Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New figures show we might be plugging the brain drain.A report from the Helen Clark Foundation revealed the first net gain of New Zealanders in 20 years.The pandemic saw fewer Kiwis leaving the country and more returning home.Economic consultancy group Infometrics says the reversal is mostly based on people not wanting to leave.Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby it may not last long.“24 percent of people through MIQ who were surveyed said ‘look if Covid conditions get better across the world, I’m outta here again.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party's idea to keep Marsden Point oil refinery in an operational state in case we need it in the future, is being seen as a little too late.Shareholders have voted to drastically scale back operations at the Whangarei refinery - and switch to distributing pre-refined fuels.Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai says the deal's already been done.She told Kate Hawkesby shareholders are the fuel companies that would buy the fuel from the refinery, and they're the ones who voted for the change.“They’ve got a tremendous amount of power, so I think the discussions for that should have happened some time ago.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So there's been a link between a spike in dairy robberies and our tobacco tax hikes.The tobacco tax came into place in 2016.At the same time, reported store robberies went from 41 to 136 in 2016, and to 200 the year after.This is leaving more dairy owners traumatised and injured, as they seem to be taking the hit from the extremes some are going to get tobacco.Sunny Kaushal, from the Crime Prevention Group, which was set up to advocate for dairies after robberies increased, told Kate Hawkesby the price increases have forced people to source their cigarettes by alternative means.“That has been putting a lot of hard working people into dangerous situations because the smokers who are not able to buy smokes, they are either going to the black market, or they’re going to the crime side.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an easy hit for the Nats to slam the government’s lack of delivery, at the Party conference this weekend.But it was also very necessary. Hitting the government on its record is about the best thing the opposition can do.The slow vaccine rollout, the MIQ shambles, the Infrastructure projects that have gone belly up, the money for the mob, the fanciful cycle bridge, the Ute tax – this is absolutely where National needs to be finger pointing.But on top of that, they also need new ideas.New policies, new directions, new approaches.This is where David Seymour has the jump on them.He manages to zero in on policy and promote alternatives to the government.And at the end of the day, voters want to know they have real choices, options and alternatives. Otherwise what is it they’re voting for?There was speculation going into this weekend’s conference that there might be new leadership at the top, the very top – as in Party president.But Peter Goodfellow managed to retain his role.I don’t understand that, given he’s presided over so much of the chaos that National has blundered its way through these past few years. But he got the majority vote.His challenger David Carter was so aggrieved he missed out that he quit the board, and fired a few broadsides on his way out too.Which doesn’t bode well for a party that’s supposed to be reining in all that talking out of turn.This is a party that’s supposed to be showing it can be solid, it can be watertight.But former Speaker and Cabinet minister David Carter said as he quit that he had "zero confidence" in Goodfellow.He’s reported as saying he’d received “about 40 or 50 texts from people sitting in that conference, unhappy with the decision."He didn’t think Goodfellow could revive the party’s chances, given the reviews into National’s woes showed ‘dysfunction of governance and lack of money to run a suitable campaign.’Under Goodfellow, Carter argued none of that would change.So spitting those sour grapes at the Party president, while not a good look, also highlights disquiet and disunity within the party.Which is everything I thought National was trying to tone down.But look you’ve got to hand it to eternal optimist Judith Collins who boldly informed them all that National will be triumphant in 2023.“Easily winnable,” she said. But, and it is a big but, only “if National focuses on the things that matter to New Zealand.”And that’s the great challenge.Can the Nats stay on message and not get distracted by side shows?Collins says they’re “the party New Zealanders can rely on to get things done.”Well hopefully that starts with proving their own house is in order first.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pillars of billowing smoke and ash turned the sky orange and blocked out the sun above Greece's second-largest island Sunday as a days-old wildfire devoured pristine forests and encroached on villages, triggering more evacuation alerts.The fire on Evia, an island of forested mountains and canyons laced with small coves of crystalline water, began Aug. 3 and cut across the popular summer destination from coast to coast as it burned out of control. Scores of homes and businesses have been destroyed and thousands of residents and tourists have fled, many escaping the flames via flotillas that even operated in the dark of night.The blaze is the most severe of dozens that broke out in the wake of Greece's most protracted heat wave in three decades, which sent temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius (113 F) for days, creating bone-dry conditions.“It’s already too late, the area has been destroyed,” Giannis Kontzias, mayor of the northern Evia municipality of Istiaia, lamented on Greece’s Open TV. He was one of several local officials and residents who took to Greek TV networks to appeal for more firefighting help, particularly from water-dropping planes and helicopters.Residents of nearby villages had been urged to head to Istiaia, a town of 7,000 that firefighters battled to save overnight.In dramatic scenes Sunday afternoon, fast-moving flames encroached on the seaside village of Pefki on the island's northern coast, burning trees on the fringes and entering the houses' yards. At least one house was on fire. Panicked residents raced with water tanks, hoses and branches in a seemingly futile effort to extinguish the flames.Acrid, choking smoke hung in the orange-grey air, turning the day into an apocalyptic twilight as people headed towards Pefki's pebble beach, dragging suitcases, clutching pets and helping elderly relatives.Around 350 people had boarded the ferry even before the flames reached the village, the coast guard said, while 23 others were rescued from other beaches in northern Evia. A ferry, coast guard patrol boats, navy vessels and other boats were on standby to evacuate residents.Evacuation orders were issued Sunday for four villages in northern Evia, including Pefki, but many residents refused to leave, hoping to save their properties.In nearby Gouves, towering flames leaped from the treetops, devouring the pine forest leading to the village. Some residents remained in the picturesque mountain village, dousing homes with water from garden hoses in a last-ditch effort to save them. Others used bulldozers to raze trees and bushes, hoping to create rudimentary firebreaks.Civil Protection chief Nikos Hardalias said the Evia fire was burning on two fronts, one to the north and one to the south. He said the conditions there were particularly tough for the water-dropping planes and helicopters, whose pilots faced “great danger" with limited visibility and air turbulence.“We have before us one more difficult afternoon, one more difficult night,” Hardalias said. “All the forces that have been fighting a difficult battle all these days will continue operating with unabated intensity, with the same self-sacrifice.”But many have decried government efforts, citing what they saw as a lack of firefighting forces or planes or delays in their arrival.“The atmosphere was suffocating, although I was away from the fire. There was ash and smoke everywhere,” said Christina Tsatou, who had been in the seaside village of Agios Georgios. "It is very sad that they did not send help in the first days and they left the island burning. It was unfair and many people have lost their property, their livelihoods.”The wildfires have stretched Greece's firefighting capabilities to the limit, and the government has appealed for help from abroad. More than 20 countries in Europe and the Mideast have responded, sending planes, helicopters, vehicles and...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It began with a virus and a yearlong pause. It ended with a typhoon blowing through and, still, a virus. In between: just about everything.The Tokyo Olympics, christened with "2020" but held in mid-2021 after being interrupted for a year by the coronavirus, glided to their conclusion in a COVID-emptied stadium Sunday night as an often surreal mixed bag for Japan and for the world.A rollicking closing ceremony with the theme "Worlds We Share" — an optimistic but ironic notion at this human moment — featured everything from stunt bikes to intricate light shows as it tried to convey a "celebratory and liberating atmosphere" for athletes after a tense two weeks. It pivoted to a live feed from Paris, host of the 2024 Olympics. And with that, the strangest Olympic Games on record closed their books for good.Held in the middle of a resurging pandemic, rejected by many Japanese and plagued by months of administrative problems, these Games presented logistical and medical obstacles like no other, offered up serious conversations about mental health — and, when it came to sport, delivered both triumphs and a few surprising shortfalls.Athletes lie on the field during International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach speech during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo / APFrom the outset, expectations were middling at best, apocalyptic at worst. Even Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said he'd worried that these could "become the Olympic Games without a soul." But, he said, "what we have seen here is totally different.""You were faster, you went higher, you were stronger because we all stood together — in solidarity," Bach told gathered Olympians as he closed the Games. "This was even more remarkable given the many challenges you had to face because of the pandemic. In these difficult times, you give the world the most precious of gifts: hope.""For the first time since the pandemic began," he said, "the entire world came together."He overstated it a bit. At these Games, even the word "together" was fraught. Spectators were kept at bay. A patchwork of rules kept athletes masked and apart for much of medal ceremonies, yet saw them swapping bodily fluids in some venues. That was less about being remiss than about being real: Risks that could be mitigated were, but at the same time events had to go on.Athletes' perseverance became a central story. Mental health claimed bandwidth as never before, and athletes revealed their stories and struggles in vulnerable, sometimes excruciating fashion.Japan's fourth Olympics, held 57 years after the 1964 Games reintroduced the country after its World War II defeat, represented a planet trying to come together at a moment in history when disease and circumstance and politics had splintered it apart.Volunteers stand as International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach gives a speech during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Olympics. Photo / APThe closing ceremony Sunday reflected that — and, at times, nudged the proceedings toward a sci-fi flavour. As athletes stood in the arena for the final pomp, digital scoreboards at either end of the stadium featured what organizers called a "fan video matrix," a Zoom call-like screen of videos uploaded by spectators showing themselves cheering at home.Even the parade of athletes carrying national flags — thousands of Olympians, masked and unmasked, clustering together before fanning out into the world again — was affected. Volunteers carried some flags into the stadium, presumably because of rules requiring athletes to leave the country shortly after their events concluded.In front of such formidable backdrops, athletic excellence burst through, from the Games' first gold medal (China's Yang Qian in the 10-meter air rifle on July 24) to their last (Serbia defeating...