/on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/rss 九一星空无限 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:43:20 Z en /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/scientists-want-to-build-a-doomsday-vault-on-the-moon/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/scientists-want-to-build-a-doomsday-vault-on-the-moon/ Engineers want to build an underground lunar ark, filled with millions of seed, spore, sperm and egg samples from Earth's species, hidden in a network of tubes on the moon to provide a genetic backup for the planet in the event of a doomsday scenario. Scientists from the University of Arizona have proposed an ark, dubbed a "modern global insurance policy" for 6.7 million species from Earth, cryogenically preserved and hidden inside a series of caves and tunnels under the moon's surface. They said the vault could protect the genetic materials in the event of "total annihilation of Earth" which would be triggered by a major drop in biodiversity -- but any move to build such a bunker is a long way off. "Earth is naturally a volatile environment," researcher Jekan Thanga, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering in the University of Arizona College of Engineering, said in a statement. "As humans, we had a close call about 75,000 years ago with the Toba supervolcanic eruption, which caused a 1,000-year cooling period and, according to some, aligns with an estimated drop in human diversity. Because human civilization has such a large footprint, if it were to collapse, that could have a negative cascading effect on the rest of the planet." Similar "doomsday vaults" exist on Earth: The Global Seed Vault, home to just under 1 million seed samples, is located on a remote island in Svalbard, an archipelago located between Norway and the North Pole. In a paper presented earlier this month, the team from the University of Arizona think their concept could preserve life from Earth in the event of destruction of the planet we call home. The researchers said the project is dependent on advancements in cryo-robotics technology -- to be cryopreserved, the seeds must be cooled to minus 292 Fahrenheit, while stem cells must be stored at minus 320 Fahrenheit. But the team says that at such temperatures, metal parts of the base could freeze, jam or cold-weld together. Scientists also still don't understand how a lack of gravity could affect preserved seeds, or how to communicate with an Earth base. Experts uncovered a network of some 200 lava tubes beneath the surface of the moon in 2013, which had formed when streams of lava melted through soft rock to form underground tunnels billions of years ago. Scientists think the tubes -- 100 meters (328 feet) in diameter -- could provide the perfect shelter for the precious cargo, protecting it from solar radiation, surface temperature changes and micrometeorites. Powered by solar panels, the underground ark would be accessed by elevator shafts, which would lead to a facility storing cryogenic preservation modules. Scientists say that 250 rocket launches would be required to transport about 50 samples from each of 6.7 million species to the moon. Some construction is already scheduled to take place on the moon for another project. Last week, China and Russia agreed to jointly construct a lunar space station, which will be "open to all countries." text by Amy Woodyatt, CNN Mon, 22 Mar 2021 01:17:25 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/greta-thunberg-and-german-railway-company-clash-over-viral-photo/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/greta-thunberg-and-german-railway-company-clash-over-viral-photo/ Climate activist Greta Thunberg and Germany's national railway company created a tweetstorm Sunday after she posted a photo of herself sitting on the floor of a train surrounded by lots of bags. The image has drawn plenty of comment online about the performance of German railways. Thunberg posted the tweet late Saturday with the comment "travelling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I'm finally on my way home!" But German railway company Deutsche Bahn suggested that Thunberg may not have spent the whole time sitting on the floor. And the 16-year-old Swedish activist later sought to draw a line under the matter by tweeting that she eventually got a seat and that overcrowded trains are a good thing. Some Twitter users expressed pity for Thunberg for not being able to get a proper seat on the train for the long ride home from Madrid, where she was attending the U.N. climate change conference. Others wished her a safe trip home after months of traveling by trains and boats to different climate events in Europe and the United States. Greta Thunberg listens to speeches before addressing the U.N. climate conference in Madrid. Photo / AP Thunberg doesn't fly on planes because it's considered harmful to the climate. Last week, she was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for her efforts to prod government and others to take faster actions in fighting climate change. Deutsche Bahn, which used to be famous for its punctuality, has come under fire in recent years for delays, last-minute train cancellations and expensive ticket fares. In Deutsche Bahn's first reply to the teenager's initial tweet, the company wished her a good trip back home and adding that "we continue working hard on getting more trains, connections and seats." Later, however, the railway company wrote in a statement to the media that Thunberg had a seat in first class between Kassel and Hamburg and that other members of her team were already sitting in first class from Frankfurt onwards. In the photo on Twitter, Thunberg is sitting on the floor at the end of a rail car with her back leaning against a suitcase, staring out of a window. There's an empty food box next to her and more suitcases and backpacks piled up by her side. Later on Sunday, Deutsche Bahn tweeted twice more in regard to Thunberg's train travels through Germany. In the first tweet, the company thanks the teenager for supporting Deutsche Bahn's battle against climate change and pointed out that the train she used had been running 100% on eco-friendly electricity. In the second tweet, however, Deutsche Bahn seemed to suggest that Thunberg hadn't spent the entire train ride sitting on the floor. The company pointed out to the teenager that "it would have been even nicer if you had also reported how friendly and competently our team served you at your seat in first class." Thunberg later tweeted that the fact she didn't first sit in a seat wasn't meant as a knock against Deutsche Bahn. She wrote that "this is no problem of course and I never said it was. Overcrowded trains is a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high!"   