Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Hopes today's announcement on the Covid protection framework will signal when the South Island can move out of Level Two.  Canterbury Chamber of Commerce CEO Leanne Watson told Kate Hawkesby the south may have no cases of Covid - but that doesn't mean it's not struggling.  She says businesses and people in general are frustrated that there’s just no recognition.  “Businesses just want clarity. It...

The Tamaki’s are once again defending their right to protest.  Bishop Brian Tamaki appeared in court this week for failing to comply with a Level Three order and breaching his bail conditions.  He has attended and helped organise two lockdown protests and violated his bail conditions by attending another protest on October 16.  Wife Hannah Tamaki told Kate Hawkesby he fully understands he could go...

Are you finding these days that your patience is wearing thin?   When it comes to morons, mine is.  When I read yesterday that people were gathering and chanting outside the Henderson Police Station wearing "Freedom NZ" masks, and revving their motorbikes after Brian Tamaki’s arrest, it felt like the world had officially gone mad.  Worse yet, Tamaki’s wife Hannah was live streaming the whole thing...

The future of business travel, and what it will look like post-pandemic will be discussed today.  Flight Centre are holding their corporate travel event Illuminate.  It coincides with the launch of the government's self-isolation pilot for business travellers, with 150 people confirmed for the trial.  Flight Centre Travel Group's Head of Customer Engagement Andy Jack told Kate Hawkesby the pilot i...

The All Blacks have a supporter in the US House of Representatives with a congressman welcoming the "legendary" team to America ahead of their clash against the USA Eagles this weekend.  Speaking next to a picture of the All Blacks haka, Republican congressman Alex Mooney, who is co-chair of the congressional rugby caucus, said the All Blacks are "the world's most famous rugby club" and their visi...

Some changes could be on the way for the Catholic Church.  Pope Francis has announced a two-year consultation process that aims to reform the Church.  Called "Synod" the aim is to consult every Catholic parish and bishop around the world on the future direction of the Church.  Assistant Catholic Bishop of Auckland Bishop Michael Gielen told Kate Hawkesby the Pope wants everyone to have their voice...

Senior students in level three regions get to go back to school from Tuesday, but for years one to 10, no such luck.   Education Minister Chris Hipkins says those students might not return to school until 2022.  And if they do, Hipkins says some options being considered to make it work are rostered attendance, and learning outdoors in the warmer months.   Principal of Rowandale Primary School in M...

As if this week’s not tough enough and we’re not rarked up enough already, now they want to carve up heritage houses for more development.  A new bill aims to force councils to allow more dense housing. The "new intensification rules will allow buildings of up to three storeys on most sites in cities without any need for resource consent from August 2022,” we read yesterday.  This is basically a g...

A new bill designed to cut red tape and allow more intensification in housing construction could be pointless if practical aspects aren’t taken into account.   Labour and National have joined forces on the rules, which will allow up to three homes of up to three storeys built on most sites, without resource consent.    AUT construction expert John Tookey told Kate Hawkesby it could help those want...

Prison staff have been taken by surprise by the Government’s move to include them in mandatory vaccination.   All staff working in New Zealand prisons now need to get their first dose by October 30 and both doses by December 1.  Corrections Association Acting President Floyd du Plessis told Kate Hawkesby the news has come as a shock to members.  He says they understand it was decided by Cabinet on...

Life has returned to normal for millions in Britain since coronavirus restrictions were lifted over the summer. But while the rules have vanished, the virus hasn't.  Many scientists are now calling on the government to reimpose social restrictions and speed up booster vaccinations as coronavirus infection rates, already Europe's highest, rise still further.  The UK recorded 43,738 new Covid-19 cas...

Financial hardship thanks to lockdown means more people are trying to get their Kiwisaver funds out earlier.   Budgeting advisers say there's been a 25 to 40 per cent increase in the number of payouts being approved.   That means an increase in rejected applications that they don't quite meet the hardship standard -  and this is proving tough for some to hear.   Financial Services Complaints CEO,...

