Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New Zealand schools are missing their international students, and not just because of the money they bring in.  Primary, intermediate and secondary schools lost 40 million dollars in revenue between 2019 and last year, because of foreign students returning home  Figures will be worse this year, with enrolments tipped to be lowest next year.  Secondary Principals' Association president, Vaughan Cou...

Bit of a worry that in these already stressful times for young people, they have an additional worry gnawing away at them; the destruction of the planet and their fear of humanity being doomed.  Eco-anxiety is huge. The BBC recently reported a “new global survey which illustrates the depth of anxiety many young people feel about climate change. Nearly 60 percent of young people felt very worried o...

A lifetime gang member has concerns, about Covid-19 spreading within gang communities.  Some members of an Auckland Mongrel Mob chapter are isolating, after a woman visited the Mongrel Mob Pasifika pad in Takanini while positive with the virus.  Ashley Bloomfield says he's not concerned about the situation.  But lifetime Black Power member Denis O'Reilly told Kate Hawkesby he should be.  "We are m...

Auckland's Level Four lockdown could be making the grass even greener on the other side.   Real estate agents in regions such as Tauranga are reporting record levels of interest from Auckland home buyers.  Some are even making lockdown sales where the buyers haven't been able to see the property.   Valocity valuation director James Wilson told Kate Hawkesby it was already happening pre-lockdown, b...

As tough as this lockdown is for many people, it’s really tough for the kids having to do school work from home, and for their parents who may be trying to juggle work, while also keeping their kids focused on learning.   It’s a juggling act we’ve been keeping up for 4 weeks now, and as Aucklanders enter a fifth week of it, it’s understandable the wheels are starting to fall off a bit. Reality is...

A suggestion changes being agreed to by one of our major supermarket chains don't go far enough.   It comes after a report by the Commerce Commission found competition was lacking in the grocery sector.  Foodstuffs North Island, which owns New World, Four Square and Pak'nSave, says it's now willing to support a consumer-focused code of conduct that aims to treat suppliers better.  It adds it'll lo...

The idea of a student loan-type scheme is expected to be a win-win for businesses and the Government.  Treasury's being asked to introduce it to help companies get through the economic impact of Covid-19.  The idea's come from Cognitus Economic Insight principal economist, Richard Meade.  He told Kate Hawkesby the Government would have about 14 percent less debt, if the scheme was put in place.  "...

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce says New Zealand is too reliant on Auckland.  The capital has been in Alert Level Two for a week now...but with Auckland still in Alert Level Four...paused supply chains are leaving businesses vulnerable.   Chamber CEO Simon Arcus told Kate Hawkesby the reliance needs to end.   "We need to think differently about the way we're building New Zealand cities. Things ...

So, although we were delivered the worst kept secret that Auckland’s staying in Level 4 another week, I'm not convinced that'll be it.  The PM said cabinet had made an ‘in principle’ decision that Auckland would move to Level 3 next Tuesday midnight, but an in-principle decision is not a final decision.   As always, they’ll make the actual decision based on the latest available data, and who knows...

Another week of level 4 for Auckland and level 2 for the rest of the country.  The longer this goes on; the more questions are being raised about at what point elimination strategy becomes socially and economically unviable.   Professor Robert MacCulloch, from Auckland University's faculty of Business and Economics discussed with Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

A drive to get more disabled people vaccinated.   The Taikura Trust is launching Tiaki, a Covid-19 campaign aiming to break down barriers to access for Auckland's disabled community.   Barriers include transportation to vaccine centres and communication not being catered to them.   Minister for Disability issues Carmel Sepuloni told Kate Hawkesby there is vaccine hesitancy too.   "People may have...

As you'll be aware we're in Te Wiki o te reo Māori at the moment - Māori Language Week.   And today is the day the Māori Language Commission want us to get together at midday today and set a record.   They're calling it the Māori Language Moment, and are hoping to set the world record for most people speaking an endangered, indigenous language at the same time.   Māori Language Commissioner, Rawin...

