Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

One Kiwi company has secured exclusive shelf space. Everblue is the only New Zealand-made haircare brand to be stocked, despite launching just over a year ago. Chief Operating Officer, Renee Lee told Kate Hawkesby going in with a strong pitch was key. “They don’t want heaps of different brands playing in the same space, they want to find the absolute best brand and get the absolute best deal for their customers. It was really important for them to also work with local businesses.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act Party Leader David Seymour has faith Chris Luxon can turnaround his preferred Prime Minister numbers. The latest 1News Kantar Poll shows the National Party is in the popularity lead at 37 percent, compared to Labour on 34. But the preferred Prime Minister rankings aren't as rosy for the Nats, with Luxon on 21 percent and Jacinda Ardern on 30 percent. Seymour told Kate Hawkesby Luxon has a year to get better, whereas Ardern has probably peaked. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think they’re going to have to start offering danger money to work in a jewellery store these days. These clowns in hoods and masks, they’re probably just teenagers trying it on, but they’re armed, they’re yelling at people as they smash up glass cases and demand jewellery, and that must be terrifying if you’re working in a mall not knowing how it could all end up. Hamilton shoppers witnessed not just one, but two smash and grabs in one day at the weekend. Broad daylight, busy shopping areas, armed robbers these days do not care. They don’t care how busy the mall is, how packed the shop might be, how many witnesses are there, they just go in anyway. Witnesses said some in the group of robbers looked as young as 13. Retailers, shoppers, the public, we’ve all been saying it’s not long before someone gets injured or worse; so how bad does it have to get? Some of the young children who witnessed all this in Hamilton were traumatised and wanted to go back home to Northland. And that’s a problem too – how do you think this goes down with tourists and what about international visitors? What sort of look is this? If shoppers were left horrified and workers sobbing, then where does that leave our reputation as a warm and friendly open country? One of my sons in the States said how awful it would be if we go the way of America where people start arming themselves for this very reason. Lack of consequences, lack of Police action, lack of response. It is making people want to take matters into their own hands, which is worrying Police. Experts are warning bystanders to stay clear and not attempt to stop these armed robbers; so who is stopping them? Who actually cares about what's happening here? It doesn't help to have had a PM more focussed on the world stage than what is going on back here. I mean great to be overseas promoting New Zealand as a country if all back home here is rosy and fine and we truly are open for business, but we’re not. I think we'd feel better about the PM promoting New Zealand if and when her Government had addressed all the pressing issues really upsetting New Zealanders right now, like the upsurge in violent crime emergency housing, poverty, inflation and kids not turning up to school. But if at home is a mess, there’s a fierce labour shortage where many places still don’t even have enough staff to open their doors, and then others who do are being ram raided and smashed into, then what does that say about priorities? It’s hard to know when serious stuff like this might be taken seriously, I feel like we've all been banging on about it forever. I don’t know how many editorials I’ve written on it, or how many times we have to say it, or how many opposition politicians have begged the Government to act, or how many retailers have raised concerns, but it feels like crickets are chirping. And all the while smash and grabs continue, offenders remain emboldened, Police remain on the back foot, and innocent bystanders risk real injury or worse. It should not be scary, or dangerous, to go into a mall with your family at the weekend. It should not be dangerous for retailers to go to work and yet, here we still are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers are getting creative as they fight to attract workers in our tight job market. Flexi-work, work-from-home, sign-on bonuses, extra weeks holidays are all on offer as companies scramble to fill job vacancies. Restaurateur Michele Passarello, owner of Paraparaumu based restaurant Passo has gone one step above, offering not only free accommodation and increased wages but a shared profit scheme to his employees, he joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are being encouraged to ditch filters on social media this Mental Health Awareness Week. Netsafe and global movement Bodyright are joining to combat photo retouching and body dysmorphia. They're launching an initiative called #beyourselfie. Bodyright spokesperson and psychologist Sara Chatwin joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone messaged me yesterday and said I feel sorry for you Aucklanders with your mayoral candidates being so lame – you have the choice of two frontrunners – neither of whom sound up to much. And it’s true. It’s a pretty average line up. I think I’ve rationalized it in terms of viewing it as voting for a direction not a person. I care about my city, like many of us, and it breaks my heart what’s happened to Auckland over the past few years. It’s a shambles. Violence, crime, ram raids, burglaries, homelessness, vandalism, it’s not the vibrant city it once felt like. It doesn’t feel safe, the suburbs feel under constant threat from rampant feral bored teenagers, the CBD is a mess, the roads are clogged, the public transport doesn’t move as efficiently as it should, once a city of sails, it’s turned into a city of fails. So given that, I would’ve thought more and more Aucklanders would be more exercised to get out vote at local body elections. I’d have thought we’d be paying more attention to the race and know a bit more about the candidates, but we don’t. The latest poll showed 44 percent still don’t even know who they’re voting for. That’s more people than either frontrunner has supporting them. Wayne Brown’s nudged past Efeso Collins, but neither light up a room. Or sound competent and enthusiastic enough to run our largest city. We vaguely know what they stand for – centre-right Wayne Brown wants to trim costs and council wages and get things fixed an finished. Labour and Greens candidate Efeso Collins wants free public transport, but doesn't know how that would be paid for. Ultimately, it has to be paid for somewhere, so the reality is it would inevitably fall on ratepayers. So I’m not sure how you sell hiking up our rates so that more people have the opportunity to catch a bus as an exciting prospect for Aucklanders. But it remains to be seen. Left leaning mayors do usually