Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

There are 11 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, including three in Wellington.It brings our total to 31.The Ministry of Health says the three in Wellington had recently travelled to Auckland and visited a location of interest there.Nineteen cases are now confirmed as part of the Auckland outbreak, with the remaining 12 under investigation to confirm the linkage to the outbreak.Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels to discuss the latest news.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cabinet’s agreed to make the Pfizer jab available to everyone aged 12 years old and over.The Prime Minister says they’ll be able to book with other young people from next month.Medsafe granted provisional approval for the move in June.From tomorrow – parents and caregivers who are already eligible - can book their children in at the same time.Ardern says an estimated 265 thousand people are in the expanded 12-15 year old age bracket.Dr Bryan Betty Medical Director of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels to discuss how to get the needle into as many arms as possible.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley Bloomfield says our Covid Delta outbreak has grown to a total of 21 in the community - with 11 more today.Two people are in hospital with covid - one in their 20s and one in their 40s ... and are stableAll other cases are being put in quarantine, or are there already.Eight cases are being investigated and aren't formally linked, but likely are part of the cluster.Three new cases in MIQ have meant people in their cohort need to stay in longer.An Air New Zealand staff member with Covid is considered a border case, and not linked.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says contact tracing has showed the cases came into our community, from the New South Wales outbreak'Sequencing shows our current cases are strongly linked to a person who flew here from Sydney on August 7, who went into MIQ, then quarantine - and was transferred to Middlemore Hospital when they fell sick.It's likely the virus arrived on August 7, and was therefore likely in the community for a relatively short time - on the balance of evidence.Staff at the Crowne Plaza, and Jet Park and transporters of returnees and MIQ clients are being investigated.Only one Crowne Plaza staffer was slightly behind on testing, and two at Jet Park.Middlemore Hospital is not considered a likely source of the outbreak.Covid -19 modeller Professor Shaun Hendy joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to unpack today's news.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scotty "Sumo" Stevenson is a fixture on our screens when it comes to sports commentary in New Zealand. During his time at SKY Sport he had roles ranging from Sport Rugby Commentator, Editor of SKY Sport the Magazine, writer and presenter of Documentary Series Local Heroes. He’s written several books, including Kieran Read Straight 8, Cory Jane Winging it, and Stephen Donald – Beaver. He’s currently a commentator and sports reporter with TVNZ and Spark Sport as well as a writer for numerous publications. Scotty Stevenson was Simon Barnett and James Daniels' guest for this week's Six and a Song.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Barnett and James Daniels get Michael Baker to answer some questions from their listeners about Covid:19 and the Delta variant.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Soper calls out Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for not being willing to front up on The Mike Hosking Breakfast today after she cancelled her regular spot on the show earlier this year. Ardern did appear on competing brand The AM show this morning.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Covid-19 community case in Auckland has been announced by The Ministry of Health this afternoon.Speaking to Simon Barnett and James Daniels on NewstalkZB, Barry Soper said cabinet will likely relay a decision on a lockdown to the public between 5 and 6pm.A source Soper spoke to has told him that the case is unvaccinated and often travels between Auckland and the Coromandel.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health officials are scrambling to identify the link in a new Covid-19 community case in Auckland.So far, authorities haven't traced the infection back to the border or MIQ.Siouxsie Wiles says that while we don't know what strain of Covid the new case has yet, given that Delta is the dominant strain, we can probably assume it's Delta until we hear otherwise.She also encourages people not to panic and reminds them not to stockpile and that the supermarkets will remain open.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A youth accused of fatally stabbed Zion Purukamu has made his first appearance in youth court today. Purukamu died after being injured at a party in Fendalton on Friday night.Two other youths were also stabbed (aged 14 and 17) who are in a serious condition in Christchurch Hospital.The accused has entered 3 not guilty pleas and trial by jury. The case will now be transferred to the high court.Simon Barnett and James Daniels spoke to NZ Herald Senior Reporter Anna Leask about the first court appearance and whether there is a rise in violent crime.