Mon, 16 Dec 2019 01:57:06 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/graeme-edgelar-former-wellington-mayor-justin-lester-wants-a-recount/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/graeme-edgelar-former-wellington-mayor-justin-lester-wants-a-recount/ Ousted Justin Lester has officially called for a mayoral vote recount in Wellington. It comes after results put Mayor Andy Foster just 62 votes ahead of Lester to claim the city's top job. Lester was at the Wellington District Court this afternoon to lodge a request with a judge to recount the mayoral votes. Outside of court, he said he believed there was a "strong likelihood" there should be a manual recount. It would now be up to a judge to decide but there had been no indication of a timeframe, Lester said. Justin Lester and Graeme Edgeler outside Wellington District Court. Photo / Emme McKay Wellington City Council uses the STV voting system, which sees voters rank their mayoral preferences. There were at least 302 partially informal votes which were excluded because voters filled the form out incorrectly. In Lester's formal application, it said 193 of the partially informal votes were in Lester's favour and 109 in Foster's. "The 84-vote difference here would be enough to change the result, if on a close inspection of the votes they were held to express a valid preference between Mr Foster and Mr Lester," it reads. In response to people telling Lester to move on, he said they needed to make sure "they got it right." "This is a sliding doors moment for the city, there's a potential to end up with a New Zealand First mayor with Andy Foster verses a Labour mayor with very different values. "I owe it to the 27,000 people who have voted for me, who have come out in large numbers and supported me and said we want you to do this recount and we want to make sure that democracy works and the election is transparent." Lester's legal counsel Graeme Edgeler said they had asked for a manual recount of the votes. "How do you know that the computers got it right? The one way you do is someone has to look to check the computers were right." There had been instances in the United States with computer counts were they had done recounts and several hundred votes had changed, he said. There was also Winston Peters' recount from the 1978 general election. Edgeler said they would try and tell the judge it was the voter's "intent" that mattered and showing what the voters intended to do, particularly with the 302 partially informal votes. Fri, 25 Oct 2019 03:31:56 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/sky-city-convention-centre-fire-latest-blow-in-a-string-of-project-controversies/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/sky-city-convention-centre-fire-latest-blow-in-a-string-of-project-controversies/ Herald property editor Anne Gibson says the Sky City Convention Centre project's been marred with controversy from day one. She says it begins with the original deal to build the centre back in 2013. Since then there have been disputes involving SkyCity gaming machines, Fletchers Construction being fined 40-million-dollars for project delays - and now today's fire. Anne Gibson told Andrew Dickens just last week, SkyCity chief executive Graeme Stephens said it will open in October 2020. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 22 Oct 2019 02:21:39 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/drug-educator-shorter-sentences-for-drug-addicts-could-be-problematic/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/drug-educator-shorter-sentences-for-drug-addicts-could-be-problematic/ In a landmark judgment released by the Court of Appeal, meth dealers who can prove their addiction caused their offending could have their sentences cut. An offender's role in a drug network will also have a greater bearing on the length of a prison sentence, or if they're jailed at all. What's more, a drug dealer's poverty and deprivation will be considered as potential mitigating factors. CEO of The Drug Detection Agency Kirk Hardy, who informs workplace drug policy and testing, told Andrew Dickens with so many factors it will end up coming down to the judge’s discretion. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 21 Oct 2019 01:51:43 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/ginger-baker-creams-volatile-drummer-dies-at-80/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/ginger-baker-creams-volatile-drummer-dies-at-80/ Ginger Baker, the volatile and propulsive British musician who was best known for his time with the power trio Cream, died Sunday at age 80, his family said. Baker wielded his blues power and jazz technique to help break open popular music and become one of the world's most admired and feared musicians. With blazing eyes, orange-red hair and a temperament to match, the London native ranked with The Who's Keith Moon and Led Zeppelin's John Bonham as the embodiment of musical and personal fury. Using twin bass drums, Baker fashioned a pounding, poly-rhythmic style uncommonly swift and heavy that inspired and intimidated countless musicians. But every beat seemed to mirror an offstage eruption — whether his violent dislike of Cream bandmate Jack Bruce or his on-camera assault of a documentary maker, Jay Bulger, whom he smashed in the nose with his walking stick. Bulger would call the film, released in 2012, "Beware of Mr. Baker." Baker's family said on Twitter that he died Sunday: "We are very sad to say that Ginger has passed away peacefully in hospital this morning." His daughter Nettie confirmed that Baker died in Britain but gave no other details. The family had said on Sept. 25 that Baker was critically ill in the hospital. While Rolling Stone magazine once ranked him the third-greatest rock drummer of all time, behind Moon and Bonham, Baker had contempt for Moon and others he dismissed as "bashers" without style or background. Baker and his many admirers saw him as a rounded, sophisticated musician — an arranger, composer and student of the craft, absorbing sounds from around the world. He had been playing jazz since he was a teenager and spent years in Africa in the 1970s, forming a close friendship with the Nigerian musician-activist Fela Kuti. Ginger Baker (c) with Cream in 1967. Photo / AP "He was so unique and had such a distinctive personality," Stewart Copeland of the Police told www.musicradar.com in 2013. "Nobody else followed in his footsteps. Everybody tried to be John Bonham and copy his licks, but it's rare that you hear anybody doing the Ginger Baker thing." But many fans thought of Baker as a rock star, who teamed with Eric Clapton and Bruce in the mid-1960s to become Cream — one of the first supergroups and first power trios. All three were known individually in the London blues scene and together they helped make rock history by elevating instrumental prowess above the songs themselves, even as they had hits with "Sunshine of Your Love," ''I Feel Free" and "White Room." Cream was among the most successful acts of its time, selling more than 10 million records. But by 1968 Baker and Bruce had worn each other out and even Clapton had tired of their deafening, marathon jams, including the Baker showcase "Toad," one of rock's first extended drum solos. Cream split up at the end of the year, departing with two sold-out shows at London's Albert Hall. When told by Bulger that he was a founding father of heavy metal, Baker snarled that the genre "should have been aborted." To the surprise of many, especially Clapton, he and Baker were soon part of another super group, Blind Faith, which also featured singer-keyboardist Stevie Winwood and bassist Ric Grech. As Clapton would recall, he and