win. Aucklanders seem to like them. We had Wayne Brown on the show yesterday; he said Aucklanders have a clear choice between “someone who wants to spend more and someone who wants to spend less.” But do Aucklanders even know that? Is anyone paying attention? There’s the argument councils don’t do much and a mayor is just another councillor but I like to think they fight for a city, they symbolise the vision and direction of that city, they offer up hope to improve a city. At the moment both seem a bit underwhelming. And I'm not sure what's going on with Efeso but he pulled out of a debate last night hours before it began - his fifth no-show at a scheduled event this week apparently. So it's hard to know what people stand for when they don't stand up. Brown characterised the race as one between a fiscal conservative but social liberal, (him), against an economic liberal who is a social conservative (Efeso). So I’m not sure how much voters care about that, how much they know about it, how likely they are to get their mail, check a box on a piece of paper, seal it an envelope and send it back through the post. I mean that in and of itself is antiquated and problematic, surely. I know we say this every time local body elections roll round, but I’d love to see more people get out and vote, more people pay attention, just some love and care for the woeful state of our once awesome city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those looking for a job, McDonald’s might just have the answer for you. Tomorrow the fast-food chain is holding walk in interviews at its restaurants with 2000 jobs up for grabs. McDonald’s New Zealand Managing Director Kylie Freeland joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders feel the Government isn't listening. The NZ Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey has found chief executives and senior directors' confidence in the Government's leadership in falling. They have scored Jacinda Ardern just 1.61 out of five when it comes to building confidence with the business community. Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Kate Hawkesby the Government is pushing ahead with things like fair pay agreements, which are the exact opposite of what businesses want. He says they want more flexibility when it comes to employee relations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin's threat of using nuclear weapons hasn't phased Ukrainians fighting for their country. Tom Mutch, a New Zealand journalist in Ukraine, told Kate Hawkesby people no longer see Putin as the threat he once was. He says Russia has lost so many soldiers, weapons and territory, so people in Ukraine aren't scared of Putin anymore. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think Grant Robertson hit something of an own goal this week complaining that he needs more security and that politicians are under more pressure these days out on the streets. People have hurled insults at him and there was a threat of a lamington being thrown. Other MPs say they don’t have these issues and they consider being out and about on the streets a key part of interacting with the community. Now for Robertson, I get that he’s a recognizable and familiar face, he’s more likely as Finance Minister to be held responsible for a lot of the pressures facing Kiwis right now. But former Labour Party chief of staff Mike Munro even admitted on the show yesterday that Robertson may just be being a bit sensitive here. I think if he’s paving the way for a 'woe is me' approach and some sympathy come election year, it’s a bad move. The most common text we received yesterday was that it’s a bit rich for politicians flanked by cops to be crying foul on people yelling abuse at them, when there are dairy owners and jewellery retailers literally fearing for their lives. These people are facing down a lot worse, on a daily basis, and have been for months. I mean they’ve got armed offenders smashing through their front doors and not a cop to be seen. Grant had a threat of a flying lamington and got the DPS to whip him out a back way to avoid it. There’s also the argument other MPs have had a lot worse thrown at them over the years, stuff that actually landed, not just threats of it. Then there’s Rotorua’s Tamati Coffey who says he had his car scratched. He said he had to take his name and Labour branding off it. Now being in Rotorua, a city absolutely wrecked by this Government, flooded with emergency housing, gangs and reprobates, are we surprised a Labour car gets scratched? That’s probably the least of the offences taking place in Rotorua right now. And then we learn yesterday that Rotorua tourism operators are so fed up, they now want the Government to fix the mess it’s created. The damage it’s done to 'brand Rotorua'. Fair enough too. Robertson dismissed it yesterday saying the Government had already invested a lot of money in it, that tourism was still busy for the city, and that the Government’s done a lot to support the area. Not so, argue tourism operators who say the damage is long term, and the government’s been too slow in its efforts to fix it. The complaints from these operators and hospitality venues have been coming a long time. Just like the complaints from CBDs and suburban dairies and liquor stores and jewellery shops and all the malls and shopping precincts around the country being increasingly targeted these days. So it’s a bit rich for government ministers to dip their toes out of their cosy beehive bubble and experience a bit of how feral it is out here in the real world at the moment, and then complain they may not be able to do walkabouts. Cafes and shops have closed, people have been run out of their businesses and livelihoods, thugs rule the roost, because we have a societal problem with lack of consequences and a fundamental lack of respect. This is the New Zealand that’s been created over the past few years. The real problem is the degradation of our society, our streets, our cities, our suburbs, our schools. And to just gaslight us and say it’s us who need to behave better, in order to have politicians continue to walk amongst us, is to completely miss the point.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A reminder for Aucklanders to cast their vote, as the race for the mayoralty closes in. A Ratepayers' Alliance-Curia poll shows centre-right candidate Wayne Brown in the lead at 28 percent - up eight points. Efeso Collins, who has the support of Labour and the Greens, is up four points but falling slightly behind at 26 percent. Viv Beck withdrew from the race during the polling period, but still has 10 percent. Brown told Kate Hawkesby he and Collins are offering voters a clear choice. “This year we’ve got a real choice of someone who wants to spend more and someone who wants to spend less.