Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Well Denzel Washington was right when he said to Will Smith last night that - 'at your highest moment, the devil comes for you'. But the devil didn't just come for Will Smith, the whole Academy and Hollywood glitterati who witnessed it are also at fault here, I reckon. They just sat there and acted like nothing happened, they carried on clapping, laughing.. why did they condone it? Why did absolutely no one working at the ceremony get on stage to check if Chris Rock was OK? Police were there, why did they do nothing? Security was there - nothing. The hypocrisy here just blows my mind. Compare it to Kanye - banned from the Grammys for his Instagram comments about Pete Davidson, virtually cancelled by America's liberal elite for acting in their words – unhinged. Yet Will Smith, a thug, who displayed uncontrollable anger assaulting someone on stage in front of millions of viewers, at a ceremony supposed to be about inclusivity, peace and love.. gets to remain at the event all night, go on to win an Oscar, give a 6 minute uninterrupted bizarre.. and highly inappropriate speech, then go on to party afterwards like nothing happened. The hypocrisy here is next level. And how many celebrities who were there have spoken up about this since it happened? Barely any. Hollywood is complicit in its silence. Smith was seen dancing and joking holding his award last night, taking selfies, acting like nothing had happened. How was he not marched out of that Awards ceremony and arrested for assault? I don't care whether you agree Chris Rock’s joke was poor taste or not – in my opinion it probably was – but that’s what you get sitting front row at the Oscars – a roasting. They’ve all experienced it. Yes, perhaps a bridge too far to make a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia condition, if Rock even knew about it - which is questionable - but to react the way Will Smith did, just showed an unhinged, angry, repressed and troubled man. To then go on and defend it, and talk about being a ‘vessel for love’ and wanting ‘to shine a light’.. and purporting that God is using him as some kind of ‘river of love’.. are you kidding me? The irony is when Rock first made the joke, Will Smith laughed - it wasn't until Jada rolled her eyes that he changed his tune. But to go on and try to defend the whole thing as an act of love? Right out of the abusers playbook.. ‘I love you so much I have to use violence to show it.’ What a disgusting example of how to behavAe. Some I note are saying, oh it just represents the state of flux the world’s in right now. Seriously? Any attempt to justify that behaviour is completely misguided. He should've been immediately removed from the Oscars, made to apologise to Chris Rock, arrested and charged with assault. Not celebrated. For a show trying to rebrand, reach out, find a bigger audience, be more inclusive.. the Oscar’s yesterday did the absolute opposite. Shame on all of them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ukrainian community says while support from New Zealand has been helpful, there's more to be done. We're sending nine members of our Defence Force to UK and Belgium to aid with intelligence. The Ukrainian Association says the Government has been quick to sort out visas. However Chairman Yuriy Gladun told Kate Hawkesby there needs to be more understanding of the situation. He says our immigration system can be too rigid for people without documents. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk isn't happy. With a personal fortune that is flirting with US$300 billion, the Tesla CEO — the richest person on earth — has been attacking a Democratic proposal to tax the assets of billionaires like him. The idea behind the Democratic plan is to use revenue from a billionaires tax to help pay for a domestic policy package being negotiated in the US Congress that would, among other things, help combat climate change, provide universal prekindergarten and expand health care programmes. Musk, who recently blew past Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as the world Number 1 in wealth thanks to Tesla's soaring share price, would be liable for perhaps a US$50 billion tax hit under the Democratic proposal. Forget it, he says. "My plan," the SpaceX founder tweeted Thursday about his fortune, "is to use the money to get humanity to Mars and preserve the light of consciousness." Musk may well get his wish. Prospects for the billionaires tax appear to be dimming fast in Congress. The pivotal Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is signalling his opposition to the plan along with some others, including some of his fellow Democrats, who have described such a tax as logistically impractical. Earlier this week, Musk argued, the fundamental problem is that government spends too much money — and he warned that the billionaire tax proposal could lead over time to tax hikes for more Americans. "Eventually," he tweeted Monday, "they run out of other people's money, and then they come for you." The Democratic proposal, unveiled Wednesday (US time) by Senator Ron Wyden, would tax the gains of people with either US$1 billion or more in assets or three consecutive years of income of US$100 million or more. It would apply to fewer than an estimated 800 people, who would have to pay tax on the value of tradable items, like stocks, even if they don't sell them. Under current law, such assets are subject to tax only when they're sold. Supporters have said the tax could raise US$200 billion over 10 years that could help fund Biden's legislative priorities. Republicans are unified in opposition to the proposal. And some have suggested it would be challenged in court. The Democrats' proposal comes against the backdrop of growing concerns about vast economic inequality, with the wealth of many American multi-billionaires having accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to increased stock and home equity, even more than before the virus struck. John Catsimatidis, the billionaire grocery chain and real estate magnate who owns Gristedes, condemned the proposal as something you would "expect Putin to do," referring to President Vladimir Putin of Russia. The billionaire tax plan, Catsimatidis told The Associated Press, is "a little bit insane." "The American people have reached the point where they're saying, 'Enough is enough'," said Catsimatidis, who lost a bid for the Republican nomination for New York City mayor in 2013. "Stop spending the money stupidly. They come up with budgets that are stupid budgets, and they want to make everybody else suffer for it." "Do we need infrastructure?" Catsimatidis added. "Sure, we need infrastructure. Do we need bridges to nowhere? No, we don't need those." "You're talking about the people that create the jobs," he said of billionaires. "We can get up and go somewhere else." Leon Cooperman, the outspoken billionaire investor who has long denounced Senator Elizabeth Warren's own proposal for a wealth tax, has added his voice to the exasperation coming from some of the uber-wealthy. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Cooperman said of the tax, "I doubt it's legal, and it's stupid." "What made America great," he said, "was the people who started with nothing like me making a lot of money and giving it back. A relentless attack on wealthy people makes no sense." Not every billionaire shares...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is pushing ahead with plans for the National Erebus Memorial to be at Parnell's Dove Myer-Robinson Park. That's despite criticism from the Chief Ombudsman that the ministry should have consulted more widely, before forming its preference for a location. Former Waitemata Local Board Member Sarah Trotman voted against the memorial. She told Kate Hawkesby while it's a great result, the fight isn't over yet. Trotman says the ministry has to realise its consultation has been defective and the site is tainted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Caribbean nations debate their relationship with the British crown, Prince William says he will support and respect whatever decision the people make.William, second in line to the throne, made the comments after an eight-day tour of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas during which he and wife Kate were celebrated but also criticized as being “tone deaf” for perpetuating images of Britain’s colonial rule. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the royals his country intended to become a republic, removing the British monarch as its head of state.