Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

If you're a Cantabrian, you'll likely be familiar with the Ravenscar House Museum. It's a $16 million art museum in the city centre. After eight years of planning, a three-year delay in opening and a $3 million budget blow-out, it's officially open to the public today. Anthony Wright, the Canterbury Museum director joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Euthanasia becomes legal this Sunday but the requirements will be strict. It follows nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders voting to legalise assisted dying last year. The criteria to request it includes being 18 and over, in an advanced state of irreversible physical decline with unbearable suffering, and able to make an informed decision about it. The Act Party's End of Life Choice spokeswoman Brooke van Velden told Kate Hawkesby at any given time only a handful of New Zealanders will be eligible for assisted dying under the strict criteria. “We expect that, over the first year, about one thousand people will request assisted dying but not all of those people will actually be eligible and be able to go through the process.” She says it's good people who are suffering terribly now have compassion, choice and dignity for their final days. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can always tell when a topic has hit a nerve... The text machine blows up with texts, people email me before, during and after the show has gone to air. And this was the case yesterday over the latest crazy suggestion from the Government – that Aucklanders could face being set allotted time slots to travel this summer. It was such a stupid idea that no sooner had Chris Hipkins uttered it out loud than Grant Robertson was shooting it down. And therein lies a lot of the problems with this Government’s response to this pandemic. It’s chaotic, all over the show, and smacks of knee jerk reactions. I’m not sure why they say stuff out loud when it hasn’t been given the sniff test but, having Ministers on the hop make stuff up, is sure to backfire. And so it did. And the problem is, this wasn’t just any Minister, this was the Covid-19 Response Minister. It is literally his job to manage this stuff. And sure enough, not long after Chris had said it and Grant had poo-pooed it, Chris was putting it back on the table again. Do they even talk to each other? The more shambolic and knee jerk this thing looks, the less we have any faith in them. It also reeks of control freaky-like arrogance around what they can and can’t tell us to do, and no one's more fed up with being told what they can and can’t do than Aucklanders. There's a limit to how much we will put up with, and Aucklanders made it loud and clear; that a roster on who can travel where and when for summer, is a bridge too far. Collins called it 'raving mad', Chris Bishop called it 'immoral' and 'ludicrous'. Aucklanders felt it was the final straw. The bruhaha led Hipkins to issue a hasty press release yesterday saying that while 'committed to ensuring Aucklanders are able to leave Auckland for Christmas and the summer holidays. At the same time, we need to do what we can for the rest of the country to try and ensure its people, and not the virus, that moves beyond the Auckland boundary.' He goes on to point out they’re “looking at tools like vaccine certificates”. I’d hope they’re doing a hell of a lot more right now than just looking at that. I mean those need to be up and running sooner rather than later. In fact, they really should've been up and running by now. We literally can’t go anywhere if they don’t have that sorted, that should be priority number one. So I’m not sure we are any more the wiser this morning, or any more reassured today than we were yesterday. For those trying to plan their summer holidays outside of an Auckland boundary, there's not a lot we can bank on at the moment, other than the fact we'll be log jammed in way more traffic than usual, either way. Even if we are allowed to travel in our own chosen time slot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deciding on a process for electing Jacinda Ardern's ultimate successor will be up for discussion at the Labour Party's annual conference this weekend. Party members will meet online, to vote on a proposed change to how Labour elects its leaders when the time comes for Ardern to go. It would allow a new leader to be elected by caucus alone if more than two thirds of caucus voted for a new leader within a week of the job coming up. Political commentator Peter Dunne told Kate Hawkesby they'll also be discussing how to sell the party's bold reform agenda. “They’ve got to get out there and try shift the focus off being a ‘Covid Government’ to a government that’s got policies on a whole range of other areas they’re seeking to implement.” The centrepiece of the conference will be Ardern's keynote speech tomorrow afternoon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keeping Auckland's Covid boundary in place over Christmas could take a huge toll on tourism-dependent regions. The Government is working on plans to require people to prove their vaccination status and provide a negative Covid test each time they cross the border. But Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins says no final decisions have been made on how it will work. Jereon Jongejans, the owner of Northland's Dive Tutukaka, told Kate Hawkesby if Aucklanders can't easily get in and out of the region, the rest of the country will suffer. He says it’s not sustainable. “If we, in Northland, don’t have the Auckland trade, I would say that 50% of the businesses will go broke.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A small but active group”. This the new catchphrase we can expect to hear more often from the Government as it faces the reality of popularity slipping. When the chips are down and things don’t look good, it’s important to minimise, diffuse, and distract. That’s why in Northland when the PM was confronted by a heckler, she quickly told the crowd it was “just one person”, in fact there were four of them. Then in Whanganui, when numbers of hecklers and protesters escalated to about 250, we were told it was “a small but active group”. Like we couldn’t see the throng of people there for ourselves. A second protest saw the PM cancel another press conference, nothing to see here. This is clearly a disconcerting time for our beloved PM because she’s had a golden run, is used to fawning photo ops and easy stand ups, and turning out to adoring crowds on university campuses. Not so much now. The wheels are coming off and it’s not pretty. It doesn’t make for good photos; it doesn’t warm the cockles of the heart. The PM looks stressed. Cancelling stuff and diverting media away from it is not handling it well. I actually feel sorry for her. The higher the pedestal, the greater the fall, and that this will be terrifying new territory for her. Panicking, shutting it down, looking angry and then belittling those involved, smacks of things spiralling out of control. We are told these people just a vocal minority of trouble makers. Are they though? Could they actually be representative of a good chunk of the population absolutely fed up with where things are tracking? Add to that the current polling – the Roy Morgan poll this week had Labour down 6 to 39 percent support, the lowest since they came to power. Just 6 percent now separates the left from the right. The huge highs and outright majority they enjoyed and the lofty arrogance they comfortably slipped into, is eroding. Ministers are looking increasingly possum in headlights at press conferences when reporters dare question their modus operandi. They’re increasingly coming up short on answers, they’re looking more spooked on the public walkabouts. You can only dismiss negative publicity and protestors as a ‘small but active group’ for so long. Most of us can see this for what it is. So, what becomes of our glorious leader as the tables start to turn? I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she hangs up her hat next year. The old guard of politics for whom it was once a vocation and a lengthy commitment is not as prevalent among this younger breed of politicians. Their tolerance threshold seems lower. My pick is she won’t be bothered with seeing things through to the next election with declining support. The international scene beckons, family life beckons, celebrity stardom and adoration outside of politics beckons. Time will tell, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she exits stage left.