't need to say anything. And it's Luxon's inability to connect with the public. One on one, he's absolutely fine as anyone who has met him can attest. As an orator, yeah, not so much. It's costing National. I mean, look at Jacinda Ardern. She was able to sell us a whole bunch of nothing in 2017, and then during Covid was able to sell us a whole bunch of draconian, and then increasingly odd, nonsensical rules that people, a lot of people just swallowed. And that was because she had the ability to communicate and connect. It's a shame that personalities play such a big part in politics, but that's the reality. Always has been. If you go back to the fourth Labour Government, David Lange was selected, elected, voted in as a leader because he could sell incredibly divisive and game changing and society changing policies to the electorate. You had a group of people who were working very hard on completely transforming New Zealand, and he was sold to the New Zealand public as “you can trust me, nothing can go wrong while I'm in charge”, and people believed it. They would never have got away with introducing as many of the radical policies that they introduced without having a brilliant communicator at the helm. When I read Sir Ian Taylor's opinion piece in Stuff this morning, I thought, yeah, I could have written this myself, but I didn't, and I probably wouldn't have written it as well. But I am so exactly like Sir Ian Taylor, apart from the brilliant creative and millionaire bit – I'm just nodding along as I'm reading it. Like Sir Ian, for most of my life, I have been a centre left voter. Like Sir Ian, I too turned off them in Covid when their ability to deliver on the most basic of the policies became abundantly clear and that there were a bunch of numpties trying to put legislation in place. Like Sir Ian, I found National MPs were willing to listen and they were coming up with good sound policy they'd been working on in Opposition. I liked many of their would-be ministers and I really hoped that by voting centre right, we'd find a clear path through the mess that had been left behind. But then along came ACT and New Zealand First, and as Sir Ian says, and I quote, “I was left with the uncomfortable realisation that my vote had helped create a coalition increasingly shaped by minority party ideologies that ran directly against many of the things I believed in.” Amen, Sir Ian, that's exactly how I feel. I'm okay with with centre right, but with those divisive policies from ACT and now —now that it's election year— from New Zealand First, they don't sit well with me. And that's why people are looking at TOP and that's why Sir Ian says he's listening. I know their policies are ill thought out and poorly costed, but so are New Zealand First's. And if I'm going to have a difficult minor party in a coalition or sitting on the benches, I'd rather have young people there than a bunch of old men who represent self-interest and dog whistle politics. How on earth can you have Winston Peters doing a brilliant job as Foreign Affairs Minister and then he turns into a foaming racist in election year? If he was racist to his core, you'd be like, okay, well, he's a rac, but he's not. He's just appealing to racists because he knows that's where he'll get his votes. He knows that there will be a lot of people who vote for New Zealand First because they don't like others. I mean, probably as far as I'm concerned, reason will prevail. I'm doing the whichparty.nz almost weekly, which helps you sort out who to vote for. I'm looking at the ministers in the Coalition Government and comparing them to their counterparts on the left, and the vast majority of government ministers are head and shoulders above the alternative in my mind. But I do not think I have ever felt less inspired, less hopeful about an election, ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has apologised for his remarks to businesses, admitting it has been a tough time for them. Christopher Luxon told a business audience in Rotorua last week that there was a parent-child relationship between businesses and government and they should be more adult. He now says he could have expressed himself better. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Rotorua Business Chamber at the centre of comments the Prime Minister has now apologised for says it hopes there's some genuine reflection behind the apology. Lillian Hanly reports.

