Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Road user charges are in for a shake-up after an accidental Government U-turn.  Owners of plug-in hybrids will pay $38 per thousand kilometres, a reduction from the planned $53.  The Government accidentally supported a Labour amendment on the matter.  AA spokesperson Terry Collins told Mike Hosking that the clean car discount was working last year so we'll have to wait and see what happens when it gets shut down.  He suspects there'll be a pause in the market.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local business owner says there needs to be more action on retail crime.   Police data shows more than 400 retail crimes were reported a day last year, with six staff a day complaining to police they'd been assaulted.  Sandringham Business Association Chair Jithin Chittibomma told Mike Hosking the Government has changed, but there's still the same people in the public service they dealt with under the last Government.   He says they're still putting the data in front of ministers but they haven't seen any change on the ground yet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's about to become more expensive to complete the country's Great Walks.  The Department of Conservation is increasing prices in July for the first time in four years.  Hut and campsite prices will rise by 18% for all walks except Paparoa.  Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association chair Haydn Marriner told Mike Hosking that there's a two-year waiting period for businesses to change their costs.  He says it will be built into the costs and while the increase is quite high, crews and businesses do a heap of work to maintain the walks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A five-year legal battle against Uber has come to an end.  Uber has been ordered to pay $272 million to Australian taxi operators, covering the loss of income and license values since the rideshare app entered the market.  The class action settlement was reached yesterday and is the fifth largest settlement in Australian history.  Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that it works out to be about $33,800 per taxi driver.  She said that lawyers called it a “gruelling battle”, Uber fighting “tooth and nail” every day for those five years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's crackdown on antisocial Kainga Ora tenant behaviour is being labelled a "move back to the real world".  It's instructed Kainga Ora to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and strengthen its management of disruptive tenants.  Former Monte Cecelia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says the issues it's having are generations in the making.   He told Mike Hosking that the previous government's soft approach created a lot of mayhem for tenants and homeowners trying to live in peace.   Smith says they allowed tenants to remain in homes no matter the illegal activity or issues they were creating for their neighbours.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mouldy and flooding courtrooms, the district court backlog, and legal aid issues are among problems the country's courts are facing.   Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann has released her latest briefing to Attorney-General Judith Collins.   It outlines the need to raise the cap on the number of senior court judges, and under-funding in courtroom maintenance.  Criminal Bar Association President Annabel Creswell told Mike Hosking the issue of the cap on judges has been raised for years.   She says everything the Chief Justice has outlined have been problems for a long time, but they're worse since Covid and since the population has increased.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders are drinking less alcohol than previously thought.  Auckland University has carried out the country's first large-scale trial of testing wastewater to monitor alcohol consumption.  It found the average alcohol consumption to be 1.2 standard drinks per day for people over 15 years, lower than the World Health Organisation's 2018 estimate.  Alcohol Beverage Council executive director Virginia Nicholls told Mike Hosking that the report didn't factor in responsible drinking.  She says 86% of Kiwis are drinking responsibly, but it's a concern that 16% are drinking in a hazardous way.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters delivered a State of Nation speech yesterday to a crowd of around 600 people.  The speech came following the first 100 days of Government and included controversial statements comparing co-governance to the Nazi regime.   ZB Political Editor Jason Walls tells Mike Hosking the New Zealand First leader was firmly back on campaign mode with cracks at the media and opposition, but the speech was mostly focused on going forward.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps abandoned a Ukraine port visit in Odessa for security reasons.  UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells mike Hosking Shapps travelled with the intention to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior members of his wartime administration but Russian missile attacks on the city meant the trip was cancelled abruptly.  Meanwhile, friends of Princess Diana have reacted to an ad using her fatal crash to promote euthanasia in France. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first inwards visit from a Chinese leader for some time, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits New Zealand today.  Executive Director of the NZ China Council Alistair Crozier describes the country’s relationship with China as positive but says NZ will be seeking re-assurances about China’s intentions in the Pacific.  Crozier tells Mike Hosking about what is on the agenda for the Foreign Minister’s visit.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colossal rate hikes are looming for homeowners as councils contend with rising construction and insurance costs.   