“I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future,” William said in a statement reflecting the end of their tour on Saturday. “In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon.”The young royals visited the three nations as representatives of Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates the 70th anniversary of her reign this year. During those seven decades she has been the head of state for the United Kingdom and 14 “realms” that were once colonies of the British Empire and are now independent countries.The royal couple was greeted by protesters demanding an apology for the role Britain played in the enslavement of millions of Africans and reparations for the damage caused by slavery. During a speech in Jamaica, William expressed his “profound sorrow” for slavery but stopped short of offering an apology.William recognized the changing nature of the connections between Britain and its former colonies during a speech Friday night in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.“We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future,” William said. “Relationships evolve. Friendship endures.”Whatever the former colonies decide about their continuing relationship with the crown, William said he wanted to continue serving them through the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 countries with historical links to Britain. The queen has been head of the Commonwealth throughout her reign and Prince Charles, William’s father, is her designated successor.William recognized that he may not follow in their footsteps.“Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn’t what is on my mind,” he said. “What matters to us is the potential the Commonwealth family has to create a better future for the people who form it, and our commitment to serve and support as best we can.”- by Danica Kirka, APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India have fallen agonisingly short of the World Cup semifinals, being beaten on the last ball by South Africa to hand a playoff place to the West Indies.After England earlier secured their semifinal spot by completing a remarkable turnaround with victory over Bangladesh, India were left with a simple equation: beat South Africa and their tournament would continue.But having racked up 274-7 batting first against a South African side who had already sealed a second-place finish, India were barely unable to defend that total at Hagley Oval tonight.Mignon du Preez capped an unbeaten half century by hitting the winning run from the final delivery, having survived an apparent dismissal off a no ball earlier in a dramatic final over.As a result, the watching West Indies were able to celebrate passage to the World Cup semifinals for just the second time. To the semi-finals WI go!!!!! #CWC22 #TeamWestIndies pic.twitter.com/OHRr7vPpcT— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 27, 2022 The West Indies, who finished fourth in pool play, will now face the unenviable task of playing top qualifiers Australia, with that match to be played at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.England, having sneaked through after opening their tournament with three straight defeats, will face South Africa in the other semifinal at Hagley Oval on Thursday.It was a fittingly dramatic conclusion to pool play in a tournament that featured a number of tight finishes, with four teams separated on the standings by only two points.Australia (14 points) advanced through the round robin with a perfect seven-win record while South Africa (11) won five matches to finish second. England (8) recovered well after dropping their first three games while the West Indies (7), India (6) and New Zealand (6) all won three matches, with the Windies advancing courtesy of a wash-out against South Africa.All had looked lost for defending champions England but they secured their spot in knockout play following a win over Bangladesh in Wellington today, earning a fourth straight victory by beating the World Cup debutants by 100 runs.England didn't have the best start to their day after electing to bat, losing Danni Wyatt and Heather Knight in the opening eight overs in a slow start. Opener Tammy Beaumont only managed one boundary in a 69-ball 33 in a game England needed a big win to determine a better net run-rate than India.The middle order of Sophia Dunkley (67 off 72), Nat Sciver (40 off 57) and Amy Jones (31 off 57) picked things up somewhat to see England reach 234 -6.Bangladesh never looked serious in chasing the tally, not reaching 50 until the 21st over and by then they had lost both openers. The slow approach continued as they almost completed their 50 overs, bowled out for 134 in the 48th over.Sophie Ecclestone (three for 15 from 10 overs) was near perfect in restricting Bangladesh while spinner Charlie Dean took some late wickets to finish with 3-31.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time Phil Goff was on the show was when he announced he was departing as Auckland's Mayor. I asked him about heading off to London for the High Commissioner gig. He denied it. He batted it away as something he wasn’t even considering.But now we know that’s exactly what he’s doing. And maybe the fact he’s been packing his bags for London explains why he’s seemed so absent of late in his role as leader of the Super City. I like Phil Goff, I’ve said it before, I once even voted for him as Mayor, but he’s been largely ineffectual in the role, and actually quite a letdown to Aucklanders. Having said that. I don’t begrudge him the London gig. He’s actually very well suited to that kind of cushy cruisey cocktail party job. He’s got all the attributes - he’s convivial, chatty, friendly, diplomatic, and well steeped in issues that may arise at that level. He was extremely well regarded as our Foreign Minister once upon a time, very experienced, and probably doesn’t get enough credit for driving through the China free trade agreement. So I wish him well I think he will do it with aplomb.Which leads me to Trevor Mallard.On what planet, is anyone giving him a diplomatic role – anywhere? That guy is as far from diplomacy as you can get.How on earth can anyone justify giving him a cushy job on the taxpayers' dime? A life of paid perks, out of our pockets, for a bully like Mallard - are you serious? Word is, he’s being lined up for Ambassador to Dublin. Here’s the problem with that. The role requires diplomacy, manners, etiquette, and common sense. Mallard doesn’t have any of that.Worse, his reputation is permanently besmirched by the alarmist false rape allegation he made in Parliament, which he then used taxpayer money to defend and settle on after he was sued over it. That was not our fight and should not have been on our tab, he should've had the decency to clean up his own ugly mess. Why were we paying for his mistakes? Parliament's playground slide was the other outrageous expense he lumped us with. Half a million bucks on a slide no one asked for, and you’re telling me this is the man the government sees best fit for a plum Ambassador role, doing diplomacy in Dublin? Which, on the matter of diplomacy, ironically Mallard himself admitted it's not his forte.A news article pointed out how he’s joked about his own ‘lack of diplomacy’. And we saw that first hand in his dealings with the parliament protestors recently. Playing them the Macarena, and turning hoses on them – was his best idea.. a move that only served to aggravate protestors further. He’s immature, a bully, he’s not a diplomat. And he’s not remotely what New Zealand should have representing us on the world stage.If ever a role screamed ‘job for the boys’.. this is it. It’s certainly not earned through merit. A guy who pigheadedly bleeds the taxpayer, getting relocated to continue bleeding the taxpayer.. cushy car, driver, house, allowance, expenses, a fully-funded lifestyle all paid for by us. All those perks, and representing us on the world stage. Are you kidding me?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB has discovered it’s getting more expensive to keep prisoners behind bar.It costs us an extra $140 million since 2018/19 — up from $1.1 to $1.3 billion.It also costs more per prisoner — each person behind bars costs about $150,000 per year, a 20 per cent increase.All of this while the prison population has decreased by 25 per cent in the same time period.Barrister and visiting justice in prisons Lady Heeni Phillips-Williams told Kate Hawkesby the Government needs to provide answers on how exactly money is being spent.“It appears to me that money is being splashed about with no accountability.