Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Promising signs on the horizon. Auckland’s going to get to 90 percent vaxxed soon, fingers crossed, and that’s going to force this Government to open some stuff up. And by stuff, I mean the border. The shops. The Auckland boundary. Normality is calling. Not for the people still steeped in fear and “freaking out” like Rod Jackson and Siousxie Wiles. Unfortunately, in going hard and early on the fear mongering, and in pursuing it for so long, there’s still a large chunk of New Zealanders trapped inside the fear and unable to get out. These are the same people craving another level 4 lockdown. The epidemiologists - given so much airtime and limelight throughout this pandemic, risk becoming increasingly obsolete and irrelevant. They’re not on message anymore, the Government now distancing itself and making calls that the academics disapprove of. A classic example of this is the new traffic light system the Government wants to implement to replace levels. Most of their “experts” poo pooed this idea as “not fit for

It's the first day of term four, but Auckland students still don't know when they'll be back in the classroom. That's despite initial indications they would be coming back National Party Education Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says we should get on with it once enough teachers are vaccinated. He says told Kate Hawkesby the real danger isn't kids going to school, it's kids not going to school. "They're falling behind, they're losing track with their friends, losing the habit of getting to school. And let's face it, it's a complete lottery as to whether they're actually learning when they're in lockdown." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor has labelled party-goers who breached lockdown "bloody idiots".  Footage from the massive party at a North Shore property on Saturday night went viral on social media yesterday.  Under Auckland's Level Three rules, only two households are allowed to meet outdoors - with a limit of 10 people.  Phil Goff says these people should have thought about their families and the wider community.  "It's just selfish and irresponsible to have an event like that, knowing it's breaking the rules when everybody else is making a sacrifice so we can get back to normal and have a decent Christmas together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think as we wrap this week, we just have to accept we are at a point now where counting cases is actually pointless. Delta has got away on us, it's had a good laugh at our elimination strategy, and off it's gone and there’s no stopping it now. Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, but earlier access to vaccines, a few more ICU beds, a better MIQ system and all the other things we didn’t do would’ve been great, but that ship has sailed. So here we are, and let’s look on the bright side. We’re allegedly not ever going back into Level 4. So that’s it. That’s all the bright side I can think of.  As Auckland, Waikato and Northland enter another weekend at Level 3 and the rest of the country in Level 2, we only have to look across the ditch to see how this thing goes. It takes time, and lots of it. We long ago kissed goodbye any lingering thoughts of a ‘short sharp’ lockdown, but what we need to accept is that this could go for quite a while yet. The kids who thought they'd be gearing up for school Monday will be home i

A big day in the music world, Adele is releasing her first single in nearly six years. ‘Easy on Me’ comes out today, which is the lead single off her new album '30', which releases November 19. She's expected to once again break records, her previous album ‘21’, is the best-selling album of the twenty first century, while ‘25’ broke first-week sales records. Can she do it again? Deputy music editor at the Guardian Laura Snapes joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Māori health care provider is trying to improve vaccine rates in the area with one of the worst coverage rates in the country.  In the Eastern Bay of Plenty, vaccinators have taken to the road to get vaccination rates up for Māori.  Te Puna Ora O Mataatua has set up pop up centres in schools, marae and workplaces.  Chief Executive Lee Colquhoun says told Kate Hawkesby understanding cultural differences is key.  "You need make sure that you understand how important word of mouth within Māori communities are, some are a little bit hesitant." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities appear to have hit a brick wall, with the uncooperative women at the centre of Northland's Covid lockdown. The Covid-positive pair have refused to reveal locations of interest they visited around the region Officials believe they have all the information they're going to get out of them. Former crisis negotiator Lance Burdett told Kate Hawkesby there's only so many times you can ask the same people the same questions. "You get one shot at it, and it's one chance only, because once you've asked her several questions, the next time you go back, they're already ready for those questions and more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Northland this morning, and the Waikato for that matter.  I mean Waikato has two cases and they’re staying in Level 3, which seems over the top.  And as for Northland, they’re only staying in Level 3 because the absconders won’t help Police with their enquires; won’t fess up any locations of interest, won’t be honest.  I mean how is it a whole hard-working, law-abiding population of people in the North are being held to ransom by two losers?   Zero cases in Northland, and 2 household contacts in Waikato and boom, they stay in level 3.  Vaxathon this weekend anyone? Is it too cynical to suggest keeping the fear button firmly pressed will help push jab rates up this weekend?  Don’t you think it’s interesting that for a government that can’t set targets, they can suddenly set one when it involves a few TV cameras and fun day out with celebrities and influencers and sports people? They can put a number on their cheesy Vaxathon, but not when it doesn’t involve some primetime PR oppo

