Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Election Year is off and running with Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation address.  We should know the election date later this week.  What we do know is the theme of National’s campaign: “Fixing the basics and building the future”.  Not a shock. It’s a variation of the way they’ve positioned themselves for a while. The party that concentrates on the need to haves and not the nice to haves - Labour trashed the economy in six years with their spending, we’re the guys who’ll fix it up.  But the real question is what are they fixing and what are they building.  Treasury’s figures from the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update delivered just before Christmas, show the Government has both cut capital expenditure since its election and lowered forecasts for new spending. Capex fell by $6 billion between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 fiscal years, and spending was $1.6 billion less in 2024/25 than was budgeted.  There’s not a lot of fixing of leaky hospitals and rickety courtrooms going

The business sector will want to know how the Government will support them - as the Prime Minister prepares for his State of the Nation speech.  Chris Luxon will give the address at the International Convention Centre in Auckland this afternoon - the first event to be held at the new centre.  Newstalk ZB understands he will try to draw attention away from turbulent affairs overseas - and to the Government's successes back home.  Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens that he will question if economic relief is set to continue.  He wants to know what fresh Government ideas are coming through which will keep business confidence up.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe may be on the cusp of implementing a never-before-used law, to turn up the heat on the United States.  President Donald Trump's announced increasing tariffs on eight countries starting next month, unless a deal allowing him to buy Greenland is reached.  European leaders have condemned the decision, with France now set to urge the EU to enact its anti-coercion instrument,  if the tariffs go ahead. Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the international economic counter-measures will enhance their retaliation, within international law.  He says no one quite knows what it means as it's never been needed until now, adding things are getting very serious.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded in New Zealand.  One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between two and 14. Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide - a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd told Andrew Dickens despite it being a short-term fix, it's like any other medicine.  He says it's the same as heart disease or blood pressure medication - as soon as you go off them, they lose their effect as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday just before most of us came back to work Auckland Transport announced that public transport fares on the rise from February 1st.  They’re going up by 5.1% which is higher than inflation, but they claim transport costs have risen by up to 16%. Meanwhile parking costs in AT controlled buildings and areas are going up by 50 cents an hour.  For adult commuters, this means a 10 to 25 cents increase per bus or train trip, and 40 to 60 cents more per ferry journey. Now I understand prices go up but I’m not sure that AT realise the consequences. I use a ferry. In fact, I used one on Saturday to go to a Sail GP watching party.  That meant I spent $15 return. From February 1st it’ll be 16 bucks. That’s all very well if it was just me. But if I took A partner that’d be 32 bucks return. And that’s getting very close to a price point that says I can’t justify using public transport. If there three of us I might as well just get an Uber.  But that defeats the purpose of public transport which

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 19th of January 2025, Christopher Luxon is set to deliver his State of the Nation speech this afternoon, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges tells Andrew what businesses want to come out of it.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Auckland University Molecular Medicine Professor, Peter Shepard shares his thoughts on if Pharmac should fund weight loss drugs.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the EU calling an emergency meeting on Greenland and the Trump administration naming former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as one of the members of the founding executive board of its "Board of Peace" for Gaza. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like it or not, next year's big dance in politics will ultimately be decided by the few, not the many. Most MMP elections have been. Minnows hold the keys to the kingdom.  Be it Winston with his best result ever or Te Pati Māori with an overhang - 2026 won’t be a 2020 landslide. The difference this time is how extreme some of the smaller parties, more to the point, some of their MPs, have become - think Takuta on Indians and Simon Court on Palestine. It’s not just rhetoric, but policy, too. A separate Māori parliament, re-nationalising power companies, you name it, they'll go there. The temptation for the behemoths, the broad churches, is to emulate what’s getting traction. To dip your toe in the pool of radical ideas. To be establishment without looking or sounding like it. Trump and the MAGA movement are the best example of this. In the UK, parties that have been around since Moses was a linebacker are being absolutely whipped in the polls by newer upstarts with one thing on their pledge card

Do you know what's really starts to rub me the wrong way?  It's governments telling us to do more things.  This morning, we've got the government coming out with yet another hotline. Sounds fancy. Sounds efficient.  It's a hotline to report road cones. A road cone tipline.  Sorry, but if the problem is that there are too many road cones on the road, and they're unnecessary for the work being carried out —which half of them appear to be— then why do you need us to tell you that? Surely if we just had better, clearer rules and less bullshit, we wouldn't need a road cone tipline. A pothole tipline. A 105 theft tipline. A beneficiary tipline. Either you know what you're doing and you've got smart people and smart systems, or you don't.  And every time I hear of another tipline I realise, they have no idea.  Tiplines are the equivalent of a safety calming measure. Those weird speed bumps or narrowing roads, designed to make people feel better when driving around. All they really

I went out for lunch to a café the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them. They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care. No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation. Just this blank look on their faces. You sit there and think “did they hear me”? You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t.  But they did. They got it. There’s just no engagement. Face colder than a witch's tit. No refills of your water. No "would you like another coffee?" Like, hello!? Is anybody in there? Is anyone home? Why are you all moving so slowly? Shouldn’t you be rushing the joint taking orders and filling coffees?  When I was young it was drilled into us: when you’re waiting tables and taking orders. You work your way up from "dish pig" to front of house. You basically run round busy as a bee, trying to impress your boss, trying to win your guests over. Taking wagers of who might get a tip.  "Can I help you, sir? What more can

