Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Health NZ will cut $204 million of contractor and consultant spending, making up for more than half of the Government's target of $400m.  The public health agency has been using contractors to fill vacant roles.  Why is Health NZ not employing full time staff?  Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell joins Early Edition.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Monday 31st of March 2025, nearly half of the Government's contractor and consultancy spending cuts are set to come from Health NZ, Former Health Nz Chair Rob Campbell shares his thoughts.  The Government's looking at bringing a third player in the grocery sector to break up the duopoly, Grocery Policy Expert Ernie Newman  tells Andrew Dickens how this could work.  Andrew Alderson has all the latest sport from over the weekend.  UK/ Europe Correspondent shares the latest on the chair of the charity set up by Prince Harry has accusing him of "harassment and bullying at scale" after he and several others quit the organisation earlier this week.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A grocery sector expert says he's pleasantly surprised by Nicola Willis's plans for the sector. The Economic Growth Minister has confirmed she's seeking advice on potentially breaking up the supermarket duopoly. That could include separating the retail and wholesale arms of Foodstuffs and Woolworths. Ernie Newman says told Andrew Dickens he was sceptical before the announcement but is impressed by what he's heard. He says Nicola Willis has come across as a "minister on a mission" and she's done her homework.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent all weekend waiting for more details about the death by dog in the Bay of Plenty.   This story upset me greatly. We heard about the victim.  A cheeky cheery 4-year-old kid. His family say he had a little mischief in his smile, a little wid in his heart and a heart full of cuteness.   We heard a statement from the Marae that something had happened suggesting this was in Maori circles. For a while I thought it was an incident on the Marae but it wasn’t.   We heard another person was injured and presumably they were trying to save the boy.  On social media I saw claims that the boy may have razzed the dogs but that’s not the point. That’s victim blaming.   The thing that always gets me on these stories is that dogs should not kill people.   Even though 4 people have died at the teeth of dogs in the past 5 years.  Dogs are man’s best friend. Dogs are a useful tool. But dogs should never kill humans. The way robots are programmed to never kill humans.  Even the do

Liam Lawson has officially been demoted from the Red Bull Formula One team.   He lasted two Grands Prix before management decided to replace him with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda for his home event next weekend at Suzuka.   The switch confirms widespread speculation of a new partner for defending champion Max Verstappen.  F1 Journalist Thomas Maher told Andrew Dickens that this is a risk for Red Bull, as if Lawson does well in the Racing Bulls car, the blame for his struggles in the big leagues will fall back onto the car.  He says Yuki Tsunoda is a known quantity when it comes to racing, so answers about whether the car is to blame will be gained very quickly.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park has triumphed in its battle to be Auckland's Council's preferred stadium over building a new facility near the city's waterfront.  The council has voted to endorse in principle the first stage of upgrading the Park – 17 in favour and two against, with one abstention.  But it's making it clear it won't pay for it.  Councillor Shane Henderson told Andrew Dickens that while both bids had their issues, Eden Park had less to do to become viable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK and France have agreed to lead a "reassurance force" in Ukraine.  British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says Europe is mobilising on a scale "not seen for decades" to be ready for peace, following a leaders summit in Paris.  They've agreed not to lift Russian sanctions as Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for stronger US support.  But Europe correspondent Vincent McAviney told Andrew Dickens Putin has previously said he doesn't want any NATO troops involved in Ukraine.  He says that doesn't leave really any European soldiers these days, after long holdouts Sweden and Finland joined NATO after Russia's invasion.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former associate finance minister believes public sector job cuts are needed to grow the economy.  Latest Public Service Commission data shows the core workforce reduced by four percent in the year to December 2024.   The Tertiary Education Commission, Archives New Zealand, and Department of Corrections yesterday earmarked further cuts.  But former Minister Sir Lockwood Smith told Andrew Dickens the sector has got productivity problems.  He says there's so much unproductive work going on by well-meaning good people, who lack focus on what's needed to deliver an effective workforce. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Friday 28th of March 2025, Red Bull have officially demoted Liam Lawson, F1Planet.com Editor and Journalist Thomas Maher shares the latest from Red Bull.   Auckland Council is backing an Eden Park upgrade for the city's new stadium plan, Councillor Shane Henderson shares the reasons for the decision.   The Government almost doubled its target for cutting consultancy spending, Former Associate Minister of Finance, Sir Lockwood Smith shares his thoughts.   UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney shares the latest on European leaders gathering in Paris to discuss plans for a coalition of the willing peacekeeping force and continued sanctions on Russia.   Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters turned into a grumpy old conservative man in the house yesterday.  A role he assumes to hoover up votes from his constituents rather than the stately Foreign Minister image he shows to the rest of the world.  He complained that Ricardo Menéndez March, the Green MP, wore a leather jacket in the house. It was a glossy little number, but was it disrespectful?  It raises the question about clothes in the workforce.  If you wear a $1,500 designer leather jacket, is that less respectful than a $300 suit from Laidlaw + Leeds from Farmers? Things have obviously loosened. Our big boss wears a jacket, but I’ve never seen him in a tie.  Casual Friday has become casual weekday.   So, I’m not worried about Ricardo’s leather jacket - even though it gave off Boy George vibes and he looked like he was off to the disco.  He obviously took care of his look and turned up well-groomed, even if he looked like a clown.  And it’s not called the House of Representatives for

