Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The results of decades of under-investment in Auckland infrastructure are becoming clear. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's demanding Auckland Transport stop all projects that were funded by the Regional Fuel Tax.  The tax is being scrapped late June, and the mayor says it'll leave a $1.2-billion gap in transport funding over four years.  Trains were also cancelled this week due to heat speed restrictions on the tracks.  Committee for Auckland director Mark Thomas told Mike Hosking that their report found transport is almost the number one priority for the city.  He says they'll be arguing for much quicker and a larger solution to Auckland's problems, because it seems to be getting worse week by week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The possibility of future rate hikes remains uncertain.  Despite ANZ shifting its forecast to predict two more rate hikes, there are economists saying that the Reserve Bank has no need.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking that there is a growing chance that the Reserve Bank will get impatient and lift interest rates.  However, he said, they think that they can hold off since things are going in the right direction.  Tuffley said the question is whether they’re headed there fast enough.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victorian fire authorities are that warning today may pose the greatest fire risk in four years.  Melbourne correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that there’s a catastrophic bushfire danger rating for parts of the state, with high winds, heat, and the potential for dry lightning likely.   She says it's going to reach 40 degrees plus, and the fire experts say these forecast conditions haven't been seen since the Black Summer of 2019.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councils may continue to join forces to tackle infrastructure around three waters.  The Government's confirmed its plan to repeal and replace the controversial legislation.  It will introduce bills that attempt to make it easier for councils to determine their own water strategy, including making it easier to set up council-controlled organisations.  Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker told Mike Hosking that it makes sense for Hawke's Bay, as a region, to work together.  She says communities are socially and economically connected, and this legislation could help get things off the ground for a regional model.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland business leader says nothing surprises him with the city's railway infrastructure, after trains were cancelled due to heat.   Some Auckland train services were cancelled through yesterday afternoon and evening, including at peak hour.   Kiwi Rail, which manages the tracks, blamed track temperatures, which reached 48 degrees in some places.   Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas told Mike Hosking that there are other countries hotter than ours with working rail.   He says southern Europe has an amazing railway network and is hotter than Auckland.   Knoff-Thomas wonders if Kiwi Rail bought the tracks of Facebook Marketplace.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Emergency Management Minister says additional money for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery will help Hawke's Bay reach silt removal targets. The Government's announced $63-million for sediment and debris removal. Hawke's Bay Regional Council will get 40-million, three million of that is for removing debris in Wairoa. Gisborne District Council will receive 23-million. Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking he hopes the money solves the problem. He says the additional $40-million will help Hawke's Bay get to its target of 20 percent of silt and debris removed.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Las Vegas is in Super Bowl mode today as thousands are in town for the big game. The NFL match between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will kick off at 12:30 this afternoon. Sirius XM host Ben Harlum is there, and told Mike Hosking that the streets are packed, security's been increased and the Swifties are in full force. He says he's been to Vegas many times but has never seen it like this. Harlum says the noise is insane and he's had to leave the casino just to get some peace and quiet. Taylor Swift is seeing Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel looks set to proceed with its ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, despite a lack of support from western allies. Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking the US wants Israel to come up with a plan for protecting the safety of the civilian population, before the military advance begins. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says our government is "extremely concerned" about the potential humanitarian consequences.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government and Auckland Council are not in agreement over the scrapping of the Regional Fuel Tax.  It will be gone at the end of June, providing what the Government says is a cost-of-living relief.   Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has come out swinging, saying the decision will leave a $1.2 billion shortfall in transport funding over the next four years.  Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Jordan Williams told Mike Hosking that last week, the mayor was saying Auckland Transport had lost the plot when it comes to value for money.  He says this week it's a bit rich for Brown to complain we need to keep piling money into AT, which just has a long history of wasting it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uncertainty continues to plague Mount Ruapehu's future as a skiing destination.  Whakapapa Holdings has pulled its bid on the Whakapapa side of the mountain, claiming there's not enough Crown funding.  It's unclear how that part of the mountain will operate this winter.  It comes as a conditional agreement for Pure Turoa to run the Turoa ski field has been signed.  Former Ruapehu Snow Sports Secretary Tony Gavigan told Mike Hosking that the current-funding model needs to stay, with crown-funding.  He says nobody in the private sector is going to put in the sort of capital and annual commitment required unless they have tenure.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GP advocacy groups say funding issues are approaching crisis levels.  