Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

DHBs could offer employment to final year medical students, if Omicron puts too much pressure on our hospitals. The number of Covid patients in hospitals have been rising daily, since last week. The Resident Doctors Association says they're short across the board for doctors, critically so in emergency departments. National secretary Deborah Powell says they've been planning for a surge, which includes sixth-year medical students taking on more responsibility. “They won’t be registered medical practitioners but they’re still pretty well informed, they know how to assess a patient and then they can report back to the doctor on duty.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a born and bred Aucklander, who I’m ashamed to say, once voted for Phil Goff as Mayor, I can honestly say, we won’t miss him. You don’t need to live or work in Auckland to see what an absolute cluster it is. The place is a mess. The CBD’s been obliterated, the roads ruined, the infrastructure is shocking, the traffic’s the worst it’s ever been, the development of shoddy buildings and infill housing is depressing, and the public transport system an absolute joke. It’s not all Phil’s fault of course. But most of it is. He cited in his retirement announcement the things he was proud of - containing the spread of Kauri die back was one. I rest my case. Show me the Aucklander who gives a toss about Kauri die back when they’re stuck in commuter traffic for hours on end and there’s not a bus or a train to be seen. He thinks Auckland is a world class city now. I’ve lived here all my life, and having also lived in London, I can tell you categorically, it’s not. He also cites as part of his success, implementing a living wage for council employees. So he took ratepayers money to hand out to his employees. This smacks of a guy who never left the office. He was also obsessed with climate change – he got over two million native trees planted. So trees, a living wage for councillors, and closing some parks to stave off Kauri die back. This is Auckland city. Not a quaint seaside town. We needed more focus on roads, traffic, transport, the CBD, and fighting for Aucklanders during an economically devastating string of lockdowns. But Phil was too cosy with his old Labour mates, didn’t challenge them, didn’t fight for us, didn’t get out into the streets enough to see what was really going on. So now the opportunity awaits for someone new, someone fresh, someone who – please for the love of God – fights for the country’s biggest city. Trouble is, mayoral candidates often seem like a line up of fringe characters who, once inside a Council building; are unfortunately only as strong as their Council. And that’s the other problem. People who proffer themselves up as council candidates are largely bored people who love admin, meetings and probably in a previous life wrote a lot of letters to the editor. In other words, not real people living in the real world. And half of it's our fault too.. because we don’t vote in local body elections, we don’t care enough. I was tempted to run for Mayor once, I jokingly suggested it on air and was blown away by the amount of support I got – people offering to fund and run my campaign, including support from politicians. It just goes to show anyone could put their hand up and get some semblance of a campaign behind them. I’d do it if I didn’t hate meetings and admin and councillors so much. But I’m passionate about Auckland and fixing it so please could someone awesome throw their hat in the ring. And please could the rest of us not waste our votes and pay attention. The last time I wasn't paying attention I voted for Phil Goff, so you can see how dire this can get when we don't give it our full focus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With daily Covid cases coming within an inch of hitting that one thousand mark, more of us will be close contacts and have to isolate. That could mean more stress for workers who're going to have to pick up the slack. One expert predicts that a "tidal of wave of risk" is coming. He warns some workers are at risk of being exploited and taken advantage of to fill the gaps. Chris O'Reilly is CEO of AskYourTeam, which provide insights into workers wellbeing and he joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contenders in the Auckland mayoral race are lining up. Phil Goff is standing down as Mayor of Auckland, a post he's held since 2016. Councillor Efeso Collins and HeadQuarters bar owner Leo Molloy have put their hands up for the job, and Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck is expected to as well. Massey University Associate Professor Grant Duncan told Kate Hawkesby Collins is a strong contender because Aucklanders tend to support left wing candidates, but he says Beck has a chance. “But of course, it’s completely open now, we don't have an obvious front runner this time.” Grant Duncan doesn't rate Molloy's chances very highly, but says he'll make the race interesting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown businesses are in crisis, with the Chamber of Commerce saying most expect to close within a week. The carnage has been sparked by the number of Covid-19 cases and close contacts having to go into self-isolation. The number of active cases in the Queenstown-Lakes region reached 41 as of yesterday - the highest anywhere in the South Island. Queenstown Chamber of Commerce CEO Ruth Stokes told Kate Hawkesby things are dire. She's suggesting workers might rort the system. “This is people being able to ring up their mates and say ‘hey shall I call you as a close contact and we can stay at home?’ Labour shortages were acute before this and this chaos is coming to town near you.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden administration on Friday escalated dire warnings of a possibly imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could happen at any moment, even as emergency diplomatic efforts continued. U.S. officials said the United States is preparing to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv, and Americans in Ukraine are being told to leave within the next 48 hours.Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.As diplomatic options for averting war in Ukraine appeared to narrow, the White House said President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin would discuss the crisis by phone on Saturday.Biden has said the U.S. military will not enter a war in Ukraine, but he has promised severe economic sanctions against Moscow, in concert with international allies.Timing of possible Russian military action remains a key question.The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was, and the White House publicly underscored that the U.S. does not know with certainty whether Putin is committed to invasion.However, U.S. officials said anew that Russia's buildup of offensive air, land and sea firepower near Ukraine has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.U.S. officials told The Associated Press late Friday that the State Department plans to announce early Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment.The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said a small number of officials may remain in Kyiv but the vast majority of the almost 200 Americans will be sent out or relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the Polish border, so the U.S. can retain a diplomatic presence in the country.Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, urged all Americans in Ukraine to leave, emphasizing that they should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.Several NATO allies including Britain, Canada, Norway and Denmark also are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine, as is non-NATO ally New Zealand.Sullivan said Russian military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive."Yes, it is an urgent message because we are in an urgent situation,” he told reporters at the White House.“Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding, "Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.”In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine's eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.Sullivan's stark warning accelerated the...