Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Security has been ramped up in parts of Europe after a suspected terror attack in Belgium. Two Swedish football fans were shot dead near the stadium hosting a Euro 2024 qualifying match. The Tunisian man who claimed responsibility has been killed by authorities in a Brussels Cafe. He'd identified himself as a member of the Islamic State. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby that those hosting games are staying on high alert. He says security has been tightened for the England-Italy game at London's Wembley Stadium, as well as the upcoming France and Scotland match in Lille.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A small business advocate says companies are still feeling the pinch despite lowering inflation.   The inflation rate in the year to September was 5.6%, lower than the 6% in the year to June.   Small Business Voice NZ Chief Executive Max Whitehead says while he's optimistic for the future, that lower rate isn't being reflected in many's experience.   He told Kate Hawkesby that there isn't the confidence at the moment for businesses to reinvest in themselves.   Whitehead says they're reluctant to put money into things like machines which can improve productivity.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes that the new speed cameras being installed in Auckland will change driver behaviour. They measure the average speed a vehicle travels between two cameras and will only ticket drivers if the average speed between them is over the limit.   Research shows they can reduce road injuries or fatalities by more than 50%.  Driving safety instructor Tony Williams told Kate Hawkesby that the sophisticated cameras are likely to have an astronomical cost.   The cameras are being installed at Matakana, Dairy Flat, Redvale, Whitford, Karaka, and Glenbrook, with testing starting in December.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Jacinda was prepared to sell her grandmother”.. read the headline yesterday.   A statement made by Ron Mark when interviewed about how coalition negotiations have gone in the past with NZ First. Unfortunately, he went on to say in the article that not only was she ready to sell her grandmother, but she did.   Ouch.   What an indictment on an already unpopular leader. But it should serve as a warning to Luxon and co as they head into the rocky, murky waters, that is the negotiation of coalition deals. Hopefully they don’t feel they need to sell the grandparents.   Two other things to bear in mind: one, Winston’s’ a wily old dog, and two, Luxon is new to this politics game. I hope he’s flanked by enough political savvy to keep him from trying to flog the family jewels, but then again, he may not even need Winston. All the talk of the specials leaning left I don’t buy this time round. Remember, a lot of those specials are overseas voters – the very ones who got locked out, pinged in MIQ, missed funerals for lov

Labour MPs are set to realise the magnitude of their election loss today.   The party is set to farewell a large number of outgoing MPs at their first caucus meeting this morning. Former Labour MP and Political Commentator, Peter Dunne, recalled what it was like in 1990 when the party had a big election loss.  He says the big shock was when the new caucus met and they realised how few of them were left.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation is likely to be back on the rise as motorists continue to pay more at the pump.  Stats NZ will release its latest inflation figures at 10.45am.  Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan expects inflation in the year to September to reach 6.2%, up from 6% in the year to June.  He told Kate Hawkesby that global events and the removal of the fuel subsidy are pushing up fuel prices, but National's plans to reduce government spending could reduce inflationary pressure.  Kiernan says it will take time for any cuts of departmental spending to show up in our inflation figures.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A whirlwind trip to Israel could be on the cards for US President Joe Biden.  The death toll in Israel has surpassed 1,400, while Gaza has reported more than 2,700 hundred casualties.  The planned trip comes after Biden said in an interview that an Israeli occupation of Gaza would be a huge mistake.  Washington Post reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb told Kate Hawkesby that it's the first time he's drawn a limit on what he'd endorse from Israel's response.  She says Biden has said previously Israel has a duty to respond overwhelmingly to Hamas' attacks.  Meanwhile, MFAT says around 50 New Zealanders are understood to still be in Israel, with 20 registered in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of people who expect house prices to continue to fall is dropping.   The ASB Housing Confidence Survey shows 8% believe that, down from 34% last quarter.  More people think now's a good time to buy but there's still a split.   Aucklanders are the most confident house prices will increase.  ASB economist Nathaniel Keall says it suggests the market's at a turning point.   He says people still think prices will fall further and interest rates will rise, but the number is far less than even a few months ago.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gazans are being urged to evacuate south as Israel prepares for ground operations.   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to "demolish Hamas" after their deadly rampage through Israeli border towns.   Israel has unleashed a ferocious bombing campaign on Gaza in retaliation for the attacks that killed some 1300 Israelis, mostly civilians.   Gaza authorities say more than two thousand 200 people have been killed there, a quarter of them children.  European Correspondent, Gavin Grey, told Kate Hawkesby that it's become increasingly difficult to get foreign nationals out of the country.  He said that the UK’s foreign secretary is working to secure the opening of the Egyptian border for a short time in an effort to get British nationals out.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well what a weekend.   From the nail biter of a fantastic AB’s game, which, for the record, I was never in any doubt of. For those of you who were still listening to our election night coverage at midnight Saturday night you would have heard me say I picked the AB’s to win – so you know, never in any doubt from me, just saying. Just so happy for Fozzie to be honest. I feel like he deserved that.   Likewise I thought the Nats deserved to win Saturday night like they did. You can’t take away from Luxon what he was up against... from a shambolic leaking party at the start, to some in house scandals, to an unsympathetic media, to constant grilling about how unliked and unpopular he was, to a gruelling and nasty campaign against him from Labour and their Union mates at the CTU.  He had it all thrown at him, and he just kept going. Slow and steady wins the race. On reflection, personally, if we made one mistake it was getting sucked in by the polls, we started to believe them. I did anyway. I think questions need t

