Podcast appearances and mentions of sunny kaushal

The Police Commissioner has stepped in and canned a controversial directive telling officers not to investigate retail crimes below certain monetary thresholds. Retail Crime Group chair Sunny Kaushal spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

“Don't sweat the small stuff.” That's the message cops have been given about shoplifting. And the powers-that-be can say as much as they like about their memo to staff about only bothering with shoplifting worth more than $500 not being worded as well as it could have been, but the message is very clear. You steal stuff worth less than $500 and you're going to get off scot-free. If I was a retailer, I'd be really brassed off. I'd be brassed off with the cops and I'd be brassed off with the Police Minister, who is no longer doing interviews about retail crime, apparently. This is the guy who made a career out of sending off media releases every time there was a ram raid. This is the guy who promised the crims would be scared of him and his coalition government, because the free ride for crims was about to end. This is the Mark Mitchell who said this two years ago, when he was in Opposition: “While retail crime incidents have more than doubled since 2018, fewer offenders are being held accountable for their actions. Despite an enormous spike in retail offending under Labour, the number of convictions for this type of offending have decreased. “Staggeringly, this drop in convictions coincides with skyrocketing incidents of retail crime. Offenders are simply not being held to account by a Labour government which has been nothing except soft on crime.” So if I was a retailer, I'd be angry. I'd also be very worried. In fact, even if I worked in retail —not necessarily owned a shop, but worked in a shop on the daily— I'd be worried. Because I'd know that even if I saw someone nicking stuff and I called them out on it, they'd just tell me to go to hell. “What're you gonna do? Call the cops?” Sunny Kaushal, who used to run the Dairy & Business Owners Group and now chairs the Government's advisory group on retail crime, says other countries have taken this approach and it's gone very badly. Quite rightly, he says that it “emboldens” criminals. Makes them even more brazen, because they know nothing's going to happen. Which is why —if I was someone who likes to go into shops and help myself to stuff— I'd be very happy. Because the police writing this stuff down and it getting out means retail criminals have a licence to do what they want. They can go into your local supermarket and walk out the door with $490 worth of groceries. You picture $490 worth of groceries in a trolley at Pak n Save and someone walking out the door without paying, knowing the police won't be coming anytime soon. Pretty much flipping the bird at anyone who tries to stop them. Now I'm realistic and I know, just like you do, that the chance of the police turning up is less likely than it used to be. And yes, they've probably always had a cut-off point where they decide something's too small fry to investigate. Which is fine, but, making it an explicit instruction or suggestion not to investigate unless the stuff nicked is worth more than $500, is a major cock-up by the police. And I don't know if there's any coming back from it. Because, even if the Police Minister showed some fortitude and told the police to ditch this approach to retail crime, we know that even then the likelihood of the police getting involved in this lower-level retail crime would be pretty low. Because they just don't have the resources. Which tells me that, despite tough talking from politicians, the battle against retail crime is a losing battle. And if it's not a losing battle, it's a battle we've already lost. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunny Kaushal, chairperson of the Government's Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, wants changes to the "confusing" and "inconsistent" laws around citizen's arrest. Comedian Bill Burr said his X account was flagged after he said on his podcast a few weeks ago that Elon Musk had “lost his fucking mind.” Burr said he made fun of Musk, who owns X, on his podcast for “seig heiling” during an inaugural celebration for President Donald Trump afterward, Burr was going through his emails, when he noticed he got an email that his X account had been flagged.We'll take a look back over the fallout between Trump and Zelensky including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's claim today that he trusts the actions of Trump =================================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

With Helen Clark, Marama Davidson and Sunny Kaushal.

Praise from a vocal retail crime critic and ministerial advisor over the Government's strategies to curb crime rates. New data shows ram raids halved last year while violent crime dropped 2%. However, overall retail crime increased 12%. Dairy and Business Owners Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Andrew Dickens it will take time, but the tougher approach is working. He says retailers and dairy owners have lived in fear every day for years, and people are feeling the difference between the two governments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After captivating fans in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, Sunny teams up with Nimrat Kaur and Medha Shankr for the first time in a Laxman Utekar-produced, T-Series-backed film. Currently being shot in the vibrant locales of Rajasthan, the yet-untitled project promises a mix of wit, mystery, and adventure. While the trio keeps fans guessing about official announcements, the buzz is already high as Sunny's knack for diving into complex characters meets Nimrat and Medha's magnetic screen presence. Are you ready for this sleuthing spectacle? Keep watching!

