Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Changes coming up in the health sector are thought to be part of the reason why Ashley Bloomfield's resigned. The Director-General of Health, Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay, and her deputy, are all leaving the Ministry of Health. The DHB model's set to be replaced in July. Health commentator, Ian Powell, told Kate Hawkesby Bloomfield's wrong when he says it's a good time to go in terms of Covid, but the restructure would reduce his role in the funding of health services. “I do know, to his credit, that Ashley Bloomfield has made it known to his political masters that he has reservations about that, various reservations.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has announced more sanctions on Russia – including Putin’s two adult daughters? And Oklahoma has moved closer to passing a near-total ban on abortion? US correspondent Katherine Firkin joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns there's no regulation when it comes to ordering alcohol, vaping products, and tobacco through online delivery platforms. A study shows the pandemic's created a surge in people buying these products – with little oversight from the government. One of the co-authors, Hannah Miles, from the University of Otago Christchurch's Population Health Department, joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A security expert says New Zealand may have too little weaponry to send to Ukraine. The Defence Minister has asked Cabinet to send anti-tank missiles and lethal support over, but his request's been declined. Victoria University Centre for Strategic Studies' Jim Rolfe told Kate Hawkesby one reason could be a group in Cabinet prefers non-lethal support. “Another possible thought is that the numbers we have are quite small really, and it might look as if a little bit derisory to be sending tens of weapons rather than hundreds or thousands that other countries can send.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flights are being cancelled in the UK due to staff shortages. Two “stolen” notebooks written by Charles Darwin have been mysteriously returned. UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workers at Countdown are unhappy with the supermarket's plan to change their Covid-19 leave policy. Countdown had allowed staff to use extra leave instead of using their sick leave when they have to isolate due to covid. But now it wants workers to use their sick leave first instead. Other companies have made these same changes including Fletcher Buildings. First Union organiser Ragda Hassan joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The entrance to Wellington's Embassy Theatre is to be restored to its former glory. The project's being financed by former mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and his husband – former Wellington City Council member – Rex Nicholls. They've loaned the Embassy Theatre Trust just over a million dollars to get the job done. Nicholls told Kate Hawkesby the theatre's already magnificent on the inside. Nicholls expects there'll be a bit of pushback to the digital billboard, but says it's for the public benefit. “We’re lending the money to spend to build the entrance foyer the way it was in 1925, and then we’re putting a big digital ad up on top of the building and that will pay us a rent.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I thought Ashley Bloomfield said something quite revealing on Mike’s show yesterday about where the hospital system is at. We know there are more than 700 people in hospital with Covid related illnesses but that’s not in hospital because of Covid – that’s in hospital with Covid related illnesses. Unfortunately, Bloomfield said they don’t know specifically the breakdown on how many of those are in which category, but he said roughly about 30 to 40 percent of people across the Auckland-Waikato region are in hospital not because of Covid, but with it. In other words, it’s incidental to their sickness. On top of that, hospital numbers are actually coming down. And yes, we can ask the obvious questions around why on earth they didn’t fix the health system over the past two years, and why they didn’t staff the health sector properly, and it’s not just this government, it’s a cumulative problem. But here’s the key. It’s not under pressure exclusively due to Covid. Bloomfield admitted it’s under huge pressure even without an Omicron outbreak. He said there’s 'a lot of need out there due to a backlog of both preventive care and planned care', so what he’s saying is, there’s pressure there anyway. So, we find ourselves in the invidious position of having 400-500 people in hospital with Covid, and that suddenly appears to be tipping over our health system, or close to it. There are other factors at play Bloomfield admitted, the modellers got it wrong. The peak of people in hospital is going longer than the modellers predicted. But here’s the other thing, just like we were told “two jabs for summer”, which turned out to be false, we were also told that once we’d peaked, we’d be heading out of the woods, and closer to the easing of restrictions. But Bloomfield said yesterday that in fact they’re waiting for the peak to pass. So, which is it? Seeing a peak? Or