Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Concerns increasing delays in court hearings could be putting people at risk. Newstalk ZB can reveal the number of family court applications older than two years, has doubled from October 2022 compared to 2017. Victims Advocate Ruth Money told Kate Hawkesby it means children's safety and domestic violence protection orders are on hold. She says it's a 'warzone' trying to get a family court lawyer, let alone a time in court. The Justice Ministry says these are pandemic delays, and they're trying to work through the backlog. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the travesties of this week’s floods in Auckland has been the acrimonious fallout that’s happened at Council level over the whole response - mainly the beef between the media and the Mayor. I just want to preface this by saying that I think the way the Auckland Mayor has handled this has been appalling. But here’s the thing about calling the media drongos; is he wrong? I myself am in the media, I take it on the chin, we are drongos, some of us more than others, but come on, it’s a bit precious to be offended by that, we’ve heard a lot worse surely. And why can’t you call the media drongos? So often these days the media manage to make themselves the story, make it all about them and then get so mortally offended when they get called out for their bias or their BS. In Wayne Brown’s case, he probably had a right to be peed off. He got ignored at a press conference by media who didn’t know who he was, he got ignored when he bothered to take a helicopter up with his own money to assess the damage in Auckland – I mean why report him doing any good stuff when your agenda is that he’s evil? He got private WhatsApp messages leaked and who among us is sending texts expecting they’ll be published? No one. He said it felt like someone had rummaged through his rubbish bin – I can understand that. He got work emails leaked by people clearly working against him - he’s had a tough couple of weeks. Now that’s not to excuse his behaviour or his tone, or his attitude. I don’t know the guy from a bar of soap, he’s done one interview on my show pre his win, and I said at the time that he could do with some media training, that he sounded a bit gruff and grumpy. That he could probably lighten up a bit. But he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who takes advice. Nor the kind of guy who gives a stuff what you think. And therein lies the problem. We’ve been so mollycoddled now for so long by our political leaders, with smiles and waves and talk of kindness and teddy bears that it’s become the bar we now expect. We don’t want serious or business like, or people focused on action. You can be a hopeless leader, but pop on a bit of high vis in a crisis, walk around looking concerned, and people will think you're the greatest mayor of all time. We call our PM ‘Chippy’ for God’s sake, the guy gets around the music stations here carrying a diet coke and laughing with everyone about his dirty dog sunnies. We want ‘mates’ and some ‘good buggers’. Don’t worry if they achieve nothing, deliver nothing, what’s more important is that the media loves them and that they’re approachable, and we can have some fun with them! So poor old Wayne is never going to make it in this environment. He’s never going to win over a media who’ve decided they want their leaders light, with a side of hilarity. A media who like to be snuggled up to and spoon fed, not kept at arm’s length and called drongos. I know there’s a lot Wayne Brown’s got wrong, there’s a lot he’s said and done which rarks people up, but calling the media ‘drongos’ I don’t think is one of them. Most people, I reckon, would agree with him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is accusing the Government of having its head in the sand, about the prospect of a recession. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has told Newstalk ZB he's confident New Zealand can still avoid a recession, despite the Reserve Bank's efforts to engineer one. But a new forecast from Infometrics suggests a recession is inevitable, given the slowdown in sectors like construction. National Finance Spokesperson Nicola Willis told Kate Hawkesby on Early Edition Robertson is being naïve. She says New Zealand will look back on this time in history, as the moment the Government didn't act to prevent an avoidable recession. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion health planners are flying blind due to a lack of data. An editorial in the latest Medical Journal raises questions about why we're not appropriately measuring Unmet Secondary Elective Healthcare Need. That's otherwise known as non-urgent hospital treatment. Christchurch Professor of Surgery Frank Frizelle told Kate Hawkesby without the information we can't plan. He says a lack of this sort of data has led to the situation we're in now, where we can't get cancer or urgent cases treated because there's not enough infrastructure. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supporters of the monarchy are looking forward to the latest royal touchdown. Princess Anne will visit New Zealand later this month for 100th anniversary celebrations at Linton Military Camp in Palmerston North. She will also stop off in Wellington and Christchurch in the first royal visit since the Queen's death. Monarchy New Zealand Chair Sean Palmer says the Princess Royal is a well respected member of the Royal family. He says her trip will be a fantastic opportunity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank God the flooding and torrential rain's abated and for parents thank goodness school's back. Although is it? The Ministry of Education spun the wheelie on school closures, but it’s been an incredibly frustrating process as a parent. And not just me, I’ve heard from countless parents absolutely exasperated about the way this has yo-yoed around. From saying all Early Childhood Centres will be closed, to then backtracking and saying some can open, to shutting schools but not making it a clear directive. Hence the likes of Auckland Grammar announced they’d be opening regardless - only to then have to email parents again late that night and backtrack saying the Ministry had said they couldn’t. I heard from primary parents who’d been told that even though school was shut they’d still run a school holiday programme for children in the school hall, only to then have to