Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

It feels like a raw deal doesn’t it? We’re locked down, grocery prices are creeping up and up and up, and then we get the news that we’re in for an expensive Christmas. Shipping lines have announced a ‘peak season surcharge’ on containers coming in from China and Singapore, and other shipping lines will likely follow suit.  So, when the cost goes up for them to ship stuff to us, they’re going to pass that cost on to us, and yet again, the consumer gets pinged.  Kiwibank’s chief economist said in one report that we can expect higher prices this Christmas, and potentially even some empty shelves. There may also be deliveries that just don’t show up in time due to delays.  He says that ‘significant delays and disruptions in the supply chain don’t seem to have abated since last year’ when we had ‘a shocking whiplash in global logistics’. If we haven’t caught up this year, then we know it’s not great news for the Christmas shopping. And Christmas, by the way, just to freak you out, is just over a hundred days away

It turns out herbicide resistance is a far bigger problem in New Zealand than anyone thought.   Scientists have just completed the first nationwide survey on resistance.  Instead of finding the expected 5 percent of arable farms and vineyards being resistant to common herbicides, they found 50 percent are.  Agresearch senior scientist, Dr. Trevor James joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we approach the twenty-year anniversary of the 9/11 disaster one of the key masterminds of the attack has still yet to face trial. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is known as the principal architect of the attacks. He has been kept in Guantanamo Bay since 2006. But his pre-trial has been going on for nine years, with no set date yet for when the actual trial will begin, where he could face the death penalty for his crimes. Kevin Powers, a national security expert at Boston College, who previously advised the Pentagon on Guantanamo issues, joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Delta outbreak has forced a Government rethink, on recently announced plans to reopen the border. The Government still intends to go ahead with a trial, to allow some fully vaccinated overseas travellers from low-risk countries to self-isolate at home upon arrival. But the plans on how to reopen borders early next year will have to be completely rew Auckland University Emeritus Professor of Medicine Des Gorman told Kate Hawkesby Delta strain seems to have caught the Government by surprise. "We've known abut Delta since late last year, yet when this outbreak occurred we simply weren't ready, 80 percent of us weren't vaccinated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I know this move today to Level 2 is a step in the right direction; God only knows we all want to get down this level slide ASAP and back to some kind of normality. But I hear the businesses who're saying this Delta 2, the heavier version of Level 2 with new mask rules and capped numbers on indoor venues, is actually really tough.  Many say they're just not profitable this way, small cafes and bars for example. By the time they socially distance the tables, mask up all their staff and cap their patronage at 50, it's barely worth opening the doors. Then you've got gyms, with people expected to sweat and pump iron while stringently remaining 2 metres away from any other gym goers or an instructor. Yoga classes with mats separated 2 metres, that doesn't leave you much room unless you have a huge yoga studio.  How this plays out inside hairdressers who'll have to leave gaps in chair space, cinemas, churches, it's still a juggle for them, and many won't be making anywhere near the money they'd expect to be making

