Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

Prince William has made his first return to royal duties since Kate's cancer diagnosis went public. 

Last month the Princess of Wales revealed she's been receiving treatment amid wild internet speculation. 

The family has been away from the public eye but the Prince has returned to show support for a homeless food shelter. 

UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking the public have been showing him and the Princess support. 

He says someone gave the Prince a 'get well soon' card and told him to look after Kate, which he replied he would. 

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The turn of the economy could make it tricky for those on JobSeekers to find employment. 

New Social Development figures reveal just under 188,000 people are on JobSeeker, up almost 20,000 people from last year. 

Employment specialist Jennifer Mills told Mike Hosking that she's sure many on the benefit are ready to work. 

She says the new work check-in arrangement may sharpen the focus for those who are job ready, but the question is whether those jobs exist in this market. 

Mills says margins are squeezed, profits are down, and businesses are shedding staff. 

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Experts are forecasting more financial pressure for households, continuing into late next year. 

The Infometrics data expects the annual GDP to dip into the negatives mid 2024, meaning slower growth than had previously been expected. 

Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan told Mike Hosking that with higher interest rates more properties are on the market with no buyers out. 

He says households are showing the signs of all the interest rate rises over the past few years. 

Kiernan says it'll be another 12 months before the worst of the downturn is behind us. 

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Seven jurors have officially been selected for Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ trial, leaving eleven more still to come. 

Despite the trouble they’re facing, US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that it is moving faster than people expected. 

He said it could have taken up to 22 weeks to select all 18 jurors, and they already have seven. 

The issue is finding people who don’t have bias for or against Trump, with 96 potential jurors entering court, 50 of which walked out within ten minutes, unable to be impartial. 

Manhattan, McCann said, is in some ways a democrat city as they always vote blue, so he’ll have to “find a few red needles in a blue haystack” as they said in the New York Times. 

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A Christchurch entrepreneur is attempting to break into the dating app market. 

‘Amor’ is trying to bring something fresh, only giving four matches a week and refusing to show profile photos for the first 2024 hours. 

Creator Emily Heazlewood told Mike Hosking that although the market is quite saturated, a lot of them are hook up culture apps. 

She said that they’ve gone down the compatibility route with matchmaking, helping drive people away from the app into meeting in the real world. 

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As inflation cools down, homeowners are starting to hold out for cuts to the OCR. 

The CoreLogic April Housing report shows 56% of new loans taken out in February were on one-year fixed terms compared to 36% in December. 

Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says that's a pretty strong indication people don't want to lock in for too long in case rates fall. 

He says the report also contains a prediction of general cooling of the previously hot property market.

Davidson's expecting prices to be fairly subdued for the next couple of years, which will be good news for those struggling with affordability. 

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There are concerns the Government's new health guidance for children could impact employer attitudes towards parents. 

The guidelines say kids with a mild cough, headache, or runny nose should go to school, provided they don't have Covid-19 or other symptoms like a fever or vomiting. 

This move is in an effort to improve school attendance numbers. 

But NZEI President Mark Potter told Mike Hosking that parents may be pressured by their employers to go to work, despite their kids being unwell. 

He says there's a growing wave of mental health issues at play, which are often very difficult, and parents are struggling with how to help them. 

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Security guards have no more power than a regular citizen when it comes to a threat of danger. 

They're expected to be more visible in malls around Australia and New Zealand following the stabbing at Bondi Junction in Sydney on Saturday afternoon. 

Forty-year-old Queensland man Joel Cauchi stabbed six people to death, including a security guard. 

Security Association CEO Gary Morrison says they don't carry weapons of any sort. 

He says they're there to assist members of the public around how to escape when something like that happens and to make it as simple as possible. 

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Banks are picking inflation to continue falling. 

ASB is expecting today's figures to show annual inflation falling to 4.1%, the lowest since June 2021. 

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking that things like rates, rents, and insurance are going the wrong way. 

But, he says, it's still likely to drop because we aren't spending as much on durables, so some of those behavioural impacts should come through. 

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Questions are now being raised after a fire has ravaged one of Copenhagen's oldest buildings. 

Its iconic spire collapsed during the fire, as emergency services and passerbys rushed to save priceless works of art inside and other valuables. 

The 17th century old Stock Exchange building was currently undergoing renovations. 

Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking the building was covered in plastic wrap and scaffolding. 

He says investigators are seeing if the efforts made to save the building are the very thing that caused its downfall. 

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Questions are being raised over how the salvaged Newshub 6pm bulletin will be pulled off in its new format. 

Stuff has signed on to produce and provide a daily bulletin on TV3 from July 6, following Newshub's closure. 

The Spinoff founder and media commentator Duncan Greive told Mike Hosking that the level of scrutiny and quality of performance required to produce 6pm TV news will be challenging.  

He says the Stuff staff he's spoken to were expressing this, adding they just don't have a lot of runway to get to the TVNZ or Newshub standard. 

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There’s hope more landlords will give people with pets a chance in the wake of government changes. 

Pet bonds are being introduced: tenants will be liable for all pet damage beyond fair wear and tear and landlords will only be able to withhold consent on reasonable grounds. 

Pet Refuge Founder Julie Chapman hopes this means people leaving family violence situations will be able to find places for them and their pets more easily. 

Subsequently, Pet Refuge will be able to help more people, sooner. 

She says they've been operating at capacity for the last nine months, on a one in, one out, situation for cats and dogs. 

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The father of the man who killed six people and injured 12 others in a stabbing at Bondi Junction in Sydney says his son was a tormented soul. 

