Podcast appearances and mentions of Wayne Brown

It's set to be a big week for Auckland with the long-awaited International Convention Centre opening on Wednesday, and Sail GP descending on the waterfront on the weekend. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

This morning we spoke to the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, plus the Transport minister Chris Bishop joined us as repairs to roads hit by severe weather continue; It's a big week for Auckland, with the convention centre opening, and the Sail GP foiling its way into town. We spoke to mayor Wayne Brown; We were joined by our reporter Timothy Brown who covered the Christchurch mosque attacks in detail, as the gunman attempts to appeal his convictions; Wellington Water Chief Executive Pat Dougherty says locals may have to stay out of the water for months, he joined us live.

Auckland, where the city's economy isn't firing on all cylinders just yet, but the Chamber of Commerce does say that green shoots are emerging. Crime crackdowns in the CBD and changes to boost events at Eden Park are all part of a push to get Auckland City humming again. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown joins Andrew Dickens to discuss the progress made this year, and talk about what we can expect to see next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just two months ago he was mayor Wayne Brown's deputy chief of staff, but now he is publicly criticising his former boss over a proposed 7.9 percent rates rise. Josh Van Veen left his post after the October local body elections and is now a spokesperson for a lobby group that is demanding the mayor front up and answer questions about the rates rise. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown defends his annual $235 million operating cost calculation for the City Rail Link as scepticism arises. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "most of when you pay your rates, is paying things off. They're not free. "It's not free to have a road. It's not free to have a train. It's not free to have a bus." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown revealed his plan for a 7.9% rates increase to pay for City Rail Link running costs of an estimated $235 million annually. This is the largest rate rise since Auckland Council was formed in 2010. Questions have begun arising of the legitimacy of Wayne Browns calculation of City Rail Link's projected running costs. Auckland Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Jordan Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "you're entitled to your own opinion or your political strategy, but you're not entitled to your own facts. And the facts are Auckland Transport have have called this out as being absolute nonsense." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland households face a 7.9% rate rise next year, primarily to fund the operating costs for the $5.5 billion City Rail Link, which is nearly finished. It's a reality, it's going to open for passengers next year – woo! The increase will cover the $235 million annual cost of operating the new underground rail service. It's the largest rates rise since Auckland Council as a super city was formed in 2010. For the average household wondering what on earth to do with all the extra money that comes into their bank accounts, annual rates will climb from $4,023 to $4,341. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's rates announcement came shortly after Christopher Luxon announced at his post-cabinet press conference yesterday afternoon that the Government's going to introduce a rates cap of 2 %to 4% from January 27. The cap will exclude water charges and non-rate revenue such as fees and license fees and things like that. Very good politically. Who doesn't want somebody to say, "Hey, you greedy grasping councils, stop taking our money and delivering nothing in return." But as Wayne Brown pointed out, how would Auckland be able to pay for its city link if it didn't have the facility to raise rates? Wayne Brown told the Herald, putting a cap on rates isn't going to solve anything, it'll just defer it for a couple of years, then ratepayers will be paying even more. He said councils are faced with making decisions that involve significant investment and should not be restricted by governments telling us what we can and cannot do. All very valid, provided of course that councils are sensible husbands of their ratepayers' money. We can all think of absolutely barking mad vanity schemes that have been undertaken with ratepayers' money that incense us and infuriate us. And there's very little we can do. You could always try voting, those 70% of you that don't, but you won't be listening to this radio show probably. And if you've got a council that doesn't really know what it's doing and doesn't know how to keep control of the different departments and can't really manage long-term investment infrastructure and a long-term rates plan, suddenly turning off the money tap is not going to turn them into brilliant budgeters. They're not going to suddenly gain the skills overnight because there's less money to pay with, play with. If you're making dumb decisions now, you're still going to be making them in 2027. Rate capping or rate pegging has been in force in New South Wales and Victoria for several years and is loosely based on the rate of inflation or the consumer price index, which is what we've done. We've looked at Australia and thought we can do this here. In New South Wales and Victoria, the councils can apply for higher caps, but the process is complicated and deeply controversial with their rate payers, not surprisingly. Ratepayers like not having to pay significant rate increases, but the sorts of things they want to see, swimming pools, sports facilities, libraries, lifestyle infrastructure, are getting further and further away from local councils to deliver because they're under the pump financially. They just haven't got the money to do it. If you reduce your rate collection, you won't have as much money to maintain services or implement them. So what do you want as a ratepayer? We were talking about this earlier and, you know, one of our young producers doesn't use his local swimming pool. He said, "Can I opt out of funding that?" And I'm like, "Well, I'm all in. Our family uses the local swimming pool, uses the local library, loves it." We can opt in. Can it be like a car wash, where you get your basic car wash and then you can do the add-ons? Do you want the wax? Sure. Tick. Could they have a bare bones rate structure, or would it be simply too difficult to implement? At least in Auckland you can see what you're paying for, and I assume it's the same if you're in Hamilton or Timaru or New Plymouth. You can actually see the projects. When you're paying rates in places like the Hokianga, we don't get rubbish collection, we don't have water that comes from the sky. We have sewage that is collected on site in septic tanks, don't have lighting, any pest control I'm doing. You don't get a lot for your $3,000. So at least in the cities you can see what you're getting. There'd be some of you paying rates wondering what on earth you're paying them for. I'd be very interested to hear your rate stories. Could you have, would it be too difficult to implement? It probably would, but would you like to see an option? You can have economy, business class, or first class in terms of what you pay for in rates and what services you can access. Does a rates cap appeal to you or can you see it just being a gradual erosion of services and facilities?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown talks with Paul Spain about the future of technology in Auckland and New Zealand. The mayor shares his vision for making Auckland a leading tech hub and how he believes the city can better contribute to New Zealand's economy.From his experience leading business delegations to China and India, to his hands-on approach supporting the Auckland Tech Alliance and pushing for digital innovation within local government, Wayne Brown offers his viewpoints on city-to-city connections, global tech opportunities, and the sometimes-bumpy road of digital transformation and adoption.We explore practical challenges around balancing technological innovation with privacy and inclusivity, discuss Auckland's role in supporting the wider country, and hear why Mayor Wayne Brown believes collaboration, progressive development, and a willingness to take risks are key to unlocking Auckland's and New Zealand's potential on the global tech stage.This episode also touches on Council Digitisation, Rocket Lab, Halter, Bengaluru - India, Guangzhou - China, Sao Paulo - Brazil, Startup Week, Auckland Technology Alliance, Transport, Road Cones and more.A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, Workday, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.