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A very special robot will begin operating this week to help cure brain cancer. Wellington teenager Jemima Gazley raised money for the 'Jem-Bot' as she was dying from an aggressive brain tumour late last year. It will eliminate human error and speed up the work of testing drugs on tumours by 400 times. Jemima's dad Oliver Gazley joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A property expert says banks are aiding and abetting housing speculation and thereby contributing to the housing crisis. Auckland University's Dr Michael Rehm says when it comes to speculation, banks take a more relaxed view towards lending to residential property investors than commercial buyers. And he says the banks are benefiting from that. Rehm says compared to countries like the United States, a huge amount of New Zealand's market is residential investment property. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Queensland authorities will be reviewing DNA samples linked to major crimes. This is over concerns over miscarriage of justice. According to Australian correspondent, Donna Demaio, thousands of cases may need to be re-investigated. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is concerned about the safety of MP's, leading up to the next election year, He's been facing unruly crowds and needed extra security at recent events. Here to share his insight on the matter and voice whether or not Grant Robertson should be concerned is former Labour Chief of Staff, Mike Munroe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations General Assembly begins today. It's the first one in two years, since the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to appear, and has touched down in New York after flying in on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's private jet. Our Newstalk ZB political editor, Jason Walls, joins us ahead of the event now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gut health is crucial to take care of. It's one of the most important things you can do to look after yourself. Pendulum is a well-regarded biotech company in the states that's now launching here in NZ. Their scientists have created probiotics that pumps akkermansia, an important gut bacteria. Joining us now is CSO and co-founder of Pendulum John Eid. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Let them eat cake’. That’s possibly what Jacinda and Clark said to each other before each of them jumped on board their private planes out of London. Jacinda on board one as guest of Justin Trudeau en route to New York, Clark on another as guest of Albanese en route to Australia. Having both flown up first class on Qantas, clearly getting back home for Clark and Jacinda needed to be something a smidge better than god forbid – economy – on a commercial flight. Euuuw. Not lost on any of us of course is the fact the people who took private planes to the funeral – when the Royal family distinctly asked people not to – were the most socialist of leaders. The ones who want to go to battle for the little guy, to see a world of equality, to push a regime of fairness, to admonish wealth or capitalism. Your Trudeau’s, your Albanese’s, your Biden’s. Now I actually don’t have a problem with leaders (and their plus ones) travelling by personally scheduled private planes on business trips, if that’s how they want to and can, travel, but just don’t lecture me about climate change or carbon footprints while you’re at it. It’s not the flights I mind, it’s the hypocrisy. Our biggest champion of climate change – the person who campaigned on it, calling it our ‘nuclear free moment’, the person determined to pave the way for a new generation of climate loving planet adoring earth saviours. Not only that, she promised to tackle it ‘head on’. Maybe she meant she’ll tackle it head on from the front of a private plane? But all this enviro-friendly chat and posturing was before she got invited onto the jet with Justin, and Clark got offered a lift with Albanese. Suddenly it’s not so much about tackling climate change head on, but getting a plum ride to the next gig. And not just for her – but for her partner as well. Look, fine by me, just don’t preach at us about carbon miles or saving the planet. Don’t lecture others about how they can do better, if, when the opportunity arises for you, you don’t. Ironically her focus at the UN is allegedly on climate change. You can’t make this stuff up. Greta will be beside herself. It could be worse I guess, the PM could’ve been on the inaugural Air NZ flight to New York and back and have no bags. And speaking of our national carrier, just like the Labour party, they’re starting a review apparently, as to how those bags got offloaded in the first place. You do have to wonder how a flight they admitted was “years in the making” couldn’t quite add up fuel plus luggage plus long haul equals.. ? What’s embarrassing is some of the passengers who were on the flight said they had to hear from fellow passengers their bags were missing. Compounding that, they arrived into Auckland to be “greeted by NZ media celebrating the success of the route”when in reality it was a “shambles”. They said their experiences were at odds with the hype surrounding it. So I guess, if given half a chance, our Climate crusading PM and her partner would opt for a private plane when and if on, or in this case two are offered to them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m not sure what was more interesting yesterday – the revelation that the Sam Uffindell allegations amounted to nothing and didn’t stack up, or the pasting Luxon got by the press gallery afterwards. The press gallery by the end of it had delivered what should serve as a warning to Luxon as to how election year might go for him. The press pack were not really having a bar of Luxon, or the report, or Uffindell, or the National Party. They were looking for a conspiracy, they demanded to know why the report would not be released, despite Luxon spelling out at the very beginning that the report was confidential to protect complainants and those interviewed, therefore it would not be released. Reporters went ahead anyway; demanding to know how many flat mates were interviewed, when, where, who.. all of which Luxon kept explaining he could not go into detail on, or even knew, given the report was conducted independently by Maria Dew KC. But the barrage of questions continued. Look, it was refreshing to see the press gallery spring to life and give a good verbal battering, but no surprises it took a National party leader to illicit that response. You could forgive Luxon for looking bewildered at times, none more acutely than when a reporter started demanding he explain why he would allow Uffindell his job back, when that amounted to one law for Māori and one law for National. She said that Māori don’t get afforded the same privilege of second chances, yet National was happy to give Uffindell a second chance, but the party, she said, took such a strong stance on crime and law and order, therefore it was a double standard. Luxon pointed out she was conflating two issues, and that as a party they could be