Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The Post Primary Teachers' Association wants to ban streaming in schools by 2030. Streaming is grouping students together based on their perceived ability. Auckland's Sacred Heart College principal Patrick Walsh told Roman Travers international evidence proves it doesn't work, even for top academic students. He says it does have a detrimental effect on Māori and Pasifika students in terms of self-esteem and life opportunities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s something I’ve learnt over the years; never ask anyone how they are unless we truly have time to hear the truth.  Good health is often something we take for granted until we don’t have it - and good mental health precedes everything else in life.  Covid-19 and the ensuing fallout has manifested in so many ways for so many different people.   The initial inability to work followed by inability to justify retaining some jobs was closely followed by the train crash in mental health seen in adults and adolescents.  Those with expertise in treating mental health saw fewer children and teenagers last year largely due to the ongoing disruptions caused by the pandemic.  This wasn’t only due to the inability to get into a critical first scheduled appointment; it was also the inability for our healthcare professionals to recruit into mental health services.  Our mental health professionals have told the Government that the pandemic has disproportionately affected our young people and that the effects will be ong

A breakthrough for those with inoperable lung cancer. Pharmac is funding a new immunotherapy medicine, called infensey for those with New Zealand's deadliest cancer. It's the first medicine of its kind funded for lung cancer and will be available for anyone to access. Lung Foundation CEO Philip Hope says this is a massive step forward in the fight against cancer. He says the drug gives patients diagnosed with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer a good option when undergoing treatment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwisaver funds seem to be doing well, despite increasingly nervous times. According to the Financial Markets Authority, managed Kiwisaver funds have grown by 10 percent in the year to March. Simplicity Managing Director Sam Stubbs told Roman Travers it shows the industry is still growing and people are still saving. He says, if the product does well in tough times like this, it gives people confidence. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has instructed King Charles to not attend the climate change conference, COP27, set to take place next month in Egypt.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Roman Travers that before the King's ascension to the throne, he had said he'd go to the annual conference.  "It is reported that Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, has ordered him not to attend." He says that has been denied by plenty of people in the know.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nurses are being begged to take extra shifts on their days off - but with no corresponding double pay. The Nurses Organisation has suggested its members refuse to pick up extra shifts this week. It comes after their winter bonus of 100 dollars a shift, ended on Friday. Whangarei emergency nurse Rachel Thorn told Roman Travers scrapping DHBs for the new Te Whatu Ora, has made it difficult for executive leadership teams to make decisions to support nurses. She says because Te Whatu Ora has ultimate decision making - their leadership teams have less say than they used to. Thorn says they need Te Whatu Ora to take action on things like safety, short staffing, immigration and pushing the Government on policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s brand value shot up 13% from 2021, according to global rankings released overnight. Brand Finance Nation brands valued New Zealand’s national brand at US$248 billion in 2022, an increase of US$29 billion on the prior year. The annual Nation Brands Report is a study into the world’s top 100 nation brands ranked by their value and strength. It has been providing key benchmarks for diplomats, tourism boards, trade agencies, geographical indication brands, nation brand managers and consultants for nearly two decades. This rise is one of the largest of any country, with brand New Zealand’s ranking moving up three places to become the 39th most valuable. While the covid-19 pandemic hit many other countries’ national brands hard, New Zealand’s brand value rose 11% from a pre-pandemic valuation. The rankings also place New Zealand at number 13 (of 100 countries) on the nation brand strength leader-board, which combines statistics and perceptions research. Brand strength is calculated based on investment

If you're a fan of Shorthand Street, or the Outrageous Fortune prequel Westside, Will Hall will be a familiar face to you. Best known as the skateboarding doctor kip, and loveable cop Mike McCarthy, Will Hall recently moved back to his home town of Christchurch with his young family, and has now turned his attention to local body politics. With low voter turnout historically in local body elections, Will is utilising his skills to encourage Cantabrians to get voting and get engaged in the local elections. Will Hall is standing for the Heathcote Ward in the Christchurch local elections and joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So apart from school holidays starting today, guess what else we’re heading into? Sober October. Who knew? I thought Dry July was a thing and the only thing, but turns out there’s also Sober October. All I know is having not drunk alcohol in so long, I forget that alcohol free months are even a thing until I hear about them and remember that I don’t drink. It’s become such a non-event for me now, but it wasn’t always like that. When I first stopped drinking alcohol it was hard socially to explain it to people. People don’t take it very well when they’re standing enthusiastically in their lounge pouring everyone a glass of champagne and you say, “oh not for me thanks.” It’s got party pooper vibes all over it. Likewise when waiters come to the table in restaurants asking for drinks orders, it doesn’t have quite the same zing to say “peppermint tea for me please.” That doesn't really scream 'let's get this party started'. I’m sure people are trying to act more low key and less reactionary around people who don’t