Eight people remain in hospital after 40-year-old Queensland man Joel Cauchi went on a rampage through the mall on Saturday. 

Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that his father, Andrew Cauchi, said he did everything to help his son who was mentally ill. 

Meanwhile, four people are understood to have been injured in a second stabbing attack in Sydney. 

It's understood a teenager entered the Christ the Good Shepard church in Sydney's West before stabbing a bishop in front of his parish. 

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The Government is being advised to invest in immigration data gathering as record levels of arrivals and departures continue. 

In February more than 253,000 migrants arrived and about 122,000 left, putting net migration at almost 131,000. 

Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Mike Hosking that where they come from isn't a problem as long as skills meet labour market needs. 

He says this is one the of the big data gaps the Government needs to look at, to find out exactly which people and skills are coming in versus who is leaving. 

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Donald Trump's 'hush money' trial has begun, and it’s the first time a US president has faced a criminal trial. 

He's charged with falsifying business records, accused of trying to cover up a $130-thousand hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. 

Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair. 

LA's KNX news presenter Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking that Trump's already using it as a pulpit for his presidential campaign. 

He says that at rallies Trump talks about how he feels this trial —and others— are politically persecuting him. 

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Iran has launched more than 200 drone missiles on Israel. 

Neighbouring nations are calling for restraint, while Jordan, the US and UK military are intercepting attacks. 

International Relations and Strategic Analyst Paul Buchanan says the strikes are a direct violation of an agreement between the nations. 

Buchanan tells Mike Hosking hard liners want Israel to retaliate but the United States has told Israel they will not support offensive operations against Iran. 

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Five victims have now been identified as among those killed in a stabbing spree at a Sydney shopping centre, which left six dead. 

Australia correspondent Donna Demaio tells Mike Hosking 11 people remain in hospital. Many stories are emerging of near misses with the attacker, and of people who tried to protect others. Sydney lifeguard Andy Reid raced to give CPR to some victims. 

The attacker’s family have released a statement revealing the killer battled with mental health issues. 

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New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox has slumped out of contention at the US Masters, currently tied for 20thposition. 

Meanwhile, the Warriors made a lucky comeback in a dramatic golden-point draw against Manly. The Sea Eagles lead 22-20 with three seconds left on the clock, when a post-siren penalty denied Manly the victory. 

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This week, Minister of Trade Todd McClay visits China hoping to promote New Zealand business and exports. 

Executive Director of the NZ China Council Alistair Crozier tells Mike Hosking the two countries are very adept at having difficult discussions in the open.

NZ exports to China are double what is exported to the US or Australia, and prospects are bright for continued growth. 

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New Zealand is committing to working more closely with the United States. 

The countries have agreed to work more closely with each other and common allies like Australia, in areas like defence and intelligence. 

New Zealand's joining the US in financially supporting two initiatives in the Pacific to the tune of $16.4 million. 

Massey University defence expert John Battersby told Mike Hosking that we're now in a more uncertain Pacific region and things are changing. 

He says the one thing we don't want is a contest in our front patch between China and the US. 

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The Minister for Space has been working on our space image over in the US. 

Judith Collins spoke yesterday morning at the Space Symposium as New Zealand’s first Space Minister, putting us on the global stage. 

She told Mike Hosking that Rocket Lab has done an incredible job at putting New Zealand on the American space map with the work Peter Beck has done with NASA. 

In 2019 a survey was done on the NZ space sector, valuing it at $1.9 billion, but Collins thinks that by now it should be three or more times larger than that. 

She said that this is a sector with enormous growth and an extraordinary level of competency. 

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There’s concerns the Government's tenancy changes won't affect rent prices. 

A Bill being introduced to Parliament will bring back 90-day no-cause terminations for periodic tenancies. 

Labour removed them last term. 

Housing Minister Chris Bishop believes it'll push down rents. 

Aspire Property Management managing director Mike Atkinson told Mike Hosking that the Government skipped the removal of deductibility, which would've had more of an impact right now. 

He says landlords haven't been talking about 90-day notices and believes it wasn't needed at the moment. 

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The US state of Arizona is close to joining Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in imposing a strict abortion ban. 

Arizona's conservative Supreme Court has decided an abortion law —first introduced 160 years ago— is now enforceable. 

US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that abortions are currently legal until 15 weeks of pregnancy. 

But he says this 1864 law —created before Arizona was even a proper state— would make abortions illegal except if the mother's life is in danger. 

McCann says it could be enforceable within two months, with Joe Biden calling the law cruel and extreme. 

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Ikea seems to be looking "big picture" as it enters the New Zealand market. 

The Swedish furniture giant is looking for a "people and culture manager", ahead of its opening at Auckland's Sylvia Park in late 2025. 

The successful manager will first be tasked with recruiting 400 people. 

First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson told Mike Hosking that like other big retailers coming here, Ikea is playing the long game. 

He says they know things will be different in the future, and they're craving global expansion. 

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Health advocates say enforcement officers are needed to clamp down on the illegal vape trade. 

Reports suggest that the sale of vaping products that don't meet regulation is widespread. 

Asthma Foundation Chief Executive Letitia Harding told Mike Hosking that retailers selling illegal vaping products need more than a slap on the wrist. 

She says penalties like fines could help stamp out the dodgy market. 

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The mainstream media industry is shrinking, and television is leading the way out. 

Newshub has confirmed its closing on July 5th, while TVNZ is cutting four of major programmes. 

Media and Communications Minister Melissa Lee says the global market is facing the same difficulties. 

She's written a cabinet paper on the media sector but hasn't disclosed any details. 

