Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

New Zealand Rugby insists it's committed to playing the Rugby Championship in full, despite serious concerns over the tournament end-date.SANZAAR released the six game schedule this morning, with the All Blacks playing Australia on December 12th.That would see the All Blacks still in managed quarantine for Christmas.NZR chief executive Mark Robinson told Simon and Phil they were working towards the prior weekend, but commercial considerations seem to be at play.He says they plan to keep talking with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia around that date.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby faces a massive task to convince Australian Rugby and SANZAAR to reschedule their final game of the Rugby Championship or it's quarantine at Christmas for the All Blacks.SANZAAR has released the tournament schedule, which sees the final Bledisloe on December 12th, not the 5th as NZR wanted.It's thought commercial issues and player welfare worries from the other countries are preventing a tighter competition.Former All Black and Sky Sports Commentator Jeff Wilson told Simon and Phil it's particularly hard to swallow after losing the Championship to Australia a few weeks ago. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Robertson has been Minister of Finance for the last 3 years, and an MP for 12. He's been front and centre over the past 8 months as we navigate the huge financial challenges of Covid-19 and was Simon and Phil's guest for this weeks Six and a Song. They discussed his childhood, his entry into politics, his love of rugby, the controversial Rugby Championship schedule, and of course his favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's finance spokesman Grant Robertson says that his sexuality has never been an issue while in Parliament.Joining Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford for Six and a Song, Robertson says that he was already out when he joined politics so it never proved an issue.While he is completely comfortable with his sexuality, Robertson says that the more prominence you get, the more people learn about you, which leads to an "endless journey of coming out to people". "I said in my maiden speech that it is a part of me, it doesn't 100 per cent define me. It gives me an insight into some of the ways in which people can be discriminated against." Robertson says that he does recognise that being in such a prominent role does have impact on people, as he often gets letters from younger people who are struggling with their own sexuality."It is important that people can see that you can become the Minister of Finance and be gay and that's okay." Robertson, who is also the Minster for Sport and Recreation, says the scheduling for the upcoming Rugby Championship is ridiculous.The schedule sees the All Blacks playing their final game on December 12, which means players will still be in quarantine back in New Zealand on Christmas Day.Robertson says there was an agreement between Rugby Australia and NZ Rugby on a tournament timeline."That would have seen the All Blacks come back after their last game on tthe fifth of December, and now they have shifted the goalposts."I really hope Australian Rugby comes to the party and support New Zealand Rugby to go through with the agreement they actually had."Robertson also talked about how he became interested in politics, his relationship with his father, and making friends across the aisle.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should you be able to take sick leave from work to care for a sick pet or one that's passed away? We put the question out there to our listeners today and boy did the phone lines go crazy! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 18 months, residents of a village in Wales have been mystified as to why their broadband internet crashed every morning.Now engineers have finally identified the reason: A second-hand television that emitted a signal that interfered with the connection.A crack team of engineers-turned-detectives have become heroes in the village of Aberhosan after finally finding the source of the problem, according to a press release from Openreach, the company that runs the UK's digital network, published Tuesday.Staff had visited the village repeatedly and found no fault with the network. They even replaced cables in the area to try and solve the problem, but to no avail.Then local engineer Michael Jones called in assistance from experts at the Openreach chief engineer team.After carrying out a plethora of tests, engineers had a theory that the problem could be caused by a phenomenon called single high-level impulse noise (SHINE), in which an appliance emits electrical interference that impacts broadband connectivity.Engineers used a device called a spectrum analyzer and walked up and down the village "in the torrential rain" at 6 a.m. to see if they could locate an electrical noise, Jones said in a statement.At 7 a.m. -- "like clockwork" -- the device "picked up a large burst of electrical interference in the village.""The source of the 'electrical noise' was traced to a property in the village. It turned out that at 7 a.m. every morning the occupant would switch on their old TV which would in-turn knock out broadband for the entire village."Jones said the resident was "mortified" by the news and "immediately agreed to switch it off and not use again."Since the old TV was retired there have been no more problems with the connection, said Openreach.Suzanne Rutherford, the company's chief engineer's lead for Wales, said that this kind of problem is more common than people think."Anything with electric components -- from outdoor lights to microwaves to CCTV cameras can potentially have an impact on your broadband connection," said Rutherford, who advised the public to check if their appliances are certified and meet current standards.Earlier this year, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom warned that microwaves could reduce Wi-Fi signals. Ofcom issued several tips on how to keep households connected as millions of people started working from home at the start of lockdown.text by Jack Guy, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment Lawyer and Partner with Malley & Co solicitors. We have him on regularly to answer all your employment related questions. Today we had some great questions on whether you can be made redundant during maternity leave, whether a company can delay commission payments because of Covid-19, and dealing with bullying allegations in the workplace. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 1 in 1,500 people in Japan is now aged 100 or older, new data from the Japanese government shows.Figures from Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry show the number of centenarians went above 80,000 for the first time this year -- the 50th consecutive annual increase and the biggest rise to date.There were 80,450 people aged 100 and over as of Tuesday -- 9,176 more than last year -- which equates to one in every 1,565 people.The numbers show that women in Japan are far more likely than men to live for a century or more, making up 88% of all centenarians.Japan has a rapidly aging population and average life expectancy across the country is also at a record high.On average, women are expected to live to 87.45 years and men are expected to live to 81.41, government figures released in July showed.Japan began documenting the number of centenarians in 1963.At the time there were only 153 people aged 100 or over in the country. But 1988, that had ballooned to 10,000.Secret to longevityJapan's oldest person, 117-year-old Kane Tanaka from Fukuoka, was confirmed as the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records last year.She was born in 1903 -- the year aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright made history by successfully completing the world's first powered flight.She now lives in a nursing home, where she usually wakes at 6 a.m, and enjoys playing the strategic board game Othello.Tanaka has said that eating good food and practicing math are her secrets for a long life.text by Sara Spary and Yoko Wakatsuki, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a bit of good news, there will be new emojis in 2021 after all.The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit that oversees emoji standards and is responsible for new releases, announced the release of more than 200 emojis that will hit cell phones throughout next year in a limited "Emoji 13.1" release -- which means even more ways to convey the pain of this year.Unicode called it a "minor release" to add new emojis before 2022. The consortium announced in April there