Winwood had been playing informally when Baker turned up (Baker would allege that Clapton invited him). Named Blind Faith by a rueful Clapton, the band was overwhelmed by expectations from the moment it debuted in June 1969 before some 100,000 at a concert in London's Hyde Park. It split up after completing just one, self-titled album, as notable for its cover photo of a topless young girl as for its music. A highlight from the record: Baker's cymbal splashes on Winwood's lyrical ballad "Can't Find My Way Home." From the 1970s on, Baker was ever more unpredictable. He moved to Nigeria, took up polo, drove a Land Rover across the Sahara, lived on a ranch in South Africa, divorced his first wife and married three more times. He recorded with Kuti and other Nigerians, jammed with Art Blakey, Elvin Jones and other jazz drummers and played with John Lydon's Public Image Ltd. He founded Ginger Baker's Air Force, which cost a fortune and imploded after two albums. He endured his old enemy, Bruce, when Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and for Cream reunion concerts a decade later. Bruce died in 2014. Ginger Baker performs at the 'Zildjian Drummers Achievement Awards' at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2008. Photo / AP Baker continued to perform regularly in his 70s despite arthritis, heart trouble, hearing loss dating from his years with Cream and lung disease from smoking. A stranger to no vice, immodesty included, he called his memoir "Hellraiser: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Drummer." "John Bonham once made a statement that there were only two drummers in British rock 'n' roll; himself and Ginger Baker," Baker wrote in his book. "My reaction to this was, 'You cheeky little bastard!'" Born in 1939, Peter Edward Baker was the son of a bricklayer killed during World War II when Ginger was just 4. His father left behind a letter that Ginger Baker would quote from: "Use your fists; they're your best pals so often." Baker was a drummer from early on, even rapping out rhythms on his school desk as he mimicked the big band music he loved and didn't let the occasional caning from a teacher deter him. As a teenager, he was playing in local groups and was mentored by percussionist Phil Seamen. "At this party, there was a little band and all the kids chanted at me, 'Play the drums!''', Baker told The Independent in 2009. "I'd never sat behind a kit before, but I sat down — and I could play! One of the musicians turned round and said, 'Bloody hell, we've got a drummer', and I thought, 'Bloody hell, I'm a drummer.'" Baker came of age just as London was learning the blues, with such future superstars as Clapton, Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page among the pioneers. Baker joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, where he met (and soon disliked, for allegedly playing too loud) the Scottish-born bassist Jack Bruce, with whom he was thrown together again as members of the popular British group the Graham Bond Organization. Clapton, meanwhile, was London's hottest guitarist, thanks to his work with the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Blues Breakers, his extraordinary speed and agility inspiring "Clapton is God" graffiti. Clapton, Baker and Bruce would call their band Cream because they considered themselves the best musicians around. "Oh for god's sake, I've never played rock," Baker told the blog JazzWax in 2013. "Cream was two jazz players and a blues guitarist playing improvised music. We never played the same thing two nights running. Jack and I had been in jazz bands for years. All that stuff I did on the drums in Cream didn't come from drugs, either. It was from me. It was jazz." Mon, 07 Oct 2019 01:22:25 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/family-members-of-the-pike-river-victims-re-enter-the-mine/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/family-members-of-the-pike-river-victims-re-enter-the-mine/ Another milestone for families of the Pike River Mine victims. The agency has accompanied family members 170 metres in the mine's drift. It's the closest they've come to their loved ones, since they perished almost nine years ago. 九一星空无限talk ZB reporter Rachel Das told Andrew Dickens it was a very emotional day for the families.  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 03 Oct 2019 00:23:33 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/community-devastated-as-maketu-pies-goes-into-receivership/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/community-devastated-as-maketu-pies-goes-into-receivership/ Whether it's mince and cheese, smoked fish, butter chicken - Maketu Pies is an iconic brand many Kiwis have grown to know and love. Nestled in a small town on the Bay of Plenty coast is where the pies are made. Almost everyone who lives there has worked there, or still does. Now, the Maketu community has been devastated by the news the company has gone into receivership. Reporter Zoe Hunter talks to residents and the receivers. Bay of Plenty Times reporter Zoe Hunter told Andrew Dickens it's rocked the tight-knit community to its core.  LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 01 Oct 2019 03:06:37 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/over-half-of-kiwis-would-rather-talk-politics-sex-or-drugs-rather-than-money/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/over-half-of-kiwis-would-rather-talk-politics-sex-or-drugs-rather-than-money/ Conversations about money can be difficult. We don’t like talking about it. According to research from Sorted, over half of us would rather talk about sex, drugs or politics than the dreaded M word. As we kick into Money Week, Sorted Editor Tom Hartmann joined Andrew Dickens to discuss how not talking about money can be a source of stress, anxiety and unnecessary problems for many families.  LISTEN ABOVE   Mon, 09 Sept 2019 03:04:06 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-the-fundamental-right-to-vote-shouldnt-be-taken-from-anyone/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-the-fundamental-right-to-vote-shouldnt-be-taken-from-anyone/ A view that prisoners should be encouraged to be an active part of society, rather than shut out. A Waitangi Tribunal report says the 2010 law change which bans prisoners from voting, goes against the Crown's treaty obligations.   It says it leads to a significant prejudice against Maori. 九一星空无限talkzb's political editor Barry Soper told Andrew Dickens while many rights are denied to prisoners, the right to vote shouldn't be one of them. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 12 Aug 2019 01:21:05 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/medical-breakthrough-menopause-can-be-delayed-for-20-years-doctor-claims/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/medical-breakthrough-menopause-can-be-delayed-for-20-years-doctor-claims/ Women can delay the menopause by up to 20 years with a new 30-minute operation that tricks their biological clocks into thinking they are much younger than they are. The revolutionary procedure is set to transform the lives of thousands of women who suffer severe side effects of the menopause, such as osteoporosis and heart problems. For millions more, the appeal of delaying the menopause would be a reduction of often debilitating physical and emotional problems such as hot flushes, a reduced sex drive, night sweats and mood swings. The surgical procedure, devised by the fertility expert who pioneered IVF, sees tissue from the ovaries, thawed, and then transplanted back into the armpit, the Daily Mail reports.  