Holiday Breakfast

Three new Dames have made today's New Year Honours List. 

Former judge Coral Shaw has led a range of public sector reviews, notably, chairing the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and faith based care.

She served as a district court judge before becoming the first female employment court judge from 1999 to 2009.

She told Andrew Dickens that her career has been gruelling but rewarding, as she announced her retirement on air. 

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Leighton Smith is being made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Broadcasting.

He hosted the Mornings Show on ZB for 33 years, and after retiring in 2019, he started his podcast which is running to this day. 

When asked about his commitment to the industry, he told Andrew Dickens that, "Radio is radio. It represents everything that I that I ever wanted to be, to be perfectly honest."

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Leading figures, in motorsport, business, medicine and the arts are becoming Knights in today's New Year Honours List. 

Xero founder Rod Drury, of Ngāi Tahu, has supported multiple infrastructure and philanthropy projects - particularly in Queenstown Lakes District. 

He told Andrew Dickens that the title, "Doesn't kind of roll off the tongue yet, that's for sure."

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New Year's Eve celebrations in Nelson tonight will have a tinge of sadness, as the city marks one year since Police officer Lyn Fleming was killed on the job.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers will be joining beat patrols in the city tonight.

Chambers says he wants to back up staff who were working alongside Fleming a year ago, and to remember her.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Andrew Dickens that it was an incredibly tragic start to a difficult year, and people in Nelson are keen to move on.

He says they can't wait to put 2025 behind them and to get into 2026.

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Northland local government leaders are reacting cautiously to news of Te Tai Tokerau’s first proposed rates freeze in a decade.

The zero-rate increase has been put forward by Northland Regional Council for its 2026/2027 financial year and would affect 100,000 ratepayers.

Chairman Pita Tipene told Andrew Dickens that council had been looking for savings and reductions that would not  impact the services they can provide. 

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Wind warnings remain in effect across the lower North Island, upper South Island and West Coast.

Foxton residents are being asked to urgently conserve water, and thousands of homes are without power in Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast and north of Westport.

State Highway 57 is closed south of Palmerston North, and motorists on the Desert Road are being asked to take extra care.

MetService forecaster Thapi Makgabutlane says conditions should be relatively more settled, after today.

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It's New Year's Eve tomorrow, and many Kiwis will be celebrating the New Year with parties and late nights.

However, accidental overdoses and spiked drugs are the major issue with hospital visits for cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine use. 

Know Your Stuff General Manager Casey Spearin told Andrew Dickens that, "We work with the end user to say, 'will you take this?' and if so, let's try and keep you safer."

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Organisers of Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines festival are prepared for every eventuality.

Thousands have descended on Waiohika Estate vineyard for the three-day music and camping festival - running since 2003.

Festival-goers remain in high spirits - despite heavy rain last night and light rain forecast today.

Live Nation Festivals Director Kieran Spillane told Andrew Dickens the team is well prepared for the time, between now and New Year's Day.

He says they have 350 security guards, Police patrols, 30 paramedics, and drug and alcohol breath testing.

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Safety in central Auckland's back in the spotlight, after Sunday morning's mass brawl on Karangahape Road, leaving three people with serious head injuries.

A 21-year-old man's appeared in court, but Police are still looking for other people involved.

K Road Community Safety co-founder, Karen Ritchie, told Andrew Dickens that public violence, anti-social behaviour and drug-taking are far too common.

She says it's an awful time, where people and businesses are having to deal with this type of behaviour.

A fight in Auckland's Wiri on Sunday night also put two people in hospital.

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Rain hasn't dampened the party atmosphere at Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines festival.

Thousands of festival-goers have descended on Waiohika Estate vineyard for three-day music and camping festival - running since 2003.

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Andrew Dickens that locals once loathed the event but it's now embraced by almost everyone.

He says the young people who attend bring millions of dollars into the local economy, and bring a vibrancy to town.

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