Holiday Breakfast

As Virtual Reality becomes more accessible, Whangaparāoa College has decided to invest heavily in using the technology in the classroom. 

Whangaparāoa College Principal Steve McCracken told Tim Dower the technology “brings learning to life.” 

The college hopes to engage young people in a new way whilst upskilling teachers to make content relevant.  

Listen above. 

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New Years Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for our emergency services.  

St John Deputy Chief Executive Dan Ohs talks to Tim Dower about the increase in callouts that come on New Years night, as well as what ambulance workers expect to deal with. 

Listen above. 

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New Zealand's video game sector continued to grow in 2023 with a 7% increase, despite Australian Incentives.

Video game studios earned $434.4M in the year to 31st March 2023 of which 95% came from high-value digital exports.

Chairperson of New Zealand Game Developers Association Carl Leducq told Tim Dower that New Zealand has a good ecosystem of recruiting young talent into the industry.

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The cruise industry wants New Zealand to provide more options for ships to be washed.

Last season 11 ships were given notices barring them from sensitive marine areas because their bottoms were too dirty.

Cruise Association Chief Executive Jacqui Lloyd says currently ships have to get hard-to-reach areas, cleaned manually by divers 12 nautical miles from our shore.

She told Tim Dower that they are seeking a better solution.

Lloyd says they want a place where they can be cleaned safely, closer to shore.

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A New York Times lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI is expected to raise a lot issues around artificial intelligence.

The publication alleges AI technology illegally copied millions of their stories, to train ChatGPT to spit out information.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower the legal action is likely to have big implications.

He says the law suit could affect other aspects beyond payments.

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Surrounded by rugged mountains and stretched between the Canterbury plains, the Selwyn District has much to offer this summer.

Named after the Selwyn River and boasting Arthur's Pass National Park.. there's plenty on display.

It's the third stop on our Summer with the Mayors roadie as we get around the regions.

It's Mayor - and newly elected Local Govt NZ President- Sam Broughton joins Tim Dower on another episode of Summer With The Mayors on Newstalk ZB

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People are being asked to leave beanbags and other polystyrene products at home when visiting Northland beaches this summer because of the potential environmental harm they can cause.

An incident in the Bay of Islands last summer saw thousands of polystyrene beads from a broken beanbag discharged into the coastal marine area at Army Bay, Moturua Island, prompting a lengthy and expensive clean up over several days.

Northland Regional Councillor Marty Robinson Told Tim Dower that one spilled bean bag last year took 20 staff hours to pick up and they still couldn't find all the balls.

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A switch in burglary tactics is concerning Waikato dairy and bottle shop owners.

Criminals are increasingly swapping ram-raiding in vehicles, for using power tools like angle grinders to break in.

Waikato retailer Ash Parmar told Tim Dower that while using powers tools are noisy, it doesn't deter offenders.

He says shops in his area don't always have a lot of neighbours like shops in places like Auckland's CBD.

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Latest figures suggest financial struggles are harming student nurses.

The Nurses Organisation student survey states fewer people would drop out, if they got financial help while completing their courses.

Union Delegate Shannyn Bristowe told Tim Dower that 30 percent of respondents say barriers make them question whether nursing is the right choice.

She says petrol, parking, travel, and food are big struggles during clinical placements.

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A feeling of malaise seems to have descended on British politics.

UK correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower that according to the latest opinion polls, few people appear enthralled by either of the main parties.

He says just six percent think the ruling Conservative party is good, while 15 percent back Labour.

Liddle says that leaves the vast majority of the UK thinking neither of the major parties are any good.

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