Teachers say they're struggling to deal with increasing violent incidents due to a lack of learning support.  New data shows 12,300 students have been disciplined for physical assault on teachers and students this year – a 49% jump from 2019.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Francesca Rudkin teachers have been given increasingly more restraint training to deal with these incidents, but the main problem is with students' unmet needs.  He says our children are coming to school with complex needs, a lot involving mental health issues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is looking to tackle radicalisation and extreme misogyny early.   Millions of pounds will be invested into schools to train teachers to spot signs of misogyny among boys and course correct.   Funding will also go towards courses for radicalised young men.   It's to counter concerns about pornography and online misogynistic influencers.   UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Francesca Rudkin it's a key part of the government's legislative agenda.   He says two women die a week from domestic violence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought the closure of Gloriavale school is more complicated than just finding a new school.    The Secretary for Education has cancelled the Christian sect school’s licence, forcing it closed from January.   It's been on notice for several weeks after failing another audit and being ruled physically and mentally unsafe for students.   Education researcher Liz Gordon told Francesca Rudkin says it's not as straightforward as moving the students elsewhere.   She wants the ministry to take a group of professional teachers into the community, to allow the kids to be taught there.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Friday the 19th of December 2025, The economy’s rebounded into 1.1% growth in the September quarter, ahead of forecasts Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts. Schools are dealing with more fights and assaults than ever before, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie tells Francesca why the problem has got worse.  Gloriavale's school will shut down from January next year, educational researcher and community activist Liz Gordon tells Francesca what will happen from here. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Zelensky urging European Union leaders to loan billions of euros in frozen Russian money to fund Ukraine and Teachers in England will be given training to spot and tackle misogyny in the classroom. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio

An economist says the economy has some forward motion.  Stats NZ data shows a 1.1% GDP increase in the September quarter.  Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie says he expects to see 2 to 3 percent growth over the next 12 months is likely.  He told Francesca Rudkin there are other statistics trending in a positive direction.  Bagrie says that includes more hours worked and greater bank lending into the business sector.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Confirmation that the economy grew strongly in the third quarter of the year is welcome news before Christmas”, Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated in the first line of her press release yesterday.   ‘Welcome news’ may be a bit of an understatement, given the context of recent attempts to undermine Nicola Willis and the Government’s approach to righting the economy.  Willis also needed the good GDP news after a disappointing Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update on Tuesday, in which almost every economic and fiscal indicator moved ever so slightly in the wrong direction.   The GDP results showed the economy did better than expected in the September quarter, growing 1.1%. GDP per capita rose 0.9% for the quarter, if that's how you prefer to measure it. The increase in economic activity was broad based, with increases in 14 of the 16 industries that Stats NZ looks at. This is good news.   But the problem with GDP figures is they’re provisional and often revised. That’s what has happened wi

It's thought there are few silver linings to come from the Government's road cone hotline.  The pilot, which encouraged the public to report excessive cone use, ends tomorrow, six months ahead of schedule.  Site visits found 86% of worksites were already compliant, and Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says the trial has done what it needed to do.  CEO of traffic management company Parallaxx Dave Tilton told Andrew Dickens some of the data collection may be useful.  He says it brought the road control authorities including NZTA, WorkSafe, and councils together well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the major banks is predicting some of the best quarterly GDP figures in years.  Stats NZ is releasing the economic figures for the three months ending September this morning, with the Reserve Bank's forecasting growth of 0.4%.  Westpac predicts a 0.9% gain, putting that down to a jump in activity across the board.  Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Andrew Dickens it would fill in a hole from the previous quarter.  But he says there needs to be two or three quarters of growth before people can be confident the country is on an upward trend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The self-inflicted deaths of six Northland young people reveals dangerous flaws in our suicide prevention system. An inquiry by Northland Coroner Tania Tetitaha into the deaths calls for a single, coordinated system.  The youths had worked with up to 17 agencies - that hadn't seemed to identify or follow up on their need for support.  Mindworks psychologist Sara Chatwin told Andrew Dickens we don't need more thinking groups and documentation, but rather people who have the skills and willingness to deal with these issues.  She says in New Zealand, we clearly have a huge problem that other countries are very aware of.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m still in slack mouthed shock at Barbara Edmonds' performance on this programme yesterday. After the release of the Government’s books showing we’re still in deficit and will be in deficit longer and with every day that passes our debt grows, Labour was quick to say National has screwed things up and we should have voted Labour onto the Treasury benches. I would have thought that would mean they knew how to do things better. Therefore, they could perhaps tell you and I what should have been done.  So, we gave them the opportunity to share their superior knowledge, particularly with you the voter, yesterday morning And what did we get? Nothing other than slogans and a general tone of "just trust us things could have been better and we’ll tell you why next year".  Now to be fair, she did criticise National's tax cuts. That was the moving of the thresholds and reinstating the rebates for landlords.  That had the effect of reducing government revenue by $14 billion dollars. $14 billion that coul

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday the 18th of December 2025, it's the final GDP for the year, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Andrew what he's expecting.  The Government's announced the road cone hotline will close as it hits it's objectives, Dave Tilton, Chair of the Temporary Traffic Management Industry Steering Group shares his thoughts.  Coroner Tania Tetihaha says the system is broken after probing the suicides of six young people, Psychologist at Mindworks Sara Chatwin shares her thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on Trump announcing a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela and the White House reaction to Trump's chief of Staff Susie Wiles's Vanity Fair interviews.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.