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sociologist says we can expect more protests. The Prime Minister yesterday abandoned a scheduled press conference in Whanganui after about 250 protesters gathered outside a vaccination centre she planned to visit. The day before, Ardern had moved a Northland press conference indoors after being heckled by activists. On Saturday about five-thousand people gathered at the Auckland Domain and marched through the streets of Newmarket. Massey University sociology professor Paul Spoonley told Kate Hawkesby as we head towards 90 percent vaccination, protests are becoming more public. “They’re also going to disrupt others to make their point so yes, I think it will escalate.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to get in and out of Auckland this Christmas you may have to book in advance, and be prepared to wait. The boundary between Auckland and the rest of the country is likely to remain in place -- with people prevented from travelling if they aren't fully vaccinated, and don't have a negative Covid test. Covid Minister Chris Hipkins says people could be given an allocated time, but it's still likely to be a "time-consuming process". Tech commentator Paul Spain says told Kate Hawkesby the Government will be trying to iron out a system that works and is fair to everyone. “We have seen other areas where the Government has struggled on technology and that’s partly because it takes time to get these systems up and operating.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m not sure what’s worse at COP26, the private jets they all flew in on, the hot air they’re spouting, Greta Thunberg doing her usual spit the dummy routine, or Joe Biden living up to his nickname and falling asleep. I mean it’d be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. UK PM Boris Johnson, having lectured them all on cutting down on travel emissions, then hopped back on his private jet to head back to London. He excused that hypocrisy as being about ‘time constraints’. We get it, you’re so busy saving the planet, you also need to pollute it as you come and go. Ironically, moments before Boris boarded his jet, he told a roundtable of leaders that, “When it comes to tackling climate change, words without action, without deeds, are absolutely pointless.” Then there’s Sleepy Joe. He dozed off during the first few speeches, again showing us that world leaders are really only interested in talk fests if they’re stimulating and perhaps climate ‘blah blah’ as Greta puts it, just isn’t that scintillating. Which leads me to the teenage activist herself, more celebrity pin-up with expletive rants these days than silent protestor. She did not mince words as she delivered what was described by the press as a “foul mouthed tirade”, denouncing world leaders for failing to act. She said: 'No more blah blah blah, no more whatever the f*** they are doing inside there'. What a delight she is. Good to see her protests are evolving from shouting at people to now include swearing at them as well. They’ve got high hopes for this summit – I mean don’t we all? Wouldn’t it be great to see something tangible come out of the talk fest. This summit is, they say, “poised to be one of the most consequential climate events since the negotiation of the Paris Agreement in 2015.” Organisers are looking for “whole economy transformations.” But in the bid to build a more sustainable, resilient and zero-carbon future, you need to be taken seriously. And I’m just not sure you’re doing that by whizzing around on private jets, swearing at world leaders for being a waste of time and, in Joe Biden’s case, falling asleep. Luckily the Queen was beamed in to give a bit of gravitas and deliver a few stern words about aiming for statesmanship over politics. It is all politics though, isn’t it? And the thing I find disingenuous about so much of left-serving politics these days is the champagne socialism aspect of it, exemplified in so many ways here, but also in our own backyard. I mean James Shaw’s going up with an entourage, I’m not sure why he needs the reported 14 people to go up there with him, that’s quite the junket. To get real traction on anything, anywhere, politicians actually have to do more than just talk. They have to be authentic and they have to have their actions match their words. Staying awake also helps. So with another week of COP26 still to unfold, let’s hope we see something legit come out of it, rather than just more hot air.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctors are calling for better regulation of health supplements, as demand surges during the Covid pandemic. Sales in New Zealand supermarkets reached 130-million dollars this year by September. However, some say they're expensive, we don't need them, and they can be dangerous. Medical Association chairman, Dr Alistair Humphrey, told Kate Hawkesby people are wasting their money taking supplements. “They haven’t been tested and so we have no idea whether they work or not, potentially they can be harmful. Their claims are quite extreme.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are undergoing a research project investigating whether they have unconscious bias towards Māori. It will be examining whether bias exists within Police, and how to eradicate it. Over in the US, Philadelphia has become the first big city to ban minor traffic stops. Police can't pull people over for broken tail lights or expired inspection stickers. Could something similar be done here? Criminal justice advocate Sir Kim Workman joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes for a silver lining in Northland's third lockdown in as many months. The top of the Far North has moved to Alert Level Three at least until Monday after two Covid cases were found in Taipa in Doubtless Bay, with no known link to the wider Delta outbreak. The boundary slices through the Hokianga Harbour across to the Mangamuka Junction, to Kaeo and out to East Bay, east of Whangaroa Harbour. Far North mayor John Carter told Kate Hawkesby community, iwi and business leaders are using the developments to get as many people vaccinated as possible. “We’re all now working together united and the levels of vaccination and testing has gone up, and I think we’ll find we’ll end up with a good rate out of it.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Auckland enters week 12 of lockdown, there must be a small sigh of relief for businesses. I mean another whole week, but at least a date is set to open. Which is just as well, because had they not given businesses a green light to open, I would’ve suggested they just stop waiting for permission and get on with it anyway. Leo Molloy it. Ian Tayor it. Set a date, make some rules, band together in a cohesive body and just make it happen. I think some business associations were already looking at that. But a reprieve of sorts yesterday – an ‘in principle’ decision for next Wednesday morning for retailers to throw open the doors. Lucky Aucklanders, Christmas shopping can be done in person, the couriers can get some respite, the online bingeing can be replaced by the bricks and mortar experience. Waikato of course gets better news, doors can open as of tomorrow morning, thrilling for them. So why not now for Auckland? Well according to the PM she wants to allow an extra week to let the school changes ‘bed in’, whatever that means, and to let extra vaccinations occur. Let’s call it for what it was - political pressure, and buckets of it. It was just all getting a little too unsavoury for them to continue with their head in the sand approach to Auckland. The irony of this won’t be lost on anyone. Record case numbers, yet only 3 in ICU. Our vaccination rates are high, 81 percent of Auckland is fully vaxxed, 75 percent of the whole country is double jabbed. So, our rates are at higher levels than when most other countries threw open the doors for more freedoms. In other words, we are very late to this party. I feel for the sectors who’re still playing the waiting game. No date, no surety, and no consistency. I mean how is it a physio and a chiropractor can open but a masseuse can’t? A dentist and a botox operator can open, but a hairdresser can’t. Many of those closed businesses are of course already operating. Just covertly, with cash, and behind closed doors. They’re not waiting for permission, and they’re prepared to take the risk of a fine because they’re that desperate. It’s not about breaking rules or trying to be renegade, it’s about literally surviving. Many of them have mouths to feed and you can’t take loans out on the basis of never knowing when you can pay it back. So, a political decision from the Government yesterday based on two things; compliance in Auckland lost, and political heat being felt. Health considerations are now taking a back seat, and there's more of that to come. Watch this whole thing unravel real quick from here - and the pivot on the fear messaging is going to be sharp, so buckle up. It's a shame Auckland retailers are being used as pawns in a political game to appease the fearful, by buying another pointless week, but it bodes