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Northland Taniwha CEO Paul Lennane joins the show to chat about their upcoming match against Ranfurly Shield Defense against Tasman, Their victory over Canterbury last week, What it means for the club to win the Ranfurly Shield, and more!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We compare the ute sales numbers from July to see how the Kia Tasman stacks up to the competition, NSW dubbed the highest state for caravanning and camping, Jaiden's face is broken & Duggo's cooking skills have inspired others.
We crossed the Tasman to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Richard Willingham from ABC in Victoria.
Every Monday we get an update on news from across the Tasman with our correspondent Brad Foster.
Ben catches up with Julian Crawford from Tasman Bullion Further information and supporting documentation can be found at https://postman-productions.com/
We crossed the Tasman to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Richard Willingham from ABC in Victoria.
Thousands of us have headed across the Tasman in recent years, looking for better job opportunities or less cost-of-living pressure. But economists say the pull of Australia may reduce in coming years. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been talking to them and spoke to John Campbell.
Your face could soon be your ticket to get through the turnstiles for a sports game. Facial recognition technology is being rolled out across the Tasman as an alternative to digital or physical tickets for selected live events. The new ticketing method has been met with mixed reactions from footy fans and academics. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.
We cross the Tasman to speak to our Australia correspondent, Emma Cropper.
If you're a fan, like I am, of scrapping as many councils as possible because of how poorly the numpties on those councils are running the place, you're about to learn, as I am, that just because you and I like an idea doesn't mean everyone else does. We are two weeks away from Chris Bishop's deadline for councils to submit their amalgamation plans so that we end up with a few large councils instead of dozens of small ones. And, two weeks out, the wheels are starting to come off. Upper Hutt City Council has changed its mind. It doesn't want to amalgamate with Wellington anymore. By the looks of things, it made that decision this week. That's a little worrying because the Wellington amalgamation felt like the slam-dunk, easy one. It's been talked about for such a long time, the boundaries are obvious, there should just be one council and the carve-up of a small region into so many councils is unbelievably stupid. But despite all that, there's a problem. It doesn't look like it's going to happen easily. Wairoa is flat-out refusing to amalgamate with anyone and it makes a good case for why. As the ever-sensible Mayor of Wairoa, Craig Little, says, the efficiencies would flow to the centres, not the edges. Wairoa is on the edge and, to be honest, he's right, isn't he? Nelson wants to go with Tasman. Tasman doesn't want to go with Nelson. Canterbury has five different options for how it could do this but it doesn't know which one to choose. Hamilton also doesn't know how to do it. "Megatron" is apparently one option. Kaipara doesn't want to join up with the other Northland councils, although they're happy to join up with each other. Of course, this was always going to go this way when you think about it. Of course it was always going to descend into a fight. Auckland descended into a fight. It still is a fight for some people. There are still people who moan about the Super City in Auckland and it's been nearly 20 years. Spare a thought for Chris Bishop on this one because he's the minister responsible for all of this. His life already sucks. He's already breaking promises about Roads of National Significance. Auckland has already given him a good spanking over the density rules. Christopher Luxon has already taken away some of his favourite jobs. He's got the RMA reforms coming at him fast and those are going to be contentious as well. And now he's got this drama, which, in the next two weeks, is likely to blow up in his face.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hierdie week vir Wiele2Wiele vat hulle die langpad met die Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d en bring kwaliteittyd deur met die nuwe Kia Tasman-bakkie. Hulle vat jou ook op ‘n toetsrit met die Renault Captur. Wiele2Wiele op Facebook · Wiele2Wiele op Maroela Media
We crossed the Tasman to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Richard Willingham from ABC in Tasmania.
New South Wales league coach Laurie Daley believes players and fans on both sides of the Tasman will jump at the chance to experience State of Origin in New Zealand. Game two of next year's series is at Auckland's Eden Park. Daley told Mike Hosking it's such an iconic venue, so for the players to experience that and for Kiwis to experience Australia's greatest sporting product, it's exceptional. And, he says, there will be plenty of Australian fans making the trip over to watch and support the game as well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
While councils around the country are coming up with amalgamation proposals ahead of the government's August 9 deadline, Tasman District is staying well clear of any talks of a merger with Nelson. Tasman Mayor Tim King spoke to John Campbell.
Demand for New Zealand avocados is changing, with growth now less reliant on our trans-Tasman neighbour. Rabobank's latest exports report found exports in the latest season reached more than 3.4 million trays – down 9% due to wind damage. Exports to our biggest market —Australia— are dropping, while shipments to Asian markets are booming, with South Korea up 70%. Avocado Growers' Association Chair Alistair Young told Mike Hosking Australia's shrinking because of their own production. He says the uptake in Australia was greater than expected, so it's not done for just yet. And there's still considerable room for growth in Asian markets, Young explained, with the recent Free Trade Agreement allowing us to be more competitive in India's market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brad Foster our favourite Australian joins Jesse to talk about what's hitting headlines over the Tasman.
We crossed the Tasman to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Richard Willingham from ABC in Tasmania.
