Podcasts about Waikato

A New Zealand football referee will be wearing a body camera when he officiates at the Club World Cup in June. Waikato's Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh is among 35 referees who will take control at the inaugural tournament with the extra piece of technology strapped to them. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hundreds more health workers were assaulted at work last year, according to Health New Zealand data, with Auckland central and Waikato districts seeing the biggest spikes. Reporter Lucy Xia has more.

A squally cocktail of rain, hail, wind and thunderstorms tracked across the upper South Island, Taranaki, Waikato and Auckland. MetService Duty Forecaster Katie Hillyer spoke to Alexa Cook.

A health group says the Government's health targets don't tell the full story of the system. Three of the five Government's targets are on track, but two are worse than the previous quarter. Wait lists for elective treatments and a first specialist assessment have worsened, but child vaccination rates have improved, alongside cancer treatment times and ED stay lengths. Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Andrew Dickens the ED wait time metric doesn't include walkouts. He's aware of a case in Palmerston North where a patient walked out of its ED because it was overwhelmed, and died the following day. He's also doubting how cancer treatments are measured. Mulholland told Andrew Dickens it looks at the time from the first appointment to first treatment, instead of diagnosis. He says patients are waiting eight weeks or longer at Waikato, Christchurch, Wellington and Southland hospitals, and some outcomes have been lethal. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Waikato 11-year-old mistakenly treated as an adult mental health patient was restrained and twice injected with a drug rarely given to children. More details have emerged as Health NZ releases its rapid review into the incident where the autistic girl was wrongly identified as a 20 year old last month. The health agency says it is creating an action plan to stop it happening again. Rowan Quinn reports.   

Health New Zealand has apologised and says it's a top priority to make sure a case of mistaken identity never happens again. Police mistook an 11-year-old for a distressed woman in her 20s - and she was restrained and given drugs meant for adults at a Waikato mental health facility. Chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan says it's clear human error was a factor - and they need to learn from this. "What's clear here is - our staff were doing everything in good faith, working hard, there's no doubt some human error occurred here. But we just need to learn from that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyer Tania Waikato has launched a petition calling for the government to cancel Compass Group's school lunch contract, saying the company has repeatedly failed to meet its obligations, leaving tamariki with "horrible, disgusting and inedible" kai

Labour changed RMA laws, National cancelled those changes then freaked out when the old RMA's that Labour changed as they weren't fit for purpose, were found to not be fit for purpose and they are now changing RMA laws under urgency asking for a bipartisan approach while only really wanting Labour to rubber stamp what National wants. #TheBish and Kieran debated this on Breakfast this morning.Lawyer Tania Waikato has launched a petition calling for the government to cancel Compass Group's school lunch contract, saying the company has repeatedly failed to meet its obligations, leaving tamariki with "horrible, disgusting and inedible" kai. Tania joins us tonight live at 9pmTamatha Paul's comments about what her electorate is telling her of their experience with the police has been met with distain by political leaders. We take a look at this tonight and see where we are at=================================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

In this episode we have the opportunity to interview our new friend, Shaun Brooker, who serves as Head of School at Hamilton Christian School in Hamilton, New Zealand. It was a pleasure to meet Shaun in person at the recent Converge conference in Orlando, and we were delighted that Shaun was able to join us for the show, despite the time difference between the Waikato region in New Zealand and Northwest Iowa–he is 18 hours ahead of us! Shaun is a thoughtful, passionate leader, as you will find as you listen. In this wide-ranging conversation about Christian education, Shaun shares his vision for the Kingdom work we get to engage in as Christian educators. We hope you'll be blessed by this conversation, and we suspect this is not the last time we'll have Shaun on the show. At the end of the episode Dave asks Shaun about an important piece he has written entitled “The Letter,” which we hope everyone will read. You can find this piece here: The Letter. Hallway Conversations is sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education. You can learn more about the good work CACE is doing at https://cace.org/ 

