Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Did you, like me, feel your heart skip a beat when the news flashed across your phone yesterday afternoon that officials were investigating a positive community Covid case? Especially for those of us in Auckland, given it was in the Auckland community, of course it was. It was always going to be. My sister and I have discussed this a lot in recent days, she lives in Christchurch and we were debating when Delta would hit us and how fast we’d go into lockdown, and she pointed out (rightly so) that it would be Auckland first. But even knowing in the back of your mind that it’s a possibility, doesn’t make it any less awful to see the news does it? Even though we have form on lockdowns and we know the drill, it’s still an awful pit of the stomach gut punch. I had a bet with my brother that we’d be in lockdown by the end of September. He bet me it’d be by the end of August. He wins. But even though we were kind of mentally prepared for it, it’s still an UGH moment. Added to that is the fact we've been watching our friends in Australia and all the chaos they’ve been dealing with. I had ironically, in preparation for this, slowly been stocking the pantry over the past couple of weeks, I’d told my kids to do the same thing. In fact, yesterday morning I told them to do a full grocery shop as I suspected we'd be in a lockdown soon, and while they’d rolled their eyes at me at the time saying I’m paranoid about lockdowns, they were first on the phone yesterday afternoon to say oh my gosh Mum, you were right. I headed to the fruit shop after school pick up, and the queue was already out of the door. The local butcher round the corner had all but sold out. They said their shop was full within about 5 minutes of the first news of a community case. What I love about that is 1), how informed and engaged people are with news that they're that quick out of the blocks, and 2) how Aucklanders can sniff out a lockdown at a hundred paces. They weren't waiting to be told. They knew. I tell you what was also impressive, most people were in masks. So once we heard the PM's fateful words ‘going hard and going early’ it was all on. So here we go again. As deflating as it is, we know the drill. It’s not easy though. I feel desperately sorry for small businesses, for hospitality, for the beauty industry, the hairdressers, for school children, for frontline health workers, for those who don’t want to be stuck at home with the people in their bubble. We just have to take it one day at a time I guess and stick with what we know. Routine is key when the world feels topsy turvy. I for one, will still be here every morning at 5, Mike will be here every morning from 6, everything stays the same for you here. So all we can do is stick to what we know, and hopefully make this as short as possible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Results of genome sequencing are due back this morning. Auckland University Covid modelling expert Shaun Hendy told Kate Hawkesby it could tell us whether Auckland is in lockdown for seven days, or several weeks. "If the whole genome sequencing points us back to a known case, then there's a good chance we will be out of this in that time. Otherwise, the situation is very uncertain." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns Coromandel peninsula GP's will be inundated with people seeking a Covid-19 test.There are eight locations of interest in and around the western side.Coromandel District Councillor John Morrissey told Kate Hawkesby there are no testing stations on the Coromandel."I'm hoping the Ministry of Health will step up and we might get some testing stations. As for GPS, we haven'tthat many of them in town for a start and we don't want to overrun them with just testing."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s never feels good to read about crime stats, especially when they’re getting as bad as they are in our CBDs, but even more so when it’s entirely preventable.“More than 1000 people have been assaulted in Auckland's CBD this year, many of whom have been randomly punched by strangers while enjoying a night out on the town,” according to the Herald.It reported new Police stats showing a sharp rise in violent crime in Auckland’s city centre.“A 63 per cent increase in assaults for the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2019."Basically a night in town these days could mean a night in hospital.We shouldn’t blithely accept this kind of thing as – oh well, times have changed.We should be safe in our cities, people should be able to go out at night and not end up at A&E.Of course, one of the factors is the scale up of inner city emergency housing and with that, an increase in anti-social behaviour.What worries me though is that it’s not just our CBDs; smaller, more localised shopping precincts are seeing a crime surge too.Head of the Newmarket Business Association, Mark Knoff-Thomas, warned a year ago about a ‘Covid crime wave’ with “anti-social behaviour on an upwards trajectory,” he said, “retail theft was increasing“ along with threatening behaviour.Well, he’s written again this week that a year on, he’s “sad to report it’s only gotten worse”.He says Police “are run ragged with no additional backup to deal with the smaller stuff.”According to Knoff-Thomas, the smaller stuff is things like retail assistants getting randomly punched in the face, people defecating on busy footpaths in broad daylight, youths threatening retailers, stores getting robbed.What’s frustrating is that he warned of this a year ago, and now things have only gotten worse.He says we need “a more holistic, cohesive approach across multiple government agencies, development of the next step of emergency housing – not leaving people in motels forever,” and he’s right, there needs to be a plan.Because in the interim businesses, shoppers, families and school students, are getting victimised on their own local streets.In fact it is the businesses that are carrying much of the load here in a vacuum of government interest.They’re funding CCTV, street patrols, graffiti removal and more.But their resources are finite, and really how much of their time and money should be taken up with this stuff?Knoff-Thomas says what‘s happening across NZ right now is ”a slow degradation of our way of life,” and we need it addressed at a national level.As he says, “whether you’re politically left, right or centre, every New Zealander should be able to enjoy a basic level of safety.”And that’s hard to argue with isn’t it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence our Government's working hard to get New Zealanders, and people who helped our Army, out of Afghanistan.Forty Defence Force staff are being sent to help with evacuations - possibly due to leave tomorrow.Former Labour MP Chris Carter, who worked for the UN in Afghanistan, told Kate Hawkesby Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's promised to send a Hercules to Kabul Airport as quickly as possible.He says the Government's identified who can come, and may include other at-risk people, like young female journalists.“If we can fill these up with people who face the real prospect of death in Afghanistan, and particularly people who have helped the New Zealand troops there, then I think we should get them out.”But things are becoming increasingly complicated - with all flights suspended in and out of Kabul at the moment.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are getting ready to make more noise over government regulations.Thousands of tractor-riding farmers brought their dogs to towns across New Zealand last month for the Howl of a Protest - against changes on freshwater and climate change mitigation.Groundswell New Zealand Co-organiser Laurie Paterson told Kate Hawkesby the Government has remained silent.“Perhaps James Shaw and David Parker that effectively said ‘we’re not going to change anything’, that’s it. We certainly haven’t heard from the Prime Minister.”Farmers will be out honking horns for two minutes around lunchtime for the next three Fridays.Another big protest is planned for November.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: Distressing contentThousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul's main airport Monday, some so desperate to escape the Taliban that they held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their deaths. At least seven people died in the chaos, US officials said, as America's longest war ended with its enemy the victor.The crowds came while the Taliban enforced their rule over the capital of five million people after a lightning advance across the country that took just over a week to dethrone the country's Western-backed government. There were no major reports of abuses or fighting, but many residents stayed home and remained fearful after the insurgents' advance saw prisons emptied and armouries looted. Can’t believe my eyes. Men holding lower part of the US aircraft moments before it took off from #Kabul airport. pic.twitter.com/bT97WrNa12— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) August 16, 2021 Across the nation, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that thousands had been wounded in fighting. Elsewhere, security forces and politicians handed over their provinces and bases without a fight, likely believing the two-decade Western experiment to remake Afghanistan would not survival the resurgent Taliban. The last American troops had planned to withdraw at the end of the month."The world is following events in Afghanistan with a heavy heart and deep disquiet about what lies ahead," warned United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.As the US military and others continued evacuation flights, Afghans swarmed over the international airport's tarmac. Some climbed into aircraft parked on the taxiway, while others dangled precariously off a jet bridge.US troops took positions to guard the active runway, but the crowd stormed past them and their armoured vehicles. Gunshots rang out. As one US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III tried to take off, a helicopter did low runs in front of it to try to drive people off the runway.Videos showed a group of Afghans hanging onto the plane just before takeoff and several falling through the air as the airplane rapidly gained altitude over the city.Senior American military officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing operation, told the Associated Press that the chaos left seven dead, including several who fell from the flight. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said US forces killed two people he described as carrying weapons in the melee. He said 1000 more US troops would be deployed to secure the airfield and back up the 2500 already there.Hundreds of people run alongside a US Air Force C-17 transport plane, some climbing on the plane, as it moves down a runway of the international airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo / via APAll flights at the airport — both military and civilian — were halted until Afghan civilians can be cleared from the runway, Kirby added.Late Monday night, hundreds of people remained trapped between American forces trying to push them out of the airport and Taliban forces trying to keep them in, witnesses said. An Associated Press journalist also saw what appeared to be an airstrike target two vehicles near the airport.Shafi Arifi, who had a ticket to travel to Uzbekistan on Sunday, was unable to board his plane because it was packed with people who had raced across the tarmac and climbed aboard, with no police or airport staff in sight."There was no room for us to stand," said the 24-year-old. "Children were crying, women were shouting, young and old men were so angry and upset, no one could hear each other. There was no oxygen to breathe."After a woman fainted and was carried off the plane, Arifi gave up and returned home.Other Afghans, like Rakhmatula Kuyash, are also trying to leave through land border crossings, all of which are now controlled by the Taliban."I'm lost and I don't know what to...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Got my jab yesterday.And here’s the rub on that.It was easy as.No queues, no faffing around, very efficient, very slick, very well organised.The jab itself is a non-event – and no one is more needle phobic than me, so if I didn’t feel it, you certainly won’t.I was, to be perfectly honest with you, vaccine hesitant.I felt like I was in no rush to get it, I didn’t need it, I thought it was too rushed of a vaccine, and I didn’t need that in my body.I’m into holistic healthcare and alternative medicine.My husband joked with me that what was I expecting to do when and if Covid hit me, was I just going to rub myself in orange peel, he asked.I’m not sure why he’d think that given I’ve never rubbed myself in orange peel, but I took his point. I wasn’t anti-vax, I just wasn’t in any hurry.But then a few things dawned on me.Well firstly Delta hit Australia and I thought, wait a minute.This is not good.This is a bit close to home, this is a bit out of control.But also, I realised, getting vaccinated was not actually exclusively about me.It’s actually about those in our community who’re vulnerable and immune compromised, and how would I feel if I passed it onto them?Also, it’s a collective effort to help our country get back into a connected functioning part of the world.We cannot remain an isolated hermit kingdom forever.Also, basic logic.How often do we rock up for jabs in our arms if we’re travelling for example to foreign countries that require us to have certain vaccinations?How many of us have paused or refused those, suspicious of what's in them?I'd argue very few.How many of us have had the flu vaccine and not asked once what’s in it?Or whether we are being micro chipped by having it?How often do we put antibiotics and other prescribed medications into our bodies without thinking twice about what’s in it.So I found fewer and fewer reasons to question it.On top of that, the data shows the percentage of reactions to the vaccine are infinitesimally small.The conspiracy theorists are winning the fake news war though.There’s a plethora of literature floating about the web against the vaccine.Don’t worry, I’ve been sent all of it.You Tube videos, interviews with ‘insiders’ from pharmaceutical companies, digital leaflets from ‘those who know’.It’s on high rotate and you or someone you know may've seen some. It can be alarming, that’s the point of it. But you have to drill down into the sources of these things, you have to rely on facts.You can’t rely on fear to make decisions for you.And so much of the fear mongering rhetoric is fuelled by this propaganda.So while I absolutely respect everybody’s right to make their own decision about their own body, I just wanted you to know I feel good about getting it done. Even if I do have a sore arm today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another country, another top 10 finish for Lydia Ko. Whether it's the United States, France, Singapore, Japan or Scotland - it doesn't seem to matter when it comes to the form of the New Zealander.Ko blitzed her final round to finish tied for second at the Scottish Open at Dumbarnie Links in Fife, nine days after taking bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.Ko shot a nine-under par 63 which included seven birdies - and an eagle on the par four 17th. The world number nine finished at 14-under for the tournament, three strokes behind winner Ryann O'Toole from the United States.O'Toole became the sixth first-time winner of the 2021 season after shooting an eight-under 68.It is Ko's third second place of the year and her ninth top 10 finish. Five of those top 10 finishes have come in different countries.Ko went straight into the Scottish Open on the back of her bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics as she prepares for the British Open next week less than an hour away in Carnoustie.Her best finish at the British Open was tied for third in 2015 after twice being the leading amateur in 2012 and 2013. Ko has already had two top six finishes at majors this year heading into the final major of the year.O'Toole began the day tied for the lead at nine-under with Ariya Jutanugarn and Charley Hull, and the American took the lead with birdies on three of her first four holes.Thitikul drew even with O'Toole with a birdie on the par-3 sixth, but O'Toole got back in front with a birdie on the par-4 ninth to turn in 31. She maintained her advantage throughout the back nine and finished with eight birdies, including all four par-5s."I tried not to look at the leaderboard," O'Toole said. "I tried to just trust in my caddie to guide me to whether we needed to lay or get aggressive, stay patient or whatnot. It wasn't until 18 that I saw that Lydia was not far off and I could tell when I made the birdie on 17 that there must have been some sort of gap because people were cheering, and I was like, OK, clearly I can't mess this up too badly now."O'Toole was working with a new caddie, Michael Curry, after her previous looper retired following the Evian Championship. She said she had also been considering retirement."I'm getting married in December, and OK, my clock's ticking. I want to have kids. Like, how much longer am I going to be out here? I thought maybe this year would be my last year," O'Toole said. "I've never wanted to be a mum on tour as far as having a kid and doing all that. It doesn't sound fun to me. But at the same time, I don't know if I could stop playing golf now."On the European Tour, Kiwi Ryan Fox finished in a share of 13th at the Cazoo Classic in Kent, England following a two-under 70 in his final round. Scotland's Calum Hill won the tournament for his maiden title.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afghanistan will be on the Government's agenda today.Taliban fighters have swept into the capital Kabul forcing thousands to flee the city, including Afghan's president.This morning's Cabinet meeting will discuss how New Zealand could potentially help evacuate civilians who helped this country in the past.Meanwhile, an international security expert doubts the United States or the UN, will ask us to send troops to Afghanistan.Massey University's Dr Negar Partow told Kate Hawkesby the circumstances are different for New Zealand's last deployment.“There needs to be a coalition of willing, there needs to be some kind of discussion for the UN level for any form of invasion or military engagement with Taliban, and I can't see any determination or will, even from Americans.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns our first responders are coming under attack more frequently.$13 million has already been paid out by ACC this year for assault-related injuries.More than 3000 ambulance staff reported being verbally or physically attacked last year.Ambulance Association Chairman Mark Quin told Kate Hawkesby it's not just ambulance staff.“There's the same sort of level of violence that's been experienced by emergency departments and nurses and doctors and even firemen attending incidents, particularly car accidents.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afghan officials say embattled President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country as the Taliban moved further into Kabul.Two officials speaking on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to brief journalists told The Associated Press that Ghani flew out of the country. Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Afghan National Reconciliation Council, later confirmed Ghani had left in an online video."He left Afghanistan in a hard time, God hold him accountable," Abdullah said.Ghani's whereabouts and destination are currently unknown.Several news outlets are reporting the Taliban have taken over the Presidential Palace and Maulana Abdul Ghani has been declared as Afghanistan's new President.A Taliban official earlier said the group will declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Kabul.That was the name of the country under the Taliban government ousted by US-led forces after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief media. And now these are the First visuals of #taliban inside the presidential palace #Afganistan #Kabul pic.twitter.com/geVIdZsbWc— Aishwarya Kapoor (@aishkapoor) August 15, 2021 The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended all operations and told Americans to shelter in place, saying it has received reports of gunfire at the international airport.British Forces from 16 Air Assault Brigade arrive in the Afghan capital of Kabul to assist in evacuating British nationals. Photo / Leading Hand Ben Shread, MOD via APThe US is racing to airlift diplomats and citizens out of Afghanistan after the Taliban overran most of the country and entered the capital early Sunday."The security situation in Kabul is changing quickly and the situation at the airport is deteriorating rapidly," the embassy said in a statement."There are reports of the airport taking fire and we are instructing US citizens to shelter in place. The US Embassy in Afghanistan has suspended consular operations effective immediately. Do not come to the Embassy or airport at this time." Security Alert ⬇️https://t.co/D5PEDKeOOA— U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) August 15, 2021 Senior US military officials say Kabul's international airport has been closed to commercial flights as military evacuations continue.The suspension of commercial flights cuts off one of the last avenues to escape the country for Afghans fearful of Taliban rule. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations.The Taliban captured most of the country in a matter of days and swept into the capital on Sunday. #Taliban raise their flag above the Presidential palace in Kabul, #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/FgWHewy2T5— Roel Thijssen (@roelthijssen) August 15, 2021 Scenes of chaos played out at the airport earlier, as Afghans rushed to get on the last flights out of the country.Videos circulating online showed airport personnel struggling to coral crowds boarding a plane on the tarmac, while a man with an injured leg lay on the ground. In the background, a US Air Force plane was landing.Afghan leaders have created a coordination council to meet with the Taliban and manage the transfer of the power, after the religious militia's lightening offensive swept to the capital.In a statement posted on social media by former president Hamid Karzai, he said the body will be led by the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, as well as the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, Gulbudin Hekmatyar, and himself.Afghans wait in long lines for hours to try to withdraw money from the Kabul Bank as Taliban fighters enter the capital. Photo / Rahmat Gul, APThe statement said the move was "to prevent chaos and reduce the suffering of...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's decision to start opening the border in the New Year is either a complete flip-flop or a deliberate tactic to scare us into getting vaccinated.For the past 18 months, the strategy has been to keep Covid out, whatever the cost.We've endured a total national lockdown, regional restrictions, worker shortages, family unable to come home and so on.And at the beginning, most of us were freaked out enough by what was happening overseas to go along with it.As time has gone on, people's willingness to go along with it has worn thin.We're over it.A lot of us will be very happy to see the borders opening, but the way it's come about seems bizarre.In one breath, you've got Chris Hipkins saying he hopes our Aussie mates - to quote him - get on top of their outbreak soon.But Hipkins doesn't expect to see the Aussie bubble operating again before the end of the year.Then you've got the PM saying we're opening to the world, people who've been vaccinated will be able to come and go pretty much as they please.At the same time you've got experts saying this new Delta variant spreads like wildfire.So where does that leave us?Even opening the borders a crack means we're now all of a sudden willing to let Covid get in, and deal with it when it gets here.The scare campaign to get everyone vaccinated has already started.Because as soon as those border restrictions do start to come off, it'll be here within days.So, we've thrown in the towel on elimination.Hindsight is a wonderful thing.But after all we've put up with...after all the preaching and all the incredible expense, we're changing tack.And why?Because of the optics, and most importantly, because of the polls.The Government knows we're over lockdowns, we need people from overseas to pick the fruit and we want a tourism industry again.Which makes me ask, if we'd invested just a fraction of what this has all cost us in our health system, right at the very beginning, would we be better off todayWe would at least have something to show for it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel agents are feeling encouraged by the Government's roadmap to reopening our borders.It's introducing three-tiered risk pathways to get into New Zealand, from early next year.They will range from vaccinated travellers from low risk countries getting to skip isolation, to the unvaccinated or visitors from high risk countries having a 14-day stint in MIQ.Travel Agents Association president Brent Thomas told Tim Dower they're gearing up for lots of pent up demand, from people wanting to go to the United States and Europe to visit family.“And then also we’ll see the travel starting to pick up from next year, particularly as we start bookings for the winter season of 2022.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While New Zealand is looking to close its door to Fiji -- Fiji is looking to open its door to the world.All travel from Fiji and Indonesia to New Zealand will be banned from Monday morning, with an exception for New Zealand citizens and their parents, children and siblings.Fiji remains in the midst of a major outbreak -- with almost 40,000 cases and almost 350 deaths.But Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Brent Hill told Tim Dower case numbers are dropping, vaccinations are increasing, and Fiji could open to vaccinated travellers before the end of the year.“That won’t be for everybody, but certainly there are people that are up for coming and from Fiji’s perspective we do want to get back open again.”Indonesia's total case number has doubled in a month, to almost four million cases.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mismatch in the workload, structure and staffing numbers of the country's Emergency Departments.They're revealed in a study published in today's New Zealand Medical Journal.The problems differ between bigger and smaller hospitals.Staffing is the main issue at larger urban hospitals - having enough doctors on at any one time; while at regional ones - space and ED beds are the biggest problem - then staffing if there's an ED surgeMedian wait times range from 13 minutes to more than an hour and a half.College of Emergency Nurses chair Sandy Richardson told Tim Dower we need to recognise EDs are under incredible pressure.“And there is variability in terms of waiting times, and it’s not just the geographical location, it’s also the fluctuations in work load across those EDs.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So yesterday we got a bit of blah blah basic arm waving around a potential roadmap out of Covid, but no hard and fast plan, no detail, no specifics.And that’s what business needs desperately, some surety, some certainty, some specifics.But details are not this Government’s forte, and they won't want to set a vaccination target they can't reach and then get politically punished for.So is the business sector in for a giant disappointment today?I mean, if yesterday is anything to go by, probably.It looks like we’ll keep the elimination strategy, which as David Seymour has said may well turn out to be the thing that started as our biggest strength and ends up our biggest weakness.I mean is it totally naïve and idealistic to think we can pull that off long term? Or are we just prolonging the inevitable? Do we really believe we could be one of the few countries in the world to keep Delta out, and stay virus free during a global pandemic?Or is that arrogant?I mean sure, we have some advantages, our whopping great moat around us distancing us from the rest of the world is a major one, but as soon as those borders do open, well, jury’s out.But I’d hazard a guess the virus will be in.So the elimination strategy may prove a naïve waste of time.And then we get to the vaccine situation.It looks like we will keep plugging away at the vaccine rollout, but with seemingly few incentives.Surely there has to be some upsides to the jabs? Like no MIQ, or isolating at home, or access to a bubble or a travel corridor?If not, will people be less inclined to get it? And how do we speed up the plan for those waiting to get it at the moment? How do we speed up supply and availability? We are still, despite being ahead in cohorts eligible, jabbing people at a desperately slow rate.Fewer than a million of us have been double jabbed. We are way, way off where we should be.So, that all brings us back to the all-important border.If you think that’s opening up anytime soon, think again. It looks like we'll be keeping the borders shut for the foreseeable.Any opening early next year is a pipe dream. And there'll still be those who think a closed border is great, who’re only interested in ideology, who believe being removed from the world is smart.But the gloss may wear off that theory once they start getting impacted in their back pockets, and realise we’re paying more for absolutely everything, and we’re living on a bubble of borrowed money.So what will we get today by way of detailed plans? Well we know a snap lockdown is coming – as I've said all along, as soon as Delta hits.But as for today’s ‘new normal’ announcement, as they’re calling it?I doubt we’ll get any firm timeframe or targets, and that for business, is a travesty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ball is truly in the job seekers court.Job ads are up 88 per cent compared to this time last year.And it looks like job seekers are starting to make the most of this, with nearly two-thirds of job seekers wanting flexible hours, and half wanting flexibility over location.Jarrod Haar, professor of management at AUT, told Kate Hawkesby while job seekers are definitely in a strong position, they should not be overconfident.