On the front page of the New Zealand Herald today there was a poll, and it shows that we're split as a nation on the issue of capital gains tax. So, the question for us here in this room and you in your room and all of us together is, should we have another discussion on the CGT? And my answer to that is, of course not. And why? We have no real idea of what it looks like, so we don't know what we're talking about. People who have assets that are accruing capital do not want it because they've never had to pay tax on it before, and no one likes paying more tax. People who do want a capital gains tax might want it if it means there's more money for health and education or benefits, but then if they start getting assets, will they be happy paying more tax? All the policies we've had so far on capital gains tax are so wishy-washy and indeterminate, we have no idea what it means. When will the valuations be calculated? Will we pay tax on mythical unrealized gains? How much money will it really raise? Have we had any answers to any of those questions? No, we have not. Could we have answers to those questions? Maybe. David Parker, before the last election, apparently came up with a comprehensive capital gains tax plan, but we never saw it. So how can we debate it? Labour's policy is such a once over lightly, we can't answer any of this. We are split on the general concept of capital gains tax and always have been, so why discuss it? It is a ridiculous Russian doll situation, and we go round and round, and we've decided let's not talk about that today. But we can talk about real taxes. And real taxes are increasing. And if you don't believe me, take a look at your rates bill, because rates are a tax. There are all sorts of different taxes in this world. And it's the sneaky ones that don't call themselves taxes that are the really sneaky ones. We had a real tax come at us, a couple of them actually, over the weekend. On Saturday, the front page was all about the legislation that's been introduced, meaning that councils can charge congestion taxes in the future. Awesome. So we'll be paying taxes on roads we already paid taxes to build. And if not taxes, then rates, because the council builds a lot of our roads. And of course, as I've said already, rates are also taxes. Talk about double jeopardy. We're paying taxes on taxes. It's two bites of the pie. And then you have to wonder why the National-led coalition wants to increase our taxes when their mission has always been to reduce them. They hate taxes, they say. Some of them say we're overtaxed. They want them gone.So the motivation for taxes has many faces. They're used to punish the rich because of the politics of envy, I get that. They're used to redistribute wealth because some people are poor and some people are not. And of course, they're all used to fund health and education systems. And we also use taxes to punish or to change behaviour. So I guess if we're talking about congestion taxes in this instance, we're talking about changing our behaviour. Is that enough reason for National to want to do this? The behaviour they're trying to change is to make more of us drive off-peak and less of us on-peak, making the roads flow better. I say good luck with that. Good luck with your tax, because in this age of cost of living increases and rate rises and water costs, I believe that no one at this moment wants to pay more tax. And no wonder Wayne Brown in the paper on Saturday said the council is not going to use this new power anytime soon, because he knows a vote killer when he sees one. I mean, who's going to vote for that? Turkeys do not vote for Christmas. And you have to ask, would it actually work? It might make mums on the school run think twice about using a motorway at peak hour. But, you know, tradies and the people who carry all our goods and the transporters, they won't have the option. They'll have to pay, and that is a further cost on their bottom line. And whenever a business gets a further cost on the bottom line, you know what they do? They pass it on. Who to? You and I, increasing the costs of services. The very fact, and I said this yesterday, the very fact that a young modern city like Auckland or Tauranga or Wellington, well, let's say Auckland, just over 1 and a half million people, it's a small city internationally, has got itself into a position where a centre-right government thinks the answer is a congestion tax is a complete and utter failure of our civil planning over the last generations. Sure, I understand congestion taxes in London. I mean, that built and built and built, and there's no more room for roads, and they've got undergrounds, and they've got buses, and they've got trains, and they've got everything, and still they're congested. So sure, put a congestion tax on in London. But really, Auckland? Hello? Really? Tauranga? Tauranga is our most taxed roading system. Got a couple of them there. You had the K-Road ages ago. Did it work? Or Wellington. And I'll talk more about Wellington later because today is a big day for Wellington transport.The fact of the matter, if you don't like the congestion taxes, all we had to do was provide alternatives to the car that were affordable and efficient. Every time we talked about public transport options or alternate modes or God forbid cycleways, they've always been shouted down by people who think we still live in a rural village and not a modern cities, and we should all have the human right to drive from doorstep to doorstep. Well, that's a lack of foresight, is it not? Because we kept on growing and growing. Unfortunately, transportation, like public transport, is the answer, because there's very little room for more roads. But then again, we'll have to figure out how to pay for that transport system, and again, that will fall on you and me and our wallets, just the same as it would with any tax. At the moment, unbelievably, under a National-led coalition, another tax is coming, and do you think our roads are going to suddenly clear out? I don't. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I had a lovely Saturday morning. Lying in bed, drinking a coffee, reading the weekend Herald and listening to Jack on ZB say that he'll ditch his wallet by next year as everything he needs will be on his phone. I was thinking - keep up, lad. I ditched the wallet during Covid. The phone has become ubiquitous and if not the phone, then a card in a pocket in the phone. It's debatable whether this is a good thing considering how compromised phones are and how reliant they are on cell towers, software and power supply, but hey. Meanwhile, on the front page of the Herald was the legislation meaning that councils could charge congestion taxes in the future. Now this is dodgy. The taxes will be on roads that we already paid taxes to build. And if not taxes then rates, which after all, are also taxes. Talk about double jeopardy - taxes on taxes And then, you have to wonder if the National-led coalition really is the tax cut party. Surely introducing a new tax is still a new tax, which is something they say is what the socialists do. But everyone is doing it - rates are up, water rates are up. And under this coalition, the reality is our taxes are going up. No matter what their semantics suggest. But they have to do it to get some cars off some roads that are so congested that they're costing our productivity. The motivation for taxes has many faces - they're used to punish the rich, they're used to redistribute wealth, they're used to fund health and education systems and they're used to punish or change behaviour. So they're trying to change our behaviour to make more of us drive off peak and less of us on peak. Good luck with that. Good luck with your tax. No wonder Wayne Brown said they're not going to use the new power any time soon, he knows a vote killer when he sees one. But the fact that a young modern city of just over one and a half million people has got itself in a position where a centre-right Government thinks the answer is a congestion tax is a complete and utter failure of civic planning. Sure, I can understand congestion taxes in London, which has had centuries of development. But Auckland? Or Tauranga? Or Wellington? All we had to do was provide alternatives to the car that were affordable and efficient. But everytime public transport options and alternate modes have been suggested, they've been shouted down by people who think they live in rural villages and not modern cities and they should drive from doorstep to doorstep. Thanks for your lack of foresight - it means another tax is coming and our roads will still be chocka. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rates cap is one of those policies that immediately sounds appealing. Look no further than yesterday's CPI number. It's one of your top three inflation feeders. So, throw a cap on them. Tie their hands behind their backs. Reign 'em in! Get rid of the hundred-thousand-dollar bike rack here, the million-dollar disco toilets there, the coffee machines for staff over there. But in practice, how do actually make it work without starving these councils of revenue they actual need to fix the pipes? I spoke to Ben Bell from Gore yesterday. He said almost 90% of council spending there goes on basics - pipes and roads. The rest is "nice to haves". Libraries and swimming pools etc. There's no club sandwiches as council meetings. They're drinking instant coffee. And yet, Gore's rate increases have been double digit or close to it for several years. They'll be close to double digits again this year. Despite that, the good people of Gore have re-elected Bell for a second term. So, we say we want lower rates, of course we do, but the question is what will it cost to us? Will capping them actually hurt us? Our local economies, productivity, efficiency. Last week, Wayne Brown told me on Herald Now that Auckland could have a ZERO increase next year if it wasn't for the City Rail Link spending coming online. It's a major transport project. It'll, in theory, benefit Auckland and the country. It was paid for by both Jaffas and taxpayers. If we want lower rates, we could just not run any trains on the tracks. But is that sensible. Don't get me wrong, I'm the first to criticise the big spending bozos who chuck money at dumb stuff. But most council spending isn't that. Most of it is stuff we need. D-day is looming for the government's plan to cap rates, and it needs to be a measured response. We need spending on pipes and roads to continue and waste on disco loos flushed down the dunny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon covers the Local Government election results, including what appears to be the background to Wayne Brown's big win.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Director at Capital, Ben Thomas, and NZ Herald senior writer, Simon Wilson, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The local body elections wrapped up this weekend and recent data is showing the voter turnout was historically low. Why don't people take local body elections seriously? Is it a lack of decent candidates? Is it a thankless task? Do we need to change the way we vote? Both Andrew Little and Wayne Brown have mentioned working with central Government as being part of their plan - does there need to be a stronger relationship between local and central Government to get things done? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Results from this weekend's local elections are still rolling in, with some races still too close to call. But Auckland's Wayne Brown and Christchurch's Phil Mauger have definitely won second terms with decisive victories. Andrew Little's the new mayor in Wellington, and Tim Macindoe's won in Hamilton. Voters in just 17 council areas have opted to keep Māori wards, with voters in 25 opting to scrap them. Newstalk ZB election reporter Michael Sergel says Sophie Barker is leading Dunedin's mayoral race, but this outcome could change on final results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, guess what - according to Local Government NZ, voter turnout around the country for the local body elections has been dismal. Surprised? On Friday afternoon, 983,466 votes had been received around the country, which represented 28.49 percent of all eligible votes. That's under 30 percent. Blimey. As of Friday, our biggest city, and one with a multitude of issues apparently, had the lowest voting percentage of 21.8 percent, followed by Hamilton City with 22.98 percent and Porirua City with 25.11 percent. Council Governance and Engagement general manager Lou-Ann Ballantyne encouraged people to vote if they hadn't already. She reminded us that if you don't vote, you're letting someone else choose who represents you. Which is true. Or as Ray Chung so eloquently put it after his defeat in the Wellington mayoralty race: “This is your decision. Live with it.” But we still don't seem to care. By the end of Saturday, the overall percentage of voting around the country was 32.65 percent of eligible voters. Rural communities were much more engaged with 43.6 percent voting, provincial came in next at 38.3 percent, followed by metro results of 28.8 percent. We don't have final data yet, but the stats tell us voting turnout in Auckland is on track to be the lowest in the city's history. So, what's wrong with us? I thought most home owners cared about the increase in rates, our rubbish collections, the cost of consents, the state of speed limits on our local roads, the water prices. People always seem to have an opinion on their council and how well or how badly they're performing. Apparently we've never been more disappointed in our councils. So why don't people tick a couple of boxes, let democracy do the talking, and tell our councils what we want? Maybe it's because people complain about council but also appreciate many of the services they offer communities. They cancel each other out. The status quo is ok. Apathy rules. But there's also a lack of key challenges. Where was another strong candidate to challenge Wayne Brown, or Andrew Little? There's also a lack of candidates. Two mayors will be elected unopposed and around 200 candidates were elected by default. And then there's the lack of easily accessible information on candidates - their values, and more importantly their vision. Not everyone has the time to get to a candidate meeting. Why is it so hard to find out how a current councillor or mayor has voted on issues throughout a term? Too many people are making decisions based on terrible photos in lacklustre voting booklets. And then there's the reality that it's all just a bit boring. Candidates generally campaign on the same things - keeping rates low, reducing excessive spending, maintaining infrastructure and making their city or region an affordable place to live. It's all well-worn and hardly gripping stuff, and it's difficult to differentiate between candidates, unless they're wearing a silly hat. Which is all a terrible shame. Decisions councils make affect our lives daily in many ways. We need to change the voting system, postal voting isn't working, and attract better leadership to these thankless roles. We need to stomp out abuse and harassment, pay more - and then hopefully more smart, reasonable people will step up. Perhaps then we will get off our butts and vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Brown says his second term will see the continuation of cutting wasteful spending. He surged to victory, scoring 90,000 more votes than nearest opponent Kerrin Leoni. He says he's committed to making a city-wide deal with the central Government - so both entities can work as equal partners. "We don't fit into the role of other small councils, and so we want to be negotiating as equal partners with the Government over things. No more secret bridge crossings and stuff like that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 2 October 2025, three New Zealand citizens have been arrested by the Israeli Defence Force because they were on a protest flotilla headed for Gaza. One of them is 18-year old Samuel Leason, his dad speaks to Heather. The Warehouse chief executive Mark Stirton tells Heather why the company is struggling to turn a corner. What's behind the rise in Tramadol prescriptions? Should we be worried about people getting addicted to pain killers? More drama in the Maori Party with the very public falling out between the party leadership and the leader of Toitu Te Tiriti. Plus, the Huddle gets fiery after Wayne Brown tells an Auckland Ratepayers group to "f off". Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland, Northland and the Chatham Islands will be exempt from earthquake prone building rules because of the areas' low seismic risk, under changes announced by the Government yesterday. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Hello and welcome to our final episode for Qtr. 3 of 2025. It's recap time where I'm in the host's seat alone, ready to navigate solo across the world reconnecting one last time with our gracious guests. By now you should be familiar with the approach – we chunk our episodes into 4 groups – i.e. clusters of 3 guests. This quarter however we have a baker's dozen for you – meaning 13 guests and therefore our last group will host 4 guests And thanks as always to the brilliance of our marketing team we're able to incorporate each of the promotional intros to save you listening to my wonderfully crafted radio friendly voice the entire time. Visit the C4C website to gain full access to the transcript, show notes, and guest links. Coaching 4 Companies

