Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The primary teachers union says the secondary teachers pay rise is great news for the whole sector.  PPTA members have accepted a 14.5 percent pay bump, meaning roughly 30,000 teachers will receive the first of three pay boosts between now and the end of next year. NZEI President Mark Potter told Roman Travers there's more to be done, but this is a good step towards recognising the value of teachers. He says resolutions to workload and resourcing issues are also needed to bring the teaching profession back to the status it once had. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For all the people ‘hopping across the Tasman’ at the moment I can tell you one thing - it’s not a hop.   It used to be a short haul quick trip - painless. But these days it seems to be less painless and more painful. I’m not sure who’s more at fault - Auckland Airport or Air New Zealand, or both. Of the three times I’ve crossed the Tasman in the last month; I’ve been held up on the tarmac or delayed every time - twice without any communication at all. Once was a lengthy tarmac sit where they announced after an uncomfortably long wait - that there was an issue with the brakes needing fixing. More delay - then another announcement - they’d need to actually replace the brakes. How you can’t sort the brakes out before you board everyone is beyond me but that added two hours to our flight, so the short hop across the Tasman was no longer short and we hadn’t even left the ground yet. Likewise coming home the airport had no dogs rostered on, so they were screening every single bag of every single passenger includin

National plans to crack down on cellphone use in schools, if it wins the October election. It would ban phones for all year groups - with some exemptions for those needing the devices for health or learning purposes. Party Leader Christopher Luxon says it's about eliminating unnecessary disturbances and distractions.  But social media expert Vaughan Davis told Kate Hawkesby studies show cellphone use in schools doesn't really hurt, or improve learning. He says the accusation that they hurt academic performance doesn't really stand up. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A change in attitudes is needed before people will stop using cellphones in their cars. A six-month Waka Kotahi safety camera trial across Auckland spotted 242,000 potential offences, including drivers using handheld phones or not wearing a seatbelt. Neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis says we need a culture change so people don't have to be constantly available by phone. He told Kate Hawkesby people need to take the issue more seriously, as continual phone use is just waiting for an accident to happen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criticism of the Government's climate deal with a major investment company is being disputed. BlackRock Capital has launched a $2 billion fund to help New Zealand achieve 100 percent renewable electricity. ACT condemned the announcement saying it amounts to the Government micro-managing energy supply. But BusinessDesk journalist Dileepa Fonseka says this isn't the case. Fonseka says the fund doesn't emphasise one form of energy over another. He adds they could be referring to the target, but this also isn't set by the fund. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I got sent a video yesterday, which I assume is doing the rounds, of the Point England shooting in Auckland on the weekend. 2.30pm on a Saturday afternoon in a suburban neighbourhood in Auckland. That makes three shootings in a week by the way for our country, three separate gunmen on the loose – still at large – and three victims dead. It seems unfathomable that this is the state of our country right now. The video of the Point England one shows a scene of chaos; people running around, as shots volley out across the reserve. It’s incredulous to watch and think this is just a family suburb of Auckland. How did we end up here? The answer to that is lengthy, but the consequences are people left terrified in their own communities. The Herald yesterday reported a “traumatised mother who’d spoken of her horror after her two young children witnessed the fatal daylight gang shootout from their living room window. She told the Herald her children, aged 6 and 8, were watching television when gunshots rang out. “They s

The All Blacks' squad for the 2023 World Cup has been named. Former player Richie McCaw announced the 33 players heading to France at an event in Napier last night. The first game with France verses New Zealand is Saturday 9th September local time. So will the boys handle the heat? Sky Sports rugby commentator Tony Johnson joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police in Victoria are keeping an open mind after three people died from a poisoned mushroom lunch, cooked by their daughter-in-law. Another guest is in critical condition in hospital. Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Kate Hawkesby the daughter-in-law is denying any malice.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's main fast food company says its full year profit could be half of last year's. Restaurant Brands, responsible for KFC, Taco Bell, Carl's Junior and Pizza Hut, is blaming inflation. Devon Funds Management Retail Manager Greg Smith told Kate Hawkesby there's a clear driver of higher costs in the sector. He says the price of ingredients has risen threefold in some cases. The company is expecting between $12 and $16 million in profit. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plea for action has come to address the recent spate of violent crime. Police are raising concerns about rising gang tensions, after fatal shootings in Auckland's Point England and Palmerston North's Highbury over the weekend - both linked to gang rivalries. They're also continuing to hunt for the man wanted over Thursday's fatal shooting in downtown Auckland. Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck told Kate Hawkesby Auckland is now at risk of no longer being seen as a safe place. She says if that doesn't change now, Auckland could become known internationally as a "dangerous city". LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It’s a fantastic place to grow up as a kid... and it’s also a great place to retire... it's the in-between bits that are tricky,” said Neil Finn when once asked what NZ was like. It’s the same now I’d argue. He also said, and bear in mind this is many, many years ago, that it was "the worst place in the world to be if you had any ambition.” That’d be true now too I reckon. And at the risk of sounding like Marc Ellis and all the other Kiwis bailing, we have definitely lost our mojo. We are backwards on too many metrics. Australia - where I’ve been three times in the last month —Sydney and Melbourne— is more forward focussed than we are, it’s going places, people are upbeat - my sister's currently in Queensland, she says it’s the same there. Here, it feels like we are still mopping up from a pandemic and a shut down that we should've bounced back from ages ago. The fact we haven’t yet, or don't want to, or don't know how to, speaks volumes about where we are and who we are. Focussed on all the wrong things, he