getting to the end of the peak? And everywhere? Or just some regions? Bloomfield said they want to “get to the other end and see it through.” The goal posts keep changing. Worst of all though I reckon is the lack of any real understanding of the impact of this on events, hospitality, indoor sports, all the people held back by the red light. Regrettably, Bloomfield when he had this put to him, said, “we’re not holding the country back from anything.” And that’s the saddest part of all. That this Wellington echo chamber actually believes that. That they think a red light has no impact on people’s lives. That’s just so dismissive of every single person and business struggling and hemorrhaging right now. Bloomfield argued “a lot was happening for business out there,” he said, “it’s just an indoor cap in red,” as though an indoor cap is just no big deal at all. I’d love him to go into a nightclub unable to make money, or an orchestral group unable to hold events or any number of indoor sporting fixtures, and tell them to their faces that it’s no big deal. I know there’s been a disconnect between the government and it’s lackies, and the rest of us for a while now, but this sort of condescending rejection of a red light having no impact, is not only naïve, it’s cruel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looks like the Government’s back to listening to Rod Jackson.I started the week so optimistically yesterday. I was so full of hope that we’d be going to an orange light, after all, we’re through the peak, especially in Auckland, we’re largely double vaxxed and boosted, we’re still in masks, we’ve done everything we’ve been asked to do.. but nope, we’re staying in red.I just don’t know when this Government will be able to give up their Covid micro management and all the PR and media time it affords them. I can see it is getting increasingly difficult for them to let it go. I mean here we are again spending another week angsting and dissecting more Covid framework decisions that are drip fed to us in little increments of time from their beloved podium of truth.Adding in another review period – before Easter and before the school holidays, just keeps us all on tenterhooks, keeps the Government in control and at its podium, keeps the media focused on their Covid response – and while we’re focusing on that we’re not looking at all the areas of failure of this Government. We're not looking at failure to deliver on housing, or poverty, or mental health, or crime, or the economy. We are instead just sitting on the edge of our seats waiting for our next lecture, our next list of instructions, our next dressing down about how serious Omicron is and how important it is to get boosted. I mean I assume they’ve focus grouped this and worked out the politics of it favours what they’re doing. Because, as we know, this Government’s one and only calling card is Covid.Event planners must be tearing their hair out. How do they even begin to plan anything? How do indoor events even grab any skerrick of hope? The PM talking up outdoor events as being without restriction is of no use to them. Her saying the Covid fund will address those who have to cancel events – come on. Who’s even planning an event based on this uncertainty?No one will be eligible for cancellation compensation, because no one will be planning anything – they’re in limbo, that’s the problem, and that’s the part I’m not sure the PM gets. But she’s still trying to have two bob each way. In reminding us all of the doom and gloom, she also said people should feel safe and relaxed about going out. So on the one hand, it’s not safe enough to leave a red light setting, Omicron is not a mild illness it’s serious and we all need to take it seriously, but on the other hand, please head out and enjoy hospitality venues as usual. I mean which one is it?People are rightly confused and fed up. The thing about this Government is that it feels like you’re permanently sitting in a waiting room. But you never get the call up, and you don’t know where in the queue you are. It’s just a drawn out charade of announcements of announcements of possible announcements, and just asking us all to stay tuned for their next appearance. It’s so mind numbingly tedious, and I’m just so bummed that in 24 hours I went from being naively so full of hope.. to just disappointed again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are being warned to expect more rises to mortgage interest rates.Kiwibank has lifted its standard 5-year home loan rate to 6.79 percent, the highest since 2014.Umbrella Company mortgage advisor, Sara Hartigan, says as a country, we've been conditioned to very low interest rates but it's not going to stay like that.She told Kate Hawkesby there are many things affecting interest rates, such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and high inflation.Hartigan says it's time people started paying attention to that awful B word - budget - and started thinking about the future.