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government will no longer go ahead with part of the deal to support The Lord of the Rings TV series, after Amazon Studios decided to quit New Zealand and shift production to the United Kingdom.In a statement, Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash said he was disappointed by the decision."The Government was informed of the decision yesterday."Amazon Studios advised that post-production work on Season One will continue in New Zealand till June 2022. However, Season Two will be filmed in the UK as part of a strategy by the studio to expand its production space and consolidate its footprint in the UK.Thomas Coughlan, NZ Herald political reporter who wrote the original piece outlining the move from Amazon, joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An icon of NZ television, Jude Dobson has endeared herself to generations of Kiwis. From Sale of the Century to 5.30 with Jude, we’ve grown up with her in our living rooms. She’s now a multi-talented producer, with her own production company Homegrown Television in which she’s produced and fronted TV series’ Raising Children, Homegrown and Nought to five. More recently Jude has turned her attention to documentaries on New Zealand’s military history including The Liberation of Le Quesnoy and New Zealand’s Air Force: Then and Now. Jude Dobson was Simon Barnett and James Daniels' guest for this weeks Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has been given a a glimpse of when we're re-opening to the rest of the world... but some details are lacking.From next year, people coming from countries deemed 'low risk' won't have to isolate at MIQ.Jacinda Ardern has laid out the plan this morning, but she was light on some details... including specific dates.She says the Government will be in a position in the first quarter of next year to begin its pathways plan.The Prime Minister also won't give a vaccination target... saying instead the goal is as many people as possible.Auckland University Vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels on the show today.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niki Bezzant is an award-winning writer, speaker, commentator, and Health Editor for Woman Magazine. She’s made a successful career from her passion for food, health, nutrition, and wellbeing. Every second Wednesday Niki will be taking your questions and calls with Simon Barnett & James Daniels on everything nutrition, food, and health.This week we had some great questions on sugar in fruit, intermittent fasting and caffeine.. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional athlete Cameron Brown called into Simon Barnett & James Daniels Afternoons today to discuss the role sponsorship and High Performance Sport NZ "PEG grants" play in the life of a modern day sport.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A freshwater ecologist says that farmers should be gifted a one-off $12 billion payment to stop dairying and convert to industries with a lower carbon footprint.Victoria University of Wellington’s Dr Mike Joy says taxpayers are paying $400 per kilogram of nitrate per hectare per year through a scheme organized by regional councils to compensate for farmers removing nitrate from lakes.He says that through a calculation of $400 a kilo of nitrate from 33 million tonnes of nitrate lost every year comes to $12 billion.Joy spoke to Simon Barnett and James Daniels about what farmers can do to farm better and why they should make the change to more eco-friendly industries.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi rowing legend Hamish Bond has returned from his fourth Olympics, where he was part of the success of the men's eight who took gold in TokyoBond is now in MIQ along with other returning Olympians.He joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to talk about this Olympic campaign. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The simple act of hugging: Simon and James discover it can be contentious in certain situations. So what's in a hug?Would you hug your workmates?Would you feel comfortable with your children hugging their teacher?And are we thinking too much about when it's ok to hug?LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sensational afternoon in Tokyo, as our rowers collect two more golds and a silver.The men's eight won gold in a nail biting race over Germany to close the show.They followed a silver medal performance from the women's eight and a gutsy gold medal race from Emma Twigg -- who took out the women's single sculls.Friend Of The Show and double gold medalist Eric Murray shared his joy with Simon Barnett & James Daniels.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barbara Kendall really is a national icon. She competed in 5 Olympic Games winning every colour medal, starting with gold in Barcelona 1992. She also won 11 world championship medals and 25 national championships during her athletic career in International Windsurfing. She’s remained heavily involved in the Olympic movement with roles on many different International commissions and executive boards and is currently a vice president of the International Surfing federation and a member on the International Olympic Committee's woman in sport commission She became a New Zealand Olympic Committee order holder in 2016, and in 2018 was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of merit for her services to sport leadership. Barbara Kendall was Simon Barnett and James Daniels' guest for this week's Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trans-Tasman bubble will close at midnight tonight to all Australian states and territories for at least eight weeks.For the next week there will be managed return flights for New Zealand citizens and residents.Anyone coming from New South Wales still needs to go into MIQ for 14 days.Epidemiologist Michael Baker told Simon and James a full suspension is easier to implement than keeping the bubble going with States not affected by the Delta variant.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Stephen Tindall is one of New Zealand’s most successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists.He of course founded The Warehouse Group in 1982, growing it into one of our most successful brands, before co-founding, with his wife, The Tindall Foundation, now Australasia’s single largest philanthropic trust.In 2015 he was named New Zealander of the Year and in 2019 became a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business, the community, and the environment.He was Simon and James' guest for this weeks Six and a Song.