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol. Speed. An overloaded car. Unrestrained passengers.It was a recipe for disaster - and now five Timaru teenagers are dead, their families and community reeling.The five boys died at the scene after the car they were in crashed about 7.30pm on Saturday.Last night two of the boys were named by family - Niko Hill and Javarney Drummond.At least one call had been made to police about boy racing in the area shortly before the fatal carnage.The group - five in the car and one in the boot - were travelling in a Nissan Bluebird sedan which struck a power pole and tore in two.All five passengers - aged 15 and 16 - died at the scene.The 19-year-old driver survived and was taken to Timaru Hospital with serious injuries.He was well enough to post a message on social media yesterday afternoon, including a photograph of himself in his hospital bed, apologising for the crash."Hello everyone just wanted to say I'm not dead I am very very lucky to still be alive and I can't believe what has happened," he wrote, in a post seen by the Herald."And I am so so so sorry to the families that I have put in pain coz of stupid mistakes that I made that has costed five lives."Some of his injuries are visible in the post.Javarney's father Stephen told Stuff he had gone to bed on Saturday and said it was not unusual for his "social butterfly" son to arrive home later.Just before midnight his daughter started getting messages about Javarney being killed in the crash.Stephen Drummond then rushed to the Timaru police station and then had to identify hisson at the hospital."He's never done this. He's never got in a car, I don't understand it," he said."All his mates don't have cars, he went to school with the driver, at primary school. He talks to him and says hello to him, but he's never, ever been joyriding that I know of. I don't understand how it's actually unfolded."Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said yesterday the driver was yet to be spoken to by police.He said it was too soon to speculate or confirm details but he suspected due to the age of the driver he may not hold a full licence.Gaskin said a number of people in the car were not wearing seatbelts."There were six people in the vehicle, there is only five sets of seatbelts," he told media."It is not possible at the moment to say who was wearing seatbelts, but I think it is pretty clear to say that only a very few, if anyone, were wearing seatbelts."Niko Hill's father learned of his death through a phone call late on Saturday night.He said his heart was broken. He was not ready to speak more about Niko last night as he prepared to travel to Timaru to support the teen's mother and wider family.The area where the crash happened is well-known as being popular with boy racers, with a local resident phoning 111 about 6pm on Saturday night to complain about four cars racing and doing burnouts."The last thing I said to the call-taker was, 'If you don't send someone out here, someone will get killed', and 90 minutes later, we had this," Ray Colvill told the Herald.A steady stream of mourners and locals wanting to pay their respects and lay flowers visited the crash site yesterday.They came and wept at the concrete power pole, still standing, with a just few smudges of car paint near its solid base. Sobbing parents, devastated grandparents, a shaking aunty, and two cousins visited, trying to come to grips with what had happened.They just felt a numbness, they said.One father, tears filling red eyes, paced up and down the country road where the five boys died, muttering, "Why? What a waste!"Among the mourners was Niko's cousin Meadow Bennett."I really am in shock," she told the Herald."You don't believe it until you see it. I don't believe he's gone."He's just a young, sweet kid... he doesn't...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Olympics wrap up this weekend, I think we can all agree it has been a huge success, and unexpectedly so.I mean, to be honest, I didn’t even think they’d go ahead, but in this case, the IOC’s determination paid off.Despite Japan being a mess with Covid, the Olympics were not.Slick organisation helps, military precision helps, being vigilant helps.Japan seemed to manage all of these athletes in a way that kept things under control; it did not become the super spreader event some might feared it would be.It seemed organised, controlled, calm and efficient. Athletes spoke highly of it, possibly also very grateful they were able to perform at all.Unusual not to have crowds yes, but I think it’s always been more of a TV event anyway hasn’t it?Most of us are watching from the sofa. I feel bad for the families and close friends of the athletes who would dearly love to have been there to support and watch in person, obviously.But generally speaking, for a large scale event held during a global pandemic; amazing.Add to that the fact we’ve done so well at them, and I think we can call it a big success.I know people who’ve gotten quite obsessed with the coverage, and the coverage has been good because there’s plenty of it.I mean you could literally watch it all day if you wanted to.But the other odd thing about this Olympics, apart from lack of crowds, has been the mental health aspect.It’s been a big deal hasn’t it?Has it always been a big deal and we just didn’t talk about it before? Or has it just this year become a big deal? I’m not sure.But I’d like to think for all the athletes who cited mental health as a reason to pull out, or talked about the pressure being too much, that for every one of those who flew the flag for mental health, we also had athletes who pushed through.I’m not demeaning the mental health aspect as a real factor for people, I appreciate their honesty, but I just don’t know if I’m in the, ‘they’re heroes’ camp.I think this Olympics may be remembered for the Simone Biles of this world who pulled out, but I hope it’s remembered for all the athletes who competed too.Not because they’re ‘better’ than the others, but just because it really shows how much mental grit and tenacity is required to compete at that elite level of sport.And for all those who were brave enough to admit they couldn’t do it, there were others who did do it. Who pushed past that barrier, faced down those demons, and went out to give it their all.That’s to be commended I think.Just as much as admitting you can’t do it is brave; actually doing it is brave too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 Rugby League World Cup has been postponed a year following the withdrawal of Australia and New Zealand a fortnight ago.The tournament was due to kick off on October 23 but has been moved back a year.The New Zealand Rugby League informed tournament organisers two weeks ago that the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns would not be attending the event in England, due to Covid related player welfare and safety concerns.New Zealand has participated in every World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1954.The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) also confirmed that they would not be sending teams to the tournament."Today is a challenging moment for everyone involved in Rugby League, but most importantly the players and fans of the competing nations," said Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive Officer."Ultimately, time and competing priorities from others forced us to make the most difficult decision in our six-year history. However, we and the sport of Rugby League are resilient, and next year we will deliver our vision of the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever."We have always prioritised player voice and player choice. We have established a player working group, met with senior players and in the last few days commissioned a player survey to domestic players in Australia and New Zealand that showed more than 85% wanted to compete at RLWC2021 this year. However, following the disappointing decision of the ARLC and NZRL to withdraw, and the subsequent impact on player availability for other competing nations, it is apparent that delivering the tournament this year would not be feasible."The wellbeing of all those involved in the tournament, particularly players and team officials, has been our priority. I would like to thank the RLWC2021 Board and my team for the relentless hard work and extraordinary measures that had been undertaken to create a safe and secure environment in line with other major sports events that have been successfully hosted in the UK this year."I would also like to thank all our committed partners as well as the Rugby League community at large who have been so supportive of our trailblazing event. We appreciate the continued and unequivocal support of the UK Government, as well as the understanding of our competing nations."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An opportunity has arisen to right a so called unfairness for people in our middle income tax brackets.The ability for property investors to claim loan interest costs as an expense against rental income is being phased out.Budget documents show the full removal of that would have given the government another $800 million or more in tax.Deloitte tax partner, Robyn Walker, told Kate Hawkesby this could be the beginning of a tax system rejig.