Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

New Zealand Herald Political Editor Claire Trevett says Thursday's Budget is not an election winner, but it's not an election loser either. Claire Trevett joined Kerre Woodham Mornings to discuss the Budget from a political point of view. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of ongoing discussions about New Zealand's educational standards and the falling educational standards, and in light of the conversation about school lunches and the provision of school lunches for those schools that have families that are most impacted by the cost of living, I was reading a review of a memoir from Trinity College lecturer Dr. Katrina O'Sullivan.   She is a lecturer at Tr...

It has become apparent to me over the last few years that I make a lot of assumptions. In my own defence, I think it's because I grew up in an era where you could make assumptions. That people would do their jobs properly and to the best of their ability, that people took pride in what they did, and they had the good of the community at the heart of whatever they did. Didn't matter what job you di...

With less than five months to go ‘til the election, the leaders of all parties are ramping up the rhetoric. Christopher Luxon, leader of National, spoke to Auckland's Chamber of Commerce yesterday, outlining a trio of new policies aimed at transparency and government finances. Now you would have thought after six years of the most open, honest and transparent Government in history, there would be...

We’ll start this morning with the Government’s inquiry into slash, and the damning recommendations that found that production forestry should be banned in extreme erosion zones around Wairoa and Gisborne. Limits should be introduced around how much of a forest can be felled in a single year. And when it's spelled out like that, why would you need an inquiry to tell you? It just makes common sense,...

The Government's announced a cash injection towards the Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up. Ten million dollars of Budget 2023 funding will go to the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne to remove up to 70-thousand tonnes of woody debris from rivers. It'll also fund measures to prevent debris going into waterways in the future. Minister of Forestry Peeni Henare joined Kerre Woodham to discuss the situation. LISTEN AB...

I can't even begin to imagine how frustrating and soul destroying it would be to go into to work every day, wanting to do your best, able to do your best because of years of training and a desire to deliver. And yet, you find yourself working within a framework you don't believe in, and worse, you believe is harming the very people your life's work is to help. I've picked up a bit of this from pol...

Recent discussions around New Zealand's Defence Force have prompted many calls and texts about the recruitment process and the difficulty some where having getting into the Forces. To answer some of those questions, Director of Defence Force Recruiting, Wing Commander George Magdalinos joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A top Auckland private school has so little confidence in the new NCEA Level 1 curriculum it is ditching the qualification in favour of its own Year 11 diploma next year. St Cuthbert’s College informed parents Wednesday next year’s Year 11 students would not take part in NCEA Level 1 but rather work towards the school’s own bespoke Year 11 Diploma. Principal Justine Mahon said several of the schoo...

An open letter to the public and the politicians of Aotearoa New Zealand has called for people to pay more tax, specifically people who are financially comfortable should pay more tax. The signatories to the letter point out that the cost of the Cyclone Gabrielle clean up and the need to future proof our infrastructure against more climate change events, the children living in poverty and misery,...

The National Party has ruled out coming to any arrangement with Te Pāti Māori in forming a National-led government after the 2023 election. The only party that National will be able to work with is Act. Act are they're strong ideologically, so questions have been asked as to how easy they would be to work with in a coalition. Act Party Leader David Seymour told Kerre Woodham a vote for Act over Na...

Almost 100 wealthy individuals have signed an open letter because they are frustrated with how much, or how little, tax they pay. Someone who has signed the letter is Sir Ian Taylor and he joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Emergency Management deputy controller Rachel Kelleher joined Kerre Woodham to provide an update for residents following Tuesday's deluge and flooding. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Part has ruled out coming to any arrangement with Te Pāti Māori in forming a National-led government after the 2023 election, after leader Christopher Luxon appeared on Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast earlier. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls joined Kerre Woodham to discuss the development. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A huge boost for our defence forces, with pay rates being boosted by $4000 to 15,000 over 4 years and a three $128 million upgrade of New Zealand Defence Force assets and infrastructure. I confess, I'm surprised it's happened under this Labour government. It sounded as though it came as a bit of a surprise to the Defence Force and political commentators like former Defence Minister Ron Mark. This...

The future of the crucial inland route through the Coromandel has just been revealed. Waka Kotahi has confirmed the damaged section of State Highway 25A between Kopu and Hikuai will be rebuilt as a bridge. It says a contractor will be ready to start work early next month, with it expected to be finished early next year. Minister of Transport Michael Wood joined Kerre Woodham from the Thames-Cororm...

We're just under 35 hours away from the King's Coronation. The bunting is up, jewels polished, parties are planned and London is ready. Jennie Bond has been a journalist and Royal correspondent for 35 years, 14 of those the BBC's royal correspondent. She's had closer view of royal history than most, covering the rollercoaster of royal events from weddings to divorce, Jubilees to royal tours around...

A link has been found between head injuries and violent crime. AUT research shows even a single concussion can increase the risk of violent behaviour in the following decade of a persons life. This goes beyond what happens on a rugby field. Everyone is at risk of mild Traumatic Brain Injuries, from traffic accidents or even hitting their head on a kitchen cupboard and the potential cost to society...

New Zealand's unemployment rate is unchanged at 3.4 percent. Stats NZ has just released the March 2023 quarterly figure, which hasn't budged since the December 2022 figure. Economists had picked the rate would stay close to record lows. NZ Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann joined Kerre Woodham to break down the figures. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looks like Census 2023 is another failure. Stats New Zealand is not on track to achieve its target of getting responses from 90 percent of the population. Still time, but it seems unlikely to meet that target, despite protestations from the Minister of Statistics Deborah Russell that it's still early days. The low return rate has nothing to do with the effects of Cyclone Gabriel, most of the unret...

A concession from Census officials: they will have to switch from the carrot to the stick. Stats NZ is handing out food vouchers and free Warriors tickets to encourage those yet to complete their forms, to do so. So far 4.4 million people have returned their papers. Deputy Government Statistician Simon Mason told Kerre Woodham he's got no desire to prosecute people, but it may come to that. He say...

It's not a new idea.  It's been around for a while and it's certainly something a number of you have been wanting. National announced over the weekend that, if elected, newly qualified nurses and midwives will receive up to $4500 per year towards their student loans, if they agree to stay working in this country for five years. The bonding scheme will also be open to nurses and midwives who have r...

Leader of the Opposition, Christopher Luxon, joined Kerre Woodham live in studio to take your calls and answer your questions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, in fact, this very time last week, we were speculating wildly as to whether the IRD's report on New Zealand's wealthiest individuals was going to pave the way for a capital gains tax in this country. The report came out yesterday afternoon.  It just sort of sat there - there was a big ta-da and then nothing. We're an outlier as far as the rest of the wealthy nations of the world go, in...

A tax expert says the Government's wealth report covers what we already know. Inland Revenue's wealth report shows the top one percent of earners pay a median effective tax rate of 9.4 percent when including capital gains on investments. That's compared to an estimated 20 percent for "middle wealth" people. Dentons Kensington Swan tax partner Bruce Bernacchi told Kerre Woodham the wealthy earn a s...