Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday announced plans to build more nuclear power plants, boost renewable energy production and further tap domestic oil and gas reserves to help the U.K. reduce its dependence on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine.Critics quickly panned Johnson’s energy security strategy for focusing almost entirely on boosting supplies while doing little to increase energy efficiency and cut demand. As a result, they said, the plan offers no relief to consumers pummeled by soaring utility bills and risks undermining Britain’s commitment to cut carbon emissions in response to global warming.“This takes the U.K. backwards not forwards,” said Professor Matthew Paterson, an expert in the politics of climate change at the University of Manchester. “It is a knee-jerk response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that goes back to old, tired solutions focused on expanding energy supply, and does so in ways that contradict the U.K.’s climate strategy.”Johnson announced the strategy thr

Questions over whether the current Police Minister is up to the job.New figures show police response times have risen in almost every part of the country over the past five years and tripled in some regions.Minister Poto Williams responded by saying it's an operational matter and Covid-19 was playing a big part. Former minister National's Paula Bennett told Kate Hawkesby Williams needs to be doing more to address the wait times, increasing gang numbers and violent crime.“There’s a whole lot of laws and leadership that she could be showing that we’re not seeing. Instead, she hides through her Commissioner from scrutiny and denies that there’s even a problem.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumers are hoping to weed out the rotten eggs in the chocolate industry this Easter.The annual Chocolate Scorecard study surveyed 38 confectionary companies across the world.They found more and more are trying to improve ethically sourcing ingredients and their environmental impact.Be Slavery Free co-director Fuzz Kitto told Kate Hawkesby there's pressure on the companies to act.“Consumers are more and more aware and are wanting ethically sourced cocoa and chocolates.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m not averse to banning fizzy drinks in schools. I know many schools have already done it, some schools even have a water-only policy for drink bottles, and that all happened without too much pushback. There was, a few years ago, a big push to clear out tuck shops of all junk food too. Remember in the bad old days when we could get donuts, pies, Chelsea buns with icing, hot chips? Those days were brought to a grinding halt off the back of the good food movement and around the same time Jamie Oliver was busy trying to clean up school lunches in the UK. The sanitising of tuck shop food got more push back than the drinks did, but kids seem to have adapted and like all things, over time it becomes all they know.Younger generations will never know their school tuck shop used to serve sugar-laden carbs dripping in icing, or deep-fried treats. So I’m not sure what the holdup is with fizzy drinks. I know there’s the ‘don’t demonise food’ brigade, and the “don't tell us what to do” brigade, (I'm in that brigade actu

Rules requiring local body candidates to put residential addresses on campaign advertisements are being described as outdated.Stories of harassment towards public figures, particularly women, are rising.They come as we head towards local body elections in October.Waitaki Deputy Mayor Melanie Tavendale, who's not standing for re-election, told Kate Hawkesby it feels like an invasion of privacy.“I had a very young family when I first stood and you didn’t like the idea of people that could be quite grumpy if they’re turning up on your front doorstep in front of your family. It’s not ideal.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time yesterday I was talking about the disconnect between Wellington and Auckland and how much of an echo chamber it is; how out of touch they are. I referenced the way Ashley Bloomfield had dismissively written off the red light as no big deal. He seemed dismissive and over it, and just a few hours later we learned why.  He’s going. And who can blame him? I get it. Who wouldn't be over it by now? For a while now we’ve been saying how tired he looked, how sick of the politics he looked, and maybe he’s figured out he just doesn’t need all that stress anymore. That explains why he may’ve been so dismissive. What a relentless couple of years working that closely and that intensely with the Labour party for that long, that would surely take its toll on anyone.  He was quick to rule out any future in politics when asked and that’s completely understandable. If you think about his role, as a public servant, he was never supposed to get that politicised anyway, but the past two years of such a close working rel

Changes coming up in the health sector are thought to be part of the reason why Ashley Bloomfield's resigned. The Director-General of Health, Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay, and her deputy, are all leaving the Ministry of Health. The DHB model's set to be replaced in July. Health commentator, Ian Powell, told Kate Hawkesby Bloomfield's wrong when he says it's a good time to go in terms of Covid, but the restructure would reduce his role in the funding of health services. “I do know, to his credit, that Ashley Bloomfield has made it known to his political masters that he has reservations about that, various reservations.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has announced more sanctions on Russia – including Putin’s two adult daughters? And Oklahoma has moved closer to passing a near-total ban on abortion? US correspondent Katherine Firkin joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns there's no regulation when it comes to ordering alcohol, vaping products, and tobacco through online delivery platforms. A study shows the pandemic's created a surge in people buying these products – with little oversight from the government. One of the co-authors, Hannah Miles, from the University of Otago Christchurch's Population Health Department, joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A security expert says New Zealand may have too little weaponry to send to Ukraine.  The Defence Minister has asked Cabinet to send anti-tank missiles and lethal support over, but his request's been declined.  Victoria University Centre for Strategic Studies' Jim Rolfe told Kate Hawkesby one reason could be a group in Cabinet prefers non-lethal support. “Another possible thought is that the numbers we have are quite small really, and it might look as if a little bit derisory to be sending tens of weapons rather than hundreds or thousands that other countries can send.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flights are being cancelled in the UK due to staff shortages. Two “stolen” notebooks written by Charles Darwin have been mysteriously returned. UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workers at Countdown are unhappy with the supermarket's plan to change their Covid-19 leave policy. Countdown had allowed staff to use extra leave instead of using their sick leave when they have to isolate due to covid. But now it wants workers to use their sick leave first instead. Other companies have made these same changes including Fletcher Buildings. First Union organiser Ragda Hassan joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The entrance to Wellington's Embassy Theatre is to be restored to its former glory.  The project's being financed by former mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and his husband – former Wellington City Council member – Rex Nicholls. They've loaned the Embassy Theatre Trust just over a million dollars to get the job done.  Nicholls told Kate Hawkesby the theatre's already magnificent on the inside. Nicholls expects there'll be a bit of pushback to the digital billboard, but says it's for the public benefit. “We’re lending the money to spend to build the entrance foyer the way it was in 1925, and then we’re putting a big digital ad up on top of the building and that will pay us a rent.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I thought Ashley Bloomfield said something quite revealing on Mike’s show yesterday about where the hospital system is at. We know there are more than 700 people in hospital with Covid related illnesses but that’s not in hospital because of Covid – that’s in hospital with Covid related illnesses. Unfortunately, Bloomfield said they don’t know specifically the breakdown on how many of those are in which category, but he said roughly about 30 to 40 percent of people across the Auckland-Waikato region are in hospital not because of Covid, but with it. In other words, it’s incidental to their sickness. On top of that, hospital numbers are actually coming down. And yes, we can ask the obvious questions around why on earth they didn’t fix the health system over the past two years, and why they didn’t staff the health sector properly, and it’s not just this government, it’s a cumulative problem. But here’s the key. It’s not under pressure exclusively due to Covid.  Bloomfield admitted it’s under huge pressure even w

