Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

British Conservative MPs have cast their votes in the first round of their leadership race.Candidates needed 30 votes to secure their place in the next round, with Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt both dropping out of the race.Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the frontrunner, with 88 votes, followed by Penny Mordaunt on 67.King's College London politics expert Rod Dacombe told Tim Dower she's run an interesting campaign.He says Mordaunt is not pushing too much against Boris Johnson's legacy, but equally not tapping too much to the right with her policies.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Christchurch City Councillor says it would be a travesty if they don't push ahead with the stadium.The future of the controversial facility will be decided in a meeting starting at 10am.The lead contractor has agreed to a fixed price, $683 million, for Te Kaha, meaning the average Christchurch ratepayer will initially pay $144 a year for the stadium.Sam MacDonald told Tim Dower they're in this position now because of indecision.He says if it doesn't go ahead, Christchurch residents will be disappointed, and re-litigating it may not get them any further ahead over the next ten years.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call for evidence-based policy to guide decisions aiming to tackle gangs.The Government's new measures have given police greater powers to search, seize weapons and cash, and impound vehicles.Firing a gun to intimidate will become an offence punishable by up to five years in jail.Lifetime Black Power member Denis O'Reilly agrees some gun laws needed adjusting.But told Tim Dower some of the decisions aren't specifically targeting gangs or getting to the root of the issue.He says it's frustrating to be tinkering around with peripheral issues, instead of focusing on creating proper social change.O'Reilly would've liked former police officers, pro-social gang members, and agencies involved in the decision making process.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I got woken by the not so dulcet tones of the Police helicopter at 2 o'clock this morning, I wondered when the crime spree this country is experiencing might come to an end, or even if it can?Are we so far down the road now on lack of consequences that people feel entitled to behave any way they like with no fear of punishment?Has mob rule replaced any authority Police once had? Headlines these days make for sobering reading; 'Woman killed in West Auckland shooting ‘or ‘Woman dies after being assaulted’, that was in broad daylight by the way.Crimes are no longer for after dark, we seem to be a 24/7 business now in this country of vicious criminal behaviour. ‘Gang brawl – person hit by car in Whangarei’ or ‘Man seriously hurt after being shot in Rolleston’.You’ll note the crime is no longer just limited to Auckland by the way. I had a couple of people message me last week saying ‘you can keep your crime in Auckland, we don’t want knives and guns here thanks ‘and yet, time to get your head out of the sand, crime and guns and gangs and knives are everywhere now.As a parent, it makes you think twice. Do your kids really need to be in a mall on their own? Should they really be in town at night? But then even walking down the street in broad daylight these days seems it could be dodgy. There’s been a shift in the balance of what’s acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to socially acceptable behaviour I reckon. Seemingly, carrying knives is just something that happens now with many young people.Hooded thugs armed with baseball bats smashing into jewellery stores and robbing them in about 30 seconds flat then taking off, like the burglary the other day at Auckland’s Westfield mall, seem impossible to stop.Even if security or Police had been near, can you stop 5 determined robbers with bats? And is that part of the problem? They know that. They know they won’t be stopped. It’s like the teens who were interviewed after the ram raiding about why they do it. And they said - because they know they’ll get away with it and that Police will do nothing.I mean, good on them for their honesty, but how depressing. There’s been a gradual, which is now seismic, shift away from policing and enforcement, towards crime and violence. And turning that around seems nigh on impossible. New Police Minister Chris Hipkins says he’s not interested in the ‘tough on crime’ debate. Probably because he knows they’ve lost it.They’re not tough on anything. Soft on crime is their problem. National’s Police Spokesperson Mark Mitchell jumped on this as soon as Hipkins said it. "If his initial response.. [is].. to say that he doesn't want to be seen as tough on crime, then it doesn't seem like he's had a very good start,” he was reported as saying.And here’s the worry, crime is beyond a problem now, it’s an attitude. And the attitude is, ‘I’ll get away with it.’That’s a really hard thing to turn around. And even harder, when you’ve got a series of police ministers who say they’re not interested in any talk about being ‘tough on crime.’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London's Heathrow Airport is capping daily passenger numbers for the summer and telling airlines to stop selling tickets as it steps up efforts to quell travel chaos caused by soaring travel demand and staff shortages.Britain's busiest airport said Tuesday that it's setting a limit of 100,000 passengers that it can handle each day through Sept. 11. The restriction is likely to result in more canceled flights even after airlines already slashed thousands of flights from their summer schedules.U.K. aviation authorities demanded that airlines ensure they can operate without disruption over the summer, with carriers not punished for not using their valuable takeoff and landing slots. They were responding to chaotic airport scenes as passengers complained about long lineups at security, lost luggage and lengthy flight delays.Even with that allowance, Heathrow, which had warned a day earlier that it may ask airlines to cut flights further, said it still expected more passengers than airport ground staff could handle."Some airlines have taken significant action, but others have not, and we believe that further action is needed now to ensure passengers have a safe and reliable journey," Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said in an open letter to passengers.Airlines are expected to operate flights over the summer with an overall daily capacity of 104,000 seats, or 4,000 more than Heathrow can handle, the airport said. Only about 1,500 of the 4,000 extra daily seats have been sold to passengers."So we are asking our airline partners to stop selling summer tickets to limit the impact on passengers," Holland-Kaye said.British Airways, the airline with the biggest presence at Heathrow, has already cut 11% of its scheduled flights between April and October. It didn't respond to a request for comment Tuesday on whether it would cancel more.Virgin Atlantic, which is also based at Heathrow, said it's "ready to deliver its full schedule this summer" but supported the airport's "proactive measures" to reduce disruption, as long they don't have an outsized impact on its home carriers.Other European airports have imposed similar caps this summer. London's Gatwick has limited daily flight numbers, while Amsterdam's Schiphol cut its maximum daily passenger numbers by 13,500.Booming demand for summer travel after two years of COVID-19 travel restrictions have overwhelmed European airlines and airports that had laid off tens of thousands of pilots, cabin crew, check-in staff, ground crew and baggage handlers amid the depths of the pandemic.Heathrow has said it started a recruiting drive in November and expects security staffing to be back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of July."However, there are some critical functions in the airport which are still significantly under-resourced, in particular ground handlers, who are contracted by airlines to provide check-in staff, load and unload bags and turnaround aircraft," making it a "significant constraint" to overall capacity, Holland-Kaye said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An aviation expert says changes are needed to Air New Zealand's customer service.The airline is facing significant challenges as it gears up for its busiest month since the start of the pandemic.Along with flights being delayed or cancelled, some customers have complained they're waiting for hours to get through to the call centre.Aviation commentator Irene King told Kate Hawkesby they need to be more responsive to their customers.She's concerned Air New Zealand never tells you how much credit you have, and how much of your money is sitting in its coffers.