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 10 days since Toa was found stranded on Plimmerton rocks.Toa was transferred to a man-made pool last Thursday after storms were forecast for Wellington.Neither volunteers nor the orca can go back into the water until the regional council gives the all clear for post-storm pollution.Marine Biologist Professor Karen Stockin says the longer Toa is with humans, the harder and more stressful it will be for him to reintegrate into a pod.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A groundswell of protest from fed up farmers across New ZealandFarmers around the country have descended on towns and cities to protest what they say is unworkable legislation and unjustified costs.The Country's Jamie MacKay is at one of the flagship protests, at the Gore Showgrounds.He told Simon Barnett and James Daniels the turn out for this protest is unlike anything he’s ever seen.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Gordon Tietjens is the most highly decorated coach in the history of Rugby 7’s. His titles include 12 World Series Gold’s, 4 Commonwealth Games Golds and 2 World Cup Golds.His influence over the careers of many All Blacks started when they played under his coaching. Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Eric Rush, Joe Rokocoko, Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane among them.He was inducted into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame in 2012 and was Knighted in 2013 for his services to Rugby.Sir Gordon Tietjens was Simon and James' guest for this weeks Six and a Song.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niki Bezzant is an award-winning writer, speaker, commentator, and Health Editor for Woman Magazine. She’s made a successful career from her passion for food, health, nutrition, and wellbeing. Every second Wednesday Niki will be taking your questions and calls on everything nutrition, food, and health.This week we had some great questions on the Keto diet, and how much Salmon is okay to eat in a week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is great to be able to welcome in James Daniels as our new co-host today! Simon Barnett took the opportunity to throw a couple of 'getting to know you' questions at him...LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A psychotherapist is calling the pressure on mental health services a "perfect storm".Psychologists are turning away as many as 60 clients a month because they have no space to see them.The issues have come to light after the College of Clinical Psychologists recently surveyed its members.Psychotherapist and co-host of Newstalk ZB’s The Nutters Club Kyle MacDonald told Simon and James sadly he is having the same pressures at his clinic.LISTEN ABOVEWhere to get help:Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email [email protected]'s Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254Healthline: 0800 611 116Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster, city councillor and iwi leader James Daniels (Ngāi Tahu, Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa and Tainui) joins Simon Barnett to co-host Newstalk ZB Afternoons from 13 July 2021.Daniels spent nineteen years on the tribal authority Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and is currently a Christchurch City Councillor.“Last year I was asked to host nine to noon in Canterbury on Coast 105.7FM” said Daniels. “It’s been busy juggling those roles, but for more than forty years I’ve been involved in broadcasting and my passion for connecting with people remains strong. Being offered this opportunity to be a full-time host nationwide on the biggest radio network in New Zealand is unexpected and extraordinary.”Simon Barnett said “Both being Christchurch based broadcasters for so many years, James and I know each other well. But, in the all the years we’ve had on air we’ve always worked on opposing networks. Now, to not only be on the same network, but to be hosting a show together, it’s going to be a real treat for me and ZB’s listeners.”Newstalk ZB Afternoons with Simon Barnett and James Daniels - Tuesdays to Fridays 12pm - 4pm – begins 13 July 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand’s favourite homegrown artists is back home in NZ and on tour. Among Greg Johnson’s many accolades are two Tui Music Awards and an APRA Silver Scroll - New Zealand’s highest musical honour. After being holed up in Los Angeles for endless Covid lockdowns, he’s back for his first tour since 2019 – and is promising to make these shows "real, interactive, and cozy." And this all ties in with his latest album, Tilt Your Interior, which came out at the end of last year. Greg Johnson joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford in studio for a chat and play a few songs. LISTEN ABOVELimited tickets are available at his last two shows. Get your tickets at www.gregjohnsonmusicdotcomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Blackadder is a legend in New Zealand rugby. He played a pivotal role in the overwhelming success of Canterbury Rugby with 71 games and three Super Rugby Titles with the Crusaders along with 126 games and two titles with the Canterbury NPC side, He represented the All Blacks in 12 test matches, captaining them in all but one of those tests. When his playing career came to an end, he took up a coaching role with Edinburgh before returning to New Zealand in and taking the helm of the crusaders as head coach In 2009. Todd then relocated to Bath Rugby as the Director of Rugby and is currently Head Coach of Japanese Top League side Toshiba. He was Simon and Phil’s guest for this weeks’ Six and 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 listeners' employment-related questions. Today he answered questions about Kiwisaver, unfair dismissal, and cameras in vehicles. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riders are at the top of a 130-foot drop. They're about to plunge almost 60 mph. Now's a good time to ask: "What in the devil are they thinking?"These coaster enthusiasts -- "daredevils" if you will -- are willing riders on the Jersey Devil Coaster, which debuted to the public on Sunday, June 13, at Six Flags Great Adventure in central New Jersey.The park says it's "the world's tallest, fastest, and longest single rail coaster. ... Towering 13 stories high, the coaster takes riders over 3,000 feet of track."First drop is a real doozySix Flags has posted a 1:11 minute video of the ride on its Twitter account.The ride is a "singular" experience. Unlike most coasters where you share the ride side-by-side, folks on the Jersey Devil are seated low and in single file. Each train holds 12 passengers.The Devil means business, too. Straight out of the station, the coaster immediately begins its rapid ascent. It crests the first hill with gorgeous views of the park and New Jersey countryside. But you have to take it in fast. This coaster doesn't linger at the top at all.And that first drop is a real doozy. The park says it's 87 degrees steep.Within seconds of the drop, you're already back up the next hill and being thrown into a mind-bending series of inversions, twists and more hills as the single track snakes in and out of itself.Bright, primary colours dominate. The coaster cars are deep red, and the single track is an orange-yellow.A few Jersey Devil statsThe park laid the final piece of track back in January and shared some of the coaster's features:-- Max speed is 58 mph (93 kph)-- It's 13 stories high with the 130-foot first drop-- It covers more than 3,000 feet (915 metres)-- It offers "three dramatic inversions including a 180-degree stall, raven dive and zero-gravity roll."How did Six Flags come up with the wicked name?"Jersey Devil folklore has been a source of fear and intrigue here in the Pine Barrens for more than 200 years. We'll immerse riders in this iconic piece of New Jersey history on our monstrous, new scream machine," said Great Adventure President John Winkler, according to the Staten Island Advance.Rider reviewOn the Coaster Studios YouTube channel, a group went out on the park's media/VIP preview day to record their ride and give their critiques."It's just so different than every other attraction here," said Taylor Bybee on the video as the ride concludes."I thoroughly enjoyed it," Bybee told CNN Travel on the evening of June 14. "I think we got six or seven rides on it."It's more than an interesting design and engineering fact that the Jersey Devil is a rare single-rail coaster, Bybee said. It affects the entire ride experience."Single rail allows the ride to take tighter maneuvers that you couldn't do with a traditional roller coaster. You just have one seat across -- it means you have a smaller radius to rotate around," he said."This ride experience is a lot crazier. It's very dynamic -- you go from one element to the next without too much time to get a break."Bybee said it's a very smooth ride with different sensations depending on whether you're up front or back.The highlight of the ride for Bybee? The Zero-G stall. He said it flips you upside down and holds you upside down briefly. While you'll find that on other coasters, "this one did it very well."World's tallest coaster periodThe Jersey Devil is tall -- but it only makes the world's record as the tallest single-rail attraction. It's dwarfed by the world's tallest coaster overall.That coaster is the Kingda Ka. It goes up to a hold-onto-your-stomach height of 456 feet (139 metres) and reaches a top speed of 128 mph (206 kph). It's also located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.text by Forrest Brown, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Doug Sellman has been working in the addiction treatment field since 1985 and has been Director of the National Addiction Centre at Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences since its inception in 1996. He’s been promoting and researching the health benefits of fasting in recent years and joined Simon and Phil to discuss his own journey with fasting and weight loss, and why more people should be undertaking regular fasting. You can email him for a beginners guide to fasting: [email protected] Doug Sellman joined Simon Barnett & Phil Gifford on the show.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Goff has been a stalwart in NZ politics for almost 4 decades. He served as an MP for 11 terms during which he was a Senior Cabinet Minister in several high-profile portfolios, was leader of the Labour Party, and Leader of the Opposition. After leaving Parliament he campaigned successfully as Mayor of Auckland Supercity and was re-elected again in 2019. He was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford's guest for this weeks' Six and a Song.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An eleventh-hour announcement by Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi took some heat out of irate hospitality business owners who accuse the Government of leaving their industry in crisis due to critical staff shortages.Faafoi issued an embargoed press release last night, announcing an extension to working holiday and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) visas shortly after an online petition organised by the Restaurant Association went live on their website.Business owners, led by the association, today launched a two-month "Reset" campaign aimed at forcing the Government to focus on immigration issues which they claim will cause more cafes and restaurants to close if left unresolved.Restaurant Association National President Mike Egan told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford that they have extended the working holiday visa, but not the essential skills visa that applies to people like bar managers."They've just addressed the working holidays, which is the backpackers."The other one that could help is the international students, they are restricted to 20 hours a week, if they could extend that, because they do want to work more."