It also has the potential to extend fertility – though doctors say the aim is to postpone the menopause rather than give women the chance to have babies into their 60s. According to The Sunday Times, nine British women, aged between 22 and 36, have already undergone the surgical procedure, which is being offered privately to any British woman up to the age of 40.  The 33-year-old teacher had been diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 20 and underwent a hysterectomy last year. She underwent the operation at the same time as having the pioneering menopause treatment, and had her ovarian tissue immediately placed back inside her. As a result, she claims she no longer suffers from side effects such as pain, mood wings and a bad night's sleep.  She said: 'I was first diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 20 years old. I had about 12 years of going through all sorts of different things.  'I'd had six laparoscopies and I'd got to the point where I needed to do something to take control of the situation. 'I thought my final option to win the battle was to have a hysterectomy.  'It was something I had thought about for a number of years. My husband and I decided together that my quality of life was more important than anything else.' But when she came in for her consultation, specialists told her about a procedure called ovarian grafting - and that she could treat her condition - and delay the onset of menopause at the same time.    She said: 'I was a little anxious at first because I hadn't heard of it.  'But going away from the hospital I felt really lucky that I'd been chosen to have surgery like that, because it was so new and because of the benefits it could have.  'I'd had symptoms in the past, so I didn't want to experience the hot flushes, the mood swings and all the things that go along with the menopause. That was a huge bonus for me.' More than a year after her surgery, Dixie-Louise is fully recovered and pain-free, adding: 'My quality of life has improved dramatically.  'I am pain free. I no longer have mood swings, hot flushes, I don't wake up in the night any more. 'I can't believe something so simple that was already inside me has changed my life completely. 'It's been a really hard road to get here, but I would choose this a million times over.'    The procedure works by taking some of ovarian tissue and freezing it at minus 150C, before storing it in an ice bank. When the woman reaches the menopause, it is thawed and transplanted back, kick-starting the natural hormones that stave off the menopause. The operation is currently only available at the Birmingham-based private company ProFam (Protecting Family and Menopause), which is run by Professor Simon Fishel, an IVF pioneer whose work led to the birth of Natalie Brown, the sister of the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown.  It costs between £3,000 and £7,000 for the removal and storage of ovarian tissue, 'I have to say I never felt any pain, and it seems quite miraculous that it's something so straightforward,' said the 34-year-old married mother-of-one. Professor Fishel said: 'Women are living longer than at any time in human history. 'It's quite likely that many women will be in the menopause for longer than their fertile period.  We are empowering women to take control of their own health by naturally delaying their menopause.' A version of the technique called ovarian tissue cryopreservation has already preserved fertility in women starting treatment for cancer. However, ProFam is the first to offer women free from disease the chance to freeze their ovarian tissue to delay their menopause, which happens when levels of the hormone oestrogen fall as a result of ovaries no longer producing eggs. 'We are at a fascinating point in the evolution of our species, but particularly in relation to medical care where remarkable things are happening,' added Professor Fishel. 'Now we can start to offer something to a younger generation of women that's never been available before.'   Mon, 05 Aug 2019 03:30:03 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/newstalk-zb-hosts-and-personalities-react-to-cricket-world-cup-final/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/newstalk-zb-hosts-and-personalities-react-to-cricket-world-cup-final/ A reminder to the Black Caps and their fans that a game is just a game. The Black Caps have lost to England in the Cricket World Cup final on a technicality, after pulling off the first tie in World Cup history. A number of people around the 九一星空无限talk ZB newsroom are still coming to terms with what transpired.  Psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald says it will take a while for the team to come to terms with the loss. But he says both players, and fans, need to keep the game in perspective. "It's incredibly meaningful for anyone who follows it, but ultimately it's completely meaningless. It's a great time to be philosophical!"  For a different perspective, NZ Herald Business Editor Liam Dann told Andrew Dickens that a new report from the Harvard Business Review have identified three main ways people respond to defeat. "Some people are extra punitive, prone to unfairly blaming others, some as in-punitive, they deny the failure has occurred or their role in it, and some as intro-punitive, judging themselves too harshly and imagining failures where they do not exist. He says the research can help put the loss into perspective.  "It's often not possible to write a failure, correct a failure, especially not when you are a spectator in a sporting game, but it is always possible to make things worse by overreacting." Try telling that to all those still fuming over the overthrows rule... Mon, 15 Jul 2019 03:55:57 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talk-of-cheaper-public-transport-fares-for-families-welcomed/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talk-of-cheaper-public-transport-fares-for-families-welcomed/ Auckland Mayor Phil Goff proposes cheaper fares for families, children on Auckland's public transport. Meanwhile Hamilton mayor Andrew King wants free public transport for all city residents Jessica called Andrew Dickens to talk about the rising cost of paying for her children's transport.  Mon, 08 Jul 2019 04:09:38 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-family-funded-care-here-next-year/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-family-funded-care-here-next-year/ People caring for disabled family no longer have to be employed by the person they care for. It's part of changes to Funded Family Care policy, which will allow partners to be paid to look after their disabled or ill loved ones. The policy had required the person with high needs to employ their carer. 九一星空无限talkzb's political editor Barry Soper told Andrew Dickens it's a more realistic way to cover a very difficult time.  