Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Jacinda Ardern is being urged to confront the frustrations of Auckland business owners during her visit to the city today.  The Prime Minister is expected to attend a couple of events under tight security.  Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Michael Barnett told Kate Hawkesby she needs to be willing to have some confronting conversations.  “Talk to businesses that aren’t allowed to open, wh...

It won't quite be business as usual for Auckland's public facilities on the first day of Step Two restrictions.  Libraries will only be open for contactless click and collect pick-up.  Some visitor centres, galleries and museums will be gradually reopening over the coming days, but Auckland Zoo will only be open for existing annual pass holders with confirmed booking slots.  Motat Museum Experienc...

Those in Level 2 who can't imagine what this must be like today for Aucklanders.   Try to imagine 3 long months, 12 whole weeks - in fact we're now into week 13 - of absolutely no shops open.  You can't buy your printer ink, new shoes for your growing child, you haven't been able to try on jeans, no new socks, no ability to just whip to the shops and grab birthday presents or any little things you...

The Foreign Minister's expected to try to put New Zealand's eggs in more than one basket as she visits six countries.  Nanaia Mahuta leaves tomorrow for her first overseas foray in the job.   She'll be heading to six nations; Australia, Indonesia, the UAE, Qatar, the US and Canada.   Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman told Kate Hawkesby the Government's trying to incr...

Well done Auckland.   The high vax rates have led us to where we are now – getting shops open come Wednesday. It’s several weeks too late, but we’ll take it.   Key takeaways from yesterday’s announcement - it’s no longer about Covid and cases, it’s about, as I said yesterday, length of lockdown, lack of compliance. The ‘health response’ for all that the Rod Jackson’s want to squeal about it, is ov...

A nurse has been arrested and charged with falsely giving a teenager the Covid-19 vaccine.  The 51-year-old from Western Australia went into her workplace at a Perth medical centre on Sunday.  She obtained permission to administer the vaccine to the teenager of someone she knew.  Police allege the nurse inserted the needle into their arm but failed to insert any liquid.  It’s claimed she then disp...

First home buyers' 26.4 percent market share is the highest on record.   CoreLogic figures show the group's share over the third quarter of 2021 was well above the long-term average of 21.8 percent.  Chief property economist, Kelvin Davidson told Kate Hawkesby it goes against the perception of first home buyers struggling.  He says people are finding ways in.   “They're using Kiwisaver, the bank o...

Despite ongoing labour and supply challenges, New Zealand's local wine seems to still be in high demand.  The value of our wine exports hit $600m in the September quarter - up 9 percent on the same period last year.  NZ Winegrowers Chief Executive Philip Gregan told Kate Hawkesby says he’s delighted that their buyers are enjoying our wine.   “We’ve got a good loyal customer base that is growing al...

Aucklanders have a path towards freedom and being reunited with the rest of the country.  The region will move to Step Two restrictions at midnight, and is set to move to the red level of the traffic light system at the end of the month.  It come as a Covid case is reported on Waiheke Island, and Mount Albert Grammar School returns to online classes due to another student testing positive.  Colleg...

It seems to matter less and less what’s said at these post-cabinet announcements because people are so over it, they’re just getting on with it anyway. The sun came out this weekend in Auckland and the balmy weather saw pretty much everyone head for the beaches, the parks, the backyard BBQ’s. It’s almost like Aucklanders took themselves to Level 2.  Likewise, there's a flourishing black market of...

If you're a Cantabrian, you'll likely be familiar with the Ravenscar House Museum.  It's a $16 million art museum in the city centre.   After eight years of planning, a three-year delay in opening and a $3 million budget blow-out, it's officially open to the public today.   Anthony Wright, the Canterbury Museum director joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Could New Zealand adopt New South Wales' Covid-19 roadmap?  The Australian state is fast tracking new freedoms for fully vaccinated residents from Monday.   It includes removing limit on house gatherings, opening sports stadiums and cinemas, and even allowing dancing in nightclubs.   The unvaccinated people must wait until December 15, or until the state reaches a 95-percent vax rate.   Auckland U...

Euthanasia becomes legal this Sunday but the requirements will be strict.   It follows nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders voting to legalise assisted dying last year.  The criteria to request it includes being 18 and over, in an advanced state of irreversible physical decline with unbearable suffering, and able to make an informed decision about it.   The Act Party's End of Life Choice spokeswoma...

You can always tell when a topic has hit a nerve... The text machine blows up with texts, people email me before, during and after the show has gone to air.   And this was the case yesterday over the latest crazy suggestion from the Government – that Aucklanders could face being set allotted time slots to travel this summer. It was such a stupid idea that no sooner had Chris Hipkins uttered it out...

Deciding on a process for electing Jacinda Ardern's ultimate successor will be up for discussion at the Labour Party's annual conference this weekend.  Party members will meet online, to vote on a proposed change to how Labour elects its leaders when the time comes for Ardern to go.  It would allow a new leader to be elected by caucus alone if more than two thirds of caucus voted for a new leader...

Keeping Auckland's Covid boundary in place over Christmas could take a huge toll on tourism-dependent regions.  The Government is working on plans to require people to prove their vaccination status and provide a negative Covid test each time they cross the border.  But Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins says no final decisions have been made on how it will work.  Jereon Jongejans, the owner of...

“A small but active group”.   This the new catchphrase we can expect to hear more often from the Government as it faces the reality of popularity slipping. When the chips are down and things don’t look good, it’s important to minimise, diffuse, and distract. That’s why in Northland when the PM was confronted by a heckler, she quickly told the crowd it was “just one person”, in fact there were four...

A sociologist says we can expect more protests.   The Prime Minister yesterday abandoned a scheduled press conference in Whanganui after about 250 protesters gathered outside a vaccination centre she planned to visit.   The day before, Ardern had moved a Northland press conference indoors after being heckled by activists.  On Saturday about five-thousand people gathered at the Auckland Domain and...

If you want to get in and out of Auckland this Christmas you may have to book in advance, and be prepared to wait.  The boundary between Auckland and the rest of the country is likely to remain in place -- with people prevented from travelling if they aren't fully vaccinated, and don't have a negative Covid test.  Covid Minister Chris Hipkins says people could be given an allocated time, but it's...

I’m not sure what’s worse at COP26, the private jets they all flew in on, the hot air they’re spouting, Greta Thunberg doing her usual spit the dummy routine, or Joe Biden living up to his nickname and falling asleep. I mean it’d be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.  UK PM Boris Johnson, having lectured them all on cutting down on travel emissions, then hopped back on his private jet to head back to L...

Doctors are calling for better regulation of health supplements, as demand surges during the Covid pandemic.  Sales in New Zealand supermarkets reached 130-million dollars this year by September.  However, some say they're expensive, we don't need them, and they can be dangerous.  Medical Association chairman, Dr Alistair Humphrey, told Kate Hawkesby people are wasting their money taking supplemen...

Police are undergoing a research project investigating whether they have unconscious bias towards Māori.  It will be examining whether bias exists within Police, and how to eradicate it.  Over in the US, Philadelphia has become the first big city to ban minor traffic stops.  Police can't pull people over for broken tail lights or expired inspection stickers.  Could something similar be done here? ...

Hopes for a silver lining in Northland's third lockdown in as many months.  The top of the Far North has moved to Alert Level Three at least until Monday after two Covid cases were found in Taipa in Doubtless Bay, with no known link to the wider Delta outbreak.  The boundary slices through the Hokianga Harbour across to the Mangamuka Junction, to Kaeo and out to East Bay, east of Whangaroa Harbour...

As Auckland enters week 12 of lockdown, there must be a small sigh of relief for businesses.  I mean another whole week, but at least a date is set to open.  Which is just as well, because had they not given businesses a green light to open, I would’ve suggested they just stop waiting for permission and get on with it anyway. Leo Molloy it. Ian Tayor it. Set a date, make some rules, band together...

Irish-trained and Australian-owned nine-year-old Twilight Payment will attempt to become the first horse to successfully defend a Melbourne Cup since Makybe Diva won her third in a row in 2005 in Tuesday's race at Flemington.  The stayer will go into the 3,200-meter race having finished runner-up in the 2,800-meter Irish St. Leger, a placing that was one better than his final lead-in run in the sa...