This week on The Highlight Reel a couple of topics that got the audience talking - should be we make all drugs legal and what are you making of Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump? Is enrolling to vote on Election Day a reasonable ask? This as it is revealed how much it slows the process down and leads to errors in the count. Rugby's rules have been up…

Matt Heath has lead a very colourful life. He first gained infamy as guitarist and singer for band Deja Voodoo, and was one of the creators and stars of Back of the Y Masterpiece TV and the film The Devil Made me Do It. He's also a producer, director of an animation studio, columnist, sports commentator with the ACC, radio breakfast host on Hauraki…

Pukekohe firm TrailLite Campers is turning 70. They sell $57 million of campervans (and some caravans) a year and its origins trace back to two cabinetmakers, Brian Penman and Jim Crotty who made furniture and caskets. In the mid-1950s they made their first caravan which carried the TrailLite name and that’s stuck ever since. The luxury motorhomes …

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer listeners' employment related questions. Today, being put 'on-call' at the weekends, tax anomalies, and being given successive temporary contracts, among other things. LISTEN ABOVE Se…

This week on The Highlight Reel James starts the week by bringing a gift for Simon and producer Tyler. Si and James ask which domestic airline is better these days - Air New Zealand or Jetstar? Staggering figures emerge about the value of the petcare industry and how much dog owners are spending on their fur-babies. Pay rises for politicians sure g…

On the eve of the start of the duck hunting season brave Simon Barnett popped his head above the maimai and asked if there is really any skill in shooting a duck? Simon reckons there isn't as you have a big gun and you splatter your shot around. How hard, he asks, is it to bag one? A couple of keen hunters soon set him straight! LISTEN ABOVE See om…

Ultra marathon legend Sam Harvey pushes the limit of what the human body can do. He's a world record holder for the New Zealand Backyard Ultra, a 677 kilometre race which he finished in 101 hours, and has champion titles in utltra races all over the world. He's now set his sights on breaking the world record at the Dead Cow Backyard Ultra in Queens…

Alexander Terblanche is the real deal when it comes to relationships. He has qualifications in psychotherapy, counselling, and human sexuality. He runs his own practice On Point Therapy, and is the relationship expert for Compatico. He is a wealth of knowledge and joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels to answer listeners' questions. LISTEN ABOVE See…

This week on The Highlight Reel you'll hear a call to Simon Barnett & James Daniels from a drink-driver who, even after hitting a pedestrian, still drives after drinking. Sextortion is on the rise with 200 reports to police every month, the pair talk to a parent, a digital forensic investigator and an older listener threatened with the release of a…

Embattled Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee has been stripped of the portfolio and booted from Cabinet. The Prime Minister has revealed the change after weeks of Lee struggling to front on the collapse of Newshub and cuts at TVNZ. Chris Luxon says Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith will pick up the portfolio. He says there has been significant change …

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer listeners' employment related questions. Today saw questions on sick leave, temping and public holidays and variations to agreements. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv…

This week on The Highlight Reel everything from Easter Eggs to rising insurance bills. Si and James debate the return of the three strikes legislation. James is pretty black and white on the issue, Simon not so much. Producer Tyler gets a hard time over his vaping habit. Plus, James reveals why he doesn't like oak trees while Simon is worried about…

A fascinating discussion this afternoon after Simon told James how he was floored over seeing one of his favourite wines on a restaurant menu for $34 a glass. That broadened into a wider discussion over the troubles facing so many in the hospitality trade. Renowned restaurateur Warwick Brown called the show. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener…

Kiwi kayak icon Luuka Jones is gearing up for what will be her 5th Olympic Games in this year, becoming only the third kiwi woman to hit that milestone alongside Dame Valerie Adams and Barbara Kendall. She’s built a career on incredible determination, winning silver at the 2016 Olympic Games and won her first big international gold medal last year …

News today that an Auckland Council manager has been working remotely from the Gold Coast since January under flexible employment policies. Simon Barnett & James Daniels asked if this is letting the work team down and should those who have fallen in love with the work from home lifestyle get back to the office or get a new job. A young caller by th…

This week on the Highlight Reel, Si & James debate Wayne Brown's idea that councils should be allowed to keep the GST on rates. The boys also talk about changes to the postal service, Easter trading hours and neighbours at war. They take a look at New Zealand's bad rep internationally in terms of behaviour in the classroom. Plus, a couple of words …

New Zealand school students are among the worst-behaved kids in the OECD and behaviour has worsened in the last two years, a new report has found. A report released by the Education Review Office (ERO) has called for classroom behaviour to become a priority and a more “national approach” to worsening behaviour. “We know that disruptive classroom be…

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government's still committed to cutting tax in May's Budget, despite worsening economics. She's revealed in today's Budget Policy Statement, Treasury now expects 0.1 percent GDP growth this year. The forecast last year was 1.5 percent. The Finance Minister says surplus isn't possible in 2026-27 - but it could…

Gareth Abdinor is an Employment, Workplace & Information Expert with Taylor Shaw Barristers & Solicitors. He regularly joins Simon Barnett and James Daniels to answer listeners' employment related questions. Today saw questions about an employer refusing to pay sick pay, a contract without a maternity clause and cameras in the workplace among other…

This week on the Highlight Reel, Si & James debate whether or not MFAT should help the Kiwi tourist's arrested in Thailand. Simon is full of fun facts about the amount of noodles being eaten world wide. The wider Barnett family are having trouble with the 'first home buyer grant'. Plus, James thinks now that we've entered a 'technical recission', w…

Wayne Brown grew up in Auckland, attended Auckland Grammar, and went on to get a degree in engineering. After spending several years overseas he returned to New Zealand and set up an engineering consultancy, diversifying into property development and kiwifruit growing. He’s chaired health boards and been a director of organisations including TVNZ, …

This week on the Highlight Reel, Si & James debate what makes good comedy after Jimmy Carr takes a crack at a deaf woman in the audience. They also discussed Police pay and whether they should be allowed to strike. The Greens run into more trouble with another MP. Plus, it's Simon's turn for a smelly work lunch, James goes for a tour of Christchurc…

The Principal of one of New Zealand's top schools has slammed New Zealand's education system - saying it's heading towards rock bottom. Auckland Grammar head Tim O'Connor says the profession isn’t as valued as it once was. He told the Herald's Leaders Getting Coffee podcast that's evident by people not wanting to enter the profession and the fact t…

Tim Southee was handed a Test debut at the age of 19 against England. He responded taking 5 wickets for 55 before smashing 77 off 40 balls in the second innings with nine sixes. Since then he has progressed into one of the best bowlers in world cricket, across all three forms of the game, going on to form one of the world's best new-ball partnershi…

Do you understand anything about bitcoin? James says he missed the boat on it a few years ago, Simon says he just doesn't trust it. We called in the cavalry and asked the NZ Herald's Markets With Madison host Madison Reidy to help. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Newstalk ZB