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's ski industry is grappling to fill 250 specialised roles before the Australians arrive.With the border beginning to reopen next week - places such as Queenstown are bracing for what could be its biggest ski seasons on record.But the industry wants a class exemption to get the needed workers into the country, and are waiting to hear from Immigration New Zealand.Cardrona and Treble Cone Ski Fields general manager Laura Hedley told Kate Hawkesby they're anticipating good numbers this season.She says they've had a good response from the Australians and are hoping they'll want to come back.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand staying in red will help give the health system more breathing space.The Government has decided not to change our traffic light settings, with hospitalisations not expected to peak in parts of the country until mid to late April.Cabinet will reassess Thursday of next week.College of Emergency Nurses member Sandy Richardson told Kate Hawkesby this'll give time to see whether what's happening in hospital is mirroring the community.She says they'll be able to see whether the days patients spend in hospital are reducing, and the number of sick staff is reducing.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Russian military shifts its campaign to focus on the east and south of Ukraine, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has called on the US and its allies to deliver heavier weaponry to the ex-Soviet nation."After the rapid retreat of the Russians from Kyiv and Chernihiv, it is clear that Russia has prioritized another tactic -- to move east/south, to control large occupied territories (not only in Donetsk and Luhansk regions) and to gain a strong foothold there," Podolyak said on Saturday."They have established in the east and south and are dictating harsh conditions," added Podolyak. "So we definitely can't do without heavy weapons if we want to unblock the east and Kherson and send [back] the Russians as far as possible."Last month the Russian military said the "first stage" of its invasion of Ukraine was complete and that it would withdraw forces from around Kyiv and Chernihiv to concentrate on the Donbas region in the country's east.Russia's announcement of that new phase in part may provide political cover for the Russian military, explaining heavy setbacks in the battles around Kyiv, but Ukrainian officials have also reported a ramping up of military activity and shelling in the Donbas by Russian forces.Podolyak alluded to an expectation from US and Western officials that Ukraine might need to prepare for further partisan warfare -- and referred to the Kremlin's bloody nine-year campaign to support the Marxist government in Kabul."Our partners must finally understand that the 'Afghanization' they want and the long-lasting exhausting conflict for Russia will not happen," he said.The war, which began when Soviet forces invaded in 1979, claimed nearly a million Afghan lives and 15,000 Russian troops, with a further 50,000 wounded."'Afghanization' is when there is a strong guerrilla resistance across the country that inflicts heavy losses on the aggressor for many months or even years and thus significantly weakens the power of the occupier's army," explained Podolyak."Such actions took place during the Soviet Union's attempt to control Afghanistan: Afghan guerrillas destroyed and weakened the Soviet occupiers for years. As a result, weakened Russia as a whole.""Russia will leave all Ukrainian territories except the south and east. And will try to dig in there, put in air defense and sharply reduce the loss of its equipment and personnel," Podolyak added.The US is expected to help facilitate the transfer of Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine, a source familiar with the plan told CNN on Saturday. Officials have declined to say how many tanks will ultimately go to Ukraine.They will be Soviet-era T-72 tanks, which Ukrainian military personnel have experience operating, a senior US official told CNN.Those tanks will be delivered "within days, not weeks," the official said, from NATO partner countries.The New York Times first reported on the transfer.The Ukrainian presidential adviser's comments came hours after the Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, said that if Britain delivers long-range artillery weapons and anti-ship systems to Ukraine, they would be "legitimate targets" for Russia."Any weapon deliveries are destabilizing, especially the ones mentioned by (Ben) Wallace (the British Defense Secretary)," said Kelin, according to Russian state news agency TASS. "They exacerbate the situation and make it bloodier.""Apparently, these are new, rather high-precision weapons. Of course, they will be legitimate targets for our armed forces if they cross the border of Ukraine.""I have a feeling that London's idea of what is happening in Ukraine militarily is formed on the basis of the bravado reports of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian leadership," Kelin said.Russian officials have long complained about deliveries of advanced military weapons to Ukraine by the US, the...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alyssa Healy struck 170 from 138 balls in one of the finest one-day international innings to power Australia to victory over England in the Cricket World Cup final.Healy went on from a run-a-ball century to record the second-highest ODI score by an Australian woman and to lead Australia to an extraordinary total of 356-5 as they batted after losing the toss at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.It was too hefty a challenge for England to overcome, despite a remarkable innings from Nat Sciver, who blasted an unbeaten 148 off 121 balls to give England an unlikely shot at victory, but they fell 71 runs short as Australia claimed their seventh ODI World Cup title.Healy's 160-run opening partnership with Rachael Haynes in just over 29 overs dampened the spirts of an England team that were hoping for back-to-back titles after winning the 2017 World Cup at home.Her 156-run partnership with Beth Mooney for the second wicket then left England close to despair.Had it been a one-off, Healy's innings would have been an extraordinary and memorable one. But Healy also made 129 and put on 216 with Haynes in Australia's semifinal win over the West Indies five days ago.Haynes made 85 in the semifinal and followed up with 68 from 93 balls on Sunday. Mooney followed her unbeaten 43 in the semifinal with 62 from 47 balls against England, including a half century from 38 deliveries.Only Belinda Clark, who made an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in 1997, has scored more runs for Australia than Healy in a one-day international innings. The fact Healy did it in a World Cup final made her innings even more of a landmark in Australian and women's cricket.Australia were 316-2 when she was out in the 30th over. From the 138 balls she faced, she hit 26 fours.Her signature shot was to step back to leg and strike the ball through or over the off-side field, usually between point and cover. Even with the prior knowledge she would attempt the shot, England were unable to prevent it. But she played a full range of shots, including pulls, drives and scoops.Among other milestones, she took her tally of runs in the tournament to 509, a record for a Women's World Cup which overtook the record set by Haynes during her innings in the final.Her efforts led to a mammoth chase for England, which ended up being a one-woman mission, with no other batter reaching 30 as Sciver tried to do it alone.After Healy had played possibly the greatest one-day innings in a World Cup final, Sciver had a case for the second-greatest, backing up her century against Australia in the group stage with a knock that pushed England far closer to glory than they had any right to be.At 179-4 in the 28th over, there was hope, but wickets tumbled to leave England at 213-8. They still had overs up their sleeve though, and No 10 Charlie Dean stuck around with 21 off 24 balls as the pair added 65 for the ninth wicket.But Dean fell in the 43rd over with 79 still needed, and when No 11 Anna Shrubsole fell the next over Sciver was left stranded, and Australia were ebullient.- With APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know what I’m loving at the moment? Normality.At least as much normality as you can get with a mask still on.But as of tonight mandates are gone, and vaccine passes are gone - more steps towards a more relaxed lifestyle.Our local pub was excited - it posted on social media that it looks forward to welcoming everyone back into the pub and not having to scan vaccine passes, and exclude people It also said it’d love to see Covid dropped as the only conversation being had. The pubs post said “let’s try to keep Covid chat to a minimum and find something more interesting to talk about”. Too right.And how good is it to see crowds back at the Super Rugby? And good crowds too.What a difference it makes to the atmosphere and the vibe of live sport to have people there enjoying it in person.We are slowly getting back to the way it should be.Not everyone’s on board of course. These changes have some concerned. The Herald had a story yesterday on the age divide over the reaction to mandates going. It said, “Research New Zealand, a privately owned social and business research organisation, found there were almost double the number of older respondents - aged 55 and above - unhappy with the decision, compared to younger respondents - those aged 18 to 34." It goes without saying that the fear will be hard to shake – and for some more than others.Fear is a very powerful messaging tool and there seems a natural propensity for humans to gravitate towards all the fear possibilities in every scenario. But as we push forward, hopefully more and more of us will see that life can indeed go back to some kind of normal. A different normal obviously – I doubt it will ever be the way it was pre-Covid. There will always be that residual fear or reluctance to behave in the same way we did pre-Covid. For example, sharing drink bottles, I can't see anyone feeling good about that for a long time congregating in large crowds in small spaces, hugging and kissing strangers. Those things I think will take a long time to revert to pre-Covid ways.But given our collective nervous systems have been through the ringer the last couple of years, I’m looking forward to a bit of calm in the coming months. Hopefully it’s not the calm before another storm. Hopefully there won’t be a stampede of sickness come winter.But I guess what we have gotten good at is taking it all one day at a time. Or one week at a time. I’m hoping this week also sees us go to an orange traffic light. I mean it’s tragic