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor Mallard has officially lost the plot.If you're in any doubt, google the column my colleague Heather du-Plessis Allan wrote for the Herald On Sunday yesterday.She pointed out his disturbing overreach whereby he “advised” media to stay away from protestors outside Parliament. Heather questions how much of this is actually 'advice' versus instruction – and how democratic is it really to keep media away from a protest. He’s done it under the guise of protection of course – appointing himself as some overarching protector of all – whether they want or need to be protected or not. It’s an old school ‘I know best’ approach that reeks of patriarchy and has no place here in the modern world. But what the Government's tried to do here – and failed in my opinion, is grab the narrative on this protest and shut it down. Problem is they’ve only made things worse.Refusing to speak to the protestors, writing them all off as wacko conspiracy theorists, and rabid far-right anti-vaxxers is a big mistake – and has only served to gaslight the situation. Media who've ignored Mallard’s instructions, have managed to gauge a large diversity of views from a raft of other people there too – yes there are your fringe nutters, but actually, the anger runs deep and there're some genuinely aggrieved people out there too.Only a fool would dismiss them and hope they go away. Yet that’s what Mallard, Robertson and Ardern are trying to do. Robertson's rolled out the usual sneering condescending frown down the nose rhetoric which is so popular in the left-leaning sandpit of Twitter.. just writing them off as dangerous rabid crazies. Mallard has taken it next level – he’s stooped to childish antics of pulling dumb – as someone pointed out “boomer” stunts -– like sticking hoses on them and playing them the Macarena.Why try to turn this into a joke? Not even the Police support his actions and have distanced themselves from that stupidity. And why give it this much attention if the government line is supposed to be ignore them? Ardern on the other hand has done what she does best – head in sand, fingers in ears – vanish. She's invisible. But when put on the spot to address it, she joins the Robertson ‘write them off’ camp.But it’s not working, the protest is only swelling in number, not even a cyclone diminished their enthusiasm.The other problem for the government is the hypocrisy on display here. Let’s not forget all these MP’s decrying the protest were all proud protestors themselves back in the day. So they support free speech, and your right to protest.. but only if it aligns with their views. I’m not on the side of the protestors here by the way – they’ve blown this by a long shot – it’s a disorganised shambolic out of control mess.But I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to write them all off as anti-vaxxers and far-right conspirators. There is genuine anger that runs deep in this now very divided country, over mandates and the campaign of control and fear.So to just write off those protesting without even hearing them, is a dangerous move I think, by a government increasingly out of its depth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Fox secured the biggest title of his career by winning the Ras Al Khaimah Classic by five shots on Sunday.It was the 211th-ranked New Zealander's first victory in a 72-hole format on the European tour. His only other title was in a Super 6 tournament in 2019 that featured a six-hole knockout format following 54 holes of strokeplay.Fox went into the final round in Abu Dhabi with a six-shot lead — on 19 under — and a load of nerves.He bogeyed two of his first six holes to allow the field to close in, but played the final 11 holes in 4 under and wound up shooting 3-under 69 for 22 under overall."Sleeping on a six-shot lead, I didn't sleep very well last night," Fox said. "Obviously a couple of the guys came at me early. I was a bit nervous. I had that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach all day.""But I'm very happy with how I played. A couple of great shots coming down the stretch and it was certainly nice walking down the last with putter in hand with so many putts to win."Ross Fisher finished in second place after a closing 66 at Al Hamra Golf Club, the latest stop on the tour's "Desert Swing."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international analyst says New Zealand would be impacted by a war in Europe.United States intelligence has indicated a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent.The New Zealand Government has told New Zealanders in Ukraine to leave immediately.Democracy Project International Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Kate Hawkesby war would affect oil prices and New Zealand's trade.“If you’ve got a war in Europe, suddenly that’s not good for New Zealand exporters. We are an island literally, but not figuratively.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor Mallard's predecessor is telling him to grow up.David Carter, Parliament’s Speaker during the last National-led government, has lashed out at Mallard's handling of the Parliamentary protest.Anti-mandate protestors are into the seventh day of their rally on the grounds of Parliament.Mallard's had sprinklers on, and blasted them with some of the world's most hated songs in an attempt to move them on.Police say they don't endorse the tactics.Carter told Kate Hawkesby it doesn't do anything for New Zealand's reputation on the international stage.“Which is in tatters frankly. We had the Charlotte Bellis incident three weeks ago, and now New Zealand’s in the international headlines because we have a Speaker acting in a boorish, childish way.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Charles has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating. A message on his official Twitter page said Charles tested positive on Thursday morning UK time and was "deeply disappointed" not to be able to attend a scheduled visit in the city of Winchester in southern England. Charles, 73, met dozens of people during a large reception at London's British Museum on Wednesday evening. He was accompanied by his wife Camilla, and was in close contact with Britain's Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, among others. Charles' office, Clarence House, confirmed that he is triple vaccinated. It was not immediately clear what his condition was. Charles previously contracted the coronavirus in March 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic. Officials said he had mild Covid-19 symptoms then, and Charles said later that Charles and Camilla isolated in Scotland at the time. Britain's Press Association news agency reported that Charles recently met with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, but the monarch was not displaying any symptoms. The queen, 95, marked her Platinum Jubilee on Sunday by expressing her wish for Camilla to be known as Queen Consort when Charles becomes king. Camilla carried on with her engagements as scheduled, visiting a sexual assault referral center in London. Spain's King Felipe VI, 54, and Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, 81, also tested positive for the coronavirus this week. - APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m just wondering this morning if we, as women, need to apologise now for being women. Or for calling ourselves women. Is it insulting that we are happy to be women? Adele has been in hot water this week for her acceptance speech at the Brit Awards as she collected the gong for Artist of the Year. It used to be two categories, Best Male Artist and Best Female Artist, but in a move we should’ve all seen coming, that was changed to the more gender neutrally appropriate “Best Artist’. So Adele said when she accepted the award, "I understand why the name of this award has changed but I really love being a woman and being a female artist. I do!" That’s what she said – to huge applause and cheers by the way. But here’s the difference between the real world and the online world – the keyboard warriors lit up. What travesty was this?! No less than a transphobic slur, she must be transphobic! Why would she say such a thing? How dare she! Twitter users (who else) blew up in fury – “Who’d have thought Adele was a transphobe and would use her platform to call for the destruction of the trans community!” said one. The destruction of the trans community? Are you serious? Some said they’d lost respect for her and ‘wouldn’t spend another cent on her music’. She was accused of confusing teenagers. To be clear here, all she did was say she loves being a woman. And that now, apparently qualifies as cancellation worthy. And this is where cancel culture is eating itself. It’s so inane and ridiculous that you now cannot even enjoy being the gender you are, for fear it upsets those who don’t believe in gender. Worse still, those who are affronted by her daring to say she likes being a woman, are now bullying her online, in the hope that what? She denies her own existence? That she apologises for being a woman? That she stops referring to herself as a woman? That God forbid she backtracks and decries enjoying being a woman? Where is all this going? What’s the end game here? Why do we all have to be the same? And why do we have to bend and change ourselves constantly to fit in with whoever the latest person or group to be offended is? Surely that’s a bottomless pit? There will be no individuality left at all, if we go down that track. I mean the Tweeters that are outraged that she’s apparently confused teenagers by saying she loves being a woman, what about the teenagers who’re seeing this bullying backlash against a woman for saying she likes being a woman? What message is that sending them? Some sprung to Adele’s defence – thank goodness. One author’s reported as saying, "A decade ago, if someone had said a woman would [be criticised] for the thought-crime of saying she liked being a woman, I would have laughed at such a ludicrous suggestion. Now it is happening.” She’s right - it is ludicrous. So ludicrous in fact that Adele hasn’t even bothered responding to it. But maybe someone should tell Shania Twain? Surely it can’t be long before her song, “Man, I feel like a woman,” gets cancelled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are feeling the pinch under the Covid-19 protection framework. A new survey by MYOB shows more than half expect to see a negative impact on the financial health of their business, if the country stays in Red for more than a month. Almost a quarter believe they will take a significant financial hit. Head of Go to Market at MYOB Jo Tozer told Kate Hawkesby they've had a mix of feedback from their customers. “Some are noticing a drop in customers through their doors, others a degree of caution but still enjoying a solid summer, but seeing the data now makes quite stark reading.