Mon, 08 Jul 2019 03:39:18 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/andrew-dickens-keep-making-yourself-better-every-day/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/andrew-dickens-keep-making-yourself-better-every-day/ OPINION So what dispiriting news. Turns out the emissions of households in New Zealand have risen by 20% in a decade. We’re using more cars.  Our households consume and dispose more stuff.  We fly everywhere more often because it’s never been cheaper.  Meanwhile down on the farms emission from sheep, beef, deer and poultry are down very slightly on 10 years ago.  Well done lads. But dear old dairy is up contributing more emissions than the manufacturing and electricity and gas supply industries combined, rising 27 per cent over a decade. This is the reality.  Despite all the awareness and all the well meaning changes we’ve had a crack at we’re worse than ever. That includes all the greenies who hector us.  That includes all the striking school children who say nobody’s listening or acting and then pop off with Mum and Dad in the July school holidays for a carbon belching  road trip or Pacific Island holiday. Talk is cheap and walking the walk is hard.  That said, we would have been even dirtier if we hadn’t made the changes I know many of us have made.  It would be easy to take this disappointing news and give up.  But one thing I’ve realised as time goes by is that the best change is achieved through evolution and not revolution.  The people who claim they can turn the supertanker that is society are dreamers.  You know the ones.  The ones who bellow about transformation.  We’re always transforming, the important thing is to transform the right way.   There’s a Japanese word for that.  Kaizen.  Basically it means improvement but it’s improvement that is continuous.  A constant process of getting better and better. And in business the Japnese use Kaizen to say that the continuous improvement of functions extend from the CEO to the assembly line workers. That’s what we need to do as a community in all things. Every day In this job I see too many people finding a chink in any argument and then using that chink to dismiss the whole idea.  That’s the recipe for standing still and everyone and everything that stands still is in fact falling behind. I guess what I’m saying is that for a better country.  A better planet.  A better family.  A better job.  A better everything.  Then you have to keep making yourself better every day Leighton always used to worry that little by little, bit by bit, our society was getting worse.  But the opposite is also true.  Little by little, bit by bit we can be better. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:29:51 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-who-will-be-the-winners-and-losers-of-the-cabinet-reshuffle/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-who-will-be-the-winners-and-losers-of-the-cabinet-reshuffle/ Jacinda Ardern's mettle will be tested today as she unveils her first Cabinet reshuffle since becoming Prime Minister. 九一星空无限talkzb's political editor Barry Soper says Ardern's been playing it down, as minor so significant change is unlikely. He told Andrew Dickens that issues like KiwiBuild, Karel Sroubek and several DHB debacles could come back to haunt Ministers. "The difficulty is will Phil Twyford keep his Housing portfolio. The other people who will be sweating will be Iain-Leses Galloway and his handling of the Karel Sroubek affair. David Clark, the Health Minister, will probably survive but the District Health Board's have gone through all sorts of problems." Soper says that Ardern has defended Twyford's role in the KiwiBuild stuff-up, but says his role could still be tweaked.  On the other hand, Soper predicts Kris Faafoi will be popping the champagne tonight. "Faafoi is a Minister outside of Cabinet, so he will probably step up today."  He says that Meka Whaitiri could be reinstated as there is some pressure from the party's Maori caucus.  The announcement's expected at 3:15pm. Thu, 27 Jun 2019 01:54:47 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/for-the-first-time-statistics-new-zealand-has-collected-information-about-sexual-identity/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/for-the-first-time-statistics-new-zealand-has-collected-information-about-sexual-identity/ People who identify as bisexual are more likely to have worse mental wellbeing than heterosexual Kiwis, according to new data. For the first time, Statistics New Zealand's General Social Survey (GSS) included information about people's sexual identity. The figures show that 1.9 per cent of Kiwis identify as bisexual and 1.1 per cent said they were gay or lesbian. Almost seven in 10 of those who identified as bisexual were female, while six in 10 people who identified as gay/lesbian were male. Some 96.5 per cent of New Zealanders identified as being heterosexual. The remaining 0.5 per cent of people identified as other identities, including either takatāpui, asexual and pansexual. LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW DICKENS TALKS TO CALLER MICHAEL  Stats NZ's general manager Jason Attewell said the new data highlights wellbeing disparities and will help the Government to better address some of the concerns. When it comes to measuring overall life satisfaction, people who identified as bisexual were the least satisfied with life. Stats NZ data showed that close to 8 out of 10 adults rated their overall life satisfaction at 7 out of 10 or higher. But, on the same measure, just 6 out of 10 bisexual people rated their life satisfaction as a seven or above. "The lower life satisfaction rating for people identifying as bisexual was reflected across a number of wellbeing measures," the report said. For example, a third of people who identified as bisexual reported having poor mental wellbeing. That compares to roughly a fifth of adults who reported having poor mental wellbeing. Meanwhile, the data showed that people who identified as gay/lesbian or bisexual found it "significantly harder to express their identity than Kiwis who identified as heterosexual. Some 74 per cent of gay/lesbian, and 70 per cent of bisexual people, found it "very easy" to express their identity. That number is 85 per cent compared with heterosexual people. Stats NZ officials say that the next GSS – which will be released in 2020 – will include statistics on gender identity and people's "sex at birth". In terms of New Zealander's overall wellbeing, the majority of Kiwis – some 80 per cent – rated their life satisfaction highly, a 7 out of 10 or higher on the wellbeing scale. Wed, 26 Jun 2019 03:23:46 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/willy-de-wit-and-david-downs-discuss-new-mental-health-series/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/willy-de-wit-and-david-downs-discuss-new-mental-health-series/ A new documentary series has shone a light on the plight of mental health amongst Kiwi men. In My Mind centres around prominent Kiwis, Paul Whatuira, Willy de Wit and David Downs as they examine their mental health issues and their own difficulties.  