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins says she'll agree to disagree with her party's youth wing on almost everything, including the ban on conversion therapy.A bill that would outlaw the practice has passed its first reading in Parliament.National voted against the bill, despite pleas from the Young Nats for the party to support it at first reading and seek changes at select committee.Collins told Kate Hawkesby the party won't be dictated by its youth wing.“The National Party caucus if often offside with our youth wing on various issues. They’re are far more progressive culturally and socially, than the majority of MPs.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Carrington is a key cog in the machine that's driving New Zealand to its most successful Olympics yet.This country now has 19 medals, seven of them gold, pushing our tally ahead of the previous best ever five years ago at Rio.The champion kayaker has six medals all up, three of them in Tokyo, all gold.Carrington's strength and conditioning coach, Adam Storey told Kate Hawkesby her training has been through the roof.“People do see Lisa winning in such a dominant fashion and say ‘gee she makes it look so easy,’ but I tell you what it isn’t easy in any way, shape or form.”And there's a prospect of more medals to come.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the UK asks people working from home to get back to the office, a new survey out here shows that office workers are actually “more satisfied in their jobs than non-office workers”.'Skills Consulting Group's Work Wellbeing survey', it's been reported, looked at '1600 staff and human resources managers' and in terms of dissatisfaction in the workplace it had 'health workers, teachers and tradies at the top of the list'.It’s the office workers who have a higher wellbeing score. It’s assumed this is because they feel a stronger connection directly to their workplace, they have regular supports in place, they’re anchored somewhere. So that chit chat round the coffee machine and regular touching base with colleagues in meetings, is actually good for you apparently. It’s connection.It’s also one of the main reasons the UK is encouraging people back to the office. A lot of the connectivity in workplaces has been lost during Covid. Zoom just doesn’t cut it. The British Finance Minister says strong relationships are formed for particularly young people, when they’re physically able to be in the office. It’s important for mental health, for forming friendships, and for feeling part of the team.So how many of us are taking our office for granted when in fact we're getting benefits from being in it?And what about those who don’t work in an office?Drivers, nurses, tradies, teachers, retail staff, it turns out their 'wellbeing scores' were a lot lower than office workers.Jane Kennelly from Skills Consulting Group is reported as saying this is because those people can feel "forgotten about".She says what’s needed in those industries is "More personalised tools, more check-ins to ensure those who work outside or in a different way to a conventional office still feel part of the team.”So how is that possible when your workers are driving trucks or in a classroom?Well I would’ve thought it’s down to attitude.A furniture removal company we know of cooks its staff breakfast each day before they hit the road. It's a chance for the team to touch base, connect, start the day on the right foot. But that takes a desire from management to make it happen.And everything comes back to culture nowadays anyway doesn’t it.Workers want a good culture, they thrive in a good culture, it promotes connection and a sense of belonging.Wellbeing is paramount in terms of what workers are after in the modern workplace. I don’t even think that’s a high expectation anymore, I think its standard. So I guess it behoves management in those non-office workplaces to work harder to ensure a good culture. Turns out our wellbeing depends on it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ANZ is predicting 3 OCR hikes by the end of the year, and 5 by this time next year.This is off the back of our unemployment rate dropping from 4.7 per cent to 4 per cent yesterday.Kate Hawkesby asked Rival Wealth financial advisor, Tim Fairbrother if the Reserve Bank has messed this up?LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The black market of e-bikes is heating up. E-bike insurance claims have doubled in value over the past year, to $225,000.E bikes are worth up to $10,000, and currently included in your content insurance.But at this rate, surely that's set to change.E-bike retailer, who actually once stole back his own stolen e-bike, Maurice Wells, spoke to Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I extend thoughts and prayers for cyclists this morning.It looks like their precious bridge crossing may be confined to the scrap heap.As is was predicted moments after it was announced, and got an almost unanimous negative response – gosh even some cyclists thought it was a dumb idea, it’s likely now it’ll never happen.Grant Robertson yesterday wouldn't confirm or deny the cycle bridge, only to say that they ‘continually look at the transport network to see it works well’.That’s politician speak for – it’s toast.So what does this tell us?Well like I said yesterday, it tells us very clearly this Government hates bad press. It tells us a 10 point drop in the polls really sharpens the mind, and it tells us they’ll move like a wind sock under the gales of public pressure.Seasonal workers are in, the cycle bridge is out.What can we expect next? And more importantly, is this a precursor to what we can expect as we head into the next election?Are flip flops, false promises and knee jerk reactions good for us?Well not if you want some stability and consistency from your leadership, some long term strategic management. I would’ve thought good leadership is about properly doing the work up front before you leap into announcements.Costing and canvassing something to the hilt, before you throw out the press release and roll out the Minister. And then once you have your plan, sticking to it.Obviously in this case a back down is the only and best course of action - but we shouldn't have been put through this farce in the first place.The cyclists will rightly be annoyed, although did they really believe this would actually ever get off the ground?The announcement came with no formal detail or specifics; the Government hadn’t done the homework on it, and it became increasingly hard to justify.Add to that the public backlash and you can see how they’d now like to pretend this never happened.So it really should surprise no one that it’s going to fizzle into the ether alongside Kiwibuild, Lightrail, and any number of infrastructure projects you want to name.So let’s recap the telling way this has unfolded:A bad poll for the Government and two specific questions come out of that poll.One, about loosening the border for seasonal workers and two, the cycle bridge.24 hours later, seasonal workers are in.24 hours after that, the cycle bridge is on the ropes.Almost 82% of people in the poll said the bridge was a dumb idea.So what we’re seeing here, therefore, is less of a government governing, and more of a reactive popularity contest based on poll data.Is that good solid leadership? Or is that just amateurs winging it?Sadly I think it's the latter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a common feeling when you complete two interviews for a job, just to be told they'll let you know if you've made it to a third?A LinkedIn post of a job-hunter talking about how multiple interviews for a job drives talent away has gone viral, with one company asking him for nine interviews.4 or 5 rounds of interviews can be common in New Zealand.Director of HR and recruitment company Randstad, Katherine Swan, told Kate Hawkesby a good recruitment experience can set the tone for a prospective employee.“They want to be making sure that that candidate has a really good recruitment experience, because what they will do is link that to the employment experience with the company moving forward.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reviewing the use of formal police warnings, may be just one small piece in a very large puzzle of justice reform.New Zealand Police will review its Formal Warning policy after the High Court found the warnings have no basis in law and are a breach of the Bill of Rights.Warnings can affect a person's employment prospects, without them actually being found guilty of a crime.But victims' advocate Ruth Money told Kate Hawkesby the alternative, going through the court process, can also be hugely disruptive.“I’ve got so many offenders waiting for files from Police… so that the process can move along.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online scams are becoming more slick and sophisticated.But when we think of those more likely to get caught up in scams, we mainly think of elderly people.But that's not always the case.A new study from the UK says nine in ten parents are concerned about their kids falling victim to online scams.Online safety operations manager at Netsafe Sean Lyons told Kate Hawkesby scammers will tailor their approach depending on who their target is.“Scams aren’t about old people; they’re bout specific types of people falling for specific scams.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, a poll comes out which sees Labour drop 10 points, and voila, seasonal workers are on their way back in.I'm not sure how much detail of what's in those polls gets given to the parties in advance, but we can assume based on what happened next, that Labour had the tip off on one particular question.The poll included a question about what more the Government could do.The answer to which was: loosen up the borders a bit, more exemptions for seasonal workers.And boom, look at that.An announcement rolled out yesterday that indeed they're welcoming them back in from Samoa and Tonga, seasonal workers.If that's what a 10 point drop in the polls can produce in 24 hours, what could a 20 point drop do?Would they vaccinate the entire country in a week?One thing we know this Government hates is flailing popularity.It's a government who has become accustomed to riding high in the polls, critics would argue the subsequent arrogance they're showing around this is actually going to be the undoing of them.So when some real tangible issues start biting them in the bum, and it affects poll numbers, they're quick to move.It shouldn't take a poll slump to force them to act, that's showing barely concealed contempt for your electorate, but the horticulture sector's been crying out for workers for so long, I'm sure they're feeling relieved this morning.But you have to hand it to the marketing whizzes inside this Government, they know how to take a bad news headline and quickly bury it with a good news one, thus, spinning the media cycle away from a bad poll, and onto the next shiny new thing; some border exemptions.I thought it was very telling yesterday that the PM went back to playing her best trump card and using her magic words, which light up the hearts and souls of her support base 'the pandemic'.In reacting to the poll dip, she made sure she blamed it not on her party, but on 'the pandemic'.Basically, she was blaming the uncertainty of the pandemic on the poor poll result.In reality, saying it’s less about her, and more about us and where we’re at."2021 is hard," she explained, "we all thought 2020 was the really difficult year with the pandemic, but we have all accepted now that 'this pandemic' is not going away as quickly", she told Newshub.She also said her job is to “share the plan through,” which is a revelation, given people have been asking for a plan for months and months.Waiting and waiting.So, a bad poll result and now some seasonal workers on their way, and the promise of a plan.A busy week so far for the government, we watch with interest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of evidence has pointed to how successful a four day working week is in increasing productivity, as well as avoiding burnout.Well there's been a massive development in the United States.California congressman Mark Takano has submitted a bill for Congress to introduce the four day work week for California.Congressman Takano told Kate Hawkesby imporoving employee wellbeing has benefits for everyone.