Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Life has returned to normal for millions in Britain since coronavirus restrictions were lifted over the summer. But while the rules have vanished, the virus hasn't. Many scientists are now calling on the government to reimpose social restrictions and speed up booster vaccinations as coronavirus infection rates, already Europe's highest, rise still further. The UK recorded 43,738 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, slightly down from the 49,156 reported Monday, which was the largest number since mid-July. New infections have averaged more than 44,000 a day over the past week, a 16 per cent increase on the week before. Last week, the Office for National Statistics estimated that one in 60 people in England had the virus, one of the highest levels seen in Britain during the pandemic. A man wears a face mask as he walks in Piccadilly Circus, in London. Photo / Alberto Pezzali, AP In July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government lifted all the legal restrictions that had been imposed more than a year earlier to slow

Financial hardship thanks to lockdown means more people are trying to get their Kiwisaver funds out earlier.  Budgeting advisers say there's been a 25 to 40 per cent increase in the number of payouts being approved.  That means an increase in rejected applications that they don't quite meet the hardship standard -  and this is proving tough for some to hear.  Financial Services Complaints CEO, Susan Taylor told Kate Hawkesby they have noticed increased demand for their services."We’ve had about a five to ten percent increase, just in the last few months, which we see as a bit of a trend happening.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You knew when the PM started selling the idea that we should be so grateful not to be going into level 4, that the mind games were on, and she was going to make Level 3 sound like a picnic. And picnics as it turns out, is all we got. Two more weeks of them. I could not have called this more wrong. Yesterday, I optimistically said they’d definitely free up some restrictions. I thought a zoo or a museum or the odd library may get thrown a bone. How wrong I was. Two more weeks at Level 3 for Auckland, and the announcement that a slew of announcements will be dripfed over the coming week. If we thought we were living week by week on dripfed news by the Government, it just got worse. It’s now day by day. We are being dictated our terms, and our lives, in 24-hour cycles. Here in Auckland, we’ve been locked down for 63 days now. Ten weeks. We are 89 percent vaccinated single dose, 71 percent double dose. The bulk of us, bar Destiny Church and the odd North Shore party goer, are abiding the rules. This is infuriating

Despite the optimism of many yesterday, Auckland is facing another two weeks of lockdown while the rest of the country remains in level two. The Government did make some announcements of announcements It will finally reveal a vaccination target on Friday, as well as a new traffic light system. But this has some saying the chop and change of decisions shows the Government is flailing about Political commentator Bryce Edwards told Kate Hawkesby the Government are in a tough position."They've got people that want relaxation of the rules and others that want a circuit breaker going back up to Level 4, Ardern did her typical thing of going somewhere in the middle, which means the status quo is staying where we're at."LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The film industry has traditionally been dominated by studios in Hollywood, but there seems to have been a shift in the tide. The biggest movie in the world right now is a Chinese propaganda movie. The Battle at Lake Changjin is on track to become the biggest movie of the year, and the highest grossing Chinese film of all time. That alongside South Korea's Squid Game, has some in Hollywood nervous, and realising they may face more competition from Asian productions Media studies professor at University of Virgina and author of "Hollywood made in China" Dr Aynne Kokas joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hairdressers are frustrated there's no roadmap for them. They're among those bearing the brunt of Auckland's lengthy lockdown; it's 10 weeks since they've had to shut up shop. Ashley Green owns Society, a salon in Grey Lynn, and told Kate Hawkesby they have the ability to operate one client to one staff member, who's in full PPE. She says they can open safely. “If we are waiting for vaccinations to go up, why not let us look after clients who are already vaccinated? My team are fully vaccinated, we’re ready to go.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Promising signs on the horizon. Auckland’s going to get to 90 percent vaxxed soon, fingers crossed, and that’s going to force this Government to open some stuff up. And by stuff, I mean the border. The shops. The Auckland boundary. Normality is calling. Not for the people still steeped in fear and “freaking out” like Rod Jackson and Siousxie Wiles. Unfortunately, in going hard and early on the fear mongering, and in pursuing it for so long, there’s still a large chunk of New Zealanders trapped inside the fear and unable to get out. These are the same people craving another level 4 lockdown. The epidemiologists - given so much airtime and limelight throughout this pandemic, risk becoming increasingly obsolete and irrelevant. They’re not on message anymore, the Government now distancing itself and making calls that the academics disapprove of. A classic example of this is the new traffic light system the Government wants to implement to replace levels. Most of their “experts” poo pooed this idea as “not fit for

It's the first day of term four, but Auckland students still don't know when they'll be back in the classroom. That's despite initial indications they would be coming back National Party Education Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says we should get on with it once enough teachers are vaccinated. He says told Kate Hawkesby the real danger isn't kids going to school, it's kids not going to school. "They're falling behind, they're losing track with their friends, losing the habit of getting to school. And let's face it, it's a complete lottery as to whether they're actually learning when they're in lockdown." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor has labelled party-goers who breached lockdown "bloody idiots".  Footage from the massive party at a North Shore property on Saturday night went viral on social media yesterday.  Under Auckland's Level Three rules, only two households are allowed to meet outdoors - with a limit of 10 people.  Phil Goff says these people should have thought about their families and the wider community.  "It's just selfish and irresponsible to have an event like that, knowing it's breaking the rules when everybody else is making a sacrifice so we can get back to normal and have a decent Christmas together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think as we wrap this week, we just have to accept we are at a point now where counting cases is actually pointless. Delta has got away on us, it's had a good laugh at our elimination strategy, and off it's gone and there’s no stopping it now. Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, but earlier access to vaccines, a few more ICU beds, a better MIQ system and all the other things we didn’t do would’ve been great, but that ship has sailed. So here we are, and let’s look on the bright side. We’re allegedly not ever going back into Level 4. So that’s it. That’s all the bright side I can think of.  As Auckland, Waikato and Northland enter another weekend at Level 3 and the rest of the country in Level 2, we only have to look across the ditch to see how this thing goes. It takes time, and lots of it. We long ago kissed goodbye any lingering thoughts of a ‘short sharp’ lockdown, but what we need to accept is that this could go for quite a while yet. The kids who thought they'd be gearing up for school Monday will be home i