would be no new emojis until 2022 because of the pandemic.Among the major additions are (fittingly for this year) a heart with a bandage wrapped around it and a heart on fire -- which, depending on the interpretation, could express either heartburn or heartbreak.Another major addition is an attempt at creating a gender-neutral person with a beard, rather than just allowing a seemingly male option, as is currently the case. The attempted gender-inclusive design offers three variants of the beard: a "person" with a beard, a "woman" with a beard and a "man" with a beard -- with the "person" option meant to be the gender-neutral one.But the bulk of the update, comprising 200 out of the 217 new emojis, is dedicated to skin tones for the "couple with heart" emoji and the "kiss" emoji. Current options offer only the default "yellow" skin tone for both, but the update will allow other skin tones to be specified. This would also allow for the depiction of interracial relationships.Other fun additions include a face/head in the clouds (either a deity or the visual representation of daydreaming) and a face blowing out a breath or cloud of smoke.The updates could hit your phone anywhere from January to October 2021, with the more complete "Emoji 14.0" package set to drop in 2022.text by Leah Asmelash, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in history, on 15 March 2020 the New Zealand government closed the country's borders. What followed was a story unprecedented in almost every way imaginable. During this time authour Paul Little spoke regularly with Finance Minister Grant Robertson, science communicator Siouxsie Wiles, Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult, funeral directors Francis and Kaiora Tipene, Student Volunteer Army founder Sam Johnson, the Prime Minister's Chief Science Adviser Juliet Gerrard, businesswoman Jenene Crossnan, Auckland City Missioner Chris Farrelly and many others on their experiences through this historic time. The Covid Chronicles is a multi-stranded account of one of the most extraordinary times in Aotearoa's history, and the lessons we must heed for our future. Paul Little joined Simon and Phil to discuss how the book came about, and how those weekly conversations with those New Zealander’s evolved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's health spokesman Dr Shane Reti has not denied that he has leadership ambitions.The Northland MP joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford for the weekly Six and a Song segment.While a few months ago Dr Reti was on the backbenches, he has rapidly moved up the ranks, taking over the party's health portfolio and becoming the most senior Maori MP on the party's list.His measured response to the Covid-19 outbreak has earned him praise from the wider public - one listener texted in during the interview to say 'Six months ago, I didn't know who this guy was. Now I'm so impressed, I'm wondering where he's been all my life'. Dr Reti insisted he had been there but in "the engine room", but the text prompted Simon to ask if he had any leadership ambitions. "I think that's a decision for the National Party caucus, the people in the Whangarei electorate, and the people in the party. That's a call they would need to make. If they wanted me to step into that position, that would be a privilege." Judith Collins is the current leader of the National Party. Asked why he moved to politics after 20 years of healthcare, Dr Reti says that it is about helping more people. "I can serve two to three thousand people [as a GP]. In my role as the MP for Whangarei, I am responsible for 85,000 people, and I hope I can help more."Dr Reti also talked about his grandmother's unusual practice for giving birth, why he wentand his time at Harvard Medical School.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Māori Party wants to ban schools from expelling any students under age 16.The party's radical education policy, released today, also asks for 25 per cent of the $17 billion education budget to be spent on "Maori models of delivery", and for all primary schools to teach half their content in te reo Māori by the end of this decade.Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, the chief executive of South Taranaki iwi Ngāti Ruanui, says iwi are ready to work with schools on new models that suit Māori children, but need funding to do it."We want to create a pathway to training and employment that is about connecting with the various communities around you."The party notes that 51 per cent of students excluded from schools before age 16 are Māori, 51 per cent of prisoners were excluded from schools as children, and 52 per cent of prisoners are Māori."We would remove the ability for schools to expel students who are below the school leaving age of 16," it says."Students with behavioural issues need wraparound support, and those who are using drugs need health interventions. Excluding children from school does irreparable harm."Children under 16 cannot legally be "expelled" from education because schooling under 16 is compulsory. Instead, a school can "exclude" a student, but the Ministry of Education must then find another school to take the student in.But Ngarewa-Packer said the process often doesn't work, and excluded students "get tucked away in programmes and units that don't last and they end up being out on the street"."That rangatahi typically becomes part of a whakamā system - they fail," she said."That can be anger, it can be drugs, it can be violence. They move into gangs, and then into prisons."So we want to put wraparound support at the beginning and not ignore the problems. If someone has been excluded because they use alcohol or drugs, or there is violence in the home, we want counselling for that. What we see on the ground is there isn't any."Exclusion from school under age 16 is very rare - only 1.6 out of every 1000 students in NZ schools last year.But the rate for Māori is 3.2 for every 1000 students. It's 4.0 for Māori boys and 2.4 for Māori girls, compared with 1.8 for European boys and 0.4 for European girls.Only a quarter (24 per cent) of NZ school students are Māori, but Māori make up 42.5 per cent of all students who are stood down, 49 per cent of suspensions and 51 per cent of exclusions.The Māori Party's proposal to spend 25 per cent of the education budget on "Māori models of delivery and pastoral care" is part of a broader policy which also calls for spending 25 per cent of the Covid-19 recovery budget on projects to support Māori.Ngarewa-Packer said students needed to learn Māori martial arts and connections with nature."A Māori model of learning in a wānanga is completely different from sitting at a desk, being told what to do, looking at a board and reading," she said.Māori Party co-leaders John Tamihere and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer called in June for 25 per cent of Covid-19 recovery spending top go into projects for Māori. Photo / Erica Sinclair"A lot of Māori learning is experiential learning. I am an iwi CEO down here, we have some huge deficit statistics, and the way we turn it around is to work with the schools that allow us to bring about a Māori model of learning."She said Ngāti Ruanui worked with about 10 Taranaki high schools, but they were under-resourced."The goodwill is there but they are barely surviving," she said. "We want communities and iwi to be able to work with the schools and help strengthen cultural identity and help with a richer education that recognises who we are and tangata whenua learning requirements."The party also proposes to:Make te reo Māori and Māori history core subjects in primary schools and up to Year 10.Increase funding for...