Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

I come to the programme this morning with a feeling of hope after seeing something yesterday that I haven't seen in well over a year. Backpackers. A group of four of them, in their 20s, walking the Te Araroa trail together. All three thousand kilometres of it. Te Araroa should be on every young New Zealander's bucket list, it stretches all the way from Cape Reinga to Bluff. And bit by bit, as we recognise the value of it, old tracks are being improved, new ones built and little gaps are being closed with new connections. I crossed paths with the group as they were about 400ks into the journey, a beautiful day and they'd parked their stuff on the beach for a swim. Before COVID, I'd run into people from all over the world walking Te Araroa, collecting great stories of New Zealand and New Zealanders they'd take home and share. Word of mouth is your best form of advertising. I always make a point of saying hello, partly because I'm nosy and I like to know where people are from, but also because I want to be welcoming. Up until yesterday, the last person I saw on the track was a young woman from Auckland who decided she'd do it because she couldn't go to work and was going mad stuck at home. Since then? No one, mainly because the camps and hostels have been closed, either short term, or in some cases permanently. I came away from that unexpected encounter feeling so positive about where we're at. And with a sense that people are over being fearful, done with fretting over every scare and determined to get on with living. I came away with hope. And it feels great.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's GDP figures are likely to be better than expected. They're due out mid-morning. ANZ economist Finn Robinson told Tim Dower the ANZ bank thinks the economy has contracted by four and half percent. He says that's considerably better than the seven percent the bank had initially pencilled in. “What we have with that is the preliminary data that is released about how construction and retail trade over the course of the year and it looks like they held up a bit better than expected.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are evenly split on their expectations for the coming year. Dairy is the most optimistic sector, while dry stock farmers and horticulturalists are more pessimistic. Rabobank NZ's CEO Todd Charteris joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A health expert says rural hospitals have been left off Andrew Little's Christmas list. The Government is giving hospitals more than half a billion dollars for upgrades and to help them support more Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients. The Rural GP Network says the provinces have been left out, with some rural hospitals not getting any funding at all. Rural Health Clinical Director Dr Jeremy Webber told Tim Dower they're calling out for more resources. “Staffing is huge issue in the rural across the board, so we’ve got a huge reliance on locals so it’s a real strain for our department and this is reflected across the country.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's GDP figures are likely to be better than expected. They're due out mid-morning. ANZ economist Finn Robinson told Tim Dower the ANZ bank thinks the economy has contracted by four and half percent. He says that's considerably better than the seven percent the bank had initially pencilled in. “What we have with that is the preliminary data that is released about how construction and retail trade over the course of the year and it looks like they held up a bit better than expected.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Waters is back on the agenda today. 23 local councils are going to Parliament to make their opposition clear. That's around a third of the local bodies affected by Three Waters, but it doesn't mean the other 44 are all on board. And they're right to be suspicious of it. Three Waters will take away all those council-owned drinking water systems and the storm water and the wastewater...and hand it over to four unelected regional bodies. Now, when the Minister is asked to explain why we need to do this at all, she points to the Havelock North incident five years back. And fair enough, that was terrible. Drinking water contaminated with sheep faeces, thousands of people made sick and at least four dead as a result. Not good enough. We also have major problems in some of our bigger centres with broken down old systems that leak sewage when it rains. Not good enough. Then you've got the Auckland issue; a massive failure to build and upgrade, despite milking huge fees from developers to connect new builds to the network. Not good enough. But each of these problems is distinct to each of the local bodies in charge. Local bodies spending millions on cycle lanes no one wants, millions more on pie-in-the-sky crazy economic and social projects which are not even their business, let alone their area of competence. Pick up the rubbish, fix potholes in the streets and provide a decent water supply and sewage system. I'm not pretending there isn't a problem with water. But Three Waters is not the answer. It's got nothing to do with improving water, but everything to do with centralising power and snatching assets from those councils which actually have done a good job.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Airport has gone from zero to hero. It's expecting to see a 4000 percent increase in domestic travellers today. Operations general manager Anna Cassels-Brown told Tim Dower 600 people departed yesterday but there are 10-thousand leaving today. “But also, it may surprise you that we have not much shy of 10,000 people arriving into the domestic terminal as well, so it goes both ways.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travellers are being advised to b patient if they want to leave Auckland. The border is down, with people needing a vaccine pass or a recent negative Covid-19 test to leave the city. The AA is asking people to slow down and take snacks and drink for the trip. Safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen told Tim Dower motorists should expect delays. “Think that it’s going to take longer than it normally does, don’t set time deadlines and put that pressure on yourself.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a concerning drop off in the number of students taking algebra at high school. Victoria University of Wellington research shows the number of Year 11 students enrolled in level 1 algebra, dropped from 64 percent in 2013 to 45 percent in 2019. Nanogirl Dr. Michelle Dickinson told Tim Dower some students don't understand how important these subjects are to their future careers. “Universities will require decent levels of mathematics to study lots of programmes, and when you’re doing entry-level mathematics, you’re probably not even thinking about what course I'm going to do at university.” There's also a thought that an overly difficult Level 1 Algebra exam in 2016, may have put students off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dear Auckland, I just wanted to say how glad I am that you're being allowed out again from tonight. I've kept in contact as best I can with people close to me down there, but sometimes you haven't wanted to talk and I completely understand it. Who wants to do Facetime of WhatsApp from their couch day after day...especially with someone in another part of the country where life's a lot more like normal. What you've endured in the region I know has been mentally exhausting and absolutely frustrating. I want to talk a little this morning about one personal friend who hasn't made it through the Auckland lockdown. I knew he was struggling and he'd talked about it a bit, but he tried to be stoic, and at the end he kept just how bad it was all to himself. When I first heard, part of me wanted to be cross with him about it. Then came the self-recrimination, what if I'd phoned when I was telling myself we hadn't spoken in a week. Sometimes we need to walk a mile in another person's shoes to really get it. There but for the grace of God, or whatever it is you believe in. Just yesterday we were talking about the societal disturbance we're seeing at the moment. Everyone so angry and anxious, people attacking each other verbally left right and centre, physically sometimes and flying off the handle at the slightest thing. What we don't know yet is how many people are going the other way. My friend won't be the only one trying to put a brave face on things. Not raising their heads over the parapet in anger, not lashing out, but keeping it all in. I can't do anything for him now, but perhaps there's someone you know you can offer a little hope to. You're almost there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concern Auckland has to wait longer at the red light. Tamaki Makaurau will move to orange under the Covid-19 Protection Framework at midnight on December 30. So will every other region in red, except Northland. Heart of the City CEO, Viv Beck, told Tim Dower going into orange at New Year's Eve will make a difference. “It certainly will give more confidence to visitors, so that’s a positive thing. But I’m still really concerned about another two and a half weeks at red and the impact of that.