Christopher Luxon says he got it wrong when addressing Rotorua businesses, that he expressed himself poorly, and is genuinely sorry if he offended anyone. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The prime minister got a shock when he saw the media coverage of his breakfast meeting with Rotorua businesspeople – it talked of him scolding them about a “parent-child mentality” in government-business relations, urging “adult” behaviour and recounting his own attitude in Chicago corporate life. So his office issued a transcript of the exchange, which didn't much help. Duncan Greive, founder of The Spinoff, joins Toby (with a cameo from Claude AI) to discuss the PM's communication challenges, and his ongoing struggle to take any grip of the narrative.(Since this podcast was recorded, Luxon has apologised for the remarks.)Plus: In How Good, Te Aihe Butler on the old tech that is healing his brain.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Prime Minister's says he believed he had a good robust chat with the Rotorua Business Chamber last week, but that doesn't minimise his apology for comments he made. Chris Luxon responded to a question over the city's struggles, saying businesses had a 'parent child mentality' and need to be more adult. Today he's apologised, saying he got it wrong, and he's sorry if he caused offence. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says this apology has raised questions from Labour, who claimed it wasn't 'convincing'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon's standing by his comments telling struggling business owners to take more responsibility for themselves. The National Party leader told a Rotorua business function on Friday to not rely on the government and "be adult, be adult, be adult", responding to a question about the city's struggling economy. He says the previous Labour government had treated business with a "parent-child mentality" - and that he didn't wait for the Government when he was a business leader. Luxon told Mike Hosking that his government's trying to empower businesses. He says they've partnered with businesses through the fuel crisis, which is different to Labour's approach of dictating to businesses through Covid. LISTEN ABOVE Below is the transcript of the prime minister's full response to the question at the event, provided to Newstalk ZB by his office. "I think that's a negative view, to be honest. Like we're entrepreneurs and business people, and I get it. You know, if you're not retooling and radically disrupting your business, you ain't doing the job. "You know, you have to disrupt yourself aggressively before you get disrupted by global events, and if you keep thinking you want the same business model, the same customer mix, the same margin structure, you know you've got to be retooling and refinancing and rehoming, and that's just the reality of business people all around the world. "So, my job is to make sure I'm setting up the conditions for you to be able to go create that growth. And I think some of the subtext and assumption in your question is that...I think in New Zealand I'll be honest with you as a business person who was... I sat in Illinois for six years in Chicago, and the last person I wanted to ever talk to as a CEO was the government. I didn't sit there in Chicago saying I wonder what the government thinks and I wonder what they're doing to help me for my business? Can I get some grant money to do something? No, no, I'm a business person. "I'm building a kick-ass company that actually has commercially superior returns, great customer experience, and awesome internal culture. That is the job of what makes a great company, not a good one, a great one. And so that was my mentality. "Come home to New Zealand, and there's a parent-child mentality. I have literally sat in boardrooms across New Zealand, and the conversation goes: 'I wonder what the government's going to do? I wonder what the government's going to think?' "Who cares what the government thinks or does? Our job is to be adult, adult, adult. The business leaders, the political leaders, and the community leaders working together, doing things differently. I set up the operating system. You go out there and smack it and go create the road, and the community leaders see the pain, the hurt, the need, and the frustration, and the three actors do different things but complementary things to deal with the challenges and the opportunities. "So I still think there's a little bit of.... okay, so in this chamber, how many of you are actually using Claude or Claude code? Okay great. How many sessions has the chamber run to help you understand that? Is that your number one focus right here, right now? Because that is going to disrupt your businesses, and it's a huge opportunity for you to do exceptionally well off the back of it. "So how do we collectively lift our SME literacy on something like AI as a result? So I'm just pushing back to say my job is to set the conditions up. We're getting spending under control. We're getting inflation back into the band. We're at 2.9 percent, strip out the fuel pieces. We've got growth coming in. And that creates opportunity."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 3rd of July, policy announcements up the wazoo and a chat with Dame Noeline Taurua after a redemption gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. The Prime Minister defends his business comments in Rotorua, responds to NZ First's plan to increase the birth rate and talks fast-track projects causing angst. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the value of the Commonwealth Games, the Warriors win and whether the NPC was a success over the weekend. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you see the news Prime Minister's pep talk to business leaders on Friday? The business chamber boss said Rotorua's had its sharpest fall in business confidence in a decade, and business are wondering how long they can actually stay in business. Luxon's reply is what got people talking. A friend sent it to me and said, 'David Brent strikes again'. He said the following: "I think that's a negative view, to be honest. Like we're entrepreneurs and businesspeople, and I get it. You know, if you're not retooling and radically disrupting your business, you aren't doing the job. "You know, you have to disrupt yourself aggressively before you get disrupted by global events... He then goes on to talk about his time running Unilever Canada. "I sat in Illinois for six years in Chicago, and the last person I wanted to ever talk to as a CEO was the government.... Can I get some grant money to do something? No, no, I'm a businessperson.... "I'm building a kick-ass company that actually has commercially superior returns, great customer experience, and awesome internal culture. That is the job of what makes a great company, not a good one, a great one.... Now the problem here is not what he's saying. What he's saying has a lot of truth to it. It's the way he's saying it. His tone. It's a bit off and bit off-putting. Trump does these sorts of bits well because he's funny. He's so outrageous, it's entertaining. This is like some sort of David Brent/Tony Robbins mash up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon's standing by his comments telling struggling business owners to take more responsibility for themselves. The National party leader told a Rotorua business function on Friday to "be adult", responding to a question about the city's struggling economy. He says they had a "parent-child mentality" - and that he didn't wait for the Government when he was Air NZ's CEO. Luxon told Mike Hosking that his government's trying to empower businesses. He says they've partnered with businesses through the fuel crisis, which is different to Labour's approach of dictating to businesses through Covid. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Rotorua business leader told Prime Minister Christopher Luxon about the city's struggling economy at a function, prompting the PM to tell business owners to 'be adult'. Luxon was in Rotorua last week with appointments including the recent Business Chamber Westpac Smarts Breakfast. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says Luxon's comments have prompted outrage, with Labour condemning him for 'lecturing' business owners about the state of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Rotorua business leader told Prime Minister Christopher Luxon about the city's struggling economy at a function, prompting the PM to tell business owners to 'be adult'. Luxon was in Rotorua last week with appointments including the recent Business Chamber Westpac Smarts Breakfast. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says Luxon's comments have prompted outrage, with Labour condemning him for 'lecturing' business owners about the state of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two, Rotorua locals are rallying to save the city's Prince's Gate Archway before "irreversible" work is done to take it down. It has deteriorated to the point where it may no longer be able to safely remain in place in its current state. Then, Pauline Gilroy in Tai Rawhiti has seamlessly blended Line dancing and kapa haka. How and why? the panel finds out.

