World-renowned illusionist and 'International Magician of the Year', Cosentino, is bringing his spectacular new live show Decennium to Christchurch in November.

Decennium is a 90-minute stage spectacular, which was written, produced, and choreographed by Cosentino. He'll perform his most death-defying escapes that will thrill your senses, his greatest mind-boggling stage illusions and cutting-edge street magic that twists your view of reality.

He spoke to John MacDonald on Canterbury Mornings about how magic taught him to read at age 12.

LISTEN ABOVE

World-renowned illusionist and 'International Magician of the Year', Cosentino, is bringing his spectacular new live show Decennium to Christchurch in November.
Decennium is a 90-minute stage spectacular, which was written, produced, and choreographed by Cosentino. He'll perform his most death-defying escapes that will thrill your senses, his greatest mind-boggling stage illusions and cutting-edge street magic that twists your view of reality.
He spoke to John MacDonald on Canterbury Mornings about how magic taught him to read at age 12.
LISTEN ABOVE

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio.

With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector.

Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Cosentino: World-renowned illusionist on how magic taught him to read at age 12

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/be298a5e-ab7c-46b6-bf69-b1f4000606d6/transcript

There are a lot of weird things in the world, but one of the weirdest would have to be the international drivers licence.  

You know, you’re licensed to drive in one country, but a little bit of paper lets you drive in any country. It doesn’t matter that you know next to nothing about the road rules or the driving conditions.  

But tell that to the Government which obviously doesn’t find international licences as weird as I do.  

I find them weird. I don't like them. And, before you accuse me of being a hypocrite - I’ll admit that I am a hypocrite because I’ve used them before when I’ve gone overseas.  

But ever since I got my first international licence, I’ve thought that it’s crazy that you can drive anywhere without being tested or trained on local rules and driving conditions. Which is why I think the Government’s latest move to reduce waiting times for practical driving tests is just crazy. 

It’s going to extend the period someone from overseas can drive on an international licence in New Zealand from 12 months to 18 months to try and reduce the waiting times for practical driving tests because the average wait time is over a month.  

Apparently, the way things have been, the demand from international drivers wanting to get their New Zealand licence has been going through the roof.  

Transport Minister Simeon Brown says there are tens of thousands of international drivers wanting to get their New Zealand licences. Or licence conversions, as they’re known. Which has meant that the queues and waiting times have been getting longer. 

So the Government wants to take some of the international drivers out of the queue so local drivers can do their practical tests sooner.   

Simeon Brown says they’re hiring more trainers and testers. But they still need to do more, and this is one. But I think it’s a terrible idea and I’m not alone.  

Someone who is a testing officer got in touch to say they think it’s a crazy idea too.  

This person says, from what they see, international drivers wanting to convert their licences to New Zealand licences are failing their practical driving tests —on average— six times, before they pass.  

This person says that, instead of letting them drive here on international licences longer, the Government should be doing the opposite and limiting them to three months maximum before they have to convert to a New Zealand licence.   

That would do nothing to fix the problem the Government’s trying to fix but I don’t care about that.  

Because what should be the priority here? Helping people get their licences quicker or keeping people safe on the road?  

That’s a no-brainer question. The priority has to be keeping people safe on the road.   

And that isn’t going to happen by letting international drivers get off a plane, get behind the wheel of a vehicle and cruise around the place for six months longer than they’re allowed to now before being tested.  

I’m not anti international drivers. As I said at the start, I’ve held international licences before. I’ve taken advantage of something that I actually think is crazy.  

But I am definitely anti anything that is going to mean untested drivers driving on our roads longer than they do now.  

I don't care how long it takes people to get their licence if the alternative is what the Government has come up with today. 

