Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

Off the back of the highly successful 2020 album “Out of My Province” and the sell-out 20 date ‘Reid & Ruins’ travelling roadshow, Nadia Reid is back on tour presenting her full catalogue (plus some brand new gems) at some of her favourite venues in Aotearoa this May. You can get your tickets now at www.banishedmusic.comNadia Reid joined Simon Barnett and Phil Giffor in studio for a chat and a couple of songs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has a declining birthrate and we are not alone in the world.2020 saw our lowest birthrate average on record with just 1.61 births per woman. In comparison in the early sixties when women had an average of 4.1 children.Another surprise statistic revealed that more women over the age of 40 gave birth in New Zealand last year than those under 20.Massey University Distinguished Professor and Sociologist Paul Spoonley joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to discussed the implications.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon called in to pick up some printer cartridges on the way to work this morning and was shocked to be charged a grand total of $617 for three units.That sparked a fascinating hour of talkback with callers telling us that they have found cheaper alternative and others saying using non genuine cartridges would damage the printer or void the printer warranty.Consumer New Zealand CEO John Duffy joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford on the show to offer his advice.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment Lawyer and Partner with Malley & Co solicitors.He regularly joins Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to answer all listeners' employment related questions.Today, he joined the show to answer questions about being tracked in a work vehicle, the difference between a contractor versus an employee, getting paid for an extra stocktake among other things.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Final Crusaders v Chiefs Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford spoke to All Black Great and Sky Sport Commentator Jeff Wilson.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Walsh is a shot-put star and one of New Zealand’s most successful field athletes, having won bronze at Rio in 2016, gold at the 2017 World Championship, and gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. He’s the Oceania record holder with a personal best throw of 22.90 meters, and is gearing up for this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games. Tom was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford’s guest for this weeks’ Six and a Song.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major diplomatic incident has been avoided in Europe after a Belgian farmer accidentally moved the border with France, making his home country about 1,000 square meters bigger. Luckily, local authorities saw the funny side.The border between Belgium and France stretches 620 kilometres and the stone markers that define it have been peacefully in place for more than 200 years.One of the boundary stones, however -- laid down in 1819, shortly before the Treaty of Kortrijk sealed the deal -- was recently spotted as being out of place by 2.29 metres. A farmer from the Belgian town of Erquelinnes is believed to have moved the nuisance stone on his land to a more convenient spot, without anticipating the potential for an international kerfuffle.The displaced border all along the farmer's field amounted to an accidental land grab of around 1,000 square meters."We know exactly where the stone was before, right next to a tree," David Lavaux, the mayor of Erquelinnes, Belgium, told CNN on Tuesday. "In 2019, during the 200th anniversary, they were geo-localized very precisely."The stones were placed there in 1819 following the defeat of Napoleon, and the year is inscribed on them."Lavaux added: "It should be resolved tomorrow, we are about to find the person that moved the stone, so we can avoid any troubles. I still have to verify who the land owner is."The Belgian mayor stressed that local authorities on both sides of the border were keen to resolve the situation quickly and amicably."We laugh about this more than anything else, it is not very serious," he said. "We're going to put back the border where it belongs. Our intention wasn't to make Belgium bigger and France smaller!"Aurélie Welonek, the mayor of the French town of Bousignies-sur-Roc which had its territory snipped, spoke to French press agency Internep in a video interview which also featured Lavaux."Our two countries get along well, so there were no great concerns at this point," she said. "I fully trust my Belgian counterpart who did what was necessary with the farmer. We asked him to move the stone back, and should he not cooperate, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would get involved."The two towns lie roughly midway on the Franco-Belgian border, with Erquellines a Walloon municipality with a little under 10,000 residents and Bousignies-sur-Roc a commune in France's Nord department with a population of around 400.text by Arnaud Siad and Maureen O'Hare, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The father of a three-year-old boy found after 20 hours ... says the community's help was amazing.Axle disappeared yesterday in Tolaga Bay -- after wandering off with a neighbour's dog.He was found today after a huge search and rescue operation.His father, Glen, says hundreds were involved in the search, with some even jumping into the river at 10.30 last night to look