Statistics show there's been more gun crime in Auckland this year than the last. RNZ reports there were 879 gun crime offences across Auckland in the first six months of the year - 28 more than the same time last year. Just 18 of those were committed by people with a firearms licence. Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime Chair Sunny Kaushal told Ryan Bridge New Zealand is fast becoming a violent society. “It's crucial that the decisions around firearms policy are shared by those who deal with the gun violence directly. That's the Police and affected communities, not just policymakers in Wellington.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 14th of October. Changes could be on the way to make foreign investment easier in New Zealand - how could it impact our rural sector? Gun crime is on the rise in our biggest city, and most of it is from unlicensed firearms holders. Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime Sunny Kaushal joins the show. New Zealand is up 3 - 0 in the America's Cup - can we make it to 7 wins without a loss? Andrew Alderson has you weekend sport wrap. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology is at the forefront of priorities for the new Retail Crime Advisory Group.   The group will offer the Government ideas on law and order legislation.   Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has appointed four sector leaders alongside dairy and business owner group leader, Sunny Kaushal.   They include Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young.  She says enabling facial recognition technology is of particular interest to the sector.   She hopes it can be implemented with robust privacy safeguards.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first quarterly report on public service targets shows rates of people victimised have risen by 30 thousand people to the end of June.  The government's goal is to reduce that by 20 thousand within the next six years.   It's bringing sentencing law reforms to Parliament this week to reduce discounts and add aggravating factors.  Crime Prevention Group President Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking these reforms and others in the works will make an impact.  He believes it'll bring accountability and the consequences that's been missing for years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of September, the Government's crime targets of 2030 are going backwards, but some tougher sentences hope to make up for that.  Mike has uncovered a scandal at AUT, and he puts it to the Prime Minister as part of the weekly catch-up.  Ryan Fox talks the year on the PGA Tour and if he's going back next year, provided he qualifies.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail crime is on the rise once more — with latest Police data showing it's up 17 percent in the first five months of this year. In central Palmerston North, five people have been arrested for stealing thousands of goods from Farmers and Rebel Sport on Friday afternoon. And in Christchurch's New Brighton, a community pantry and Countdown supermarket were targeted on Saturday. Sunny Kaushal — the chair of the Government's newly established Crime Advisory Group — told Mike Hosking he hopes to start work on addressing the issue before the end of the month. “But I promise the day we start working, within two weeks time, I will have the first proposal on table.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you for watching! #emptyshelfgang Check out Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba on Netflix August 9th! Check out Sunny here: https://www.instagram.com/sunsunnykhe... Follow Adi on IG: https://www.instagram.com/adi.avg/ Check out his new song: https://linktr.ee/adi.avg Follow Jeh on IG: https://www.instagram.com/coach.jeh/ Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/thehavingsaidthatshow/ Join our FPL league: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/lea... Chapters 00:00 Sunny Kaushal Is Here + Guessing Our Ages 04:03 Thoughts On Evil Iron Man 12:33 Dream Superhero Role 15:58 Sunny's New Movie 20:38 Adi And Sunny's Invisible String 25:46 Hanumankind Fans 28:35 Sunny's Time As An Assistant Director 33:24 GOAT Game 54:13 #EmptyShelfGang

In Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey return as the murderous couple of hell who were introduced in 2021's Haseen Dillruba. The sequel boasts an entirely different visual aesthetic and its romantic-thriller tone stands in contrast to the tongue-in-cheek pulpiness of the first film. We discuss what a huge mistake this is, while also trying to wrap our heads around the film's illogical non-linear plot. We also talk about Pannu and Massey's one-note performances and the pointless introduction of a couple of new characters, played by Sunny Kaushal and Jimmy Shergill. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar, The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please consider donating if you enjoy our work. The Long Take is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Gaana, JioSaavn, Overcast, Pandora, RadioPublic, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Follow The Long Take on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and YouTube. Write to us at thelongtakepod@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-long-take/support

Thank you for watching! #emptyshelfgang Check out Sunny here: https://www.instagram.com/sunsunnykhez?igsh=bngwbjYyZDczd3h2 Follow Adi on IG: https://www.instagram.com/adi.avg/ Check out his new song: https://linktr.ee/adi.avg Follow Jeh on IG: https://www.instagram.com/coach.jeh/ Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/thehavingsaidthatshow/ Join our FPL league: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/lea... Chapters 00:00 Sunny Kaushal Is Here + Guessing Our Ages 04:03 Thoughts On Evil Iron Man 12:33 Dream Superhero Role 15:58 Sunny's New Movie 20:38 Adi And Sunny's Invisible String 25:46 Hanumankind Fans 28:35 Sunny's Time As An Assistant Director 33:24 GOAT Game 54:13 #EmptyShelfGang

