Andrew Dickens Afternoons

Once again this government’s values have collided with a region’s desire to gain jobs as an application to mine West Coast coal has been refused.Rangatira Developments wanted to take 250,000 tonnes of coal annually from an open cast mine that would cover 109 hectares in total.But the scheme involves 12 hectares of conservation land so the government said no.The Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage, turned down the application to mine conservation land because it would create irreparable damage to the area. She says it was an undisturbed area with threatened plants and wildlife including the great spotted kiwi, land snails and lizards.Locals are not happy. Buller Mayor Garry Howard says the decision put the whole project, and 60 jobs, in doubt, as the land in question was at the entrance to the larger site. He says there is a place for boutique mining such as this one.After all says the Mayor, DOC has 1.6 million hectares of land on the West Coast, and this application involved just 12 hectares of it.You could

Fine skies and good vibes are greeting farmers on day two of Fieldays in Hamilton.Bad weather and flooding prevented some farmers from making it to Mystery Creek for the first day yesterday.The Country's Rowena Duncum told Andrew Dickens the crowds are bigger today."Things are looking up. Everyone I've spoken to once again today is positive, as they were yesterday but there's a lot more people here today."LISTEN ABOVE AS ROWENA DUNCUM SPEAKS WITH ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacinda Ardern isn’t even in the maternity ward yet but the mice are already starting to play.On the surface of things, stuff is unravelling amongst the B team of the government. We seem to have a government that has a few people talking the talk but not walking the walkShane Jones is back to his bluster. With his ego fully unchecked, calling himself the first citizen of the regions, he’s taken aim at Fonterra and it’s chairman John Wilson. Saying that something is deeply wrong and calling for Wilson to take a cab out of town he let himself down when asked for specifics of his concerns with the coop. He couldn’t answer that one.It appears that Shane has spoken to some farmers who have some grumbles. Well, that’s not news. But without the knowledge to substantiate his claims, he looks like a grandstander rampaging around in an electorate he doesn’t know. Farmers are already suspicious that this government doesn’t really understand their sector and Shane’s outburst won’t set their mind at restAs I understand it

Caller Allan talking to Andrew about suggestions that the annual rural schools Calf Club Day should be abandoned due to the M Bovis issue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big weekend of politics both internationally and locally.Of course, the performance of Donald Trump at the G7 got many people exercised. But none of his shenanigans should have surprised anyone. Donald Trump plays to his support base first in all things so to be so blatantly protectionist went down very well in the United States.To criticise Trump is to antagonise his supporters, so to say his attitude was overly aggressive and his threat of automobile tariffs was excessive and possibly damaging for the American economy as well as the Canadian draws complaints that you’re a liberal snowflake with no idea. But that is a very real consequence of the Presidents hardball play.For all the comments that Donald Trump is unpredictable, everything he has done has been predictable as he fulfils his election pledges. I’m only concerned as to whether they will work and in that regard I am undecided and I guess we will just have to wait and see.Some have said his tough line towards Canada while withdrawing his signature

LISTEN TO CALLER GARY TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOUT HIS OWN CHILDHOODAbout eight per cent of New Zealand children have social, emotional and/or behavioural problems, and another seven per cent are on the borderline of having issues, Ministry of Health statistics say.The numbers have major implications for health and disability services as they could indicate future mental health issues — the largest contributor to disability statistics for 15- to 24-year-olds and about 35 per cent of all health issues for people of that age.That eight per cent figure represents about 57,000 people and suggests better screening of children for mental health issues is needed to ensure no-one missed out on treatment.Issues identified included emotional symptoms, peer problems, hyperactivity and conduct problems."It is possible to detect social, emotional and behavioural difficulties at an early age, which may be indicative of an underlying mental health problem," a new ministry report said. "Being able to do so is important as

So Shane Jones has been in the select committee this week, facing questions about the Provincial Growth Fund.Of course, he faced rigorous questioning as to whether he’s using it as a political slush fund to reward New Zealand First’s friends and win favour in the party’s heartland.It’s an easy accusation to make, so far the prime beneficiaries of Shane’s largesse has been in the North where both he and Winston Peters have their power base.His answer was, to the winner goes the booty and that the North was first up and best dressed. Shane fancies himself as an orator and he’s fond of a flowery flourish but I’m not a fan. It diminishes his authority and reduces my confidence.But that said there is no doubt that the North is starting to feel a little bit better about itself. In fact, it was the star of the latest ASB regional growth survey. They’ve seen Four-point-six per cent employment growth, 5.2 per cent in retail sales, 10.3 per cent house price growth and a 19 per cent growth in construction.So it’s worth

