Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

International rugby is finally back this weekend. The All Blacks are in Perth for the third and final Bledisloe cup match on Sunday.  Vice-captain Beauden Barrett returns at first-five in the absence of Richie Mo’unga, who is on parental leave.  Wallabies v All Blacks, Sun 5th September 6pm - Optus Stadium, Perth Beauden Barrett joined Kerre McIvor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

You never know when you're going to life-saving blood and plasma to keep you alive.  On average 83 personal emergencies are faced by Kiwis each day and they don't all make the news.  Despite the country coming to a standstill in Level 4, the need for blood and plasma donations never stops, nor do those working hard to collect them.  Donations Team Leader at the New Zealand Blood Service Scott Sinc...

People have had a lot of time on their hands during lockdown and many people have dusted off their Elna's and Berina's to make masks.  Lockdown has also given people time to once again make their own clothes.  Well-known fashion clothing business Ruby is believed to be the first established fashion brand to sell its intellectual property, its patterns, to the public.  It is part of a reshaping of...

Despite most of the country moving into Level 3 tomorrow, there is a worry that many businesses will be disrupted by the supply chain in Auckland and globally not being able to get supplies.  Julien Leys is the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Building Industry Federation and he joined Kerre McIvor.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business is doing it tough; and they’re telling Government loud and clear there is a need for employers to receive a weekly support package to cover recurring costs to get through another two weeks of lockdown.  The Auckland Business Chamber has an online petition calling on Government to provide an employer subsidy, rather than a one off resurgence payment which did not go anywhere near far enoug...

Captain’s Log Day 13: I finally broke over the weekend. It took me four lockdowns but I finally did some baking.   The bananas were getting overripe and I have an absolute horror of wasting food especially when so many people are doing it tough - so onto the Chelsea Sugar recipe page and one hour later, a perfectly cooked banana cake.   Just as well we had all the ingredients because the baking sh...

The government’s Covid-19 fast track consenting process has seen the Sleepyhead Estate in north Waikato granted resource consent for its foam factory, which is expected to be operational in 2023. The foam factory is the first stage of The Sleepyhead Estate – a $1.2 billion, 178-hectare manufacturing hub and residential community. It's estimated that the estate will generate more than 1500 new jobs...

Helen Clark is pushing back at any suggestion that the New Zealand Government is providing financial aid to Afghanistan. Taliban officials have spoken exclusively to New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis following the takeover, thanking our Government for the aid its providing to the country. Clark says New Zealand provides aid to the Red Cross, the High Commission for Refugees and the World Foo...

There's no sign of community spread on the Coromandel Peninsula, so far, nor has there been any trace of Covid-19 in the wastewater.  Yet again, people are scratching their heads as to why, if this virus is so incredibly transmissible, someone with the Delta variant can drink at the local pub which was absolutely packed, go into cafes, spend time with other people - and people don't catch it.  Ota...

There's been some strong opposition in response to Parliament being suspended for a week due to Covid-19 restrictions.  Select committees will still go ahead online, but that’s drawing criticism from the opposite side the House, as most committees are led by Labour MPs.  There have also been calls for the Epidemic Response Committee to be reinstated in order to ensure the Government is being held...

Well, as expected, we're all going to be doing this for a wee bit longer, and Auckland probably longer than others.  I think knowing it was inevitable has made it easier to accept.  There's some good news - the town of Coromandel appears to have dodged a bullet and yet again, people are scratching their heads as to why, if this virus is so incredibly transmissible, someone with the Delta variant c...

New Zealand's adoption of saliva testing is 'frustratingly slow' according to Dr Anne Wyllie, a New Zealander working on leading-edge saliva test science at the Yale School of Public Health. However, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall told the MHB this morning we don't have a need for more saliva testing. “Saliva testing - it depends where you put it in our system. I don’t think it’ll add mu...

Good morning - and welcome to the working week - for those of you working from home, with little ones, good luck.   Be patient with yourselves - we'll find out today at 4pm from the PM what the plan is going forward, but all the reckons are pointing to a longer lockdown for Auckland and Wellington at least.   What happens with the South Island is anybody's guess - we'll of course be carrying that...

