Starting today the Desert Road will be closed for two months. 

Up to 20,000 vehicles could be diverted to regional roads and it will take motorist through towns like Ohakune and National Park.

It is a welcome boost to Ruapehu businesses, but does this disruption mean people could give the region a miss all together?

Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton joins the show to discuss what the diversion will mean. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

Starting today the Desert Road will be closed for two months.&nbsp;
Up to 20,000 vehicles could be diverted to regional roads and it will take motorist through towns like Ohakune and National Park.
It is a welcome boost to Ruapehu businesses, but does this disruption mean people could give the region a miss all together?
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton joins the show to discuss what the diversion will mean.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE.&nbsp;

Don't miss a thing while you're on holiday, with Newstalk ZB Holiday Breakfast. We deliver the best in news, views and opinion to keep Kiwis informed and entertained while you're on the road, at the bach, or relaxing at home.

Don't miss a thing while you're on holiday, with Newstalk ZB Holiday Breakfast. We deliver the best in news, views and opinion to keep Kiwis informed and entertained while you're on the road, at the bach, or relaxing at home.

Don't miss a thing while you're on holiday, with Tim Dower and Newstalk ZB Holiday Breakfast.

Holiday Breakfast

Don't miss a thing while you're on holiday, with Tim Dower and Newstalk ZB Holiday Breakfast. Tim delivers the best in news, views and opinion to keep Kiwis informed and entertained while you're on the road, at the bach, or relaxing at home.

Weston Kirton: Ruapehu Mayor on the Desert Road closure, what it means for regional businesses

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/441003bb-2e26-446a-9229-b2630169e5b8/transcript

Australia’s new hate speech laws have hit a speedbump.  

Parliament was recalled early to pass reform that would create serious offences for hate in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.  

However, the Opposition and the Greens are refusing to accept the laws in their current form.  

Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Andrew Dickens the Opposition is saying the timeline is ridiculous, and that the bill is unsalvageable in its current form. 

He says everyone was in favour of fighting antisemitism as hard as they could, but it's now dissolved into a political bunfight.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Australia’s new hate speech laws have hit a speedbump. &nbsp;
Parliament was recalled early to pass reform that would create serious offences for hate in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. &nbsp;
However, the Opposition and the Greens are refusing to accept the laws in their current form. &nbsp;
Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Andrew Dickens the Opposition is saying the timeline is ridiculous, and that the bill is unsalvageable in its current form.&nbsp;
He says everyone was in favour of fighting antisemitism as hard as they could, but it's now dissolved into a political bunfight. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Murray Olds: Australia Correspondent on the new hate speech laws hitting political opposition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cf1b264b-4e23-4133-a304-b3d3017aaa9e/transcript

For many, Six60 is an undeniable part of the New Zealand summer soundscape.  

Their classics such as ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’, ‘The Greatest’, and ‘Please Don’t Go’ are a staple of every backyard barbeque summer get together, and soon a few new songs will be joining the playlists.  

Their fifth studio album ‘Right Here Right Now’ is set to be released in February, but two new singles are already available.  

Frontman Matiu Walters told Andrew Dickens that hands down, it’s their best music ever.  

“Quite often music can get quite tedious and boring if you’re just trying to plough through it all.” 

“But the time feels right and we have some stories to tell, and it’s all captured in this new album and this new music.”  

LISTEN ABOVE 

For many, Six60 is an undeniable part of the New Zealand summer soundscape. &nbsp;
Their classics such as ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’, ‘The Greatest’, and ‘Please Don’t Go’ are a staple of every backyard barbeque summer get together, and soon a few new songs will be joining the playlists. &nbsp;
Their fifth studio album ‘Right Here Right Now’ is set to be released in February, but two new singles are already available. &nbsp;
Frontman Matiu Walters told Andrew Dickens that hands down, it’s their best music ever. &nbsp;
“Quite often music can get quite tedious and boring if you’re just trying to plough through it all.”&nbsp;
“But the time feels right and we have some stories to tell, and it’s all captured in this new album and this new music.” &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Matiu Walters: Six60 Frontman on the new album coming in February

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/37b69973-a085-4e01-ba19-b3d3017201b5/transcript

A tourism leader in Kaikoura says they're having their busiest summer season since a major earthquake almost a decade ago.  

Visitor numbers reached about 220 thousand in November, up nearly 30 thousand on the year before. 

Destination Kaikoura Chair Chris Sturgeon told Andrew Dickens tourism and hospitality players says things are booming. 

He says there's a positive feeling throughout the town, and says Kaikoura's beautiful landscape offers tourists a true New Zealand location. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A tourism leader in Kaikoura says they're having their busiest summer season since a major earthquake almost a decade ago. &nbsp;
Visitor numbers reached about 220 thousand in November, up nearly 30 thousand on the year before.&nbsp;
Destination Kaikoura Chair Chris Sturgeon told Andrew Dickens tourism and hospitality players says things are booming.&nbsp;
He says there's a positive feeling throughout the town, and says Kaikoura's beautiful landscape offers tourists a true New Zealand location.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Chris Sturgeon: Destination Kaikoura Chair on the high number of tourists visiting the town

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a1137720-cbc8-45b8-a232-b3d301683fb8/transcript

Weston Kirton: Ruapehu Mayor on the Desert Road closure, what it means for regional businesses

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