Former TVNZ news boss and TV3 political editor Bill Ralston told Mike Hosking that the Government could step in and do something about it. 

He says Melissa Lee has no idea of what she's doing really and is basically saying her hands are tied. 

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European football fans may be seeing increased security at this week’s Champions League games. 

A pro-IS media channel has published several images calling for attacks at the stadiums hosting the quarterfinals. 

UEFA said it was aware of the threats, but the London, Madrid, and Paris games would go ahead as planned, and Ministers in Spain and France have confirmed enhanced security measures. 

UK and Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that while the outlet who posted the images isn’t officially linked to the Islamic State group, it is thought that they liaise with them. 

He said that security has been upped across the board, and the London Metropolitan Police Commissioner is confident they have a robust policing plan in place. 

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The Official Cash Rate is likely to remain unchanged for at least the next few months. 

Most economists expect the Reserve bank to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% when it comes up for review at 2pm. 

It's remained unchanged since May last year. 

Jarden Investment Strategist John Carran says it's 50-50 whether the Reserve Bank cuts the OCR in August or November. 

The primary focus is on inflation, he said, so that is where they’re looking for the OCR rate. 

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Rideshare company Ola is hitting the brakes in New Zealand. 

The Uber rival told Auckland customers they won't be able to book future rides from Friday but can still access their app until it shuts down next month. 

But First Union is worried the loss will give Ola's main rival Uber more control of the gig economy. 

Strategic project coordinator Anita Rosentreter told Mike Hosking that Ola played a key crossover role for those drivers. 

She says drivers would go to Ola when they couldn't get work at Uber and it also created competition between the platforms to offer them incentives. 

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Winston Peters has pulled no punches over the need for a two-state solution in Gaza. 

The Foreign Affairs Minister has reiterated his calls for an immediate ceasefire at the UN General Assembly in New York. 

He says the two-state solution is the only blueprint for peace, but Israel's seizing of Palestinian territory imperils that. 

Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that's probably the general feeling among the international community. 

He says just because Israel is illegally taking territory doesn't mean that can't happen, and Israel has to consider its legal obligations. 

Meanwhile, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says a date has been set for Israel to invade Rafah. 

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A looming financial issue is being highlighted as the country works towards its next emissions budget.

The Climate Commission is recommending greenhouse gas is limited by 134-million tonnes between 2036 and 2040. 

But Victoria University Adjunct Professor Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that there's still a massive issue if we are going to meet our Paris pledge. 

He says a government between now and 2030 is going to have to find about $20-25 billion to buy carbon credits. 

Macey doesn't see any government being able to feasibly do this. 

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An education expert says the Government's plan to improve students' learning has been successful overseas. 

Christopher Luxon's unveiled nine Government targets for delivery by 2030. 

They include increasing student attendance and getting more students to the expected curriculum level. 

New Zealand Initiative Education Research Fellow Michael Johnstone told Mike Hosking that getting them to turn up will be a challenge but overall, it's a sound plan. 

He says focusing on things like the science of learning and structured literacy have worked well in places like England. 

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The Government has brought in immediate changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa. 

There will now be an English language requirement for low skilled jobs, while fast-tracking will be removed for construction and the franchisee category will be disestablished. 

Owner and Principal Consultant at Into NZ Katy Armstrong tells Mike Hosking the Government was left with no choice but to make the changes as the high trust model did not work. 

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A new law in Scotland, designed to prevent hate crimes is being targeted by Neo-Nazi and far-right agitators. The groups are making vexatious complaints en masse in an attempt to overwhelm police systems. 

UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Mike Hosking the definition of a hate crime is wide ranging, and an inundated system makes policing the reports difficult for authorities. 

Meanwhile, support for Ukraine is crumbling in the EU. 

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The Warriors showed their potential over the weekend, beating the Rabbitohs in an impressive 34-4 win. Andrew Alderson updates Mike Hosking on how the team looked. 

Meanwhile, the Sevens held at Hong Kong stadium for the last time. 

And, a man known as the ‘hardest geezer’ has run the length of Africa. Russ Cook covered 16,300km as the first person to run from the south to the northern tip of the continent. 

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AN OIA has revealed police abandoned almost 60 percent of cases reported to them last year. 

Of 962,521 emergency calls, 572,037 were abandoned. In 2023, reports were up 50 percent from 2019 and of cases reported, 179,957 were closed without any investigation at all. 

Police Association President Chris Cahill tells Mike Hosking that online reporting has driven up numbers. The Auror retail crime reporting app enables small low-level crime to be reported to police. Less than half of reports made are actual offences. 

Cahill says the app is fit for purpose. 

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The deaths of UK aid workers from an Israeli air strike has reignited debate in the UK over the level of support, military aid, and weapons they’re providing Israel. 

Over 600 legal experts, including three former Supreme Court Justices, have come forward in an open letter calling on the Government to end the sale of weapons to Israel. 

They say that the UK are risking breaching international law over a “plausible risk of genocide in Gaza”. 

UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that the Conservative Party is currently have strong arguments over the letter, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is so far unwilling to heed the call. 

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There’s been a breakthrough in the rules governing whether people who've been scammed are eligible for compensation. 

The banking sector has launched a review around victim reimbursement. 

This comes after consumer protection criticism and the threat of regulatory intervention from the government. 

Consumer NZ boss Jon Duffy told Mike Hosking that although there's a level of personal responsibility, people need to stay alert. 

He says some of the scams are extremely sophisticated and those who are falling for them are everyday New Zealanders. 