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA is preparing for its first Academy Awards with no pandemic restrictions in three years.The ceremony starts at 1 this afternoon, with New Zealand director Dame Jane Campion's Netflix film, Power of the Dog, up for 12 nominations.It will be hosted by three women for the first time - Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall.LA entertainment reporter Kristyn Burtt told Kate Hawkesby there's hope there's more interest in this year's awards than last year’s.“The Academy has invited Instagram influencers. They will be backstage at the show, they’ll be on the red carpet, so if you look on social media you’ll see a lot of coverage from the younger generation.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So tonight, the big Moana Pasifika game, just hours before the restrictions lift that could’ve seen bigger crowds attend. Seems crazy that they just miss out by a short timeframe, midnight Friday, when they surely could have let a bigger crowd gather at Mt Smart tonight. So, two of this weekend’s Super Rugby games can be held without restrictions on size, but tonight’s won’t be. But are fans ready to embrace the crowd thing again? Who's actually going? Are people ready for crowds? Or will they still freak out? I mean Eden Park seats 50,000 but I doubt that’ll be a full house. Yes, there’ll be excitement to see games live again, but how many will commit to sitting shoulder to shoulder in a large setting? I mean I hope it’s a good number. For the teams and players, to get the atmosphere back, to get the hype back, the sense of normality we’ve all been missing. Crowds back watching games – I mean let’s hope come July we are all back to packed tournaments and good well-supported games, winter bugs permitting. Super Rugby franchises that have been bleeding money the past two years certainly need it. I’m sure team morale could do with it, and for sport-mad families, the live game scene is a really important part of family traditions. But we need some clarity back too. Being in a slightly skewed red light doesn’t help with the general understanding of what’s allowed and what’s not. There’s still a lot of confusion out there. And I notice yesterday, ironically standing at Eden Park, the PM gave another hint there may be a move to Orange sooner than we think. Maybe they’re just delaying it so as not to upset the Rod Jackson, Siousixe Wiles crowd? But they must know that for hospo and events and sports, we need to get to Orange sooner rather than later. The PM said what may happen is a regional shift. She said “the traffic light system had the capacity for regions to be at different levels without worrying about enforcing a hard border”.. so they’re going to ..“consider whether some regions are ready to move sooner than others.” However, the earliest they’ll consider that will be the first week of April. Still, that’s not far away. But for tonight’s game at Mt Smart, crowd sizes are still limited and it’s actually something Moana Pasifika’s on board with. A spokesperson said they “remain committed to limiting the number of supporters to bubbles of 100, to a maximum of 900, in the interests of public safety..” because they’re.. “conscious of their Pasifika fan base in South Auckland and note that Covid is still rampant in their communities.” So that’s tonight’s game, then tomorrow there are two matches, Highlanders against Blues in Dunedin and Chiefs against Crusaders in Hamilton. I can’t wait to see the crowds back at these, and I hope they do come out to support. It’ll be good to get that crowd spirit back, which not only helps lift player morale, but also lift the franchise’s revenue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes pay transparency legislation will show New Zealand cares about equality. The Government's looking at a law that would make companies reveal their gender pay gaps publicly. It's also considering requiring companies to post starter salaries in job ads. Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Karanina Sumeo told Kate Hawkesby if we want to close the gap reporting needs to be mandatory. She says overseas examples show that if it's not enforced, there's no incentive for companies to fix them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overnight, world leaders have been in Brussels for a round of emergency summits of NATO, the European Council and the G7. This comes as they seek to align their responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian president Zelenskyy has pleaded with NATO to send a fraction of their combined firepower. Former senior director of the United States National Security Council Stephen Flanagan joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So good news for sport lovers this weekend. From midnight tonight, there will be no gathering limits on outdoor events. This means for the Super Rugby season, they can finally have spectators at the games again. One of this weekend's games is Blues vs Highlanders at Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin. Business development manager at Dunedin Venues Kim Dodds joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I said yesterday that I thought the PM would use the opportunity to bang on about two years of Covid and our response and sure as eggs, she did. Is anyone still buying into this – as John Key rightly called it, ‘dog and pony show?’ Is anyone still subscribing to the PR spin and bollocks that’s spewing out of these press conferences? I mean I know dyed in the wool Jacinda lovers, like my mother, will forever – no matter what she does or says – applaud her every word, but seriously, it’s getting beyond a joke. Yesterday we needed a specific piece of information. Media gathered, dutifully and diligently, to hear this information and pass it on. Radio stations paused programming to live stream it, newspaper websites ran it live and what we wanted and needed was the info. Two minutes worth of info. What we got instead, was a self-indulgent almost half hour monologue of the Labour party patting itself on the back. It’s taking the piss. Since when do media tolerate this? Why do we acquiesce to it? This Government has taken so many liberties with the simple tradition of the press conference, they’ve turned it into a vehicle for electioneering and spin that’s frankly intolerable. Governments calling press conferences used to be for big announcements of national gravitas and they'd get straight to the point because people are busy, time is precious, and voters are not to be abused with advertising when the job is just to pass on information. But this Government has turned it into a kindergarten session, a big sit down extended mat time of exaggerated expressions - sad face - happy face - and consoling words about how well we're all doing. Puhllllease. We shouldn’t get sucked into it. What would happen if no media turned up, there was no live stream, no cameras, no microphones, they were just forced to put out a press release? That’d focus the mind a bit surely. But we’ve given them this platform, which they continue to abuse, and we just sit there and take it. Media, busy with other stories to get on with, sit for ages to endure a political lecture that has no place at a ‘news’ conference. Just the news would be great, keep your spin and your hyperbole for the party conferences. The upshot? They’ve ditched everything, basically. The mandates, the passes, the gathering size limits outside, the scanning in, the whole lot’s out the door. As much as the Rod Jacksons and the Michael Bakers will be beside themselves, it’s time to fold up the fear tent. So, what I’m most interested in is – where to now? How many businesses will be slow on the uptake here and still ask you to scan in because they’re paranoid or don’t get the new rules? That’s going to be annoying. How many teachers mandated out of work will return? How many hairdressers? How many truck drivers? Will we see staff shortages in these areas get addressed – or have they already bailed off into other professions.. or worse, overseas? I’m hoping that this ‘new beginning’ as the PM called it, will see a wee bit of normality, finally, start to creep back in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vaccine mandates are ending for teachers at 11.59pm on April 4. 1400 teachers lost their jobs due to the mandate, but will soon be able to apply for jobs again as normal. That's just in time for winter, when the teacher and reliever shortage really begins to hammer home due to sickness. PPTA president, Melanie Webber joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand has announced it is starting it's non-stop flights from Auckland and New York in September. It will be one of the longest flights in the world, taking around 16 hours. But government and Air New Zealand say American tourists are the key to our tourism recovery. Aviation commentator Irene King joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation is just one problem businesses are dealing with at the moment. Finance Minister Grant Robertson is signalling another 2.5 percent rise in inflation if Russia's invasion of Ukraine lasts a year. Inflation is already at a three-decade high. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett says it's on top of an increase in the minimum wage from the end of next week. He told Kate Hawkesby unemployment is also down, meaning salaries will go up, and someone will have to pay. Barnett says with immigration not feeding skills shortages, that's going to be a massive problem. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is starting a mental health nursing recruitment drive, funding registered nurses to specialise in mental health. It's also announced two more apps that kiwis can download for free to help with mental health support. These announcements came on the same day as a damning report by the mental health and wellbeing commission calling for transformation in the sector. Dr. Angela Lim, the CEO of an online mental health platform Clearhead joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At almost 96 years old, I can understand the Queen feeling frail, and with the family she’s got, and the headaches they’ve given her over the past few years, it’s nothing short of a miracle that she’s still in such good health. How good though? That’s the burning question at the moment. There are many conflicting reports about her mobility. Some say she’s using a wheelchair, that she struggles to move around and that she’s unable to stand for long periods of time. Royal sources say they’re pacing her diary now. Not before time. I know she’s committed herself to a lifetime of service, and she’s dedicated to the bitter end, but surely at almost 96 years old and having lost your husband, you could forgive her just taking it easy now. I’d love her to just have a cup of tea and a lie down, but either she, or those she surrounds herself with, seem adamant she keeps working. That’s seemingly becoming physically quite a challenge now though, and word is she’s too proud to be seen in a wheelchair for fear it makes her look feeble. If true, that saddens me, because you should be allowed to age and find what’s comfortable for you without the condemnation or judgement of others. If she’s seen in a wheelchair, yes it may indicate frailty, but it certainly doesn’t indicate frailty of the mind. If your body starts giving up, that’s one thing, but your mind doesn’t necessarily follow suit. It’s also an indictment on our anti-ageing culture – where the obsession with youth and work has become the holy grail. The grind, the hustle, the agility, the youth, that’s the temple we bow down to these days. And yet what’s wrong with rest? And respite? And growing old, and accepting your legs don’t work as well anymore? Surely from a woman whose served her whole life, 70 years on the throne, and been through as much as she has, she could be forgiven for taking a load off these days? I also think it would serve as a great example to working women and mothers everywhere that you don’t need to turn yourself inside out to ‘keep up appearances’ as you age. I mean yes, I get it, she’s the Queen, she’s a bit different to you and me, and she takes her role very seriously, but would it be the worst thing in the world if she just stopped and said, enough already? I’m done, I’m off for a G&T and a bit of Corrie? Pushing to keep up appearances, maintain a work schedule, and then suddenly dropping dead of sheer exhaustion would be worse, I think. She’s earned some downtime, I don’t begrudge her it at all. I wish she’d embrace her wheelchair, some quieter days, and just get those royal feet up. I don’t know why I have such affection for the Queen, maybe because she’s been around my whole life as this enigma, ruling over this unruly family. But when she does go, wouldn’t it be preferable that she’d had a lovely relaxing last few years.. rather than spending her final moments hiding a wheelchair, as she tries to ‘keep up appearances’ by carrying on working?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report by an Auckland University think tank is suggesting an overhaul of the city's governance and funding structures. Waitakere representative Linda Cooper says under the Supercity structure, there's one sort of united region, which helps get Government funding for things like the Central Rail Link. But she told Kate Hawkesby we've lost that local connection. Cooper says everyone had a mayor, knew who to talk to and could chat to their councillor at the supermarket. She says it feels a lot more distant these days. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m just wondering if, when the PM announces they’re dropping mandates and vaccine passes, they could also drop the scaremongering epidemiologists? Seriously, can we please retire them? The hysteria is over, the peak is passing, in the grand total of two years of this pandemic, fewer than ten percent of New Zealanders actually caught Covid, many more had their lives disrupted and damaged in ways some may never get over. We need to draw a line in the sand. I’d love to know if the hysterical headlines are still getting the clicks. Is anyone even interested in reading or hearing from these guys anymore? Yesterday’s drama from Rod Jackson was that hospitals were overwhelmed, that it’s too soon to drop mandates. Spoiler alert – the hospitals are not overwhelmed, a point even Jackson conceded, the health sector is actually coping, which is what other health professionals including Saint Ashley himself say too. They were probably under worse stress with RSV last year. We had an employment lawyer on the show yesterday saying the same thing as Jackson though – that it’s too soon to drop mandates. The feedback on the text machine after that particular interview was largely unreadable given the number of swear words, suffice to say his views did not go down well. But the epidemiologists screaming that the sky will fall in are sounding unhinged at this stage. Rod Jackson for example, doesn’t just want the mandates to stay – he wants all the public health measures to stay – the red light, the passes, the masks, the contact tracing, the pressure for boosters, the works. Where Jackson keeps letting himself down though, is he keeps quoting other countries.. We are not the UK, we are not Hong Kong. Our vaccination rates are high, we are a different country made up of different infrastructure and living styles, his argument we’re all going to die is losing credibility at pace. Because we’re just not. Only half a million of us have even caught Covid. Yet he still wants the ‘team of 5 million’ to remain punished, fear-ridden, and holed up like hermits. I’m worried about the damage being done by all this fear mongering, you still see people scanning in, socially distancing, afraid and convinced they need to stay home and away from people. Many of our CBDs are ghost towns, it's like we’re in a lockdown, but it’s of people’s own making. Is this really how we want to welcome tourists back into our country? Welcome to New Zealand. Sorry, everything’s shut and empty and no one wants to come near you, we are still trembling with fear. It’s actually tragic. I know we have vulnerable, elderly, and immune compromised we need to protect, but that’s true of all illnesses that come our way. How long do we stop life for? When the winter ills and chills arrive, are we back into lockdown to protect those people again? I think when the Government announces Wednesday that mandates are being phased out, and that we’re waving goodbye to passes, we also need to wave goodbye to the doomsayers too. I, for one, won’t miss them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction New Zealand will provide military aid to Ukraine in the near future. The Government is giving an extra $5 million to sure up fuel supplies, rations and medical kits. The Defence Force is offering just over a thousand body armour plates and around 500 each of helmets and camouflage vests. Otago University's Professor Robert Patman says what Russia's doing in Ukraine is a huge challenge to the rules-based international order. He says there's a growing realisation the rest of the world has to communicate to the Putin regime that this is unacceptable, and New Zealand has to do its bit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party says New Zealand is out of step with its traditional allies, and should