strong on law and order, while at the same time also allowing back into Caucus a man exonerated by an independent report who had committed no crime. The reporter may have had a point if Uffindell had not been exonerated, but she seemed to think this showed racism or a double standard. After Luxon explained again she was conflating two issues, she interrupted and insisted he answer the question as to why there’s one law for Māori and one law for National. At this point I personally would have given up on the press conference, but Luxon reiterated again, that she was conflating two issues. He looked as confused as the next person. So what did we end up with yesterday? Exoneration for a man accused and vilified; one, shows us how easy it is to get cancelled these days by a media mauling over and above a fair trial, and two, how if said media don’t like the outcome, you will get mauled all over again anyway. It was also a salient lesson for Chris Luxon on how to handle press conferences. Not all questions are good ones, not all questions are worth answering, sometimes reigning in a room of shouty exercised journalists is a good idea. Jacinda Ardern can do this largely I guess due to more experience, but also, she knows how to work it. She works the room in her favour, she knows when to close a conference, she knows when to deflect. She doesn’t allow reporters to cut her off mid-sentence, like they did with Luxon. Naivety and politeness from the Nats leader may hold him back. It’s a brawl out there, yesterday exemplified just how rocky it can and will get. So before the next round, Luxon would be well served to (a) have his wits about him and expect it, and (b) harden up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has attended many royal events, including performing at Charles and Diana's wedding. But she told Kate Hawkesby being at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I can’t imagine where we’ll see that again in such a huge volume. The love, everything about it, I think, was monumental.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no evidence Modern learning classrooms are effective. That is according to research by think tank The New Zealand Initiative that has found the Education Ministry's classroom experiment has not been based on evidence. The ministry has been unable to provide data on the number of learning environments, their cost and effectiveness. Senior Fellow Dr Michael Johnston told Kate Hawkesby the Ministry didn't research the effect these environments would have on students’ learning before forcing schools to adopt them. He says there's been a complete lack of information of its effectiveness before and after it was implemented. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's decision on Sam Uffindell could provide a window into their future policy. The Tauranga MP's been reinstated to the party's caucus after an independent investigation found bullying claims didn't extend beyond high school. Political commentator, Grant Duncan, told Kate Hawkesby National has shown they do believe in rehabilitation and giving a person a second chance. He told Kate Hawkesby he wonders whether that will be reflected in the party's future law and order policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queen's funeral is now only hours away. It will all take place tonight New Zealand time, with attendees heading into Westminster Abbey around 7pm before the funeral officially begins at 10pm. Joining us now is royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK’s biggest ever security operation is underway for The Queen's funeral. With the funeral set to happen in a few hours (10 pm NZT), UK correspondent Gavin Grey is here to update us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In sports news, New Zealand has secured medals at the world equestrian event championship for the first time in 12 years. Our ZB sports reader, Andrew Alderson, joins us today to update us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the Government has taken steps to try and protect productive land from urban development. The national policy statement will mean local councils will need to identify productive land and block it off from housing developments. This is aimed to protect land that grows vegetables, fruit and other produce. Joining us now is Dr Trish Fraser who leads Climate Change Systems at Plant and Food Research. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if our justice system wasn’t soft enough already, I see they’re now handing out further reductions in sentences if you had a tough childhood. ‘Mongrel Mob members in lucrative drug ring get reduced prison time for horrific childhoods" read a headline yesterday. The story went on to say that, “Two Mongrel Mob members sitting near the top of a sophisticated drug ring were jailed after admitting their roles in the commercial-scale manufacture and supply of methamphetamine across the Waikato. The pair received hefty reductions in their prison sentences for admitting guilt and the "horrific" circumstances of their childhood, the trauma of which a judge said led to their gang affiliations and criminal offending later in life.” So, let’s get this straight. These two Mongrel Mob gang members "oversaw the manufacture" and day to day dealing of meth, in "clandestine labs", were placed in the second-highest category of meth offending based on the quantity of drugs and yet, they got their sentences reduced, because their childhood was rough. Firstly, how do you define rough? And who defines it? And does it differ if you get, as these two did a "cultural report" done, as opposed to just a psych report? Are cultural reports new? Who’s entitled to those? And then, if you meet this seemingly new criteria of "rough childhood", how much is your sentence reduced by? And how rough does it have to be to have it markedly reduced? In this case, one of the offenders had his sentence reduced 25 percent for pleading guilty early, "a further 25 per cent discount for his relevant background ie – childhood trauma", "and another 5 per cent to assist his rehabilitation." So all up, he got his sentence reduced 55 percent. He was due to serve more than 12 years, he will be out in 5. The other offender also got the 25 per cent discount for the guilty plea, and an additional "15 per cent discount for his dysfunctional childhood ,and another 15 per cent for rehabilitation". He’ll serve 4 and half years instead of 10 years 6 months. So what is the message we’re sending here? The more horrific your childhood, the less time you’ll serve in jail. The rougher you can prove things were for you, the more it benefits you later. And is that the case for everyone? If you grew up in a middle class money laundering outfit with a family of high net worth fraudsters, are you shown leniency later in life because that’s all you knew? Or does this just apply to gang members? Does rough childhood have to mean gang affiliations, or can it also include sex pests and