Andrew Dickens Afternoons

A public stink is piling up over a planned rubbish dump north of Auckland.Waste Management has approval to buy forest land in the Dome Valley for a 24-7 landfill.Locals nearby fear rubbish juice will leach into the nearby Hoteo River which feeds the Kaipara Harbour.A group set up in response, Save the Dome, is planning to fight it as the company still needs resource consent.Founder Dave Sawyer told Andrew Dickens they called a meeting for locals to talk about it."We had over 130 people. Every single person in that room said we'd fight it with everything we've got." LISTEN TO DAVE SAWYER TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So I need to warn you that there are forces abroad that are prepared to fudge the facts to get their arguments across.  They are guilty of spreading fake news.  Whether by design or accident.  Their arguments are fired on by ideology. So if they see any so called fact that supports their beliefs they’ll pounce on it.  It’s important to remain vigilant.  And when you spot it it’s important that it should be corrected.So this morning we heard that a leaked AT report on cycleway usage says the demand may have been over-estimated.  Which would mean the business case was flawed.  Of course, many council and cycleway critics seized on this.  Aha, they said.  We told you so.We were told cycleways aren't the future, don’t get used, cost a fortune, and inconvenience the rest of us. The schemes were called potentially fraudulent, dishonest and a scam.At the heart of the issue was usage numbers. One cycleway was predicted to have 986 daily cyclists.  Two years later it has 333. Another 975, two years later 375.  The Qua

Teachers still have their supporters, but others are turning against the striking profession.This week marks the second wide scale teachers' strike this year, with rolling strikes taking place across the country.Primary school teachers have rejected their latest pay offer, which was a $700 million package from the Government.The rejection has bristled several callers to Andrew Dickens Afternoons, who think that teachers have become more focused on the money than their claims of doing it for the kids.However, there is still vocal support for the educators, with one former teacher telling Andrew that the profession has changed a lot since she was a teacher, with too busy classrooms and a rise in problem children.LISTEN TO THE TALKBACK FEEDBACK ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been over 50 years since television started broadcasting in colour in the United Kingdom.It turns out, some Brits haven't got the memo.There are over 7,000 people across the UK who have licenses for black and white television sets.The BBC reports that London has the most, with 1,768 licenses. The figures have been released by the TV Licensing, reminding people they still must pay the annual fee that all Brits must pay to access television services.Shockingly, there were still over 200,000 licenses for black and white televisions as recently as 2000. LISTEN TO JULIETTE SIVERTSEN TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Netball Federation has caused controversy by stating the primary focus at the international level will remain female only netball.International netball is strictly sanctioned for females and is one of the only single-gendered sports to be solely permitted by its governing body - the International Netball Federation.Callers to The Andrew Dickens Afternoon Show called out double standards, with gender equality now a major issue in today's climate. Many said feminists can't have it all their own way, and this is a prime example of reverse sexism which is often ignored by those who champion the cause.LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE AS CALLERS SPEAK TO ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a whole lot of toilet talk on Andrew Dickens AfternoonsIt comes after Kaikoura District Council's removed a camera in the West End toilets after receiving two complaints in three-months. The cameras were installed to stop vandalism, but several complaints about privacy have seen them destroyed. Now that they've been removed, they've now had they've had two instances of  graffiti in the public toilet in four-weeks. Andrew Dickens asked if listeners if New Zealand needs to have a better attitude to privacy and toilet maintenance. One caller says that the country should copy some European countries and charge people to use public toilets.LISTEN TO THE TALKBACK FEEDBACK ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB host Andrew Dickens has started the conversation over the potential of switching to nuclear energy as the country faces record high energy prices. Read More: Andrew Dickens: It's time for a nuclear power generation in NZMany commentators believe New Zealand is in the beginning of a power crisis, with renewable energy coming under fire as an expensive alternative compared to traditional coal fired plants.Talk-back caller Jason called The Andrew Dickens Show and explained the advantages and disadvantages of using the controversial power source.LISTEN ABOVE AS JASON SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Popular Auckland beach Mission Bay has been left littered with fireworks after Guy Fawkes celebrations in the city, and it has left many talk-back callers to The Andrew Dickens Afternoon Show infuriated.One caller expressed his anger at having to pick up the tab for other people who have no respect for the environment."We have to pay our rates for this, we are paying the council contractors to pick up the rubbish."Gary told Andrew Dickens that personal responsibility is to blame."Come on people, use your brains. If you drop something, you pick it up and take it back home."LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE AS TALKBACK CALLERS SPEAK TO ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One caller has a controversial suggestion to avoid getting caught by new speed cameras.It was revealed this morning that police are trialling new 'point to point' cameras that follow average speed and weed out consistent speeders.Andrew Dickens raised the topic with his listeners this afternoon, and one caller, Liam, offered his own unique take on it.It's fair to say that not all of his fellow listeners were impressed.LISTEN TO THE TALKBACK ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's military veterans will be able to board planes first and be acknowledged by in-flight announcements, in a new plan for recognition.Virgin Australia says it wants to honour veterans by giving them the perks.It follows the Prime Minister Scott Morrison's announcement of a military discount card for veterans.Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo says it's part of a wide-ranging approach to supporting veterans."We're investing a lot more money into, in particular, veterans counselling services to help them with the psychological adjustment. We're also investing through the White Card in making sure their health is more robust and we provide support where we can."However, callers to Andrew Dickens were more mixed about where or not the same treatment should be given here.Caller Ian asked if one occupation was more deserving of special treatment than others, pointing out that careers such as water treatment do more to protect our wellbeing than the military.LISTEN TO THE TALKBACK FEEDBACK ABOVESee omny

