Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

It probably comes as no surprise to any of us who watched on from the confines of our homes as the Ministry of Health bungled its way through Covid, that they’ve just discovered a ’coding error’.  It means the number of hospitalisations they recorded was not, in fact, accurate.  Turns out when they said just over 14,000 people were hospitalised with Covid, they meant almost 19,500.  Whoops.  A ‘coding error’ led to the under count. Just the 5,000 odd cases out. No biggie.  Unless you’re interested in accuracy of course, or facts and real hard data, which one assumes a Ministry of Health department might be, but beggars can’t be choosers.  And when it comes to healthcare in this country, we appear to be beggars, sadly. From our delayed vaccine rollout, to our lack of PPE, to our shortage of flu vaccines, to our appalling lack of cancer treatment services, to our shortage of GP’s and nurses, to our bungles and errors, it’s not exactly a sector firing on all cylinders is it?  And then we hear yesterday that ‘the

A large development including more than 700 new homes near Queenstown will be fast tracked for consenting. The Te Putahi project at Lake Hayes has been approved under the Government's Covid-19 recovery act, one of three projects to be allowed to skip some of the usual RMA hoops you have to jump through. 748 houses will be built along with a park-and-ride public transport area and potentially a school. New Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost of living pressures are expected to ease, but will remain at a much higher level than usual. Statistics New Zealand’s poised to unveil the latest inflation figures later this morning.  The highly anticipated Consumer Price Index is tipped to drop from the recent record high of 7.3 percent, to closer to 6.5.  That’s according to ASB, whose Senior Economist Mark Smith says New Zealand’s probably past peak inflation levels. But he says the expected CPI dip won't stop the Reserve Bank from increasing the Official Cash Rate over the coming months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 30 Rotorua bars and restaurants have closed their doors today to protest a lack of Government support. Hospitality NZ Bay of Plenty spokesperson, Reg Hennessy, says many are turning away  business because they can't get the staff they need. But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says working holiday visas are a big source of hospitality and seasonal workers. She says we've had tens of thousands of working holiday visas issued in as little as 14 working days. Ardern says the issue is then when people are choosing to travel here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new U.K. Treasury chief on Sunday insisted Prime Minister Liz Truss retains control of her government despite having to roll back her signature economic policies weeks into her premiership. Jeremy Hunt was drafted in to lead the Treasury after Truss sacked Kwasi Kwarteng amid rising pressure following the turbulent market reaction to the new administration’s “mini-budget.” “The prime minister’s in charge,” Hunt, a former foreign and health secretary, told the BBC when he was asked whether he now held all the power at Downing Street. Truss and Kwarteng had slowly unraveled key elements of their economic vision, including tax cuts for top earners and a halt on corporation tax rises, before the prime minister gave in to financial market instability and tanking polling figures and fired Kwarteng. Hunt has now said taxation will rise and public spending will shrink, despite Britain’s growing cost-of-living crisis. He said he had been surprised to receive the call to return to the Cabinet, but he was “honored”

Is it just me or does it feel like Groundhog Day at the moment?  As soon as I saw Winston and his ‘usual suspects’ lineup of a few hardcore supporters at the NZ First party conference, it felt like being in a time warp. How are we back here again? How are we back to him sniggering at reporters and giggling as he disparages anyone who dares downplay him? I’m pretty sure last election, or even the one before the that where he put Labour into power as an act of spite to National, that I said I was done talking about him. But here we are again talking about him.  He makes sure of it. He knows this is a good time for him. There’s lots of disharmony and angst around and his is a party for the angry and disgruntled.  He finds key controversial issues that he knows are bugging people – co-governance, the Treaty, climate change, immigration, gangs, you get the gist.  If there’s a gripe to be had on something, he’ll elevate it for you and tell you he’s the man to fix it. But can you trust him?  2017 would tell us firml