Daniel Hobbs may not be a household name in New Zealand sport, but his story is one of the most powerful we've ever shared on What a Lad.Known throughout Tasman rugby as a respected strength and conditioning coach, Daniel opens up about the horrific abuse he endured growing up at the hands of his stepfather. From living in constant fear, to enduring years of physical and emotional abuse, to the heartbreaking moment he nearly took his own life at just nine years old, this is a story of incredible resilience.Daniel shares how he overcame the lasting effects of childhood abuse, the PTSD that still impacts him today, and why he made a conscious decision to become the kind of man and father he never hadSome parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- Growing up in a household filled with fear, violence and control.- The unimaginable abuse he, his mum and sister endured for years.- The moment he nearly took his own life at just nine years old.- The long-term effects of PTSD and childhood trauma.- Discovering the truth about his biological father later in life.- Why he's most proud of breaking the cycle of abuse.- His advice for anyone currently going through a difficult time.This is one of the bravest conversations we've ever had on the podcast. Daniel's willingness to share his story is an incredible act of courage, and I have no doubt it will help people who are facing similar struggles or know someone who i Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Tasman-based doctor is among the finalists for this years' World of Wearable Art Show. GP Ben Ng-Wai Shing spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
We take our monthly look at the livestock market with PGG Wrightson Area Livestock Manager for Marlborough and Tasman, who discusses heavy rain, changes in the wine sector, and a strong bull sale season in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Has a second NRL team in New Zealand edged closer to a reality after the NRL's new multi-billion dollar broadcast deal? The Australian Rugby League Commission has signed a new seven-year TV rights deal with its existing partners on both sides of the Tasman, including Sky TV, starting in 2028. The NRL wants to increase to 20 teams during that period, with Christchurch considered a candidate for an expansion licence. Sky TV boss Sophie Moloney has been asked what the new deal means to that end. "That's definitely one for the commission - that wasn't determinist of our values, we've valued it up based on what we've got and we love our Warriors." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Ready for some genuinely encouraging news about the New Zealand property market? In Episode 19 of New Zealand Property Insights, Paul and Debbie Roberts pull back the curtain on the exciting opportunities opening up as rental markets rebalance and active buyers establish clear winning strategies. Discover why New Zealand's stable policy environment is outperforming Australia's tax-squeezed rental market, how Trade Me's Winter Pulse report reveals hidden hotspots in Canterbury, and how to successfully navigate the bank financing rules behind the upcoming apartment size deregulation.1. Trans-Tasman Rental Split: The latest Regional Rental Affordability Index reveals that local rental burdens dropped 5% over the past year as New Zealand's restored interest deductibility stabilized investor and tenant confidence. While our neighbors across the Tasman face severe shortages due to artificial tax constraints, Kiwi property owners are perfectly positioned to enjoy a balanced and highly predictable cash-flow environment. 2. Inside Trade Me's Winter Pulse: Trade Me's newly released property report proves that active buyers are staying highly disciplined, using smart non-negotiable criteria to target the best properties in a favorable buyers' market. With Canterbury completely dominating regional search volumes outside of Auckland, strategic investors have a golden opportunity to expand into resilient, highly affordable regional hubs. 3. Sizeless Apartments & Lending Realities: The government's proposal to eliminate minimum apartment sizes is set to unlock excellent, affordable entry-level options for students and young professionals seeking dynamic urban lifestyles. To fully capitalize on this density shift, buyers must simply align with independent mortgage advisers to comfortably navigate bank lending limits on smaller units and secure their long-term equity. Want to learn how to identify high-performing regional assets under the $500,000 mark and build a portfolio that thrives while the main centers take a breath?
What if the best investment you could make on your farm costs nothing extra to feed, never needs a day off, and compounds in value every single year? That's the case Dr Mark Ferguson has been making for 30 years. And the numbers back him up. Mark is a sheep geneticist turned ag tech founder who grew up on a family farm in the Victorian Mallee. After completing his PhD in Merino genetics, he founded neXtgen Agri to help sheep and beef producers across Australia and New Zealand breed better and build more profitable enterprises. He also heads up Genesmith, an AI-powered sheep facial recognition platform and hosts the Head Shepherd podcast. In this episode, we reconnect to talk genetics, entrepreneurship and what it really takes to build a business that compounds in value over time. We explore: The research behind the modern Merino, how fat and muscle selection transformed lamb survival and what that means for your flock today How to make genuinely objective breeding decisions and break free from the emotional, vision-driven choices that quietly hold most operations back The kitchen table origins of neXtgen Agri, what a trip to Stanford University sparked, and the lessons Ferg learned building a 19-person trans-Tasman business Genesmith: the AI-powered facial recognition platform trying to solve one of the sheep industry's oldest problems, dam-lamb matching at commercial scale, and what it needs to get there How to attract and retain great people in ag, give them the freedom to grow and build a team that performs beyond any individual To connect with Dr Mark Ferguson, visit www.nextgenagri.com or email mark@nextgenagri.com. The Genetic Plan and other resources are available at thehub.nextgenagri.com. If you are interested in Genesmith, whether as a supporter, partner or someone who wants to help drive the project forward, get in touch via the details above. And if you haven't already, search Head Shepherd wherever you listen to podcasts. Ferg, thanks for your time, your openness and your complete dedication to helping farming families get more from their genetics. The industry is better for it. It was great to re-connect again.
