Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Police have been maintaining a presence overnight, in case of further protests. But Alistair Boyce, owner of the Backbencher Gastropub in Wellington, told Kate Hawkesby there are no signs of any protesters in the area right now. “Can’t see any protesters, they’ll be lingering in the shadows if they’re anywhere. It was a pretty cold night in Wellington.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retailers are defending the cost of Rapid Antigen Tests. A Consumer New Zealand survey's found the price varies from $6.40 to $19 a test. Retail NZ spokesperson Aimie Hines told Kate Hawkesby some pharmacists bought them at a high price so have to charge $19 but says that's not a sustainable price. “I think what we will see across the board is between $6 to $12 max, that’s a pretty fair price, even with freight costs.” Aimie Hines says retailers managed to land stock within a week, rather than the usual three. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday I had a very strange experience, Facebook-related. A scammer is pretending to be me, commenting on my show page, as me, telling commenters that they’ve won a cash prize. Apparently, fake me is giving away $20,000 in cash prizes. All you need to do is give ‘fake me’ your credit card details. Trust me, if I had 20 thousand dollars to give way right now, it would be to Ukrainian refugees, not people on Facebook.  So this fake Kate Hawkesby, which has pictures of me ripped off Google, is out there in the wild west of the internet trying to scam people. I only got clued into this when people started messaging me yesterday on Instagram telling me they were so excited to have been selected. I asked them to send me the link, and thus unravelled the fake news trickery that’s out there in my name.  Here’s the really awful bit. Facebook won’t believe me that it’s a scam.  My boss contacted our security team here at NZME, he contacted the digital people, he reported the fake account and the scam to Facebook its

Russian forces are continuing their attack on Ukraine as international pressure mounts on the Kremlin. Ten people have been killed and another 35 wounded in a rocket strike on a government building and civic square in Kharkiv. A strike on a television building in Kiev has killed at least five people, and taken several TV stations off air. A 65-kilometre-long Russian military convoy is now less than 30 kilometres from the capital. Meanwhile, representatives of dozens of countries have walked out of a speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby the UK Government has set aside $440 million in humanitarian aid. “It’s now saying up to 200,000 Ukrainians could come to the UK as part of a scheme to help those fleeing the war.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From this morning any Kiwis coming home from Aussie do not need to self-isolate and no MIQ. But with the welcome mat opening for KIwis round the world, it also means we can leave New Zealand too. ANZ economists are warning about 20,000 Kiwis will move to Australia alone. With a large outflow of people, this is warned to increase our worker shortage and add demand to our labour market. Infometrics Senior Economist Brad Olsen joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 percent of Countdown staff are currently isolating - that's comes out to roughly 1000 workers. The two Auckland distribution centres are down to 50 percent staff, leading to bare shelves across grocery stores.  Countdown says it's continuing to recruit temporary team members where it can. Ben Peterson, First Union retail organiser joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Race Relations Commissioner says Russians here have faced discrimination over the invasion into Ukraine. Meng Foon says told Kate Hawkesby one of the main reasons immigrants come here, is to find a better life and adhere to our values. “Unfortunately, there’s a few naughty people that have violated other people’s rights.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My brother had Covid last week. Omicron struck him and his whole family, save for one child. He was asymptomatic, bar a dry cough and a tickly throat. All of which he said under normal circumstances he would’ve gone to work with. It lasted 3 days, he said he wouldn’t even rank it in the top 10 of head colds. So, from where he sat, it wasn’t worth the fear and angst afforded it. I’m sure there are those gravely affected by it – those unvaxxed, or with underlying health conditions, or immune-compromised, or elderly or young children. But for the majority, it’s so low key the CDC in America don’t recommend more than a 5-day isolation period is necessary. So my brother’s view is that it’s not worth the fear, the social dislocation, the decimation of tourism, hospo and international education.He doesn’t see the need for the $80 billion debt blow out and human misery. The massive toll on mental health, and elective surgeries. He sees the condescending endless barrage of expensive overly researched slogans, made up

Federated Farmers is welcoming the news of a free trade deal between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The UK has agreed to phase out all tariffs on our exports, saving Kiwi exporters about 37-million dollars a year.  It's also expected to boost our GDP by up to $1 billion. President Andrew Hoggard told Kate Hawkesby free trade deals are always a win for New Zealand. “We sign them and you expect some benefits and then we're usually blown away by how many benefits we do get.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting friday 11:59pm, vaccinated Kiwis from anywhere in the world will now be able to return with no self-isolation requirements. For those coming from Australia, that begins Wednesday 11:59pm. RATs will be needed before and after arrival, and on day 5.  Cabinet is now looking at whether the remaining three steps of the five-step border reopening plan can also be bought forward.  Grounded Kiwis spokesperson Alexandra Birt joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has long been talk of government merging TVNZ and RNZ into a new public media entity. Cabinet is said to have finally made it's decision on the matter, and is expected to announce the merger will go ahead. Someone who has a keen interest in this is TVNZ's main competitor Discovery who owns TV3. Senior Vice President and General Manager of Discovery Australia and New Zealand Glen Kyle joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These are awful times globally, aren’t they? I mean there have been darker periods in history, but for young people living through a pandemic and now witnessing what’s unfolding in Ukraine right now, awful.Horrific for all of us actually, not just young people. But we have record levels of anxiety amongst our young people in this country at the moment – exacerbated by the pandemic, and I do worry how much worse it’s going to get for them. Young people are seeing this war unfold in real-time, this is not black and white grainy footage from times gone by, they’re watching civilian videos on TikTok and across social media as people literally fight for their lives in front of them. A phone in their hand is broadcasting all the action live for them to witness. And without a wider context of history, or any real memory of conflicts like the Balkans, Crimea, Chechnya, they will be rightly worried and freaked out. Mainstream media puts its own narratives on what they’re witnessing, politicians do too, but confusion s

A Colin de Grandhomme century and two vintage Neil Wagner wickets have given the Black Caps hope, but they'll still need to accomplish a rare feat for another test victory over South Africa.South Africa reached stumps on day three of the second test at Hagley Oval at 140-5, holding a lead of 211 runs as the Black Caps hunt for their first test series victory over the Proteas.While a crucial pair of Wagner wickets in the final session opened an avenue into the South African tail order, the visitors aren't far away from providing an imposing total.Just twice have New Zealand successfully chased a fourth-innings target of 230 or more in New Zealand, and there have only been five winning fourth-innings chases of more than 235 by any team in this country – none since 2003.That statistic doesn't tell the entire picture, as the 235 mark has been passed 25 times, 20 of them coming in draws or defeats, but it points to the old adage being true – fourth-innings chases, even those with feasible targets, are no walk in t

Sitting with her teenage daughter in a hotel foyer in northern Romania, 38-year-old Viktoriya Smishchkyk breaks down in tears as she recounts her departure from Ukraine.“I could hear the sound of the fighting outside, it was very scary,” Smishchkyk, who is from Vinnitsya in central Ukraine, told The Associated Press from a hotel that is offering free accommodation to refugees.“We left all our belongings behind, but they are material things — less important than the lives of our children,” she said.Smishchkyk and her daughter are among hundreds of thousands of people who have fled Ukraine since Russian launched its attack on Thursday. The U.N. refugee agency said Sunday about 368,000 people have fled the country, many into bordering nations like Romania, Poland, Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia.Amid the horrors and chaos, volunteers from far and wide are showing support by extending help to those whose lives are being shattered by war.At Romania’s Siret border crossing, where thousands of Ukrainians have entered

Covid-19 and other world events are increasing anxiety in children.Clinical therapist and parenting expert Dr Anna Martin says access to social media means kids are more likely to come across upsetting images.She told Kate Hawkesby parents can't put their heads in the sand on tough issues like the current Ukraine conflict.“Answer questions that they may have, but also let them know how safe they are and what’s happening over there isn't going to be happening in their backyard.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The travel industry's imploring the Government to remove self-isolation requirements for returnees as the first phase of the border re-opening begins.Fully-vaccinated New Zealanders and other eligible travellers from Australia can now skip MIQ and isolate at home for seven days instead.The first flight into Auckland Airport is due at 2.45 pm this afternoon while the first into Christchurch Airport is scheduled for 5.30 pm.House of Travel's Brent Thomas told Kate Hawkesby a limited number of New Zealanders will head over from here due to self-isolation.“What we do need is for business travellers to be able to travel as well. They need to be able to go and see their suppliers, they need to go and be able to see their customers, and then coming back for a week and having to self-isolate just doesn't work.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So we’re into Phase 3 as of today – and not before time. Problem is, nobody knows what any of it means. I was out all day yesterday driving around Auckland and what I can tell you is that there are still snaking queues everywhere for PCR tests. Why? Why is no one getting the memo on that? Why are all these people still queuing for tests? Possibly because RATs, which we’re supposed to be doing, are so hard to find.  One of my trips yesterday involved a covert side of the road operation like a drug mule, picking up RATs I’d managed to source – at no small expense I might add – from an anonymous source who was transferring them to me from their car boot wrapped in a rubbish bag. I kid you not. It’s like prohibition days – only the prohibited substance is something that should be readily available to everybody, like it is all over the rest of the world.  Why RATs aren’t in every Pharmacy up and down the country by now is beyond me.  But here at Hermit Central, we’re still waiting to be told when we can have stuff

Businesses still expect to feel under pressure in phase three of the Omicron response. Health officials will now primarily focus on managing high-risk contacts and locations of interest, like aged care homes.  Only cases and their household contacts must isolate for 10 days - with all other contacts expected to monitor for symptoms.  Canterbury Employers Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Kate Hawkesby the difference between phase 2 and 3 is minimal. “We’re still going to see hundreds of thousands of people who will be self-isolating – only for ten days - and that will continue to have a significant impact on businesses' ability to actually operate.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sense of shock across Ukraine - as Russia ramps up its invasion of the country. Forces are carrying out a major military assault -- with missile strikes and explosions being reported near major cities. The Ukrainian military claims to have shot down at least six Russian aircraft - with reports at least 40 of its troops and several civilians have died. Al Jazeera's Abdul Al-Kadiri spoke to Kate Hawkesby from Kiev where many people are trying to flee. “There is some reports of some heavy clashes on the West side of the capital.” Russian paratroops are now in control of an airbase near Kiev, and are reportedly trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Explore Tāmaki Makaurau voucher programme has been a shot in the arm for struggling Auckland businesses. It's a scheme where you sign up for a voucher to spend on Auckland activities, and registrations are closing today. More than 220,000 Aucklanders have registered, with 53,000 vouchers used so far.  Auckland Unlimited investment and industry director Pam Ford told Kate Hawkesby three and a half million dollars' worth of vouchers have been spent, and more than a hundred businesses have benefited. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.