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says the Government's new close contact exemption scheme has too many barriers. In phase two of our Omicron response, critical business workers found to be close contacts won't need to isolate, if they return negative rapid antigen tests. But companies wishing to sign up, will still need to meet certain criteria. National's Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop told Kate Hawkesby RATs should be available to everyone. “It’s hard to imagine a more bureaucratically inept system that the Government could design, it’s classic Labour. I just don’t understand why we’re making it so difficult. Everyone acknowledges we need rapid antigen tests.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m feeling the itchy feet, the urge to travel is back. Now that we can, it’s tantalising isn’t it? I’m worried that once everybody does start bouncing out the door, I’m going to get wicked FOMO. But here’s the problem, with all this time locked up at home and locked down, I’ve become too attached to the dog and vice versa. I’m serious. I don’t know how I leave her now. She didn’t cope well when my daughter finally went back to school, having had all these months of just having everyone home all the time, walking her, cuddling her, feeding her, playing with her. And now it’s like, well real life is knocking on the door again and the dog’s not coping. She’s gotten used to us all at her every beck and call. And I’ve become so attached to her that I genuinely don’t know how I would up sticks and leave her to gallivant off somewhere. Only dog people will understand this of course. So, I’m not sure what I’m going to do here. I fear my family will probably just go regardless and leave me and the dog behind. So how many of us are heading out back into the world? Flight Centre said in one report that ‘travel inquiries surged by 75 per cent the day border restrictions for vaccinated Kiwis were relaxed.” Apparently, vaccination rates equal travel confidence. And there’s nothing like being locked up for two years to make one feel like they need to spread their wings. So where are we all going? (Well, those of us who can leave their dogs that is.) Flight Centre says most popular destinations include London, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as India. And how many of us are actually going? Flight Centre research said in one report that of around 160,000 clients, 88 percent of them intended on travelling. But intending to, and actually making it out the door are two different things aren’t they. We’re seeking luxury though apparently – people want to make the most of their holidays having missed out on them for two years, Flight Centre says. We want a trip to remember. But you don’t want it to be memorable for having spent it in a mask or isolating. Or for catching some new variant, and that’s my other worry (apart from the dog). Imagine spending a fortune on some exotic far flung holiday and then some new variant crops up and everything grinds to a halt and you’re back isolating again or stuck somewhere. I mean I think until the world feels truly back to normal and we’re not hearing the word “Covid’ in news reports anywhere, ever, then we may at that point start to feel fully relaxed about travel being normal again. But I imagine at the moment it still involves a lot of testing, temperature checking, extra sanitising and queuing, which can bog down your travel plans and make it a bit admin heavy. Won’t it be cool when the world’s 100 percent back to normal and we can just jump on planes again? No masks, no temperature checks, no tests. Until then, I think I may just be sitting tight at home with the dog.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a busy day in the capital yesterday as the convoy protesters continued their stay on the lawns of Parliament. Three people were taken into custody after attempting to breach police lines, while an official trespassing notice was issued. Chester Burrows is a former police officer and joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tinder Swindler is now one of the most popular films on Netflix. It shows the dangers of online dating, with a fraudster scamming several women for a total of $10m. NortonLifeLock have a report out this morning, saying more than half of Kiwis vet their matches online, and nearly 2/5 un-match as a result. Senior director at NortonLifeLock Mark Gorrie joined Kate Hawkesby from Australia. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday in parliament, New Zealand's relationship with the monarchy was once again debated. This was after a motion was set to congratulate Queen Elizabeth on her platinum jubilee, a 70-year reign. But the Māori Party voted against the motion, and the Greens say our head of state should be from Aotearoa New Zealand. Questions have therefore been raised as to how the monarchy and the UK would feel if we turned our backs on the institution. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi director Jane Campion is leading the Oscar nominations this year with 12 nods for her film The Power of the Dog. But as always, the list of nominations was full of surprises, announced this week by comedy actors Leslie Jordan and Tracee Ellis Ross. From Dune to House of Gucci, several of the biggest films released over the past year have missed out in the major categories. Here are the most shocking snubs on this year's list of nominees. Best Actress — Lady Gaga (House of Gucci) Gaga was gunning for an Oscar with her role as Patrizia Reggiani - but while she landed nominations at the BAFTAs and the SAG Awards, the Academy wasn't convinced enough to recognise her performance. Best Supporting Actress — Caitriona Balfe (Belfast) Outlander star Caitriona Balfe was a frontrunner for an Oscar nom with her performance as Ma in Belfast. But she was edged out by her co-star Judi Dench, who picked up the nomination - her eighth to date - instead. Best Supporting Actor — Jared Leto (The House of Gucci) Jared Leto was unrecognisable as Paolo Gucci under layers of makeup and a thick accent, picking up both a Critics' Choice Award and a SAG Award nomination. However, Oscar voters gave him a pass. Best Supporting Actor — Bradley Cooper (Licorice Pizza) Cooper's brief but hilarious performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza has been earning him plenty of awards love, just not enough to propel him toward an Oscar nomination. Best Supporting Actor — Ben Affleck (The Tender Bar) Affleck earned rave reviews for his turn as a bar owner under George Clooney's direction, as well as Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations. But it didn't land him an Oscar nomination. Best Original Song — Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi (Don't Look Up) Grande plays music star Riley Bina in Don't Look Up, as well as contributing an original song Just Look Up to the film's soundtrack. But the Academy said thank you, next to the song, although the film landed a few other nominations including Best Picture. Passing Rebecca Hall's adaptation of the Nella Larsen novel missed out on most of the awards love, apart from a nod to supporting actress Ruth Negga from the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and SAG Awards. She was the film's best chance at an Oscar as well, but surprisingly missed out. Best Director — Denis Villeneuve (Dune) Dune landed 10 Oscar nominations, but its director Denis Villeneuve missed out despite turning Frank Herbert's epic novel into a genuine hit on screen. Best Adapted Screenplay — Tony Kushner (West Side Story) Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner took a risk adapting West Side Story for today's audience - but Academy voters didn't see a place for his take on the musical.