Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

Journalists David Fisher and Mike Scott are on a nationwide road trip to ask New Zealanders: What matters to you?They're seeking kiwi's answers to the toughest of questions as a pandemic presses at our borders and politicians seek to convince us they know best how to navigate the road ahead.Simon and Phil will be catching up with David as he measures the pulse of NZ. We caught up with him from beautiful central Otago this afternoon. LISTEN ABOVESee 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 great questions on your rights in a restructure, the wage subsidy continuation, and redundancy clauses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Michael Jones is known to NZ rugby fans as an all time great All Black playing 55 tests between 1987 and 1998, and was knighted in 2017 for services to the Pacific community and youth.He joined Simon and Phil for this weeks Six and a Song where they discussed his playing career, favourite memories, his faith, Jonah Lomu, and of course his favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Māori woman in Christchurch says a prospective landlord told her he didn't want "her sort" in his house.Iwi Kemp has applied for 10 private rentals over Trade Me in the past two weeks - but was told the properties were no longer available.After a friend joked it could be because of her name, she decided to reapply as Maria.Three of them got back to her - and one even called to set up a viewing the next day."The first thing I asked him was whether the house was still available. He said it was ... Then I said that's funny, because when I texted you from my other phone with my real name you said it was gone."Iwi Kemp told Simon and Phil the landlord laughed, and then became abusive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a bit of a hiatus during the lockdown, brilliant to have Inspector Hirone Waretini back in studio for The Beat. We caught up on how the NZ Police have been going post-lockdown, crime trends, the new Commissioner of Police Andrew Coster, and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Minister and United Future leader Peter Dunne says the rise of social media adds fuel to the fire of recent political scandals. Rangitata National MP Andrew Falloon has quit politics after sending a pornographic image to a female university student - and other women have since made similar allegations.It comes on top of months of turmoil for the National Party ahead of the election. Peter Dunne told Simon and Phil while politics isn't getting dirtier, social media and access to news 24/7 means the scandals are more widely known and spread prolonging the headlines. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There were plenty of acorns this spring, and now the chipmunks are driving people nuts.Their frenetic activities can be entertaining. But this summer in New England the varmints are making a nuisance of themselves, darting to and fro, digging holes in gardens, and tunneling under lawns.Plentiful acorns last fall meant there was still plenty of food on the ground when the chipmunks emerged from winter and got busy breeding this spring, said Shevenell Webb, a small mammal biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.The result is a bumper crop of the critters."They're cute. They're fun to watch in the forest as they duck in and out of the holes and play peekaboo," Webb said. When their cheeks aren't bulging with nuts, chipmunks make a distinctive "chip" sound, she said.But they're also destructive. They can destroy lawns and gardens with their burrowing, and can even get into homes, Webb said."We can't grow a tulip without them digging it up," Steven Parren, wildlife program diversity manager for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, said of the chipmunks in his yard. "They don't even pause."There were so many acorns in one of the areas that he monitors that the rodents that rely on them couldn't stash them all away for the winter. Plenty remained on the ground this spring. In addition to chipmunks, he said, he's seeing more squirrels, rabbits and a variety of different kinds of mice.People needn't get too alarmed over an overpopulation. Small mammal populations tend to explode, then crash and burn.Such is life near the bottom of the food chain, where food supply ebbs and flows and chipmunks are easy prey for owls, hawks, snakes, foxes and raccoons. Even if their lives aren't cut short, individual chipmunks tend to live only for three years, Webb said.Many New Englanders recall a similar spike in squirrel populations in 2018 in New England. The boom-and-bust cycle was punctuated by a memorable number of road kills."We've never seen anything like that. That was a once in a lifetime event," Webb said.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.After a 2 week holiday, Phil was chuffed to be crowed You Da Man with a classic rock tune from the legendary Joe Cocker. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By popular demand, 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.