“I think we can improve the health of most workers, reduce the stress that they experience, and at the same time we’re seeing experiments in countries such as yours and other places around the world that productivity does not have to suffer, in fact productivity might even be enhanced.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A move to allow more seasonal workers into the country, is being seen as an important piece of the puzzle for kiwifruit growers.From next month, seasonal workers from Covid-free Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga can come to New Zealand without quarantine.Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Colin Bond told Kate Hawkesby even with the change, they may still be six to seven thousand people short next season.“We really do welcome the news yesterday, but we are under no illusions that there is still more work to be done to encourage more New Zealanders just to fill that working holiday visa gap.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into housing is to clarify for central and local government and local iwi what the right to a decent home means in New Zealand.They say successive governments have failed when it comes to housing.Deputy CEO of Community Housing Aotearoa Chris Glaudel told Kate Hawkesby his expectations of the review will help them look at what isn’t working well in the current system and show how all citizens can help achieve the right to a home.“It’s not just on government, it also is on everybody. We all enjoy this right. Some of us currently don’t have it though.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was incredulous at the news we’d had a breach in protocols during the transfer of the Covid patient from Fiji.I shouldn’t have been, it was always a possibility, and perhaps one of the reasons the medics were so against the transfer in the first place. But to hear that a “PPE protocol incident” had occurred and ended up lumping a health worker into Jet Park for two weeks in MIQ, left me aghast.Imagine being that health worker – already stretched with RSV raging through the hospitals, your colleagues have all said no thanks to this patient coming, you’ve been over ruled by politicians, and then – beyond your control, the patient gets flown here, and wham, you’re into MIQ for two weeks.Away from your family, out at the Jet Park, isolating.Cool.How completely unnecessary.Medical experts have been leaping up and down about this since before we even took the patient, but over the weekend Professor of Medicine Des Gorman leapt up and down too.He criticised the decision saying "it's a pity" health workers here have been put at risk. It is indeed a pity.The Ministry’s reported as saying "any risks from this incident are low," but why are we taking any risks at all?What happened to abundance of caution?What happened to zero risk?We only need to look to our friends across the Tasman to know how virulent this Delta variant is.We only need to look at the turtle pace of our vaccine rollout here to know how ill prepared we are.We don’t contact trace enough anymore, we don’t wear the mandatory masks we’re supposed to on public transport, we are not remotely ready to handle an outbreak here, so why take any risks at all?Of course as I said last week, this was never a medical decision and you can’t blame the UN worker at the centre of it, it’s not her fault, and we hope she recovers well.But for the government to ignore the medics, who they’ve followed so religiously throughout this whole pandemic, who they’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with at press conferences, relied on, put everything into the hands of to then suddenly ignore them?Let’s not forget, as Des Gorman pointed out, "Eighty-five percent of New Zealanders are not vaccinated, they're not immune," he told Newshub.So as he said, this makes us “unbelievably vulnerable”.And that's not a time to take risks.What we have here, is a continuity problem.Medical staff say no, yet suddenly the government can ignore the advice of clinicians.Either you respect the medical profession and take their advice, or you don’t.But what the government now seems to be doing, is picking and choosing when they'll take that advice.And if it doesn't suit their political agenda, they won't.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustration from senior doctors about the Government's ongoing pay freeze for high-income public sector workers.Members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists will begin stopwork meetings today, to discuss their pay and working conditions.It comes as nurses prepare for strike action this month after rejecting their latest pay offer.Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Kate Hawkesby the Government pay freeze can't be justified, when the economy is doing so well."It's about giving lowest paid workers the biggest increases and we absolutely support that, but we think that you raise the floor for those at the bottom by actually raising the floor, not by pushing the ceiling down."Dalton says members will accept a pay rise below inflation, but they're being offered zero-percent instead.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi high jumper Hamish Kerr has given a strong account in his Olympic Games debut, jumping 1cm below his personal best to finish 10th in a competition that will be remembered for its unique ending.In a rare turn of events, Qatari star Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi shared the gold medal, clearing a height of 2.37m. Neither of the two had failed a jump until the bar was raised to 2.39m, where neither athlete was able to clear it.While it was expected the two would go into a jump-off because their ledger was identical, they instead decided to share the top prize.It was a heartwarming moment and fans around the world were enamoured by the Olympic spirit shown. This must be one of the best Olympics ever for personal stories - Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Essa are tied for first in the men’s high jump. “Can there be two golds?” Essa asks an official. After a nod, they agree to share the win. Lovely scenes as they hug & celebrate.— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) August 1, 2021 To decide to both be Olympic Champions is probably the best moment I’ve ever seen … #athletics #HighJump— kelly (@KellySotherton) August 1, 2021 wow. high jump ends in a tie as Barshim and Tamberi agree to not compete in a jump-off. pic.twitter.com/gQrTlzjRJC— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 1, 2021 Two athletes & friends decide to share the gold medal in the @Olympics high jump rather than jump off against each other!! Sporting respect of the highest order at the highest level 👍👏— DaveSimmonds (@DaveSimmonds77) August 1, 2021 As for Kerr, he had his struggles across five heights, twice being on his final attempt before ultimately bowing out at 2.33m. In the high jump competition, athletes are eliminated after three failed attempts in a row. If they fail twice then clear a height, they move on and get three attempts at the next height.Kerr had no trouble clearing heights of 2.19m and 2.24m, but had his first slip up at 2.27m. A height he had cleared in the past, Kerr needed another two attempts to clear the height, but was able to progress.It was a similar story at 2.30m - 1cm below his personal best - where Kerr twice took the bar with him before the round was delayed due to the women's shot put medal ceremony - which saw Dame Valerie Adams receive the bronze she won earlier in the day.The break seemed to give Kerr a chance to reset, and he launched himself clear over the bar to move on to the next height.Moving up to 2.33m, a height he had never previously cleared, Kerr was unable to better his personal best height – missing all three of his attempts.Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau claimed the bronze medal, again on a countback of misses. While he also cleared 2.37m, Nedasekau had more failed attempts than Barshim and Tamberi and finished in third place.South Korea's Woo Sanghyeok and Australia's Brandon Starc finished in fourth and fifth, having cleared 2.35m.How Hamish Kerr performed in the high jump final2.19m - o2.24m - o2.27m - xxo2.30m - xxo2.33m - xxxText by Christopher Reive, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wildfires raged Sunday near Turkey's holiday beach destinations of Antalya and Mugla as the discovery of more bodies caused the death toll to rise to eight. Residents and tourists fled the danger in small boats while the coast guard and two navy ships waited out at sea in case a bigger evacuation was needed.Authorities warned tourists and residents to keep evacuating Turunc, a town in the seaside resort of Marmaris in Mugla province. Fires enveloped the area and strong winds made firefighting efforts more difficult. A helicopter attempted to extinguish the blazes, which were unreachable by land.As residents of villages around Marmaris pleaded for more help on social media, people boarded small boats carrying suitcases. Others waited anxiously to see if the fire would come down to the shore.Turkish news agency DHA said the bodies of a Turkish-German couple were found in their burned home in Manavgat, Antalya. Fires were also encroaching on a village near the town and residents were evacuating in trucks.High temperatures and strong winds were making matters worse. Antalya registered 42 degrees Celsius (over 107 degrees Fahrenheit), 5-6 degrees C higher than seasonal averages.Earlier Sunday, police water cannons, usually used to control riots, helped helicopters and fire trucks in Mugla’s popular district of Bodrum to fight fires. Turkish television showed fires had reignited after being extinguished earlier, with blazes and smoke approaching a village.Civilians were trying to protect homes and olive groves but some houses were already damaged. Social media videos showed tourists in Bodrum scampering down streets rolling their luggage to escape the nearby flames.The health minister, Fahrettin Koca, said at least 27 people affected by the fires were still receiving treatment in hospitals while hundreds of others had been released.The minister of forestry and agriculture, Bekir Pakdemirli, tweeted that 111 wildfires were “under control” across Turkey. His tweets showed that, since Wednesday, wildfires had ignited in 33 provinces.