“I’ve heard from recruiters of candidates coming in and slapping a $10,000 raise on the table and if an organisation has two candidates to choose from, you may price yourself out of the market.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business New Zealand says the Government has plenty of work to do, to prepare the country for gradually reopening borders.Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Kate Hawkesby at the moment, we're extremely vulnerable.“I don’t think we’d have the capacity, if an outbreak occurred, to manage it particularly quickly, particularly if it’s Delta, because we haven’t advanced contact tracing.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch city councillors are set to go head to head today, over the city's planned multi-use arena.Some councillors have called for a U-turn on the decision to proceed with a 25,000 seat stadium – a reduction from the initial concept of 30-thousand seats.Christchurch Employers' Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Kate Hawkesby 30,000 seats would benefit the city the most.“Why would we build something that’s not going to enable us as a city to compete with other main centres around the country, when we’ve got the opportunity to build a first-class, purpose-built facility?”Adding five thousand seats would cost an additional $50 million to the present budget of $473 million.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Immunologist is warning Australians to take lockdown more seriously.I’m watching Australia closely at the moment with this Delta outbreak, because I can’t help thinking we are just one border mishap away from Delta being our problem here too.And like Australia, we’ll have no choice but to lock down immediately.Thankfully, we have form here on taking lockdowns seriously, we seemed to oblige willingly the last few times we’ve had them, most Kiwis seemed to get it. But I wonder with the onset of time, whether we’ll get less compliant with lockdowns.Towards the end of the last Auckland lockdown, people were over it, flouting a few more rules, and it didn’t take us all long to ditch the contact tracing and mask wearing.So we’ve become complacent.In Australia, they’re watching what’s happening in America, where fully vaccinated people are still getting infected with Covid. So the message appears to be that while vaccination rates are crucial, so is keeping up certain restrictions around our movement.And this is the part we may take a while to get our heads around.In the States, the professor points out the ‘American summer provides a real-time cautionary tale.. Despite having only 50 per cent of the population fully vaccinated, related restrictions were eased prematurely.’ and in ‘Cape Cod, hundreds crowded into the popular holiday area where the virus had a field day.’Most alarmingly, he says, ‘74 per cent of the infections occurred in fully vaccinated people.’ So, now they're back to even vaccinated people wearing masks, even when they’re inside.And of course, to maintain social distancing.So is the vaccination push giving us all false hope?Vaccination may not be the ticket to freedom we think it is, because what these latest waves of Covid are telling us, is that it's not that simple.You might not die or get as sick if you’re vaccinated, but it doesn’t mean you can’t still catch it and pass it on.In Iceland, 86 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated; their government thought they had the pandemic beat, so they loosened restrictions too. But with Delta seeing case numbers soar, they too have put restrictions back in place. The same goes for Israel.We are of course way behind on all this, as we don’t even have our vaccination rates up to a suitable level of protection in the first place, but we should be mentally preparing ourselves for the fact that even when we do, it’s not necessarily the cure all.Even into 2022 and beyond, we may be required to wear masks and social distance. I mean thus far, touch wood; we have somehow, by some sheer miracle, escaped Delta diving into our community. But I’m not sure for how long that’ll be the case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some very exciting fashion news for those interested in the rise in athleisure clothing.It's when people wear activewear in casual settings, at home, supermarket, even work.Well it's a booming industry, and JD Sports has been a market leader overseas.This month they're opening their first store in New Zealand at Sylvia Park.JD Sports ANZ CEO Hilton Seskin told Kate Hawkesby they are attempting to carve out a new market here.“We create new demand for product that’s never really been readily available in the market.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been suggested that labour shortages aren't as easy of a fix as the Government would like.It seems bringing in more automation is the Government's plan to resolve current labour shortages in the meat industry.But those in the industry say it's not that simple.Meat Industry Association CEO, Sirma Karapeeva told Kate Hawkesby a robot or computer can’t fill every role that a human can do.“We have many, many roles within the industry for which there simply isn’t any automation or technical solutions available.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's been told any travel bubble the Government chooses to open, should only be for the fully vaccinated.An independent panel of experts, led by Sir David Skegg, has released advice about reconnecting New Zealand.It says border restrictions must remain in place until the majority of us are vaccinated, but doesn't give a target.Bubble travel should be restricted to the fully immunised, as more people get jabbed. Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Jason Walls told Kate Hawkesby it's highly likely the Government will agree to that.“It kind of makes sense doesn’t it, you see how devastating the Delta variant has been in places like Australia and Fiji.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures show we might be plugging the brain drain.A report from the Helen Clark Foundation revealed the first net gain of New Zealanders in 20 years.The pandemic saw fewer Kiwis leaving the country and more returning home.Economic consultancy group Infometrics says the reversal is mostly based on people not wanting to leave.Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby it may not last long.“24 percent of people through MIQ who were surveyed said ‘look if Covid conditions get better across the world, I’m outta here again.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party's idea to keep Marsden Point oil refinery in an operational state in case we need it in the future, is being seen as a little too late.Shareholders have voted to drastically scale back operations at the Whangarei refinery - and switch to distributing pre-refined fuels.Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai says the deal's already been done.She told Kate Hawkesby shareholders are the fuel companies that would buy the fuel from the refinery, and they're the ones who voted for the change.“They’ve got a tremendous amount of power, so I think the discussions for that should have happened some time ago.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So there's been a link between a spike in dairy robberies and our tobacco tax hikes.The tobacco tax came into place in 2016.At the same time, reported store robberies went from 41 to 136 in 2016, and to 200 the year after.This is leaving more dairy owners traumatised and injured, as they seem to be taking the hit from the extremes some are going to get tobacco.Sunny Kaushal, from the Crime Prevention Group, which was set up to advocate for dairies after robberies increased, told Kate Hawkesby the price increases have forced people to source their cigarettes by alternative means.“That has been putting a lot of hard working people into dangerous situations because the smokers who are not able to buy smokes, they are either going to the black market, or they’re going to the crime side.