Several National MPs have announced their departure - but their new deputy leader plans on sticking around. Gerry Brownlee became National's Deputy Leader after Todd Muller's shock resignation on Tuesday, prompting a caucus reshuffle that saw Judith Collins take over as leader.The new leadership only enjoyed Amy Adams has decided for a second time she'll retire from politics this year, alongside Nikki Kaye - who was rolled as the party's second-in-charge this week.National's new deputy leader Gerry Brownlee told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford he wishes Kaye and Adams well."In-cue: You know when you wake up in the morning and you no longer have the position for doing a job like this, if you conclude 'I've done as much as I can or want to in this particular job', then it is the right thing to move on."It's not good being in a position where you're unhappy."Asked why he still sticks with politics after entering Parliament in 1996, Brownlee says it is a huge privilege to be part of legislature. "As an electorate MP, you get a hands on and tangible feel of the problems people have in their lives."You can't fix everyone, that's one of the things that's hardest, but you can become aware of problems." When it comes to their competition, Brownlee says that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is very personable, and she has done well at emphasising with people.However, the Government is very good at announcing things but not at delivering on them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cache of preserved newspapers from 1966 has emerged from a melting glacier in France, the latest in a string of objects that have been revealed as the glacier retreats.Café-owner Timothée Mottin found about a dozen newspapers dating from January 20 and 21, 1966 near the Bossons Glacier, southeastern France, he told CNN.The newspapers are "in a very good state, you can read them, unfold them," he said. "Well, they are a bit torn, but in a very good state nonetheless."The Bossons Glacier is the largest ice fall in Europe, according to the French government, and descends from the summit of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe.Mottin has owned the Cabane du Cerro café-restaurant, about an hour outside the ski town of Chamonix, for the past five years.The business is right next to the glacier at an altitude of over 4,400 feet, and Mottin often finds objects in the ice."As the glacier is advancing, it brings with it objects from the top of the Mont Blanc," he said.Timothée Mottin found the newspapers on the Bossons Glacier. (Photo / AFP via Getty/CNN)However, Mottin added, it's quite rare to find newspapers, especially this many at once."For now, the newspapers will be displayed in the restaurant/cabin that is just by the glacier, and then, we will see, maybe I'll give it to a museum," he said.One of the newspapers is the January 20 edition of India's National Herald, announcing the election of Indira Gandhi as the country's first female prime minister.The newspapers may have been on board an Air India Boeing 707 named "Kanchenjunga" that crashed on Mont Blanc on January 24, 1966, killing 117.Another Indian plane, the Malabar Princess, crashed in the area in 1950, killing all 48 people on board.Debris from the wrecks routinely emerges from the bottom of the glacier, including metal, wire and even a piece of landing gear discovered in 1986, according to a Mont Blanc tourist site.However, one of the most eye-catching discoveries was made in 2013, when a climber found a box of emeralds, rubies and sapphires marked "Made in India" on the mountain.It is not clear which plane had carried the gems.text by Jack Guy and Barbara Wojazer, 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 answering your employment related questions.This week he tackled more questions on the complications of the wage subsidy, being an employee vs contractor, and restraint of trade clauses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

text by Rob Picheta, CNNWalkers are relieving themselves in the grounds of Queen Elizabeth's Scottish residence, staff have said.Employees at Balmoral Castle, which the Queen frequently visits for holidays throughout the year, have complained about wet wipes being left on the estate and urged people not to use the spot as an outdoor toilet.Most public facilities are closed in the United Kingdom due to the country's lockdown, but people are allowed to exercise and socialize outside, leading many to seek quiet public places if nature calls during a day out."Disappointed to see so many wipes discarded on the Estate today. Next to paths and monuments. Please remember there are no public toilets open for miles around at the moment," staff at Balmoral wrote."Part of the problem is that we are seeing a lot of non biodegradable wipes being discarded in the countryside," they added. "Also, people are choosing to relieve themselves right next to busy paths or monuments rather than move a little bit further away to avoid contamination."But the castle acknowledged that people may need to relieve themselves while walking around the royal estate."If you need to pee, please do so at least 30 metres from lochs or streams," they added in a tweet on Sunday. "If you need to defecate, do so as far away as possible from buildings, paths, water courses and farm animals. Bury faeces in a shallow hole and replace the turf."Hot weather in recent days has prompted many Britons to visit beaches, parks and patches of countryside around the country. A "major incident" was declared on Thursday in Bournemouth on England's south coast, where thousands flocked to the beach.The Queen and members of the family spend several weeks each year at the 50,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.She has spent most of Britain's lockdown in another royal estate at Windsor, near London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By popular demand, 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 bras, pillows, news readers, and Ashley Bloomfield.