Andrew Dickens Afternoons

The Government's plan to offer free driving lessons as part of the school curriculum may be extended to other family members.
Luke called into The Andrew Dickens Afternoon Show and explained that getting a full license was never a priority for himself, a theme which is getting more and more common with the convenience of public transport and ride sharing alternatives
"The community I was brought up in didn't really make it worthwhile, and also the waiting period combined with the expensive costs."
LISTEN ABOVE AS LUKE SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENS

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The Auckland Pride Parade is standing behind its decision banning uniformed police from marching, despite a strong push-back from many people in the rainbow community
Georgina Beyer is a former Labour Party Member of Parliament, and was the world's first openly transsexual mayor. She told Andrew Dickens she is extremely upset over the decision by the board to ban police, and believes it could do serious damage.
"I couldn't be more disappointed in the Auckland Pride board decision. We have built bridges with people in authority over the last 30 years. We can't wallow in our own victim hood forever. We have to move forward, and this type of decision is destructive. 
LISTEN ABOVE AS GEORGINA BEYER SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENS

The Auckland Pride Parade is standing behind its decision banning uniformed police from marching, despite a strong push-back from many people in the rainbow community
Georgina Beyer is a former Labour Party Member of Parliament, and was the world's first openly transsexual mayor. She told Andrew Dickens she is extremely upset over the decision by the board to ban police, and believes it could do serious damage.
"I couldn't be more disappointed in the Auckland Pride board decision. We have built bridges with people in authority over the last 30 years. We can't wallow in our own victim hood forever. We have to move forward, and this type of decision is destructive. 
LISTEN ABOVE AS GEORGINA BEYER SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENS

'Forget real estate. You can't afford it anyway'. 
A game where you move around the board might not seem very relevant, given the current real estate market.
Hasbro has accepted that, and has refreshed Monopoly for the millennial generation. 
The hip new version of the popular board game will allow players to buy 'experiences' rather than real estate, with a much smaller pool of money than the classic game.  
Destinations range from your parent's basement to yoga retreats, while chance cards include such gems as 'Your mum posted bail' and 'Your lifestyle vlog reaches one million views'. 
The player with the most experiences at the end wins the game. 
Predictably, the game has annoyed some millennials who think the game belittles the hard-done-by generation, while others are taking it on the chin. 

While the humor is a little on the nose, my only real complaint about Monopoly for Millennials is that the dollar denominations are too high. I can't remember the last time I had a hundred dollar bill in my wallet. pic.twitter.com/z1IXuBxMRt
— Sean Thinks Thoughts (@Dulgust) November 14, 2018




I'm not sure who @hasbro made Monopoly for Millennials for? As if we don't get shit on enough lol... A game about millennial life should absolutely include paying rent. A lot of it. The vast majority of us can't afford to spend money on "experiences." Anyway, disappointed.
— Sarah (@SarahTeeRaymo) November 12, 2018




The more I learn about #MonopolyForMillennials the better it gets. I must own this game. pic.twitter.com/TN6fTlEZBb
— Tyler Mason (@TylerMason) November 8, 2018



LISTEN TO RAYLENE TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVE

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Two national medical organisations have today made a call to ban boxing.
It comes following the death of Christchurch man Kain Parsons after a charity boxing match on November 3.
Callers to The Andrew Dickens Afternoons Show expressed mixed opinions on whether or not boxing should face stricter regulations.
Josh told Andrew Dickens people should be given the choice if they want to participate in the sport, and a blanket ban is not the answer.
"I have no intentionof boxing as it doesn't appeal to me, but people who want to do it should be allowed to.
A medical professional believes Boxing is a crazy sport, and should definitely be banned.
"It must be one of the only sports where you get points for causing brain damage."
LISTEN ABOVE TO THE CALLERS SPEAK WITH ANDREW DICKENS