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Commission says the Government is making good progress in reducing carbon emissions -- but needs to step up efforts.Its final advice to the Government has just been released.The Commission says it's achievable and affordable to meet climate targets with existing technology - and it's cheaper to act now.It recommends the Government up use of low emission fuels, and install electric vehicle-charging infrastructure.It also highlighted the importance of phasing out coal boilers, and the need for more research on reducing agricultural methane emissions.Professor of Climate Change at the University of Victoria David Frame joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford on what the commission has got right and wrong about climate change concerns in the country.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's says action on climate change is a question of 'life or death.'The Climate Change Commission’s today released its final advice to the Government – on how to clamp down on greenhouse gas.Updated modelling shows our emissions are higher than first thought - and we have a tougher road to meet 2050 targets.Jacinda Ardern's once again called climate change her generation’s nuclear free moment.She says this report is one of the most significant documents she’ll receive as Prime Minister.Talkback caller Steve brought it right back down to earth for Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford - he's a professional BBQ Chef and talked about what he hears from consumers.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are furiously digging into new Climate Change Commission advice to see how it affects them.The report is saying that emissions are higher, and changes need to be accelerated in sectors like farming, and moving away from fossil fuels.Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says on a first glance, they're concerned cutting emissions could translate into cutting farm production.“We are one of the lowest emitting countries in terms of per unit of food. It makes no sense for us to be reducing production in hungry world.”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 listeners' employment related questions.Today he answered questions about holiday pay entitlements, KiwiSaver contributions, random drug testing and a driving facing camera in a truck cab among other things.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's an inspiring story.It's the story of Hawke's Bay employer Taurus Taurima who at the young age of 32 owns Topline Contracting.He started the company himself after a difficult journey himself.Taurima was raised by a solo mother in Flaxmere, and left school at 16 not long before his partner gave birth to the first of five kids now aged between 14 and a few months old.He got his first full-time job in roading in 2010 and eventually started Topline in August 2016, aged 27.He now employs about 50 staff and he has an unorthodox hiring policy - he doesn't want to see your CV - he hires on attitude.Taurus joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to tell his story.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A herd of 15 elephants has wreaked havoc in China, trampling crops and causing more than a million dollars' worth of damage, after the animals escaped from a nature reserve last year.The elephants have made a 500-kilometre journey through the southwestern province of Yunnan from the nature reserve in Xishuangbanna to Yuxi, a city of 2.6 million people, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, according to state news agency Xinhua.It is unclear why they left their nature reserve home, but on their travels, the elephants have caused 412 separate incidents of damage, with financial losses amounting to around 6.8 million yuan ($1.47 million), Xinhua reported. They destroyed 56 hectares of farmland in the counties of Yuanjiang and Shiping alone, the agency said.The creatures have also caused significant disruption to locals. Last Thursday, residents were told to stay indoors and pedestrians and vehicles evacuated in the town of Eshan after the elephants roamed the streets for six hours.Authorities established a 24-hour command centre to monitor the animals after they were seen in the Hongta District of Yuxi on Monday, with over 360 people, 76 police cars and dirt trucks and nine drones mobilized for the task, and 18 tonnes of elephant food prepared. No casualties have been reported, according to Xinhua.Monitoring images show the herd is comprised of six female adults, three male adults, three sub-adults and three calves.Asian elephants are the largest land mammal on the Asian continent, according to the World Wildlife Fund. They are considered a protected species in China, and around 300 of them live in Yunnan, according to Xinhua.text by Amy Woodyatt, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blair Tuke is a genuine superstar and one of our greatest ever sportspeople. He’s a two time America’s Cup winner, won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, silver in 2012 in London and 8 World Championship golds in the 49er class. He’s also a founder of Live Ocean - a charity which supports marine science, and conservation projects and is encouraging kiwis to take the plunge in the annual Live Ocean Winter dip next week. Blair Tuke was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford's guest for this week's Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An F45 gym in Hastings has cancelled someone's '7 day experience' and offered her a refund, because she didn't want to be filmed while working out.The gym-goer received an email saying that because she didn't want to sign the waiver to be filmed for social media, they couldn't guarantee she wouldn't end up in them anyway.Therefore, they couldn't offer her the gym's services.Ekant Veer is Professor of Marketing specialising in Social Media at the University of Canterbury and he joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to discuss the laws and ethics around this issue.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people have Birthday traditions, taking the day off work , a favourite meal - things like that.On his 102nd birthday Napier man Trevor Page did what he does every other weekday morning. He climbed Taradale's Sugar Loaf Hill.It's a steep 127 metre climb but a bitterly cold morning didn't deter him from walking the hill he has climbed for 47 years..Trevor Page joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford and shared his secrets of a long life.