Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A host of new mayors and councillors now make up the new local body politics scene - not that the majority of you might have known that. Or care. All the main cities, bar Hamilton, have a new mayor - Wayne Brown in Auckland, Tory Whanau in Wellington, Phil Mauger in Christchurch and Jules Radich in Dunedin. But despite more than a 40% mayoral turnover rate we didn't get out there and vote - the final turnout is expected to be 38-39%. We've got to do something - Local Government NZ President Stuart Crosby joined Kate Hawkesby to talk about the turnout and the disconnect. He said they need an independent review. "The system is broken and we need to do something about it."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow is your absolute last chance to have your say in who will represent you in your town or city for the next three years. I’m not surprised that the vast majority of us have still yet to vote. Perhaps it’s more a case that the vast majority of us have decided not to bother voting as is the New Zealand tradition. There’s a great deal to be concerned about and invested in when it comes to what happens with your local council. So why not have your say? Sometimes the quantity of key issues can be completely overwhelming, so perhaps the easiest thing to do is to simply focus on the one or two issues that really grind your gears and go from there. Whether it’s cycle paths or the Three Waters proposal or the issue of co-governance that heightens your enthusiasm, there’s no point in having a strong opinion or feeling about something if you’re not prepared to put that into action with your vote. Have a quick look through the booklet that came with your voting form and perhaps initially focus on those standing for re-election. It might be easiest to eliminate those who haven’t stood by the mandate they were given when they were initially elected and then look at fresher faces to see what they promise. I’m really unsure what makes the difference between the big centres but Christchurch is really fanning the flames of enthusiasm compared to Wellington whose turn out is a bit of a fizzle so far. Is that simply a reflection of the critical issues affecting your town? Or is it more a reflection of the vast majority of unknown‘s standing for election? I guess you’ve got to start somewhere and some of these people will have the absolute integrity and determination you read about in that brochure. So well done to all of those who raise their hand and put themselves forward for three years of castigation and relentless often gruelling, confrontational questioning through public meetings. It’s not exactly a thankless job but it certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. You and I are simply tasked with making sure the right people get those jobs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mycoplasma bovis testing will be ramped up after a new strain has been detected in Mid Canterbury. The property is one of four that is currently infected with the cattle disease across the region Federated Farmers Mid-Canterbury President David Acland told Roman Travers the next step is work out the transmission line to determine how the disease entered the country. He says MPI has genome tested the property multiple times and the disease has been contained. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today at the Seaweed Summit 2022 the seaweed sector framework is being launched. It's all about encouraging a sector that could help us out both economically and environmentally while you can also use seaweed for seemingly anything - food, fertiliser, sunscreen and nutraceuticals. Today's event is jointly organised with a couple of groups, one of those being the Sustainable Seas Challenge Project - Rob Major leads that project and he joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is warning people are in for a pummelling as the Reserve Bank continues to hike the Official Cash Rate. Five 50 basis point rises in a row has the OCR at 3.5 percent. National Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says every signal is interest rates will need to go higher to get inflation under control. She told Roman Travers government spending is having an influence. Willis says the more spending that goes on, the more fuel goes on the inflation fire. She says the cost of living crisis is raging on, so the Reserve Bank is having to pull ever-harder on the interest rate handbrake. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wasn’t it sad yesterday to hear the news about Sir Dave Dobbyn and his recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease? I admire his honesty and the way he let people know through a Facebook post, saying he’d been feeling shaky for a while, and was diagnosed with the disease back in July. He now has a tremor in his right hand, and it’s giving his guitar playing "a new kind of twang". Sir Dave also says that the diagnosis has given him a wider appreciation of life, and he will still be performing. Generally speaking, we are all living longer with conditions that once upon a time ended lives. Now with modern medical intervention, we’re able to keep living well and truly beyond the expectations of years ago. It would almost be without exception that everybody seems to know somebody afflicted by a life changing diagnosis: Parkinson’s, dementia or some other form of neurological disease. Although we seem to have made such advances in many other disease states, the demise in the neurological aspects of life largely remain a complete mystery and one that many scientists are working hard to better understand. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see all aspects of dementia and Parkinson’s relegated to historical medical journals? Wouldn’t it be amazing to know that upon diagnosis, the prognosis was bright and promising or even preventable? The reality for so many people with these conditions is that life slowly but steadily declines into full-time care. The prospect of us having the kind of care that we’d love to get is largely dependent on the savings we’ve made throughout life. Like you no doubt, I don’t want to be a burden upon my family but I sure as hell expect the state provided healthcare system to do better than what it currently does. Stripping away people’s assets and means testing sufferers for something that’s completely outside of their control remains a cruel mystery to me. As though having the disease isn’t punishment enough without having to lose everything you’ve worked so hard for through life. What’s becoming frighteningly obvious is that without comprehensive health insurance, most of us are destined to rely upon our very shaky third world health care system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tide is high for the aquaculture industry as it gets a $210,000 government boost. The funding will be used for a strategy to boost the sector's workforce which is currently struggling, like every industry, to fill vacancies. Sanford CEO Peter Reidie joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion from the Cancer Society that regulating ads children are exposed to could help prevent cancer. It's funded an Otago University study that's found children see ads relating to gambling seven times, alcohol 4.5 times and junk food 27 times every day. Cancer Society medical director, Kate Gregory, says children are vulnerable to messages, which increases consumption of these products. She told Roman Travers around 50 percent of cancers are caused by things like being overweight and high alcohol consumption. She says cancer can be prevented if we're able to reduce the amount of advertising for these kind of products children are exposed to. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is warning people are in for a pummelling as the Reserve Bank continues to hike the Official Cash Rate. Five 50 basis point rises in a row has the OCR at 3.5 percent. National Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says every signal is interest rates will need to go higher to get inflation under control. She told Roman Travers government spending is having an influence. Willis says the more spending that goes on, the more fuel goes on the inflation fire. She says the cost of living crisis is raging on, so the Reserve Bank is having to pull ever-harder on the interest rate handbrake. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canstar have released a survey of 700 small business owners, which shows many small business owners feel positive about their futures, having survived the struggles of recent years. Along with feeling optimistic, more than a third of small businesses say their revenue has also increased in the past twelve months. Jose George is the general manager of Canstar New Zealand, and he joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is widely expected to deliver another 50 basis point hike to the Official Cash Rate today, as it moves to try to head off inflation in the economy. That would be the fifth 50 basis point hike in a row, an unprecedented run, and would take the OCR from 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent. To discuss further, Westpac acting Chief Economist Michael Gordon joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Post Primary Teachers' Association wants to ban streaming in schools by 2030. Streaming is grouping students together based on their perceived ability. Auckland's Sacred Heart College principal Patrick Walsh told Roman Travers international evidence proves it doesn't work, even for top academic students. He says it does have a detrimental effect on Māori and Pasifika students in terms of self-esteem and life opportunities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s something I’ve learnt over the years; never ask anyone how they are unless we truly have time to hear the truth. Good health is often something we take for granted until we don’t have it - and good mental health precedes everything else in life. Covid-19 and the ensuing fallout has manifested in so many ways for so many different people. The initial inability to work followed by inability to justify retaining some jobs was closely followed by the train crash in mental health seen in adults and adolescents. Those with expertise in treating mental health saw fewer children and teenagers last year largely due to the ongoing disruptions caused by the pandemic. This wasn’t only due to the inability to get into a critical first scheduled appointment; it was also the inability for our healthcare professionals to recruit into mental health services. Our mental health professionals have told the Government that the pandemic has disproportionately affected our young people and that the effects will be ongoing and extensive. In a nutshell, our mental health services were incapable of addressing the growing need for mental healthcare and now it’s simply being crushed by the weight of the acute increase. When you have a government that’s unable to address such a critical concern for us all; when you have a government that simply asks for more information and ongoing statistics relating to this virtual grenade whose pin has already been pulled; then the outcome can only be of greater ongoing concern for us all. This is incredibly confronting: the number of young people alone requiring acute mental health care has tripled in the past ten years. In that same ten years, the number of young people with acute mental health concerns that have turned up in accident and emergency departments has increased by 400 