Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

I think they’re going to have to start offering danger money to work in a jewellery store these days. These clowns in hoods and masks, they’re probably just teenagers trying it on, but they’re armed, they’re yelling at people as they smash up glass cases and demand jewellery, and that must be terrifying if you’re working in a mall not knowing how it could all end up. Hamilton shoppers witnessed not just one, but two smash and grabs in one day at the weekend. Broad daylight, busy shopping areas, armed robbers these days do not care. They don’t care how busy the mall is, how packed the shop might be, how many witnesses are there, they just go in anyway. Witnesses said some in the group of robbers looked as young as 13. Retailers, shoppers, the public, we’ve all been saying it’s not long before someone gets injured or worse; so how bad does it have to get? Some of the young children who witnessed all this in Hamilton were traumatised and wanted to go back home to Northland. And that’s a problem too – how do you

Employers are getting creative as they fight to attract workers in our tight job market. Flexi-work, work-from-home, sign-on bonuses, extra weeks holidays are all on offer as companies scramble to fill job vacancies. Restaurateur Michele Passarello, owner of Paraparaumu based restaurant Passo has gone one step above, offering not only free accommodation and increased wages but a shared profit scheme to his employees, he joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are being encouraged to ditch filters on social media this Mental Health Awareness Week. Netsafe and global movement Bodyright are joining to combat photo retouching and body dysmorphia. They're launching an initiative called #beyourselfie. Bodyright spokesperson and psychologist Sara Chatwin joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone messaged me yesterday and said I feel sorry for you Aucklanders with your mayoral candidates being so lame – you have the choice of two frontrunners – neither of whom sound up to much. And it’s true. It’s a pretty average line up. I think I’ve rationalized it in terms of viewing it as voting for a direction not a person. I care about my city, like many of us, and it breaks my heart what’s happened to Auckland over the past few years. It’s a shambles. Violence, crime, ram raids, burglaries, homelessness, vandalism, it’s not the vibrant city it once felt like. It doesn’t feel safe, the suburbs feel under constant threat from rampant feral bored teenagers, the CBD is a mess, the roads are clogged, the public transport doesn’t move as efficiently as it should, once a city of sails, it’s turned into a city of fails.   So given that, I would’ve thought more and more Aucklanders would be more exercised to get out vote at local body elections. I’d have thought we’d be paying more attention to the race and kno

For those looking for a job, McDonald’s might just have the answer for you. Tomorrow the fast-food chain is holding walk in interviews at its restaurants with 2000 jobs up for grabs. McDonald’s New Zealand Managing Director Kylie Freeland joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders feel the Government isn't listening. The NZ Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey has found chief executives and senior directors' confidence in the Government's leadership in falling. They have scored Jacinda Ardern just 1.61 out of five when it comes to building confidence with the business community. Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Kate Hawkesby the Government is pushing ahead with things like fair pay agreements, which are the exact opposite of what businesses want. He says they want more flexibility when it comes to employee relations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin's threat of using nuclear weapons hasn't phased Ukrainians fighting for their country. Tom Mutch, a New Zealand journalist in Ukraine, told Kate Hawkesby people no longer see Putin as the threat he once was. He says Russia has lost so many soldiers, weapons and territory, so people in Ukraine aren't scared of Putin anymore. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think Grant Robertson hit something of an own goal this week complaining that he needs more security and that politicians are under more pressure these days out on the streets. People have hurled insults at him and there was a threat of a lamington being thrown. Other MPs say they don’t have these issues and they consider being out and about on the streets a key part of interacting with the community. Now for Robertson, I get that he’s a recognizable and familiar face, he’s more likely as Finance Minister to be held responsible for a lot of the pressures facing Kiwis right now. But former Labour Party chief of staff Mike Munro even admitted on the show yesterday that Robertson may just be being a bit sensitive here. I think if he’s paving the way for a 'woe is me' approach and some sympathy come election year, it’s a bad move. The most common text we received yesterday was that it’s a bit rich for politicians flanked by cops to be crying foul on people yelling abuse at them, when there are dairy owners and