Steps are being taken to protect our most vulnerable bird species - in anticipation of a deadly avian flu variant, arriving on our shores. The highly contagious H5N1 strain has been spreading globally - including across the Tasman. Now the Department of Conservation's starting to vaccinate kākāpō, takahē, tūturuatu, kakī and kākāriki. DOC veterinarian Kate McInnes says the vaccine's safe for these species - and they're closely managed through captive breeding. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Nations Championship is finally here, and with a brand-new tournament comes one very important question: what actually counts as success? Ant and Phil kick things off by looking at South Africa's campaign. Is three wins the minimum expectation for the Springboks? Which combinations still need answers before the business end of the season? And with Rassie continuing to build depth across the squad, just how much experimentation is too much when silverware is on the line? The boys then work their way around the rest of the tournament, setting realistic expectations for every side. England's lofty ambitions come under scrutiny, France head to New Zealand with a genuine chance of causing problems, there's plenty of sympathy for Fiji, who once again won't get the opportunity to play their home fixtures on home soil, and can the Wallabies take a big scalp from Ireland or France. Attention then turns across the Tasman, where Dave Rennie has some fascinating selection calls to make for his All Blacks side. Should the Hurricanes provide the backbone of the team? Is Ruben Love ready for the biggest stage? And after one particularly spicy internet take, the panel spends far longer than expected debating whether Will Jordan might just be the most overrated All Black of the modern era. Plus predictions for the opening weekend, discussion around the changing balance of power in world rugby, and why this year's Nations Championship could tell us a lot about where every major nation really stands. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.
Our favourite Australian Brad Foster is with Emile to share what's hitting the headlines across the Tasman. This week he chats about NSW Government's decision around shark prevention and what on earth is going on at Channel Nine?
The All Blacks and Wallabies have been given the go-ahead to create a significant new trans-Tasman sporting tradition, with ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup Test matches confirmed for 2027, 2029 and 2031. All three fixtures will be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Bledisloe Cup in those years will be a three-match series, remaining a two-test challenge in 2028 and 2030 due to the new Nations Championship. New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster joined Piney to discuss further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the last of our series profiling the seven FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand finalists, we yarn to the Tasman region winner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's time to head across the Tasman to discuss some of the stories hitting the headlines with our correspondent Brad Foster [picture id="4JN17VV_AFP__20260614__2281485310__v1__HighRes__AustraliaVTurkiyeGroupDFifaWorldCup2026_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
Samantha talks about doctors for the provinces and the challenges facing Tasman after more flooding over King's Birthday weekend.
Gavin landed back in Australia just the day before recording, and he and Ken settle in for a full debrief on WDC 2026 in Athens. From the venues and the social activities to all four of Gavin's games and the top board, this one covers it all. Intro Ken sets up the episode – this one is going to be almost entirely about WDC 2026 Athens, because Gavin was there and has only just landed back in Australia (as at the time of recording) (15 secs) He notes the DBN coverage gave a strong account of the boards and Ed's player interviews, but plenty of the magic from Spyros Dovas and his organising team didn't make it to the stream (45 secs) Drinks are introduced: Ken is on one of his home-brew lagers with a kick, and Gavin is working through a leftover Sicilian Nero d'Avola that has turned a little sour – a fitting metaphor, he suggests, for how his first round went (1 min 45 secs) The tournament in aggregate Ken asks Gavin to give a broad overview – location, numbers, facilities, atmosphere (2 mins 45 secs) Around 106 players registered, though some didn't show due to last-minute issues. Approximately 5 Australian players couldn't attend because their original flights were routed through the Middle East (3 mins 30 secs) The geopolitical context: as of recording, the Middle East airspace situation was in week nine of its shutdown, forcing Australian travellers to reroute via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia. Some also baulked at the US transit option due to the documentation requirements (4 mins 30 secs) Despite the drop-outs, the turnout was excellent and genuinely representative – a heavy European component split between the UK and the rest of Europe, a strong French contingent, players from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Norway, a good number of Americans and a couple of Canadians (including Chris Brand), around 10 Australians, and a couple of Kiwis (Dominick Stephens and Craig Purcell). The local Greek contingent, given the Athens club had only been running for about 18 months, was especially impressive (3 mins 30 secs) Tournament format: three regular rounds followed by a fourth round of tiered top boards. Rather than a single top board, the format featured seven simultaneous top boards – the top 7 players went to the premier board, players 8–14 played the second tier, 15–21 the third, and so on down through the field. Crucially, players who volunteered to sit out for round four to help with numbers kept their ranking position (7 mins) Ken and Gavin discuss how the tiered format means the fourth round is never a dead rubber – every board is still competing for something meaningful (8 mins 15 secs) Discussion of the central clock arrangement: effectively federation-based rather than a literal single clock, with the two main venues coordinating their start times by communication (9 mins 30 secs) The venues The main venue was the upstairs function space of a beachside restaurant operation – excellent location right on the waterfront, but somewhat cramped for negotiations once all the boards were in (9 mins 45 secs) As a result, boards were redistributed to the secondary venue: the Anchor bar, about 150–200 metres down the road. Gavin played two games in each location and considered the Anchor the better play space – more open, well ventilated, and with a large covered outdoor area next to a (drained) pool (11 mins) The colour-coded sash