Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Concerns at the length of time it may take for changes to the supermarket industry to bring prices down.  The Commerce Commission's final report recommends Woolworths and Foodstuffs offer wholesale supply to other grocery retailers on a voluntary basis.  It also recommends helping consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and enhance competition at the retail level, by introducing mandator...

It’s pretty quiet in Auckland at the moment, with what feels like everyone isolating. The roads are not as congested with traffic, the malls are quiet, cafes are either shut or operating at reduced hours, it's all a bit sad.  How many of those isolating actually have Covid though?  Because it seems like an awful lot of people are at home, and I just wonder how many of them actually need to be.  Th...

The Government is urgently passing a new bill specifically targeting the Russia-Ukraine conflict.   New Zealand has been criticised for not having sanctions as strong as some other countries.  It includes freezing assets in New Zealand, a travel ban on more than 100 people and the economic targeting of people supporting the invasion, including oligarchs.   Democracy Project international analyst G...

In the last two years, we've heard countless stories about businesses needing to do business travel.  When it comes to making deals and trades, doing it on Zoom with dodgy Wi-Fi often doesn't cut it.  But economists are forecasting that business travel will resume at barely half the rate they once were.  General manager of corporate brands at Flight Centre Keely Alton joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN...

New Zealand's supermarket industry could be in for a major overhaul today.  The Commerce Commission will release its final report from its market study of the industry this morning.  Last year's draft found a lack of competition between supermarkets.  The commission could make a range of recommendations, including asking supermarkets to divest their wholesale divisions.  Auckland University Market...

It seems a fitting memorial to Australian cricket legend Shane Warne. Following his death in Thailand on Friday, fans have gathered at Warne's statue outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground placing not just flowers but also beer, cigarettes, pies and cans of baked beans. Warne's reported love of baked beans was came about in the 1998 tour of India when he said he was only eating the canned goods beca...

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a six-point action plan to counter Russia's war on Ukraine. It includes rapidly strengthening defences in NATO countries, more economic sanctions on Russia and mobilising international humanitarian efforts. Johnson outlined his plan in the New York Times. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby the Prime Minister publicised his points before m...

It’s hard to believe we are still watching the war raging between Russia and Ukraine unfold in front of us. It feels desperate and helpless, and almost perverse to watch this play out while we can do so little about it. It’s utterly heartbreaking. But also heartbreaking is the fact ignorant New Zealanders are deciding now’s the time to attack Russians living here. I cannot believe that people thin...

Concerns the National Party's tax plans could cause more harm than good. Leader Chris Luxon's announced in his first State of the Nation speech that he'll reverse every tax increase the current Government has imposed if he becomes Prime Minister. He also wants to adjust all tax bracket thresholds, so people pay less tax. Council of Trade Unions Chief Economist Craig Renney told Kate Hawkesby that'...

It may be time for men to take better care of themselves. News broke over the weekend of the death of Shane Warne at 52 after a suspected heart attack in Thailand. Thai authorities have been carrying out an autopsy on Warne's body, as they continue to investigate his death. College of GPs Medical Director Dr Bryan Betty told Kate Hawkesby heart attacks are becoming more common in men over 40. “We...

Auckland Airport is gearing up for a busy weekend - and this time it's the international terminal that should see a bit more action.   New Zealanders from anywhere across the globe will be able to return home without having to go into MIQ from midnight tonight.  Neither will they have to self-isolate - if they're Covid negative.  Auckland Airport's Corporate Services General Manager Mary-Liz Tuck...

It’s unknown how many rentals are meeting healthy home standards.  The Government has revealed it's not collecting data on how many homes are compliant.  It's also not requiring properties be assessed by a third party to verify whether it meets the standards.   Property Investors Federation Chief Executive Sharon Cullwick told Roman Travers she’s confident the noncompliant rentals are still being...

There has been some discussion this week about the Brain Drain, and how with the world opening up for Kiwis again, we could lose a lot of workers overseas.  Employers are having to think of ways to make sure they don't lose their workers going on OEs.  Randstad NZ thinks they have worked it out.  They are giving staff the choice to work anywhere around the world, for up to four weeks a year and no...