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Things don’t appear to be looking good for US President Joe Biden.A very damaging poll has come out from the New York Times.His overall approval rating is at 33 percent.But what's worse, 64 percent of democrats don't want Biden to be their candidate again in the next election.Consultant for the Democrats Tracy Sefl joined Kate HawkesbyLISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expect another rise in interest rates.The Reserve Bank is expected to increase the OCR by 50 basis points this afternoon, to 2.5 percent.Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby while some parts of the economy are struggling, inflation remains high.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A different approach to filling nursing shortages.Health New Zealand is going to meet with nine nursing schools as they call for more funding.Perpetual Guardian Foundation is a charitable organisation which gives scholarships to nurses to advance their training via private donors.Foundation Philanthropy Manager Kirsten Killian-Taylor told Kate Hawkesby they want to help.She says the charity sector can do its bit as funding is tight in many government departments.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 51st Pacific Islands Forum is now underway in the Fijian capital Suva.Drama has already unfolded with the Kiribati Government pulling out, while China's role in the Pacific is expected to be a hot topic.Professor Steven Ratuva is the MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies director at Canterbury University and joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shares of Twitter slid more than 11% in the first day of trading after billionaire Elon Musk said that he was abandoning his $44 billion bid for the company and the social media platform vowed to challenge Musk in court to uphold the agreement.Twitter is now preparing to sue Musk in Delaware where the company is incorporated. While the outcome is uncertain, both sides are preparing for a long court battle.Musk alleged Friday that Twitter has failed to provide enough information about the number of fake accounts on its service. Twitter responded in a weekend letter disclosed Monday that his "purported termination is invalid and wrongful" and that the company has continued to provide the information he "reasonably requested."Twitter said last month that it was making available to Musk a " fire hose " of raw data on hundreds of millions of daily tweets.The company has said for years in regulatory filings that it believes about 5% of the accounts on the platform are fake. But on Monday Musk continued to taunt the company, using Twitter, over what he has described as a lack of data. In addition, Musk is also alleging that Twitter broke the acquisition agreement when it fired two top managers and laid off a third of its talent-acquisition team.Musk agreed to a $1 billion breakup fee as part of the buyout agreement, although it appears Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and the company are settling in for a legal fight to force the sale."For Twitter this fiasco is a nightmare scenario," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who follows the company, wrote Monday. He said the result would be "an Everest-like uphill climb for Parag & Co." given concerns over employee morale and retention, advertiser concerns and other challenges.The sell-off in Twitter shares pushed the share price below $34, far from the $54.20 that Musk agreed to pay for the company. That suggests Wall Street has very serious doubts that the deal will go forward.Many experts in the legal and business sectors believe Twitter likely has a stronger case.Morningstar analyst Ali Mogharabi noted that Twitter has described its estimate of fake and spam accounts for years in regulatory filings while explicitly noting that the number might not be accurate given the use of data samples and interpretation.Given current market conditions, Mogharabi said, Twitter may also have a solid argument that the layoffs and firings of the past weeks represent "an ordinary course of business.""Many technology firms have begun to control costs by reducing headcount and/or delaying adding employees," he said. "The resignations of Twitter employees cannot with certainty be attributed to any change in how Twitter has operated since Musk's offer was accepted by the board and shareholders."Tech industry analysts say Musk's interlude leaves behind a more vulnerable company with demoralized employees."With Musk officially walking away from the deal, we think business prospects and stock valuation are in a precarious situation," wrote CFRA Analyst Angelo Zino. "(Twitter) will now need to go at it as a standalone company and contend with an uncertain advertising market, a damaged employee base, and concerns about the status of fake accounts/strategic direction."The uncertainty surrounding who will run Twitter, Mogharabi said, could lead wary advertisers to curtail their spending on the platform.But the drama surrounding the deal, he added, will also likely attract new users to the platform and increase engagement, particularly given the upcoming midterm elections. That, he said, could convince advertisers to cut a bit less. In the long run, he said, "we think Twitter will remain one of the top five social media platforms for advertisers." ___This summary of this story has been corrected to reflect Elon Musk's agreement to pay $54.20 a share for Twitter, not $53.40.- APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The health system crisis is the cost of living crisis all over again isn't it?Doesn't this have a familiar ring to it?A government in denial of something existing, which is laid bare for all to see, in broad daylight, in every part of our community, and yet politicians heads are firmly in the sand.Nothing to see here.Governments are always reluctant to use the word crisis, but our health system has been gradually falling apart for so long that it's now gotten to the point where those working in it are crying out for help at every level.Hospitals, GP's, nurses, doctors, midwives, health staff across the board are all saying it's an issue, they're over worked, under staffed, under resourced, under paid, exhausted, burning out and yet, somehow, the Government manages to have its fingers in its ears on this.The headlines have persisted nonetheless. The stories have gotten worse and yet, the Government can't or won’t see it.Well surely they must see it, they just won't acknowledge it.Health minister Andrew Little, infamously said it was a system that was "coping" when asked if the health workforce was in crisis.He still won’t admit it’s in crisis even though he must know that it clearly is.The Prime Minister was asked about it yesterday and told media that the health workforce was working really hard and doing a great job.That wasn’t the question, and no one doubts they’re not working really hard, or doing a great job. But it's easier to ignore the question and answer something different than it is to face facts. Maybe by pretending she's misinterpreted the question she's hoping it'll go away.But it hasn't and it won't.It's getting worse. There are surgery cancellations, delays and months long waiting lists to see GPs in some areas. In other areas, there's just no GP at all.Nurses are at their wits end, they're scarpering for better pay and conditions and a quieter life elsewhere. We're losing them and we can't replace them. Nursing schools came up with an idea to fix the nursing shortage but got shot down by government.I mean why look at a tangible solution being offered up when it's easier to just reject that there's a problem?Regional GPs have offered up ideas for how to fix the regional GP problems, again, ignored.Ideas from within the sector itself seem to either get rejected outright or fall on deaf