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in the wine industry now have a chance to learn some tricks of the trade. New Zealand Winegrowers has launched its 2021 mentoring programme to help members increase their confidence, focus on their self-development and reach their goals. The organisation's leadership and communities manager Nicky Grandorge told Tim Dower the wine industry in this country is an extremely collaborative one. She says people signing up for the programme are winemakers, viticulturists and sales and marketing people. “There are some people that are fairly new to the industry, looking to take the next step. And then there are people midway through their career, at a bit of a crossroads.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of infections from the omicron coronavirus variant, and he has announced a huge increase in booster vaccinations to strengthen defenses against it.Johnson said in a televised statement that everyone age 18 and older will be offered a third shot of vaccine by the end of this month. The previous target was the end of January.He said cases of the highly transmissible variant are doubling every two to three days and “there is a tidal wave of omicron coming.”To combat it, he announced a “national mission” to deliver booster vaccines at with pop-up vaccination centers and 7-day-a-week clinics.U.K. scientists believe existing vaccines appear less effective in preventing symptomatic infections in people exposed to omicron, though preliminary data show that effectiveness appears to rise to between 70% and 75% after a third vaccine dose.The British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning the rapid spread of the omicron variant had pushed the U.K. into risky territory.The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said the emergence of the highly transmissible new strain “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services” at a time when COVID-19 is already widespread. They recommended raising the alert level from 3 to 4 on a 5-point scale. The top level, 5, indicates authorities think the health care system is about to be overwhelmed.The doctors said early evidence shows omicron is spreading much faster than the currently dominant delta variant, and that vaccines offer less protection against it. British officials say omicron is likely to replace delta as the dominant strain in the U.K. within days.“Data on severity will become clearer over the coming weeks but hospitalizations from omicron are already occurring and these are likely to increase rapidly,” they said.Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to make a televised statement about Britain’s coronavirus situation and the booster vaccination campaign on Sunday evening.Concerns about the new variant led Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, vaccine certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible.Many scientists say that’s unlikely to be enough, however, and are calling for tougher measures.Johnson’s government is trying to avoid that, but aims to offer everyone 18 and over a booster shot by the end of January.Scientists in South Africa, where omicron was first identified, say they see signs it may cause less severe disease than delta, but caution that it is too soon to be certain.The U.K. Health Security Agency said Friday that both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines appear less effective in preventing symptomatic infections in people exposed to omicron, though preliminary data show that effectiveness appears to rise to between 70% and 75% after a third vaccine dose.- APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than two weeks to Christmas and the summer holidays can't come soon enough.New Zealand is tired, exhausted even, of Covid and frustrated at the huge ongoing sacrifices.We are sick of doom, gloom and fear, so much so John Campbell fronted a show about this last night.I only saw the beginning because it was past bedtime, but it featured front line workers talking about some of the things they've had to put up with.The ambulance officer bitten and spat at, nurses copping abuse in emergency rooms, police attacked on the job, supermarket staff enduring racial slurs.Now that show coincides with a new piece of research today, which comes out of an Auckland University offshoot called the Centre for Informed Futures.Just for background, that's headed up by Sir Peter Gluckman, one of our most distinguished scientists and formerly chief science advisor to the Prime Minister.Cutting to the chase, this report looks at relationships in the community, and trust in the State.Sir Peter says we're starting to see exhaustion, fear and anger and a loss of trust in Government, science, and experts.The glue that holds us together is coming unstuck, you’ll have seen it, some people's behaviour is rude, nasty, aggressive even.I hope Cabinet takes heed of these signs today, when it looks at the Traffic Light settings.We need some relief, people need to get out, get back to work, get back to a more normal version of New Zealand, and take a break from social media rabbit holes.If Auckland doesn't come out of red for Christmas, Aucklanders won't forgive Labour for being the grinch that stole Christmas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cabinet is meeting today to review Aotearoa's traffic light settings.Auckland, Northland and lower vaccinated areas in the central and east coast of the North Island are at the red level.The rest of the North Island and South Island is at Orange.Otago University's Lesley Gray told Tim Dower while Auckland has a high vaccination rate, there's already change coming with the region's borders opening on Wednesday.“Whether the Government feel that they want to bring Auckland to Orange as well as the boundary change, that might be a step too far given the numbers that we’re still seeing.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has won the F1 world championship in the most insane circumstances, being handed a miracle finish to claim his maiden title.But Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes has lodged a protest after the final-lap drama in which Verstappen overtook Hamilton following a controversial safety car ruling.Verstappen was on pole but beaten off the start by championship rival Lewis Hamilton as the Mercedes driver dominated the race. That extraordinary final lap of the 2021 title race in full 😮#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/kknTMDfpAF— Formula 1 (@F1) December 12, 2021 But with five laps remaining, Williams' Nicholas Latifi crashed and changed the whole championship finish.Verstappen was about 10 seconds in arrears when the crash happened but was allowed to pit and get fresh soft tyres while Hamilton had old hard tyres.It looked as though Verstappen would have five lapped drivers in between him and Hamilton. That was until a call came through that the lapped drivers could overtake the safety car and Verstappen was next to Hamilton for the final lap once debris and marshals were cleared from the track.Max Verstappen gets up on the inside of Lewis Hamilton to take the lead during the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Photo / GettyWhile Hamilton fought hard, Verstappen just had the fresher tyres and claimed the miracle finish as he romped home to claim his first world championship.Mercedes has protested the result over the controversial finish and Sky Sports' Martin Brundle said "I wonder if there is a post-script to this yet".Verstappen was in disbelief over the victory and sounded as though he was in tears crossing the line."Max Verstappen, you are the world champion, the world champion!" Red Bull boss Christian Horner screamed over radio. "You absolutely deserve it."Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands kneels next to his car after he became the F1 world champion after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Photo / APVerstappen said: "I love you so much.""We needed a bit of luck and we got it," Horner added. "We love you. We ****ing love you."Just before he got out of the car, Verstappen said: "This is unbelievable guys, can we do this for another 10 to 15 years together?"Red Bull were rapt, hugging and celebrating, while Mercedes were devastated and team boss Toto Wolff was furious.Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen is congratulated by runner up and former F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Photo / Getty"This is not right," Wolff said as the Masi made the decision to allow the lapped five between Hamilton and Verstappen to drive past the safety car.2016 World Champion for Mercedes Nico Rosberg said "in the document it says 'all cars will be required to unlap themselves' and yet they only let those five cars that were between Lewis and Verstappen unlap themselves. That's where Mercedes are asking if it's OK or not. But I guess in the end Michael Masi can decide what he wants, he's the race director."But Verstappen claimed the win in an insane finish and will be crowned the world champion for the first time."It's unbelievable. Throughout the whole race I kept fighting and to have an opportunity on the last lap, it's incredible. I'm having cramp. It's insane," he said.Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after he became the world champion, while Lewis Hamilton looks on. Photo / AP"I don't know what to say. My team and Honda, they deserve it. I love them so much and I really really enjoy working with them. This year has been incredible. Finally a bit of luck for me."I also need to say a big thank you to Checo. He was driving his heart out today, it was great team work and he's an amazing teammate."My team know I love them and I hope we can do this for 10-15 years together. There's...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 100 people are feared dead after a series of tornadoes ripped through several states in the Midwest and South and violently transformed homes and businesses into piles of rubble late Friday into Saturday.In Kentucky alone, the death toll is at least 80 people and is going to exceed 100, Gov. Andy Beshear told CNN on Sunday morning -- making it the deadliest tornado event in the state's history."I know people can see the visuals, but that goes on for 12 blocks or more in some of these places. And it's going to take us time," he said. "You think you would go door-to-door to check on people and see if they're OK. There are no doors."The question is, is somebody in the rubble of thousands upon thousands of structures? I mean, it is devastating," he added.Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," Beshear confirmed a 3-year-old in Graves County and a 5-year-old in Muhlenberg County were among the dead.Arkansas officials have reported two weather-related deaths; Tennessee has confirmed four; Illinois has reported six; and Missouri two. Kentucky has not released an official death toll.Across the region, destroyed buildings, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets in hard-hit areas, making it tougher for rescuers trying to reach communities left with no working phone or power lines.Tornadoes or strong winds collapsed an occupied candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon warehouse in western Illinois, and a nursing home in Arkansas, killing people in each community and leaving responders scrambling to rescue others.More than 30 tornadoes were reported in six states. CNN meteorologists said a stretch of more than 250 miles from Arkansas to Kentucky might have been hit by one violent, long-track twister.According Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, the severe storms are the "new normal" in an era of climate change."The effects we are seeing of climate change are the crisis of our generation," Criswell said. "We're taking a lot of efforts at FEMA to work with communities to help reduce the impacts that we're seeing from these severe weather events and help to develop systemwide projects that can help protect communities."Despite her assertion, scientific research on climate change's influence on tornadoes is not as robust as for other types of extreme weather like droughts, floods and even hurricanes. The short and small scale of tornadoes, along with an extremely spotty and unreliable historical record for them, makes assessing their relationships to long-term, human-caused climate change very difficult.Candle factory collapse in KentuckyIn Mayfield, Kentucky, a city of around 10,000 people, a candle factory collapsed into a massive pile of debris, and rescuers used their hands and machines to dig through the destruction."There's at least 15 feet of metal with cars on top of it, barrels of corrosive chemicals that are there. It will be a miracle if anybody else is found alive in it," Beshear said. "Downtown is completely devastated."Troy Propes, CEO of the company that owns the candle factory, said he believed workers in the factory followed the proper tornado safety protocols."Our factory was built as a manufacturing facility and the concrete walls and the steel frame and the structure," he said. "You would have thought it would have been one of the safest places but ironically, as you can see with this devastation, there wasn't anything safe about this storm.""I think hindsight is always an incredible lens to look through but I think everybody made the best decisions and the right decisions with the information that they had," he added.Some family members are still searching for relatives who worked at the candle factory.Paige Tingle, who was looking for her mother-in-law, Jill Monroe, said time is of the essence. The last time the family spoke with her, she was in the bathroom...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smoking. I'd have been about 14 or 15 when I first started smoking, even back then we knew it wasn't good for us and maybe that's part of why we did it. It was about breaking the rules, being a bit of a rebel. In hindsight, it was the dumbest thing I ever did. It's become an extremely expensive bad habit too and the year on year increases in excise duty have obviously helped more of us become ex-smokers. It is incredibly hard to stop, you get an almost instant chemical addiction and then very quickly an addiction to rituals and habits. So it stands to reason that the fewer of us who take it up to begin with, the better off we all are as a society. When I first heard it, I was a bit stunned at the brutally drastic steps the Government's taking. Anyone born after 2009 will be banned from buying tobacco products for life. Prohibited. And for those already hooked, a drastic reduction in the number of outlets and the types of products they can get. On the one hand, phasing out tobacco completely, making it an illegal substance will in principle be a good thing. But isn't methamphetamine illegal? And cocaine? And cannabis? Some people will grow it themselves; you can't stop that. Others will turn to the dark side, the underworld, a new black market. I believe people should be free to do what they choose with their bodies, provided it's not affecting anyone else. If our goal is to stop new people being recruited into the tobacco habit, we need to keep up the messaging to that target market. Smoking's had its day. It's not cool and it doesn't make you look hard. And now you have to stand outside in the rain to satisfy your addiction, it makes you look a bit sad. If we save people from the first cigarette, the one that starts a lifelong addiction, then that's got to be a good thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party's on the fence about the Beijing Winter Olympics, because it isn't privy to the same information as the Government. Canada has joined the United States and Australia in imposing a diplomatic boycott of the event, citing China’s human rights record. In this country, Sports Minister Grant Robertson says we're not sending ministers or diplomats because of Covid-19 but Trade Minister Damien O'Connor says it's a boycott. National's trade and export growth spokesperson, Todd McClay, told Tim Dower the party doesn't get the same advice as the Government. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi film lovers and fans of Middle-Earth will know today is an important anniversary. It's been 20 years since the first Lord of the Rings movie premiered. The Fellowship of the Ring started a global film franchise, but helped put New Zealand on the map in the film industry. As well as this, Hobbiton has become an international tourist attraction. Hobbiton movie set deputy CEO Shayne Forrest joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about travel insurance this morning got me thinking about going overseas again, and it's been a while. It's crept up on us, but from the middle of next month we can start to look at Australia again. Then, if it all goes to plan, we're into a staged opening of the borders, fully vaccinated people from overseas will be allowed in. 2022 is going to look very different to 2021. But are you ready to get on a long-haul flight again to go see those rellies in Europe? Look at the fares now, could you afford to get on a long-haul flight? And those twelve hour burns really take it out of you, plus the likelihood of having to have a mask on from arriving at the airport. Mmm... it's all getting less appealing the more I think about it. And if you did go up to Europe say, or the States, or Asia, as we know, the rules can change in a heartbeat. You could set off from New Zealand under one regime and find yourself locked out or quarantining on the way back, or refused entry to this country or that. Personally, I'm not up for the hassle. And just yesterday I was with the dog on the beach for our walk and a swim. Breathing in the fabulous view and the crystal clear water and thinking, wow, this is such a great place. How long is it since I last went on a South Island road trip? Too long. So good luck and bon voyage if you do decide to go overseas but for me, for now, home is where my heart is. And my holiday dollars too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 has irreparably changed travel. Government website SafeTravel says visiting every country except the Cook Islands will be risky and advises to avoid them. Dunedin-based Vincent George Travel believes leisure travel will be a while off yet, while repatriation flights dominate. Travel agent Rosann Connolly George told Tim Dower while there are Covid-19 provisions available in travel insurance, people need to read the small print. “Nothing will cover a border restriction or a sudden lockdown, or if you are in a country and all of a sudden you are unable to leave.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There may now be more of a rat race for employers, than workers. Seek job listings are up 35 percent year-on-year, with applications down 36 percent over the past two years. Vacancies in retail have skyrocketed by 65 percent, healthcare 56 percent and 54 percent in manufacturing, transport and logistics. Seek New Zealand Manager Rob Clark told Tim Dower for employers it's becoming a game of who has the best offer. “Salaries and wages, but more importantly, all the other benefits that come with that, flexibility of working et cetera are really top of mind for candidates at the moment.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business New Zealand is officially walking away from the Government's fair pay agreements. The business lobby group sees them as unfair and unlawful, and believes they'll do more harm than good for workers. Small Business Voice chief operating officer, Max Whitehead, told Tim Dower the agreements mean employers would be forced to engage with unions and workers would have to pay union fees. “So it’ll be negotiated, for example, in Wellington, government officials and unions will sit down and then have a chat and go ‘let’s increase the wages, should we go 30 percent this year? Or maybe 40 percent?’” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some interesting stuff has come out of Police Commissioner's session with the Justice Select Committee. Andrew Coster said we need to be careful about fixating on the gangs. When it comes to drugs and especially the big importers, he says discreet operators with global connections are the real problem. Coster says "90 per cent of people charged with importing, manufacturing, or dealing methamphetamine are not patched gang members.” He went on to say that in reality a gang member's lifestyle can be quite pitiful. They mostly deal drugs to support their own habits he says, and maybe have a bit left over to pay for petrol. Is he trying to make us feel sorry for them? I wonder if he's missed the point about the public's feelings over gangs. National's Mark Mitchell seems to have a better handle on that. He's appalled at the open warfare between gangs on his patch. And he says the public is sick of gang members taking over roads and public spaces, behaving as though they have licence to do what they want, quote unquote. And I think that's the point. If you or I have so much as an out of date warrant the police are all over us. Yet time after time we seen motorways blocked by processions of patched bikers. Burnouts in the streets and two-fingers to the rest of you, while the police stand there with their arms folded, watching it. New Zealanders should be able to feel safe going about their lawful business. Increasingly that is not the case, and it's happened on Cuddles' Coster's watch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The only people who could cause Sandra Goudie to lose her job would be her constituents. The Thames-Coromandel Mayor doesn't want Pfizer's Covid-19 jab and has recently spoken to an Australian anti-vaccination group. A no-confidence motion in Goudie was considered yesterday, but decided against, given it would be meaningless. Local Government New Zealand President, Stuart Crosby, told Tim Dower mayors are elected by the whole region, and it's up to the community to decide on their performance. He says they're there to represent the community's position and have the best insight into local issues. “Look many councils have tried to do things like symbolic acts and votes of no confidence, but at the end of the day the mayors are there.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A war of words between Northland's best-known politicians, over the checkpoints being kept in place over summer. Police have confirmed they'll work with local iwi to keep checkpoints in place on State Highway 1 at Uretiti near Waipu, and on State Highway 12 near Maungaturoto. Commissioner Andrew Coster says 74 staff will work at the checkpoints each day, equating to about 300 officers over a weekly roster. Cabinet Minster Kelvin Davis says criticising the iwi organisations involved is racist. But New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters told Tim Dower, they should be open to criticism. “People are making demands, and they’ve been making them for quite a long time without any authority in the Māori world, or the European world, or according to our law.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The America's Cup may not return to Auckland, but a new sailing event could replace it. Under a new deal, Auckland and Lyttleton will host alternate events in the Sail GP sailing competition for four years from 2023. Christchurch was due to host a one-off Sail GP event next month, but organisers had to cancel it after failing to secure 160 MIQ spots. Sailing expert Chris Steele told Tim Dower both cities are now set to benefit. “It’s basically alongside the America’s Cup now at the pinnacle of the sport and obviously the America’s Cup is once every three years, Sail GP runs year-round so it’s definitely up there.