There are calls for the Government to invest more into music venues for underage punters.Ignite Programme says that it is becoming harder for young Kiwis to go to concerts, as strict liquor licensing laws prevent them from attending gigs.The programme’s leader, Savina Fountain, told Andrew Dickens that the limited choice in venues is holding back rising music acts, who can’t find anywhere to perform."The number of venues that are decreasing and shutting down, it's a scary thought, but especially for these young people."Fountain says she has spoken with the Prime Minister about the issue. The Ignite Programme is aiming to give children more opportunities to get a foot in the door. For more on their work, go to www.igniteprogramme.org.nzLISTEN TO SAVINA FOUNTAIN TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are some mornings when I step outside myself and look around my town and wonder at how busy and interconnected it is. This morning was one of those mornings.I headed out just after seven to get a warrant of fitness. I stopped off at the local café to get a coffee.  The barista was already busy and gave me a cheery good morning.  At the testing station a mechanic also said good morning and got cracking on without delay.  The woman at the counter had seen my number plate and had already started the paperwork before I walked in the door.Waiting for the car a man was mowing the berm. Some service station workers were busy and then I saw a man with three medicine balls walking into the gym equipment store across the road.Everybody busy working alone yet the result was keeping the whole town moving forward in their own little way.The way the machine works always blows my mind but today I looked with different eyes as I wondered whether each of these people beavering away were being paid fairly for what they d

The Anthony Peden affair is part of a worrying trend.Peden was the boss of the New Zealand cycling squad who abruptly walked away from his job in recent days.  Subsequently stories have come out saying that there was a bullying and intimidatary regime under his watch.  There were concerns about a drinking culture and finally that he was having an inappropriate relationship.Now all this may be true but at the same time is any of this actually our business.There are accusations that all the news stories are part of a smear campaign run by disgruntled athletes and their acquaintances.  And this is where it gets worrying.  Cycling New Zealand processed Peden’s performance and behaviour and the 2 parted ways and that’s where it should end for the coach.He’s lost his job and his reputation within his chosen career but is there any need for the wider population to hear about his alleged faults?It’s part of the modern complaint where an allegation is all it takes to convict. The rise of the MeToo mindset has made emp

A new documentary on Rhythm and Vines has got many reminiscing about their favourite festival memories. Andrew Dickens is amongst them - the doco has reminded him of his own experiences at the Sweet Water Festival in 1982.LISTEN TO ANDREW'S STORY ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reading the paper this morning it’s very tempting to think that this little nation of ours is well down the road to hell, travelling in a handcart.One article today on business confidence is even headlined 'Business is heading into a winter of discontent'.We hear of loan sharks charging 800 per cent interest.  Mycoplasma Bovis is a billion dollar problem for one of our biggest exports. People earning $100,000 are now being classed as working poor.  Property values are at risk from climate change. Bailed killers will soon be on the streets slaughtering us all. Aucklanders are being hit with a fuel tax and the AA warns of dark days ahead if change isn’t quickly forthcoming. The globe is now in a trade war and the final nail in the coffin is that it’s really really cold for this time of year.Sometimes it’s worth just taking a step back.The billion-dollar bovis problem is certainly a thing but you need some perspective.  The cull will only affect two per cent of our national herd.  An economist says its effects w

The Government has set up a taskforce to deal with the greater than expected impact of China's ban on mixed recycling.China stopped importing recyclable materials last year, affecting many countries around the world, including Australia.New Zealand had been sending 15 million kilograms of recyclables that we can't process here, to China each year. Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage says small stockpiles have been building around the country, and it's clear the situation is not sustainable.She says the taskforce will lead a coordinated response together with waste and business sectors, to find a solution.Newstalk ZB caller, Craig, rang in and talked to Andrew Dickens about the difficulties New Zealand faces in dealing with our ever-expanding recyclable waste, and possible solutions.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday I was doing talkback on a couple of related stories.The first was on the thoughts of Dr Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish education expert who’s just started at the University of New South Wales. He believes all smartphones should be banned at primary school and managed at secondary school because they are a distraction and impediment to learning.This is a similar view to France who banned phones in school in 2017. Then their education minister said "These days the children don't play at break time anymore. They are just all in front of their smartphones, and from an educational point of view, that's a problem."That dovetailed nicely into another story out of Lower Hutt, where a survey showed that 88% of kids don’t play every day and 96% of parents said their children weren’t playing daily.In a social experiment, the kids were given chalk and told to draw pictures of what they do at home. The kids drew TVs, phones, gaming setups and one kid even drew the YouTube logo.The 2 stories show just how in thrall our

