Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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.

More calls for pregnant women to get the Covid jab. Thirty per cent of women giving birth at Middlemore Hospital have Covid-19. They're being recommended to wear masks in labour. Auckland University researcher Dr Michelle Wise told Kate Hawkesby the vaccinated and boosted rate for pregnant women is lower than for the general population. “Every study that’s come out in the last couple of years, shows that the vaccine is safe in pregnancy.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sadly, no detail on the Government's RNZ/TVNZ merger but let's start with the very brutal truth – it’s going to be about as exciting as watching paint dry. It’s going to apparently ‘better reach those groups who aren't currently well served; such as our various ethnic communities and cultures,’ Faafoi said, so in other words, kissing a mainstream audience goodbye. Here’s the first problem – it’s going to operate under a charter. That’s been tried before – and failed – it was disastrous because it was invented by boffins all based on theory and PC BS, with no regard for the realities of the real world and what audiences actually want to see and hear. On paper, some sneering academics may jot down their wish list of ‘Kiwi’ content to ‘reflect us back to ourselves’.. but in all reality the only thing being reflected back is their own Twitterverse echo chamber. What they think we want to see, and what we actually want to see, are two very different things. Issue number two – it’ll have a - quote unquote- trustworthy news as a core service. Stating this shows just how far removed from reality the politicos have become. You want us to accept that a government run media entity, is going to have a ‘trustworthy’ news service? Are you serious? Is it as trustworthy as the blinkered left leaning media currently in the Government’s pocket? This on the very day an OIA revealed the Government – donkey deep in image consultants, PR lackeys, spin doctors and focus groups, actually gave “special briefings” to commentators who’d likely be talking to media about the Government’s Covid response. If you don’t know what I’m talking about here, look up Kate McNamara’s excellent piece in the Herald yesterday – it’s part of a three-part series she’s done on examples of government communication being bogged down in spin and murky disclosure. She’s got all her info through Official Information Act requests; it makes for eye-watering reading. Every time you saw media roll out Michael Baker or Sousxsie Wiles or Shaun Hendy, they and a bunch of others had all been ‘briefed ‘in advance by the Government, to give positive media coverage favourable to the Government’s narrative. Basically, to flatter the Government’s slow and clumsy Covid response, particularly around vaccine delays. So if you thought those commentators all sounded like Labour politicians when you heard them, you were right. They were part of the spin. So now this least open honest or transparent government ever, wants us to believe they’re going to run a ‘trustworthy’ news service? Put it on a Tui billboard, it’s farcical. Here’s the other insult – it’ll be partly funded by us the taxpayer. So invented by government, designed by government, partly funded by government with our tax payer dollars, but allegedly with complete editorial independence. And then there's the fact they're 'targeting youth'. Anything that says it wants to 'target young people' is not going to. Young people don't want to be targeted, they want to curate their own media sources from a variety of places, and this won't be it, it never has been. So, no wonder TV3’s lapping this announcement up and welcoming it, because although RNZ/TVNZ may be awash with government cash - winning the money that way, doesn't win you the audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online shopping isn't just more convenient, but lighter on your pocket. Australian research shows consumers can save more than $1300 a year on groceries by shopping online, rather than in person. Auckland University associate professor in marketing, Karen Fernandez told Kate Hawkesby going online eliminates impulse buying. “There’s another little cute thing that happens in online shopping, you can see your total mount up. Then you think, do I really need this?” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A juror told a judge Tuesday that failing to disclose his child abuse history during jury selection at the trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was one of the biggest mistakes of his life — but an unintentional one. "I didn't lie in order to get on this jury," the juror said. A U.S. judge questioned the juror extensively as part of an effort to decide whether the revelation about his personal history as a sex abuse survivor will spoil the verdict in the sex trafficking trial. Lawyers for Maxwell — who was present in the courtroom, clad in a dark blue jail smock — say the verdict should be thrown out. Maxwell's lawyers potentially could have objected to the man's presence on the jury, on the grounds that he might not be fair to a person accused of a similar crime. Maxwell, 60, was convicted in late December of helping financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse multiple teenage girls from 1994 to 2004. Sitting in a courtroom witness box, the juror repeatedly expressed regret as U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan asked him dozens of questions about why he didn't reveal repeated incidents of sexual abuse by two people at age 9 and 10 on a questionnaire during the jury selection process. The juror said he "skimmed way too fast" through the questionnaire. "This is one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made in my life," the juror identified only as Juror No. 50 said as he looked directly at the judge. "I flew through the questions," he said, adding that he was "super distracted" by nearby conversations and movements of prospective jurors who dropped off their completed questionnaires just a few feet from him. "I honestly never thought I'd be chosen for this jury." The juror said he also incorrectly answered a question asking if he'd ever been a crime victim, in part because the sex abuse he endured "doesn't define me." "I do not feel I am a victim of a crime," he said. "It's not something I think about. It happened so long ago and it's not part of who I am." The judge gave lawyers in the case until March 15 to submit legal briefs on whether the verdict should be set aside. Maxwell's sentencing is scheduled for June. The juror did several media interviews after the trial in which he revealed he'd been abused. He described persuading some fellow jurors during deliberations that a victim's imperfect memory of abuse doesn't mean it didn't happen. All potential jurors in the case had been asked to fill out a screening form in early November that asked: "Have you or a friend or family member ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual assault? (This includes actual or attempted sexual assault or other unwanted sexual advance, including by a stranger, acquaintance, supervisor, teacher, or family member.)" The juror checked "No." The juror said in the interviews he didn't remember being asked that question, which was No. 48 on the form. The judge granted the juror immunity before he answered questions for about an hour. He said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege without it. Maxwell lawyers in January asked the judge to immediately order a new trial after the juror's public statements, but Nathan said she could not do so without questioning the juror. Outside court, Maxwell's sister, Isabel, said the family was hoping a new trial would be ordered. "A full and impartial jury is the very basis of the criminal justice system and it must be preserved," she said. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges after a monthlong trial that featured testimony from four women who said she played a role in setting them up for abuse by Epstein. Epstein, 66, killed himself in August 2019 as he awaited trial at a federal jail in New York on related sex trafficking charges. Maxwell says she's innocent. - By TOM HAYS and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Manson is the author of two great books I’ve read.. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k, and Everything Is F**ked: A Book About Hope. They were New York Times bestsellers, which sold over 13 million copies. These days, like everyone else, he podcasts, and he has an interesting take on social media - which intrigued me given my recent battle with Facebook and how annoying I think tech giants are. I am deeply suspect of their algorithms which just capture people into their own little echo chambers. Anyway, Manson argues that everything we say about social media being bad - is not actually social media’s fault. He reckons it’s the user's problem. He says it’s about how we use it. So is this true? Can we dip in and out as we please, set personal boundaries, limit our exposure and keep social media a healthy space? It might be a good time to reassess this given how much awful news we’re consuming online at the moment. I for one, cannot read enough on Ukraine, it absolutely breaks my heart, it leaves me devastated, and yet I can’t stop reading about it. And the fact I’m seeking that news out means the algorithms will send more of it my way - and if I’m not careful my feed will be awash with nothing but war. So whose fault’s that? Mine? Or Instagram’s? It poses an interesting question. Is social media responsible for all society’s ills or not? Obviously, Manson argues not. He says social media is a simple dynamic of a three-tiered network. Creators (or influencers), engagers, and lurkers. The creators are the people who feel passionately about stuff and are confident enough to post about it and create the content, the engagers are the ones who form tribes around these people because they appreciate the sentiment, like the way the creator's framed it, they identify with that narrative, and they’ll defend the creator and engage with them. Lurkers are too busy to bother commenting or engaging or creating, they’re scrolling mindlessly while also cooking dinner or changing a nappy, they care less. It’s these 3 groups he says, who make up the bulk of social media users. Of course, the largest group is the one outside of social media – the silent majority. Disturbingly though, Manson argues the people who’ve been screwed over the most by social media are those who work in mainstream media. He says we’ve been ‘screwed sideways’ by it. It’s become our information channel, our source of all reporting. He says we follow it, target controversy, look for moral panic, and report it back, thus, feeding the monster. We’re looking to supply content quickly, and he argues that’s overtaken our ability to use time to search for facts, so he says our culture gets shifted to extremes, as we look to shift awareness. He argues in general we all need to push our perceptions back to a more mature understanding of social media. Because as he says, social media hasn’t corrupted us, it’s merely revealed who we always were.