Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

You know how easy it is to spend other people‘s money right? Children and politicians are experts at it. Most of us were confronted with yesterday's news regarding the rate of inflation and the impending impact we can expect to see on just about everything we purchase. My grandfather told my mother - who also told all of her seven children that if you don’t have the money in your pocket - you can’t afford it. Clearly that doesn’t apply to the purchase of something essential like somewhere to live. But perhaps if more of us were to live within our means instead of that constant hedonistic desire to keep up with everybody else hellbent on having the latest of everything, the country might be in a better place. Or would it? Maybe if we had a government that was more honest about our financial situation and less inclined to spend other people’s money on questionably unessential frivolities, we might be in a better position. We are constantly reassured that the country is in a good place by Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson, and yet most of us are like possums in the headlights of an oncoming Land Rover Defender at any significant changes to the CPI, inflation and interest rates; with many taking the hit head on. The very people we voted in to help guide us through the tough times we're knee deep in, are the very people whose only mission appears to be in getting re-elected so the frivolous spending can continue. Wouldn’t you love a government that lived within its means as you and I are trying to do? Wouldn't you love a government that was fully accountable for it's decisions as you and I are in our lives? Those of us that work really hard just to afford a moderate life with the odd bit of fun, continue to be used as human ATMs for ministers of the crown who appear to think that hard work equates to hard times in the debating chamber.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are concerned how distracted drivers are, as Auckland, Nelson and Marlborough all head into long weekends. One Queenstown police officer sitting in a visible marked car issued 23 infringements for drivers using their phone in just eight hours. Caroline Perry, from the road safety charity 'Brake' joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ash Barty was the crowd favourite at Melbourne Park long before she ended a 42-year drought by reaching the Australian Open final. Danielle Collins said it'll be "spectacular" to take on the women's No. 1-ranked player in the final of her home Grand Slam event on Saturday. The 28-year-old American got a little taste of what to expect in her first Grand Slam final as she left the court on Thursday following her 6-4, 6-1 semifinal win over seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek. Barty beat Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in 62 minutes in the first of the semifinals, and Collins wrapped up the night by beating 2020 French Open champion Swiatek in 78 minutes. Predictably, there were boos after Collins finished her on-court TV interview. Not too loud or long, but an indication of things to come nonetheless. Barty won her first major title on clay at Roland Garros in 2019 and her second on grass at Wimbledon last year. Now that she's become the first Australian woman into the final here since Wendy Turnbull in 1980, Barty has a good chance to claim her first on a hard court. She's only too aware, though, that no Australian woman since Chris O'Neil in 1978 has won the singles title here. "As an Aussie, we're exceptionally spoiled we get to play in our own backyard," the 25-year-old Barty said. "Now we have a chance to play for a title. It's unreal." Barty lost to eventual champion Sofia Kenin in 2020 the last time she reached the Australian Open semifinals. She said she's learned from that kind of pressure as much as winning other Grand Slams. "Absolutely embrace it," she said of the home expectations. "You have to. It's fun. It's brilliant to be playing in the business end of your home Slam. I'm not gonna lie about that — it's amazing." Keys is just the latest in a line of rivals to explain how she had few answers to Barty's slice backhand and wide variety of serves. Barty hit 20 winners to only eight for Keys, who was playing in the Australian Open semifinals for the first time since 2015. She lost that year to eventual champion Serena Williams, who was the last No. 1 seed to win the women's title at Melbourne Park. Barty converted four of her six break-point opportunities and saved the only two break points she faced on her serve against the 2017 U.S. Open champion runner-up. In six matches so far at the tournament, she has dropped one service game. The 27th-seeded Collins relies on a power game and imposes a relentless energy on every contest. Her forehand cross-court winner to set up her first match points was typical of her semifinal form. She hit 27 winners and had only 13 unforced errors. She opened each set with a break of serve and raced to 4-0 leads both times. Collins delayed her professional career by playing in the U.S. college system, and said it gave her a good grounding in handling what she calls "adverse" crowds. Playing in empty stadiums during the COVID-19 pandemic has given her an appreciation of crowds, whether the fans support her, are against her or are neutral. "That's something