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think we're overdue a bit of honesty and openness on what's going on with the Auckland border. A bit of transparency. At the moment, we still have a hard border and if you've been through it, you'll have seen it's obviously a police operation. The actual checking as you go into and out of the contaminated zone could be done by a civilian with a little wand, I've also encountered uniformed soldiers. But it's clear the police are running things, and taking the opportunity to pull a few cars and trucks over for regular road safety checks. All very much in the interests of anyone on the roads. Now, come December 15th, those hard checkpoints on the northern and southern boundaries were meant to be going. A system based on trust we were told, with random police checks, like those you can expect anytime you're out on the roads. Now it turns out the police are building up a roster of 300 staff to run checkpoints in Northland. Grant Robertson trotted out the 'operational decision' line yesterday, but is that true? If it was true, what was the point of making law so it's OK to have iwi-led road blocks, provided police are there? How have police calculated they need 300 staff to support random checks? What have they been told about roadblock plans, that we don't know? Who's really driving this? Have the Government and police been pushed into maintaining checkpoints by the inference that, hey, if you don't do it, we will. What's it really going to be like, come December 15th? Who's really running the show? Come to that, who's really running the country?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fresh war of words has erupted over the fate of former New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian, who is reportedly being urged to run for federal politics despite the cloud hanging over her from an anti-corruption investigation. New South Wales’ Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has yet to deliver the findings of its inquiry into whether Ms Berejiklian breached the public’s trust or had a conflict of interest during her secret relationship with former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. It is also considering whether she failed in her duty to report suspected corruption, and whether she encouraged that sort of behaviour by turning a blind eye. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has, in recent weeks, been attacking ICAC for its investigation into Ms Berejiklian. Most notably, in one session of Question Time in late November, he denounced the treatment of her as “shameful”. “What was done to Gladys Berejiklian, the people of NSW know, was an absolute disgrace,” he said in parliament. “The Australian people know that the former premier of NSW was done over by a bad process, and an abuse.” He also called ICAC a “kangaroo court”. During a media conference at Woollahra Public School in NSW today, Mr Morrison was asked whether he thought Ms Berejiklian would be a “good candidate” for Warringah at next year’s federal election. “I think she’d be great,” he replied. “As I’ve said before, the way that Gladys Berejiklian has been treated over these events, I think has been shameful. I’ve been very clear about that. “Anthony Albanese thought that was the right thing to do to Gladys Berejiklian. I don’t think it was, and I look forward to her – she’ll make her own decision in her own time about what she would like to do, of course. If she wished to join our team, she would be very welcome.” - by Sam Clench, news.com.auLISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big boost for New Zealand's reputation in the video gaming industry. Developers Rocketwerkz new game 'Icarus: The First Cohort' is the top seller on a global platform called 'Steam' In Layman's terms, it's like being number one the Billboard chart. Duane Mutu is director of Let’s Play Live, an e-Sports and gaming company and he joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's being told to consider making KiwiSaver compulsory. Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark is looking at more changes to the nearly 15-year-old system. Financial Services Council chief executive Richard Klipin told Tim Dower people can opt out of the scheme, but it could be made mandatory. He says most people are paying three percent but should be given a target of about 10 percent. “The more active your investment options, the better the outcome and some of the default changes have already addressed some of those things.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says continuing to have Police officers on Auckland's northern border is a waste of resources. It's understood about 300 cops from around the country will be used to monitor border checkpoints after Auckland's border lifts on Wednesday next week. The Police Association says it's disappointing news. National Police Spokesman Mark Mitchell told Tim Dower it's a waste of valuable policing resource that is also needed in other places. “There are highly trained police officers, it takes a lot of money to train them. That’s just placing additional stress and workload on those officers that are there to fill the gap.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to give Chris Luxon a solid 8 for his first week as National Party leader. Much better than I'd expected to be honest, and to be further honest I wasn't even sure the caucus would actually pick him. And so far, MPs are making a decent fist of showing a united front. Maybe they've finally cottoned on to the fact that they can't afford another leadership crisis before the election. It's all or nothing now, and Luxon's put himself forward for what's always described as the worst job in politics. The next big job for Luxon is to announce the shadow Cabinet, and we'll get that today. Giving Simon Bridges Finance was a good move I think, and he must make good use of Judith Collins' knowledge and cunning, if she's willing. But if you look across the rest of the National Party caucus, it's pretty slim pickings. Shane Reti...Chris Bishop...Barbara Kuriger...Mark Mitchell...mmm...running out of potential Cabinet Ministers already. Labour is highly vulnerable on some major issues; housing, Three Waters, crime, the gangs, and the Covid response won't win it for them next time. I think there's a growing sense that the country would be irreversibly changed, if this lot got in again. So, the opportunity is there, but after only a year in parliament Luxon is bound to make mistakes. And Jacinda Ardern will be itching to humiliate and belittle him in the house. We've all seen her do it; putting people down in a mean-spirited and sneering way, turns out that's something she's actually quite good at. So, Chris Luxon is potentially making a big sacrifice for the party. No doubt he'd have preferred to get a bit more time under his belt before taking his shot. And if he can't win them the next election, or come very close, the knives will be out. Even now, I'll bet there's a few envious MPs lurking in dark corners, plotting quietly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland businesses are still missing out on a chunk of revenue - they're open, but stuck on the red. The traffic light system has seen bars, cafes and restaurants open across the city for the first time in months. People are required to use their vaccine passes for these places. Hospitality New Zealand Auckland President Jamie Freeman told Tim Dower bars have to wrap things up around 11pm rather than three or four AM. “We really need get back to orange or green. As I said before, that late night piece is such a large part of our revenue, being at orange we’re trading at low 40 percent.