Support for the Crown's decision to appeal the home detention sentence handed down to teenage rapist Jayden Meyer. The 18-year-old is serving nine months home detention, after being convicted of raping four girls and sexually violating a fifth. Meyer's victims spoke out about his sentence, and hundreds of people took to the streets in protest. Sexual violence educator and survivor Rachel Taane told Kate Hawkesby the Crown Law Office's appeal is a welcome move. She says it's an awesome start that gives hope. The appeal is set to be heard next month. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drug checking services are available at Auckland stadiums for the first time from today, following a law change last year. Volunteers from KnowYourStuff NZ will be at Mt Smart Stadium's music concert "Listen In". A report for the 2021 to 2022 festival season shows samples have been tested at 40 events, nearly twice the number done two years ago. Auckland Stadiums Director, James Parkinson told Kate Hawkesby says it's a new tool to keep people safe, made available by the legalisation of drug checking. He says it's natural to add it to their other security and safety measures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelvin Davis' 'how Māori are you' routine in the House yesterday was a disturbing trip backwards for a country now so bogged down in race politics that it's actually a distraction. And one I think most of us are rightly sick of. There appears to be more race division and race baiting going on inside the Beehive, on our behalf, than there actually is out here in the real world. The co-governance spewing forth at a rate of knots, the push for more te Reo inside media, on every signpost, every corporate email, every event, every school. You can argue it's good for us, or it's long overdue or it's evolution, or whatever argument you want to mount for it, but once we start sinking to 'but how Māori are you really?' we've reached the lowest ebb. Deputy Labour Party Leader Kelvin Davis, if you haven't kept up with this, and I notice not a lot of news websites are running it, which in and of itself speaks volumes, but he said in the House yesterday to Māori Act MP Karen Chhour, that she needed to 'leave her Pākehā wo

Hurricane Ian's most damaging winds have begun hitting Florida's southwest coast, lashing the state with heavy rain and pushing a devastating storm surge after strengthening to the threshold of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Fueled by warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian grew to a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane overnight with top winds of 250km/h, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm trudged on a track that would have it making landfall north of the heavily populated Fort Myers area, which forecasters said could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 5.5m. People walk where water is receding out of Tampa Bay due to a negative surge ahead of Hurricane Ian. Photo / Steve Helber, AP "This is going to be a nasty nasty day, two days," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said, stressing that people in Ian's path along the coast should rush to the safest possible shelter and stay there. Ian menaced Florida after bringing destruction Tuesday to western Cuba, where two people were reported dead an

Questions have been asked as to whether health policies are backed by the latest science. That's what researchers are asking as they call on the Government to improve the way health policy makers are informed. The 'Healthier Lives National Science Challenge' group wants systems put in place to ensure health policy makers have access to robust, up to date scientific evidence. They also want mechanisms for prioritising issues. Head of AUT’s Public Health department Dr. Heather Came joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Children's Commissioner believes there are complex reasons behind youth participation in ram raids. Of a group of 63, more than 95 percent first came to Police attention through a family harm event. Judge Frances Eivers says we can’t ignore the fact that for some mokopuna involved in ram raids, their home may be chaotic, unstable, and possibly even dangerous. She says it's important we focus on a holistic approach where whanau and community, including iwi and Police, work collaboratively to wrap support around these youth who might be more at risk. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A landlord wrote to me the other day saying how many more tenants these days are applying for rentals, and on the application form are putting under proof of income, ‘WINZ’. Her point was, since when was a WINZ benefit, which is supposed to be a short term solution for people in difficult circumstances, since when has that become an income? It’s supposed to be a benefit, which you’re on for a short time. But she was saying how many single mums with only one or two kids are going into four bedroom homes courtesy of a government grant or benefit, and that perhaps the real housing crisis lies in the fact too many rentals are being subsidised by government benefits, which allow small no income families to go into large homes that they actually don’t need. And then we hear about the solo dad who said the other day that WINZ actually don’t want to help you get off the benefit. A “Bay of Plenty father with four kids aged four to 10 told Newshub he started looking for part-time work a few months ago…” He has.. “a bac

A wine grower says more seasonal workers shows the Government is listening to the industry's concerns. It's increased the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme by 3,000 more workers this year - the biggest increase in a decade. The Government's also requiring employers provide the workers sick leave. Wine Growers Chief Executive Philip Gregan told Kate Hawkesby it won't solve labour issues, but will make a big difference. He says they're trying to balance RSE and Working Holidaymaker numbers - but don't know how many people on a working holiday will arrive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine is accusing Russia of carrying out a "terrorist attack" on two major gas pipelines into Europe. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby the Nord Stream One and Two have been damaged and have begun leaking off the coast of Denmark, creating the risk of an explosion. “The Russians say they know nothing about it, the EU says it’s too early to draw conclusions but other world leaders are beginning to point sabotage and blaming Russia.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Kiwi company has secured exclusive shelf space. Everblue is the only New Zealand-made haircare brand to be stocked, despite launching just over a year ago. Chief Operating Officer, Renee Lee told Kate Hawkesby going in with a strong pitch was key. “They don’t want heaps of different brands playing in the same space, they want to find the absolute best brand and get the absolute best deal for their customers. It was really important for them to also work with local businesses.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act Party Leader David Seymour has faith Chris Luxon can turnaround his preferred Prime Minister numbers. The latest 1News Kantar Poll shows the National Party is in the popularity lead at 37 percent, compared to Labour on 34. But the preferred Prime Minister rankings aren't as rosy for the Nats, with Luxon on 21 percent and Jacinda Ardern on 30 percent. Seymour told Kate Hawkesby Luxon has a year to get better, whereas Ardern has probably peaked. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.