Ever wonder why your fitness routine doesn't yield the same results as your male workout partner's? In this episode on the Habits and Hustle podcast, I talk with exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims, as she reveals that women's bodies respond completely differently to exercise due to our unique physiology.  We dive into the importance of tailored training protocols for women, especially during different life stages such as puberty, perimenopause, and menopause. We also discuss essential supplements, the implications of using Ozempic for weight loss, the benefits of exercise over pharmaceutical interventions, and underrated health tips. Dr. Stacy Sims is a forward-thinking exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist with an MSc and PhD who specializes in female-specific training, nutrition, and health. Named one of the top visionaries in the running industry and featured as one of the top women changing the paradigm of her field by Outside Magazine, she is the author of the groundbreaking book ROAR and creator of the "Women Are Not Small Men" philosophy. Dr. Sims has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, directed research programs at Stanford, AUT University, and the University of Waikato, and continues to advocate for women's health through her courses, speaking engagements, and research.  What We Discuss:  02:58 Understanding Women's Physiology 06:00 The Importance of Tailored Training for Women 10:08 Injury Risks and Biomechanics in Women 14:02 Navigating Perimenopause and Menopause 19:54 Effective Training Strategies for Women 25:03 The Role of High-Intensity Training 29:58 Jump Training and Bone Health 35:15 Understanding Ground Reaction Forces 35:43 Fasting and Women's Health 38:38 Hormonal Sensitivity and Nutrition 40:24 Protein Needs for Women 42:13 Plant-Based Protein Sources 45:38 Essential Supplements for Women's Health 49:41 Peptides and Their Efficacy 50:58 The Ozempic Craze 54:17 Microdosing and Inflammation 56:20 Training Across Different Life Stages 01:01:55 Underrated and Overrated Health Tips 01:03:40 Saunas vs. Cold Therapy …and more! Thank you to our sponsors: AquaTru: Get 20% off any purifier at aquatru.com with code HUSTLE Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off  TruNiagen: Head over to truniagen.com and use code HUSTLE20 to get $20 off any purchase over $100. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. BiOptimizers: Want to try Magnesium Breakthrough? Go to https://bioptimizers.com/jennifercohen and use promo code JC10 at checkout to save 10% off your purchase. Timeline Nutrition: Get 10% off your first order at timeline.com/cohen Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers.  Bio.me: Link to daily prebiotic fiber here, code Jennifer20 for 20% off.  Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off   Find more from Jen:  Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/ Instagram: @therealjencohen   Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement Find more from Dr. Stacy Sims: Website: https://www.drstacysims.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstacysims

Investigations are underway into how Health NZ staff and Waikato police mistook an 11-year-old girl for a 20-year-old mental health patient. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey spoke to Corin Dann.

There's been growing calls to make churches pay more in tax - and the Government is set to review this in the upcoming Budget. But after over a decade of research, one academic has changed her mind and now believes churches should pay less taxes and receive more funding from the Government. Dr Juliet Chevalier-Watts, Associate Professor at Waikato University's Faculty of Law, says she's been researching the economic impact and value of religious charities in New Zealand. "It blew my mind...and quite often, the reason why we don't know about this amazing work that they carry out is because they hide it under a bushel, unfortunately. They don't do themselves any favours doing that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pepler's makes a range of dressings, chutneys and sauces from its base in Te Kauwhata in northern Waikato.

Waikato dairy farmer and maize grower Alan Henderson shares some insights from a United States no-till conference he attended. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that US farmers’ expertise in growing maize is ahead of ours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A drought has been declared in the Northland, Waikato, Horizons, Marlborough-Tasman, and Taranaki regions. Our reporter Alexa Cook has been out and about in the central North Island.

Lush Waikato farms are turning into deserts as drought conditions worsen and farmers struggle to grow grass. Reporter Alexa Cook is on the road talking to those most affected.

Jackie Diprose noticed some inequity with the school lunch programme in her home town of Matamata, so she decide to do something about it.

A new two-year pharmacy degree is offering a fast-track into a profession in dire need of more staff. Waikato University said it provides a quicker pathway for registering overseas trained pharmacists, and a new way into the primary health care sector for science graduates. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

The United States is seeing a surge in backlash to the Trump administration's policies, particularly those focused on undermining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion domestically and the administration's foreign policy position on Palestine. Wire Host Caeden spoke to University of Waikato Senior Lecturer in history Garritt Van Dyk about the history of boycotts and the resurgence of this protest tactic against Trump. They then spoke to Andre Fa'aoso from the Yale Daily News for his perspective from the ground on these growing opposition movements, particularly the impact of these movements within Universities.

Taharoa Ironsands was convicted and fined for 'thick brown sludge' which flowed into Waikato waters -  Libby Kirkby-McLeod, RNZ Waikato Reporter has this story and others from the region.

