Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Kiwis are being challenged to do '100 kms in 30 days' to raise money for breast cancer charities across the country. The fundraiser was so successful in the Bay of Plenty last year and it's being brought back and going nationwide during May. People can complete the 100 kilometres any way they want; on foot, wheels or in the water. Helen Alice is the campaign organiser and joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown renters are so desperate for housing they're asking real estate agents to rent out empty houses on the market. Tall Poppy Real Estate Queenstown owner Keeley Anderson says she's getting daily calls from people searching. It comes after a protest of around 100 people earlier this week over the resort town's rental crisis. Keeley Anderson joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A construction expert believes the second Auckland Harbour crossing will become a political football. The Government has brought forward construction for a second Waitematā Harbour crossing to 2029. Its offered five options that all include walking, cycling and road options plus light rail connections to the city centre. AUT Construction Management Professor John Tookey told Kate Hawkesby between a bridge and tunnel a bridge is a bit easier. A choice will be made on which option in June. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I hit a nerve clearly yesterday when I talked about the top-down malaise in this country at the moment from our politicians, to our police force, to the public polling. And there seems a general sense of 'blah' among us right now.  A large number of you texted in agreeing.  One said it was a post pandemic thing – that we were all just so grateful to be alive that we just meander around now saying ‘it is what it is’ to each other and putting up with below par service and standards everywhere, arguably because we’ve lost all ambition and are just happy to settle for the lowest bar. Others said once mediocrity is accepted and allowed to bloom, it’s all we get. Others said it’s been a slippery slope ever since people stopped taking responsibility for anything. Others pointed out all talent has left the building.  Every sector is crying out for talent and saying what they have the least of is highly skilled workers – a recent EMA survey showed 90 percent of employers reported struggling to find workers and it’s th

New Zealand King Salmon's profits are going swimmingly after posting their first full-year profit in three years. The company has taken a number of measures to scale back operation costs, including a change to their farming model. Acting CEO Graeme Tregidga joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gun laws are back in the spotlight in the US, following the latest school shooting. Audrey Hale killed six people at her former Christian elementary school in Nashville. US correspondent Katherine Firkin told Kate Hawkesby the incident has sparked debate on Tennessee's approach to firearms, one of the most relaxed in the country. She says requirements for background checks have been totally removed and there are no laws allowing weapon seizures from violent suspects. Firkin says the shooter legally purchased seven different guns from five different stores over the last few years. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought the Prime Minister's trying to draw a line under the Stuart Nash saga. Chris Hipkins has ordered a review of all the Napier MP's  communications. It follows revelations Nash discussed a confidential Cabinet decision with two former donors in 2020. He is cooperating with the review, and intends to stay on as Napier's MP. Former Labour staffer, Kaine Thompson told Kate Hawkesby you would hope and expect the review won't find anything else. "Stuart Nash hasn't ever come across to me as particularly someone who is nefarious or malicious, but he's made a couple of mistakes here." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demonstrations across France have turned ugly as the country reaches its 10th day of civil unrest. The backlash is in response to a controversial pension law pushed through parliament without a vote last week, lifting the retirement age from 62 to 64. Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby protests started peacefully, but things have turned, with cars and rubbish being set alight, and 23 reported arrests. He says Paris protest numbers are in dispute, with police claiming 93,000, while unions believe half-a-million protesters attended. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I miss the grown-ups.  I’m desperate for some grown-ups, or just someone informed and engaged to be running this country, instead of the malaise and fly by night experience we’re currently having. Like many of you, yesterday I despaired as I listened to Chris Hipkins on the Mike Hosking Breakfast. It was cringe worthy. He literally could not answer a single question, was so ill informed, offered nothing by way of answers on anything, it was depressing.  On Marama Davidson, he admitted he had not even spoken with her or dealt with her at all – their offices had talked to each other, that’s it. Acceptable for a Minister in his Government? Absolutely not. Had she apologised? No.  Did Hipkins know about the health figures out yesterday? He did not. Did he know about the Government’s targets on it? Nope.  Did he know about new stats around ambulance ramping? No. Shipping and supply chain issues? No.  He admitted he doesn’t watch the news. I mean I get it, I wouldn’t either if I didn’t have to.. it’s tedious, but t