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an easy hit for the Nats to slam the government’s lack of delivery, at the Party conference this weekend.But it was also very necessary. Hitting the government on its record is about the best thing the opposition can do.The slow vaccine rollout, the MIQ shambles, the Infrastructure projects that have gone belly up, the money for the mob, the fanciful cycle bridge, the Ute tax – this is absolutely where National needs to be finger pointing.But on top of that, they also need new ideas.New policies, new directions, new approaches.This is where David Seymour has the jump on them.He manages to zero in on policy and promote alternatives to the government.And at the end of the day, voters want to know they have real choices, options and alternatives. Otherwise what is it they’re voting for?There was speculation going into this weekend’s conference that there might be new leadership at the top, the very top – as in Party president.But Peter Goodfellow managed to retain his role.I don’t understand that, given he’s presided over so much of the chaos that National has blundered its way through these past few years. But he got the majority vote.His challenger David Carter was so aggrieved he missed out that he quit the board, and fired a few broadsides on his way out too.Which doesn’t bode well for a party that’s supposed to be reining in all that talking out of turn.This is a party that’s supposed to be showing it can be solid, it can be watertight.But former Speaker and Cabinet minister David Carter said as he quit that he had "zero confidence" in Goodfellow.He’s reported as saying he’d received “about 40 or 50 texts from people sitting in that conference, unhappy with the decision."He didn’t think Goodfellow could revive the party’s chances, given the reviews into National’s woes showed ‘dysfunction of governance and lack of money to run a suitable campaign.’Under Goodfellow, Carter argued none of that would change.So spitting those sour grapes at the Party president, while not a good look, also highlights disquiet and disunity within the party.Which is everything I thought National was trying to tone down.But look you’ve got to hand it to eternal optimist Judith Collins who boldly informed them all that National will be triumphant in 2023.“Easily winnable,” she said. But, and it is a big but, only “if National focuses on the things that matter to New Zealand.”And that’s the great challenge.Can the Nats stay on message and not get distracted by side shows?Collins says they’re “the party New Zealanders can rely on to get things done.”Well hopefully that starts with proving their own house is in order first.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pillars of billowing smoke and ash turned the sky orange and blocked out the sun above Greece's second-largest island Sunday as a days-old wildfire devoured pristine forests and encroached on villages, triggering more evacuation alerts.The fire on Evia, an island of forested mountains and canyons laced with small coves of crystalline water, began Aug. 3 and cut across the popular summer destination from coast to coast as it burned out of control. Scores of homes and businesses have been destroyed and thousands of residents and tourists have fled, many escaping the flames via flotillas that even operated in the dark of night.The blaze is the most severe of dozens that broke out in the wake of Greece's most protracted heat wave in three decades, which sent temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius (113 F) for days, creating bone-dry conditions.“It’s already too late, the area has been destroyed,” Giannis Kontzias, mayor of the northern Evia municipality of Istiaia, lamented on Greece’s Open TV. He was one of several local officials and residents who took to Greek TV networks to appeal for more firefighting help, particularly from water-dropping planes and helicopters.Residents of nearby villages had been urged to head to Istiaia, a town of 7,000 that firefighters battled to save overnight.In dramatic scenes Sunday afternoon, fast-moving flames encroached on the seaside village of Pefki on the island's northern coast, burning trees on the fringes and entering the houses' yards. At least one house was on fire. Panicked residents raced with water tanks, hoses and branches in a seemingly futile effort to extinguish the flames.Acrid, choking smoke hung in the orange-grey air, turning the day into an apocalyptic twilight as people headed towards Pefki's pebble beach, dragging suitcases, clutching pets and helping elderly relatives.Around 350 people had boarded the ferry even before the flames reached the village, the coast guard said, while 23 others were rescued from other beaches in northern Evia. A ferry, coast guard patrol boats, navy vessels and other boats were on standby to evacuate residents.Evacuation orders were issued Sunday for four villages in northern Evia, including Pefki, but many residents refused to leave, hoping to save their properties.In nearby Gouves, towering flames leaped from the treetops, devouring the pine forest leading to the village. Some residents remained in the picturesque mountain village, dousing homes with water from garden hoses in a last-ditch effort to save them. Others used bulldozers to raze trees and bushes, hoping to create rudimentary firebreaks.Civil Protection chief Nikos Hardalias said the Evia fire was burning on two fronts, one to the north and one to the south. He said the conditions there were particularly tough for the water-dropping planes and helicopters, whose pilots faced “great danger" with limited visibility and air turbulence.“We have before us one more difficult afternoon, one more difficult night,” Hardalias said. “All the forces that have been fighting a difficult battle all these days will continue operating with unabated intensity, with the same self-sacrifice.”But many have decried government efforts, citing what they saw as a lack of firefighting forces or planes or delays in their arrival.“The atmosphere was suffocating, although I was away from the fire. There was ash and smoke everywhere,” said Christina Tsatou, who had been in the seaside village of Agios Georgios. "It is very sad that they did not send help in the first days and they left the island burning. It was unfair and many people have lost their property, their livelihoods.”The wildfires have stretched Greece's firefighting capabilities to the limit, and the government has appealed for help from abroad. More than 20 countries in Europe and the Mideast have responded, sending planes, helicopters, vehicles and...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It began with a virus and a yearlong pause. It ended with a typhoon blowing through and, still, a virus. In between: just about everything.The Tokyo Olympics, christened with "2020" but held in mid-2021 after being interrupted for a year by the coronavirus, glided to their conclusion in a COVID-emptied stadium Sunday night as an often surreal mixed bag for Japan and for the world.A rollicking closing ceremony with the theme "Worlds We Share" — an optimistic but ironic notion at this human moment — featured everything from stunt bikes to intricate light shows as it tried to convey a "celebratory and liberating atmosphere" for athletes after a tense two weeks. It pivoted to a live feed from Paris, host of the 2024 Olympics. And with that, the strangest Olympic Games on record closed their books for good.Held in the middle of a resurging pandemic, rejected by many Japanese and plagued by months of administrative problems, these Games presented logistical and medical obstacles like no other, offered up serious conversations about mental health — and, when it came to sport, delivered both triumphs and a few surprising shortfalls.Athletes lie on the field during International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach speech during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo / APFrom the outset, expectations were middling at best, apocalyptic at worst. Even Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said he'd worried that these could "become the Olympic Games without a soul." But, he said, "what we have seen here is totally different.""You were faster, you went higher, you were stronger because we all stood together — in solidarity," Bach told gathered Olympians as he closed the Games. "This was even more remarkable given the many challenges you had to face because of the pandemic. In these difficult times, you give the world the most precious of gifts: hope.""For the first time since the pandemic began," he said, "the entire world came together."He overstated it a bit. At these Games, even the word "together" was fraught. Spectators were kept at bay. A patchwork of rules kept athletes masked and apart for much of medal ceremonies, yet saw them swapping bodily fluids in some venues. That was less about being remiss than about being real: Risks that could be mitigated were, but at the same time events had to go on.Athletes' perseverance became a central story. Mental health claimed bandwidth as never before, and athletes revealed their stories and struggles in vulnerable, sometimes excruciating fashion.Japan's fourth Olympics, held 57 years after the 1964 Games reintroduced the country after its World War II defeat, represented a planet trying to come together at a moment in history when disease and circumstance and politics had splintered it apart.Volunteers stand as International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach gives a speech during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Olympics. Photo / APThe closing ceremony Sunday reflected that — and, at times, nudged the proceedings toward a sci-fi flavour. As athletes stood in the arena for the final pomp, digital scoreboards at either end of the stadium featured what organizers called a "fan video matrix," a Zoom call-like screen of videos uploaded by spectators showing themselves cheering at home.Even the parade of athletes carrying national flags — thousands of Olympians, masked and unmasked, clustering together before fanning out into the world again — was affected. Volunteers carried some flags into the stadium, presumably because of rules requiring athletes to leave the country shortly after their events concluded.In front of such formidable backdrops, athletic excellence burst through, from the Games' first gold medal (China's Yang Qian in the 10-meter air rifle on July 24) to their last (Serbia defeating...