show a united front. The Government is stepping up support to Ukraine with an extra $5 million to bolster the supply of fuel, rations and medical kits. The Defence Force is offering just over a thousand body armour plates, and around 500 each of helmets and camouflage vests. Act leader David Seymour told Kate Hawkesby New Zealand can't afford to be apart from the rest of the free world, which is being challenged in a Cold War-esque way. He says it's brutal and awful, and we need to start confronting it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple of students from Massey University have developed technology to help farmers monitor their cow's health. Their start-up Protag has developed small device clips that go onto a cow's ear, from there it transmits important data to farmers about the cow's health. They've raised $1m from investors to fast-track the development of the ear tag sensors. Co-founder of Protag Tyrel Glass joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “turning point for the world,” arguing that a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces would herald “a new age of intimidation.”But the British leader was accused by opponents of making a crass comparison by likening Ukraine’s fight against invasion to the U.K.’s exit from the European Union.Speaking to a Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, northwest England, Johnson claimed Putin was “terrified” that the example of a free Ukraine would spark a pro-democracy revolution in Russia.“That is why he is trying so brutally to snuff out the flame of freedom in Ukraine and that’s why it is so vital that he fails,” Johnson said.“A victorious Putin will not stop in Ukraine. And the end of freedom in Ukraine will mean the extinction of any hope of freedom in Georgia and then Moldova, it will mean the beginning of a new age of intimidation across Eastern Europe from the Baltic to the Black Sea,” Johnson said.Johnson praised Ukrainians’ defense of their country, and added that it was also “the instinct” of people in the U.K. “to choose freedom.” As an example, he said British voters opted in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU “because they wanted to be free to do things differently and for this country to be able to run itself.”Johnson helped lead the campaign for the U.K. to leave the bloc it joined in 1973. Britain’s departure, eventually completed in 2020, remains highly divisive.Ed Davey, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, called Johnson “a national embarrassment.”“To compare a referendum to women and children fleeing Putin’s bombs is an insult to every Ukrainian,” he said.Gavin Barwell, who served as chief of staff to former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, said “voting in a free and fair referendum isn’t in any way comparable with risking your life to defend your country against invasion.”Barwell also pointed out that Ukraine has asked to join the EU.- by Jill Lawless, Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I popped into my local Dairy the other day and was surprised to see two Policemen standing there.I asked if they’d had a burglary, and one of the owners told me, not today, the Police were just here talking to them about safety protocols and how to beef up security. I asked why, had something happened.They said they’d been ram raided, and since then they’d installed a fog cannon machine which she pointed to on the ceiling – a large contraption resembling an air-conditioning unit which, once a button is pressed by staff, sends immediate fog throughout the shop allowing staff to scramble and escape quickly if an intruder came in with a weapon.Sounded more LA than Auckland, but here we are. It’s becoming commonplace apparently in many cities throughout the country now. I asked her if she or the staff felt scared or worried, or whether they largely feel safe at work. She said the threat of intruders with weapons is always a worry and they want to ensure everyone feels as safe as possible.The problem with the ram raiders is they’re getting more slick. No sooner had I left the dairy than I saw a Herald piece talking about “brazen youths increasingly targeting stores with ram raids and burglaries in the dead of night.” It said this “rise in suburban warfare had businesses working out what they can do to protect themselves.” The article said “it’s a similar story throughout Auckland's eastern suburbs, throughout the city, and the rest of the country. In Auckland suburbs, the sight of Emergency Glass plywood covering broken shopfronts is becoming an all-too-familiar sight,” and as the reporter points out, the big question for businesses is what can Police do about it? The story says that “police say they do their best.”But we all know that means a report is written up and filed away, and that’s that. The reality is many of these offenders are too young to charge, many of them are known to police and just get taken back home, many are never caught at all.The frustrating thing about the ones who just get taken back home is that they have zero chill about returning to the same crime.I mean why wouldn’t you when you don’t get charged for it and nothing happens except a ride home?So I was pleased to see local cops in our area taking it seriously and being proactive about future-proofing the place from further attack. This involved bollards – no cheap expense, more alarms and cameras, the fog machine, I mean this all admin and expense for small businesses, all to protect themselves, because if they don’t, who will?It’s not just ram raids though, retailers are getting targeted with theft and burglaries more often and they’re fed up too. But should we be surprised? Once criminals know there are no consequences for their actions, that Police are either too stretched or too busy or won’t do anything anyway, then the obvious result is more crime.I know the big election issue next year will be the economy, but if I was the opposition, I’d be going big on law and order too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh concerns around the sustainability of tourism.It comes as the country is set to reopen to international tourists from next month onwards.Massey University Development Studies Professor Regina Scheyvens told Kate Hawkesby good progress has been made by implementing the Tiaki promise, but more can be done.“That could be elevated more in terms of the awareness of all visitors coming to New Zealand about what they should be promising to do to be good guests.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ifs, buts and maybes will haunt the White Ferns.Stand-in captain Amy Satterthwaite admitted as much while poring over the immediate aftermath of New Zealand's agonising one-wicket defeat to England at Eden Park on Sunday, a result that all but ends their World Cup semifinal hopes.Three tight pool matches – the tournament-opening three-run loss to the West Indies; two-wicket defeat against South Africa and this latest near miss – will prove costly in the quest to reach the knockouts.The White Ferns could have reversed each of those defeats but they all carry the familiar theme of batting collapses and not scoring enough runs.The rollercoaster of emotions was still raw when Satterthwaite, filling in for injured captain Sophie Devine, fronted after England held on for a tense victory that confined the White Ferns to two wins from six games."If you see our changing room at the moment it's difficult for everybody regardless of how experienced or old or young. Everyone is devastated," Satterthwaite said."We're such a tight-knit group and we really believe in each other and we've done a lot of hard work over the past 12 to 18 months. We genuinely believed we could compete with the top teams."There's some pretty devastated humans in that changing room. We'll reflect on the tournament at some point and if we're honest the batting was probably the thing that let us down the most."The ball has tried to keep us in the tournament and fought extremely hard. We can be proud of that. But putting up scores of 200 and 220 odd against world-class opposition, unfortunately it's not enough. We need to find a way to get bigger totals on the board."Once again the batting short-changed the White Ferns against England. They weren't helped by losing influential opener Devine, just as she was set, to a back injury. The skipper's departure stalled New Zealand's innings. While she eventually returned, Devine was severely hampered and the damage was done.Losing 8-69 was always going to be problematic. For a side that hinted at genuine progress in the pre-World Cup 4-1 ODI series win against India, the immediate batting regression