Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Don't forget to fill out your Census today - if you haven't already. Everyone staying in New Zealand tonight is required by law to complete the form. The Census helps create a clear picture of community needs so government agencies, councils, iwi, community groups and businesses can respond. However, Massey University's Emeritus Paul Spoonley told Kate Hawkesby there are some groups that aren't willing to give up any information.  He says officials are working to convince them otherwise.  The collection period has been extended for cyclone-impacted areas until June first. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people are picking a further fall in house prices. In the latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey, 43-percent of respondents expect house prices to fall in the coming year. People living outside Auckland and Canterbury are particularly pessimistic. ASB Senior Economist Kim Mundy says this is a shift, as Aucklanders and Cantabrians were previously more pessimistic. The survey also found three quarters of respondents expect higher interest rates over the coming year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think what Luxon did right in his State of the Nation, was to remind us of all the wastefulness of this government.  One of the things I worry about is that we have short memories; you know come October 14th do we still remember MIQ, inaccessibility to RAT tests, multiple lockdowns, or thousands of cancelled surgeries? Do people still care – or will they have they moved on by then?  It’s a fine line of course for an opposition party. On the one hand you don’t want to be seen as too negative or whiney, you have to be seen to offer up new policies and new ideas but it is still important to remind voters why there’s a choice. After all, governments get voted out, oppositions don't get voted in.  So reminding people of all the billions on consultants, a bloated public service, a cost of living crisis, rising interest rates, woeful education stats, and a ballooning hospital waiting list has merit. I mean we already know, but it’s confronting when you hear it all laid out and that’s what the Nats will be banking

National is labelling the Government's new transport strategy as "absolute madness". The plan –which is still being worked on– puts climate change as the top priority and dictates where tens of billions of dollars will be spent in the next three years. It will go out for consultation this year. The proposed changes will see two billion dollars of maintenance money spent on the likes of bus lanes and cycleways, rather than fixing potholes. National Transport Spokesperson Simeon Brown told Kate Hawkesby that money for maintenance should be spent on just that. He says we have potholes peppering our highways and those need fixing, rather than work being done on cycleways. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Banks. They're a nice, big, slow moving target, so it's pretty easy to throw mud and have at least some of it stick. Right now, with higher interest rates and more importantly fat margins between what they pay us for our deposits, and what we pay them for our mortgages. The sun is shining for the Banks and they're making' hay. And the numbers are pretty big. Westpac's most recent result was $1.16 billion for the year, up 12 percent. ANZ was at $2.3 billion and increased of 20, yeah 20, percent. You're probably aware from what we've heard his past few days, that if you shop around you don't have to pay the published mortgage rate. If you tell them such and such bank down the road is offering a fraction less, you'll be surprised how quickly they'll drop their pants. Same too, by the way, with term deposits.   Rather than just let those roll over, you simply have to ask and they'll grudgingly give you a little more.  Not much, but it's the principle of the thing. So are the banks being greedy. Well, yes, of

A well-known scientist says New Zealanders need to stop burning wood, to help curb two of the country's silent killers. Stats NZ indicator data, following a 10-year study, has found two air pollutants are quietly contributing to thousands of premature deaths each year. The two pollutants of concern, linked with pollution from vehicles and fireplaces, are PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide. Auckland University aerosol chemist Joel Rindelaub told Tim Dower combustion products create toxic cancer causing chemicals. He says sitting around a bonfire might be a fun activity to do, but it creates dangerous chemicals in the process. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for a banking sector market study are ramping up, after the Reserve Bank asked for one earlier this week. Bank profits have never been higher than those reported last year, it was the first time they’ve ever cracked $6 billion. Public Policy group Monopoly Watch has set out the terms of reference it thinks the Commerce Commission could use. Massey University Banking Associate Professor Claire Matthews told Tim Dower she isn't convinced it's a job for the Commerce Commission. But she says there's a lot of people that think it would be a good idea and it wouldn't do any harm. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to rental laws to make properties warm and dry have driven up rents, which are now at record highs, according to a survey commissioned by the Government. The survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, found that a quarter of landlords put up rents in the six months before May 2022, and one of the most popular reasons for this was increased costs lumped on by the Government. Housing Minister Megan Woods said the survey reflected “the advice I have that there is not enough evidence to suggest regulatory changes are the main cause for rent increases”. But National says the survey provides evidence about what it has been saying regarding the law changes since they were originally legislated in Labour’s first term. Housing spokesman Chris Bishop said, “rents are up $150 per week under Labour and are a big driver of our cost-of-living crisis. The data is clear that Labour’s war on landlords is harming the very people they’re trying to help - tenants”. But Infometrics economist an