Auckland's Business Chamber is keen to see some momentum on a second harbour crossing. The Government's released a plan which will include two 3-lane vehicle tunnels and a light rail route connecting Albany and the CBD. Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Kate Hawkesby that the plan is positive, and he'd love to see more details. He wants to know if it can be sped up, and exactly how much it will decongest the roads. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So what is going on with people throwing objects at musicians on stage?   I know. It’s not the most pressing issue in the world today, but it’s Friday, after all.   What we’ve seen at recent concerts is a breakdown in the social etiquette that normally sees an artist and an audience coming together respectfully. We’re seeing an increase in aggressiveness and rudeness – from both sides -  and the desire for concert goers to steal the limelight from the star on stage with attention grabbing antics designed to make them go viral online.   I don’t know if you saw the Cardi B video of her reacting to someone from the crowd throwing water at her during a Vegas concert. The retribution was swift and brutal as Cardi B hurled her microphone. I don’t know if she hit her target or a loyal fan – but the result is a law suit.   I don’t condone Cardi’s B’s behaviour but it does represent how fed up artists are at being targeted. Recently Harry Style’s was hit in the eye by a flying object, Bebe Rexha took a phone to the fa

Surgery wait times continue to be lengthy, despite the Government saying its targeted approach is working. Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says the total number of planned care treatments, including minor operations, is increasing nationwide. People waiting longer than three years for treatment now either have a date and plan, or have been treated, and officials are working their way down from there. Christchurch colorectal surgeon Chris Wakeman told Francesca Rudkin it's a tough problem to fix. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s taken over a year, but maybe, just maybe, all the disruption to teenage schooling is coming to an end after the government accepted a recommendation by the Arbitration Panel and offered to increase secondary teachers’ base salaries by 14.5 percent by December 2024.   This package to settle the teachers and principal’s agreement is the final offer from the Government, and will add $680 million to the $3.76 billion already set aside by the Government to resolve this issue. The extra money is coming from savings found in departmental funding through project deferrals, a forecast underspend on staffing and removing the reimbursement of bank staffing.   The Post Primary Teachers Association is “pleased” to see the offer and will be recommending to members they accept it ahead of a vote next week. Wouldn’t that be good.   I think we all agree teachers are undervalued. I think we accept their argument for a pay increase matching inflation, better conditions so they can do their jobs more effectively and a deal

GDT results have taken a sharp dive - down 4.3 per cent. Whole milk powder - which more or less dictates Fonterra's farmgate milk price - is down 8 per cent. It's all painting a fairly bleak outlook for farmers.. Wayne Langford, Federated Farmers National president, joined Early Edition to discuss the impact of the figures. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We don't know how bad the Government's books are, but there are signs things are worse than previously thought. National is calling on Finance Minister Grant Robertson to be up-front about the state of the books. Robertson has confirmed he's called in Crown chief executives for a meeting about financial restraint. But Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Francesca Rudkin the Finance Minister won't be specific about any revenue shortfall. Olsen says even if we don't know the size of any shortfall, it appears the Government has taken a bit of a hit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims National's approach to parental leave is more "flexible" than the current rules. A member's Bill proposed by National's Nicola Willis would allow parents to take paid leave at the same time, one after the other, or in overlapping instalments. Currently, primary carers can't take parental leave together. Labour was the only party to vote against it - using its majority in the House to block it. Kids Need Dadz field worker Allan Harvey told Francesca Rudkin giving families the ability to chose is important.  He says allowing both parents parents to take time off, while not having a financial impact is a good idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m amped by this new study on coffee. I know, I know, everyday a new study telling us something we should or shouldn’t be doing that we thought previously we could or couldn’t do. Llike chocolate’s bad for you, then it’s good, wine’s bad for you then it’s good, coffee’s the devil and now it’s good. But still, I love a good bit of research, especially broad spectrum studies and this latest one on coffee was a 15-year-study of more than half a million participants. It showed ‘people who drank coffee were less vulnerable to a range of chronic illnesses’. “Drinking coffee is protective for health,” it said. You can have two to five cups a day and get the cognitive and health benefits. Apparently the cut off is seven, so don’t go more than seven cups a day for goodness sake. But it can reduce the risk of colorectal cancers, it helps flush toxins through your system, it promotes good gut bacteria for your microbiome, it’s got polyphenols which protect against inflammation apparently - this includes decaf by the wa

Unemployment figures are out today - and it's the last data set before the election. It's currently sitting at 3.4 percent and no-one is expecting much change to that. Sharon Zollner is ANZ's Chief Economist and she joined Kate Hawkesby ahead of the figure's release. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.