The Latest from Audio https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/ NZME 2024-03-28T12:06:55.869Z en Newstalk BC https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/newstalk-bc/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/newstalk-bc/ Transporting listeners through space and time to Judea 1BC, we tune in to Jerusalem’s number one talk station, Newstalk BC. A Christmas feature unlike any other, Newstalk BC is an hour of talkback radio on the day that split time in two. In a tense and oppressive political landscape, amid conjecture of a foretold liberator, talkback host 'Hannah du Polanski-Alderman' investigates claims of a new king being born in Judea. Starring Heather du Plessis-Allan, Mike Hosking, Miles Davis, Barry Soper, Judy Bailey, Raylene Ramsay, Martin Devlin,  Sir Peter Leitch, Mark Hadlow and Ian Mune.  LISTEN ABOVE 2020-12-24T20:00:47.000Z Petra and Pio's Christmas Hāngī https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/petra-and-pios-christmas-hangi/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/petra-and-pios-christmas-hangi/ This Christmas Day, join Petra Bagust & Pio Terei as they serve a festive Christmas lunch with special guests Suzy Cato and PM Jacinda Ardern. LISTEN ABOVE 2020-12-24T20:00:32.000Z Peace on Earth with Petra Bagust https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/peace-on-earth-with-petra-bagust/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/peace-on-earth-with-petra-bagust/ It has been a traumatic year for New Zealand, but as the nation celebrates Christmas Day, it is a time to reflect on 2019 and what can be learnt from our local tragedies that shocked the world. Petra Bagust takes the microphone for an hour examining peace, using it as a chance to reflect "on the good, the hopeful, and a coming together of families".  She is joined by Police Negotiator Lance Burdett to discuss anger and calmness, Ihumātao protest organiser Pania Newton on protesting peacefully, and former punk rocker turned vicar Josh Jones. Petra also talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who shared her Christmas message as she reflected on the past year. LISTEN ABOVE  2019-12-24T03:45:55.000Z Whostalk ZB: The 2019 Edition https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/whostalk-zb-the-2019-edition/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/whostalk-zb-the-2019-edition/ In this fantasy world of Dr Seuss rhyme, it’s the night before Christmas. Mike Hosking is relaxing at home after all the pre-Christmas chaos. When he lies down for a nap before dinner, Mike finds himself in a fantastical dream world. As he interviews of all the newsmakers of Who Zealand, a bright light in the sky out on the East Coast shakes up everyone's Christmas day. This Christmas Day, relieve the magic that is Whostalk ZB: Christmas radio like you’ve never heard before. A creative retelling of the Christmas story, entirely in Dr Seuss rhyme, our Christmas special last year picked up numerous awards locally and around the world, and now it’s back for 2019 Featuring Mike Hosking, Leighton Smith, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Wendy Petrie, Robyn Malcolm, Sir Peter Leitch and an array of Newstalk ZB personalities. Cast: Mike Hosking                          Michael van Whosking van Hosking McMike Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern  Jacindy Lou-Who Leighton Smith                       Dr Professor Henry B Gasper (aka Wise Man) Heather du Plessis-Allan          Miss Sally O’Digit Barry Soper                            Murray McMotel McInn Head of the Hoteliers Union Robyn Malcolm                       The Lorax Sir Peter Leitch                       Mad I Am Wendy Petrie                          News Reader Martin Devlin                          Cricket playing caller - Stew Kate Hawkesby                       Irate caller – Katina Glenn Hart                             Glenn ZB Colin Cassidy                          Donald Trump Joe Gilfillan                            Weather Tim Roxborogh                       Traffic Pio Terei                                 Trevor the sheep farmer Jax van Buuren                       Motel answerphone Narrator                                 Daryl Habraken Made with the support of NZ On Air    2019-12-24T03:28:38.000Z Should your KiwiSaver be invested in New Zealand? https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/should-your-kiwisaver-be-invested-in-new-zealand/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/should-your-kiwisaver-be-invested-in-new-zealand/ Kiwis are being urged to reconsider how they are investing their KiwiSaver. There's now more than $50 billion in KiwiSaver accounts, but less than half of last year's contributions went into New Zealand assets, shares, bonds and property. Now Simplicity Kiwisaver wants to invest $100 million into high growth opportunities, start-ups and unlisted companies. Founder, Sam Stubbs, told Tim Dower currently only one-third of the $50 billion is going into New Zealand investments. "If you look at countries like us around the world, that should typically be about half. In fact, in Australia, the Government has mandated that at least half of the money saved in superfunds has to be invested in local businesses." He said in 10 years, New Zealanders will have around $200 billion in their KiwiSaver. "There's going to be another $150 billion saved by Kiwis and if half of that came into New Zealand, that would be $75 billion, that would be about 2.3 per cent of GDP. So we have never in our history seen the opportunity we are