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A Northland mayor is hailing the new law that requires Māori wards to be put to referendum as a win for democracy. 

The coalition Government is introducing a bill allowing communities to petition for binding polls on Māori ward decisions. 

It reverses legislation from the previous Government that ensured councils would not have wards overturned through public referendum. 

Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson told Mike Hosking he believes a lot of Māori would support the new bill. 

He says the previous laws were condescending to Māori and don't acknowledge them as hard-working people. 

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ASB Bank is sending the message their predicted infrastructure bill isn't an impossible figure. 

The bank's new research suggests a trillion dollars will be needed over 30 years. 

ASB's Senior Economist Mark Smith says it's a huge number and we need to tap into as many funding sources as possible. 

He says there needs to be greater alignment between providers and funders, the infrastructure has to be fit for purpose and deliver value for money, while meeting climate objectives. 

Smith told Mike Hosking that the list is huge and the challenges are massive, but he believes it can be done. 

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Bosses are finding Gen Z to be something of a nightmare. 

They’ve found that they have poor work ethic, miss meetings, and even ditch the company on their first day of work. 

In contrast, Gen Z workers say their employers don’t understand them. 

Angela Lim, Clearhead CEO, told Mike Hosking that there’s been a distinct cultural shift, boundaries blurring between personal and work lives. 

Another shift, she said, is in values. Lim said that young people want their employers to make a stand on social issues, to have more meaning or purpose in their jobs as opposed to just collecting a paycheck. 

This can cause a lot of friction, she told Hosking, unless both parties are trained in having difficult conversations and know how to incorporate those different work styles. 

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Students are learning more about our history but less about our place in the world. 

An Education Review Office report finds schools have been working hard to implement the new Aotearoa Histories Curriculum. 

It's being taught in three quarters of all schools up to and including Year 10, but to varying degrees. 

Education Evaluation Centre Head Ruth Shinoda says it takes up a lot of teachers' time making their own teaching resources. 

She told Mike Hosking that more off-the-shelf content would help support schools to teach the full range of the curriculum. 

Shinoda says those resources could help teachers have more time to teach other social sciences too, like geography and economics. 

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New Zealand's electric vehicle sales have taken another plunge.

In March, just over 9% of new passenger cars were EVs, falling from about 27% for all of 2023.

Drive Electric Chair Kirstin Corson told Mike Hosking she hasn't written it off, but the market has certainly stalled after losing the clean car discount.

She says it's disappointing to see new light diesel vehicles outselling EVs 10 to one, adding this is a massive difference compared to 2023. 

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A disability charity's launching an urgent appeal that it faces closure after more than 20 years.

StarJam provides music and dance workshops for young people with disabilities, designed to foster inclusion and wellbeing.

It's trying to raise $100,000 to keep the doors open to its 800 members.

CEO Gilli Sinclair told Mike Hosking that they've been hit by the escalating cost of living and reduced funding streams.

They put out the appeal yesterday and within the last 24 hours raised over $70,000.

Sinclair said they're incredibly positive about the opportunity and have full faith in their ability to see their way through.

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Finland's gun policy is under scrutiny after a school shooting north of Helsinki.

A 12-year-old boy has been detained after the shooting that left one dead and two others, all aged 12, seriously wounded.

Finland's education minister says that once the government has a complete picture, they're considering if further measures are needed to protect schools.

Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that it's believed the gun used was licensed to a close relative.

He says in Finland, anyone over 18 can own a gun after passing checks, but a child over 15 can have licences to use other people's firearms.

The 12-year-old thought to be responsible is in the care of social services.

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The ripple effect of Covid era policy choices are being highlighted as the country's meat industry takes a hit.

Silver Fern Farms is reporting a $24 million plus loss for the 2023 financial year compared to it's $189 million profit the previous year.

Meat Industry Association Head of Strategy Jason Krupp told Mike Hosking that it's very much an industry issue.

He says we're seeing the effects of policy choices in Covid play out in our international markets, hitting us on prices.

Krupp says other impacts include high domestic inflation and a weak Chinese market.

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The attack at Wairarapa Hospital is being seen as an example of the increasing violence being seen around the country's Emergency Departments.

A visitor was struck with a machete on Saturday night, suffering a fractured skull.

An incident team's reviewing what happened as a 62-year-old faces charges.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking that it's a real problem.

She says it's usually more verbal violence than physical, but members are saying physical violence is on the increase.

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Why use one plane when two will do? 

The Australian Energy Minister has defended the use of two separate Royal Australian Airforce jets to fly himself and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to a clean energy announcement in NSW. 

The announcement involved detailing a $1 billion programme to support solar panels, Albanese calling it one of the most significant announcements made during his term. 

Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking the Air Force made the decision that the airport they were flying into was not strong enough for one large jet, and as such, had to take two. 

She said the opposition has called it a scandal and is alleging that the PM and Minister were using taxpayer dollars to live the highlife. 

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The UK is taking harsher measures to hold social media giants to account. 

Media regulator ‘OFCOM’, the Office of Communications, plans to issue orders to social media firms that will unlock a child’s account if it’s suspected it played a role in their death or suicide. 

Failure to comply could see the company fined up to 10% of its global revenue. 

Social Media Commentator Vaughn Davis told Mike Hosking that there’s no doubt that social media plays a role in bullying and suicide, but it’s mostly the location that’s changing, not the behaviour. 

Davis said that while firms like to be seen as though they’re working collaboratively to solve the issue, when it comes to digging into the data and using it to understand and prevent suicide, they’re not as interested. 