percent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A breakthrough for those with inoperable lung cancer. Pharmac is funding a new immunotherapy medicine, called infensey for those with New Zealand's deadliest cancer. It's the first medicine of its kind funded for lung cancer and will be available for anyone to access. Lung Foundation CEO Philip Hope says this is a massive step forward in the fight against cancer. He says the drug gives patients diagnosed with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer a good option when undergoing treatment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwisaver funds seem to be doing well, despite increasingly nervous times. According to the Financial Markets Authority, managed Kiwisaver funds have grown by 10 percent in the year to March. Simplicity Managing Director Sam Stubbs told Roman Travers it shows the industry is still growing and people are still saving. He says, if the product does well in tough times like this, it gives people confidence. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has instructed King Charles to not attend the climate change conference, COP27, set to take place next month in Egypt. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Roman Travers that before the King's ascension to the throne, he had said he'd go to the annual conference. "It is reported that Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, has ordered him not to attend." He says that has been denied by plenty of people in the know. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nurses are being begged to take extra shifts on their days off - but with no corresponding double pay. The Nurses Organisation has suggested its members refuse to pick up extra shifts this week. It comes after their winter bonus of 100 dollars a shift, ended on Friday. Whangarei emergency nurse Rachel Thorn told Roman Travers scrapping DHBs for the new Te Whatu Ora, has made it difficult for executive leadership teams to make decisions to support nurses. She says because Te Whatu Ora has ultimate decision making - their leadership teams have less say than they used to. Thorn says they need Te Whatu Ora to take action on things like safety, short staffing, immigration and pushing the Government on policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s brand value shot up 13% from 2021, according to global rankings released overnight. Brand Finance Nation brands valued New Zealand’s national brand at US$248 billion in 2022, an increase of US$29 billion on the prior year. The annual Nation Brands Report is a study into the world’s top 100 nation brands ranked by their value and strength. It has been providing key benchmarks for diplomats, tourism boards, trade agencies, geographical indication brands, nation brand managers and consultants for nearly two decades. This rise is one of the largest of any country, with brand New Zealand’s ranking moving up three places to become the 39th most valuable. While the covid-19 pandemic hit many other countries’ national brands hard, New Zealand’s brand value rose 11% from a pre-pandemic valuation. The rankings also place New Zealand at number 13 (of 100 countries) on the nation brand strength leader-board, which combines statistics and perceptions research. Brand strength is calculated based on investment in nation brand (25% weighting), public perception of nation brand (50% weighting), and performance of nation brand (25% weighting). David Downs, Chief Executive of the Government agency responsible for New Zealand’s nation branding, NZ Story Group, says the brand value increase further recognises the country’s outstanding pandemic response. “Effective virus containment paved the way for economic growth, particularly now that our borders have reopened. To add a bit of perspective, Brand New Zealand is now worth more than McDonald’s.” New Zealand’s high brand strength score is underpinned by a high sub-score of 85.2 for public perception, ranking 8th in this sub-category. Downs was pleased with this recognition, noting that “this indicates a strong preference for the New Zealand brand both overseas and domestically.” “The world associates brand New Zealand with integrity, ingenuity, care, and respect. As our exporters gear up to meet renewed global demand and our tourism and education sectors welcome the return of overseas visitors and students, confirmation of this ranking further strengthens the message that New Zealand is well and truly open for business.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a fan of Shorthand Street, or the Outrageous Fortune prequel Westside, Will Hall will be a familiar face to you. Best known as the skateboarding doctor kip, and loveable cop Mike McCarthy, Will Hall recently moved back to his home town of Christchurch with his young family, and has now turned his attention to local body politics. With low voter turnout historically in local body elections, Will is utilising his skills to encourage Cantabrians to get voting and get engaged in the local elections. Will Hall is standing for the Heathcote Ward in the Christchurch local elections and joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So apart from school holidays starting today, guess what else we’re heading into? Sober October. Who knew? I thought Dry July was a thing and the only thing, but turns out there’s also Sober October. All I know is having not drunk alcohol in so long, I forget that alcohol free months are even a thing until I hear about them and remember that I don’t drink. It’s become such a non-event for me now, but it wasn’t always like that. When I first stopped drinking alcohol it was hard socially to explain it to people. People don’t take it very well when they’re standing enthusiastically in their lounge pouring everyone a glass of champagne