for him.He says Axle and his mother are in Gisborne hospital where they'll stay overnight.Tolaga Bay Civil Defence manager Greg Shelton spoke to Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford about the search and rescue operation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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A little white dog pointed searchers in the right direction to find a young boy who disappeared in Tolaga Bay.Three-year-old Axle was found safe today, 20 hours after he went missing with his neighbour's dog, Bro.Except Bro returned alone yesterday afternoon.The dog's owner, Damon Jeffery told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford the pair are good mates."He follows Axel everywhere and I guess Axel decided it was time to go on a bit of an adventure, and Bro followed him. I think Bro realised Axel was lost, and he came back three hours later, and gave us a general direction on what way to go."Jeffrey says he'll reward Bro with a steak dinner tonight, to celebrate his part in the boy's return.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has come in second to last in an international survey by Consumers International that examined how well 11 products could be recycled in nine countries.Consumer NZ was part of the survey and CEO John Duffy joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford on the show.He says other countries are putting us to shame.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel agents are seeing a burst of people booking a tropical holiday in the Cook Islands.Quarantine-free travel between Rarotonga and New Zealand starts from May 17.Flight Centre group managing director David Coombes told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford people have been patiently waiting for a bubble date.He says as we head into the winter season, people will be looking at go somewhere to get some sun.Air New Zealand will fly to the Cook Islands two or three times a week - with daily flights during the school holidays. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby's provincial unions have voted unanimously in favour of a deal with us investment firm silver lake.The deal's worth nearly $390 million dollars; in exchange for a 12.5 % stake.But of course, the deal isn't complete.It requires sign off from the NZ Rugby Players’ Association, and negotiations between the association and NZ Rugby are on hold.Brent Impey is the NZ Rugby Chairman and he joined Simon and Phil to tell them he has issues with the comments made by David Kirk.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby could be a loss-making venture by 2025 and living off its capital reserves if it takes the deal with Silver Lake.The national union will, according to an independent report by world renowned accountancy firm BDO, be running at an operational loss of almost $11m in four years if Silver Lake only deliver 50 per cent of their ambitious revenue growth targets.The Herald has gained access to the BDO report which highlights the true level of risk NZR will be taking by agreeing a deal to sell 12.5 per cent of future commercial income to US fund manager Silver Lake.David Kirk, president of the New Zealand Rugby Player's Association, joined Simon and Phil to discuss the proposed deal.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some tough calls for our national medicines agency.Pharmac has released figures around what it would spend on drugs if more funding was available.It includes 400 million dollars a year on up to 73 drugs. National Party Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Shane Reti joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford to discuss the issue and had a challenge for the Government.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pic Picot’s peanut butter business has grown from a one-man operation in his garage to employing over 50 people and being one of the most respected brands in the country. He’s set up a string of businesses throughout his colourful career including a leather sandal maker, furniture maker, restaurateur, and a sailing school owner before hitting his winning peanut butter formula later in life. In 2018, he was made a member of the NZ Order of Merit for services to business, and has just released his new book “Pic: Adventures in sailing, business, and love” Pic Picot joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford for this week's 'Six and a Song’ LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Vision is calling on more transparency on our imports.Its research shows 3.1 billion dollars of imports are produced with forced labour.They want Government legislation to force companies to report on their product sources.Countries like Canada and Australia have laws designed to make supply chains more transparent.World Vision National Director Grant Bayldon says we should, too.He spoke to Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The online reviews database Rotten Tomatoes has unearthed a negative 80-year-old write-up of "Citizen Kane," stripping the cinematic classic of its perfect score among critics and demoting it below movies including "Paddington 2" and "The Terminator."Orson Welles' masterpiece is widely considered one of the most important titles in movie history, pioneering a number of filmmaking techniques that are still in use today.But it apparently underwhelmed one critic for the Chicago Tribune, whose lukewarm review has come back to tarnish the movie's legacy eight decades after it was written."'Citizen Kane' presents an almost clinical dissection of a complete egotist," the review reads. It goes on to dismiss the film's use of moody sets: "I only know it gives one the creeps and that I kept wishing they'd let a little sunshine in."The review was added to the Rotten Tomatoes website on March 2, but has only been noticed in recent days. The website links out to a newspaper clipping of the decades-old story, and its addition means "Citizen Kane" now no longer has exclusively positive reviews.Welles' film still enjoys 116 positive write-ups on the website, but the sole black mark removes the film from the exclusive "100% club" -- a collection that features movies including the first two "Toy Story" installments, the much-loved "Paddington" sequel and Arnold Schwartzenegger's action classic "The Terminator."The offending review appears to have been written anonymously, with its byline "Mae Tinee" an apparent pun on "matinee."The same critic is listed as the author of a number of contemporary reviews for the Chicago Tribune between the 1920s and 1960s -- they were more complimentary of other classics, including "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Casablanca."The write-up notes the hype that already surrounded the movie on its release, but the critic was nonetheless unmoved. "'Citizen Kane' fails to impress critic as greatest ever filmed," the headline reads.Welles was a 25-year-old phenomenon when his debut feature film, based on the life of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, was released. He also starred in the movie, and his directorial creativity -- along with cinematographer Gregg Toland's distinctive deep-focus frames and unusually angled shots -- revolutionized movie-making."Mank," a biographical film about "Citizen Kane" writer Herman J. Mankiewicz, was nominated for a number of Oscars at last week's Academy Awards, ultimately losing out on the Best Picture prize to "Nomadland."text by Rob Picheta, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research from Otago University has found ''positive parenting" can prevent alcohol abuse in adulthood.Academics looked at data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study - the world renowned longitudinal research that's followed the lives of more than a thousand people since 1977.Psychological medicine professor Joe Boden says his team examined symptoms of alcohol disorder in adulthood.He says kids who had more positive parenting, are much less likely to develop an alcohol use disorder - than those who had been exposed to less positive parenting.Professor Joe Boden joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford on the show.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the situation in India continues to deteriorate Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford asked if the IPL cricket should be stopped.Varun called in and shared this intensely personal story about his daily phone calls with his Mum and Dad in Delhi.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Cricket Players Association boss Heath Mills knows those at the Indian Premier League are anxious about what they're seeing.Some foreign players have chosen to return home, due to concerns around the Covid-19 crisis in the country.But Mills says the New Zealand players he's spoken to are comforted by being well-looked-after by their teams.Heath Mills spoke to Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford about the situation these players find themselves in.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making GP visits free is being seen as an investment, rather than a drain.A Herald analysis has found enrolled patients can pay between 10 and 70 dollars for an appointment in Auckland, or 90 dollars if they're not enrolled.Health Minister Andrew Little is reviewing health sector funding - and has suggested GP fees could be lowered for some.Dr Samantha Murton is President of the Royal College of GPs - she joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford to discuss funding of visits to the doctor.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In February, it seemed like India had gotten Covid-19 under control, with daily cases falling nearly 90% from the peak of the first wave last year.Now, the country is experiencing the world's worst outbreak. Daily cases have been rising continuously for the past 10 days; on Monday, India reported 352,991 new cases, breaking yet another record for the highest single-day figure globally.On the ground, these numbers translate to heart wrenching tragedy. Photos show grieving families dressed in full protective suits at mass cremations, performing last rites surrounded by dozens of other burning funeral pyres. Hospitals have run out of basic medical supplies, with many patients dying due to oxygen shortages. Family members are driving from clinic to clinic, frantically searching for open ICU beds for their loved ones.The government has been scrambling to respond to the crisis, with countries around the world offering aid. But for now, the outbreak shows no signs of letting up, and experts warn it could get even worse."I'm afraid this is not the peak," said Dr. Giridhara R. Babu of the Public Health Foundation of India on Monday. "The kind of data that we see, (we are) at least two to three weeks away from the peak."Others say India may be approaching the peak now, sooner than Babu's estimate -- but with so many ill and so few supplies available, the country will see many more deaths before the second wave subsides.Here's what you need to know about the crisis in India.How did it get so bad?Cases began creeping upward in early March, but accelerated rapidly -- the number of daily cases