There are a lot of weird things in the world, but one of the weirdest would have to be the international drivers licence. &nbsp;
You know, you’re licensed to drive in one country, but a little bit of paper lets you drive in any country. It doesn’t matter that you know next to nothing about the road rules or the driving conditions. &nbsp;
But tell that to the Government which obviously doesn’t find international licences as weird as I do. &nbsp;
I find them weird. I don't like them. And, before you accuse me of being a hypocrite - I’ll admit that I am a hypocrite because I’ve used them before when I’ve gone overseas. &nbsp;
But ever since I got my first international licence, I’ve thought that it’s crazy that you can drive anywhere without being tested or trained on local rules and driving conditions. Which is why I think the Government’s latest move to reduce waiting times for practical driving tests is just crazy.&nbsp;
It’s going to extend the period someone from overseas can drive on an international licence in New Zealand from 12 months to 18 months to try and reduce the waiting times for practical driving tests because the average wait time is over a month. &nbsp;
Apparently, the way things have been, the demand from international drivers wanting to get their New Zealand licence has been going through the roof. &nbsp;
Transport Minister Simeon Brown says there are tens of thousands of international drivers wanting to get their New Zealand licences. Or licence conversions, as they’re known. Which has meant that the queues and waiting times have been getting longer.&nbsp;
So the Government wants to take some of the international drivers out of the queue so local drivers can do their practical tests sooner. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Simeon Brown says they’re hiring more trainers and testers. But they still need to do more, and this is one. But I think it’s a terrible idea and I’m not alone. &nbsp;
Someone who is a testing officer got in touch to say they think it’s a crazy idea too. &nbsp;
This person says, from what they see, international drivers wanting to convert their licences to New Zealand licences are failing their practical driving tests —on average— six times, before they pass. &nbsp;
This person says that, instead of letting them drive here on international licences longer, the Government should be doing the opposite and limiting them to three months maximum before they have to convert to a New Zealand licence. &nbsp;&nbsp;
That would do nothing to fix the problem the Government’s trying to fix but I don’t care about that. &nbsp;
Because what should be the priority here? Helping people get their licences quicker or keeping people safe on the road? &nbsp;
That’s a no-brainer question. The priority has to be keeping people safe on the road. &nbsp;&nbsp;
And that isn’t going to happen by letting international drivers get off a plane, get behind the wheel of a vehicle and cruise around the place for six months longer than they’re allowed to now before being tested. &nbsp;
I’m not anti international drivers. As I said at the start, I’ve held international licences before. I’ve taken advantage of something that I actually think is crazy. &nbsp;
But I am definitely anti anything that is going to mean untested drivers driving on our roads longer than they do now. &nbsp;
I don't care how long it takes people to get their licence if the alternative is what the Government has come up with today.&nbsp;

John MacDonald: I'm not anti international drivers, but...

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7a4b5eb3-45da-4948-a774-b203018b273a/transcript

Labour leader Chris Hipkins claims the Government's failure to compensate for the nurses’ pay rise has driven Health New Zealand's budget blowout.  

The agency's finances jumped from an expected half-a-billion dollar surplus to a $1.4 billion deficit in April.  

It's now expected to blow out to $1.76 billion.  

Chris Hipkins told John MacDonald that there's a mix of issues in the system, but under-funding's definitely playing a role in the deficits.   

He says nurses won their pay equity claim after a hard-fought battle and the Government hasn't provided the funds to pay for it, adding more financial pressure.  

The crackdown on dodgy builders however, is getting Hipkins’ support.  

The Government's looking at changes to registration and licensing regimes, with a focus on lifting competence and accountability requirements. 

Larger fines could also be on the cards for workers hiding non-compliant work during inspections. 

Hipkins says the regulatory systems for builders aren't as good as they should be. 

He says a more streamlined regime with harsher penalties for the cowboys of the industry is great. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins claims the Government's failure to compensate for the nurses’ pay rise has driven Health New Zealand's budget blowout. &nbsp;
The agency's finances jumped from an expected half-a-billion dollar surplus to a $1.4 billion deficit in April. &nbsp;
It's now expected to blow out to $1.76 billion. &nbsp;
Chris Hipkins told John MacDonald that there's a mix of issues in the system, but under-funding's definitely playing a role in the deficits. &nbsp;&nbsp;
He says nurses won their pay equity claim after a hard-fought battle and the Government hasn't provided the funds to pay for it, adding more financial pressure. &nbsp;
The crackdown on dodgy builders however, is getting Hipkins’ support. &nbsp;
The Government's looking at changes to registration and licensing regimes, with a focus on lifting competence and accountability requirements.&nbsp;
Larger fines could also be on the cards for workers hiding non-compliant work during inspections.&nbsp;
Hipkins says the regulatory systems for builders aren't as good as they should be.&nbsp;
He says a more streamlined regime with harsher penalties for the cowboys of the industry is great.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader on the Health NZ financial deficit and the crackdown on dodgy builders

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a666296b-b299-4137-a910-b203017a40b2/transcript

I think we need to see the New Zealand Navy ship sinking as a wake-up call. Not the sinking itself, but what it’s going to mean for our Navy and our wider defence force.   

The fact that we’re probably going to lose a truckload of money because of the ship being under-insured isn’t an issue for me and I wasn’t overly surprised when Finance Minister Nicola Wilis confirmed it yesterday. Because can you imagine the premiums versus the likelihood of a sinking? So I think the insurance thing is a bit of a red herring.  

But any of the Navy people I’ve heard quoted in the news since the weekend haven’t been too shy to say that the loss of the Manawanui is going to be a major blow for our Navy. And I’m saying today that the Navy’s loss needs to be our wake-up call.  

We need to start investing more in our defence force. And the reason I think that is that when you run a military or a defence force you do it with precision and planning. And you can only do that when you have certainty and the financial backing to run the outfit with confidence. Not on a wing and prayer, as we do at the moment.     

The thing is: when it comes to government spending, you never hear people demanding more money to be spent on our military. People demand more money for health and hospitals. They demand more money for schools and education. They demand more money for life-saving drugs. But you never hear them demanding more money for the military.  

