Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Health advocates say enforcement officers are needed to clamp down on the illegal vape trade.  Reports suggest that the sale of vaping products that don't meet regulation is widespread.  Asthma Foundation Chief Executive Letitia Harding told Mike Hosking that retailers selling illegal vaping products need more than a slap on the wrist.  She says penalties like fines could help stamp out the dodgy market.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mainstream media industry is shrinking, and television is leading the way out.   Newshub has confirmed its closing on July 5th, while TVNZ is cutting four of major programmes.   Media and Communications Minister Melissa Lee says the global market is facing the same difficulties.  She's written a cabinet paper on the media sector but hasn't disclosed any details.   Former TVNZ news boss and TV3 political editor Bill Ralston told Mike Hosking that the Government could step in and do something about it.  He says Melissa Lee has no idea of what she's doing really and is basically saying her hands are tied.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

European football fans may be seeing increased security at this week’s Champions League games.  A pro-IS media channel has published several images calling for attacks at the stadiums hosting the quarterfinals.  UEFA said it was aware of the threats, but the London, Madrid, and Paris games would go ahead as planned, and Ministers in Spain and France have confirmed enhanced security measures.  UK and Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that while the outlet who posted the images isn’t officially linked to the Islamic State group, it is thought that they liaise with them.  He said that security has been upped across the board, and the London Metropolitan Police Commissioner is confident they have a robust policing plan in place.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Official Cash Rate is likely to remain unchanged for at least the next few months.  Most economists expect the Reserve bank to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% when it comes up for review at 2pm.  It's remained unchanged since May last year.  Jarden Investment Strategist John Carran says it's 50-50 whether the Reserve Bank cuts the OCR in August or November.  The primary focus is on inflation, he said, so that is where they’re looking for the OCR rate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rideshare company Ola is hitting the brakes in New Zealand.  The Uber rival told Auckland customers they won't be able to book future rides from Friday but can still access their app until it shuts down next month.  But First Union is worried the loss will give Ola's main rival Uber more control of the gig economy.  Strategic project coordinator Anita Rosentreter told Mike Hosking that Ola played a key crossover role for those drivers.  She says drivers would go to Ola when they couldn't get work at Uber and it also created competition between the platforms to offer them incentives.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has pulled no punches over the need for a two-state solution in Gaza.  The Foreign Affairs Minister has reiterated his calls for an immediate ceasefire at the UN General Assembly in New York.  He says the two-state solution is the only blueprint for peace, but Israel's seizing of Palestinian territory imperils that.  Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that's probably the general feeling among the international community.  He says just because Israel is illegally taking territory doesn't mean that can't happen, and Israel has to consider its legal obligations.   Meanwhile, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says a date has been set for Israel to invade Rafah.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A looming financial issue is being highlighted as the country works towards its next emissions budget. The Climate Commission is recommending greenhouse gas is limited by 134-million tonnes between 2036 and 2040.  But Victoria University Adjunct Professor Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that there's still a massive issue if we are going to meet our Paris pledge.   He says a government between now and 2030 is going to have to find about $20-25 billion to buy carbon credits.  Macey doesn't see any government being able to feasibly do this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An education expert says the Government's plan to improve students' learning has been successful overseas.  Christopher Luxon's unveiled nine Government targets for delivery by 2030.  They include increasing student attendance and getting more students to the expected curriculum level.   New Zealand Initiative Education Research Fellow Michael Johnstone told Mike Hosking that getting them to turn up will be a challenge but overall, it's a sound plan.   He says focusing on things like the science of learning and structured literacy have worked well in places like England.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has brought in immediate changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa.   There will now be an English language requirement for low skilled jobs, while fast-tracking will be removed for construction and the franchisee category will be disestablished.  Owner and Principal Consultant at Into NZ Katy Armstrong tells Mike Hosking the Government was left with no choice but to make the changes as the high trust model did not work.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new law in Scotland, designed to prevent hate crimes is being targeted by Neo-Nazi and far-right agitators. The groups are making vexatious complaints en masse in an attempt to overwhelm police systems.   UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Mike Hosking the definition of a hate crime is wide ranging, and an inundated system makes policing the reports difficult for authorities.  Meanwhile, support for Ukraine is crumbling in the EU.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors showed their potential over the weekend, beating the Rabbitohs in an impressive 34-4 win. Andrew Alderson updates Mike Hosking on how the team looked.  