and you say, “oh not for me thanks.” It’s got party pooper vibes all over it. Likewise when waiters come to the table in restaurants asking for drinks orders, it doesn’t have quite the same zing to say “peppermint tea for me please.” That doesn't really scream 'let's get this party started'. I’m sure people are trying to act more low key and less reactionary around people who don’t drink these days, but they’re not there yet. It’s usually followed by comments like, “Oh designated driver are we?” or, “had a big one last night did you?” Initially when I stopped drinking, almost 7 years ago now, it wasn’t that common here. Not as much as it is now. I felt I had to explain myself every time I declined an alcoholic drink – “oh I don’t not drink because I’m an alcoholic or anything I just choose not to..” These days I just say no thanks and leave it at that. But I raise all this because I was reading about Sober October and some stats on what a month without alcohol really does to your body. Because it’s a lot like dieting – they say you don’t want to be too extreme about it – and you don’t want to yo-yo in a way that takes your health backwards. The main thing stopping alcohol for a while does, experts agree, is improve your sleep quality, which in turn means you should have more energy. Energy eludes me because I get up at 3am everyday so I tend to feel permanently jetlagged, but the sleep quality I can definitely vouch for. Not waking up in the night with a heart racing and a liver trying to process alcohol makes for a much deeper sleep. Giving up alcohol, according to the experts, also apparently reduces your blood pressure. But they say just giving up for a month is not a cure-all from a health perspective, but what it can do is work as a reset for many people to rebalance or rethink how they drink. I gave up because I wasn’t a big drinker in the first place so it made no difference to me and I found I didn’t really miss it, (although how I didn’t take back up drinking during lockdown I’ll never know), but it’s really tough for many people for whom it’s a big part of their social or wind down routine. I know we have a big binge drinking problem in this country, but I think these one off alcohol free months are more for the everyday drinkers who’ve just crept into a habit they don’t think twice about. I don’t think people should be pressured either way, but if a month off alcohol helps reset how you view it, then maybe for some, that’s no bad thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support for the Crown's decision to appeal the home detention sentence handed down to teenage rapist Jayden Meyer. The 18-year-old is serving nine months home detention, after being convicted of raping four girls and sexually violating a fifth. Meyer's victims spoke out about his sentence, and hundreds of people took to the streets in protest. Sexual violence educator and survivor Rachel Taane told Kate Hawkesby the Crown Law Office's appeal is a welcome move. She says it's an awesome start that gives hope. The appeal is set to be heard next month. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drug checking services are available at Auckland stadiums for the first time from today, following a law change last year. Volunteers from KnowYourStuff NZ will be at Mt Smart Stadium's music concert "Listen In". A report for the 2021 to 2022 festival season shows samples have been tested at 40 events, nearly twice the number done two years ago. Auckland Stadiums Director, James Parkinson told Kate Hawkesby says it's a new tool to keep people safe, made available by the legalisation of drug checking. He says it's natural to add it to their other security and safety measures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelvin Davis' 'how Māori are you' routine in the House yesterday was a disturbing trip backwards for a country now so bogged down in race politics that it's actually a distraction. And one I think most of us are rightly sick of. There appears to be more race division and race baiting going on inside the Beehive, on our behalf, than there actually is out here in the real world. The co-governance spewing forth at a rate of knots, the push for more te Reo inside media, on every signpost, every corporate email, every event, every school. You can argue it's good for us, or it's long overdue or it's evolution, or whatever argument you want to mount for it, but once we start sinking to 'but how Māori are you really?' we've reached the lowest ebb. Deputy Labour Party Leader Kelvin Davis, if you haven't kept up with this, and I notice not a lot of news websites are running it, which in and of itself speaks volumes, but he said in the House yesterday to Māori Act MP Karen Chhour, that she needed to 'leave her Pākehā world'. He said, "What the Member needs to do is cross the bridge that is Te Tiriti o Waitangi from her Pākehā world into the Māori world and understand exactly why, how the Māori world operates." He said this, to a Māori woman of Ngāpuhi descent; she says she is a 'proud Māori woman'. But that's not how Kelvin sees it. He also said to her that it was "no good looking at the world from a vanilla lens". A vanilla lens? What's he alleging here? Apart from the fact she is not Māori, which she is, how does this comment come across as anything other than racist? Chhour was offended by all this, she said, "attacking somebody's mana like that just because they disagree with you is unacceptable". She was reported as saying that, 'as a child of state care, she feels like Davis should take her lived experience seriously'.. She wants an apology. "It feels like if you don't agree with us, you're not a real Māori, or you're not Māori enough, or you don't have the mana of a Māori, and I find that quite hurtful," she told Newshub. Davis for his part