A collective dedicated to bringing back North Island Kokako to our forests swooped into Rotorua last weekend. The group discussed new research, conservation efforts and ongoing threats to the species. Attendees included DoC staff, scientists, and volunteers from across the North Island. As well as enjoying the meet up, they got to view a yet unreleased Kokako documentary which traces decades of conservation efforts. Department of Conservation's Rhys Burns is the leader of the Kokako Recovery Group, he joins Jesse.

Rotorua's mayor believes councils are racking up hefty insurance bills looking after artwork in storage. A Taxpayers' Union report finds councils across the country are sitting on $1.12 billion worth of art. It finds more than 71 thousand art pieces are owned by local government, with only 33% of the works on public display. Mayor Tania Tapsell told Mike Hosking having it in storage is money on a balance sheet that could be invested elsewhere. She says the cost of insurance alone would be enough to deliver the hydro slides she wants for her community. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ultra marathon runner is going the distance, fundraising for children living with disabilities so they can hopefully move more freely. Hawkes Bay runner, Andrew McCrory, is raising money for a Rotorua centre that specialises in intensive therapy for children with neurological disabilities and disorders, including cerebral palsy. His next big run is the 320km Great Naseby Water Race in August. Andrew McCrory spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Rotorua teenager is rolling in the success of an ice cream business that started as a school project. Izzy Talbot launched Izzys ice cream in March, The ice cream truck serves real fruit ice cream made from local ingredients. The 18 year old made the decision to to turn her project into reality rather than head to university straight out of school. Izzy Talbot spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Azura, Charlie and Hadz will discuss something new, something old & something borrowed alongside the question master. This week, Hadz reveals an almost catastrophic moment in a Rotorua gym, Charlie talks about his wife taking up a career as a model, and Azura gets caught red handed by a Warriors player. For more, follow our socials: Instagram Facebook TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our new weekly segment where we discuss the issues that have been in the news over the past week or so. Joining Emile this week is Victoria University's Dr Lara Greaves, from somewhere between Rotorua and Auckland is comedian and commentator Tim Batt and from the heart of Feilding is FSU member and commentator Dane Giraud.