A message to wine lovers; Hawke's Bay vineyards are bouncing back and open for business. Images of devastated wineries were widely circulated following Cyclone Gabrielle, but six weeks on, the industry is keen to bring back its customers. Hawke's Bay Wine Growers Executive Officer Brent Linn told Kate Hawkesby good weather over the past few weeks has meant the region is well prepared for the Easter weekend. He says most cellar doors and restaurants will be open. Linn says while there's been lots of support locally and overseas, he wants people to continue buying Hawke's Bay produce and wine. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A handwriting expert believes just 10 minutes of practice in junior classes a day could turn around our falling literacy rates. But a survey of 850 teachers last year found almost 90 percent of those trained in the last 20 years received no instruction on how to teach handwriting. Education researcher Helen Walls told Kate Hawkesby there's been an emphasis put on ideas children want to express in writing and the fundamental technical skills have been neglected. She says until those technical skills are automated children can't think about the creative aspects. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Government ministers will be checking themselves this morning. It comes as Stuart Nash has been dismissed from Cabinet. It's emerged the Napier MP emailed donors about private cabinet information around a 2020 rent relief package. Political Editor Jason Walls told Kate Hawkesby there will be a few ministers who will be wondering whether they've accidentally breached the Cabinet manual. He says Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has, on a number of occasions, reinforced the importance of ensuring they're on the right side of the manual. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As crime looks to be a hot election issue this year I worry about two things, well more than two things, but let’s start with these two.  One - the lack of arrests being made and two - the top-down obsession from the police hierarchy with supporting offenders, not victims.  David Fononga, if you don’t know the name, is the Auckland man who went on a shooting rampage in West Auckland firing at Police. They fired back and he was shot dead. But here’s the thing about him – he’d breached bail a month before this happened, and never been arrested for it. So among the many investigations and reviews launched after this shooting incident, one of them is an internal review of why the Police did not respond to his breach of electronically monitored bail in the first place.  Because, while we’re on that topic, he wasn’t the only one. Five others were at large last week apparently having absconded while on electronically monitored bail. How many people need to be slicing off ankle bracelets and breaching their bail cond

The Citizens Advice Bureau is making a last ditch effort to prevent Auckland Council budget cuts. It's taking a petition with 15,000 signatures to council offices today, in a bid to halt their $2 million worth of funding being cut. General Manager Citizen's Advice Bureau Kate Anderson says the service is worth every cent.  She says for every dollar invested, they get $13 of social value out of it. Consultation for the budget closes at 11pm tonight. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online platforms are playing an increasing role in New Zealand's risk of domestic terrorism. The country's spy boss Andrew Hampton has revealed how the GCSB's capabilities were used in three counter-terrorism operations They included a person making bomb threats last year and increasingly concerning behaviour online from a white extremist. Massey University security expert John Battersby told Kate Hawkesby the issue of social media and misinformation advancing the problem has worsened in New Zealand. He says the number of people likely to be influenced by it are roughly the same everywhere, so while it may not get better, he's not sure if it will get worse, and we'll have to live with it. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serious concerns after one of the biggest data hacks in Australasia. Latitude Finance has revealed around 14 million people across both sides of the Tasman have had personal information held by the company,  stolen. It includes passport numbers and driver licence details, but it's feared that even more could be involved. Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Kate Hawkesby it's much more significant than the initial 300,000 it was first thought to be. She says some of the data has been held for more than ten years, with Latitude copping some criticism over holding data for so long. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support from within the family violence sector for Marama Davidson after controversial comments at the Auckland counter-protest to Posie Parker. The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence said most violence is caused by white cis men, cis meaning the gender a person's born with. She's now clarified, removing white and cis, saying when she spoke, she was in shock after being hit by a motorbike. Women's Refuge Chief Executive Ang Jury told Kate Hawkesby Davidson's correction is spot on. She says men are the main perpetrators of family violence and her initial statement, which has since been walked back, could have been delivered a little better. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe's human rights watchdog is accusing French police of brutality. A controversial pension law has seen protests erupt in Paris for a second week. UK-Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby that the Council for Europe's Human Rights Commissioner believes comments will add fuel to the fire. He says the commissioner believes people have a right to be protected from police brutality, and attacks against officers don't justify a heavy handed response. King Charles' visit has also been cancelled, due to security concerns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Posie Parker kerfuffle at the weekend in Auckland, I see the whole thing as so unnecessary. Her coming here, the publicity and noise around her coming here, the reaction when she got here, the vitriol and protests —from both sides—  when she tried to speak, the fallout after it.  How on earth did we end up with this much hubbub over a virtual nobody? How have we ended up with JK Rowling involved, MP’s involved, everyone seemingly imploding on each other. All over someone who should never have been given this much oxygen in the first place.  Like I said last week, how many of us had even heard of her prior to the media advertising her arrival and the impending doom. It all played right into her hands though, the frenzy whipped up resulted in big crowds, big protest, and her high tailing it out of here... all documented for a new and captive audience that she previously would not have had.  As my colleague, Heather pointed out, what an own goal by the Greens, Auckland Pride and Rainbow Youth. And as triumph

ACT says what happened at the Posie Parker rally in Auckland is seriously concerning. Thousands protested against the views of the anti-trans activist at Albert Park's Saturday rally, seeing her quit the country early. Scuffles broke out, Parker had tomato juice poured on her, and Green MP Marama Davidson was hit by a motorcycle. ACT Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden told Kate Hawkesby that it's what the party has feared: that the alternative to free speech and reasoned debate could become bullying, intimidation, and violence. She says in a civilised society like ours, you should be able to counter ideas you don't like with speech and debate, not violence and intimidation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.