A Waikato man is outraged by a $10,000 optional fee charged by one of the country's most expensive integrated state schools, Whanganui Collegiate. Education correspondent John Gerritsen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

PREVIEW: Colleague Reuben Steff of the University of Waikato in Hamilton, NZ succinctly describes the autumn colors emerging across his islands. More later. 1911

We're joined by the first female winner of the Young Farmer of the Year, our special guest for International Women's Day. We also discuss dairy farm management in a Waikato drought.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Jay Carter and Will Roberts explore Will's journey from being an average football player to becoming a prominent figure in sports education and coaching. They discuss the impact of early sports experiences, the transition from player to coach, and the importance of personal development in sports. Will shares insights into his current role at the University of Waikato, his coaching philosophy, and the challenges of balancing youth development with performance pressure in professional sports environments. Will also discusses the complexities of youth development in sports, emphasizing the balance between play and performance. He highlights the importance of creating supportive environments for young athletes, the role of play in their development, and the challenges faced by coaches in catering to diverse aspirations. The conversation also delves into the significance of mentorship in coaching, advocating for a community approach to support volunteer coaches and enhance their effectiveness.Send us a textSupport the showhttps://talkingperformancepod.com/

The Chiefs have confirmed that head coach Clayton McMillan will join Irish club, Munster. McMillian is being released from his contract one year early, leaving the Waikato team at the end of this current season. His departure brings an end to his 5 seasons in charge at the Chiefs, during which he has lead them to the last two Super Rugby finals. New Zealand Rugby's general manager of professional rugby Chris Landrum joins the show to discuss McMillan's move. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In all my travels, I've never encountered anything quite like it, particularly given its magnitude. Prising open the mighty King Country, Forgotten World Adventures (FWA) offers remarkable excursions, riding the rails of an abandoned railway line, stretching from the northern tip of the Ruapehu District to heartland Taranaki. It's not only an enduring totem to our guts-and-glory pioneering heritage but a more modern-day manifestation of gritty Kiwi ingenuity – and repurposing! Based in Taumarunui, FWA is an incredibly enterprising tourism venture boasting a compelling platter of soft adventure excursions, prising open the legends, heritage and unspoilt scenery of the hinterland. Forgotten World Adventures re-opened 142 kilometres of this decommissioned railway line in 2012, including 24 tunnels and 92 bridges – all built from hand. Founded by Ian Balme, this Waikato farmer dared to dream big, turning a mothballed rusting eyesore into a visionary business. For the past three years, FWA has been owned and operated by Grant Ross and Laura Wackett. They both have a fascinating backstory, principally in international television production, while Grant was also previously a professional rugby player in South Africa and France. Originally from Wellington, Grant is revelling in steering a homegrown enterprise, which was quite the baptism of fire given New Zealand was still wrestling with Covid when he purchased the business. He's very hands-on and highly engaging with guests. It was fascinating to chat to him about the challenges and rewards of the job – like when a massive storm buried the tunnel entrances in a pile of mud! The prohibitive costs of constant track maintenance underpinned KiwiRail's decision to pull the plug on the line's operation in 2010. Taking nearly 32 years to build, the Stratford – Okahukura Line (SOL) finally opened in 1932 and linked up with the main trunk line through Taumarunui to Auckland. Working gangs sawed and blasted their way through the bush-draped hinterland to lay the tracks of this steel artery. It cost 2.5 million pounds to build this line, equating to billions of dollars today – the most expensive rail line in our nation's history. They even built massive timber-trestle viaducts across the likes of the Mangatatoko Ravine, now overgrown in bush, because it would have been too difficult to maintain such a sky-high bridge. The engineering prowess was extraordinary. The line had been commissioned to transport products from the emerging farming, coal and logging industries. At its peak, there were 15 stations in operation on this line – now, concrete platforms serve as sobering memorial slabs to a bygone age. FWA operate six unique guided adventures, whether you're after a half-day excursion, full day or multi-day adventure. If you want to ride the entire 142km-long line to Stratford, that's a two-day affair, but I plumped for the full-day rail car ride to the self-declared Republic of Whangamōmona. You can do it one-way in either direction, with a night's stay in the irrepressible Whangamōmona Hotel. The historic hotel was built in 1912 and the area's proud history is lustily showcased on the pub walls. But full drama ensued in 1989when Whangamōmona threw a strop and declared its independence. It was prompted by local government reforms which carved up the boundaries of the Whangamōmona district, which resulted in half the district ending up in Manawatu-Whanganui, when most folk associate themselves with the Taranaki region. So they declared independence in the pub and continue celebrating Republic Day in January. You can even get your passport stamped at the pub counter. You'll love the ebullient spirit of the hotel and its