that I really thrive in, whether I have a full crowd going for me or whether I have the opposite," she said. "I really just love the energy. I'm just really excited to go out there and compete. "I realise that there is going to be a lot of people supporting Ash. It's all in good spirit." Collins' run to the semifinals in 2019 was her best previous result at a Grand Slam tournament. After undergoing surgery last year to treat endometriosis, she's in less pain and said she's in better shape to win. Keys was on a career-best 10-match winning streak ahead of the semifinals, including a run to the title in a tune-up tournament in Adelaide — her first WTA title since 2019. Her full tally of 11 match wins this month already equals her total for 2021, when she dropped into the 50s in the rankings. She's expected to return to the top 30 next...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National has risen in the 1News Kantar poll, but the right bloc still doesn't have the numbers to govern. National leader Chris Luxon polled 17 percent for preferred Prime Minister, up 13 while support for the party is at 32 percent - up four points. Jacinda Ardern has dropped four percent to 35, while her party has dropped one to 40 percent. Act's David Seymour is also down, now at six percent for preferred Prime Minister and his party is down three percent to 11. The Greens are steady on nine percent. Former National Party advisor Brigitte Morten told Roman Travers the party has to rebuild trust so it's a good, steady start. “They need to win back that middle, but getting back some of the trust of voters who previously might have voted for them and bringing them back on side is obviously a good thing.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has given Moscow its written response aimed at deterring a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday. Blinken said the US response to Russia "sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it," telling reporters Wednesday that he expects to have a follow-up discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the coming days now that the document has been received in Moscow. The response was delivered in person to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. The written document is intended to address concerns Moscow has publicly released and to outline areas where the US has said it sees potential for progress with Russia -- arms control, transparency and stability, the top US diplomat told reporters at the State Department. "The document we've delivered includes concerns of the United States and our allies and partners about Russia's actions that undermine security, a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground," Blinken said. It's not yet clear whether the latest diplomatic overture, which Moscow had sought, will change the course of talks between Russia and the West that have continued over the past several weeks. US officials have said that Russia has shown no signs of de-escalation and they have warned that an invasion could be imminent as Moscow masses tens of thousands of troops on the Ukrainian border. The US has repeatedly said Russian President Vladimir Putin's central demand -- that the US and NATO commit to never admitting Ukraine to the alliance -- is simply a nonstarter. While Blinken declined to detail specifics presented to Moscow, he said the US response reiterated the West's public response to uphold NATO's "open-door policy" rejecting Moscow's demands that NATO commit to never admitting Ukraine. "There is no change. There will be no change," Blinken said of US and NATO support of the alliance's open-door policy. "We make clear that there are core principles that we are committed to uphold and defend, including Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances," he added. The ball is now in Russia's court, Blinken said Wednesday. "I think there are important things to work with if Russia is serious about working. And that is up to President Putin. We'll see how they respond," he said. 'Not a formal negotiating document' President Joe Biden was "intimately involved" in the US written response to Moscow, Blinken said. "We reviewed it with him repeatedly over the last weeks, just as we were getting, as you know, comments, input, ideas from allies and partners," Blinken said in response to a question from CNN's Kylie Atwood. Blinken contended that the document, which was delivered Wednesday, is "not a formal negotiating document." "It's not explicit proposals. It lays out the areas and some ideas of how we can together, if they're serious, advance collective security," he said. Blinken underscored that the US response was "fully coordinated with Ukraine and our European allies and partners," and a source familiar said Ukraine had received a copy of the US document. Blinken said the document had been shared with Congress and that he would brief congressional leaders later Wednesday. He said the US would not release its document publicly, "because we think that diplomacy has the best chance to succeed if we provide space for confidential talks." "We hope and expect that Russia will have the same view and will take our proposal seriously," Blinken said, adding, "there should be no doubt about our seriousness of purpose when it comes to diplomacy." However, US officials have acknowledged there is a...