Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The Cabinet reshuffle yesterday was all the confirmation we needed, as I said yesterday, that this is the same old government doing the same old stuff.  Which is to be expected because they were never going to be able to just bring in fresh new experienced faces to shake everything up, because they don’t have any.  So Police Minister Stuart Nash is back for another round, the very likeable but politically inexperienced Ayesha Verrall is now Health minister, I feel for her. That’s got to be the worst portfolio ever to be handed out. You’re never going to win with that one – and she seems like a nice person – which is possibly why they gave it to her – maybe she seemed less edgy and prickly than Andrew Little. Maybe they hope she’ll be a bit smoother in the role and rub up against the media in a less combative way. I don’t know, I just know Health is fraught, and I’m not sure she’s up for the political jousting that comes with being Health Minister.  But here’s the biggest scandal in the whole thing, the most a

New figures out this morning will reveal just how much the tight job market is driving inflation pressure in the economy. The latest official unemployment rate is being released at 10.45am. Some economists expect the rate to dip back down to a record low, with wage growth continuing to accelerate. But Westpac Acting Chief Economist Michael Gordon told Kate Hawkesby he expects the unemployment rate to remain steady at 3.3 percent. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Minister of Auckland is hoping to have a constructive relationship with controversial Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Michael Wood has been appointed to the new role in Chris Hipkins' Cabinet reshuffle. The senior minister and Mount Roskill MP was previously an Auckland Council local board member, and is the husband of an Auckland councillor. He told Kate Hawkesby he'll work alongside the mayor and the councillors, to get things done for the city. Wood says they need to work together respectfully and professionally. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The upper North Island is waking up to another morning of heavy rain. Red Heavy Rain Warnings remain in place for northern Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the western Bay of Plenty. Orange Heavy Rain Warnings remain in effect for the rest of Auckland, Great Barrier Island, eastern Bay of Plenty, and northern Gisborne District. A state of emergency remains in place across Auckland and Northland, with a number of roads closed and hundreds of homes without power. Fire and Emergency Auckland Response Manager Ken Cooper told Kate Hawkesby fire crews have been called to about 15 weather-related call-outs overnight, but conditions will hopefully ease today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So that feels like a really long holiday, did I miss anything? Jacinda Ardern quitting seems like a long time ago now given all the news we've had since. But I can tell you my first thought was not – oh dear, misogyny forced her out. The true reason of course was the polls, the research, the divisiveness, the polarisation, the fact Labour was on a hiding to nothing with her at the helm.  Epic failures to deliver on so much, the arrogance that had crept in, the fact she clearly couldn’t stand the reality of not being popular anymore. Those jumping to assert that it was misogyny only discredit all women in leadership positions. We’ve had female leaders in this country for years, they hold their own, they don’t need coddling and defending and protecting.  Ardern just didn’t like the idea of losing. She wasn’t up for the grind of election year on the hustings with people giving her a hard time. And fair enough, that’s on her. I don’t begrudge her wanting to pull the pin on her ‘team of 5 million’ when it didn’t s

New year, new Prime Minister, new Cabinet. Chris Hipkins will unveil his Ministerial reshuffle at 4pm today, plugging holes left by retiring MPs. Political Editor Jason Walls joined Early Edition. “Hipkins’ assent to Prime Minister means he vacates a number of fairly chunky portfolios including education and police, those are expected to go to already senior Cabinet ministers but Hipkins has said he is looking to bring some fresh talent into his Cabinet.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some early childhood centres will be open this week, for parents who need to drop their kids off. But Early Childhood Council Chief Executive Simon Laube told Kate Hawkesby a number may remain closed. "If you are in Auckland today, if you haven't heard from your centre, reach out, get in touch and see fi they're open." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flood-affected parts of Auckland are preparing to be in the firing line once again. Red Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for Northland, northern Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. Orange Heavy Rain Warnings have also been issued for the rest of Auckland and Bay of Plenty. In Auckland, a state of emergency remains in place, many roads remain closed, and schools have been asked to delay the start of term until next week. In the city's west, councillor Shane Henderson told Kate Hawkesby people are worried about getting hit yet again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick says authorities will need to learn lessons from their slow response to Friday's heavy rain. She told Roman Travers there is an obvious disconnect between Auckland's leaders and Auckland's people, which is disappointing. Swarbrick says questions will need to be asked about why authorities were so slow to respond to the severe weather event. But the focus right now, she says, needs to be getting through the week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People on the Coromandel Peninsula are being urged to brace for more heavy rain. There are extensive road closures, including State Highway 25 between Coromandel Town and Whitianga, and State Highway 25A between Kopu to Hikuai. That means many communities, like Whitianga, are once again cut off. Coromandel MP Scott Simpson told Roman Travers that the slips on State Highway 25A will take the highway out of action for months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the weather brought to vast parts of predominantly the North Island over the long weekend will hopefully not be seen again for a very long time.   Something else I hope not to see for a very long time is the attitude portrayed by our leader, the mayor of Auckland who told us that it wasn’t his job to get out there with a bucket.  It was an interesting thing to hear Mayor Brown say, when clearly there have been several mayors over the years who’ve done that: rolled up their sleeves and just got stuck in.   We’ve had a mayor who famously towed his concrete mixer on the back of the mayoral car.   Why? Because many of our elected leaders have or have had fantastic work ethics, which is one of the fundamental reasons they got voted in.   Surely it’s important to be seen being an active and integral part of your community, whether that’s a small town or a super city.    On Saturday, Wayne Brown went on the defence, saying the response to Friday's storm took a lot of concentration, happened quickly and the resp