You knew when the PM started selling the idea that we should be so grateful not to be going into level 4, that the mind games were on, and she was going to make Level 3 sound like a picnic.  And picnics as it turns out, is all we got. Two more weeks of them.  I could not have called this more wrong. Yesterday, I optimistically said they’d definitely free up some restrictions. I thought a zoo or a...

Despite the optimism of many yesterday, Auckland is facing another two weeks of lockdown while the rest of the country remains in level two.  The Government did make some announcements of announcements  It will finally reveal a vaccination target on Friday, as well as a new traffic light system.  But this has some saying the chop and change of decisions shows the Government is flailing about  Poli...

The film industry has traditionally been dominated by studios in Hollywood, but there seems to have been a shift in the tide.  The biggest movie in the world right now is a Chinese propaganda movie.  The Battle at Lake Changjin is on track to become the biggest movie of the year, and the highest grossing Chinese film of all time.  That alongside South Korea's Squid Game, has some in Hollywood nerv...

Hairdressers are frustrated there's no roadmap for them.  They're among those bearing the brunt of Auckland's lengthy lockdown; it's 10 weeks since they've had to shut up shop.  Ashley Green owns Society, a salon in Grey Lynn, and told Kate Hawkesby they have the ability to operate one client to one staff member, who's in full PPE.  She says they can open safely.  “If we are waiting for vaccinatio...

Promising signs on the horizon.  Auckland’s going to get to 90 percent vaxxed soon, fingers crossed, and that’s going to force this Government to open some stuff up.  And by stuff, I mean the border. The shops. The Auckland boundary. Normality is calling.  Not for the people still steeped in fear and “freaking out” like Rod Jackson and Siousxie Wiles.  Unfortunately, in going hard and early on the...

It's the first day of term four, but Auckland students still don't know when they'll be back in the classroom.  That's despite initial indications they would be coming back  National Party Education Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says we should get on with it once enough teachers are vaccinated.  He says told Kate Hawkesby the real danger isn't kids going to school, it's kids not going to school.  "T...

Auckland's mayor has labelled party-goers who breached lockdown "bloody idiots".   Footage from the massive party at a North Shore property on Saturday night went viral on social media yesterday.   Under Auckland's Level Three rules, only two households are allowed to meet outdoors - with a limit of 10 people.   Phil Goff says these people should have thought about their families and the wider com...

I think as we wrap this week, we just have to accept we are at a point now where counting cases is actually pointless.  Delta has got away on us, it's had a good laugh at our elimination strategy, and off it's gone and there’s no stopping it now.  Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, but earlier access to vaccines, a few more ICU beds, a better MIQ system and all the other things we didn’t do would’ve b...

A big day in the music world, Adele is releasing her first single in nearly six years.  ‘Easy on Me’ comes out today, which is the lead single off her new album '30', which releases November 19.  She's expected to once again break records, her previous album ‘21’, is the best-selling album of the twenty first century, while ‘25’ broke first-week sales records.  Can she do it again?  Deputy music e...

One Māori health care provider is trying to improve vaccine rates in the area with one of the worst coverage rates in the country.   In the Eastern Bay of Plenty, vaccinators have taken to the road to get vaccination rates up for Māori.   Te Puna Ora O Mataatua has set up pop up centres in schools, marae and workplaces.   Chief Executive Lee Colquhoun says told Kate Hawkesby understanding cultural...

Authorities appear to have hit a brick wall, with the uncooperative women at the centre of Northland's Covid lockdown.  The Covid-positive pair have refused to reveal locations of interest they visited around the region  Officials believe they have all the information they're going to get out of them.  Former crisis negotiator Lance Burdett told Kate Hawkesby there's only so many times you can ask...

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Northland this morning, and the Waikato for that matter.   I mean Waikato has two cases and they’re staying in Level 3, which seems over the top.   And as for Northland, they’re only staying in Level 3 because the absconders won’t help Police with their enquires; won’t fess up any locations of interest, won’t be honest.   I mean how is it a whole hard-working, law-a...

Northland is in level three lockdown for another five days thanks to an uncooperative Covid case.   That means all up the pair will have cost the region $23 million in the form of lockdowns.   That's especially hard to stomach considering Northland's economy was going gangbusters before it went to level 3.   Infometrics principal economist, Brad Olsen joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...