by the end of the month had jumped six times higher than at the start of the month. That exponential rise has only continued with increasing speed and severity.The second wave hit so much harder because people were unprepared, experts say. The first wave peaked in September and daily cases declined steadily in the following months; the apparent recovery seemed so successful that the country's health minister declared in early March they were "in the endgame" of the pandemic.And the country's vaccination drive, among the world's largest and most ambitious, got underway in January.Residents relaxed Covid-safe practices like social distancing, and authorities were looser in their enforcement. Although some states stayed cautious and made preparations for a second wave, none of it was enough -- and nobody foresaw the massive coming wave."No one saw the extent of the surge," said K. VijayRaghavan, principal scientific adviser for the Indian government. "As the previous wave came down, there was in all of us a feeling that this was something which had been dealt with substantially. We saw signs of a next surge, but the scale and the intensity of it was not clear."The crisis was made worse by a slow response from the central government. Though some state ministers and local authorities began taking action since February, there appears to have been a vacuum of leadership within the central government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi staying largely silent on the situation until recent weeks.Modi finally broke his silence last week, acknowledging the urgency of the situation in an address to the nation, and launched a number of emergency measures to relieve the burden on states and hospitals. But by then, some critics say, the damage was done.Where is it happening?New Delhi, the national capital, has been badly hit by the second wave. The union territory of Delhi, where New Delhi is located, was placed under lockdown on April 19. The lockdown has since been extended until May 3.Hospitals across Delhi are reporting fatal oxygen shortages. On April 23, 20 critically ill patients died at the Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi after its supply of oxygen was delayed by seven hours, according to the hospital's medical director."Everything we had was...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some, flailing around in a clear box suspended 115 feet above the streets of London is the stuff of nightmares. For others, it's the ultimate status symbol.The Sky Pool is a 82-foot (25-meter) transparent swimming pool stretched between the 10th stories of two residential skyscrapers in southwest London's Nine Elms neighbourhood -- and it's only open to the apartment complex's lucky residents.It's the largest freestanding acrylic pool structure in the world and the showpiece of EcoWorld Ballymore's new Embassy Gardens development, which will also include bars, restaurants and shops.Located next to the US Embassy and close to the south bank of the Thames, bathers will be able to take in views of the London skyline, including the London Eye and Westminster.The embassy isn't the attraction's only connection to the States -- the pool was manufactured in Colorado and travelled 5,000 miles to its new home.The pool is 10 feet deep and the water alone reportedly weighs around 375 tonnes.The structure is the work of architects Arup Associates, engineers Eckersley O'Callaghan and aquarium designers Reynolds. Arup is no stranger to complex architectural challenges -- one of its most high-profile projects is the Sydney Opera House.The pool was put through extensive strength testing at the Reynolds factory before making its journey to the UK by road and sea. It was then lifted into place by a 750-tonne mobile crane, supported by a 50-tonne crane."The lifting was a precision process, as there was a tolerance of just 30 centimetres in installing the pool into its steel frame," says Ballymore."After a series of technical drawings and behavioural analyses, the dimensions of the pool were decided," says the Embassy Gardens website."With sides 200 millimetres thick and 3.2 meters deep, and with a bottom 300 millimetres thick, the 50-tonne acrylic pool will span the 14 meters between the buildings, with steps and filtrations systems sitting either end, and five modes of lighting to add to the feeling of magic."Residents will be able to dive off at one side and alight at the other, which is certainly a glamorous, if damp, way to call in on your neighbours."Once you swim off, you can look right down. It will be like flying," says Brian Eckersley, director of Eckersley O'Callaghan.Its official opening is May 19, but models have already taken to the waters for promotional shots, one wearing a red dress which seems highly impractical for the purpose but at least guards against upskirt shots from the street below.The opening ceremony will be hosted by radio DJ Roman Kemp and will feature a performance by synchronised swimming team Aquabatix.There are 2,000 homes in Embassy Gardens, with prices starting at £1,015,000 for a two-bed ($1.4 million). Nine Elms is a formerly industrial but now ultra-chic neighbourhood, with 40 new developments currently in the works, plus two new tube stations.In terms of historical clout, however, the most prestigious apartments in the neighbourhood are in the former Battersea Power Station, where two-bedroom properties currently go for around £1.1 million ($1.6 million).text by Maureen O'Hare, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney Morning Herald foreign affairs correspondent Anthony Galloway says Australian officials felt "blindsided" by comments by Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta.She's not comfortable with expanding the alliance's remit to joint foreign policy positions.Professor Robert Patman told Si & Phil not all Five Eyes countries have the same positions on human rights and democracy.He says we have serious differences with Australia on a number of issues, but we don't need to agree with them on everything.