Too little too late would be my assessment of yesterday's clear out of the protestors.  And when I say clear out - there's still a few there, but the most obvious question is why on earth it took so long to get to this point?  Surely what happened yesterday could’ve happened week one, before it grew, got infrastructure and spread around other cities.  To let it get entrenched to the point where ri...

Former rugby league star Manu Vatuvei has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.  This is for his role in a meth importation scheme.  His defence lawyer says part of the issue is Manu struggled with adjusting from professional sport life, to a life post-rugby league?  Questions are being raised as to whether there is enough support for sportspeople navigating a life post-retirement. ...

Police have been maintaining a presence overnight, in case of further protests.  But Alistair Boyce, owner of the Backbencher Gastropub in Wellington, told Kate Hawkesby there are no signs of any protesters in the area right now.  “Can’t see any protesters, they’ll be lingering in the shadows if they’re anywhere. It was a pretty cold night in Wellington.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

Retailers are defending the cost of Rapid Antigen Tests.  A Consumer New Zealand survey's found the price varies from $6.40 to $19 a test.  Retail NZ spokesperson Aimie Hines told Kate Hawkesby some pharmacists bought them at a high price so have to charge $19 but says that's not a sustainable price.  “I think what we will see across the board is between $6 to $12 max, that’s a pretty fair price,...

Yesterday I had a very strange experience, Facebook-related. A scammer is pretending to be me, commenting on my show page, as me, telling commenters that they’ve won a cash prize. Apparently, fake me is giving away $20,000 in cash prizes. All you need to do is give ‘fake me’ your credit card details.  Trust me, if I had 20 thousand dollars to give way right now, it would be to Ukrainian refugees,...

Russian forces are continuing their attack on Ukraine as international pressure mounts on the Kremlin.  Ten people have been killed and another 35 wounded in a rocket strike on a government building and civic square in Kharkiv.  A strike on a television building in Kiev has killed at least five people, and taken several TV stations off air.  A 65-kilometre-long Russian military convoy is now less...

From this morning any Kiwis coming home from Aussie do not need to self-isolate and no MIQ.  But with the welcome mat opening for KIwis round the world, it also means we can leave New Zealand too.  ANZ economists are warning about 20,000 Kiwis will move to Australia alone.  With a large outflow of people, this is warned to increase our worker shortage and add demand to our labour market.  Infometr...

20 percent of Countdown staff are currently isolating - that's comes out to roughly 1000 workers.  The two Auckland distribution centres are down to 50 percent staff, leading to bare shelves across grocery stores.   Countdown says it's continuing to recruit temporary team members where it can.  Ben Peterson, First Union retail organiser joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/liste...

The Race Relations Commissioner says Russians here have faced discrimination over the invasion into Ukraine.  Meng Foon says told Kate Hawkesby one of the main reasons immigrants come here, is to find a better life and adhere to our values.  “Unfortunately, there’s a few naughty people that have violated other people’s rights.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My brother had Covid last week. Omicron struck him and his whole family, save for one child.  He was asymptomatic, bar a dry cough and a tickly throat. All of which he said under normal circumstances he would’ve gone to work with. It lasted 3 days, he said he wouldn’t even rank it in the top 10 of head colds. So, from where he sat, it wasn’t worth the fear and angst afforded it.  I’m sure there ar...

Federated Farmers is welcoming the news of a free trade deal between New Zealand and the United Kingdom.  The UK has agreed to phase out all tariffs on our exports, saving Kiwi exporters about 37-million dollars a year.   It's also expected to boost our GDP by up to $1 billion.  President Andrew Hoggard told Kate Hawkesby free trade deals are always a win for New Zealand.  “We sign them and you ex...

Starting friday 11:59pm, vaccinated Kiwis from anywhere in the world will now be able to return with no self-isolation requirements.  For those coming from Australia, that begins Wednesday 11:59pm.  RATs will be needed before and after arrival, and on day 5.   Cabinet is now looking at whether the remaining three steps of the five-step border reopening plan can also be bought forward.   Grounded K...