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Kingsley-Jones, the former manager of Jonah Lomu and the man famously credited with keeping the late All Blacks great from leaving rugby for league, has passed away.A family member of the 72-year-old Welshman confirmed to the Herald had been "recovering at home" after falling five months ago.Kingsley-Jones was Lomu's manager for 10 years until 2004 when the former All Black's wife Fiona took over his management.Without him, Lomu might have played out his career in the Australian league.Welsh-born Kingsley-Jones had come to New Zealand in 1983, driving a truck during the week, propping a rugby scrum for Mt Wellington on Saturday afternoons, and working as a stand-up comedian on Saturday nights.At the height of his show business success in the 90s he sold out shows when on stage with former All Black Stu Wilson, and the duo published five big-selling books.Kingsley-Jones started working with the Counties-Manukau Rugby Union in 1989, and first crossed paths with Lomu when the already massive South Auckland teenager was at Wesley College.In 1994, a year before rugby went professional, Lomu was offered a $300,000 a year deal to play league for the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney. Dropped by the All Blacks after two tests against France in '94, and disillusioned with rugby, Lomu decided to sign with the Bulldogs, asking Kingsley-Jones to draw up a formal contract to manage him.Jonah Lomu and Phil Kingsley-Jones in 2003. Photo / PhotosportAt the time Kingsley-Jones said he would manage Lomu, but on one crucial condition - he had to stick with rugby and when he wins back his place in the All Blacks, he must give Kingsley-Jones the jersey he wears.And so it was that Kingsley-Jones would receive a '95 World Cup jersey from Lomu, and Lomu would be the key to a US$555 million television contract for southern hemisphere rugby.Kingsley-Jones worked at Counties Manukau Rugby for 15 years over two periods from 1989–1996 and 2009-2017.In that time, he served as the club's coaching co-ordinator, coaching director, coach of the development team, coach of junior representative teams, sponsorship and business development manager.He was made a lifetime ambassador for the union, and the lounge at the Steelers' home ground, Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe, was named after him.He also coached the Tongan national team, taking them on two tours to South Africa and the United Kingdom, which helped them qualify for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.Former Steelers and Maori captain Errol Brain who knew Phil closely said: "This is a truly sad day for Counties Manukau and rugby."Phil would be one of the only people who could walk into any rugby club in the world and know someone who would want to buy him a beer. His larger than life personality, sharp brain and ability to think outside the square was a great gift."What he did for Jonah Lomu was ground-breaking. He was the pioneer who turned Jonah into rugby's first global superstar all while keeping him grounded and connected to what was important, which was our region. Such was the impact that many of the young ones coming through today still look up to him and are aware of Jonah's legacy."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 is still expected to take a significant toll on the economy, but that toll – according to The Treasury – is not as bad as expected.Treasury officials had expected tomorrow's GDP figure to reveal a 23.5 per cent drop over the period from when New Zealand first went into lockdown.But its updated numbers show it's now expecting that figure to be 16 per cent.Although better than expected, it's still the biggest one-off drop in economic growth in New Zealand's history.But in the long term the hit will be worse than had previously been expected – this is due to the fact the world economy is expected to do worse than had been expected.Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford the economy's contracted 16 percent - more than double Australia's seven."The reason why they came in better than we did was they kept certain industries going during lockdown, like construction for example, so there was a better economic level of activity."The GDP figures come out tomorrow, after the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update was released today. During the announcement, the Government's lead economic adviser says the borders could remain closed for far longer than expected.Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper told Si and Phil they've done extensive analysis on when border restrictions will ease.He says Treasury’s working assumption is that they won't be lifted in January 2022."They say that there could be some limited international travel from maybe the latter part of next year." But Soper says Finance Minister Grant Robertson told him he doesn't agree the wait will be that long."He says that bubbles are being worked on at the moment," and that international students could return from the start of next year.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a game we play every Friday.You Da Man, the guys pick their favourite songs of the week and the audience picks their favourite. First to 3 votes takes it out.Si and Phil delivered two musical hits, but producer Tyler snuck in there with a beautifully slow song from the great CCR. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorraine Downes has been a household name since 1983 when she won Miss Universe, and went from a teenager in Pakuranga to global and glamorous prominence. She won season 2 of Dancing with the Stars, and is also an author, brand ambassador, and currently runs a successful consulting business. A great pleasure to have her as our guest for this weeks Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading neuroscience educator says talking to your kids about distressing content will help more than trying to get them to forget it. Parents are being warned about a distressing video circulating on social media, which appears to show a man dying by suicide.Internal Affairs, the Classification Office and Netsafe are strongly encouraging people not to view it -- and for parents to stop children accessing it.Neuroscientist Nathan Wallis told Simon and Phil says kids can't unsee that sort of content, and it's important parents talk with them about it when they're ready. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading economist says Labour's tax policy is a good start, but more will be needed to get ourselves out of our Covid-19 debt. If elected, the party is promising a top tax rate of 39 percent on income above 180 thousand dollars - but no new tax on assets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking robots that interact with older people could be introduced into care homes to help fight loneliness and mental ill health.Pepper, a "culturally competent robot," was tested on care home residents in Britain and Japan -- those who interacted with it for up to 18 hours over the course of two weeks "saw a significant improvement in their mental health," researchers found.Pepper was part of a large global study known as CARESSES, jointly funded by the European Union and the Japanese government, which investigated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in caring for the elderly.The scientists behind the study also found that "after two weeks of using the system there was a small but positive impact on loneliness severity among users."Pepper is fully autonomous, meaning that it is not controlled by a person. The gadget, which features a tablet computer that can play music and entertainment, does not just ask and answer questions but can actually engage in and sustain conversation.It has been designed to be "culturally competent," meaning that it can respond to the culture-specific needs and preferences of older people.Dr. Chris Papadopoulos, principal lecturer in public health at the UK's University of Bedfordshire, was the lead author of the evaluation of the three-year project.In an online statement, he described the study as "groundbreaking," adding: "The results show that using the CARESSES artificial intelligence in robots such as Pepper has real potential benefit to a world that is witnessing more people living longer with fewer people to look after them."Poor mental health and loneliness are significant health concerns and we have demonstrated that robots can help alleviate these."The University of Bedfordshire, Middlesex University and Advinia Health Care are the UK partners of the study, coordinated by University of Genova in Italy, which developed the robot's AI. Global researchers collaborated on the project with the robotics company SoftBank Robotics.When they first embarked on the study in 2016, the team could not have foreseen the coronavirus pandemic, which has had a huge impact on elderly people in care homes worldwide."When we kicked off the project it was clear that loneliness in older adults was a really big problem that is increasing all the time and one that we were keen to tackle," Papadopoulos told CNN. "Social care is incredibly stretched and we have an ageing society.""Of course we could never have predicted how relevant this issue has become today, where we have enforced isolation in many care homes and selective isolation for many others which has resulted in feelings of loneliness," he said. "Our system really couldn't have come at a better time to try and reduce some of those issues."So, could Pepper offer real help to the many millions of older people still unable to see their friends and family for fear of contagion?"The project we developed has now rigorously demonstrated that the system we developed could and did improve mental health and wellbeing and reduce loneliness," Papadopoulos said. "However it is just at a prototype level and there were many technical limitations."He estimated it would take a further two to three years of research, commercial development and funding before robots such as Pepper could actually be introduced to care homes."We really believe that this isn't about replacing care -- a robot can't do what a human can do. But they can be a useful supplementary tool to help stimulate people's mental health," he said.Dr Sanjeev Kanoria, surgeon, founder and chairman of Advinia Health Care -- one of the largest providers of dementia care in the UK -- said in a statement to CNN: "The robot was tested in Advinia's care homes in the UK. Now we are working towards bringing the robot into routine care, so it can be of real help to older adults and their families."Vic...