The future of policing is in question as Andrew Coster's tenure as Police Commissioner comes to a close.   Police say Coster's time in the job will end April next year.   Crime Prevention Group President Sunny Kaushal told Heather Du Plessis-Allan he's hoping for a commissioner with a new approach.   He says all crime must be taken seriously and properly investigated - no matter how small.  “Police must attend every burglary. That sends a message that the Police have their back and burglars won't get away with it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Governmental disappointment of the week for me was the announcement of a panel that will look into retail crime.  It will take two years.  It isn't necessary to gather people to take two years to come up with ideas on what to do with retail crime.  Retail crime isn't cancer. It is a form of societal cancer, but it's not a complex issue the answer to which is only to be found in a lab requiring deep and detailed investigation.  What this announcement is, dare I say it, is the Labour Government reheated.  When you have a problem you are not confident of being able to fix, you create a group to look into it. You give them a generous time frame and you head it, as they have, with one of your biggest critics. In this case it's Sunny Kaushal.  By doing this you take the heat out of the pressure you are under. All questions going forward about retail crime can be answered by saying "yes we share your concern, as do the panel we have set up to look into it, the results of which cannot be far away".  This Government has made it clear that crime has consequences. It's about police presence and charges and courts and sentences.  Sunny Kaushal has been vocal over his ideas, which involves dairy owners being able to make arrests and security guards having more power.  In other words, we already have the answers and, in some aspects, announcements have already been made in terms of sentencing and police on the beat.  Making it worse is when the panel come up with the ideas they already have and have expressed it will require law change. Law change that the Government will then announce will take time.  In that is the problem for Governments - this one doesn't have time.  They have inherited a societal mess and time is of the essence.  Some of it can't be fixed quickly, but decisions can be made and actions taken.  Setting up a Labour-style committee to do the bleeding obvious isn't it.  If this is their approach to one of our most urgent issues, they will pay the price electorally when results don't come and patience runs out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chair of the government's new retail crime advisory group says he will hold the government to account on its law and order policies for victims of retail crime. The Ministerial Advisory Group will talk to victims, workers, business owners, retail experts, and advocacy groups over the next two years, and come up with specific policy proposals. Sunny Kaushal - who is also chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group - spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Government has launched a new initiative designed to reduce the impact of retail crime. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed the Ministerial Advisory Group will speak with victims and business owners to form proposals on reducing offending. This will be led by Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal - who says he's grateful the Government is taking the issue seriously. "No one deserves to go to work and end up in hospital - or much worse - so we believe this is something that can be solved." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy owners want more power to make citizens arrests.   The Government's committed to passing four pieces of law and order legislation in the next quarter.   It includes allowing police to ban gang patches, confiscate firearms, more efficiency in the courts, and more rehabilitation for on-remand prisoners.   Chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that it's a great move.   But he also wants business owners, security guards, and law-abiding citizens to be able to take action when they see crimes.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A business leader says there's a retail crime emergency.   Police data shows more than 400 retail crimes were reported a day last year, with six staff a day complaining to police they'd been assaulted.   There were more than 2000 assaults on retail workers over the course of the year, including almost 400 sexual assaults, a 20% increase from 2022.   Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that the figures reveal there's a reported retail crime, on average, every three and a half minutes.   He believes real crime figures would be much higher as most crime goes unreported.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I go head-to-head with Sunny Kaushal, Chair of the Dairy and Business Owner's Group, on the contentious issue of vaping. A concern growing in popularity among young people, we explore the implications of vaping on health, the inconsistencies of the government's approach, and the role of big tobacco companies in this complex debate. Sunny suggests vaping is not as harmful as perceived, saying that no primary hospital admissions in New Zealand have been related to vaping. I am not so sure.. What does the latest international data say about the safety of vaping, particularly amongst young people? Who should we believe and where do you stand on this murky and dividing topic.. Chapters: 3:28 - Slam Dunc 6:04 - Sunny Kaushal 42:26 - Letters To The EditorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we all know there are lies, damn lies and statistics. Just read the New Zealand Herald series on the claims and counter claims being made by National and Labour around crime and you'll be left none the wiser as to whether crime is indeed out of control in New Zealand and whether Labour is indeed soft on crime. For example, Labour has claimed youth offending is down 60 percent over the past decade, the data used to make that claim is from the Ministry of Justice, looking at the total number of children and young people charged in court. While it does indeed show a significant drop over the past decade, it's also a measure of how often police choose to prosecute. So rather than show that youth offending has decreased. It shows how few times police are choosing to prosecute. There's a big difference.   Sunny Kaushal, chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group says this year already, and we're only at the beginning of August,  a massive of 45,046 offences have been reported to police to by retailers and they've made just over 1000 arrests. So, 45,046 offences reported leading to just over 1,000 arrests at 2.3 percent. He says it's out of control and he's seen that coming for a while. Watching people march out with this righteous kind of, ‘you can't touch me and entitled attitude'. Watching them March out with a trolley full of goods, with their entitled bloody attitude, ignoring common decency and the ties that bind us, and indeed the rules of the land leaves me feeling powerless. When they aren't even brought to account for their crimes, that leaves me bloody angry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As retail crime continues to surge, most offenders appear to be getting away scot-free. Latest Police figures released to the Dairy and Business Owners Group show a record 125,000 retail crime offences were reported last year - a number likely to be surpassed this year. Only about 2.3 percent of those reports are resulting in arrests. Dairy and Business Owners Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that compares to about 50-percent of reports back in 2015. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As retail crime continues to surge, most offenders appear to be getting away scot-free. Latest Police figures released to the Dairy and Business Owners Group show a record 125,000 retail crime offences were reported last year - a number likely to be surpassed this year. Only about 2.3 percent of those reports are resulting in arrests. Dairy and Business Owners Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that compares to about 50-percent of reports back in 2015. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dairy and Business Owners Group says shop owners should be allowed to defend themselves without being charged. Chair Sunny Kaushal spoke with Police Minister Ginny Andersen today. He says she was receptive to some suggestions. Kaushal says currently, people can be charged for injuring others while defending themselves. He says the threshold should be higher. "The Act has not been changed, and that was done for a different New Zealand. Now, if you see the current situation, the dairy owners- if they try to protect themselves, they get charged." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dairy and Business Owners Group says shop owners should be allowed to defend themselves without being charged. Chair Sunny Kaushal spoke with Police Minister Ginny Andersen today. He says she was receptive to some suggestions. Kaushal says currently, people can be charged for injuring others while defending themselves. He says the threshold should be higher. "The Act has not been changed, and that was done for a different New Zealand. Now, if you see the current situation, the dairy owners- if they try to protect themselves, they get charged." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy owners aren't surprised there's been another horrific attack at an Auckland store.  Two men armed with hammers seriously injured the wife of a dairy owner and a customer in Mount Roskill, Central Auckland. A Givealittle page has been set up in support of the owners. It comes as the Police Minister's sitting down with dairy owners next week. Sunny Kaushal is the chair of the Dairy and Business Owners' Group and he joined Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another example of brazen violence in broad daylight in Auckland. A dairy owner's wife and a customer have been treated in hospital after being attacked by two hammer-wielding robbers at Jyoti's Dairy in Mt Roskill yesterday. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal is frustrated that business owners no longer feel safe operating as criminals have no fear of law enforcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.   Michael Wood: 1/10 "How to blow up a career with a dozen warnings and an indescribable amount of arrogance."   Ruapehu: 4/10 "You can't help but conclude self-interest won the day at the expense of an entire region." "Upside, all is not lost - a deal will hopefully be done."   Crusaders v Chiefs: 8/10 "That's a lip-smacking prospect, the two best teams." "The reality that either side could win, who doesn't love good sport?"   All Blacks: 6/10 "Bit early to get too excited given the size of the squad, but All Black's rugby in a world cup year is the stuff we live for."   ETS reset: 4/10 "This is what happens when you have thought bubbles you call plans."   Harry and Meghan: 7/10 "Being called Grifters is the best bagging I've heard in ages." "Sums them up perfectly, self-absorbed time wasting go nowheres, even their workmates can't stand them."   Sunny Kaushal: 8/10 "My hero of the week. Once again the dairy owners were in Wellington with their petitions and please to do something, I admire his passion and determination."   Rents: 4/10 "Another month, another record for a government that banged on about affordable housing." "How's that going for them?"   LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy owners are vying for a place on a scaled-back list of retailers who will hold on to their smoked tobacco licence by the year's end. Only one in 10 shops who currently sell cigarettes will still be able to by next July - a cutback from 6000 dairies to 600. It's part of the bid to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025, but despite that goal being embarked upon as far back as 2011, some shop owners feel 'sprung upon', due to the late rush of policy change. It is a double edged sword. In some cases cigarette sales revenue accounts for up to half of a dairy's revenue stream - and a spot on the list is a lifeline. But with 230 ram raids in the first four months of this year, security concerns are rife for those who will continue being able to sell cigarettes, causing some, like Pukekohe's Lochview Dairy owner Ravi Singh, to opt out - despite the crushing financial losses. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal is leading a group of concerned owners to Parliament tomorrow, urging for more clarity over the reduced list, which is set to be decided by November.

