Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Coromandel businesses are popping the champagne in anticipation of State Highway 25A reopening three months earlier than planned.  The route between Kōpū and Hikuai —badly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle— will be in business by December 20.  The tourism-reliant area suffered a severe economic downturn following the route's closure.  Mercury Bay Business Association Chair, Lynda Grant, told Kate Hawkesby that while there was a little bit of hope, nobody really thought it would reopen before Christmas.   She said that it’s a win-win for everyone.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So we got new data yesterday on vaping, and it's nothing short of alarming.   We here in NZ are among the biggest vapers in the developed world. The OECD found 8.2% of people aged 15 or older regularly vape in New Zealand, which puts us in second place, just behind Estonia.   I was speaking to a specialist cardio sonographer the other day, and she was telling me that she thinks we’re going to find out down the track that vaping is worse than smoking. We just don't have enough research on it yet, but the toxins you're inhaling when you're vaping... no good can come of that.   The worst part of course is all the young kids taking it up and how many of them are addicted to nicotine now and can't give it up. I was reading about some schools where kids are having withdrawals during exams and running out in breaks to vape; school kids, that addicted.   To have the highest vape rates in the world —just behind Estonia— is a travesty and it's something we should be leaping up and down about to fix. Because not only ar

Tax policy is set to remain the main point of disagreement as coalition talks continue this morning between National, ACT, and New Zealand First.  Newstalk ZB understands that New Zealand First is taking issue with some elements of National's tax plan.  That includes the proposal to redirect money from the Climate Emergency Response Fund to tax cuts, and the proposed tax on foreign home buyers.  Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker told Kate Hawkesby that National is committed to some form of tax cuts, but the specifics of those tax cuts may have to change.  She says National is proposing quite extensive tax cuts, but they may have to scale those back and make them more targeted.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World No 635 Kiwi Ben Campbell birdied the final two holes to edge major winner Cam Smith and claim the US$2 million ($1.7m) Hong Kong Open overnight. Campbell drained a 15ft birdie putt on the 18th hole to top playing partners Smith and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai who earlier caused a bizarre 20-minute delay. Campbell had not led at any stage of the tournament until his last putt to finish at 19 under par and beat Smith by one and Phacahara by two. For Campbell, who also birdied the 17th, it was his maiden win on the Asian Tour with his only other win in the professional game coming at the New Zealand PGA Championship in 2018. He won US$360,000. “It’s good to finally get the monkey off the back and yeah, sort of just battling away all day,” said Campbell. “Sort of didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and swing wasn’t feeling that great. Sort of went back to a few close losses and wrote a few notes down in my yardage book last night, and really used them on those last four or five holes. “It was getti

I thought I was in a bad dream at the weekend when I saw the headline ‘Health experts recommend people wear masks and celebrate Christmas outdoors amid another Covid-19 wave.’  So, my first thought is – what ‘experts’ said this, and what wave? And how big is the wave? And when will we stop reporting waves?   Turns out it was Australia’s New South Wales Health Ministry who were saying there’d been a ‘moderate’ rise in Covid cases, and they’d asked people to consider wearing a mask inside crowded indoor spaces.   It didn’t take much scrolling further down the story to find the name Michael Baker though. He was recommending for Kiwis, booster jabs, masks, and staying home if you were sick.   Now here’s the thing about these guys, had we not been bashed everyday nonstop for two years by them in the media telling us what to do and how to do it, we may take it more seriously.   But the hysteria drummed up over a two-year period of lockdowns and social distancing has left us all with a bit of collective PTSD.   We d

Long-dormant Icelandic volcanoes are waking up and threatening to erupt.   The country declared a state of emergency and evacuated thousands from the southwestern town of Grindavik.   There are more than 30 active volcano sites in Iceland and there's currently a 15-kilometre river of magma underneath the surface.   UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby the likely eruptions follow intense seismic activity.  “20,000 tremors have been recorded in southwest Iceland since late October.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders lost just under $200 million to scams over the past year.   That's according to 11 of the country's largest financial institutions.   The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has released the figure for Fraud Awareness Week.   Spokesperson Ian Caplin told Kate Hawkesby they want to make people more aware of authorised scams – where people agree to a payment.  “The scammers are getting very sophisticated and they are making things like sort of hoax sites.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Certain policies could be sticking points in holding up negotiations between National, Act and New Zealand First.   National will need both parties to make a government after they lost two seats following special votes.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says it's hard to figure out how much progress was made over the weekend.   He told Kate Hawkesby while there seems to be agreement on infrastructure issues, race relations policy could be causing tension.  “Christopher Luxon – he hasn’t ruled out, say for example, the Treaty referendum, but it sounds like he very, very, very much doesn’t want that to be a thing because of how divisive he envisions that being.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ’s profits are continuing to rise despite the economy slowing.  The bank’s net profit after tax rose by 6.7% in the year to September to a total of $1.5 billion.  BNZ’s net interest margin —a key measure of profitability— jumped 25 basis points to 2.4%.  Claire Matthews, Massey Business School Associate Professor, told Roman Travers that while they made a substantial profit, things did slow in the second half of the year.  She said that they hadn’t done as well in the last six months as they did in the first, reflecting the slowing economy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular attendance is still at lower rates than in 2019, before Covid-19.   Education Ministry data shows just 47% of students were regularly at school in term two.   That's down from 59.5% in term one, but an increase on 40% in term two last year.   Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association President Pat Newman told Roman Travers that it's about illness.   Attending school 90% of the time is considered regular attendance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning that Fonterra's new sustainability goals could push farmers away.  The dairy giant is planning to cut 30% of emissions by 2030 via new technology, carbon removal through vegetation, and on farm practises.  Lincoln University Adjunct Professor Jacqueline Rowarth says farmers will look to other companies if they can't cope.   She says this could all come back to bite Fonterra if other countries don't do what we're doing.  Rowarth adds it's hard for farmers to do better when our farming emissions are already low.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 27 days since New Zealand general election.  27 days of relative peace, calm, and tranquillity, even though our GDP resembles a 737; out of gas and plummeting to earth at less than 1% growth.  Isn't it luxurious to live in a country where perhaps our biggest problem is wondering if the pre-election promises will be fulfilled to turn everything around?  Talks between the three political parties continue as we wait to see who gets what and undoubtedly the compromises that'll be made.  Forming a coalition with friends and foe can't be all beer and skittles. Given what was said prior to the election, some almost certainly will reluctantly capitulate on their promises, having their arms shoved up their backs or biting their tongues.  To get a coalition government formed and working at the mammoth job of turning around our floundering economy, will only be hindered by the demonstrable egos at the table.  When asked yesterday if there was a deadline for the coalition talks to conclude, Winston Peters told