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol. Speed. An overloaded car. Unrestrained passengers.It was a recipe for disaster - and now five Timaru teenagers are dead, their families and community reeling.The five boys died at the scene after the car they were in crashed about 7.30pm on Saturday.Last night two of the boys were named by family - Niko Hill and Javarney Drummond.At least one call had been made to police about boy racing in the area shortly before the fatal carnage.The group - five in the car and one in the boot - were travelling in a Nissan Bluebird sedan which struck a power pole and tore in two.All five passengers - aged 15 and 16 - died at the scene.The 19-year-old driver survived and was taken to Timaru Hospital with serious injuries.He was well enough to post a message on social media yesterday afternoon, including a photograph of himself in his hospital bed, apologising for the crash."Hello everyone just wanted to say I'm not dead I am very very lucky to still be alive and I can't believe what has happened," he wrote, in a post seen by the Herald."And I am so so so sorry to the families that I have put in pain coz of stupid mistakes that I made that has costed five lives."Some of his injuries are visible in the post.Javarney's father Stephen told Stuff he had gone to bed on Saturday and said it was not unusual for his "social butterfly" son to arrive home later.Just before midnight his daughter started getting messages about Javarney being killed in the crash.Stephen Drummond then rushed to the Timaru police station and then had to identify hisson at the hospital."He's never done this. He's never got in a car, I don't understand it," he said."All his mates don't have cars, he went to school with the driver, at primary school. He talks to him and says hello to him, but he's never, ever been joyriding that I know of. I don't understand how it's actually unfolded."Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said yesterday the driver was yet to be spoken to by police.He said it was too soon to speculate or confirm details but he suspected due to the age of the driver he may not hold a full licence.Gaskin said a number of people in the car were not wearing seatbelts."There were six people in the vehicle, there is only five sets of seatbelts," he told media."It is not possible at the moment to say who was wearing seatbelts, but I think it is pretty clear to say that only a very few, if anyone, were wearing seatbelts."Niko Hill's father learned of his death through a phone call late on Saturday night.He said his heart was broken. He was not ready to speak more about Niko last night as he prepared to travel to Timaru to support the teen's mother and wider family.The area where the crash happened is well-known as being popular with boy racers, with a local resident phoning 111 about 6pm on Saturday night to complain about four cars racing and doing burnouts."The last thing I said to the call-taker was, 'If you don't send someone out here, someone will get killed', and 90 minutes later, we had this," Ray Colvill told the Herald.A steady stream of mourners and locals wanting to pay their respects and lay flowers visited the crash site yesterday.They came and wept at the concrete power pole, still standing, with a just few smudges of car paint near its solid base. Sobbing parents, devastated grandparents, a shaking aunty, and two cousins visited, trying to come to grips with what had happened.They just felt a numbness, they said.One father, tears filling red eyes, paced up and down the country road where the five boys died, muttering, "Why? What a waste!"Among the mourners was Niko's cousin Meadow Bennett."I really am in shock," she told the Herald."You don't believe it until you see it. I don't believe he's gone."He's just a young, sweet kid... he doesn't...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Olympics wrap up this weekend, I think we can all agree it has been a huge success, and unexpectedly so.I mean, to be honest, I didn’t even think they’d go ahead, but in this case, the IOC’s determination paid off.Despite Japan being a mess with Covid, the Olympics were not.Slick organisation helps, military precision helps, being vigilant helps.Japan seemed to manage all of these athletes in a way that kept things under control; it did not become the super spreader event some might feared it would be.It seemed organised, controlled, calm and efficient. Athletes spoke highly of it, possibly also very grateful they were able to perform at all.Unusual not to have crowds yes, but I think it’s always been more of a TV event anyway hasn’t it?Most of us are watching from the sofa. I feel bad for the families and close friends of the athletes who would dearly love to have been there to support and watch in person, obviously.But generally speaking, for a large scale event held during a global pandemic; amazing.Add to that the fact we’ve done so well at them, and I think we can call it a big success.I know people who’ve gotten quite obsessed with the coverage, and the coverage has been good because there’s plenty of it.I mean you could literally watch it all day if you wanted to.But the other odd thing about this Olympics, apart from lack of crowds, has been the mental health aspect.It’s been a big deal hasn’t it?Has it always been a big deal and we just didn’t talk about it before? Or has it just this year become a big deal? I’m not sure.But I’d like to think for all the athletes who cited mental health as a reason to pull out, or talked about the pressure being too much, that for every one of those who flew the flag for mental health, we also had athletes who pushed through.I’m not demeaning the mental health aspect as a real factor for people, I appreciate their honesty, but I just don’t know if I’m in the, ‘they’re heroes’ camp.I think this Olympics may be remembered for the Simone Biles of this world who pulled out, but I hope it’s remembered for all the athletes who competed too.Not because they’re ‘better’ than the others, but just because it really shows how much mental grit and tenacity is required to compete at that elite level of sport.And for all those who were brave enough to admit they couldn’t do it, there were others who did do it. Who pushed past that barrier, faced down those demons, and went out to give it their all.That’s to be commended I think.Just as much as admitting you can’t do it is brave; actually doing it is brave too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 Rugby League World Cup has been postponed a year following the withdrawal of Australia and New Zealand a fortnight ago.The tournament was due to kick off on October 23 but has been moved back a year.The New Zealand Rugby League informed tournament organisers two weeks ago that the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns would not be attending the event in England, due to Covid related player welfare and safety concerns.New Zealand has participated in every World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1954.The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) also confirmed that they would not be sending teams to the tournament."Today is a challenging moment for everyone involved in Rugby League, but most importantly the players and fans of the competing nations," said Jon Dutton, RLWC2021 Chief Executive Officer."Ultimately, time and competing priorities from others forced us to make the most difficult decision in our six-year history. However, we and the sport of Rugby League are resilient, and next year we will deliver our vision of the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever."We have always prioritised player voice and player choice. We have established a player working group, met with senior players and in the last few days commissioned a player survey to domestic players in Australia and New Zealand that showed more than 85% wanted to compete at RLWC2021 this year. However, following the disappointing decision of the ARLC and NZRL to withdraw, and the subsequent impact on player availability for other competing nations, it is apparent that delivering the tournament this year would not be feasible."The wellbeing of all those involved in the tournament, particularly players and team officials, has been our priority. I would like to thank the RLWC2021 Board and my team for the relentless hard work and extraordinary measures that had been undertaken to create a safe and secure environment in line with other major sports events that have been successfully hosted in the UK this year."I would also like to thank all our committed partners as well as the Rugby League community at large who have been so supportive of our trailblazing event. We appreciate the continued and unequivocal support of the UK Government, as well as the understanding of our competing nations."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An opportunity has arisen to right a so called unfairness for people in our middle income tax brackets.The ability for property investors to claim loan interest costs as an expense against rental income is being phased out.Budget documents show the full removal of that would have given the government another $800 million or more in tax.Deloitte tax partner, Robyn Walker, told Kate Hawkesby this could be the beginning of a tax system rejig.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins says she'll agree to disagree with her party's youth wing on almost everything, including the ban on conversion therapy.A bill that would outlaw the practice has passed its first reading in Parliament.National voted against the bill, despite pleas from the Young Nats for the party to support it at first reading and seek changes at select committee.Collins told Kate Hawkesby the party won't be dictated by its youth wing.“The National Party caucus if often offside with our youth wing on various issues. They’re are far more progressive culturally and socially, than the majority of MPs.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Carrington is a key cog in the machine that's driving New Zealand to its most successful Olympics yet.This country now has 19 medals, seven of them gold, pushing our tally ahead of the previous best ever five years ago at Rio.The champion kayaker has six medals all up, three of them in Tokyo, all gold.Carrington's strength and conditioning coach, Adam Storey told Kate Hawkesby her training has been through the roof.