Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

There’s been concern from hard hit food businesses of a refusal from Uber Eats to reexamine their high commission fees as New Zealand prepares for Alert Level 3. Under Alert Level 3, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to trade using delivery services like Uber Eats - but say the 35% commission fee will push them over the edge financially. Christchurch restaurant Fush used to use the service, but is now developing its own online and delivery service, while at the same time supporting staff who can operate as drivers until restaurants fully reopen.Owner Anton Matthews told Simon and Phil they were working hard to support all their staff, and also encourage supporting local businesses. He says with the support of their customers, they can keep people's hard earned dollars flowing through the local community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor David Murdoch is an infectious disease expert with Otago University. He joined Simon and Phil to discuss ongoing concerns from the World Health Organisation about the spread of Covid-19, the race for a vaccine, and why these's many reasons to feel optimistic. 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 lockdown, and have a bit of a social distance catch-up. Today's guest was the brilliant Michael Galvin, who's played the iconic Dr Chris Warner on Shortland Street since its inception. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every day during lockdown, Simon and Phil are catching up with well-known kiwis to find out what they're doing and how they're coping. First up was former All Blacks legend and Sky Commentator Justin Marshall, where they chatted his fitness routine, the future of sport, and making beer. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Police Commissioner Andrew Coster joined Simon and Phil to chat about who he is outside of the uniform. They discussed his love of road bikes, family life, looking after police officers wellbeing, having to shave off his beard, and taking on the top job during the coronavirus crisis. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks legend and mental health champion Sir John Kirwan is stepping up to support Kiwis by making a wellbeing app he helped design free during the Covid-19 pandemic.Mentemia – Italian for "my mind" – was created by Kirwan, who has shared his battle with depression, along with tech entrepreneur Adam Clark and medical advisers.It provides practical tips and techniques to help users take control of their mental health and wellbeing.Sir John told Simon and Phil the app was like having a personalised mental health coach in your pocket.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stan Walker, Tiki Taane and Anna Coddington are among more than 20 Kiwi music stars who have formed a supergroup to record a Covid-19-busting tune from lockdown.Made across just seven days by singers and musicians in their living rooms, garages and back yards, 'Stay'​ is a waiata - and accompanying video - urging Kiwis to stay home to save lives.Released today, 100 per cent of the proceeds from the song and video is being donated to Music Helps, a charity that provides emergency help for Kiwi musicians facing hardship or illness and invests in music projects to help those in need.The idea originated from Anaru Mill, the head of Manaaki, a Government aid fund that's part of the national Covid Command group.After a string of conversations, Mikee Tucker from Loop, an Auckland-based company with a portfolio that includes a record label, got involved and enlisted some of our brightest stars.A collaboration with Te Māngai Pāho, the Crown entity responsible for the promotion of Māori language and culture, it's designed to showcase how Kiwis can pull together in a time of crisis.Produced by Tucker and written by Anna Coddington, Rob Ruha, Scott Tindale, Brad Kora, Ara Adams-Tamatea and Joel Shadbolt, vocalists include Walker, Taane, Ria Hall and Troy Kingi.Shadbolt - lead vocalist and guitarist with L.A.B. who recently topped the chart with In The Air - helped arrange the song and said the opportunity the create a positive message was "inviting"."Zoom's our best friend for this!" he said."We had one original meeting for the singers and songwriters over Zoom, and then voila."Once the song was written, a demo was sent to everyone. The singers recorded their own parts and sent the audio to producers who crafted the final version over three days."We went from that phone call to a completed song all in one week," Shadbolt said.He hopes it will encourage Kiwis by example."With the status of all these musicians, hopefully people will see that and say, oh if they're staying home so must I."Stay will be available via Apple Music and Spotify. Loop hopes people will share the track - and video - to circulate and reinforce the stay-at-home message.The full list of featured artists is: Joel Shadbolt (L.A.B), Troy Kingi, Stan Walker, Anna Coddington, Theia, Bailey Wiley, Rob Ruha, Pere Wihongi (Maimoa), Jackson Owens, Kings, Rei, Ria Hall, Hollie Smith, Tiki Taane, Fran Kora (Kora), Logan Bell (Katchafire) and Brad Kora (L.A.B).