tell them no, they weren’t allowed to do that either. My daughter’s school emailed initially to say the school was undamaged and would open as usual, only to later that night email again to say no they weren’t allowed to open. The Diocesan principal was ropeable in her email regarding such late confirmation of closures and poor communication from the Ministry. So that part was all a cluster. The kids were bummed, parents were bummed, childcare situations were in disarray and of course there was no continuity about it. Businesses could open – but advised people to work from home – yet that was up to individual businesses as opposed to ECE’s which are also businesses but who had a directive to stay shut. And then yesterday the U-turn. Suddenly schools could open but problem is that many people had made other plans, schools had reorganized curriculums and schedules, parents had restructured work commitments so everyone’s week was thrown into disarray again. Schools were again left to communicate with parents as to whether they’d be opening or not. Some said they would – others said they wouldn’t though and that the last minute turn around was not enough notice for them to back track all the changes they'd already put in place. We didn't hear from our school until an email eventually arrived at 5.30 last night saying that it was ‘very difficult’ to change with a few hours’ notice so the school would remain closed today, but will open on Friday. And then there's a long weekend so let's face it, in all reality, most kids are not back until next Tuesday. So it’s been a haphazard start to their year, and after two years of disruption with Covid, they’re well over it. Won’t it be great to have some precedented times for a change?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern from a former Football Fern over reports Saudi Arabia will be a major sponsor of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The partnership between FIFA and Visit Saudi, the Kingdom's national tourism board, has come under fire, due to the nation's widely publicised history of oppression of women. The deal, which is yet to be formally announced, is part of a new commercial partnership structure that FIFA set up to allow brands to specifically support the women's game. Former Football Fern Rebecca Sowden told Kate Hawkesby the deal is a complete misalignment with how the tournament has been promoted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clear areas for immediate improvement with Oranga Tamariki. The latest Independent Child Monitor shows the agency is still not meeting the minimum standards for children in care. One third of children are placed in care before caregiver assessments are completed, and social workers are only making 29 percent of caregiver visits they're supposed to. Save the Children Rights Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Kate Hawkesby there are two areas that should be top of the list to fix. She says that's getting the social workers with their children when they need to be, and making sure children are well supported and listened to. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A vote of no confidence in Chris Hipkins from Act after the extension of the fuel tax cuts. The new Prime Minister yesterday announced the 25 cent tax cuts and half-priced public transport will now be extended until June. It will cost an estimated $718 million, which opposition parties say is a continuation of old Jacinda Ardern policies. Seymour told Kate Hawkesby Labour's spending on tax cuts needs to be reined in. He says if this is Hipkins' new leadership style, then really it's just the same Labour with a someone different at the helm. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cabinet reshuffle yesterday was all the confirmation we needed, as I said yesterday, that this is the same old government doing the same old stuff. Which is to be expected because they were never going to be able to just bring in fresh new experienced faces to shake everything up, because they don’t have any. So Police Minister Stuart Nash is back for another round, the very likeable but politically inexperienced Ayesha Verrall is now Health minister, I feel for her. That’s got to be the worst portfolio ever to be handed out. You’re never going to win with that one – and she seems like a nice person – which is possibly why they gave it to her – maybe she seemed less edgy and prickly than Andrew Little. Maybe they hope she’ll be a bit smoother in the role and rub up against the media in a less combative way. I don’t know, I just know Health is fraught, and I’m not sure she’s up for the political jousting that comes with being Health Minister. But here’s the biggest scandal in the whole thing, the most absurd, bizarre and inexplicable thing out of yesterday – well actually there’s two. But let’s start with the first one, the main one. Michael Wood being made Minister for Auckland. On what planet did Chris Hipkins look at the what Michael Wood’s been doing and go.. you know what? Awesome for Auckland. Let’s give him that. I mean, come on, this is the guy that Aucklanders hate. And I mean loathe. And it smacks of a Wellington-based politician not to know that and be so disconnected from the real Auckland that he went so far as to put this guy in charge of it. This is the guy whose genius idea was to build a cycle way across the Harbour bridge, which could not have attracted more protest and fall out before it got so unceremoniously canned. He’s also the guy who wants to lower the speed limits on all our roads. Thus grinding to a halt any productivity left in Auckland at all. He’s also the guy wanting to dig up Auckland for light rail. As Transport Minister he’s done absolutely nothing about the woeful state of the roads, the potholes, the public transport, all of it’s a shambles. Not only that – to make matters even worse, he’s also Immigration Minister. The very guy who has kept workers that very sector has been crying out for out of this country. Same guy. The greatest irony of all was Hipkins comment on it which bordered on farce when he said, “When Auckland succeeds the country succeeds.” And yet, inexplicably, he thinks the guy who can help make that happen is the biggest impediment to success and productivity that Auckland’s ever seen. It beggars belief, doesn’t it? Which leads me to the second most absurd, bizarre inexplicable decision – to keep Willy Jackson. He keeps Broadcasting and Media, but even more inexplicable, he gets promoted. He’s actually climbed Cabinet rankings. How is this possible? What is Hipkins seeing in these guys that we are not? Or is it, as I said at the start, that the Labour party just doesn’t have any talent and that’s now been laid bare for us all to see.