Lunch with… Tony Astle – the godfather of fine dining opens up on celebrity guests, bans, food prices and 48 years of secrets and scandal

Post author By New Zealand Blog News Service
Post date September 28, 2024

‘Disgusting’: A key restaurant ingredient that Tony Astle says needs an overhaul.
http://dlvr.it/TDmctz

Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet September 20, 2024
Tory Whanau has revealed that she’s struggling so much financially that she may have to part with her beloved mayoralty, that of New Zealand’s capital city, if she’s to fund her ever-diminishing lifestyle. Whanau was elected to lead Wellington in 2022, winning an overwhelming victory against the incumbent mayor: the evil version of Jason Gunn. […]
Ben Uffindell
Ukrainian militia receives defective shipment of pagers that just send and receive messages September 18, 2024
There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of the shipment, routed through the […]
Ben Uffindell
Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English September 17, 2024
The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy – signaled when they came […]
Ben Uffindell
Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it at 5am September 17, 2024
At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, because I think he’s got […]
Ben Uffindell
Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done September 17, 2024
It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your lane, cutting in front of […]
Ben Uffindell
NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play September 17, 2024
Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was rendered merely symbolic, after the […]
Ben Uffindell
Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’ September 16, 2024
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are “never anything”, a “huge waste […]
Ben Uffindell
Air New Zealand flight attendant named CEO after one year on job November 30, 2021
New Zealand’s national carrier, Air New Zealand, has expressed great enthusiasm in announcing its new CEO today: 51-year-old Nathan Guy, a flight attendant who has spent about 1200 hours on the job. Guy joined the company as a fresh-faced, wide-eyed flight attendant serving now-reduced domestic routes in November of 2020, and has since spent a […]
Ben Uffindell
National Party board denies it unanimously agreed to Collins’ Faustian bargain with Satan November 26, 2021
National Party president Peter Goodfellow is today issuing a strong denial on behalf of the party’s board, saying they did not, at any point, agree to the Faustian bargain that National leader Judith Collins struck with the Evil One, Son of Perdition, the Devil Satan himself. When Collins became the leader of the National Party […]
Ben Uffindell
Super Saturday recap: Patrick Gower doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do October 16, 2021
It was Aotearoa’s first national day of action in over ten years, the first since 2010, when Prime Minister John Key tried to inspire us to clean up our nation’s berms. It didn’t work. Today, New Zealand’s berms are worse than ever. But history is not destiny, and other cliches. Today, we tried again, this […]
Ben Uffindell

Nearly 200 apply for 'golden visa' in three months June 23, 2025
Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Photo: RNZ Nearly 200 applications have been received for the so-called 'golden visa' since changes were made to liberalise access.
Destiny Church march 'not Kiwi, nor Christian' - Minister June 23, 2025
Protesters at the Destiny Church rally in Auckland on Saturday. Photo: RNZ The Minister for Ethnic Communities says he was "appalled" by a Destiny Church march on Saturday which was neither "Kiwi, nor Christian".
Nearly 50 roles unfilled after council restructure June 23, 2025
Environment Southland underwent a major restructure earlier this year. Photo: ODT files The chair of a southern regional council says he is surprised by the number of available vacancies following a recent restructure.
Matthew Rosenberg
Blenheim residents clash with council over noisy building site June 23, 2025
Dave McFarlane, left, and his partner Dorothy Lewis say the construction site near their property has been operating at all hours of the day. Photo: LDR When 77-year-old Dave McFarlane and his partner Dorothy Lewis sit in their living room, noise from the nearby construction site plays like a background radio.
Woman in court over death of six-year-old child June 23, 2025
Photo: ODT files A woman has appeared in court charged with manslaughter in relation to a six-year-old.
Felicity Dear
Thunder beat Pacers to claim first NBA title June 23, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifts the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Photo: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images via Reuters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points, Jalen Williams added 20, and the Oklahoma City Thunder became NBA champions by wearing down the Indiana Pacers with a withering defence to pull off a 103-91 win on Sunday […]
Woman was dead in flat for two days after care worker assumed she was sleeping June 23, 2025
Ruth Finau had been living in supported accommodation since 2014, until her death in 2021. Photo: NZME / Open Justice A woman in residential care lay dead in her room for two days before anyone noticed, while music was heard playing on her computer.
Woman lay dead in room for two days before carers noticed June 23, 2025
Ruth Finau had been living in supported accommodation since 2014, until her death in 2021. Photo: NZME / Open Justice A woman in residential care lay dead in her room for two days before anyone noticed, while music was heard playing on her computer.
Golden Guitar glory for rising star June 23, 2025
It was straight back to school for Cleo Fitzgerald after winning the junior vocal solo and junior gospel categories at the annual Golden Guitar Awards in Gore. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN New Zealand’s next country music sensation may have been unearthed in Christchurch.
Kees Chalmers
Top lawyer fined for drink-driving, ignoring suspension June 23, 2025
Senior lawyer David Fordyce has been found guilty of misconduct after he was convicted of drink-driving and driving while suspended. Photo: Composite image / LinkedIn / via Open Justice By Al Williams, Open Justice reporter A senior lawyer with more than 30 years of good conduct has been convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol […]

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