So just when we thought we may never hear from Sir Ashley again – up he popped yesterday defending the public service.  He was claiming they’re all neutral but do we believe him? It probably doesn’t matter because the man in question, Rob Campbell, and his particular lack of neutrality is no longer an issue.. given he’s been sacked. Not a great week for him having lost his Health NZ gig only then to have rumours swirling of David Parker also  being about to swing the axe on his other job as the Environmental Protection Authority Chair too. So, in a week, two jobs gone, and ironically the firing being done by two of the tamer members of the Labour party, really. I did not see Ayesha Verrall as someone who could fire anyone, she looks like the sweetest person on earth, so that was a turn up for the books. But David Parker too, I mean when you think of big swinging guns inside the Labour party, Verrall and Parker don’t ordinarily spring to mind. But let’s be honest, the person loading the bullets was most likely

Napier's Mayor is pleased with increased police support for Hawke's Bay. Two mobile police bases have been set up in the area, at Bay View and Puketapu, and a third is on the way. It follows concerns about crime in the area, which made some residents keen to take up arms. Kirsten Wise says residents weren't feeling heard. She told Kate Hawkesby keeping residents feeling safe is an ongoing process. Wise says she will keep in touch with locals abut whether they think they have enough support. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I see universities are asking students to come back to lectures in person because the low attendance is apparently ‘demoralising’ staff.  Covid lockdowns and closures saw more classes go online and as it turns out, many find that preferable to having to rock up in person. It is also no doubt a contributing factor to our truancy levels at school.  Once you stop something and let students know it’s OK to pause it, or to do it remotely, then guess what - they’re going to take that and run with it.  The reasons for not showing up to lectures I can imagine are similar to the reasons we skipped lectures back in my day. Sometimes just getting to uni is a hassle with traffic, public transport (if you’re in Auckland especially), weather, sickness, lack of parking, lack of bus services, and probably also lack of interest. I mean why trek all the way in if you don’t have to?  If you can have it beamed into your bedroom in the comfort of your own home, why wouldn’t you?  Obviously we didn’t have that option when I was at

You can guess what the conversation around the water cooler will be about today; the Blackcaps and that staggering win at the Basin Reserve. They took the victory by one run in the second test against England in an absolute nail-biter to the end. Newstalk ZB cricket journalist Andrew Alderson caught all the action at the Basin and joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few are surprised to learn that house values have fallen again. This time, it's by one percent for February, the largest monthly decline since October last year. It's in the latest CoreLogic report and chief property economist Kelvin Davidson joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour doubts the dismissal of Te Whatu Ora's chair goes far enough. Rob Campbell has been sacked by Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, for venting on social media about National's Three Waters policy. But the Act Party leader is adding to some calls for Campbell to be removed as chair of the Environmental Protection Agency as well. He told Kate Hawkesby the role is subject to the same Code of Conduct requirements for political neutrality. Seymour says today is the day Environment Minister David Parker should sack Campbell as the chair of the EPA, for the same reasons he's gone from health. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An opportunity for Chris Hipkins as PM to show real leadership -  and a divergent path to his predecessor by acting decisively and quickly on the Health NZ Chair, I reckon. I think that'd go well for him. If you've missed this story, former trade unionist Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell, criticised the National’s policy announcement on Three Waters on social media, stating that he thought it was a ‘thin disguise for the dog whistle on co-governance’. He made a bunch of comments including that, "Luxon might be able to rescue his party from stupidity on climate change but rescuing this from a well he has dug himself might be harder." Firstly, this is the guy overseeing the absolute shit-show that is our health system, so how he's even got time in the first place to be ranting on social media about opposition party policies is beyond me, but secondly, he's subject to the Public Service Commission code of conduct, requiring impartiality. He is not allowed to make political statements, or politicise his role, yet tha

More history for Kane Williamson in his illustrious Blackcaps career.   His second inning at Wellington's Basin Reserve saw him overtake Ross Taylor as New Zealand's leading Test run scorer. Newstalk ZB's cricket guru Andrew Alderson has been at the Basin Reserve and joined Kate Hawesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail sales were down 4 percent in the December quarter of 2022 compared to the previous year. Hardware, building and garden supplies were hit the hardest with a 15 per cent drop. Managing director of First Retail Group, Chris Wilkinson joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's Mayor says she wants more local input in central government spending. Local Government New Zealand says 90 percent of public spending is allocated by Wellington. Tania Tapsell says local people need to be able to have their say on how and where the money is spent. She told Kate Hawkesby Cyclone Gabrielle has highlighted the importance of that. Tapsell says when it comes to important jobs like fixing infrastructure, locals know best. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyclone-affected regions are bracing for yet another round of heavy rain. MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for the Gisborne District north of Tolaga Bay until 6am Tuesday. There's also a heavy rain watch for the Coromandel Peninsula until 3am Tuesday. Gisborne District Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Kate Hawkesby that every bout of rain makes the East Coast's issues even worse. The Government's providing 25-million dollars in grants to address the immediate cashflow needs of businesses in affected regions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least 58 migrants have died after their wooden boat sank in rough seas off the southern coast of Italy. It was carrying around 150 people when it hit rocks and broke apart near a seaside town in the Calabria region. One of the more than 80 people who survived has been arrested on migrant trafficking charges. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby that it's another unfortunate case of people losing their lives fleeing conflict zones to get to Europe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.