abusers? If you are the child of a rapist, and you go on to commit rape, is there a discount because committing rape is all you knew? Where do we draw this line? There is something fishy about this which doesn’t sit well with me from the point of view of the victims, from the point of view of Police who work so hard to get these convictions in the first place, from the point of view of an overall message we are sending as a society. What we're saying is, if you’re a gang member peddling meth, you won’t get locked up for too long if you can get a cultural report done and prove your childhood was rough. Judges have become afraid to put people in jail, they’re finding too many excuses to keep them out, and we wonder why we have gang and crime issues surging in this country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've got family coming down from Europe at Christmas, and bringing people who've not seen New Zealand before. We were talking on the phone the other day and the subject of spending a few days at Rotorua came up. It pains me to say it, but I wasn't able in good conscience to recommend Rotorua. I explained about the emergency housing, but only in broad brush terms. I didn't go into big detail about people knocking on the door at night looking to score drugs. Or the police turning up at all hours, places not being safe for families, gang activity and all the rest of it. Thing is we need tourism and especially international tourism if we're going to start paying our way in the world again. Rotorua is already back up to the thousands of visitors a day, so far mostly New Zealanders who kinda know the score. But those overseas visitors are coming back, and some of them are having pretty bad experiences, which of course they go home and tell ten others about. So the idea of, well, it's almost a black list of places to avoid, will have been a difficult call. Does it go far enough to protect visitors? Does it do anything to protect the reputation of Rotorua? Well, in the absence of any government interest in tackling the issues around emergency housing, it was a call the district had to make. But it's not a long term answer. At the same time, surely, by definition, emergency housing is not a long-term answer either. It's a problem created by government policy. Yet another case of a well-meaning feel-good plan carelessly execute with unintended consequences. Something you and I might refer to as a complete cluster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have managed to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 20th straight year. But it was a close one 39-37, and it's fair to say it was a controversial finish, with Wallabies getting infringed for taking too long to kick the last penalty. ZB's rugby commentator Elliott Smith joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's under fire for spending millions on consultants for its Three Waters reform. Newstalk ZB can reveal more than $16 million has been paid to contractors in the past Financial Year. Deputy Political Editor Jason Walls says the Government's confirmed even more will be spent in the coming year. Spending's included $100,000 dollars for a virtual showcase of Aussie initiatives, and almost $2 million on policy services. National's Simon Watts says it shows the Government's over-reliant on consultants. The Government admits it's more than usually spent on policy work, but it says these reforms are complex. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new online tool will allow tourists to avoid staying at mixed-use motels in Rotorua. Tourism outfit Rotorua NZ is identifying emergency housing motels after visitors finding themselves in unsavoury accommodation. Rotorua District councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online shoppers are being misled through online sales. The Commerce Commission has issued a formal warning to online retailer, Occasion Box, for making false and unsubstantiated claims on its website last year. It comes after The Warehouse Group's 1-Day, has been fined $840,000 for misleading how long its daily deals would run for, and the quantity available. Fair Trading General Manager Vanessa Horne told Kate Hawkesby this is a good reminder for other businesses. She says they need to be able to back up any claims. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think if anything symbolized how stressful and exhausting this week has been for the new monarch, it was ‘Pengate’. We saw a very tense, irritated King Charles, flustered that his pen was leaking, and with it all captured on microphone, we got to hear just how annoyed he was. Some media labelled it ‘rude’ others referred to him as ‘losing his Royal cool’. This new incident off the back of a previous pen mishap he’d days earlier when he wanted his desk cleared and motioned angrily at his aides to do it, is a reminder, as if we needed it, that he is under phenomenal pressure, in trying circumstances, and he is handling it 'differently' to how we might. But then again, how do we know how we'd handle anything like this? We're not royals, and as much as we like to think they're 'just human' or 'just like you and me'.. they're not, they're a different breed. As long time listeners will know, I travelled on a plane with King Charles once. Prince back then, obviously. We were on Singapore Airlines, in First Class suites flying out of London. We were told at check in that some very special VIP’s were boarding our flight and that they’d had to move our seats around to accommodate them. I of course immediately asked who the VIP’s were, they wouldn’t tell me. But we were bumped forward by one row so the VIP could slip into the back row – where arguably he’d be less likely to be stared at by the remaining 11 of us in that cabin. When David Beckham hopped on board I assumed that was the VIP, and I was overjoyed and immediately broke all the rules and went to talk to him and of course get the obligatory selfie with him to show my kids. This to be frank was my kind of royalty anyway. But after sitting back down I was then aghast when a second VIP hopped on, and that was in fact the VIP we’d been moved for. The real VIP - Prince Charles. He sat behind us. He had a crew of suited and booted aides with him and they were carrying paperwork and what turned out to be food for the now King. Oat cakes, cheese and chutney, and his own china. Now I don’t want to cast aspersions on a grieving and newly minted King, but this was a man who didn’t suffer fools, and he seemed very adept at ordering people round. He certainly did not carry the light of foot demeanour or 'fun' vibe that Beckham did, he was definitely.. different. So while I admire the fact we want to view these people as ‘human’ and ‘just like us’ .. my experience is they’re actually not. When you've grown up in an environment like that, of others deferring to you and serving you, and that is all you know, it must be incredibly hard to have to now tailor to the new modern generation desire for