ears. The first part of fixing a crisis is admitting we actually have one. If politicians can’t face the reality, or admit it, how do they even begin to fix it? We know it’s not an easy fix, but there’s no weakness in admitting that your health professionals are struggling with overload and at least looking like you’re interested in helping to sort it. A lack of any government interest, empathy or honesty means the sector continues to languish and without any hope.Which I would've thought at this time of year, with all this sickness swirling around us, is beyond remiss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So if the rumours are true, I personally don’t think they are, today we go into a red light.I first heard this rumour last Friday. A worried retailer told my husband he’d heard from ‘someone very reliable’ (isn’t it always?) that Monday was going to see an announcement of a red light. I was immediately suspicious. It reminded me of all those times over the past couple of years when rumours ran rife that we’d be going into a lockdown, because they’d heard it from ‘a reputable source’. The source was always someone’s friend or partner who worked ‘deep inside the Beehive’, ‘so they knew’.This also reminds me of all the rumours we got fed on high rotate about Clarke Gayford for a while there. That rumour cycle went for months, and it was always from ‘a reliable source’ or someone who knew someone who worked in the Police, or the Prison, or the Court. In fact, those rumours got so out of control the unusual step was taken by Police to shut them down by denying them. This was unusual because 101 of rumours is ignoring them and never addressing them because you only give them oxygen. But when they gain momentum, big momentum, it becomes impossible to ignore I guess.So by Saturday I had contacts in the South Island messaging me saying they’d heard ‘from a really reliable source’ that we were going into a red light Monday.By Sunday, more texts and messages rolled in. ‘Red light Monday’, they told me. This even got conflated by some people who had confused a red light with a lockdown. ‘Better get to the hairdresser before Monday,’ one text to me said.Here’s the thing, the more I got messaged about it, the more I felt it was untrue. How was it possible that on Friday last week, a decision had been made to go into a red light. Three days later, and that decision had been leaked so far and wide that basically everyone was talking about it. Three days before it even got announced. Three days before they would have had current case numbers to work with.Not possible. Now I don’t doubt that if cases keep spiralling up and hospitals get more and more swamped with flu, and nurses and doctors off sick, then a red light may well come into play.But I don’t think the first week of the school holidays is the time we’ll see it. Think about it logically. They’re looking for these holidays to be a circuit breaker, kids out of school, people taking a break. It would surely be premature to throw us into a red light when what you want is for everything to be open and pumping to help our struggling little economy.Imagine the businesses, the events, the sports fixtures, and the clubs. All having to grind to a halt in terms of crowd sizes right on school holidays. I doubt it. Add to that a PM flittering around the international stage telling everyone we're open for business. There’s no way she's going to plunge us into a red light at that point, far less while she's not even in the country.But those who’ve heard the rumour are adamant. It’s happening, they tell me. So today we’ll know for sure. We either go into a red light and I’m completely wrong. Or I'm right, and the 'reliable sources' are proven not all that reliable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are being pushed to the brink as staff sickness upsets workplace rosters.Flu season is in full swing, combining with a spike in Covid-19 case numbers and hospitalisations.Global modelling suggests up to 45 percent of new Covid cases could be re-infections, thanks to the virulent BA5 Omicron strain.Employers and Manufacturers' Association Chief Executive Brett O'Riley told Kate Hawkesby 2022 is by far the most unpredictable year of the pandemic for businesses.He says the economy is seeing more disruption than ever, making it a tough time for employers and their workers.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legal action against rodeos.Advocacy group SAFE is taking the Government to the High Court in Wellington today saying rodeos violate the Animal Welfare Act, and that there's been not enough action to stop them.Group chief Executive Debra Ashton told Kate Hawkesby there's a lot of support behind their case.She says there's been growing concern in the public arena since they and other groups took a petition to Parliament in 2016.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Potential successors to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rushed to differentiate themselves from an increasingly crowded field on Sunday as the governing Conservative Party was expected to set a tight timetable for the election.Candidates released slick campaign videos on social media and appeared on Sunday morning political talk shows to make their cases to the public. Several promised tax cuts, appealing to rank-and-file Conservative party members for whom low taxes are a mantra.Johnson announced his resignation on Thursday after more than 50 members of his Cabinet and lower level officials resigned from his government, many citing concerns that his ethical lapses had undermined the government's credibility.That triggered the internal Conservative Party contest to pick a new party leader. Under Britain's parliamentary government, the next party leader will automatically become prime minister without the need for a general election.International Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt was the latest to announce her bid on Sunday, saying the U.K. "needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship." Former health secretaries Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt joined one of the most open leadership races in recent history late Saturday.Other contenders include frontrunner Rishi Sunak, the former Treasury chief, and Nadim Zahawi, who took Sunak's job as chancellor of the exchequer last week. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss hasn't formally announced but is expected to join the race.The race comes after Johnson, 58, was brought down by a series of scandals, the most recent involving his decision to promote a lawmaker who had been accused of sexual misconduct to a senior position in his government.An influential Conservative party committee is expected to lay out the rules for the leadership contest on Monday, with news reports suggesting that Conservative lawmakers will narrow the field to two before Parliament breaks for its summer recess on July 21. Party members around the country will then vote on the final choice before the end of August, the Times of London reported.Johnson has said he will remain prime minister until his successor is chosen. But many want him to go now, with even some Conservative politicians worried that he could do mischief even as a caretaker prime minister.As politicians took to the airwaves to endorse candidates on Sunday, many sought to distance their favorites from the turmoil of the Johnson years by stressing traits such as "integrity'' and "honesty."Karan Bilimoria, the former president of the Confederation of British Industry, said the decision should be made as quickly as possible because businesses that are still struggling to overcome the impact of the pandemic and are now facing the growing possibility of a recession need help now."We have got to get through this period as quickly as possible and find a good leader who can then rebuild trust,'' he told Times Radio. "It is rebuilding the trust with the country as well. The country has lost that trust and business is very worried."