patrons, with excellent meals and comfortable accommodation. Arriving into the main street, with its heritage shop facades, you'll feel like you've been transported into a Wild West movie set. It's utterly enthralling, and home to one of New Zealand's legendary watering holes. Meeting up with my FWA guide Ray, we set off from Whangamōmona, under bright blue skies, for our full-day ride back to Okahukura. Ray knows this wild region intimately, guiding since 2016 and prior to that delivering rural mail. He was an exceptional host on the rails, informative and effusively passionate about the region's rich heritage. This is certainly no train ride, but a unique self-drive rail journey in converted golf carts, where you're in charge of the pedals. Petrol powered and limited to a top speed of 22km an hour, these souped-up golf carts originate from Arizona, but given the lush and vivid greenness of the surrounding landscape, they certainly don't look out of place. I was half expecting a vast fairway to appear on the horizon. The weirdest initiation is feeling comfortable not steering the wheel, because you're firmly affixed to the rails. No turning required! The mining and milling heyday of the Forgotten World region may have long faded but the wrap-around scenery is deliriously drool-worthy, a blend of the bucolic, wistful, lonely and rustic. Animals vastly outnumber people in these parts, as we tootled by goats, deer, alpacas and happy herds of cows on elevated pastures, while a vast flock of freshly-sheared sheep skipped alongside the line, under the watchful eye of crowd-wrangling sheepdogs. Clattering along the tracks in our carts, curling through valleys and creased hills, we traversed lichen covered bridges spanning rivers, while more lichen streamed down from trees like confetti. We threaded our way through magnificent native forest, particularly around Tangarakau, where kiwi are being re-introduced to the bush. Towering papa cliffs rose up beside the railway line adding to the natural splendour. Reaching out on the eastern horizon, I snatched the occasional view of mighty Mt Ruapehu, piercing the skyline, by Tahora Saddle. The King Country's tightly folded steep-sided hills and starkly contrasting curvaceous hummocks, created by lahars from Taupo and Ruapehu eruptions, make for riveting topography. The Egyptians would be suitably impressed, because of all the pyramidal shapes that sharply point at the sky. The verdant countryside is sprinkled with clutches of ramshackle houses and dilapidated farm buildings, strutting the skyline as reminders of the region's boom times, when primary industries like timber-milling and coal-mining thrived. When in season, you can even pick wild blackberries, blueberries and apples from the railway line. It's sobering to reflect on how dramatically the population has changed in some of these settlements. A delicious buffet lunch awaited us in Tokirima, which FWA staff had prepared in advance of our arrival. We also stopped for scrumptious home-made snacks and a hot cuppa in the sleepy village of Matiere. It's still home to around 40 residents – and a thriving Cossie Club. At its peak, 85 years ago, Matiere had a population of 750, built on saw-milling and farmers breaking in land. This pioneering town once included a dairy factory, three general stores, two butchers, two drapers, a tailor, bank and post office. Information posts along the route, complete with historical photographs, illustrate how bustling many of these lineside communities used to be. But the undeniable highlight of riding these storied rails are the brick-lined tunnels laid by hand and the longest tunnel on the line, spanning 1500 metres. Apparently it comprises 3.5 million bricks and took eight years to build! Boring through these tunnels on our carts was absolutely thrilling. It certainly pays to wrap up warm. They can be bone-chillingly cold. The 1500 metre tunnel, known as the Okahukura Tunnel, is actually New Zealand's seventh longest rail tunnel. Adding to its ethereal theatre, a thick mist draped the middle of the tunnel, before we re-emerged from the darkness into spectacularly sunlit native bush. Rail travel has always exuded romanticism. The supreme sense of scenic intimacy is unmatched by road travel and the novelty of piloting your own passage along the tracks is an undeniable winner with the Kiwi DIY love affair. While in Taumarunui, my head hit the pillow at the Forgotten World Motel. My well-appointed unit was clean, quiet and toasty, the beds are cloud-comfortable and there's free Wi-Fi. The rail excursion season rolls on until May 10, before resuming again on October. Make tracks! For full details on the FWA product range, head to www.fwa.co.nz I romped my way around the Ruapehu region in a trusty hybrid Ford Puma, courtesy of Ezi Car Rental. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ezi experience, where excellent vehicles, super sharp prices and fast & friendly service are all part of the package. Ezi Car Rental operates an extensive network from 24 locations across the country. They're everywhere you want to be with vehicles to suit your specific needs. Head to www.ezicarrental.co.nz The drama and grandeur of Ruapehu is power-packed as a year-round wonderland for outdoorsy adventure. Crowned by the triple volcanoes of the central plateau and the majestic Tongariro National Park, make tracks to the wide open spaces and hospitality charms of Ruapehu. www.visitruapehu.com Mike Yardley is our Travel Correspondent on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters says a lack of notice from China ahead of live fire exercises in the Tasman represents a "failure" in the relationship with Beijing. Mr Peters made the comments following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi overnight. Professor of international law at the University of Waikato, Al Gillespie, spoke with Alexa Cook.