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As our Omicron daily case numbers started to trend down instead of the much promised up, I wondered if my theory last week is in fact more than just a theory. People aren’t testing. They’re not scanning in, they’ve turned off their Bluetooth on the app, they’re not reporting symptoms, or maybe they’re just asymptomatic. Either way, our Omicron surge that the doomsayers keep warning us about, that we are sitting in a red light because of, is still nowhere to be seen. And it may well be down to a variety of factors; some say it’s a slow burner, we haven’t ‘let it rip’ like other countries, so it’s just a slower start for us. Others say we are getting a milder taste of what the rest of the world experienced because our vaccination numbers are high. Others say it’s because we’re in a red light, so we’re slowing it down with our restricted movement. But my theory, and one I don’t think you can discount given the way our case numbers are plateauing, is that people are over it, Covid fatigue has set in, and no one’s scanning or testing. And why would you, if it’s a mild cold you may not even think to test. And if you did think to test, your very next thought would be – well how long am I having to isolate for now? And how many of my contacts are lumped into that same boat and now have to isolate because of me? So, for that reason alone, I think people will be circumspect to test. Add to that the fact most people won’t get that sick with it, and you’ve probably got a lot of people just laying low. Then there’s the scanning in, whose still doing that? My husband waited in the carpark outside the supermarket for me the other day and while he did, he counted 39 people go in. Of that 39 entering the supermarket, how many scanned in? Three. Three whole people. That would indicate, just in that small experiment in a random supermarket, that people are indeed over it. If case numbers continue to drop and stay low then watch two things happen. One, the modellers who cried wolf will be trying to walk it all back with a range of excuses. They already are to be honest. But in fact, the most honest thing they could do is just admit once and for all that it’s a big guessing game, that they really have no idea, and that it’s just been politically in the Government’s best interests if they predict doom at every turn and keep the fear tap turned on. But two, don't be surprised if this self-congratulatory Government takes credit for ‘beating' Omicron. I mean that’s a stretch but I wouldn’t put it past them to grab some positive spin off it in the end. The modelling is so far, way out – even Covid Minister Chris Hipkins said last week we can take it about as seriously as the weather forecast. So, the other thing that’s happened here is we have, whether intentionally or unintentionally, started to take control of our lives back. And that’s the good part. We’ve gone from being micro-managed and controlled by the Government at every turn, to actually just getting about our business on our own. And that’s no bad thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is concern vaccine fatigue could be setting in. The campaign for people to get their Covid-19 booster is ongoing, and now there's a push for them to get their seasonal flu jab, ahead of the country's border opening. Auckland University public health expert Colin Tukuitonga told Kate Hawkesby both vaccinations are necessary, but people are tiring of having to have yet another jab. He says the Ministry of Health's speaking about giving the jabs at the same time, which might help. “Without a doubt, we’re going to have to be creative and think about how we communicate best.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More pain at the pump is on its way, as petrol prices continue to climb. It's thought 91 could reach $3 a litre soon, and stay there this year. The National Party is calling on Auckland's regional fuel tax to be scrapped. Consumer New Zealand Chief Executive Jon Duffy told Kate Hawkesby $3 a litre will hurt everyone, but particularly those on low or fixed incomes. “Bear in mind this is in combination with high rents, high food prices and rising inflation generally, so everything is getting more expensive for people.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Construction costs are continuing to skyrocket and there are no signs of slowing down. The CoreLogic Cordell Construction Cost Index for the last quarter of 2021 shows a 6.2 percent increase. That's the highest in four years. But experts are warning that figure could hit double digits. CoreLogic chief economist Kelvin Davidson told Kate Hawkesby costs could easily rise to 10 per cent or more and stay that way. “The builders, they’ve got such a big pipeline of work in front of them and Omicron, Covid I think there’s going to be supply disruptions for a while so I could imagine double digits for a little period of time.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well the latest Newshub Reid Research poll has the Labour / Green government still the most popular, yet if ever we needed confirmation of the spin and PR machine that this Government really is, we got it at the weekend from Sir Ian Taylor. In a series of columns for the NZ Herald documenting his dealings with this Government, Taylor has become increasingly disillusioned. He admits he voted for them – that was probably his first mistake. Like many who voted for them, one wonders if he’ll make that mistake again. Like many who believed in this Government, he went in with good faith believing they would walk their talk. Sadly, they did not. Like many business people who’ve tried to help this Government, he’s been sidelined, rebuffed, muzzled, and shut out. It should worry every New Zealander interested in democracy and progress, that this Government continues to shut out the private sector, ignore them, and then crap all over them. The Government seems to have, on top of this bewildering level of arrogance, a very short memory. It was after all the private sector who helped them initially get their much-hailed Covid response off the ground in the first place. It was the Mowbray’s of Zuru Toys fame sourcing the PPE, it was other business leaders like them loudly advocating to shut the border back at the start of all this and to act swiftly. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming, and as usual, once it got there, loudly claimed all the credit for it and continues to. It's strange that for a government so light on business experience itself, that they continue to believe they know best. Their bureaucrats have proven over the last three years, that that’s just not the case. As Sir Ian Taylor said, government bureaucrats tend to do the same old stuff they’ve always done; order various reviews, take too long considering them, miss crucial windows, then scramble at the end in a mad panic. I’d hazard a guess they’ve probably burnt Ian Taylor now, they’ve burnt other business people who, as Business Editor Fran O’ Sullivan pointed out, are getting increasingly sick of Ardern. O’Sullivan said in a business column last week that “the mood shift within the business sector has been moving against Ardern since late last year and has since spread more broadly.” So many of them won’t be back. We know offshore Kiwis who got the border slammed shut in their face won’t be back, the pensioners trapped overseas, the separated families, the businesses haemorrhaging without workers. It’s doubtful many of them are ticking a red box again. So how has this Government, according to the latest poll, maintained its popularity? Either voters remain hoodwinked by them and sucked into the spin, or they don't care and would vote for this Government regardless of what it does or, no one's paying enough attention yet. I'd pick the latter. But for the Sir Ian Taylor's, who've dealt with them at the coal face, there's first-hand experience of how not open honest and transparent they actually are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History making Zoi Sadowski-Synnott believes momentum can take her to a second Winter Olympic gold medal, but only if she can come down from winning the first. New Zealand's first Winter Olympics gold-medal winner said she will need to regather herself for the big air competition, the event she won bronze in at the 2018 Games. But she sounded confident of landing another gold medal early next week after her slopestyle triumph in Beijing. "I feel like I'm a bit of a momentum competitor - every season where I start well, it carries through," she said. Andew Alderson from Newstalk ZB Sport joined Kate Hawkesby to let us know which events to keep an eye on this week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are angry about the Ministry of Health requisitioning Rapid Antigen Tests for its own stocks. When news broke that the Ministry was requisitioning the tests, Dr Ashley Bloomfield said they were from forward orders from overseas - not tests already in the country. But the Ministry has backtracked - acknowledging it took the full February allocation from one manufacturer, along with its stock on hand in the country. Business New Zealand Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Kate Hawkesby the Ministry has misled people. “We’re dealing with businesses all the time who have been struggling to get access to the Rapid Antigen Tests that they ordered. They’re getting angrier and angrier and it’s frankly unacceptable.