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan toured some of the affected areas on Saturday and promised to help residents rebuild their homes. But social media users criticized him for arriving in Marmaris in a massive convoy that caused more traffic.While Turkish authorities say they are investigating whether the fires may have started as “sabotage” by outlawed Kurdish militants, experts mostly point to climate change along with accidents caused by people. Erdogan said one of the fires was started by children.A heat wave across southern Europe, fed by hot air from North Africa, has led to wildfires across the Mediterranean, including on the Italian island of Sicily and in western Greece, where some residents had to be evacuated by boat to escape the flames.On Sunday afternoon, bathers on an Italian beach south of the Adriatic city of Pescara fled when they spotted towering clouds of smoke and flames from a fire in a nearby pine forest, the Italian news agency LaPresse reported. Several people were reportedly injured when they tried to put out wind-whipped flames that had reached their homes. Local officials told state TV that an elderly home in Pescara had to be evacuated.Meanwhile, in Turkey's eastern Van province, floods over the weekend destroyed at least six houses after a small river overflowed amid heavy rains. Villagers were ordered to leave their homes and climb to higher locations.Text by Zeynep Bilginsoy, APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What we’ve seen with the transfer of this Covid patient from Fiji is very simple. It's not a medical decision, it's a political one.The medical decision was made by the DHBs, the Director of Health, the Ministry of Health. The medical decision was no.But then politics got involved. Helen Clark, it's widely asserted, (and she hasn't denied it), stepped in, the UN stepped in, pressure was applied, and voila, change of plan.This is an embarrassing flip flop.The request was initially declined on clinical grounds, following advice from three Intensive Care Units at Auckland's major hospitals.But hang on, suddenly we have room.Don't forget, our ICU and hospital staff have been flat out dealing with this RSV outbreak, which has swamped hospitals right around the country.They've been absolutely stretched; you can see why they said no.But now, the Covid patient who we were categorically told was not coming, is sitting in Middlemore hospital after a 'change of plan.’The medics are mad, they're apparently furious about this, they don't want a Delta patient in our ICU, but they've been over ruled.There is so much to unpack here, so many questions.Firstly, what's this costing? A Medevac plane out of Fiji, health workers in Hazmat suits at the airport to meet her, the transfer to Middlemore, the ICU stay.Have they had to clear out ICU for this person? Is our ICU resourced well enough for this?What's the knock on effect of this? What's the infection prevention and isolation plan?On top of that, let's look at what this says.The message being sent here is - nudge nudge wink wink, it's not what you know, it's who you know, or in this case, who you are.You get priority treatment for Covid if you have a job at the UN.Everyone else in Fiji who’s suffering, sorry.And let's not forget the mess Fiji's in right now with all this.Dr Colin Tukuitonga, an associate professor of Public health says this is a dreadful decision.He says it's putting us at unnecessary risk, he says we're playing with fire. He also points out that this sets a dangerous precedent, as many other patients who were seriously ill and in fact have died, were not granted the option of treatment in NZ.But let's get to what this is really all about, because we know there's always the story we're being told, and the real story.Who do we know who’s working on our international image of kindness, and who wants a job at the UN?It's that simple; a Prime Minister, who wants a job at the UN, is not saying no to the UN.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HBO Max has just released a 12 episode series parodying the life of Prince George, yes, the eight year old.It navigates the trials and tribulations of being a royal childBut critics are accusing HBO of taking cheap shots at a child.Royal family commentator Victoria Arbiter joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand may be taking on extra risks -- by allowing a Covid-19 patient to be transferred from Fiji to New Zealand for treatment.The woman arrived at Auckland Airport last night, before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital.She's understood to be a high-profile World Health Organisation staffer, medevaced under a UN agreement.Auckland University public health expert Colin Tukuitonga told Kate Hawkesby it's an inherently risky move.“There’s a higher chance that this is Delta varient, and Delta can go bad real quick. I think we’re accepting a risky situatuion to be honest.”Tukuitonga says if New Zealand wants to help people in Fiji, it should be deploying more specialists and resources to the country.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tramways Union drivers in Wellington have accepted a fourth pay offer from NZ Bus, bringing an end to months of wrangling over their collective agreement.The long-running saga has resulted in stop-work meetings, a strike, and a lockout.This afternoon NZ Bus confirmed in a statement a new collective employment agreement has been settled on with its Wellington drivers.Chief Operating Officer Jay Zmijewski said the agreement secures a fair and equitable outcome for existing staff and gives NZ Bus greater ability to recruit more full-time drivers."This is a great outcome. We want our drivers to be the best paid and have the best conditions in the industry, and this deal achieves that."We look forward to attracting more drivers to the industry to provide safe and secure public transport services to the people of Wellington."Tramways Union has been approached for comment.Zmijewski acknowledged the role Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has played in the pay talks."We look forward to partnering with council to improve service levels in the coming weeks and months."Wellington has been battling with a shortage of at least 60 drivers, resulting in record cancellations.A new reduced peak-hour bus timetable came into effect on Sunday for some services in an effort to provide more certainty, instead of commuters waiting for buses which never show up.Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter. (Photo / Mark Mitchell)GWRC chairman Daran Ponter said today's vote was good news and meant drivers and the operators could put the issue behind them."This has been six months of tension and acrimony and both parties needed to be able to settle on an agreement they can live with for the next three years."But as importantly, it's also good for Wellingtonians. It means they can have certainty that they're not going to have stop-work meetings on a frequent basis."The council's involvement in negotiations is a significant step-change from its previous position of being a bystander.It has provided mediators and facilitators, topped up driver wages to the living wage, and changed service provision to get rid of as many split shifts as possible.Metlink general manager Scott Gallacher said new bus timetables would now be drawn up to reflect some of the "real wins" in the new agreement."One of the most positive outcomes will be guaranteed 8-hour shifts on request, making work and home life easier to manage for drivers."But the new timetable could also result in some services being axed due to the driver shortages, as has already gone ahead on Tranzurban services."We'll be looking to get agreement on a set of timetable changes that will better match staffing numbers to ultimately create a more flexible and reliable network", Gallacher said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're seeing a lot of raw emotion and huge pressure unfolding at the Olympics aren’t we?Which isn’t necessarily new, elite sport at that top level is hugely competitive and nothing but pressure.You're carrying the weight of the world, or at the very least your whole country, on your shoulders. There are tears, collapses, enormous highs, catastrophic lows. That’s elite sport, and most athletes at that level know that.But I just wonder whether this Olympics will be remembered for something else.For mental health issues coming to the fore and taking precedence over performance, and I can’t work out if this is a good or a bad thing.On the one hand, I appreciate how huge the toll is and admire athletes who have the guts to say, you know what? Not this time, can’t do it, my head’s not in it.I mean that can’t be easy and it takes guts. It also helps identify and draw into the mainstream that mental health as a very real issue, at even the highest levels of success.But I’m torn because on the other hand, you worked really hard to get to this level, you knew going in, surely, that competing in elite sport representing your country is no picnic.Having your head in the game is part and parcel of the deal, it’s something athletes train for these days, the sporting challenge is no longer just physical, and in most arenas it’s mental too.It's a whole body, mind approach.So you surely know that and have trained for that.So on the one hand pulling out for mental health is a good reminder to the world that even top Olympians struggle too.And there’ll be people on the sidelines going ‘oh thank god for that, that makes me feel better, I’m not alone in this.’But equally on the sidelines there may also be other world class athletes who maybe just missed out on qualifying for the Olympics, going ‘well hang on a minute, I could've had that spot, I'm mentally fit for this.’So does going all the way to the Olympics, then at the eleventh hour saying – 'no can do' is it heroic? As many are claiming, or is it a cop out? And is it heroic because it's new and different this time?Like would it still be heroic if athlete after athlete withdrew due to pressure and mental health? Are they all heroes? And if so, what do you call the ones who stayed and actually competed then? So two camps here I reckon.Those who'll say a mental health issue is just like any physical health issue, it’s the same, it forces you to withdraw and you should not be judged on that. Quite right.But equally meritorious in my view, is the other camp which says you are physically able, but if your head’s not in it then did you train enough for the mental part of this deal?And if not, then have you let yourself and your team down?