Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Today at the Seaweed Summit 2022 the seaweed sector framework is being launched. It's all about encouraging a sector that could help us out both economically and environmentally while you can also use seaweed for seemingly anything - food, fertiliser, sunscreen and nutraceuticals. Today's event is jointly organised with a couple of groups, one of those being the Sustainable Seas Challenge Project - Rob Major leads that project and he joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is warning people are in for a pummelling as the Reserve Bank continues to hike the Official Cash Rate. Five 50 basis point rises in a row has the OCR at 3.5 percent. National Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says every signal is interest rates will need to go higher to get inflation under control. She told Roman Travers government spending is having an influence. Willis says the more spending that goes on, the more fuel goes on the inflation fire. She says the cost of living crisis is raging on, so the Reserve Bank is having to pull ever-harder on the interest rate handbrake. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wasn’t it sad yesterday to hear the news about Sir Dave Dobbyn and his recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease? I admire his honesty and the way he let people know through a Facebook post, saying he’d been feeling shaky for a while, and was diagnosed with the disease back in July. He now has a tremor in his right hand, and it’s giving his guitar playing "a new kind of twang". Sir Dave also says that the diagnosis has given him a wider appreciation of life, and he will still be performing. Generally speaking, we are all living longer with conditions that once upon a time ended lives. Now with modern medical intervention, we’re able to keep living well and truly beyond the expectations of years ago. It would almost be without exception that everybody seems to know somebody afflicted by a life changing diagnosis: Parkinson’s, dementia or some other form of neurological disease. Although we seem to have made such advances in many other disease states, the demise in the neurological aspects of life largely remain

The tide is high for the aquaculture industry as it gets a $210,000 government boost. The funding will be used for a strategy to boost the sector's workforce which is currently struggling, like every industry, to fill vacancies. Sanford CEO Peter Reidie joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion from the Cancer Society that regulating ads children are exposed to could help prevent cancer. It's funded an Otago University study that's found children see ads relating to gambling seven times, alcohol 4.5 times and junk food 27 times every day. Cancer Society medical director, Kate Gregory, says children are vulnerable to messages, which increases consumption of these products. She told Roman Travers around 50 percent of cancers are caused by things like being overweight and high alcohol consumption. She says cancer can be prevented if we're able to reduce the amount of advertising for these kind of products children are exposed to. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is warning people are in for a pummelling as the Reserve Bank continues to hike the Official Cash Rate. Five 50 basis point rises in a row has the OCR at 3.5 percent. National Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says every signal is interest rates will need to go higher to get inflation under control. She told Roman Travers government spending is having an influence. Willis says the more spending that goes on, the more fuel goes on the inflation fire. She says the cost of living crisis is raging on, so the Reserve Bank is having to pull ever-harder on the interest rate handbrake. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canstar have released a survey of 700 small business owners, which shows many small business owners feel positive about their futures, having survived the struggles of recent years. Along with feeling optimistic, more than a third of small businesses say their revenue has also increased in the past twelve months. Jose George is the general manager of Canstar New Zealand, and he joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is widely expected to deliver another 50 basis point hike to the Official Cash Rate today, as it moves to try to head off inflation in the economy. That would be the fifth 50 basis point hike in a row, an unprecedented run, and would take the OCR from 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent. To discuss further, Westpac acting Chief Economist Michael Gordon joined Roman Travers. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Post Primary Teachers' Association wants to ban streaming in schools by 2030. Streaming is grouping students together based on their perceived ability. Auckland's Sacred Heart College principal Patrick Walsh told Roman Travers international evidence proves it doesn't work, even for top academic students. He says it does have a detrimental effect on Māori and Pasifika students in terms of self-esteem and life opportunities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s something I’ve learnt over the years; never ask anyone how they are unless we truly have time to hear the truth.  Good health is often something we take for granted until we don’t have it - and good mental health precedes everything else in life.  Covid-19 and the ensuing fallout has manifested in so many ways for so many different people.   The initial inability to work followed by inability to justify retaining some jobs was closely followed by the train crash in mental health seen in adults and adolescents.  Those with expertise in treating mental health saw fewer children and teenagers last year largely due to the ongoing disruptions caused by the pandemic.  This wasn’t only due to the inability to get into a critical first scheduled appointment; it was also the inability for our healthcare professionals to recruit into mental health services.  Our mental health professionals have told the Government that the pandemic has disproportionately affected our young people and that the effects will be ong

A breakthrough for those with inoperable lung cancer. Pharmac is funding a new immunotherapy medicine, called infensey for those with New Zealand's deadliest cancer. It's the first medicine of its kind funded for lung cancer and will be available for anyone to access. Lung Foundation CEO Philip Hope says this is a massive step forward in the fight against cancer. He says the drug gives patients diagnosed with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer a good option when undergoing treatment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwisaver funds seem to be doing well, despite increasingly nervous times. According to the Financial Markets Authority, managed Kiwisaver funds have grown by 10 percent in the year to March. Simplicity Managing Director Sam Stubbs told Roman Travers it shows the industry is still growing and people are still saving. He says, if the product does well in tough times like this, it gives people confidence. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has instructed King Charles to not attend the climate change conference, COP27, set to take place next month in Egypt.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Roman Travers that before the King's ascension to the throne, he had said he'd go to the annual conference.  "It is reported that Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, has ordered him not to attend." He says that has been denied by plenty of people in the know.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nurses are being begged to take extra shifts on their days off - but with no corresponding double pay. The Nurses Organisation has suggested its members refuse to pick up extra shifts this week. It comes after their winter bonus of 100 dollars a shift, ended on Friday. Whangarei emergency nurse Rachel Thorn told Roman Travers scrapping DHBs for the new Te Whatu Ora, has made it difficult for executive leadership teams to make decisions to support nurses. She says because Te Whatu Ora has ultimate decision making - their leadership teams have less say than they used to. Thorn says they need Te Whatu Ora to take action on things like safety, short staffing, immigration and pushing the Government on policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s brand value shot up 13% from 2021, according to global rankings released overnight. Brand Finance Nation brands valued New Zealand’s national brand at US$248 billion in 2022, an increase of US$29 billion on the prior year. The annual Nation Brands Report is a study into the world’s top 100 nation brands ranked by their value and strength. It has been providing key benchmarks for diplomats, tourism boards, trade agencies, geographical indication brands, nation brand managers and consultants for nearly two decades. This rise is one of the largest of any country, with brand New Zealand’s ranking moving up three places to become the 39th most valuable. While the covid-19 pandemic hit many other countries’ national brands hard, New Zealand’s brand value rose 11% from a pre-pandemic valuation. The rankings also place New Zealand at number 13 (of 100 countries) on the nation brand strength leader-board, which combines statistics and perceptions research. Brand strength is calculated based on investment

If you're a fan of Shorthand Street, or the Outrageous Fortune prequel Westside, Will Hall will be a familiar face to you. Best known as the skateboarding doctor kip, and loveable cop Mike McCarthy, Will Hall recently moved back to his home town of Christchurch with his young family, and has now turned his attention to local body politics. With low voter turnout historically in local body elections, Will is utilising his skills to encourage Cantabrians to get voting and get engaged in the local elections. Will Hall is standing for the Heathcote Ward in the Christchurch local elections and joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So apart from school holidays starting today, guess what else we’re heading into? Sober October. Who knew? I thought Dry July was a thing and the only thing, but turns out there’s also Sober October. All I know is having not drunk alcohol in so long, I forget that alcohol free months are even a thing until I hear about them and remember that I don’t drink. It’s become such a non-event for me now, but it wasn’t always like that. When I first stopped drinking alcohol it was hard socially to explain it to people. People don’t take it very well when they’re standing enthusiastically in their lounge pouring everyone a glass of champagne and you say, “oh not for me thanks.” It’s got party pooper vibes all over it. Likewise when waiters come to the table in restaurants asking for drinks orders, it doesn’t have quite the same zing to say “peppermint tea for me please.” That doesn't really scream 'let's get this party started'. I’m sure people are trying to act more low key and less reactionary around people who don’t

Support for the Crown's decision to appeal the home detention sentence handed down to teenage rapist Jayden Meyer. The 18-year-old is serving nine months home detention, after being convicted of raping four girls and sexually violating a fifth. Meyer's victims spoke out about his sentence, and hundreds of people took to the streets in protest. Sexual violence educator and survivor Rachel Taane told Kate Hawkesby the Crown Law Office's appeal is a welcome move. She says it's an awesome start that gives hope. The appeal is set to be heard next month. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drug checking services are available at Auckland stadiums for the first time from today, following a law change last year. Volunteers from KnowYourStuff NZ will be at Mt Smart Stadium's music concert "Listen In". A report for the 2021 to 2022 festival season shows samples have been tested at 40 events, nearly twice the number done two years ago. Auckland Stadiums Director, James Parkinson told Kate Hawkesby says it's a new tool to keep people safe, made available by the legalisation of drug checking. He says it's natural to add it to their other security and safety measures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelvin Davis' 'how Māori are you' routine in the House yesterday was a disturbing trip backwards for a country now so bogged down in race politics that it's actually a distraction. And one I think most of us are rightly sick of. There appears to be more race division and race baiting going on inside the Beehive, on our behalf, than there actually is out here in the real world. The co-governance spewing forth at a rate of knots, the push for more te Reo inside media, on every signpost, every corporate email, every event, every school. You can argue it's good for us, or it's long overdue or it's evolution, or whatever argument you want to mount for it, but once we start sinking to 'but how Māori are you really?' we've reached the lowest ebb. Deputy Labour Party Leader Kelvin Davis, if you haven't kept up with this, and I notice not a lot of news websites are running it, which in and of itself speaks volumes, but he said in the House yesterday to Māori Act MP Karen Chhour, that she needed to 'leave her Pākehā wo