Holiday Breakfast

The vandalism of a piece of art on a Manawatu Gorge hiking trail has caused a surge of anger in the community. 

Whatonga —a six-metre-tall steel statue on the Tawa Loop Track— has had its phallus removed with steel cutting equipment last Saturday night. 

Local iwi Rangitāne say they are extremely disappointed with the disrespectful act on one of the region's most iconic landmarks. 

Te Āpiti-Manawatu Gorge Governance Group Chair Fiona Gordon says it appears to be pre-meditated, and they want the vandals to own up. 

She says they hope those responsible understand they won't have succeeded in any way in diminishing Whatonga's mana through this act. 

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The holiday road toll is down from last year. 

An advocacy group says there's still a long way to go, with 19 people confirmed dead on our roads between December 22nd and 6am today, January 3rd. 

Last year's holiday road deaths sat at 21. 

Brake NZ advocacy director, Caroline Perry, told Tim Dower that we are starting to see some improvements, including median barriers and safer speed limits. 

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A consumer advocate's vowing to hold the Grocery Commissioner's feet to the fire on a shakeup to the supermarket duopoly. 

A new lobby group's being formed, driven by the former Consumer New Zealand Chief Executive, Sue Chetwin. 

It comes after struggles with The Warehouse supply of Weetbix and the fall of potential third player, Supie. 

Chetwin wants to see action happening faster, telling Tim Dower that the Commerce Commission's found we aren't being treated fairly when we shop at the supermarket. 

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A combination of factors have combined to create a shortage in military personnel. 

In the 21 months to April this year, the New Zealand Defence Force lost almost a third of uniformed staff.  

It leaves gaps which mean three Navy patrol vessels and the Navy's main transport vessel can't be at sea because of safety issues.  

Auckland University Associate Professor of International Relations Stephen Hoadley told Tim Dower that this has been building gradually as the tempo of exercises has increased. 

He says then came Covid, which reduced training time and meant upgrading that should have happened, didn't. 

Hoadley says pay disparities between the public and private sector also play into it. 

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Research into the illegal drugs market has revealed the extent of trade through social media channels. 

Massey University’s Shore and Whākiri Research Centre Associate Professor Chris Wilkins told Tim Dower that dealers are using this tech to penetrate younger markets. 

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Tourism providers in Bay of Plenty are preparing for their busiest cruise season since the pandemic – with 113 ships expected to visit Tauranga’s port this summer. 

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Matt Cowley told Tim Dower the region is primarily a domestic tourism market and cruise tourism is the cherry on the cake. 

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The famous themed gardens in Hamilton will begin charging a fee to out-of-town visitors this year.  

The announcement follows a local rates increase of 25%, but is also about the garden becoming self-sustainable, according to Garden Director Lucy Ryan. 

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Duties on New Zealand dairy products entering China have ended as part of the trade deal negotiated in 2008.  

The removal of duty creates a saving of about $350 million a year for farmers in New Zealand, Minister of Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay told Tim Dower. 

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Surf Lifeguards working at a beach in Auckland say they are being verbally abused when trying to help swimmers. 

Swimmers were warned they were in a dangerous spot before abusing the lifeguards who half an hour later rescued them. 

Retired Gisborne Lifeguard Murray Robertson told Tim Dower the abuse can be disheartening to those passionate about being there to save lives. 

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After 20 years of research, scientists have created three new types of apricot for New Zealand orchards. 

Sharon Kirk at Ardgour Valley Orchards is growing 20 hectares of the new crop and told Tim Dower the new varieties are suited to New Zealand conditions and were bred “the old-fashioned way” to make a highly coloured and juicy fruit. 

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