Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A law change will make it harder for overseas buyers to plant pine on good farm land. The Government is giving local councils the authority to determine where, and how much, carbon forestry can occur. The move limits trees used for carbon farming being planted on productive land, shifting the incentives to make planting on hillsides more attractive. Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Industry Chair Toby Williams told Kate Hawkesby this rights some of the wrongs from the past. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern the public has been led up the garden path over a long-held promise to boost the country's police force. New police data shows of the Government's 1,800 new police officers, 270 are "authorised officers" and don't have arrest powers. Act Party Leader David Seymour told Kate Hawkesby if 1,800 police are promised, people expect to see officers who can assist and arrest if there's a crime. He says it doesn't mean they're not useful but they're not quite what the average person would think is a police officer. Police Minister Ginny Andersen has told our newsroom Government’s commitment has always included these authorised officers. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. “We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, told US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman. CNN reported Trump had his arms folded and periodically spoke to Blanche while in the courtroom Trump’s motorcade arrived on Tuesday afternoon (EDT) at the federal courthouse shortly before he was scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge, a stunning moment in American history days after he became the first former president charged with federal crimes. Members of law enforcement stand guard as supporters of former President Donald Trump rally outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami. Photo / Alex Brandon, AP Trump, as well as an aide charged as a co-conspirator, have been booked in the Miami federal court. The pair were digitally fingerprinted and had their birthdates and Social Security numbers taken as part of the booking process

A knife-wielding assailant stabbed two university students to death in the streets of the English city of Nottingham and then fatally stabbed a middle-aged man, stole his van and ran down three pedestrians in a shocking rampage early on Tuesday morning (GMT), police said. Police arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder. The Nottinghamshire Police force said investigators believe the perpetrator acted alone and detectives were working with counter-terrorism officers to try to establish a motive. “This is a horrific and tragic incident which has claimed the lives of three people,” Chief Constable Kate Meynell said. A man who was among the people struck in the hit-and-run was hospitalised in critical condition. The dead included two 19-year-old students from the University of Nottingham. “We are shocked and devastated by the news,” the school said in an announcement. A graduation ball scheduled for Tuesday evening was cancelled. One of the victims has been identified as Barnaby Webber, 19, with his gran

I was inundated with feedback yesterday from both parents and teachers regarding the teachers’ strikes this term. So many teachers got in touch. They're embarrassed, many of them, and annoyed, that the strikes are going on so long. There are on average five days that high schoolers will be told to stay home while teachers strike for the remainder of this term. So of the three weeks left of school, many students will only do two weeks, one will be swallowed up with strike days. As I said yesterday, this is super stressful for them, because there are all-important internals on and huge chunks of work is getting missed by not being in the classroom. It’s not like lockdowns where they could do online learning either, there is no teaching at all, which has now gotten to the point of ridiculous and even the teachers are fed up. One wrote to me saying she’s so sick of the Union and the zealots who are dragging this out. Another said she’s embarrassed at the reputation this is giving teachers. Another said it’s erodi

The Government is being accused of slacking off with disruptive Kāinga Ora tenants. Newstalk ZB can reveal three people have been evicted for bad behaviour in the past 18 months - another 200 have been relocated. This is despite 10,000 complaints since the housing agency rolled out tougher termination measures. Solomon Group Housing manager Bernie Smith told Kate Hawkesby it's totally unacceptable. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef and Lamb is pleased with National's election emissions policy. National would start measuring farm emissions by 2025, and make farmers pay for them by 2030, five years later than the current plan to have them paying by 2025. National hasn't revealed how it will decide pricing, but says it will decide in the first year if elected. Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland says the delay is positive because time is needed to make the pricing fair. She says it can't be rushed into. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi chef Josh Emett is cooking up a storm for none other than goop - Gwyneth Paltrow's powerhouse brand. The goop team reached out after Paltrow reposted Josh's hasselback potatoes on social media in March. He's now whipped up three recipes for their massive online audience. Josh Emmet joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised over whether the Green Party's proposed tax overhaul is needed. It's pledging to lift the top tax rate to 45%, corporate taxes to 33%, and slash taxes for earners below $120,000. Assets worth two-million-dollars will be hit with a 2.5% wealth tax — or four-million-dollars for couples. Trusts will also be taxed at 1.5%. But, New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist, Eric Crampton says that a new tax system isn't the way unless you want the Government to raise substantially more money. He says if you want something like an Income Guarantee programme, far more tax will need to be raised. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So today my daughter is off school again with another teachers strike. One of two this week alone, she will also be off Thursday. She is Year 12 doing internals and headed towards important exams, and it is stressful for her and her friends to again be told to stay home. Many of her teachers are over it too, they’re aware students are falling behind or having to rejig too much work and scheduling, many of them are getting as stressed as the students are. Some have expressed disappointment that the Unionised teachers are still rejecting the offers made. They want it settled, the school wants it settled, the students want it settled. It also comes at a time when we have record absenteeism and we are begging kids to attend school. We’re trying to reiterate the importance of school and a good education, and there is messaging coming from all quarters on how to keep kids in school and focused on achievement. So the timing could not be worse to have teachers stopping work endlessly; and I say endlessly because it s

