Holiday Breakfast

A Ukrainian oligarch who managed to slip out of the country with all his money, has been arrested in a French ski resort.

The 50 year old was detained in Courchevel, a famous Alpine ski destination, accused of money laundering and embezzlement to the tune of about 218 million NZD.

Paris Correspondent Catherine Field says the Ukraine Government asked to take him into custody.

She says he will go before a judge, but it could take up to 45 days before paper work is done … to decide if he will be sent back to Kyiv.

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A perfect storm of a pandemic, tough economic conditions and soaring grain prices from war-torn Ukraine is taking eggs off our menus.

Supermarket shelves across the country are empty and some are limiting customers to two cartons each.

A ban on battery-caged hens, announced in 2012, comes into effect on Saturday.

Michael Brooks from the Egg Producers Federation told Tim Beveridge that flock numbers have dropped by two hundred thousand and even dozens of free range egg farms have flown the coop.

He says the lingering effects of Covid, where farmers couldn't sell in markets or cafes, are also taking its toll on producer numbers.

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A potential game-changer for New Zealand water safety.

NIWA and Surf Life Saving have developed a rip current identification tool using artificial intelligence, which has had a 90 percent accurate detection rate in trials.

Rip currents are narrow, fast-moving segments of water that travel away from the shore and can reach speeds of 2.5 metres a second.

They're reported as the most hazardous safety risk to beach-goers globally, and are responsible for more deaths in Australia than bush-fires, floods, cyclones, and shark attacks combined.

NIWA coastal scientist, Christo Rautenbach is hopeful the technology will ultimately be rolled out to beaches to alert people to a rip current's presence.

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Consumers are starting to batten down the hatches as tough economic times are forecast.

Data from payment company Worldline NZ shows consumer spending through its network, excluding hospitality, reached $100.5 million on Boxing Day.

That's up 2.6 percent on the same day last year.

Infometrics Chief Executive Brad Olsen says while the numbers are up, when compared to seven percent inflation, it's cautious spending.

He says naturally people won't be cutting back too much over summer, but the reality is they have to be a little more cautious with their money.

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Not every festival will have drug checking this New Year, but four organisations want that to change by keeping people informed.

The Government is boosting its support around testing at festivals this summer season.

The Government has committed $4 million over three years towards harm reduction, and officially licensing four organisations who can test to make sure people know what they're taking.

Jez Weston, deputy and operations manager for Know Your Stuff says that a focus on drug testing isn't sending the wrong message, because safety is more important and people will use recreational drugs at festivals regardless of legislation.

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Telco company Vodafone has put its money where its mouth is by pulling sponsorship signage during a performance of a convicted abuser.

Vodafone will remove its branding when headliner Dizzee Rascal takes the stage at Rhythm and Vines this weekend.

The British rapper was convicted of domestically abusing his ex-partner earlier this year.

Women's Refuge CEO Ang Jury says the company had no other choice, given Vodafone's public stance on domestic violence.

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Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of a 41-year-old Queensland woman at her home on Boxing Day.

Emma Lovell was allegedly stabbed while fighting off two 17 year olds at her property in in Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, on Monday night.

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds says Lovell and her husband were in bed when their dogs started barking and they found two young men allegedly trying to rob them.

He says the couple, who have two kids, forced the teenagers outside, but Emma Lovell was stabbed to death in the process. Her husband, Lee Lovell, was also wounded.

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The blizzard in the US is one for the record books.

At least 60 people have died in weather-related incidents across North America in recent days, and about 122,000 homes are still without power.

Many of the fatalities have occurred in Buffalo in New York state, with some areas seeing more than a metre of snow.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold says they will be dealing with this for quite a while.

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In ZB's Summer with the Mayors series, the next region being highlighted is the eastern Bay of Plenty's Whakatāne.

Whakatāne records the highest number of daylight hours in the country, making it the designated 'sunshine capital' of New Zealand. 

The region also offers fishing, with more yellowfin tuna caught in Whakatāne than anywhere else in the country. 

There are plenty of opportunities to explore the region, as Whakatāne is home to the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway and several kayaking and swimming tours.

Whakatāne mayor Victor Luca says the region is small enough for everything to be easily accessible, but big enough to have lots of options for travellers.

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Kiwi Formula 2 driver Liam Lawson has had an eventful 2022.

Between his success with Formula 1 testing, moving to Japan to compete in their Super Formula series next year and placing third in the previous Formula 2 season, he's had a successful year in the sport and earned public praise across the board.

Liam Lawson says it's been an exciting year, especially towards the second half where he claimed his second podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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