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football fans rejoice - the best women players in the game are coming to our shores.New Zealand and Australia will host the FIFA Womens World Cup in 2023.The FIFA Council has voted in favour of the trans-Tasman bid over Colombia.Newstalk ZB football reporter Jason Pine told Simon and Phil the number of games played here will be significant.He says this will be one of, if not the largest, world competition we've ever held. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five time World Champion and 2 times Olympic Gold Medal winner Mahé Drysdale is. doing all he can to claim history at the Tokyo Olympics. Drysdale has committed to competing in Tokyo, which is scheduled to begin in July 2021, having been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.The two-time defending gold medal single sculls champion would be 42 at next year's Olympics.He was Simon and Phil's guest for this weeks Six and a Song. Mahé says while originally he struggled to find the motivation, he's now seeing the benefits of having a year's delay to prepare to claim another gold. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin is extremely disappointed in her coalition partners for blocking her plans to restrict access to online pornography. The New Zealand First MP failed to get agreement from the Labour and Green parties to advance a proposal which would have introduced pornography filters on home internet connections.Labour said it was not completely against the idea, but that it needed more work.Tracey Martin told Simon and Phil she was surprised at the lack of support from Labour and the Greens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis love a good cheese scone and 80 year old Christchurch grandmother Anne Malcolm’s recipe might just be one of the best. She first started making it when she was 10 years old and hasn’t changed it in 70 years.As a volunteer baker for Good Bitches Baking, Anne delivers her scones to organisations like Home and Trauma and Dementia New Zealand for care-givers mornings teas.As part of Volunteer Week, she joined Simon and Phil to chat about the immense benefits of volunteering. She says it’s an amazingly productive thing to do because it helps other people but most of all it helps you. LISTEN ABOVESee 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 the wage subsidy, 90 trial period, and restraint of trade, and much more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Post is warning delays will continue because of Covid 19People are reporting long waits for packages - as well as tracking issues.Chief Marketing Officer Brian Dobson told Si and Phil delays on international parcels are happening all around the world."A lot of parcels have been caught up offshore. Some borders have closed and capacity in airlines has been significantly reduced."Dobson says many different international companies deal with packages before they reach NZ Post.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Muller's defending his MP who lobbied for the early release of two women who then tested positive for Covid-19.It's been revealed the pair were allowed out of quarantine to visit their dying parent after representations from National MP Chris Bishop.There's been much controversy over the release without testing before they drove from Auckland to Wellington.Muller told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford he's just been told about it - but he's comfortable with Bishop's actions. "When you arrive in the country and be tested, and secondly, you are tested before you hop in the car and go to the funeral, and neither of those things happened, and that's not a function of Chris Bishop's advocacy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two women who have tested positive for Covid-19 got lost on their drive from Auckland to Wellington and required help - giving their helpers a "kiss and a cuddle", Parliament has been told.National MP Michael Woodhouse claimed today that the pair, who travelled from London to New Zealand, had to meet someone for help with directions.He said a source told him the two women were in a borrowed car and got lost on their way from Auckland to Wellington so stopped and asked someone for directions.The women thanked their helper with a "kiss and a cuddle", Woodhouse claimed in the House.Health Minister David Clark replied to Woodhouse's claim by saying he would be "deeply concerned" if that were the case as he had been assured the women had no contact with anyone during their journey.Woodhouse: Who gave the women the car?Speaking to reporters later, Woodhouse said: "Last night I received information from a reliable but confidential source that the story of an uninterrupted trip from Auckland to Wellington was not accurate."The pair had become lost as they tried to leave Auckland, he reiterated."They called on some acquaintances for help with directions. When they were there, there was close physical contact, including a cuddle and a kiss."I'm calling on [Health] Minister to require the director general [of health Ashley Bloomfield] to look deeper into the circumstances of that journey, and reassure himself he's got all the facts."He said the source was "very reliable" and "closely connected".But there was a time to protect sources, so he was not going to divulge who it was.He said his information was reliable enough to ask questions about how they got their vehicle, which he said was borrowed, whether they stopped on the outskirts of Auckland, and whether they drove to Wellington without stopping for fuel or food or a toilet break.It seemed unlikely