Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Well what a weekend.   From the nail biter of a fantastic AB’s game, which, for the record, I was never in any doubt of. For those of you who were still listening to our election night coverage at midnight Saturday night you would have heard me say I picked the AB’s to win – so you know, never in any doubt from me, just saying. Just so happy for Fozzie to be honest. I feel like he deserved that.   Likewise I thought the Nats deserved to win Saturday night like they did. You can’t take away from Luxon what he was up against... from a shambolic leaking party at the start, to some in house scandals, to an unsympathetic media, to constant grilling about how unliked and unpopular he was, to a gruelling and nasty campaign against him from Labour and their Union mates at the CTU.  He had it all thrown at him, and he just kept going. Slow and steady wins the race. On reflection, personally, if we made one mistake it was getting sucked in by the polls, we started to believe them. I did anyway. I think questions need t

The National Party says it's keeping the special votes in mind as it starts working out how it will form government.   Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says they won't be doing any negotiating via the media because they want to respect the privacy of prospective coalition partners.   She told Kate Hawkesby that work is going on.   Willis says they're progressing relationships with parties they want arrangements with.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have made it to the quarter-finals, facing Ireland on Sunday morning.  The team for the match has officially been named, and Mark Telea is out for disciplinary reasons.  Irish Rugby Commentator, Michael Corcoran, told Kate Hawkesby that it’s finals footy from here on in.  He feels that whoever wins this match will go all the way to the finals.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of airlines have suspended their services out of Israel, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded.  As a result, the UK arranging special flights to get British nationals out of the country.  Europe Correspondent, Vincent McAviney, told Kate Hawkesby that they are commercial flights, and as a result people will have to pay for them.  But, he said, this will allow them to flee the conflict and get back to the UK.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A catch 22 for a West Coast town facing a daunting prospect of eventually being washed away. The Waiho River has been changing its course and rising due to sediment build up.  If nothing's done, it's feared the township of Franz Josef could be gone in 20 years.   The West Coast Regional Council put forward a 10-year plan to sacrifice the southern stopbanks protecting farmland and properties.   Chairman Peter Haddock told Kate Hawkesby that the community has been aware of the build-up of the river for the last 20 years.   He says the council has a responsibility to act now, because if it does nothing they'll end up like Hawke's Bay's Esk Valley, which has seen devastating flooding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well this is the last time I talk to you before Saturday... although we’ll all be here Saturday night. Mike, me, Heather, and Barry, if you want to tune into ZB’s election coverage or watch it live streamed on the ZB or Herald websites, we’ll be here. Depending on how it goes if you look closely on the livestream you may see me tearing my hair out.   Honestly, I’ll be glad to see the back of it. It’s been too long, too divisive, too feisty, too nasty. I think that’s all been a turn off for voters and it may go towards explaining the current apathy. If the polls don’t pick up Saturday, then I think that says something about how this whole campaign —from every side— has been run. The sniping, accusations and insults has been gross. The misinformation that’s been allowed to run unchecked, fuelled by media, has been a disappointment. Christopher Luxon said on this station yesterday when Kerre asked him what’s true and what isn’t given all these attack ads that he was grateful to be given the opportunity to clarif

Chris Hipkins and Chris Luxon went head-to-head last night in their final debate before polling day tomorrow. Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Kate Hawkesby that he agrees with commentators who described the tone as 'cranky'. He says it was clear Hipkins' tactic was to try get under Luxon's skin which worked for the most part. Walls says he found Hipkins to be quite aggressive during the debate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his way to Israel.  Once there, he'll meet with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz have formed an emergency government and war cabinet.   US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Kate Hawkesby that they will only deal with bills and government decisions regarding the conflict.  He said that it’s Israel’s latest step, and it’s predicted they’re preparing for a ground attack on Hamas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tale of two polls - but there's just one answer.   Newshub-Reid Research and 1News-Verian have released their last opinion surveys before election night on Saturday.   Both suggest the only viable coalition is National, paired with New Zealand First and ACT - but the margins are narrowing.  Political Commentator Brigette Morton told Kate Hawkesby that the election is shaping up to be about getting the vote out.  Advanced numbers are currently sitting behind what was predicted, and there’s been much discussion about the soft and undecided votes.  The problem with the polls, Morton said, is that for them to actually matter the parties have to get out and get every single vote they can.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incoming migrants are giving the New Zealand workforce a boost.  Stats NZ has revealed the year to August saw record high net-migration, with 110,000 more people moving to New Zealand than leaving.  Westpac Senior Economist, Satish Ranchhod, told Kate Hawkesby that part of the reason job ads have come down is because businesses are able to find staff more easily.  He said that without migrants, they had to advertise much more widely and were still unable to find the workers they needed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Ws are potentially going to ruin our weekend: Winston and Wayne.   Winston could kill all the fun Saturday night by holding the whole country to ransom and not forming a government. Wayne Barnes could ruin Sunday morning with his calls against the AB’s... we are potentially in for a rocky weekend of woe and misery leaving us all with a collective hangover Monday. The country could sink into a deep depression. More so than it already is. Yikes.  I’m still aghast at how many people don’t understand MMP. I know someone who went to vote yesterday, the person next to them said to the volunteer at the polling station – ‘so wait a minute have we got two votes?’ The volunteer said, ‘yes one is party vote one is electorate vote.’ He replied, “what’s electorate vote?”   I know of another person who wants to change the government, hates the way the country’s going, wants change, but in the booth decided they were fed up with all the politicians and so did a “protest vote” and voted Green. Now Green doesn’t change th