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga doctors are calling for a ban on online alcohol sales during the Covid-19 lockdown after seeing a spike in family violence and further strains on the public health system.Alcohol is listed on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website as an essential service that allowed the online sale and contactless delivery of alcohol.But 12 Tauranga doctors have signed a letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urging an immediate halt to the harmful drug, alcohol, delivered to people's doorsteps.Mount Maunganui GP Tony Farrell, who specialises in addiction, told Simon and Phil it’s ludicrous to allow home delivery of alcohol while the nation is in lockdown and already under enormous strain.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The parents of the Invercargill-born nurse credited by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for saving his life are overwhelmed by the international response.Jenny McGee was born and raised in Invercargill and has been living and working in London for some time. She currently works as in the intensive care department at St Thomas' Hospital in the city.Over Easter weekend Johnson, who has been in hospital for a week being treating for Covid-19. thanked the National Health Service and its staff - but singled out two nurses who stood by his bedside for 48 hours "when things could have gone either way".He said Jenny from Invercargill "to be exact", and Luis from Portugal, were the reason that "in the end, my body did start to get enough oxygen".Her parents Mike and Caroline McGee told Simon and Phil despite the whole family being overwhelmed with the attention, they're incredibly proud of their daughter and the whole NHS team she works with. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologist Sara Chatwin joined Simon and Phil to answer your questions and calls on what we can all do to keep our minds in check as we enter the 2nd week of lockdown. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party Leader and chair of the epidemic response committee Simon Bridges joined Simon and Phil to discuss the concerns of New Zealand businesses right now, and what should happen once we get out of lockdown. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pleasure to have back on for our final Dulux DIY, master painter and all round handyman Bevan Tutty to answer all your questions for those lockdown DIY jobs.Bevan has been in the paint industry for over 40 years. He loves the endless outcomes you can achieve from painting, and its advancing technology.The perfect man to help you out with those DIY projects around the home while we're in lockdown!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 on today to tackle the raft of issues arising with the Covid-19 lockdown and the ramifications on employment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts at ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron, Melbourne, are prioritising work that could hold the key to fast-tracking the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. The Synchrotron is the largest particle accelerator in the southern hemisphere. It is about the size of the MCG and produces light a million times brighter than the sun. It is operated by ANSTO and funded by the Australian Government and other partners from across New Zealand and Australia.Director Professor Andrew Peele joined Simon and Phil to discuss the work they are doing to help create a vaccine as quickly as possible. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party leader is calling for the Government to over-test for COVID-19.Another 61 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed today, bringing the total number of confirmed and probable cases to 708.Epidemic Response Committee chair Simon Bridges told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford we need thousands of people tested each day, to crack down on the virus."So we can come out of this sooner and stronger and we can isolate those that have real problems and track who they've met with. That's how you get atop this, that's what Singapore did and it's how we will too."He also wants all people arriving from overseas to be properly quarantined and tested at the border."That more structured thing where it's 'right, your all in these three hotels, there's going to be people there checking on you regularly', I think that is better."He's also pushing for COVID-19 finger prick tests here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read joined Simon and Phil to discuss his future in rugby after his forced return from Japan, the future of the sport itself, and his hopes for recovery once Covid-19 is contained. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has shown the dramatic effect of the nationwide lockdown on New Zealand’s air quality, and climate experts say it’s proof we have the power to improve our environment.Initial results of air quality monitoring from NIWA show a big drop in traffic pollution in our biggest city.NIWA Principal Air Quality Scientist Dr Ian Longley joined Simon and Phil to discuss the dramatic changes, and lessons we can learn once the lockdown is lifted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As cases of Covid-19 increase in many parts of the world, particularly Europe and the US, in China they have seen cases drop, with some restrictions loosened in parts of the country. Hazel Seager is a Kiwi teacher living in Qingdao City, and has very recently been able to leave self-quarantine as the country slowly reopens.She joined Simon and Phil to share what it was like as the country re-emerges from quarantine, and the light at the end of the tunnel. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The internet is awash with suggestions for keeping yourself occupied at home during the coronavirus outbreak, but one Australian scientist ended up in the hospital thanks to his choice of entertainment.With medical authorities around the world advising people to stop touching their faces, to help slow the spread of the virus, Melbourne-based Daniel Reardon thought he would try to make a sensor that could tell if your hands were near your face, he told CNN.An astrophysicist by trade, Reardon, 27, had some electronic parts lying around and decided to try his hand at a spot of engineering."I was just feeling a bit bored when it came up," he said, admitting that his invention had the opposite effect to the one he intended: Instead of making a noise when his hands were close to his face, it buzzed incessantly until he moved them to his face."I had a laugh and gave up temporarily," he added. "Then I started mindlessly placing the magnets on my face. First my ear lobes, then my nostrils -- like a magnetic piercing."At that point, Reardon had only gained himself some temporary body modifications, but things were about to get slightly more permanent."The problem was when I put magnets in my other nostril," he said. "They all pinched together and the ones on my septum got stuck!"Unable to remove them by himself, Reardon ended up heading to the local hospital.He said he spent about an hour there, describing the facility as "pretty quiet," as coronavirus patients are being sent to another hospital."The staff enjoyed it -- several doctors and some nurses came to laugh at/with me," said Reardon."In the end, two doctors pulled at them -- one grabbing at the magnets in each nostril."Reardon took a photo of the medical report, which states that he had denied there were any further magnets up his nose."I was in a bit of pain while they were moving the magnets and my nose -- I had made it pretty sore myself," he said."But other than that I was laughing with everyone else."So far, Australia has had over 4,200 cases of coronavirus and 17 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.In response to the outbreak, the country tightened its restrictions on movement Monday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said public gatherings would be limited to two people and ordered residents to stay home, except to shop for necessities, medical care, exercise, work or education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob McIntyre has been living in Singapore for about 18 months working as General Manager Sales & Marketing for two of the biggest hotel complexes in the country.Singapore has been deeply effected by COVID 19, but have flatted the curve of new cases and appear to be keeping it in check. Rob talked with Simon and Phil about the measures the Singaporean Government have put in place, how it's worked, and what lessons we can learn in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employment lawyer and partner at Malley & Co solicitors Gareth Abdinor joined Simon and Phil today to take your many calls and questions on employment issues during the lockdown. Plenty to discuss today, including the wage subsidy, annual leave, claiming benefits and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Epidemiologist and Professor in Public Health Michael Baker joined Simon and Phil to discuss the impending nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus. He says if we all take it seriously, stay within our bubbles as much as humanly possible, and follow offical advice, the sooner the lockdown will be able to start to be lifted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NewstalkZB reporter and now PR Officer for the British Science Association Matiu Workman, joined Simon and Phil to discuss what like is like in London after the UK's nationwide coronavirus lockdown . LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former BNZ Chief Economist Tony Alexander is one of New Zealand's leading economic minds. He joined Simon and Phil to discuss the economic outlook in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, and took listeners questions about what to expect. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pleasure to have on the programme Dr Michelle Dickinson, aka Nano Girl, to answer all your coronavirus related questions. Michelle is a nanotechnologist and holds a PHD in biomedical material engineering. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland University Microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles joined Simon and Phil to seperate fact from fiction when it comes to your questions about Covid-19 and the coronavirus outbreak. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Leader Simon Bridges is accusing the Government of focusing on "ideological" driven benefit increases over helping medium-sized New Zealand businesses.Speaking in the House this afternoon in response to the Government's $12.1 billion Covid-19 spending package, National Leader Simon Bridges was critical of the spending's focus."This package has confused priorities that do not deal, non-ideologically, with the issues we face in New Zealand right now."New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters was quick to criticise Bridges' speech, telling the House it was "shallow and graceless".Act Leader David has suggested that all MPs take a pay cut while New Zealand grapples with the Covid-19 outbreak in "solidarity" with those who are losing their jobs or taking pay cuts.He said public sector workers earning more than $100,000 should do the same.The package includes a more than $5 billion wage subsidy scheme for businesses which have been, or will be directly impacted by Covid-19.It also included