The government's boosting funding for fog canons to protect small businesses. It's adding another $11-million dollars to the scheme and expects a further 3350 fog cannons could be subsidised by the end of this year. Sunny Kaushal is the Chair of Dairy & Business Owners Group.

Victims of retail crime are getting a further $9 million in support. Police minister Ginny Andersen has made the announcement, topping up the crime prevention fund to $15 million . It goes towards the likes of fog cannons, security sirens and CCTV systems. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal joined Tim Dower to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victims of retail crime are getting a further $9 million in support. Police minister Ginny Andersen has made the announcement, topping up the crime prevention fund to $15 million . It goes towards the likes of fog cannons, security sirens and CCTV systems. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal joined Tim Dower to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hellow HellowWe have an explosive episode this week. And it seems to be a Kunal Kemmu week with one movie and a show releasing the same day!Both prove what an understated actor he is and how much more he deserves than what he gets.In Kanjoos Makhichoos he is a kanjoos guy who cuts corners and in Pop Kaun a guy trying to figure who his real father is. Excels at both.Yami Gautam and Sunny Kaushal's Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga is a heist on a plane and Anubhav Sinha's Bheed deserves all the accolades it must get.Enjoy our banter this week.We love y'allTeam Desis. Desislive podcast delivers the latest movie and show reviews to your devices. Wherever in the world you are, tune in to desislive.

There is one clever twist in Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga starring Yami Gautam, Sunny Kaushal, and Sharad Kelkar but to get to it you have to sit through a disjointed story that goes back and forth in time – first, the action moves to eight hours ago and then eight months ago. To know more about the film, here's the full review by Anupama Chopra on Reviews and More by Film Companion.

There is one clever twist in Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga starring Yami Gautam, Sunny Kaushal, and Sharad Kelkar but to get to it you have to sit through a disjointed story that goes back and forth in time – first, the action moves to eight hours ago and then eight months ago. To know more about the film, here's the full review by Anupama Chopra on Reviews and More by Film Companion.

There are growing concerns about Ginny Andersen as the new Police Minister. Andersen is the second-lowest ranking member of Cabinet with only two months in the role prior to this appointment. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal didn't expect this choice, as he'd hoped Hipkins would pick someone with a higher ranking and more experience to be a Cabinet minister. Sunny Kaushal says the Prime Minister choosing a low-ranked Cabinet member with limited experience to be Police Minister shows the Government doesn't plan to take crime seriously.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis have set up a Givealittle page to raise money for Janak Patel's family following his tragic death.  After Auckland dairy worker Janak Patel was fatally stabbed in Sandringham following a man who stole cash from Rose Cottage Superette in November, over $100,000 has been donated to the family.  Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal says that the family is grateful to everyone who donated to the Givealittle fund, and the public support draws attention to crime being out of control. "This needs to be dealt with with urgency and force, and it starts with admitting we have a problem. The crime is not some academic issue, it impacts real people. So that's what the feeling is across the nation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy workers continue to sing the same tune, saying violent robberies won't stop unless the Government gets tough on crime. A Hamilton dairy worker has had his thumb and finger reattached after machete wielding robbers attacked him in his store over the weekend. Dairy and Business owners group Chair Sunny Kaushal says they met with Police Minister Chris Hipkins two months ago and nothing has changed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday dairy owners around the country will shut up shop for 2 hours in protest after a rise in crime and the death of a fellow worker. Thirty-four-year-old Janak Patel was fatally stabbed while working at Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham.  Jacinda Ardern attended his funeral at the weekend and told Morning Report she understands the growing fear among Aucklanders. Dairy and Business Association chairperson Sunny Kaushal spoke to Corin Dann. 