Querida comunidad hoy nos vamos a Rotorua, el rincón más vibrante y fascinante de Nueva Zelanda. Ya somos más de un millón de reproducciones en esta aventura y hemos superado los 1.300 episodios. Este podcast es tuyo y mío; gracias por hacerlo posible.

Kelly discusses the latest including the two housing projects opened in Rotorua after both almost went bust. 

A major new music festival is set for Rotorua in January, with hopes of it going international. New Zealand reggae band L.A.B and their record label Loop have launched '8th Wonder'. The one-day family friendly event is expected to attract 10 thousand people to the lakefront, showcasing Kiwi talent. L.A.B's Frontman Joel Shadbolt told Mike Hosking the aim is to go big after the initial show. He says they want to take Aotearoa music to the world – they'd love to see something like this go off in places like Hawaii. 8th Wonder will take place in Rotorua on the 23rd of January, 2027 – the line up consisting of L.A.B, Sir Dave Dobbyn, Te Wehi, Aaradhna, Betty-Anne (Ardijah), Corrella, Che Fu and The Kratez, The Elovaters, Ladi6, and Son & Water. Tickets are on sale from 12pm tomorrow at 8thwonder.live. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairies have been named as the primary outlet for an illegal tobacco ring, now busted. The Illicit Tobacco Action Group has run a six-month op - seizing more than 1.3 million cigarettes, $170,000 in cash, and arresting five across Rotorua, Waikato and Auckland. Officers conducted 21 searches at eight outlets and six homes across Rotorua, Waikato and Auckland. Customs' Terry Brown says they caught a mix of retail outlets, distributors and storage areas. "We remain very hopeful that evidence, particularly forensic evidence, will give us a steer towards the import supply chain." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob and Jenny Vance train a very small team at Ardmore in Auckland but boast a healthy strike rate with a Gr 1 win already on the board. I have vivid recollections of Bob winning the 1993 W.S Cox Plate on The Phantom Chance- the first of five Cox Plates I got to call for the Nine Network. Just three years after winning the famous Moonee Valley feature, Bobby Vance decided to call time on his stellar riding career and join his wife Jenny in the training ranks. Swedish born Jenny Moller had also enjoyed a very successful career in the saddle. We tracked Bob down last week and he agreed to join us on this week's podcast. He begins by talking of the Ardmore training complex and says he and Jenny run the operation unassisted. He reflects on the thrill of a Gr 1 training win at Te Rapa in 2021 with an expat Hong Kong galloper. Bob looks back on he and Jenny's initial reaction when daughter Maija announced her intention to become a jockey. He talks of Maija's immediate success in NZ and a subsequent five year stint in Australia. The former ace jockey talks of Maija's switch to jumps riding and the career ending injuries she sustained in a crash at Rotorua. Bob says he was watching the race on TV in Auckland and knew instantly Maija was in serious trouble. He talks of his daughter's horrific injury list and her amazing recovery over a period of years. Maija is now training in tandem at Cambridge with partner Josh. Bobby looks  back on childhood days in Auckland and a work experience stint with a legendary Ellerslie trainer. When the time was right for Bob to be signed up as an apprentice jockey he had to go all the way to Matamata. He was required to go to school when stable chores were completed. Bob looks back on a very unhappy episode in his life.  He remembers the stroke of good fortune that led him to an apprenticeship with legendary Takanini horseman Colin Jillings. He was there for the duration of his junior term and beyond. The Jillings/Vance partnership soon reached dizzy heights with the ongoing success of star galloper Uncle Remus. Bob looks back on his 4 win haul in the prestigious NZ Derby. He pays tribute to the training skills of Colin Jillings whose passing in 2022 saddened the entire NZ racing industry. Bob remembers with affection his two Auckland Cup wins. Vance makes special mention of another great favourite Mr. McGinty (his name whenever he raced in Australia). He's never forgotten the colt's Sydney debut and a defeat of “boom  colt” Marscay. He literally won the race on three legs. Bob reflects on Mr. McGinty's amazing comeback and a swag of Gr 1 victories as a three year old. He talks of McGinty's subsequent success at the stud. The former jockey talks of multiple premiership wins at home. Bob looks back on a wonderful association with The Phantom Chance and that dominant Cox Plate win in 1993.  Bob had been retired three years when invited by the VRC to participate in a non betting event at Flemington against some legendary former champion riders. He enjoyed the experience. He gives a special “shout out” to mum Ronnie who's still going strong in NZ. This is a nostalgic journey with one of New Zealand's best riders from the 80's and 90's.    