A big day in the music world, Adele is releasing her first single in nearly six years. ‘Easy on Me’ comes out today, which is the lead single off her new album '30', which releases November 19. She's expected to once again break records, her previous album ‘21’, is the best-selling album of the twenty first century, while ‘25’ broke first-week sales records. Can she do it again? Deputy music editor at the Guardian Laura Snapes joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Māori health care provider is trying to improve vaccine rates in the area with one of the worst coverage rates in the country.  In the Eastern Bay of Plenty, vaccinators have taken to the road to get vaccination rates up for Māori.  Te Puna Ora O Mataatua has set up pop up centres in schools, marae and workplaces.  Chief Executive Lee Colquhoun says told Kate Hawkesby understanding cultural differences is key.  "You need make sure that you understand how important word of mouth within Māori communities are, some are a little bit hesitant." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities appear to have hit a brick wall, with the uncooperative women at the centre of Northland's Covid lockdown. The Covid-positive pair have refused to reveal locations of interest they visited around the region Officials believe they have all the information they're going to get out of them. Former crisis negotiator Lance Burdett told Kate Hawkesby there's only so many times you can ask the same people the same questions. "You get one shot at it, and it's one chance only, because once you've asked her several questions, the next time you go back, they're already ready for those questions and more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Northland this morning, and the Waikato for that matter.  I mean Waikato has two cases and they’re staying in Level 3, which seems over the top.  And as for Northland, they’re only staying in Level 3 because the absconders won’t help Police with their enquires; won’t fess up any locations of interest, won’t be honest.  I mean how is it a whole hard-working, law-abiding population of people in the North are being held to ransom by two losers?   Zero cases in Northland, and 2 household contacts in Waikato and boom, they stay in level 3.  Vaxathon this weekend anyone? Is it too cynical to suggest keeping the fear button firmly pressed will help push jab rates up this weekend?  Don’t you think it’s interesting that for a government that can’t set targets, they can suddenly set one when it involves a few TV cameras and fun day out with celebrities and influencers and sports people? They can put a number on their cheesy Vaxathon, but not when it doesn’t involve some primetime PR oppo

Northland is in level three lockdown for another five days thanks to an uncooperative Covid case.  That means all up the pair will have cost the region $23 million in the form of lockdowns.  That's especially hard to stomach considering Northland's economy was going gangbusters before it went to level 3.  Infometrics principal economist, Brad Olsen joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international relations expert says it's important New Zealand shows its face at a big climate change conference. COP 26 is taking place in Glasgow at the end of the month. Patrick Bayer from Strathclyde University says told Kate Hawkesby United Nations decision-making happens on a consensual basis. "Every country that is not represented to is going to throw a spanner the works, in terms of other countries not knowing what governments stand for." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breast Cancer Foundation says at least 133 women across the country won't know they have the disease right now.  The national breast screening programme was put on hold at level 4 and has been running at reduced capacity from level 3.  Breast Cancer Foundation Chief Executive Ah-Leen Rayner says told Kate Hawkesby barriers to participation need to be removed. She says screening needs to continue during any level four outbreak. "And we need action plans in place with extra resources given to our screening agencies." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's books are supposedly in better shape than expected. The Finance Minister revealed a deficit, a business would call that a trading loss, of only $4.6 billion. Mmmm...we lost $4.6 billion. That said, the Budget picked a number more like $15 billion, so it could have been a lot worse. But one thing caught my ear in the announcement. Kainga Ora properties (what we used to call Housing New Zealand) are on the books as assets. But is it really truthful to call a property portfolio that LOSES money an asset? Minus $20-30m a year sounds more like a liability to me. And that's AFTER it sucked nearly a billion out of WINZ in rent subsidies. Of course, we need to have cheap housing, but doesn't expanding Kainga Ora's portfolio just feed an ever-growing liability for the taxpayer? And while I'm on this point, the Government says the value of all its property and equipment is up by $27 billion. That's land, buildings, state highways, electricity generation and railways. Land can be sold, so it's an asset,

Support for New Zealand to have another tilt at hosting the Commonwealth Games. Organisers have reduced the number of mandatory sports down to athletics and swimming. Auckland business association Heart of the City says the event would bring increases to GDP and tourism.  Birmingham is hosting next year's games, but the slot for 2026 remains open.  Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck told Tim Dower says the gains would be more than just economic. "It's also good because people rally around, kids participate and volunteers get involved. There's a lot of upside." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call to set aside MIQ spaces for the parents of babies who are about to be born. The ACT Party and some health experts are calling for the Government to prioritise them. Plunket chief executive Amanda Malu told Tim Dower every baby deserves to have as little stress and anxiety as possible, particularly in the first weeks of their lives. "It's a pretty important category, we think, those about to be newest citizens of our country and we think we should look after them." Amanda Malu says it would involve small numbers of MIQ spaces, but science shows how important the first thousand days of life are. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.