Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Fletcher Building's calling time on its construction arm after a difficult few years.  It's signed a sale deal with French multi-national Vinci Construction, subject to regulatory approval.  The final reckoning could sit on about $334 million, and it'll move its focus to manufacturing and distribution.  AUT Construction Professor John Tookey says it's a seismic shift, but Fletcher's been overstretched in recent years, so it's not a big surprise.  He told Andrew Dickens the question is going to be whether the removal will significantly impact the profitability and sales of the building products side of things.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might be today that the Government announces the date of the election. Some have called for an early election. They argue that the job to fix us up needs more time. The Government could argue they’re the ones to do it.   They could ask for a mandate for another three years to finish the job, and the sooner we get on with it the better. I can see that, but I don’t agree with it. We’ve been through a tough two years. Government’s always get the blame for tough years.   So the Government is currently at a low ebb in their popularity, but as we’re starting to hear there are good signs in the economy.   Not just here, but everywhere - geopolitical events not withstanding. So why not wait until the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop? And with Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech being portrayed as a yawn fest with little new vision, there’s no silver bullet in the chamber that might excite the electorate. So why pull the trigger early? My pick is still nearly November. An

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 21st of January 2025, the Tom Phillips inquiry is underway today, Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato School of Law Dr Anna-Marie Brennan tells Andrew what we can expect from it.  A new study is hoping to highlight just how hard it is to kick a gambling habit, Problem Gambling Foundation Clinical Director Brigette Thornley shares her thoughts.  Fletcher Building has sold its construction arm to a French multinational, John Tookey, Professor of Construction Management at AUT, tells Andrew what this means for the company.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on world leaders arriving in Davos for the World Economic Forum and the UK approving China's plans for a huge new embassy in central London.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor

As prices for everyone's favourite sweet treat soar, chocolate makers are searching to find cheaper alternatives.  A Rabobank report reveals manufacturers are exploring ways to replace cocoa beans, including lab-grown options, as climate pressures disrupt supply and make global cocoa prices rise.  Raglan Chocolate Head Maker Mike Renfree told Andrew Dickens the commodity price of cocoa has been double what it was in 2023, but it's mostly impacting the large multi-nationals.   He says it was $2 a kilo in 2023, went up to $12 a kilo in 2024 and 2025, and it's now lower down at $5, but there's a lag in the system.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A superannuation expert suggests the Government looks across the ditch for ways to maintain the retirement age.   The Prime Minister took the opposite stance during his State of the Nation speech in Auckland yesterday afternoon.   Christopher Luxon says as life expectancy rises, the pension age of 65 is too low.   Jonathan Eriksen told Andrew Dickens Australia introduced compulsory superannuation in 1991 with 3% employer contribution.   He says it now has trillions of dollars, which it invests in infrastructure and tourism.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 20th of December 2025, Christopher Luxon says a lift in the retirement age inevitable, retirement and superannuation expert Jonathan Eriksen shares his thoughts.  Confectionary giants are looking into lab-grown cocoa as prices continue to rise, Raglan Chocolate Head Chocolate Maker, Mike Renfree tells Andrew what difference it could make.  Teacher shortages are getting worse, as kids prepare to go back to the classroom, Secondary Principals Council Chair Steve McCracken tells Andrew why it's gotten so bad.  Plus, Australia correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a special sitting of parliament to pass new laws after Bondi terror attack and a young boy attacked by a shark in Sydney. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools hit by staffing shortages are being forced to adapt as vacancies climb nationwide. Around 450 teaching and principal roles remain vacant - 12% more than this time last year. Secondary Principals Council Chair Steve McCracken told Andrew Dickens vacancies are taking longer to fill than in the past. He says schools are doing everything they can to manage with the staff and resources available. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election Year is off and running with Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation address.  We should know the election date later this week.  What we do know is the theme of National’s campaign: “Fixing the basics and building the future”.  Not a shock. It’s a variation of the way they’ve positioned themselves for a while. The party that concentrates on the need to haves and not the nice to haves - Labour trashed the economy in six years with their spending, we’re the guys who’ll fix it up.  But the real question is what are they fixing and what are they building.  Treasury’s figures from the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update delivered just before Christmas, show the Government has both cut capital expenditure since its election and lowered forecasts for new spending. Capex fell by $6 billion between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 fiscal years, and spending was $1.6 billion less in 2024/25 than was budgeted.  There’s not a lot of fixing of leaky hospitals and rickety courtrooms going

