Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

Roadside drug testing is going ahead, despite concerns from a number of organisations and commentators that the tests are unreliable.    You can absolutely understand why police, others working as first responders, A and E professionals would want some deterrent against drug impaired drivers.    Studies in New Zealand have found about one in three drivers in fatal and serious injury crashes had so...

Calls for a signal New Zealand is, or will be, open for business. That's the sentiment from this year's Mood of the Boardroom, which surveyed 151 of the country's CEOs and senior directors on what businesses want, as we prepare to come out of Covid-19.   Many want more tools to keep people safe from the virus like mandates for staff to be vaccinated, and antigen and saliva testing. NZME Head of Bu...

The headline this morning was that a Mongrel Mob boss was granted an essential worker exemption to travel to Auckland.  Sonny Fatupaito, from the Mongrel Mob Kingdom in the Waikato, travelled in and out of Auckland last weekend.  The PM was asked about this this morning on Radio Hauraki, after a track from Queens of the Stone Age and a question as to which vacuum cleaner she and Clarke used, and w...

It's been a month since all New Zealanders over 12 became eligible for the vaccine and only 55 percent of Māori have had their first dose.  Less than 50 per cent of eligible Māori have received their first vaccination in Northland, among the worst rates in the country.  Auckland's Papakura Marae opened the first marae-based drive-through vaccination centre, which also provides provide wrap-around...

The pandemic continues to disrupt international freight.  Among the issues is a shortage of shipping containers causing delays for both importers and exports around the world.  President of the New Zealand Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation and Managing Director of Go Logistics Chris Edwards joined Kerre McIvor.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A regional medical practice closed its doors to new patients after losing a doctor due to immigration issues.  Last year, the Government suspended Expressions of Interest selections for the skilled migrant category, because of Covid-19.  After waiting a year for things to change, Ōtaki GP Harding Richards gave up and returned to Wales.  He had more than 1300 registered patients.  Ōtaki Medical Cen...

It's Mental Health Awareness Week, in New Zealand the theme is is “Mā te kōrero ka ora” which translates to 'talking saves lives'. The aim is to get more Kiwis talking about how they feel, and what they can do to improve their mental health. It's especially important when we are locked down in a pandemic.  Psychotherapist and Host of The Nutters Club on Newstalk ZB Kyle MacDonald joined Kerre McIv...

In a surprise move, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi says he's introducing a 'fair proportion' clause into commercial rent agreements. From today, a landlord and their tenant can agree to paying a fair amount of rent if Covid-19 has stopped a tenant being able to fully conduct their business. Faafoi said the two parties could also agree the clause does not apply. Colliers Head of Research Chris Dibble...

ACT Leader David Seymour says he's thrilled at the response to a petition on Three Waters. Over 17,000 people have signed up to ACT's petition over a couple of days, despite National's petition reaching almost 25,000 signatures. Seymour says that Three Waters still have to get the councils to agree, of which they are failing at, but we aren't getting upset over nothing. David Seymour joined Kerre...

Sir John Key has come out over the weekend, slamming the government's slow response and lack of initiative from ministers over the slow rate of vaccination, MIQ and the use of fear to control the population.   Both Sunday papers carried his opinion piece and this morning he spoke to the MHB. The PM has responded that the government is already working on some of the suggestions from the former PM -...

The Government is investing $45 million in a new frontline programme, instead of arming police.  It includes $15 million for a Tactical Response Model and expansion of the frontline skills course.  More than 200 additional police officers will be qualified to armed offenders squad standard. Police Association President Chris Cahill joined Kerre McIvor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Evergrande, one of China's largest real estate developers and one of the biggest businesses in the world, is causing a major crunch for the global economy.  The massive business has massive debts, about $300 billion worth, and was due to pay off the interest on some of its bank loans yesterday.  As the company remains in danger of defaulting, the US stock market and other global markets took a tum...

An important day not just for Auckland businesses, but businesses around the country.  Auckland is now in Alert Level Three, meaning more businesses can begin operating in some capacity.  Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck joined Kerre McIvor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just when it was looking promising for Auckland to move down a fraction of a level, giving us the welcome morale booster of click and collect shopping - why in heaven's name can't we buy books in Level 4 - along comes the news that Waikato has three positive cases of Covid, including two children one of whom was symptomatic while at school.   If the PM faffs around and holds everyone in suspense w...

Despite Te Wiki o te Reo Māori drawing to a close, it doesn't have to be the end of your te reo journey.  Te Reo Māori is one of the many languages listed as endangered by UNESCO, in the year 2000, there were just 70,000 speakers.  More and more, te reo is becoming part of our daily lexicon, from news readers to musicians.  Te Rau-o-te Rangi Winterbern is the Head of Kaupapa Māori at Education Per...

Here at Newstalk ZB we’ve got a lot of messages concerned about the government controlling the media in the last week.  These concerns have often accompanied by a video of Newshub’s Tova O’Brian talking about a document dump.  Kerre McIvor spoke to Tova to confirm that the government did not pay TV3 to shelve the story.   She says it was a story from May last year, and that the Prime Minister’s of...

National Party leader Judith Collins joined Kerre McIvor Mornings to discuss the nuclear agreement between Australia, United Kingdom and United States as well as the latest round of polls. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wānaka couple must have been listening to Deborah Pead on this show yesterday, given the apology and expressions of remorse delivered by them last night when their name suppression lapsed.  Oh, they're very sorry, and they understand they've done wrong, but they weren't Covid positive and they hadn't been to places of interest.  Not surprisingly, the Queenstown mayor Jim Boult is underwhelmed....

The Auckland couple who escaped lockdown to Wanaka have been granted interim name suppression.  Interim name suppression was granted via an urgent teleconference last night, to allow their lawyer to apply to the High Court for suppression of a longer duration today.  The two people were dobbed in after using their ‘essential worker’ exemptions to leave Auckland, fly from Hamilton to Queenstown, an...

Sir Ian Taylor is once again making a plea to the Government. As an experienced businessman, he says "the economy simply cannot afford to keep replaying the same level 4 restrictions that played out over the past couple of weeks, nor can businesses expect to operate successfully on the international playing fields with an MIQ system that simply has no rules they can play by." He'd like to see some...

Now for something lighter for Friday. How do you get through lockdown without going doolally? Some people have taken up needlepoint, others garden, read, run or you can meditate. Yoga and meditation teacher Claire Robbie joined Kerre McIvor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A two-year guaranteed income experiment in Stockton, California, shows what a difference monthly cash payments can make for people struggling to stay afloat.  The programme gave 125 people living below the median household income $500 per month for two years, with no strings attached.  A study released after the programme's first year found the payments measurably improved participants' job prospe...

Covid-19 lockdowns have given Dads a lot of food for thought and they are now re-evaluating their work-life balance.  For many fathers, it's given them a chance to have the family time they wanted but couldn't make happen.  It's also opened the eyes of a lot of men as to the work their partners do running their families, and in many situations, the male contribution to domestic housework and child...

Waiata Anthems Week kicks off on Monday, celebrating New Zealand's bilingual music industry.  More than a dozen New Zealand artists have re-recorded their tracks in te reo Māori including Six60, Niko Walters and Stan Walker.  Singer songwriter Georgia Lines is also one of those artists, she's today released a reo version of her hit single ‘My Love’- ‘Tōrere’.  Tōrere was recorded at Roundhead stud...

Business owners have been left frustrated and angry as the Government's wage subsidy application website appeared to close three hours ahead of its deadline last night.  National’s Social Development and Employment spokesperson Louise Upston says the Government must apologise to business owners and make sure no one misses out on wages. Louise Upston joined Kerre McIvor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...