about to see, to have Kiwis investing in their own community with substantial amounts of money." Stubbs said that money would be invested in things like roads, water systems and electricity grids. In the past, public-private partnerships haven't been very popular because of the concern around foreign investment, Stubbs said. "There is always this thought that the foreign money will come in and be the private part of it, so we would be basically selling off our assets to foreigners." "The really interesting opportunity with KiwiSaver, because we have never had this pile of money available in our history, there is a really interesting opportunity now to fund that infrastructure, in a way that means council and government don't have to borrow more money and where the private part of the public-private partnership is actually KiwiSavers." He said this hasn't been seriously considered in the past because New Zealand didn't have enough money. 2019-04-21T21:37:47.000Z Only 50 per cent of Kiwis cook at home - survey https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/only-50-per-cent-of-kiwis-cook-at-home-survey/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/only-50-per-cent-of-kiwis-cook-at-home-survey/ Just half of New Zealanders say they cook at home daily, and a home-cooked meal is most popular with old generations, a report commissioned by ridesharing company Uber reveals. A survey of 500 New Zealanders of all ages and regions found that 15 per cent of Kiwis eat out at a restaurant weekly and 29 per cent opt for a takeaway weekly. The report was conducted by Empirca Research on behalf of San Francisco-based Uber - the company runs food delivery service Uber Eats in New Zealand. Seven per cent said they order food to be delivered via an app or online service weekly. Three-quarters of New Zealanders surveyed said they believed cooking at home was the best option but just 59 per cent of people said they enjoyed cooking, with dinner found to be the meal most commonly dreaded to cook. New Zealanders living alone were found to be less enthusiastic about cooking compared to those living with others. Breakfast was also found to be the meal most Kiwis skipped, and brunch was the meal of choice by millennials - especially on the weekends. Massey University associate professor, Carol Wham, told Tim Dower busy lifestyles and cheaper takeaways are both contributing to the decline in home-cooking. "It's about people feeling really busy and looking for convenience." However, she said while it might not seem like an issue, our reliance on takeaways is hurting our health. "We know that not eating a good diet is the biggest contributor to the burden of disease and what we really need to do is get back to eating whole foods and that means whoke grains, fruit and vegetables and less salt." "This is about people not having the skills to quickly prepare an affordable, tasty meal." She said children need to be taught how to cook from a young age so they can carry those skills into adulthood. "We have to have children involved in going shopping and preparing foods and growing foods and actually having kids really enthusiastic about preparing foods and growing up that way, so that when they are young parents their children role model off of them because otherwise, we are in real trouble." Around 57 per cent of New Zealanders ranked convenience as a top priority, and said they choose foods that were easily available and quick to prepare. 70 per cent of New Zealanders eat dinner in front of the TV at least once a week, 35 per cent do so regularly. Wham said eating as a family is really important when it comes to engaging children with cooking. "The pressures of life are getting a bit much, but I think it's about making that little bit of preparation time to sit around and have a meal together in the evenings and role modelling to children about why this is good fun, really enjoyable and can be really tasty." When asked whether we should bring back home economics, she said yes. "Maybe not home ec as we knew it but all about understanding sustainable food systems, why it's important to eat whole foods, just the basic skills of budgeting and making good food affordable." Other findings from the report show less than one third of New Zealanders regularly read nutritional labels and 15 per cent of people never pack food from home for lunch. Most people surveyed said they preferred to dine out in small groups. 2019-04-21T20:49:13.000Z Whostalk ZB - A magical Christmas special - 2018 https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/whostalk-zb-a-magical-christmas-special-2018/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/whostalk-zb-a-magical-christmas-special-2018/ In this fantasy world of Dr Seuss rhyme, it’s the night before Christmas. Mike Hosking is relaxing at home after all the pre-Christmas chaos. When he lies down for a nap before dinner, Mike finds himself in a fantastical dream world. As he interviews of all the newsmakers of Who Zealand, a bright light in the sky out on the East Coast shakes up everyone's Christmas day. This Christmas morning from 9, it’s Whostalk ZB: Christmas radio like you’ve never heard before. A creative retelling of the Christmas story, entirely in Dr Seuss rhyme, featuring Mike Hosking, Leighton Smith, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Stan Walker, Wendy Petrie, Robyn Malcolm, Sir Peter Leitch and an array of Newstalk ZB personalities. Cast: Mike Hosking                           Michael van Whosking van Hosking McMike Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern    Jacindy