Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

It’s little surprise a large number of Kiwi teachers didn't pass some high-school subjects.   New research has found a quarter of new primary school teachers failed maths and more than half failed science at NCEA Level One.   More than half who pursued Level Two maths also failed.   The Teaching Council's calling for more investment and widespread changes to how teachers are prepared for the classroom.   Auckland University Dean of Education Mark Barrows told Mike Hosking that they've known for a while people heading into primary teaching tend to be under-qualified in those areas.   He says providers need to think about how they can produce programmes that help students get past that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mining lobby group thinks the Resources Minister's decade-long vision for mining is achievable.  Shane Jones has announced a draft strategy which would see a critical minerals list for New Zealand produced, and a detailed stock-take made of the country's known mineral potential.   He wants to double export values in 10 years, from one billion to two.   Straterra Chief Executive, Josie Vidal told Mike Hosking that there are quite a few mines in the pipeline which they want to get up and running.  She says it takes a long time to do that, so they support the current fast-track process being discussed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major tornados hit Iowa, leaving towns devastated and people injured or dead.  Greenfield was struck by the deadliest tornado of the storm, leaving homes and businesses destroyed, and while police confirmed fatalities at a news briefing, they were unable to say how many.  The town’s hospital was among the buildings damaged, forcing the injured to find refuge elsewhere.  US Correspondent Kathrine Firkin told Mike Hosking that there have been brutal storms right across the Midwest, but Iowa has borne the brunt of it.  She said that the exact death tolls are unknown as authorities are still combing through debris trying to work out who is unaccounted for.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank had a few surprises in its monetary policy update yesterday.  While the OCR remaining at 5.5% was expected, Governer Adrian Orr’s signal that the cash rate may remain “restrictive” for longer, was not.  Domestic inflation is proving more stubborn than expected, and the Bank is also considering hiking rates if it must.  Malcolm Knight, Director of Advice Knight, told Mike Hosking that it’s not just increasing interest rates that are hurting Kiwis, but also rent costs, and the timing of loan repricings.  He said that there's very clear signs of financial hardship as people are withdrawing their Kiwisavers to get by and going through matrimonial splits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French President Emmanuel Macron's imminent arrival in New Caledonia is being viewed as a show of defiance.  Six have died in the unrest sparked by government electoral reforms.  A further 49 New Zealanders have been rescued from Noumea following the initial 50 people evacuated on Tuesday night.  They arrived in Auckland early this morning aboard a Defence Force plane, having initially being taken to Brisbane.  Logistical arrangements for subsequent flights are still being worked through by MFAT and the defence force.  International Relations expert, Geoffrey Miller told Mike Hosking that Macron's also bringing his Defence Minister and two other senior officials.  He believes it's a sign of defiance from Macron, to show he won't be cowered by the protests.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OCR is expected to remain steady.  It’s expected to remain unchanged at 5.5% when the bank releases its quarterly Monetary Policy Statement this afternoon.  It's signalled a rate cut may not come for another year.   Infometrics' Brad Olsen says the central bank is having to focus on inflation, over other negative economic indicators like rising unemployment.  He told Mike Hosking that he’d be very surprised if they decided to move it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s rugby provinces have been warned by the professional players to brace for a civil war if they vote to approve their own governance change proposal at next week’s special general meeting.  In an explosive move that shows how distressed the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association (NZRPA) is with the current governance system and the possibility of it not being fixed in line with independent recommendations, the trade body has told the unions it is ready to break away to form a new and separate entity to manage the professional game.  In a fiercely worded letter sent to all unions as well as New Zealand Rugby (NZR), Super Rugby Pacific clubs and the Māori Rugby Board, the NZRPA says that if the provinces vote in favour of what is known as Proposal 2 —a new governance structure that the provinces have developed themselves and one that differs significantly to an alternative blueprint that aligns with the findings of an independent review— it will withdraw, via its collective employment agreement, the

Electoral paperwork is landing two MPs in hot water.  The Greens have referred suspended MP Darleen Tana to the Electoral Commission for failing to put a promoter statement on a magazine advertorial.  The party itself is investigating what she knew about allegations of migrant exploitation relating to her husband's business.  At the same time, National has stripped MP David MacLeod of his Select Committee positions, after he failed to declare 19 donations.  Former National ministerial advisor Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that it brings MacLeod's competence into question.  She says with the support available around donation declaration, there's no excuse.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passengers have described their terror when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore dropped suddenly.   A 73-year-old British man has died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of others were injured.   A statement from the airline says 23 of the 211 passengers were from New Zealand.   Flight SQ321 was diverted to Bangkok.   UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that the plane fell seven thousand feet in six minutes, causing mid-air chaos.  Seven other passengers are critically injured with head injuries.  Singapore Airlines says 18 people have been hospitalised in Bangkok.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police response times in Australia’s Northern Territory have gotten worse.  A domestic violence inquest has heard that police response times have increased in the past year, more than doubling over the previous five.  NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy revealed that between 2022 and 2023, the number of hours spent on domestic violence cases increased from 712,000 to 882,000, costs increasing with them.  Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that racism within the Northern Territory Police has also been put under the spotlight.  She said that allegations have been made that a serving officer circulated a photo of a topless aboriginal woman via a social media chat.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local councils want a new approach to move decision making away from central government and back into communities.  Local Government New Zealand is proposing city and regional deals, a system which would see councils team up with the government on specific projects.  Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe told Mike Hosking that it will give more control to local communities.  He says communities know what they want and should be allowed to deliver projects for themselves.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death of Iran's President isn't expected to have immediate impacts internationally.  President Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister have been confirmed dead by state media after a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border.  Iran has announced five days of public mourning.  Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking reaction will come down to whether the crash is deemed an accident.  He says there will be serious international ramifications if foul play is found to be involved.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immediate changes are in store for Kainga Ora, in light of a critical independent review.  It found the public housing agency needs significant savings to become financially viable.  Housing Minister Chris Bishop's indicated a total refresh of the board but rules out a mass sell-off of state houses.  Community Housing Aotearoa Deputy CEO, Chris Glaudel told Mike Hosking that the report isn't shocking, but contained a few surprises.  He says the most important thing was the report digging deeper into our overall social housing system and the issues at play.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sellout crowd is certain as it's just one day til Wellington Phoenix chants ring out across the city.  The nix are playing the Melbourne Victory at a packed Cake Tin.  Excitement's been building up in the capital about the A-League semifinal clash, as the team goes into the second leg on a nil-all aggregate score, at home.  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine told Mike Hosking that he gets the feeling that the match will be settled within 90 minutes.  He said that someone will have the inspirational moment, the flash of brilliance, or someone will make a mistake, and that will settle the game.  “I don’t think we’ll see a nil-all tomorrow night.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles has been attending garden parties as he returns to public duties.   The monarch returned to work in late April, about two months after it was announced he was being treated for cancer.   UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that he appeared in good spirits at the garden parties this past week.   He says hundreds of people are invited to the parties, which have days for different industries.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister's being urged to address the huge cost of workplace bullying.  A report by the Human Rights Commission and KPMG has found the cost of bullying and harassment to employers is about $1.5 billion a year.  Equal Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo told Mike Hosking that Minister Brooke van Velden wants to look at health and safety laws and the grievance processes.  She hopes the minister's paying attention to the report, because it may be a loss for businesses but it's the people's lives that are at the centre of this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers says most farmers are looking at Fonterra's change in strategy with cautious optimism.    The dairy giant's signalled its intent to divest well-known brands such as Anchor and overseas brands Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.   It wants to focus on producing ingredients and selling them to consumers and other businesses.   Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Richard McIntyre told Mike Hosking that some are concerned about Fonterra's potential move away from value-added products.   But he says they're also talking about investing more in innovation, so it'll be interesting to see the detail.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of goading, Donald Trump has his wish.  Joe Biden has finally agreed to presidential debates, but on a different schedule.  He released a video on social media earlier today saying that he’s ready to debate, and that Trump is available on Wednesdays, referring to the day that Trump’s hush money trial is not in session.  US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Roman Travers that normally these debates take place in the last two or so months of the campaign, but the first will be taking place in June, the second in September.  Biden’s team says the usual model hasn’t been working, and that organisers have failed to keep the debates under control in the past.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of appointments and surgeries have been cancelled as junior doctors begin another strike.  They’re continuing to fight for better pay and work conditions.   More than 2000 doctors walked off the job at 7am for the second time in two weeks, the strike planned to last two days.  Sarah Dalton, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, told Roman Travers that we’re already training many young doctors just to go off and work overseas as the work conditions and pay aren’t good enough for the senior medical workforce.  Now, she said, Te Whatu Ora seems to be doing everything they can to get them to go even sooner.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a small silver lining for regional councils amid slowing local economic growth.  The March Infometrics Monitor reveals economic activity has increased just 0.2% over a year, the slowest growth since the first Covid-19 lockdown.  Building consents have dropped almost 60% in the Tasman District and fell around 25% for all regions.  Tasman District Mayor Tim King told Roman Travers that despite hard times for regions, it does present councils an opportunity  He says with the current economic downturn it's ironically a good time to invest in infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.