Questions are being raised about National's promotion offer to Jami-Lee Ross, while the party's leadership knew about harassment allegations against him.Another phone call recording was released this morning, which reveals a conversation between Ross, Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett before Ross went public with his accusations against the party. the whole saga became public.Political editor Barry Soper told Andrew Dickens the recordings reveal a lot."Both of them, Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett, are saying basically that if he behaved himself, if he followed their instructions, he could return to Parliament next year and he might even be promoted."Soper says the promotion offer reflects poorly on Bridges and Bennett, who serve as National's Leader and Deputy Leader."By offering him to toe the party line and he would be looked after next year in parliament, it doesn't say a lot for the seriousness with which they are treating the complaints which they were in receipt of."LISTEN TO BARRY SOPER TALK WITH ANDREW

So the slow-motion dance between teachers and the Government continued over the weekend with the announcement of 600 extra learning support co-ordinators by 2020.These staff will work alongside teachers and parents to provide individualised support and "free up teachers so all children get more quality classroom time". They will be helping the teachers deal with the kids who need a little more either because of disabilities or learning issues.The 600 staff will mean one or two more for each school and maybe even more for the larger schools.It was announced at the Labour conference and I suppose it has been scheduled as the conference’s lolly scramble for a while. It also adds to the Government’s offer to teachers.It all adds to the feeling that I have that Chris Hipkins is telling the truth. That he has put as much as he can on the table, but as time goes on he will try to make the job easier and better.Rather than fighting to get all the world in one fell swoop I would urge the teachers to take what has been