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an employment lawyer and partner with Malley & Co solicitors. We have him on regularly to answering your employment related questions. His employment law knowledge is second to none, and always a great insight into the variety of issues we all come across in our jobs. Questions today included posting personal views on social media if they could backfire on your employer, and being forced to take annual leave over sick leave. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assurances an election campaign promise to tackle high merchant service fees has been in the works for some time.Labour is pledging to regulate fees banks charge businesses for contactless payments like payWave.Small business spokesperson Stuart Nash says a discussion document was being prepared before COVID-19 hit - but the pandemic put the kibosh on the ability to consult New Zealanders.He told Newstalk ZB's Simon and Phil how much Kiwis could save.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks ten years since the magnitude 7.1 earthquake first struck the region. Simon was in the region on that day, and the devastating February earthquake 5 months later. He looked back on that incredibly tough time in Christchurch's history. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best-selling author Tom Scott joins Si and Phil for this weeks Six and a Song and to talk about his new book on legendary New Zealand soldier Charles Upham 'Chasing Charlie'LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don't mention this epic radio phone call on Father's Day, are you even celebrating Father's Day?The infamous phone call happened more than 10 years ago but it still does the rounds on social media every year around this time.The clip is originally from "Reverse Trial" show, when host Gareth Lischner tried for nearly two minutes to get caller Solly to say the question which was, in fact, the answer: "What day is Father's Day?"Now a radio manager with NZME, Gareth told Simon and Phil it's still surreal how viral the clip went, and he still gets a bit of stick when it does the rounds every Father's Day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sought-after houseplant has sold on Trade Me for a whopping $6700, making it the second most expensive indoor plant to be sold on the site.The philodendron erubescens plant was listed for just $1 reserve, but the seller found themselves thousands of dollars richer after two would-be buyers went head to head in a last-minute bidding war.Also known as "white princess", the plant was described by the seller as "super rare". The auction closed last night with a total of 235 bids."The most expensive houseplant ever sold on Trade Me was a variegated minima which sold for $8150 last month, beating the previous record-holder by $1650," said Trade Me spokeswoman Ruby Topzand."The record was previously held by a reverse variegated hoya that sold for $6500 in August."The third most expensive houseplant purchased onsite was a variegated monstera which sold for $4930 in January."Since 2015, indoor plant sales have grown by 2543 per cent onsite as more and more Kiwis look to bring greenery into their homes," Topzand said."Even in the last year alone, we've seen a 213 per cent jump in the number of indoor plants sold onsite."Hoyas are the most popular houseplants onsite right now, seeing over 65,000 searches in the past week. The next most popular houseplants are monsteras, succulents, and snake plants."Stunned plant enthusiasts have shared news of the sale on indoor plant Facebook pages."One hundred per cent would buy that if I had a spare $7k. Without a bat of an eyelid even," said one commenter.Others said the plant prices were "crazy" and that it was "stupid money".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the original therapists matching contestants on Married at First Sight Australia has quit, saying that the role of experts has become less important as the show grew in popularity. Dr Trisha Stratford joined the Australian version of the hit reality show when it launched in 2015, but today confirmed her departure from the show, writing in an official statement that she was'taking a step back from the series to focus on her writing, research and neuropsychotherapy'. However, in an exclusive interview with Newstalk ZB’s Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford, Dr Stratford says that she has a number of concerns about the direction the show is going in.The show has pegged itself as a social experiment. The premise sees single people matched together by a team of experts, who then meet each other for the first time at the altar. The new couples take part in a commitment ceremony, and then see how long they last in their new guise as a couple.Dr Stratford says that she still believes in the social experiment, but that the show, which is a ratings juggernaut in Australia, has taken a different path to what she signed up for.“It became really clear to me over the last two seasons, but particularly the last season, that the type of people applying for the show were just becoming more and more outrageous.“And it became very difficult to match people who were on the show for the wrong reasons.”She says another concern was that the role of the experts in matching has become less important as the series has grown in popularity. Stratford says that her and her fellow experts had a big role in the bigger, but that their role has become “less and less” as the show progressed.“I’m in my integrity and it’s just not working for me anymore. I don’t feel I have enough involvement in the matching, cause it kind of moved from matching to casting.“I understand the network and the production company need to make a show that’s going to rate. There has to be a happy medium in there, and for me, it just swung too much the other way.”Stratford says as the show became more outrageous, it attracted more outrageous people, and those type of peoples don’t cope well in situations like MAFS.“Once the participants start doing really ridiculous things, everyone tries to up them, and it just gets out of control. And it damages them.”She is also concerned that people applying are more focused on becoming influencers or stars then actually taking part in the show.Stratford says that the network is aware of this issue around a lack of authentic contestants. Her hope is that they focus more on finding those genuine contestants, and that they put the mental health of contestants at the forefront of production.A sex expert has been announced to replace Stratford on the show, but she does not know herself what sort of role that new expert will have.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toby Skilton has developed a new app, Mutu, which he says in the current climate is a simple and cost-effective way to connect and acquire items you need.Mutu is short for the Latin word Mutuari, meaning 'to lend or to borrow'.He told Simon and Phil the app will operate similarly to online auction site Trade Me, but instead of buying secondhand items, such as outdoor equipment, clothing or tools, people pay a fee to hire them from others.Toby says Mutu will launch early September, and they've already had a huge amount of people expressing interest on their website. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyber hackers might be holding New Zealand's stock exchange hostage.NZX has had to halt trading for the third day in a row after its website crashed because of offshore cyber attacks.A tech commentator predicts someone's holding it to ransom - by denying access to the website.Paul Brislen told Phil Gifford and Simon Barnett this is a common sort of attack worldwide.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you talk big names in New Zealand motorsport racing there is none bigger than Hayden Paddon, the only Kiwi to win a World Rally Championship event. His career has brought him global acclaim in a sport that’s viewed by more than 800 million people each year. Competing in his first motorsport rally race in 2002 at the young age of 15, he quickly climbed the ranks and won the New Zealand Rally Championship in 2008 at age 21 becoming the event’s youngest champion. He went on to win the Production World Rally Championship, a feeder into the WRC, before hitting the very top tier of the sport competing in the WRC at the age of 26. A great pleasure to have Hayden Paddon on for this weeks Six and a Song.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant has been sentenced to life imprisonment - with no possibility of parole.It means he will never be free.The 29-year-old Australian has just been sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch on 51 murder charges, 40 attempted murder charges and one terrorism charge.Tarrant made a submission via standby counsel, saying he did not oppose life imprisonment with no parole.When asked if he wanted to address the court, he said no thank you.It’s the first time in New Zealand history this sentence has been imposed.Newstalk ZB's Chelsea Daniels was in court all four days. She told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford Justice Cameron Mander told the gunman he has caused terrible grief and lasting pain to so many."He said his hatred has no place here, no place anywhere. His crimes were met with public outpouring of love for the Muslim community. People stood with those affected, their fellow New Zealanders."He looked at the gunman and said 'You failed'." She says that there were no signs of any emotion from Tarrant when the sentencing was read out, maintaining his "nonchalant" attitude that he had during the week. The trial was marked by a number of moving victim impact statements from family and loved ones of the victims. Daniels says that in the court trials she has covered, every victim impact statement has been different, and normal there are only a small handful. "This is over 90 people that got the chance to stand up in court and tell him how he changed their lives, the loved ones they lost, the memories they still hold onto that day."As each one ended and you tried to process what they were saying, another one stood up. It was one after another, each so deserving and so powerful in their own right."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Michael Baker says he is optimistic there will be a Covid-19 vaccine within a year.However, the epidemiologist says the vaccine might only be short-lived and people could be required to get a new shot every year, like the flu vaccine.Speaking to Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford Afternoons on Newstalk ZB, Baker also took aim at people saying Covid-19 isn't as bad as the flu.LISTEN ABOVE"Influenza typically kills about 500 people every winter in New Zealand, this [Covid-19] would be 15,000 dying in one year," he said."And that's how it's playing out around the globe at the moment. It still has the potential to kill 20 million across the globe in the next two years."It really is a very severe threat; the people who survive, many of them actually have severe long-term effects, so this is not a minor pandemic at all."However, there is currently evidence a vaccine will work for most people for "at least some time" which Baker is excited about."The vaccine is still very encouraging and I'd be fairly optimistic that within a year we have a vaccine that at least helps somewhat," he said.It comes after five new cases of Covid-19 were announced in New Zealand today, as well as a potential "mini-cluster".There are three new community cases, one of which is under investigation.Auckland is in alert level 3 until 11.59pm on Sunday, when it will move to a tighter level 2 alongside the rest of the country.QR codes will be mandatory on most forms of public transport from Monday, the same day it will be compulsory to wear face masks on public transport.Health Minister Chris Hipkins said today the actions will provide an extra layer of assurance and speed for contact tracing in the future.Elsewhere, Baker said if everyone wore face masks on flights, then airlines could sell every seat and social distancing wouldn't be required."I think at level 2 it's a very reasonable approach to fill up those empty seats and that is one of the benefits of wearing masks," he said."Social distancing is still very important but the reason we have it is to avoid sharing our respiratory droplets … that's how the virus gets from one person to another."If everyone is wearing masks the whole time, I think the evidence is pretty strong that you can fill up buses and planes and so on."Asked whether homemade masks were safe, Baker said something is better than nothing and recommended people use fabric masks.He encouraged people to use reusable fabric masks because they were cheaper in the long run and they don't produce the same amount of waste as single-use masks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A young man filmed showering naked at a car wash on the Sunshine Coast left the owner thinking: "He's going to be in bed or in hospital."Geoff Bowen, from Parkland's Car and Dog Wash in Meridan Plains, arrived at work earlier this month to find a water gun left on the ground."I just quickly looked at it (the CCTV) to see if anything needs attention and I saw that and I backtracked from there," he told news.com.au on Tuesday.In the footage, the man – holding his hand over his crotch – grabs a hose from the wall then hands it to his companion filming on their phone.He ducks, dives and jumps repeatedly as he is blasted with the chemicals and chased by the other man who later throws the water gun down.The moment of truth. Photo / Parkland's Car & Dog WashBowen said the nude dude was captured moving to the self-serve bay "because he needed to rinse off"."The first one it comes out is a high pH, that dissolves grime and bird droppings," he said."The next one is a neutraliser, a low pH. He was in the machine and he kept moving so the sensor detected 'there's something wrong here' and shut the machine off."When he realised it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Photo / Parkland's Car & Dog WashAsked if it would have been burning, Bowen said: "Yeah, I would reckon.""To do that you have to be young and have young skin," he said."He'd be on fire."(It would be) like chilli juice on your skin."The incident occurred just after midnight on Sunday, August 16.On Facebook the next day, Bowen said they had a great weekend of washing with the new "touchless Storm automatic"."We even had a man vs machine incident," he said."Thank you for your patronage and hope you make a speedy recovery."Front and back. Photo / Parkland's Car & Dog WashHe shared the vision of the "golden moments, by popular demand" on Friday.The car wash has only been open for a few weeks.The owner said the naked appearance was a "rare event" however the response on social media had been "great"."It's made it a very pleasant atmosphere, a very jovial workplace," Bowen told news.com.au."The word is that he's fine, his health is fine but he's not enjoying his new-found fame."Business has been so good so I think we'll give him a few."But this time the washes are for his car, not his backside.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor is an employment lawyer and partner with Malley & Co solicitors. We have him on regularly to answering your employment related questions.This week we had questions on employees who ended up stuck overseas, how to prove loss of earnings for a recently established business, and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A struggling mother of two found out she had just one day to get her things packed when her property manager left a harsh eviction notice.The 33-year-old US woman, Sonja Lee, 33, was living in an apartment in Houston, Texas, when she found a life-changing note on the front door."Guess who's moving? You!!!" the note read.The letter also featured a large, smiley face emoji waving, appearing to make light of Lee's situation.The note featured an emoji smiley face as if that would lessen the blow. Photo / Facebook"Pay your outstanding balance, or release your apartment and turn in your keys to the leasing office by 60pm today," it read."Eviction will be filed promptly Tuesday morning, 8/18/2020."The mother posted the letter online, writing, "So y'all think it's funny to antagonise the person that's going through financial hardship with putting an emoji stating, 'Guess who's moving today?' There was nothing funny about that."But Ms Lee had the last laugh. She has now landed a new job and home.When she found the note, "I was mad, I ain't going to lie," Lee told People magazine."I felt like they were antagonising the tenants through the situation and it was heartless, especially during a pandemic."A lot of people have lost their jobs. A lot of people aren't able to get the resources."I'm a single mother with two boys. I do the best that I can and am a very hardworking woman," she added.Ms Lee lost her job at a local food chain at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.However, she was unable to receive unemployment benefits.After failing to pay rent in June and July, she told her property manager about her situation, expecting sympathy.Karya Property Management, who owns the complex, has since apologised for the notice and said the manager who left it has been disciplined."I am apologising personally in case it was insensitive, and if she was really trying to work out a payment program with the property or that she was in communication with the manager, then I accept it's truly our fault," said Swapnil Agarwal, the CEO, in a statement.Ms Lee's plight soon made national news, with the American Broadcasting Corporation picking up her story.More than US$34,000 was raised to support her and her family."It's been so overwhelming, and I am so grateful. I have never experienced anything like this," Lee said.She has been able to afford two months of rent, had her electricity bills paid for by strangers, and received new school supplies for her two sons.Lee also landed a new job that she begins today."I have to pay this forward 10 times fold," she said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

welcome to Si and Phi’s best of the week podcast.It’s an amalgamation of the laughs, the great chats, and the top interviews of the week that’s been.This week we had some great discussions around Judith Collins, pillows, the Warriors, and problem children!LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 112 caps for the All Blacks, Dan Carter is the highest scorer ever in test match rugby. He is considered by many experts as the greatest ever first five-eighth in the history of the game and returned recently to New Zealand to join on with The Blues. He was Simon and Phil's guest for this weeks Six and a Song. We discussed his early rugby days, All Blacks selection, being a dad, and of course his favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Tokyo's most popular districts has recently added some unusual new attractions: transparent public toilets.Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, the two new sets of see-through restrooms have been installed in Shibuya, the bustling city centre famous for its busy pedestrian crossing.Though the restrooms sound risqué, they're actually part of an innovative project aimed at changing people's perceptions of public toilets.Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, a Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm, the two new sets of transparent toilets have been installed in two Shibuya parks -- Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park."There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those located at a park," says a statement on the project's official website, Tokyotoilet.jp. "The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside."Shigeru Ban Architects' design tackles these two concerns by offering a toilet with glass walls that -- at first -- allows the public to see through from the outside. But once a user enters the toilet and locks the door, the walls turn opaque to provide privacy."This allows users to check the cleanliness and whether anyone is using the toilet from the outside," says the statement. "At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern."What's it like to use one?During CNN Travel's visit to the Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park this week, a steady stream of visitors came to take photos of the new attraction.The toilet facilities were impressively clean, a mix of gleaming white and chrome.Part of the thrill is that once inside, you can't tell if the glass is frosted or not. The walls between the compartments have mirrors installed, adding to the weird feeling of being on display.This means it's incredibly important remember to secure the door lock, which is located well below the handle.During our visit, one person presumably did indeed forget to lock it, stirring laughter among those outside.Both park facilities include a women's toilet, a men's toilet and a multi-use toilet.More designer toilets comingThese two transparent toilet sets are a part of the newly launched Tokyo Toilet Project, a series of re-invented public toilet facilities.Founded by the Nippon Foundation, a private, non-profit charity that focuses on social innovation, the Tokyo Toilet Project has partnered with some of the biggest names in the architecture and creative industries including Tadao Ando and Toyo Ito to create 17 new public toilet facilities around Shibuya.The foundation will work with the Shibuya City government and the Shibuya City Tourism Association to maintain these new toilets."The use of public toilets in Japan is limited because of stereotypes that they are dark, dirty, smelly and scary. To dispel these misconceptions regarding public toilets, The Nippon Foundation has decided to renovate 17 public toilets located in Shibuya, Tokyo, in cooperation with the Shibuya City government," the Nippon Foundation says in a news release."These public toilets are being designed by 16 leading creators, and will use advanced design to make them accessible for everyone regardless of gender, age, or disability, to demonstrate the possibilities of an inclusive society."Five facilities have been opened to the public so far, including the two see-through toilets.The other three facilities include a "Modern Kawaya (river hut)" by FRAME Award-winning Masamichi Katayama and his interior design studio Wonderwall Inc. The design comprises 15 randomly placed concrete walls, inspired by the traditional design of a river-side toilet hut.Fumihiko Maki, another Pritzker Prize-winning architect, created a "Squid Toilet" that sits inside a children's playground known as the "Octopus Park."Designer Nao Tamura created an Origata (traditional...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the demise of Bauer Media NZ, a resurgence in the local magazine industry has begun with four new brands ready for launch. School Road Publishing, New Zealand’s newest independent media company, has announced Haven, Thrive, Scout, and Woman as the new local titles with the first issues due out in October. School Road Publishing Group Editor Sido Kitchin told Simon and Phil it's incredibly exciting to have the new titles almost ready for a hungry New Zealand readership. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Determined to curb the spread of Covid-19, authorities in the South Korean capital of Seoul have installed a series of glass-paneled bus shelters that scan the temperature of commuters and refuse entry to anyone detected to have a fever.Ten solar-powered shelters have been set up along major bus routes in the Seongdong district of the city's center, the district government said in a statement.These so-called "smart shelters" have several features to stop people infected with the coronavirus from spreading it to others, including external thermal cameras and internal UV sterilizers. They also have air conditioning, free WiFi, charging stations and play therapeutic music.While the virus does spread easier indoors than outdoors, summers in Seoul can be brutal. Jeong Mi-rang, a Seongdong district official, said authorities wanted to create "an environment where people can escape scorching weather and pouring rain while preventing virus infections.""It is ideal for people to avoid a closed small space in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic," Jeong said. "However, it's inevitable that we'll have to live with it for a while so we need to find a way to live a better life coping with the current situation."The 10 shelters cost about $1.01 million -- and the district plans to install more, Jeong said.The South Korean government has waged one of the world's most successful fights against Covid-19. To date, the country of more than 50 million people has confirmed fewer than 15,000 cases and 305 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's global tally.Public health experts have praised South Korean's significant investment in widespread testing and contact tracing, while also encouraging people to wear masks and practice good hygiene.The country has also been quick to embrace innovative solutions to many of the problems brought on by the pandemic. The city of Goyang was one of the first places in the world to roll out drive-through coronavirus testing.By Yoonjung Seo and Joshua Berlinger, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a game we play every Friday. You Da Man, the guys pick their favourite songs of the week and the audience picks their favourite. First to 3 votes takes it out.Against a supergroup, and a unique choice from Si, Phil claimed victory again with a ripper of a kiwi classic.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby League Legend The Warriors' new pathway consultant told us he would be surprised if Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is trying to leave the club. Reports in Australia suggested the club skipper was approached by the Blues on a deal. Phil Gould is yet to start his role as a club-wide consultant but told Si and Phil he hasn't heard a thing. He also discussed his successful career both on and off the field, the best players he's ever come across, and of course his favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countdown has temporarily changed its opening hours nationwide and introduced limits on products that are in high demand, to help ease pressure on its store teams as the country responds to changes in Covid-19 Alert Levels.It comes as Kiwis started panic buying after the Government announced community transmission, putting Auckland in alert level 3 and the rest of the country in alert level 2 until midnight Friday, August 12.Earlier, Countdown's corporate affairs manager Kiri Hannifin told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford flour shelves at her local supermarket are already bare."We have heaps in our supply chain, we've got a lot of stock, but what we don't want to is is someone take a whole trolley of pasta at our shops, so when you finish your shift tonight, you go in and you can't get it."Countdown stores throughout New Zealand will close at 9pm tonight and re-open at 8am tomorrow, with these new hours (8am - 9pm) in place until further notice.The company's Priority Assistance online shopping service for vulnerable customers has also been reinstated today.Product limits include:Flour• Rice• Dry Pasta• Canned Baked Beans and Spaghetti• UHT Milk• Frozen Vegetables• Toilet Paper• Paper Towel• Personal Wash• Hand Sanitiser• Paracetamol• Household Cleaner• Period Products• Baby FormulaA limit of six has been put on wine and beer and a limit of one pack per customer has been put on all mask products.Countdown's General Manager Corporate Affairs, Safety and Sustainability, Kiri Hannifin, says Countdown is in a very good position to navigate the alert level changes and customers should feel safe in its stores."Our previous lockdown experience has stood us in good stead. We know that our processes are robust, our supply chain is strong, we can keep Kiwis safe, and we have plenty of food for everyone. We hope this provides Kiwis with reassurance that together, we can deal with different lockdown scenarios again."We'd urge customers to consider others when they are shopping in our stores. Whether that's physically distancing themselves from other shoppers, making sure they're only buying what they need, and of course being kind to our team and fellow customers," says Kiri Hannfin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The popular Kiwi brand Ecostore has been torn to shreds online by customers angry over a stunt which saw them "recall" all their bottled products, although their CEO says there is "no need to worry" after the announcement.The marketing fail led to hundreds of angry comments and their social media team scrambling to repair the damage.It all went wrong yesterday, when Ecostore took to social media to announce a "permanent bottle recall".Using a graphic that came complete with red text and an exclamation mark, the brand told customers: "Ecostore advises its customers that all bottles have been permanently recalled. More details to be announced soon at recall.ecostore.com".The original post that caused uproar. Photo / FacebookThe replies came thick and fast, with customers urgently seeking more information."Recall? I'm using the laundry liquid for my newborn's clothing!!" wrote one person, asking: "Why are the products being recalled???!!"In response to the flood of messages, Ecostore sought to clarify the situation by responding to comments to let customers know that the "recall" was a change to the brand's recycling strategy and that all products were safe."All ecostore products are completely safe, but we know there are always ways we can improve the impact our packaging has on the environment, which is why we are launching the Permanent Bottle Recall," they wrote."Simply finish the product and hold on to your bottle. All information will be revealed this Wednesday."Outraged customers slammed the popular brand for the stunt, with one describing it as "terrible scare tactic marketing"."Wow, how to lose a customer!!" another wrote. "Very poor way to get attention unless there is actually something wrong with your product, and no amount of explaining or back pedalling can undo bad communication in the first instance.""If your intention is to create uncertainty about the safety of your products you've succeeded; as a marketing strategy it's a fail folks. Especially in these uncertain times. I'm off to find another brand to purchase. You've compromised your brand Ecostore," a comment said.In responses to customers, Ecostore admitted the "recall" had been done simply to get attention."The Permanent Bottle Recall is designed to grab attention and provides an opportunity for New Zealanders to work together to take pressure off Aotearoa's overwhelmed recycling system," they wrote.The brand eventually relented by changing the original post and updating their website to customers could see the full details of the "recall".The site revealed that Ecostore is moving to a "closed loop recycling system" that will see customers return bottles to locations nationwide and the bottles recycled directly back into Ecostore products.Customers were angry at Ecostore's plastic bottle stunt. Photo / fileThey also went back on to Facebook with a new post that better explained the change, but the brand's communication left some customers cold."If you have to explain yourself dozens of times to your lost loyal customers - you have failed at basic communication," wrote one disgruntled customer, who also questioned whether the move could send customers heading to less eco-friendly products."Your marketing head should be questioned about their abilities to make quality decisions here," they added."This could do severe brand damage - which is a worry for the environment as some people will look elsewhere for products, and could quite easily resort to less eco-friendly options. Which is a huge disappointment."Ecostore Group CEO Pablo Kraus told the Herald that customers had "no need to worry" and the products were "completely safe"."The Permanent Bottle Recall campaign highlights an opportunity for New Zealanders to work together to take the pressure off our overwhelmed recycling system and present...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a game we play every Friday.You Da Man, the guys pick their favourite songs of the week and the audience picks their favourite. First to 3 votes takes it out.Poor old Simon thought he had it with a Rocky Horror Picture favourite, but Producer Tyler sneaked in again with a country feel good classic. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwan continues to cater to the needs of its travel-starved population by offering yet another aviation experience that doesn't actually take you anywhere.Following up on an offer in July, in which the public was able to check in and board a grounded airplane in Taiwan's Songshan Airport, one airline has just upgraded the faux travel experience by offering an actual flight -- to nowhere.EVA Air, one of the biggest carriers in Taiwan, is offering the special journey on August 8 (Father's Day in Taiwan) to help satisfy its customers' travel itch.The trip will take around three hours, with the flight taking off from Taipei Taoyuan Airport, then circling the skies before returning to the same airport."The international travel market has been suspended for more than half a year," states a news release (in Chinese) on EVA Air's website. "Citizens' cries for going abroad is getting stronger. To satisfy travelers' wishes, EVA Air has decided to introduce an 'alternative travel experience' on August 8, Father's Day."If it's a clear day, passengers will be able to take in views of several Taiwan attractions including Guishan Island and the scenic Huadong coastline, as well as other nearby islands.Passengers will be flying on the "super popular" Hello Kitty Dream jet.The plane bears EVA Air's special Sanrio-themed