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plan to close the Milford Sound airstrip has been met with outrage by local tourism operators who use the runway.The Milford Opportunities Project Masterplan has been unveiled in Te Anau today, aimed at addressing visitor pressures and safety. It includes proposed changes to the way we access the UNESCO World Heritage site, including a plan for carbon neutral buses, charging international visitors, a ban on cruise ships in the inner sound and the removal of the airstrip.Tourism Industry Aotearoa says the plan could radically change the way we look after the jewel in New Zealand's tourism crown.However the Queenstown Milford Users Group (QMUG) is describing the plan to close the Milford Sound Airport a 'kick in the guts' and is strongly opposing the recommendation.Glenorchy Air owners James Stokes and Kirstin Stokes. (Photo / Supplied)QMUG represents the commercial GA operators flying to Milford.Chair James Stokes, who is also the owner and Managing Director of Glenorchy Air, says flying into Milford Sound is tied into the history of Fiordland, since the first fixed-wing aircraft landed there in 1932."On Trip Advisor the top three rated tourism operators in Queenstown all offer Milford Sound flightseeing experiences, and that's what they intend to put an end to.Where to next?"This would have an immediate impact, not only on the many family run businesses in the region, but on tourism too."For the businesses operating out of Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau, Milford Sound experiences make up more than 90 per cent of their revenue. To make this call is a kick in the guts after the most challenging 18 month period of our lives. We have invested in supporting the region and the people whose livelihoods depend on us."Stokes says the rationale seems flawed. "Why close the airport and cut out alternative modes of transport, when you are trying to reduce road traffic congestion?"The Milford Sound masterplan is aimed at protecting the future of the iconic site. (Photo / Supplied)He says from a sustainability perspective, the industry is proactively pursuing more sustainable aircraft options."If we work together and do this right we can be an example of sustainable tourism initiatives to the world."We want to work constructively to solve some of the issues together but shutting down a key contributor to the Milford tourism economy is a short sighted recommendation, which will create more problems than it solves."Stokes says the group will meet with the MOP tomrorrow to challenge the recommendation.Project governance group chair Dr Keith Turner accepts the proposal is controversial and will affect people's livelihoods."But the airstrip is in a poor state of repair, is already beginning to flood at extreme high tides, is very exposed to alpine fault tsunami risk and would be very expensive to rebuild to a modern and sustainable standard."It only carried about 3 per cent of visitors in 2019. And the visual impact and risk of cruise ships are in conflict with the majority of land-based visitors, and they have other Fiordland options equally spectacular to visit."Other proposals in the masterplan include making zero emission hop-on hop-off buses the main transport on Milford Road, with a park and ride system established. Most international visitors will only get access via the bus system, with those in campervans gaining access only if they have a booking along the road or at Milford Lodge.Under a new proposal for Milford Sound, cruise ships would be banned from the inner sound. (Photo / James Allan)There's also a recommendation for a new Te Anau visitor centre and bus hub, which would help enhance the visitor experience by helping reduce the number of day trips from Queenstown, and improved walking and some cycle tracks on the corridor.TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says they...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand will get the clearest look at the inner workings of the supermarket giants on Thursday when the Commerce Commission releases its draft report into the level of competition across a $22 billion sector.Shortly after the election, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark announced the competition watchdog would undertake a market study into supermarkets to determine "whether the sector is as competitive as it could be".The market study is the second of its type under new powers to compel companies to provide detailed financial information, following an examination into petrol companies ordered by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2018.For months, the Wellington-based competition watchdog has been receiving evidence and interviewing witnesses, sometimes under oath.The study will be released at 8:30am, followed by a press conference. You can watch it live here.Like many industries in New Zealand, it is a sector dominated by two companies. Foodstuffs, which counts New World, Pak n Save and Four Square among its subsidiaries, and Australian-owned Woolworths, the owner of Countdown.The market study is set to take around 12 months but even the draft report is likely to run to hundreds of pages and make recommendations to improve competition levels.Multiple parties are speculating that among its recommendations would be a binding code of conduct for supermarkets to adhere to, the regulator could urge the government to consider requiring a break-up of some parts of the sector.The study has been a long time coming. In 2014, Shane Jones, then a Labour MP, used Parliamentary privilege to assert that Countdown was treating many of its suppliers poorly.Katherine Rich, the former National MP and long time chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council has been providing materials to the commission including research that suggests most suppliers believe the supermarket groups engage in anti-competitive behaviour.This week, Rich launched a stinging attack targeting Foodstuffs' North Island business, claiming that even on the eve of the draft report, its members were facing the threat of having their products removed from shelves as part of negotiating tactics, demands for a "display fee" which did not promise any actual prominence or contribution to staff wages.Foodstuffs were "either not reading the political environment or dismissing government concerns which led [Clark] to call for the Study," Rich wrote on her LinkedIn page.Foodstuffs did not respond to a request for comment on the claims.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiji 27New Zealand 12Five years after sevens made its Olympics debut, the world was treated to a dream final in the event.But unfortunately for New Zealand, it wasn't quite a dream result.The All Blacks Sevens had to content themselves with the silver medal after being overpowered by great rivals Fiji 27-12 at Tokyo Stadium tonight.It was New Zealand's second sevens silver after the women's side were runners-up in Rio five years ago, a medal collection that could increase with the Black Ferns Sevens kicking off their campaign tomorrow.But despite that silver hue now complementing the black jersey, the men's side were unable to attain the redemption they sought after the horror show of Rio 2016.They Kiwi men nervous debutants at those Games, losing to Japan and Great Britain in pool play before being dumped out of the quarter-finals by Fiji.New Zealand's woes denied the sport what would have been a fitting finale to its first inclusion at the Olympics. But the wait for a showpiece between the traditional rivals was fortunately brief.And if tonight delivered a perfect advertisement for the game on the global stage, defending champion Fiji were more than worthy gold medallists.New Zealand players with silver medals. (Photo / Photosport)"Fiji were the better team," an emotional Scott Curry told Sky TV. "We gave it everything and that's all we could do, all we could ask from this group. Every day, every game that's what we do, and we came up short."Fiji's players were the ones in tears as their anthem rung out pre-game but, moments later, the prevailing emotion was joy as their early tactic of kicking undid the challengers.Errors from Joe Webber and Andrew Knewstubb were ruthlessly exploited for the first two Fijian tries through Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala, and a frantic first half continued when Jiuta Wainiqolo powered through a couple of would-be tacklers.Waisea Nacuqu of Fiji celebrates beating New Zealand for gold. (Photo / Getty)"The bounce of the ball in sevens is huge and a couple went their way early on," said Curry. "I guess they got a lot of confidence from that and got their tails up a little bit. It was always going to be tough to fight back from that."Curry did his best to lead that fightback, showing his power and pace to score his side's first try, while Sione Molia crossed after the hooter to cut the deficit to 19-12.The pressure of the occasion - absent during the first half - was a factor after the break as defence came to the fore, before the outcome was sealed by two moments that exemplified what separated the sides on the night.First Regan Ware's promising break came to nothing after the ball sprung loose from his grasp, then Asaeli Tuivuaka crossed for the decisive try as Fiji unlocked a resolute Kiwi rearguard with a timely display of their ball skills.There would be no miraculous comeback for New Zealand as the Pacific Islanders were able to celebrate their second straight sevens gold, remaining undefeated in Olympic men's play.Dejected New Zealand players. (Photo / Photosport)But despite being unable to find an answer to Fiji's quality in all facets, Clark Laidlaw's team will one day soon be able to reflect on an excellent tournament.New Zealand built well through the last few days, with their semifinal success over Great Britain their best performance, guaranteeing this country another medal for its tally.But once Fiji took care of business against Argentina in the second semifinal, New Zealand must have suspected that gold could prove elusive.In the third-place playoff, Argentina claimed their first sevens medal, backing up their heroic quarter-final victory over South Africa with a 17-12 win over Great Britain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My kids and my husband think I’ve gone mad; it wouldn’t be the first time.But I can't help this sense of foreboding at the moment, that we just won't and can't escape Delta coming here.I’m not scaremongering; I’m not saying this to cause alarm. I’m just