Emotions are running high ahead of today's protests following the death of Sandringham shopkeeper Janak Patel. Hundreds of dairy and small business owners will be shutting their doors for two hours this afternoon. There's also going to be a silent vigil outside the Prime Ministers electoral office in Mount Albert at the same time - 12.30pm. Dairy and business owners' group chairman Sunny Kaushal says the whole community is mourning. He told Mike Hosking that the Government needs to start listening, and start doing something to stop other lives from being lost. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the cabinet will today discuss the criteria for the business support package and by this afternoon the list of excuses will be well honed and some adjustments to the abject failure of a policy will be rolled out. The simple question is this - why are they discussing and changing it? The answer is because a person is dead. Making it catastrophically worse is that any number of people have been warning the Government this is where the lawlessness we are seeing was heading. This wasn't regular crime, such as the bashings and killings you see between gangs and general lowlifes where carnage is inevitable. This crime involves innocent people trying to go about their business. But because of the overarching approach to criminal behaviour i.e fewer going to prison, more get home detention, more on home detention cut their bracelets off, there's a sense that because the consequences aren't all that great the criminal operates with a level of impunity. This has been the year of crime, of lawlessness, of wanton destruction, of businesses who have been raided and robbed over and over and over again. And the policy to try address some of it, the bollards and fog cannons and cages, turned out to be a classic example of all this Government is famous for - ineptitude. The police minister has been asked numerous times why the policy has the grand total of seven shops fitted out. People like Sunny Kaushal have written to any number of ministers asking for meetings and help and mainly these letters go unanswered. The Government doesn't care until they have to, until it gets so embarrassing they have no other choice. And a death is such a turning point. Whether a fog cannon or the like would have saved any of this, we can't know. What we do know is not everything that should have been done, was. And as a result of that, yet again, the Government traipses into a meeting room to try and formulate a plan as to how they talk themselves out of the political trouble that has, yet again, arrived at their door step. Because 1) their policy on crime is dangerously wrong and, 2) their arrogance when things are obviously not working prevents them from addressing it. Until of course, it's too late.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A nationwide protest is taking place on Monday after the fatal stabbing of dairy worker Janak Patel during a robbery of the Rose Cottage Superette in Auckland's Sandringham last Wednesday. A 34-year-old man has now been arrested and charged with Patel's murder, and another two have been charged with robbery. Dairy and Business Owners Group (DBOG) chairperson Sunny Kaushal said the country is experiencing a "crime emergency" and wants urgent action from the government. Speaking to Kate Gregan on Tova, Kaushal explained what is on the cards for Monday's protest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So today Cabinet meets looking to “discuss what more can be done to combat crime,” according to the Prime Minister. Sadly she's a bit late with that statement. The irony being that her government has been inundated with people asking them to toughen up on crime for ages... they did nothing. Poto Williams, in her capacity as Police Minster dropped the ball so badly she was moved on and replaced with Chris Hipkins. There were hopes he would toughen up on crime, but sadly under his watch it's only gotten worse. The governments' cheerleaders asking for this tragic death not to be politicised are missing the point. It was already politicised. The government had already dropped the ball, they'd already ignored all the pleas for help, they'd already been too slow to roll out support for business owners, they already had communities living in fear of this very thing. And then once it happened, what did the PM do? She went to the Chatham Islands. She didn't even go back to her own electorate, her own neighbourhood, her own community, she carried on – business as usual. It was an alarmingly callous lack of judgement on her part. Speaking to the family days later, doesn't cut it. She knows how to act quickly when she wants to – but she didn't. So now they're trotting out the tough on crime lines. She said yesterday they're focussed now on “prosecuting and holding to account those who are responsible”. But the other thing we know about this too little, too late, soft on crime government is that the justice system cannot be trusted to actually deliver justice. A cultural report, a check in of the offender's background, a korero about his upbringing, a few discounts for mitigating circumstances, coupled with a Corrections Minister who doesn't want people in prison and we know how these stories all too often end. Sunny Kaushal, who to his credit has been banging on about this for months on end, says the government needs to admit there's a crime emergency in this country. He says it's not just a crime emergency but a social emergency now too. The Migrant Workers Association said that many of our most vulnerable workers just don't feel safe anymore. Many elderly people don't feel safe in their communities anymore either. Parents are worried. But what I can't get past is that this has all been coming, in plain sight, for months, and it's been absolutely ignored by those who have the power to do something about it. It's almost like it took a death, for the government to wake up and go, oh wait, what more can we do here? The problem with crime in this country and the surge in ram raids, and youth crime and gang memberships and brazen robberies is not as ‘complex' as the government would have you believe. Offenders commit crimes, because they can. It's that simple. They commit the crimes, because they can. They know they can, they know they'll get away with it. Tellingly, early on in the ram raid epidemic, a teenager caught and interviewed as to why they did it, said, 'because we know we will get away with it. We do it because we can'. And that was all you need to know about how low the bar is these days when it comes to law and order. So what will change after Cabinet meets today? My guess is nothing. And whatever it is, is certainly too late for this Dairy worker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, I suspect many of us would've had the same reaction when we saw the news alerts on our phones last night. That a retailer had been stabbed to death in a store. And that was thinking, we knew this was going to happen. Because we did, didn't we?  With all those ram raids, daylight robberies, tobacco thefts, we could see this coming.  I'm not going to lay blame on anyone for this other the person who did it. Because no one put the knife in their hand. They did it, it's their fault. But I'm talking about the politics of this. Because this is very, very bad for the Government, but especially for Jacinda Ardern.  The public fury at what's happening to our shopkeepers and shops is at fever pitch. We have bystanders now chasing and confronting robbers in baklavas out of sheer frustration at the fact that the authorities seem to not be doing enough. People are going to be very angry that it has now claimed a life. And they will blame the Government because it is the Government they look to, to do something.  And nothing has been done other than a pitifully slow roll out of bollards to a handful of shops. It doesn't help Labour that they are perceived as ‘soft on crime'. They've repealed the three strikes law, they've given millions to the Mongrel Mob, they've emptied the prisons, and they've admitted jail is not a solution for them.  This murder couldn't have happened in a worse place for Jacinda Ardern, because it's in her electorate. These are her people, who voted her into Parliament personally. So where is she? Once again, missing in action.  The smart politics would've been to put her on the first plane out of Auckland this morning. To be seen on the ground with these people, showing she cares and showing that her Government will take this matter in hand and fix it. But she didn't do that. In fact even in Hamilton today, which has become a centre of ram raiding, she didn't visit one retailer that had been ram raided. Sunny Kaushal of the Dairy and Business Owners Group has asked her for an urgent meeting.   She's dismissed it, says he met with Chris Hipkins three weeks ago. Apparently that'll have to do, as if a man in a shop hasn't just been murdered.  This is bad for the Government and Jacinda that this murder happened last night. But what's worse is that they aren't doing anything to signal that they actually care today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auckland community of Sandringham is reeling after a dairy shopkeeper was fatally stabbed in an aggravated robbery. The shop worker's death was the second of two violent deaths in the city yesterday. A 27 year-old man been arrested and charged with murder after a fatal hit and run in West Auckland. An altercation in a carpark off Glendale Road turned deadly when the driver ploughed into the male victim shortly after midday yesterday. He died at the scene despite the efforts of passerbys to save him. Kim Hill spoke to Dairy and Business Association chair Sunny Kaushal about the tragic deaths.