that the women had driven from Auckland to Wellington without any comfort stops, he added.He wasn't defaming anyone as he didn't know who the women were, he said.The story that health chief Ashley Bloomfield had told may not be as it has been portrayed, he said.He was not calling the women liars, he said, but he was asking the Health Ministry to dive deeper into whether the narrative that had been provided was accurate."I'm not saying anybody lied. I'm saying there needs to be a deeper analysis."NZ First leader Winston Peters said if the claims were true, it would be "serious concerning", but if not, Woodhouse was playing "petty politics" and he should apologise.When asked if heads should roll over the border failures, Peters said: "Of course – the three people who didn't do their job. They need to be found and they need to be held accountable."He later said when asked which three people he meant: "Everyone needs to be held accountable, particularly on an issue to do with public safely like this."He said neither David Clark nor Ashley Bloomfield should step down, and it was "plain ridiculous" to call for the head of a minister whenever something goes wrong in their ministry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner is confident of getting upwards of 40,000 people at the stadium for Sunday's clash between the Blues and the Hurricanes.The move to alert level 1 meant restrictions around mass gatherings has been lifted, giving live sport a huge boost ahead of the start of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season this weekend.Nick Sautner told Simon and Phil the response from punters has been phenomenal.He says the atmosphere will be electric, and he's confident they'll be the first sold-out stadium in the world post Covid-19. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party Deputy Leader Nikki Kaye was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song. She discussed her early interest in politics, her success as a endurance athlete, who she gets on with Jacinda Ardern, moving into the Deputy Leader role, and of course her favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Price Waterhouse Coopers argues rebuilding the New Zealand economy post COVID-19 should include tax reforms and addressing the 'elephant in the room' of capital gains tax.The professional services firm makes the argument as one of ‘Seven planks’ to get the economy back on track and in better shape, in its just released Rebuild New Zealand report.Among the other ‘planks’ are further targeted wage support, addressing intergenerational inequality and dealing with the urgent challenge of climate change.PwC Partner and Board Member Geof Nightingale told Simon and Phil CGT had ben kicked down the road by successive governments. He says in light of the economic destruction from Covid-19, now is the time to have a logical discussion about the benefits tax reform could have on recovery. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plan to overhaul New Zealand's fisheries system proposes the Crown buy back all commercial quota shares, and allow for independent monitoring of commercial fishing operations.The Quota Management System was set up in 1986 as a way to stop the depletion of fish stocks, but growing concerns continued to be raised about it’s impact of fish stock and biodiversity.NZ Sport Fishing Council President Bob Gutsell told Simon and Phil a proposal by Not-for-Profit group Legasea, with their support, will overall the current system and start from scratch a better way to look after our fisheries. He says quota system puts too much power in the hands of too few, and it’s costing what is a national treasure. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former police officer accused of killing black man George Floyd in the US, has made his first appearance in court.Derek Chauvin faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter over Floyd's death in Minneapolis last month.Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Greg Stanley, who was in the court, told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford the accused remained quiet during today's hearing.He says Derek Chauvin sat very stiffly, handcuffed and wearing a orange jumpsuit, when he appeared via video link.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown ski patrol head of department Brad Saville had been doing a three-month avalanche training programme with his rescue dog Bomber, in the mountains of Colorado, when the Covid-19 lockdown tore them apart.Brad was able to get home before New Zealand closed its borders in late March, but Bomber had to stay behind and carry on the myriad tests and vaccinations to come back home.Bomber finally landed in Auckland on May 26, endured the required quarantine, and was flown to Queenstown Airport last week Brad Saville told Simon and Phil the excitement of the reunion was too much for both of them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Minister's dismissing claims the Government's rent relief package is too little, too late. Coalition negotiations have taken almost two months - after the plan was mooted in April.Andrew Little told Simon and Phil New Zealand First provided an alternative on Friday - but withdrew the proposal after a day.He says the package has come later than he would've liked - but it's a good deal for those affected by COVID-19.