incredulous as to how we’ve escaped it thus far.Because we are virtually the only country to do so.Yes our geography and isolation helps, yes sheer good luck helps, we avoided potential catastrophe with the Wellington traveller didn’t we? That could’ve been a lot worse. But I can't help thinking logic would dictate that’s it’s only a matter of time.I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m way off beam. (However I have been ramping up my health and wellbeing lectures to my kids.)I'm also mentally preparing myself for what will be our only possible response given our slow vaccination rollout; a lockdown.We would have to respond just like Australia is now.I’m just looking at the odds and going 'hmmmm.'How long until it accidentally trips its way in here? How much luck do people get? Let’s be frank, we’ve had huge amounts of it so far.I’m grateful that my parents got vaccinated, a lot of people in the older category still aren’t and that’s a travesty. I feel bad for the people who can’t advocate or hustle for it, or have trouble getting to a vaccination centre, or just don’t know how to go about it.There’re older people in this country who are alone or just don’t have the means to push themselves forward for a vaccine which they’re entitled to. I was told yesterday of a 90 year old man with respiratory issues who lives in his own home, and has still not been offered a vaccine. That breaks my heart; people like him should absolutely have been contacted for a vaccine by now.And in communities where vaccines are being offered but they’re not turning up for them? Let’s fill those slots with people who ARE keen. I was at the optometrist yesterday and I asked him if he’d been vaccinated, given he could be described as a health worker, surely.Certainly, he’s in people’s faces, literally, on a daily basis. Surely, he’d be somewhere near the top of the list? But he’s not vaccinated yet either.In fact, he said the Optometry Board has had to proactively agitate with the Government to make a case for vaccinating optometrists. They’ve only just found out they can book vaccines now. He’s getting his in two weeks.So I hope I'm way off beam, and that maybe we really can be virtually the only country in the world to escape Delta.But I do worry that at this point, we may just be pushing our luck.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Olympics are now in full swing, with wall to wall coverage, yet it seems not as many people are watching them overseas.Over in the all-important US market, ratings for the opening ceremony dropped by 36 percent compared to Rio 2016.There are several factors thought to be behind this, but should Olympic officials be concerned?Senior TV editor at Variety Brian Steinberg joined Kate Hawkesby from New York and said the multitude of viewing options available these days makes it hard for broadcasters to pin consumers to one medium.“People are watching TV as they see fit, there are dozens and dozens of Olympics streams.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion more should be done to remove barriers for people wanting to get the Covid jab.It comes as the Group 4 rollout begins today, with people aged 60 plus, now able to book an appointment.That's despite many in Group 3 who say they still haven't received their jabs.Auckland University vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris says Kate Hawkesby vaccination centres need to be more approachable and accessible.“These clinics aren’t generally places that people find themselves comfortable in; I do think you have to find other ways to reach people.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists say they care about animals and there are strict rules about how they experiment on them.Twenty-one science organisations have signed an agreement to be more open about their use of animals in testing, teaching and research.Auckland University education lecturer Sally Birdsall was involved in developing it.She told Kate Hawkesby scientists are keen for more people to understand how the process of using animals happens.“And how the regulations actually mean that they can’t just do what they want, they’re heavily regulated.”More than 315-thousand animals were experimented on in New Zealand in 2019.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, in what should be a surprise to absolutely no one, we are taking back an alleged ISIS terror suspect and her children. Why?Because we snoozed, and we lost.ScoMo snookered us. Australia was first out of the blocks in revoking this woman’s citizenship – she had both Australian and NZ citizenship, but she hadn’t lived here since she was 6.When she was captured on the Syrian border and detained by Turkey for deportation, Australia promptly revoked her citizenship so she couldn’t go back there.They did this on the basis of her travelling to Syria on an Australian passport in 2014 to join ISIS.In doing so, Australia deftly dumped the problem right on our doorstep. Remember that? Jacinda Ardern was furious, she huffed and puffed at Scott Morrison and in her words, “made very strong representations to Australia” that they should take this woman back, not make it our problem.Australia ignored her. They’d already gotten in first; they’d already bailed on it and exposed our government as being asleep at the wheel.When Ardern was asked at the time if she would therefore accept this Australia-NZ citizen and take her back as our problem, Ardern gave her best aggrieved facial contortion and said “Well, there’s children involved.”What we in effect know now, is that of course we were going to take them back.Justifying it with the, ‘but there are children involved’ line, was merely buttering us up for the inevitable.So yesterday, Cabinet officially announced a ‘managed return’ of this 26 year old and her two kids.What does that mean? Who’s managing it? What’s that costing? How long are they managing it for? Who’s taking responsibility? Where is she being managed? Where are the numbers on this? What are we paying to manage an alleged ISIS terrorist to come back here and make NZ her home after a 20 year absence?I notice the statement from Ardern yesterday also included her tried and true line about the kids again. “We have taken into account our international responsibilities as well as the details of this particular case, including the fact that children are involved,” she said.This is Marketing 101.If you have a winning line you think is effective, keep using it.So, apparently, she’ll be managed in a way that “minimises any risk for New Zealanders.”Really? How can you guarantee that?Let’s just hope for all our sakes, that they don’t employ more of their ‘high trust’ model here.Because when it comes to this government’s ‘kindness programme,’ I think extending it now to terrorists is a bridge too far.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The true impact of the Sydney lockdown protest won’t be known for days, with one medical expert warning the thousands of people who attended could plunge all of NSW into lockdown.Greater Sydney is already preparing for another lockdown extension announcement this week, with editor of the Medical Journal of Australia, Professor Nick Talley, saying there is a high chance demonstrators who travelled to the protest from outside Sydney could spread the virus into regional areas of the state.Thousands descend on Sydney’s Town Hall for anti-lockdown protest. (Photo / NCA) “This was an idiotic thing to do, just idiotic. Yes, we risk a superspreader event,” he told 2GB on Monday morning.“There were people from, not only across Greater Sydney, but I understand people from also outside of Greater Sydney at those protests.“That means we might even risk outbreaks outside of Greater Sydney that really lead to the whole state locking down. Just a disaster.”Thousands of people converged on the Sydney CBD on Saturday to protest the lockdown, with images and videos showing unmasked demonstrators packed tightly together shouting “freedom” and holding anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination signs.The demonstration quickly descended into chaos, with protesters reacting violently towards police officers and attacking police horses.So far 63 people have been arrested in relation to the protest and at least 90 were issued fines for breaking public health orders.NSW Police say they have received more than 5500 reports from members of the public regarding the protest.Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “absolutely disgusted and disappointed” in those who attended the protest, warning it could lead to a “super-spreading” event.“We don’t want a setback, and yesterday could have been a setback. Time will tell,” she said on Sunday.“But I’m just so utterly disgusted, disappointed and heartbroken that people don’t consider the safety and wellbeing of their fellow citizens.”Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys described the events that occurred on Saturday as “violent, filthy, risky behaviour”.He said a strike force had been set up to investigate the protest and urged anyone with video footage, photos or any information to submit it to Crime Stoppers.“The investigation into people’s behaviour yesterday will continue for some time, so I expect over the next few days and perhaps weeks that number of penalty infringement notices will continue to be high,” Mr Worboys said.Men wearing Anonymous masks during the protest in Sydney. (Photo /NCA)It comes as the NSW government has requested financial modelling for an extension of the Greater Sydney lockdown until mid-September.The state’s crisis cabinet will convene this morning to discuss a significant lockdown extension, according to The Australian.The publication reports a September 3 lockdown end date was originally considered but officials are now understood to be modelling multiple financial scenarios, including one where stay at home orders remain in place until September 17.Speaking to 2GB, Professor Talley said he wouldn’t be surprised if the lockdown remains in place into September.“NSW is in a terrible place and it’s really sad that this is where we are now. I think it will be extended and how long – it’s unclear,” he said.When asked why NSW has struggled to get this outbreak under control, Professor Talley said it was a combination of the highly-infectious nature of the Delta variant, not locking down early enough and not having enough people vaccinated.“I think we needed to squash it very hard very early if we were going to succeed fast enough and that just didn’t happen. And of course we are largely unvaccinated which is also a problem and I think that’s why we are where we are,” he said.“We just have to deal with where we are now rather than...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suhayra Aden and her two children are coming back to New Zealand.Aden was identified as an Islamic State terrorist by Turkey, when she was caught crossing the border from Syria in February.She's the woman who had Australian-New Zealand dual citizenship, which Australia revoked.Given there are two children involved with this case, Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft told Kate Hawkesby we have a duty to stand up and help New Zealand citizens.