system made it easy to identify players by country but created the amusing challenge of locating your specific Italy in a room full of Italys from different boards (13 mins) The third venue – an outdoor shaded area – was reserved for the premier top board. Unlike Milan's car park, this one had good shade and plenty of room for spectators around the giant shadow board (13 mins 30 secs) Pre-tournament social activities Gavin outlines the structure: you could do as much or as little as you liked. He landed well due to a useful 5.5-hour Singapore layover that helped reset his body clock, and flew over on the same flight as tournament director Jamal Blakkarly (16 mins) They were met at Athens airport by Spyros, his wife, and daughter, who drove them to breakfast at a beautiful harbour-side restaurant in one of the small inlet bays east of Piraeus (18 mins 15 secs) Pre-tournament island stay: Gavin spent two days on Serifos, the island Spyros recommended and which has personal significance to his family (his grandfather was christened there). Spyros provided a detailed Google Map of the best spots. With the tourist season barely starting, Gavin got excellent last-minute accommodation at a family-run hotel and had the beaches almost entirely to himself (18 mins 45 secs) The island was so off-season that locals were literally still painting their furniture and kerbs in preparation. Gavin did the recommended hikes and swims, and the hotel gifted him a dry-bag left behind by a previous guest (20 mins 30 secs) Back in Athens overnight, Gavin caught up with a multinational squad of players including Shane, Brandon, Max, Zoe, Justin Law, Bradley Grace, and Karthik. They had dinner at an Italian restaurant with the Acropolis lit up above them (22 mins 30 secs) Hydra day trip (Wednesday): players caught the fast ferry from Piraeus out to Hydra (about 1.5 hrs). The island has a refined Venetian-Greek port feel, with rustic paths and rock beaches beyond. The group visited the Museum of the 1821 Greek Revolution, full of local history and artefacts. Gavin wore one of his Diplomacy shirts and ended up being an ambassador for the hobby to an American grandmother and her debate-champion granddaughter from North Carolina – and pointed them towards David Hood and the local hobby there (24 mins 15 secs) The water temperature at the beach was about 4–5 degrees colder than Australia, which meant the Europeans loved it and Gavin did not go in (26 mins 30 secs) Acropolis and Athens tour (Thursday): guided tour of the Acropolis by what Spyros described as the best guides operating there, followed by a walk through the Plaka and past the Panathenaic Stadium (venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896), then a seafood lunch at a beautiful harbourside restaurant (30 mins) Temple of Poseidon (Thursday evening): the most popular activity – the bus was packed. About halfway there, Spyros took everyone on an unannounced detour to a beach bar where they had the place to themselves, a wonderful surprise. The Temple itself sits on a peninsula with 270-degree sea views. Spyros told the story of how the Aegean got its name from that location, and a huge group photo was taken (31 mins 15 secs) Tournament production values Gavin describes the production as setting new high-water marks for tournament organisation – high enough that the Chicago 2027 organising team would be wondering how to match it. Every player had a colour-coded sash matching their country, a branded WDC Athens notepad in their country colour, and a matching pen for every round (33 mins) The awards were 3D-printed Greek god statues for the podium finishers, complemented by a full suite of themed awards for the top players in each country and for notable gameplay (34 min) Special awards included: the Ajax Award for 8th place overall (the brilliant fighter who just missed out); the Archimedes Award for the most innovative play; the Leonidas Award for the player who fought on against insurmountable odds; and professionally screen-printed awards for best performance as each of the seven Great Powers (35 mins 45 secs) Gavin's games Round 1 – France – Board: Agkystri (View game) Gavin introduces his first game and the board composition: he played France, with Danae Stamataki (Austria-Hungary, local Greek player who topped the board on 10 supply centres and won best Austria), Sabrina Ahuja "Sabi" as England, Brian Ecton as Germany, Jean-Louis Delattre as Italy, Teo Ananiadis as Russia, and Frank Oosterom from the Netherlands as Turkey (37 mins 15 secs) The plan was a Western Triple working with England and Germany, with the goal of neutralising a strong-looking Italy early. It didn't come together as intended (37 mins 45 secs) The infamous mis-order: Gavin had two builds and intended fleet Brest plus a second build. Instead he built fleet Brest and placed the build directly in MAO, effectively waiving his second build. The DBN commentators interpreted this as a genius strategic waive; Ken's interpretation was somewhat more grounded. Gavin confirms Ken was correct (39 mins) The other players on the board didn't share DBN's generous reading of the situation. Germany immediately moved into Burgundy and kept flipping between fronts as his position allowed. Italy kept pressing France throughout. Gavin found himself squeezed down to a single unit in the English Channel (40 mins 30 secs) Final turn plan: England agreed to convoy an army across to Picardy to support Gavin back into Brest. Instead, Sabi walked into an open Paris. Gavin ended the game with zero supply centres and was eliminated (42 mins 15 secs) Gavin notes he made his disappointment known professionally, and that he subsequently had a drink with Sabi – but not that night (44 mins 15 secs) Round 2 – England – Board: Lemnos Not covered by DBN. Gavin played England; the board included Dominick Stephens (New Zealand) as Germany, Chris Brand (Canada) as Russia, Ruben Sanchez as Italy, Roberto Perego (Italy) as France, Robert Schuppe as Turkey, and Anastasia "Nastja" Styles as Austria-Hungary (46 mins) The plan was a Northern Alliance of England, Germany, and Russia. It unravelled immediately when Chris opened Moscow to Livonia and Dominick interpreted it as aggressive – resulting in a Germany-Russia war from the outset (46 mins 15 secs) Gavin adapted: knowing Germany was occupied in the east, he gave Russia some space and opened into Belgium, with Dominick and Chris both honouring his request to take Norway unopposed via fleet (46 mins 45 secs) Dominick and Gavin worked to grind down Roberto Perego's France, who ground out a hard-fought game staying alive on 2 centres. Ruben Sanchez's Italy played a deft game, flipping between alliances with Turkey and Austria (49 mins 15 secs) Dominick topped the board on 10; Ruben came in at 9; Gavin finished at 7. The game was meant to run to 1909 but drew earlier when the position