New research shows rural kids are less likely to gain University Entrance than urban counterparts.   An Auckland University study's found rural students had a 15% lower university entrance rate, creating barriers for them to get into courses like medicine.   Area Schools Association President Louisa Barham told Kate Hawkesby that it doesn't surprise her or concern her.  She said that there’s a difference in pathways and curriculum between urban and rural schools, as the environment influences what is focused on and what students are likely to do once completing their education.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m just not sure how —in this day and age— we’re still doing hazing rituals at Uni initiations.   I know it’s huge in America, but like all the US’s bad habits, why’s it come here? It seems particularly prevalent in Otago. So far this week we’ve heard of horrific initiations, one involving biting the legs off a live duck, I mean I can’t even believe we’re saying that in a sentence it’s so barbaric.   The other one being where two students allegedly got told to strip down to their underwear only to be called “piggies”. It was reported they were told “to strip to their underwear and stand in the centre of the room while 30 men and women watched on.” The second-year students who’d asked them to do this, then ‘used marker pens to circle parts of the young women’s bodies deemed to be “fat” and called them “the piggies” during the evening.’   I mean how is this happening in 2023? How is this possible that women could do this to other women? The idea was to humiliate them, which was very effective. It’s disgusting.

The death toll in the Middle East conflict continues to rise.  A thousand Israeli people have died since Hamas' surprise attack, while retaliatory attacks in Gaza have killed more than 800.  Up to 150 Israelis are believed to be held hostage currently, with Hamas saying it won't negotiate over them 'until the end of the battle'.  US President Joe Biden will address the American people shortly about the conflict.  Washington Post Foreign Affairs Columnist, Ishaan Tharoor, told Kate Hawkesby that there are questions of how Biden defuses a crisis like this — one which potentially may reach a scale never seen before.  He says he'll have to articulate some form of vision beyond his already pledged 'unwavering support'.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on.  Israel's death toll has surpassed 1000 people since Hamas' attack, while more than 800 are dead in Gaza following retaliatory strikes.  Up to 150 Israelis are being held hostage currently.  Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni told Kate Hawkesby that they're waiting on the next steps and will provide humanitarian support when the opportunity arises.  She says those kinds of measures take time, but New Zealand is always quick to provide support and will do so when possible.  US President Joe Biden will address the American people about the conflict shortly.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think what stood out for me yesterday when Chris Hipkins was in the studio with Mike for a couple of hours, was how relaxed Hipkins was.   As the two hours slipped by, he seemed to get more relaxed, leaning back in his chair more and more, taking it easy. I wondered if the Coke Zero hadn’t kicked in, or maybe he was just tired, or maybe he’s just given up.   I mean don’t get me wrong, I thought he came across well, I think relaxed is good. But I was interested to hear what he backs about his government, and what he was less proud of. MIQ, the debt still owed to them over that and their handling of how to manage that, he thinks they could’ve done that better or differently.   As an Aucklander who felt like they got locked down for way too long I can tell you from where I sit, I’d have liked to think he would have felt they could have handled that better. He didn’t mention any regrets around slow procurement of PPE or RAT tests or locking Kiwis out of their own country for so long, or having the borders shut

It's thought that up to 1,300 have died in the conflict between Israel and Hamas so far.  Around 800 Israeli people have been killed since the Palestinian militant group launched its attack, and almost 500 have died in Gaza after Israel retaliated.  It's thought up to 100 Israeli citizens have been taken hostage.  Israel is cutting off all electricity, food, and fuel to the Gaza Strip.  Victoria University international relations expert, Alexander Bukh grew up in Israel.  He told Kate Hawkesby that citizens are in a state of shock and pain.  Bukh says the Israeli Government is punishing Hamas and unfortunately Palestinian civilians also living in Gaza.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pleas from Massey University's science faculty seem to have fallen on deaf ears.  The university is forecasting a loss of more than $50 million, well up from last year's deficit of around $8.8 million.  It plans to slash around 100 science jobs and stop teaching engineering at Albany.  Tertiary Education Union organiser Ben Schmidt told Kate Hawkesby that Vice-Chancellor Jan Thomas seems determined to push through with it.  He says she needs to slow down, listen to staff and work for better funding, maintaining these services and access to education.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the many things that are hopefully on the new government’s radar come October 15 is the state of our cities.   I mean yes our communities and our suburbs are in dire straits too getting ravaged by crime and unruly gangs in many places, but our CBDs are a mess - they’re unsavoury places.   They don’t feel safe anymore. I get people messaging me every day about the CBD, particularly Auckland, and what a mess it is, or how embarrassed they are of it. Which is a shame because parts of it are really cool.   There are cute little precincts and awesome little shopping areas which have been hijacked by dickheads and losers.   Two messages I got just this week, from two completely different people, travelling in Australia at the moment.   The first one said, “In Sydney, not a road cone in sight, streets are clean, everyone looks lovely, don’t feel unsafe at all, city is buzzing, Michael Hill don’t have security guards.. didn’t realise how bad NZ was til we left.”   Another one said, “Hi Kate I’m in Sydney. What

Calls have come for New Zealand to use its voice as a war breaks out in the Middle East.   Dozens are believed to have been captured by Palestinian militant group Hamas which has launched an attack on Gaza.  The Government says more than 600 Israelis have been killed in attacks from Gaza.  It's believed that as many as 100 soldiers and civilians were kidnapped when Palestinian fighters crossed the border and raided communities. Palestinian officials say retaliatory Israeli air strikes have killed at least 370 people in the Gaza Strip, with 2,200 wounded.  Democracy Project Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says it was appropriate for Chris Hipkins to condemned the attacks.  He says there was no condemnation in the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta's earlier statement.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.