Motorsport expert Bob McMurray claims Liam Lawson's been treated unfairly by Red Bull as he faces demotion two races into the Formula One season.  Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda is reportedly set to swap with Lawson for next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.  Lawson's didn't finish at Melbourne and came 12th in Shanghai - Tsunoda returned 12th and 16th place results at the same events.  McMurray told Andrew Dickens he’s being made a scapegoat for the failings of the team themselves.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's debate over the potential loosening of bank rules.  Reserve Bank requirements —forcing banks to have enough capital to withstand a one-in-200-year shock— look set to be loosened.  Banks say that could reduce the cost of borrowing.  But Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub told Andrew Dickens it won't address the underlying reasons why banks aren't lending more money.  He says mortgage rates are currently 2% over the cost of borrowing, and banks aren't lending enough to businesses and farms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary healthcare appears to be bearing the brunt of a vicious funding cycle.   New Royal New Zealand College of GPs research shows the sector's facing financial neglect, receiving just 5.4% of each health budget since 2009.   President Dr Samantha Murton told Andrew Dickens it's costing more in the long run, as people get sicker.   She says people are going to hospital at greater expense, meaning money can't be invested into primary care where the best work is done to prevent hospitalisations in the first place.   Murton says they need 10% of the funding pool at least.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House says screenshots of a top US officials group chat didn't contain classified information.  The Atlantic magazine editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a group thread on the encrypted messaging app Signal.  Screenshots made public overnight include exact timings of drone and missile attacks on the Iran-backed Houthis, followed by updates on targets hit.  US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Andrew Dickens the Democrats claim the messages were classified.  He says they're now calling on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who sent some of the messages, to resign. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Thursday 27th of March 2025, could Liam Lawson be dropped by RedBull already? Motorsport expert Bob McMurray shares his thoughts. New research from the Royal NZ College of GPs shows primary healthcare is being financially neglected, President Samantha Murton shares her concerns. Westpac is calling for the Reserve Bank to relax capital requirements, Chief economist at Simplicity, Shumabeel Eaqub tells Andrew Dickens if it'sa good idea. US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the Atlantic deciding to publish additional text messages from the group chat of top Trump national security officials, on the Houthi attack. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tamatha Paul: a woman mocked for her views on Police.   Chris Hipkins says her views on beat Police were unwise, and then he went further and said they were stupid.   The Prime Minister says she’s in lala land.  Yesterday I commented that life must be really sweet on her planet - pity it’s not ours.  But that didn’t stop her doubling down yesterday on her views, because they are not untrue.  She pointed out that brown people have quite a different perception of police than others.  Look up profiling and it’s meaning.  She pointed out the terrible failure of the police in the case of the 11-year-old confused with a twenty-year-old that we’re all shocked at.  She highlighted the hassle of homeless.  She didn’t back down because as she said they are legitimate experiences amongst her constituents.   And she has constituents. She’s not a list MP. She won Wellington Central fair and square.  However, the complaints of one are not the complaints of a hundr

The just revealed Australian Federal Budget is being criticised as an election sweetener.  The Treasurer's announced tax relief for households.   Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to call the election, but it's expected in coming months.  Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans says they’ve tried to give people a little bit of everything in this budget, with tax cuts, more energy bill relief, wage increases and cheaper medicines.  He says the Government is probably hoping it will sway people, but it’s hard to tell whether it will or won’t.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neither of two options for Auckland's main stadium are entirely feasible.   Auckland Council staff say feasibility studies for either an upgraded Eden Park or a new stadium at Quay Park found both lacking.   The report says the Eden Park option would not be financially feasible without council or central Government funding, and Quay Park has optimistic assumptions around infrastructure and construction costs.   Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson told Andrew Dickens he’s questioning why the council is being brought into it.  He says the Mayor has made it clear the council won’t be contributing financially.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caveats to the new Russia-Ukraine Black Sea ceasefire deal are causing uncertainty.  The United States says both countries have agreed to stop military strikes in the Black Sea and develop measures to implement a ban on energy facility strikes.   But Newstalk ZB European Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens Ukraine's warned any Russian naval movement would be a violation.  He says in return, Russia's demanding sanctions on banks, insurers, and food exporters must be lifted first.   Sky News reports Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the maritime ceasefire is effective immediately, and no one can accuse them not moving towards peace after this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 26th of March 2025, officials warn neither options for an Auckland stadium are feasible, Auckland Councilor Maurice Williamson explains why.   Australia's Federal budget is out and tax cuts are on the way, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans shares the latest.   Employment confidence is down across the country, Employment Expert Tom O'Neil says employers can sense the desperation from applicants.   UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey shares the latest with more protests and arrests expected in Turkey following the detention of the Ekrem Imamoglu.   Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.         LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.