Every time I’m confronted with what people are pay for rent I am completely shocked at how anyone can afford to part with that kind of money, and still have money anything else.  I’ve real concerns for my daughters who are in their 20s and just how on earth they will ever get to a position where being able to afford a mortgage is a viable proposition.   Yesterday, TradeMe revealed the whopping all-time high rental costs across the country.   The biggest increase was seen in Northland, where the median weekly rent skyrocketed. At the start of last year, the median rent for Northland properties was $500 a week. By December, that had jumped to $560.  Manawatū, Whanganui, Taranaki and Canterbury also saw enormous increases of at least $40 per week.  Do you think it’s time to completely flip the desk on the astronomical cost of existing and seriously consider other ways of living?   Is it time to get more communal and build properties as communities which may involve friends and family as a means to reduce the cos

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Hamish Bond is joining Team New Zealand for the America’s cup. He will be a cyclor in the 2024 Barcelona competition. Sailing commentator Mark Orams joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold the Giraffe is expanding his focus. The popular giraffe puppet has been teaching generations of New Zealand children about their bodies and being healthy. Now, Healthy Harold is teaming up with Barnados to educate five to 19-year-olds about how and when to ask for help with their mental health. Barnardos General Manager Jo Harrison told Roman Travers they're hoping to reach more young people. She says there isn't a more iconic figure to be teaching children about mental health. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning that increasing the minimum wage could make inflation even worse. The number of people seeking help because of financial hardship is on the rise, as inflation continues to remain at historically high levels. But National says any increase to the minimum wage is the wrong move right now, as it will increase inflationary pressure. Employers and Manufacturers Association Chief Executive Brett O'Reilly told Roman Travers he agrees, because a minimum wage rise pushes up incomes across the board. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday was a very big day for new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.   There aren’t very many of us that can say we’ve been Prime Minister. Evidently, there aren’t too many who want the job. We’re only up to number 41.   There aren’t very many that put their hand up for the job and given the way they’ve been treated in recent years, you’d have to say, it takes a certain kind of someone. Regardless, I think we’re all excited and waiting with baited breath, to hear about which policies will be quietly folded and stuck back in the sock drawer, and which ones will be tinkered with and given new direction.   I do wonder how many people engage daily with the news around the new leader of the Labour Party and the announcements being made apropos their new direction. Do you think the new right hand down approach on the drive to the general election is spinning many wheels? Most people are just far too busy. Busy trying to work out how to keep their job. Busy trying to keep a business running. Busy trying to keep their

Some are suggesting kiwifruit growers being hard done by. Zespri has pulled pin on its February payment to growers due to higher costs from last season. Chief grower Carol Ward says it's down to fruit quality. But Seeka says growers shouldn't be taking the brunt of it. CEO Michael Franks joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study by NIWA shows almost half of our river network is inaccessible to migratory fish. A further 36 percent could also be restricted but has not yet been assessed. NIWA is now studying the swimming capabilities of native fish to try and come up with a solution. Freshwater ecologist Dr. Paul Franklin joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could soon be a little big cheaper to fill up the fruit bowl and vegetable drawer. Latest figures show fruit and vegetable prices are 23 percent higher than they were a year ago, contributing to a 7.2 percent rise in overall consumer prices. But growers are optimistic seasonal fruit and vegetable prices could drop, and supply could increase, in the coming weeks. Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy says price of some products may fall faster than the price of others. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no guarantee inflation is on the decline. The Annual Consumer Price Index data, due out later this morning, will show how much prices have increased for the average household in the past 12 months. While many economists expect the inflation rate to be lower than the 7.2 reached in the year to October, ASB is predicting the inflation rate will be even higher. ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith says that there's lots of uncertainty in the figures. He says their view is domestic, and inflation will remain more of a problem for the Reserve Bank. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.