was hard to stomach. Shot selection and game management proved consistent issues."The frustrating part is I felt we turned a corner in the series against India before this tournament. We started to put some consistent totals on the board around that 260-270 range. Everyone was playing their role superbly," Satterthwaite said."We've had some things not go our way with Sophie's injury and we lost Lauren Down coming into the tournament but I thought we would produce bigger scores than we have."Sometimes we possibly get ahead of ourselves and think we need more than we do."If we look back there can't be too many 80-90-100 partnerships. We probably got started and didn't have the killer instinct that put us in those strong positions to allow our middle to lower order to launch."We've made a lot of progress in the last 12 months in the way we play spin, the way we're proactive with our feet, but there were times in this tournament we probably let the bowlers bowl to us. In tournaments like this you can't sit back."Having harboured visions of contesting the World Cup title on home soil, the first for 22 years, the White Ferns are instead contemplating one final match against Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday, and what might have been."You always hope you could be on the other side of those results. I'm proud of the way the group has stuck at it each game. We've got things in each one we'll look back and wish we'd done better."Coming into a tournament like this you always have predictions of where you think you should end up. It's the funny thing about World Cups there's always interesting results on the day. Teams are showing how close the women's game is getting now. The likes of South Africa are a well-rounded side....See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's review of our Covid mandates is being described as a political tactic.Cabinet meets today to discuss whether the current rules should be eased over the coming weeks.Mandates, vaccine passes and the traffic light framework are all expected to be on the agenda.Buddle Findlay Employment and Health Lawyer Sheridan Cook told Kate Hawkesby the timing is questionable, given our hospitalisation rate is still so high.“I think it’s a response to the recent New Zealand Defence Force and Police High Court decision. When that decision came out which overturned mandates, my view is that the Government either needed to appeal that decision or it needed to abolish the other mandates.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An MIQ hotel has promised workers the living wage once it goes back to hospitality. Managed Isolation and Quarantine will be a four hotel operation by the end of June, but there's been concerns they'd be dropping back to a lower pay rate. Rydges Auckland has confirmed it will pay workers the Living Wage of $22.75 permanently. Unite Union National Secretary John Crocker told Tim Dower they're now trying to get the other hotels to follow suit. He's optimistic about some, but not others. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With borders opening, there are concerns as to whether Immigration New Zealand can meet demand. Apparently not, according to National's Immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford. Standford says the only reason the border reopening is being delayed for those that need visas to get into the country, is because Immigration NZ can't meet demand. Principal immigration lawyer at NZ Immigration Law Aaron Martin joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news that Transmission Gully will finally open at the end of this month certainly surprised a few. The motorway hasn't been a great advertisement for large roading projects and there are concerns its failures may impact support for future projects. Nick Leggett from Transporting New Zealand joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ireland are making up for a lack of cheer over the past couple of years. Since 2020 events organised for the holiday have had to be restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Tourism Ireland’s Siobhan McManamy told Kate Hawkesby this year’s events are going ahead at full force. “We’re back to parades in every small town and village.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I hold out hope that media reports that Russia’s ugly war could be over in about 10 days prove true. I also hold out hope that claims peace talks are working, prove to be true. Because even if this does wrap up after a month, which in the grand scheme of wars seems a relatively short time, it has nonetheless been utterly heart breaking, painful and abhorrent to watch. And that’s part of the problem, we’ve seen it all unfold in front of us for the past 3 weeks like a horror show we just can’t switch off. It feels as though condemnation of Putin is everywhere around us here – yet it’s actually not. I posted something on Instagram about the war being hard to watch and I was staggered to get responses from Russians living in New Zealand, saying, ‘what war?, it’s not a war, you are misinformed.’ I had up until then assumed this brainwashing was restricted to inside Russia only, but a Russian friend of mine here said there are Russians, who despite being here, still tap into only Russian news sources and still believe Putin’s lies. My friend, who arrived here 5 years ago with her family – largely to escape this very outcome and afraid of raising her small family under a control freak like Putin, says she is sad, but not surprised, that Russians still defend him. She said you have to have lived in Russia to understand just how powerful the messaging is. She was telling me she has family still back there, and like many Russians, friends in Ukraine too. When Putin first invaded Ukraine she immediately rang her family in Russia. Her grandmother couldn’t work out why she was crying down the phone. ‘Why are you being so dramatic?’ her Grandma asked her. ‘Why are you crying? What war? There is no war. Putin’s saving Ukraine’. She rang other family members as the war raged on longer than a week and urged them to leave Russia as quickly as possible, but again the family members were confident they would be fine. They said they’d wait and see what happens. My friend urged them not to wait but to take their money out while they still could and flee. They didn’t listen and just a matter of days later they were unable to access any money and were left trying to sell the family car just to get enough money to leave. She had a friend who went out to protest against the invasion and got beaten up by Russian riot police and arrested. Her family was gathering just their passports and a small bag each after that and leaving everything else behind so they could flee. She also has friends in Ukraine, living in their basement - she asked them if she could send them money but they said it’s pointless we can’t access it, so she asked what was it that she could provide? They replied - prayers. It’s just so heart breaking to imagine being amidst this isn’t it? My friend says although this war may well be short, it will take 2 or 3 generations to work through the damage and the trauma of it. And I don’t doubt that. So I’m hopeful all attempts to end it come to some kind of fruition soon and that those still blinkered by Putin’s lies, wake up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis is continuing her rapid rise in the National Party. Yesterday, she was confirmed as the party's new Finance spokesperson. Arguably, the Finance portfolio is the toughest role to have in Cabinet. Infometrics senior economist Brad Olsen joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss what makes a good Finance Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand will need to step up its marketing to Australia, ahead of our border opening to them. Vaccinated Australians can come here from April 13 and those in other countries with relevant visas can come here from May 2. Travel marketing consultant, Trish May, told Kate Hawkesby Tourism New Zealand has been keeping the name of New Zealand in the minds of the Australian consumer. And she says a lot of Australians came to visit from April to July when the trans-Tasman bubble was open. “So, we haven’t been completely off the radar with Australia, but certainly the opportunity is there now to get going and roll out the welcome mat.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I must admit I haven’t actually read his book, but I am reliably informed that Simon Bridges said in it that he was staying in politics despite getting dumped as leader, to fight the good fight. Hence his announcement that he’s now quitting parliament, surprised me. Why now? Surely with a government on the ropes, a promising new opposition leader and potentially a bright future as a senior player within the National Party, there was good reason to stay. But I guess he worked out that long term, any return to leadership is now out. He says there’s no precipitating reason, that he just felt it was time. A personal decision he says, at 45 years old with 3 kids under 10, he said those metrics were important, and he’s making the call for the right reasons – family. But also, the commercial opportunities a new career direction holds. And that part he seems to be touting quite a lot, including what he referred to as "a media project or two” which sounds like: A) like he’s got something already planned, and B) it may start soon given he’s leaving in a matter of weeks.So, what is this new media project? Is he joining Dancing with the Stars? Is he joining former National party colleague and new TVNZ CEO Simon Power? Is he starting a podcast? Going to be a political media commentator? Maybe he’s joining old mate Tova? But it will be interesting to see where he goes and what he does. And I think we may know that sooner rather than later. That wasn’t the only interesting political news this week though. The Government's made a few interesting signals of its own, one being that a vaccine mandate announcement’s coming soon. Cabinet’s considering changes to vaccine passes and mandates and will look to make announcements on it next week, apparently. We know it’ll be an announcement of an announcement, but at least they’re finally reviewing something that now seems largely redundant. With international borders going to open sooner than expected, and with most modellers saying we’ve had the Omicron peak already, it’s high time we ditched what’s left of our overbearing Covid framework, and well and truly got back to normal. The protestors will of course take credit for any change or removal of mandates, they shouldn’t, but they did at least spotlight the issue which got Kiwis talking about it. But the other thing that needs to go along with mandates is the traffic light system. I know there are some, still, who just love all the rules and being told what to do, but I think the majority of us are over it. The red light, despite the PM’s insistence that it’s ‘life as usual’ – is not. Hospo’s struggling, the events sector is struggling, all this overbearing over reach from the Government to micro manage us surely can wind up now. We can do without the live stream updates and announcements which just turn into party political broadcasts, we can do without the incessant Covid ads. Fold up MIQ, throw open the border, ditch the mandates, and let’s just get on with it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bringing forward of entry dates for tourists is expected to help with the Australian market but not for the long-haul one. It's understood fully vaccinated Australians will be able to arrive from April 12, without self-isolating. Visitors from other countries New Zealand has visa waiver arrangements with, like the United Kingdom, will be able to come in the following weeks. Nomad Safaris owner, David Gatward-Ferguson, told Kate Hawkesby it will help get Australians here for the ski season but says a year is needed to plan travel from further afield. “We won’t see internationals long-haul until next year, which will be way, way too late.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hoped a new long covid advisory group focuses on developing treatments not just rehab. Long covid is used to describe cases of people who have symptoms that continue or develop more than 12 weeks after getting the virus. An expert advisory group is being set up to provide GPs with advice on how to help people who suffer from prolonged illness. This includes advice around a rehabilitation framework. Auckland University immunologist Anna Brooks told Kate Hawkesby the group also needs to be looking into the most up to date research into treatments. “Really the urgency lies with needing to treat people.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accusations of songs plagiarising or copying other songs isn't new. But copyright infringement cases are big business in the United States. Ed Sheeran is currently in court arguing he didn't plagiarise his song Shape of You. While Katy Perry has just won an appeal against an artist claiming she ripped him off with her song Dark Horse. Judith Finell is a forensic musicologist who's testified at several infringement cases and she joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public transport fares will be halved as part of the Government's plan to help ease pressure at the pump. It will come into play from April 1st for three months. Questions are being raised as to whether public transport should have been made free. Public Transport Users Association chair Niall Robertson joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than a 24-hour timeframe is one of your quicker government flip flops - but nonetheless, that’s how long it took the PM to go from ‘no cost of living crisis’ to acknowledging a cost of living crisis. Although she did work hard to pin it on Russia. Let's not forget petrol prices were rising before that. But under pressure, and on the back of a bad poll, the Government's reacted - and filling your tank just got cheaper by either 11 or 17 dollars depending on the size of your tank. It's a 25 cent a litre reduction in the excise tax - which usually comprises just over 70 cents of every litre, so they're still making 45 cents a litre there. And the obvious question is whether a saving of 11 bucks on filling the car will really make a difference to people right now? Act calls it more of a trim than a cut - and it is a feel good factor - more token than of any real effect. The newspaper headlines excitedly declaring yesterday the Government had 'slashed petrol prices' were being nothing more than enthusiastic cheerleaders for a government announcing nothing of the sort. It hasn't slashed them at all. It basically takes prices back to where they were about 3 weeks ago - which was still high. They'll continue to go up and fluctuate, and that 25 cents a litre will barely be noticed. In fact, I saw yesterday 98 was at $3.60 a litre - this'll take it back to $3.35 a litre - that's still way too expensive. It may nudge 91 just below 3 dollars, but again that's still high. Add to that increasing electricity prices again next month, plus inflation, which is the result of printing money - and the price of just about everything going up - and you've still got yourself a cost of living crisis - this doesn't fix it. But hey, it's better than nothing. I thought it was disingenuous though of the Government to take the liberty at yesterday's petrol price announcement of re-announcing the winter energy payments and the family tax credit increase coming up, as if that was a new solution to help the cost of living crisis. That was all in fact, as we know, announced in August last year. So, more relief for low-income earners coming will appease this Government that they're at least providing some respite at this time, but for road users, the 25 cent petrol relief is a temporary measure of 3 months. How hard politically to dial back this back in 3 months time? I think it’ll be tough, and that’s why the Government has it 'under review’. Isn’t everything under review when a government’s tanking in the polls? And by the way, not that anyone has sympathy for Aucklanders, but thoughts and prayers this morning for supercity dwellers because they’ll still pay more for petrol than anyone else. The Auckland regional fuel tax could’ve also been scrapped, but wasn't.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fuel prices have been slashed by 25 cents a litre to help combat rising prices. Motorists will be lining up to fill their tanks today as the discount came into effect at midnight. Questions are being raised as to whether it will help those dealing with a cost of living crisis. New Zealand Initiative chief economist Dr Eric Crampton joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US officials say Russia has asked China for military assistance in Ukraine. The United States' National Security Adviser is meeting with Chinese diplomats, reportedly planning to warn them of the consequences of helping Russia. Rand Corporation Senior Political Scientist Raphael Cohen told Kate Hawkesby China has warming ties with Russia - but also abstained from a UN vote condemning Russia. “We’re getting right now mixed signals from Beijing, I think from a Western standpoint you have to think, what if China does decide to get involved.” LISTEN ABOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi skier Adam Hall has capped New Zealand's most successful Winter Paralympics in 20 years by winning bronze in the men's standing slalom.The medal was Hall's second in Beijing to match the tally won by fellow skier Corey Peters, giving the three-man Kiwi team this country's best haul since Salt Lake City 2002.Hall was sitting second after his first run at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, trailing Frenchman Arthur Bauchet with China's Jingyi Liang nipping at his heels in third.With the two combined times counting for the medals, Hall put down a strong second run but his time of 1:33.21 saw him pipped by Liang, finishing 0.94 seconds off silver with Bauchet taking gold.The bronze was Hall's fifth Paralympic medal, having previously claimed two slalom golds at Vancouver 2010 and PyeongChang 2018 along with two super combined bronzes in PyeongChang and Beijing.The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth, described the achievement as "unbelievable" after his event."Slalom and all the events are so competitive, you can have any of the top-10 guys standing in this position," Hall told 1News. "So to be standing here again on the podium is absolutely amazing and what a way to finish a campaign."They were challenging conditions, but that's what we train for day in and day out - it's for scenarios like this and that's what makes it an exciting competition."I'm honoured to be a part of this sport and honoured to be competing in slalom today. It was awesome."New Zealand sat 15th in the medal table on the final day of the Beijing Games, with Hall's two medals following the gold and silver won by Peters, who is set to carry the Kiwi flag at the closing ceremony tonight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"They were wild, it was petrifying," those were the words of the woman who witnessed the brutal gang attack on the Waikato expressway on Friday. Police are now investigating after gang members drove erratically on both sides of the road before a man was dragged from his car and attacked. He was left lying on the road, his face covered in blood, his shirt off and his pants half down. People thought he was dead. There was a convoy of gang members on motorbikes. The witness described them as 'very aggressive', they brought traffic to a standstill, she said it was 'terrifying.'She's not the first person to witness gang intimidation on our streets and motorways, nor will she be the last, and that's the problem. Where are the police? And more than just the thin blue line, where is the hard-line on gangs that lets them know this is not how we behave in a civilised society? Why have gangs been handled so softly softly, that they now believe they own the road? Why do they think it's acceptable to carry out their uncivilised brutish behaviour in public in front of law-abiding families?Probably because they've been led to believe they can.They've been emboldened by so many blind eyes being turned, so much leniency, so little law enforcement.And again this is not actually the Police's fault, it's the theory and ideology that sits above them, weighing them down in bureaucracy and fanciful philosophy that if we just hold everyone's hands, they'll see the light. And it's not like we don't know Police are capable of getting into incidents and making a presence felt - we saw it - eventually - at the protest in Wellington.When they want to act, and enforce some rules, they can. So why don't they?Why is it we still have a billowing gang problem in this country that only appears to be getting worse?Why is it being ignored by government politicians?Some regions have been traumatised by the ongoing and unruly presence of gangs for ages now- parts of the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Taupo, Northland. It's not like Police don't know where the problems are. It's not like the government can't see this stuff unfolding, you don't have to be an expert in law and order to know there are issues and to know where they are.Yet still, nothing happens.So is it a soft on crime problem, or a scared of gangs problem? Or both?Are the gangs just too empowered by a government who wants to trade in kindness and hugs, and hand gangs money?This government seems very keen to mandate rules for its law-abiding citizens and micromanage most of us within an inch of our lives - so why does that approach not seem to apply to gangs?A society that affords gang privilege, is only created by lack of political will to change the status quo.There has to be consequences for actions, but there also has to be a very clear message from the top that this sort of behaviour won't be tolerated.If that's not the case, and if there's no law enforcement to back it up, then it's no surprise gangs continue to run rife.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queen Elizabeth will not attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey this week.People has reported the Queen's absence is not due to illness but comfort around travel as her majesty has been using a walking cane since October last year and has recently complained of mobility issues.In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, it was revealed the monarch, who has recently recovered from Covid, will instead be represented by her son and heir, Prince Charles."After discussing the arrangements with the Royal Household, The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday,"The statement continued, "The Queen will continue with other planned engagements, including in-person audiences, in the week ahead."Prince Charles will be accompanied by his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen's first cousin, Princess Alexandra.Unfortunately, after a Covid diagnosis, the Queen's cousin, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will no longer attend.Commonwealth Day is celebrated every year and observed by millions of people in the Commonwealth including the Pacific, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas.Queen Elizabeth tested positive for Covid in late February and was said to experience "mild cold-like symptoms" as she continued with light duties.A statement released by Buckingham Palace said, "She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines."Following the Queen's diagnosis, she returned to work, leading two video calls with ambassadors from Andorra and Chad.A photo was snapped showing the impeccably put together royal on screen talking to the ambassador of Andorra, Carles Jordana Madero, at Buckingham Palace, before engaging in discussions with Kedella Younous Hamidi from the Republic of Chad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia's war on Ukraine is not helping the fuel industry's recovery from the pandemic.With global tensions putting pressure on crude oil prices, the AA is warning petrol prices could hit $4 a litre. Motor Trades Association Energy Manager Ian Baggott told Kate Hawkesby the fuel industry works well when all things are working according to plan.“The impact of Covid with the refineries shutting down, the oil producers can't match the supply vs demand. They're just getting back on their feet with the economies around the world open up and then what happens in Ukraine is just adding pressure.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small businesses want the red tape cut out of the economy. A new survey of Australian and New Zealand sole traders found a growing number of traders concerned about the health of the economy. It also suggests people want simpler rules around doing business rather than additional government support or extra funding. Hnry Chief Executive James Fuller told Kate Hawkesby small operators want change. “I think of late, the last 6 to 12 months, there’s been an increase in red tape. There’s also a lot of talk about simplifications to the tax system.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political expert says it could be a tough year for Labour. The 1News Kantar Public Poll has National polling higher than Labour for the first time since the pandemic. National is on 39 percent while Labour's dropped to 37. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's still the pick for preferred Prime Minister - polling nine percentage points ahead of National's Chris Luxon. Massey University's Grant Duncan told Kate Hawkesby the high result Labour got in the last election was unusual and it's returning to a closer two horse race. “Certainly a lot of discontent about the Covid restrictions and the rising cost of living.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.