Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Unmanaged emergency housing facilities are said to be causing significant social issues in Rotorua. A council committee meeting has revealed a third of family harm calls each week in the city, are to emergency housing motels. District Councillor Tania Tapsell told Kate Hawkesby the Government promised to find a better system a year ago - but they're still waiting for action. She says people and fa...

It has been revealed nearly fifty percent of our jobs were protected by the Government’s wage subsidies at some point last year. This resulted in less people losing their jobs during the pandemic and less businesses going under. But now, as wage subsidies are gone and businesses need to fend for themselves again, one economist says we could see a wave of "zombie" businesses closing. Shamubeel Eaqu...

The construction industry is ageing more quickly than new people coming on board. The Government's Apprenticeship Boost scheme, which supports trades training programmes, will now run until the end of next year. The funding goes towards trades training programmes, and will support an additional 24,000 apprentices. Construction Industry Council Chair Graham Burke told Kate Hawkesby it's a good star...

So just when I was giving them the benefit of the doubt, the Government showed its true colours again yesterday and went back to its head in the sand approach.  They’re not soft on crime after all, according to them. I thought all this money being thrown at crime was admission crime is a problem, and their dealing with it hasn’t been flash, but alas, wrong. The PM came out and said yesterday nope,...

A former community constable says the youth committing ram raids lack respect for their family units. More than $562 million has been promised over four years for more frontline police, a new firearms unit and a package for businesses to protect themselves.  Manukau Ward councillor Alf Filipaina told Kate Hawkesby it's a good start, and he's looking forward to seeing its implementation. “We’ve see...

Very pleased to see a crackdown on crime coming in the form of some dollars and sense from the government. The sense to finally recognise we have a major problem with crime in this country.  $562 million in funding over four years will see a long-overdue increase in Police numbers and plans to tackle gang violence. More Police is a no brainer and should've happened ages ago, but I’m interested in...

Allied health workers say they're fed up being overworked and underpaid. They're set to begin industrial action today before a full 24-hour strike next week. After 18 months of negotiations, the Employment Relations Authority made a recommendation last week, which DHBs are yet to act on. PSA organiser Will Matthews told Kate Hawkesby a lot of these workers could head overseas if a new offer isn't...

Sharks 29Warriors 10 One step forward, two big steps back for the Warriors. After their win last week, an unwanted pattern continued on Sunday, with a truly baffling performance against Cronulla as they slumped to an awful 29-10 defeat, despite the Sharks playing more than an hour with only 12 men. Cronulla fullback Will Kennedy was dismissed in the 16th minute, after a terrible high tackle on Ree...

How much longer will the United Kingdom remain "united"? Sinn Féin is calling for a referendum on the reunification of Ireland and Northern Ireland, following its shock success at the Northern Irish election over the weekend. It's won the most seats of any party in the Northern Irish Assembly, a first for a nationalist party. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby that while the UK governm...

Queen Elizabeth II will miss the traditional royal garden party season, where she would normally meet with hundreds of people on the grounds of her residences in London and Edinburgh, palace officials said. The 96-year-old monarch will be represented instead by other members of her family, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Before the pandemic, the queen invited over 30,000 people each year to...

More staff is needed to help reduce growing violence at Christchurch Hospital's emergency department. Research in the New Zealand Medical Journal says each and every staff member has experienced the abuse. Emergency medicine specialist Dr John Bonning says more resource is needed across the health sector to reduce waiting times. He told Kate Hawkesby they've produced hospital access targets like s...

How would you feel about investing your KiwiSaver in Bitcoin? A KiwiSaver scheme is launching the world's second carbon neutral cryptocurrency fund. Koura is launching new specialty funds that will invest in Bitcoin and offset carbon emissions through purchasing carbon offsets. Founder and managing director of Koura Rupert Carlyon joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

There are  hopes newly-approved Auckland cycleway extensions will provide safety for city commuters. Plans for more than $300 million in funding was endorsed by the Auckland Council yesterday. Bike Auckland Chair Tony Mitchell told Kate Hawkesby when you look at major cities like London and Paris - it's clear people don't get on their bikes unless it's safe to do so. He says the main issue with cy...

I was out in Auckland city last night - which if you know me, you know is extremely rare on a weeknight for me to be out anywhere, far less the CBD. But I was driving through downtown Auckland with my kids in the car and I couldn't believe how heaving town was for a Thursday night. Bars and restaurants full, people sitting cheek by jowl at tables both inside and out on the street, it was buzzing....

Talk of the aged-care sector cannibalising itself. Survey results from 17 industry Chief Executives show more than two thirds say it's likely they'll have to stop or restrict admissions in the next year. Facility closures could be on the cards too - with more than a third saying it's likely. Radius Care's Michael Parker told Kate Hawkesby staffing shortages are playing a part. He says there's a lo...

A rural community on the Forgotten World Highway has received high international praise as a tourist destination. Whangamomona is probably most famous for declaring independence from New Zealand over a regional boundary dispute. Well it has been featured on BBC Travel, which has an audience of around 3 million people worldwide. John Herlihy, President of the Republic of Whangamomona, joined Kate H...

The United States is in political uproar over a leaked document from its Supreme Court, which indicates abortion rights are about to be rolled back across much of the country. Overnight the court's Chief Justice, John Roberts, confirmed a draft opinion published by the news website Politico yesterday was "authentic". He described the leak as a "betrayal of the confidences of the court" and "an egr...

This Government has an image problem and that may be partially reflected in their poll result. It's the bury the head in the sand approach - 'I reject the premise of the question', nothing to see here. But worse than that now I think, is this push back we're seeing where the Government is gas lighting its critics. If you dare to question co-governance, you are racist. If you criticise a female min...

Today Stats NZ will be releasing unemployment figures for the first quarter. Economists are predicting it will fall to a new record low, just three percent. So with a lack of workers, and wage inflations, what can businesses do? For some in the primary sector, they are using AI, robotics and automation tech to do the jobs instead. Robotics is a kiwi-based world class company in robotics technology...

It's hard to find any supporters for Trevor Mallard's move against Winston Peters. The Speaker of the House has trespassed Peters from Parliament for two years, - along with former National MP Matt King -  after they visited the anti-mandate occupation in February. A political commentator says it reaffirms Mallard's unfit for the role. Victoria University's Bryce Edwards says it's likely the New Z...

Researchers have pinned down exactly how much Vitamin C is needed to maximise immune health. New Otago University, Christchurch research has found for every 10kg over the baseline of 60kg a person weighs - their body needs an extra 10 milligrams. That means if you weigh 90 kilos, you need an extra 30 milligrams over the daily 110 milligrams of Vitamin C. Associate Professor Anitra Carr says overwe...

It’s a rare day I find myself agreeing with Winston Peters, in fact I’d go so far as to say it’s never happened. But given the circumstances of yesterday, I’d have to agree with Winnie; Trevor Mallard has lost the plot.  I mean I have actually used those exact words about Trevor Mallard before. When he spent half a million taxpayer dollars on a playground slide at Parliament, when he played the pr...

Amber Heard has replaced her entire public relations team. Former husband Johnny Depp is taking her to court in a civil defamation suit. She's said to be frustrated by the negative press she's receiving - coming just days before the star is due to give her testimony in court. Red Banyon PR's Evan Nierman told Kate Hawkesby Heard needs to stay focussed. He says regardless of the trial's outcome - s...

As house prices continue to climb, Kiwibank have set up an alternative to the traditional home ownership model, to help kiwis break into the housing market. Kiwibank say the new "co-own" scheme is hoped to streamline the process of buying into property with friends or family. Mobile mortgage manager at Kiwibank Madeleine Allen joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

A former National party minister says it's risky for politicians to rule things out at any stage. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ruled out introducing a wealth tax this term or next, if Labour is re-elected. Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Kate Hawkesby if she happens to change approach, the public will question her word. He says sometimes politicians rule something out because the pu...