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’ll get to hear more about the Consumer Price Index and inflation from those who have those specific crystal balls. Regardless of the words you’ll hear from them; for you and I, it may simply be a message of forecasted and forewarned, impending doom. What will this mean to those of us with significant debt? Only you and your bank will be privy to the increased outgoings to their overseas vaults; but expect to see everything increase in price. Sadly, for some, even items like cheese, currently sitting at about 12 to 15 dollars a kilo will become a luxury. With petrol forecast to hit and possibly exceed 3 dollars a litre, running a business and road trips to see Great Aunt Fanny in Fairlie may also become unachievable. For those that who've already seen life’s wheels fall off and now live on the streets; I’m picking they didn’t dream of that life choice. Sadly for many of us, their presence remains ignorable; an incorporeal inconvenience as we rush off to another of life’s deadlines. There is something worse than the gradual decline in our society - and those that chose to ride that slide, asking others to fix everything for them. What’s worse is a society that chooses to ignore genuine need and assimilates that genuine need with those that choose it. The precarious position many find themselves in now, potentially on the cusp of falling further away from a life dreamt of; with today's impending financial news a determining factor, is largely due to forces beyond our control and our love of the free market. Almost nothing other than primary produce leaves our shores for the insatiable markets of our biggest trading partners. The very food reaching record prices and stretching beyond the reach of many here. How is it that we are loved internationally for everything that others want made in New Zealand, and yet the demonstrable gap that divides those that have and those that have nothing looks almost beyond repair? This economic ship may well have sailed, but it’s time the crew of The Good Ship Aotearoa found their voices and demanded greater control of a destiny once collectively dreamed of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seniors are being told it's a time to connect, rather than isolate. Some experts think the elderly should hunker down, and put themselves into a lockdown because of how previous outbreaks have affected the elderly and rest homes. Age Concern CEO, Stephanie Clare, Roman Travers, older people should get boosted and wear a mask when they leave the house. She says the Government's not asking people to isolate themselves. “Stay connected, if you have any questions about that, give someone a call. It’s not about looking after yourself, by yourself.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National wants the Government to take its own stand against Russia. There are still an estimated 100,000 Russian troops massed near the Ukraine border, but Russia is denying it's planning an assault. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is recommending any New Zealander in Ukraine, whose presence isn't essential, should consider leaving. National Foreign Affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee told Roman Travers the New Zealand Government can't do anything thing legally, due to it being dependent on the UN. “We need a law in New Zealand that lets New Zealand actually make legal decisions that would be part of any international effort to isolate Russia.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials continue to be accused of hoarding rapid antigen tests. A number of businesses say their orders have been seconded by the Ministry of Health. But the Ministry rejects those claims, and says it's only "consolidating" orders heading into the country. Employers and Manufacturers Association Chief Executive Brett O'Riley says Roman Travers it's not fair. “Because they’ve taken up a lot of the supply in the New Zealand market, that’s taken away orders that have been placed for business that now no longer can be filled.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And so, the Far North remains the under performer when it comes to getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Does anyone really have any firm grasp on why the uptake is so poor? Does anyone really want to see more funding poured into an area of the country that has access to all the forms of communication that we all enjoy – or tolerate – around the rest of the country? Te Tai Tokerau is not served well by its leaders – or are they simply being ignored? You once again have Hone Harewera yesterday talking about further roadblocks for Northland vainly attempting to do the right thing for his people. But that’s one voice. You have to ask just what on earth anyone can now do to ensure that The Far North inoculation rates get up there in the high 90s as they have elsewhere. Currently, 89 percent of the region’s 12 year old plus population have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 86 per cent have received two doses. But for Māori here, the poor uptake is concerning: 85 per cent have one shot on board and only 79 percent two shots. If you’re listening to me from The Far North and you’re not vaccinated for reasons of apathy, then get your skates on today. Rattle your dags and get vaccinated today. If there continues to be a vacuum of common sense from within the leadership you respect, then who is it you need to hear from in order to protect yourself and your loved ones? You may no longer prove to be a handbrake on New Zealand’s economy, but you will undoubtedly be the reason why your already meagre health service will unnecessarily be under the pump. Ask yourself if you’re happy to see the doctors and nurses that work tirelessly now – completely exhausted and exacerbated by your privileged, vague and baseless position. You’ve been told what’s coming. You can see how stretched our system will become. If you can’t be bothered getting vaccinated for yourself – then do it for those who would rather not be treating you. Please.