Except for a few old military types who I’ve always thought have been living in the past a bit. Reliving the glory days and who can’t really get over the fact that the world has moved on, and New Zealand isn’t the player we used to be on the military front.  

But I’m coming around to their way of thinking. I think the time has come where we do need to demand that more money be invested in our military. Which I never thought I would hear myself say. But I think that’s because I’m like most people - the military is kind-of out of mind, out of sight.  

And the only time I really think about it is when we get an air force plane breaking down on the tarmac somewhere or, like at the weekend, we get a navy ship sinking.  

Not that that happens every day. My understanding is that the Manawanui going down after hitting that reef on Saturday was the first time we’ve lost a Navy ship since World War 2.  

Nevertheless, I think the time has come for some serious soul searching about the future of New Zealand’s military force. Which is kind of happening. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says a major strategic review is on the way.  

The broader question though is what we think the future of our military should be and whether we think more needs to go into it. More investment.  

I don't think we have any choice.  

Our planes are not reliable. We’re now down a ship. Not to mention the Navy ships that are sitting idle, unable to be used because the Navy doesn’t have the crews to run them. That’s because people are leaving the Navy for jobs elsewhere.  

The housing provided to our military personnel is cruddy. Black mould. Sick soldiers. Sick kids. Back in May, a military advocate —who is married to a soldier— said her goal was to show New Zealand just how horrendous conditions are for serving military personnel.  

So you add all that up, and you get a defence force that we can either keep running down. Or we can invest more in the people we —and the world— relies on to keep the peace.  

The time has come for us to invest more in our defence force. Because. the way it’s going, it will reach the point where it’s no use to anyone.  

I think we need to see the New Zealand Navy ship sinking as a wake-up call. Not the sinking itself, but what it’s going to mean for our Navy and our wider defence force. &nbsp;&nbsp;
The fact that we’re probably going to lose a truckload of money because of the ship being under-insured isn’t an issue for me and I wasn’t overly surprised when Finance Minister Nicola Wilis confirmed it yesterday. Because can you imagine the premiums versus the likelihood of a sinking? So I think the insurance thing is a bit of a red herring. &nbsp;
But any of the Navy people I’ve heard quoted in the news since the weekend haven’t been too shy to say that the loss of the Manawanui is going to be a major blow for our Navy. And I’m saying today that the Navy’s loss needs to be our wake-up call. &nbsp;
We need to start investing more in our defence force. And the reason I think that is that when you run a military or a defence force you do it with precision and planning. And you can only do that when you have certainty and the financial backing to run the outfit with confidence. Not on a wing and prayer, as we do at the moment. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
The thing is: when it comes to government spending, you never hear people demanding more money to be spent on our military. People demand more money for health and hospitals. They demand more money for schools and education. They demand more money for life-saving drugs. But you never hear them demanding more money for the military. &nbsp;
Except for a few old military types who I’ve always thought have been living in the past a bit. Reliving the glory days and who can’t really get over the fact that the world has moved on, and New Zealand isn’t the player we used to be on the military front. &nbsp;
But I’m coming around to their way of thinking. I think the time has come where we do need to demand that more money be invested in our military. Which I never thought I would hear myself say. But I think that’s because I’m like most people - the military is kind-of out of mind, out of sight. &nbsp;
And the only time I really think about it is when we get an air force plane breaking down on the tarmac somewhere or, like at the weekend, we get a navy ship sinking. &nbsp;
Not that that happens every day. My understanding is that the Manawanui going down after hitting that reef on Saturday was the first time we’ve lost a Navy ship since World War 2. &nbsp;
Nevertheless, I think the time has come for some serious soul searching about the future of New Zealand’s military force. Which is kind of happening. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says a major strategic review is on the way. &nbsp;
The broader question though is what we think the future of our military should be and whether we think more needs to go into it. More investment. &nbsp;
I don't think we have any choice. &nbsp;
Our planes are not reliable. We’re now down a ship. Not to mention the Navy ships that are sitting idle, unable to be used because the Navy doesn’t have the crews to run them. That’s because people are leaving the Navy for jobs elsewhere. &nbsp;
The housing provided to our military personnel is cruddy. Black mould. Sick soldiers. Sick kids. Back in May, a military advocate —who is married to a soldier— said her goal was to show New Zealand just how horrendous conditions are for serving military personnel. &nbsp;
So you add all that up, and you get a defence force that we can either keep running down. Or we can invest more in the people we —and the world— relies on to keep the peace. &nbsp;
The time has come for us to invest more in our defence force. Because. the way it’s going, it will reach the point where it’s no use to anyone. &nbsp;

John MacDonald: Let's not keep running down our defence force

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ac208e0b-19ae-46e8-a08d-b203000f8d64/transcript

Cosentino: World-renowned illusionist on how magic taught him to read at age 12

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