Poachers are allegedly pilfering trout at a popular fishing spot in Ngongotaha near Rotorua, and it's making some locals pretty mad. A fishing club there says the culprits are fishing outside of legal hours, using illegal methods and exceeding limits. NGO Trout Fishing Club founder Simon Aston spoke to Lisa Owen.

Last week, Kevin Milne was sent a parking infringement notice from the Rotorua District Council. He had some questions, given he lives in Wellington and he wasn't anywhere near Rotorua at the time of the incident. What's really going on here? He joined Jack to give an update. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourists are spending up large as a visa waiver trial yields results. Chinese and Pacific travellers have injected around $215 million into the economy over the last six months after visa changes eased access to New Zealand. These tourists can skip applying for a visitor visa if they already hold an Australian one, as part of a 12-month trial launched in November. Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Mike Hosking it's bringing huge benefits and should be made permanent. She says Chinese tourists spend around $6,000 each on average when they visit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two, a new Nelson cycleway could take the place of 200 carparks. Councillor Mel Courtney shares his concerns. Then, how would you fancy a goat toastie? That's what's on the menu at Mr Wolf eatery in Rotorua for a nationwide toastie competition.

In part two, while NZ weighs up election year tax policies being proposed by political parties, Australia's changes to its Capital Gains Tax might have businesses looking across the ditch. Then, get your skates on for the high-speed spectacle sport: Roller Derby. North Island are heading to Rotorua soon for a tournament. Sulphur City Steam Rollers coach Layla Robinson has the details.

Mayors of some of New Zealand's biggest tourist centres are calling on political parties across the spectrum to support a proposal for national accommodation levy. Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell spoke to John Campbell

A fresh push for a nationwide bed tax has been launched by Regional Tourism New Zealand. Its proposal would see a small, user-pays tax for stays at hotels and Airbnbs, with the money going toward events and tourism infrastructure. The plan has the backing of several mayors including those of Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown. Regional Tourism New Zealand Chair Andrew Wilson Mike Hosking that none of them want to see tourism growth curtailed, which means any charge needs to be modest. He says part of the reason they're calling for a single national approach is so guardrails can be put in place to make sure the charge remains modest over time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne was recently sent a parking infringement notice from Rotorua. Only thing is, Kevin lives in Wellington, and hadn't been anywhere near Rotorua at the time of the supposed crime. So is it a scam? A mistake? Either way, he's decided not to pay for it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three new non-stop Air New Zealand flights launching later this year will connect Christchurch directly to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo. But will the resurgence of Christchurch see tourists skipping over the North Island to get there? Debbie Robertson, is the general manager of Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, an iwi-owned, luxury wellness spa on the Rotorua lakefront. Robertson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Public Service Commissioner on cuts, mergers and AI shift; Wellington Lions player on joining NZ Police force; AI consultancy chief on public sector overhaul and AI use; Sir Graeme Dingle on investing in young people's futures; Rotorua operators fear tourists may skip North Island

Kelly discusses the $3.6 million in taxpayer funded repairs to emergency housing. She explains how the new average speed camera zone will work along with talking about an alleged nang coverup in connection with a fatal bus crash and Rotorua Boys High welcoming home its rugby heroes.