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the couple of days since New Zealand went to red, it has been a logistical nightmare for event organisers. Numerous events have been cancelled around the country, due to size restrictions or it just being logistically too difficult. But some events will be going ahead despite the extra challenges. Sue Wilson is the Event Manager of the East Coast Farming Expo and she joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mask manufacturer thinks new rules around face coverings should go even further. The Government's tightening rules around mask wearing. From tomorrow week, they'll be required in all food and drink venues, close-proximity businesses, events and gatherings. And face coverings must be an actual mask as opposed to scarves, bandannas or T-shirts pulled up over the face. Any workers covered by a vaccine mandate will be required to wear a surgical-grade or N95 mask. But Nick Davenport, founder of mask manufacturer Lanaco, told Roman Travers that should go for everyone. “I think it’s a little informed decision and the information behind it and the science behind it differs from the policy that’s been offered.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-truckies are being asked to come out of retirement or do part-time work in the event of permanent drivers catching Omicron. There have been shortages of food in Australia, because truckies have fallen ill and haven't been able to transport goods around the country. Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett says Roman Travers driving a large truck takes a lot of skill so it takes years to train people. He says they're trying to build a list of relief drivers who could be called on in an emergency. "Maybe doing another job, they maybe used to drive or are working another sector. They could lend themselves, just with a shift here and there.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been forced to apologise live on air after saying people “aren’t dying” from Covid-19, despite record breaking death statistics.For much of the pandemic, Australia has been the envy of the rest of the world for how it kept Covid-19 at bay and fatalities low.But, while NSW and Victoria are likely over the peak of their Omicron wave, both the United States and Europe have issued a stark warning to residents urging them not to travel to Australia.When asked whether Australia could still say it was the “envy of the world” when by the European Council and the US Centre for Disease Control have both labelled the country as “danger zones”, Mr Joyce said Australia could still take pride in the way it had handled the pandemic.“People aren’t dying,” Mr Joyce told RN Breakfast.He was immediately picked up on the point by host Patricia Karvelas who said “people are dying. People are dying every day”.Mr Joyce immediately sought to cover his tracks and apologised.“Sorry, sorry sorry. Yes, you are correct, I shouldn’t have said that,” he said.“But the number in which – the fatality rate is very low.“Obviously that is a tragic thing for anybody … (to die) for any reason – for catching the flu. But the fatality rate of Omicron is remarkably low and Australia has done a remarkable job.”Since January 1, 891 people have died with Covid-19.Mr Joyce said for “most people” who were diagnosed with Covid-19 and double-vaccinated, they would get a “mild illness” like he had.“For me, it was a couple days of something pretty mild. And I was pretty lucky. (I know) it’s not for everyone,” he said.Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said people were in fact dying “in record numbers”.Mr Joyce also came under fire for his comments about rapid antigen tests, suggesting Australians were hoarding the kits – prolonging the shortage as the concession scheme begins.From Monday, 6.6 million Australians with a concession card are eligible for free rapid antigen tests from their chemist. These are capped at ten tests over three months, with a maximum of five in a month.But, pharmacies are pleading with people to be patient with not enough testing kits available for circulation.Mr Joyce said part of the problem was people buying more tests than they needed.“People have been buying not what they require, but more than they need,” he told RN.“We have 16 million tests turning up by the end of the months … We have 70 million on order.“It is not as if the tests aren’t there. The problems that Australia is experiencing is being experienced around the world.”Mr Albanese clapped back during his own interview, saying it was “extraordinary” for Mr Joyce to blame Australians for the unavailability of the tests.