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There’s times I start wondering why anybody tries to do anything to help people these days when it seems that people are no longer able to help themselves.
So this morning I’m reading about the nations before school check programme.
When every child in the country turns four they are offered a check up which can help identify health, behavioural, social or developmental issues, such as a hearing problem, which could affect learning. The aim is to help those children access health and learning support.
About 55,000 children will be covered this year at a cost of more than $10 million.
That sounds good.  But after a review called Welcome to School, there are concerns that the programme isn’t working and in fact making things worse.
So how on earth can anyone stuff up a health check. 
One example given was the eye test. There had been a misunderstanding about what checks covered. Schools thought that the test was a comprehensive one but in fact it was just checking for lazy eye.  So then we have kids at school with vision problems but the schools and the parents thought everything was tickety-boo because the before school check had passed the kid.
Now this is not the tests fault.  This is from the old once over lightly, Iain Lees Galloway school of incompetence. The schools haven’t even read and comprehended what was being done. Honestly the amount of stuff ups we have these days due to laziness, assumption and lack of research is astounding.
But this is a minor quibble.  
The review found that the before school check actually increases iniquity. The rich, intelligent and healthy catch the problems early while the poor, less qualified and unhealthy get worse.
Part of the check is a questionnaire filled out by parents. 25 questions relating to emotions, peer relationships, hyperactivity, socialisation and development goals. Better off parents answer diligently and honestly while parents from the bottom end of the rung either hide the truths or because of their own background fail to recognise unsociable or destructive behaviour.
Apparently a lot of the worse off parents don’t like the questionnaire because they view it as labelling.  And yes it is but the way to process that is to rename it identifying and then get on with making things better for your kids.
Well off parents know that labels can be shaken off and changed.  Worse off parents think a label is forever.
The upshot is the kids of the better off get prompt attention early while the less privileged kids get nothing.  Generation by generation getting worse.
It’s always deeply depressing when you hear of programmes designed to help that are being spurned because of either parental bloody mindedness or disinterest.
One final point though.  The Welcome to School study Welcome to School research showed the challenge facing low decile schools was bigger than suspected.
Many children were starting at a language development age of 3-4 years. More than 30 per cent had a language proficiency in the bottom 2.5 per cent of the population.
That’s not good.  We knew it was bad.  Now we know it’s worse than that.

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Forget about heavy machinery or sharp tools - it turns out the most dangerous item at your local hardware store is hot onion. 
Bunnings Warehouse is facing backlash over new health and safety rules in Australia and New Zealand that will require any sausage sizzle cook to put the onion underneath the sausage.
The intention is to save people from getting serious burns, but the rule has been ridiculed across social media.
Caller Declan told Andrew Dickens Afternoons that he only eats sausage sizzles purely because of how dangerous they are!
LISTEN TO THE TALKBACK FEEDBACK ABOVE

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Prince Charles has turned 70 - a milestone for many, but when you're the heir to the throne, age is more than just a number.
Charles' birthday has raised the question amongst commentators who wonder if he should succeed his mother, The Queen, when she dies or, less likely, abdicates. 
A new poll released this week ranked Charles as only the seventh most popular royal, behind his two sons and their wives. In the week of his birthday, it has again raised the suggestion that the crown should pass next to Prince William instead of Charles. 
Having being the heir since he was four years old, Charles holds the record for the longest reign as heir, at 66 years. 
Andrew Dickens took aim at those who think he should stand aside, arguing that there is no one more experienced for the job. 
LISTEN TO ANDREW'S TAKE ABOVE

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A new study has found that children are likely to follow their mother’s example when it comes to relationships.
The largest ever study of its kinds found that people who enter long term relationships are likely to have had mothers who did the same, while children of women who had multiple partners followed their example.  
The research by the University of Ohio, conducted over 24 years and involving 7,000 people, was unable to find any scientific reason for why children behave in this way.
Previous research has found that the children of divorcees are likely to divorce themselves.
LISTEN TO RAYLENE TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVE

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Jacinda Ardern will dine with US Vice-President Mike Pence in Singapore this evening.
The Prime Minister will be sitting next to the Pence at the leaders' gala dinner at the East Asia Summit in Singapore.
It will be her first substantial engagement with the Trump administration. Ardern met Donald Trump at APEC in passing last year, but they did not have any formal meetings.
ZB political editor Barry Soper told Andrew Dickens that Pence requested that Ardern be his dinner companion.
Ardern says she doesn't plan on raising the CPTPP with Pence.
"I imagine that we will probably have a conversation about trade issues more generally. I will see where the conversation goes, but I will bring up steel and aluminium tariffs, it's in New Zealand's interests that I do."
She says e a date at the White House isn't high on her agenda.
"That's not something that we're necessarily seeking. There is a strong relationship that will endure regardless of whether or not there are any explicit visits."
Soper says that Ardern has a busy schedule.
"She'll be meeting with the Premier of China, and she'll also be meeting with [Australian Prime Minister] Scott Morrison from the first time ever."
President Donald Trump isn't attending this year's summit.
LISTEN TO BARRY SOPER TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVE

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