Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A health commentator says it'll be over a decade before new medical school students make an impact. If elected, Labour's promised to train an additional 335 doctors every year from 2027, with medical school numbers increasing from next year.   National's previously announced a new medical school at Waikato University, which would provide 220 extra places by 2030.   Ian Powell told Kate Hawkesby that we need international recruitment, and Australia offering more pay isn't being acknowledged.    He says when competing with Australia internationally, New Zealand's only advantage is not having snakes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A criminal barrister says our current approach to crime is working.   ACT Party leader David Seymour's pledging to boost prison capacity by 500 beds and toughen sentencing for offending against vulnerable workers.   The party also wants new youth justice beds under Corrections and ankle bracelets on youth offenders.   Criminal Barrister, Tony Bouchier told Kate Hawkesby that crime is becoming too much of a political football.   He says on the whole things are working, and politicians aren't the experts on this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve been obsessed with grocery prices this year – I mean, haven’t we all? Anyone who does the shopping knows what a shock it can be when you see the prices of some things literally quadruple right in front of you.   I have an ongoing debate with the person in our household who does not do the groceries about this. His solution is: if you don’t want to pay $20 for blueberries, shop around. Now, that’s all well and good if you have lots of time on your hands and all day to trawl through supermarkets and greengrocers all over the city, but most of us don’t.   You’ve also got to ask yourself how much you want to be inconvenienced by the whole experience, how long you want to sit in traffic for, and how much money you’re actually spending on petrol driving around all these places.   But if you do shop around, you'll see the disparities. The other day for example, a stick of celery was 4 different prices at 4 different places. $3.49 at Pak n’Save, $3.99 at Fruit World, $5.79 at New World, Countdown... $6.99! For a

New Zealand's migration figures are above pre-pandemic levels.   There was a net gain of 96,200 people in the year to July, with 135,000 non-citizens arriving, and 39,400 New Zealanders leaving.   Demographer Paul Spoonley says the Productivity Commission says we need to align the number of immigrants with the infrastructure and services we can provide.   He says we're back in high annual population growth rates but with the same problem we've had for 10 or 20 years: an inability to keep up.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for a cluster of international investment scams to come under scrutiny.   Financial expert Janine Starks wants a banking ombudsman to launch an investigation after accusing banks of corporate failure.  She says there's systemic failures with foreign scams estimated to be stealing up to $200 million a year from New Zealanders.  Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told Kate Hawkesby that it's difficult to know what an investigation might show.   She says it may reveal banks are doing everything they can, or it may show there are things they could be doing better.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm just wondering if there's a big box of prezzy cards stashed somewhere inside the Beehive, or somewhere all the bureaucrats can go, to just bundle up endless prezzy cards to hand out to people.   In the latest prezzy card scandal —and let's not forget there've been a few— 'defendants on serious charges', it was reported, got $75 dollar prezzy cards to attend meetings. These were meetings in Hawke's Bay at the courts, and it was reportedly to ‘share ideas and court experiences.'’  So the news report said 'about 50 people attended the meetings'. This was at the start of the month, a couple of weeks ago, and they were held in Napier and Hastings. So who held these meetings and were handing out the prezzy cards?   ‘Ministry of Justice Chief Operating Officer Carl Crafar..' alongside 'Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, and supported by the Ministry.' The story said the meetings 'were held in order to gain a deeper understanding of the local community’s aspirations for Te Ao Mārama.' Which means enhancing justice

There’s been a 900% increase in the number of prospective tenants viewing an Auckland rental property in just six months.  Impression Real Estate data shows on average, more than 50 people attend each viewing in the city.  Chief Executive, Rishabh Kapoor says demand comes from those who lost their homes in the January floods, and recent migrants.  He says property managers are seeing more cases of people offering to pay more for rent, or offering bribes.  Kapoor says it's concerning for two reasons —the first being that it's illegal— and the second being it speaks to the desperation among people for rentals.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has plunged 5.5% in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll, taking the party to just under 27% support.   National has shot up to 40.9%, while ACT's on 10%, the Greens 12.3% and New Zealand First is tip-toeing up to the threshold at 4.6%.  Former Senior Ministerial Advisor for the National Party Brigitte Morton told Kate Hawkesby that it’s a significant swing and is likely to stabilize back.   She said that this is probably the most significant downfalls in popularity that the Labour Government has seen.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m wondering at this point who’s more obsessed with the election, the media, the politicians, or the voters.   The bulk of the feedback I’m getting at the moment is: we’re over it, open early voting, let’s get on with it, we just want change and a new direction. So as the politicians ramp up the campaigns and the polling starts spewing out percentages, and we begin crunching numbers and policy's getting released... who’s listening and watching? Over the weekend several policies got released - how many can you name or do you care about?   The people caring deeply right about now will be the Labour party’s strategists. Last night’s Newshub Reid research poll had Labour tumbling further, it’s tanked to a result not seen since Andrew Little was leader, and you know what happened then.   Newshub called it ‘a crisis poll’.  26.8% Labour’s dropped to a ‘catastrophic’, as the reporter called it, 5.5% fall. The gap’s widening with the Nats up to a whopping 40.9%, which is up another 4.3%. The Greens were on 12.3%, Ac

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chastised China’s premier on Sunday for “unacceptable” interference in British democracy, after a newspaper reported that a researcher in Parliament was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying for Beijing.  Sunak said he raised the issue with Premier Li Qiang when the two met at a Group of 20 summit in India. He told British broadcasters in New Delhi that he’d expressed “my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable.”  The two men met after the Metropolitan Police force confirmed that a man in his 20s and a man in his 30s were arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act. Neither has been charged and both were bailed until October pending further inquiries.  The Sunday Times reported that the younger man was a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior lawmakers from the governing Conservatives, including Alicia Kearns, who now heads the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, and her predecessor in that