Sunny Kaushal, Chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group, has been saying it for ages. This is a quote from an interview he gave some months ago. “Be under no illusion, it's just a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured and the Government will be to blame because they've taxed cigarettes to be worth more than a bottle of whiskey.”   That was when he was talking about the cigarette taxes.  There are also numerous times he's warned that with the ram raids, it will also only be a matter of time before somebody is killed and Sunny was right. Last night, a neighbourhood dairy in Sandringham was robbed at knifepoint. The person behind the counter was stabbed and later died in hospital of their wounds.  Of course somebody was going to be killed. You cannot have this level of lawlessness, this level of disregard for property and people without the inevitability of somebody being killed.   This is entirely on the Government and its softly, softly approach with criminals and lawbreakers.  I am really, really angry this morning. It is utterly needless.  It's been like watching a car crash in slow motion. Of course this was going to happen. It was simply a matter of time. And the naysayers say well, what are you going to do about? I'd do exactly what Mark Mitchell has suggested. Ban the gang patches. Don't allow them to associate together. Get tough on the truants and the parents who allow their kids to truant. Start having consequences for actions. Throw out the violent, aggressive tenants and the Kainga Ora establishments. Give those rooms to the people on the social housing list. Start having meaningful consequences for actions. This didn't happen overnight. We've seen, basically, civil society eroded over the past few years, and enough is enough. There's got to be a line in the sand, and unfortunately, it took the death of an innocent for that to happen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tragedy stuck Sandringham Wednesday evening when a dairy worker was fatally stabbed after an offender entered the Rose Cottage Superette on Haverstock Road and Fowlds Avenue armed with a knife just after 8pm. The offender took a cash register after stabbing the dairy worker, during the altercation. Police are still trying to identify and find the offender, and a homicide investigation has been launched. Time and time again, the dairy sector has pleaded for better protections for shop owners, warning someone will get killed amid a spike in violent crime. Dairy and Business Association chair Sunny Kaushal spoke to Tova O'Brien following the incident.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fatal stabbing of an Auckland dairy worker is being described as inevitable and entirely preventable. An offender entered Sandringham's Rose Cottage Superette about 8 last night, armed with a knife and took the cash register. The worker was stabbed, later dying in hospital from his injuries.   The offender is currently on the run. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I thought it was ironic this week when Grant Robertson admitted the rollout of the ram raid support for businesses has been too slow. Slow would be an understatement. I just can't work out what's going on here. Because every time you ask the Government about it, they say they're chasing it, they're telling Police to speed up, they want it sorted. Yet when you speak to Sunny Kaushal from the Dairy and Business Owners Association, he says the Government is the hold up. He says he has to chase government Ministers for months on end and even then they don't get back to him. Then there's the Police – the meat in the middle of this particular sandwich, the people the Government says are charged with sorting this, and they're allegedly not doing it fast enough. So, if true, whose fault it that? Is it the Police's? And if it is on them, is it because they are too under resourced? If they are, is that because this soft on crime government just hasn't backed them enough, hasn't supported them and resourced them enough? Or is it that they're so snowed under with the surge in youth crime and offending these days that they literally just can't keep up? Or is it that this Police Commissioners' approach involves so much weighty bureaucracy and admin, that Police can barely get out from under their desks? I know a lot of Police listen to this show and they often message me and say that's the case, some have even said they've left or are leaving because of it, because they literally can't just get on and do their jobs. Being a police officer these days is not what they thought it would be, or what it used to be. So I don't actually buy that this is the Police's fault. But, back to the fund. This was announced back in May, this $6 million to help businesses, and here we are in the middle of November, and it's still not sorted. Seven businesses have been helped. Just seven. At least five of those were trials set up by Sunny himself. So what have they actually achieved here? They're supposed to be doing 40 to 50 business assessments a week Robertson says, yet they're not. So why not? In a little bit of buck passing, Robertson says it's up to Hipkins as Police Minister to chase this. So what does Hipkins say? Well he says since he took over in June – after Poto Williams was rolled from the portfolio based on incompetence, that's me saying that by the way, not Hipkins, but he claimed once he took over, that Police were “hurrying up.” So why, six months on from the announcement, do we still have so little action? Is it acceptable that the Government looks to blame others – ie the Police, for stuff they just can't seem to deliver on? Robertson was at pains to point out how awful being a victim of a ram raid must be, but every day there are more of them because this Government just cannot get its act together and provide the help needed. I don't think blaming the Police is fair. This whole thing has become a political football that no one seems brave enough to actually own and do something about. You can see why these jewellers and dairies and liquor stores are beside themselves, and you can see why the ram raiders continue. Because no one's owning this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and David Cormack, former Greens Communication and Policy Director joined us to talk about the following: Sunny Kaushal from the Dairy Owners Association has finally had his sit down meeting with Chris Hipkins. Sounds like the result was to agree to disagree, according to Sunny. Has Labour done enough here? Kiri Allan has stopped the extra payment to duty lawyers if they get a guilty verdict - how did that even make it through in the first place? Or was it a good way to reduce the backlog? The Human Rights Commission has decided today is the day to crack down on New Zealand's housing stock, and has apologised for not being strong enough previously. Was it a good admission / apology from them? Grant Robertson says there's no evidence banks are making excessive profits, but doesn't that come back to what you personally believe is an excessive profit for a bank to make?  Apparently New World is the BEST place to get sausages? At least, according to today's best sausage competition result.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government and small retailers have agreed on a couple of measures to combat youth offending, as ramraids and retail crime continue. Police Minister Chris Hipkins met the Dairy Owners and Business Group in Auckland this morning. Group Chair Sunny Kaushal says on top of a tough approach to crime - they want better cameras and a boost to funding. "Businesses across the country have been facing this wave of crime, and it's not stopping. We tabled eight point initiatives to reduce these attacks on businesses, from dairies to jewellery stores." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dairy and Business Owners Group is meeting with Chris Hipkins today, as ram raids and thefts continue to plague businesses. Several more Auckland businesses were struck on Monday night, with youths smashing their way into eateries and leaving a trail of damage behind. Group Chair Sunny Kaushal says with the Government's inaction and failure to stop the crimes, he believes the meeting with the Police Minister is crucial. In late August, Chris Hipkins told Police to move faster on allocating funding from the crime prevention fund, to help shops install security measures, but only two businesses have received it since then. Kaushal wants hard questions to be asked this morning. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dairy and Business Owners Group is meeting with Chris Hipkins today, as ram raids and thefts continue to plague businesses. Several more Auckland businesses were struck on Monday night, with youths smashing their way into eateries and leaving a trail of damage behind. Group Chair Sunny Kaushal says with the Government's inaction and failure to stop the crimes, he believes the meeting with the Police Minister is crucial. In late August, Chris Hipkins told Police to move faster on allocating funding from the crime prevention fund, to help shops install security measures, but only two businesses have received it since then. Kaushal wants hard questions to be asked this morning. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The retail sector is still feeling angry and unsupported by police and the Government. Back in August, Chris Hipkins told police to move faster on allocating money from a $6 million crime prevention fund for shops to install bollards and other security measures. But only seven businesses have so far received funding. Dairy and Business Owners Group Chairman Sunny Kaushal told Kate Hawkesby it's quite disappointing. “They have not been even been able to spend 2 percent of the fund. And the seven businesses that they're talking about — five of them were given by us to police as a pilot programme, so no progress has been made.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have updated us today on how they're helping our retailers fight crime. They're very excited, saying since May, 40 stores have had assessments completed, and 5 have had installations completed. That's anything from fog cannons, sirens and bollards. With us now is Sunny Kaushal, the Chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Today FM brought you a rare insight into the minds of young people involved in ram raids, and smash and grabs. In a documentary released yesterday, Wilhelmina Shrimpton spoke to a 13 and 15 year old who explained why they did what they did. The kids were contrite and apologetic to the owners of the stores they attacked  But there's mixed opinions about how best to deal with these young offenders Today we'll hear from youth lawyer Harvena Cherrington, who wants some empathy shown to these young people, but also Dairy and Business owners chair Sunny Kaushal, who's not so keen on that approach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses say Government efforts to prevent ramraids fall short. It comes after one of the country's top cops revealed there's been more than a thousand ramraids since 2017. Police are attempting to make a difference by supplying businesses with fog cannons, shatterproof glass and bollards while training officers to better protect them. But Dairy and Business Owners' Group chairman Sunny Kaushal says  we need real consequences. He says until the Government is tough on crime, no amount of money will solve the problem. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fed up business owners in central Auckland say they want action not lip service. Ramraids and burglaries have skyrocketed and they believe their safety and the safety of the public is at risk. Tonight they met with local MPs, council officials and senior police to demand action. Karyn speaks to meeting organiser and local shop owner Sunny Kaushal.