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There’s a view that the Government's latest action plan is much more ambitious than the 100 Day Plan. 

The Government's laid out its check list, to be completed before June 30th. 

The plan features promises like restoring three strikes, creating an attendance plan, and implementing tax relief. 

Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that they will have to dig deeper to achieve this one. 

She says while the 100 Day Plan was a lot of repealing, the next step will involve making actual change. 

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There are fears nothing has been done to prevent another Loafers Lodge tragedy. 

An investigation into boarding house facilities was initiated after last year's fire killed five people. 

It's found only half the 37 buildings inspected had adequate smoke detectors. 

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge told Mike Hosking that more needs to be done. 

He says they're just waiting for this to happen again but isn't hopeful anything will change. 

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National's promise to keep tax cuts is being criticised. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered the Budget Policy Statement and reaffirmed the party's commitment to tax relief. 

Willis says she's been humbled by how much recent forecasts have deteriorated. 

Labour Party Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds told Mike Hosking that instead of focusing on the previous Government, Willis should focus on the cards in front of her. 

She says when the half year fiscal update was worse than expected, she should have revisited them. 

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Challenging behaviours in New Zealand classrooms are at critical levels. 

Over the last 20 years student behaviour has been among the worst in the OECD but new research shows it's worsened over the past two. 

Education Review Office research has found a quarter of principals have seen students physically harm others and steal property at least every day. 

Education Hub Founder Nina Hood told Mike Hosking that it's important to draw schools' attention to behaviour. 

She says it's up to individual schools to create clear expectations, consistent rules, put structures in place, and uphold them. 

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A new trial to treat depression has been given the green light in New Zealand. 

Ketamine has been used as a treatment around the world in recent years, the drug showing short-term benefits. 

Otago University is running the trial, combining liquid, slower-release ketamine with psychotherapy in an effort to achieve long term results. 

The trial is eight weeks long, half the group receiving both ketamine and psychotherapy and the other half only receiving the drug. 

Senior Lecturer Dr Ben Beaglehole told Mike Hosking that this is a treatment, not a cure. 

He said that depression is a long term problem with factors that they won't be able to reverse with medication or short-term psychotherapy, but they’re looking to see if the short-term benefits of the drug can be prolonged. 

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The Government will today unveil its economic plan for how its priorities will be delivered in the Budget Policy Statement. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give the speech at one this afternoon. 

ASB’s Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking that it’s a bit too early for them to have the hard and fast numbers, and today is more about setting our expectations. 

We’re also likely to get a sense of how inflation is tracking in regard to the budget, though Treasury likely hasn’t finished their economic forecasts completely. 

He said that it’s a pretty tough balancing act the Government has to walk with this budget. 

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A search and rescue effort continues after a bridge collapse in Baltimore.  

A fully laden container ship rammed into one of the supports and the bridge crumpled into the water below. 

Those on board the ship had time to raise the alarm and the bridge was closed. 

At least six people remain unaccounted for. 

Those missing are believed to be construction workers who were working on potholes on the bridge at the time. 

US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that it could have a huge economic impact on the state. 

He says it's one of the biggest ports in the US, specialising in shipping motor vehicles and farming equipment and bringing in over US $1 billion last year. 

US President Joe Biden says around 850,000 ships go through the port a year and 15,000 jobs depend on it. 

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An expert says allegations of Chinese cyber-attacks in New Zealand have been at a lower level than our allies. 

Spy agency the GCSB has tied targeting of our Parliamentary entities in August 2021 to Chinese state-sponsored group APT40. 

China's ambassador to New Zealand has labelled the accusations groundless and irresponsible. 

International Relations Expert Geoffrey Miller told Mike Hosking that the UK and US accusations are on a different level. 

He says the UK alleged China had gotten the information of 14 million voters. 

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Millions of Australians are looking for a second job as the cost of living continues to bite. 

A survey by comparison website Finder has found that 32% of respondents, totalling approximately 6.7 million people, felt financially pressured to work more than one job. 

Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Mike Hosking that there are jobs available in cafes and retail stores, but it's unknown whether this will bring down the unemployment rate. 

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Kiwi’s eating habits seem to be changing. 

New research from Mondelez shows that almost half of Gen Z prefer snacking over dinner, and 40% skip breakfast in favour of a snack. 

On average 27% of people skip breakfast, 13% lower than the results in the study. 

Nutritionist Nikki Hart told Mike Hosking that we’re definitely seeing a change in behaviour, and it’s not necessarily a good one. 

She thinks that Covid changed how younger generations approached eating, as staying up later and online classes allow more opportunities to snack. 

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The Salvation Army is welcoming the Government's childcare policy but has some concerns. 

The Family Boost policy will see parents and caregivers able to claim back up to 25% of childcare costs from July, with a $75 a week limit.  

Salvation Army Social Policy Director Ian Hutson says there seems to be some bureaucracy, with parents having to show three months of invoices to get the rebate. 

He told Mike Hosking he's also wondering if it will help the poorest of parents. 

Hutson says while $75 seems a lot, it won't be enough to cover some people's growing costs. 

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Overwhelmed and under-resourced. 

An independent review has found major failings in the emergency management response to Cyclone Gabrielle. 

It finds the system not fit for purpose and "set up good people to fail", during the February 14 disaster. 

Central Hawke's Bay District Mayor Alex Walker told Mike Hosking that local emergency management teams were under-resourced. 

She says they needed big and fast mobilisation. 

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Two people have been left dead and three injured after a 100-person brawl in Gisborne on Saturday night. 