The National Party says it's keeping the special votes in mind as it starts working out how it will form government.   Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says they won't be doing any negotiating via the media because they want to respect the privacy of prospective coalition partners.   She told Kate Hawkesby that work is going on.   Willis says they're progressing relationships with parties they want arrangements with.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have made it to the quarter-finals, facing Ireland on Sunday morning.  The team for the match has officially been named, and Mark Telea is out for disciplinary reasons.  Irish Rugby Commentator, Michael Corcoran, told Kate Hawkesby that it’s finals footy from here on in.  He feels that whoever wins this match will go all the way to the finals.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of airlines have suspended their services out of Israel, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded.  As a result, the UK arranging special flights to get British nationals out of the country.  Europe Correspondent, Vincent McAviney, told Kate Hawkesby that they are commercial flights, and as a result people will have to pay for them.  But, he said, this will allow them to flee the conflict and get back to the UK.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A catch 22 for a West Coast town facing a daunting prospect of eventually being washed away. The Waiho River has been changing its course and rising due to sediment build up.  If nothing's done, it's feared the township of Franz Josef could be gone in 20 years.   The West Coast Regional Council put forward a 10-year plan to sacrifice the southern stopbanks protecting farmland and properties.   Chairman Peter Haddock told Kate Hawkesby that the community has been aware of the build-up of the river for the last 20 years.   He says the council has a responsibility to act now, because if it does nothing they'll end up like Hawke's Bay's Esk Valley, which has seen devastating flooding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well this is the last time I talk to you before Saturday... although we’ll all be here Saturday night. Mike, me, Heather, and Barry, if you want to tune into ZB’s election coverage or watch it live streamed on the ZB or Herald websites, we’ll be here. Depending on how it goes if you look closely on the livestream you may see me tearing my hair out.   Honestly, I’ll be glad to see the back of it. It’s been too long, too divisive, too feisty, too nasty. I think that’s all been a turn off for voters and it may go towards explaining the current apathy. If the polls don’t pick up Saturday, then I think that says something about how this whole campaign —from every side— has been run. The sniping, accusations and insults has been gross. The misinformation that’s been allowed to run unchecked, fuelled by media, has been a disappointment. Christopher Luxon said on this station yesterday when Kerre asked him what’s true and what isn’t given all these attack ads that he was grateful to be given the opportunity to clarif

Chris Hipkins and Chris Luxon went head-to-head last night in their final debate before polling day tomorrow. Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Kate Hawkesby that he agrees with commentators who described the tone as 'cranky'. He says it was clear Hipkins' tactic was to try get under Luxon's skin which worked for the most part. Walls says he found Hipkins to be quite aggressive during the debate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his way to Israel.  Once there, he'll meet with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz have formed an emergency government and war cabinet.   US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Kate Hawkesby that they will only deal with bills and government decisions regarding the conflict.  He said that it’s Israel’s latest step, and it’s predicted they’re preparing for a ground attack on Hamas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tale of two polls - but there's just one answer.   Newshub-Reid Research and 1News-Verian have released their last opinion surveys before election night on Saturday.   Both suggest the only viable coalition is National, paired with New Zealand First and ACT - but the margins are narrowing.  Political Commentator Brigette Morton told Kate Hawkesby that the election is shaping up to be about getting the vote out.  Advanced numbers are currently sitting behind what was predicted, and there’s been much discussion about the soft and undecided votes.  The problem with the polls, Morton said, is that for them to actually matter the parties have to get out and get every single vote they can.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incoming migrants are giving the New Zealand workforce a boost.  Stats NZ has revealed the year to August saw record high net-migration, with 110,000 more people moving to New Zealand than leaving.  Westpac Senior Economist, Satish Ranchhod, told Kate Hawkesby that part of the reason job ads have come down is because businesses are able to find staff more easily.  He said that without migrants, they had to advertise much more widely and were still unable to find the workers they needed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Ws are potentially going to ruin our weekend: Winston and Wayne.   Winston could kill all the fun Saturday night by holding the whole country to ransom and not forming a government. Wayne Barnes could ruin Sunday morning with his calls against the AB’s... we are potentially in for a rocky weekend of woe and misery leaving us all with a collective hangover Monday. The country could sink into a deep depression. More so than it already is. Yikes.  I’m still aghast at how many people don’t understand MMP. I know someone who went to vote yesterday, the person next to them said to the volunteer at the polling station – ‘so wait a minute have we got two votes?’ The volunteer said, ‘yes one is party vote one is electorate vote.’ He replied, “what’s electorate vote?”   I know of another person who wants to change the government, hates the way the country’s going, wants change, but in the booth decided they were fed up with all the politicians and so did a “protest vote” and voted Green. Now Green doesn’t change th