Many GPs are hiking their prices as government funding fails to keep up with rising costs.  GenPro Chairman Angus Chambers told Mike Hosking that GP clinics receive different subsidies for different patients.  He says one of the issues is that it doesn't take into account complexity within age groups.  Chambers says he gets the same amount of money for a 65-year-old as he does a 95-year-old, and the latter requires more input.  Health Minister Shane Reti agrees the funding model is not fit for purpose, and he's looking forward to receiving advice on a sustainable solution.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young people are increasingly going on the benefit and staying on it for longer.  Reports released to Newstalk ZB suggest a sharp spike in the time beneficiaries will spend on income support, with a 23% jump in the number of people staying on job-seeker support until retirement age.  Youth advocate Shirley Johnson told Mike Hosking that the education system isn't adequately preparing young people for work.  She says schools haven't kept up with our changing world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift's lawyers are trying to put an end to public tracking of her private jet, claiming it's 'a life or death matter'.  Student Jack Sweeney uses public data to track take-offs and landings of celebrity planes and posts them to Twitter.  US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that the 21-year-old's been issued a cease-and-desist to stop sharing Swift's plane location.  He says Sweeney has responded that he believes in public transparency and hasn't promised he'll stop.  Swift's team claims the data gives her numerous stalkers "a roadmap to carry out their plans".  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our latest unemployment numbers have caught some by surprise.  Stats NZ figures show a 4% rise in the three months to December.  That's up from 3.9% in the preceding three months but below most economists' predictions, who'd been expecting between 4.2 and 4.3%.  ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking there's potential these figures are more reflective, and things may have actually worsened.  He says other indicators —like benefit numbers— having been rising steadily.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Māori Development Minister has hit out at media coverage of events at Waitangi.  The Coalition came under fire from Māori leaders, with both ACT Leader David Seymour and NZ First Leader Winston Peters among those heckled during speeches.  Tama Potaka says he thinks most people came away feeling warm and excited for the future.  He told Mike Hosking that he thinks the coverage was not comprehensive and skewed towards describing angst.  Potaka says after the Government pōwhiri, it felt that while not everyone agreed with everything, everyone had the chance to present themselves.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry has arrived in the UK alone after his father's cancer diagnosis.  Buckingham Palace announced King Charles cancer yesterday, which was discovered during a separate procedure.  Harry was earlier photographed arriving at Clarence House.  The King's now been seen for the first time since the announcement - being driven with Queen Camilla from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace, where it's believed they flew to Sandringham. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that it's not known how long Harry will stay, or if he's going to Sandringham.  He says there's apparently no plan to meet with his brother, Prince William.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spike to New Zealand's unemployment rate may be on the cards later this morning.  Multiple bank economists estimate it to land at 4.3%, up from the September quarter's 3.9%.   ANZ Economist, Henry Russell told Mike Hosking that he agrees.  He says the key driver is the ongoing recovery in labour supply, reflecting the record net-migration we've seen.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re a generous bunch us Kiwis. It never ceases to amaze me how New Zealander’s step up when tragedy or just bad luck strikes someone or a community. In May 2023 - when every second headline was about the cost-of-living crisis - it was announced we’d given $36.6 million to charities and causes over that last financial year. It was a 38% increase on the previous year. That’s a lot of money. We’re givers and we give in good faith, but we’re not idiots and we like to know where the money is going and what it’s going to be used for. This week, a mayor hit the headlines asking why a considerable amount of money raised through Lotto to help communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle is still in a bank account almost a year after the disaster, with no thought given to how it may be allocated. It’s not a good look. It’s not a good look for Lotto who ran the appeal, or the Department of Internal Affairs who have banked the cash and are earning a bit of interest, or the Fund’s trustees responsible for allocations, to n

David Seymour hopes a 'peaceful debate' can come out of Waitangi - in the wake of backlash to his proposed Treaty Principles Bill. The ACT leader is being welcomed alongside the coalition at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands today. He skipped both last month's Kingitanga's hui-a-motu and Ratana commemorations. Iwi representatives spoke at Waitangi yesterday, expressing criticism over various Government leaders, and stances, in relation to Māori. Seymour told Francesca Rudkin he hopes some of the rhetoric in recent days can be dialled down. He doesn't think it's such a bad thing to have a debate on treaty principles - saying it should be welcomed as it apparently highlights the importance of the treaty.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is being warned that its attempts to streamline the costs of government-funded school lunches could backfire.   An MBIE briefing has revealed the lunches could end this year unless the Government finds $330 million.  Prime Minister Chris Luxon says his government will fund them beyond the end of the year, but he wants to optimise the programme.    Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Boyd Swinburn told Mike Hosking that a programme which only gives lunches to poorer kids has downsides.   He says having certain children line up for the lunches creates stigma for them, which can create so many issues that schools may decide not to bother.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.