“We all knew that once we opened up the increased number of infections, elimination tests would be an important part of the response to keep people safe, and the government simply didn’t do anything about it,” Mr Albanese said.- By Ellen Ransley, news.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know the saying… never wake a sleeping dragon? Well it appears that we have - and the sleeping inflation dragon is well and truly awake.Later this week; we’ll get to see the latest update on the country’s financial data – and it’s expected to show inflation in 2021 ran at its highest level in over 30 years.The Consumers Price Index is expected to rise by 1.3 percent for the December quarter, coupled with inflation that accelerated to 6.0 percent.The highest inflation in more than 30 years? Many of us have never experienced this kind of leap in the cost of everything.The only way to appease this waking inflation dragon would be for The Reserve Bank to take some pretty hefty and aggressive action. But will they?Some economists have said that the country is in the midst of "a perfect storm" of inflation pressures, but that much of the CPI's increase will be a result of offshore factors.It’s a huge concern just how dependent we are as a nation on the fluctuations of the vagaries of the overseas markets. But that’s the bed we’ve been making so well over the past three or four decades.The Consumer Price Index is something we all need to keep an eye on. After peaking at close to 6.3 per cent in early this year, annual CPI inflation is then expected to cool, but remain above the 1 to 3 percent inflation target until late 2023.The real message here is that none of us want to be caught with our shorts round our ankles and financial institutions – once keen to lend you whatever you wanted – will be the first to disown you faster than a flock of Facebook friends.The writing is on the wall – and that wall is a very real roadblock to the future plans of many good, hard working New Zealanders… both the employers and the employees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The travel bubble between the Cook Islands and New Zealand will remain open despite our Omicron outbreak.The Cook Islands held an emergency cabinet meeting last night.There is a new restriction though - no unvaccinated people will be allowed entry from Thursday.Robert Skews, the managing director of the Turama Pacific Travel Group told Roman Travers the news is a huge relief.“70 percent of our revenue here in the Cooks is derived from tourism and so after two years we’re a little bit desperate.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're being urged to think of others - as we prepare our pantries and medicine cabinets for the months ahead.Supermarkets report pressure on products like toilet paper, following the confirmation the Omicron outbreak on Sunday.Food, groceries and medicines could also become harder to come by, as case numbers rise.Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson told Roman Travers while consumers are stocking up, they should remember others who can't.“I do understand families needing to go out and protect themselves from what might just happen. Many, many thousands of New Zealanders just don’t have that luxury.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices are expected to rise for consumers as Omicron spreads.The latest Consumer Price Index is due out on Thursday morning.ANZ economist, Finn Robinson, told Roman Travers he thinks inflation will be between 5.5 and 6.5 percent for the year to December.He says Omicron will hit us in the pocket because a huge chunk of the workforce will probably have to isolate, like overseas.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And so here we are; waking up in the glow of red lights across the whole country.What does this mean for most of us? Well affectively nothing really has changed apart from the inability to gather in mobs of more than 100 which will serve good purpose in trying to prevent the stupidity of the Brian Tamaki followers across the country’s main centres and their messianistic treatment of a nobody and his attempt to be somebody.Other than that the only thing that I’ve seen change in the last day is again the ridiculous propensity for people to go apoplectic in the supermarket even though we are told we don’t need to.The real concern I have is that we may well see the current Government moving further away from the recommendations of the science community as demonstrated in the comments by certain epidemiologists who say that the red light system is not enough to reduce the spread of the Omicron strain.The only great saviour for us all is the vaccination and the third shot, which at best is 75 per cent affective in the face of Omicron. It’s the only thing that will enable us to get back to some form of normality while we wait for other countries to get to the same level.The other concern I have is the news we heard over the weekend that the Government’s Covid-19 fund does not have the finances to purchase a fourth vaccine if it’s required.The Government have told us they will find the money for it if that eventuates, but is this a way of bracing us for a further reduction in spending in the many other areas of need demonstrable across the country?Undoubtedly we can’t take our focus of the pandemic; but what about everything else that’s being overlooked in something of a convenient distraction for a government that seems