This is our NEW RELEASE review podcast, ONE HOT TAKE.Josh Lawson's Kano cuts through the confusion like a live wire. He mocks the film from within, turning every line into a pressure-release valve, and, in doing so, becomes the only consistent source of energy. Synopsis:The fan favourite champions -- now joined by Johnny Cage himself -- are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.Garth FranklinOne of the very first online entertainment journalists, Sydney-based Garth Franklin has clocked up more hours, stories and experience in this field than the entire staff of various other sites combined. Respected and well-regarded amongst his peers, Franklin created and designed the very first Dark Horizons® incarnation on geocities.com back in April 1996 and has steered it through at least four major re-designs, two recessions, hundreds of interviews, thousands of screenings, and tens of thousands of articles.Garth's work over the twenty plus years has taken him all over the globe to places like Auckland, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Bangkok, Baton Rouge, Berlin, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Harare, Hwange, Honolulu, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Nadi, Naples, New York City, Paris, Perth, Prague, Rome, Rotorua, San Diego, San Francisco, Siem Reap, Singapore, Surfer's Paradise, Suva, Toronto, Vancouver, Venice and Wellington. He has regular consulted with and/or worked alongside publicists, managers, producers, studio VPs, agents, filmmakers and celebrities in the US, UK, Europe and Australia.Franklin, who is also a ‘Top Critic' on Rotten Tomatoes and member of the Australian Film Critics Association, has also contributed columns for several outlets including Empire Magazine Australia, Cinescape Magazine and AOL, served as a film critic on both Foxtel's Channel V and ABC Radio 702 with Angela Catterns, contributed content or towards pieces for numerous outlets ranging from IGN to USA Today to the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.One Heat Minute ProductionsWEBSITE: oneheatminute.comTWITTER: @OneBlakeMinute & @OHMPodsMERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/en-au/stores/one-heat-minute-productionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kei te hia-hia he kawhe? Do you fancy a coffee? These might be some of the kupu or words people will hear at a Rotorua cafe that has made the decision to go full Maori immersion. Customers will be supported to give Te Reo Maori a go, but English won't be spoken at Rumaki Cafe. Rumaki's executive director, Miraka Davies, wants to see more everyday spaces where people can practice and speak Te Reo Maori. Davies spoke to Lisa Owen.

This is our NEW RELEASE review podcast, ONE HOT TAKE.In its strongest passages, APEX becomes spatial. Crevasses, cliff faces, narrow passages — the geography tightens, and with it the tension.Synopsis:A mountain climber haunted by a fatal decision in Norway retreats to the Australian wilderness for isolation. Her journey turns into a desperate hunt when a deceptive local targets her as his next ritualistic prey in the bush.Garth FranklinOne of the very first online entertainment journalists, Sydney-based Garth Franklin has clocked up more hours, stories and experience in this field than the entire staff of various other sites combined. Respected and well-regarded amongst his peers, Franklin created and designed the very first Dark Horizons® incarnation on geocities.com back in April 1996 and has steered it through at least four major re-designs, two recessions, hundreds of interviews, thousands of screenings, and tens of thousands of articles.Garth's work over the twenty plus years has taken him all over the globe to places like Auckland, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Bangkok, Baton Rouge, Berlin, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Harare, Hwange, Honolulu, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Nadi, Naples, New York City, Paris, Perth, Prague, Rome, Rotorua, San Diego, San Francisco, Siem Reap, Singapore, Surfer's Paradise, Suva, Toronto, Vancouver, Venice and Wellington. He has regular consulted with and/or worked alongside publicists, managers, producers, studio VPs, agents, filmmakers and celebrities in the US, UK, Europe and Australia.Franklin, who is also a ‘Top Critic' on Rotten Tomatoes and member of the Australian Film Critics Association, has also contributed columns for several outlets including Empire Magazine Australia, Cinescape Magazine and AOL, served as a film critic on both Foxtel's Channel V and ABC Radio 702 with Angela Catterns, contributed content or towards pieces for numerous outlets ranging from IGN to USA Today to the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.One Heat Minute ProductionsWEBSITE: oneheatminute.comTWITTER: @OneBlakeMinute & @OHMPodsMERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/en-au/stores/one-heat-minute-productionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy