Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

An employment expert says the Government's new directive against public servants working from home makes sense.  The Public Service Commission has issued new guidance confirming all flexible work arrangements should be monitored and workers are not entitled to work from home.  It's sparked legal action from a major public sector union.  Employment expert Jennifer Mills told Andrew Dickens workers on flexible arrangements are likely not the main target of this move.  She says studies show there's no productivity issues with hybrid workers, but there is with people working solely from home.  Mills says hybrid models are still well within the current rules, but there does need to be express agreement and transparency to ensure it’s suitable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand is meeting its targets, but a doctors' union says that doesn't mean Kiwis are getting better care.  New figures show cancer treatment is getting faster and child immunisation rates are improving.  People are also spending less time, on average, in emergency departments.  Resident Doctors' Association National Secretary Deborah Powell told Andrew Dickens that despite what these figures show, our healthcare system's under real stress.  She says they don't have enough beds or staff to look after people in hospitals, and there's problems with radiology and the large volumes of patients they're being asked to see.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 13 December. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t you hate it when the kids fight.  The quiet war between David Seymour and Winston Peters has kicked up a little lately with both the boys playing games in court to win the hearts of the public.  That's the problem when you’re a minor party, you need to make noise to be noticed.  The big noise for a while has been David Seymour who has taken conversations by the throat with his Treaty Principles Act. Love it or hate it, you're all talking about it which is all a politician wants.  Last week I warned that Winston has been a good boy while he’s held the Deputy Prime Minister job but that’s coming to an end in a few months and he does a swapsie with David Seymour. That will free his hand and you’ll hear much more from him.  That's started, which explains why he’s taken over the railways. He wants to be seen as a saviour and solver.  Seymour and Peters have very differing views of the railways - Winston blames past privatisation's. David wants to privatise 49 per cent of it.&nbs

The ACC Minister has announced a independent review into ACC because of concerns about its performance.  Matt Doocey says rehabilitation rates are down and weekly compensation costs and average costs per claim were up. “This review will have a particular focus on claims management. It will look at whether ACC has the right interventions and settings in place to support accident claimants to return to independence as quickly as possible". It comes as ACC announces levies will be on the rise from next year with those on the median wage of $70,000 set to pay $140 extra in 3 years time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The potential buyers of Whakapapa skifield are optimistic it'll be open for business come next ski season.   Cabinet's agreed to give a $5 million loan to Whakapapa Holdings to support its bid to buy the ski field, but only if it gets a concession from the Conservation Minister.  If granted, the sale's expected to be completed next April so it can open by July for the 2025 season.  Whakapapa Holdings Chief Executive Dave Mazey told Andrew Dickens they're not worried about the turnaround.   He says the receivers will be trading the company up until that settlement date and preparing it for winter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An employment expert says there's a balance between free speech and unprofessionalism when dismissing staff for making inappropriate comments.  16 Immigration NZ staff have been disciplined for derogatory messages about visa applicants on Teams.  10 workers have been either dismissed or issued a formal warning already.  Max Whitehead told Andrew Dickens employers need to be careful of free speech.  He says people are entitled to say what they want to some extent, but an employer is likely to be reactive to comments.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a match on fingerprints found at the assassination scene of a major US health insurance boss in Manhattan.   New York prosecutors have charged 26-year-old Luigi Mangione with murdering Brian Thompson.   Police have told CNN that fingerprints found at the crime scene match Mangione's.  Correspondent Kate Fisher told Andrew Dickens that development followed his extradition hearing yesterday.   She says he refused extradition to New York and was then denied bail, so he'll remain in a Pennsylvania jail while the legal ramifications are sorted out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 12th of December. The government has a new plan for the Cook Strait ferries - but there was a noticeable lack of detail. Labour's Tangi Utikere reacts.  A new multi million dollar loan to purchase Mount Ruapehu's liquidated Whakapapa ski field. Dave Mazey is heading the new venture and joins the show to talk about his plans. Staff at Immigration New Zealand have been sacked or given formal warnings for sending inappropriate messages about migrants to each other - should we be more careful about what we send on work platforms? Get the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The long awaited ferry announcement from the government came yesterday, however there's still plenty unanswered questions. We'll get two new ferries, but the government hasn't said how much they will cost, or whether they will be rail-enabled. It comes more than a year after the Finance Minister cancelled the previous governments plan to purchase two new ships for $550 million. Labour's transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere says the announcement was underwhelming. "What we've learned is that kiwis will have to wait longer for the ferries when they do arrive, it was meant to be 2026 under the former government, now we'll have to wait until at least 2029". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well that was confusing. When Nicola Willis blew up Kiwirail’s plan for new ferries she promised a better plan, and yesterday we got that plan.  They're going to form a new company to buy some ferries. No news about which ferries and what format they’re in.  Nothing about what’s happening portside. There was also an invitation to private industry to come up with a better solution.  So no new ferries, no new ports, no ships ordered, and no idea that private industry already provides a service, that is Bluebridge.  It was an announcement of an announcement, which we already lampooned the last government with.  It was ideological. It was government spending and this government doesn’t like that so they cancelled it without thinking about the long term consequences.  It was not based on business practice, or financial logic.  It was not on brand and it’s harming reputationally.  Put this in business terms, they broke a contract for ships that was a good deal. Okay, maybe yo