A Waikato bariatric surgeon said patients going overseas for weight-loss surgery are returning with potentially life-threatening complications and clogging up an already overburdened public health system. Dr Rowan French is worried overweight Kiwis are being targeted by medical tourism companies and don't understand the risks involved or the need for post-operative care. Natalie Akoorie reports.

"A bitter blow for the south Waikato." That's the reaction from the union for 230 workers who today had it confirmed they would lose their jobs at Kinleith's pulp and paper mill at the end of June. The plant's owner, Oji Fibre Solutions is closing the paper division after a 100 million dollar loss in 2023. In November, the company laid out a proposal to discontinue its paper production. But confirmation still came as a shock to many of the workers - and there's anger the government didn't do more to help. Natalie Akoorie was at the mill and filed this report.

Tokoroa's Kinleith Mill owner has confirmed plans to permanently end paper production. From June the change will be implemented and roughly 230 factory workers will be jobless. South Waikato District Mayor Gary Petley says the impact on the town will be ‘huge.' LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB'S BEST BUYS Valentine's Day Selection Wine: Pegasus Bay Gewurztraminer 2024 North Canterbury, $30 Why I chose it: Gewurztraminer is an aromatic wine with punchy aromas that often resemble flowers (in this case rose petals). National Lamb Day Selection Wine: Trinity Hill 2021 The Gimblett, Hawke's Bay, $39.99 Why I chose it: It's NZ Lamb Day today and I wanted to choose a wine that would make a great match with lamb. Lamb is high in fat, which makes it a high flavour meat. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned red grape that is also high in flavour making it a perfect partner for lamb. Trinity Hill 2021 The Gimblett is a blend of Cabernet Franc 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, and Petit Verdot 4%. The wine even has a subtle minty character which gives it a built-in mint sauce-like component that's perfect for lamb. What does it taste like? Dense, intense red with cassis/dark berry, chocolate/mocha, vanilla, cigar box, and spicy oak flavours with a touch of mint. Approachable now with good ageing potential. A powerhouse red that was built to enhance the flavours of NZ lamb. It's from the Gimblett Gravels, a premium red-wine region in Hawke's Bay, Where can you buy it? Whisky and More, Waikato, $34 Liquor Legends, Auckland $34 The Good Wine Co, Auckland $35.99 Will it keep? Yes, with careful storage this wine will still deliver pleasure after 5-10 years or more LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natalie Akoorie is a RNZ Senior Reporter based in Waikato

Labour inspectors have been turning up unannounced at Waikato retail and hospitality businesses to check if workers are being exploited. Ten labour inspectors and an immigration team hit Hamilton on the 30th of January to make sure businesses are complying with the accredited employer scheme. Simon Humphries from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment spoke to Lisa Owen.

Imagine growing up with a full-size tractor collection, a dream for many kids, that was the reality for Leanne Hosking and her brother Jason. Their late father, Waikato farmer Paul Devcich was an avid collector and restorer of John Deere tractors - the oldest, a classic from 1940. He believed in restoring history, but they didn't just look good, Paul made sure they were also in good working order. Now the family have decided it is time for someone else to enjoy their father's pride and joy but as Leanne says, they will always have the memories. Leanne Hosking joins Emile Donovan.