Welcome to Delta Level 2. Well, for most of the country, Auckland still has work to do. For a lot of Kiwis, the last few weeks have involved plenty of time in front of the television, with some even complaining they have run out of content to watch. Sky owns streaming service Neon and Head of Entertainment Programming Kristen Prendergast joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Northland has become an island under the new Level Two restrictions. While many businesses can reopen, travel between Northland and the rest of the country through Auckland is restricted to approved essential travel. That means the crucial tourism sector remains in hibernation for now. Jereon Jongejans from Dive Tutukaka told Kate Hawkesby everyone hopes the restrictions can be safely removed soon. "I sort of agree with being a bit cautious. Tt would be nice to have a kōrero in there, but to organise all of that in the mayhem we've got at the moment is a bit tricky." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relief in the construction industry. The Government's agreed to allow manufacturing of some building products to restart in Auckland during level 4. There's been a supply chain issue looming because those in level 2, in the rest of the country, can resume construction. Construction Industry Council chair Graham Burke told Kate Hawkesby it's a problem they'd been talking with the Government about before the dual Alert Levels were announced. "Obviously quite complex, and we're very pleased we've come out with an approach that will hopefully work." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stoked for everyone, bar Auckland, who gets to wake up tomorrow morning in Level 2. A few changes, but hey, at least you’re in level 2. Or ‘Delta 2’ as they’re calling it. Always a catchphrase. The new rules include recommending mask use in schools, especially in secondary school settings, not compulsory, but recommended. So how does this transpire? Leaving it up to schools, who’s monitoring or enforcing that? Parents? Schools? I’m sure we'll soon find out after schools go back Thursday. The other potential prickly one is surveillance testing of any essential workers crossing the Auckland border. How this takes shape I’m not exactly sure, we know it’ll be free, and you don’t have to isolate while you’re waiting on results unless you have symptoms. But how much does it inconvenience companies and how much hold up will there be at the border? Again, time will tell. The PM acknowledged these changes would be tough, which is about as useful as her expressing her frustration on things. It doesn’t change anything f

Missing boy Anthony "AJ" Elfalak has been found alive after a desperate three-day search, NSW Police have confirmed. Anthony, or "AJ", who is autistic and non-verbal, had last been seen at about 11.45am on Friday. A widespread search of the family's 650-acre property at Putty, west of Newcastle, had lasted for almost 72 hours and included police, emergency services and volunteers when the miraculous discovery was made. "Missing 3-year-old boy Anthony 'AJ' Elfalak has been located a short time ago. He is yet to be assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics. More info to come," NSW Police posted to Twitter. It is understood AJ was found by a rescue helicopter at a creek within the property, several kilometres from the family home. Police and family raced on foot to the creek and after several minutes of commotion, police confirmed they had found AJ. A widespread search of the family's 650-acre property at Putty, west of Newcastle, had lasted for almost 72 hours when the miraculous discovery was made. Photo / Google T

Confidence teachers will be able to navigate the issues around mask wearing at schools. It's recommended for over 12s but not required, when school begins for most of the country on Thursday. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland told Kate Hawkesby schools should make a clear decision about mask-wearing, with exceptions for children with communication difficulties. He says it could be a bit tricky because of peer pressure. "I think, though, we should have faith in our teaching staff. Teachers, their job is to engage kids, they know how to engage kids in learning and, yes, this is another barrier, but actually these guys are professionals." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Māori leader is outraged after David Seymour tweeted a Māori only vaccine code.  The code allows people to book in or turn up without an appointment at a drive through clinic in West Auckland. The Act Party leader argues getting vaccinated shouldn't be a race-based issue.  The National Māori Authority Chair Matthew Tukaki told Kate Hawkesby his rhetoric is unhelpful.  "David has completely lost the plot on this, we are trying very, very hard to get the Māori vaccination rate up, as we are trying to get the vaccination rate up for the country more generally." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Otis, the first New Zealand oat milk brand to grow its own oats, is wanting some company.Its launching the 1 percent fund today where one percent of its sales will be dedicated to funding projects and initiatives to make oats a viable alternative for farmers.Otis co-founder Chris Wilkie told Kate Hawkesby they deliberately set out to be both pro-farmer and pro-environment and believe the two don't contradict."We've always and we will always sing the praises of New Zealand farmers because they're the best in the world, but at the same time, we're conscious that farmers might say 'well that's all very well and good Otis, but talk's cheap' and well we agree."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How you holding up there Auckland? As the meme says, what a year last week has been. A Level 4 lockdown, an escapee from MIQ, flooding in West Auckland, and a terrorist attack. I mean you wouldn’t read about it. Except that we have. How’s everyone’s nerves?I have so many questions.Why was someone on a terror watchlist out in the community? Why was someone known to the PM at the highest level of office, as a serious threat to Kiwis, and yet the law was never changed to get him in jail? Why, after Christchurch, has nothing been learned? Why wasn’t this aspect of the terror laws tightened up? Why did they not act faster to fix the legal loopholes? Why did Police wait for him to not just grab a knife, but then go on and stab 6 people before shooting him? Can we believe in a socially distanced supermarket that he was able to stab one person every ten seconds? Six people in 60 seconds? Really? How much has been spent on surveillance of this guy 24/7 for the past 5 years? Reports of up to 30 people surveying him. Th