still claims she was raised in a Pākehā world, and that's the stuff that creates needless division I reckon, why say something like that? Why look to judge someone you disagree with politically, based on how you might perceive they were brought up? Or based on what colour you think their skin was? Or even how Māori they happen to be? I thought that old 'not Māori enough' thing had gone out in the 80's. Surely. It's a dangerous slippery slope we're on I reckon, when our elected representatives and leaders - this guy is the Deputy Leader of the Labour party remember, when they think it's acceptable to speak to people like that, and not only that but refuse to apologise for it. There's no room for this kind of division and nasty smack talk about how you might perceive someone's race or upbringing. I don't know what he was thinking or why he won't apologise for it, but for a party so hell bent on unity and kindness, I'm seeing none of it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hurricane Ian's most damaging winds have begun hitting Florida's southwest coast, lashing the state with heavy rain and pushing a devastating storm surge after strengthening to the threshold of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Fueled by warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian grew to a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane overnight with top winds of 250km/h, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm trudged on a track that would have it making landfall north of the heavily populated Fort Myers area, which forecasters said could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 5.5m. People walk where water is receding out of Tampa Bay due to a negative surge ahead of Hurricane Ian. Photo / Steve Helber, AP "This is going to be a nasty nasty day, two days," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said, stressing that people in Ian's path along the coast should rush to the safest possible shelter and stay there. Ian menaced Florida after bringing destruction Tuesday to western Cuba, where two people were reported dead and the storm brought down the country's electricity grid. A classic American car drives past utility poles tilted by Hurricane Ian in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Photo / Ramon Espinosa, AP Ian's centre was about 80km west of Naples at noon Wednesday, as it churned toward the coast at 15km/h. Ian's plodding pace meant the storm was expected to spend a day or more crawling across the Florida peninsula, dumping flooding rains of 300-450mm across a broad area including Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville in the state's northeast corner. Catastrophic storm surges could push 3.6m of water or more across more than 400km of coastline, from Bonita Beach to Englewood, the hurricane centre warned. "It's going to get a lot worse very quickly. So please hunker down," DeSantis said. Ivan Mendoza begins to repair damage at his mobile home in Davie, Florida, as Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified. Photo / Joe Cavaretta, South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Off the coast on Sanibel Island near Fort Myers, swirling water-covered residential streets and was halfway up mailbox posts by mid-morning. Seawater rushed out of Tampa Bay, leaving parts of the muddy bottom exposed, and waves crashed over the end of a wooden pier at Naples. More than 2.5 million people were under mandatory evacuation orders but, by law, no one could be forced to flee. The governor said the state has 30,000 linemen, urban search and rescue teams, and 7000 National Guard troops from Florida and elsewhere ready to help once the weather clears. Florida residents rushed ahead of the impact to board up their homes, stash precious belongings on upper floors and join long lines of cars leaving the shore. Utility trucks are staged in a rural lot in The Villages of Sumter County, Florida, in readiness for Hurricane Ian. Photo / Stephen M. Dowell, Orlando Sentinel via AP Some chose to stay and ride out the storm. Jared Lewis, a Tampa delivery driver, said his home has withstood hurricanes in the past, though not as powerful as Ian. "It is kind of scary, makes you a bit anxious," Lewis said. "After the last year of not having any, now you go to a Category 4 or 5. We are more used to the 2s and 3s." Forecasters predicted Ian would make landfall more than 160km south of Tampa and St. Petersberg, likely sparing the densely populated Tampa Bay area from its first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921. An airplane overturned by a likely tornado produced by the outer bands of Hurricane Ian at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines. Photo / Wilfredo Lee, AP Officials warned residents that Tampa could still experience powerful winds and up to 500mm of rain. "Please, please, please be aware that we are not out of danger yet," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a video on Twitter. "Flooding is still going to occur." During the night, Ian went through a natural cycle when it lost its old eye and formed a new one. The timing was bad for the Florida coast, because the storm got stronger and larger — 193km/h to 250km/h — with landfall just a few hours away. The size of the storm also grew, with tropical storm force winds extending 280km from the hurricane's centre. "With the higher intensity you're going to see more extensive wind damage," University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said. "The larger wind field means that more people will experience those storm-force winds." The most damaging winds could hit a coastline where the population has jumped sevenfold since 1970, according to the US Census. Vinod Nair wasn't taking any chances. He drove inland from the Tampa area Tuesday with his wife, son, dog and two kittens to a hotel in Orlando, where only tropical storm force winds were expected. "You can't do anything about natural disasters," Nair said. "We live in a high-risk zone, so we thought it best to evacuate." The eye of Hurricane Ian approaching the southwest coast of Florida. Photo / GOES-East GeoColor satellite via AP Ash Dugney warily watched ocean water being sucked o

