Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The famous Mona Lisa painting has fallen victim to yet another protest attack, with activists hurling pumpkin soup over the 16th century masterpiece. The protestors, who represent a French environmental protection group, took to the painting to raise awareness for the issue of sustainable food. Newstalk ZB Europe correspondent Gavin Grey says the group is calling on food to be more accessible. "Basically, what the want is a food card worth roughly $270 NZD to be given to citizens each month to be used on food." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the first day schools can go back for term 1. The new Government's making compulsory an hour each of reading, writing and maths at primary school. Next term schools will be required to have cellphone policies in place, but it's expected most schools will implement them this term. NZEI president Mark Potter says there's a lot of things competing for children's attention these days. He says teachers have the added battle of making sure they stay engaging for children, which is one of the most important things for them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand needs a great deal in order to get back on track, printing money and once again becoming an almost first world nation that the rest of the world wants to come and see, travel and enjoy. The Tourism and Hospitality Minister is Matt Doocey and yesterday, he came out saying that nothing is off the table when it comes to helping fund the industry and the vital infrastructure it needs. Nothing? Really? That sounds like a giant blank cheque for the tourism industry to sink their teeth into right? Minister Matt Doocey has been touring the country, meeting with regional tourism operators in the past few weeks and listening to what they want, and their concerns. That’s great… I’m sure this is great news for anyone with a wale watching venture, a bungy jumping business or sight seeing bus for the vineyards of Martinborough. Minister Doocey says he wants to find out how his ministry can support the tourism sector grow and become a big part of the economic success of Aotearoa. Now doesn’t that sound like the

The UK is sending back Ghana's 'crown jewels'.  The long-term loan deal will see the artefacts returned 150 years after they were looted from the court of the Ashanti Empire.  UK Correspondent, Vincent McAviney, told Roman Travers that it consists of 32 pieces from the British and Victoria & Albert Museums.  He says Ghana's chief negotiator is hopeful for a 'new sense of cultural co-operation' after generations of anger.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Other banks might be following ASB in dropping interest rates.   ASB is dropping its rates on its three, four, and five-year home loan terms.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says that last year the Reserve Bank warned interest rates may have to rise.   He told Roman Travers that recent developments have likely flipped that around.    Eckhold says low GDP figures signal further rates drops are likely this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An NGO is alarmed by data issues at Oranga Tamariki.   An Independent Children’s Monitor report has revealed gaps in information about whether children in state care are receiving medical and dental checkups.   Voyce National Care says it's state negligence, which can't be ignored.   Youth Participation Advisor Mary-Lynn Huxford told Roman Travers that this can have long term effects.   She says the group works with young people footing big medical bills because of earlier negligence.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the record, New Zealand doesn’t have a minister for the tobacco industry. Or does it?  The Associate Health Minister, Casey Costello is being labelled by some as the Minister for the Tobacco Industry, based on a proposal that’s yet to be confirmed by Casey Costello, that she wants to see a 3-year freeze on the tobacco tax.  What this means is that cigarettes would be insulated from the full impact of inflation under a proposal from the New Zealand First Associate Health Minister.  At the moment, tobacco excise is increased each year in line with the Consumer Price Index. Apart from gathering a swag of tax, it’s a way to encourage smokers to give up.  Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chairperson, Boyd Swinburn has come out all gun’s firing and smoking, saying that Casey Costello needs to be stripped of her duties and that she’s lost all credibility as an Associate Minister of Health.  After all the work done over the decades to encourage smokers to give up the darts, after all the hard work by previous governm

The Government faced some heat yesterday at Rātana.   NZ First’s Winston Peters and Shane Jones were both booed by some in the crowd, and the Prime Minister himself faced a frosty reception.  Christopher Luxon used his address at Rātana to assure he wants progress for Māori, promising the crowd his Government had no plans to meddle with the Treaty, and wants to partner with Māori to achieve better outcomes.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Roman Travers that the reception they received feels appropriate considering some of the rhetoric that had been seen prior to the event.   Rātana, he said, normally has a quieter, more respectful crowd, so this level of response was quite telling.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's average rent has gone through the roof and is sitting at an all-time high.    Latest Trade Me figures show the national median rent is $625 a week, about 7.8% percent higher than this time last year.  For the first time, the Bay of Plenty is the most expensive place to rent a home, at $670 a week.  Property Commentator Ashley Church told Roman Travers that when the cost of owning a property is weighed against the rent taken, most property investors have been running at a loss for about a decade.  He said that the market is rebalancing with the change in Government, and a dramatic rent reduction is expected over the next few years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More so than ever, we live in a world where virtually everyone is outraged or offended more frequently.   There’s never been anything wrong with being outraged or offended – the difference in recent years is that we don’t only want to tell everyone who’ll listen about how we feel, we also want to shame the offender into stopping what they’re doing. We want to cancel them.   The offending now extends to products on the shelf at Mitre 10 stores. The offended took issue with the misuse of Te Reo Māori names being used on several of their products.   Mitre 10’s ‘Legacy Brand’ includes products like the ‘Te anau towel ring' which has quickly become the 'Ellesmere towel ring', while the 'Karapiro towel ring' is now the 'Clutha towel ring'.    Another offender was the 'Kaiiwi toilet roll holder' and is now listed as the 'Legacy toilet roll holder'.   Mitre 10 says that the changes they’ve quickly made intend to make the names more culturally sensitive.   They identified mid-last year that these longstanding product

New Zealand might not be entirely out of the woods with high inflation.   The Consumers Price Index rose 4.7% in the year to December, a two year low.   The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research says inflation is still above the 1-3% Reserve Bank target.   Principal Economist Christina Leung told Roman Travers that while she expects the figure to get under the target this year, some factors are putting that at risk.   She says things like the Red Sea attacks are driving up shipping costs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All signs are pointing to a much-needed easing in inflation.  Stats NZ will release its latest quarterly inflation numbers at 10.45 this morning.  They're expected to show the annual inflation rate has fallen below the 5% forecast of the Reserve Bank.  ANZ economist Henry Russell told Roman Travers that they expect most of this downward trend to come from the tradable side of the basket, which is the largely imported component.  The Reserve Bank will be focusing on the domestic driven or non-tradeable component of inflation today, which Russel expects to come in line with the Reserve Bank’s forecast.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday we became aware of yet another giant leap backwards for the mankind of New Zealand, based upon an entirely retrospective move by this coalition Government.  Our health system is like one giant lab rat: constantly poked and prodded by each and every Minister of Health with every change of government. It’s no wonder so many of our healthcare professionals want out.  The Minister of Health Shane Reti says he'll shift more health decision-making back to the regions in a monumental change in direction from the previous Government.  You’ll recall that all 20 of the District Health Boards were scrapped 18 months ago to form Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority, with the aim of ending geographical differences in the care people were receiving.  But Shane Reti now tells us that the reforms went too far. Do you get the feeling that no one really knows how to run a health ministry in New Zealand? Stand by patients, doctors, and nurses… here we go again.  Shane Reti says that “There ar

Fears that New Zealand's military involvement in the fight against Houthi rebels in Yemen could close diplomatic doors.   Six personnel are being deployed to the Red Sea to support coalition forces carrying out precision attacks on Iran-backed groups who have been attacking commercial shipping.  Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller says several US presidents have bombed Yemen and haven't solved the problem.   He told Roman Travers that the Houthi attacks are tied to the war in Gaza and that should be our focus.   Miller says New Zealand would be better served in assisting in diplomacy to get a ceasefire.   Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the two issues shouldn't be conflated.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti wants to return more decision making to the regions.   The previous government scrapped district health boards, forming the central bodies of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority.   General Practice New Zealand chair Dr Bryan Betty told Roman Travers that in a lot of areas there's a breakdown between Wellington and what's needed in the regions.   He says this is a reaction to that. It's not going back to the way it was but is a halfway point.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Prime Minister looks to be breaking his election promises when it comes to tax cuts.  Amidst a cost-of-living crisis, Anthony Albanese looks set to adjust the Stage 3 tax legislation, scrapping the planned tax cuts for those earning over $180,000 a year to make room for an adjustment to the tax-free bracket.  Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Roman Travers that the potential changes have ruffled a lot of feathers.  She said that if it actually transpires, the Opposition is ready to pounce.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s fair to say that we all love nothing better than to complain about what gets up our collective noses right?   Whether it’s the weather, a perennial go to over a cuppa with friends or the cost of living; we’ve all got something to say – and we love letting others know how we feel.   But there’s a big difference between whingeing to your mates and taking that step forward towards action that’ll make a difference. Although there’s not a great deal any of us can do about the weather; other issues that simmer close to the surface have got many of us taking photos and demanding action from our local councils.   Good luck getting any action out of Upper Hutt or Wellington City Councils. But there’s a massive difference around the country about what we complain about, and the timelines taken to get things sorted.   Some of the regular offenders on the list for councils to deal with are things like neighbour's trees impinging across boundaries, overflowing rubbish bins, and stuff mounting up around charity clothi

How this year's US presidential election is shaping up may come as a surprise.  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the race for Republican nominee and endorsed Donald Trump, despite the ex-president giving him the nickname 'Ron De-Sanctimonious.'  South Carolina's Nikki Haley remains in the running ahead of tonight's New Hampshire primary.  1News correspondent Logan Church said that it's going to be an uphill battle for Haley.  The former US ambassador to the UN is polling way behind Trump.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission's launched investigations into the two big supermarket chains' pricing and promotional practices.   It's looking into whether the practices of Woolworths, Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island, comply with the Fair Trading Act.   It comes following a Consumer NZ complaint to the commission, after it asked shoppers for examples of unclear or misleading prices.  They offered 600 responses.   Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang told Roman Travers that the Commission's options range from a compliance letter to court proceedings with fines.   He says a charge is really just a signal but consumers would react negatively, leading to changes in practices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s fears the Treaty Principles Bill could be a missed opportunity.   ACT is seeking to introduce legislation to redefine the Treaty principles by the end of May.   Political commentator Grant Duncan says National said it would support it to select committee, but that's where the party's support stops.  Duncan told Roman Travers that with proper long-term consultation, such a bill could be beneficial.   He says it could stop the issue festering away for the next generations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.