Looks like the Government’s back to listening to Rod Jackson.I started the week so optimistically yesterday. I was so full of hope that we’d be going to an orange light, after all, we’re through the peak, especially in Auckland, we’re largely double vaxxed and boosted, we’re still in masks, we’ve done everything we’ve been asked to do.. but nope, we’re staying in red.I just don’t know when this Government will be able to give up their Covid micro management and all the PR and media time it affords them. I can see it is getting increasingly difficult for them to let it go. I mean here we are again spending another week angsting and dissecting more Covid framework decisions that are drip fed to us in little increments of time from their beloved podium of truth.Adding in another review period – before Easter and before the school holidays, just keeps us all on tenterhooks, keeps the Government in control and at its podium, keeps the media focused on their Covid response – and while we’re focusing on that we’re n

People are being warned to expect more rises to mortgage interest rates.Kiwibank has lifted its standard 5-year home loan rate to 6.79 percent, the highest since 2014.Umbrella Company mortgage advisor, Sara Hartigan, says as a country, we've been conditioned to very low interest rates but it's not going to stay like that.She told Kate Hawkesby there are many things affecting interest rates, such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and high inflation.Hartigan says it's time people started paying attention to that awful B word - budget - and started thinking about the future.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's ski industry is grappling to fill 250 specialised roles before the Australians arrive.With the border beginning to reopen next week - places such as Queenstown are bracing for what could be its biggest ski seasons on record.But the industry wants a class exemption to get the needed workers into the country, and are waiting to hear from Immigration New Zealand.Cardrona and Treble Cone Ski Fields general manager Laura Hedley told Kate Hawkesby they're anticipating good numbers this season.She says they've had a good response from the Australians and are hoping they'll want to come back.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand staying in red will help give the health system more breathing space.The Government has decided not to change our traffic light settings, with hospitalisations not expected to peak in parts of the country until mid to late April.Cabinet will reassess Thursday of next week.College of Emergency Nurses member Sandy Richardson told Kate Hawkesby this'll give time to see whether what's happening in hospital is mirroring the community.She says they'll be able to see whether the days patients spend in hospital are reducing, and the number of sick staff is reducing.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Russian military shifts its campaign to focus on the east and south of Ukraine, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has called on the US and its allies to deliver heavier weaponry to the ex-Soviet nation."After the rapid retreat of the Russians from Kyiv and Chernihiv, it is clear that Russia has prioritized another tactic -- to move east/south, to control large occupied territories (not only in Donetsk and Luhansk regions) and to gain a strong foothold there," Podolyak said on Saturday."They have established in the east and south and are dictating harsh conditions," added Podolyak. "So we definitely can't do without heavy weapons if we want to unblock the east and Kherson and send [back] the Russians as far as possible."Last month the Russian military said the "first stage" of its invasion of Ukraine was complete and that it would withdraw forces from around Kyiv and Chernihiv to concentrate on the Donbas region in the country's east.Russia's announcement of that new phase in part may pro

Alyssa Healy struck 170 from 138 balls in one of the finest one-day international innings to power Australia to victory over England in the Cricket World Cup final.Healy went on from a run-a-ball century to record the second-highest ODI score by an Australian woman and to lead Australia to an extraordinary total of 356-5 as they batted after losing the toss at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.It was too hefty a challenge for England to overcome, despite a remarkable innings from Nat Sciver, who blasted an unbeaten 148 off 121 balls to give England an unlikely shot at victory, but they fell 71 runs short as Australia claimed their seventh ODI World Cup title.Healy's 160-run opening partnership with Rachael Haynes in just over 29 overs dampened the spirts of an England team that were hoping for back-to-back titles after winning the 2017 World Cup at home.Her 156-run partnership with Beth Mooney for the second wicket then left England close to despair.Had it been a one-off, Healy's innings would have been an extraord