a $25 a week increase for beneficiaries and the doubling of the Winter Energy Payment.But Bridges said the focus should have been more on businesses."Bluntly, what we see in this package today is money flowing faster into the hands of beneficiaries than the workers and the businesses that will lose their businesses and their jobs over the coming weeks and months."The wage subsidy scheme is available from today – the benefit increases come into effect on April 1, with the Winter Energy Payment available in May."Her priority, Ardern said, was to keep businesses in business and workers in jobs – but what we see has been prioritised is the Winter Energy Payment for wealthy, older New Zealanders."He said the package was large enough but lacked focus."I say this shows you're confused and your muddled priorities as Finance Minister," he said, directing his comments to Grant Robertson.His main issue was the fact the wage subsidy scheme was capped at $150,000 per employer for 12 weeks.He said this means that in many medium-sized businesses impacted by Covid-19, only the first 21 workers would be helped.Bridges said many workers across the country will go on the dole – "but they will be glad because they will be $25 a week better off".He said National would have gone harder and faster for businesses – meaning more wage subsidies for more businesses to extend to some of the bigger and middle-sized companies."Our Prime Minister said she's gone harder and faster – I don't see it."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has unveiled its multi-billion dollar support package to help deflect the impact of COVID-19.The $12.1 billion boost includes over $5 billion for wage subsidies and $2.8 billion on business tax changes.Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford that Finance Minister Grant Robertson's pulled out all the stops."When you go back and look at the spending in the last two budgets and the spending in the upcoming budget, this is greater than those three."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Trish Stratford is best known to New Zealand audiences as one of the three experts on Married at First Sight Australia.She joined Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford to discuss the latest season of the contentious reality show, which sees strangers coupled together without having ever met before.The show has been dogged with rumours for years that it's all constructed, but Dr Stratford, one of the three people who pairs the couples together, told them that it is not scripted at all."It's not staged at all. It's unscripted television. We out them together, and then we put them into the experiment, and as extraordinary as it seems, the experiment takes over."She says that the people change once they are in the pressure cooker of the experiment. Only three couples are currently still together from the six previous seasons, but Dr Stratford says that many of them remain friends."Everyone who is on the program say that they've learnt about themselves. So to me, that's a success anyway."One of the key problems that contestants face on the show, she says, is that they tend to bring their own issues with them and struggle to change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef, author and entrepreneur Al Brown was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song. We chatted his start in cooking, his style in a busy kitchen, classic foods, the joy of kiwi cuisine, and much more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A public health professor's implying the World Health Organisation has deliberately down-played the COVID-19 outbreak, in an attempt to contain it.The WHO has now declared a global pandemic, as confirmed cases globally surpasses 115-thousand.But Michael Baker told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford it's been a pandemic for more than a month.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Leader Simon Bridges joined Simon and Phil for his monthly catch up. They chatted about New Zealand's approach to Coronavirus, minimum wage increases, the hit to the economy and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were discussing what it was like when your children first left home after Simon was reminded about a letter he wrote for his eldest Samantha when she left for university. We had a lot of requests to hear it again, so here it is. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malley and Co's Gareth Abdinor back with us for another Law Corner. Lots to discuss this week, with a heap of questions coming in on what employment rights workers have if they need to take extra time off work due to Covid-19. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Air NZ CEO and now National Party candidate for Botany Christopher Luxon joined Simon and Phil for this weeks Six and a Song. He chatted about his move from business to politics, meeting Barack Obama, what he gets up to outside off the campaign trail, and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Cowan from The Parenting Place joined Simon and Phil to chat all things parenting. He discussed the best ways to chat to particularly young children about the growing concerns around Coronavirus, as well as answering your phone call and text questions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Sainsbury is a man of many impressions, alter egos and voices. He rose to popularity with his many hilarious impressions of well-known politicians and caricatures of everyday kiwis. He was Simon and Phil’s guest for this