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new OneRoof report this morning paints a gloomy picture on housing affordability. People believe it will get even worse over the next two years, with most of them blaming property investors and overseas buyers. Infometrics' principal economist Brad Olsen joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another historic day for Ajaz Patel was not enough to prevent India from edging closer to a crushing second-test victory in Mumbai. Patel picked up four more wickets to go with the perfect 10 he took in the first innings as India declared on 276-7 midway through the third day. That gave the hosts a commanding 539-run lead and, in the half hour before tea, Tom Latham was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin for six. Will Young (20) and Ross Taylor (six) departed quickly after tea, but Daryl Mitchell (60) and Henry Nicholls (36 not out) added 73 for the fourth wicket to wrestle back some respectability and send the test to the fourth day. Mitchell fell in the final hour though, as did Tom Blundell, run out for a duck in a shocking mix-up, leaving the Black Caps at 140-5, a whopping 400 runs away from victory and staring down the barrel of one of their largest defeats. India have left the Black Caps in a tangle after three days of the second test. Photo / AP The series will almost certainly belong to India but, in an unceasing schedule of international cricket, few will remember their 1-0 triumph once the next fixtures begin. What will live long in the memory is the remarkable efforts of Patel. After snaring four scalps on day one and completing the full first-innings set with six more on day two, Patel's one-man show rolled on during day three. His four wickets gave him overall figures of 14-225, leaving him behind only Sir Richard Hadlee's 15-123 against Australia in 1985 as the second-best match analysis by a New Zealand bowler. Patel's performance also counted as the best in tests against India - overtaking Ian Botham's 13-wicket haul in 1980 - which would have been impossible for him to imagine when growing up in Mumbai. Ajaz Patel finished with 14 wickets. Photo / Photosport Although the spinner would have preferred his production lead to a different outcome, that was never likely after New Zealand, in reply to 325, had been skittled for 62 on day two. India had the match essentially won when they reached stumps on 69-0, choosing to spend day three racking up time in the middle ahead of a series against South Africa. That glorified batting practice at least presented Patel with the opportunity to add to his haul, one he seized before long. At the risk of being repetitive Patel was the only New Zealand bowler to enjoy success in the first session, the 33-year-old continuing to feast on the home cooking while his teammates found it a little less palatable. There were few signs of a comedown from his incredible high as Patel opened the bowling, sending down 12 consecutive overs while taking two more wickets. Mayank Agarwal was the first to go, holing out to Will Young. Cheteshwar Pujara then gave Patel an even dozen, edging a low catch to Ross Taylor as the hosts advanced to lunch on 142-2. Patel finally received a break from the bowling crease in the second session and, after 170 overs across both innings, another New Zealand bowler finally chipped in, Rachin Ravindra picking up his first test wickets to finish with 3-56. New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, left, celebrates the dismissal of India's Virat Kohli with his teammates. Photo / AP But Patel wouldn't stay out of the action for long, needing two balls upon his reintroduction to remove Shreyas Iyer before making Jayant Yadav his 14th and final victim.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new traffic light system puts more responsibilities on businesses to enforce vaccine mandates and rules around proof of vaccine passes. Employsure Employment Relations Specialist Maddie McKenzie told Kate Hawkesby the feedback is mixed. "Employers are concerned they're losing some of their best employees because of the vaccine mandates."She said, even where vaccine mandates stand for certain industries, employers must still follow a fair and reasonable consultation process for those not wanting to get vaccinated.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How have we survived 107 days of lockdown Auckland? 188 if you add in last year's locked down days too... amazing. So, as we finish the alert level system and head into the traffic lights today, I'm actually putting a stop light on the old alarm now for a few weeks. This is my last show for the year. We worked through the lockdowns again this year so we gathered a lot of leave. Well, some more than others, my husband still has another week of work to go, but I'm off. Which is bittersweet actually, because I love my little show, my listeners, and our team. And the news cycle just keeps going this year, just when you think it might wind down, it's hello Omicron, hello new National party leadership and that’s the beauty of news I guess, new every day and constantly evolving. It has us hooked. So, we love it - but we’ve also experienced a lot of love back from you guys this year, for which we're tremendously grateful. If you know the radio biz, you know we live or die by our ratings and these are surveyed throughout the year, and what’s been amazing for us is the huge amount of support we’ve had, which has grown and grown and grown. In fact in this latest survey, we had record high ratings, and for that we thank you so much, from the bottom of our tired little hearts. We're a small team, there’s just me and producer Alex here in the mornings, and he’s new to all this, and mornings have been tough for him – gosh getting up at 2.30am would be tough for anybody. But he’s handled it like a champ, done us proud, and is a delight to work with. So huge thanks to Alex for all his hard work and kudos to him, a young gun coming in and presiding over a ratings surge. But that’s largely about you guys too, the listeners. We have such a loyal and supportive audience and for that I really am grateful, we don’t take it for granted. You challenge us and hold us accountable. And we so appreciate your feedback, because our job actually is to serve you, and if we’re not doing that well, then we’re not doing our jobs. So, it’s a job I love, the immediacy of it, the intimacy of it, the camaraderie of it. I feel like we’re all in this together, in this little early morning club of pre-dawn risers - either off to work, or to walk the dog, or do some exercise, or take the kids to sport, or get to work, or feed the baby, or just lie in bed with a coffee and get a jump on the day's news. You’re all incredibly important to us, so thank you, I’ll miss you and miss this. I probably won’t miss my alarm if I’m honest, I’ll appreciate sleeping past 3am, but I’ll be back raring to go in the New Year. In the meantime, others will hold the fort on this show, but I wish you a very Happy Christmas, a safe and sound New Year, and look forward to being back in your ear holes in a few weeks' time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the dawn on the new Traffic Light System, comes new freedoms, especially for Aucklanders, who have been in lockdown for 107 days. Waiheke island has been off-limits for visitors during lockdown, with non-residents banned. But this morning, they're welcoming people back with open arms. Waiheke local board chairperson Cath Handley told Kate Hawkesby they're ready for it. "To have the island nice and quiet has been absolutely lovely but, the businesses definitely need it."She said they're expecting a lot of people this weekend.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs business leaders are becoming more aware of social issues outside the workplace. The Institute of Directors have released their sentiment report, looking into the mood of board directors. 