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Emett is a household name in New Zealand. He worked and won Michelin stars with Gordon Ramsay for more than a decade in the UK, before coming home to open a string of successful restaurants including his new acclaimed restaurant Onslow, and finding fame as a judge on 5 seasons of Masterchef. He was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford’s guest for this week's Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict in the murder of 46 year old black man George Floyd doesn't mean all black people will receive justice.A jury has today found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty of second and third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter.They deliberated for just over 11 hours, asking no questions along the way.But Black Lives Matter co-founder Sandy Hudson told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford it's still a hollow victory."Is there ever going to be justice when we know these types of incidents just continue?"LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Floating hotels have been popping up all over the world in recent years, with destinations like Dubai and Qatar leading the way with increasingly innovative and outlandish structures.But this new concept from Turkish design team Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio (HAADS) may just blow all the others out of the water in terms of eco consciousness.Not only does the luxury hotel design, which has 152 rooms, actually generate its own electricity, it also collects and reuses rainwater and food waste.Adopting the motto "minimum energy loss and zero waste," the team at HAADS have worked with numerous experts, including ship construction engineers and architects, in order to devise the project, which has been in the works since March 2020.Rotating hotelIf built, the floating structure will work in a similar way to a dynamo, utilising the water current with wind turbines and tidal power as it rotates, converting the energy into electricity.Its movement is to be controlled by dynamic positioning, a computer-controlled system used to maintain the position and direction of ships, as well as propellers and thrusters.However, guests are unlikely to experience any dizziness, as it takes 24 hours for the hotel to spin a full 360 degrees.While the hotel will initially be based in Qatar if or when it's completed, the project can also be located anywhere with the right current due to its "movable feature," according to the designers.Eco-friendly conceptCovering over 35,000 square meters, the structure can be accessed via a 140-degree floating pier connected to the mainland, helicopter or boat.Those who stay here can expect the same level of luxury associated with five-star floating hotels. The amenities available are to include both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, a gym and a mini golf course.Its striking vortex-shaped roof has been designed to collect rainwater that will be reused for various purposes, including irrigation.The hotel also aims to treat any used water it produces so that it "will not harm the environment" as well as develop waste separation units "for the recycling of substances such as food waste."Fully sustainableWhile the project is still in the relatively early phases of the design process and there's no estimated price tag as yet, the team have set a 2025 completion date.Despite the delays already incurred due to the pandemic and the technological research required to move forward, the designers say they've already had strong interest from investors and are "hopeful" that it will be up and running on time.One of the factors they're controlling working out is the logistics that would be involved in potentially having to move the hotel to land in "case of technical failures" with the power or connection while its out on the water.If it makes its deadline, the concept will be hot on the heels of a separate Qatar project that will see 16 luxury floating hotels built specifically for the 2022 World Cup, which the country is hosting.Meanwhile Dubai's $164 million the Sea Palace Floating Resort is currently being built by Emirati ship-building company Seagate Shipyard and Sweden's Arctic Bath, a floating hotel and spa designed by architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi, opened its doors in early 2020.text by Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taneatua School Principal Marama Stewart has found an innovative way to combat fighting at school and absenteeism.She joined Phil Gifford and Tyler Adams to explain how Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu has helped her students.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hot on the heels of claiming double honours at the New Zealand Cricket Awards for the 2020-21 season Black Caps sensation Devon Conway joined Phil Gifford and Tyler Adams for this week's Six & A Song.