bereft of ability to improve anything else other than our Covid response?We have to prepare for the eventuality that as soon as travel becomes easier, we are set to lose a great deal of skilled people to our cousins across the ditch and further afield.Getting anything done in New Zealand is about to get a whole lot harder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Open quarter-finalist Denis Shapovalov is embracing being part of Canada’s tennis uprising as his strong – but complicated – start to the year continues.Shapovalov scored one of the best wins of his career on Sunday, ousting third-seeded German Alex Zverev in straight sets in a result with major Australian Open title ramifications.The 2021 Wimbledon semi-finalist’s 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 defeat of Zverev, in their first grand slam clash, was his third win in their past four meetings.Shapovalov, 22, helped Canada win the ATP Cup in the first week of the year, alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime, who will try to emulate his countryman’s last-eight effort against Marin Cilic on Monday.That followed Shapovalov recovering from his Covid-19 diagnosis on arrival in Australia, and he has survived a number of tense matches to make it this far.Only Milos Raonic and Michael Belkin had ever reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne among Canadian men in the Open Era, before 14th-seeded Shapovalov matched them on Sunday.“I think what we’ve been doing has been amazing, especially with the start of the season, for Canada, lifting probably the first team title in tennis in history,” Shapovalov said.“It’s not a super-easy time in Canada right now, so hopefully it’s just shedding a little bit of light and people have something to watch and cheer for and follow.“It’s great to be doing it alongside a guy like Felix, who’s obviously a remarkable player as well, and we’ve come up from the juniors together. It’s a pretty special story, I think.”With Novak Djokovic not in the tournament, this was supposed to be an opportunity for Zverev to break his grand slam duck after a six-title season in 2021 that included the ATP Finals.Instead, the 24-year-old exits another grand slam without a top-10 scalp and still in search of a career-defining triumph.Zverev said afterwards he arrived in Melbourne on the hunt for the Australian Open title and with a goal to overtake Djokovic at the top of the men’s game but that such talk was “very silly” now.Reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev now looms as the clear player to beat, even with Shapovalov’s next opponent, Rafael Nadal, still in the draw.“It’s always an honour to go up against a guy like Rafa,” Shapovalov said.“We played not too long ago in an exhibition (in Abu Dhabi in December) – completely different conditions, completely different match, but it’s always fun.”- by Marc McGowan, news.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could be a crucial week for Boris Johnson in his battle to stay in power.The British Prime Minister has been under pressure for weeks over alleged summer garden parties and Christmas gatherings held in Downing Street when the rest of the country was under strict Covid-19 lockdowns. A report into the allegations, set to be released this week, could be the final straw for Johnson's increasingly mutinous party.Johnson's approval ratings are plunging and there appears to be a growing sense among some parts of his ruling Conservative Party that he is becoming a liability. Two polls in the last week suggested that as many as two-thirds of voters want him to resign.The parliamentary rebellion is growing. One Conservative MP defected to the opposition Labour Party last week and newspapers have reported rumors of more lawmakers demanding Johnson's exit.The Prime Minister has given unconvincing answers when asked about the numerous parties. First he said there were none. Once undeniable evidence emerged, he denied knowing about the gatherings. When a photo of him at one such event was published, he insisted he didn't realize the gathering was a party, claiming he "believed implicitly that this was a work event."Johnson was even forced to apologize to the Queen after it emerged that a party was held in Downing Street the night before the funeral of Prince Philip. It was noted at the time that due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Queen was forced to mourn her husband at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle while sitting alone.Adding fuel to the fire, Johnson's former senior adviser Dominic Cummings claimed this week he would swear under oath that the Prime Minister was warned about the true nature of one of the drinks parties. Johnson denied that vehemently, saying: "Nobody warned me that it was against the rules... because I would remember that."As new "Partygate" allegations emerged, Johnson and his loyalists tried to dismiss them as a "distraction," steering the conversation away. Johnson has launched an inquiry into the gatherings, led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, whose report is due to come out this week, according to media reports.Downing Street said on Sunday it had no control over when the report would appear. "It's not for us to set out when it will be published. That is up to the investigation team," a spokesperson told CNN.On Thursday, as more Conservative