A third quarter comeback has helped the Silver Ferns to a 2-0 lead in netball's Constellation Cup, beating Australia 52-48 in Tauranga. The victory leaves the Ferns needing just one win from the two games in Australia to retain the prestigious trophy. The Peta Toeava and Grace Nweke combination proved difficult for Australia once again, with the visitors' circle defenders struggling to break their partnership. Australia led by one goal heading into halftime, but crucial defensive gains to goal defence Phoenix Karaka and wing defence Kayla Johnson edged the home side ahead, with New Zealand winning the third stanza 15-9. Coach Dame Noeline Taurua says her side came out firing after halftime. "When we kept ball in hand it meant we could push ourselves forward. That grind that happened out on court and absorbing the pressure - because there were moments where it was touch and go - I'm really pleased." It was once again the Toeava show, with the wing attack notching up 36 feeds. She won't be part of the Australia

Justice officials are standing by a policy incentivising duty lawyers to achieve early guilty pleas. Lawyers are paid extra for getting their client to enter a plea for all charges and for getting a guilty plea and sentencing on the same day. The Ministry of Justice says the payment takes into account the extra work involved with progressing a client's case and lawyers must still ensure defendants are fully informed. Criminal justice advocate Sir Kim Workman told Kate Hawkesby that's not how things will work in practice. “It might mean that the guy that was arrested one evening appears before the court the next day and might still be under the influence of alcohol doesn't really understand what’s going on.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The retail sector is still feeling angry and unsupported by police and the Government. Back in August, Chris Hipkins told police to move faster on allocating money from a $6 million crime prevention fund for shops to install bollards and other security measures. But only seven businesses have so far received funding. Dairy and Business Owners Group Chairman Sunny Kaushal told Kate Hawkesby it's quite disappointing. “They have not been even been able to spend 2 percent of the fund. And the seven businesses that they’re talking about — five of them were given by us to police as a pilot programme, so no progress has been made.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have a hero of the week this week. In the wash up from the local body elections, and although very excited about the country's newest and youngest Mayor 23-year-old Ben Bell of Gore, which is quite an achievement - my bouquet goes to Rotorua's new Mayor Tania Tapsell.  Absolute go-getter, smart, considered, hardworking and really passionate about her city. She’s the sort of Mayor you feel happy for, irrespective of any political direction, just because they feel like they’ve earned it.  They deserve to be where they are, they’re in it for the right reasons. Not platitudes and empty words, but for the real and right reasons.  She’s gone hard all along on emergency housing and it speaks volumes she got voted in because that’s exactly what the people of Rotorua are focused on right now.  It was a travesty of former Mayor and Labour stalwart Steve Chadwick to allow emergency housing to get so bad in Rotorua. She’s left an absolute headache and a nightmare for Tapsell to try to undo.  But within her first week i

The Government is splashing the cash on infrastructure in an attempt to get 11,000 new homes built across the country. It's dipping into its billion dollar infrastructure acceleration fund with $192 million going to critical works like pipes, roads and waste water connections. Lower Hutt is getting the lion's share, with $98 million going to its River Link and Valley Floor projects Lower Hutt Mayor, Campbell Barry told Kate Hawkesby the investment is a great result for the city. He says the financial boost allows his council to plan without the pressures of raising the money in a local government setting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

77 children a day are being hospitalised for preventable diseases due to poor sleeping environments. These are the figures from the charity Variety which says nearly 28,000 children every year are sleeping on couches, floors or are sharing mouldy mattresses. The charity says bad sleeping environments mean children are more likely to contract preventable illnesses like rheumatic fever or bronchiolitis - which can have long lasting health implications. Variety Chief Executive Susan Glasgow told Kate Hawkesby these statistics are shocking. She says their dream beds campaign aims to address real need for children's beds in the community. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Predictions the country needs to go through two-years of stunted growth, to try to re-balance the economy. Infometrics' latest forecast shows inflation may cause problems through until the end of 2024. It's picking economic growth will slip below two percent in the second half of next year. Infometrics Principal Economist, Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby interest rates are expected to go even higher than what was thought just a few months ago. He says the housing market will continue it's downward trend, putting pressures on people wanting to borrow and the wider economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well it’s been a tough week hasn't it? I mean many of us are still in the post-Covid malaise anyway but bad news makes it worse doesn't it?   We've had principals this week saying they’re worried about families who’ve just vanished due to truancy. So you’ve got large swathes of kids just not showing up for school for a variety of reasons, some of them so random, like they just don't trust the school system anymore. You’ve got farmers infuriated by the emissions scheme being foisted upon them, which they say is going to kill farming and the communities they exist in. You’ve got power and gas prices about to soar even further making it even tougher for our cost of living crisis. Young people don’t seem bothered to work. We had Hospitality NZ CEO Julie White on the show this week and she said for all the advertising and wage hikes and flexibility on offer, they still can’t get Kiwis into hospitality roles. They need 30,000 people and she said whichever way you slice it, it just seems Kiwis don’t want to work. An

The naming of an Auckland suburb among the world's coolest suburbs has come as a bit of a surprise. Kingsland has been ranked the 43rd coolest suburb in an annual list by UK media company Time Out, praising its focused on all things local. Time Out's judges praised Kingsland's eclectic food scene, historic buildings and boutique shops that replace "flashy franchises". Albert Eden Local Board member Jose Fowler told Kate Hawkesby it's surprising, but they do deserve the accolade. He says it has easy access to Auckland's CBD via public transport and cycling, and has everything Time Out has praised it for - and more. A slight hiccough - on the Time Out website, the blurb about Kingsland is accompanied by a photo of the downtown Ferry Building. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New clinical guidelines have been launched for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. It coincides with Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which is today. Breast Cancer Foundation NZ chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner says around 400 Kiwis are diagnosed with advanced breast cancer every year. She says their research shows Kiwi women are dying from it twice as fast as those in comparable countries. Rayner says these guidelines provide the best possible treatment that can extend their lives, no matter where they live. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High hopes new immigration settings will have much-needed talent flocking to our shores. The Government's reopened sections for skilled migrant and parent visas, key residence categories effectively shut off during the pandemic. Malcolm Pacific Immigration Chief Executive, David Cooper told Kate Hawkesby the Government has approved close to 60,000 job checks so far. He says eventually, around 50-60,000 people will get visas, with a good percentage going on to apply for residency. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m pleased to see the 21 year old woman in Wellington who got shafted by Uber is finally calling the ride share out for the crap service it is.  We’ve told our kids to cancel their Uber accounts. It’s just not tenable or safe anymore to catch them, because they never turn up.  The most common thing they do is cancel on you. This woman in Wellington was trying to get home after a night out and was left in the dark on the side of the road because three Ubers in a row cancelled on her.  She’s not alone in having that experience and I can’t work out why they’re doing it.  They make no money from cancelled rides, they only upset the riders and it makes people lose faith in the service and in our case, winds up with people cancelling the app. The last time I asked my daughter to Uber home after a school event, she had Uber after Uber just cancel on her. Over and over again. No explanation. She’d waited half an hour – longer than the trip home was – and still no Uber turned up. Just a string of cancelled rides.  In

Questions have been asked as to whether the Government has read the room wrong on the He Waka Eke Noa emissions plan. The Government proposes requiring farmers to pay levies on emissions from 2025, Cabinet will make the decisions on those prices and also how sequestration will be recognised, with farmers having only a small amount of input. And that's before the large expected loss in production for sheep and dairy farms. He Waka Eke Noa programme director is Kelly Forster who joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls to be careful about increases in gas and electricity bills, before jumping to conclusions. Genesis and Contact Energy customers will see their gas bills rise by an average of 11 percent, while Contact's electricity bills will go up by around 8 percent. The move comes as Genesis reports an increase in annual profit of 600 percent, the bills will still go up regardless. Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord told Kate Hawkesby it's worth unpicking why the increase is happening in the first place. He says the wholesale electricity price doubled overnight four years ago, and some of those increases are starting to trickle into the domestic market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.