Germany is tightening its laws to make it harder to help smuggle migrants to the UK.  Facilitating people-smuggling is not technically illegal in Germany if it’s to another country outside of the EU – which now includes the UK.  A plan has been made between the two countries that sees Germany tighten their laws and make it easier to prosecute those involved.  Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that Germany had inadvertently become a central hub for the people-smuggling networks.  He’s uncertain what effect this will have, as when one tentacle is cut in these networks, another seems to grow.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's emissions plan's being described as sensible and practical.   Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has released the second Emissions Reduction Plan.  Key policies include more renewable energy projects and introducing both a network of 10,000 EV charging points and agricultural emissions pricing by 2030.  Victoria University Climate Change Adjunct Professor Adrian Macey told Andrew Dickens they've gone through with a sector-by-sector focus.   He says they're giving a message to business, forestry, and agriculture that they see them being prosperous as part of this journey.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Wednesday the 11th of December. Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced greyhound racing will be banned from 2026. The SPCA says it's the best Christmas present they could have been given. The government has released it's new Emissions Reduction Plan, could we reach net zero six years than the target? Dr Adrian Macey joins the show. Get the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens  Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Animal rights advocates say the government's announcement on greyhound racing is "the best christmas present ever."  Racing Minister Winston Peters announced the ban, with the legislation passed under urgency yesterday.  The racing dogs will not be allowed to be euthanised and will have to be rehomed.  The SPCA's Chief Scientific Officer welcomed the move. "We're absolutely thrilled that [Winston Peters] made this very challenging but right decision". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The job of being a politician is always harder than you expect. We learned today that Mark Mitchell will not be introducing legislation against boy racers this year even though he has said he would. In June when it as all going off in Levin he was promising laws to enable the cops to seize vehicles and keep them. A return to the good old days of Crusher Collins But it's never happened because it is quote "complex". If he's got some time on his hand could I suggest he look at hitting the problem of South Auckland's dirt bike hooligans. South Auckland’s dirt bike rabble is classic gang technique and needs to be stopped. The gangs have been giving out dirt bikes to the kids for quite some time now. Cheap, mobile and nippy they’re very handy for hit and run crime. They get young prospects into the bike culture which then carries on into the the adult gangs with their Harleys and Indians.  They distract the police while the more hardened gang criminals carry on with their business.  But these kid gangs a

The PPTA says letting each school set its own sex education standards has been a failed model.   Education Review Office research has found inconsistencies in how the subject is taught between schools.   PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says it will be hard to impress everyone as there are a variety of views.   He told Andrew Dickens a standardised national curriculum would be a good starting point.    Abercrombie says leaving it up to schools isn't really working for anyone at the moment, with three-quarters of school leavers saying they didn't learn enough.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Building and Construction Minister's confident changes to insulation rules will give builders and designers more flexibility.  Chris Penk's proposed changes to reduce building costs, including examining the whole building instead of individual components.  Penk told Andrew Dickens he believes there's currently too many regulations.  He says when you add up the extra costs, it does become significant.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Tuesday the 10th December. The government is looking to inject Kiwibank with $500 million in capital to "disrupt the status quo" and take on the big Australian owned banks. Massey University Banking Expert Claire Matthews joins the show. The Education Review Office says our relationship and sex ed in schools is not up to standard and is having an impact on our children. PPTA President Chris Abercrombie speaks to Andrew. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has made big changes to his proposed rollback of new insulation standards - is industry criticism behind the changes? Get the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is looking to inject Kiwibank with $500 million in capital to "disrupt the status quo" and take on the big Australian owned banks.  Kiwibank's parent company Kiwi Group Capital along with Treasury have been instructed to talk to potential investors, which could include Kiwisaver funds.  For now an initial public offering is off the table with the government has ruling out selling off it's shares in the bank. Massey University Banking Expert Claire Matthews isn't sure it will help the current situation. "The government is pushing this very much as its going to make a huge difference to competition and I'm struggling to see that it really will make that much of a difference" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.