Change is coming to the Auckland-Hamilton train, Te Huia, which will no longer stop at Papakura. The train will instead call into Pukekohe, in a move to improve efficiency for North Waikato residents. Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange talks to Mike Hosking about the change. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government said it's working at pace on a new law that would mean tough punishments for people who attack police officers. A Waikato officer was injured last night after a driver allegedly drove into the patrol car, hitting the officer who had already got out of the car. The driver then took off, but a 47 year old has since been arrested. Deputy Police Commissoner Tania Kura spoke to Lisa Owen.

Waikato man is on a mission to rehome a catalogue of cats after becoming too ill to run his rescue. Wayne Proffitt, started rescuing cats about twenty years ago after he noticed them getting injured and killed on state highway one near his Tokoroa business. He built a massive enclosure to house the cats; desexed and looked after the rescues, all paid for out of his own pocket. Wayne's daughter, Jen Agnew spoke to Lisa Owen.

It seems that much of the country is still struggling to see summer, with grey and overcast weather across the motu and possible thunderstorms in Waikato and Waitomo. MetService Meteorologist Peter Little spoke to Corin Dann.

A family pod of five orca have been visiting Raglan and Kawhia harbours over the past two weeks, attracting people keen for a glimpse. But the Department of Conservation is reminding jet skier and boaties to back off a bit, marine protection rules requires vessels to stay 50 metres back. DOC Marine Species Manager Malene Felsing spoke to Lisa Owen.

The legendary jockey's sudden retirement announcement in December caught the NZ racing industry by surprise.  Opie says he'd been contemplating retirement for six months but it took a simple experience on Xmas Day to convince him the time was right. The champion jockey was out jogging on Xmas morning, wearing his mandatory heavy sweat gear when he was suddenly conscious of passers by in high spirits, out enjoying life on such a special day. Opie was unplaced on 3 rides at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Driving home to Matamata after the races he made the massive decision to call time on his stellar 30 year career. He says the withdrawal symptoms have been manageable so far. Opie says he was a little hesitant as he sat down to type out his retirement announcement for release on social media. The jockey says weight issues have plagued him for many years. He explains just how tough it's been over time. He reminds us that he walked away from racing more than twenty years ago when wasting got the better of him. He spent eighteen months out of the industry during which time he gave the rugby code some serious attention. Kiwis and Australians alike have been curious about the champion jockey's unusual christian name. He puts forward a simple explanation. Opie talks about an apprenticeship to his godfather Steve Autridge, at the time head trainer for the Te Akau machine. He says Autridge has been an important influence in his life. He talks about the TeAkau training operation at Matamata, and the  breathtaking environment of Te Akau Stud in the Waikato, where it all begins for the David Ellis homebreds. Opie was happy to wander down memory lane. He's never forgotten his very first day as a professional jockey. His first winning ride in 1995 left an indelible memory.   The brilliant jockey announced his arrival in a big way. He was only 17 when he won his first Gr 1, the 1998 Auckland Cup on Jezabeel. Opie wasn't retained on Jezabeel in the Melbourne Cup of the same year but was lucky enough to get on a wonderful NZ staying filly during the same carnival. He won the historic Victoria Oaks on Grand Archway. Shortly before that Melbourne carnival he made a quick trip to NSW as a favour to a young Kiwi friend who was just getting started as a trainer in Sydney. He happened to ride the trainer's first Australian winner in an obscure maiden at Wyong. Opie looks back on some stunning NZ career statistics. He makes no secret of the fact that the brilliant sprinting mare Imperatriz was his all time favourite. He talks about the brilliant mare's best performances. Second only to Imperatriz on Bosson's list of favourites is the dynamic Melody Belle. He looks back on 6 Gr 1 wins on the wonderful mare. He was delighted to partner Melody Belle in her only Australian Gr 1 victory. He speaks with great admiration of another top tier Te Akau mare, the talented Avantage. He rode her in eight of sixteen wins which included five Gr 1's.  Opie looks back on his association with several other exciting horses he got to ride in the famous tangerine and royal blue Te Akau colours. He makes special mention of the lightly raced Te Akau Shark. He says we never saw the best of this exciting Rip Van Winkle gelding. The 99 time Gr 1 winning rider devotes extra time to his memories of Mongolian Khan, the top class stayer who gave him victory in two of Australia's most famous races.  Opie came back to ride him in three Sydney races the following autumn, but says he wasn't the same horse. The jockey pays a warm tribute to Mongolian Khan's trainer Murray Baker. The newly inducted retiree speaks of his three children. He and first wife Samantha Spratt are the parents of 19 year old Cody who shares his father's love of hunting and fishing.  Opie talks of the two younger children he shares with second wife Emily- Max who's six,  and daughter Honour who's nearing three years of age. The Auckland Racing Club acknowledged Opie's impact on NZ racing when they released a special audio presentation a few years ago. Whenever the jockey won a race at the Karaka Millions meeting the catchy chant of “There's Only One Opie Bosson” resonated through the public address system, generating great crowd involvement. He talks of his reaction to a rare honour.  Great to catch up with a jockey who was appointed an Officer Of The NZ Order OF Merit in 2023 for his services to racing.