everyone to just ‘be human’, or to ‘be humble’. The new young royals are more cognizant of optics, because they're a social media generation, hyper aware of how every move, glance or word can be interpreted and over interpreted and 'go viral'. But because they're so aware there's more inauthenticity in how they behave. They're more orchestrated. King Charles is a man in his 70's who has grown up knowing nothing but a royal existence, he's been surrounded by people doing things for him his whole life. He's also just lost his Mother, barely had a moment to grieve, as he's been on a public tour of speeches and hand shaking ever since. He doesn't suffer fools, or clearly dodgy pens. He's obviously not aware of being made into memes - nor does he probably care. So while some might say snapping at aides made him look 'rude', it may just be that that's all he knows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our largest education union says the Government's attempt to fix workforce shortages has missed the mark. Labour has announced up to one thousand new teachers will be recruited, mostly from overseas and more scholarships will be funded for people wanting to become teachers mid-career. NZEI President Liam Rutherford told Kate Hawkesby things have changed since 30 years ago when funding systems were set up. He says there are some roles which aren't being filled. Rutherford says we don't have the right specialist roles like speech language therapists and education psychologists and in the current environment it's kids who are missing out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The queue of people lining up to see the Queen lying in state is now more than four kilometres long. Her Majesty's coffin has been transported from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on a gun carriage, with the new King and other Royals following behind. The procession itself was silent, except for the firing of guns at Hyde Park and the chiming of Big Ben. But Newstalk ZB's Anna Burns Francis told Kate Hawkesby the queue of people lining to see the Queen is growing by the minute. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slight GDP growth is expected in the second quarter. It follows a 0.2 percent fall for the first three months of the year. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says while it's hard to predict at the moment, his best guess is a 1.2 percent rise. He told Kate Hawkesby while it's not a sure thing, there are some promising signs. Tuffley says air travel and construction looked like they performed well. The GDP figures will be revealed at 10:45 this morning. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the Government’s looking at potential scope for a Covid review, and “taking advice”. That in and of itself should ring alarm bells given no government has ordered more reviews than this lot. They ordered reviews like a teenager ordering Uber Eats with their parents credit card. Reviews all round, bugger the expense. So now to pause, reflect, and take advice, seems out of character. It seems a stalling technique. That aside, the taking advice bit is the other thing this Government’s record has been questionable on. They talked a big game – and often – about all the ‘advice’ they were taking – but then more times than not, didn’t take any of it. Case and point being anything Treasury ever said to them. It included advice from the business sector, real people, organisations, even their own review committees. But one sector they did seem to take a lot of advice from during Covid was the domain of the scientist and the epidemiologist. And fair enough, in the early days of confusion and uncertainty around a virus and a global pandemic, they were the experts they should hear from. But where and when to draw the line? At what point did the ‘experts’ go beyond their remit? At what point do the scientists sit down and the epidemiologists accept there’s more to life than looking at everything from the lens of a lab. Things like the fact there’s an economy to think about, a tourism industry, people’s mental health, livelihoods, businesses and so on. Yes the science and the warnings about hygiene, masks, surfaces, germs and closed spaces were all vital at the time.. but two years on, with fewer than a thousand cases in the community. With even our ‘abundance of caution’ Government saying it‘s time to retire the restrictions, why are the epidemiologists still front page screaming that the sky will fall in? The fear and the panic is over. Read the room. Yet still they have a platform to preach fear. It’s not helpful to have the likes of Michael Baker and Rod Jackson saying we need to keep some masks, some controls, some restrictions. Baker claims we should look at “whether we should have a vaccination requirement for travellers, whether we should use testing technology as part of the arrival process into New Zealand.” He reckons we “shouldn't just abandon all controls at the borders." I tell you what we should abandon, the epidemiologists. Thank you for your service, thank you for your insight, thanks for the memories. Time to exit stage left. We do not need this kind of advice running or trying to run our country. It’s beyond their remit, it’s beyond their scope, it only views things myopically from the comfort and luxury of a privileged position with no real connection to the real world. They’re not running a business, they’re not running a ski field or a bungy jump or a hotel or a café or a retail shop. What we need now is normality, tourists, punters, and some basic freedoms back. We can’t live in fear of future pandemics forever. We can’t keep pinging guests to this country in a paranoid fervour of fear. We’ve waved goodbye to the traffic lights, now let’s please wave goodbye to the epidemiologists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An announcement is expected from the Government today regarding education. One thing being looked at is how to recruit more teachers. We know we need them, especially in rural schools. Tertiary education provider Te Rito Maioha is responding to the shortage. They're launching teaching courses that are specifically aimed to get more rural teachers. Academic leader of their primary programmes Anthony Fisher joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A win for residents who've been fighting for Christchurch City Council to reject housing density plans for the city, but it's not over yet. Ten councillors have voted no to the Government’s plans to allow up to three homes of three storeys each on most sections across the city without consent. Five councillors voted yes, one abstained and one was absent The council will now write to Environment Minister David Parker to ask that Christchurch be exempt from being a tier one city. Riccarton Bush-Kilmarnock Residents’ Association chair Tony Simons told Kate Hawkesby one-size-fits-all isn't appropriate for housing He says the council is now asking for a bespoke plan for the city, instead of one that was designed for Auckland. The Government could decide to put a commissioner in place, or appoint a Crown manager, to push through the rules. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Severe weather is being blamed by some for soaring food prices. Annual food prices have shot up to the highest rate in 13 years. Stats New Zealand says it cost 8.3 percent more to buy food this August, compared with last year. Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy told Kate Hawkesby the weather's been horrendous. He says severe weather isn't something that starts in 2050, businesses are facing the impacts of it now. Murphy says increases in diesel, fertiliser, power costs and staffing shortages are also impacting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a relief and not before time that we’re waving goodbye to the traffic light system. Big raps to the Government for getting their heads around that. We’ve moved on, and so should they. It was apparent yesterday when Grant Robertson said to Mike Hosking that they’ll ‘still take Covid seriously’ that they were laying the ground work for the naysayers, the panickers, those who’d freak out, that they were ‘still taking it seriously’, even though they were heaving the system out. I don’t know if that reassured mask lovers or not. I do think it’s a crock they’ve kept the mask rule for pharmacies, that seems a waste of time, I was talking to a pharmacist yesterday whose sick to death of wearing a mask all day, seems unfair they’ve been captured by that rule. The greatest irony of the whole spiel from the PM though had to be when she said, “we take back control.” Ironic when this entire exercise has been about them having control. Then there’s the public holiday announcement. I really feel for small business here. Yesterday I got a message from a busy hairdressing salon.. hairdressers of course knocked for six during lockdowns and some barely just clawing their way back. This business owner wrote to me saying they’re finally back on their feet and booked 4 to 5 weeks ahead for hair appointments. She said they would lose at least $2,500 in revenue on a closed day. She said Inland Revenue had put her on a payment plan this year to pay off her small business loan that she received during lockdown, and that she was under pressure to pay it all back. She pointed out they had no choice during the lockdown and had to take the loan if they were going to keep the business going. This year , she says, they’ve dealt with not only paying back that small business loan, but have had an extra five days sick leave added, another public holiday added, minimum wage increased, staff off with ten and then seven days isolating and pay topped up. It’s been a mission and punishing for small business owners, in fact for all business owners. She said when she heard the announcement of another day off , she burst into tears. She was ringing the IRD to ask them to stop the direct debits for her loan as this extra day off would kill her business she said. So I really feel for people like her. Business NZ’s Kirk Hope said a day off should be voluntary but another public holiday shouldn’t be imposed on people. Treasury estimate the cost of the extra public holiday will be $450 million, which some argue is unfair in a cost of living crisis. But surely the biggest win, especially for those who protested against it, is the removal of mandates. All government mandates end in two weeks’ time, and not before time in my view. That’s been a brutal, and in many cases cruel, part of this process, and not something we should forget lightly. It destroyed people’s livelihoods and created immense division. So I won’t miss the mandates, the masks, the drawn out orange light, the daily reporting of Covid cases, the lot. I’m pleased to see it all go. Good riddance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Canterbury will ask residents if its anniversary day should be moved to the same day as Canterbury. As things stand, South Canterbury anniversary day is September 26, the same day as the country's one-off public holiday to mark Queen Elizabeth II's death. Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley told Kate Hawkesby they're looking to change the day to November 11, Canterbury Anniversary day. He says businesses are probably keen for the Queen's Memorial Day and Anniversary Day to be the same day - but the general consensus among most people is shifting it's a good idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Due to global supply chain issues, some shipping companies are leaving New Zealand off their schedule entirely. This is of course causing massive headaches for companies who rely on export. Rockit Global are a Hawke’s Bay based apple company whose largest export market is China. They were concerned this year's apples wouldn't make it by sea and normal air freight was too pricey. So they've managed to convince Air New Zealand to stack some of their planes heading to China with the apples. CEO of Rockit Mark O'Donnell joined Kate Hawkesby on Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Praise for an easing of restrictions from our retail sector. Covid-19 restrictions have been scrapped almost completely, with only aged care facilities and hospitals still requiring masks. Retail NZ Chief Executive Greg Harford says it takes away a lot of tension and confusion around exemptions that retail workers had to deal with. He told Kate Hawkesby he doesn't expect many retailers to ask their customers to mask up. Harford says many workers were on the receiving end of verbal abuse and even violence after asking people to mask up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So today is D-day on the traffic light system and whether it continues for us or not. Let’s hope not. I’m optimistic – but the caveat is, this Government likes control. This system was all about control, and to ditch it is to lose that. Problem is, and part of the reason I think they’ll ditch it, is that we’ve all ditched it anyway. Sick of masks and controls and traffic lights and restrictions, coupled with seeing Covid in the community for what it really is these days, which is a non-event, we’ve voted with our feet, or our faces. I was out and about at the weekend both in town and in the country, and you can count on one hand whose still wearing masks. Those of us with school aged children who’ve been buying an endless supply of masks for our kids to wear to school are sick of buying them, the kids are sick of wearing them, and as summer approaches and the weather heats up, they’re actually finding it unbearable to wear them. Teachers too. So we know most of us won’t miss them. But will the Government miss the control? Big yes. They’ll also.. if they’re still applying their ‘abundance of caution’ approach, perhaps want the system, or some version of it, in place should things go awry. Once our vaccinations start waning, once colder weather swoops back round. But I take heart from the fact