Lou-Who Leighton Smith                        Dr Professor Henry B Gasper (aka Wise Man) Heather du Plessis-Allan           Miss Sally O’Digit Barry Soper                             Murray McMotel McInn Head of the Hoteliers Union Stan Walker                            Joseph Robyn Malcolm                        The Lorax Sir Peter Leitch                        Mad I Am Wendy Petrie                           News Reader Steve Merczynski                     Steve Merczynski Martin Devlin                           Cricket playing caller - Stew Kate Hawkesby                        Irate caller – Katina Glenn Hart                              Glenn ZB Colin Cassidy                           Donald Trump Joe Gilfillan                              Weather Tim Roxborogh                         Traffic Pio Terei                                  Trevor the sheep farmer Jax van Buuren                        Motel answerphone Larry Williams + Andrew Dickens + Heather DPA                            Whostalk ZB station promo Narrator                                  Daryl Habraken Made with the support of NZ On Air  2018-12-24T02:06:35.000Z Listen: Merv Smith's last show on air https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-merv-smiths-last-show-on-air/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-merv-smiths-last-show-on-air/ Merv Smith hosted 1ZB's breakfast show for 26 years, becoming a local legend in the process.  The superstar broadcaster called it quits at the start of 1987, choosing to leave the network before it was rebranded as Newstalk ZB.  Smith passed away yesterday after a short illness. In honour of his lasting legacy, here are his final four hours as the 1ZB host from January 23 1987. LISTEN BELOW:5am - 6am 6am - 7am 7am - 8am 8am - 9am 2018-09-25T04:58:41.000Z Hone Harawira reveals his most unusual hitchhiking experience https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/hone-harawira-reveals-his-most-unusual-hitchhiking-experience/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/hone-harawira-reveals-his-most-unusual-hitchhiking-experience/ Hone Harawira tells Tim Wilson his experience with hitchhiking as an MP. LISTEN ABOVE AS HONE HARAWIRA SPEAKS WITH TIM WILSON 2018-01-09T07:12:46.000Z Mike Williams, Don Brash on Jim Anderton https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/mike-williams-don-brash-on-jim-anderton/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/mike-williams-don-brash-on-jim-anderton/ Jim Anderton's being remembered for many things, including his determination. The former Deputy Prime Minister died at the weekend, just two weeks short of his 80th birthday. Former Labour Party president Mike Williams says when the party started corporate fundraising in the 80s, Jim Anderton was very clear on what he wanted. "Jim opened up the envelope, looked at the cheque and gave it back to him," says Williams. "It was not enough, and when we eventually got a donation from that person, it had increased by a factor of ten." On the other side of the political fence, former National Party leader Dr Don Brash says he never personally disliked Jim Anderton. "I can't claim to know him as well as Mike Williams did, but Jim was a conviction politician," says Dr Brash.  "I disagreed of course with many of his views, but respected the fact that he did hold them very strongly, and was willing to leave the Labour Party to reflect them." Former Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash also says that while he opposed the formation of KiwiBank, one of Anderton's enduring legacies, he must admit it has been commercially successful.  LISTEN ABOVE: Mike Williams and Dr Don Brash speak to Tim Dower  2018-01-07T18:48:24.000Z David Seymour: Resigned to his new life in opposition https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/david-seymour-resigned-to-his-new-life-in-opposition/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/david-seymour-resigned-to-his-new-life-in-opposition/ ACT leader David Seymour is resigned to the fact he'll probably be in opposition. Seymour has held onto his Epsom seat, but his party vote showing is pitiful, at just half of one percent. He told Andrew Dickens that over the past three elections, Epsom and the Government have kept New Zealand First out, but that won't be the case this time. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE   2017-09-23T22:24:33.000Z James Shaw: Greens can sink differences with Winston https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/james-shaw-greens-can-sink-differences-with-winston/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/james-shaw-greens-can-sink-differences-with-winston/ Green Party leader James Shaw says he is prepared to work with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to put together a new government. Speaking to Andrew Dickens this morning, Shaw agrees that some of things said by Peters have been racist in the past but he thinks they can work together. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE 2017-09-23T20:45:22.000Z Phil Twyford: New Zealanders voted for change https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/phil-twyford-new-zealanders-voted-for-change/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/phil-twyford-new-zealanders-voted-for-change/ Labour Party campaign chair Phil Twyford joined Andrew Dickens this morning to discuss the election, and the looming negotiations with Winston Peters in an attempt to form a government.  LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE  2017-09-23T20:42:17.000Z Steven Joyce: Campaign manager's election post-mortem https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/steven-joyce-campaign-managers-election-post-mortem/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/steven-joyce-campaign-managers-election-post-mortem/ The National Party's campaign manager is standing by the attacks he made on Labour and Jacinda Ardern. Steven Joyce criticised what he claimed was an $11 billion hole in Labour's budget, even though no economists could find it. Joyce told Andrew Dickens he was giving the public "fair warning". LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE 2017-09-23T20:18:56.000Z Barry Soper: 'Fifty-eight seats don't cut it' https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/barry-soper-fifty-eight-seats-dont-cut-it/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/barry-soper-fifty-eight-seats-dont-cut-it/ Newstalk ZB's politics editor Barry Soper joins Andrew Dickens to discuss the outcome of the election.  LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE 2017-09-23T19:59:54.000Z PM Bill English: 'Jacindamania' may have helped National https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/pm-bill-english-jacindamania-may-have-helped-national/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/pm-bill-english-jacindamania-may-have-helped-national/ Prime Minister and National Party leader Bill English has acknowledged the "Jacindamania" of the election campaign may have ultimately benefited his party. He told Newstalk ZB Overnights host Tim Beveridge his party was able to leverage off the excitement over Labour's new leader, as it meant people have been much more engaged in politics. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE     2017-09-23T18:37:54.000Z LISTEN: TVNZ multi-party leaders debate https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-tvnz-multi-party-leaders-debate/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-tvnz-multi-party-leaders-debate/ Winston Peters has pulled out of tonight's TVNZ debate, claiming there's no point in taking part because Labour and National won't be there. Despite it being billed as the minor parties leaders debate, the New Zealand First leader says he was told all parties would be involved. The Greens, the Maori Party and Act are all confirmed to appear, as is United Future's new leader Damian Light. The Opportunities Party's Gareth Morgan failed in a legal bid to join the line-up on Thursday. TVNZ political editor Corin Dann will moderate the debate as Mike Hosking is unwell. Live from 7pm - CLICK HERE FOR LIVE AUDIO OF THE LEADERS DEBATE 2017-09-08T01:20:37.000Z LISTEN: PJ Montgomery calling the America's Cup win https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-pj-montgomery-calling-the-americas-cup-win/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-pj-montgomery-calling-the-americas-cup-win/ Listen as PJ Montgomery calls the final moments of the America's Cup race that saw Team New Zealand bring the Auld Mug back home!   2017-06-26T20:47:07.000Z Yvonne Godfrey: Parenting hour https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/yvonne-godfrey-parenting-hour/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/yvonne-godfrey-parenting-hour/ Parenting expert Yvonne Godfrey joins Kate Hawkesby in the studio for an hour to talk teenagers and how to raise them right.  2017-06-05T02:51:50.000Z LISTEN: Barry Soper's exclusive interview with Steven Joyce https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-barry-sopers-exclusive-interview-with-steven-joyce/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/listen-barry-sopers-exclusive-interview-with-steven-joyce/ Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper was the only journalist to get a one-on-one interview with Finance Minister Steven Joyce during the media lock-up. SEE ALSO: Joyce delivers first Budget as Finance Minister LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVE 2017-05-25T02:41:05.000Z Petra Bagust: Educating kids about pornography https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/petra-bagust-educating-kids-about-pornography/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/petra-bagust-educating-kids-about-pornography/ Petra Bagust presents a documentary about the risks pornography can have for young viewers, and gives parents advice on how they can keep their kids safe.  2017-04-13T23:23:55.000Z Pete Rollins: Questions around Christianity https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/pete-rollins-questions-around-christianity/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/pete-rollins-questions-around-christianity/ Pete Rollins is a writer, public speaker, philosopher and theologian who has gained an international reputation for overturning traditional notions of religion. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and currently lives in Los Angeles. Rollins gained his higher education from Queens University, Belfast where he earned degrees (with distinction) in Scholastic Philosophy (BA Hons), Political Theory and Social Criticism (MA) and Post-Structural thought (PhD). He's the author of numerous books, including Insurrection, The Idolatry of God, and The Divine Magician. 