- By DANICA KIRKA Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All rounder Michael Bracewell has saved the Black Caps from their first defeat to Ireland with some remarkable late hitting, denying the hosts a famous win in Dublin.In one of the great match-saving innings for New Zealand, Bracewell pretty much singlehandedly won the game for the Black Caps with 127 not out including all of the required 20 off the final over to pull off a one-wicket victory.Ireland looked set to match their rugby counterparts and pull off a convincing win over the Black Caps in the first ODI.At 217 for eight chasing 301 for victory, it looked a formality only for Bracewell to smash his maiden ODI century and secure a famous win.Bracewell finished with 127 off 82 balls with seven sixes.Needing 20 off the final over, with New Zealand down to their last wicket, Bracewell went four, four, six, four, six to win it with a ball to spare.But there was also all the work that Bracewell did just to get New Zealand in that final over position.New Zealand looked out of the match at 120 for five and equally so at 217 for eight before Bracewell and Lockie Ferguson put on 64 for the ninth wicket. Curtis Campher of Ireland celebrates after claiming the wicket of New Zealand's Martin Guptill. Photo / GettyBefore today, not only had the Black Caps never lost to Ireland, it had never been close in the previous four meetings.New Zealand went into the series without Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Devon Conway and coach Gary Stead, while Adam Milne suffered an injury on the eve of the first game and Mitchell Santner was unavailable due to Covid.Batting first, Ireland lost early wickets with experienced opener Paul Stirling bowled by Ferguson for just five before fellow opener and skipper Andrew Balbirnie was caught behind off Matt Henry, leaving the hosts 26-2 in the seventh over.That brought Harry Tector to the crease who led Ireland with his maiden century. Playing his in 21st ODI, the 22-year-old brought up the ton in style with four consecutive fours off Blair Tickner to convert his fourth straight half century.Tector had support from Andy McBrine (39) and Curtis Campher (43) with some late runs from number 10 Simi Singh (30) getting Ireland to 300 for nine.Their previous highest against New Zealand was 238 in a 57-run defeat in 2017.Ferguson, Tickner and Ish Sodhi all finished with two wickets each.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Performance reviews for a lot of businesses this week and 87 percent of workers expect to discuss money.42 percent of companies say salary reviews are the most anticipated method to combat staff leaving.Sandy Gibbs is head of People and Culture at Tribe Recruitment, who joined Tim Dower.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was the mayor who basked in the glory of hosting the 2012 London Olympics and the man who led the Conservatives to a thumping election victory on the back of his promise to "get Brexit done".But Boris Johnson's time as prime minister was marred by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and a steady stream of ethics allegations, from alcohol-fuelled government parties that broke lockdown rules to how he handled a sexual misconduct scandal involving a senior party lawmaker.Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman told Tim Dower the change of leadership won't change much about New Zealand's relationship to the UK.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police officers in the Far North say they're ready to walk off the job.According to the New Zealand Herald, there are only seven officers covering the mid and far north regions.Police Association President Chris Cahill told Tim Dower the police feel the communities are missing out.He says when there are only one or two staff working the whole of Kaitaia on a night shift, being backed up by Kerikeri, it puts immense pressure on those communities.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boris Johnson.Charismatic, almost a cartoon figure, bit of a clown, instantly recognisable and right out of the likeable toff mould.But that's really about as far as comparisons between him and Conservative leaders past really goes.They've fallen on their swords with a degree of grace, even occasionally a little humility. What's different about Boris is even at the end he's blaming everyone else.So it's the herd's fault, if only they'd stuck with me it would all have worked out.The hallmark of the Boris Johnson brand has been that boyish cheekiness, even when you knew he was lying through his teeth there was something, well, just likeable about him.So he remains at number 10 for now, and for quite a while, at least a couple of months longer as Prime Minister.Is this even remotely feasible?Boris in office, on his best behaviour, but with one hand tied behind his back at a time his country, like ours, is facing massive challenges not least the war in Ukraine.A crippled leader, more liability than asset probably, a toxic brand destined for the TV chat show circuit or maybe a diplomatic role somewhere?Is there a lesson for us in all this?Maybe, maybe it's a warning about getting sucked in by the cult of personality.Maybe a reminder about the difference between substance and showmanship.Not thinking of anyone in particular.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi skin cancer expert who consults some of Los Angeles' biggest names has created the world's first vegan non-injectable wrinkle reduction serum.Dr Sharad Paul has been featured in Time magazine as one of the world's celebrity scientists and is even filming a documentary on Netflix.But this world-first serum is said to be a game changer in the multi-billion dollar dermal filler market.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air pollution is a major contributor to premature deaths caused by respiratory illnesses and heart illnesses.The 2016 Health and Air Pollution study has found it contributed to more than three-thousand deaths in a year.It also played a part in 13,000 cases of childhood asthma, and 13,000 hospitalisations.Lead author Dr Gerda Kushcel told Kate Hawkesby it's the worst case scenario.She says there are issues around hospitalisation from asthma, particularly with children, and restrictive activity days, where people don't feel well enough to live their normal lives.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A supermarket watchdog looks set to stir up competition in the sector.Consultation is underway on a draft code between major grocery retailers and their suppliers - the Government will also appoint a Grocery Commissioner later this year.An earlier Commerce Commission report found a supermarket duopoly was driving up prices at the till.Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy told Kate Hawkesby it will all come down to how the code of conduct is applied.He says it could end up having a negative effect on producers.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Didn’t you always know that this Government, in clamping down on something, would involve a working group, a watchdog, a commissioner or a report?Turns out they’ve gone with a mix of all four. ‘Grocery Commissioner’ is the official title of the watchdog being set up. Supermarkets must be quaking in their boots. Not.It will take a while to establish – first they need to set up legislation round it, then there’ll be a mandatory code of conduct drawn up, so by the time the legislation goes through the House and the a commissioner actually gets appointed it’ll be mid 2023.That’s if they work to time, which they won’t, so that’ll be delayed. And in terms of when we the consumer will actually see the results of all this watchdogging?Who knows?They’re only just at the ‘discussion paper’ phase. And when it finally comes down to the grocery commissioner appointment part – how many people flank up this new department with the fancy new title? Have you ever encountered a government more bogged down in layers of bureaucracy and paperwork and codes of conduct than this one?Here’s the small print we need to be really wary of though. While appearing to wield a big stick, will all this bureaucracy just mean higher prices at our end? It was reported that MBIE admitted there was a risk that the code could “limit the ability of the major grocery retailers to negotiate fairly and firmly with suppliers”.MBIE also said that “this could contribute to higher costs for the major grocery retailers, which would make it harder for them to provide consumers with the range of products at competitive prices.”So there is a risk of compliance costs getting passed onto us at the checkout.Comparing it to the UK model, it’s reported that based on their numbers, the “cost to the Government of implementing the regulatory functions associated with a code of conduct could be roughly $1.5 million per year. Compliance costs for retailers and suppliers are estimated to be around $750,000 to $800,000 per annum. That includes costs associated with disputes, complaints and queries from the regulator.” And while the Government’s pointing the finger directly at fat cat supermarket retailers, the opposition says the Government’s missing the point. Act’s deputy leader said that ‘the reason Kiwis pay too much for food was ”rampant domestic inflation fuelled by Government spending". She said that.. "the Government needs to admit that it’s the inflation it caused, that’s hurting Kiwis.” Act also says it’s nigh on impossible to enter the grocery market with all the regulatory barriers here, it’s just too hard for many players. So how much competition will we really get? And how much teeth will this new watchdog really have? Will the benefits of having it offset the cost and time spent setting it up and administering it? And in all this bureaucracy and paperwork, will we the consumer in the end actually be any better off?