well long term for restrictions being eased faster then we think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish-trained and Australian-owned nine-year-old Twilight Payment will attempt to become the first horse to successfully defend a Melbourne Cup since Makybe Diva won her third in a row in 2005 in Tuesday's race at Flemington. The stayer will go into the 3,200-meter race having finished runner-up in the 2,800-meter Irish St. Leger, a placing that was one better than his final lead-in run in the same race last year. Part-owner Nick Williams says the St. Leger finish will be an advantage for Twilight Payment and British stayer Spanish Mission in their bid to beat Caulfield Cup winner and favorite Incentivise. "Our horse and Spanish Mission are proven over the distance at the absolute top level in the world," Williams said. "We'll see on Tuesday whether Incentivise is up to that level at that trip." Twilight Payment is the Melbourne Cup top weight with 58.5 kilograms (129 pounds) after being asked to carry 3 kg (6.6 pounds) more than 2020 as he tries to become the oldest winner of the race. Jye McNeil will ride Twilight Payment. "He'll roll forward again, that's the way he likes to race," Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien said of Twilight Payment. "He doesn't have to lead but he's very comfortable on the lead." Twilight Payment and Spanish Mission are the only overseas-trained horses in the race and they are the closest in betting to Incentivise. Twilight Payment drew Barrier 2 while Incentivise will need to overcome a wide barrier after drawing Barrier 16 in the 24-horse race. Incentivise, to be ridden by Brett Prebble, has won his past nine starts. Craig Williams has been booked to ride Spanish Mission. Incentivise trainer Peter Moody said his horse has taken it easy in training since his win in the 2,400-meter Caulfield Cup on Oct. 16. "He's done everything asked of him . . . very little fast work, he hasn't needed it," Moody said. "Fitness levels are very good and health and well-being are very good." With Melbourne only recently coming out of a lengthy lockdown due to COVID-19, Flemington, which can accommodate up to 120,000 race-goers, will be restricted to 10,000 fully-vaccinated spectators. The forecast is for dry weather and a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) for the race first held in 1861.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There seems to be bit of a grey area when it comes to whether we should make young children wear masks. While parents and officials want to protect kids against Covid, they also don't want to get in the way of a child's development. Each country is doing it differently, countries like France and Italy are masking kids six and over, but in the US, they want kids as young as two masked up. Developmental psychologist at University of Toronto Dr Kang Lee joined Kate Hawkesby from Beijing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well the climate change summit we all know the name of now COP26 is underway in Glasgow. Apart from a stoush between France and Australia, the main takeaway has been world leaders giving pretty grim outlooks on the future. The UN Secretary General says "we're digging our own grave" "either we stop it, or it stops us" and the UK Prmie Minister Boris Johnson says the world is at "one minute to midnight". But what is New Zealand's attendance going to achieve, and what does the farming community want to see? CEO of Dairy NZ Dr Tim Mackle joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the corporate world, they call it avoiding death by a thousand cuts. It’s a smart marketing strategy and one I think the Government's currently employing. Get all your bad news out at once - more crudely referred to in some sectors as “flushing all the turds in one go”. When Steven Joyce wrote at the weekend about the wheels coming off this Government, he wasn’t wrong. Ramming through Three Waters, announcing a fanciful $15 billion light rail project, keeping Auckland locked down, butchering the MIQ messaging and changes. The wheels are well and truly off. And you’ll note, fronting all that bad news was Chris or Grant - anyone but Jacinda. That’s the other strategy of course - keep your most popular player away from bad news. Save her for the good stuff. And here’s where the play is smart. The good stuff is coming. Matthew Hooton was the latest of many cynics to forecast a loosening of restrictions and an opening up - albeit an abandonment of the ambitious vaccine target - by November 29. He said we could mark December 1st as our “Freedom Day” they won’t call it that, nor will they admit they’re abandoning targets, but that’s what’ll happen. Kiwis will get home for Xmas, MIQ will be abandoned, targets will be gone. When my husband suggested this to me a week ago, I told him he was over estimating this “abundance of caution” Government and it wouldn’t happen. But I forgot about the obvious bit staring us all in the face. This Government hates bad press. And what they’re currently getting is bad press, and lots of it. The usual cheerleaders have turned. I’m told even the PM’s social media pages which are usually awash with sycophants has turned ugly. Labour won’t tolerate this much love lost and so watch December come like the great redeemer. Jacinda will be back out front for the good news. We will open up, the chicken littles like Wiles and Baker sidelined once and for all, there‘ll be good news aplenty and they’ll be banking on everyone - particularly Aucklanders - forgetting this period of discontent and riding the wave of open shops, domestic tourism and salon haircuts. There’ll be a celebrity wedding for the PM - a summer to enjoy, and the key bit - the spin. The spin will be, that we are in fact, world leading. That we opened up with a higher vaccination rate than other countries, that we have our freedoms back and that we earned it with fewer deaths and no hospital overload. Part of our small size and stature globally is that we puff our chest at any chance - and Labour will capitalize on that to claim we’re top of the pops. And by inference that Jacinda is top of the pops. There will be many who fall for it. But there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and September 2023, question is, can they keep swimming?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The message to young kiwis who don't want to head overseas on their OE, is go to rural New Zealand instead. Think Rural, launched today, is a local government campaign, aiming to attract young people to rural areas for work. Otorohanga Mayor Max Baxter says told Kate Hawkesby we should treat an OE in New Zealand, like an OE overseas. “Certainly while we’ve been in Level 3, I mean the opportunity for freedom, a bit of space. The jobs are still out there in the rural community.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A crucial U.N. climate summit opened Sunday amid papal appeals for prayers and activists' demands for action, kicking off two weeks of intense diplomatic negotiations by almost 200 countries aimed at slowing intensifying global warming and adapting to the climate damage already underway. As U.N. officials gaveled the climate summit to its formal opening in Glasgow, the heads of the world's leading economies at the close of their own separate talks in Italy made pledges including stopping international financing of dirty-burning coal-fired power plants by next year. But much of the agreement was vague and not the major push some had been hoping for to give momentum to the climate summit. Government leaders face two choices in Glasgow, Patricia Espinosa, head of the U.N. climate office, declared at the summit's opening: They can sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions and help communities and countries survive what is becoming a hotter, harsher world, Espinosa said. "Or we accept that humanity faces a bleak future on this planet." "It is for these reasons and more that we must make progress here in Glasgow," Espinosa said. "We must make it a success." India Logan-Riley, an Indigenous climate activist from New Zealand, had a more blunt message for negotiators and world leaders at the summit's opening ceremony. "Get in line, or get out of the way," Logan-Riley said. But G-20 leaders offered more vague pledges than commitments of firm action, saying they would seek carbon neutrality "by or around mid-century." They also agreed to end public financing for coal-fired power generation abroad, but set no target for phasing out coal domestically — a clear nod to China and India The G-20 countries represent more than three-quarters of the world's climate-damaging emissions and G-20 host Italy and Britain, which is hosting the Glasgow conference, had looked for more ambitious targets coming out of Rome. But major polluters including China and Russia had already made clear they had no immediate intention of following U.S. and European pledges to zero out all fossil-fuel pollution by 2050. Russia said on Sunday that it was sticking to its target of 2060. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck a grim tone Sunday. He said G-20 leaders "inched forward" on curbing global warming, but the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) -- struck in a landmark deal at the end of the 2015 Paris climate accord -- was in danger of slipping out of reach. "If Glasgow fails then the whole thing fails," Johnson told reporters in Rome. Some observers said the pledges from the G-20 countries were far from enough. "This weak statement from the G-20 is what happens when developing countries who are bearing the full force of the climate crisis are shut out of the room," said Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa. "The world's biggest economies comprehensively failed to put climate change on the top of the agenda ahead of COP26 in Glasgow." While the opening ceremony in Glasgow formally kicked off the talks, known as COP26, the more anticipated launch comes Monday, when leaders from around the world will gather to lay out their countries' efforts to curb emissions from burning coal, gas and oil and deal with the mounting damage from climate change. The leaders of two of the top climate-polluting nations - China and Russia — were not expected to attend the summit, though seniors officials from those countries planned to participate. For U.S. President Joe Biden, whose country is the world's biggest climate polluter after China, the summit comes at a time when division within his own Democratic party is forcing him to scale back ambitious climate efforts. At the Vatican Sunday, Pope Francis urged the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square: "Let us pray so that the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor" is heard by summit...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So it seems the vocal minority of anti-vaxers and anti-lockdown protesters, otherwise known as 'freedom fighters' has got louder over the weekend. At least 5000 people gathered in Auckland domain on Saturday for the third major protest in six weeks. Protesters also targeted Dominion road yesterday grinding it a halt, and vandalised a vaccination centre in Panmure. So how do we deal with these people? How do we get through to these people? Professor Stephan Lewandowsky is a world-renowned cognitive scientist currently based in Bristol and he joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hawkes Bay's water park Splash Planet is closing over summer for the first time since opening in 1998. Although Hawkes Bay isn’t reporting any Covid cases, there are concerns around low vaccination rates and how they would manage social distancing. Nigel Bickle, Hastings’ District Council CEO - who are in charge of Splash Planet – told Kate Hawkesby it’s become too complicated to open the park. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK and Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney was aboard Sir David Attenborough's research vessel today to hear Sir David talk about the upcoming Climate Change Summit. He joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss this and how France has detained a U.K. fishing boat as the battle for fishing in the channel heats up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I feel for the South Island, with their gradual waking up to the fact that Delta is real. A couple of weeks ago I said to my sister, who lives in Christchurch, when she called me en-route from her pilates class to her café lunch, before probably going on to the hairdresser, that she was living in a parallel universe. I told her I figured the South Island was where the whole of NZ was 11 weeks ago, when we thought Delta was just a “somewhere else” problem. We smugly watched from the comfort of our crowded cafes as chaos unfolded across the Tasman and we thought – oh lucky us, it’s not real for us here. And then boom, there it was. And how our lives have changed. I told her it would show up on her doorstep, it was a matter of when not if. She was confident it wouldn’t and that they’d all be so well vaccinated by the time it did, that it’d be no worries. And then wham. Yesterday’s news of two positive cases in the city. I called her and suggested she go get her hair done and have her last café coffee. But she was relaxed, confident they wouldn’t be locked down, confident it would be a non-event. I admired her positivity and at the same time resented how cynical and deflated we’ve become in Auckland. That sort of upbeat laissez-faire approach to life she was exhibiting, has been missing in action in the city of sails. Aucklanders are instead like brow beaten cave dwellers living in the dark, fear and rule bound, glumly crawling around with our regrowth and our chipped nails and our takeaways, wondering when we’ll ever get to a traffic light. My sister said she refused to subscribe to the fear, or run around like a headless chicken buying up toilet paper. In fact, she was so confident there’d be no lockdown that she said she was going to make restaurant bookings. She refused to go to the supermarket to join a queue and in the end, she was right not to panic. But I am hopeful it’s a wake-up call for those who may still be on the fence regards vaccinating. Nothing spurs people on like some positive community cases, and perhaps this focusses the mind for South Islanders that they may not be completely immune from this. I do think the blame and finger pointing is futile here though – those who’re saying ‘bloody Aucklanders’ - Let’s be frank, Delta was always going to make its way around the place. These two travellers had exemptions to travel, and had provided negative tests How is that Auckland's fault? There is an argument for domestic vaccine passports, especially for those leaving the centre of an outbreak. Why that’s not already in place to protect South Islanders and the rest of the country is beyond me. I imagine it’ll eventually come into play – but as we’ve come to expect with this government, unfortunately, not in time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest MIQ change is more about reconnecting families, rather than tourism. From the 14th of November, MIQ stays will be halved to seven days. People must then self-isolate at home for about three days until their day nine test comes back. Rosann Connolly George from Vincent George Travel told Kate Hawkesby the focus will be on the repatriation of Kiwis and the education sector before we can think about tourism. “I honestly don’t see a tourism border opening up anytime soon.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation, marking a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who do not identify as male or female, and expects to be able to offer the option more broadly next year, the State Department said Wednesday. The department did not identify the passport recipient, but Dana Zzyym of Fort Collins, Colorado, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview it was their passport. Zzyym, who prefers a gender-neutral pronoun, has been in a legal battle with the government since 2015 over a passport. Zzyym (pronounced Zimm) said the fight for the passport with an accurate gender designation was a way to help the next generation of intersex people win recognition as full citizens with rights. “I’m not a problem. I’m a human being. That’s the point,” Zzyym said. The U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, Jessica Stern, said the decision brings the government documents in line with the “lived reality” that there is a wider spectrum of human sex characteristics than is reflected in the previous two designations. “When a person obtains identity documents that reflect their true identity, they live with greater dignity and respect,” Stern said. Zzyym was denied a passport for failing to check male or female on an application. According to court documents, Zzyym wrote “intersex” above the boxes marked “M” and “F” and requested an “X” gender marker instead in a separate letter. Zzyym was born with ambiguous physical sexual characteristics but was raised as a boy and had several surgeries that failed to make Zzyym appear fully male, according to court filings. Zzyym served in the Navy as a male but later came to identify as intersex while working and studying at Colorado State University. The State Department’s denial of Zzyym’s passport prevented Zzyym from being able to travel to a meeting of Organization Intersex International in Mexico. The department said in June that it was moving toward adding a third gender marker for nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people but that would take time because of required updates to its computer systems. In addition, a