New Zealand men are famous for keeping their cards close to their chest and not giving anything away. But a new initiative being launched is trying to change this.Movember NZ manager Robert Dunne joins The Andrew Dickens Show to discuss Mensus, which is being described as a census but for Men’s feelings.LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO ABOVE AS ROBERT DUNNE SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report out from Property listings website Realestate.co.nz says Auckland's housing market is a buyers market.The average asking price in Auckland dipped 1.3 per cent from September, to $964,936.Jeremy told Andrew Dickens he is skeptical on the report, as he has seen the same thing happen over and over again." I think the real estate institute likes to create a bit of noise to get people interested and prick up their ears."LISTEN ABOVE AS TALKBACK CALLERS SPEAK TO ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talkback callers to the Andrew Dickens Afternoons Show expressed anger and disappointment over the way drug-smuggler and gang associate Karel Sroubek has been treated, with many believing he deserves a stronger punishment. Ian Lees-Galloway has been under pressure since it emerged he granted residency to Sroubek, even though Sroubek was found guilty of using a fake passport and is currently serving a prison term for smuggling MDMA.Caller Henry told Andrew Dickens he thinks it is another example of the government making decision on a whim.“If the Immigration Minister had just been open with the information he had at the time, this wouldn’t of blown up in his face."Jeff believes that Lees-Galloway deserves to face some sort of punishment for the way he handled the case“ My view is this guy should be sent back to the Czech Republic, preferably handcuffed to Lees-Galloway .LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE OF CALLERS SPEAKING WITH ANDREW DICKENSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And so we come to the last day of the Royal Tour and thankfully Harry and Meghan are getting some good weather at last.This is great news, not just for the royals who are enjoying the scenic wonders of Rotorua, the Redwoods, Rainbow Springs and a walkabout around Government gardens, which is one of my favourite places. But it’s also good news for New Zealand Inc, because as the press pool spreads their pictures around the world and it’s always good when the pictures feature blue skies.And make no mistake, that’s what all this should be about.Yes, the royal tour is good for New Zealanders as members of the Commonwealth to see the royal family, and we seem strangely overwhelmed by what in all honesty is just two humans and not even frontline royals. But what is with the walkabout and everyone waving the Union Jack – why weren’t they waving the New Zealand flag?But fortunately the rest of the world is also quite interested.  Harry has always been popular as the lovable tearaway who came right.  But add in an Ame

It feels like a while since I’ve mentioned the Coalition government. For obvious reasons. As National took the heat for their messy internal problems the Government wisely slunk out the back door and had a beer and kept a low profile. But being the Government, eventually you come back into focus.And every time they’ve come back into focus this week, I’ve realised that my biggest criticism of the Government is not what they have done, but it’s what they haven’t done.Nowhere is that more so that in housing.This week Labour celebrated the first owners of a Kiwibuild house receiving their keys. The young couple will soon graduate as a doctor and a marketer and are now the proud owners of a $650,000 four bedroom. Six Cabinet Ministers turned up in six government limos. This is a government who likes the optics and the six wanted to share the limelight. An austere government might have used a minibus but this is a petty quibble.But the optics have been turning sour all week. Why, in the middle of a housing crisis a

One royal fan is 'on a real high' after shaking Harry and Meghan's hands yesterday.Beryl told Andrew Dickens that she was fortunate to get up close and personal with the Duke and Duchess yesterday afternoon when they were at the Pukeahu War Memorial yesterday."It was worth every penny, whatever it cost me of my tax," she told Dickens.Beryl says that the royals were drawn towards her section as a little boy called Harry had a sign reading "Hi Harry, I'm Harry".She called them a really lovely couple, but that there was an "intense pressure" on them due to the crowds pushing forwards.LISTEN TO BERYL TALK WITH ANDREW DICKENS ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of urban legends circulating the internet about Disneyland – and it turns out one of the darkest is actually true.Back in 2007, it was first reported that attendees at the famous theme park had spotted other guests spreading ashes amongst the rides.It has long been considered a disturbing rumour, but now, an investigation by The Wall Street Journal has found that it is real – and happens at least once a month. It is such a common occurrence that it is referred to amongst Disney staff as a ‘HEPA cleanup’.The report suggests that it is easy to sneak ashes in, using pill bottles and zip-lock bags, but if you get caught scattering them, staff simply vacuum the ashes up and then kick you out.The Journal spoke with families who have attempted this alongside Disney employees. They found that people have scattered ashes around some of the park’s most famous attractions, including at Magic Kingdom and during the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.“The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it t

So to end the week some observations. I worry that the ongoing teacher’s strikes are going to go on forever. I am of the belief that the government has offered as much as it can and they are supportive of teachers. This is as good as it gets right now.  But I think the teachers have a massive chip on their shoulders after 15 years of change. I hope that after a bit more summer teachers will accept the offer by negotiating a second round in the short to middle term. Two parties standing around in deadlock helps no-one. I’ve been amused at the conclusion drawn from the 2000 overseas teachers that have applied to help with next years shortages. 2000 may have applied but are they any good?  315 have been assessed and just over 100 have started interview processes. But there’s no guarantee that any of these guys will be fit for purpose.   These guys could be losers that can’t get jobs in their own country, they could be slackers wanting a working holiday. It’s like we suddenly forgot how many new Kiwi teachers str