Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

No one in the history of spin has spun more than this current Government, which is why I find it so ironic that Grant Roberston’s accused Chris Luxon of ‘political spin’ when it comes to the party’s views on Roe v Wade being overturned.  Pot, kettle. What Luxon did, was clarify the party’s position, after a personal statement was made by one of his MPs who clearly momentarily forgot that he's part of a bigger machine than just himself. Simon O’Connor maybe should've kept his celebratory Facebook post between him and his nearest and dearest, and remembered that he doesn’t speak for his whole party. It does of course suit a left leaning government – and media for that matter, and their agenda, to cast Luxon as some sort of Trump 2.0 and look to whip up a storm over this.  Which is why Nicola Willis looks like the only politician speaking any sense at the moment. She said this whole thing is an attempt by the Government to import American style culture wars into our politics and it's needless fear mongering to w

Prince Charles' office has denied there was any wrongdoing in the heir to the British throne accepting bags full of cash as charity donations from a Qatari politician.The Sunday Times said the prince was given a total of €3 million ($5 million) by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar. It said the money was handed over to Charles at private meetings between 2011 and 2015 — on one occasion in a suitcase, and on another in shopping bags from London's Fortnum & Mason department store.The newspaper said the money was deposited into the accounts of the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund. It did not allege that anything illegal was done.Charles' office, Clarence House, said in a statement that the donations "were passed immediately to one of the prince's charities who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed".The prince's charitable fund told the newspaper it had verified "that the donor was a legitimate and v

It's being suggested Simon O'Connor has created an unfortunate distraction for the National party and his leader.Chris Luxon says a social media post by O'Connor celebrating the overturning of Roe v Wade in the US was taken down because it was causing distress and doesn't represent the party's position.Political Commentator Ben Thomas told Kate Hawkesby abortion issues are traditionally treated as conscience votes so O'Connor has every right to express his belief.But he says on the other hand, he's also a backbencher in a party seeking to win power after what will be six years in opposition.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than $1 billion is spent on takeaways and fast food each year in Auckland.High deprivation areas have a higher concentration of the outlets, and fewer places - like supermarkets - selling fresh food.Nutritionist Nikki Hart told Kate Hawkesby for people with low incomes, working multiple jobs and with large families to feed, the food looks attractive after a long day.She says the industries are smart - they know exactly where to put outlets, such as where there's high traffic volume outside schools and churches.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Andrew Alderson at HeadingleyThe synonym jar is almost empty to describe the narrow margins in the cricket test series between England and New Zealand.The same applies in the third and final test at Headingley. The visitors hanker to claim something tangible as runners-up, yet the hosts' nerve have consistently held to win the key moments.Stumps on the fourth day brought that same sense of familiarity. England had moved to 183 for two in the chase for 296 with Joe Root 55 and Ollie Pope 81 after New Zealand were dismissed for 326.Under normal circumstances that would mark a challenging target in a fourth innings, but given the current Baz-ball enlightenment period under new coach Brendon McCullum, nothing is beyond the realm.England have already hauled in 277 and 299 at Lord's and Trent Bridge respectively. A calculated gamble looms across 90 overs – but more likely fewer - on the final day. So far they are cruising.Root's highlight came reverse scooping Neil Wagner for six to bring up England's 100. Such

It’s so good to be back. I was a bit nervous about coming back because when you’ve been sick for three weeks unable to stay awake for long periods and feeling so crap, it’s hard to imagine how you’ll ever get up at 3am again. But as it turns out I was so nervous about being able to wake up at 3am, that my body never actually went to sleep, always the way isn't it.So I'll be having a big Nana nap today.I was feeling so terrible about being off work so long - I feel very deeply my obligation to my audience and it's a dreadful feeling to not feel well enough to show up for you.They say the key to Covid and flu recovery is rest, rest, rest. My doctor kept saying rest, rest and then when you think you’ve rested enough, rest some more.That’s because everyone who has bounced back too early has gone back to square one and I’ve been sent so many horror stories from you guys about Covid turning into Influenza A, like mine did, and how long it took to come back from that. Some of you are still suffering even after a mon

President Joe Biden will call on Congress to suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes for three months — an election-year move meant to ease financial pressures greeted with doubts by many lawmakers.The Democratic President will also call on states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief, the White House said.At issue is the 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal tax on gas and the 24.4 cents-a-gallon federal tax on diesel fuel. If the gas savings were fully passed along to consumers, people would save roughly 3.6 per cent at the pump when prices are averaging about $5 a gallon nationwide.It's unclear, though, if Biden could push such a proposal through Congress, where many lawmakers, including some in his own party, have expressed reservations. And even many economists view the idea of a gas tax holiday with skepticism.Barack Obama, during the 2008 presidential campaign, called the idea a "gimmick" that allowed politicians to "say that they did something". He also warned that oil companies could offse