I am just wondering at what point we give up on trying to get anywhere by ferry in this country? If you’re an Aucklander, or a visitor to Auckland, you know the Waiheke Island Fullers ferry service is unreliable, often fraught with maintenance, or staffing or scheduling issues. Locals who regularly commute on and off the island by and large hate it – but they’re trapped as Fuller’s has had a monopoly and been their only means to get across the Gulf... up until now, with a new player in town. And God speed to Island Direct that they can make a go of it, get well patronized, and give Fullers a run for their money. But for years now, Fullers has been it and it's been a rubbish service. Then we have the Cook Strait ferries. I mean, where do we start? Who would take the gamble of getting on board one of those ferries and expecting that you’d actually get to your destination?  The interislander ferries are notorious, and then just yesterday, we see the reports that “a Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry had to turn back a

A study's found that kids who drink fizzy drinks try alcohol earlier.   The study from Seoul National University found children aged 9 to 10 who drink caffeinated soft drinks daily were twice as likely to try alcohol within a year.   The researchers say the study can't show if the soft drinks are causing differences in behaviour and brain activity.   Auckland University nutritionist Dr Sally McKay told Kate Hawkesby that many RTDs look and taste like fizzy drinks.   She says it can be a natural change, given they're already quite familiar.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States is cautioning Israel against occupying Gaza.   It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country will have overall security responsibility for an indefinite period after the war ends.   International geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller told Kate Hawkesby that Israel doesn't want a power vacuum in Gaza or Hamas to rebuild, so their only option is occupation.   He says that will be disastrous, and a bit like when the US occupied Iraq after the Iraq war.  However, Miller concedes it'll probably be the only option.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employees are going above and beyond, often without compensation for it.  A Hays Recruitment survey's found overtime increased in more than a third of organisations last year.  It also found overtime was unpaid in 30% of organisations.  Frog Recruitment Managing Director Shannon Barlow told Kate Hawkesby that often people do what's needed to get the job done.  She says there's also been a shift for employees wanting to protect their roles and making a personal decision to work more than they're required to.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m not surprised Chris Hipkins is staying on as leader. I mean let’s face it, one, who else have they got? And two, when you’re a career politician, what else is it you’re going to do at this point? But it’s the best possible option for Labour I reckon. He’s adept at politics and playing the media – and those two things go hand in hand these days. He’s quick on his feet, he’s an attack dog – which is what opposition is all about. But how attack-y is the potential problem for him... as in, is he too much attack dog? I think he will have to tone it down. I think voters have had a gutsful of mudslinging and negativity and scrapping in the gutter. The Willie Jackson style of politics of flinging grenades everywhere and not caring where they land... it’s reckless and we tolerate it less and less nowadays. There seems, as the election result would indicate, to be an appetite to get some adults back in the room. And more important than snapping at the government in these next few months, is going to be getting his

Teachers from about 100 early childhood centres will strike today.   They're part of the Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement and say negotiations have reached an impasse.   NZEI says the government funding model isn't fit for purpose.   Montessori New Zealand chief executive Cathy Wilson told Kate Hawkesby that the incoming National government has said they'll initiate a funding model review.  She says the funding model is challenging, the funding is inadequate, and it's easy to get into trouble because you've done something wrong.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Electoral Commission is looking to see whether discrepancies at three polling places are isolated or more widespread.  It's launched a check of all voting place results after our newsroom picked up errors at two polling places at Port Waikato, and one polling place in Ilam.  More than 500 votes at one polling place were wrongly assigned to the Leighton Baker Party, rather than National.  Political commentator and former United Future Leader Peter Dunne told Kate Hawkesby that it's one of several issues that will need to be addressed when the electoral process is reviewed at select committee.  He says the commission also needs to answer questions about the time it took to count the votes, and whether there were enough polling places on election day.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses being left frustrated about transport changes in Auckland's city centre is being put down to poor communication.  Auckland Transport has decided to remove all car parking on Karangahape Road and restrict the times on loading zones to allow room for a new bus service.   Businesses say they've been given very little notice.  Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Kate Hawkesby that no shop owner should wake up and find their loading bays are all but gone.  He says these things always become a problem because we don't engage properly in discussions right at the start  AT has apologised to businesses for the communication around the change.   It says there will be a grace period until December 11 for vehicles caught using the bus lanes at the wrong time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.