The two-part documentary aired on TVNZ this month and is still available for streaming, and is split into two parts: Breaking Point and Mid-Life Crisis. Comedians Willy de Wit and David Downs have suffered their own medical issues - de Wit suffered from a stroke in 2016, and Downs was diagnosed with cancer in late 2017, which was meant to be terminal. The two joined Andrew Dickens to discuss their involvement in Mid-Life Crisis and how they have fought back against their demons.    Tue, 25 Jun 2019 02:14:06 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-react-to-israel-folaus-latest-setback/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-react-to-israel-folaus-latest-setback/ Israel Folau has once again faced setbacks in his battle against Rugby Australia - but will this latest move hurt or help his cause?  GoFundMe has removed Folau's fundraising page from its website and is issuing refunds to all his donors, saying the campaign breached its terms of service. "Today we will be closing Israel Folau's campaign and issuing full refunds to all donors. After a routine period of evaluation, we have concluded that this campaign violates our terms of service," said Nicola Britton, GoFundMe's Australia Regional Manager. "As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity. While we welcome GoFundMe's engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion. "In the days since Mr Folau's campaign launched, more than one million dollars have been donated to hundreds of other campaigns, large and small, across Australia. Those acts of kindness are the heart of GoFundMe. Folau launched the campaign on Friday. He asked for support to fund his legal battle against Rugby Australia, which terminated his $4 million contract in May after a post he made on social media was deemed homophobic. It followed a similar incident last year. His April post on Instagram said: "WARNING Drunks, Homosexuals, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Idolaters HELL AWAITS YOU Repent! Only Jesus Saves". Folau has launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia and is seeking up to $10 million in damages. The former Wallaby and committed Christian thanked donors over the weekend, and said he was "unsurprised" by criticism from RA and others over his decision to set up the page. "The money that is donated will be used to fund my legal battle, which could take years. While the attacks against me have shown I have a big fight on my hands, I will stand strong," Folau wrote on social media. "Your support and my faith in Jesus Christ will give me strength." While many relished in the result, others feared the heavy-handed response could work in Folau's favour. Others encouraged Folau to continue to fight. "GoFundMe bends a knee to the LBG mob and joins the pack attack on Folau," columnist Lawrence Money tweeted. "He should set up his own fund. He'd collect even more after this." Daily Telegraph columnist Miranda Devine added: "The haters and Christophobes have forced Israel Folau's church into hiding and GoFundMe appears to have closed his account, in the usual illiberal way of woke corporates. Did you know GoFundMe takes 5 per cent of donations? So it's reaped $40,000 from Folau." Talkback callers to Andrew Dickens were mixed in their support, with some questioning whether this will add credence to Folau's claims around free speech and prejudice, while others asked argued that he is simply facing the consequences for his actions.  Mon, 24 Jun 2019 03:09:34 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-on-how-to-kill-rats-after-new-zealand-wide-outbreak/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-on-how-to-kill-rats-after-new-zealand-wide-outbreak/ Work's begun to control the rat and wild chicken population in West Auckland. Locals have recently raised concerns about an infestation of huge rats scurrying about in the Titirangi village centre. Many believe the problem is  overfeeding of the village chickens which is giving the rats plenty to feast on. Auckland Council says it's increasing its rodent control activity in local parks and facilities. It's also commissioned a report on chicken control options and is warning residents not to feed the birds. Rats are also on the run in leafy east Auckland, with hundreds of households tooled up and hunting the furry vermin. Today, Kit Parkinson, chairman of the Ōrākei Local Board, which helps fund rat-trapping, told of large numbers of rats plaguing the city's eastern waterfront. "We've had a huge inundation of rats in Selwyn Reserve at Mission Bay. It's been reported by dozens of constituents plus businesspeople down there. Our contractors are reporting it as well." Contractors were using bait and traps to control the vermin. Parkinson has a trap in the backyard of his home, near Kohimarama's Mary Atkin Reserve, which had caught a number of rats, but not as many as the cat. The aim of the Eastern Bays Songbird Project, funded mainly by Parkinson's board, Auckland Council, Kiwibank, Predator Free NZ Trust and the Department of Conservation, is to have traps in a quarter of east Auckland's 30,000 backyards. Since it began in late 2017 it had lent out 1083 rat traps and 189 possum traps, said project manager Kerry Lukies. Most of the rat traps were at people's homes, but there were also many on Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei land. The predator control group asked trap users to report catches and the tally to date was 687 rats and 267 possums. Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:24:05 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/zbs-award-winners-share-their-secrets-of-the-trade/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/zbs-award-winners-share-their-secrets-of-the-trade/ Three of 九一星空无限talk ZB's newly crowned radio award winners have reacted to their wins.  Political Editor Barry Soper claimed Best 九一星空无限 or Sports Journalist for his work over the last year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldgrave picked up Best Sportsreader, Presenter or Commentator for his eponymous show on Radio Sport, alongside Goran Paladin. And Raylene Ramsay won Best 九一星空无限reader on her third nomination for the prize. All three joined Andrew Dickens for their regular slots on The Hour, and were pressed for their reactions to their wins. Soper says that his contact book is the secret to his success.  "It's about working your contacts, and hopefully keeping the public well informed."  LISTEN ABOVE Fri, 21 Jun 2019 03:36:55 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/changes-to-vehicle-safety-rules-could-hit-low-income-earners-hardest/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/changes-to-vehicle-safety-rules-could-hit-low-income-earners-hardest/ An advocacy group has called for a ban on the imports of certain vehicles, and talkback callers have a mixed reaction.  Older Suzuki Swifts and Toyota Corollas could be banned from entering the country, under suggested changes to vehicle safety rules. The Government's set to consider a reference group's recommendations which include banning vehicles with fewer than three safety stars from entering the fleet. These are some of the most popular imported models. The Motor Trade Association is part of the reference group it says the import ban would create a level playing field for vehicle safety. The MTA says the number of fatal crashes caused by vehicle faults has been on the rise since 2015. Other recommendations from the reference group include getting unsafe vehicles off the road quicker, and promoting vehicle features that better protect pedestrians. Callers to Andrew Dickens made their thoughts very clear on the matter.  