Andrew Dickens Afternoons

Sep 15 2024 656 ep. 4 mins 1.2k

Andrew Dickens Afternoons Podcast artwork

With decades of broadcasting experience behind him, Andrew Dickens has worked around the world across multiple radio genres. His bold, sharp and energetic show on Newstalk ZB is always informative and entertaining.

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Andrew Dickens: We need to learn the difference between needs and 'nice to haves'

Sep 15 2024 4 mins

So, the Herald, in the weekend, came out and called the anti-cycle lane movement a culture war in its editorial. They pointed out the bleeding obvious - that cycleways aren't the reason there is not enough money to improve our roads. They pointed out that cycleways make up 1 percent of our transport spending. It's far less than footpaths - but you never get talkback calls moaning a

Andrew Dickens: Why not kill the Treaty Principles Bill now?

Sep 08 2024 3 mins

So the latest twist in the Treaty Principles debate is that the churches have come out against it. More than 400 church leaders are urging MPs to vote against David Seymour's bill. It's the latest chapter in a debate that has been described as 'divisive'. If you don't think it's been divisive you weren't listening to Māori at the King's funeral. They're not hearing the One People

Andrew Dickens: Someone has to point out the obvious now and then

Sep 01 2024 4 mins

I was going to start my programme today with some thoughts about the energy crisis, but something else has popped up. But I will share with you some fun facts: Did you know that New Zealand uses the same amount of electricity in 2024 as we did in 2004? Even though our economic activity and population have grown immensely in the past 20 years. What happened is that we, as consumers,

Andrew Dickens: Reality always catches up to politics

Aug 25 2024 3 mins

Do I need to remind you that politics is show business? It's all about seeming to be the best instead of necessarily being the best. This is why politicians often say the most ridiculous things and make the most outlandish promises. It’s also why they boil complex issues down to simple catchy slogans which are repeated ad nauseum until they gain their own reality. But eventually,

Andrew Dickens: Can we really say the rock star economy is back?

Aug 18 2024 4 mins

The corner has been turned. The 5-year pandemic pandemonium has been tamed. Inflation is down and we've had the first interest rate cut since the Reserve Bank realised they’d overstimulated everything 5 years ago. Proof that tax cuts were not inflationary, says the Finance Minister. And that is the case, but it’s not a sign that the cost of living crisis is over. Inflation and

Andrew Dickens: Is the long winter of discontent over with a good spring to come?

Aug 11 2024 4 mins

The winter solstice was on June 20 and 21. The longest night and the shortest day, but wisdom tells us that the depths of winter does not fall until 6 weeks after the solstice. It takes a while for actions to provoke a reaction. So right now is the depths of winter and much is at the worst it has ever been and ever will be. The All Blacks lost. In front of a disappointing crowd. Ma

Andrew Dickens: I'm truly confused over Dr Anthony Jordan's resignation from Pharmac

Jul 21 2024 3 mins

I have always avoided getting into the Treaty principles debate. It’s just too much of a swamp to get trapped in. Either you’re for David Seymour's debate on a reset, in which case some will call you a racist. Or you’re against a select committee debate means the racists will call you a wokester. Both of which are gross exaggerations of what’s really going down, so

Andrew Dickens: Can we ever return to civil public discourse?

Jul 14 2024 4 mins

There is only one story in town. I realised this when I entered the newsroom and everyone was still itching to talk about it. Firstly, I am so glad the assassin was unsuccessful. The repercussions from this attempt are already dramatic enough. If Trump had been slaughtered, then the reaction could have been disastrous for the United States. Imagine January 6 and the insurrection an

Andrew Dickens: The ferry saga is a pox on both National and Labour

Jun 30 2024 4 mins

I wasn't here last week because I was attending a funeral. A dear friend. 58 years old. Gut cancer. A reminder to us all- live life. Don't put things off. So, last week I thought I'd talk about the ferry debate and I thought that the issue would be over by now. But it's not. It rumbles on like the stubbed toe it is. Today, the Government receives a report that will outline some of

The Beatles in New Zealand - it's been 60 years!

Jun 20 2024 31 mins

On this day 60 years ago, 4 young lads from Liverpool arrived in Wellington on a plane to commence a week long tour of New Zealand. And they changed everything. It was the Beatles. It wasn't like we weren't warned. The week before was chaos as they toured Australia. 250,000 youngsters welcomed the band in sleepy old Adelaide. But the older generation were not prepared for the excit