Northland is in level three lockdown for another five days thanks to an uncooperative Covid case.  That means all up the pair will have cost the region $23 million in the form of lockdowns.  That's especially hard to stomach considering Northland's economy was going gangbusters before it went to level 3.  Infometrics principal economist, Brad Olsen joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international relations expert says it's important New Zealand shows its face at a big climate change conference. COP 26 is taking place in Glasgow at the end of the month. Patrick Bayer from Strathclyde University says told Kate Hawkesby United Nations decision-making happens on a consensual basis. "Every country that is not represented to is going to throw a spanner the works, in terms of other countries not knowing what governments stand for." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breast Cancer Foundation says at least 133 women across the country won't know they have the disease right now.  The national breast screening programme was put on hold at level 4 and has been running at reduced capacity from level 3.  Breast Cancer Foundation Chief Executive Ah-Leen Rayner says told Kate Hawkesby barriers to participation need to be removed. She says screening needs to continue during any level four outbreak. "And we need action plans in place with extra resources given to our screening agencies." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's books are supposedly in better shape than expected. The Finance Minister revealed a deficit, a business would call that a trading loss, of only $4.6 billion. Mmmm...we lost $4.6 billion. That said, the Budget picked a number more like $15 billion, so it could have been a lot worse. But one thing caught my ear in the announcement. Kainga Ora properties (what we used to call Housing New Zealand) are on the books as assets. But is it really truthful to call a property portfolio that LOSES money an asset? Minus $20-30m a year sounds more like a liability to me. And that's AFTER it sucked nearly a billion out of WINZ in rent subsidies. Of course, we need to have cheap housing, but doesn't expanding Kainga Ora's portfolio just feed an ever-growing liability for the taxpayer? And while I'm on this point, the Government says the value of all its property and equipment is up by $27 billion. That's land, buildings, state highways, electricity generation and railways. Land can be sold, so it's an asset,

Support for New Zealand to have another tilt at hosting the Commonwealth Games. Organisers have reduced the number of mandatory sports down to athletics and swimming. Auckland business association Heart of the City says the event would bring increases to GDP and tourism.  Birmingham is hosting next year's games, but the slot for 2026 remains open.  Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck told Tim Dower says the gains would be more than just economic. "It's also good because people rally around, kids participate and volunteers get involved. There's a lot of upside." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call to set aside MIQ spaces for the parents of babies who are about to be born. The ACT Party and some health experts are calling for the Government to prioritise them. Plunket chief executive Amanda Malu told Tim Dower every baby deserves to have as little stress and anxiety as possible, particularly in the first weeks of their lives. "It's a pretty important category, we think, those about to be newest citizens of our country and we think we should look after them." Amanda Malu says it would involve small numbers of MIQ spaces, but science shows how important the first thousand days of life are. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Work is underway to target low vaccination rates in rural communities. Dunedin Medical School research has found people who have had at least one jab is 11 percent lower in rural areas.  The rate of people with at least one dose is 726 per 1000, compared to 816 per 1000 urban residents.  Rural GPs Network Chief Executive Grant Davidson told Tim Dower going to the people is the answer. "Above Te Kaha, for example, they're getting 87 percent in their community, and that's because they're going out using community volunteers to bring people in or taking vaccines out to those communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The only good thing to come out of yesterday is that I won a bet.  My husband bet me that they’d loosen something or announce something yesterday.  That they’d throw a bone, announce a target, unveil some details, open something up, name the Northland absconder, something, anything.  He said there was no way they could just do nothing. There was no way they could keep locking us down at this level with no plan, no detail, no guide. I don’t know why he keeps over estimating this Government; I knew they’d do none of that. I knew they’d leave us languishing because 1) they’re out of touch, and 2) they don’t have a plan. What I didn’t bank on was how much high fiving they’d do of their own ability. This far into this much farce, how are they still claiming to be successful? To be world leading? Is there anyone out there still buying that crap? Seriously? How are they still milking these press conferences as an opportunity to gloat? It again shows, I guess, how out of touch they really are. Schools got a mention,

Across the ditch, gyms are struggling to get their members back after lockdown.  Sydney's having to offer free workouts, new programmes, and promise better ventilation to drag people away from the comfort of home work-outs.  Questions are still being raised as to what stage Auckland gyms can re-open. Richard Beddie, Exercise NZ CEO joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pushback on the idea that some businesses need to fail after lockdown.  Economist Shamubeel Eaqub suggested some businesses should be left to fail, so others can thrive. He says the Government shouldn't be expected to prop up businesses who go under post lockdown, as there will be too many businesses and not enough demand.    Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois told Kate Hawkesby it's not that simple.  "We need to remember these business owners are people. They contribute to the economy, they affect the supply chain, so it's absolutely imperative that we look at helping these businesses out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's decision to delay the reopening of Auckland schools by a week, is being seen as the right call, despite some believing it will result in lost learning for some children. As well, all school and early learning staff who have contact with students, must be fully vaccinated by January 1, and have their first dose by November 15. Developmental paediatrician Dr Jin Russell told Kate Hawkesby in the current context it's the right move. She says if you don't get it right, there will be transmission of Covid-19 in schools, mainly between adults. "And that will cause small rolling small closures and the need for children to isolate from one another, so it is smart to delay it a little bit.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite Auckland being in it's longest lockdown ever, daily Covid-19 cases keep climbing up. Yesterday we had 60 community cases, 56 of them in Auckland. Covid's also hit the regions now, with cases in Waikato, Northland and Bay of Plenty. Today the Government's announcing whether any restrictions will be loosened. University of Otago senior lecturer in primary healthcare and general practice Lesley Gray joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.