Larry Williams Drive

If you've got a mortgage, you may have breathed in sharply reading this headline today: Kiwibank has lifted its standard 5-year home loan rate to 6.79 percent, the highest rate in eight years.  Home loan rates have been rising for months... But the reserve banks only just started lifting the official cash rate. So, how much higher should you prepare for them to go? Economist and property commentator Tony Alexander joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand tenor Simon O'Neill has won a Grammy for Best Choral Performance.  The award is for his work on the LA Philharmonic rendition of Mahler's Symphony Number Eight.   O'Neill told Andrew Dickens there were more than 370 people performing.  “I’m just fortunate to be one of the ones who gets named at the top of the list, I’m over the moon that the recording has been successful.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Events Association General Manager Ségolène de Fontenay told Andrew Dickens the traffic light decision is frustrating. “Disappointing, particularly for Auckland and, I guess, Wellington. There was a bit of a hint last week that there might be a regional approach, and that would have certainly been very welcome for Auckland.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recap of the Traffic light announcement. Labour is worried about National's fund-raising ability, and with good reason. Act's not buying into Mallard's wish to appoint a behavioural commissioner at Parliament. Political editor Barry Soper joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election date is to be announced this week as Morrison closes gap with Albanese. Rollout of the fourth Covid jab starts today. Could the bin chicken be the mascot of the Brisbane Olympics? Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ross Taylor's final match ever is underway right now in Hamilton. Paul Coll wins the British Squash Open and retains his world number one status. Phil Gifford joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ross Taylor is currently playing his last match for the Black Caps. 16 years is an awfully good run. Particularly for a Samoan big hitter from Masterton who excelled as a kid swatting the ball to boundaries. But to master the red ball game and end out our highest scorer at the highest level is a feat-and-a-half. 7683 runs, including 19 centuries from 112 matches between 2007 and 2022, with a batting average of 44.66 runs. His record in One Day Internationals is similar. But all that's for the nerds. I love Ross for his grit. Frankly, I find him a beautiful man, but an ugly batsman. Watching Williamson or Conway or Guptill is far more aesthetic. Ross has always overbalanced. His big head seeming to fall forward under the weight of his massive tongue which he is far too fond of sticking out. There always appears to be a massive hole between his bat and pad, which he then shuts down by dramatically collapsing his knees and squatting on the ball. Every season he's come out batting ugly, and then Martin Crowe woul

Air New Zealand has announced its long awaited recapitalisation strategy.The strategy is a $2.2 billion equity and debt package.The aim is to repay its existing Crown loan, strengthen its balance sheet, improve liquidity and help position the airline for recovery post-Covid. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China and the Solomon Islands have signed a draft version of a security pact that could see Chinese police and other forces take up duties in the Pacific Island nation, drawing concerns from traditional partners New Zealand, Australia and the United States.The Solomon Islands government on Thursday said the draft agreement had been initialled by representatives of the two sides and will now “be cleaned up and await signatures of the two countries' foreign ministers.”The agreement aims to “respond to Solomon Islands’ soft and hard domestic threats. Solomon Islands will continue to roll out the implementation of its national security strategy and uphold its foreign policy of ‘Friends to all and enemies to none,’” a government news release said.Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Tuesday rejected concerns that regional safety would be jeopardized by the treaty. Sogavare called such concerns "utter nonsense,” adding that “I find it very insulting ... to be branded as unfit to manage our sovereign

Team NZ will be defending the America’s Cup abroad.The next edition of the America’s Cup will be held in Barcelona in September and October 2024 after Team NZ rejected a $99 million bid from the Government and Auckland Council to host the competition.Barcelona was selected as the next host over fellow Spanish city Malaga, Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Ireland’s Cork.Warriors CEO Cameron George wants all Warriors games next year to be held entirely in New Zealand.It comes after the Warriors have spent the last three seasons based entirely in Australia.The Crusaders and the Highlanders kick off this weekend’s Super Rugby.The Highlanders go into this match in Christchurch having won the previous encounter last year.Another Super Rugby derby will take place this weekend with Moana Pasifika taking on the Blues on Saturday.There are fears within the Blues camp over Beauden Barrett’s fitness after he was removed from last week’s game against the Highlanders over concussion fears.Phil Gifford and Matt Brown joined Andrew