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is excitement in Australia following confirmation its border is reopening to the world. International border restrictions will be lifted for anyone who's fully vaccinated in two weeks on February the 21st. However, states and territories will be able to keep their own cap and quarantine requirements in place. Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Kate Hawkesby the news is being well received by tourism operators and the general public. “Tourism bodies have been begging for this for quite a while now. QANTAS chief Alan Joyce says it means Australia is finally back open for business.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from the Beach and Coastal Safety Report - shows 30 per cent of New Zealanders cannot swim or float in the ocean for more than a few minutes. Our holiday drowning figures over summer were the worst in 40 years. Swimtastic swim coach, Mark Bone told Kate Hawkesby that's due to a lack of swimming lessons, the lockdown and the fantastic weather we've had. “I think we’re going to have a generation of kids that cannot swim well, that’s only kids and then you take the adults and they’re wanting to get out.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thoughts and prayers this morning to all the panickers who wanted the border shut forever and all the hermits who were loving Hermit Kingdom. It’s over. Thank goodness. Congrats to the Government for waking up to the fact that life actually does go on. That you can’t actually lock your citizens out forever, that you can’t keep Kiwis isolated from the rest of the world ad nauseum. There’ll be some displeasure from those with Stockholm Syndrome who bought so fiercely into the Government’s rhetoric and fear mongering, their wheels will be spinning now as they imagine the end of the world’s coming. And that’s the problem when you sign up for so much brainwashing over so much time, you lose the ability to think rationally, and to think for yourself. So, the Government’s got it right opening us back up, but what they’ve got wrong is the timeframe. July, another 6 months away, for international visitors who have visa waiver travel. And then not until October for everyone else. October. And are they expecting tourists to still self isolate in October? How many tourists do you reckon are booking a trip down under if they know they potentially have to spend the first 7 to 10 days of it holed up somewhere isolating? Here’s the irony of this ‘high trust model’ we’re bringing back in. For all the people arriving who’re off to self-isolate, how are they getting there? What’s the rule around public transport, taxis, trains, Ubers, buses and domestic flights if you’re self-isolating? The PM, when asked this, clearly hadn’t thought about it and didn’t know. She did however launch into a presumptive answer that “most people get picked up.” So welcome to New Zealand, here’s your Rapid Antigen Tests, go and self-isolate and oh by the way, I hope you’re getting picked up. We just assume you are because that’s what the PM thinks happens. She was also asked how appetising we are as a country in a red light setting, to which she replied that it's business as usual in a red light and visitors can enjoy our nature and hospitality. Well, the empty bars may have a different view on that, but we won't let facts get in the way of some good spin. Aviation groups aren’t happy. They say for as long as we have self-isolation, be it 10 or 7 days, we’ll be “off the radar for tourists, business travellers and airlines.” Justin Tie-Umbers, who we spoke to earlier, from NZ’s Board of Airline Representatives, he says “self-isolation requirements need to be removed as soon as possible, or some airlines will cut New Zealand from their routes for a third summer in row.” That’d be a death blow to the tourism industry and I don’t doubt the Government will be working hard to avoid that. But they’ve created a rod for their own backs haven't they? With a sustained programme of fear over two years, the people who subscribed to that will be feeling jittery. The real test now, is how effectively the Government walks all this back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are fear airlines may start losing interest in coming to New Zealand. A phased reopening of the border begins at the end of this month, without MIQ. But Board of Airline Representatives executive director, Justin Tighe Umbers told Kate Hawkesby, airlines won't be able to fill planes, because of the self-isolation requirement. He says airlines want to know by the end of the month if New Zealand will be open for business next summer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Andrew Little is being urged to wake up and smell the coffee over the state of our health workforce. A recruitment campaign to bring in intensive care nurses from overseas begins this week - two years after the start of the pandemic. In a radio interview speaking to Newstalk ZB's Heather Du Plessis-Allan yesterday, Little refused to admit there's an urgent need for doctors and nurses. Medrecruit owner Sam Hazledine says told Kate Hawkesby there's no doubt we're in a crisis, and the Government's been too slow. “At this point in time, we need to stop congratulating ourselves and giving ourselve high fives and actually looking at the reality.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leehane Stowers was just 35 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and felt scared and in the dark as to what her best option was. "I had all these questions and was just being told no for everything, I didn't really have much understanding of what was going on." The Auckland woman, who is part Māori and part Samoan, is part of a group of people a new report shows are most at risk of dying from the cancer - the country's third most common. The research was included in a report from Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register, titled 30,000 voices: Informing a better future for breast cancer in New Zealand and released today on World Cancer Day. The report, covering 30,000 patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2019, says despite significant improvements in overall survival rates, breast cancer remained deadlier for Māori, Pasifika, and younger women 10 years on from diagnosis. Pacific women are 52 per cent and Wāhine Māori 33 per cent more likely to die from breast cancer within 10 years than Pākehā. And Pacific women had the highest rate of stage 3 and 4 breast cancers and of HER2+ (a more aggressive subtype) cancers and more grade 3 tumours than all other ethnicities. Younger women, aged under 45, had a much lower 10-year survival rate, 82 per cent, than the 45-69 age group, at 89 per cent. Stowers' story spans six years, visits to multiple oncologists, numerous changes between the medication, and times when she had little understanding of what was going on. It was 2015 when Stowers was diagnosed with breast cancer. As the doctor walked into the room carrying cancer pamphlets, she started crying. He hadn't said anything, but she knew what would come next. She was only at the doctor's clinic to check an injury she thought was fitness-related, but a breast check found something she couldn't even feel. "I spent a whole month going in for more tests and no one really told me anything. When I found out there was also a cyst in the other breast, I asked if I could have both breasts removed and they said no, but they didn't explain why," she said. After being diagnosed, she had a mastectomy and fertility treatment and was offered the option of chemotherapy treatment but turned it down. "I was scared and didn't feel educated enough about it. I didn't think the chemo would guarantee anything, and thought radiation treatment would be less harsh." Stowers was given the all-clear, and three years of hormone treatments followed, until 2018 when she got a swollen abdomen. After a week in bed, she went to A&E where she was sent for an ultrasound. "The ultrasound found a mass on my liver and I had to go through another month of tests before I found out my breast cancer had come back and spread to my liver," she said. "I didn't know what it meant when my oncologist told me it was terminal. He said I'd be put on palliative care and I'd just wait. He gave me the impression that I wasn't going to be around for much longer." Stowers saw another oncologist who diagnosed her with hypercalcemia, where her calcium levels were too high and at a life-threatening state, and she was placed on chemo. "This made me confused because no one had said before that chemo would work for me. Five months on that got me out of that situation, I think it saved my life," she said. She started on another hormone treatment, but after three months, her scans showed there was more disease progression. Another oncologist told her the hormone treatment wasn't working and she was given a low-dose chemo which she has been on weekly for the past six months "I'm feeling the most normal I've ever felt now, I didn't realise the hormone treatment was causing so many side effects." Stowers' scans just before Christmas showed that her cancer had decreased by over half. "I've lived another three years since I...