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment Lawyer and Partner with Malley & Co solicitors.He regularly joins Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to answer all listeners' employment related questions.Today, he joined the show to answer questions about border workers and vaccinations, guaranteed hours contracts & company cars among other things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 25 health and social service organisations have banded together to call on the Government to repeal the country's drug laws, to drop penalties for use and to treat the use of drugs as a health issue.The groups, including the New Zealand Medical Association, the Mental Health Foundation, the Public Health Association, the Maori Law Society, the Drug Foundation, Hapai te Hauora, and JustSpeak, have sent an open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Health Minister Andrew Little and Justice Minister Kris Faafoi.JustSpeak, a youth advocacy group for criminal justice reform, have spearheaded the letter and director Tania Sawicki Mead said the current law, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, was not fit for purpose.Tania Sawicki Mead joined Phil Gifford & Tyland Adams on the show.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"This is the saviour."Those were the words of Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult who could not wipe the smile from his face late yesterday afternoon after learning quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will start in less than a fortnight."I could not be happier."He said he had done "umpteen" interviews with Australian media organisations yesterday before the announcement, "and they are ready to come".That was evident at The Rees Hotel, where about 130 room bookings, primarily for July, came in from Australia between 5pm and 6.30pm.Chief executive Mark Rose said he also received one booking for April 19 and "a little bit" for May."But late June, the three weeks through the school holidays, it's just gone mental."We're really, really happy."Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive Colin Keel said the airport would be accepting only "green zone" flights — initially there would be about 40 flights, both arrivals and departures, between Queenstown and Australia per week.Direct scheduled services would be operated by Air New Zealand and Qantas between Queenstown and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to start."Within the coming weeks we expect Jetstar and Virgin Australia to confirm the recommencement dates for their services, including the Queenstown to Gold Coast route," Keel said.Safety of travellers and the public would continue to be of paramount importance.Boult said he had been given assurances by public health authorities that "all steps" would be taken to ensure there was minimal risk to the community at large, and vulnerable people particularly.Queenstown Chamber of Commerce chairman Craig Douglas said his overriding feeling yesterday was "relief"."Businesses will have customers coming in numbers that hopefully will make the businesses viable again."Flame restaurant owner Lou McDowell said her initial reaction was "hallelujah"."It's just super, super exciting."It's exceptionally good news for the whole community and the region in general."It's great for business, great for the workforce who, as we know, have been working on reduced hours ... and also really encouraging for mental health."Last year we all survived on hope and what we didn't know ... [yesterday] there was just this huge sigh of relief."Wayfare chief executive Stephen England-Hall said while it was welcome news for the tourism industry, it was also brilliant for those who had been separated from loved ones in Australia for over a year."I'm really feeling, I guess, heart-warmed for those people ... I think that's what the big kicker is today."He acknowledged, however, those who were concerned about the borders opening and the increased risk of community transmission that may result in."[But] if there was going to be a material increase of risk to Kiwis, I don't believe the Prime Minister would have made that decision."At Dunedin's Vincent George Travel yesterday there was excitement tempered with apprehension among would-be travellers.Travel broker Rosann Connolly-George did not expect huge numbers of travellers rushing back and forth immediately, but said the announcement offered clarity for travellers and a boost for travel agents.Flight Centre NZ managing director David Coombes said demand for a transtasman bubble had been steadily increasing from both sides of the Tasman over the past couple of weeks and staff had already been taking bookings.But helloworld managing director Andrew Carmody said Australian visitors alone would not save businesses reliant on tourism.Otago Peninsula Trust ecotourism manager Hoani Langsbury said in the past Dunedin's royal albatross colony had relied on visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.Hoani Langsbury with handfuls of cockles at the Otago Peninsula Trust royal albatross colony. Photo / Peter McIntosh,...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lack of rainy day savings is coming back to haunt some mortgage holders.The mortgage deferral scheme ended this week, after a year's relief for some home owners hit by the Covid crunch.Mortgage broker Sue Tierney says many felt forced to take up the offer, with no savings to fall back on.She says on average, New Zealand families save just over $400 a year -- so there's little to cushion when hardship hits.Cooking The Books podcast host Frances Cook joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford to discuss our savings habits.