“We need to stay the course. We don’t want to yo yo in and out of lockdowns. We don’t want to waste our hard fought gains thus far. We have to stay vigilant. We don’t want to be Australia. We need to stay focused on the end goal here. Auckland is doing the heavy lifting but we know Aucklanders can do a little bit more.” That’s just some of the rhetoric well get dished out today.   Expect any or al...

Some good news over the weekend with Denmark sending half a million Pfizer vaccines to New Zealand. But this comes as Denmark is completely getting rid of its own Covid restrictions. What makes their situation interesting is how they have a similar population to us. So what have they done right and could we learn a thing or two from Denmark? Professor of Viral Diseases at Copenhagen University Hos...

Among all the air fryer chat, there is confirmation that buying one is a real trend this lockdown. New Zealand PriceSpy data shows interest in an air fryer has gone up by 285 percent year on year. Are they a lockdown fad or on track to replace ovens? Celebrity chef Allyson Gofton from Food In A Minute joins Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities in Britain have decided not to require vaccine passports for entry into nightclubs and other crowded events in England, Britain's health secretary said Sunday, reversing course amid opposition from some of the Conservative government’s supporters in Parliament. Health Minister Sajid Javid said the government has shelved the idea of vaccine passports for now but could reconsider the dec...

Another week, another commanding bonus-point victory for the All Blacks. Each more impressive than the last, too. After three comfortable wins against the Wallabies, the last two ensconcing the All Blacks atop the Rugby Championship table, Ian Foster's men held the Pumas to the open flame grill and then uncorked Mendoza's best Malbec with one stunning second-half try. The All Blacks enjoyed total...

For a government obsessed with optics, it beggars' belief that more thought wasn’t given to James Shaw’s decision to travel all the way to Scotland for a climate change conference in 8 weeks' time.  I mean, let’s get past the glaring carbon footprint of all that travel and look at the other hypocritical aspects of this.  This is a party who objected so strongly to Parliament being resumed in perso...

One man is on a mission to feed the homeless in lockdown.   Hangi Master's Rewi Spraggon says he and his son have given out about three thousand hangi to Tamaki Makaurau's homeless and food banks.    The caterer told Kate Hawkesby lockdown has affected the homeless.   "A lot of them usually eat in the back of restaurants, in the rubbish cans behind the restaurants. But with no restaurants open, th...

This weekend will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11.  Most of us remember where we were that fateful day, watching those horrific images coming out of New York and Washington DC.  It changed the world forever, and the challenge is how to make sure future generations don't forget the lessons learned from 9/11.  Director of tourism at 9/11 memorial and museum in New York Isaac Pacheco joined Kate Ha...

An Auckland tourism operator says international tourists will be needed to help keep local businesses afloat.  Bush and Beach Tour Company's Ben Thornton says most Kiwis see the region as the epicentre of Covid outbreaks.   He argues the 17 MIQ facilities scattered throughout the city, will put other New Zealanders off wanting to visit.  Thornton told Kate Hawkesby international tourists will be t...

It feels like a raw deal doesn’t it? We’re locked down, grocery prices are creeping up and up and up, and then we get the news that we’re in for an expensive Christmas.  Shipping lines have announced a ‘peak season surcharge’ on containers coming in from China and Singapore, and other shipping lines will likely follow suit.   So, when the cost goes up for them to ship stuff to us, they’re going to...

It turns out herbicide resistance is a far bigger problem in New Zealand than anyone thought.    Scientists have just completed the first nationwide survey on resistance.   Instead of finding the expected 5 percent of arable farms and vineyards being resistant to common herbicides, they found 50 percent are.   Agresearch senior scientist, Dr. Trevor James joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE  See o...

As we approach the twenty-year anniversary of the 9/11 disaster one of the key masterminds of the attack has still yet to face trial.  Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is known as the principal architect of the attacks.  He has been kept in Guantanamo Bay since 2006.  But his pre-trial has been going on for nine years, with no set date yet for when the actual trial will begin, where he could face the death...

The latest Delta outbreak has forced a Government rethink, on recently announced plans to reopen the border.  The Government still intends to go ahead with a trial, to allow some fully vaccinated overseas travellers from low-risk countries to self-isolate at home upon arrival.  But the plans on how to reopen borders early next year will have to be completely rew  Auckland University Emeritus Profe...