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like a lot of people confined to NZ and unable to travel anywhere at the moment, we’re spending more time at home, and therefore spending more money on home.Collectively, this little country is spending phenomenal amounts of money on boats, renovations or adding a pool to the backyard. Anything to make being confined to home more enjoyable.We were stoked to not have a pool at our current place to be honest, we always found pools high maintenance costly experiences which never actually got used as much as you thought they would. Kids always promise to swim every day and then when you get a pool suddenly they’re too cold and don't want to. My husband reckoned cost per swim was about ten grand. He jokes, but they can sit empty and unused for many months, all the while you’re paying a fortune to maintain them. On top of that, many families travel during the summer school holidays so that’s lost time in the pool too. So we felt it wasn’t worth having one, especially when you live close to beaches.But post 2020, the world’s changed, we can't travel and so suddenly that expensive high maintenance pool you thought you never needed, is back in the fray. Especially if, like us, you have a large family who descend with their friends over summer.But guess when you can get a pool in, if you want one these days?In a year’s time, if you’re lucky. We got quotes from people already fully booked for this year, a couple of them thought they could possibly squeeze one in, but it was doubtful. I know of someone who was quoted 2024 before they got a shell with some water in their backyard.But it’s not just pools Kiwis are apparently signing up for, it’s also boats.A boat maker I know of said if you want a new boat built from scratch you’ll get that in 2025 at this stage.And that’s before we get to all the people renovating or building. There’s nothing like extended periods of lockdown to make you look around your house and find things that need fixing up.But here’s where things get really ugly: the supply chain.Not only do we have supply issues and construction material shortages, we also have price hikes. A builder we know told us to do a renovation at the moment would cost twice – if not more – what it would normally cost – because of the price hikes. So you’re paying double or more if you want a renovation done right now - and it’ll take twice as long. And there’s no sign of this abating, in fact it appears to be getting worse. I was reading that the lead time for Gib now is May or June. You’d think this would put a lot of people off, but if you’re already underway and the job starts to slow, what can you do?So I feel for those having to build or renovate right now - and actually the building industry itself. Projects sitting empty while builders sit on their hands waiting for supplies is painful, but what's just as painful, is when the bill comes in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is reducing the wait time to get the Covid vaccination booster shot.From Friday, people will be able to get their shot three months after getting their second.Reducing the interval by one month means an extra one million people will now be eligible.University of Auckland modeller Dr Dion O'Neale joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A union is welcoming the proposed income insurance scheme - but wants minimum wage increases alongside it.The new scheme would mean someone who's made redundant or stopping work because of health issues could claim 80 percent of their income, for up to seven months.It would be funded by a 1.39 percent levy on both employers, and workers.E tū's Annie Newman told Kate Hawkesby there's a concern low paid workers won't be able to afford the levy - but a minimum wage increase would cover that.“We’ll be looking out for that increase in the minimum wage that should be happening on April the first this year, because we want to see a decent increase and a decent increase over time because this won’t kick in until 2023.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tourism industry will be hoping for a clearer timeline on when New Zealand's border will fully reopen to everyone.Tourism Industry Aotearoa spokesperson Ann-Marie Johnson says it would be great for New Zealanders to be able to come back, and isolate at home.But she told Kate Hawkesby the tourism recovery won't begin until all holidaymakers can come here, with no self-isolation or MIQ.“Obviously you’re not going to want to spend the first week of your holiday, or the first ten days in self-isolation if you’re here for just a short time.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So how awkward was the RAT kit announcement yesterday – that the Goverment’s bought up 29 million more RATs from private company Kudu Spectrum. I mean great, don’t get me wrong, always great when much needed RATs are coming our way .. but super awkward when you’ve only got them because a private citizen (Sir Ian Taylor) hooked you up with the company who supplies them, and even then you waited two whole months to respond. Kudu Spectrum were offering millions of tests, at way cheaper prices, two months ago. So, they’d be here by now, and at a better price. But as usual, the Government was too slow, too tardy, and now we’re waiting, when they could’ve already been here. If only the private sector were taken seriously at the time, when they showed the wherewithal to be more organised than the Government. As I said yesterday, the private sector knows how to strategize, they’re smart, they’re awash with contacts and resources, why doesn’t this Government tap into them more often? And speaking of embarrassment, there’s only so much bad international press this Government will stand. I mean they hate bad press in general, but especially on a global scale. So no surprise to anyone that Charlotte Bellis has miraculously found herself not just an MIQ spot, but flight arrangements to go with it. It only took a very pervasive global social and mainstream media campaign, and threats of a lawsuit, to suddenly get the MIQ doors thrown open for her. The lawsuit, if you missed this development, was threatened after Chris Hipkins rather defensively and stupidly tried to shut down Bellis’s claims by releasing personal details of hers, which she did not give consent for him to share. Bellis also claimed the details Hipkins shared were not even true. Oh dear. So of course, she’s got a spot no worries. As for all the other pregnant women who can’t get wall to wall media and social media coverage, sorry, no deal. And that’s the tragedy of all this. Have a platform, make a song and dance, get a result. Surely the only message here is that unless you’re going to really publicly and internationally discredit and embarrass the Government, you’re not going to get a spot. So an awkward week so far for the Government. Shamed into buying more RAT’s - and buying them two months later than they could and should have, shamed by a pregnant Kiwi journo in Afghanistan who stuck it right up them on the world stage and got the result she needed – a capitulation from the power mad bureaucrats at MIQ and a ticket home. And tomorrow we potentially get the trifecta of shame, the announcement on reopening New Zealand. If the announcement is anything other than they’re opening the border, then this will be a very sorry week indeed for the Government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The push for pregnant women to get emergency places in managed isolation continues. Journalist Charlotte Bellis has now accepted an emergency MIQ spot. The offer was granted based on the risk factor of Bellis and her partner being in Afghanistan - rather than the need for time-critical scheduled treatment. College of Midwives chief Alison Eddy told Kate Hawkesby pregnancy should be a condition prioritised for MIQ. “It’s a very important and crucial time in your life and having the support that you need, your family around you, the right to be in your country to have all those things.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most first home buyers would probably be knocked off the property ladder, if they couldn't use their KiwiSaver for a deposit. The OECD has recommended blocking access to KiwiSaver for first time buyers, looking to raise a deposit. It says this would help cool the property market. First Home Buyers' Club director, Lesley Harris, told Kate Hawkesby well over 90 percent of first home buyers need to use their KiwiSaver. “They either have to have very, very wealthy parents and also a very income... or they just don’t buy a house until maybe they are 65.