The business sector will want to know how the Government will support them - as the Prime Minister prepares for his State of the Nation speech.  Chris Luxon will give the address at the International Convention Centre in Auckland this afternoon - the first event to be held at the new centre.  Newstalk ZB understands he will try to draw attention away from turbulent affairs overseas - and to the Government's successes back home.  Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens that he will question if economic relief is set to continue.  He wants to know what fresh Government ideas are coming through which will keep business confidence up.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe may be on the cusp of implementing a never-before-used law, to turn up the heat on the United States.  President Donald Trump's announced increasing tariffs on eight countries starting next month, unless a deal allowing him to buy Greenland is reached.  European leaders have condemned the decision, with France now set to urge the EU to enact its anti-coercion instrument,  if the tariffs go ahead. Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the international economic counter-measures will enhance their retaliation, within international law.  He says no one quite knows what it means as it's never been needed until now, adding things are getting very serious.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded in New Zealand.  One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between two and 14. Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide - a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd told Andrew Dickens despite it being a short-term fix, it's like any other medicine.  He says it's the same as heart disease or blood pressure medication - as soon as you go off them, they lose their effect as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday just before most of us came back to work Auckland Transport announced that public transport fares on the rise from February 1st.  They’re going up by 5.1% which is higher than inflation, but they claim transport costs have risen by up to 16%. Meanwhile parking costs in AT controlled buildings and areas are going up by 50 cents an hour.  For adult commuters, this means a 10 to 25 cents increase per bus or train trip, and 40 to 60 cents more per ferry journey. Now I understand prices go up but I’m not sure that AT realise the consequences. I use a ferry. In fact, I used one on Saturday to go to a Sail GP watching party.  That meant I spent $15 return. From February 1st it’ll be 16 bucks. That’s all very well if it was just me. But if I took A partner that’d be 32 bucks return. And that’s getting very close to a price point that says I can’t justify using public transport. If there three of us I might as well just get an Uber.  But that defeats the purpose of public transport which

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 19th of January 2025, Christopher Luxon is set to deliver his State of the Nation speech this afternoon, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges tells Andrew what businesses want to come out of it.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Auckland University Molecular Medicine Professor, Peter Shepard shares his thoughts on if Pharmac should fund weight loss drugs.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the EU calling an emergency meeting on Greenland and the Trump administration naming former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as one of the members of the founding executive board of its "Board of Peace" for Gaza. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like it or not, next year's big dance in politics will ultimately be decided by the few, not the many. Most MMP elections have been. Minnows hold the keys to the kingdom.  Be it Winston with his best result ever or Te Pati Māori with an overhang - 2026 won’t be a 2020 landslide. The difference this time is how extreme some of the smaller parties, more to the point, some of their MPs, have become - think Takuta on Indians and Simon Court on Palestine. It’s not just rhetoric, but policy, too. A separate Māori parliament, re-nationalising power companies, you name it, they'll go there. The temptation for the behemoths, the broad churches, is to emulate what’s getting traction. To dip your toe in the pool of radical ideas. To be establishment without looking or sounding like it. Trump and the MAGA movement are the best example of this. In the UK, parties that have been around since Moses was a linebacker are being absolutely whipped in the polls by newer upstarts with one thing on their pledge card

Do you know what's really starts to rub me the wrong way?  It's governments telling us to do more things.  This morning, we've got the government coming out with yet another hotline. Sounds fancy. Sounds efficient.  It's a hotline to report road cones. A road cone tipline.  Sorry, but if the problem is that there are too many road cones on the road, and they're unnecessary for the work being carried out —which half of them appear to be— then why do you need us to tell you that? Surely if we just had better, clearer rules and less bullshit, we wouldn't need a road cone tipline. A pothole tipline. A 105 theft tipline. A beneficiary tipline. Either you know what you're doing and you've got smart people and smart systems, or you don't.  And every time I hear of another tipline I realise, they have no idea.  Tiplines are the equivalent of a safety calming measure. Those weird speed bumps or narrowing roads, designed to make people feel better when driving around. All they really

I went out for lunch to a café the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them. They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care. No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation. Just this blank look on their faces. You sit there and think “did they hear me”? You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t.  But they did. They got it. There’s just no engagement. Face colder than a witch's tit. No refills of your water. No "would you like another coffee?" Like, hello!? Is anybody in there? Is anyone home? Why are you all moving so slowly? Shouldn’t you be rushing the joint taking orders and filling coffees?  When I was young it was drilled into us: when you’re waiting tables and taking orders. You work your way up from "dish pig" to front of house. You basically run round busy as a bee, trying to impress your boss, trying to win your guests over. Taking wagers of who might get a tip.  "Can I help you, sir? What more can

Teachers say they're struggling to deal with increasing violent incidents due to a lack of learning support.  New data shows 12,300 students have been disciplined for physical assault on teachers and students this year – a 49% jump from 2019.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Francesca Rudkin teachers have been given increasingly more restraint training to deal with these incidents, but the main problem is with students' unmet needs.  He says our children are coming to school with complex needs, a lot involving mental health issues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is looking to tackle radicalisation and extreme misogyny early.   Millions of pounds will be invested into schools to train teachers to spot signs of misogyny among boys and course correct.   Funding will also go towards courses for radicalised young men.   It's to counter concerns about pornography and online misogynistic influencers.   UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Francesca Rudkin it's a key part of the government's legislative agenda.   He says two women die a week from domestic violence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought the closure of Gloriavale school is more complicated than just finding a new school.    The Secretary for Education has cancelled the Christian sect school’s licence, forcing it closed from January.   It's been on notice for several weeks after failing another audit and being ruled physically and mentally unsafe for students.   Education researcher Liz Gordon told Francesca Rudkin says it's not as straightforward as moving the students elsewhere.   She wants the ministry to take a group of professional teachers into the community, to allow the kids to be taught there.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Friday the 19th of December 2025, The economy’s rebounded into 1.1% growth in the September quarter, ahead of forecasts Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts. Schools are dealing with more fights and assaults than ever before, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie tells Francesca why the problem has got worse.  Gloriavale's school will shut down from January next year, educational researcher and community activist Liz Gordon tells Francesca what will happen from here. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Zelensky urging European Union leaders to loan billions of euros in frozen Russian money to fund Ukraine and Teachers in England will be given training to spot and tackle misogyny in the classroom. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio