Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Auckland continues to prove that it's the sporting capital of the country. The city played a major role in this year's FIFA Women's World Cup - hosting nine matches. As a result, more than $87 million in GDP was injected into the region's economy, and over 175,000 guest nights were recorded in the city. Tataki Auckland Unlimited chief executive Nick Hill told Tim Dower that Auckland's hotels, restaurants, and tourist hot spots all bought in to the event. He said Auckland hosting the United States team made a big difference. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think the new Government's actually done at least one thing right this week. Backing out of the Interislander funding deal was a no-brainer really, if you have any doubt about that, have a look at the piece on the Herald site under the title ‘How to blow $15b.’ That digs into the Auditor-General's report on some of the previous government's insane spending. Back when Grant was splashing money about like a drunken sailor, anybody with a half-baked plan to burn up a couple of billion was welcomed with open arms. Cost no object, value for money? Doesn't matter. Possible overruns, blowouts if you like, worry about that later. Just spend it. The main reason these new guys don't want to pour buckets of your cash into the Cook Strait ferries is they don't trust the numbers. Much of the money would have gone on terminal upgrades, and Nicola Willis said she reckoned the numbers were undercooked. In other words, they think KiwiRail deliberately went in with a low-ball cost in an environment where they knew they could go back for more. Look, there's no question the Interislanders are at the end of their useful lives and becoming increasingly unreliable, and maybe there's an argument for some level of public contribution. It is after all, a vital transportation link. Some people see Cook Strait as part of State Highway One, and if you take that view then sure, it's public infrastructure. And if you think it's right to publicly subsidise rail freight up and down the country, then you have to include crossing the Strait. But there's also a private operator, BlueBridge, charging more or less the same to take people and cars. Founded by a New Zealander who saw a need, took a risk, invested, and built a profitable business. Now look, I'm not saying KiwiRail shouldn't have any state backing, but maybe it needs to try a bit harder making a business case to outside investors. During the campaign, National talked about finding new ways to fund infrastructure projects. If ever there was a project that could attract private investment, surely this is it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's GDP is predicted to see a minor pre-Christmas bump. Stats NZ will release the September quarter figures later this morning. Gross Domestic Product rose 0.9% in the June quarter. ASB Chief Economist, Nick Tuffley, told Tim Dower that he's forecasting a 0.2% increase, as recent indicators point to flat growth. He says while the economy's expanding, it still feels like a recession for a lot of people. Tuffley says generally GDP has been edging backwards for the last year, so it's challenging. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economic climate has many small businesses making tough decisions to stay afloat. Strong inflationary pressures and a drop in consumer demand has meant costs are sky high for many businesses. Requests for redundancy and restructuring support has surged by 50% this year and liquidations are up 500%. Small Business Voice CEO Max Whitehead told Tim Dower this just proves how hard it is for small businesses at the moment. He says while economists are saying things are getting better that isn't what they're feeling on the bottom floor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's back to the drawing board for KiwiRail on the future of the Interislander as the government axes new upgrades. Contracts were signed to buy two new mega-ferries and upgrade portside infrastructure, but Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the cost has got too high. However, Jon Reeves of the Public Transport Users Association told Tim Dower that backtracking on contracts does reputational damage to the country. He claims this acts as a warning for international companies, that they can't trust New Zealand to honour contracts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look, thanks so much for taking part in this, just a little experiment on people's reaction to, response, and experience with this portal passport arrangement: RealMe. That kind of, well, it's been around for a little while, it's had a bit of a refresh, and now they're trying to push it and promote it. Here's, here's another one. Gary says ‘I've used RealMe for some years now at on a very regular basis and have no issues at all, generally. So, nine out of 10.’ Right at the other end of the scale, here's Warwick: ‘Score zero. It's a Nate National Animal Identification and tracking electronic ID tagging system for people. Orwell’s nightmare realized.’ Now, look, I'm kind of, I'm swaying towards your side of things Warwick, so I'm not gonna call you a conspiracy theorist or anything. It wants too damn much information for a start, far too much. I wanted to use it for the purposes of a small charity that I'm involved with and some paperwork that we need to do, okay? So, in order to get established you have to fill in all this business of the getting in, the identity, the password. And then you've got this very, very early internet security system, you know, where they used to ask you the question about your first animal or what school you went to, and you're supposed to remember what you said in response. Should you need to refresh it, you go through all that palaver. Now they've added a second layer, so you've got two tier authentication. So, you've got the phone text thing, you know, and it goes beep and there's your number and you gotta go through all that. When it got to the point where they're asking me what night of the week I cut my toenails, I thought, you know, I'm not into this! It's too much. So, it's clunky, it's clumsy, and it takes so long. It wants everything, it just wants too much of you. So, in the end I gave up, I got very cross. They sent me, they said, all right. Last thing now, you gotta go and get your photo taken at the AA. You gotta get your photo taken at the AA. You tried to get anything done at an AA office recently? You're a more patient person than I am. So, I'm gonna give it a one. I didn't want to sort of taint things by giving you my score right at the outset, but good to hear that some people have persisted and managed to get somewhere with the whole thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Commission's released advice to the government to meet emissions reductions goals by 2030. It makes 27 recommendations including building more renewable electricity, swapping from fossil fuels, and preparing for the rapid rollout of low emissions technologies and practices on farms. Also included is directly resourcing iwi and Māori efforts to reduce climate pollution. Climate Change Research Institute Adjunct Professor Adrian Macey told Tim Dower that there needs to be a more coherent policy around forestry. He says it's been a real mess, and the government needs to get its act together. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister's hit the brakes on blanket speed limit reductions. Simeon Brown's removed requirements for Road Controlling Authorities to implement speed management plans. Work will begin to account for economic impacts, community views, and safety when setting speed limits. Transporting NZ Interim Chief Executive, Dom Kalasih, told Tim Dower that some limits are simply too low, losing credibility among drivers. He says the main issue with blanket reductions was that it wasn't risk-based. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How long can the rental market meet demand for migrants? Stats NZ data shows 245,600 migrants arrived here in the year to October; a new record. Net migration is nearly 129,000. Compared to Australia, we've taken in 30% more people when adjusted for inflation. Aspire Property Management Managing Director, Mike Atkinson, told Tim Dower that it's an enormous amount of people, putting a strain on the system, and could push rents up even further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bit of an about-turn on immigration from the Prime Minister. Christopher Luxon now says the current numbers are unsustainable, and the Government expects it to slow down. And you'd hope so! Nearly 119,000 have poured in over the past year, that's the net gain. At the same time, we saw a record net loss of New Zealand citizens: 44,000 went. So, overall, the number of people new to the country is actually more than 160,000. Our total population has grown nearly 3% in a year, roughly one in every thirty people in the country now, has arrived in the past year. Wow. Bear in mind we've had some very wonky years because of COVID. That meant only a tiny number of reluctantly approved arrivals and thousands of our own people locked out or having to go through a lottery for a chance of coming home. Net migration actually dropped to zero literally overnight in 2020, and stayed there or went negative for the next two years. So, a bit of catch-up was only to be expected. Needed even, when we heard constant cries for help from the health sector especially during the pandemic. The most obvious question when we've got so many more people coming in than leaving is where are they all going to live? We can't house the people we've already got, let alone more. And the Reserve Bank is getting twitchy about it, citing the immigration numbers as the reason to potentially push interest rates even higher, worrying it'll push up rents and house prices. So, credit to Luxon for recognising the issue. But he's fallen into the trap of blaming the last lot. Saying the settings went from being way too restrictive to being way too loose. Okay. You got your shot in, but you're in charge now Mr Luxon. What are you gonna do about it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas demand could outstrip supply by 2025, causing an energy shortfall. The Gas Industry Company's latest research shows renewable supply options are on the horizon but will still take time and investment to develop. Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive, John Carnegie, told Tim Dower that the predictions are sad, but not unsurprising. He says the previous Government's policies for the sector have damaged investment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The previous Government's plans to introduce new maths and literacy tests as an NCEA requirement from 2026 have been delayed. Trial runs of those tests have had failure rates of more than 40%. New Zealand Initiative research fellow Michael Johnston told Tim Dower that he understands kids will still be able to do the tests, but can also meet requirements through NCEA achievement standards, like in the past. But, he says, he'd like to see a certification for students who do pass those tests and meet requirements that way because they are more rigorous. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All employers will soon be able to use 90 Day Work Trials, which the previous Labour government restricted to small businesses. The new Government is passing a bill to do so under urgency by Christmas. The Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald told Tim Dower that it'll mainly be used by smaller employers. He says it might encourage them to take a chance on someone returning to the workplace after a long absence, or a school leaver looking for their first job. Cabinet's also confirmed that it will repeal Fair Pay Agreements before Christmas, which made it easier for workers to band together to negotiate wages and working conditions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Migrating to Australia is set to get more difficult. The Australian Government is looking to halve overseas migration to 250,000 by 2025 after a record number of people arrived in the last financial year. Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Tim Dower that a number of the changes will impact international students and workers. She says there will be more difficult English tests and visa requirements. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vape retailers are selling higher strength vapes at lower prices - before new rules kick in. From next Thursday, disposable vapes can't be sold, unless they have removable batteries, maximum nicotine limits, child safety features and follow new labelling requirements. All vapes will have to meet those requirements in March - and there'll be limits on flavours. Auckland University public health professor Chris Bullen told Tim Dower the new regulations may make it difficult for people who have been smoking heavily to switch to vapes. He personally thinks there's scope for higher nicotine concentration vapes to be available through prescription. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a fire sale underway at the vape retailers, and some pretty arresting advertising lines are being used. “Stock up while you still can” ... “Get them before they’re gone” ... “Don’t be left stranded without a vape” By gone, they mean illegal...new laws from the 21st of this month put restrictions on disposable vapes...including maximum nicotine limits. So, at some places it's basically a fire sale, devices going for a couple of bucks or even being given away free. Fair enough I suppose if you've bought stock in good faith and then basically had the rug pulled from under you by a law change. But there's also a whiff of the frenzy to dump synthetic cannabis products, when that particular experiment went so badly wrong. And thinking about it...our experience with the whole vape thing has been uncannily similar to the synthetics. Hailed as a legal...controlled...and therefore theoretically safe alternative to the real thing. And with vaping pitched at us as a tool to help the sorry old smokers get off tobacco...it was pretty easy to get it on the market. Reality...vapes hit the shops and people are out blowing vast clouds in the streets...and something quite different happens. Before you know it...lolly flavoured vapes are pitched at the kids, and we've created a whole new class of addicts. The number of 15- to 17-year-old New Zealanders who vape daily quadrupled in just a couple of years. Only last week, front page stories about 8-year-olds caught vaping at school, it's out of control. The thing is, there's a perception these products are completely harmless...that's what the kids taking it up think...but the fact is we just don't know that. Less dangerous than tobacco...maybe...probably even...but the fact is we just don't know. So, what we've been doing is running an experiment on a living population of people, just to see how things pan out. In the end, if it all turns to the proverbial...well...we can always ban it outright...or just tax it, more and more every year. That'll get them to quit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament will sit under urgency this week - with the new government pushing through the first changes in its 100 day plan. Part of this is repealing Fair Pay Agreement legislation. Former National ministerial adviser Brigitte Morten told Tim Dower every opposition complains about the use of urgency - then use it themselves when in government. She says the last Labour government used it considerably more - and while it'd argue Covid meant it had to respond with emergency legislation, they were pushing a lot more through under urgency even in August. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now we've had a full day to digest Mark Mitchell's letter to the Police Commissioner, was he actually out of line to release that? His Labour predecessor said on this show yesterday that Mark Mitchell was huffing and puffing, talking up a big game and chest beating. To quote Ginny Andersen, “I think it's a demonstration of bravado”, and then saying, "He's getting dangerously close to telling the Commissioner how to do his job.” Thing is, we all know there's a line between setting a strategic direction and meddling in day-to-day operational activities. Mark Mitchell noted that, loud and clear, in his letter. So, what the Minister was doing was not telling the Commissioner how to do the job, but outlining what the priorities of the job are. That's not meddling, it's managing. If you want an example of meddling, look no further than sacked Minister Stuart Nash on the phone to the Commissioner over a court case, hoping to persuade him to get prosecutors to appeal for a stiffer sentence. So why was Ginny squealing so loudly over this? Well probably because she knows Labour hasn't got a leg to stand on when it comes to law and order. Their priority was to slash the prison population, regardless of how much crime the rest of us had to endure. That would have meant Andrew Little's letter to the Chief Justice when he took office in 2017 was saying ‘hey... dial it back a bit would you?’ ‘Let's not lock up all these bad people... surely, it's OK to stick ankle bracelets on them, even when they're convicted of violent sex crimes or on trial for murder.’ Didn't that work out well. Point here is that Mitchell's letter to the Commissioner is entirely normal. It's the way things are done. Issuing it publicly is called transparency. It puts pressure on Andrew Coster but it also sends a message to the front line. We've heard you, it says, and things are going to change. And now it's in the public domain, everyone knows what page we're on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anger at the Government's decision to disestablish tertiary education programme Te Pukenga. Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds announced the move yesterday, following a Letter of Expectation saying they're not prioritising it. But the Tertiary Education Union is worried Simmonds has no clear plan on what happens next, and no vision for the sector. National Secretary Sandra Grey says their members won't have any job certainty until well into the new year. She says they go into Christmas not knowing if they'll have a job, lose it, or have to apply for something entirely new. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A grilling over Boris Johnson's decisions during the pandemic on the second day of his appearance before the UK's Covid-19 inquiry. It's heard evidence from former advisers that the then-Prime Minister wanted to let the virus spread, rather than order another lockdown Johnson's also accused of saying "let the bodies pile high", something he strongly denies. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Tim Dower that he also faced criticism for a campaign encouraging people go to restaurants while the virus was still out there. He says the campaign, called " Eat out to Help out" was derided by scientists as " Eat out to help out the virus". LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take stock of what you have and save a little where you can. That's the advice of one financial coach to those feeling the squeeze. ASB is predicting a $70 increase in weekly living costs for the average family in 2024, that's down from the $115 increase this year. Enable Me's Katie Wesney told Tim Dower that people should thoroughly check all the places their money is going. She says everything has to serve you in the current environment. That way you get the little one percent gains that alleviate pressure and position you to grow your wealth. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's being told phrasing in its call for an end to violence in Gaza needs to pack a stronger punch. All parties in the House have supported a motion urging those involved in the conflict to 'take urgent steps towards establishing a cease-fire.' Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller told Tim Dower that the wording is telling. He says the Government clearly didn't want to call for an immediate cease-fire, so 'steps towards' was the compromise. He says as the UN has called for an immediate end to fighting, we should follow suit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift says being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year is the proudest and happiest she's ever felt. The 33-year-old beat finalists including Barbie, King Charles and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. It caps off Swift's stellar year, which includes her record-breaking 'Eras Tour', two album re-recordings, and becoming Spotify's most most-played artist. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Tim Dower that Swift has become even more of a cultural icon in the last year. He said that her tours both provoked an inquiry into Ticketmaster’s sales practices, and her concert in Seattle reportedly generated seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True story, abbreviated for time. San Francisco, about 15 years back now, coming out of the subway following my two teenage daughters. A group of tatty half-drunk, half-baked beggars hanging around with their paws out for money. And I hear some leering, grubby, smutty comments being directed at my children. I sense danger, move a little closer to them. And the leerers embolden one another. It gets a bit grubbier, I feel the anger boiling up inside me. Then out of nowhere comes this guttural, aggressive, very loud, and very threatening voice. It sounds like a lion, and it roars, it truly roars: BACK OFF. Everyone jumps. The leerers, the girls, myself, other people passing by turn to see where it came from. It's not until this point, as we quicken our step and move up the stairs into the street, that I realise that powerful, guttural, threatening roar came out of me. There was no thought behind it, and believe me, I'm not a confrontational or threatening person at all. I'm a weed. I'm not brave, and I don't think of myself as anything special on the parenting front. It was simple, basic, human instinct, a pre-programmed, primal urge to protect my offspring. Any Dad would have done the same. So why mention this today? It came to mind when I read the mother of Baby Ru now remembers the blow that killed her child. She seems to be seeking some kind of credit that she's now ready to tell police the truth, six weeks after the fact. And it made me ask: where was your pre-programmed urge to protect your child when it mattered? And if it failed you, why not come forward sooner, to seek justice for your child? The bottom line all of this makes me ask, where was your parental instinct? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a pressing need to strengthen hundreds of Wellington buildings that are quake-prone. Experts are warning deadlines are closing in for the work, with more than 500 buildings needing strengthening, including residential apartments. AUT Professor of construction, John Tookey, told Tim Dower that building owners need to start, or hundreds could be left homeless. He says it's a public safety issue, and councils should consider incentivising the work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for kiwis as the price at the pump is dropping just in time for Christmas. Oil prices have dropped four cents since Friday and now sit at $77 USD, almost 30 cents down from September. AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins told Tim Dower that the recession may be acting in our favour, combined with a lack of demand coming out of China and Europe. He was predicting fuel prices would be closer to $3.50 than $3 three months ago, and he's glad he's wrong. Terry Collins says he was starting to feel like the Christmas Grinch, but now he's feeling things are much better. He predicts we'll probably see the prices drop a little further over the summer period. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell's predecessor says his letter to the Police Commissioner seems a bit redundant. He's made his letter to Andrew Coster public. It focuses on things like tackling youth and gang offending, supporting frontline officers, and strengthening policing in communities. Ginny Andersen told Tim Dower that it's important that police have operational independence. She says the letter doesn't cover much new ground. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$27-28,000 a year. That's about the going rate for private secondary education in New Zealand right now. And you'd pay it gladly wouldn't you, if you could afford it. I hope the kids whose parents are working or on their way at five in the morning to help pay for it recognise what a privilege it is. I referred to that St Andrew College prizegiving a little earlier, and the takeaway for me is the value of a good education. The basics? Yep, obviously, but opportunities too for kids to explore what they're really interested in, and seek the passions that'll give them exciting, rewarding, and worthwhile lives. And you know what? You don't need, actually, to fork out for private to get that. We've got some great state schools in New Zealand too. My kids went to cracking state primaries in Auckland: Botany Downs, Mellons Bay, Farm Cove Intermediate, then onto MacLeans. I think they know they were lucky. Like in health, our education system is a bit of a postcode lottery. Would I have pushed for private if we'd had the money? It's hypothetical, but probably, yes. Rough calculations: taxpayers are currently spending well north of 10 grand a head teaching secondary students. We do it more cheaply than the OECD average, except, and who knows why this is, in tertiary education. How much of the overall $21 billion that goes on education gets soaked up by ideologues at the Ministry or wasted on endless reviews and rehashings of the system is a mystery. But you get what you pay for in life and education is no exception. Maybe this is another area like infrastructure, health, and immigration, where we need less political meddling and to-ing and fro-ing with each change of government, and more of a long term, locked in plan. Just think what we could achieve in productivity, creativity and quality of life, if every kid had the chance those at our best schools do now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Māori's challenge to the incoming Government has been heard loud and clear, likely foreshadowing what is to come. Thousands answered the party's call to protest the Government's incoming Treaty and Te Reo reforms yesterday, while MPs swore allegiance to both their mokopuna and Te Tiriti, as well as King Charles III. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Tim Dower that it sets the stage for the sort of party Te Pati Māori is going to be for the next three years. Walls says the party's positioning themselves as a thorn in the Governments side on all Māori issues. But he says it's fair of Prime Minister Chris Luxon to question why there are protests only a week into their first term. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More stability in education is being floated as an idea to reverse declining test scores. New Zealand's 2022 PISA reading, maths, and science scores have all dipped since 2018, and they show longer term decline. New Zealand is still above the OECD average in all three standards. PPTA Acting President Chris Abercrombie says all countries have seen a decline. He told Tim Dower that constant curriculum changes between different governments have contributed. Abercrombie says curriculums need time to develop and if they're changed too often it disrupts children and teachers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where shoppers are seeing food prices rise, Woolworths New Zealand is seeing profits fall, but is still walking away with $76 million in its pockets. The latest annual figures show a 52% drop from last year, the source of which one business consultant says is ‘very opaque.’ Ernie Newman told Tim Dower that he believes the recent $400 million rebranding and transfer pricing has something to do with it. Transfer pricing is when multi-nationals adjust their books and take their profits in whatever country they want to, usually to a country with the lowest tax rate. He says there's no sign of any benefit in this for consumers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, a Day of Action called by Te Pati Māori. Organisers promise they'll target busy roads and even try to jam the motorways. They're talking about gridlock on roads into central Auckland, and gleefully suggesting this will cause millions in lost productivity. Wow. What a useful and worthwhile objective that is. Now, this is supposedly about an assault by the new Government on tangata whenua and the Treaty. That assault as they see it comes in the form of dialling back the extensions to smokefree laws, scrapping the Māori Health Authority, and repealing Three Waters. It's probably worth mentioning that those changes —with the exception of smokefree— were well flagged up during the election campaign. And if there hadn't been broad support across the voting spectrum then we'd have ended up with another three years of a rotten Labour government, and its rotten policies. The people have spoken, and the people want the country back on track. The people, as I read it, wanted less divisive policy and a focus on reducing crime and tackling the cost of living. Unravelling some of the smokefree changes was a surprise, but how can you interpret that as an attack on anyone? Smoking is, after all, a personal choice. Nobody apart from those who sell tobacco is actually encouraging anyone to take it up, are they? Look, it's a Tuesday, less than three weeks out from Christmas. The Māori Party perhaps doesn't realise most people just want to get on with things, and can't afford a day off for a protest, especially when they don't really know what it's about. Stopping regular working people from getting in and earning a crust could be seen as an attack on them. You're shooting yourselves in the foot guys. Look, I don't expect big crowds out there protesting today, but as we've seen in Wellington, all it takes is half a dozen tossers with super glue to bring a major artery to a standstill. Work from home anyone? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Screen time may be making young children more prone to mental health problems. A new study measured the link between screen time and mental health in 16,000 children in China, across the ages of three to six. Neuroscience educator and child development expert Nathan Wallis told Tim Dower that flashing lights from screens affect the part of the brain associated with emotions and empathy. The World Health Organisation says the appropriate number of minutes per day a child under two can look at a screen is zero. Wallis says that has nothing to do with the content, it's completely to do with the flashing lights. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new government's increasing the Working for Families rates. The tax credits will rise $8 to $144 after tax for their first child, and by $6 for subsequent children. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says there'll be a mini budget December 20th. ANZ senior economist Miles Workman told Tim Dower that further spending cuts could be in line to maintain a fiscal balance and eventual surplus. He says the previous government increased spending by a very significant amount during Covid-19, and never unwound it despite the economy becoming overheated. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction that this morning's Te Pati Māori-organised protests could be just the beginning. They're rallying people from one end of the North Island to the other, against policies perceived to negatively affect Māori. Political Commentator Grant Duncan says the Prime Minister will have to make a decision on how to handle them. He told Tim Dower that he hopes Chris Luxon offers an olive branch, wanting to see him listen and be conciliatory. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Couple of canaries going off in the coal mines over the past few days. Ominous warnings actually, of how tight things are getting out there in the real world. First off...the Centrix figures showing how many people are doing Christmas on credit this year. It is normal for people to borrow a bit here and there to...smooth out if you like...the household budget over the heavy spending period. Credit cards were up nearly 12 percent...Buy now pay later jumped 7...personal loans are up 3 percent. This is a seasonal thing...quite normal for a November month. But Centric said this...and I precis...“there will be a segment stretching beyond their means". More of a tell-tale sign though...the growing number of people falling behind with their debt. That's mortgages in arrears or car loans or credit card debt that's not getting paid down. The monthly count of people behind on their payments is up...not a lot...I don't want to over-egg this...but year-on-year arrears have increased 6.1%. Mortgage arrears are up by a quarter year-on-year...25 percent...and that is bad. Higher interest rates are obviously driving that, and there are still more people yet to roll off those cheapo post-covid deals. Now we learn that people are increasingly turning to their KiwiSaver money...the retirement nest-egg. Hardship withdrawals have almost doubled in the past year. And that's crap, because it's borrowing from your own future...the Retirement Commission reckons more than half of retirees now say they're in financial difficulty. Conclusions? It's tough, and getting tougher...these figures are the beginning of the trend, the bottom of the curve. As the PM said on Hosking the other day, it's likely the new Government has inherited a recession. Solutions...Christ, don't ask me, I'm not a politician.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The energy sector is pointing to international evidence to back axing the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme. Energy Minister Simeon Brown says the 16-billion-dollar project, was pouring money down the drain, at a time when we need to be reining in spending. He says axing the scheme will increase confidence to invest in more energy production. Energy Resources Aotearoa John Carnegie told Tim Dower that Australia's Snowy 2.0 is enough evidence to show it wouldn't have delivered for Kiwis. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another ceasefire in Gaza seems unlikely - as fighting resumes on both sides. It comes after a pause in fighting, which saw the release of some hostages kidnapped by Hamas, in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners. Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Tim Dower both Hamas and Israel are saying there's no prospect of further ceasefire negotiations. He says Israel's withdrawn its negotiations and Hamas is saying it won't resume negotiation's, until the current Israeli military campaign ceases. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Really interested in this Medical Journal piece about emergency departments. The impression we often get is they're horribly overcrowded, patients lying in corridors for hours in agony, constant panic stations. Friday and Saturday nights are bedlam, we're told: drunks staggering around the place, people unleashing their stress and anger at the staff. And in the winter, people with coughs and colds packing out the waiting area. Hospitals are begging us to go to our GPs, even giving out vouchers to take the pressure off, because a lot of people can't afford to pay for a doctor's visit. What the Medical Journal piece says is that actually, New Zealanders overall make fewer calls to A&E than people in other countries. So, what does that tell us? Do we need more A&Es? Or would it be better to spend a greater chunk of the health budget in primary care? Have we fallen victim to a perceived need for the glamour projects like new hospitals? Would more GPs on the ground, especially in rural New Zealand, improve our overall health? And where do the privately run A&E centres fit in? Free healthcare at the point of delivery —in other words you pay for it in your taxes— is on the face of it simpler and more cost-effective. But the reality is that some GP surgeries are technically insolvent. Half our existing doctors are planning their retirement, and there's nowhere near enough new ones on the way to replace them. I'm hoping we'll shed more light on this before six, but it's obviously a complex situation. Dr Reti was making all the right noises when he was on with Mike this week. He's repeatedly said the system is in crisis, and now's the time for him to show that a crisis can sometimes be an opportunity for real, radical change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are heightened in the Middle East as the truce in Gaza enters a seventh day. The UK is sending a second warship —the destroyer ship HMS Diamond— to the Gulf to join the frigate HMS Lancaster. It comes after Israel and Hamas reached a final-hour agreement last night to extend the ceasefire to the end of today. Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Tim Dower that the UK Defence Force is describing its latest deployment as critical to bolstering its presence in the region. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's housing market is ending the year on an upwards trajectory. Latest One Roof-Valocity figures show the nationwide average property value has jumped 2% in the past three months, to reach $968 thousand. Wellington prices are up 2%, while Auckland's are up 2.5% and Canterbury's are up 1.7%. OneRoof Editor Owen Vaughan says interest rates are still inhibiting price growth. He says while we've dusted ourselves off and we're getting back on our feet, we're not seeing the rampant growth we saw during the boom time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some former ministers have taken top positions in Labour's front bench while others have lost out. Carmel Sepuloni has social development, Grant Robertson has finance, Ayesha Verrall has health, and Ginny Andersen keeps police. Damien O'Connor's been taken off agriculture, with Jo Luxton taking up the spokesperson role. Former senior Labour staffer Clint Smith told Tim Dower that Luxton's one of the more rurally based Labour MPs. He says Damien O'Connor has been around a while and Chris Hipkins probably wanted to give important roles to some younger MPs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fresh plea for a helping hand for primary care, to ease the pressure on hospital emergency departments. An opinion piece in today's New Zealand Medical Journal suggests ED overcrowding may not be caused by unnecessary visits, but an increase in more urgent cases. But Northcare Accident and Medical's Peter Boot says primary care is more efficient at dealing with small issues filing EDs, and it needs investment. He told Tim Dower that 30% of General Practices are technically insolvent. Boot says doctors are leaving, and about half of the workforce are older or planning to retire in the short term so there's a crisis in primary care. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dogs eh... jeez do they get to you. It's 12 years this Christmas, Luka and me. 12 brilliant years for me, and what a mate he's been. A great, great mate. We had a long talk last night, cos I wanted say things while he's still with me. Kinda with a warm heart and not a broken one, cos I know the day will come. He truly scared me last night; I thought it was the end for a little while. All stretched out on the grass in the sun... I know your leg hurts mate. Doctor again today, but the panting and the restlessness had me going. And he was all cuddly, and licking me, and big deep sighs. Anyway, after a little nap he's up on his feet again —bit wobbly— and soon after that the honking starts. And he brings it all up. Two, three massive blobs of... just mess. Oh wait, there's a bit more. Here we go. Now I don't know how many times over the years I've tried to stop him eating disgusting decomposing crap on the beach, or in the bush, or something stinky in the park. He hears me, but he ignores me until he can't pretend any more. Freakin' Labrador. Incorrigible Labrador. Totally loyal, but an absolute rogue and definitely his own man. And the other day on the grass out the front: a sheep's head. A sheep's head! For God's sake dog. Last night? Totally self-inflicted, and he knows it. Right after his dinner he'd sneaked out and cleaned up the crap I put out for the chooks. Stuff he knew wasn't his, but heck, it's there. Bloody Labrador. And while I'm mopping his chunder off the floor, he's fine again, sitting on the couch licking his paws. Did you puke on your shoes mate? Well... serves you right. But you're forgiven. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought New Zealand's achievement of water quality targets hinges on every Kiwi getting behind efforts. A new report has evaluated four contaminants —nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli, and sediment— in rivers, lakes, and estuaries nationwide. Every region needs a substantial reduction in at least one to meet freshwater standards. 75% of land is contributing more E. coli to water than is allowed. Cawthron Institute scientist, Roger Young, told Tim Dower that achieving targets could require land-use changes in some areas and mitigation work in others. He says in those cases, fencing and wetlands enhancements and protections could be enough. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push back from the Reserve Bank against the financial markets. The central bank kept the Official Cash Rate at 5.5% and signalled that no cuts are on the immediate horizon. It's also kept the door open for another rise if inflation pressures are stronger than anticipated. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Tim Dower that markets had been getting excited in recent weeks, wondering how quickly they could cut rates. He says the Reserve Bank doesn't meet for another three months, so leaving that sort of view unchecked and allowed to come through would have been dangerous for them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming Government isn't wasting any time in getting down to business. Chris Luxon has unveiled a 100-day plan that will include scrapping Auckland's fuel tax and the clean car discount, repealing Three Waters, and passing new RMA laws. Political Editor Jason Walls told Tim Dower that many laws will be changed by early next year. He says it sounds like a lot of the legislation will be passed under urgency, starting in the next few weeks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Search and rescue operations are underway after a US Air Force osprey crashed while performing a routine training mission off the coast of Yakushima Island. US correspondent Mitch McCann told Tim Dower that this is not the first time this type of aircraft has fatally crashed. He says that so far, one crew member is confirmed dead while the other five are still unaccounted for. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So here's the low-down on the Public Interest Journalism Fund. 55 million bucks dished out over a series of funding rounds, and all gone now. The fund's been wound up. The company that owns this station won nearly $7 million in round one, another $3 million in round two, and a couple of top-ups after that. In fact, all the major players, including the already publicly funded broadcasters, everyone, every outfit including some you've never heard was in the trough. Let's remember the context —Covid— and the wave of redundancies that caused right through the commercial media. Advertising revenue evaporated and some media companies were on the brink of failure. Now, to get your hands on the money you had to agree to this: "A clear and obvious commitment or intent for commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including a commitment to te reo Māori." On top of that, we had to commit to public interest journalism, data provision, New Zealand content, freely available online distribution, media standards and so on. Overall, it funded 219 jobs and 22 development projects. NZME used it on Journalism Cadetships for Māori and Pasifika, covering court proceedings and community journalists in provincial papers. Jobs that most likely wouldn't have been there without the money. But was it a bribe? Well... I'd ask you how any media company could function in New Zealand without a commitment to the Treaty. It's a part of our lives, like it or not. A commitment to te reo... well I think we've been involved in Māori Language Week since it began back in the 1970s. Is it enough? I think it's enough for our audience. And was there ever any public money to cover it? Actually no. And while we're at it, there's never been public funding to my knowledge for coverage of Waitangi Day, the Tribunal, or other matters Māori. On the subject of, let's not say bribery, let's say incentive, what was the billion-dollar Provincial Growth Fund? And what's the unwinding of smokefree changes or more money for the racing industry? Obviously, most definitely, not a bribe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't expect any major change to interest rates before Christmas. The Reserve Bank is tipped to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% at its next review at 2pm today. Economists and commentators remain divided on whether there will be further hikes in the current cycle. NZIER's Christina Leung told Tim Dower that, for now, previous hikes appear to be having the desired effect. However, she says there is still work to be done yet to ease inflation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.