Holiday Breakfast

The US is trying to convince Australia to lift its defence spending “as soon as possible.”

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for a rise of 3.5 percent.

He says it's a protection measure against the threat of China.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his country will determineits own defence policy.

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds joins the show to discuss this and Trump’s new steel tariff.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indie-pop artist Lisa Crawley makes portraying vulnerability in song writing seem effortless. 

She's built a career as a multi-instrumentalist, in demand session player and songwriter spanning multiple contents. 

Lisa has a new EP out today called 'New Girl Syndrome'. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media's latest obsession is ... cottage cheese! 

High protein, low calorie recipes with the ingredient at its centre are going viral. 

Sales are now through the roof, with Woolworths up 50 percent in the past three months. 

Owner of organic cheese maker, the Cheese Wheel, Kevin Jenkins talks to Tim Beveridge about the craze. 

LISTEN ABOVE.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is taking action on calls made from those in the trade industry. 

Experts will now be able to run things in their own way as an overhaul of apprenticeships is taking shape.

An independent, industry-led model will be introduced early next year. 

Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmons joins Tim Beveridge. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Industry owned and industry-led apprenticeships are on their way back.

The Government's announced an overhaul of vocational training after widespread criticism of Te Pūkenga's attempt, with some labelling it a disaster. 

Motor Trade Association head of advocacy, James McDowell, talks to Tim Beveridge about the change. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RSA National President Buck Shelford talks to Tim Beveridge about Anzac Day. 

They discuss the Government's amendments to the Anzac Act, Anzac services and the Dawn Service today. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems like far too often we’re reading a new headline about another violent crime — another murder. And it’s hard to keep up.  But every now and again, a crime seizes your attention and makes you ask if we're heading in the right direction when it comes to addressing violent crime in New Zealand. And that case, for me, is the murder — or should I say the alleged murder — of American entomology student Kyle Whorrall. And often, I think, when we hear about violent crimes, we try to comfort ourselves with the assumption that they’re confined to the criminal underworld — gang-on-gang, drug deals gone wrong, or some other context that feels far removed. And if we can keep our distance from that world, we’re somehow safe. An illusion of security that, perhaps, helps us sleep at night.  But now with the news that a 16-year-old has been charged with the aggravated robbery and murder of Kyle Whorrall, I’ve found myself increasingly of the view that our justice system simply isn’t delivering sentences that act as any sort of deterrent to violence. Of course, there needs to be a process and we can’t get ahead of ourselves when it comes to assuming guilt. But if someone is found accountable — what real chance do you really think there is of a sentence being handed down that is any sort of deterrence in a society that is becoming more brazen and more violent.  Because what happens is that the focus shifts to the accused and to all the terrible reasons they’ve ended up where they are. And then the discounts start rolling in — for age, for remorse, for a troubled upbringing, maybe even a guilty plea, or their so-called prospects for rehabilitation.  And before you know it, the sentence is chipped away — discount after discount — and a young offender is out on home detention after barely a couple of years inside.  Meanwhile, for the victim, there’s no second chance. He’s dead.   There’s no chance to make a submission to the court, to try and mitigate the outcome of the terrible assault. Because he’s dead.   He can’t make a plea that his life was only just getting underway. Because he’s dead.   And I’m sorry — that sounds jarring, doesn’t it? But maybe it should.   Because we like to dress tragedies like this up in euphemisms to soften the blow.  But there’s no cushioning this tragedy - because, well, Kyle Whorrall is dead — and he shouldn’t be. And I’m sorry, but when it comes to our justice system, in my view it’s doing bugger all to send any message that violent crime will not be tolerated.  Ask any police officer who’s spent time dealing with this stuff — they’ll tell you how callous the criminal community has become, and how little value is placed on other people’s lives and safety.  So yes — I’m all for harder sentences. Sentences with consequences that send an unequivocal message around violent crime.  Because the murder victim gets no say in how things play out. No plea. No mitigation. No second shot at life.  And when it comes to the perpetrator of this crime — I’m not interested in their tears. I’m not interested in their regrets. I’m not interested in their tragic past or the excuses that will be rolled out.  They deserve no more benefit of the doubt than their victim received when his life was cut so brutally, and so tragically, short.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gang conflict warrant has been issued in the Hawke's Bay after shots were fired at homes in Wairoa on Tuesday, then again in Napier yesterday. 

It will give Police extra search powers for affiliates throughout the region. 

Napier City councillor and former police detective Keith Price talks to Tim Beveridge about the issue. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A defence minister's highlighting the importance of an alliance with the United States amid global tensions.

Shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie says the country's not reliable under Donald Trump. 

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds tells Tim Beveridge Hastie could be the next leader of the Liberal Party should they lose in May's election. 

Olds gives an update the direction the election's heading in and Anzac Day commemorations. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deadliest attacks in months hit Kyiv yesterday. 

US President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social, "Vladimir, STOP!" after Russia sent 70 missiles and 145 drones toward Ukraine - an attack Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was aimed at pressuring the United States. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Tim Beveridge about what this means for the war, reactions from European leaders and tariffs. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.