Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

I really wanted to start this year with some positives and talk about what an improved and developed plan we had with Covid given all our experience now, and all we’ve seen unfold from overseas. But sadly, that’s not the case. This whole thing has a Groundhog Day vibe about it. I mean, how come we’re still, as we go into our third year of this pandemic, still being reactive and responding on the hoof. It beggars belief that lessons have not been learned, plans have not been made, preparations have not gotten into full swing. We are behind on RAT kits, way behind, it’s woeful, it’s the vaccine rollout all over again. We have no greater ICU capacity than when we started, in fact suggestions are we even have fewer ICU beds than when we started. We have not bolstered our health workforce, we have not advanced our tragic and cruel MIQ system, we have not boosted enough people or jabbed enough children, because again, we were too slow with our vaccine rollout.  It just all feels so repetitive, doesn’t it? Why can’t

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised after an inquiry found that Downing St parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a "serious failure" to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic. But Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the "Partygate" scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. "I get it, and I will fix it," he said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021. Gray found that "failures of leadership and judgment" allowed events to occur that "should not have been allowed to take place." "The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while observing the government's regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well," Gray wrote. "Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept f

Employees across the country say their workplaces are trying to ban them from inter-regional travel, due to the Red traffic light setting. Of course, people can currently travel anywhere within New Zealand for any reason. Brett O'Riley, from the Employers and Manufacturers Association joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electric vehicles appear to be something that's staying. But this has some of our local mechanics and garages nervous as servicing an EV is a whole different kettle of fish. So UCOL, based in Manawatu, is launching a new course to train mechanics to deal with EVs. Senior lecturer Lance Funnell joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to alleviate stress in the entertainment industry, under the red traffic light settings.  The country's biggest one-day music festival - Electric Avenue - is off due to Covid-19.  Canterbury Employers' Chamber chief Leeann Watson told Kate Hawkesby they're advocating for subsidies to get the industry up and running.  She says the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme doesn't cover losses for businesses further down the supply chain. “I think if they Government are going to continue to focus on restrictions, it really reinforces the need for them to put in place that targeted financial support.” Thousands have signed a petition demanding support payments for workers in the entertainment industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is highly regarded for so many things but good infrastructure would not be one of them.We’ve been starved of world-class public transport for too long and for too long now we have dragged the chain when it comes to keeping up with some of our closest neighbours.Other OECD countries including Turkey, have surged ahead of us while we’ve sat about celebrating Hobbits and All Blacks.Why is it that others have leapt ahead and developed what’s required for their communities while we pay consultants to spell out the bleeding obvious and ask them to decide for the government of the day?Last week I was telling you that we need governments to live within their means but how does any country keep up with what’s required for its people unless they build the demonstrably huge ticket items?As much as I have enjoyed our tiny population over my 53 years, sadly the greater consensus would be that we can only progress if we vastly increase our population. And so we are.Oddly enough, we still seem very appealing to

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have expressed their "concerns" to Spotify over Covid-19 misinformation on the platform, joining a growing group of personalities putting pressure on the streaming service amid a dispute about Joe Rogan's controversial podcast.The pair first raised the issue last April and have continued to urge Spotify to root out misinformation, a spokesperson for their foundation, Archewell, said on Sunday.Their invention comes after Neil Young and Joni Mitchell both asked Spotify to pull their music from the platform, objecting to its popular "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast in which the host has made frequent false and inaccurate claims surrounding vaccines and Covid-19."Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform," an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement. "We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this

He's done it.Rafael Nadal has cemented a legacy as the greatest male tennis player of all time after he won his second Australian Open crown in an unforgettable marathon final against Daniil Medvedev.As the clock went past 3am (NZT) on Monday morning and the match ticked over the five hour mark, an exhausted Nadal served out his fairy tale comeback win 2-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 7-5 — sending Rod Laver Arena into pandemoniumJim Courier said on TV the victory "re-writes history" as Nadal broke the deadlock of 20 grand slams he shared with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.He is now the only male player ever to win 21 slams.He had to go to hell and back to do it.Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Daniil Medvedev. Photo / APMedvedev appeared well on his way to a straight sets victory after he broke Nadal's heart in a rollercoaster second set tiebreak.But Nadal responded as all the great champions do to win the next two sets.In the fifth set the drama got plain silly.Nadal was broken

David Seymour can't believe the Taliban is being more helpful to a pregnant Kiwi journalist than her own Government.Charlotte Bellis has sought asylum in Afghanistan after a failed emergency MIQ bid had her turn to the Taliban for help.Act Party leader David Seymour told Roman Travers you just can't make this up.“New Zealanders are now being given asylum from the Taliban because our own government is so mean spirited.”David Seymour says the Government should've continued with its plan to reopen the border, which is what Bellis had planned around.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety about Omicron as schools prepare to welcome back students for the start of Term One.Most students are returning this week under the Red Traffic Light setting.Teachers and students in years four and up will need to wear masks indoors, and teachers must be vaccinated.President of primary teachers' union NZEI Liam Rutherford told Roman Travers while school closures will be rare, it's unclear what school will look like when more people are identified as close contacts.“Schools are bracing themselves for how you keep your school open when you’ve got a large chunk of your staff or a large chunk of your students all close contacts or with Covid.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know how easy it is to spend other people‘s money right? Children and politicians are experts at it. Most of us were confronted with yesterday's news regarding the rate of inflation and the impending impact we can expect to see on just about everything we purchase. My grandfather told my mother - who also told all of her seven children that if you don’t have the money in your pocket - you can’t afford it. Clearly that doesn’t apply to the purchase of something essential like somewhere to live. But perhaps if more of us were to live within our means instead of that constant hedonistic desire to keep up with everybody else hellbent on having the latest of everything, the country might be in a better place. Or would it? Maybe if we had a government that was more honest about our financial situation and less inclined to spend other people’s money on questionably unessential frivolities, we might be in a better position. We are constantly reassured that the country is in a good place by Jacinda Ardern and Gran