A reminder for Aucklanders to cast their vote, as the race for the mayoralty closes in. A Ratepayers' Alliance-Curia poll shows centre-right candidate Wayne Brown in the lead at 28 percent - up eight points. Efeso Collins, who has the support of Labour and the Greens, is up four points but falling slightly behind at 26 percent. Viv Beck withdrew from the race during the polling period, but still has 10 percent. Brown told Kate Hawkesby he and Collins are offering voters a clear choice. “This year we’ve got a real choice of someone who wants to spend more and someone who wants to spend less.” LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A very special robot will begin operating this week to help cure brain cancer. Wellington teenager Jemima Gazley raised money for the 'Jem-Bot' as she was dying from an aggressive brain tumour late last year. It will eliminate human error and speed up the work of testing drugs on tumours by 400 times. Jemima's dad Oliver Gazley joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A property expert says banks are aiding and abetting housing speculation and thereby contributing to the housing crisis. Auckland University's Dr Michael Rehm says when it comes to speculation, banks take a more relaxed view towards lending to residential property investors than commercial buyers. And he says the banks are benefiting from that. Rehm says compared to countries like the United States, a huge amount of New Zealand's market is residential investment property. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Queensland authorities will be reviewing DNA samples linked to major crimes.  This is over concerns over miscarriage of justice.  According to Australian correspondent, Donna Demaio, thousands of cases may need to be re-investigated. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson is concerned about the safety of MP's, leading up to the next election year, He's been facing unruly crowds and needed extra security at recent events. Here to share his insight on the matter and voice whether or not Grant Robertson should be concerned is former Labour Chief of Staff, Mike Munroe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations General Assembly begins today. It's the first one in two years, since the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is set to appear, and has touched down in New York after flying in on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's private jet. Our Newstalk ZB political editor, Jason Walls, joins us ahead of the event now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gut health is crucial to take care of. It's one of the most important things you can do to look after yourself. Pendulum is a well-regarded biotech company in the states that's now launching here in NZ. Their scientists have created probiotics that pumps akkermansia, an important gut bacteria. Joining us now is CSO and co-founder of Pendulum John Eid. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Let them eat cake’. That’s possibly what Jacinda and Clark said to each other before each of them jumped on board their private planes out of London. Jacinda on board one as guest of Justin Trudeau en route to New York, Clark on another as guest of Albanese en route to Australia. Having both flown up first class on Qantas, clearly getting back home for Clark and Jacinda needed to be something a smidge better than god forbid – economy – on a commercial flight. Euuuw. Not lost on any of us of course is the fact the people who took private planes to the funeral – when the Royal family distinctly asked people not to – were the most socialist of leaders. The ones who want to go to battle for the little guy, to see a world of equality, to push a regime of fairness, to admonish wealth or capitalism. Your Trudeau’s, your Albanese’s, your Biden’s. Now I actually don’t have a problem with leaders (and their plus ones) travelling by personally scheduled private planes on business trips, if that’s how they want to and c

I’m not sure what was more interesting yesterday – the revelation that the Sam Uffindell allegations amounted to nothing and didn’t stack up, or the pasting Luxon got by the press gallery afterwards. The press gallery by the end of it had delivered what should serve as a warning to Luxon as to how election year might go for him. The press pack were not really having a bar of Luxon, or the report, or Uffindell, or the National Party. They were looking for a conspiracy, they demanded to know why the report would not be released, despite Luxon spelling out at the very beginning that the report was confidential to protect complainants and those interviewed, therefore it would not be released. Reporters went ahead anyway; demanding to know how many flat mates were interviewed, when, where, who.. all of which Luxon kept explaining he could not go into detail on, or even knew, given the report was conducted independently by Maria Dew KC. But the barrage of questions continued. Look, it was refreshing to see the pres

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has attended many royal events, including performing at Charles and Diana's wedding. But she told Kate Hawkesby being at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I can’t imagine where we’ll see that again in such a huge volume. The love, everything about it, I think, was monumental.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no evidence Modern learning classrooms are effective. That is according to research by think tank The New Zealand Initiative that has found the Education Ministry's classroom experiment has not been based on evidence. The ministry has been unable to provide data on the number of learning environments, their cost and effectiveness. Senior Fellow Dr Michael Johnston told Kate Hawkesby the Ministry didn't research the effect these environments would have on students’ learning before forcing schools to adopt them. He says there's been a complete lack of information of its effectiveness before and after it was implemented. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's decision on Sam Uffindell could provide a window into their future policy. The Tauranga MP's been reinstated to the party's caucus after an independent investigation found bullying claims didn't extend beyond high school. Political commentator, Grant Duncan, told Kate Hawkesby National has shown they do believe in rehabilitation and giving a person a second chance. He told Kate Hawkesby he wonders whether that will be reflected in the party's future law and order policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.