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures out this morning will reveal just how much the tight job market is driving inflation pressure in the economy. The latest official unemployment rate is being released at 10.45am. Some economists expect the rate to dip back down to a record low, with wage growth continuing to accelerate. But Westpac Acting Chief Economist Michael Gordon told Kate Hawkesby he expects the unemployment rate to remain steady at 3.3 percent. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Minister of Auckland is hoping to have a constructive relationship with controversial Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Michael Wood has been appointed to the new role in Chris Hipkins' Cabinet reshuffle. The senior minister and Mount Roskill MP was previously an Auckland Council local board member, and is the husband of an Auckland councillor. He told Kate Hawkesby he'll work alongside the mayor and the councillors, to get things done for the city. Wood says they need to work together respectfully and professionally. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The upper North Island is waking up to another morning of heavy rain. Red Heavy Rain Warnings remain in place for northern Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the western Bay of Plenty. Orange Heavy Rain Warnings remain in effect for the rest of Auckland, Great Barrier Island, eastern Bay of Plenty, and northern Gisborne District. A state of emergency remains in place across Auckland and Northland, with a number of roads closed and hundreds of homes without power. Fire and Emergency Auckland Response Manager Ken Cooper told Kate Hawkesby fire crews have been called to about 15 weather-related call-outs overnight, but conditions will hopefully ease today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So that feels like a really long holiday, did I miss anything? Jacinda Ardern quitting seems like a long time ago now given all the news we've had since. But I can tell you my first thought was not – oh dear, misogyny forced her out. The true reason of course was the polls, the research, the divisiveness, the polarisation, the fact Labour was on a hiding to nothing with her at the helm. Epic failures to deliver on so much, the arrogance that had crept in, the fact she clearly couldn’t stand the reality of not being popular anymore. Those jumping to assert that it was misogyny only discredit all women in leadership positions. We’ve had female leaders in this country for years, they hold their own, they don’t need coddling and defending and protecting. Ardern just didn’t like the idea of losing. She wasn’t up for the grind of election year on the hustings with people giving her a hard time. And fair enough, that’s on her. I don’t begrudge her wanting to pull the pin on her ‘team of 5 million’ when it didn’t suit her. But even she didn’t want the misogyny defence. Even she argued that wasn’t a factor. She just didn’t want to do it anymore. Fair cop. Although the whole thing did remind me of an Air B&B guest who trashes the place, in our case the country, then leaves without cleaning up. It was not - as may've been inferred - some late summer holiday revelation she had either. We now know it was all planned and arranged back before Christmas. Hence the transition to new leader was so quick and easy. Canny and clever of the Labour party? Or Machiavellian? It doesn’t really matter, the point is she’s gone, and somehow the media got sucked into thinking that a new leader means a whole fresh new Labour. How? It’s the same old government with the same old policies with the same spending habits and dysfunction that we’ve seen all along. Nothing’s changed. The guy who wouldn’t listen to dairy owners over ram raids, or fix the Police portfolio when he had it, or improve our woeful education or sort our Covid response in a way that didn’t divide the entire country, is now in charge. How’s that any better? Well last night's two polls tell us it may be better optics for voters - who also seem sucked into the fiction that a new leader means a whole new approach to governing. So a honeymoon bump? Or can Chippy turn it around for the party? I mean he doesn't grate the average Kiwi the same way Jacinda Ardern did, but he’s still Labour, and they’re still useless. So, my biggest surprise over the holidays was not Ardern quitting or Hipkins coming in, but the sycophantic response to it where he's been painted as some kind of Messiah, and her as a dearly departed Saint.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New year, new Prime Minister, new Cabinet. Chris Hipkins will unveil his Ministerial reshuffle at 4pm today, plugging holes left by retiring MPs. Political Editor Jason Walls joined Early Edition. “Hipkins’ assent to Prime Minister means he vacates a number of fairly chunky portfolios including education and police, those are expected to go to already senior Cabinet ministers but Hipkins has said he is looking to bring some fresh talent into his Cabinet.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some early childhood centres will be open this week, for parents who need to drop their kids off. But Early Childhood Council Chief Executive Simon Laube told Kate Hawkesby a number may remain closed. "If you are in Auckland today, if you haven't heard from your centre, reach out, get in touch and see fi they're open." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flood-affected parts of Auckland are preparing to be in the firing line once again. Red Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for Northland, northern Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. Orange Heavy Rain Warnings have also been issued for the rest of Auckland and Bay of Plenty. In Auckland, a state of emergency remains in place, many roads remain closed, and schools have been asked to delay the start of term until next week. In the city's west, councillor Shane Henderson told Kate Hawkesby people are worried about getting hit yet again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick says authorities will need to learn lessons from their slow response to Friday's heavy rain. She told Roman Travers there is an obvious disconnect between Auckland's leaders and Auckland's people, which is disappointing. Swarbrick says questions will need to be asked about why authorities were so slow to respond to the severe weather event. But the focus right now, she says, needs to be getting through the week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People on the Coromandel Peninsula are being urged to brace for more heavy rain. There are extensive road closures, including State Highway 25 between Coromandel Town and Whitianga, and State Highway 25A between Kopu to Hikuai. That means many communities, like Whitianga, are once again cut off. Coromandel MP Scott Simpson told Roman Travers that the slips on State Highway 25A will take the highway out of action for months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the weather brought to vast parts of predominantly the North Island over the long weekend will hopefully not be seen again for a very long time. Something else I hope not to see for a very long time is the attitude portrayed by our leader, the mayor of Auckland who told us that it wasn’t his job to get out there with a bucket. It was an interesting thing to hear Mayor Brown say, when clearly there have been several mayors over the years who’ve done that: rolled up their sleeves and just got stuck in. We’ve had a mayor who famously towed his concrete mixer on the back of the mayoral car. Why? Because many of our elected leaders have or have had fantastic work ethics, which is one of the fundamental reasons they got voted in. Surely it’s important to be seen being an active and integral part of your community, whether that’s a small town or a super city. On Saturday, Wayne Brown went on the defence, saying the response to Friday's storm took a lot of concentration, happened quickly and the response was much quicker than people believed. Fair enough. He also said he followed the advice of the professionals when deciding whether to declare an emergency. But during a visit to a community hall in Māngere on Sunday, Wayne Brown said emergency managers may have made some incorrect decisions. I spent all of Sunday morning, clearing the main drain at the end of our road, which neither the Auckland council or the mayor have any interest in getting stuck into. Not just this weekend either. I’ve been doing that and asking the council to get it done for the past six years. Some of us are more than happy to roll up our sleeves, pull on our gumboots and get outside with our spades and buckets without having to worry about whether or not public perception matters. Some of us just do what needs to be done at the right time. Most of us, even super city mayors, are still waterproof. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every time I’m confronted with what people are pay for rent I am completely shocked at how anyone can afford to part with that kind of money, and still have money anything else. I’ve real concerns for my daughters who are in their 20s and just how on earth they will ever get to a position where being able to afford a mortgage is a viable proposition. Yesterday, TradeMe revealed the whopping all-time high rental costs across the country. The biggest increase was seen in Northland, where the median weekly rent skyrocketed. At the start of last year, the median rent for Northland properties was $500 a week. By December, that had jumped to $560. Manawatū, Whanganui, Taranaki and Canterbury also saw enormous increases of at least $40 per week. Do you think it’s time to completely flip the desk on the astronomical cost of existing and seriously consider other ways of living? Is it time to get more communal and build properties as communities which may involve friends and family as a means to reduce the cost of living? The model way of modern communal living been done in Auckland with one extended family building a very nice apartment complex where everything is shared, including the vehicles. When you think about it, it seems pretty strange to live in a street, where everyone owns a lawnmower, a drill and a vacuum cleaner when most of those items are used very sporadically. Doesn’t it make more sense to live in a communal setting where there would be one lawnmower for a bunch of families? One drill set for the same group? You get my drift right? I’m sure this is going to take a few generations to come to terms with, but there’s no way we can continue living our insular lives behind our picket fences on our quarter acre sections in a country that for many continues to become completely unaffordable. The reality is completely confronting. Most of us can’t even afford the picket fence let alone the lovely home that sits behind it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Hamish Bond is joining Team New Zealand for the America’s cup. He will be a cyclor in the 2024 Barcelona competition. Sailing commentator Mark Orams joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold the Giraffe is expanding his focus. The popular giraffe puppet has been teaching generations of New Zealand children about their bodies and being healthy. Now, Healthy Harold is teaming up with Barnados to educate five to 19-year-olds about how and when to ask for help with their mental health. Barnardos General Manager Jo Harrison told Roman Travers they're hoping to reach more young people. She says there isn't a more iconic figure to be teaching children about mental health. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning that increasing the minimum wage could make inflation even worse. The number of people seeking help because of financial hardship is on the rise, as inflation continues to remain at historically high levels. But National says any increase to the minimum wage is the wrong move right now, as it will increase inflationary pressure. Employers and Manufacturers Association Chief Executive Brett O'Reilly told Roman Travers he agrees, because a minimum wage rise pushes up incomes across the board. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday was a very big day for new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. There aren’t very many of us that can say we’ve been Prime Minister. Evidently, there aren’t too many who want the job. We’re only up to number 41. There aren’t very many that put their hand up for the job and given the way they’ve been treated in recent years, you’d have to say, it takes a certain kind of someone. Regardless, I think we’re all excited and waiting with baited breath, to hear about which policies will be quietly folded and stuck back in the sock drawer, and which ones will be tinkered with and given new direction. I do wonder how many people engage daily with the news around the new leader of the Labour Party and the announcements being made apropos their new direction. Do you think the new right hand down approach on the drive to the general election is spinning many wheels? Most people are just far too busy. Busy trying to work out how to keep their job. Busy trying to keep a business running. Busy trying to keep their heads above water with rising costs with crushing inflation. Just flat out just trying to live a life dreamt of - but exhausted by national and international events that move us like rising and receding tides. Most people would have been too busy to have been to glued to everything that was said yesterday with the official handing over of the Prime Ministers warrant from the battle-fatigued Jacinda Ardern to the seemingly effervescent Chris Hipkins. So here’s all you need to remember from yesterday’s ceremonial proceedings. Prime Minister Hipkins said he will: “Reprioritise, refresh, and refocus the Government's work programme so we can move our resources where we need to so that we can address the bread-and-butter issues that New Zealanders are most concerned about”. That’s all we need to remember. That’s all you and I need to think about when we go into the voting booth later this year. Will they - and - did they, are the two questions that’ll largely determine which boxes we tick. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some are suggesting kiwifruit growers being hard done by. Zespri has pulled pin on its February payment to growers due to higher costs from last season. Chief grower Carol Ward says it's down to fruit quality. But Seeka says growers shouldn't be taking the brunt of it. CEO Michael Franks joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study by NIWA shows almost half of our river network is inaccessible to migratory fish. A further 36 percent could also be restricted but has not yet been assessed. NIWA is now studying the swimming capabilities of native fish to try and come up with a solution. Freshwater ecologist Dr. Paul Franklin joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could soon be a little big cheaper to fill up the fruit bowl and vegetable drawer. Latest figures show fruit and vegetable prices are 23 percent higher than they were a year ago, contributing to a 7.2 percent rise in overall consumer prices. But growers are optimistic seasonal fruit and vegetable prices could drop, and supply could increase, in the coming weeks. Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy says price of some products may fall faster than the price of others. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no guarantee inflation is on the decline. The Annual Consumer Price Index data, due out later this morning, will show how much prices have increased for the average household in the past 12 months. While many economists expect the inflation rate to be lower than the 7.2 reached in the year to October, ASB is predicting the inflation rate will be even higher. ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith says that there's lots of uncertainty in the figures. He says their view is domestic, and inflation will remain more of a problem for the Reserve Bank. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are you having on your toast this morning? Hopefully it’s some delicious Australian mānuka honey. If we don’t win the ongoing battle with Australia to claim the word mānuka as specifically unique to New Zealand, then we may well be having Aussie mānuka honey on our toast and letting Australian producers have their way. There is a group of New Zealand honey producers who’ve not given up. They’re still working to trademark the term mānuka honey and they’ve refiled court proceedings in the UK and EU. This isn’t just some backyard group of apiary enthusiasts . They’re being backed by the wider New Zealand honey industry and the government. The ‘New Zealand Manuka Honey Appellation Society’ has been working to protect the term so that only honey from New Zealand can be called mānuka since 2015. They’ve been here before and lost back in 2021. But this time around they say they’ve learnt a whole lot and they’re having another crack at protecting what is demonstrably and obviously a New Zealand name and product. John Rawcliffe, says the industry learned a lot from the failed bid and were now trying again. He says they’re able to stand back and understand a little bit more about the process about the legal nuances and that they’ve been able to take all those on board - and refile. The EU's Intellectual Office is yet to make a decision but the Mānuka Charitable Trust had withdrawn its initial case and refiled there too. The trust doing all the legal work reckon they have the financial backing of the honey industry and enough backing to continue the trademark fight for another five years. The next time I’m walking past the honey section in the supermarket, I might just grab a pot of something delicious in the hope that my support will enable these good people to take the sting out of Australia’s ridiculous claim to something they would not tolerate if the scenario was reversed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Misogyny appears to have played a key part in the unprecedented vitriol faced by Jacinda Ardern. New Auckland University research —tracking thousands of hateful posts on the dark corners of the internet in recent years— has found that 93-percent targeted Ardern. And experts now warn that Ardern is likely to need more ongoing protection than any other former Prime Minister. Researcher Chris Wilson told Roman Travers that Ardern has been subject to far more threats and hateful messages than other public figures. He says she became a target for reasons including her overseas popularity, being a left wing PM, and woman in power. Other public figures were usually targeted when they talked about issues like Covid mandates. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a drug used for breast cancer treatment be the key to making people live longer? An Auckland University trial has found long-term treatment of healthy mice with the drug —alpelisib— increased their lifespan by about ten percent. Those mice also showed some signs of being healthier in old age, such as improved coordination and strength. Auckland University researcher Peter Shepherd says the findings have big implications for the general health of humans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For as long as I can remember, farming and forestry have gone hand-in-hand. In fact, there was a huge push, back in the 80s for farmers to invest heavily in forestry but now the chickens have come to roost. Federated Farmers is now calling on the government to establish an independent inquiry into the factors that contributed to the flooding and destroyed infrastructure from ex-tropical cyclone Hale. The tragedy now is that every time there’s a rain event more ‘slash’ is washing down throughout The East Cape causing incredible damage and exponential costs for farmers and ultimately the forestry industry. There are farmers along The East Cape who’ve just about lost the will to carry on and are seriously considering shutting the farm gate and walking away. That’s how bad the situation has got. The problem goes back as far as 1988, when Cyclone Bola came to town, and consequently, thousands of hectares of trees were planted on some pretty dubious farming land with the intention of stabilising the precarious area. Now those trees are being harvested, exposing the slopes like the after effects of a bomb site. Federated Farmers are taking this to the top, and they’ve written letters to emergency management, forestry, and government ministers in the hope that they can get some form of resolution. This may not be a major issue in the sights of the current government, but it needs to be. If our primary industries are so important to our economic future, then we need to make sure everything is done to keep them sustainable. The destruction incurred after clear felling might be called slash, but it also spells the end of farming for some - and the forestry industry needs to take full responsibility for its actions and consequences. It might be hard to see the wood for the ‘slash’, but there’s plenty more upstream yet to make its way downstream. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport costs are set to increase in the coming months and that could push up the price of almost everything else. Discounts to public transport, fuel taxes, and road user charges will end next Tuesday. Road user charges are set to increase by 36-percent. Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett says that will mean a 45 tonne truck and trailer travelling 100-thousand-kilometres a year will pay an extra 21-thousand-dollars. He says that's going directly hit the pocket of consumers, because trucks carry about 93 percent of freight. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And so here we are; Monday morning, with a brand-new Prime Minister and leader of The Labour Party: Chris Hipkins. I guess that now we have two men leading the two main political parties with the same Christian names, they’ll forever now be known by their surnames in order to prevent confusion. Hipkins and Luxon. At least they have differing hair dos. Perhaps that confusion will become even more confounded if Prime Minister Hipkins moves his views further to the centre of right and away from the precarious cliff of the left now that he has the control system in his hands? There may well be ongoing confusion if the amendments to any fixed and firm Labour Party policies are made by Prime Minister Hipkins – that may well replicate those of the not so right National Party. How do you now feel about The Labour Party and the next general election – just months away? Is this now like a once sound building that existed quite peacefully until successive storms began to strip away the paint and putty? Now that building is in need of substantial repairs. The big question really is – could it be too late to save that tired old building or is there time to reverse the damage and return it to its former glory in time for the big day? I’m fascinated to see what Prime Minister Hipkins brings to the political show in order to win back any of the support lost when Three Waters, the public broadcasting merger and other poorly thought-out concepts became award winning policy. Clearly the shiny paint job on those ideas did not last long at all. Are any of their ideas reversible now? Or is crash boxing the Labour Party engine into reverse on those policies simply going to push them off the political cliff and into oblivion in 2023? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I lost interest in the British Royal Family so many years ago that I can’t remember ever having had any interest in anything other than the history that got them there, which is not very pretty. I also promised myself to never click on any articles, written about Megan and Harry. It’s with a heavy heart, overwhelming sadness and the deepest and greatest regret imaginable, that I can inform for you this morning that yesterday, I capitulated and found myself clicking on a story about the incredible hardship that Megan and Harry are suffering given their extreme wealth and privilege. More of their astonishing allegations and accusations against ‘The Firm’ came out yesterday, oddly enough to coincide with the final episode of their mindless diatribe on Netflix which I will never partake in. Trust me when I say that I have watched hundreds of hours of mindless and vacuous diatribe on Netflix, but to stoop to that level for me would be a complete admission of abject failure. What do you think their endgame actually is? Do you think, in a mindless, perverse and twisted way, they’re actually keeping the British royal family in the spotlight and therefore conjuring up more support for something that long ago lost any meaning and relevance for a great many people? As far as I’m concerned, the only person within the British royal family that had any respect from a great deal of people has now gone. The cynic in me says that everything we are hearing and viewing now may well be a highly orchestrated attempt to keep The Firm relevant in an era where nothing could be from reality or the truth for most of us. Oh, and by the way; for full disclosure here; I only read the headline and looked at the pictures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party says there are big challenges in our economy despite a quarter three GDP boom. New Zealand's GDP increased two percent in the three months to September. That was much higher than most economists predicted and a bigger jump than the UK, the US, Australia and the EU. National's Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis told Roman Travers everyone wants businesses to grow, but not everyone is feeling the positive effects of the economy. She says wages aren't keeping up with inflation for many. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Herald recently ran a poll to get a better understanding of how New Zealanders feel we're collectively doing with regards to climate change. Contrary to some of those with the loudest voices on talkback radio, denouncing almost entirely the science that proves that climate change is unquestionably happening - and at a greater speed than once thought, the collective feedback is that we need to move faster and harder in order to combat climate change. The outcome of the survey is a huge relief to the experts who were concerned that the issue had become quite divisive within New Zealand, as it has in the US. Of the 1000 New Zealanders asked last month; more than 50 percent strongly believed we could be doing more and certainly need to. Another 25 percent of those surveyed said they had no strong view while the remaining numbers were in some form of denial. It’s fantastic to see that younger people are vastly more connected to the detrimental effect that we are collectively having on our country and the planet. They’re the ones who’ll inherit the earth, right? 29 percent of the 18 to 24-year-olds asked, wanted New Zealand to take stronger action compared to 19 percent of those aged 65 and older. It’s also pleasing to see that 2/3 of those surveyed believe that the Government should be doing more and expect our government to do more in future. The New Zealand Herald survey also found that climate change has brought New Zealanders closer together rather than being divisive and that climate change has now become a more personal issue. With so much confronting the country as the next general election looms on the horizon, I wonder how much focus will be placed on climate change, given the severe shortfalls in other areas confronting us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A telethon of a different sorts is getting underway at Lincoln University. Charity Meat the Need is hosting The Big Feed, where farmers donate livestock and milk to foodbanks and City Missions for families in need. It's New Zealand's first ever rural telethon, starting at 6am, and being livestreamed across Facebook and YouTube for 12 hours today. Co-founder Wayne Langford told Roman Travers they started during the Covid lockdowns in 2020 and carried on since. He says it seems silly there are Kiwis going hungry when they have so much food to share. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A glimpse into how our economy is continuing to fare post-pandemic. Stats NZ is set to release our GDP figures for the third quarter later this morning. It was up 1.7 percent in the June quarter. ASB's chief economist Nick Tuffley told Roman Travers they expect today's numbers will show the economy is still going through a recovery. He says they're tipping it'll show a decent growth of 0.9 percent. Tuffley says they also expect to see more signs of international tourism recovery, which will help the transportation sector. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end has come for half-price public transport and fuel tax cuts. The Government's announced both subsidies will finish at the end of March. Half-priced public transport will still be available for Total Mobility and Community Service Cardholders. Public transport users association national coordinator Jon Reeves told Roman Travers getting rid of the subsidies does the opposite to encourage people to get on public transport. He says buses and trains are going to be operating regardless, so why can't the fares be reduced. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bluff Oyster and Food Festival has been canned once again. The festival was to be held in May, but has been postponed due to a former hotel adjacent to the site, having a dangerous building notice on it. It’s the second year running it’s been cancelled, with Covid-19 the reason last year. Festival chair John Edminstin, who owns the building next door told Roman Travers he knows this is disappointing news for Bluff. He says the festival would generally bring in thousands of people who would eat, drink and stay there. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expectation that Volodymyr Zelenskyy will use his address to call for more lethal aid. The Ukrainian President will be speaking to Parliament via video link this morning, as New Zealand becomes the latest Western country to receive him. And with Ukraine making significant ground in the country's east in recent months, he'll likely expect New Zealand to send more weapons. Democracy Project geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller told Roman Travers we haven't sent lethal aid to Ukraine since April's $7.5 million dollars to the UK to buy on our behalf. He says with key supporters like the EU and the US pouring money into the kitty, he expects Zelenskyy to call for us to do the same. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to emergency housing looks to return motels back to tourism. The Government has agreed to a raft of recommended changes, after a review by the ministries of social development and housing. It includes quality standards for suppliers, expanding support services and improved grants to help get people into private rentals. Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Roman Travers they've been calling for these changes for some time. She says emergency housing was meant to be a maximum of 28 days but has been extended up to three years in some cases. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As much as anyone might have a long list of things they’d love to have for Christmas; I’m picking that most of us really just want to spend time with family and friends. Gone are the days when a large quantity of presents was the measure of one’s devotion and love. The slow to catch on but evolving trend now is to buy experiences rather than things. Wouldn’t you rather have a fantastic memory for your hard drive as opposed to more stuff to take to the tip and recycling stations in months to come? One family, unable to have the luxury of having their children around this Christmas once again, are the three children missing with their father, Tom Phillips. The real concern is for the young and impressionable Jayda, Maverick and Ember Phillips. Experts have genuine concerns for the children's physical and psychological well-being. They’ve not not been seen since December the 9th last year. That’s when their father Tom Phillips disappeared with them for the second time. Last week the children's extended family said they’re now offering $10,000 for information leading to their safe return. There’s a ‘Give A Little’ page if you’d like to help. Be forewarned though if you’re thinking of making a claim on that ten grand; anyone thinking that they can mislead the police in order to keep these children hidden, is likely to be in deep trouble with the police if that kind of misinformation proves to be a deliberate distraction. It’s quite sad that in the pretty tightknit nation of New Zealand where everybody knows somebody through somebody else; that someone who knows what’s going on has not yet come forth to help the police and the family desperate to be reconnected. Sadder still is that in all likelihood, it’ll probably be the $10,000 reward that brings someone to the surface with the information required to end this horrible saga. But hey; money talks and so far the silence has been deafening.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says there needs to be consequences over the water privatisation entrenchment debacle. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta received a letter of advice on making water privatisation more difficult. That was a month before the controversial vote which was criticised by constitutional lawyers, and later labelled a mistake by the Prime Minister The Act Party leader told Roman Travers Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hasn't shown leadership skills in this situation. He claims former Prime Minister Helen Clark would have fired her on the spot. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The College of Nurses says a pay increase is well overdue. Te Whatu Ora is asking the Employment Relations Authority for interim orders to fix pay equity rates for nurses. It would increase pay for most by more than 14 percent, putting Kiwis on par or better with Australian nurses. Executive Director Kate Weston told Roman Travers it's a shame it's taken so long. She says nurses were the backbone of the health system during the pandemic. The Government has also immediate residency opportunities for nurses, specialist doctors and midwives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cancer Society says New Zealand is taking a step towards a Smokefree 2025. Newstalk ZB understands questions still remain over the compliance of almost 1700 products in New Zealand - with 466 already removed due to banned ingredients or high nicotine levels. The deadline for information passed on Friday - and officials are now reviewing details. It comes as our newsroom can reveal British American Tobacco is threatening legal action over the review. Cancer Society CEO Lucy Elwood told Roman Travers it supports the products being taken off the shelves. She says New Zealand is creating addicts by selling vapes with high levels of nicotine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, over the weekend, The National Party completely flipped the seat for Hamilton West, which probably means that the Labour Party have flipped the desk with their visceral reaction to losing it; although Jacinda Ardern did appear most magnanimous. With 100 percent of the vote counted, Potaka won with 6629 votes, with Labour's Georgie Dansey trailing by 2285 with 4344 votes. The Labour candidate says it was a tough battle, but she’s still keen to represent Labour at next year's general election. A big surprise for me was the Act Party candidate James McDowall - well behind with 1462 votes, while former Labour MP Gaurav Sharma, whose resignation triggered the by-election, had 1156 votes. Mr Sharma says that he expected more votes, but the most important thing for him was to stand up and not be silenced. So what now for Mr Sharma? Back to medicine or perhaps to university for a night course in diplomacy? There might be a variety of reasons to want to celebrate the Hamilton West by-election result or to commiserate, depending on your political point of view, but should that be seen as a litmus test for next year's general election? The real concern for me is the deplorable turnout. Once again, we’ve seen a general attitude of apathy from the voters in that electorate. Is this also to be a litmus test of what’s to come next year? Sure it’s only a by-election and without question, people have bigger concerns with the end of the year looming and Christmas on the radar. But with the prospect of three waters and other force fed polices being rammed home against the greater will of the majority, what better reason to get into the voting booth and have your say? Is it fair to say that generations have gone before us in order to secure the right to be able to exercise our democratic right to vote? Or is it also fair to say that if there’s a general fug of apathy and a feeling that there’s nothing worth voting for? Are people simply disillusioned with the ongoing disinformation and deception? Regardless of the answers - which will be shrouded in conjecture and dissemination throughout this week; the government has much work to do, and a very long way to go to turn the cascade of capitulating confidence seen this year. National will be pleased to have another seat in The Beehive. But how do they go about eating the big red elephant in the room? One bite at a time it would seem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are feeling the pinch in grocery prices as the Christmas period nears. The latest Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index data shows cost increases from suppliers to supermarkets have risen by more than 10 percent in November. Around seven-thousand-800 items increased in cost, nearly three times as many items as in November 2019. Vegetables NZ chair John Murphy told Roman Travers that they've had to make up for lost time due to weather, which has played into supply woes. He says they're struggling to keep up with demand, but do see that easing closer to Christmas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.