Incumbent Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says his priority, if re-elected, is to "fix" Auckland Transport. . Q+A asks him about his record, how effective he's been influencing central government, and why he has been avoiding some mayoral candidate debates. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Kerrin Leoni: Why I'd be a better Auckland mayor than Wayne Brown by Q+A with Jack Tame

With former Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Colin Keating, and Auckland mayoral candidates Wayne Brown and Kerrin Leoni.

The Spinoff's Hayden Donnell chats with Emile Donovan on Wayne Brown's election strategy and his unexpected stance on issues you wouldn't usually associate with him - including support for cycle lanes and wetlands.

===== MDJ Script/ Top Stories for September 19th Publish Date:  September 19th    Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Friday, September 19th and Happy Birthday to Duke Snider I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Acworth marker celebrates 250 years of American independence East Cobb man sentenced to life for neglect that led to wife’s death 'I don’t want to wait': Kennesaw mayor pushes for immediate additional security Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on sweet tooth All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: Ingles Markets 2 STORY 1: Acworth marker celebrates 250 years of American independence  At Patriots Point in Cauble Park, history came alive Wednesday as the Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a granite marker honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The marker reads simply: “Celebrating 250 years of American freedom: 1776-2026.” Dressed in Revolutionary War attire, the Color Guard marched proudly, and Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood reflected on the park’s purpose. Wayne Brown, treasurer of the Capt. John Collins chapter, led the project. For chapter president Jason Shepherd, it’s personal. Students from Brookwood Christian School joined local leaders to witness the moment. “It’s their history to carry forward,” Shepherd said. STORY 2: East Cobb man sentenced to life for neglect that led to wife’s death  An east Cobb man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of neglecting his bedridden wife, leading to her death, Cobb District Attorney Sonya Allen announced. Gary Williams, 67, was found guilty of felony murder and neglect in under an hour. Judge Kellie Hill sentenced him to life. Addreinne Gordon, 66, was paralyzed and completely dependent on Williams, her sole caretaker. But when she was admitted to Kennestone Hospital in November 2021, her condition was horrifying—severe bedsores, matted hair, untrimmed nails, and a deep wound on her hip. “She was left lying in filth,” Allen said. “This case wasn’t about how she died—it was about how she was forced to live.” STORY 3: 'I don’t want to wait': Kennesaw mayor pushes for immediate additional security   The Kennesaw City Council is adding metal detectors at meetings—effective immediately. The decision came after a tense back-and-forth at this week’s meeting, sparked by Mayor Derek Easterling’s last-minute push for tighter security. The motion passed 4-1, with Councilman Antonio Jones opposing. Jones argued it could discourage attendance and infringe on Second Amendment rights. The debate followed emotional comments about the recent killing of activist Charlie Kirk. Councilman Anthony Gutierrez urged kindness, while Councilman Pat Ferris asked for prayers for Kirk’s family. Easterling, citing “the times we’re living in,” insisted the change couldn’t wait. “It’s not about feeling unsafe—it’s about being prepared,” he said. The meeting ended with the council divided, but the decision made. Metal detectors are in. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: Ingles Markets 2 STORY 4: PHTA’s 16th Annual Silent Auction & Casino Night is Oct. 11 Mark your calendars: The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Georgia Chapter is hosting its 16th Annual Silent Auction & Casino Night on Oct. 11, from 5 to 10 p.m., at the Governors Gun Club in Kennesaw. This year’s event? It’s all about granting a Georgia child’s wish—a backyard swimming pool for a kid facing a critical illness. Every bid, every casino chip, every dollar raised will help make that dream a reality. Expect a lively night: craps, blackjack, roulette, plus live and silent auctions with one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Add in great food, drinks, and a chance to connect with industry pros and local supporters, and it’s a can’t-miss evening. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish, turning backyards into places of joy and healing for kids who need it most. STORY 5: OUT AND ABOUT: 5 things to do this weekend in Cobb County — Sept. 19 - 21 Looking for weekend plans? Here’s what’s happening: Kennesaw Concert Series Depot Park is the place to be this Saturday, 7–10 p.m., with Yacht Rock Schooner bringing the tunes. It’s free, so grab your friends, some comfy chairs, and enjoy. Food and drinks? Available for purchase. Wine Walk at The Battery Wine lovers, rejoice! The Battery Atlanta is hosting a wine walk Saturday, 3–6 p.m. Sip new wines, enjoy live music, and browse local art. Tickets start at $62 (21+ only) and include tastings and a souvenir glass. Improv Night in Marietta The Alley Stage on Anderson Street is keeping the laughs going late this Friday. Improv kicks off at 10:30 p.m., with tickets starting at $18. Drinks, snacks, and unpredictable comedy await. Folklore Haunted House Ready for a scare? Acworth’s Folklore Haunted House opens Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with attractions like Winters Estate and Maze of Madness. Tickets start at $28 for opening night. Epic Farmer’s Market Downtown Mableton’s Epic Farmer’s Market is back this weekend! Saturday (10 a.m.–6 p.m.) and Sunday (9 a.m.–4 p.m.), shop 50+ vendors, enjoy live music, and stock up on fresh produce and artisan goods. And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on sweet tooth We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: Ingles Markets 2 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's transport agency will be stripped of most of its authority with the government today announcing a major shakeup to how the city's transport network is managed. Under the new legislation, expected to pass into law next year, Auckland Council and local boards will take on almost all responsibility for the city's roads. AT will focus on public transport while Auckland's mayor, Wayne Brown, and the 20 councillors will make decisions about major roads and the city centre. The city's 21 local boards, meanwhile, will oversee speed limits, parking, event closures and cycleways on smaller roads. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Better, faster, cheaper's the aim of the newly announced refresh to Auckland's transport governance. The government's introducing legislation to strip Auckland Transport of many of its powers - handing responsibility for major roads to Auckland Council, and local roads to community boards. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan the council should be able to make decisions, as going through Auckland Transport is frustrating. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 5 September 2025, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is celebrating winning a major battle, getting Auckland Transport defunded. Sarah Dalton from the senior doctors union explains why they have declined the Health Minister's request to take their pay dispute to arbitration. Former Springbok Kevin Putt is carrying on with the mind games and says South Africa will beat New Zealand at the Eden Park fortress tomorrow - but Heather is calling BS. Plus, what is the most confiscated item at the airport? Batteries! Warwick Burr from the Civil Aviation Authority explains exactly what you're allowed to take on board, and why we're still taking off our boots at the security check. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to chamber of commerce boss Simon Bridges to the chief executive of Air New Zealand Greg Foran - the concern over Auckland's economic slump continues to grow. Music promoter Brent Eccles spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, Trade Minister Todd McClay met with senior US officials in Washington last week, pushing for a reduction to the 15 percent tariff on New Zealand exports; From Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to chamber of commerce boss Simon Bridges to the chief executive of Air New Zealand Greg Foran - the concern over Auckland's economic slump continues to grow; We have our weekly sports panel; Kerry-Anne Walsh gives us the latest from Australia; A strawberry low fat yoghurt ice cream has been crowned the supreme champion at this year's ice cream and gelato awards.

NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson was moderating the debate and joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

The Prime Minister says Auckland won't be getting a bed tax this parliamentary term, despite a renewed call from the city's mayor. Last week Wayne Brown again called for a bed night levy, saying it wouldn't cost the Government anything. He claimed they were cheeky for not putting one in and believed they would eventually cave. Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that now is not the time to be putting in another tax. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hotel industry is broadly in favour of the bed levy Auckland mayor Wayne Brown wants, but is keen to see it extend beyond the supercity. Sudima Hotels and Hind Management chief operating officer Les Morgan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland's mayor is renewing his call for a bed tax for the supercity, as it deals with some serious economic troubles. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Two South Auckland councillors are accusing the city's mayor of hypocrisy. Wayne Brown hit out at councillors for not attending meetings. Lotu Fuli and Alf Filipaina pointed to official data showing they'd outperformed Brown in attendance. In response, Brown claimed they were 'being Pacific victims'. Filipaina says Brown is the one playing the race card. "I think he just wants people to bow down to him - and I'm not that person." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and welcome to our final episode for Qtr 2 of 2025. It's recap time where I'm in the cockpit alone, ready to fly solo across the world reconnecting with our gracious guests. By now you should be familiar with the approach - we chunk our 12 episodes from the quarter into 4 groups – i.e. clusters of 3 guests. And thanks to the brilliance of our marketing team we're able to incorporate each of the promotional intros to save you listening to my wonderfully crafted radio friendly voice the entire time. Visit the C4C website to gain full access to the transcript, show notes, and guest links. Coaching 4 Companies

Wayne Brown's unconventional journey from child actor to London advertising executive, working with major brands like Apple and Land Rover, led him to an unexpected destination: becoming CEO of cycling's premier marketing agency.Despite not being an avid cyclist when he joined Shift Active Media, Wayne has helped build what many consider the industry's most influential marketing firm. In this candid conversation, he shares insights on brand positioning, navigating industry volatility, and the future of cycling marketing.00:00 Introduction to Wayne Brown and Shift Active Media01:49 Wayne Brown's Early Life and Career Beginnings02:58 Transition from Acting to Advertising04:34 Climbing the Advertising Ladder13:10 High-Profile Advertising Campaigns16:21 Shift to Digital Advertising20:07 Joining Shift Active Media23:39 The Evolution of Shift and GCN27:28 Becoming CEO of Shift28:46 Challenges of Entering the Cycling Industry30:46 Shift's Position in the Cycling Market33:19 Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic35:56 Expanding Beyond Cycling40:29 Shift's Comprehensive Service Offering45:27 Importance of Brand Positioning51:19 Macro Trends in Media56:09 Shift's Marketing and PR Strategy59:17 Conclusion and Contact InformationRead the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for 'The Business of Cycling' Newsletter

