Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The seafood sector has net some gains. The value of Primary Sector exports have hit a record high, now worth 14 percent of New Zealand's total GDP. Seafood is forecast to grow by eight percent to $2.1 billion  Seafood New Zealand Chief Executive Jeremy Helson told Kate Hawkesby it's being driven by good price increases in a few key stocks. He says rock lobsters, hoki and mussels are all doing well...

Well we learned yesterday that state housing tenants call the shots at Kāinga Ora, in that they know they won’t be evicted so they do whatever they want. Figures showed despite 10,000 complaints, only three had been evicted in 18 months. So, bad behaviour rules the roost there. Then we learn also this week that gangs clearly run Ōpōtiki. Again, they know they can do whatever they want, and an enti...

A law change will make it harder for overseas buyers to plant pine on good farm land. The Government is giving local councils the authority to determine where, and how much, carbon forestry can occur. The move limits trees used for carbon farming being planted on productive land, shifting the incentives to make planting on hillsides more attractive. Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Industry Chair T...

Concern the public has been led up the garden path over a long-held promise to boost the country's police force. New police data shows of the Government's 1,800 new police officers, 270 are "authorised officers" and don't have arrest powers. Act Party Leader David Seymour told Kate Hawkesby if 1,800 police are promised, people expect to see officers who can assist and arrest if there's a crime. He...

Former  US President Donald Trump  has pleaded not guilty to illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. “We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Todd Blanche, Trump’s lawyer, told US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman. CNN reported Trump had his arms folded and periodically spoke to Blanche while in the courtroom Trump’s motorcade arrived on Tuesday afternoo...

A knife-wielding assailant stabbed two university students to death in the streets of the English city of Nottingham and then fatally stabbed a middle-aged man, stole his van and ran down three pedestrians in a shocking rampage early on Tuesday morning (GMT), police said. Police arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder. The Nottinghamshire Police force said investigators believe the perpe...

I was inundated with feedback yesterday from both parents and teachers regarding the teachers’ strikes this term. So many teachers got in touch. They're embarrassed, many of them, and annoyed, that the strikes are going on so long. There are on average five days that high schoolers will be told to stay home while teachers strike for the remainder of this term. So of the three weeks left of school,...

The Government is being accused of slacking off with disruptive Kāinga Ora tenants. Newstalk ZB can reveal three people have been evicted for bad behaviour in the past 18 months - another 200 have been relocated. This is despite 10,000 complaints since the housing agency rolled out tougher termination measures. Solomon Group Housing manager Bernie Smith told Kate Hawkesby it's totally unacceptable...

Beef and Lamb is pleased with National's election emissions policy. National would start measuring farm emissions by 2025, and make farmers pay for them by 2030, five years later than the current plan to have them paying by 2025. National hasn't revealed how it will decide pricing, but says it will decide in the first year if elected. Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland says the delay is positive beca...

Kiwi chef Josh Emett is cooking up a storm for none other than goop - Gwyneth Paltrow's powerhouse brand. The goop team reached out after Paltrow reposted Josh's hasselback potatoes on social media in March. He's now whipped up three recipes for their massive online audience. Josh Emmet joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised over whether the Green Party's proposed tax overhaul is needed. It's pledging to lift the top tax rate to 45%, corporate taxes to 33%, and slash taxes for earners below $120,000. Assets worth two-million-dollars will be hit with a 2.5% wealth tax — or four-million-dollars for couples. Trusts will also be taxed at 1.5%. But, New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist, Eric Cr...

So today my daughter is off school again with another teachers strike. One of two this week alone, she will also be off Thursday. She is Year 12 doing internals and headed towards important exams, and it is stressful for her and her friends to again be told to stay home. Many of her teachers are over it too, they’re aware students are falling behind or having to rejig too much work and scheduling,...

A scientist is pleased to see the issue of genetic editing taken up ahead of the election. National's promising to end the effective ban on editing and modification if elected for the benefit of climate change, agriculture, and health science. Genomics Aotearoa Director Peter Dearden told Kate Hawkesby that there isn't currently a ban, but regulations are too restrictive and out of date. He says i...

I was reading about ‘sharenting’ the other day and how in France it’s now a crime. The Government there have introduced laws that ban parents from over sharing their children online. The idea is to protect children and their image and their rights to their own images, which in principal is not a bad idea, especially when you consider stats that show there are “on average 1300 photos of a child onl...

Changes are on the cards for some breast cancer patients. Pharmac is consulting on a drug switch proposal to replace the current expired one. Herzuma is said to be more safe and cost effective, but at what there are concerns about whether all patients will be suited to it. Breast Cancer Foundation's Research and Strategics Manager, Adele Gautier, joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

As bystanders screamed for help, a man with a knife stabbed four young children at a lakeside park in the French Alps on Thursday, assaulting at least one in a stroller repeatedly. The children between 22 months and 3 years old suffered life-threatening injuries, and two adults also were wounded, authorities said. The helplessness of the young victims and the savagery of the attack sickened France...

Auckland councillors will be back around the table at 10am this morning after being unable to agree on the council's budget. Mayor Wayne Brown proposed a compromise mid-way through yesterday's meeting, suggesting selling about half the council's holding in Auckland Airport, higher rates rises and more cuts to Council Controlled Organisations and local boards. Heart of the City chief executive Viv...

So the final march for the man known around Parliament as the Little General, Michael Wood, surely he’s gone by lunchtime. I mean being told to do something six times was already a lot, but to then find out it was in fact 12 times; come on. As the Nat’s Nicola Willis said yesterday, she sometimes has to ask her 13 year old son to do things 5 or 6 times; but 12 times? That’s next level. This is a c...

An animal welfare group wants more done to stop animals being used for science in New Zealand. The Ministry for Primary Industries' most recent report shows more than 308,000 animals were used for testing, teaching and research in 2021. Nearly half were then killed. Tara Jackson is the Executive Director of the NZ Anti-Vivisection Society and she joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

For the first time in 25 years, Arnott's will again manufacture products in New Zealand. The company is opening its new facility in Avondale, West Auckland today. It comes after it acquired the 180 Degrees cracker brand two years ago. Arnott's New Zealand Country Director Mike Cullerne told Kate Hawkesby it'll allow them to make more locally made products. He says they've partnered with Barkers of...

The actions of Michael Wood and Jan Tinetti probably won't be bad enough to end their political careers. Tinetti goes before the Privileges Committee today, accused of misleading the House about school attendance figures. And the Opposition is calling for Wood to resign or be fired, after revelations he was told to sell his Auckland Airport shares no fewer than 12 separate times. Massey University...

I see Consumer NZ is making a last ditch attempt to ping the supermarkets on dodgy pricing or so called specials that are not specials. They’re relying on us, the customers, to give them examples to strengthen their case, they say they’re “calling on New Zealanders to be the eyes and ears at the supermarket one last time to help gather as much evidence for the Commerce Commission as possible.” The...

Working habits are largely starting to return to pre-pandemic norms. A survey from media company JCDecaux New Zealand has found 89 percent of workers are working from the office for three or more days a week. Employment relations expert Max Whitehead says employment contracts need to make clear where people should work from. He told Kate Hawkesby employers will be welcoming it. He says bosses find...

Claims the new vaping regulations don't go far enough to prevent young people's access to products. From August, disposable vapes will be banned and all devices will need to have removable or replaceable batteries. New vape retailers will no longer be able to operate within 300 metres of schools and marae. Paediatric Society of New Zealand spokesperson, Doctor Colette Muir told Kate Hawkesby the G...

Red meat exports are exceeding expectations despite the current financial market. The Meat Industry Association is reporting a two-percent increase in exports in April, worth almost $1 billion, compared to the previous year. The association's CEO Sirma Karapeeva told Kate Hawkesby things are improving after a slow start to the year. She says any increase is a sign of recovery, but she doubts they'...