“People do see Lisa winning in such a dominant fashion and say ‘gee she makes it look so easy,’ but I tell you what it isn’t easy in any way, shape or form.”And there's a prospect of more medals to come.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the UK asks people working from home to get back to the office, a new survey out here shows that office workers are actually “more satisfied in their jobs than non-office workers”.'Skills Consulting Group's Work Wellbeing survey', it's been reported, looked at '1600 staff and human resources managers' and in terms of dissatisfaction in the workplace it had 'health workers, teachers and tradies at the top of the list'.It’s the office workers who have a higher wellbeing score. It’s assumed this is because they feel a stronger connection directly to their workplace, they have regular supports in place, they’re anchored somewhere. So that chit chat round the coffee machine and regular touching base with colleagues in meetings, is actually good for you apparently. It’s connection.It’s also one of the main reasons the UK is encouraging people back to the office. A lot of the connectivity in workplaces has been lost during Covid. Zoom just doesn’t cut it. The British Finance Minister says strong relationships are formed for particularly young people, when they’re physically able to be in the office. It’s important for mental health, for forming friendships, and for feeling part of the team.So how many of us are taking our office for granted when in fact we're getting benefits from being in it?And what about those who don’t work in an office?Drivers, nurses, tradies, teachers, retail staff, it turns out their 'wellbeing scores' were a lot lower than office workers.Jane Kennelly from Skills Consulting Group is reported as saying this is because those people can feel "forgotten about".She says what’s needed in those industries is "More personalised tools, more check-ins to ensure those who work outside or in a different way to a conventional office still feel part of the team.”So how is that possible when your workers are driving trucks or in a classroom?Well I would’ve thought it’s down to attitude.A furniture removal company we know of cooks its staff breakfast each day before they hit the road. It's a chance for the team to touch base, connect, start the day on the right foot. But that takes a desire from management to make it happen.And everything comes back to culture nowadays anyway doesn’t it.Workers want a good culture, they thrive in a good culture, it promotes connection and a sense of belonging.Wellbeing is paramount in terms of what workers are after in the modern workplace. I don’t even think that’s a high expectation anymore, I think its standard. So I guess it behoves management in those non-office workplaces to work harder to ensure a good culture. Turns out our wellbeing depends on it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ANZ is predicting 3 OCR hikes by the end of the year, and 5 by this time next year.This is off the back of our unemployment rate dropping from 4.7 per cent to 4 per cent yesterday.Kate Hawkesby asked Rival Wealth financial advisor, Tim Fairbrother if the Reserve Bank has messed this up?LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The black market of e-bikes is heating up. E-bike insurance claims have doubled in value over the past year, to $225,000.E bikes are worth up to $10,000, and currently included in your content insurance.But at this rate, surely that's set to change.E-bike retailer, who actually once stole back his own stolen e-bike, Maurice Wells, spoke to Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I extend thoughts and prayers for cyclists this morning.It looks like their precious bridge crossing may be confined to the scrap heap.As is was predicted moments after it was announced, and got an almost unanimous negative response – gosh even some cyclists thought it was a dumb idea, it’s likely now it’ll never happen.Grant Robertson yesterday wouldn't confirm or deny the cycle bridge, only to say that they ‘continually look at the transport network to see it works well’.That’s politician speak for – it’s toast.So what does this tell us?Well like I said yesterday, it tells us very clearly this Government hates bad press. It tells us a 10 point drop in the polls really sharpens the mind, and it tells us they’ll move like a wind sock under the gales of public pressure.Seasonal workers are in, the cycle bridge is out.What can we expect next? And more importantly, is this a precursor to what we can expect as we head into the next election?Are flip flops, false promises and knee jerk reactions good for us?Well not if you want some stability and consistency from your leadership, some long term strategic management. I would’ve thought good leadership is about properly doing the work up front before you leap into announcements.Costing and canvassing something to the hilt, before you throw out the press release and roll out the Minister. And then once you have your plan, sticking to it.Obviously in this case a back down is the only and best course of action - but we shouldn't have been put through this farce in the first place.The cyclists will rightly be annoyed, although did they really believe this would actually ever get off the ground?The announcement came with no formal detail or specifics; the Government hadn’t done the homework on it, and it became increasingly hard to justify.Add to that the public backlash and you can see how they’d now like to pretend this never happened.So it really should surprise no one that it’s going to fizzle into the ether alongside Kiwibuild, Lightrail, and any number of infrastructure projects you want to name.So let’s recap the telling way this has unfolded:A bad poll for the Government and two specific questions come out of that poll.One, about loosening the border for seasonal workers and two, the cycle bridge.24 hours later, seasonal workers are in.24 hours after that, the cycle bridge is on the ropes.Almost 82% of people in the poll said the bridge was a dumb idea.So what we’re seeing here, therefore, is less of a government governing, and more of a reactive popularity contest based on poll data.Is that good solid leadership? Or is that just amateurs winging it?Sadly I think it's the latter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a common feeling when you complete two interviews for a job, just to be told they'll let you know if you've made it to a third?A LinkedIn post of a job-hunter talking about how multiple interviews for a job drives talent away has gone viral, with one company asking him for nine interviews.4 or 5 rounds of interviews can be common in New Zealand.Director of HR and recruitment company Randstad, Katherine Swan, told Kate Hawkesby a good recruitment experience can set the tone for a prospective employee.“They want to be making sure that that candidate has a really good recruitment experience, because what they will do is link that to the employment experience with the company moving forward.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reviewing the use of formal police warnings, may be just one small piece in a very large puzzle of justice reform.New Zealand Police will review its Formal Warning policy after the High Court found the warnings have no basis in law and are a breach of the Bill of Rights.Warnings can affect a person's employment prospects, without them actually being found guilty of a crime.But victims' advocate Ruth Money told Kate Hawkesby the alternative, going through the court process, can also be hugely disruptive.“I’ve got so many offenders waiting for files from Police… so that the process can move along.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online scams are becoming more slick and sophisticated.But when we think of those more likely to get caught up in scams, we mainly think of elderly people.But that's not always the case.A new study from the UK says nine in ten parents are concerned about their kids falling victim to online scams.Online safety operations manager at Netsafe Sean Lyons told Kate Hawkesby scammers will tailor their approach depending on who their target is.“Scams aren’t about old people; they’re bout specific types of people falling for specific scams.