The decision not to vaccinate all police staff before the public roll-out has left some officers baffled.  There are estimated to be about 10,500 sworn police and about 3,000 non-sworn officers.   2523 frontline officers have received two doses.  2849 have received first dose.  Given they are now on the frontline, enforcing a Level four lockdown, questions are being raised as to whether this is ac...

What a mess.  The images of Afghan nationals desperately trying to leave for somewhere, anywhere, as the Taliban approached Kabul was reminiscent of the US leaving Vietnam.  What a shambles - at a press conference yesterday, the PM said she and key colleagues had been keeping an eye on the situation in Afghanistan as it deteriorated. And on Sunday, together with the Chief of Defence, they began to...

A unique school in Christchurch's central city has parents lining up to get their children into it. Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discover is a state-funded special character school that currently has 193 on its wait list. Students work on a 'high-trust model', directing their own learning and can learn anytime anywhere, including off-site if it's agreed. There is also a cohort of students who are not able...

The All Blacks' 57-22 Rugby Championship victory over Australia for the weekend was marred by a half-empty Eden Park. Ticket prices were roughly the same as last week, with Sky subscribers getting a last minute two for one deal when it was realised ticket sales were poor. Newstalk ZB Sports editor Matt Brown says the lure of the All Blacks is not quite what it was, especially with this seemingly b...

Another weekend, another senseless loss of a young life. Zion Purukamu, 16, died at Christchurch Hospital after being stabbed at a 17th birthday party.  Two teenagers aged 14 and 17 were also stabbed at the Fendalton property remain in a serious but stable condition in hospital. It's understood that an Airbnb had been rented for the party, and trouble started when gate crashers turned up and were...

A former SAS commander says New Zealand has a moral obligation to help Afghan civilians, who supported New Zealand soldiers in the country. All commercial flights have been suspended from Kabul Airport as Taliban forces have swept in to Afghanistan's capital after taking control of other cities. Cabinet's reviewing immigration cases for about 38 interpreters and civilian workers, who could face re...

The finger pointing continues in a bid to shift the blame over a major power cut in the North Island. About 20,000 homes were left in the dark on Monday night, after Transpower asked providers to ease network demand. Genesis Energy's Chief Executive claims the company's portfolio showed there was capacity to manage the demand. Marc England says they couldn't fire up an extra generator by the time...

Questions are being asked over why parts of the country have suffered power cuts due to insufficient power being generated. Around 20,000 North Island households had power cuts last night after Transpower asked lines companies to reduce loads on their networks, as demand surged because of cold temperatures. The national grid operator claims there wasn't enough electricity being generated to keep u...

I’m slightly worried about exploding e-scooters. It was reported yesterday that a Beam e-scooter’s battery exploded in an inner city Auckland street, luckily no one was on it at the time. Witnesses reported an ‘ear-splitting bang’ and smoke billowing from it. Pieces went flying from it too apparently, fortunately there was no fire, and no one too close by, but imagine if someone had been on that?...

Questions whether changes are needed in shipping as the Delta Covid variant rages. Container ship Rio De La Plata has 11 crew with the virus. No crew went onshore but 94 Port of Tauranga workers who'd spent time on the vessel are being stood down while getting Covid tests. The cases are linked to an Australian pilot who was onboard in Queensland last month and later tested positive for the Delta v...

The community of Timaru is reeling – most of New Zealand is reeling from the news yesterday of another senseless car crash that has claimed five young lives.  Just one survivor – the driver – and five families utterly devastated.  My thoughts are with the families and the poor first responders – what an absolute nightmare for police and emergency services.  You could see the despair on the face of...

Disarray in the National Party after the re-election of Peter Goodfellow as President. After the vote at National's annual conference over the weekend, former MP David Carter resigned, saying he had zero confidence in his leadership. Carter says he has zero confidence in Goodfellow as President. A Newshub poll also shows half of National voters want Collins out and rural New Zealanders are saying...