Australia's bushfire season has kicked off, with extreme fire danger warnings and total fire bans across the Tasman.

Firefighters battled 85 active fires in New South Wales alone last night, with 39 still not being contained.

Victoria is also being hit with soaring temperatures and strong winds, and authorities have told residents of Briagolong, Culloden, Moornapa, Stockdale and surrounding areas to evacuate.

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says several communities are on alert and the next 24 hours will be difficult for firefighters.

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Australia's bushfire season has kicked off, with extreme fire danger warnings and total fire bans across the Tasman.
Firefighters battled 85 active fires in New South Wales alone last night, with 39 still not being contained.
Victoria is also being hit with soaring temperatures and strong winds, and authorities have told residents of Briagolong, Culloden, Moornapa, Stockdale and surrounding areas to evacuate.
Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says several communities are on alert and the next 24 hours will be difficult for firefighters.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on Australia's bushfire season forcing warnings and evacuations

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has temporarily taken down digital billboards displaying the leaders of the Green and Labour parties with the line - 'Backing the Gangs'.

Greens, Labour and Te Pāti Māori candidates have met with gang members during the campaign, with the Labour candidate resigning in the fallout.

The Greens have lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority over the billboards.

The trust's spokesperson Louise Parsons says they'll be put back up tomorrow without images of the party leaders.

"They're the ones that started this, they're the ones that plastered their faces over the place with gang members - and so now they're upset by something that we've done."

LISTEN ABOVE

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has temporarily taken down digital billboards displaying the leaders of the Green and Labour parties with the line - 'Backing the Gangs'.
Greens, Labour and Te Pāti Māori candidates have met with gang members during the campaign, with the Labour candidate resigning in the fallout.
The Greens have lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority over the billboards.
The trust's spokesperson Louise Parsons says they'll be put back up tomorrow without images of the party leaders.
"They're the ones that started this, they're the ones that plastered their faces over the place with gang members - and so now they're upset by something that we've done."
LISTEN ABOVE

Louise Parsons: Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesperson on the Greens condemning election billboard ads

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7d753d89-6bb8-4322-8be5-b4f0005c0535/transcript

How much money could you save by powering  your home with an electric car?

Genesis is trialling tech to let owners charge their car battery off-peak for use in the house at peak times, effectively making it a power-storage unit.

The three-month test on a four person home let the car feed electricity to the household, drawing little from the national grid. 

General retail manager James Ryan says hypothetically, it could save up to $2000 a year.

"We're trying to look, in practice, what could actually be achieved. It's hard to work out based on our trial, but at the moment we're trying to work out if the technology works - and from there, we can work out the potential savings." 

LISTEN ABOVE

How much money could you save by powering &nbsp;your home with an electric car?
Genesis is trialling tech to let owners charge their car battery off-peak for use in the house at peak times, effectively making it a power-storage unit.
The three-month test on a four person home let the car feed electricity to the household, drawing little from the national grid.&nbsp;
General retail manager James Ryan says hypothetically, it could save up to $2000 a year.
"We're trying to look, in practice, what could actually be achieved. It's hard to work out based on our trial, but at the moment we're trying to work out if the technology works - and from there, we can work out the potential savings."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

James Ryan: Genesis general retail manager reveals how much powering your home with an EV could save

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fc48970b-a1c8-4415-b8e6-b4f0005814b0/transcript

A reminder political whims can guide our public health sector - as revealed in a new report.

A report by multiple health workforce unions shows private providers have captured 80 percent of the $3 billion increase in Health NZ and ACC spending since 2022.

Report researcher, Edward Miller, says not putting money into public health makes us more reliant on the private sector.

"It will cost us more and more to be able to do these things, because of the inherent cost disadvantages of the private sector - the higher cost of borrowing and the need to satisfy private shareholders." 

LISTEN ABOVE

A reminder political whims can guide our public health sector - as revealed in a new report.
A report by multiple health workforce unions shows private providers have captured 80 percent of the $3 billion increase in Health NZ and ACC spending since 2022.
Report researcher, Edward Miller, says not putting money into public health makes us more reliant on the private sector.
"It will cost us more and more to be able to do these things, because of the inherent cost disadvantages of the private sector - the higher cost of borrowing and the need to satisfy private shareholders."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Edward Miller: Public Futures Aotearoa report author on the increased spending on private healthcare

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6699d66c-a030-4e94-89c2-b4f000555541/transcript

Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on Australia's bushfire season forcing warnings and evacuations

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