Questions have been asked as to whether health policies are backed by the latest science. That's what researchers are asking as they call on the Government to improve the way health policy makers are informed. The 'Healthier Lives National Science Challenge' group wants systems put in place to ensure health policy makers have access to robust, up to date scientific evidence. They also want mechanisms for prioritising issues. Head of AUT’s Public Health department Dr. Heather Came joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Children's Commissioner believes there are complex reasons behind youth participation in ram raids. Of a group of 63, more than 95 percent first came to Police attention through a family harm event. Judge Frances Eivers says we can’t ignore the fact that for some mokopuna involved in ram raids, their home may be chaotic, unstable, and possibly even dangerous. She says it's important we focus on a holistic approach where whanau and community, including iwi and Police, work collaboratively to wrap support around these youth who might be more at risk. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A landlord wrote to me the other day saying how many more tenants these days are applying for rentals, and on the application form are putting under proof of income, ‘WINZ’. Her point was, since when was a WINZ benefit, which is supposed to be a short term solution for people in difficult circumstances, since when has that become an income? It’s supposed to be a benefit, which you’re on for a short time. But she was saying how many single mums with only one or two kids are going into four bedroom homes courtesy of a government grant or benefit, and that perhaps the real housing crisis lies in the fact too many rentals are being subsidised by government benefits, which allow small no income families to go into large homes that they actually don’t need. And then we hear about the solo dad who said the other day that WINZ actually don’t want to help you get off the benefit. A “Bay of Plenty father with four kids aged four to 10 told Newshub he started looking for part-time work a few months ago…” He has.. “a background in fencing, shearing and forestry and applied for two part-time roles. However, the jobs required equipment so he applied to WINZ for the Transition to Work grant to buy the gear he needed… a chainsaw, hammer, gumboots..” etc that he’d need to do the work. “But he said he was rejected because he didn't meet the requirements of needing to work 30 hours or more a week,” it was reported. He said the message he got from WINZ through this experience was that it’s easier to just give up and stay on a benefit. He said there’s no incentive to really help people into work. Worse still, he didn’t hear from WINZ for months he said, until Newshub contacted them and isn’t that too often the case? Unless a journalist rings up or the issue gets into the media, there’s no action on anything. It shouldn’t be that way. Part of WINZ’s role is to help people get into work with support grants for things like equipment if needed. And yet this solo Dad was left floundering and without support. He said WINZ should take a “look in the mirror at their policies and see if they're actually helping Kiwis get off the benefit.” National agrees there are too many roadblocks to getting people off benefits, it says Labour has allowed ‘benefit dependency to increase at a time businesses are desperate for staff.’ Even the Greens recognised it's not helpful if agencies like WINZ aren’t enabling people to get off benefits and ‘meet their aspirations’. Look, it’s so refreshing to hear of people wanting to get off a benefit, and having aspirations, that it pains me that WINZ may be standing in the way of this. Surely the system can be flexible enough and bold enough to recognise decent aspiration and back it? How else do we break the back of benefit dependency, if those in the very agencies dishing it out aren’t prepared to help people stand on their own two feet and come off it? There is a disturbing entrenchment happening in regard to attitudes to benefits and that is that it’s just easier to give people a hand out, when the focus really should be on giving people a hand up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A wine grower says more seasonal workers shows the Government is listening to the industry's concerns. It's increased the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme by 3,000 more workers this year - the biggest increase in a decade. The Government's also requiring employers provide the workers sick leave. Wine Growers Chief Executive Philip Gregan told Kate Hawkesby it won't solve labour issues, but will make a big difference. He says they're trying to balance RSE and Working Holidaymaker numbers - but don't know how many people on a working holiday will arrive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine is accusing Russia of carrying out a "terrorist attack" on two major gas pipelines into Europe. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby the Nord Stream One and Two have been damaged and have begun leaking off the coast of Denmark, creating the risk of an explosion. “The Russians say they know nothing about it, the EU says it’s too early to draw conclusions but other world leaders are beginning to point sabotage and blaming Russia.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.