stabilised. Gavin reflects he may have drawn too early, with both Dominick and Ruben suggesting he had room to push for another two centres (50 mins) Round 3 – Germany – Board: Symi (View game) Gavin played Germany. The board included Shane Armstrong (Australia) as France, Mikalis Kamaritis as Italy, Alex Maslow (USA) as Russia, Steven Hogue (USA) as Austria, Alex Lebedev (Russia) as England, and Jack Johns as Turkey (51 mins 15 secs) The strategic context: only Mikalis Kamaritis and Alex Lebedev were realistically in contention for the top board from this game. Shane and Gavin identified this early and committed to supporting the player they believed deserved to be there (52 mins 45 secs) Shane and Gavin opened with a Sealion against England, while Gavin also walked a careful line with Alex Lebedev, who initially felt more threatened by France than Germany. Austria was eliminated in 1903, and England in 1904 (53 mins 45 secs) A notable moment: Gavin slipped an army from the North Sea into an unoccupied London – a move he acknowledged was unnecessary, created friction with Alex Lebedev, and which he would not make again. He apologised on the day (56 mins 15 secs) Mikalis told Gavin and Shane to wait until 1905 – and delivered. He launched from his eastern position, took two dots off Russia and one off Turkey in a single year, then steamrolled from there. Alex Maslow was a strong and enjoyable player who nearly flipped the alliance but ultimately couldn't (56 mins 15 secs) The game agreed to a draw of 10-10-14 (Shane-Gavin-Mikalis), which the three felt would get Mikalis comfortably onto the top board. In the final adjudication Mikalis took one extra dot away from Shane, making the final scores 15-10-9 (58 mins 15 secs) Round 4 – Austria – Board: Myconos (View game) Gavin made it onto the fourth round, placed into the 6th top board. The board featured Shane Armstrong again as Turkey, Emmett Wainwright as England, Patrick Jacobson as France, Nathan Lester as Germany, Cameron Taylor as Italy, and Richard Bolton as Russia (59 mins 30 secs) The standout introduction: Nathan Lester, son of Dan Lester (who Gavin played against at Bangkok WDC). Same voice, same playing style, same persuasive meta-game arguments – but with a mullet and dressed like he's in an 80s rock video, and without the beard-stroking (1 hr 0 mins 45 secs) Gavin and Shane, having just played together in Round 3, ended up as Austria and Turkey respectively – not a natural alliance. Gavin didn't trust it but it held. Italy and France both kept fighting hard throughout (59 mins 45 secs) The game drew in 1906, with Shane and Emmett both finishing on 8, Gavin on 6 as Austria. Everyone then rushed across the road to watch the top board (1 hr 3 mins 45 secs) The top board Ken asks about Mikalis's diplomatic style. Gavin: exceptional situational awareness, communicates clearly and directly, asked and answered the "what do you want from this game?" question in a way that built immediate trust, and was good to his word on timing (1 hr 4 mins) Gavin arrived at the top board mid-1906 (his own game had just drawn). The top board was played outdoors under a well-shaded tree with plenty of room for negotiations, guarded by two or three people ensuring other players and passing members of the public couldn't crowd the board (1 hr 5 mins) The giant shadow board: a massive life-size replica board was set up nearby so all spectators could follow the game without approaching the real board. Andrew Goff read out the orders and the shadow board was updated after each adjudication – the same setup used at Milan WDC (1 hr 7 mins 45 secs) When Gavin arrived, he felt Bradley Grace had the game. The shift came late – Mikalis made a decisive move in the endgame that separated him from a closely matched France/Germany contest (1 hr 9 mins) Congratulations to Mikalis Kamaritis – well deserved, Gavin says. And to Bradley Grace: so close, but it will happen (1 hr 9 mins) The awards ceremony included Mikalis receiving both the championship belt and a traditional olive laurel wreath – a detail that was not captured in the DBN stream. Ken flags this as something future broadcasts should consider covering (1 hr 11 mins 15 secs) A Best Shane Cubis Award was also created – won by a Greek player who loudly lobbied Spyros for an award on the basis of how much he'd helped out. An AI-generated image of Shane Cubis in 1901 attire featured on the award, to the complete bafflement of the European and American contingents (1 hr 12 mins 50 secs) Game hobby and future WDCs The Chicago Windy City Weasels delivered a presentation promoting WDC 2027, enthusiastically received by the assembled players (1 hr 13 mins 15 secs) The 2028 bid: Melbourne was the only bid, and it was unanimously approved. Andrew Goff (Goffy) presented it. WDC 2028 Melbourne will be held at the MCG – the Melbourne Cricket Ground – with the conference rooms used for regular play, and the premier top board played on the MCG wicket itself. The countdown timer will run on the MCG scoreboard. Notionally scheduled for the last weekend of February 2028 – the weekend after the Formula One Grand Prix and the weekend before the first AFL round (1 hr 14 mins 30 secs) For international context: roughly equivalent to playing at Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Camp Nou, or Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena. English players will recognise the MCG as where English cricket hopes traditionally come to die (1 hr 15 mins 15 secs) Also at the game hobby: a unanimous vote to amend and modernise the WDC charter, which dates from around 2000–2001 and doesn't reflect current online play, email communication, or the organisational structures of the Asia-Pacific and European hobbies. Four representatives (from NADF, the Asia-Pacific Diplomacy Association, and the European and UK hobbies) will draft amendments to be presented at WDC 2027 Chicago, with ratification at WDC 2028 Melbourne (1 hr 18 mins) Wrap up Gavin acknowledges the full organising effort: approximately 10 people working behind the scenes alongside Spyros and Jamal to make everything run. The Greek hobby and Athens Diplomacy Club can be enormously proud (1 hr 20 mins 30 secs) The Armistice Party: held between rounds three and four in the venue near the pool area. A DJ with a custom app allowed all attending players to nominate up to 10 songs each, with the crowd then voting in real time from four options for what came next. Gavin describes it as stunningly well thought through (1 hr 22 mins) Ken summarises: meticulously planned, wonderful venue, brilliant location, great games, fantastic people. Gavin: you got it in one. Thank you to Spyros, Jamal, and everyone they played with (1 hr 23 mins) Addendum – recorded one week later Ken and Gavin explain the addendum: a few things were either forgotten or lost in the original recording, so they've caught up a week