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Economic Development Minister is staying tight-lipped over America's Cup negotiations.A 100-million dollar offer from Auckland Council and Government is said to have been rejected by Team New Zealand.A team appointed by the Crown has been trying to work out a deal since the regatta in March.It's believed Team New Zealand want more than 200-million dollars.Stuart Nash says he's deliberately kept out of negotiations -- but someone is leaking who shouldn't be.He says as far as he's aware, all negotiations are being conducted in good faith but they're all still in confidence.World champion sailor and broadcaster Peter Lester joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to share his views.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A question whether there should be term limits in Parliament...to stop people hanging around.National MP Nick Smith is calling it quits after 30 years in the job.He says it's due to personal reasons -- and that he's subject to an employment investigation into a "verbal altercation" in July last year.Former Cabinet colleague Chris Finlayson says after a while in Parliament, you become institutionalised.He says there should be term limits of about 15 years, followed by a forced sabbatical.Former National MP and Cabinet Minister Max Bradford called Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to have his say on the matter.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost one fifth of employees are working themselves into the ground.Research from AUT conducted in December, shows 18 per cent of New Zealand workers can be classified as being burnt-out.It also shows those workers are from 14 to 24 times more likely to have severe levels of mental health issues.AUT Business School Professor Jarrod Haar says the results are very concerning.He says these people are having to deal with a range of issues around anxiety, depression, lack of sleep -- and physical complaints.Psychologist Sara Chatwin joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to offer some advice.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rowing champion Eric Murray believes athletes fronting media is a part of the territory. Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka will not subject herself to post-match press conferences In the French open. She says athletes' mental health deserves more respect at such fixtures, and they often become a vehicle for "kicking a person while they’re down". Eric Murray told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford fronting in times of defeat is never easy, but athletes need to accept that emotion is a part of professional sport. LISTEN ABOVE Where to get help:• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)• Youthline: 0800 376 633• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)• Samaritans 0800 726 666• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmanian devils have been born in the wild in mainland Australia, more than 3,000 years after they died out in the country.Seven baby Tasmanian devils -- known as joeys -- were born at the 988-acre Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in New South Wales, Australian NGO Aussie Ark said in an Instagram post on Monday.Tasmanian devils died out on the mainland after the arrival of dingoes -- a species of wild dog -- and were restricted to the island of Tasmania. However, their numbers suffered another blow from a contagious form of cancer known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), which has killed around 90% of the population since it was discovered in 1996.Last September, Aussie Ark introduced 11 of the creatures back into the wild in mainland Australia, following an earlier trial involving 15 of the marsupials, bringing the total of Tasmanian devils on the mainland to 26.And now, just months after their release, the creatures have successfully reproduced -- and conservationists have identified the tiny marsupials, which they say are the size of shelled peanuts, inside the pouches of the mothers.Female Tasmanian devils give birth to between 20 and 40 joeys at once, according to Tourism Australia. The joeys race to the mother's pouch, which only has four teats. Those that make it to the pouch carry on living there for around three months."We have been working tirelessly for the better part of 10 years to return Devils to the wild of mainland Australia with the hope that they would establish a sustainable population. Once they were back, it was entirely up to them," Aussie Ark said in a statement on Monday. "We had been watching them from afar until it was time to step in and confirm the birth of our first wild joeys. And what a moment it was!"Tasmanian devils are the world's largest carnivorous marsupials and are native apex predators. This means their reintroduction will help control populations of feral cats and foxes that hunt other endangered species. Devils are also scavengers, which helps to keep their environment free from disease.In Tasmania itself, there are only 25,000 devils are left in the wild, according to Aussie Ark."We've been able to historically -- albeit in its infancy -- return the devil to mainland, and today is another milestone entirely," Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark, said in a video posted on Instagram.text by Amy Woodyatt, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Wynyard is a wood chopping superstar, winning over a hundred world titles in the sport. He’s won the individual world championship nine times and holds the world record for Single Buck sawing with a time of 9.39 seconds . Wynyard also won the Stihl Timbersports Series 14 times, and In the 2017 New Year Honours was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the sport of wood chopping. He was Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford’s guest for this weeks’ Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.