The victims were stabbed at a 21stbirthday party. One person is due to appear in court as a homicide enquiry continues. 

Gisborne Councilor Colin Alder tells Mike Hosking it was an tragic event fueled by alcohol and possible drugs. Alder says there continues to be a strong police presence in the community. 

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The Princess of Wales and her husband, Prince William, have been “enormously touched” by the messages of support received since she announced her cancer diagnosis. 

Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Mike Hosking that the video announcement was written and approved by Kate Middelton herself and sparked a wave of apologies from those who published conspiracy theories around Kate’s absence from the public eye. 

Meanwhile, Irish politician and higher education minister, Simon Harris is poised to take on the role of Ireland’s youngest prime minister as the leadership contest concluded with him emerging as the sole candidate. 

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SailGP was brought to a halt on Saturday after dolphin sightings in Lyttleton Harbour. Chief Executive of SailGP, Sir Russell Coutts slammed officials for their “extreme” dolphin policy. 

Andrew Alderson speaks to Mike Hosking about the policy and considers the future of the race in New Zealand. 

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Chris Hipkins State of Nation speech and all tax policies being on the table again 

In his first major speech as opposition leader, Chris Hipkins gave a State of Nation speech on Sunday. 

Tax was a big focus, as the way we live and work continues to change with a smaller proportion of the workforce earning taxable salary and wages. 

ZB Political Editor Jason Walls tells Mike Hosking that the speech lacked detail on actual tax policy, being so early in the opposition campaign. 

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New Zealand's GDP per capita paints a worse picture than the headline figure. 

Stats NZ data shows GDP dropped 0.1 percentage points in the final quarter of last year. 

After negative growth in the previous quarter, it pushes New Zealand into a technical recession. 

Per capita, there was a 0.7% drop in the quarter. 

ANZ senior economist Miles Workman told Mike Hosking that taking immigration into account, it's almost as bad as during the Global Financial Crisis. 

He says during the GFC per capita GDP growth fell 4.2% and as of yesterday, after five consecutive quarterly declines, it's down 3.9%. 

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There’s some good news regarding King Charles' health. 

Queen Camilla has been carrying out public duties while the King undergoes treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. 

She told crowds in Northern Ireland that her husband is doing well in his recovery. 

UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that a woman at a local business gave her a get well soon card for the King. 

He says Camilla told her Charles was doing very well and he was disappointed he couldn't come. 

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New and effective anti-migraine drugs aren't publicly funded in New Zealand, costing those with chronic migraine nearly $300 a month. 

An Otago University survey suggests almost half of those with the disease meet the criteria for severe disability. 

Some report paralysis on one side of the body and loss of coherent speech. 

Neurologist Rosamund Hill told Mike Hosking that the medicine's publicly funded in Australia. 

She says it's feasible for Pharmac to identify those at the worst end of the spectrum, and how these drugs would significantly change their lives. 

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It’s a hefty price for taxpayers to keep the Chateau Tongariro Hotel empty and in disrepair. 

The Department of Conservation, which owns the land, has confirmed through an Official Information Act request that it will cost $2.2 million this financial year. 

The heritage-listed site has been shut since February last year. 

Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that there are issues around resolving the seismic reports, which put the hotel at high risk. 

He says there's a willingness from the Government to resolve them but a timeline is needed to do that. 

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Harsher penalties and restrictions are coming into force as the Government starts its crackdown on vaping. 

The Coalition will ban single use vapes and increase fines for selling vapes to under-18s from $10,000 to $100,000. 

It's aiming to have all changes in place by the end of the year. 

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation CEO Letitia Harding told Mike Hosking that this should’ve been tackled by the previous government. 

The reality is, she said, there are no FDA approved products for smoking cessation, and if it actually is for that purpose then it should be under some sort of medical regulatory control. 

Harding said that when vaping was introduced in 2017, people were pushing it as the ‘Holy Grail’ to smoking cessation, but the evidence was never out there that it was. 

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Economists are anticipating GDP growth close to zero for the last quarter. 

The Reserve Bank's forecasting a flat zero percent, ANZ is expecting a 0.1 percentage point growth, while ASB anticipates a 0.2-point drop. 

If today's economic growth figures are negative New Zealand will enter a technical recession after the last quarter also saw negative growth. 

NZ Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich told Mike Hosking that if it goes slightly up or down it doesn't matter as GDP per capita is what's important. 

He says it plays out against a background of record immigration with a net intake of 140-thousand people, which means we're going backwards on a per capita basis. 

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A re-opening of Northland's Marsden Point Oil Refinery could be on the cards. 

The Government's investigating the feasibility of doing so as part of a study into New Zealand's fuel security requirements. 

The privately-owned fuel refinery was decommissioned in 2022 to become an import-only fuel terminal. 

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the Marsden Point investigation is a small part of the fuel resilience strategy he's drawing up. 

He says in fairness to the last Government, they did put effort into resilience after the refinery closed. 

Jones says it all's down to who will pay the $80 million a year to boost the amount of oil we have onshore. 

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Another photo of the Royal Family has been revealed to be edited. 

Getty Images has revealed that a photo of the late Queen was “digitally enhanced at source”, adding an editor's note to the image. 

The Palace shared the picture on the 21stof April last year on what would have been the Queen’s 97thbirthday, saying it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022. 

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that while many people may have suspected images were being edited, it’s now been confirmed. 

While these images are relatively benign in their edits, the lack of disclosure does set a precedent. 

Grey said it may lead to things like war images being doctored to make it look better or worse than it actually is. 

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Road user charges are in for a shake-up after an accidental Government U-turn. 