Police are concerned how distracted drivers are, as Auckland, Nelson and Marlborough all head into long weekends.  One Queenstown police officer sitting in a visible marked car issued 23 infringements for drivers using their phone in just eight hours.  Caroline Perry, from the road safety charity 'Brake' joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ash Barty was the crowd favourite at Melbourne Park long before she ended a 42-year drought by reaching the Australian Open final. Danielle Collins said it'll be "spectacular" to take on the women's No. 1-ranked player in the final of her home Grand Slam event on Saturday. The 28-year-old American got a little taste of what to expect in her first Grand Slam final as she left the court on Thursday following her 6-4, 6-1 semifinal win over seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek. Barty beat Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in 62 minutes in the first of the semifinals, and Collins wrapped up the night by beating 2020 French Open champion Swiatek in 78 minutes. Predictably, there were boos after Collins finished her on-court TV interview. Not too loud or long, but an indication of things to come nonetheless. Barty won her first major title on clay at Roland Garros in 2019 and her second on grass at Wimbledon last year. Now that she's become the first Australian woman into the final here since Wendy Turnbull in 1980, Barty has a good cha

National has risen in the 1News Kantar poll, but the right bloc still doesn't have the numbers to govern.  National leader Chris Luxon polled 17 percent for preferred Prime Minister, up 13 while support for the party is at 32 percent - up four points.  Jacinda Ardern has dropped four percent to 35, while her party has dropped one to 40 percent.  Act's David Seymour is also down, now at six percent for preferred Prime Minister and his party is down three percent to 11.  The Greens are steady on nine percent. Former National Party advisor Brigitte Morten told Roman Travers the party has to rebuild trust so it's a good, steady start. “They need to win back that middle, but getting back some of the trust of voters who previously might have voted for them and bringing them back on side is obviously a good thing.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has given Moscow its written response aimed at deterring a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday. Blinken said the US response to Russia "sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it," telling reporters Wednesday that he expects to have a follow-up discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the coming days now that the document has been received in Moscow. The response was delivered in person to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. The written document is intended to address concerns Moscow has publicly released and to outline areas where the US has said it sees potential for progress with Russia -- arms control, transparency and stability, the top US diplomat told reporters at the State Department. "The document we've delivered includes concerns of the United States and our allies and partners about Russia's actions that undermine security, a principled and pragmati

Today we’ll get to hear more about the Consumer Price Index and inflation from those who have those specific crystal balls. Regardless of the words you’ll hear from them; for you and I, it may simply be a message of forecasted and forewarned, impending doom. What will this mean to those of us with significant debt? Only you and your bank will be privy to the increased outgoings to their overseas vaults; but expect to see everything increase in price. Sadly, for some, even items like cheese, currently sitting at about 12 to 15 dollars a kilo will become a luxury. With petrol forecast to hit and possibly exceed 3 dollars a litre, running a business and road trips to see Great Aunt Fanny in Fairlie may also become unachievable. For those that who've already seen life’s wheels fall off and now live on the streets; I’m picking they didn’t dream of that life choice. Sadly for many of us, their presence remains ignorable; an incorporeal inconvenience as we rush off to another of life’s deadlines. There is something

Seniors are being told it's a time to connect, rather than isolate. Some experts think the elderly should hunker down, and put themselves into a lockdown because of how previous outbreaks have affected the elderly and rest homes. Age Concern CEO, Stephanie Clare, Roman Travers, older people should get boosted and wear a mask when they leave the house. She says the Government's not asking people to isolate themselves. “Stay connected, if you have any questions about that, give someone a call. It’s not about looking after yourself, by yourself.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National wants the Government to take its own stand against Russia.  There are still an estimated 100,000 Russian troops massed near the Ukraine border, but Russia is denying it's planning an assault. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is recommending any New Zealander in Ukraine, whose presence isn't essential, should consider leaving. National Foreign Affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee told Roman Travers the New Zealand Government can't do anything thing legally, due to it being dependent on the UN. “We need a law in New Zealand that lets New Zealand actually make legal decisions that would be part of any international effort to isolate Russia.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials continue to be accused of hoarding rapid antigen tests. A number of businesses say their orders have been seconded by the Ministry of Health. But the Ministry rejects those claims, and says it's only "consolidating" orders heading into the country. Employers and Manufacturers Association Chief Executive Brett O'Riley says Roman Travers it's not fair. “Because they’ve taken up a lot of the supply in the New Zealand market, that’s taken away orders that have been placed for business that now no longer can be filled.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And so, the Far North remains the under performer when it comes to getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Does anyone really have any firm grasp on why the uptake is so poor? Does anyone really want to see more funding poured into an area of the country that has access to all the forms of communication that we all enjoy – or tolerate – around the rest of the country? Te Tai Tokerau is not served well by its leaders – or are they simply being ignored? You once again have Hone Harewera yesterday talking about further roadblocks for Northland vainly attempting to do the right thing for his people. But that’s one voice. You have to ask just what on earth anyone can now do to ensure that The Far North inoculation rates get up there in the high 90s as they have elsewhere. Currently, 89 percent of the region’s 12 year old plus population have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 86 per cent have received two doses. But for Māori here, the poor uptake is concerning:  85 per cent have one sh