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is battling to remain in office, shrugging off calls for his resignation after a slew of officials resigned from his government. Sky News reports a total of 38 MPs have quit.A delegation of senior politicians, including the new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse and Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris, met Johnson at his Downing Street office to press him to resign.New education secretary Michele Donelan, who was only appointed into the role last night following Nadhim Zahawi's elevation to chancellor, is also understood to have been among the group in Number 10 calling for the PM to resign. The Times reports UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has also sided with the group calling for Johnson to go.Johnson reportedly told the group he would not resign, suggesting his departure could lead to an early election and defeat for the party. Sources tell ITV News that the PM said the chaos of a leadership contest would generate overwhelming pressure to call an election.Earlier Wednesday (Thursday NZ time), members of the opposition Labour Party showered Johnson with shouts of "Go! Go!" during the weekly ritual of Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons as critics argued the leader's days were numbered following his poor handling of sexual misconduct allegations against a senior official.But more damningly, members of Johnson's own Conservative Party — wearied by the many scandals he has faced — also challenged their leader, with one asking whether there was anything that might prompt him to resign."Frankly … the job of the prime minister in difficult circumstances, when he's been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going," Johnson replied with the bluster he has used to fend off critics throughout nearly three years in office. "And that's what I'm going to do."His fellow Conservatives listened quietly and offered little support.Johnson is known for his ability to wiggle out of tight spots, managing to remain in power despite suggestions that he was too close to party donors, that he protected supporters from bullying and corruption allegations, and that he misled Parliament about parties in government offices that broke Covid-19 lockdown rules.He hung on even when 41 per cent of Conservative lawmakers voted to oust him in a no-confidence vote last month and formerly loyal lieutenants urged him to quit.But recent revelations that Johnson knew about sexual misconduct allegations against a lawmaker before he promoted the man to a senior position in his government have pushed him to the brink.Many of his fellow Conservatives were concerned that Johnson no longer had the moral authority to govern at a time when difficult decisions are needed to address soaring food and energy prices, rising Covid-19 infections and the war in Ukraine. Others worry that he may now be a liability at the ballot box. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. Photo / APFormer Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who helped trigger the current crisis when he resigned Tuesday night, captured the mood of many lawmakers when he said Johnson's actions threatened to undermine the integrity of the Conservative Party and the British government."At some point we have to conclude that enough is enough," he told fellow lawmakers. "I believe that point is now."Johnson's grilling in Parliament was the first of two Wednesday. He was also questioned by a committee of senior lawmakers.Under current party rules, another no-confidence vote cannot be held for another 11 months, but party members can change that rule.Months of discontent over Johnson's judgment and ethics erupted when Javid and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak resigned within minutes of each other on Tuesday evening. The two heavyweights of...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inland Revenue is on the chase for unpaid taxes from construction and property investment firms.Deloitte has seen an increase in action and companies coming to them for help.Craig Elliffe is a tax expert at Auckland university and joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shock to an old classic.Toyota's announced the most popular car model in the world - the Corolla will only be sold in hybrid-electric versions by the end of the year.Toyota New Zealand chief executive Neeraj Lala told Kate Hawkesby it joins some of their other models that have become fully hybrid.He says their plan has always been to move towards a fully electrified line-up, so this is a step in that direction.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not all doom and gloom when it comes to our wellbeing.Stats NZ's 2021 Wellbeing data shows just over 28 percent of people report poor mental wellbeing, up just under six percent from 2018.But Wellbeing Principal Analyst Claire Bretherton told Kate Hawkesby there's some positive stuff in the numbers too.She says most New Zealanders are satisfied with their lives, something that hasn't changed from 2018.Bretherton says a lot of people are also optimistic for the future.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well for all those heading away next week for school holidays, could be great timing. It looks like we may end up in red light again at some point, if case numbers are anything to go by. The PM says she’s not looking at it yet, but is she looking at anything apart from the cameras on the international stage at the moment? Bit tricky given she’s out of the country and perhaps a tad more out of touch than usual. And what triggers a red light anyway? The PM makes a captains call based on the vibe? Or, as new Covid Minister Ayesha Verrall would tell us, is it purely about case numbers and she’s been very honest in fessing up that number is 10,000 cases.We are getting dangerously close to the 10,000 mark, and it was a 10,000 case rolling average that threw us into the red last time.It’s not even really the case numbers that will be the problem.I think in all reality it’s the state of our hospital system and its inability to cope right now. We’ve got experts saying a new wave is here, we’ve got flu viruses, high absenteeism with illness, we were up to 9,629 new community cases yesterday, and there were another 24 deaths. 