Meanwhile, the Sevens held at Hong Kong stadium for the last time.   And, a man known as the ‘hardest geezer’ has run the length of Africa. Russ Cook covered 16,300km as the first person to run from the south to the northern tip of the continent.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AN OIA has revealed police abandoned almost 60 percent of cases reported to them last year.  Of 962,521 emergency calls, 572,037 were abandoned. In 2023, reports were up 50 percent from 2019 and of cases reported, 179,957 were closed without any investigation at all.  Police Association President Chris Cahill tells Mike Hosking that online reporting has driven up numbers. The Auror retail crime reporting app enables small low-level crime to be reported to police. Less than half of reports made are actual offences.  Cahill says the app is fit for purpose.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deaths of UK aid workers from an Israeli air strike has reignited debate in the UK over the level of support, military aid, and weapons they’re providing Israel.   Over 600 legal experts, including three former Supreme Court Justices, have come forward in an open letter calling on the Government to end the sale of weapons to Israel.  They say that the UK are risking breaching international law over a “plausible risk of genocide in Gaza”.  UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that the Conservative Party is currently have strong arguments over the letter, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is so far unwilling to heed the call.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a breakthrough in the rules governing whether people who've been scammed are eligible for compensation.   The banking sector has launched a review around victim reimbursement.  This comes after consumer protection criticism and the threat of regulatory intervention from the government.  Consumer NZ boss Jon Duffy told Mike Hosking that although there's a level of personal responsibility, people need to stay alert.  He says some of the scams are extremely sophisticated and those who are falling for them are everyday New Zealanders.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Northland mayor is hailing the new law that requires Māori wards to be put to referendum as a win for democracy.   The coalition Government is introducing a bill allowing communities to petition for binding polls on Māori ward decisions.   It reverses legislation from the previous Government that ensured councils would not have wards overturned through public referendum.   Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson told Mike Hosking he believes a lot of Māori would support the new bill.   He says the previous laws were condescending to Māori and don't acknowledge them as hard-working people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ASB Bank is sending the message their predicted infrastructure bill isn't an impossible figure.   The bank's new research suggests a trillion dollars will be needed over 30 years.  ASB's Senior Economist Mark Smith says it's a huge number and we need to tap into as many funding sources as possible.   He says there needs to be greater alignment between providers and funders, the infrastructure has to be fit for purpose and deliver value for money, while meeting climate objectives.  Smith told Mike Hosking that the list is huge and the challenges are massive, but he believes it can be done.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bosses are finding Gen Z to be something of a nightmare.  They’ve found that they have poor work ethic, miss meetings, and even ditch the company on their first day of work.  In contrast, Gen Z workers say their employers don’t understand them.  Angela Lim, Clearhead CEO, told Mike Hosking that there’s been a distinct cultural shift, boundaries blurring between personal and work lives.   Another shift, she said, is in values. Lim said that young people want their employers to make a stand on social issues, to have more meaning or purpose in their jobs as opposed to just collecting a paycheck.  This can cause a lot of friction, she told Hosking, unless both parties are trained in having difficult conversations and know how to incorporate those different work styles.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students are learning more about our history but less about our place in the world.   An Education Review Office report finds schools have been working hard to implement the new Aotearoa Histories Curriculum.   It's being taught in three quarters of all schools up to and including Year 10, but to varying degrees.   Education Evaluation Centre Head Ruth Shinoda says it takes up a lot of teachers' time making their own teaching resources.   She told Mike Hosking that more off-the-shelf content would help support schools to teach the full range of the curriculum.   Shinoda says those resources could help teachers have more time to teach other social sciences too, like geography and economics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's electric vehicle sales have taken another plunge. In March, just over 9% of new passenger cars were EVs, falling from about 27% for all of 2023. Drive Electric Chair Kirstin Corson told Mike Hosking she hasn't written it off, but the market has certainly stalled after losing the clean car discount. She says it's disappointing to see new light diesel vehicles outselling EVs 10 to one, adding this is a massive difference compared to 2023.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A disability charity's launching an urgent appeal that it faces closure after more than 20 years. StarJam provides music and dance workshops for young people with disabilities, designed to foster inclusion and wellbeing. It's trying to raise $100,000 to keep the doors open to its 800 members. CEO Gilli Sinclair told Mike Hosking that they've been hit by the escalating cost of living and reduced funding streams. They put out the appeal yesterday and within the last 24 hours raised over $70,000. Sinclair said they're incredibly positive about the opportunity and have full faith in their ability to see their way through. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.