Smaller grocery players are casting doubts, on the latest moves by the supermarket giants.Foodstuffs has followed its rival Woolworths, in announcing a wholesale service for smaller operators.It follows concerns about the current grocery duopoly.Dairy and Business Owners Group chairman Sunny Kaushal told Tim Dower many of the problems won't be fixed, until the duopoly ends.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns owners of nasty dogs aren't facing the consequences of attacks by their animals.A report in Gisborne found no one has been prosecuted, despite 90 attacks in the course of a year.Pat Collins ran animal control in the district for over 20 years and joined Tim Dower.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Space is unimaginably, infinitely, large but our little corner of it is getting crowded.More satellites are going up every day, and one expert is warning it's becoming a messy and dangerous place.Rand Corporation’s Douglas Ligor says more rules are needed and he joined Early Edition from the US.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not sure how much of a difference these new wholesale channels are going to make to competition in the grocery sector.My sense is that what it'll do, if anything, is maybe give the dairies a bit of a break and a chance to increase their margins a smidge.But when it comes to the main weekly shop, that's still going to go to one of the big chains.I slipped into one for a few tins of dog food and what have you yesterday walked out 186 bucks lighter, they've still got it pretty much sewn up.Will wholesaling address the power imbalance in the grocery sector or just allow the incumbent duopoly to tighten their grip?And will it hurt the existing cash and carry operators? Your Gilmours and the like, or cause them to focus more those 80 litre buckets of oil.There's no question the ComCom report has caused a bit of a commotion, and shaken things up.And it's also confirmed some of the sharp practices that were going on to squeeze suppliers, that we've known about anecdotally for quite a while.Ultimately though, to reall

Employers are facing a desperate battle to keep their workers.People may will be surprised to hear what is considered the most attractive place to work.Randstad has been doing some research on this and they have found Evolve Education Group the most desirable place to workCountry director of Randstad Richard Kennedy joined Early Edition.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some scepticism over the Government's latest move to tackle the plasterboard crisis.Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods has set up a taskforce to troubleshoot supply shortages.Combined Building Supplies Co-Op Marketing Director Mike Blackburn says this is a problem that's been plaguing the industry for months now.He told Tim Dower some suppliers have already been looking for solutions.Blackburn says Bunnings has told him it has 150 containers of plasterboard coming in from Thailand and will continue to bring it in as fast as it can.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party wants to see vaccination mandates for health workers scrapped.We all know hospitals are facing severe staff shortages just as the flu hit .and overseas evidence suggests another Covid surge is likely.Act leader David Seymour joined Early Edition.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MIQ.You'll have heard calls from the Opposition for an apology to some of the New Zealanders who were locked out of the country at the height of the pandemic.And especially pregnant women who couldn't get home to have their babies here.Newstalk ZB is this morning was able to reveal that conversations were had way back in April 2020 about what to do with pregnant women, but nothing was done.This doesn't affect a huge number of people; about 250 made emergency MIQ requests.The bigger issue that MBIE is currently working through is how we operated managed isolation as a whole and how we'd do it again if, heaven forbid, we did have to do it again.Just say there is another pandemic, something we don't know how to deal with in the next five to ten years or so.Look, the response at the time was unquestionably the right thing to do.We had to shut the border, even though it meant refusing entry to New Zealanders who morally and legally had an absolute right to be here if they wanted.They were extraordinary circumstanc

A plea for health workers to get their flu jab.Health Ministry data shows only around 54 percent of DHB staff have had the flu vaccine Nelson Marlborough DHB is the lowest at 39 percent.Immunologist Graham Le Gros told Tim Dower we're going to need all our health workers this winter.He says we haven't had a flu round for a couple of years now, so it's quite likely people are going to need hospitalisation and good health care, so we need robust health workers.When it comes to the general public, almost 990-thousand people have had the flu vaccine, including 64 percent of people aged 65 plus.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call for the chair of Fletcher Building to resign over the Gib crisis.KiwiSaver provider Simplicity and the Shareholders Association have written to the building giant with the request in the wake of a meeting on Friday.They're also asking for the remaining board members to put themselves up for re-election, and some independent reviews of conduct, culture and risk.Shareholders Association chief executive Oliver Mander told Tim Dower Fletchers isn't taking responsibility for what's happened.He says they haven't really seen any form of mea culpa or any substantial admittance of fault for their role in the plasterboard supply crisis.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support continues for first responders who attended the head on crash south of Picton.Seven people were killed in a collision between a van and a truck on State Highway 1 on Sunday morning  - two others from the van have serious and critical injuries.The Pukekohe family was on their way home after attending a funeral in Dunedin.St John Wellbeing Manager Adele Saunders told Tim Dower first responders are resilient but human emotion always comes through.She says every crash scene emergency staff go to has a different effect on people.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's pretty tough in the emergency departments right now. Hospitals all over the country are pleading with people to leave the ED for life and death situations only.I guess those of us who are lucky enough to enjoy pretty good health don't need to be told that; it says emergency in the name doesn't it?Unfortunately for emergency departments, their front doors are open to all and anyone who turns up asking for treatment is eventually going to get seen.And of course it's free, so it's the doctor's clinic of choice for people who either can't afford a GP, or can't get an appointment when they want, or prefer to spend the money on something else.It's the busiest time of the year right now and Counties Manukau DHB is so strapped, it's offering cash to local GPs to take patients off their hands.$250 for each Middlemore patient they see on a Friday night, or in the day on weekends.And $350 a pop on weekend nights when the ED is flooded out with drunks, and people who've got into fights with drunks.It's just crazy, i

Black Ferns 50United States 6The Black Ferns saved their best for last.While they began their Pacific Four series with two double-digit wins, the Black Ferns' 50-6 victory over the United States in Whangārei on Saturday afternoon showed exactly what they are capable of.While they had been slow to put the foot down in their previous two matches against Australia and Canada, there was no such issue in Whangārei - which will be a beautiful sight to Wayne Smith and his coaching staff, with limited opportunities on the pitch before October's Rugby World Cup."We've got some tough decisions coming up. There are some very good players coming back for trials, Sevens players will become available, so there's going to be some pretty tough moments for the selectors," Smith said looking ahead to the World Cup."But there's only one group of girls at the moment who have put their form on the paddock and that's this group."Despite rain falling from start to finish – only getting heavier as the match progressed – the Black Fe