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new startup company considers themselves the "Tinder for barns" Called Heybarn, the idea is that rural and lifestyle property owners that have free shed space, can rent out that space for Kiwis who need more room. They can "match" online, and despite being early days, the startup is seen as a world first. Heybarn co-founder Tom Brownlie joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The culture of New Zealand’s law profession may need an overhaul if it wants to stop burn out. The Aotearoa Legal Workers Union has found 74 percent of lawyers feel their work is causing their mental health to suffer, with 83 percent believing it's doing the same to their colleagues. It identifies a range of causes from unmanageable workloads, subject matter of the work, poor or no supervision and feeling undervalued. President Tess Upperton told Kate Hawkesby what people get paid is also a big contributor. “People at the younger end who are earning not much above minimum wage and then when you take into account the sheer volume of hours they are working unpaid they are dropping below minimum wage sometimes.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion there's not too much of an appetite for an even shorter isolation period. Covid cases and household contacts only have to isolate for seven days, from midnight Friday - with contacts testing on day three and seven. EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Kate Hawkesby while the business community would like it to be less, there's a large chunk of the population still worried about living with the virus. “The other issue is I don’t think yet we've seen a peak through the health system and the Government has always taken a health approach, quite rightly, and I think until we see reach peak through the health system you’re not likely to see more change.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I find the debate about whether we’re in a cost of living crisis at the moment fascinating, because it’s exactly the sort of thing Ardern would’ve argued vehemently when in opposition – yet because she’s currently in government, is denying. No cost of living crisis, according to her. Yet as the Wellington City Missioner said yesterday, anyone who says there isn’t one, is someone who’s doing OK. It’s easy to get removed from that kind of reality when you’re someone on the PM’s wages driving an electric car and never pushing your own trolley round a supermarket wondering how you’ll pay for your groceries. But this crisis is being borne out, if not to you personally, then certainly all around you - and maybe we should be a bit more mindful of it. Which is why I beat myself up yesterday after my petrol station hustle. Well, I thought it was a hustle – and that’s part of the problem. With increasing desperation comes increasing crime, and that makes people wary. Having had our garage broken into twice, and seeing a surge in crime in our area, and with the CBD such a festering mess of violence at the moment, it’s easy to jump to conclusions when some random comes up to you asking for money. So, I’m putting gas in my car and this guy rocks up to me, hoodie up, all dressed in black, looking down at his feet, comes over right into my personal space and says, “Hey Miss I need some money for gas.” And my first thought is - don’t we all mate it's a bloody fortune, but he's on foot, I don't see a car anywhere, so I immediately think - oh he's hustling me for cash.. an opportunist, targeting a woman alone on a forecourt. I say, “Sorry mate I don’t carry cash.” But he’s not taking that for an answer, he says, “just a little bit – my tank’s empty.” And I repeat, ‘sorry, no cash’.. which is true, but also, I don’t want to engage him as to where his car is. I just finish pumping my gas and get into my car, at which point he goes back behind the gas station which is clearly where he’s hanging out. But as I drive away I start to think – what if he genuinely did just need money for gas? Should I have offered to give him some petrol and asked him to bring his car round? Could I have bought him a gas voucher? Was I too mean? You see here’s the problem, I want to help people, always, but this whole scenario just had me feeling uncomfortable. Because the sad thing about a desperate society is the fact there’s more crime, the more your defences go up, the more you get cynical.. all because you don’t want to get mugged. And then I thought maybe I’m turning into my Nana – who always lamented what had happened to society and talked about ‘the good old days’ when you could “leave your front door unlocked” and there were “no weirdos on the bus”. I started thinking about the old days of forecourt attendants who would’ve bounced a guy like this right off the forecourt before he even had the time to bother customers, as opposed to these days where attendants are stuck far away inside, behind a counter, oblivious. So, was I getting hustled? Or was I witnessing the cost of living crisis in action?