Caller Marie says she doesn’t think this is the right thing to do, but does see the government’s point of wanting to get people into safer cars. “Making moves to try and educate people about car safety would be a much better strategy. This feels like another smack towards the poor, by telling them you can have that cheaper car, you need a more expensive one which is safer.” Caller Steve says that there are so many variances between certain car models and individual cars, that this idea is ridiculous.  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE Mon, 17 Jun 2019 04:16:38 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/spice-girls-hint-they-are-finally-coming-down-under/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/spice-girls-hint-they-are-finally-coming-down-under/ The Spice Girls have hinted that their sellout reunion tour will travel to Australia early next year, after Mel B made a surprise announcement during the group's final performance at London's Wembley Stadium Saturday evening. "We'll see you in February in Australia," Mel B told the crowd. Details of live dates in Australia -- which would be the first time the group has performed in the country -- are yet to be officially announced. However, in a radio interview with Australia's 2Day FM's Grant, Ed and Ash, Mel B admitted the tour isn't locked in. "You know me by now," she said. "I always say the Spice Girls are going to continue and continue and tour the whole world. "My thing is, and I've got a bee in my bonnet about it, is that we need to come to Australia first out the gate. I announced it on stage, yes, without everybody else signing off 100 per cent, but I figured if I put it out there maybe it's going to happen." Ash London said, "So, you're manifesting it?" "Exactly," Mel B replied. The singer known as Scary Spice said her bandmates are "not on board fully, yet," with the idea of an Australian tour. "But I will make sure it actually does it happen," she added. The announcement came at the end of the 13-stop tour, the first tour from the group since 2008 and their first performances since their appearance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. Mel B's announcement wasn't the only surprise. Geri Horner, aka Ginger Spice, also surprised the crowd Saturday by apologising for quitting the group in 1998. "I need to say something I should have said a long time ago," she told the 70,000 fans at Wembley. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left. I was just being a brat. It is so good to be back with the girls that I love." ‘I was being a brat’ - Geri apologises for leaving the Spice Girls (in a way that connected with me, at least, more than ever) #spicegirls #spice #geri #icanbeabrattoo pic.twitter.com/0UPnshgC6F — Jamie Tabberer (@jamietabberer) June 15, 2019 Horner left the group after reportedly suffering from health issues, two years before the whole band went on an indefinite hiatus. Her emotional announcement came at the end of the Spice Girls' 13-date reunion tour, which also took the group to Dublin, Ireland; Cardiff, Wales; Edinburgh, Scotland; and the English cities of Manchester, Coventry, Sunderland and Bristol. Horner also shared a heartfelt video of herself standing inside the empty stadium following the final show. "This is it. They are taking it down. It's been amazing," she said, while shrugging her shoulders. She posted another video thanking her bandmates and everyone who attended the concerts. "Thirteen stadiums. Almost 70,000 people, with three amazing women I've shared that stage with," she said. "I want to say thank you to Melanie, Melanie and Emma and everybody who showed up for us," Horner said, referring to Melanie Brown (Mel B), Melanie Chisholm and Emma Bunton. "It has been something that I will never, ever forget. Thank you so much. Big love from Spice World." A number of high-profile guests attended the concert Saturday, including Grammy award-winning singer Adele. "Last time I saw the Spice Girls at Wembley was 21 years ago," Adele wrote on Instagram. "Tonight with my nearest and dearest i cried, laughed, screamed, danced, reminisced and fell back in love with my 10 year old self. "It's no secret how much I love them, how much they inspired me to run for my life and never look back. I finally got to meet Ginger. I got drunk with the girls and quite frankly I can't believe how far I've come." The Spice Girls launched their reunion tour in May in Dublin, and they performed as a four-piece because Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, declined to take part. Mon, 17 Jun 2019 01:09:15 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-share-their-experiences-with-inter-generational-living/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-share-their-experiences-with-inter-generational-living/ With all the positives and negatives that come attached with it, intergenerational living is fast becoming the new norm for many Kiwi families. Intergenerational living is when family members of all ages - from grandparents to young children - are living together under one roof.  A TVNZ investigation for What's Next has examined how medical advances and longer life expectancy has influenced this, but other factors such as the rising cost of living and housing unaffordability has seen this impact multiple families. Andrew Dickens put the message out to his listeners, and several came back with their own experiences, from German-inspired living to boarding with grandmothers.  Thu, 13 Jun 2019 03:32:37 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-share-their-maternity-stories-as-government-announces-more-funding/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-share-their-maternity-stories-as-government-announces-more-funding/ The Government is investing almost $30 million into maternity services. Minister of Health David Clark has made the announcement at a Health Select Committee meeting . The $29.7 million package is part of Budget 2019 and its wider four billion dollar health package. Clark says it will continue the investment into community midwives.It comes as amid growing criticism aimed at the government over the closure of the Lumsden maternity centre, which has led to numerous reports of women having to give birth in less than ideal circumstances. Earlier today, the New Zealand Herald reported that 90 per cent of maternity wards in New Zealand hospitals have no senior doctors or consultants on site at night. A midwife and a Lumsden local whose wife had two difficult births shared their takes on these latest developments with Andrew Dickens.    