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, a poll comes out which sees Labour drop 10 points, and voila, seasonal workers are on their way back in.I'm not sure how much detail of what's in those polls gets given to the parties in advance, but we can assume based on what happened next, that Labour had the tip off on one particular question.The poll included a question about what more the Government could do.The answer to which was: loosen up the borders a bit, more exemptions for seasonal workers.And boom, look at that.An announcement rolled out yesterday that indeed they're welcoming them back in from Samoa and Tonga, seasonal workers.If that's what a 10 point drop in the polls can produce in 24 hours, what could a 20 point drop do?Would they vaccinate the entire country in a week?One thing we know this Government hates is flailing popularity.It's a government who has become accustomed to riding high in the polls, critics would argue the subsequent arrogance they're showing around this is actually going to be the undoing of them.So when some real tangible issues start biting them in the bum, and it affects poll numbers, they're quick to move.It shouldn't take a poll slump to force them to act, that's showing barely concealed contempt for your electorate, but the horticulture sector's been crying out for workers for so long, I'm sure they're feeling relieved this morning.But you have to hand it to the marketing whizzes inside this Government, they know how to take a bad news headline and quickly bury it with a good news one, thus, spinning the media cycle away from a bad poll, and onto the next shiny new thing; some border exemptions.I thought it was very telling yesterday that the PM went back to playing her best trump card and using her magic words, which light up the hearts and souls of her support base 'the pandemic'.In reacting to the poll dip, she made sure she blamed it not on her party, but on 'the pandemic'.Basically, she was blaming the uncertainty of the pandemic on the poor poll result.In reality, saying it’s less about her, and more about us and where we’re at."2021 is hard," she explained, "we all thought 2020 was the really difficult year with the pandemic, but we have all accepted now that 'this pandemic' is not going away as quickly", she told Newshub.She also said her job is to “share the plan through,” which is a revelation, given people have been asking for a plan for months and months.Waiting and waiting.So, a bad poll result and now some seasonal workers on their way, and the promise of a plan.A busy week so far for the government, we watch with interest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of evidence has pointed to how successful a four day working week is in increasing productivity, as well as avoiding burnout.Well there's been a massive development in the United States.California congressman Mark Takano has submitted a bill for Congress to introduce the four day work week for California.Congressman Takano told Kate Hawkesby imporoving employee wellbeing has benefits for everyone.“I think we can improve the health of most workers, reduce the stress that they experience, and at the same time we’re seeing experiments in countries such as yours and other places around the world that productivity does not have to suffer, in fact productivity might even be enhanced.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A move to allow more seasonal workers into the country, is being seen as an important piece of the puzzle for kiwifruit growers.From next month, seasonal workers from Covid-free Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga can come to New Zealand without quarantine.Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Colin Bond told Kate Hawkesby even with the change, they may still be six to seven thousand people short next season.“We really do welcome the news yesterday, but we are under no illusions that there is still more work to be done to encourage more New Zealanders just to fill that working holiday visa gap.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into housing is to clarify for central and local government and local iwi what the right to a decent home means in New Zealand.They say successive governments have failed when it comes to housing.Deputy CEO of Community Housing Aotearoa Chris Glaudel told Kate Hawkesby his expectations of the review will help them look at what isn’t working well in the current system and show how all citizens can help achieve the right to a home.“It’s not just on government, it also is on everybody. We all enjoy this right. Some of us currently don’t have it though.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was incredulous at the news we’d had a breach in protocols during the transfer of the Covid patient from Fiji.I shouldn’t have been, it was always a possibility, and perhaps one of the reasons the medics were so against the transfer in the first place. But to hear that a “PPE protocol incident” had occurred and ended up lumping a health worker into Jet Park for two weeks in MIQ, left me aghast.Imagine being that health worker – already stretched with RSV raging through the hospitals, your colleagues have all said no thanks to this patient coming, you’ve been over ruled by politicians, and then – beyond your control, the patient gets flown here, and wham, you’re into MIQ for two weeks.Away from your family, out at the Jet Park, isolating.Cool.How completely unnecessary.Medical experts have been leaping up and down about this since before we even took the patient, but over the weekend Professor of Medicine Des Gorman leapt up and down too.He criticised the decision saying "it's a pity" health workers here have been put at risk. It is indeed a pity.The Ministry’s reported as saying "any risks from this incident are low," but why are we taking any risks at all?What happened to abundance of caution?What happened to zero risk?We only need to look to our friends across the Tasman to know how virulent this Delta variant is.We only need to look at the turtle pace of our vaccine rollout here to know how ill prepared we are.We don’t contact trace enough anymore, we don’t wear the mandatory masks we’re supposed to on public transport, we are not remotely ready to handle an outbreak here, so why take any risks at all?Of course as I said last week, this was never a medical decision and you can’t blame the UN worker at the centre of it, it’s not her fault, and we hope she recovers well.But for the government to ignore the medics, who they’ve followed so religiously throughout this whole pandemic, who they’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with at press conferences, relied on, put everything into the hands of to then suddenly ignore them?Let’s not forget, as Des Gorman pointed out, "Eighty-five percent of New Zealanders are not vaccinated, they're not immune," he told Newshub.So as he said, this makes us “unbelievably vulnerable”.And that's not a time to take risks.What we have here, is a continuity problem.Medical staff say no, yet suddenly the government can ignore the advice of clinicians.Either you respect the medical profession and take their advice, or you don’t.But what the government now seems to be doing, is picking and choosing when they'll take that advice.And if it doesn't suit their political agenda, they won't.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustration from senior doctors about the Government's ongoing pay freeze for high-income public sector workers.Members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists will begin stopwork meetings today, to discuss their pay and working conditions.It comes as nurses prepare for strike action this month after rejecting their latest pay offer.Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Kate Hawkesby the Government pay freeze can't be justified, when the economy is doing so well."It's about giving lowest paid workers the biggest increases and we absolutely support that, but we think that you raise the floor for those at the bottom by actually raising the floor, not by pushing the ceiling down."Dalton says members will accept a pay rise below inflation, but they're being offered zero-percent instead.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi high jumper Hamish Kerr has given a strong account in his Olympic Games debut, jumping 1cm below his personal best to finish 10th in a competition that will be remembered for its unique ending.In a rare turn of events, Qatari star Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi shared the gold medal, clearing a height of 2.37m. Neither of the two had failed a jump until the bar was raised to 2.39m, where neither athlete was able to clear it.While it was expected the two would go into a jump-off because their ledger was identical, they instead decided to share the top prize.It was a heartwarming moment and fans around the world were enamoured by the Olympic spirit shown. This must be one of the best Olympics ever for personal stories - Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Essa are tied for first in the men’s high jump. “Can there be two golds?” Essa asks an official. After a nod, they agree to share the win. Lovely scenes as they hug & celebrate.— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) August 1, 2021 To decide to both be Olympic Champions is probably the best moment I’ve ever seen … #athletics #HighJump— kelly (@KellySotherton) August 1, 2021 wow. high jump ends in a tie as Barshim and Tamberi agree to not compete in a jump-off. pic.twitter.com/gQrTlzjRJC— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 1, 2021 Two athletes & friends decide to share the gold medal in the @Olympics high jump rather than jump off against each other!! Sporting respect of the highest order at the highest level 👍👏— DaveSimmonds (@DaveSimmonds77) August 1, 2021 As for Kerr, he had his struggles across five heights, twice being on his final attempt before ultimately bowing out at 2.33m. In the high jump competition, athletes are eliminated after three failed attempts in a row. If they fail twice then clear a height, they move on and get three attempts at the next height.Kerr had no trouble clearing heights of 2.19m and 2.24m, but had his first slip up at 2.27m. A height he had cleared in the past, Kerr needed another two attempts to clear the height, but was able to progress.It was a similar story at 2.30m - 1cm below his personal best - where Kerr twice took the bar with him before the round was delayed due to the women's shot put medal ceremony - which saw Dame Valerie Adams receive the bronze she won earlier in the day.The break seemed to give Kerr a chance to reset, and he launched himself clear over the bar to move on to the next height.Moving up to 2.33m, a height he had never previously cleared, Kerr was unable to better his personal best height – missing all three of his attempts.Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau claimed the bronze medal, again on a countback of misses. While he also cleared 2.37m, Nedasekau had more failed attempts than Barshim and Tamberi and finished in third place.South Korea's Woo Sanghyeok and Australia's Brandon Starc finished in fourth and fifth, having cleared 2.35m.How Hamish Kerr performed in the high jump final2.19m - o2.24m - o2.27m - xxo2.30m - xxo2.33m - xxxText by Christopher Reive, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.