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nurses’ Organisation is unhappy with changes allowing staff with Covid to return to work. The Ministry of Health is now allowing infected staff to return early if their absence means the service couldn't run. It means healthcare workers can leave isolation on day six if they test negative twice. If they still test positive, they can work on Covid wards. Nurses Organisation President Kerri Nuku told Kate Hawkesby it puts everyone at risk. “It puts patients and staff at risk because the risk is if you don’t have a well-staffed ward, the quality of care on patients is compromised.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns at the length of time it may take for changes to the supermarket industry to bring prices down. The Commerce Commission's final report recommends Woolworths and Foodstuffs offer wholesale supply to other grocery retailers on a voluntary basis. It also recommends helping consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and enhance competition at the retail level, by introducing mandatory unit pricing. Registered dietitian and nutrition researcher Leanne Young told Kate Hawkesby what's recommended is a relatively slow way of driving down prices. “We would like to have seen something more structural that would give consumers confidence that prices would go down.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s pretty quiet in Auckland at the moment, with what feels like everyone isolating. The roads are not as congested with traffic, the malls are quiet, cafes are either shut or operating at reduced hours, it's all a bit sad. How many of those isolating actually have Covid though? Because it seems like an awful lot of people are at home, and I just wonder how many of them actually need to be. There’s definitely still confusion out there as to what the rules are. Who should isolate and for how long. To do a RAT or not, to register it or not. There are those still paralysed with fear, those still doggedly scanning in. What for? You’re not being contact traced. There is no point. And yet, two years of fear messaging has left people unable to think for themselves, apply logic, or just own their own lives. It’s a tough reality for some to accept that the Government isn't that interested in a prescriptive day in day out Covid response anymore. Yet there are still some among us terrified of not being told what to do. I do hope our sensibilities and ability to think rationally returns. I do hope we gain back a sense of independence and faith in ourselves. I also hope the peak is indeed over and we start getting out the other side of this thing. I’m keen to see shops and cafes bustling again, people hugging, people less afraid of each other. But the key to making that happen does actually lie in the Government’s hands. They need to reduce isolation time for positive cases from 10 to 7 days. 10 days is way too long. The CDC in America says 5, Australia says 7, we say 10. Why? It’s a cold for most people lasting no more than 3 days. 10 days is over the top – and it’s holding up business, closing services, shutting things down. 10 days is also clearly too appealing to those who’re work shy. So much so did you know you can buy positive Covid tests to show your employer? That's fraud by the way, but doesn't stop people selling them. Surely we can drop isolation to 7 days. It would be good to not only curb the absenteeism, but also get back to some semblance of functioning in a first world capacity again. Food on supermarket shelves, services running. I tried to send a parcel by overnight courier yesterday. They told me I was dreaming. Nothing’s happening overnight they said, because everyone at the courier company’s isolating. They said their courier workforce had been hobbled by Covid and they’re virtually shut down - and to get a parcel out of Auckland overnight was impossible. I asked how long it would take for my package to reach its destination – they didn’t know. Depended on staff availability they said, of which there was barely any. So, this third world vibe of no services working properly and empty shelves and no supply chain is something I’ll be happy to see the back of sooner rather than later. And I think reducing our iso time might be a good place to start.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is urgently passing a new bill specifically targeting the Russia-Ukraine conflict. New Zealand has been criticised for not having sanctions as strong as some other countries. It includes freezing assets in New Zealand, a travel ban on more than 100 people and the economic targeting of people supporting the invasion, including oligarchs. Democracy Project international analyst Geoffrey Miller told Kate Hawkesby it's taken a while to be introduced. “You had everyone from Switzerland and Monaco to Singapore and Japan and all of those countries traditionally have been reluctant to impose sanctions.