Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

So, what you look for with polls is a trend, and when we say the wheels are coming off this Government, it seems the polls now back that up. It’s a downward spiral.  Two different polls out yesterday both confirm the drop for Labour, and the drop for Ardern personally. I’m not surprised and I doubt many Aucklanders would be surprised. If anyone has reason to feel aggrieved, let down and cast adrift by this Government, it’s Auckland.  That was exemplified by the insulting visit the Prime Minister made to the city this week. Less visit, more orchestrated stopover. And, in that arrogance, is everything that’s going wrong here. You can only pull the wool over voters' eyes for so long. You can only rely on goodwill for so long. You can only bank on your support, in such a smug fashion, for so long. What voters want is transparency (which this Government promised and has failed to deliver on), authenticity, also now out the window, surety that there’s a plan, a way forward, some leadership. That’s all missing and h

A former National MP says the Three Strikes Law made the country no safer.  The Government's scrapping the law which was created by Act in the National-led coalition government 11 years ago.  It meant people convicted of a third serious violent, sex or drug offence would automatically get the maximum sentence without parole.  Former National MP and Government justice advisor Chester Borrows says it meant there was no incentive for people to do rehabilitation programmes. He told Kate Hawkesby that rehabilitation programmes do work but without an incentive to do them nobody is better off.  “I don’t think it was a good law.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research is suggesting rural hospitals are being ignored in the Covid-19 pandemic. A study published in today's New Zealand Medical Journal says DHBs have a poor understanding of rural hospitals and facilities, and feel uncertain on managing Covid patients.  Otago University researcher Garry Nixon told Kate Hawkesby part of the problem is around the physical resources available and workforce shortage. “There’s also the inevitable issue, whereby, the DHB is going to be largely focused on their large-based hospital”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A worsening surge of inflation for such bedrock necessities as food, rent, autos and heating oil is setting Americans up for a financially difficult Thanksgiving and holiday shopping season. Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2% in October compared with a year earlier, leaving families facing their highest inflation rate since 1990, the Labor Department said Wednesday. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9%. Inflation is eroding the strong gains in wages and salaries that have flowed to America's workers in recent months, creating a political threat to the Biden administration and congressional Democrats and intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve as it considers how fast to withdraw its efforts to boost the economy. Fuelling the spike in prices has been robust consumer demand, which has run into persistent supply shortages from COVID-related factory shutdowns in China, Vietnam and other overseas manufacturers. America's employers, facing worker shortages, have also been handing out sizable pay ra

MIQ has to go and it’s important the pressure keeps being applied to the Government on this, because this is a government that responds to pressure.   As Justice Venning pointed out in Murray Bolton’s successful judicial review of his MIQ exemption, under the Bill of Rights, every New Zealand citizen has the right to enter New Zealand without “unreasonable limitation”. And in those two words are the keys that open the gates, and clearly highlight that the legal grounds for MIQ are no more. MIQ’s also redundant because we’ve abandoned elimination and shifted to containment, we have Covid throughout our communities, we’re 80% double vaccinated; and data from MIQ shows that double vaxxed returnees, who test negative on arrival, pose a statistically insignificant risk in the context of this outbreak.  New Zealand citizens wanting to return home, who are double vaccinated, Covid negative, and who are prepared to self-isolate for 7 days, should be legally free to return. We are averaging well over 120 cases per day

A move to get kiwi kids interested and engaged with farming and the primary sector. Entries are now open for the Junior Young Farmer of the Year for the 2022 season. It's aimed to get school kids from both town and country engaged with the primary sector and where our food comes from. NZ Young Farmers CEO Lynda Coppersmith told Kate Hawkesby they want children to better understand the connection between what farmers to everyday and what appears on their table. “It's amazing how just one or two experiences will actually spark a bit of imagination and passion.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The return to school in lockdown areas is being called a dog's breakfast. Auckland and Waikato schools will welcome back students from Wednesday. Years 1 to 8 will return part-time, and schools can offer half days or alternate days by year group. Papatoetoe North School Principal Stan Tiatia told Kate Hawkesby he's livid and can't believe the responsibility has been put on principals to sort out the health and safety of their students. “What we need are some strong guidelines that show us what we need to do to open, what we need to do when there’s been a positive case in our school and to manage the safety of students and staff.” He said principals are not medical experts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid restrictions are failing to dent investor confidence. ASB's latest survey shows net investor confidence reached 25-percent in the three months to October - its highest point in almost five years. Net confidence in Auckland reached 31-percent - its highest point in more than seven years. ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown told Kate Hawkesby people are thinking beyond their short-term frustrations. “It seems that Aucklanders are looking through the lockdown and focusing on the true question which is ‘do you think investment returns will be better over the next 12 months?’” He said KiwiSaver balances have been recovering, and term deposit rates have been going up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Under pressure from rising infections and worried health experts, the British government on Wednesday urged millions of people to get booster vaccine shots but resisted calls to reimpose coronavirus restrictions such as mandatory mask-wearing. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the government would “stay vigilant, preparing for all eventualities,” but would not trigger its “Plan B” of bringing back restrictions on daily life. Britain is relying heavily on vaccines to keep the virus at bay during the fall and winter months. Almost 80% of people 12 and over in the U.K. have received two vaccine doses and millions are being offered a booster shot, including everyone over 50. But critics say the booster campaign is moving more slowly than the virus. The U.K. recorded 49,139 new infections on Wednesday, by far the highest total in Europe, and cases are averaging more than 45,000 a day, up 17% from a week earlier. Hospitalizations and deaths are also rising, though both remain far lower than before vaccination was w

Jacinda Ardern is being urged to confront the frustrations of Auckland business owners during her visit to the city today. The Prime Minister is expected to attend a couple of events under tight security. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Michael Barnett told Kate Hawkesby she needs to be willing to have some confronting conversations. “Talk to businesses that aren’t allowed to open, who are sitting there asking ‘why the hell not?’ He said she needs to listen to the messages businesses have been sending for the last three months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It won't quite be business as usual for Auckland's public facilities on the first day of Step Two restrictions. Libraries will only be open for contactless click and collect pick-up. Some visitor centres, galleries and museums will be gradually reopening over the coming days, but Auckland Zoo will only be open for existing annual pass holders with confirmed booking slots. Motat Museum Experience Manager Sally Manuireva told Kate Hawkesby it will open, but it could be a bit quieter than normal. “Ordinarily, we have a lot of school groups so we’ve been sad that so many of our groups have to had to cancel.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those in Level 2 who can't imagine what this must be like today for Aucklanders.  Try to imagine 3 long months, 12 whole weeks - in fact we're now into week 13 - of absolutely no shops open. You can't buy your printer ink, new shoes for your growing child, you haven't been able to try on jeans, no new socks, no ability to just whip to the shops and grab birthday presents or any little things you suddenly realise you need. Nope, three long months of having to order that online, if it's available, and then wait the sometimes 3 weeks for the backlogged courier to deliver it. Some shops have offered click and collect, but again, on a schedule that suits them, not you. So the convenience is missing. But as of today, doors are open. Big question is- will Aucklanders go nuts? Actually, several questions. Will they go nuts initially and then stop? Because what retailers need is spending all the way through to Xmas to stop the haemorrhaging. So will Aucklanders head out in droves initially, then freak out when cases s

The Foreign Minister's expected to try to put New Zealand's eggs in more than one basket as she visits six countries. Nanaia Mahuta leaves tomorrow for her first overseas foray in the job.  She'll be heading to six nations; Australia, Indonesia, the UAE, Qatar, the US and Canada.  Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman told Kate Hawkesby the Government's trying to increase New Zealand's economic links. “China’s our number one export destination. I think there’s been a determination by the Foreign Minister, expressed many times, that we need to diversify.” He said Mahuta would have had a lot of Zoom calls with them already but, that's no substitute for in-person links. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well done Auckland.  The high vax rates have led us to where we are now – getting shops open come Wednesday. It’s several weeks too late, but we’ll take it.  Key takeaways from yesterday’s announcement - it’s no longer about Covid and cases, it’s about, as I said yesterday, length of lockdown, lack of compliance. The ‘health response’ for all that the Rod Jackson’s want to squeal about it, is over. Ardern did make mention of mental health though, about time. What an unnecessary strain this has been. Northland goes to Level 2 later this week, the traffic light system will be in place by the start of next month, the PM sounded super keen for a summer, and why wouldn’t she be, she’s got a wedding to get underway.   And call me cynical, but her choosing Wednesday as the day to visit Auckland is not lost on anyone. How convenient. The day the shops open up, she’s suddenly able to waft into town... are you kidding me?  If anyone was in any doubt that this is a ‘good vibes only’ PM, there’s your confirmation. We won

A nurse has been arrested and charged with falsely giving a teenager the Covid-19 vaccine. The 51-year-old from Western Australia went into her workplace at a Perth medical centre on Sunday. She obtained permission to administer the vaccine to the teenager of someone she knew. Police allege the nurse inserted the needle into their arm but failed to insert any liquid. It’s claimed she then disposed of the vaccine but then falsely claimed in medical records that the teenager had received the vaccine. The woman is also accused of claiming another employee had administered the dose. The nurse, from Byford, was arrested at her house on Sunday after her employer reported the incident to police. She is expected to front court on Monday charged with one count of gaining benefit by fraud. By - Shae McDonald, news.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First home buyers' 26.4 percent market share is the highest on record.  CoreLogic figures show the group's share over the third quarter of 2021 was well above the long-term average of 21.8 percent. Chief property economist, Kelvin Davidson told Kate Hawkesby it goes against the perception of first home buyers struggling. He says people are finding ways in.  “They're using Kiwisaver, the bank of Mum and Dad, and getting in with less than 20 percent deposit as well as looking at different locations, and smaller properties like townhouses.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite ongoing labour and supply challenges, New Zealand's local wine seems to still be in high demand. The value of our wine exports hit $600m in the September quarter - up 9 percent on the same period last year. NZ Winegrowers Chief Executive Philip Gregan told Kate Hawkesby says he’s delighted that their buyers are enjoying our wine.  “We’ve got a good loyal customer base that is growing all the time.” But, he says the labour supply is very tight at the moment.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders have a path towards freedom and being reunited with the rest of the country. The region will move to Step Two restrictions at midnight, and is set to move to the red level of the traffic light system at the end of the month. It come as a Covid case is reported on Waiheke Island, and Mount Albert Grammar School returns to online classes due to another student testing positive. College of GPs Medical Director Bryan Betty told Kate Hawkesby the Government is trying to chart a middle ground. “The situation in Auckland has obviously reached a point where there has to be an end to this, we have to move on and through it but, it really does put an emphasis on really keeping the vaccination program going.” He says getting vaccination rates higher and hospitalisation rates lower remains the priority in Auckland. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems to matter less and less what’s said at these post-cabinet announcements because people are so over it, they’re just getting on with it anyway. The sun came out this weekend in Auckland and the balmy weather saw pretty much everyone head for the beaches, the parks, the backyard BBQ’s. It’s almost like Aucklanders took themselves to Level 2. Likewise, there's a flourishing black market of hair, nails and beauty treatments being done. More and more restaurants are opening up – on the brink of giving up, and just serving anything they can in a takeaway container from their front door. Groups are gathering in larger sizes, it’s as though Aucklanders have made a collective decision not to live in fear anymore. Having such a high double vaxxed rate helps of course. But when I see the fear in the regions where Covid turns up in the wastewater and everyone panics, it seems so foreign to Aucklanders, who’ve been wandering around with more than a hundred cases in the community for ages. Aucklanders are very muc

If you're a Cantabrian, you'll likely be familiar with the Ravenscar House Museum. It's a $16 million art museum in the city centre.  After eight years of planning, a three-year delay in opening and a $3 million budget blow-out, it's officially open to the public today.  Anthony Wright, the Canterbury Museum director joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.