50-percent believe CEOs should be speaking out on social issues such as climate change and mental health. Chief Executive Kirsten Patterson said it shows times are changing. She said boards do need to be more awake to social issues like diversity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A British court has dismissed an appeal by a newspaper publisher seeking to overturn an earlier ruling that it breached the privacy of the Duchess of Sussex by publishing portions of a letter she wrote to her estranged father. The Court of Appeal in London upheld a High Court ruling in February that publication of the letter that the former Meghan Markle wrote to her father Thomas Markle after she married Prince Harry in 2018 was "manifestly excessive and hence unlawful". The publisher of the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline website challenged that decision at the Court of Appeal, which held a hearing last month. In a statement, Meghan said the ruling was "a victory not just for me, but for anyone who has ever felt scared to stand up for what's right". "While this win is precedent-setting, what matters most is that we are now collectively brave enough to reshape a tabloid industry that conditions people to be cruel, and profits from the lies and pain that they create." Associated Newspapers disputed Meghan's claim that she didn't intend the letter to be seen by anyone but her father. They said correspondence between Meghan and her then-communications secretary, New Zealander Jason Knauf, showed the duchess suspected her father might leak the letter to journalists and wrote it with that in mind. The publisher also argued that the publication of the letter was part of Thomas Markle's right to reply following misleading media reports that alleged he was "cruelly cold-shouldering" his daughter in the run-up to her royal wedding. But a judge ruled Thursday that the article, which the Mail on Sunday described as "sensational," was "splashed as a new public revelation," rather than focusing on Thomas Markle's response to those reports. In their appeal, Associated Newspapers had also argued that Meghan made private information public by cooperating with Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, authors of "Finding Freedom," a sympathetic book about her and Harry. The duchess' lawyers had previously denied that she or Harry collaborated with the authors. But Knauf said in evidence to the court that he gave the writers information, and discussed it with Harry and Meghan. Knauf's evidence, which hadn't previously been disclosed, was a dramatic twist in the long-running case. In response, Meghan, 40, apologised for misleading the court about the extent of her cooperation with the book's authors. The duchess said she didn't remember the discussions with Knauf when she gave evidence earlier in the case, "and I apologise to the court for the fact that I had not remembered these exchanges at the time". "I had absolutely no wish or intention to mislead the defendant or the court," she said in a written statement. Meghan, a former star of the American TV legal drama Suits, married Harry, a grandson of the Queen, at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Meghan and Harry announced in early 2020 that they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They have settled in Santa Barbara, California, with their two young children. By - Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders, do you want the following things, and if so, how much are you prepared to pay for them? Because if the mayor has his way, you will be paying for them. A more frequent bus route, decarbonization of the ferry fleet, 122 million bucks), $228 million for walking and cycling, $13.3 million for ‘urban food gardens’, 66 new low emissions buses, 14 thousand 800 native trees for south Auckland. Are you into this? Because you’ll be paying for it. Every household will be charged a ‘climate levy’ .. in council's proposed billion-dollar climate action package over the next two years. Let’s not forget the Auckland council declared a climate emergency in 2019, but the mayor says it's still not enough. So, a levy on top of the rates we already pay, and if you’re wondering why, Phil Goff reckons we asked for it. He said he’s “clearly heard from Aucklanders” that they want council to “do more on climate change and to improve our public transport system.” Show me the people who said this, and tell me how much they were willing to pay for it. Because what I can ‘clearly hear’ from Aucklanders is that this is tone deaf for a city that’s been thrashed, trashed, gutted and hamstrung for all these months. Auckland has an emergency housing, homeless and crime problem bigger than it can handle, businesses going belly up, house prices through the roof, a stripped bare CBD, more cycle and bus lanes than we know what to do with, and apparently that’s our focus? More of these cycle and bus lanes that barely get used as it is? Are you kidding me? How are council’s so out of touch? Who are the Aucklanders they’re talking to? The handful who ride their bike to the library once a week? What about the rest of Auckland? The thousands in their cars, the thousands living in areas swamped with emergency housing issues, the thousands whose livelihoods have been shattered by an extended lockdown, the thousands who own retail businesses overwhelmed by crime with homeless on their doorstep and graffiti on their walls? Are they the Aucklanders saying they want to pay more for a focus on bus lanes and decarbonising the ferries? Give me a break. The idealogues have one main problem – they don’t live in the real world. Asking Aucklanders to 'please shift' to public transport, hasn’t worked, isn’t working and is not going to work. Adding more bus and cycle lanes is only going to piss more people off, it’s not going to get mothers of 4 on the school run out of their cars and suddenly popping everyone and their school bag, PE gear and musical instrument onto a bike. I mean come on. It’s just not reality. The reality is the congestion on Auckland’s roads is the traffic snarling into one lane backed up for miles because a bus lane is taking up half the road sitting empty. Day after day, rush hour after rush hour. Council dreaming up a way to make ratepayers pay more for a feel-good tax, is just not it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ghislaine Maxwell's defense attorneys sought Wednesday to undermine a key accuser's allegation that the British socialite helped financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse the woman for years, starting when she was 14. The trial witness, who has said she's using the pseudonym "Jane" to protect her 22-year acting career, had testified in graphic detail on Tuesday about the alleged encounters in the 1990s, portraying Maxwell as an active participant. During a methodical cross examination, defense attorney Laura Menninger confronted the woman with FBI documents from 2019 and 2020, saying she had told the government her memory was foggy on whether Maxwell was present when Epstein molested her and on whether she ever touched her. Other documents claimed she said that no abuse occurred during a visit to Epstein's ranch in New Mexico. That contradicted her testimony about alleged encounters with him there that she said made "my heart sink into my stomach." The witness denied ever changing her story. She challenged the accuracy of the documents, saying her statements were never recorded. "This was just someone jotting down notes. … A lot of these are not correct," she said. At another point, she responded, "I don't recall saying what's written here." She did not dispute other documents saying she had named several "model types" and other women she said witnessed participating in group massages with Epstein. She also confirmed telling the FBI she once flew on a private jet with Britain's Prince Andrew. Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges that prosecutors say show that she and Epstein were "partners in crime." The defense has countered by claiming she's being made a scapegoat for 66-year-old Epstein, who killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 as he awaited his own sex trafficking trial. On Tuesday, the accuser described numerous sexual encounters with Maxwell and Epstein that began in 1994 and continued through 1997. When recounting the first time she was abused by Epstein, she said she was "frozen in fear." Another time, she said she was taken to a massage room where he and Maxwell both took advantage of her. Other encounters involved sex toys or turned into oral sex "orgies" with other young women and Maxwell, she added. On cross examination, the defense has also attacked the witness's credibility by asking why she waited over 20 years to report the alleged abuse by Maxwell to law enforcement. She said that she mostly avoided the subject for years because it was too painful. The woman is the first of four alleged victims slated to testify against Maxwell at a trial expected to last about six weeks. - By TOM HAYS Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Government support package which aims to revitalise Auckland by issuing families vouchers for local attractions and events has been panned by the hospitality sector, which says it's been "left to die". Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that Aucklanders will be offered 100,000 vouchers this summer for a range of activities in a bid to "reactivate" the city as it shakes off the shackles of nearly four months in lockdown. But restaurant, bars and businesses in the hospitality industry will not be included in the scheme. MP for Auckand Central Chlöe Swarbrick joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Security experts are warning kiwis to be extra cautious when buying toys online this Christmas. Cyber criminals are banking on global supply issues and people's frustrations, in order to offer dodgy deals online. ‘If it's too good to be true... Then it probably is.’ Dean Williams is a systems engineer for NortonLifeLock and joined Kate Hawkesby from Australia. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning to not put schools in the middle of the Covid-19 vaccine debate. The Government's hoping to start rolling out the inoculation programme for five to 11-year-olds by the end of next month. Principals' Federation president Perry Rush says most of the 14 principals on his executive support it, but some people in communities are concerned. He says told Kate Hawkesby we shouldn't create conflict in schools. “That’s really important, it certainly makes sense to use them as a venue, but there needs to be some careful discussion in local communities so that boards can take the temperature of their community and then make decisions accordingly.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A world-first automated beef boning system made in Dunedin hopes to solve worker shortages.The high-speed technology, combining X-ray vision with robotic and mechanical automation, can process 200 carcasses an hour.Scott Technology Chief Executive John Kippenberger told Kate Hawkesby rural companies in New Zealand, Australia and the US have been struggling with labour supply.“Automation was important pre the pandemic, but also even more important following the impact of the virus.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I wrote an editorial on Luxon getting the leadership yesterday once we got wind of it in the afternoon, about an hour before their caucus met and before Luxon spoke.But I had to throw that out and start again once he spoke, because when he did, he changed my mind.I was pleasantly surprised, actually, I was impressed.He came out swinging, got straight into all the issues, he talked up achievements over announcements, he gave farmers a long-overdue high five, had a solid answer for the faith question, (he hasn’t been to a Church in five years, FYI) he confidently addressed a Three Waters question, while balancing the underdog card — admitting he might make mistakes because he’s new to politics. And on that, do we overplay that new to politics thing? I mean don’t we just want the best person for the job? And isn’t a wide range of skills from being strong in management, to having sound economical nous, critical for us as a country going forward? You want the smarts right? Not necessarily the longest term of being an MP. I mean there are a hell of a lot of MP’s, and Ministers for that matter sitting around parliament for an incredibly long time, and still not much chop.I mean what’s one of the most common criticisms of the current government? That none of them have any real-world experience, barely any of them have run a business. Career politicians are not necessarily a good thing. They can be disconnected from reality, too entrenched inside their Wellington centric bubble.So yes Luxon’s new to politics, but he’s not new to management or problem solving or getting results. He’s spent years living overseas, he’s got experience in life. That’s a plus.I thought he made all the right noises yesterday, powering up the economy, productivity, people generating more income, improving quality of life, investing in multigenerational infrastructure, improving education, mental health. He says the difference with a National government is that they trust people, and they get the job done. Fewer platitudes, PR spin and announcements, he said, and more vision followed by execution.Deputy I thought might be Bridges by way of a deal, but Nicola Willis is a sound choice. She’s a solid performer, and together I think they make a solid pairing. The key is they’re new, and they feel fresh.Which is just what National needs.So fresh team, fresh faces, fresh challenges, the critical bit though will be fresh poll results.Luxon says that he’s “built a career out of reversing the fortunes of underperforming companies” and he'll bring "real-world experience to the role."All of National’s hopes are now pinned on him doing both of those things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global stocks and oil prices fell again Tuesday after a brief respite from the heavy sell-off triggered by the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant.Stocks in Asia Pacific and Europe slid, while Wall Street opened weaker. Oil prices fell about 3% as more countries reported cases of the variant and imposed new travel restrictions. The mood was also dampened by a warning from Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel that current vaccines will struggle with Omicron."There is no world, I think, where [the effectiveness] is the same level . . . we had with [the] Delta [variant]," Bancel said in an interview with the Financial Times published on Tuesday. "I think it's going to be a material drop. I just don't know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I've talked to ... are like, 'This is not going to be good'."South Korea's Kospi led losses in Asia, falling 2.4%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 1.6%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.6%. The Shanghai Composite was flat. China's economy got some good news Tuesday as its big factories showed signs of a recovery.European indexes opened about 1% lower before trimming those losses a little during the session.There is still a lot that's unknown about the Omicron variant, but scientists are racing to determine its severity, transmissibility and whether it evades current vaccines.Moderna's Bancel said in a statement last week that the mutations in the Omicron variant were "concerning," adding that the company has been "moving as fast as possible to execute our strategy to address this variant."The world has settled into a "choppy holding pattern, for clarity about just [how] worried, or not, we should be about the new Covid-19 Omicron variant," wrote Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at Oanda, in a Tuesday research note.He pointed out that stocks fell in South Korea after the government there shelved plans to ease its Covid-19 restrictions, "highlighting once again, what is really driving markets right now."Japan on Tuesday, meanwhile, confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant.US stocks made a comeback on Monday after an Omicron-spurred selloff late last week. But they opened lower Tuesday, and then extended losses after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed could wind down its stimulus sooner than expected."At this point the economy is very strong and inflationary pressures are high and it is therefore appropriate in my view to consider wrapping up the taper of our asset purchases ... perhaps a few months sooner," Powell testified before the Senate.By 11.15 a.m. ET, the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were all down about 1.3%.Oil prices are also sliding, after collapsing Friday on fears that the variant would hurt energy demand by eating into the amount of people driving and flying. Both Brent crude, the global benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark, fell more than 3% to trade below $71 and $68 a barrel, respectively.- by Jill Disis, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.