later to cover them (1 hr 25 mins 45 secs) The Cane Toad The Cane Toad tournament will not run in 2026 – Gavin has made the decision to rest it for the year and bring it back bigger and better in 2027 (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs) Reasons: Gavin no longer lives in Brisbane where the tournament has historically been based, and several attempts to get a local game going have been completely unsuccessful. He feels it would be unfair to interstate players to travel to Queensland only to play mostly other interstate players rather than a meaningful proportion of locals (1 hr 27 mins 30 secs) He also flags cost-of-living pressures and fuel costs as factors, noting that the fuel excise which had been removed is about to be reinstated (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Ken and Gavin have a brief riff on whether cane toads actually hibernate, and whether the tournament might one day move to a different Queensland location (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Gavin shares a long-held dream of running the Cane Toad on the beach under a sun-safe setup. Council regulations require public liability insurance – but the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association is in the process of organising exactly that for tournament directors, which may open the door in future (1 hr 29 mins 15 secs) Tournament news The Sydney Cup is on the weekend of 4–5 July. Gavin would love to go but has used up his diplomacy credits between Greece and starting a new job – it'll have to stay in the bank for now (1 hr 30 mins 45 secs) A New Zealand tournament is being discussed for the week before WDC 2028 Melbourne (late February 2028). Three New Zealand players who attended WDC 2026 in Athens have flagged interest in hosting something, on the logic that if you're travelling all the way from Europe or the US, a short hop across the Tasman to New Zealand is well worth building into the itinerary (1 hr 32 mins) Ken enthusiastically endorses the idea and encourages anyone planning for WDC 2028 Melbourne to factor in a week in New Zealand beforehand (1 hr 33 mins 30 secs) Challenge for next episode Over his birthday lunch, Gavin's son surprised him with an accurate recall of his WDC result. This leads Gavin to issue a challenge for the next episode: both Ken and Gavin will do some homework and come back with three or four online diplomacy resources that people may not know about, to raise awareness of what the community has put together over the years (1 hr 34 mins 45 secs) Around the grounds VDiplomacy gets an introduction for any listeners who aren't familiar: a sibling platform to WebDiplomacy, it hosts classic games but is particularly known for its range of variants (1 hr 36 mins 30 secs) The Dionysus Reimagined game recap – the ancient Greece variant Ken and Gavin set up in the lead-up to WDC Athens. Ken soloed, eliminating Gavin in the final year. Gavin notes that technically his last dot was taken so late that his result registers as a survive rather than an elimination (1 hr 38 mins 45 secs) Gavin played Athens and found himself defending on all fronts from early on: Sparta (who built only armies and had nowhere to go but north), the Macedonians pressing from the north, Byzantium late in the game, and Rhodes. Ken played Byzantium and credits his early token luck as a key advantage, picking up all his bid supply centres including one he expected to bounce – giving him fleet dominance in the Aegean from the start (1 hr 40 mins) The bid mechanics are recapped for any listeners unfamiliar with the variant: each player has 4 tokens to bid on non-core supply centres; outbid or bounce and you don't get the build. Ken's fortunate opening bids gave him a decisive early position (1 hr 40 mins 30 secs) A practical tip for vDiplomacy players: always open the large map after adjudication. The small map can omit orders that didn't go through, making moves look different from what was actually played. Ken noted several instances in the Dionysus game where support orders that failed simply weren't visible on the small map (1 hr 45 mins 45 secs) Ken congratulates himself on the win and notes the ratings gap between the two has now closed to around 100 points (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs) New game announced: Gavin has set up a Pirates game titled Ahoy Mateys on vDiplomacy. Gunboat, 2-day 2-hour phase length. Ken explains the extra 2 hours: it gradually shifts the adjudication time back toward Australian time zones in games where everyone readies up early (1 hr 48 mins) Pirates variant overview: a 13-player variant set in the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean, created by Gavin in collaboration with Ollie (the vDiplomacy site administrator). The 13 players are broken into three factions (1 hr 51 mins 45 secs): Europeans – Spain, England, France, and Holland, who nominally control supply centres across the map but must capture them to make them count Pirates – five pirates, four historical (Montbas, Brasiliano, de la Cueva, and Johnson) and one fictitious: El Guapo, borrowed from the movie The Three Amigos Privateers – one per European power, operating as private navies with letters patent. They can attack anyone except their sponsoring power (and vice versa). The Dunkirkers serve Spain, Henry Morgan serves England, François Le Jones serves France, and the Rocherson serves Holland Unit rules: all units are fleets, but there are two types – Clippers (move up to two spaces, standard attack strength) and Frigates (move one space, attack at 1.5x strength). A single clipper cannot defend against an attacking frigate, but a clipper supported by another clipper can. Five marked spots on the board allow transformation between unit types (1 hr 57 mins 45 secs) Special rules: a voodoo witch's hut in Cuba allows a fleet on the north coast to teleport to the south coast and vice versa. And a 14th non-playing character – a Hurricane – spins up each storm season in a random sea territory, moves randomly in the fall turn, and destroys anything in its path with an effectively unstoppable attack strength, also resetting any supply centre it passes through to neutral (1 hr 59 mins) Ken commits to reading the full rules before play begins, notes Pirates has a genuine following on vDiplomacy with games regularly in progress, and suspects he may get slaughtered (2 hr 1 min 15 secs) Gavin and Ken wrap up the show (2 hr 2 mins 15 secs) Venue: At home Drinks for the interview: Ken: One of his home brews – a lager with a bit of a kick Gavin: A Baliamo Nero d'Avola from Sicily – opened two weeks prior, which he noted had become a little sour and bitter compared to its fresh opening, much like his first round at the tournament Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment… or get the guys more drunk, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.
Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.In this post-budget episode, Paul and Debbie Roberts cut through the mainstream media noise to deliver the real data, strategies, and opportunities hiding in the current property market. We kick things off by breaking down groundbreaking economic research that challenges outdated council building targets and introduces "price signal planning". Then, we cast our eyes across the Tasman, where Australia's latest federal budget has left their property community deeply envious—with Aussie media openly calling New Zealand a real estate "tax haven". Finally, we unpack a structural social housing reform shifting hundreds of millions of dollars directly into the private rental market to boost tenant stability. 1. Ditching Arbitrary Council Quotas for Price SignalsThe New Zealand Initiative's Beyond Targets report demonstrates that hitting numeric council targets has historically failed to improve underlying housing affordability. Substantial price jumps right at invisible council zoning lines act as clear proof that development permissions are being treated as a rationed, scarce commodity rather than meeting actual demand. The Latest REINZ Figures: National median residential prices slipped a minor 0.6% year-on-year to $775,000, while sales volumes dropped 7.9% nationally—led by a 14.8% annual decline in Auckland as the market finds a stable footing. 2. Why Australia Thinks NZ is a Real Estate Tax HavenAustralia's new federal budget cuts their capital gains tax discount to a minimum 30% tax rate, targets legacy assets bought before 1985, and heavily restricts negative gearing. New Zealand stands in stark contrast with no general capital gains tax outside a 2-year bright-line test, no stamp duty, and no land tax. Because Australian buyers are completely exempt from our foreign buyer restrictions, a favorable exchange rate is setting the stage for an influx of trans-Tasman capital. Data reveals Kiwi investors care far more about monthly cash flow and loan serviceability than back-end capital gains taxes, making our market highly attractive. 3. The $387.5 Million Cash Injection for Private RentalsThe government's multi-year social housing reform package raises the minimum income-related rent contribution from 25% to 30%. This structural rebalancing unlocks $387.5 million in operating savings, which is being completely reinvested back into the private sector. Maximum weekly Accommodation Supplement rates will climb by $10 to $30 a week, leaving roughly 111,000 families renting in the private market better off by an average of $14.91 a week. For private landlords, this targeted support fundamentally lowers the risk of rent arrears and increases overall tenant stability. Want to discover how to navigate the current buyer's market, analyze local cash flow numbers, and purchase the right property for your personal financial goals?
Aotearoa lacks a coherant complete approach to reducing the risk of natural hazards, according to a new report commissioned by on the country's largest insurers. AIG estimates that over the past 15 years the direct cost of natural hazards has been $4.2 billion a year. With 95 percent of that going directly to response and recovery, and just 5 percent to reducing future risk. Tasman mayor Tim King spoke to Lisa Owen.
Australia correspondent Chris Niesche joins Kathryn to talk about the latest news from across the Tasman.
New data shows Australian business confidence is on the up - but things are still gloomy across the Tasman. The survey from National Australia Bank showed its index of business conditions held at +3 in May, ending four months of losses. Confidence improved modestly to -14, from -23 in April. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our Australia correspondent Brad Foster joins Jesse to talk about what's making news across the Tasman, starting with Former Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer who died last night.
Is it just me, or did anyone else notice what a contrast it was watching Christopher Luxon cracking jokes with Anthony Albanese, compared to what it was like when Jacinda Ardern visited Australia? For all her kindness and communication when she was Prime Minister, she would use those trips to Australia to give then–Prime Minister Scott Morrison a tongue-lashing—usually over the 501 deportees, which was pointless because the Aussies weren't going to change their minds. This weekend, though, was a bit of a love-in. And that's despite the fact that we've done something that could genuinely have upset the Aussies. Because Nicola Willis has probably gone a bit too hard, having cracks at them for their capital gains tax changes in their budget—which they're very sensitive about, because they're copping huge blowback. And yet…it was no drama. Albanese wrote it off as cheekiness. And then, instead of yet another trans-Tasman drama, he was cracking jokes with Luxon about Kiwi immigrants. They were taking turns going first with the questions, and they were affirming each other—welcoming closer ties, strengthening shared resilience. It's turning into a bit of a cliché thing to say now, but Luxon is in his element overseas. He sounded every bit the statesman—someone who has thought deeply about the degrading state of international affairs and what New Zealand needs to do to weather the coming storm. And I thought, as I listened to him pitch how kick-ass Australia and New Zealand are going to be, that he was doing a better job of selling Australasia to the world than the Prime Minister of Australia was. He's a big-ideas guy—selling his country and his region and getting on with people is his party trick. Isn't that a better strategy, when you think about it, than always fighting with your only ally? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New Zealand commercial property is drawing serious attention from Australian investors, and the yields are a big part of why. In this episode of Inside Commercial Property, Scott O'Neill is joined by Matt Harris and Michael Vincent of Lighthouse Financial to unpack what's making the New Zealand market so compelling right now. Lighthouse is one of New Zealand's leading financial services firms, guiding more than 4,000 Kiwis toward financial freedom since 2014 with holistic advice spanning accounting, lending, and investment. The conversation covers the forces shaping New Zealand property in 2026. New Zealand has moved through the interest rate cycle ahead of Australia, with the official cash rate easing significantly from its peak, and that shift is changing how investors think. For an everyday Australian investor, the combination of a favourable exchange rate, no stamp duty, and a maturing commercial market makes a genuine case for diversification. Matt and Michael also explain the practical side of buying across the Tasman: how the structures, lending, and tax considerations work for a foreign investor, and why the experience is more familiar than most Australians expect. In this episode, we cover: Why New Zealand's position in the interest rate cycle is reshaping investor behaviour. How the shift toward income-driven assets is opening the door to commercial property. What the exchange rate, stamp duty, and lending environment mean for an Australian buyer. How New Zealand's commercial market is maturing, and where the opportunities sit. The structures, tax, and first steps for an Australian investing in New Zealand.