A view ACT's new housing policy sounds good in theory - but is a step too far in reality.    The party's unveiled its housing policy - which would see builders able to use insurance companies as an alternative authority for consenting - to speed up the process.   It aims to cut local councils out of the consenting process.   Property commentator Ashley Church told Kate Hawkesby he believes in getting rid of bureaucracy - but this policy is all over the place.  “I think there’s a risk with this that you’ll end up with shoddy housing – you'll end up with some equivalent of what happened with leaky homes back in the late 90s and we’ll be right back in that space again.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like many of us, I was hoping for a triumphant Saturday of wins - the AB’s against France and the Warriors against the Panthers.   OK fair enough that was probably a tougher call the latter one, but a double win would have been a much-needed morale boost for a country in the doldrums at the moment.   Sadly it was not to be. And after some fleeting optimism and pre-emptive excitement - we are all back in the doldrums again.   And our mood or collective funk is not only annoying, but it must be worrying politicians. Because when we are grumpy we are likely to go one of two ways.   Apathy - can’t be bothered - there’s no light at end of tunnel, everything sucks. Or two, the current situation sucks so bad we simply have to blow it up and start over. That option is bad news for Labour.   Mind you apathy’s not a great option for them either. I think we may be on track for setting a record for gloom in this country, in terms of how long it’s lasting, so I’m looking for silver linings. I was thrilled to see some hope

Ryan Fox must be wondering when the luck of the Irish will fall his way after finishing just short at the Irish Open for the third time of his career.  Fox, playing in his first tournament since the PGA Tour’s 3M Open in July, held a share of the lead midway through the fourth round but dropped a shot on the penultimate hole to end his chance of another victory on the DP World Tour.  Fox carded a final round 70 at the K Club to finish two shots (12-under) behind Swede Vincent Norrman at 14-under in a share of third. Norrman had the low round of the day with 65 to win his second tournament of the year.  The Kiwi finished runner-up last year behind Adrian Meronk and also in 2018, edged out by Russell Knox. This year he shared third with Grant Forrest (Scotland), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Triston Lawrence (South Africa) and Hurly Long (Germany).  Fox earns $315,000 (NZD$535,000) for his third placed finish.  He missed a birdie chance at the 16th which would have tied the lead, but the ball held up just short of the

National's being accused of missing the point with its target for emergency departments.  The party's pledging to bring back health targets if elected, including 95 percent of ED patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours.  Northcare Accident and Medical's Peter Boot told Kate Hawkesby they should be thinking about primary care, which is falling over because doctors are either moving offshore or about to retire.  “And National’s policy of bolstering up secondary care is completely missing the point. It’s like mopping up the floor when the roof’s leaking.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party is promising to build a new “Great Walk” as part of its new tourism policy.   It's planed an $14m upgrade the 80km Waiau-Toa/Molesworth walking track in Canterbury, creating the 11th Great Walk.  Hurunui Mayor Marie Black told Tim Dower that having a track of this distinction in their district would be a significant boost for the local and regional economies.   She said that the district would embrace something of this nature, and it could bring in the big spenders.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's law and order policy would allow Police to confiscate cars, motorbikes, and even tractors.  Police Minister Ginny Andersen says it's designed for large scale convoys going through public roads, disrupting people's daily lives.  Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told Tim Dower that it appears they'll come at them after the fact.  He says they will have to show there's a breach of the road laws by people in two or more vehicles.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Really? New Zealand First... really?  I mean, I know it's a pretty desperate time... we're all a bit lost and confused and disappointed, frustrated and seriously peed off at the state of the country right now.  But to see a poll showing New Zealand First potentially over the five percent threshold? I guess it shows how desperate things are for a lot of people.  It's not my place to tell you how to vote, or how not to vote, but what I will say is: just think of the history.  Think of the dramas, the twists and turns, how you thought you had a clear commitment on something, only to see a complete 180 when it comes to the crunch.  Think how many times we've been held to ransom, double-crossed, gaslit, and bullshitted... you really wanna go there again?    I've heard Chris Luxon saying he's focused on National and getting the best result he can, and I think that's the right tack to take.  But I suspect he and other senior figures in the party will be disappointed that they're not yet winning over more of the cent

Some in the dairy sector are less than convinced by Labour's five economic priorities.  The list includes growing an export-led country, boosting renewable energy, enhancing tourism, and focusing on sustainable agriculture technology.  Lincoln University Professor Jacqueline Rowarth told Kate Hawkesby she's confused by what the party's trying to achieve.   She says New Zealand already is a centre for agricultural sustainability expertise, and that's why delegations from other countries come here to see how we do things.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Automobile Association says when it comes to EV structure, investment needs to happen ahead of demand.  The AA's pleased with National's promise of 10-thousand public EV chargers over the next four years, a promise that will cost $257 million.  The party would also dump Labour's clean car discount scheme and ute tax.   Chief Policy Officer Simon Douglas told Kate Hawkesby that big car manufacturers are beginning to invest in electric cars.  He says we'll reach a point where EVs and internal combustion engine cars are equal in price, and things will take off.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's big four electricity providers are being accused of abusing their power.  Electric Kiwi is taking a complaint to the Commerce Commission, claiming that Meridian, Mercury, Genesis, and Contact are taking advantage of their market dominance and driving out competition.  Chief Executive Luke Blincoe told Kate Hawkesby the complaint is extensive.  He says there are 37 pages of examples of actual refusal to supply some hedge products and constructive refusal to supply, meaning prices are offered but they're well outside the market.   Mercury is rejecting Electric Kiwis' claim, saying it supplies hedge products to Electric Kiwi and other retailers.  It claims the electricity market is highly competitive.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.