that even their very own epidemiological stalwarts like Michael Baker have popped up and said the traffic light system is outdated and of no use anymore. And, on top of that, a very reliable source from inside the Koru lounge last week informed me that not even former Covid Minister himself Chris Hipkins was wearing one. Packed Koru lounge, cheek by jowl as usual, no food in front of him, he wasn’t eating, just sitting there, maskless. So if even the pin up politicians for mask use are not even bothering when they’re in Auckland Airport’s Koru lounge, then maybe that’s a sign that it’s over. Potentially he may just have been swept up in the vibe of Aucklanders..which that is they’re over them. Perhaps he keeps it on when he’s in Wellington where there’s a more obedient vibe. Either way, they’ll make a decision today that either gives us back our freedoms , that we so rightly deserve, or they’ll cling to control. It won’t be a decision made on what’s best for our health or the health system, they’ll have polled on it and it’ll be a political decision based on popularity. And you’ll know it’s a political decision when they use the words, “this is not a political decision”.. because they’ll be looking to deflect that criticism. But if they’re smart they’ll know the decision’s already been made for them. We’re not doing it anymore, we’re sick of it, bar a handful of people still subscribed to the fear mantra. But most of us know what risk looks like and how to weigh it up, and less than a thousand cases a day is not a risk, it’s not an outbreak, and it’s not crashing the health system. So the only right decision today is ditch the lights, ditch the masks. It’s time to move on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand Defence Force contingent will join the Commonwealth Forces marching contingent at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. More than 30 personnel from the Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence civilians have started to leave for London. Deputy Contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Edward Craw says told Kate Hawkesby they'll arrive at a barracks near London and start rehearsals for the funeral procession. He says a small group of Colonel Commandants, retired Army officers from this country, will be on a separate programme operating close to Defence staff in the UK. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Early Edition as Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was carried into the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh after a crowd-lined final journey from Balmoral. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says our Covid-19 traffic light system is no longer needed. Jacinda Ardern will announce Cabinet's decision on whether to do away with it at 4pm. National Party Covid-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop says compliance with mask wearing is waning. He told Kate Hawkesby he reckons the timing is right. Bishop says now that cases are falling and we're past the winter peak, it's time to move on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's city rail link is the project that appears to keep bleeding money with no end date in sight. The public has already been warned there has been a cost blowout of the originally budgeted $4.4b project. But now bosses have admitted they have no idea when the project will be completed. They even haven't ruled out works going beyond 2025. Chief executive of Auckland Business Chamber, Simon Bridges joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I visited my parents on Waiheke yesterday and my Mum was telling me a story about an Uber driver she’d had in town who was taking her through Auckland’s CBD, which – as most Aucklanders know, is a bit of a dive these days and certainly not easy to navigate if you’re in a car. They’ve made it so impossible to drive through the city now – that like most cities these days - if you’re in a car you’re punished, they’d prefer you on a bus or a bike. But that doesn’t work for everybody and this driver was telling Mum how he'd been transporting a passenger with a disability, who was unable to get on a bus or ride a bike, so he was driving her to her destination, and it became apparent there was nowhere for him to stop to let her out. He realised that with all the parking taken away and all the cycle lanes and enlarged pedestrian paths, he’d have to stop a fair way from where she needed to get to, and she would have to walk back. Worried about his duty as an Uber driver to deliver her safely to her destination, he parked further up the road where he could stop, and got out to help her. Now this was not a legit park, because there is no parking for cars on the main street, it was either a loading zone or a 5 minute park but it was his only option to get her as close to where she needed to be. But given her disability he realised she could not get their unaided. So he parked and offered to help her walk back to her destination. She was very grateful and he assisted her - slowly – at her pace – all the way back to where she needed to go. Once she was safely inside – and very grateful, he returned to his car. There waiting for him was a $160 parking ticket. Aggrieved at this, once he finished his shift he wrote to Auckland Transport explaining the circumstances and contesting the fine. He argued that because of measures by Waka Kotahi to eradicate parks and make life difficult for cars, it had in fact made life difficult for those with disabilities too. He argued he was doing the only right thing an Uber driver should, which was to help get this person to their destination, she needed assistance, and he wanted to provide it given he could not stop exactly where she needed to be. You may or may not be surprised to learn the response he got back. Auckland Transport denied his application to contest the fine, insisted he had breached parking rules by stopping there, and insisted he pay up the $160 dollars. Now what sort of kind caring society are we attempting to dream up here with all this ideology around ‘shared spaces’ and making CBD’s more user friendly, when disabled people are penalised, and those trying to help them get fined? What message does that send other Uber and taxi drivers trying to help passengers with disabilities? And does this kind of behaviour not just discourage more people from coming to town? Surely there’s a line – and room for discretion when it comes to unique circumstances? My Mum encouraged the Uber driver to keep writing to Auckland Transport until they acquiesced, but as he told her, whose got the time for that? Ironically the boffins bogged down in this bureaucracy have the audacity to call this long running campaign of car elimination “Streets for People”. But aside from cyclists, I’m just not sure which ‘people’ they’re thinking these streets are for now, given they’re certainly not for Ubers, taxis or people with disabilities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.