Today's Zanda McDonald farmer panel takes us to Mid Canterbury and Waikato.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The potential new owner of the Whakapapa ski field has expressed interest in operating the famous Chateau Tongariro hotel. Whakapapa Holdings director Tom Elworthy spoke to Paddy Gower.

Businesses in the central North Island are at odds over how the closure of the Desert Rd will affect them, with one business-owner saying he could lose tens of thousands of dollars as a result. CEO of Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust, Topia Rameka, and TCB Ski Board and Bike Owner Ben Wiggins spoke to Paddy Gower.

Police are continuing to search for a man who escaped from a Police transport vehicle at the Taupō District Court on Monday night. Taupō mayor David Trewavas spoke to Alexa Cook.

Police have confirmed that two people who fell, one fatally, from a Coromandel Cliff over the weekend were both under-18. Thames-Coromandel mayor Len Salt spoke to Paddy Gower.

From Monday morning, the Desert Road will be closed for approximately two months. The closure is part of Waka Kotahi's Tirau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project. Waka Kotahi regional manager of maintenance and operations Roger Brady spoke to Paddy Gower.

Political polarization feels like it's at historic high, but what does the data actually tell us? Plus LLMs can sound very convincing to some people and there's a psychological reason why that is. Professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Waikato, Dr. Garry explains.Starring Tom Merritt, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Dr. Maryanne Garry, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes.

Political polarization feels like its at historic high, but what does the data actually tell us? Plus LLMs can sound very convincing to some people and there's a psychological reason why that is. Professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Waikato, Dr. Garry explains. Starring Tom Merritt, Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy, Dr. Maryanne Garry, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

Fergus Hodgson discusses the deep-rooted problems plaguing Latin America and what he considers to be a red pill: that for now LatAm is practically a lost cause. We discuss his vast experience in the Americas, how much foreign intervention really is to blame, what solutions might look like, why Americans should think twice before expatriating, and more. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rokfin / Rumble / Substack Geopolitics & Empire · Fergus Hodgson: The Latin America Red Pill, Americans Have Nowhere To Escape To #495 *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Become a Sponsor https://geopoliticsandempire.com/sponsors **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics easyDNS (use code GEOPOLITICS for 15% off!) https://easydns.com Escape The Technocracy course (15% discount using link) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics LegalShield https://hhrvojemoric.wearelegalshield.com Sociatates Civis (CitizenHR, CitizenIT, CitizenPL) https://societates-civis.com Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Fergus Hodgson Websites Linktree https://linktr.ee/ferghodgson The Latin America Red Pill: My Search for Freedom South of the Border https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM9M1BRK X https://x.com/FergHodgson About Fergus Hodgson Fergus Hodgson is a New Zealand native who grew up on a sheep and cattle farm near Ngaruawahia on the North Island. He is the third of six children in a Catholic family, and he is a Canadian and Irish citizen through his mother and grandparents. He rode a horse to elementary school, and until retirement his father milked a cow by hand for the family. Hodgson's younger brother and sister-in-law now run the farm: Te Akatea Station. As an escape from boarding school, he embraced sports, especially cycling, rowing, rugby, and running—and he has the scars to prove it. After representing New Zealand in the single scull at the under-21 level, he came to the United States in 2003 on a rowing scholarship with Boston University. He has completed marathons in Canada, Ecuador, Poland, and the United States. His four years based in Boston opened his eyes to classical liberalism and gave him an affection for the United States. In particular, he learned the importance of free speech, and he found a treasure of information in the Foundation for Economic Education and the Mises Institute. In his final semester, he completed a directed study on the economic origins of marital decline, and he achieved his first academic publication with the Boston University Brownstone Journal. After completing his BA in economics, he returned to New Zealand and completed a second major in political science at the University of Waikato. While there, he became a student columnist for Nexus Magazine and found unexpected success. The top provincial paper, the Waikato Times, published him, and these early columns opened the door to work with think tanks in Canada and the United States. His first article stateside made the Washington Times, and his second achieved national syndication. He cut his teeth as a reporter and editor in Louisiana with the Pelican Institute, before becoming the director of fiscal policy studies for the John Locke Foundation in North Carolina. Alongside these roles, he wrote for countless outlets—including the American Conservative, the Daily Caller, Econ Journal Watch, Fox News, the Fraser Institute, the Future of Freedom Foundation, and WND.com—and he started his own podcast on liberty around the world. This later evolved into the Gold Newsletter Podcast. He was the founding editor in chief of the PanAm Post and is the founder and director of Econ Americas, a consultancy devoted to international finance, geopolitical risk, and jurisdictional arbitrage. During this time,