11 in ICU, 493 people in hospital with Covid.It’s not going anywhere, unfortunately.So does that mean that soon neither will we be?I can’t imagine the damage to an already flailing hospo sector if bars had to shut again, concerts and sports fixtures got cancelled, events were back on ice. Going back to masks everywhere indoors, I see even in Britain they’re bringing masks back in at hospitals as their case numbers rise.In fact, case numbers are rising everywhere. I can’t help thinking though, that the public appetite for this would be close to none. I think even the most law abiding lockdown fanatic would find it hard to stomach more restrictions coming back, just as we’ve worked so hard to shrug them off and find some normality. Compliance would be an issue, it already is an issue. Look how many people are mask-less these days in the supermarket or at the dairy, or in retail outlets.And that’s before we get to the bad buzz factor and the ill wind it would blow towards an already out of favour government.If we can take heart from one thing I guess though it’s the fact that case numbers on a Tuesday are always high due to coming off a weekend. So maybe today we’ll see them level off a wee bit. Although the experts say many cases are going unreported anyway and it’s likely there are already more than just what the official figures are telling us. So a conundrum for the new Covid Minister as she tries to weigh up nasty winter bugs taking their toll, new Covid variants, increasing cases, and a strained hospital system. Alongside an unwillingness from a brow-beaten public to go back into a red light, and the political toll it may take on the Government’s waning popularity.So where does that leave us?Hoping we stay in Orange. How sad is that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been more calls for the Government to be honest about their departments.Michael Wood yesterday called out the hospitality sector about their working conditions, while they're struggling for workers.And the ongoing cry for help from the health sector, with Andrew Little maintaining that they're on top of it.Add to that their police response, and action on the cost of living crisis.These lines are no longer cutting it with the public, who are increasingly aware of the crises the country is facing.Political commentator Bryce Edwards joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Clean Car Discount scheme is having to alter wrong or missing emissions or safety-rating data as it goes along.Car dealers say some customers expecting a rebate are getting hit with a fee instead, because an incomplete database is being updated even as the vehicle is sitting on the lot.The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association's David Vinsen told Kate Hawkesby the Government was warned it didn't have information on all of the fleet, but proceeded anyway.He says NZTA has been scrambling to remedy the glaring database emissions since its launch.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oral specialists say the dental system is failing children, and urgent change is needed.Research shows dental decay is the most prevalent non-communicable childhood disease in New Zealand.Māori, Pasifika, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those without access to community water fluoridation are most affected.Otago University researcher Dorothy Boyd told Kate Hawkesby now's the best time to address it, in amongst the other health system changes.She says statistics show 70 percent of Pasifika, 60 percent of Māori, and a-third of other children have dental decay by the time they're five.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I can see why we have resource consent issues in this country and it’s virtually impossible to get anything done. We’re experiencing it first hand at the moment with the Auckland Council.We put in a building consent to build a pool, a very straight forward pool, not building hydro slides and dive boards and turreted pool houses with fancy gates.Just a pool and the obligatory pool fence. We had an engineer draw up the specs and submit it to Council, routine procedure, nothing to see here. Then, to our surprise, the Council comes back a couple of weeks later and says not only do we have to apply for building consent to build a pool, but now also a resource consent.And all the standards that come with meeting resource consent. Obviously we query this – there must be some mistake, we’re not building a house or a garage or a building or a dwelling, it’s a puddle in a backyard. A pool surely cannot be subject to all the rigmarole of resource consent. So I ring up the Council planner one afternoon to have a chat and find out exactly what’s going on.Well that’s my first mistake - I rang in the afternoon, Auckland council planners are closed, they have a voicemail saying their work hours are 8.30am til 12pm. If you don’t catch them in the morning, you don’t catch them. So after a few back and forth emails, I schedule a call back from her, and yesterday morning she calls back.Apparently, Auckland Council decided a couple of years ago, to make a definition change to resource consents, to include pools as buildings if they’re over 25,000 litres. Which, unless you want a paddling pool, is most pools.So putting in a pool, is now subject to the RMA, the Unitary Plan, and all the standards included in that. Why did Council decide to do this? Who would know, is it just a money grab? Accompanying the new resource consent application we must file, is the resource consent deposit fee, of $4,000. Added to that will be the billable hours spent processing it. Bear in mind we've already paid just under $3,000 for a building consent fee. So the Council will be $7,000 up before a shovel even hits the ground for the pool. And I thought the pool was the expensive bit. Here’s the rub, when I ask what it is they now require from us as far as resource consent application goes, given this new $4,000 price tag, guess what they need? Nothing new. We re-submit the same drawings and files we’ve already submitted, just with the new fee. The council is going to take its time and ours, processing two consent applications, with the same material, the same info, the same exact details, but process it twice, just so we can dig a hole and put some water in it. The layers and levels of bureaucracy in this country are stark raving mad aren’t they? Is it any wonder nothing gets done and people are struggling to build anything? You can imagine my husband’s response to all this when I relayed it back to him. “Cancel the pool,” he said, “I’d rather buy a Ferrari.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir John Kirwan is hitting the road in the name of kids' mental health.The All Black legend and mental health advocate is driving from Auckland to Invercargill, to raise funds and awareness for his initiative Mitey.It's an approach to teaching mental health in primary and intermediate schools - helping children understand how to look after their own emotional wellbeing.Sir John Kirwan told Kate Hawkesby he will be stopping at seven main centres in the next week.He says during that time he will be visiting schools, as well as holding some community events.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gunman opened fire in a Copenhagen shopping mall, one of the largest of its kind in Scandinavia, killing an unspecified number of people and wounding several others on Sunday, police said.The suspected gunman, who is in custody, is a 22-year-old Danish man who was detained near the Fields shopping mall on the southern outskirts of the capital, said police inspector Søren Thomassen, head of the Copenhagen police operations unit."We know that there are several dead" and "several injured," Thomassen told a news conference, adding that terror can't be ruled out. "We do not have information that others are involved. This is what we know now."He didn't provide any further details on the victims or supsect, or say how many people were killed or wounded. The shopping center is on the outskirts of Copenhagen just across from a subway line that connects the city center with the international airport. A major highway also runs adjacent to Fields, which opened in 2004.Images from the scene showed people running out of the mall, and Denmark's TV2 broadcaster posted a photo of a man being put on a stretcher. Witnesses said people were crying and hid in shops.Laurits Hermansen told Danish broadcaster DR that he was in a clothing store at the shopping center with his family when he heard "three-four bangs. Really loud bangs. It sounded like the shots were being fired just next to the store."Copenhagen Mayor Sophie H. Andersen tweeted: "Terrible reports of shooting in Fields. We do not yet know for sure how many were injured or dead, but it is very serious."Police said they were first alerted to the shooting at 5:36 p.m. (1536 GMT; 11:36 a.m. EDT). A huge presence of heavily-armed police officers arrived at the scene, with several fire department vehicles also parked outside the mall."One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting at Fields. We currently are not able to say more about the person concerned," Copenhagen police tweeted. "We have a massive presence at Fields and are working on getting an overview."A concert by former One Direction band member Harry Styles was scheduled to be held at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT; 2 p.m. EDT) at the nearby Royal Arena. It was unclear whether the concert would go ahead.On Snapchat, Styles wrote "My team and I pray for everyone involved in the Copenhagen shopping mall shooting. I am shocked. Love H."Shortly after the shooting, the royal palace said a reception with Crown Prince Frederik connected to the Tour de France cycling race had been canceled. The first three stages of the race were held in Denmark this year, the palace said in a statement. The reception was due to be held on the royal yacht that is moored in Soenderborg, the town where the third stage ended.