lawmakers openly criticized the PM about the parties, allegations emerged of blackmail and bullying by government officials.Conservative MP William Wragg said Thursday that "a number of members of parliament have faced pressures and intimidation from members of the government because of their declared or assumed desire for a vote of confidence in the party leadership of the Prime Minister."Wragg told the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that the reports he has been made aware of "would seem to constitute blackmail."Johnson dismissed the reports of bullying, saying he has "seen no evidence" to support accusations of intimidation leveled at his government by a Conservative lawmaker.Under Conservative party rules, if MPs want to get rid of their leader, they submit a confidential letter of no confidence to the chair of the 1922 Committee, a group of backbench MPs who do not hold government posts. The process is murky -- the letters are kept secret and the chairman, Graham Brady, doesn't even reveal how many have been handed in.When 15% of Conservative lawmakers have submitted letters, it triggers a vote of confidence among all Conservative lawmakers.- by Ivana Kottasová, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says greater access to quicker Covid-19 tests and medicines that can treat the virus will be key to keeping goods flowing around the country.Supply chain issues are thought to be inevitable because around 350,000 workers may be isolating at one time.But the National Party leader says the Government needs to bring in more drugs that are effective against Covid-19.He told Roman Travers officials need to chase down more rapid antigen and saliva tests.“If I had a Rolls-Royce engine crisis at Air New Zealand or when the fuel pipeline got dug up and we’re trying to run the airline with 30 per cent of the fuel, you are on these issues like literally every six hours.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The move to Red has sparked a string of event cancellations.Both the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin and New Zealand Fashion Week in Auckland have been cancelled.Auckland's Splore Festival, Christchurch's Great Kiwi Beer Festival and Sculpture on the Peninsula, Dunedin's Craft Beer and Food Festival, and parts of Wellington's Lunar New Year Festival have also been called off.Viv Beck, chief executive of Auckland's Heart of the City business association told Roman Travers it's not the news anyone wanted to hear.“Events have been really a saviour last year, so it’s pretty devastating to see that all come apart now.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had a nice chat with three of the police manning the roadblock at Uretiti this morning. One was up from Nelson, another from Wellington and one was from Whangarei. Standing in the rain in the middle of the night, but still cheery and positive, even though it's a job no-one really wanted. It was nice to meet you guys, as I said to them, they're keeping the peace and that's part of the job. If police hadn't gone along with this, we'd have had chaos and confrontation and no one needs that. Coincidentally, it's the one-year anniversary of that shonky Ihumātao deal and you might see a connection between the two. Ihumātao was a piece of privately-owned land, bought by Fletchers for a housing development. Tangata whenua objected, occupied, and eventually got their way, forcing the Government to buy it. Taxpayers shelled out $30 million, with the promise there'd be some housing there, but of course a year on, what's happened? Not a thing. The Housing Minister says there was never any promise it would be a fast process to get houses built on the site. The message from the whole Ihumātao debacle was that if you stick to your line for long enough and occupy, illegally, you'll get your way. And that message has emboldened those who forced these roadblocks in the North. The police didn't want to do it and still don't want to be there. But the alternative would have been an illegal, and most likely very ugly obstruction, confrontations, without a doubt. So, to keep the peace, the Government bends over. And what message does that send?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new lick of paint is needed for town centres around the country. Dunedin architect Ian Butcher has criticised its city centre as tiresome, dull and uninteresting. Dulux colour specialist Davina Harper told Tim Dower most towns want to play it safe when they choose their colours. “Colour can be a little bit polarising, but I think they’re missing a real opportunity to add some personality and interest.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An immunologist is calling on the Government to bring forward the Covid booster shot timeframe. Ministers are set to meet today to discuss this exact issue, as New Zealand records its first case of the Omicron variant in MIQ in Christchurch. A third shot is currently only available to those who last had their second shot, at least six months ago. Malaghan Institute Director Dr Graham Le Gros, told Tim Dower with the new threat of Omicron, we should move the eligibility to five months. “It won’t be quite as good as the six month period, but at least it will stop the infection that this Omicron actually hospitalising people or making people sick.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.