On Cyrus Says today, we're joined by actor Sunny Kaushal. Cyrus speaks to Sunny about his life as an actor and what that journey has been like till now. The show starts with Cyrus taking a mildly funny take on how Sunny got his name. From thereon, they start from the very beginning by talking about Sunny's father, who has been working in the industry as an action director and has been the reason for him to take up acting as a career. They discuss those initial times of struggle, the days of theater that taught Sunny plenty about the art of acting, that first AD film, and the eventual breakthrough on the big screen. Sunny also talks about some of his recent projects and projects he wants to take up in the future, fantasy being a must-one. Abbas [the cinephile] joins in post-break with some of his filmy questions and questions asked by the #BroachaJantaParty. So tune in for this and much more!Check out Cyrus Says merch: ivm.today/3PLKo1mJoin the Cyrus Says fan created Discord Server: https://discord.gg/BMNJ3ftkMmFollow Sunny Kaushal on Instagram @sunsunnykhezYou can follow Abbas Momin on Instagram @abbasmomin88: https://www.instagram.com/abbasmomin88/Do send in AMA questions for Cyrus by tweeting them to @cyrussaysin or emailing them at whatcyrussays@gmail.comDon't forget to follow Cyrus Broacha on Instagram @cyrus_broacha(https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_broacha)In case you're late to the party and want to catch up on previous episodes of Cyrus Says you can do so at: www.ivmpodcasts.com/cyrussaysYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcasts App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Smaller grocery players are casting doubts on the latest moves by the supermarket giants.Foodstuffs has followed its rival Woolworths, in announcing a wholesale service for smaller operators.It follows concerns about the current grocery duopoly.Dairy and Business Owners Group chairman Sunny Kaushal told Tim Dower many of the problems won't be fixed, until the duopoly ends.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smaller grocery players are casting doubts, on the latest moves by the supermarket giants.Foodstuffs has followed its rival Woolworths, in announcing a wholesale service for smaller operators.It follows concerns about the current grocery duopoly.Dairy and Business Owners Group chairman Sunny Kaushal told Tim Dower many of the problems won't be fixed, until the duopoly ends.LISTEN ABOVE

The Dairy and Business Association say it's time for the government to declare a crime emergency. It follows a spate of violent ram raids and dairy robberies mainly in Auckland, including one customer being stabbed at a Sandringham superette this week. The government's launched a $6 million fund to help small businesses protect themselves with the likes of bollards, fog cannons, security alarms and screens. And in the budget it announced $562 million will be invested in Police, to increase numbers and resources. It's not enough for the chair of the Dairy and Business association Sunny Kaushal. He speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6307233562112

Dairy owners say $6 million to stop ram raids is too little too late.The funding, announced by Police Minister Poto Williams, will come out of the Proceeds of Crime Fund to help vulnerable businesses bolster their protection.It will help pay for bollards and other security measures to prevent offenders breaking into and robbing stores.Sunny Kaushal from the Dairy Owners' Association told Mike Hosking they need at least $13 million just for fog cannons.He says then on top of that you need the bollards, CCTV cameras, more Police and artificial intelligence.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy owners say $6 million to stop ram raids is too little too late.The funding, announced by Police Minister Poto Williams, will come out of the Proceeds of Crime Fund to help vulnerable businesses bolster their protection.It will help pay for bollards and other security measures to prevent offenders breaking into and robbing stores.Sunny Kaushal from the Dairy Owners' Association told Mike Hosking they need at least $13 million just for fog cannons.He says then on top of that you need the bollards, CCTV cameras, more Police and artificial intelligence.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dairy and Business Owners Group are calling for resignations from the Ministers of Police and Justice Ministers.Police call-out response times have more than tripled in some regions over the past five years.In Auckland, the average wait time has ballooned from less than half an hour to almost two hours.Chair Sunny Kaushal told Andrew Dickens both ministers have failed miserably and aren't taking accountability.“We would like to be safe, we would like to feel safer. The dairy owners and business owners – they should not be living in such a fear every day.”LISTEN ABOVE