It’s been an entertaining week of listening to Mike Hosking railing against Auckland Airport.When he gets on a roll, the tsunami of verbiage is something to behold as Adrian Littlewood the CEO found out when he showed up to defend his company.  The trick with Mike is to start talking and never stop or else he’s in like a robber’s dog.Now I don’t have too much beef with the airport but that might be because I rarely travel overseas. But it is fair to say that the most recent time I was at the airport I was amazed that the whole thing was in such a state of disrepair and it seems permanently in a state of reconstruction.It smacks to me of a programme of renovation that was always too late and too little.READ MORE:Mike's Minute: Auckland Airport an embarrassmentAuckland Airport defends itself from criticismAirlines come out against Auckland AirportNow the airport admits the extraordinary growth in tourist numbers has caught them a little short.  But they’re countering that with a $2 billion reconstruction that w

Two dead in Palmerston North and one in hospital.  Another heartbreaking statistic after a police chase. The fifth and sixth death this year after chasesOnce again there’s a call for police chases to either stop or be further regulated and reduced.But these deaths weren’t the responsibility of the police but the driver who chose not to obey the law. In this case, it was a 15 year old.  A 15 year old driving a stolen car.  A 15 year old who was out on bail after previous serious driving offences. A kid who was speeding around at 1.30 in the afternoon on a Monday.  A kid who should have been at school.  A kid that has been left to run feral. Where are the parents and what have they taught him.  If there was a cause to this crash it probably lies 15 years ago when this person was born into a life of no future.The other victim.  A girl.  Aged 12. Another who should have been in school.  Why was a 12 year old gallivanting about town with a 15 year old with a record in a stolen car.  Again where were the parents. 

It was a sad start to my working day today.As I sat down to my desk at 10am I turned on the radio to hear that Dick Quax had died after a 5 year battle with cancerTheodorus Jacobus Leonardus Quax. Runner, councillor, scrapper.When I was a kid my Dad got me a book called Kiwis Can Fly by Ivan Agnew. It was about New Zealand’s golden age of athletics in the 70s and it focused on John Walker’s achievements particularly his achievement in Goteburg when he became the first man to run the mile under 3 minutes 50. I loved that book. The book’s magic was the way it concentrated on the three musketeers of athletics. Walker, Rod Dixon and Dick Quax. It was a boys own adventure as the trio travelled the world in the days of shamateurism. When athletes received pay for performance but it came in brown paper envelopes and under the table. My copy is signed by all three men.Couch surfing and making ends meet in Europe the 3 hunted competition and improvement. Walker’s achievements ware well known.  Rod Dixon found his fame

Ladi6 and Noah Slee are among the winners of the 2018 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards.The awards, held last night at the Vodafone Event Centre in Manukau, honoured both past winners and up-and-coming stars, with Punialava'a taking out the 2018 Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.The group, who were acknowledged for their influence and contribution to Samoan music and culture, also performed a medley of their biggest hits at the ceremony.Ladi6 received three awards, including Best Pacific Female Artist and Best Pacific Music Album. Her producers Parks, Brandan Haru and Julien Dyne won the SIT/MAINZ Best Producer award for their work on her Royal Blue 3000 EP.12-year-old prodigy General Fiyah's 2017 hit Here To Stay earned him the APRA Best Pacific Song and the Vodafone People's Choice Award.Here To Stay was also honoured with the NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for filmmaker Samson Rambo.Berlin-based neo-soul singer Noah Slee won Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Urban Artist, w

Pene Pati is best known as one third of Sol3 Mio, but he has a burgeoning opera career separate from his famous trio.He is back in New Zealand from San Francisco, not to reunite with his group just yet, but to star in New Zealand Opera's next production, The Elixir of LoveJoining him on stage will be his wife, Amina Edris.The two joined Andrew Dickens to talk about how they met and what the production is all about.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A wise move from MPI to give farmers a choice on whether to continue depopulating their farms or delay the culling of cattle.An official decision on whether to eradicate or manage the disease Mycoplasma bovis will be made on Monday.MPI says all farmers bar one whose properties are due to be depopulated from this weekend have decided to go ahead with culling.Executive producer of The Country Rowena Duncum told Andrew Dickens there's been a lot of talk about New Zealand's naivety in thinking we can still eradicate the disease - but that's not the case."You've got to think of the impact on the cows, the impact on the farmers, there's economic impacts here if the cows are aborting their calves. It's not just a child getting the sniffles, it is a very, very serious disease."LISTEN TO ROWENA DUNCUM TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.