2017-04-13T22:38:37.000Z William Paul Young: Lies we believe about God https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/william-paul-young-lies-we-believe-about-god/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/william-paul-young-lies-we-believe-about-god/ Best selling novelist William Paul Young joins Sam and Julia Bloore on Newstalk ZB's Good Friday programme, to discuss his faith and his latest book, Lies we Believe about God.  2017-04-13T20:08:18.000Z Peter Griffin: Technology's threat to humanity https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/peter-griffin-technologys-threat-to-humanity/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/peter-griffin-technologys-threat-to-humanity/ Peter Griffin joins Andrew Dickens to discuss Stephen Hawkings' growing alarm at the exponential growth of technology and the threat it poses to humanity. Have a longer read here; http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/stephen-hawking-world-government-stop-technology-destroy-humankind-th-a7618021.html       2017-03-11T22:26:14.000Z Peter Griffin: NZ launch of Tesla https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/peter-griffin-nz-launch-of-tesla/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/peter-griffin-nz-launch-of-tesla/ Peter Griffin talks to Andrew Dickens about the official launch of Tesla in New Zealand this week, with the super expensive 'Model S' going on sale. He discusses New Zealand's desperate need for an affordable electric car to kick-start the industry.    2017-02-25T22:28:02.000Z Kevin Kallaugher: Political cartoonist for The Economist https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/kevin-kallaugher-political-cartoonist-for-the-economist/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/kevin-kallaugher-political-cartoonist-for-the-economist/ Kevin Kallaugher is a political cartoonist for The Economist and the Baltimore Sun. He cartoons using the pen name, KAL. He  spoke to Tim Beveridge in studio about the politics around cartooning, Charlie Hebdo, doing caricatures, and the golden era of satire now that Donald Trump is to be the US President. 2017-01-13T05:03:00.000Z Nikki Kaye and Laila Harre: Battling breast cancer Part 2 https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/nikki-kaye-and-laila-harre-battling-breast-cancer-part-2/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/nikki-kaye-and-laila-harre-battling-breast-cancer-part-2/ Part two of Matthew Hooton's interview with National MP Nikki Kaye and former government minister Laila Harre about breast cancer.   2017-01-06T01:25:30.000Z Nikki Kaye and Laila Harre: Battling breast cancer Part 1 https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/nikki-kaye-and-laila-harre-battling-breast-cancer-part-1/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/nikki-kaye-and-laila-harre-battling-breast-cancer-part-1/ National MP Nikki Kaye and former government minister Laila Harre joined Matthew Hooton on Newstalk ZB to discuss breast cancer.   2017-01-06T01:21:40.000Z John Nixon: Interrogating Saddam Hussein https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/john-nixon-interrogating-saddam-hussein/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/john-nixon-interrogating-saddam-hussein/ John Nixon was a senior CIA leadership analyst at the time of Saddam Hussein's capture in Baghdad. He was called upon to make the official ID and interrogate Hussein as he had spent years studying the Iraqi dictator. LISTEN ABOVE: John Nixon spoke to Tim Dower on Summer Breakfast The chief priority of the interrigation was about weapons of mass destruction, Nixon told Tim Dower. "Washington wanted to know where he had hid his weapons of mass destruction. We came to the conclusion that A, they didn't have any weapons of mass destruction and B, they didn't have any weapons programme moving towards that and C, that they weren't about to start one."  Nixon soon learned in the ensuing weeks, back in 2003, that both he and America had greatly misunderstood who Hussein really was.  "The more you got to know him, the less you liked him. That was his darker side coming out." Nixon has released a book on the interrogation and investigation called Debriefing the President. Portions of the book have been blacked out. Why? "You would have to ask the CIA that," Nixon said. "Those were passages that contained information that they just didn't want to let out.  Information that might indicate sources or methods and they get kind of squirrelly when it comes to that. "I think some of their redactions were ridiculous, but that's just my opinion." Nixon gives the Obama administration very poor marks for how they handled the Syria situation. "I think we have already made the same mistakes. He treated Syria the same way they treated Iraq which was to turn his back and walk away.  "Russia is playing a much more important role than [The US] are and Iran has stretched its influence throughout the region."             2017-01-04T20:54:52.000Z Stuart Nash: More police needed on roads https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/stuart-nash-more-police-needed-on-roads/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/audio/stuart-nash-more-police-needed-on-roads/ More policing of our roads is needed, according to the Labour Party. It comes as the holiday road toll hit 12 this morning with the death of a motorcyclist near Cromwell. Police spokesperson Stuart Nash told Mathew Hooton the government has indicated it wants to cut road policing. "This is just symptomatic of a lack of resourcing for the Police." "You and I know, everyone knows that if you see a Police officer on the road during the holiday period the first thing you do is look down at your speedometer to make sure you're travelling at 100ks." The holiday road toll period begins on December 23 and runs through until January 4. In the same period last year a total of 12 people died. 2016-12-28T23:02:59.000Z