Fergus Hodgson discusses the deep-rooted problems plaguing Latin America and what he considers to be a red pill: that for now LatAm is practically a lost cause. We discuss his vast experience in the Americas, how much foreign intervention really is to blame, what solutions might look like, why Americans should think twice before expatriating, and more. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rokfin / Rumble / Substack Geopolitics & Empire · Fergus Hodgson: The Latin America Red Pill, Americans Have Nowhere To Escape To #495 *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Become a Sponsor https://geopoliticsandempire.com/sponsors **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics easyDNS (use code GEOPOLITICS for 15% off!) https://easydns.com Escape The Technocracy course (15% discount using link) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics LegalShield https://hhrvojemoric.wearelegalshield.com Sociatates Civis (CitizenHR, CitizenIT, CitizenPL) https://societates-civis.com Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Fergus Hodgson Websites Linktree https://linktr.ee/ferghodgson The Latin America Red Pill: My Search for Freedom South of the Border https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM9M1BRK X https://x.com/FergHodgson About Fergus Hodgson Fergus Hodgson is a New Zealand native who grew up on a sheep and cattle farm near Ngaruawahia on the North Island. He is the third of six children in a Catholic family, and he is a Canadian and Irish citizen through his mother and grandparents. He rode a horse to elementary school, and until retirement his father milked a cow by hand for the family. Hodgson's younger brother and sister-in-law now run the farm: Te Akatea Station. As an escape from boarding school, he embraced sports, especially cycling, rowing, rugby, and running—and he has the scars to prove it. After representing New Zealand in the single scull at the under-21 level, he came to the United States in 2003 on a rowing scholarship with Boston University. He has completed marathons in Canada, Ecuador, Poland, and the United States. His four years based in Boston opened his eyes to classical liberalism and gave him an affection for the United States. In particular, he learned the importance of free speech, and he found a treasure of information in the Foundation for Economic Education and the Mises Institute. In his final semester, he completed a directed study on the economic origins of marital decline, and he achieved his first academic publication with the Boston University Brownstone Journal. After completing his BA in economics, he returned to New Zealand and completed a second major in political science at the University of Waikato. While there, he became a student columnist for Nexus Magazine and found unexpected success. The top provincial paper, the Waikato Times, published him, and these early columns opened the door to work with think tanks in Canada and the United States. His first article stateside made the Washington Times, and his second achieved national syndication. He cut his teeth as a reporter and editor in Louisiana with the Pelican Institute, before becoming the director of fiscal policy studies for the John Locke Foundation in North Carolina. Alongside these roles, he wrote for countless outlets—including the American Conservative, the Daily Caller, Econ Journal Watch, Fox News, the Fraser Institute, the Future of Freedom Foundation, and WND.com—and he started his own podcast on liberty around the world. This later evolved into the Gold Newsletter Podcast. He was the founding editor in chief of the PanAm Post and is the founder and director of Econ Americas, a consultancy devoted to international finance, geopolitical risk, and jurisdictional arbitrage. During this time,