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multi Squash World Champion and former Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy was Simon and Phil's guest for this weeks Six and a Song. The discussed her entry into the world of squash which she came to dominate, her famous 52 day walk for charity, her time as Race Commissioner, her favourite place to holiday in the world, and of course her favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Carter will put on the boots on New Zealand soil for the first time since 2015, after signing with the Blues for Super Rugby Aotearoa.Carter's spent his last five years in France and Japan, but wants to give back to New Zealand Rugby.He will be a player-mentor for the Blues, with Stephen Perofeta suffering a season-ending foot injury.Carter's father Neville told Si and Phil he told Dan he had no worries with him playing up north."We're lacking rugby at the moment, so if you;re keen to give it a go then yeah go for it."It's an opportunity to give something back to rugby in New Zealand.The Blues expressed interest in signing Dan in the past, and it was his Grandmother at the time who expressed distaste to him leaving red and black country.But Neville said she has a different outlook this time around."She said she's finally decided, being at the age of 90, it's quite good that he's actually getting back into doing something with his rugby. So she was quite pleased overall."Dan spent his entire 13 year professional career in New Zealand with Canterbury and the Crusaders.Neville admitted he will back the Crusaders when they do meet the Blues, and hopes Dan does not get hit too hard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former editor of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly is hoping the iconic magazine will be revived.Jenny Lynch’s new tell-all memoir is Under the Covers – Secrets of a Magazine Editor, which looks at the golden years of print journalism.As her book hits the stores, the former editor of the New Zealand Woman's Weekly reflects on the demise of Bauer Media in New Zealand, and with it her old magazine.She told Simon and Phil there is still a huge market for readership and advertising, and hopes someone will pick the title up.LISTEN ABOVESee 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. Great to have him back in the studio today to tackle the raft of issues arising with the Covid-19 lockdown and the ramifications on employment. Questions today included the wage subsidy, 90 trial period, and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The owner of a cow that pulled off a great escape during a trip to a Southland abattoir has been found thanks to a humble classified ad.Stock agent Terry Cairns put an ad in the Southland Times seeking sightings of a 'solid black Heifer' described as being 'mildly agitated'.He told Simon and Phil she was in a secure pen in a sale yard when she bolted.Terry says the good news is someone found her, and he was on his way to confirm it's her. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand comedian Ben Hurley is pleased to see the Covid-19 lockdown in his rearview mirror as he gears up for a nationwide tour 'Straight out of Lockdown'. He was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song. He told Simon and Phil he was excited to hit the road and get back into the great kiwi venues which are crying out for punters to come back right now. Ben Hurley says the show will avoid most Covid-19 material as kiwis are probably keen to hear about other things now. They also talked about his career in comedy, working for 7 Days, his history with Simon, and of course his favourite song! You can buy tickets to his shows at www.benhurley.comLISTEN ABOVESee 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. Great to have him back on today to tackle the raft of issues arising from the Covid-19 lockdown and the ramifications on employment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrity chef and TV host Michael Van de Elzen joined Simon and Phil on the show for this weeks Six and a Song. He's been a food icon on our tellys for many years, hosting the wildly popular The Food Truck, and Kiwi Living. Now he and restauranteur Ganesh Raj are co-hosting TVNZ's hit 'Eat Well For Less' based on the top rating UK hit. They help typical kiwi families slash their grocery bills, while still cooking up healthy and delicious food which is more important now than ever. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading economist says an extra public holiday would only work if businesses were subsidised by the lost working day. The Prime Minister wants to hear what businesses think about creating a new public holiday.Jacinda Ardern says the government looking at a range of different options to boost the tourism industry.Ardern say there are pros and cons and she's interested in different views.Infometrics Senior Economist Brad Olsen told Simon and Phil the idea could boost tourism spending, but if enacted without any business support, it could also be the straw that broke small businesses backs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Bridges can't win an election.That's the message from a political commentator, who believes the opposition leader is likely to be rolled.The party's called its MPs to an emergency caucus meeting on Friday ahead of a possible leadership challenge.Matthew Hooton says [told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford] further research backs up polls showing Bridge's lack of popular appeal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park management are strategising different ways to transition to having spectators back post-Covid 19. Coronavirus restrictions have prevented any events, sporting or corporate, from proceeding at the venue. CEO Nick Sautner says it has a massive impact on many people's lives. He told Simon and Phil they’re currently looking getting spectators back soon by segregating groups around the stadium in line with level 1 restrictions when the time is right. 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.This week Producer Tyler picked an 80's classic which characterised what many of us were probably feeling when we got to level 2! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders should be wearing masks while flying domestically during level 2 to keep the risk of a coronavirus outbreak minimum. Domestic flights have resumed under level 2, with airlines undertaking social distancing regulations and handing out voluntary face masks. Otago University epidemiologist Michael Baker told Simon and Phil people really should be taking the wearing of face masks in these confined situations seriously to keep us on track of elimination of Covid-19. He says that also includes public transport, and confined indoor public spaces. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are accusations that 'loose spending' is in the Government's nature.The Finance Minister today announced a $50 billion relief fund to rebuild the economy.It includes a business support package, infrastructure investment and new funding to strengthen health and education.But National's Finance Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford it's too vague.“We need to remember this is the Government that promised us Kiwibuild and talked about light rail in Auckland, and nothing has happened with that.“It’s great to announce stuff but you actually have to deliver it.”Goldsmith says his party would have, of course, had to borrow as well.“The question is whether returning what might have been a $50, 60 or $70 billion catastrophe into a $140 catastrophe. That’s the real issue.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has been praised for their growth plan.The Finance Minister's announced a targeted extension to the Wage Subsidy Scheme and $3 billion for infrastructure.Treasury forecast the package could return unemployment to 4.2 per cent by 2022.KPMG Head of Financial Services Bruce Bernacchi told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford keeping people in work is critical."We've got forecast unemployment at just below 10 per cent, and when you have that level of unemployment, there's risks they're not going to keep their house. High levels of unemployment is not just an economic issue. It's a social issue."Meanwhile, the Government has delivered a $400 million lifeboat for tourism. The fund will allow for various kinds of support, including a domestic tourism campaign.Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper says he suspects there's a bit of politics involved in that decision."Whereas the handout for Maori, because they say they are most likely to be disadvantaged in all of this, is over $900 million. I think that's with the Maori electorate seats in mind."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Calgary Zoo in Canada is sending two giant pandas back to China due to a shortage of bamboo.The zoo said in a statement that it usually flies in bamboo from China to feed the animals, but the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted flights and caused delays in supplies.The duo, named Er Shun and Da Mao, were supposed to stay in Canada until 2023 as part of a 10-year agreement with China, but the zoo decided to send them back early out of concern that delays could worsen if there's a second wave of coronavirus cases.A panda's diet consists almost entirely of fresh bamboo, the Calgary Zoo said, and the animals typically eat about 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of it each day.Much of the bamboo Er Shun and Da Mao ate before the pandemic was flown in directly to Calgary from China, but those flights have been canceled.The zoo said it tried to find new bamboo suppliers to keep the pandas fed, but encountered several logistical issues. They also worry that these new supply lines could be disrupted at a moment's notice, leaving the pandas completely without food."We believe the best and safest place for Er Shun and Da Mao to be during these challenging and unprecedented times is where bamboo is abundant and easy to access," the president and CEO of the Calgary Zoo, Dr. Clément Lanthier, said in a statement. "This was an incredibly difficult decision to make but the health and well-being of the animals we love and care for always comes first."Er Shun and Da Mao arrived in Canada in 2014 and spent five years at the Toronto Zoo before moving to Calgary in March 2018 with cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue, the Calgary Zoo said. Those cubs have been moved to China, CNN media partner CBC reported.Lanthier told CBC that the zoo began the process to move the pandas a few weeks ago and hopes to have permits approved this week, though he would like to see the process expedited.Giant pandas are among some of the rarest animals on the planet, though efforts to preserve the species have shown some success in recent years. In 2016, the giant panda's status was upgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are only an estimated 1,864 of them living in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund.China has for years sent giant pandas abroad as a sign of friendship and cooperation between Beijing and other countries as part of a campaign known as "panda diplomacy," offering foreigners a chance to see these animals in person while also fostering ties between governments.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Christchurch barber will be shaving beards and cutting hair the second he's allowed.Cathedral Junction Barbers will open as soon as New Zealand moves into Level 2 - just after midnight on Thursday morning.Owner Conrad Fitzgerald told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford he's already just about booked out.He says he's got ten locked in - but another fifty have tried to make appointments.