Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A new law in Scotland, designed to prevent hate crimes is being targeted by Neo-Nazi and far-right agitators. The groups are making vexatious complaints en masse in an attempt to overwhelm police systems.   UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Mike Hosking the definition of a hate crime is wide ranging, and an inundated system makes policing the reports difficult for authorities.  Meanwhile, support for Ukraine is crumbling in the EU.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors showed their potential over the weekend, beating the Rabbitohs in an impressive 34-4 win. Andrew Alderson updates Mike Hosking on how the team looked.  Meanwhile, the Sevens held at Hong Kong stadium for the last time.   And, a man known as the ‘hardest geezer’ has run the length of Africa. Russ Cook covered 16,300km as the first person to run from the south to the northern tip of the continent.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AN OIA has revealed police abandoned almost 60 percent of cases reported to them last year.  Of 962,521 emergency calls, 572,037 were abandoned. In 2023, reports were up 50 percent from 2019 and of cases reported, 179,957 were closed without any investigation at all.  Police Association President Chris Cahill tells Mike Hosking that online reporting has driven up numbers. The Auror retail crime reporting app enables small low-level crime to be reported to police. Less than half of reports made are actual offences.  Cahill says the app is fit for purpose.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deaths of UK aid workers from an Israeli air strike has reignited debate in the UK over the level of support, military aid, and weapons they’re providing Israel.   Over 600 legal experts, including three former Supreme Court Justices, have come forward in an open letter calling on the Government to end the sale of weapons to Israel.  They say that the UK are risking breaching international law over a “plausible risk of genocide in Gaza”.  UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that the Conservative Party is currently have strong arguments over the letter, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is so far unwilling to heed the call.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a breakthrough in the rules governing whether people who've been scammed are eligible for compensation.   The banking sector has launched a review around victim reimbursement.  This comes after consumer protection criticism and the threat of regulatory intervention from the government.  Consumer NZ boss Jon Duffy told Mike Hosking that although there's a level of personal responsibility, people need to stay alert.  He says some of the scams are extremely sophisticated and those who are falling for them are everyday New Zealanders.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Northland mayor is hailing the new law that requires Māori wards to be put to referendum as a win for democracy.   The coalition Government is introducing a bill allowing communities to petition for binding polls on Māori ward decisions.   It reverses legislation from the previous Government that ensured councils would not have wards overturned through public referendum.   Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson told Mike Hosking he believes a lot of Māori would support the new bill.   He says the previous laws were condescending to Māori and don't acknowledge them as hard-working people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ASB Bank is sending the message their predicted infrastructure bill isn't an impossible figure.   The bank's new research suggests a trillion dollars will be needed over 30 years.  ASB's Senior Economist Mark Smith says it's a huge number and we need to tap into as many funding sources as possible.   He says there needs to be greater alignment between providers and funders, the infrastructure has to be fit for purpose and deliver value for money, while meeting climate objectives.  Smith told Mike Hosking that the list is huge and the challenges are massive, but he believes it can be done.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bosses are finding Gen Z to be something of a nightmare.  They’ve found that they have poor work ethic, miss meetings, and even ditch the company on their first day of work.  In contrast, Gen Z workers say their employers don’t understand them.  Angela Lim, Clearhead CEO, told Mike Hosking that there’s been a distinct cultural shift, boundaries blurring between personal and work lives.   Another shift, she said, is in values. Lim said that young people want their employers to make a stand on social issues, to have more meaning or purpose in their jobs as opposed to just collecting a paycheck.  This can cause a lot of friction, she told Hosking, unless both parties are trained in having difficult conversations and know how to incorporate those different work styles.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students are learning more about our history but less about our place in the world.   An Education Review Office report finds schools have been working hard to implement the new Aotearoa Histories Curriculum.   It's being taught in three quarters of all schools up to and including Year 10, but to varying degrees.   Education Evaluation Centre Head Ruth Shinoda says it takes up a lot of teachers' time making their own teaching resources.   She told Mike Hosking that more off-the-shelf content would help support schools to teach the full range of the curriculum.   Shinoda says those resources could help teachers have more time to teach other social sciences too, like geography and economics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's electric vehicle sales have taken another plunge. In March, just over 9% of new passenger cars were EVs, falling from about 27% for all of 2023. Drive Electric Chair Kirstin Corson told Mike Hosking she hasn't written it off, but the market has certainly stalled after losing the clean car discount. She says it's disappointing to see new light diesel vehicles outselling EVs 10 to one, adding this is a massive difference compared to 2023.