to be “hoping” for a traffic light colour because there is an argument we shouldn’t even be in any traffic light system at all, but given we are, orange is our best hope. I doubt we will see green anytime soon.So by the end of this week we will have mandates removed, vaccine passes gone, and if we are very lucky, we’ll be in an orange light. Well some of us at least may be anyway. So I start the week optimistic today, that normality is knocking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ripples from that Oscar slap continue for Will Smith.The actor's resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Netflix has now put his next film on the backburner.PR firm Red Banyan CEO Evan Nierman Kate Hawkesby he missed an opportunity to act quickly during his Best Actor Oscar acceptance speech.“In that speech, he apologises to all sorts of folks like the Academy, his fellow nominees, but he doesn’t apologise to the guy he’s just smacked across the face on live television.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington bar is catering to its customers still keen on vaccine passes.From midnight tonight, it won't be mandatory for businesses to check passes.Hashigo Zake is planning on still requiring them for the first half of the week, and not for the second half.Owner Dominic Kelly told Kate Hawkesby some of his patrons are only comfortable going places checking for passes.He says the arrangement probably won't be long-term.“By the start of May, everyone’s vaccine passes are going to start expiring and unless there’s a flurry of activity from some in, I don’t know, Ministry of Health, they’re probably all going to stop working anyway.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon thinks National's responded well after Labour politicians in Christchurch were harassed online. Two Young Nats have resigned from the National party as a result. The move followed misogynistic and personal attacks were targeted at three women. They were Cabinet Minister and Wigram MP Megan Woods, Ilam MP Sarah Pallett and Christchurch City Council member Sara Templeton. Christopher Luxon told Kate Hawkesby the pair reflected on the party's new code of conduct, and quit. He says they've implemented the code, as the comments were vile and utterly unacceptable. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A student representative says the increase to the student allowance and living costs will affect very few people. They are both increasing by $25 a week. Union of Students' Associations President Andrew Lessells told Kate Hawkesby it's far too little far too late. He says the increase isn't going to cover the rental increases most students are seeing and it's not going to cover the cost of food they're seeing either. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve been pretty vocal in my criticism of the Police Commissioner, but never the actual police. However, yesterday my brother had an experience that makes me question what on earth is going on inside the police force at the moment. Yesterday morning my brother was dropping his son and his son’s mate to school around 8am. My brother’s friend who's just flown back into the country was on speaker phone in the car, telling them all about his trip, when my brother notices a paddy wagon surging up behind, lights flashing, 4 or 5 cops inside. He immediately pulls over to let them pass, assuming they’re after someone ahead and he wants to get out of their way. But the wagon pulls in behind his car. A female officer hops out, comes over and says to my brother – “you’re on your phone.” He says, “it’s a hands free call, it’s coming through the car speaker.” She says, “no, you had the phone up to your ear.” He says, “no I’ve never had it at my ear, it’s been on speaker, my boys can testify to that because we were all listening to the conversation.” She’s not having it, the officer arks up all of a sudden angry and says, “You were on your phone, holding it.. I’m prepared to go to court over it.” So now my brother is shocked at what the hell is going on here. Her level of aggression and tone is so intense. But he knows he’s in the right, he knows he wasn’t holding his phone, so he replies, “I’m prepared to go to court over it too”. She remains defiant. My brother says to her, “I know for a fact I wasn’t holding my phone because my son was holding my phone because he was using one of my apps at the time of the call.” She gets more irate, “no you had it at your ear.” My brother says, it was categorically not at his ear. She argues it was. So at this point he’s like, “wait a minute, my hand to my ear is different to my phone to my ear – if my hand was at my ear I would’ve been scratching it, or flicking my hair behind it.” Aware she’s losing this argument – which by the way should never have even been an argument, she then says – “open all the car windows so I can see the children properly and if they’re in appropriate car seats.” He winds down the windows to reveal the two boys are in fact teenagers and well beyond car seat age. She then says she needs to check the car is his. She runs a plate check and confirms it is. She then says she will not fine him today, on this occasion she will ‘let him off with a warning’ .. but that he ‘should set a better example for his children.’ He replies that he’s perfectly comfortable with the example he’s setting his children. Can you believe this attitude and aggression from the police? What the hell is going on with them? Why are they nowhere to be seen when there're real crimes like burglaries, assaults, gangs blocking streets, homeless bothering retailers, ram raiders, drug dealers, .. there's so much crime going on at the moment that the police are not attending, how is it 4 or 5 of them have got all that time to stop and interrogate a law abiding Dad driving his kids to school? And as for the tone - to threaten court action? Are you kidding me? Just what sort of police are we turning out these days? How is this sort of attitude acceptable?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the things that's irked me this week - apart from Will Smith - (who I'm still irked by, by the way), but the other thing annoying me, is Auckland Transport. I mean I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at the lengths they'll go to, to get us out of our cars.. and actually if you think this is just an Auckland thing, think again. The anti-car brigade is coming to a road near you any day now. It’s top down, driven by idealogues inside the Government and includes advocates like Julie Anne Genter who would have us all on bikes by now if she could. The latest car bashing going on is to strip away all the parking. Not just the regular amount of parking they’ve already stripped away, oh no, that was just an appetiser. They won’t rest until ALL parking is stripped away. That includes parking on the road right outside your house. And what, you may ask, will they do with all that empty space where cars were once allowed to park? More bike and bus lanes of course! Here’s the thing no one seems to want to admit – we are not a country of public transport users. We are not London, we are not Melbourne. We do not have our homes perched on main line stations and accessible through roads, we do not have thriving city centres heaving with people all eager to get on a bus. What we have, particularly in Auckland, is far-flung suburbs, people who commute all over the place – they might live on the North Shore, work in West Auckland, and have kids at school in the Eastern suburbs. The after-school sport may be somewhere else. We are families with bags and gear and equipment and things that need to be carried in something more robust than a bike basket. We live and work on routes where buses don’t come, so we would have to walk in all weathers to all manner of places after the bus stops miles from where we need to be. Our CBDs are shadows of their former selves – they are crime-filled dens of inequity and empty shops with 'for lease' signs. Homeless have set up camp, retailers have left. They’re not places we want our kids hanging around all hours to wait for a bus that may or may not turn up. What I’m saying is, we are not a country geared up for this, we are not compact, and we love our cars. And let’s break this down in terms of the metrics they’re actually planning. 240 kilometres of road, taken back, taken off us, and our cars, and given to buses and bikes. That’s very roughly 48,000 cars, and if you recycle that car park 4 to 5 times a day, that’s roughly 200-250,000 cars swept off the road. Public submissions on this plan start tomorrow and are open for a month. Can you believe initially they were going to do this WITHOUT any public submissions? The arrogance of that. So they’ll “consult” which we know is code for “let you speak”. Will they listen though? Do they really care? Or will it all just get railroaded.. excuse the pun.. through? If they do get their way, then I hope they’ve crunched the numbers on how much more productive movement they’re gaining. Because all I know from retailers is that when you take away the car parks, you take away the business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's $2.2 billion recapitalisation package is being seen as the only way forward. It plans to use it to repay the Crown loan. The Government will participate in the raise to retain its majority 51 per cent shareholding. Aviation commentator Irene King told Kate Hawkesby Air New Zealand really doesn't have any option. She says the fallback is for the Government to inject more money, and then it brings into question whether Air New Zealand shouldn't be nationalised. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With most vaccine mandates being scrapped for workers soon, the Government have given some guidance for how private businesses should navigate the changes. It says businesses should undertake their own risk assessment as to whether they should keep mandates. But just because you lost your job due to being unvaxxed, doesn't mean you should expect an offer for your old job back. CEO of Beyond Recruitment Liza Viz joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A large study out this morning found New Zealand has the highest melanoma death rate in the world. It also predicts worldwide cases within the next 20 years will increase by 50 per cent, and mortality rates will increase by 68 per cent. Dr. Chris Jackson, medical oncologist and former Cancer Society medical director joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is spending $15 million over three years on its zero road toll campaign. The National Party say that money is better spent on actually fixing the roads. But Transport Minister Michael Wood says it's about getting the word out that change is needed. Mike Lee, Associate Professor of Marketing at Auckland University joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holding the America's Cup in Barcelona is expected to breathe new life into the event. Team New Zealand head Grant Dalton says having the event there will allow the team to propel its growth trajectory on the global sporting stage. America's Cup commentator and double Olympic gold medalist, Shirley Robertson, says the team was up against others with unlimited budgets. She told Kate Hawkesby she's sure it's been a tough decision, but says it will put some energy into the Cup. Robertson says three European teams are confirmed, and to have the event in Europe will be good for investment and fans. She says Barcelona is also an easy-to-get-to, loveable city. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm not remotely bothered that the America's Cup's going to be held in Barcelona. I can't even imagine how tough it is to organise and fund an event like this - and I take my hat off to all those working so hard to keep it going and to find locations - no easy task. Securing this location has taken a year, no mean feat. But also - can we really complain that it's heading offshore? I mean look what they were offered to stay here. The Auckland Council gave them money in kind - that's not real money, the Government were clearly not that interested in it being here, so, gave them a pittance. If the powers that be really wanted it here, they'd have fronted up with more cash and made the whole thing more simple. But they didn't. Many of the moaners about it going offshore are punters who like the idea of it being here, but aren't that committed to it anyway. Often, they're the same people who bemoan the whole thing as a rich white man's sport, the ones who bang on about how much wealthy sailing teams shouldn't be handed out any of our money.. they don't deserve government funding bla bla bla, and then these very same people bleat like mad when it goes offshore. I'm not talking about the true sailing fans here - they've proven they'll go anywhere to support it, and there really is a phenomenal support base for Team NZ, who do manage to get themselves anywhere in the world and fly the Kiwi flag. We saw it first hand in San Francisco when we were lucky enough to go and broadcast from there in 2017. Kiwis turned out in their droves, the organisation of fan bases and support areas was slick and well run. The event had a great vibe, thousands of people flocked in, and many managed to get out on the water. The vantage points were great - which is a huge part of it of course - and it was a really fun experience. I'd recommend it to anyone keen on sailing or just anyone keen on supporting NZ sport in a really fun, family friendly and relaxed way. And Team NZ are incredibly popular wherever they go - there's just something about Kiwi sports stars that people seem to gravitate to and just love. They're relaxed, accessible, happy to chat, they're great advocates for our country. What more could you want? Barcelona's being talked up for the great sailing weather - which is a huge factor too - endless race days put off by no wind is no fun for anyone. But despite the naysayers who'll come for Grant Dalton and who'll come for Team NZ like they have some kind of ownership of them - or of the event - I'm happy they've found a great place to host. And I have no doubt it will be a huge success.. and all the media whiners saying it sucks, you watch, they'll all happily turn up to Barcelona in two years' time to cover it, and enjoy the ratings bonanza that goes with that. Because that's the other thing, despite all the argy bargy that goes on off the water and leading up to the event, we always seem to all get behind it once races begin. So poo poo it now if you want, but mark my words, come 2024, Barcelona beach, the race village, the Spanish waterfront.. it'll be spectacular, and the place to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mixed reaction to the Government's decision to push ahead with Fair Pay Agreements. The bill was submitted to Parliament yesterday - in a bid by the Government to lift incomes and improve working conditions. It would allow employees to force negotiations with employers, if 10 percent of the workforce, or a thousand workers, agree. Primary teacher union NZEI president Liam Rutherford told Kate Hawkesby early childhood is one sector welcoming this news. He says they can use Fair Pay Agreements to attract and retain teachers in the system. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA's A-listers are spilt down the middle, over Will Smith's assault on Chris Rock. The incident overshadowed the Oscars ceremony. Hollywood reporter Dean McCarthy told Kate Hawkesby stars like Nikki Minaj are backing Smith, while comedians like Rosie O'Donnell have condemned him. “You’ve got part of Hollywood who are like, yes, that’s how you defend your wife and then the other side is that behaviour is never acceptable.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.