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every day during lockdown Simon and Phil are catching up with well-known kiwis to see what they’re getting up to in their bubble.Today's guest was Rhys Darby, one of our most loved and successful comedians and actors. He’s starred in Flight of the Concords, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Yes Man with Jim Carrey, Jumanji, and countless other huge hits.His latest series has been crafted while in lockdown with a bunch of talented creators in his bubble. It’s called The Alone Rangers, where he plays good old kiwi bloke and park ranger Bill Napier, it’s very funny, and incredibly clever and you can watch it on his youtube channel.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Embattled Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle is fighting back against a growing chorus of voices calling for her resignation. The sporting body is seeking crisis talks with 11 disgruntled former Wallabies captains who have called for a leadership overhaul at the governing body.World Cup-winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones is behind a vote-of-no-confidence letter delivered to boss Raelene Castle and the board.George Gregan and Phil Kearns - a leading candidate to succeed Castle - are among those to put their names to paper.Dual World Cup winners John Eales and Tim Horan as well as grand slam-winning skipper Andrew Slack are not signatories.Castle told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford the only thing she's paying attention to is pushing on with big strategic changes which are starting to pay dividends. “That’s what we have set about doing the past few years."Those results are not immediate, but I do believe we have the building blocks in place to see things improve.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when you're nearly three years into the middle of a 8,700 mile hike, you've given up your home, you have no money -- and then coronavirus stops the world in its tracks?That was the dilemma facing Christian Lewis when his quest to walk every twist and turn of the British coastline to raise money for charity was suddenly derailed by the arrival of the pandemic.Lewis, from Swansea in South Wales, set off in the summer of 2017, with just $12 in his pocket. Picking up a companion -- a dog named Jet -- along the way, he arrived on the remote Scottish Shetland islands in March just as the UK was placed under restrictions.With no home to go to and only a flimsy tent for protection in one of the most northerly and windswept parts of the country, he could've been in trouble.Instead, thanks to the kindness of complete strangers, he's found himself in arguably one of the best places on the planet to sit out the crisis -- a cottage on a tiny island all to himself."It is just super. I couldn't be in a better place for a lockdown," Lewis tells CNN from Hildasay island. "There's nothing here but a few sheep and an array of birds."One of the Scalloway Islands, Hildasay measures less than half a square mile and has been largely uninhabited since the late 19th century. 'I couldn't be in a better place' Lewis receives deliveries of water from local fisherman called Victor and forages for food. He makes the occasional boat trip to the Shetland mainland for other supplies."To get back to the mainland is only about a half hour by small boat," he says. "But that stretch of sea is not the nicest, so we really have to pick and choose our days when we get back."Lewis began his journey on August 1, 2017 at Llangennith Beach, Swansea, before heading up the west coast towards Scotland. He then took a brief detour to Northern Ireland to return a message in a bottle thrown into the Irish Sea two decades ago, which he found washed up along the Scottish Coast.While there, he decided to walk the coast of Northern Ireland, before returning to Scotland, including Shetland archipelago, which lies in 100 miles north of the mainland, deep in the North Atlantic.Lewis was close to completing the Shetland Islands, which has 300 islands and skerries, of which only 16 are inhabited, when he learned he could go no further because of coronavirus restrictions.While he managed to avoid ongoing news reports about the pandemic on his travels, he'd picked up various bits of information from people he'd encountered while walking. Island life "I knew the lockdown was coming," he explains. "I had to make a real decision. I can't go home, because I have no home to go to."So with the help of some fellow Shetland people, who lent me a boat, I came to the island and started living off the land."I can walk down now, and I'll have a whole plate full of mussels if I want them, so I've got no worries there."Although he was originally staying in a tent, Lewis was later given the keys to an empty house after news that he was camping on the remote island spread to its owners, who were happy to help."It hasn't got electric or gas," he says. "It's just very basic. But it's out of the wind, and it's got a nice fire."We're (he and Jet) going to be here for the foreseeable future."Under the current restrictions, people in the UK are only allowed to leave their homes for significant reasons, such as shopping for basic necessities, to take one form of exercise per day, deal with any medical needs, or provide care or help to a vulnerable person.The UK government also advises to remain "two meters apart from anyone outside of your household," something Lewis need not worry about while being a boat ride away from any form of human contact.While he'd be forgiven for being disappointed his ambitious trek has been put on hold...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every day during lockdown, Simon and Phil are catching up with well-known kiwis to see what they're getting up to in lockdown, and have a bit of a social distance catch-up. Today's guest was All Black and Chiefs Captain Sam Cane, one of life's good guys. they chatted about how he's keeping fit, who's in his bubble, and preparing for the restart of competition rugby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.