A scientist is pleased to see the issue of genetic editing taken up ahead of the election. National's promising to end the effective ban on editing and modification if elected for the benefit of climate change, agriculture, and health science. Genomics Aotearoa Director Peter Dearden told Kate Hawkesby that there isn't currently a ban, but regulations are too restrictive and out of date. He says it's hopeful to see a political party see the opportunities and decide it's something worth addressing. Dearden says genetic modification isn't the problem, it's what it aims to achieve that needs to be regulated. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was reading about ‘sharenting’ the other day and how in France it’s now a crime. The Government there have introduced laws that ban parents from over sharing their children online. The idea is to protect children and their image and their rights to their own images, which in principal is not a bad idea, especially when you consider stats that show there are “on average 1300 photos of a child online before the age of 13.”   Alarmingly, sharing your images of your kids can be a risk to their security. It’s been reported that, “Half of the pictures shared by child sexual abusers were initially posted by parents on social media, according to reports by the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.” Sobering stuff. It got me thinking about how much we share here – or over share – of our kids, and how much thought we actually give it. Because when they’re all cute, fluffy little babies and then cute and crazy toddlers doing hilarious things, it’s amusing to post that stuff. It’s part of what you’re d

Changes are on the cards for some breast cancer patients. Pharmac is consulting on a drug switch proposal to replace the current expired one. Herzuma is said to be more safe and cost effective, but at what there are concerns about whether all patients will be suited to it. Breast Cancer Foundation's Research and Strategics Manager, Adele Gautier, joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As bystanders screamed for help, a man with a knife stabbed four young children at a lakeside park in the French Alps on Thursday, assaulting at least one in a stroller repeatedly. The children between 22 months and 3 years old suffered life-threatening injuries, and two adults also were wounded, authorities said. The helplessness of the young victims and the savagery of the attack sickened France. A suspect, identified by police as a 31-year-old Syrian, was detained in connection with the morning attack in the Alpine and lakeside town of Annecy. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said he had refugee status in Sweden. Witnesses reported scenes of terror as the man roamed the park, ambushing victims with his blade. “I said to the police, ‘Shoot him, kill him! He’s stabbing everyone,’” Anthony Le Tallec, a former professional soccer player who was jogging when he came across the attacker, said. Lead prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said the man’s motives were unknown but did not appear to be terrorism-related.

Auckland councillors will be back around the table at 10am this morning after being unable to agree on the council's budget. Mayor Wayne Brown proposed a compromise mid-way through yesterday's meeting, suggesting selling about half the council's holding in Auckland Airport, higher rates rises and more cuts to Council Controlled Organisations and local boards. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck told Kate Hawkesby businesses want a cost-effective, efficient council that's easier to work with, has less red tape and gives better value for money. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the final march for the man known around Parliament as the Little General, Michael Wood, surely he’s gone by lunchtime. I mean being told to do something six times was already a lot, but to then find out it was in fact 12 times; come on. As the Nat’s Nicola Willis said yesterday, she sometimes has to ask her 13 year old son to do things 5 or 6 times; but 12 times? That’s next level. This is a cluster that Chris Hipkins can no longer ignore. Shifting $13,000 worth of shares is not that hard, let’s be honest. And you can’t argue you forgot when you got reminded about it 12 times. The PM must be so fed up with this Cabinet. I mean the state of it. Michael Wood, Stuart Nash, Meka Whaitiri, the Jan Tinetti saga, the Kiri Allan saga. Too many sagas, too many shambles and all too close to the election.   Luxon said the wheels are coming off this Government, I’d argue they’re already off. It’s a clown car with wheels rolling around in all directions and the wheels are just hitting them all in the face now. Hipkins

An animal welfare group wants more done to stop animals being used for science in New Zealand. The Ministry for Primary Industries' most recent report shows more than 308,000 animals were used for testing, teaching and research in 2021. Nearly half were then killed. Tara Jackson is the Executive Director of the NZ Anti-Vivisection Society and she joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in 25 years, Arnott's will again manufacture products in New Zealand. The company is opening its new facility in Avondale, West Auckland today. It comes after it acquired the 180 Degrees cracker brand two years ago. Arnott's New Zealand Country Director Mike Cullerne told Kate Hawkesby it'll allow them to make more locally made products. He says they've partnered with Barkers of Geraldine to make a new shortbread range coming next month. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The actions of Michael Wood and Jan Tinetti probably won't be bad enough to end their political careers. Tinetti goes before the Privileges Committee today, accused of misleading the House about school attendance figures. And the Opposition is calling for Wood to resign or be fired, after revelations he was told to sell his Auckland Airport shares no fewer than 12 separate times. Massey University political commentator Grant Duncan told Kate Hawkesby Tinetti will probably be asked to apologise, while he doubts Wood's actions are a sackable offence. He says the rules aren't set in stone, as the Cabinet Manual is fairly open about what is a conflict of interest and what isn't. Wood says he's remorseful but has no plans to resign. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I see Consumer NZ is making a last ditch attempt to ping the supermarkets on dodgy pricing or so called specials that are not specials. They’re relying on us, the customers, to give them examples to strengthen their case, they say they’re “calling on New Zealanders to be the eyes and ears at the supermarket one last time to help gather as much evidence for the Commerce Commission as possible.” They’ve even designed a new form to make it easier to share examples of dodgy pricing. But the problem is, this falls again on us. Why should we have to be the eyes and ears of calling them out, why are the supermarkets not fixing this themselves and being a bit more proactive about not ripping us off. Especially now, in a cost of living crisis for goodness sake. Apparently, back in March, Consumer brought more than 300 examples of dodgy so called 'specials' to supermarket bosses attention. And while supermarkets apparently acknowledged these examples, they’ve done nothing about it. In fact, in the last two months Consu