Local Government New Zealand says rates around the country will rise by an average of 15%. It says the main factor contributing to the rates escalation is the costs of civil construction.   Vice President Campbell Barry told Mike Hosking that these costs are 20% higher now than predicted, and that’s on top of inflation.   He says bridges have gone up around 36% over the last three years, and similar increases are seen with roads and water networks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Airports Association is taking aim at the cost of Air New Zealand's domestic airfares.  It's calling on the Government to set up an independent airfare monitoring system.  But the Board of Airline Representatives disagrees with claims that the domestic market isn't set up to be competitive.  Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking that policy settings allow any Australian airline to set-up shop tomorrow if they want to.  She says the reason they haven't, is because New Zealand's an expensive place to operate in and make a profit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first case of its kind in New Zealand, a former Super Rugby player has been diagnosed post-death with a degenerative brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy.  Billy Guyton played for the Blues, Hurricanes, and Crusaders, but died in a suspected suicide aged 33.  An examination of his brain by the Neurological Foundation's Brain Bank has now identified he had stage 2 CTE.   Auckland University neuroscientist Helen Murray told Mike Hosking that CTE is caused by the repetitive accumulation of head impacts.   She says it's not necessarily the number of concussions but the number of impacts, and that might not have generated any symptoms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unaccounted-for problem of overheating in some newly built townhouses is being seen as a country-wide problem.   Frustration is brewing among owners in Auckland who are paying two times more for cooling in the summer than they would for heating in the winter.   Some townhouses have just one heat pump to cool the three-storey home, which can leave rooms on higher floors unbearably hot.   But the building code has no requirement to address overheating.   Team Green Architects owner Sian Taylor told Mike Hosking that there's an issue with a lack of forethought for the longer-term implications of design.  She says one of the biggest problems is not shading the building properly from the start, which traps the heat inside.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another bailout for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts as the Government pours $7 million into the ski field.  The operator has been running on a previous government bailout for over a year.  Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says it's their last chance after the Prime Minister previously said no more money would be poured into the ski field.  Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking he welcomes the move.  He understands this is the last bailout and wants the operator to get its ducks in a row.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United States lawmakers are concerned TikTok users' data is being accessed by China.   The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban the social media platform if Chinese tech giant Byte Dance doesn't sell its stake within six months.   It will now go to a vote in Senate.  US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that there's a lobbying campaign by TikTok underway.    He says they've hired influencers to talk about the success they've had with TikTok and the impact on small business in America.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a focus on rebuilding today for the Labour Party as MPs head to Wairarapa for their belated retreat.  The annual meeting is usually held in January.  Political commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that Labour has about a year to rebuild before being competitive for the 2026 election.  He says they're facing a big challenge from the Greens, so Labour needs to rebuild in a way which makes them the leading party on the left again.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online rental platform Airbnb is introducing a worldwide ban on indoor security cameras.   It says it's updating its policy after consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts.  Outdoor security cameras and those in common areas, like on doorbells, are still permitted, but hosts will have to disclose their location on the property's listing.  Privacy lawyer Kathryn Dalziel told Mike Hosking that Airbnb has come under fire recently, with guests posting about finding cameras in their accommodation.   She thinks Airbnb's realising its brand is being affected by this negativity, particularly by people who aren't telling people they're recording or filming.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses hope the Government will bring change to the Holidays Act.   Brooke van Velden has laid out her agenda with a focus on regulations around contractors, public holidays, health and safety rules, and personal grievances.   Also a priority is sorting out the law around holidays.   Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that there's no need for lengthy consultation as the Holidays Act has been talked about for some time.   He says most in the business community just want people to get on and make the changes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Commission is urging the Government to cut back the number of carbon credits available.  They say there are too many credits on offer and the problem is just getting worse.  The coalition Government promised to use emissions pricing to meet New Zealand's climate goals.  Climate Change Research Institute adjunct professor Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that it's not clear what the Government is going to do yet.  He says they want to stick to the existing climate targets, but how they do that is not clear.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.