- By JAN M. OLSEN and KARL RITTER Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National has come out swinging against the new Immigration Minister.Michael Wood's accepted some concerns the sector's raised over foreign worker shortages...But says businesses should be considering how to make low-wage jobs with insecure working conditions, more attractive places to work.National party immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford told Kate Hawkesby he's gaslighting the industry, which is trying their best to attract workers.She says the average hourly hospo wage has gone up past $24 an hour - with it well past $26.50 in Queenstown.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott McLaughlin has claimed his second victory of the IndyCar season after taking out the Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio this morning.Starting in second behind Pato O'Ward, the Kiwi benefitted from a yellow flag to take his first pit stop and hold first place.It's a much-needed boost for McLaughlin after a poor run of form lately.He won the opening race of the season in St. Petersburg before a second placing in Texas to top the standings but then failed to crack the top five in the last six races which saw him drop to ninth before today's win.Fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon, a six-time winner at Mid-Ohio, finished fifth.McLaughlin's parents Wayne and Diane were on course for the victory after joining their son in May after 31 months apart due to Covid-19."To have mum and dad here was super special," McLaughlin said after the win."It's America's weekend. Last night I was dressed up as a blow-up beagle so maybe I need to do that every July 4 weekend."More to come...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a parent whose kids are at the ‘wander the mall on their own’ age, I do worry about headlines like “Screams heard before mall stabbing in Auckland”.It’s terrifying that young people are carrying weapons; it’s terrifying that they’re so brazen about using them, it’s terrifying that Police still appear powerless to stop youth offenders.One of our kids asked us the other day why the country feels less safe these days, why there's so much violence. And the question made me sad, because it’s not how we grew up. Walking the malls and streets at night felt safe, doing it in broad daylight wasn’t even in question. But these days parents are rightly thinking twice about their young people heading off to the mall with their mates unsupervised.And even the teens themselves are thinking twice about it. And what worries me is that as the bar dips lower and lower on social responsibility these days, and public behaviour gets worse, how much are we just sleepwalking into accepting it? Why are we putting up with more aggressive youth robbing our retailers, ram raiding our dairies and intimidating other kids with knives, then stabbing them?Why are we allowing this to glide past us without outrage? Decent law abiding kids have to now watch their backs or worse, not even go out, while aggressive youth get to run riot. It seems the balance has tipped in favour of the lowest common denominator these days to such a degree, that the onus is on you to just watch out.And every time this happens, the local community leaders involved always dismiss it as ‘a one off’ or ‘an isolated incident’ and nothing to see here. They don’t like to accept that bad behaviour, actually let’s call it what it is, criminal illegal behaviour, has crept into their backyard.This denial starts at the top. We have a government who constantly heaps praise on itself while gaslighting those who dare to question it. Ministers who deny issues as being real issues, and a PM who constantly ‘rejects the premise of the question’.We seem to have collectively lost the ability to accept responsibility for anything anymore or acknowledge where things have gone wrong.The problem is, denying it doesn’t get us anywhere. Friday’s stabbing in a mall started with chairs being thrown between groups of teenagers near a Muffin BreakWhy at that point did no one step in and stop them? Where’s mall security? Where are the retailers who observed this? Why were they not irate, responsive and intercepting? Why is chair throwing allowed to go on inside a mall until it ends in a stabbing and someone seriously injured in hospital?One of the mall workers heard screaming before it all kicked off, and reportedly ‘thought nothing of it’.Are you kidding me?Here’s the cold hard truth. We’re all going to have to think just a wee bit more of it. Screaming and chair throwing is not ‘nothing’. The councillor who in response to the stabbing said it was ‘a one off youth scuffle’ is going to have to work a bit harder on learning to call a spade a spade. A stabbing is not a scuffle.It’s a violent criminal act endangering someone’s life. We all need to wake up a bit here if we don’t want to watch the country go completely to hell in a handcart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put down the drink and spare a bit of money this July.New Zealanders are being asked to give up alcohol for the month to raise funds for those going through cancer treatment, as part of Dry July.Cancer support charity Look Good Feel Better is experiencing higher demand than ever for practical services and care.General Manager Clare O'Higgins told Kate Hawkesby given the rise in the cost of living, finding some loose change could be difficult.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's new Free Trade Agreement with the European Union isn't perfect, but it may be the best we're ever going to get.The 27-country bloc has agreed to remove tariffs on most New Zealand goods.But the dairy and red meat sectors will still face tariffs, and much lower quotas than they'd hoping for.Trade Minister Damien O'Connor told Mike Hosking this may be the best deal Europe was ever going to agree to.The Herald's Thomas Coughlan is travelling with O'Connor and the PM.He told Kate Hawkesby even if the deal gets all the necessary approvals, it won't be fully implemented for another 13 years.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new dawn for New Zealand's heath sector.The country's 20 DHBs have been officially disestablished to make way for the Health NZ juggernaut and the Maori Health Authority.After years of debate and reports, the new Health NZ agency has launched with Health Minister Andrew Little promising a new way of tackling health issues in New Zealand.Along side the new agency is the Māori Health Authority responsible for ensuring the health system provides more equitable outcomes for MāoriA Ministry for Disabled People also comes into force today.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Politicians have sucked the life out of young New Zealanders” this according to a very good opinion piece in the Herald yesterday by University Macro Economics professor Robert McCulloch.He makes the point that even though students and staff returned to campus post lockdowns, “students are reluctant to physically attend class.” He says it’s because ‘they can’t see a future, their mojo and buzz are gone’, and that ‘despondency rules.’ How depressing is that? The thing is, he’s not wrong. He cites students who’ve told him they’ll leave as soon as they graduate for international jobs with higher pay and lower living costs, students who say they feel like their entire course has been done on Zoom.McCulloch argues the Government took away their dreams by sucking the air out of them, they’re lonely – he cites a NZ study showing:“Loneliness is highest among people aged 15-24. Teen suicide rates are among the worst in the OECD. Cognitive skills at age 15 are in decline. Levels of school attendance are declining and particularly low among those in more deprived areas. We have the highest rate of bullying in the OECD.