Owners of plug-in hybrids will pay $38 per thousand kilometres, a reduction from the planned $53. 

The Government accidentally supported a Labour amendment on the matter. 

AA spokesperson Terry Collins told Mike Hosking that the clean car discount was working last year so we'll have to wait and see what happens when it gets shut down. 

He suspects there'll be a pause in the market. 

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A local business owner says there needs to be more action on retail crime. 

Police data shows more than 400 retail crimes were reported a day last year, with six staff a day complaining to police they'd been assaulted. 

Sandringham Business Association Chair Jithin Chittibomma told Mike Hosking the Government has changed, but there's still the same people in the public service they dealt with under the last Government. 

He says they're still putting the data in front of ministers but they haven't seen any change on the ground yet. 

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It's about to become more expensive to complete the country's Great Walks. 

The Department of Conservation is increasing prices in July for the first time in four years. 

Hut and campsite prices will rise by 18% for all walks except Paparoa. 

Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association chair Haydn Marriner told Mike Hosking that there's a two-year waiting period for businesses to change their costs. 

He says it will be built into the costs and while the increase is quite high, crews and businesses do a heap of work to maintain the walks. 

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A five-year legal battle against Uber has come to an end. 

Uber has been ordered to pay $272 million to Australian taxi operators, covering the loss of income and license values since the rideshare app entered the market. 

The class action settlement was reached yesterday and is the fifth largest settlement in Australian history. 

Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that it works out to be about $33,800 per taxi driver. 

She said that lawyers called it a “gruelling battle”, Uber fighting “tooth and nail” every day for those five years. 

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The Government's crackdown on antisocial Kainga Ora tenant behaviour is being labelled a "move back to the real world". 

It's instructed Kainga Ora to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and strengthen its management of disruptive tenants. 

Former Monte Cecelia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says the issues it's having are generations in the making. 

He told Mike Hosking that the previous government's soft approach created a lot of mayhem for tenants and homeowners trying to live in peace. 

Smith says they allowed tenants to remain in homes no matter the illegal activity or issues they were creating for their neighbours. 

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Mouldy and flooding courtrooms, the district court backlog, and legal aid issues are among problems the country's courts are facing. 

Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann has released her latest briefing to Attorney-General Judith Collins. 

It outlines the need to raise the cap on the number of senior court judges, and under-funding in courtroom maintenance. 

Criminal Bar Association President Annabel Creswell told Mike Hosking the issue of the cap on judges has been raised for years. 

She says everything the Chief Justice has outlined have been problems for a long time, but they're worse since Covid and since the population has increased. 

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New Zealanders are drinking less alcohol than previously thought. 

Auckland University has carried out the country's first large-scale trial of testing wastewater to monitor alcohol consumption. 

It found the average alcohol consumption to be 1.2 standard drinks per day for people over 15 years, lower than the World Health Organisation's 2018 estimate. 

Alcohol Beverage Council executive director Virginia Nicholls told Mike Hosking that the report didn't factor in responsible drinking. 

She says 86% of Kiwis are drinking responsibly, but it's a concern that 16% are drinking in a hazardous way. 

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Winston Peters delivered a State of Nation speech yesterday to a crowd of around 600 people. 

The speech came following the first 100 days of Government and included controversial statements comparing co-governance to the Nazi regime. 

ZB Political Editor Jason Walls tells Mike Hosking the New Zealand First leader was firmly back on campaign mode with cracks at the media and opposition, but the speech was mostly focused on going forward. 

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UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps abandoned a Ukraine port visit in Odessa for security reasons. 

UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells mike Hosking Shapps travelled with the intention to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior members of his wartime administration but Russian missile attacks on the city meant the trip was cancelled abruptly. 

Meanwhile, friends of Princess Diana have reacted to an ad using her fatal crash to promote euthanasia in France.

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In the first inwards visit from a Chinese leader for some time, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits New Zealand today. 

Executive Director of the NZ China Council Alistair Crozier describes the country’s relationship with China as positive but says NZ will be seeking re-assurances about China’s intentions in the Pacific. 

Crozier tells Mike Hosking about what is on the agenda for the Foreign Minister’s visit. 

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Colossal rate hikes are looming for homeowners as councils contend with rising construction and insurance costs. 

Local Government New Zealand says rates around the country will rise by an average of 15%.

It says the main factor contributing to the rates escalation is the costs of civil construction. 

Vice President Campbell Barry told Mike Hosking that these costs are 20% higher now than predicted, and that’s on top of inflation. 

He says bridges have gone up around 36% over the last three years, and similar increases are seen with roads and water networks. 

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The Airports Association is taking aim at the cost of Air New Zealand's domestic airfares. 

It's calling on the Government to set up an independent airfare monitoring system. 

But the Board of Airline Representatives disagrees with claims that the domestic market isn't set up to be competitive. 

Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking that policy settings allow any Australian airline to set-up shop tomorrow if they want to. 

She says the reason they haven't, is because New Zealand's an expensive place to operate in and make a profit. 

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The first case of its kind in New Zealand, a former Super Rugby player has been diagnosed post-death with a degenerative brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. 

Billy Guyton played for the Blues, Hurricanes, and Crusaders, but died in a suspected suicide aged 33. 

An examination of his brain by the Neurological Foundation's Brain Bank has now identified he had stage 2 CTE. 

Auckland University neuroscientist Helen Murray told Mike Hosking that CTE is caused by the repetitive accumulation of head impacts. 

She says it's not necessarily the number of concussions but the number of impacts, and that might not have generated any symptoms. 