The Government's bold smokefree plan will prevent the next generation from ever accessing tobacco - a "world first" step towards a healthier future. Business owners say it's "dairygeddon" for stores which will only be able to supply tobacco with low nicotine. Many say the new rules will force them to close their doors. Dairy and Business Owners' Group chair Sunny Kaushal spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government's bold smokefree plan will prevent the next generation from ever accessing tobacco - a "world first" step towards a healthier future. Business owners say it's "dairygeddon" for stores which will only be able to supply tobacco with low nicotine. Many say the new rules will force them to close their doors. Dairy and Business Owners' Group chair Sunny Kaushal spoke to Corin Dann.

Anupama Chopra & Anmol Jamwal talk about Shiddat, No Time To Die, Thalaivii and more!

Radhika Madan and Sunny Kaushal are eminently watchable actors, who can't save Shiddat, a bewilderingly logic-free film about a man obsessed with a woman. Here's Anupama Chopra's review of Shiddat, streaming on DisneyPlus Hotstar.

Radhika Madan and Sunny Kaushal are eminently watchable actors, who can't save Shiddat, a bewilderingly logic-free film about a man obsessed with a woman. Here's Anupama Chopra’s review of Shiddat, streaming on DisneyPlus Hotstar.

Releasing on Disney Plus hotstar (1st October) star cast including Sunny Kaushal , Radhika madan , Mohit Raina and Diana penty.

For the first time on Spill the Tea with Sneha, we attempt a table read. Shiddat actors Radhika Madan and Sunny Kaushal revisit the film's script after two years and enact a crucial scene. They also tell us about their 'easy chemistry', the physics behind shooting the film's poster and how they changed as artists after the lockdown. 

Dairies are frustrated new Covid-19 provisions for supermarket workers, like vaccine priority and Police support, aren't being extended to smaller grocers. Sunny Kaushal, chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group, told Morning Report he doesn't want dairies to be an afterthought. "There are some 4000 owner operator dairies and service stations across the nation, if you look at from Kaitaia to Bluff. We are everywhere Kiwis need us to be."

So there's been a link between a spike in dairy robberies and our tobacco tax hikes.The tobacco tax came into place in 2016.At the same time, reported store robberies went from 41 to 136 in 2016, and to 200 the year after.This is leaving more dairy owners traumatised and injured, as they seem to be taking the hit from the extremes some are going to get tobacco.Sunny Kaushal, from the Crime Prevention Group, which was set up to advocate for dairies after robberies increased, told Kate Hawkesby the price increases have forced people to source their cigarettes by alternative means.“That has been putting a lot of hard working people into dangerous situations because the smokers who are not able to buy smokes, they are either going to the black market, or they're going to the crime side.”LISTEN ABOVE

Central Auckland business owners say officials have been complacent in the "decimation" of their livelihoods during City Rail Link construction.After more than four years of road closures and construction noise, two dozen people protested on the steps of the Auckland Council offices this morning demanding compensation.They used placards and a loudhailer to voice their frustrations ahead of the closure of the Albert and Victoria St intersection next week.Owner of the Shakespeare Hotel and Brewery on Albert St, Sunny Kaushal, blamed disruption from the project for an estimated $2 million in missed revenue since 2016.He said he couldn't keep borrowing money week after week."The debts are mounting and it has been very very hard. It's taking a toll on our health. It's taking a toll on every worker's job. We have to pay the rent, we have to pay the expenses, we have to pay the rates," he said.The business owners submitted a proposal in January asking for a share of their rent to be paid, at a cost of about $10m each year.However chief executive of Heart of the City, Viv Beck, said they hadn't heard back about it."We haven't had the opportunity to work through that with officials. That's not good enough. So this is about the people coming to the decision makers, raising their voices," she said.The owner of Attic Backpackers Michael Leroy-Dyson said he was using his retirement savings to pay staff, after the double whammy of the pandemic and construction disruption.He said he would have closed his business if he could."I think most of us are locked into leases that we can't get out of because of personal guarantees. Many of these people would have just closed up and gone but they've got no choice but to file all their life savings or borrow money just to try and stay alive," he said."It's a $5 billion project. I would have thought putting a few million or even a few tens of millions into helping businesses that are being affected by this would be a sensible and reasonable way to run a project."A spokesperson for the office of mayor Phil Goff noted there had already been $617,000 in direct financial support to businesses impacted by the construction delays, through a hardship programme in 2019.It was distributed to 25 businesses, all on lower Albert St.The spokesperson said the Government had now asked the Ministry of Transport to investigate if that could be adapted, to provide support to other businesses facing hardship from construction."The mayor is supportive of the Government's direction," they said.Meanwhile, the spokesperson said landlords in the area could also help struggling small businesses."There will be a substantial value uplift for properties close to the City Rail Link connections, which means property owners will receive a significant benefit because of the expenditure of ratepayer and taxpayer money. The mayor believes it is reasonable for property owners to look at how they can support their tenants during the construction period."Transport Minister Michael Wood wasn't present at the protest as business owners hoped, but told RNZ in a statement that the Government was "carefully working through" compensation requests.He said the previous government did not create a process or budget for business compensation when the project was first set up.The business owners plan further demonstrations if their demands are not met.By Katie Todd of RNZ

Sunny Kaushal confides that he's in no mood of “coming out of the lockdown with a new skill” Listen to all that's making news in the world of #Entertainment & #Lifestyle today. Mallika Bhagat presents this episode.

Hrishi K with Sunny Kaushal, Sneha Taurani & Rukshar Dhillon - Bhangra Paa Le by Hrishikesh Kannan