Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The second round of voting has begun in the French election, just a week after the far right National Rally Party won a third of votes.  Cabinet in the UK is meeting for the first time since Labour won the election.  French cyclist Julien Bernard is being fined for kissing his wife during a Tour de France time trial.  UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey discusses all of this with Ryan Bridge on Early Edition.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs show costs from suppliers to supermarkets rose by 2.7% in June.  Costs were up in all departments compared to last year, with around 2,000 items up in price from May to June.  Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan joins Ryan Bridge to discuss why.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 8th of July, Newstalk ZB welcomes Ryan for his first programme.  It's looking likely the government will toll the new Roads of National Significance - Ryan found out that's something the freight industry supports.  Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan speaks to the costs from suppliers to supermarkets are still increasing.  He challenges Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr to look at the "real economy" when the next OCR review comes.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The principal of an online high school is broadening the conversation about children's screen time.   In an article in today's Medical Journal a group of experts calls for breaks, the use of blinking exercises, more hearing and visions tests for children, and more research on the dangers of screens.   But Mark Phillips, Principal of online high school Crimson Global Academy, told Mike Hosking the time spent on screens isn't the primary concern.    He believes it's more about the content a child is watching on the screen, rather than how long they're doing it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dunedin is abuzz ahead of the first All Blacks test of the 2024 season.  They take on England at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night - and it's Scott Robertson's first match in charge.   His first side includes Stephen Perofeta ahead of Beauden Barrett at fullback and Samipeni Finau edging Ethan Blackadder for the number six jersey. Newstalk ZB's Rugby Editor Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking he's expecting a tight contest.  Listen to commentary tomorrow from 7.05pm on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain's Conservative Party is bracing for a huge loss, with only a few hours to go till polling booths close. Keir Starmer's Labour is expected to close a 14 year chapter of Tory rule. Projections expect them to have up to 431 MPs out of 650, with the Tories plummet to 102 MPs. UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking the Liberal Democrats are now fighting for third place. He says it will be a dramatic night in politics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party says building more houses requires support from all sides.   Housing Minister Chris Bishop will today announce the plan to flood the largest cities with land for housing development.   Councils won't be able to set fixed rural-urban boundaries or mandate minimum floor area and balconies.   Instead, the market will decide.  Labour Housing Spokesperson, Kieran McAnulty told Mike Hosking not all government decisions will be dumb.   He's backing it, to give the construction sector some certainty.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A housing expert is backing the move to overhaul Kainga Ora leadership.   The Housing Minister's announced a refreshed board and new expectations to reduce operating losses. It follows a review by former Prime Minister Bill English saying the ministry's been financially unsustainable.   Former CEO of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust Bernie Smith says private community housing providers can be better at supporting tenants.   He told Mike Hosking that Kainga Ora's previous board made unilateral decisions which negatively affected the market.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American President Joe Biden continues to face pressure from his own party.  A new Reuters Ipsos poll shows Biden and former president Donald Trump neck and neck on 40% support among registered voters.  Biden's recent debate performance against Trump has prompted calls for him to step aside.  US Correspondent Katherine Firkin told Mike Hosking there have been persistent rumours of panic between the Democrats.  She says part of the renewed effort to calm the public is Biden agreeing to an interview with ABC news tomorrow night.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The primary teachers union says the Government's new school tests won't make a difference.   The Government's introducing phonics checks done after 20 weeks of schooling and repeated at 40 weeks.   Progression monitoring on reading, writing, and maths will also be introduced for children in Years 3 through 8, and done twice a year.   NZEI president Mark Potter told Mike Hosking teachers already assess, analyse, and use that to inform their teaching.  He says there's not that many that don't use these tests, but if they don't, they'll have other assessments that give similar information.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former UK nurse Lucy Letby has been found guilty of trying to murder another newborn baby.  It adds to convictions last year that made her the United Kingdom's most prolific serial killer of modern times.  The 34-year-old was found guilty last August of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more while working at a Chester Hospital.  She went on trial last month for a second time for the attempted murder of a baby girl after the original jury failed to reach a verdict.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that when the verdict was read the parents gasped while Letby showed no emotion in the dock.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A principal says the number of students going on holidays during the school term has dropped.  Flight Centre data shows a 30% reduction in family bookings during the school term compared to last year.  But the bookings during winter school holidays are up 10%.  General Manager Heidi Walker says it's likely due to the Government's focus on truancy.  Avonside Girls High principal Catherine Law told Mike Hosking that they've seen some significant pattern changes.  She says they're seeing an upward trend in improved overall attendance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A media commentator says a Bill to make tech platforms pay for news has a decent shot at bringing change.   The Government's progressing an amended version of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill to make digital platforms like Facebook pay for using news content.  National and NZ First are supporting it, while ACT's invoking its right to 'agree to disagree' and will oppose the Bill.   The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive told Mike Hosking Australia was the poster boy for such a scheme, but Meta has signalled that it won't renew.   He says there's a change from the consumer side, but from a revenue perspective there's money flowing that wasn't before.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers is urging the Government to pick up the pace with replacing the RMA system.   The percentage of applications processed within statutory time frames is falling, from 89% in 2020-2021, to a record low of 76% the next year.   Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper told Mike Hosking that the Government is taking it seriously, but the window is narrowing.   He says the data highlights the urgency and replacing the RMA is the most meaningful long term economic reform the government could deliver for them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s big four banks have been hit with a raft of cyber-attacks.  The systems of NAB, CommBank, ANZ, and Westpac were being hit every minute of every day, leaving customers increasingly vulnerable to scams.  The attackers were trying to gain access to the banks’ computer systems, deny services to customers, use malicious code, or breach security logins.  Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that the banks say that they’ve spent a fortune trying to protect themselves from this, to a sum of about $3 billion a year.  A few hours after, she said, quotes were released from Chris Sheehan calling it a type of warfare, saying that every person who uses one of the big four banks is at risk.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of liquidations is starting to rise as small and medium-sized businesses are suffering from a lack of sales.  Businesses are seeing a lack of overall sales, with some people putting off big purchases.  More people are paying their phone bills and mortgages on time in the month, but late payments are up year-on-year.   Centrix Managing Director Keith McLaughlin told Mike Hosking that the level of liquidations in the month of May have been at a 10 year record.  He says the trend is increasing, which is of more concern.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says he's starting to see change when it comes to crime, but there's a long way to go.   The Government's committed to passing four pieces of law and order legislation in the next quarter.   It includes allowing police to ban gang patches, confiscate firearms, more efficiency in the courts, and more rehabilitation for on-remand prisoners.   Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that their plans are a combination of new law and changes to how police are policing.   He says his letter of expectation to them asked for change in how police deal with gang convoys, and getting on top of the boy racer issue.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's committed to passing four pieces of law and order legislation in the next quarter.   It includes enabling police to ban gang patches and confiscate firearms.   They'll also improve efficiency in the courts system and increase access to rehabilitation for on-remand prisoners.   Police Association president Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that they're liking what they see   He says there's a lot of action and the public would generally say it's what they want to see, which police officers would support.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has announced a goal of between 80 and 90% of people seeking specialist and primary services getting that help faster.  Shaun Robinson, Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive, says more is needed.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is going to the polls today, with early voting hinting at a change of Presidency.  UK politicians are doing their final push for votes ahead of Thursday's election.  UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey has all the latest.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.