Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New Zealand will need to step up its marketing to Australia, ahead of our border opening to them.  Vaccinated Australians can come here from April 13 and those in other countries with relevant visas can come here from May 2.  Travel marketing consultant, Trish May, told Kate Hawkesby Tourism New Zealand has been keeping the name of New Zealand in the minds of the Australian consumer.  And she says...

I must admit I haven’t actually read his book, but I am reliably informed that Simon Bridges said in it that he was staying in politics despite getting dumped as leader, to fight the good fight.   Hence his announcement that he’s now quitting parliament, surprised me. Why now? Surely with a government on the ropes, a promising new opposition leader and potentially a bright future as a senior playe...

The bringing forward of entry dates for tourists is expected to help with the Australian market but not for the long-haul one.  It's understood fully vaccinated Australians will be able to arrive from April 12, without self-isolating.  Visitors from other countries New Zealand has visa waiver arrangements with, like the United Kingdom, will be able to come in the following weeks.  Nomad Safaris ow...

It's hoped a new long covid advisory group focuses on developing treatments not just rehab.    Long covid is used to describe cases of people who have symptoms that continue or develop more than 12 weeks after getting the virus.    An expert advisory group is being set up to provide GPs with advice on how to help people who suffer from prolonged illness.    This includes advice around a rehabilita...

Accusations of songs plagiarising or copying other songs isn't new.  But copyright infringement cases are big business in the United States. Ed Sheeran is currently in court arguing he didn't plagiarise his song Shape of You.  While Katy Perry has just won an appeal against an artist claiming she ripped him off with her song Dark Horse.  Judith Finell is a forensic musicologist who's testified at...

Less than a 24-hour timeframe is one of your quicker government flip flops - but nonetheless, that’s how long it took the PM to go from ‘no cost of living crisis’ to acknowledging a cost of living crisis. Although she did work hard to pin it on Russia.  Let's not forget petrol prices were rising before that.  But under pressure, and on the back of a bad poll, the Government's reacted - and filling...

Public transport fares will be halved as part of the Government's plan to help ease pressure at the pump.  It will come into play from April 1st for three months.   Questions are being raised as to whether public transport should have been made free.  Public Transport Users Association chair Niall Robertson joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fuel prices have been slashed by 25 cents a litre to help combat rising prices.  Motorists will be lining up to fill their tanks today as the discount came into effect at midnight.  Questions are being raised as to whether it will help those dealing with a cost of living crisis.   New Zealand Initiative chief economist Dr Eric Crampton joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listene...

US officials say Russia has asked China for military assistance in Ukraine.   The United States' National Security Adviser is meeting with Chinese diplomats, reportedly planning to warn them of the consequences of helping Russia.   Rand Corporation Senior Political Scientist Raphael Cohen told Kate Hawkesby China has warming ties with Russia - but also abstained from a UN vote condemning Russia. ...

Kiwi skier Adam Hall has capped New Zealand's most successful Winter Paralympics in 20 years by winning bronze in the men's standing slalom. The medal was Hall's second in Beijing to match the tally won by fellow skier Corey Peters, giving the three-man Kiwi team this country's best haul since Salt Lake City 2002. Hall was sitting second after his first run at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre...

"They were wild, it was petrifying," those were the words of the woman who witnessed the brutal gang attack on the Waikato expressway on Friday.  Police are now investigating after gang members drove erratically on both sides of the road before a man was dragged from his car and attacked. He was left lying on the road, his face covered in blood, his shirt off and his pants half down. People though...

Queen Elizabeth will not attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey this week. People has reported the Queen's absence is not due to illness but comfort around travel as her majesty has been using a walking cane since October last year and has recently complained of mobility issues. In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, it was revealed the monarch, who has recently recovered fr...

Russia's war on Ukraine is not helping the fuel industry's recovery from the pandemic. With global tensions putting pressure on crude oil prices, the AA is warning petrol prices could hit $4 a litre.  Motor Trades Association Energy Manager Ian Baggott told Kate Hawkesby the fuel industry works well when all things are working according to plan. “The impact of Covid with the refineries shutting do...

Small businesses want the red tape cut out of the economy.  A new survey of Australian and New Zealand sole traders found a growing number of traders concerned about the health of the economy.  It also suggests people want simpler rules around doing business rather than additional government support or extra funding.  Hnry Chief Executive James Fuller told Kate Hawkesby small operators want change...

More calls for pregnant women to get the Covid jab.   Thirty per cent of women giving birth at Middlemore Hospital have Covid-19.   They're being recommended to wear masks in labour.   Auckland University researcher Dr Michelle Wise told Kate Hawkesby the vaccinated and boosted rate for pregnant women is lower than for the general population.  “Every study that’s come out in the last couple of yea...

Sadly, no detail on the Government's RNZ/TVNZ merger but let's start with the very brutal truth – it’s going to be about as exciting as watching paint dry.   It’s going to apparently ‘better reach those groups who aren't currently well served; such as our various ethnic communities and cultures,’ Faafoi said, so in other words, kissing a mainstream audience goodbye.  Here’s the first problem – it’...

A political expert says it could be a tough year for Labour.   The 1News Kantar Public Poll has National polling higher than Labour for the first time since the pandemic.   National is on 39 percent while Labour's dropped to 37.  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's still the pick for preferred Prime Minister - polling nine percentage points ahead of National's Chris Luxon.   Massey University's Grant...

Online shopping isn't just more convenient, but lighter on your pocket.  Australian research shows consumers can save more than $1300 a year on groceries by shopping online, rather than in person.   Auckland University associate professor in marketing, Karen Fernandez told Kate Hawkesby going online eliminates impulse buying.  “There’s another little cute thing that happens in online shopping, you...

A juror told a judge Tuesday that failing to disclose his child abuse history during jury selection at the trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was one of the biggest mistakes of his life — but an unintentional one.  "I didn't lie in order to get on this jury," the juror said.  A U.S. judge questioned the juror extensively as part of an effort to decide whether the revelation about his per...

Mark Manson is the author of two great books I’ve read.. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k, and Everything Is F**ked: A Book About Hope. They were New York Times bestsellers, which sold over 13 million copies. These days, like everyone else, he podcasts, and he has an interesting take on social media - which intrigued me given my recent battle with Facebook and how annoying I think tech giants a...

A new startup company considers themselves the "Tinder for barns"  Called Heybarn, the idea is that rural and lifestyle property owners that have free shed space, can rent out that space for Kiwis who need more room.  They can "match" online, and despite being early days, the startup is seen as a world first.  Heybarn co-founder Tom Brownlie joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/l...

The culture of New Zealand’s law profession may need an overhaul if it wants to stop burn out.   The Aotearoa Legal Workers Union has found 74 percent of lawyers feel their work is causing their mental health to suffer, with 83 percent believing it's doing the same to their colleagues.   It identifies a range of causes from unmanageable workloads, subject matter of the work, poor or no supervision...

A suggestion there's not too much of an appetite for an even shorter isolation period.  Covid cases and household contacts only have to isolate for seven days, from midnight Friday - with contacts testing on day three and seven.  EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Kate Hawkesby while the business community would like it to be less, there's a large chunk of the population still worried about l...

I find the debate about whether we’re in a cost of living crisis at the moment fascinating, because it’s exactly the sort of thing Ardern would’ve argued vehemently when in opposition – yet because she’s currently in government, is denying.   No cost of living crisis, according to her.   Yet as the Wellington City Missioner said yesterday, anyone who says there isn’t one, is someone who’s doing OK...

The Nurses’ Organisation is unhappy with changes allowing staff with Covid to return to work.   The Ministry of Health is now allowing infected staff to return early if their absence means the service couldn't run.  It means healthcare workers can leave isolation on day six if they test negative twice.  If they still test positive, they can work on Covid wards.  Nurses Organisation President Kerri...