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the rise of black market tobacco consumption across the Tasman and the Finke Desert Race revving up for it's 50th anniversary.
River levels are dropping in the Tasman district, where some places received 700 millimetres of rain over the King's Birthday long weekend. It has felt all too familiar for some people, with the downpours coming almost a year from last winter's devastating floods. Samantha Gee reports.
The chief economist of one of the largest banks across the Tasman is quashing talk of New Zealand becoming Australia's tax haven. A recent Australian newspaper declared the country's recent capital gains tax changes had lifted our appeal to local property investors due to our lack of capital gains, stamp duty, or land tax. Westpac Group's Luci Ellis told Heather du Plessis-Allan there won't be as many concessions for new purchases of existing homes for rent, but negative gearing is still an option on new builds. She says while some Aussies might find a New Zealand property attractive, if what they're motivated by is the tax concessions, they can still buy a new build in Australia. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A cat crack down is coming for Tasman District. From Monday, a new bylaw means moggies six months and older need to be microchipped desexed and registered. The council said it could help them distinguish between feral and companion cats. Tasman District Council Marine and terrestrial bio manager Guinny Coleman spoke to Lisa Owen.
Some people are still recovering a year after two winter floods caused widespread damage across the Tasman district, while many work on being better prepared for the next storm. It's one of the key issues concerning a group formed to look after the health of the Motueka River, saying they consistently hear from residents who want more education around flood risks. Samantha Gee reports.
If you start at 9am, can your boss demand you're there at 8:55? It's a debate that sparked up again across the Tasman when a hair salon posted a video on TikTok. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
There's a buzz in Christchurch over an Aussie visitor that may prove an asset in local gardens and farms. A bee species from across the Tasman, Leioproctus Launcestonensis has been rediscovered in the garden city after decades. More than a dozen of the bees have been formally identified after being collected from community gardens, as part of a wider study. University of Canterbury PHD candidate Ava Taylor-Johnson spoke to Lisa Owen.
Just two years into its existence, Auckland FC are A-League Champions. On Saturday night midfielder Cam Howieson wrote a new chapter when he scored the grand-final's only goal. The strike secured the first championship for any New Zealand franchise in the trans-Tasman football league. Ingrid Hipkiss spoke with Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker.
Australia's tax overhaul could become New Zealand's opportunity.In this episode, we break down Australia's major property and capital gains tax changes, what ring-fencing and reduced CGT concessions mean for investors and business owners, why some believe these policies punish aspiration, and whether New Zealand could benefit from an influx of capital, businesses, and entrepreneurs across the Tasman.Next Steps: If you want to structure your investments, business, or property portfolio more effectively in a changing tax environment, get in touch with the Lighthouse Accounting team today.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.
Bryce Heem is one of the most underrated rugby players New Zealand has produced. From leaving school early and working trades, to partying his way through his late teens, Bryce carved out a 15-year professional rugby career through hard work, resilience and taking every opportunity that came his way.Playing for the Auckland, Northland, Tasman, the Chiefs, the Blues, NZ Sevens, Worcester and Toulon, Bryce built a career that took him all around the world and made him one of the most respected teammates in the game.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- How he's found his transition from rugby to mortgage broking- Going from working in refrigeration and air conditioning to marking Hosea Gear in his first professional game- The brutal fitness standards and lessons he learned under Gordon Tietjens in NZ Sevens- Why he chose to leave New Zealand rugby for Worcester and the reality of overseas rugby life- Returning home from France after his dad was diagnosed with lung cancer- How a simple message helped earn him a contract with the Blues- Winning Super Rugby with the Blues after years of being so close- His thoughts on missing out on the All Blacks and why he has no regrets about his career- Why “don't burn bridges” became one of the biggest lessons he learned through rugbyBryce is one of those lads everyone he played with will conform he's a legendary man. Tough as nails on the field, humble off it and full of great perspective from a career that took him all over the world. Plenty of laughs, honest reflections and awesome stories in this one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When you think about tax havens, you might think of the Cayman Islands perhaps, or Bermuda. But what about New Zealand? Some Australian media have started to use the term to refer to those of us living on this side of the Tasman. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to John Campbell.
Award-winning journalist Eugene Bingham tells two stories - Te Pahi's story and his own! Te Pahi is the extraordinary true tale of the first influential Maori leader to cross the Tasman. Te Tai Tokerau rangatira Te Pahi's curiosity about the Pakeha world forged alliances, saved lives and ultimately cost him his own. Eugene is one of Aotearoa's most respected investigative journalists and an internationally acclaimed podcaster. He's an athlete too! Eugene has completed dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons. Nowadays, though, he's more likely to be at the start line of a 5km parkrun. Since 2021, he's been learning te reo Maori, mostly at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, with the goal of re-introducing the language to his whanau. His book is The Chief and the Empire and he talks to Susie about why stories like this are so important today.