department official said the passport application and system update with the “X” designation option still awaited approval from the Office of Management and Budget, which signs off on all government forms. The department now also allows applicants to self-select their gender as male or female, no longer requiring them to provide medical certification if their gender did not match that listed on their other identification documents. The United States joins a handful of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Nepal and Canada, in allowing its citizens to designate a gender other than male or female on passports. Stern said her office planned to talk about the U.S. experience with the change in its interactions around the world and hopes that might help inspire other governments to offer the option. “We see this as a way of affirming and uplifting the human rights of trans and intersex and gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people everywhere,” she said. By - Colleen Slevin, APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I joked this time yesterday that I hoped the big day of announcements we were awaiting wouldn’t just be announcements of announcements. I mean I thought we were past that. Hence, I joked about it. Sadly, clearly, we’re not past it. This Government is still taking the piss at 1 o’clock. How much leeway do they actually want? How much rope? Are they joking? Yesterday’s press conference was one of the greater damp squibs of all time. They literally could not announce anything. We were expecting MIQ changes, an update on school for Years 0-10, and the Waikato level change. What did we get? A delay on the MIQ announcement – they’re not ready, don’t know, haven’t got it together, they’re still ‘having conversations’. Why? What about? They’ve had weeks and weeks to do this, is it that there’s disagreement? Is it that they literally can’t make a decision? Is it that they just don’t know? What is it? Likewise with schools. Weeks to prepare for this – still no clue. Primary students might be back by November 15th, then again, they might not. They may go back on a rostered system, they may go back for outdoor classes only, they may not go back at all. Years 9 and 10, which are junior high school students, don’t look like they’re going back anytime soon either. At best, I’d say when and if the seniors leave daily classes to sit external exams, juniors may get a look in, but again, who would know? The government certainly doesn’t. Then we got to the poor old Waikato. Languishing in Level 3, they got the big news they can move to picnics and golf. What I want to know is, why are they staying in Level 3 with only 6 cases in the community, all in Hamilton, and all linked? Well apparently, it’s because, as Hipkins put it, “it’s a difficult group to contact trace.” When pressed on this, he simply repeated ‘they’re a difficult group to contact trace’ - which of course tells us nothing and everything all at the same time. History tells us the group the government tends to protect the privacy of the most is? Gangs. Who are these ‘difficult’ people? Are they not co-operating? Are they being difficult for a reason? Why are the difficulties not being addressed? Why hold Waikato to ransom for a small group of ‘difficult’ people? And how do you define difficult for goodness' sake? They should know by now that in the absence of information, all that will do is stir rumour and upset. The other strange thing about the approach to Waikato is the Government’s words that they’re looking to ‘stamp it out’ there. Why? That’s elimination and I thought we ditched that? Why is the Waikato having a unique approach taken when the rest of us are all being told we have to learn to live with the virus? So, another frustrating press conference of absolutely no use or merit, which left us with more questions than answers. This government is doing my head in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACC is being told it needs to urgently change how it operates. It's been sent an open letter from the Green party and 27 other organisations. It comes after it was revealed more than a dozen employees were sharing and mocking people's injury details on a Snapchat group. It also outlines huge work backlog issues and client battles. It cites major privacy breaches, massive workloads and long-standing client battles. Victims' advocate Ruth Money told Kate Hawkesby until now concerns have fallen on deaf ears. She says the media has been trying to shine a light on it for years. “Finally, we’re getting a bit of traction but, it’s too little too late. Hopefully it’s the pressure that makes the diamond.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group representing working parents want more assurances their children will be safe at school. Primary and intermediate schools in level three areas are being told to prepare to re-open on November 15, but that date's not set in stone. Children would attend on different days and there would be outdoor classes. Working parent advocate Emma McLean told Kate Hawkesby parents are already trying to juggle work and home-schooling and the decision just creates more uncertainty. “We want to be able to trust the decisions that our schools and Government are making and if we can, that’s really going to make our load lighter.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Widespread reaction to the Government's decision to go ahead with its controversial three water reforms. Water New Zealand says there are big challenges facing the sector, and these reforms address that. Chief Executive Gillian Blythe told Kate Hawkesby about 30 options were considered. “This one is going to enable the unlocking of barriers that have contributed to this infrastructure deficit.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A senior marketing lecturer sees mandatory vaccinations as a good P.R move. The Government is requiring 40 per cent of our workforce to be vaccinated. Staff will have to be vaccinated at any business that requires vaccine certificates. Auckland University marketing expert Bodo Lang told Kate Hawkesby the vast majority of Kiwis have done the right thing and got the jab. He says now they're just waiting on a few others to do the same. “I think the vast majority of New Zealanders will be viewing this very positively.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m not sure the return to school yesterday for seniors in level three will be the super spreader event people like Rod Jackson were ‘freaking out’ about. I guess time will tell on that one. But what I do know from talking to some students who went back yesterday, was that it was stressful for all concerned. I’m not sure what’s more stressful at this point: online at-home-learning, or heading back into school after so long. There are parents in both camps as well as students of course; some nervous they’ve gone back, some grateful. What I did learn yesterday from returning students, is that there’s a lot of stress from feeling so behind on school work – and worry about how to catch that up in time for exams. The big talking point at school of course is Covid, and the stress around what that means for them, whether their exams will happen or not, how they might happen, and what the rest of the term looks like. That’s something we can all identify with, really. No one really knows what the rest of our year looks like. I’m not sure at this point that even the Government does. Teachers, I heard, were very negative about the return - most of them saying at one school that they didn’t want to be there. They’re worried they’ll catch Covid and potentially pass it on to younger children of their own at home. That’s a valid concern. Students, while happy to be back with their friends, were of course finding the social distancing tough. And by tough, I mean, non-existent. Masks, though mandatory, I hear were hard to keep on all day as it was so muggy and humid in Auckland yesterday that most found it too hard and hot to breathe. So, masks were off a lot, and that’s what I hear from many level two schools that are back as well in other parts of the country; the mask thing is non-existent. It’s classic theory versus reality. So, what’s more stressful for teachers and students right now? Being at school with strict rules which are being loosely interpreted and, in some cases, not followed at all? Running the gauntlet of a large-scale environment with some vaxxed, some not? Or staying home doing sub-par learning in an online environment? We know that 15 percent of Auckland schools said no thanks to heading back into class yesterday and it’ll be interesting to see how long they keep up that stance. It’s a tough call and one the Government's making right now for younger students. And based on the concerns so far around seniors going back, I can only imagine even stronger reactions are on the cards, when it’s the turn of juniors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Queen will no longer attend the Cop 26 climate summit in Glasgow next week, following her visit to hospital last week. Buckingham Palace says she's been advised to rest and carry out light duties. The 95-year-old will still contribute to the summit, delivering an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded message from Windsor Castle. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby it comes as concerns grow about her health and workload. “Lots of people are now going to be intensely reviewing how she looks and what she’s doing and how many royal engagements she should be trying to do.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A glimmer of hope for Kiwis stranded overseas because they can't get a spot in managed isolation. The Government's making a major announcement about changes to the MIQ system today. Shorter MIQ stays for returnees, home quarantine, and possibly no quarantine from safe countries could be in the mix. Travel technology consultant Mike Moore told Kate Hawkesby home quarantine has been used successfully in countries like Taiwan, by using things like apps and phone calls. He said reducing MIQ from 14 to seven days is one of the things mooted. “That actually only increases the number of people you let into the country from 350 to 700 a day so that’s still massively massively short of demand.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confusion continues on vaccination rules for players at the Australian Open. Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Kate Hawkesby a leaked email from the Women's Tennis Association said that unvaccinated players would be allowed to enter Australia and asked the information to be kept private until the government makes a public announcement. This comes after Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said, last week, that tennis players who haven't received a COVID-19 vaccination are unlikely to get a visa to enter the country for the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.This risks men's No. 1, Novak Djokovic, not being able to take part as he refuses to disclose his vaccination status.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard not to feel disillusioned this week - struggling to understand this new traffic light system. It feels like we’re being asked to reach an unrealistic goal by an ambitious PM who wants to score some points. And in achieving that goal, what do we get for it? A red light. As we’ve been told many times by this government, Delta didn’t come with a roadmap. That’s actually not true in our case. The roadmap was rolling out in front of us. We had months to watch it unfold in other parts of the world. And in that time, we should’ve readied our healthcare system, our ICU, our nursing capacity, our testing and tracing abilities. But we didn’t. We bragged about Six 60 concerts and how we didn't need to rush the vaccine rollout instead. We put millions into designing a now cancelled bike bridge, money for school lunches, University buildings; stuff that wasn’t as important as money to ready ourselves for the inevitable. And then when Delta did arrive, instead of asking for roadside assistance or seeking help from the private sector - who by the way desperately wanted to help, the government only got more entrenched in its own Wellington based echo chamber. It still won’t acknowledge or admit it got anything wrong. It still won’t justify how, with its hell-bent elimination strategy, we got locked down at level 4, then 3, only to have now over a thousand cases in the community. The collateral damage of being guinea pigs for an ideologically driven government wanting to pursue “world beating” outcomes, has been well canvassed. But aside from giving the PM some impetus in her eventual path to the UN or whatever international badges she’s pursuing, it’s leaving those of us they purport to represent, with a scarred, debt laden economy, broken businesses, a mental health epidemic far greater than the one they inherited and allegedly so badly wanted to fix. The greatest irony of course is there is no equity here in this approach they’re labelling the ‘most equitable’. Equitable for who? For the Aucklanders who did as they asked and got vaccinated, stayed home and abided the rules? It's disingenuous to hide behind a cloak of equitability while holding underwater businesses, elderly, the alone, the dying, the desperate to return home, the teenagers, the young parents, and just the Joe-average Aucklander who's tuned in daily, paid attention, taken heed, complied with restrictions, made sacrifices, swallowed vaccine doubts and done what’s been asked? This is not equitable. It’s unjust to the majority. It’s handing the power to the few. The one percent who won’t, can’t, or don’t want to vaccinate. It’s handing our freedoms to them. Putting it in their hands, to absolve the government of any blame. So, the unvaxxed get to decide when we, the obedient majority, get our freedoms back. How is that fair?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research suggests three quarters of Kiwis have used video games to connect with their children during the pandemic. That's according to a new report by the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association and Bond University in Australia. Nearly 60 percent of parents say their children’s schools are using video games as another way to teach. Let's Play Live director Duane Mutu told Kate Hawkesby parents should jump in and have a turn with their kids on games- like Fortnite, for example. “Understand what they’re doing. Being able to jump in and understand that language, being able to talk to them is very very good.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is keeping a close eye on vaccination rates in every DHB, as it prepares to transition the country to a new "traffic light" system of covid restrictions. Auckland will move to the new system once all three of its DHBs have hit the 90-percent vaccination target. The rest of the country is also set to move to the system, once 90-percent of the eligible population in each DHB area has received both of their Covid jabs. But Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare told Kate Hawkesby everything will be up for review at Cabinet every week leading up to a major review in late November. “We’re pushing our hardest for getting the highest vaccination rate.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got a strong sense yesterday of the reaction to school going back for seniors currently languishing in Level 3, and how it’s gone down with teachers. The PPTA, as we know, was furious - they didn’t mince their words. They said the government had abandoned it’s ‘abundance of caution’ approach and moved to a “reckless disregard for consequences in the blink of an eyelid.” Teachers themselves had mixed reactions – some worried about having to teach students both online and in person – the increased workload associated with that, increased risk of exposure to Covid from any unvaccinated students. Could it be some kind of super spreader event, some wondered. Parents were in the same camp. Some relieved, some anxious. Students, likewise, were split – some thrilled to go back, others saying it’s too soon. And sure enough, yesterday we learn not all schools are going to follow the Ministry's instructions and open back up. Some are opting to just keep exams online for seniors, as was already in train. I can't work out if that's because teachers said ‘nope, not happening’, or schools just literally weren't prepared; given the government didn't consult with them on it - or whether it's because parents complained, or that schools just feel with more than a hundred cases in the community, it's too soon. I have sympathy for them to the extent that it would've been a bit of an experiment. With unknown vaccination levels inside schools still, who'd want to inadvertently end up a super-spreader event? While the National Party will tell you it’s imperative everyone gets back into the classroom quick sticks for learning, for many students, it's about so much more than that, isn’t it? School is community. It’s their friendship group, their mentors, their peer support, for some it’s even their regular food supply as we heard yesterday from a South Auckland Principal. But for all those arguing that kids need to get back to class for socialisation and learning, is that honestly what they’re going to get in this climate, at Level 3? Last time they went back to school after lockdown, they got paranoid teachers desperate to play catch up, phobic about germs and rules and sanitising and keeping kids distanced from their classmates. This constant patrolling made teachers stressed and grumpy. There’s also the theory versus reality part of it. In theory, everyone will be wearing a mask but, the reality from other schools around the country who’re already back, is that mask wearing got ditched fairly early on and enforcement is nigh on impossible without teachers having eyes in the back of their head. Friends told to stay apart just found other places to hang out together away from teachers. So given the amount of angst, stress and pressure on teachers and students to go back to school in a Level Three environment, I can see why some have said, no thanks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human rights activists have disrupted the flame lighting ceremony for the Winter Olympics. This was in protest to China hosting the games. The activists are calling for countries and athletes to boycott the games due to human rights abuses in China. At the same time, British diver Tom Daly is asking IOC to ban countries from competing where being gay is punishable by death. Deputy Head of Sport and Events Management at Bournemouth University Dr Keith Parry told Kate Hawkesby so long as the IOC are not being punished in a financial sense, we can expect to see them continue to claim political neutrality. “It’s always going to be political.” He says “We have seen the greater presence of activism from athletes because they have got more power these days.