“People aged under 25 are least likely to report life is worthwhile and less likely to vote than young people in other OECD countries".As he says, “so much for the "well-being budgets".He also points out how the Prime Minister, once a luvvie of the younger cohort, has lost the room. “National now polls better than Labour for voters under 40.” McCulloch reckons it’s a variety of factors contributing to this.lockdowns to protect the elderly, and “the Reserve Bank’s money printing programme which favoured asset-rich”. But I think the best point he makes is that “rewards for achievement don't figure in our politics. Instead, it’s dominated by talk about the evils of inequality between the top 1 per cent and bottom 1 per cent, as if the 98 per cent don't exist.” How true is that? So much time spent pandering to the fringes and the margins that the middle is forgotten and entirely over looked.It’s almost as though if you dare to succeed in this country, you’ll be slapped back down before you even get started. McCulloch doesn’t think a National government will be any better by the way; his point is that youth are just so disillusioned they’ll no longer vote at all. They’re voting with their feet instead and bailing overseas. We know this on a personal level too. I had a nephew home from studying in the States recently, he took one look at Auckland and said nope, it’s highly unlikely he’ll ever live in New Zealand again. Out of our 5 kids, 4 of them are out of school and at University age, one bailed overseas straight away, unlikely to ever be back, two others are about to leave. That’s 3 out of 4 saying to NZ, no thanks.So in locking our country up and shutting it down for two years, and only making life harder for people, what have we done to our young people, who by the way are the future. They’re despondent, disillusioned and wanting to bail, how's that good for NZ?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nominations are now open to run for your local school's board of trustees.With elections in September, New Zealand School Trustees Association wants to make sure "decent people" actually run for school boards, as during Covid, we realised how much power these boards have in our children's education.NZSTA president Lorraine Kerr joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for passports has risen significantly, with a 400 percent increase since January.This now has the Department of Internal Affairs scrambling, with nearly 50,000 passports yet to be processed and around 8600 people still waiting for responses to queries.Many are worried they may have to cancel their school holiday plans due to the backlog.Brent Thomas is the House of Travel chief operating officer and joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised around the sentence given to a young man whose driving resulted in the deaths of five Timaru teenagers.Tyreese Fleming has been jailed for two-and-a-half years in the High Court at Timaru.He was just 19 at the time, driving on a restricted licence and had been drinking when his car slammed into a power pole at up to 115 kilometres an hour.Victims' advocate Ruth Money told Kate Hawkesby she sees this as a light sentence.She believes the youth justice system needs an overhaul, to ensure victims get justice.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call me naïve, and look when to comes to this stuff I probably am. It’s a mixture of not being that clued into forensically what goes on technologically with my information, but also a bit of head in the sand too. Like I sort of know this stuff happens but don’t think about it much, hence I’m always shocked at the reality of it. But you know how the apps we exist on these days are grabbing all our info and data and can track us? Well, yesterday I was confronted with the stark reality of this. To explain what I’m talking about, I’d had an online order with a supermarket go awry, again, and this was when I was really sick and just ordering groceries in, which I hate doing but needs must. So I’d been ordering them in, and I’d had such a bad experience time after time. There were broken eggs, rotten avocados or bananas, smooshed up mandarins, like every order arrived with either stuff broken, rotten, missing or damaged.I was getting fed up of throwing out groceries I’d paid for just because someone couldn’t be bothered picking decent produce or packing it properly, but I was too sick to complain, and had no choice but to keep groceries coming because I couldn’t get out of bed, far less leave the house.But then one order came in which just pushed me that one crappy order too far.A large bag of nuts arrived with a hole ripped through the back of it, packet torn right down the middle, half the nuts spilled out of it. And I thought that’s it, you’ve pushed me too far, I’m sick of wasting perfectly good food that I’ve paid for.So I sent an email to New World online shopping, not in an abusive Karen way, I didn’t have the energy for that. Just in a really simple ‘hey my packet of nuts had a hole ripped in it and we’ve actually had quite a few issues with your online service, broken eggs, rotten fruit, squashed mandarins and your online service needs improvement.’ That’s basically all I said.Couple days later I get a reply, ‘how many packets of nuts?’ No apology, just 'how many packets?' I replied, ‘just the one’. They reply a refund or credit will be issued at some point. Then about a week later I get another email saying a credit will be applied for the nuts, but - included in that email is the email chain that’s gone on before, to the various departments looking to authorize it etc. And as I scroll down, I see to my horror, how much information this supermarket has on me. Included in the email is the model name and number of my cellphone, so it says iphone13 Pro Max, then it’s got the time I sent the email, the battery life of my phone at the time, my telco carrier, the phone device number, the software version my phone's updated to, the total memory of my phone, and the manufacturer, as well as my personal details and the card I paid with. Did you know that a supermarket app has all that intel on you? And if a supermarket knows all that, god only knows what the other apps know.I probably shouldn’t be surprised that data like that’s being constantly collated, but because you don’t think about it, it’s not until you see it in black and white in front of you, that you realise just how much big brother is really prying into us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the Supreme Court has ruled that traditional values group 'Family First' will no longer qualify for charitable status.The ruling is that the group's work isn't of a charity and that the organisations education wasn't fair, balanced or respectful.But questions remain as to why just Family First.They aren't the only charity with an agenda, take Greenpeace and animal welfare group S.A.F.E for example.Sue Barker is a charities law expert and joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner says human trafficking's become financially lucrative to people smugglers.It follows the deaths of 50 migrants inside a Texas truck.They were discovered inside a trailer unit yesterday in San Antonio, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.There were no signs of water or working air conditioning.Gil Kerklikowske told Kate Hawkesby there have been warnings for decades about the dangers they face.He says despite that, many still attempt the crossing for either safety or a better life.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims the emergency housing situation in Rotorua is "out of control".Newstalk ZB can reveal the Government has so far spent one billion dollars on emergency housing since coming to power five years ago.Restore Rotorua Chairman Trevor Newbrook told Kate Hawkesby there are 40 motels in Rotorua full of people in emergency housing.He says the situation is at "breaking point" with one third of people in Rotorua emergency housing, coming from other parts of New Zealand.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.