Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A coalition of health charities has slammed the Government’s decision to give ministerial responsibility for free school lunches to David Seymour after the Act leader campaigned for the programme to be abolished.  Speaking to Mike Hosking on Early Edition, Co-chair of the Health Coalition Aotearoa Professor Boyd Swinburn says nobody wants to see kids trying to learn on empty stomachs.   Universality is what makes the programme efficient, Swinburn says, providing relief for families with food insecurity.  Listen above. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin is warning NATO countries of tragic consequences if they were to send troops into Ukraine.  The Russian President is referring to comments made earlier in the week by his French counterpart.  Emmanuel Macron was speculating on opening the doors for European ground troops being sent to Ukraine.  Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that following Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Putin feels the need to strengthen his defences.  He says Russia would be ready to use their weapons offensively against other nations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is making it illegal for New Zealanders to support Hamas.   It's designated Hamas' political wing a terrorist entity, the same as its military wing.  It will also ban from New Zealand several extremist Israeli settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.  Strategic analyst Paul Buchanan told Mike Hosking that it's about tightening relations with security partners and won't dismantle Hamas.   He says it also runs contrary to the majority of world opinion, which sees a distinction between the political and armed wings of Hamas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coroners Court is recommending mandatory safety helmets on e-scooters after its report into an Auckland man's death.   The man crashed into a concrete power pole on a modified e-scooter while under the influence of methamphetamine.   Radiology registrar Mark Bekhit says a lot of the e-scooter injuries he's seen have been alcohol or drug-related.   He told Mike Hosking that he can't be sure people will wear helmets if they've taken substances.  Bekhit says it sounds like a simple recommendation that's easier than targeting methamphetamine abuse, but he doesn't know it will solve the problem.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Presidential race is heating up as both Joe Biden and Donald Trump win the Michigan Primary votes for their respective parties.  But President Biden's victory in the Democratic race wasn't all smooth sailing, with a sizable contingent issuing a protest vote.  Thirteen percent of voters, which says they weren't uncommitted.  Newshub US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that many are unhappy with Biden's involvement in the Israel Palestine war.  He says Michigan has the largest Arab community in the country.  Meanwhile, 82-year-old US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says he'll step aside in November to make way for a new generation of leadership.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newshub's imminent closure has put the size of our population in the spotlight.  Advertising agency owner Vaughan Davis told Mike Hosking that New Zealand is like the Chatham Islands of the world.   He said that maybe we're just too small a country for two TV networks.  Davis said we try to have the big country stuff but it's just five million people on an island, far away from everywhere.  Up to 300 jobs are expected to be lost by the end of June.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch Airport's Tarras project is slowing down.  The airport had been developing a Central Otago airport on 800 hectares of land in the small town of Tarras.  It's been put on hold due to the need of co-investment from both public and private sources.  Queenstown Airport chief executive Glen Sowry told Mike Hosking that the Tarras project hasn't met community demands and expectations as Queenstown Airport has.  He says they've been working hard on making sure their future plans are what the regional businesses and community wants.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year is set to be harder than the last for many New Zealanders.  The Reserve Bank has opted to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5%, in line with most economists' expectations.  It isn't expected to cut the OCR for a while, possibly not until the middle of next year.  Westpac Senior Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking that some households will be finding it harder to pay their bills.  He says the unemployment rate is at 4%, which is not particularly high by New Zealand standards, but it will probably reach about five during the year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International nurses are flocking to our shores - but not with the skills required. Gore Hospital recently had 80 nurses apply for an emergency department role - but say only 98 percent of applicants had the relevant qualifications. It comes as the country is four and a half thousand nurses short. Gore Health chief executive Karl Metzler told Mike Hosking that they're being turned away due to a skill issue - not a lack of understanding in New Zealand culture. He says the hospital employs Russians, Germans, Filipinos and Indians - and prides themselves on being diverse.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is making decisions on how it carves up funding for our young people. It's allocating just under 10.7 million dollars of Ministry of Youth Development funds to 34 community youth organisations. The funding covers areas from education to mental health - as well as helping those living in regions affected by flooding in early 2023. Youth Minster Matt Doocey told Mike Hosking that he's been impressed by what he's seen of hardworking youth providers around the country. He says organisations at the community level are doing great work - we just need to make sure they're financially supported.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New South Wales police have officially been uninvited from Mardi Gras, Sydney’s pride event.  