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes today's announcement on the Covid protection framework will signal when the South Island can move out of Level Two. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce CEO Leanne Watson told Kate Hawkesby the south may have no cases of Covid - but that doesn't mean it's not struggling. She says businesses and people in general are frustrated that there’s just no recognition. “Businesses just want clarity. It will provide that sense of hope and will be a real incentive to people, particularly those who are not vaccinated yet.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tamaki’s are once again defending their right to protest. Bishop Brian Tamaki appeared in court this week for failing to comply with a Level Three order and breaching his bail conditions. He has attended and helped organise two lockdown protests and violated his bail conditions by attending another protest on October 16. Wife Hannah Tamaki told Kate Hawkesby he fully understands he could go to jail. “I don’t think he deliberately wants to break the law but, he’s gonna tip-toe up to the line and shout over to the other side: People, make the choices that are right for you.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you finding these days that your patience is wearing thin? When it comes to morons, mine is. When I read yesterday that people were gathering and chanting outside the Henderson Police Station wearing "Freedom NZ" masks, and revving their motorbikes after Brian Tamaki’s arrest, it felt like the world had officially gone mad. Worse yet, Tamaki’s wife Hannah was live streaming the whole thing to Facebook. And as the crowd chants - God only knows what they were chanting - she allegedly says, “I hope my hunny comes home tonight". Give me strength. How have I not taken alcohol back up? Are you serious? “Hunny” unfortunately broke his bail conditions by attending a second Freedom Rally protest. Hunny also claimed he’d gotten off his first arrest and avoided charges. Hunny appears to think he’s above the law, certainly above the Public Health Act Order. Hunny seems to generate a crowd. Not to sound too alarmist Hannah, but Delta’s on babes. This is Level 3, and these are blatant breaches of the rules. And are we not just getting a bit sick and tired of people breaching the rules? Do we not all want our freedom and normality back? But newsflash – we’re not going to get it by chanting, gathering in crowds and protesting in parks. I mean, I feel for their plight, I really do. They’ve been reported as anti-vaxxers when I think they’re just pro-choice 'freedom crusaders' and look, we all want freedom. But our ticket out of this is actually just to vaccinate, and stay away from others and big groups. You can actually dislike the government, not like the way this response is being handled, be bummed that we all have to go and stick needles in our arms, and yet still get vaccinated. You can actually think and do all of those things at the same time. Trust me, I have. None of this is fun, none of this is – excuse the irony – a picnic, but it’s the best we have. It’s the only way, as evidenced everywhere else in the world. I get that ‘hunny’ might be missing the limelight and that Bishop status is a top dog vibe that has to be constantly reinforced by seeming to look powerful. But this ain’t it. There are more helpful ways the preaching could be going down these days. Especially to those key demographics among Destiny Church like young people and Maori. I mean, this could be a powerful opportunity to lead by example on responsible behaviours that show compassion and care for your fellow man. But that probably wouldn’t garner as much media attention. So when Hannah said she wanted 'hunny' home tonight, she spoke for all of us. We’d like him home too Hannah, and preferably to just stay there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of business travel, and what it will look like post-pandemic will be discussed today. Flight Centre are holding their corporate travel event Illuminate. It coincides with the launch of the government's self-isolation pilot for business travellers, with 150 people confirmed for the trial. Flight Centre Travel Group's Head of Customer Engagement Andy Jack told Kate Hawkesby the pilot is a welcome first step in right direction. “We’re no stranger now to isolating. It’s probably the longer-term solution but it isn’t the absolute solution for regular overseas travellers who travel more for days rather than weeks.” Jack says they saw travel bounce back ahead of this lockdown and domestic travel levels overtake pre-Covid levels. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have a supporter in the US House of Representatives with a congressman welcoming the "legendary" team to America ahead of their clash against the USA Eagles this weekend. Speaking next to a picture of the All Blacks haka, Republican congressman Alex Mooney, who is co-chair of the congressional rugby caucus, said the All Blacks are "the world's most famous rugby club" and their visit to Washington DC could be an "important barometer" for America to host the Rugby World Cup in the future. "I'm excited to see the legendary New Zealand All Blacks take the pitch against the USA national men's rugby team when they face off this Saturday October 23rd (Sunday NZT)," Mooney said in an address to the House of Representatives. "We hope to pack FedEx Field here in DC. The All Blacks of New Zealand are the world's most famous rugby club. They strike fear in their opponents with their world-famous traditional pre-game war dance called the haka." I am proud to join with my Congressional Rugby Caucus Co-Chair @EleanorNorton to welcome the New Zealand @AllBlacks & @USARugby to FedEx Field on Saturday. Sports are an important part of our society, where Americans put partisan politics aside. #Rugby #USARugby pic.twitter.com/2Mg3a2GwMd— Rep. Alex Mooney (@RepAlexMooney) October 19, 2021 Mooney said rugby is a growing sport in the US and the All Blacks' upcoming clash against the Eagles could be the first step in showing off America's credentials for hosting a World Cup in the future. "Men and women's rugby are fast-growing sports in America and give us all a chance to put partisan politics aside," he said. "That's why bringing an international event of this magnitude to the DC area is a tremendous accomplishment USA Rugby, Events DC and Leftfield Live. The match is an important barometer for the ability to host future world class events including the Rugby World Cup." Mooney, who chairs the congressional rugby caucus alongside Democrat congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, played rugby in university and fell in love with the sport. The All Blacks take on the USA on Sunday at 8.30am before heading to Europe for matches against Wales, Italy, Ireland and France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some changes could be on the way for the Catholic Church. Pope Francis has announced a two-year consultation process that aims to reform the Church. Called "Synod" the aim is to consult every Catholic parish and bishop around the world on the future direction of the Church. Assistant Catholic Bishop of Auckland Bishop Michael Gielen told Kate Hawkesby the Pope wants everyone to have their voices heard. “We're going to approach this in complete openness. We’re called to listen.” Bishop Gielen says change is always hard for an ancient historical community but the Church is up for it. “We haven’t always got everything right in the past and we have to listen.