So, the great rates upset has begun to unfold. Auckland this week got its long-awaited council valuations. Why people get excited about them, I have no idea. It's a rough guesstimate by a council. It takes into account the broadest of criteria, but people seem to live and die by them. The upset of course has come from the fact that the value of a lot of properties has dropped, while the rates bill is going up. So we get the cost-plus-accounting scandal that is council economic policy exposed. This is happening all over the country and it's a specific and broad-based problem. It's broad-based because it's inflationary and it's specific because depending on where you are depends on how bad the scandal is. Auckland properties are down 9% while rates are up over 7%. In Wellington values are down 24% and rates are up 16%. Nelson values are down 9% and rates are up 6%, so this whole idea that rates are linked to value is of course complete crap and always has been. In short, councils are inept and will spend forever, will waste your money forever, will plead poverty forever and will always find something that is critical and needs doing now. For example, Christchurch got shafted last week by Chris Bishop, when the council rejected the Government's intensification plan. The council didn't like it, spent three years and millions of dollars to go back and forward and to achieve what? Nothing. That's council for you. As Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said, "it is what it is". He's right because he knows a couple of home truths; no one is turning up for local body elections, so very few people will be held to account, and he also knows a lot of people will moan but ultimately do nothing about it. If ever there was a reason to get exercised over the way we are being played, this is it. Your asset has dropped but the bill is up. The bill, in theory, is based on the asset value. Nowhere else in life is this scam played and gotten away with, apart from local body politics. We have too many councils, too much representation, too many boards, too much incompetence, and every year the bill for it rises. Democracy only works if you take part. What better reason can there be this year than to get your voting paper, look at the value of your property, look at your rate rise, put a name to the con and vote them out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After toying with the idea of challenging him for the top job, Auckland's deputy mayor has instead endorsed Wayne Brown in his bid for re-election. In a joint press conference Desley Simpson said she was supporting the mayor's campaign for a second term, despite disagreeing with him on certain issues. If Mr Brown wins the mayoralty and Ms Simpson is re-elected as a councillor, he has agreed to make her his deputy again. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Auckland's current deputy mayor Desley Simpson put an end to months of speculation, saying she won't run for the top job and is supporting Wayne Brown for another term. Simpson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Wayne Brown and Desley Simpson have confirmed they'll run together in this year's Auckland mayoral race. It's scotched rumours Simpson would run herself. She's been deputy since Brown was elected mayor three years ago. She says she wants to do the right thing for Auckland - and she thinks this is the way to go. "Sometimes you've got to put Auckland first and not yourself - and the mayor has really delivered, this term, some very big changes for Auckland, and still has more to come." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer

New figures from the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance show Auckland Council has invested $3 million on communications and advertising alone for the green waste bins. This follows the email campaign aimed at mayor Wayne Brown opposing the $36 million spent on the green bins so far. Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren says this doesn't make sense from an economic perspective. "Auckland Council spends about $36 million a year on the programme - that's a lot. And only a third of Aucklanders actually use it - and even that number seems a little high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv UK weather forecast more accurate with Met Office supercomputer PC Tasered amputee, 92, in wheelchair, court hears UK EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says Post Office data breach Hundreds of victims to get compensation Will UK EU deal mean huge boost for economic growth Gary Lineker A sorry end to a BBC career Trump Putin call exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks Inquest opens into death of West Midlands fire chief Wayne Brown Russia and Ukraine to immediately start ceasefire talks, says Trump Greggs shifts food behind counters to stop shoplifting

The Former Local Government Minister's not taking issue with the Auckland Mayor's new manifesto. Wayne Brown has laid out his thoughts and a Beehive to-do list ahead of the 2025 Budget. He scored the Government a B+, saying they're too distracted by mega-projects and press releases. Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking Wayne Brown is just doing his job. He says he's the mayor of our largest city and he's advocating for what he believes is needed, even if they don't agree. The Government's refusing to budge on an Auckland bed tax. Brown's manifesto also includes calling for the government to reconsider an Auckland bed levy, adding a small fee on short term accommodation. Brown told Hosking they don't want to lump Aucklanders with the tax. He says in fact the council should be looking for efficiencies in its own budget instead of new taxes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor is calling for more leadership - and labelling the city's innovation and tech sector 'random'. Wayne Brown has laid out a to-do list for central Government before it releases its Budget this month. He wants a tourist bed tax, looser transit visas, and more preparations for major population growth. Brown says a bed tax would fund bigger projects he has planned for the city - and he's hoping the Government will reconsider one. "We've just had two-thirds of the Aucklanders thinking it's a hell of a good idea to get some funds in to watch big events - and the hoteliers up here think it's a good idea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy gives Kathryn the latest updates in Tamaki Makaurau including the mayoralty race and Wayne Brown's social media feed

The race for the biggest city's top job is on, with Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, urging voters to back him for a second term. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Ephesians 6:11-12 NLT  11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.