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment Lawyer and Partner with Malley & Co solicitors.He regularly joins Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to answer all listeners' employment related questions.Today, he joined the show to answer questions about an employee being overpaid, public holidays, and leave for mental health troubles among other things.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Commission recently proposed a ban on petrol and diesel powered vehicles by 2035.The boss of Toyota New Zealand Neeraj Lala says that just won't work in New Zealand.He says Electric Vehicles are in short supply worldwide and that they don't offer the versatility New Zealanders want.He says the policy may backfire and we might end up with even more vehicles on the road.Neeraj Lala joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to explain.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salvage teams have finally freed the colossal container ship stuck for nearly a week in the Suez Canal, ending a crisis that had clogged one of the world’s most vital waterways and halted billions of dollars a day in maritime commerce.A flotilla of tugboats, helped by the tides, wrenched the bulbous bow of the skyscraper-sized Ever Given from the canal’s sandy bank, where it had been firmly lodged since March 23.Sydney University Professor of Ports and Maritime Logistics Michael Bell joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford to chat about this incredible story.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has been accused of being soft on prisoners and not having the backs of prison guards.The Corrections Union has consistently raised the issue of prisoners assaulting guards, and they say nothing is ever done about it.On top of that they are annoyed that Davis is seen to be advocating on behalf of the prisoners - so much so that a vote of no confidence was considered.Anna Leask NZ Herald Senior Crime and Justice Reporter and author of the book 'Behind Bars, Real Life Stories From Inside New Zealand Prisons' joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford to give her perspective.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in Huntly will soon be able to commute to Auckland by train.Te Huia passenger rail service opens to the public just after Easter.It travels from Frankton in Hamilton to Papakura, stopping in Huntly along the way.It could potentially replace up to 73 thousand return car trips annually.There has however been some criticism of the fact that it will take longer in the train than in a car.Jodi Johnston from the Campaign for Better Transport joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford on the show.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stranding of a massive cargo ship in the Suez Canal is likely to have ripple effects across the global economy.Experts say it could take weeks to remove the ship and clear the canal.Officials have closed the key trading route between Asia and Europe -- forcing ships to detour around the African continent to deliver goods.Chris Edwards is the President of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation of New Zealand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Siouxsie Wiles has become a household name in New Zealand since the emergence of COVID-19 in her role as a microbiologist and science communicator. Among her many accolades, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to microbiology and science communication in the 2019, and is a finalist for this years’ New Zealander of the Year awards. She was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford’s guest for this weeks Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uber's new delivery service is being labelled irresponsible and out of touch.It's launched an alcohol delivery service in Auckland this week - through UberEats.It plans to expand to Christchurch and Wellington in coming weeks.But Hapai Te Hauora chief executive, Selah Hart, says Uber's ignoring our unsafe drinking culture.She joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford to put her case.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A renters' advocate is worried about tenants being asked to pay more which he said would hurt the more vulnerable. The Government’s new housing policy will see new investors being stung under the bright line test if they sell an existing home within 10 years. They also won't be able to claim home loan interest repayments as a business expense. Renters United spokesperson Ashok Jacob told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford they’re disappointed that there was nothing announced to support renters, and may even see landlords try and raise rents. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hasbro is turning to fans for help modernising its classic board game Monopoly.The toy company announced last week that it is changing all 16 of the game's Community Chest cards to better reflect what community means to fans today."Covering topics like beauty contests, holiday funds, and life insurance, there is no denying the Monopoly game's Community Chest Cards are long overdue for a refresh," according to a press release from the company.The cards are collected by players and are used to dole out penalties or rewards for a various reasons, like winning second place in a beauty contest or being assessed for street repairs."The world has changed a lot since Monopoly became a household name more than 85 years ago, and clearly today community is more important than ever," said Eric Nyman, chief consumer officer at Hasbro.Fans can now vote on the new set of cards that revolve around topics like shopping at local stores, rescuing an animal, volunteering and donating