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A disability charity's launching an urgent appeal that it faces closure after more than 20 years. StarJam provides music and dance workshops for young people with disabilities, designed to foster inclusion and wellbeing. It's trying to raise $100,000 to keep the doors open to its 800 members. CEO Gilli Sinclair told Mike Hosking that they've been hit by the escalating cost of living and reduced funding streams. They put out the appeal yesterday and within the last 24 hours raised over $70,000. Sinclair said they're incredibly positive about the opportunity and have full faith in their ability to see their way through. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finland's gun policy is under scrutiny after a school shooting north of Helsinki. A 12-year-old boy has been detained after the shooting that left one dead and two others, all aged 12, seriously wounded. Finland's education minister says that once the government has a complete picture, they're considering if further measures are needed to protect schools. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that it's believed the gun used was licensed to a close relative. He says in Finland, anyone over 18 can own a gun after passing checks, but a child over 15 can have licences to use other people's firearms. The 12-year-old thought to be responsible is in the care of social services. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ripple effect of Covid era policy choices are being highlighted as the country's meat industry takes a hit. Silver Fern Farms is reporting a $24 million plus loss for the 2023 financial year compared to it's $189 million profit the previous year. Meat Industry Association Head of Strategy Jason Krupp told Mike Hosking that it's very much an industry issue. He says we're seeing the effects of policy choices in Covid play out in our international markets, hitting us on prices. Krupp says other impacts include high domestic inflation and a weak Chinese market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The attack at Wairarapa Hospital is being seen as an example of the increasing violence being seen around the country's Emergency Departments. A visitor was struck with a machete on Saturday night, suffering a fractured skull. An incident team's reviewing what happened as a 62-year-old faces charges. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking that it's a real problem. She says it's usually more verbal violence than physical, but members are saying physical violence is on the increase. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why use one plane when two will do?  The Australian Energy Minister has defended the use of two separate Royal Australian Airforce jets to fly himself and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to a clean energy announcement in NSW.  The announcement involved detailing a $1 billion programme to support solar panels, Albanese calling it one of the most significant announcements made during his term.  Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking the Air Force made the decision that the airport they were flying into was not strong enough for one large jet, and as such, had to take two.  She said the opposition has called it a scandal and is alleging that the PM and Minister were using taxpayer dollars to live the highlife.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is taking harsher measures to hold social media giants to account.  Media regulator ‘OFCOM’, the Office of Communications, plans to issue orders to social media firms that will unlock a child’s account if it’s suspected it played a role in their death or suicide.  Failure to comply could see the company fined up to 10% of its global revenue.   Social Media Commentator Vaughn Davis told Mike Hosking that there’s no doubt that social media plays a role in bullying and suicide, but it’s mostly the location that’s changing, not the behaviour.  Davis said that while firms like to be seen as though they’re working collaboratively to solve the issue, when it comes to digging into the data and using it to understand and prevent suicide, they’re not as interested.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a view that the Government's latest action plan is much more ambitious than the 100 Day Plan.   The Government's laid out its check list, to be completed before June 30th.   The plan features promises like restoring three strikes, creating an attendance plan, and implementing tax relief.   Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that they will have to dig deeper to achieve this one.   She says while the 100 Day Plan was a lot of repealing, the next step will involve making actual change.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are fears nothing has been done to prevent another Loafers Lodge tragedy.  An investigation into boarding house facilities was initiated after last year's fire killed five people.  It's found only half the 37 buildings inspected had adequate smoke detectors.  Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge told Mike Hosking that more needs to be done.  He says they're just waiting for this to happen again but isn't hopeful anything will change.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's promise to keep tax cuts is being criticised.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered the Budget Policy Statement and reaffirmed the party's commitment to tax relief.   Willis says she's been humbled by how much recent forecasts have deteriorated.   Labour Party Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds told Mike Hosking that instead of focusing on the previous Government, Willis should focus on the cards in front of her.   She says when the half year fiscal update was worse than expected, she should have revisited them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Challenging behaviours in New Zealand classrooms are at critical levels.  Over the last 20 years student behaviour has been among the worst in the OECD but new research shows it's worsened over the past two.  Education Review Office research has found a quarter of principals have seen students physically harm others and steal property at least every day.  Education Hub Founder Nina Hood told Mike Hosking that it's important to draw schools' attention to behaviour.  She says it's up to individual schools to create clear expectations, consistent rules, put structures in place, and uphold them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.