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior students in level three regions get to go back to school from Tuesday, but for years one to 10, no such luck. Education Minister Chris Hipkins says those students might not return to school until 2022. And if they do, Hipkins says some options being considered to make it work are rostered attendance, and learning outdoors in the warmer months. Principal of Rowandale Primary School in Manurewa, Karl Vasau said it’s not as simple as just getting kids back in the classroom. “Sometimes we think, goodness me, let’s get them back to school, let’s make it safe, but sometimes Kate, getting them back to school just won’t work.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if this week’s not tough enough and we’re not rarked up enough already, now they want to carve up heritage houses for more development. A new bill aims to force councils to allow more dense housing. The "new intensification rules will allow buildings of up to three storeys on most sites in cities without any need for resource consent from August 2022,” we read yesterday. This is basically a green light to development and a way of addressing housing supply. Councils have previously made access to land difficult; this turns the tables. It takes more power off Councils and reduces impediments to progress, and that’s no bad thing. What might be ruffling the feathers of the latte set however, is whether this snazzy new drive for development winds up on their front door step. A South Auckland Councillor has said that it needs to include wealthier suburbs too. So those sitting pretty in a 200-year-old villa in Remuera, or Kelburn or Fendalton may well be looking down the barrel of a 3-storey development going up next door. In some areas it's up to 6 storeys. How palatable will be this be for them? I can tell you it’ll go down like a cup of cold sick. Low density houses in suburbs in metropolitan areas are already feeling the squeeze with infill housing and developments like apartment complexes springing up around them. A green light to more of it will have people worried. I get both sides of the argument, on the one hand we need more housing, no question, and we need it to happen quickly. But on the other hand, who’s overseeing whether quiet neighbourhoods will turn into bustling ugly concrete jungles? Threats to remove heritage overlays or to reclassify them risks losing, not just the history of suburban areas, but also the architecture, cityscape, urban landscape and design aesthetic. If sprawling bungalows lovingly maintained in Merivale or Mt Albert or Maori Hill suddenly have to make way for 3 or 6-storey-high concrete apartment buildings, then what does that do to the value of an area? Will this devalue already established homes? Will there be a flight to certain areas, thus rearranging the whole current make-up of suburbs? Or will value of the ancient villa on a one-thousand-square-metre lot actually go through the roof because they’ll soon be like hens teeth? And how much is it costing to throw your 3-storeys up on land in wealthier low-density suburbs anyway? Where, by the time you’re done, the price of the finished development will be out of reach of any first home buyer. Will this pump the market up? Or pump on the brakes? I imagine it's a gamble that'll have heritage home owners feeling a little uneasy this morning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new bill designed to cut red tape and allow more intensification in housing construction could be pointless if practical aspects aren’t taken into account. Labour and National have joined forces on the rules, which will allow up to three homes of up to three storeys built on most sites, without resource consent. AUT construction expert John Tookey told Kate Hawkesby it could help those wanting to get on the property ladder. But he’s raised questions over whether there are enough builders or materials to construct all the houses being promised. About 105-thousand extra homes are expected to be built in the next five to eight years. Tookey says it has to be twinned up with capacity growth initiatives, such as skills training or a revised Ministry of Works. “Somebody somewhere needs to start thinking more collectively about capacity because opportunity without capacity is meaningless.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life has returned to normal for millions in Britain since coronavirus restrictions were lifted over the summer. But while the rules have vanished, the virus hasn't. Many scientists are now calling on the government to reimpose social restrictions and speed up booster vaccinations as coronavirus infection rates, already Europe's highest, rise still further. The UK recorded 43,738 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, slightly down from the 49,156 reported Monday, which was the largest number since mid-July. New infections have averaged more than 44,000 a day over the past week, a 16 per cent increase on the week before. Last week, the Office for National Statistics estimated that one in 60 people in England had the virus, one of the highest levels seen in Britain during the pandemic. A man wears a face mask as he walks in Piccadilly Circus, in London. Photo / Alberto Pezzali, AP In July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government lifted all the legal restrictions that had been imposed more than a year earlier to slow the spread of the virus, including face coverings indoors and social distancing rules. Nightclubs and other crowded venues were allowed to open at full capacity, and people were no longer advised to work from home if they could. Some modellers feared a big spike in cases after the opening-up. That didn't occur, but infections remained high, and recently have begun to increase — especially among children, who largely remain unvaccinated. Also rising are hospitalisations and deaths, which have averaged 130 a day over the past week, with 223 reported Tuesday alone. That is far lower than when cases were last this high, before much of the population was vaccinated, but still too high, critics of the government say. Britain has recorded more than 138,000 coronavirus deaths, the highest total in Europe after Russia. People sit at the bottom of a column in the area of Covent Garden. Photo / Alberto Pezzali, AP Against that backdrop, some feel Britons have been too quick to return to pre-pandemic behaviour. Masks and social distancing have all but vanished in most settings in England, including schools, though Scotland and other parts of the UK remain a bit more strict. Even in shops, where masks are recommended, and on the London transit network, where they are mandatory, adherence is patchy. A plan to require proof of vaccination to attend nightclubs, concerts and other mass events in England was dropped by the Conservative government amid opposition from lawmakers, though Scotland introduced a vaccine pass programme this month. Some scientists say a bigger factor is waning immunity. Britain's vaccination programme got off to a quick start, with shots given to the elderly and vulnerable beginning in December 2020, and so far almost 80 per cent of eligible people have received two doses. The early start means millions of people have been vaccinated for more than six months, and studies have suggested vaccines' protection gradually wanes over time. Millions of people in Britain are being offered booster shots, but critics say the programme is moving too slowly, at about 180,000 doses a day. More than half of the people eligible for a booster dose haven't yet received one. The UK also waited longer than the US and many European nations to vaccinate children ages 12-15, and only about 15 per cent in that age group in England have had a shot since they became eligible last month. "It's critical we accelerate the booster programme," said epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Ferguson said one factor influencing the UK's high case numbers was that it has relied heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, "and, while that protects very well against very severe outcomes of Covid, it protects slightly less well than Pfizer against infection and transmission, particularly in the...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prison staff have been taken by surprise by the Government’s move to include them in mandatory vaccination. All staff working in New Zealand prisons now need to get their first dose by October 30 and both doses by December 1. Corrections Association Acting President Floyd du Plessis told Kate Hawkesby the news has come as a shock to members. He says they understand it was decided by Cabinet on Monday, but they're disappointed it wasn't announced sooner to help get things rolling. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.