livery. An A330, it features many Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty, My Melody (Hello Kitty's BFF), as well as Little Twin Stars' Kiki and Lala.Passengers can expect themed Hello Kitty in-flight amenities, free WiFi for texting and an inflight entertainment system that is usually reserved for long-haul flights.Michelin-starred inflight mealInflight dining is another highlight of the trip.The main courses are a choice of chirashi don (assorted sashimi over rice) created by three-Michelin-star chef Motokazu Nakamura, or a classic braised beef noodle dish.The flight, departing at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, will be operated under flight number BR5288. Why the number 5288? When spoken, it sounds like "I love dad" in Chinese.An economy class ticket is TWD5,288 ($180). Passengers can choose to upgrade their seats to business class for an additional TWD1,000 ($34).International tourism has been effectively stopped in much of the world as countries shut their borders to stem outbreaks of Covid-19 and Taiwan is no exception. The island locked down its borders in March amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.Foreign nationals are still banned from visiting the island but Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 24 that it would gradually adjust entry regulations in response to worldwide efforts to resume economic activity. text by Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

40 years ago Split Enz released their fifth album, True Colours. It featured songs that would become hits before ascending to true classic status; we're talking Shark Attack, Poor Boy, I Hope I Never and, of course, their globe-conquering breakthrough, I Got You.This powerhouse tracklist made True Colours the band's most commercially successful album. It spent two weeks in our No 1 spot before ping-ponging up and down the Top 20 for a whopping 54 weeks and becoming the global breakthrough that had, until that point, been one step ahead of them.To celebrate the anniversary, singer/songwriter Tim Finn joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to discuss the album's incredible success.WATCH ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An "SOS" message written on the beach of a tiny Pacific island pointed rescuers to three missing mariners, United States and Australian authorities said Tuesday.The three men had set out in a 23-foot (7 meter) boat last Thursday to make a 26-mile (42 kilometer) journey from Pulawat to Pulap atolls in the Federated States of Micronesia.They went off course and ran out of fuel, landing on tiny, uninhabited Pikelot Island, 118 miles (190 kilometers) from their intended destination, according to US and Australian authorities.The islands are about 500 miles (800 kilometers) south of Guam, and when the men didn't arrive in Pulap, a search was requested through the US Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Sub Center in Guam, which enlisted help from units in the region.The three Micronesian men were first spotted by a US Air Force KC-135 tanker operating out of Andersen Air Force Base on Guam after searching for three hours, according to a posting on the base's Facebook page."We were toward the end of our search pattern," the KC-135 pilot, Lt. Col. Jason Palmeira-Yen, said in the post. "We turned to avoid some rain showers and that's when we looked down and saw an island, so we decide to check it out and that's when we saw SOS and a boat right next to it on the beach. From there we called in the Australian Navy because they had two helicopters nearby that could assist and land on the island."A helicopter from the Australian amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra landed on the beach dropping off food and water for the stranded trio while Australian troops confirmed the men's identities and checked they had no major injuries.Meanwhile, a US Coast Guard C-130 from Hawaii dropped a radio to the stranded men so they could communicate with a Micronesian patrol vessel dispatched from Yap.A US Coast Guard statement said rescuers and the mariners kept their distance because of the coronavirus."After discussions between the responding partners it was decided the safest course of action for both the response agencies' crews and the mariners was to limit exposure to one another due to the COVID-19 Pandemic," a Coast Guard statement said.The patrol vessel reached the men around 8 p.m. local time Monday evening, according to the Andersen AFB Facebook post."Partnerships," US Coast Guard Capt. Christopher Chase, commander of US Coast Guard Sector Guam, said the post. "This is what made this search and rescue case successful. Through coordination with multiple response organizations, we were able to save three members of our community and bring them back home to their families."Capt. Terry Morrison, commander of the Canberra, praised his crew."I am proud of the response and professionalism of all on board as we fulfill our obligation to contribute to the safety of life at sea wherever we are in the world," he said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Lebanon reels from a major explosion that has killed dozens and injured thousands, the nation's Prime Minister has revealed a disturbing fact about the warehouse at the centre of the blast.The explosion erupted in the Beirut's port area late afternoon on Tuesday, with videos showing a fire burning in a building in the area before an enormous blast. Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab said 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored in a warehouse for years. He said this was "unacceptable". "I will not rest until we find the person responsible for what happened so we can hold them to account and impose the most severe punishment," Diab was quoted as saying by an official Twitter account."It is unacceptable that a shipment of 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate has been present for six years in a warehouse, without taking preventive measures and endangering the safety of citizens."People evacuate wounded after of a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo / AP Author and former spy Aimen Dean took to Twitter and said that, given his knowledge and experience with ammonium nitrates explosives, the warehouse was a "massive time bomb". "What happened in Beirut port today was nothing short of criminal negligence," he said. "You can't store ammonium bitrates in hot and damp conditions for four years, it was a massive time bomb." Local media reports indicate the chemicals were seized from a sinking ship more than a decade ago. At least 73 people — including one Australian — have been killed and thousands have been injured, and the number of fatalities is expected to skyrocket. The blast tore down buildings, flattened houses, ripped balconies from apartments, tossed cars from the nearby motorway, and sent a huge plume of smoke billowing across the city. The disaster comes amid a difficult period for Lebanon, which was already suffering under a number of major crises.Tensions are so high in the Middle East that Israel immediately issued a statement saying it was not involved in the blast.Iranian-backed Hezbollah also quickly shot down theories that the explosion was related to a weapons facility or an Israeli strike. "This tragic catastrophe and the unprecedented damage it has created ... require solidarity and unity from all Lebanese people, political forces and national actors," a statement from Hezbollah said. Residents in Lebanon were suffering under massive inflation and struggled to buy basic goods in some areas — and that was before the pandemic hit. The government was limiting daily electricity to just two to four hours a day and the nation's currency plunged 80 per cent. Tensions are also high ahead of Friday's verdict in a trial over the killing of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says falling unemployment rates should be taken with a grain of salt.Stats NZ figures show unemployment stands at four percent for the June quarter - down from 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter.The June quarter includes all four levels of the country's Covid-19 lockdown.Economist Cameron Bagrie told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford one parameter to be considered unemployed is that you're actively seeking work for at least four weeks.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a game we play every Friday.You Da Man, the guys pick their favourite songs of the week and the audience picks their favourite. First to 3 votes takes it out.We've never had an instrumental take it out... until now, and what an instrumental at that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.