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More government money for childcare is being pushed as a way to help New Zealand services which are struggling financially. The New South Wales Government will be giving families a $500 voucher for each primary school child, to be spent on before and after school care. It aims to ease the burden of childcare and give people more options as they return to work. Out of School Care Network manager John Kennedy told Kate Hawkesby a similar policy would make a big difference to the industry here. “The Australian Treasurer said that part of the reason for the support was, of course, for childcare services in Australia doing it tough and I would say that is echoed here.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I really wanted to start this year with some positives and talk about what an improved and developed plan we had with Covid given all our experience now, and all we’ve seen unfold from overseas. But sadly, that’s not the case. This whole thing has a Groundhog Day vibe about it. I mean, how come we’re still, as we go into our third year of this pandemic, still being reactive and responding on the hoof. It beggars belief that lessons have not been learned, plans have not been made, preparations have not gotten into full swing. We are behind on RAT kits, way behind, it’s woeful, it’s the vaccine rollout all over again. We have no greater ICU capacity than when we started, in fact suggestions are we even have fewer ICU beds than when we started. We have not bolstered our health workforce, we have not advanced our tragic and cruel MIQ system, we have not boosted enough people or jabbed enough children, because again, we were too slow with our vaccine rollout. It just all feels so repetitive, doesn’t it? Why can’t they learn the lesson? Why is the Government so slow on the uptake? Why’d they take an elongated holiday when they should've been planning and sorting and preparing? Why are they so allergic to the private sector and reticent to include them more? Are they afraid of the private sector? Or are they just so arrogant now they think they know best, better than any established business? Most importantly, why are we still asking these questions? How can all the same mistakes still be made? If you hear from the Government, when they’ve bothered rolling back into the office from the beach, they’ll tell you they’re world leading. They’re faultless, blameless, it’s all perfect, we should be so proud of them. The fact they’re still peddling this crap and still in self-congratulatory mode also worries me. It’s delusional. They’re backwards focused. “We shut the borders in 2020, we did so well..” it’s all backward thinking, it’s two-year-old news. We are living in the here and now. How many businesses look at KPI’s or performance reviews and go, “Oh well it’s a bit of a mess at the moment but two years ago was really good.” No one does that, because it’s not real. It’s not relevant, it’s not honest. So why should we be expected to buy into that tosh from our government? Our Rapid Antigen Testing situation is embarrassing, our MIQ lottery is embarrassing, our hermit mentality is embarrassing, our lack of vaccination coverage for children and booster coverage is embarrassing. Our Covid response looks antiquated and fear driven, and stale. But if you listen to this Government and it’s cheerleaders, we should be over the moon about it. The disconnect here is actually beyond embarrassing, it’s tragic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised after an inquiry found that Downing St parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a "serious failure" to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic. But Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the "Partygate" scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. "I get it, and I will fix it," he said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021. Gray found that "failures of leadership and judgment" allowed events to occur that "should not have been allowed to take place." "The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the government's regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well," Gray wrote. "Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behaviour surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify," she added. Gray's glimpse inside a 10 Downing St marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Gray's conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated. Her findings on 12 other events have been withheld at the request of the police, who last week launched a criminal investigation into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules. The Metropolitan Police force said it had asked for Gray's report to omit the events being investigated by detectives "to avoid any prejudice to our investigation". Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing St and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 — a funeral at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone. The cuts to Gray's report have led opponents to accuse Johnson of a whitewash. The allegations that the prime minister and his staff flouted restrictions imposed on the country to curb the spread of the coronavirus — holding "bring your own booze" office parties, birthday celebrations and "wine time Fridays" — have caused public anger, led some Conservative lawmakers to call for Johnson's resignation and triggered intense infighting inside the governing party. Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the British public had made "heart-wrenching sacrifices" and endured "a collective trauma" during the pandemic. "The prime minister took us all for fools," he said. "He held people's sacrifice in contempt. He showed himself unfit for office." Starmer said many British people "think the prime minister should do the decent thing and resign. Of course, he won't. Because he is a man without shame." Johnson can ignore opposition criticism, because the Conservatives have a large majority in Parliament. His fate rests on how Conservative lawmakers respond to his apology. Some previously said they would push for a no-confidence vote if Gray found Johnson was at serious fault or had misled Parliament. Johnson urged his critics to wait for the conclusions of the police investigation. But one Conservative legislator, Andrew Mitchell, said in the House of Commons that Johnson "no longer has my support." Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May also was unimpressed. She said that either Johnson and those around him "had not read the rules, or didn't understand what they meant ... Or they didn't think the rules applied to them. Which was it?" Gray did not criticise the prime minister directly, but said "there is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across government". It's unclear whether Gray's...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employees across the country say their workplaces are trying to ban them from inter-regional travel, due to the Red traffic light setting. Of course, people can currently travel anywhere within New Zealand for any reason. Brett O'Riley, from the Employers and Manufacturers Association joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to alleviate stress in the entertainment industry, under the red traffic light settings. The country's biggest one-day music festival - Electric Avenue - is off due to Covid-19. Canterbury Employers' Chamber chief Leeann Watson told Kate Hawkesby they're advocating for subsidies to get the industry up and running. She says the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme doesn't cover losses for businesses further down the supply chain. “I think if they Government are going to continue to focus on restrictions, it really reinforces the need for them to put in place that targeted financial support.” Thousands have signed a petition demanding support payments for workers in the entertainment industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electric vehicles appear to be something that's staying. But this has some of our local mechanics and garages nervous as servicing an EV is a whole different kettle of fish. So UCOL, based in Manawatu, is launching a new course to train mechanics to deal with EVs. Senior lecturer Lance Funnell joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is highly regarded for so many things but good infrastructure would not be one of them.We’ve been starved of world-class public transport for too long and for too long now we have dragged the chain when it comes to keeping up with some of our closest neighbours.Other OECD countries including Turkey, have surged ahead of us while we’ve sat about celebrating Hobbits and All Blacks.Why is it that others have leapt ahead and developed what’s required for their communities while we pay consultants to spell out the bleeding obvious and ask them to