Wed, 12 Jun 2019 03:49:37 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-react-to-minimum-wage/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-react-to-minimum-wage/ Talkback callers have made clear their dissatisfaction with the minimum and living wage. K-Mart has agreed to pay its unionised workforce the living wage, following a similar commitment from Bunnings last year. The living wage is currently set at $21.15 an hour, with the adult minimum wage $17.70. Andrew Dickens raised the topic with callers today, and the general consensus was that the higher wage is too costly for businesses and ultimately not worthwhile.    Tue, 11 Jun 2019 05:52:51 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-share-their-experiences-with-the-justice-system/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/talkback-callers-share-their-experiences-with-the-justice-system/ There are no rational reasons for why Maori are treated differently in the justice system, a lawyer says.  The criminal justice system has come under fire after a damning report that laid bare the many issues throughout the system.  An advisory group report recommends a complete overhaul of the system, which it says is failing offenders, victims, and communities. Kingi, who works as a defence lawyer in Manukau, told Andrew Dickens that this is an area New Zealand has been lacking coverage on. He says that, until things change, unconscious bias and colonisation have played a big part of these issues.  "The legacy of colonisation is still alive today. The fact that if you are a Maori person charged with the same crime as a non-Maori person, you are more likely to be arrested for that crime, you are more likely to face charges in the court, you are more likely to go to jail. There's evidence to suggest that Maori are treated differently." Kingi wants to see fewer people end up in the justice system, as young Maori men in the system “more often than not” they graduate to prison. “Once you’re in prison, that’s real university for becoming a seasoned criminal.” He says that it is easy for people to say that they simply need to stop committing crimes, and it's easy for people who have never suffered prejudice.  "If you are Maori or Pasifika, you are treated differently, and the Police have admitted that."  Mon, 10 Jun 2019 04:47:51 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/should-jacinda-ardern-have-been-at-d-day-celebrations/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/should-jacinda-ardern-have-been-at-d-day-celebrations/ A service of commemoration was held in southern England to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, with a  notable absence. Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. President Donald Trump, other leaders of the wartime Allies such as Theresa May, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau — as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel — joined some 300 World War II veterans at the seaside ceremony in Portsmouth Wednesday. The service was held to mark 75 years since troops began to embark from Portsmouth on June 5, 1944, landing in Normandy the next morning. The ceremony kicked off with the recollections of those who took part in the landings, broadcast from a giant screen, setting the tone for a ceremony meant to focus on veterans' sacrifices. New Zealand’s Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy attended on behalf of the New Zealand Government, with no appearance from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern or Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Andrew Dickens asked why neither of them had gone to the event, when other world leaders – including Australia’s Scott Morrison – had attended. Dickens noted that, as far as he could see, Ardern had not attended a D-Day events in New Zealand, which left him "surprised and horrified".  "I want to find out what she thinks is so important on the 75th anniversary of D-Day that she should be in Marlborough talking about her budget and not at the National War Memorial. It seems like the call is getting worse."  Callers in response agreed with his calls, with one saying that it was "appalling" that she was not there."  Thu, 06 Jun 2019 03:26:53 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/should-love-island-be-screened-during-the-afternoon/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/should-love-island-be-screened-during-the-afternoon/ Is 5pm too early in the day for a dating 'hook-up' show to screen on television? The latest season of the UK reality sensation Love Island premieres on Three this afternoon. NZ Herald TV reviewer Anna Murray wrote that the show is about a "group of young, confident, conventionally good-looking Brits hit a Majorcan villa in the hope of finding love and/or winning a cash prize of £50,000. "With dozens of cameras fixed on them around the compound, the group's mission is clearly spelled out: Couple up or go home." Andrew Dickens says that the timing is an obvious attempt to compete with the ratings juggernaut of The Chase, a quiz show that airs on TVNZ 1 at the same time.  He says it is a "raunchy overly provactive festival of millennials making out or fighting", that has led to a "pornification of 5'o'clock".  Dickens wants to know why the show isn't rated to be on later at night. "Most of these hook-up programmes go on after 8pm. Why is this on at 5pm?"  The news of the timeslot sparked outrage and derision by a number of talkback callers, with many saying that it should nopt be on that early.  However, one caller, Clare, says that the timeslot may be pointless, as streaming services and DVR's means that anyone can watch anything at any time.  "You do wonder how the Broadcasting Standards Authority can ever implement anything in the future based on that."  Wed, 05 Jun 2019 04:14:19 Z /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/andrew-dickens-discusses-budget-2019-with-kpmg/ /on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/andrew-dickens-discusses-budget-2019-with-kpmg/ The Government’s investing $10.7 billion in Budget 2019 to improve New Zealanders’ wellbeing in a world-first budget, but are the numbers good enough?  Andrew Dickens is joined by KPMG's Director Harriet Dempsey and Tax Advisor Bruce Bernacchi, alongside ZB political editor, to discuss this year's budget. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the Government’s delivered critical investments needed to help address long-term challenges, while sticking to its self-imposed Budget Responsibility Rules. That means net core Crown debt as a percentage of GDP is forecast to be 19.9 percent in 2021/22. And the surplus will grow to $6.1 billion by 2022/23. Bernacchi told Andrew Dickens he's sceptical. "I would be surprised if we ever get to the point that the Government has a $6 billion surplus and hasn't found a way to spend it. If you look at these numbers, there's a lot of extra spending planned there, there's nothing about raising any new revenues." He says that they the Government is hoping for three per cent GDP growth year on year in order to drive economic activity and drive the taxes to pay for this budget.  Dempsey says that the planned infrastructure commission will be beneficial to the economy and business, with new incentives that will encourage working together.  "That body is there, and now has the funding to promote good infrastructure."  Bernacchi says that in order to get that good infrastructure will be costly.  Thu, 30 May 2019 04:03:29 Z