blood."We felt like 2021 was the perfect time to give fans the opportunity to show the world what community means to them through voting on new Community Chest Cards," Nyman said. "We're really excited to see what new cards get voted in!"There are numerous themed versions of Monopoly and the company changed some of the game's board pieces in 2017. But this will be the first time in more than 85 years that the Rhode Island-based company has changed the game's community cards.Last year, Hasbro reported a 21% jump in gaming sales as the result of homebound people looking for ways to occupy their time.Hasbro also announced last week it will be hosting a Monopoly Charity Classic this spring featuring four different celebrities who will be playing to win money for charity. Fans will be able to watch on YouTube as the game unfolds and get one of the first glimpses of the new community cards.The updated game with the new community cards is set to be released in the fall, according to Hasbro.text by Amanda Jackson, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government will pour close to $4 billion into a scheme to accelerate the pace of new house builds, which is expected to help see "tens of thousands" of new properties built.It is also doubling the capital gains tax-esque bright-line test from five, to ten years - meaning any gains on a residential property that is not a family home will be taxed if the property is sold within ten years of purchase.Infometrics Senior Economist Brad Olsen joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to discuss the changes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne Paul first made a splash on Kiwi television screens in the 90’s thanks to her wildly successful infomercials and infectious personality. She went on to become one of the country’s much loved figures, starring in several TV shows such as Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?, Garage Sale and Dancing with the Stars which she won in 2007. She’s also a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and stand-up comedian She was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford’s guest for this weeks’ Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honours are always controversial so with Team New Zealand's America's Cup Victory fresh in our minds Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford asked 'should it be Sir Grant Dalton?'To answer the question - and talk about the win - yachting great and commentator Peter Lester joined the show.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party has unveiled its plan to stop the "runaway housing crisis" as the Government gears up to announce the first of its much-anticipated steps to address the overheated market.But the plan does not come from Marama Davidson – who is an Associate Minister of Housing (Homelessness).Rather, the party's finance spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter has outlined what the Greens want to be done in the housing space, which is:Removing the five-year cap for the bright-line test• Ending interest-only mortgages• Implement debt-to-income ratios, especially for property investors• Requiring cash deposits for investment properties• The Government to spend more money on income support schemes• Kāinga Ora to lead a large-scale urban redevelopment and home buying programmeThe Greens plan comes as house prices across the country continue to rise sharply.According to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, the national median selling price increased by $50,000 from January, while Auckland's median price was up $100,000 for the month.Give this rapid increase, Genter said the Greens are calling for "bold, urgent interventions in the housing market"."We must use all the tools in the toolbox to stop the accelerating housing crisis in its tracks, failure to do so will mean things only keep getting worse."Everyone has the right to a decent, affordable home, but house prices are out of control."Her comments come a week ahead of the Government's first housing-related announcement, due to be delivered next week.It was originally meant to be unveiled in mid-February, but the two Auckland level 3 lockdowns pushed the schedule out.Because of this, the announcement will include some supply measures as well as the originally planned demand-side measures.The Government has stayed relatively mum on what it plans to announce – Finance Minister Grant Robertson has deliberately not gone into specifics.But he said on Tuesday morning that the package of housing policies the Government is due to unveil next week will include a "mixture of both incentives to go [invest] elsewhere and disincentives within the housing system".Text by Jason Walls, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a huge day for Emirates Team New Zealand who are within touching distance of retaining the America's Cup.The defender needs one more win - their 30 second victory in race nine has them leading the best of 13 race series 6-3.Yachting great Dean Barker joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Team New Zealand is taking it one race at a time in retaining the America's Cup.The defender leads the best of 13 race series 5-3 heading into race nine and 10 this afternoon.Light winds are forecast which could make it tricky for racing, with race director Iain Murray admitting they're taking a gamble by selecting course C.Brad Butterworth is one of this country’s finest ever sailors. He joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford for a remarkably chilled out chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.