Senior Constable Beaumont Lamarre-Condon has been accused of murdering Sydney gay couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, and as such, the precinct has been asked not to appear.   Debate over the police's involvement with the march began after Lamarre-Cordon allegedly shot his ex-boyfriend and his new partner with his service gun. Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that police will comply.   She says Police have expressed disappointment in the decision, but will work to ensure a safe environment for all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fast food operator Restaurant Brands says that despite making record sales, it still has major cost issues.  The operator of KFC, Pizza Hut, Carl's Junior, and Taco Bell has posted $1.3 billion in full-year sales.  Its net after-tax profit was $15.8 million, down half a million annually.  Brad Olsen, Infometrics Principal Economist, told Mike Hosking that while spending value was up 4.2% year on year, the volume purchased was down by 2.7%.  So, he said, you’re spending more, getting less bang for your buck.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Communication problems are running rampant between the Education Ministry and schools.  The Government's ordered a review of school building projects, saying they've inherited a school property system "bordering on crisis".   Already the ministry has put 20 projects on pause, with up to 350 in doubt.   Auckland Primary Principals' Association President Kyle Brewerton told Mike Hosking that the pauses have caught some schools by surprise, with shovels already in the ground.   He says there's confusion around the schools that have been tagged and what's happening now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lack of transparency with Wellington Water is being blamed for the region's water woes.  The Capital's water provider yesterday admitted that it's failed to meet Ministry of Health fluoridation targets at least 95% of the time over recent months.  It comes as the region grapples with leaks and water shortages.  Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung told Mike Hosking that the water agency won't give the council adequate information as to what it's working on.  Wellington Water has also announced that it won't be exempt from new rules around chlorine compliance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nationals Annual Blue Greens forum was held over the weekend. The prime minister and the party caucus members were all there to talk with the environmental leaders. Greens Forum chair Grant McCallum told Mike Hosking that the meeting was a 10/10 and it 'couldn't have gone better'. When asked how green the national party are he said 'we're very pragmatically green, We're not idealistically green.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ginny Andersen says she'll apologise to Mark Mitchell, over comments she made on last week's Mike Hosking Breakfast. On last Wednesday's show, the Labour Police Spokesperson accused the Police Minister of being paid to kill people when he was a defence contractor in East Africa and the Middle East. Mitchell says he hasn't knowingly killed anyone. Andersen told Mike Hosking this morning, she shouldn't have made the comments, and will personally apologise to Mitchell when they reappear on the show this week.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A building expert says people tend to focus on the cost of building infrastructure and think they'll figure everything else out as they go along.  The Infrastructure Commission says we need to spend around 60% of our investment to look after what we already have, rather than building more.  AUT Professor of Construction Management John Tookey told Mike Hosking that people often focus on acquisition costs, rather than maintenance costs because it's easy.  He says that's because the sums get more complicated when you start considering the likes of depreciation and more over an extended period of time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s “a new approach" from the Government on breaking the cycle of child poverty.  The percentage of children living in poverty has risen to 17.5, with the percentage of children facing material hardship rising to 12.5.  Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says they'll have a target and will be held accountable for it.   She told Mike Hosking that it's not just a matter of addressing incomes.   Upston says those on welfare and the lowest incomes are hit the hardest in the cost-of-living crisis.   She says that's why they have to deal with the costs families face, and housing costs are a significant part of that.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s concerns the Government's plan to switch the first year of free tertiary study to the final year won't hit the mark.  The Tertiary Education Commission has told a select committee this week that there's no discernible evidence the first-year policy changed numbers of low decile school students attending university.  Tertiary Education Union National Secretary Sandra Grey says once students get past the first year, they usually stay until the end.  So, she told Mike Hosking, it doesn't make a lot of sense to make the final year free.  Grey says students need support when they're trying to transition either off the benefit and unemployment into study, or when they're going from school into study.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's turbulent relationship with Auckland Airport is taking another turn.  The national carrier is demanding an inquiry into the airport's spending, claiming it will push up airfares to five times the current rate by 2032.  Cath O’Brien, Executive Director on the Board of Airline Representatives, told Mike Hosking that the airport has a history of extremes, going from spending too little on their projects to a significantly higher amount, which its regulatory regime is not designed to handle.  She said the regime is only a five-year look, and so it can’t handle the ten-to-fifteen-year expense of the current plan.  While Auckland Airport denies any significant price changes, O’Brien said that due to the limitations on the current regime, prices will rise a lot more than they’re currently able to say.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.