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last two years, we've heard countless stories about businesses needing to do business travel. When it comes to making deals and trades, doing it on Zoom with dodgy Wi-Fi often doesn't cut it. But economists are forecasting that business travel will resume at barely half the rate they once were. General manager of corporate brands at Flight Centre Keely Alton joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's supermarket industry could be in for a major overhaul today. The Commerce Commission will release its final report from its market study of the industry this morning. Last year's draft found a lack of competition between supermarkets. The commission could make a range of recommendations, including asking supermarkets to divest their wholesale divisions. Auckland University Marketing Lecturer Bodo Lang told Kate Hawkesby he's expecting meaningful change to come from this. “I think we will see something that is a fairly deep restructuring of the sector, otherwise a lot of people will say ‘why didn’t we do more?’ We had the study conducted, a lot of investigation.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems a fitting memorial to Australian cricket legend Shane Warne.Following his death in Thailand on Friday, fans have gathered at Warne's statue outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground placing not just flowers but also beer, cigarettes, pies and cans of baked beans.Warne's reported love of baked beans was came about in the 1998 tour of India when he said he was only eating the canned goods because he wasn't used to the local spicy cuisine. A reported 1,900 tins of baked beans were then shipped out to Warne and the side.The Victorian state government, which has offered Warne's family a state funeral, announced Saturday that the Great Southern Stand at the MCG would be renamed the S.K. Warne Stand - "a permanent tribute to an amazing Victorian."Ordinary, everyday Aussies shed tears. Mick Jagger, Elton John, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe were among the celebrities mourning Warne's death — not as if his incredible career achievements needed any exclamation points from the entertainment industry. But they were there in abundance.Former England captain Michael Vaughan said it best for many of his fellow cricketers past and present."Shane was the greatest-ever cricketer but more than that his character lit up every dressing room ... bar, golf club & friendship group ... his energy & positivity was beyond anyone I have ever known .. he was loyal beyond loyal," Vaughan said on Instagram."Everyone wanted to be around him but ultimately he was just a normal guy who could do incredible things."The Australian test team was told of Warne's death following play on the first day of the series-opening test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. On Saturday, there was a moment of silence before play began on the second day."We all grew up watching Warnie, idolizing him," Australia captain Pat Cummins said. "What we loved so much about Warnie was his showmanship, his charisma, his tactics, the way he willed himself and the team around him to win games for Australia."The Australian and England women's teams also wore black armbands for their Cricket World Cup clash at Seddon Park on Saturday.'Come on, Shane'A Thailand paramedic has opened up on the efforts to revive cricket legend Shane Warne after he suffered a fatal heart attack last Friday.Warne passed away aged 52 in Koh Samui, Thailand on Friday night.Paramedic Anuch Han-iam told The Sun that Warne was unresponsive by the time help arrived at the two-storey villa at the Samujan resort at 5pm local time."Shane's friends were already trying to bring him back to life," he said."I took over doing CPR while we waited for an ambulance."They were desperate. I think one was crying. They were really stressed and panicked."They kept trying to wake him and I heard someone saying, 'Come on, Shane. Come on, Shane'."I could see they were all shocked and I just tried to concentrate and do my best.Han-iam told the Sun the villa looked very clean."There were about four or five other people in the room. All men, there were no women."The villa was clean and I didn't see any beer or cigarettes inside."There was nothing unusual that made me think they'd been partying. I didn't know when I arrived that it was Shane Warne. But I know who he is, he's a star."I did my best for him and gave all my energy. I'm so sorry that I couldn't help him."Extreme dietSpeaking with Australian TV show Nine's Today, Warne's long-time manager James Erskine said Warne had finished a fluid-only diet for two weeks."He did go on these ridiculous sort of diets … and was just finished one, where he basically only ate fluids for 14 days, and he'd done this three or four times."He was a bit all or nothing, it was either white buns with butter and lasagne stuffed in the middle, or he'd be basically having these black or green juices," Erskine said."I just think it...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a six-point action plan to counter Russia's war on Ukraine.It includes rapidly strengthening defences in NATO countries, more economic sanctions on Russia and mobilising international humanitarian efforts.Johnson outlined his plan in the New York Times.Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby the Prime Minister publicised his points before meetings this week.“Meetings with the Canadian Prime Minister and the Dutch Prime Minister here in London tomorrow Monday our time. The following day he’s going to host leaders of central European nations.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to believe we are still watching the war raging between Russia and Ukraine unfold in front of us.It feels desperate and helpless, and almost perverse to watch this play out while we can do so little about it.It’s utterly heartbreaking.But also heartbreaking is the fact ignorant New Zealanders are deciding now’s the time to attack Russians living here.I cannot believe that people think this has anything to do with them – just because they are Russian. It’s abominable.I was horrified to read a headline at the weekend that said “Russian Kiwis in Auckland say they’re encountering abuse and harassment in the wake of the invasion”. The report says they’re feeling excluded like they should hide their nationality, their children are getting bullied at school. As one of the Russian Kiwi Mums said, “The war is not about us, we are just normal people who live in New Zealand and pay taxes.”A Russian Church was vandalised, as well as a shop selling Russian goods.These are senseless ignorant acts done by people who clearly have no compassion and no understanding of what is actually going on here. No Russian born person is responsible for the acts of a crazy leader. It defies logic that the insane actions of a monster on the other side of the world should be blamed on Russians who’ve made New Zealand their home.It is also not a time for further division and attack, but a time to surely promote peace and show love.I always feel embarrassed when I see racism here, it’s not who we should be, and there should be no place for it at all.I spoke with the Race Relations Commissioner last week who was concerned about this very thing happening, he described it as a “few naughty people” who would undertake racist acts like this. But it’s an attitude, it’s a bubbling undercurrent of ignorance which we should all be working hard to extinguish. As if the world isn’t a tough enough place these days, why would we turn on our fellow Kiwis just because of their accent or where they were born?The other heartbreak at the moment is watching Zelensky’s cries for help go unanswered. He says the world ‘must not watch, but help’. He wanted NATO to close the airspace over Ukraine and develop a no-fly zone to stop Russia attacking, especially after the attack on Europe's largest nuclear power plant. But the West, nervous about potentially making things worse and escalating the war beyond Ukraine, refused.Zelenskyy called NATO’s actions weak, and I can understand his frustration and desperation. I mean how is it we are watching a man, a father, a husband, fighting literally for his and his country’s lives, having survived 3 assassination attempts, and still begging for help the West just can’t give, it’s soul-destroying. The humanitarian disaster we’re watching unfold will have far-reaching consequences – more than a million people seeking refuge already. It is all so so harrowing that it’s hard to believe the best some people can do here at home is attack Russians who’ve left their country behind, to come here to live a peaceful life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns the National Party's tax plans could cause more harm than good.Leader Chris Luxon's announced in his first State of the Nation speech that he'll reverse every tax increase the current Government has imposed if he becomes Prime Minister.He also wants to adjust all tax bracket thresholds, so people pay less tax.Council of Trade Unions Chief Economist Craig Renney told Kate Hawkesby that's not going to fix the country's problems.“Property speculators is not going to reduce the price of fuel, reducing taxation on multiple landlords is not going to reduce international shipping costs.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may be time for men to take better care of themselves.News broke over the weekend of the death of Shane Warne at 52 after a suspected heart attack in Thailand.Thai authorities have been carrying out an autopsy on Warne's body, as they continue to investigate his death.College of GPs Medical Director Dr Bryan Betty told Kate Hawkesby heart attacks are becoming more common in men over 40.“We do see it, it does happen and it’s just something I think we need to be aware of and think about it as a wake-up call that perhaps we should do more.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Airport is gearing up for a busy weekend - and this time it's the international terminal that should see a bit more action. New Zealanders from anywhere across the globe will be able to return home without having to go into MIQ from midnight tonight. Neither will they have to self-isolate - if they're Covid negative. Auckland Airport's Corporate Services General Manager Mary-Liz Tuck told Roman Travers staff are preparing for the arrival gates being flung open. “So we are expecting about 900 New Zealanders to come back through tomorrow and that’s the first time in two years we’ve been able to welcome Kiwis home from around the world.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.