week’s Six and A Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef, entrepreneur, and author Nadia Lim joined Simon and Phil to chat all things food and cooking. She discussed her and her husbands move to a farm in Central Otago where they're working on a farm, the rise in vegetarianism, and answered listeners burning food questions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gareth Abdinor, Partner with Malley & Co law back with us for this weeks Law Corner.Every fortnight we have Gareth in to take your calls and questions everything employment, privacy and technology related. This week we chatted about fair and reasonable working of extra hours to meet the needs of the business, limited hour contracts for young people, and restraint of trade clauses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pleasure to have Lesina Nakhid-Schuster on the show for this weeks Six and a Song today. Simon and Phil asked her about what it's like to be on nationally telly during her dates, her work as a doctor, and much more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington Barrister says Ticketmaster is legally obligated to partially reimburse them.The Auckland show ended early on Sunday night - when the popstar lost his voice to "walking pneumonia".Graham Edgeler told Simon and Phil Ticketmaster is under contract to provide a full concert to their customers. 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 against some strong competition, producer Tyler played the hopeless romantic card for Valentines Day for his lovely partner Maeve, and it paid off... Not to mention it is a great song! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB and TVNZ host and journalist Jack Tame was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song this week.He chatted with Simon and Phil about his love of languages, the opportunities he's had in journalism, playing guitar, his love life, and of course.. his favourite song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every 3 weeks we're joined by Inspector Hirone Waretini from the New Zealand Police to talk topics and take your questions and phone calls in a segment we call The Beat. This week the Inspector covered traffic offences, driving with bare feet, and the very contentious issue of traffic light window washers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weet-Bix and pasta are helping to keep one New Zealander going as he remains under lockdown in China, as the country battles to contain the deadly coronavirus.Adam Fern lives in Hangzhou, the most populous city of Zhejiang Province, about a seven-hour car ride from the epicentre of the epidemic: Wuhan.Holed up in his apartment, he has started to chronicle what life is like on the ground via social media sites Facebook and YouTube.He joined Simon and Phil to chat about what it’s like to be in lock-down in China.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A University of Canterbury Professor of Engineering says while possible to construct a bridge or tunnel across Cook Strait, it would be incredibly challenging. The British government says it is seriously studying the feasibility of a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland – an idea which has been met with staunch criticism.Professor Alessandro Palermo told Simon and Phil there has been theoretical discussions about constructing a similar structure across Cook Strait in the past.He says while not impossible, the cost and technical challenges would be immense.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand travel agency says despite coronavirus fears, they expect the cruise market to continue to grow.A cruise ship remains under quarantine at Japan's Yokohama, where two New Zealanders and dozens of others have contracted coronavirus.House of Travel Commercial Director Brent Thomas told Simon and Phil there’s no doubt they are getting more inquiries on the back of the coronavirus outbreak.But he says typically bookings for cruises are planned well in advance, which hopefully won’t be affected by the current outbreak.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pilot who helped people stranded in flood-stricken Fiordland says there were some challenging flying conditions over the past 48 hours. All trapped tourists have now been choppered out after being cut off, and in some instances dodging landslides - a tree completely destroying a hut at Lake Howden with 30 people inside.Southern Lakes Helicopter pilot Sam Innes told Simon and Phil for him and the rest of the helicopter crew, it was a really rewarding experience being able to help those stranded. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Barnett had to put his money where his mouth is, after challenging listeners to prove him wrong. While discussing whether or not you lock your car when you go to pay for petrol, Simon said that he never locks his car as he did not believe that anyone would steal a car from a petrol station. He then challenged listeners to prove him wrong, with $200 for the first person who had a story about getting their car stolen.Cue the texts, cue the embarrassment on Simon's part - and cue the doubling down as Simon then issued a second challenge!LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A comforting flow of support for tourists and locals caught out by flooding.The Calvin Community Church has been activated as the emergency hub in Gore.Lead pastor Ken Williams told Simon and Phil about 200 people have come seeking shelter.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.