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An unaccounted-for problem of overheating in some newly built townhouses is being seen as a country-wide problem. 

Frustration is brewing among owners in Auckland who are paying two times more for cooling in the summer than they would for heating in the winter. 

Some townhouses have just one heat pump to cool the three-storey home, which can leave rooms on higher floors unbearably hot. 

But the building code has no requirement to address overheating. 

Team Green Architects owner Sian Taylor told Mike Hosking that there's an issue with a lack of forethought for the longer-term implications of design. 

She says one of the biggest problems is not shading the building properly from the start, which traps the heat inside. 

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Another bailout for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts as the Government pours $7 million into the ski field. 

The operator has been running on a previous government bailout for over a year. 

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says it's their last chance after the Prime Minister previously said no more money would be poured into the ski field. 

Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking he welcomes the move. 

He understands this is the last bailout and wants the operator to get its ducks in a row. 

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United States lawmakers are concerned TikTok users' data is being accessed by China. 

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban the social media platform if Chinese tech giant Byte Dance doesn't sell its stake within six months. 

It will now go to a vote in Senate. 

US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that there's a lobbying campaign by TikTok underway.  

He says they've hired influencers to talk about the success they've had with TikTok and the impact on small business in America. 

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There’s a focus on rebuilding today for the Labour Party as MPs head to Wairarapa for their belated retreat. 

The annual meeting is usually held in January. 

Political commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that Labour has about a year to rebuild before being competitive for the 2026 election. 

He says they're facing a big challenge from the Greens, so Labour needs to rebuild in a way which makes them the leading party on the left again. 

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Online rental platform Airbnb is introducing a worldwide ban on indoor security cameras.  

It says it's updating its policy after consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts. 

Outdoor security cameras and those in common areas, like on doorbells, are still permitted, but hosts will have to disclose their location on the property's listing. 

Privacy lawyer Kathryn Dalziel told Mike Hosking that Airbnb has come under fire recently, with guests posting about finding cameras in their accommodation.  

She thinks Airbnb's realising its brand is being affected by this negativity, particularly by people who aren't telling people they're recording or filming. 

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Businesses hope the Government will bring change to the Holidays Act. 

Brooke van Velden has laid out her agenda with a focus on regulations around contractors, public holidays, health and safety rules, and personal grievances. 

Also a priority is sorting out the law around holidays. 

Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that there's no need for lengthy consultation as the Holidays Act has been talked about for some time. 

He says most in the business community just want people to get on and make the changes. 

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The Climate Change Commission is urging the Government to cut back the number of carbon credits available. 

They say there are too many credits on offer and the problem is just getting worse. 

The coalition Government promised to use emissions pricing to meet New Zealand's climate goals. 

Climate Change Research Institute adjunct professor Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that it's not clear what the Government is going to do yet. 

He says they want to stick to the existing climate targets, but how they do that is not clear. 

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Are disruptions in the Red Sea hitting New Zealand as hard?

Freedom Furniture has reported a $9 million loss in profit, saying that it’s partially due to the chaos in the Middle East. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that the disruptions are impacting businesses in quite different ways, depending on whether they’re using that route to ship to Europe. 

The challenge for us, he said, is shipping delays. 

A delay of 14-21 days will have spill over effects for businesses lasting a fair bit of time. 

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For the second time in as many weeks, Kiwibank and ASB have reduced their fixed mortgage rates. 

It follows falls in wholesale rates on the expectation that central banks are getting closer to cutting their benchmark rates. 

ASB’s Chief Economist, Nick Tuffley, told Mike Hosking what people are seeing is the settling of rates and the response to news over the last week. 

The market is still reasonably patchy, but according to Tuffley its likely to even out slightly as interest rates come down. 

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The Princess of Wales has admitted to editing an image of her and her three children. 

The first image since her abdominal surgery, it was posted to mark Mother's Day in the UK. 

It was then pulled by numerous media photo agencies over concerns it'd been manipulated. 

Catherine says like many amateur photographers, she occasionally experiments with editing. 

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers told Mike Hosking that he's not sure why they'd publish the photo themselves or send the photo to the world's media organisations. 

He says there's still a litany of issues: how much it was edited, how many photos it was taken from, and when it was edited. 

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The Property Investors' Federation says easing rents relies on many factors.

The Government's re-introducing interest deductibility for landlords.

They'll be able to claim 80 percent of interest expenses from April, and 100 percent from April 2025.

The Government says it'll ease pressure on rents, also benefiting tenants.

Property Investors' Federation President Sue Harrison told Mike Hosking that the pressure on rents, has come from insufficient rental properties.

She says they've been put under high pressure from high interest rates, and the money has to come from somewhere.

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The Green's new co-leadership could look different under Chloe Swarbrick.

The Auckland Central MP has won the race to replace James Shaw, and will lead the party alongside Marama Davidson.

Former Greens MP Gareth Hughes says Swarbrick's assertive approach to politics is a contrast from Shaw.

But he told Mike Hosking that people are looking for passion and authenticity in politics - and some will be drawn to her values.

Hughes says people wrote her off in Auckland Central but she won overwhelmingly - so she's someone who's able to reach across and attract voters.

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A US military ship is on its way to Gaza, carrying equipment to build a temporary pier off the coast.

It comes after President Biden announced the US would build a floating harbour to help get aid into Gaza by sea.

They had carried out an airdrop on Sunday, parachuting in more than 11-thousand meals.

Europe correspondent Gavin Grey spoke to Mike Hosking about what it will contain.

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