decide for the government of the day?Last week I was telling you that we need governments to live within their means but how does any country keep up with what’s required for its people unless they build the demonstrably huge ticket items?As much as I have enjoyed our tiny population over my 53 years, sadly the greater consensus would be that we can only progress if we vastly increase our population. And so we are.Oddly enough, we still seem very appealing to so many even though they’re often stepping back in time when it comes to the antiquated infrastructure we have compared to where they emigrated from.I’m really excited to see the planned light rail projects in Auckland getting underway. I’m equally as excited to hear that a second harbour crossing is getting closer to reality as well.It’s been very interesting to hear the commentary regarding all of this in the past week… It would seem that the same people who slam governments for not keeping up with the times and building world-class infrastructure are the same commentators slamming them for getting the job done.I’ll be well into my 70’s when many of these big jobs are completed. I’m really looking forward to taking my grandchildren on the train trip to the airport on what will be New Zealand’s longest tunnel.Successive governments are going to spend our money anyway. I’m just stoked to see them spending it on something practical that in time people will learn to use and love; as they have in more developed and future focussed countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have expressed their "concerns" to Spotify over Covid-19 misinformation on the platform, joining a growing group of personalities putting pressure on the streaming service amid a dispute about Joe Rogan's controversial podcast.The pair first raised the issue last April and have continued to urge Spotify to root out misinformation, a spokesperson for their foundation, Archewell, said on Sunday.Their invention comes after Neil Young and Joni Mitchell both asked Spotify to pull their music from the platform, objecting to its popular "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast in which the host has made frequent false and inaccurate claims surrounding vaccines and Covid-19."Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform," an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement. "We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.""We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does," the spokesperson added. The statement did not specifically mention Rogan's show.CNN has contacted Spotify for comment, but has yet to receive a response.The Sussexes are among Spotify's most notable audio personalities, having announced an exclusive partnership with the service in December 2020. In a news release, Spotify said the pair "will host and produce podcasts that build community through shared experience, narratives, and values."The multi-year partnership with Spotify includes numerous programs, some hosted and others produced by the duke and duchess.Their reach is dwarfed by Rogan's popular show, which has long been a hit with listeners but has drawn scorn from the scientific community.Earlier this month, a group of more than 250 scientists, doctors and nurses penned an open letter to Spotify condemning the streamer for platforming Rogan and calling on Spotify to warn its listeners about misinformation. The host has suggested that healthy young people should not necessarily be vaccinated against Covid-19, and a recent episode with Jordan Peterson was also mocked for airing misinformation about climate change."Since the inception of Archewell, we have worked to address the real-time global misinformation crisis," a spokesperson for the foundation said. "Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of rampant mis- and disinformation every day."- by Max Foster, Vasco Cotovio and Rob Picheta, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's done it.Rafael Nadal has cemented a legacy as the greatest male tennis player of all time after he won his second Australian Open crown in an unforgettable marathon final against Daniil Medvedev.As the clock went past 3am (NZT) on Monday morning and the match ticked over the five hour mark, an exhausted Nadal served out his fairy tale comeback win 2-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 7-5 — sending Rod Laver Arena into pandemoniumJim Courier said on TV the victory "re-writes history" as Nadal broke the deadlock of 20 grand slams he shared with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.He is now the only male player ever to win 21 slams.He had to go to hell and back to do it.Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Daniil Medvedev. Photo / APMedvedev appeared well on his way to a straight sets victory after he broke Nadal's heart in a rollercoaster second set tiebreak.But Nadal responded as all the great champions do to win the next two sets.In the fifth set the drama got plain silly.Nadal was broken trying to serve the match out at 5-4, but then showed incredible mental strength to come out two service games later and land the decisive blow that gave him an opportunity to come out and serve for the match.He did exactly that.Rafael Nadal, right, of Spain is congratulated by Daniil Medvedev of Russia following his win in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne. Photo / APIt was a contest Todd Woodbridge said will go down as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time and the 5hr 25mins battle set a record as the second longest Aussie Open final ever — the longest since the 5hs 53mins final between Nadal and Djokovic in 2012.The triumph will go down as one of his most iconic victories – less than two months after he thought a long-term foot injury may have forced him to retire.Now the fairy tale is complete.At 35 years and 241 days, Nadal is now the fourth-oldest winner of the Australian Open in the Open Era. Legendary status 💪#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/7uDDds3x7z— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022 The victory also means Nadal is the fourth man ever, after Novak Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson, to win all four slams twice for his career.It's easy to see why he is — for now at least — tennis' GOAT.He showed all the sporting class expected of his unique position in history when he delivered a victory speech of immense class."It has been one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career and to share the court with you is just an honour," he said firstly to Medvedev."So all of the best in the future."He then needed a quick moment to compose himself before he began to try to explain how much the win means to him."I even don't know what to say. It is just amazing," he said."A month-and-a-half ago I didn't know if I would be back on the Tour playing tennis again and today I am here in front of all of you having this trophy with me."You don't know how much I fought to be here. I can't thank enough all of the support I received since I arrived here. You are just amazing. Thank you for the love and the support."Without a doubt probably one of the most emotional ones in my tennis career and having the huge support that I received during the three weeks, it is just going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life. So many, many thanks." There has been some outstanding tennis played at this year’s #AusOpen and the finals were exceptional. Congratulations to @ashbarty for an amazing performance in front of her home crowd and to Danielle Collins for an incredible tournament. pic.twitter.com/qM3pcDnAeL— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2022See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour can't believe the Taliban is being more helpful to a pregnant Kiwi journalist than her own Government.Charlotte Bellis has sought asylum in Afghanistan after a failed emergency MIQ bid had her turn to the Taliban for help.Act Party leader David Seymour told Roman Travers you just can't make this up.“New Zealanders are now being given asylum from the Taliban because our own government is so mean spirited.”David Seymour says the Government should've continued with its plan to reopen the border, which is what Bellis had planned around.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety about Omicron as schools prepare to welcome back students for the start of Term One.Most students are returning this week under the Red Traffic Light setting.Teachers and students in years four and up will need to wear masks indoors, and teachers must be vaccinated.President of primary teachers' union NZEI Liam Rutherford told Roman Travers while school closures will be rare, it's unclear what school will look like when more people are identified as close contacts.“Schools are bracing themselves for how you keep your school open when you’ve got a large chunk of your staff or a large chunk of your students all close contacts or with Covid.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.