“There are children who are New Zealand citizens who have nowhere to go, I think this is a chance to stand up and support them.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for more help for young people living on the streets.A new report estimates an additional 18,000 children have been pushed into poverty since the first lockdown, with Maori and Pasifika worst hit.The number of homeless young people is especially concerning.Lifewise youth housing team leader Aaron Hendry told Kate Hawkesby young people need therapeutic interventions and we need to work with the community to house them long-term.“Rather than just putting them in a hotel for the night by themselves without any support, they get further harmed and they go back to the street.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think the trans-Tasman bubble being popped is no surprise to anyone.This government was always going to act with its standard ‘abundance of caution’ and with the backing still of the majority of New Zealanders loving being a hermit kingdom, it’s a win-win.Caution and safety.. check.Political points.. check.Protect ourselves from any potential border cock ups creating a fiasco with a Delta outbreak… check.It’s not a win-win for everybody however.Anyone in the productive sector of the economy crying out for staff, will be bristling at this.Get it and understand it as they well may, it doesn’t help their plight.Those strapped for staff, those who’ve lost or are losing their immigrant workforce due to visa delays, those in small towns unable to hire locally.I saw some of this first hand when I was in Queenstown during the school holidays.Which by the way, if you’re thinking of travelling to tourist hotspots like Queenstown or Rotorua during school holidays when borders are shut, think again.It was heaving.What a shambles.I actually felt for them.Here were all these domestic tourists turning up in their droves to help the place out, and everywhere you went, the lack of staff was a glaring issue.From long wait times at cafes and restaurants, to queues out the doors of shops, to a lack of housekeeping staff to service Hotel rooms, to a shortage of transport options due to very few Ubers or taxis operating.I know for the skiiers, if you weren’t up by 5am heading up the mountain you could forget it.. the snaking queue of traffic, the supply issues like running out of coffee – quelle horror!Cleaning toilets, clearing queues.The Remarkables had two record breaking days just in the week we were there.. just on 5 thousand people up the mountain each day.Now that’s all great and fabulous, as long as everyone that’s going is spending up large and having a good time.But if you can’t spend up large because you can’t get into a restaurant because there’s not enough staff to service the crowds, then will those crowds be back?I know from friends who went to Rotorua that it was crazy busy there too.Look, I get it, great.. so good for them.. I’m not poo pooing their moment in the sun, but.. what about all the other regions needing help? And what about the fact some of these tourists would have been put off by huge crowds and lack of ability to service them, and therefore may decide not to come back?So a closed Australian bubble for 8 weeks of peak ski season may sound dire, but trust me, Kiwis are still travelling domestically in their droves.So it won’t be punters tourist towns are short of.. just staff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Little surprise at a new report highlighting the housing sector's increasing impact on the economy.Analysis commissioned by the Property Council shows the industry makes up 15 percent of our GDP.It also reveals the sector has grown by $19.6 billion between 2009 and 2019.Infometrics Senior Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby the growth is in line with other data.“The general economy in New Zealand grew about 25 percent over the same period. So you're seeing property trend in that similar sort of position.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tokyo Olympics could be a good chance to get more young people interested in sport.New Zealand athletes will be back in action today in the triathlon, shooting, rugby sevens, tennis, cycling and hockey.They'll also be out on the water in the surfing, rowing, swimming and sailing.Sport New Zealand National Sport Development Manager Alex Chiet told Kate Hawkesby it's a good time for sport.“Kids and families are captivated by seeing different athletes in different sports. It's great for young people to see different sports than they'd usually see here in New Zealand.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the action from the second day of the Tokyo Olympics that you may have missed late last night.Stunning swim17-year-old Erika Fairweather last night swam the race of her young life in the 400m freestyle heats in Tokyo, qualifying with the fourth-fastest time for this afternoon's Olympic final.Fairweather set a new national record with a rapid effort from lane eight at the Olympic Aquatics Centre, stopping the clock at 4:02.28 to best the previous mark set by Lauren Boyle at London 2012 by more than a second.Late thrillerThe Black Sticks men got their Olympic campaign right back on track, edging a seven-goal thriller against Spain.Jacob Smith's goal three minutes from fulltime proved the winner in an action-packed encounter in Tokyo, helping New Zealand to a 4-3 victory.Wouda, Shoulda, CouldaThe Oly Whites suffered a bitter – and slightly bizarre – defeat to Honduras, leading for most of the match but ultimately going down 3-2.The New Zealand side had the game under control with less than 15 minutes to play, before conceding two late goals.It was a genuine heartbreaker, as the Kiwis had scored two goals of the highest quality – including a 30 metre stunner by Liberato Cacace – but gave up three soft ones.Goalkeeper Michael Woud had a game to forget, with a portion of the blame for all three goals conceded.Tennis duo advanceKiwis tennis players Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell have progressed to the second round of the doubles event in Tokyo, after a comfortable win over a Belarus combination.The New Zealanders progressed 6-3 7-6 (8-6), wrapping the match up in 77 minutes.It probably should have been over quicker, but Venus and Daniell failed to convert any of their six break point opportunities in the second set.Streak snappedA 25-game Olympic winning streak for the Team U.S.A is over, ending Sunday when France closed the game on a 16-2 run to beat the Americans 83-76. Evan Fournier's 3-pointer off a broken play with just under a minute left put France ahead for good, as the Americans simply fell apart in the final minutes.The Americans lost for only the sixth time in 144 games at the Olympics all-time, and fell to 53-4 in the Olympics with NBA players on the roster.Medal watchNew Zealand is still without a medal. Boooo.China leads the way with six gold and 11 medals in total. Hosts Japan sit second with five gold and a silver.Coming upFairweather races in the 400m freestyle final. Other Kiwis with a chance of claiming a medal today include triathletes Hayden Wilde and Tayler Reid, with Wilde an outside hope of a medal, ranked 10th in the world.Mountain biker Anton Cooper will be looking to cause an upset in his medal race, with the $67-1 outsider hoping to upset all-around superstars Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock in the cross country mountain bike event. Given what happened in yesterday's women's road race, where a $500-1 amateur won, anything is possible…Other notable Kiwis to watch include surfers Ella Williams and Billy Stairmand, who have tough round of 16 contests today – weather permitting – after doing well to progress through the heats yesterday.Listen to Tokyo in 20 podcast, the new daily podcast from Newstalk ZB, looking back at the day's action from Tokyo 2020 and previewing what's coming up for our Kiwi athletes.Newstalk ZB - Official Radio Broadcast Partner of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is an old maxim that goes back to pre-Christian times, divide and rule.Julius Caesar modified it to divide and conquer.Fast forward a couple of thousand years, and to this current discussion about White Privilege, which is very significant in a country like New Zealand.According to emails released under the Official Information Act, the Education Ministry has spent $700,000 dollars teaching civil servants about it.People who go on the course are apparently told that recognising white privilege acknowledges New Zealand's colonial history.And it probes the impact of white privilege on society, both in the past and today.Now, at AUT, previously the University of Technology, these days they have a Diversity Professor.Edwina Pio says white privilege is alive and it needs to be addressed with rational compassion, whatever that means.Is it just me?Am I coming from a position of white privilege to suggest that when you tell someone they've had a bad deal often enough, they'll begin to believe it.Or is there real truth in this concept?Is white privilege something we've swept under the carpet for decades?Either way, I don't think I've ever sensed the factionalising of our society to the extent I do today.And I don't like it.I don't like that there seems an effort to pit New Zealanders against one another.To divide us, in order to rule us.Worst of all, I think it's working and that prompts the questions, what for, and what next?And one more; is it too late to stop this in-fighting, or have we already been conquered?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s home of rugby, Eden Park, is branching out, into the world of art.This weekend, the stadium hosts its first ever art show, featuring more than 100 New Zealand artists.Art in the Park is what they’re calling it and director Cary Cochrane told Tim Dower with the amount of work on display, there is something for everyone.“We have 105 fantastic artists and incredibly, nearly 2000 artworks that are going to be on display; painting, sculpture, photography and print.”LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're expecting to find out today what cabinet has decided on the quarantine-free travel bubble.Ministers have been considering their options, with clusters in Australia still out of control.The tourism sector can only sit, and wait.Cardrona and Treble Cone Ski Area general manager, Bridget Legnavsky told Tim Dower she is preparing to have no Australian tourists this season and will have to rely on domestic business.“The domestic market is actually really strong, right now were in the middle of the New Zealand school holidays so we’re actually really busy.”LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.