How things can change in just three games.After an embarrassing first-up capitulation and the last-ball loss that followed, the Black Caps have gone full circle to spin their way to a crunching 52-run win in their third Twenty20 against Bangladesh, and stay alive in the five-match series.A rapid adaption to the conditions in Dhaka has caused the drastic turnaround, and after the bowlers showed promise in the first two clashes on the slow spinning wickets, this time the batsmen and the fielders backed them up in a display that earned Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie their first international victories.They were key contributors to the win as well, with Ravindra hitting 20 before taking a miserly 1-13 from his four overs, while McConchie returned his best T20 figures in his professional career with 3-15.Add in the star turn of Ajaz Patel, with 4-16, and the Black Caps ripped through Bangladesh for 76, a statement performance from a second-string team against a full-strength Bangladeshi side in their home cond

A former close aide to Prince Charles stepped down temporarily from his role as chief executive of a royal charity amid reports that he helped secure an honor for a Saudi donor.The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday newspapers reported that Michael Fawcett coordinated support for an honor for Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz.The Times said the businessman donated sums of more than 1.5 million pounds ($2.1 million) to The Prince’s Foundation to fund heritage restoration projects of interest to Charles, including residences Charles used.The report said Charles gave Mahfouz an honorary CBE, or Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, at a private ceremony in 2016. The Saudi denies wrongdoing.The Prince’s Foundation said in a statement that Fawcett offered to temporarily step down from active duties as the organization’s chief executive while an investigation takes place. It said Fawcett will assist the investigation.Fawcett began his royal service in 1981 as a footman to Queen

Don't blame terrorism on mental health issues or treat extremism like a mental health condition.A police scene examination is continuing at Auckland's Countdown LynnMall, after seven people were injured in an ISIS-inspired terror attack on Friday afternoon.The terrorist was shot dead by police officers at the scene.Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson told Kate Hawkesby the terrorist may have been experiencing mental health issues, but that doesn't explain or excuse his behaviour.“Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis experience mental health issues. They don’t then become terrorists.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before we blow a fuse at managed isolation, let's have some context. Nearly 170,000 people have been through the system. 12 escapes all up involving 16 people, and that includes this one we had yesterday, who'd been in there not even 7 hours before he made his break. What makes you sick about this guy is that a whole bunch of police have had to go chasing after him, and be exposed to him. They now all have to be tested and I suppose isolate until they come up clear. Ironically, if they've caught it in the process of picking this character up, they'll end up in MIQ. The point is that this one escape is really serious; the guy has put a whole lot of people at risk. We don't know anything yet about where he went while he was out and who else might have been exposed. Hopefully, because everyone is meant to be at home and this happened in the middle of the night, it won't be a lot of people. But there was a driver, whether that person was a deliberate accessory is another matter. What I'm wondering, is whether thi

Even in the midst of lockdowns, the hospitality sector has been vocal about labour shortages. The industry wants urgent visa extensions and border exemptions But a McDonald's in the United States has found a solution, recruiting kids as young as fourteen. Questions are being raised as to whether employers in New Zealand should be more open to hiring teenagers. AUT Professor of Management Jarrod Harr joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waikato University is launching the world's first degree in climate change today.  The aim is to produce graduates to lead future climate change solutions - combining science, economics and social and political systems.  Margaret Barbour, the University of Waikato's Dean of Science joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.