Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Truck drivers say it will take more than just congestion charges to address Auckland's traffic woes.   Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is hoping for practical solutions to traffic after a report found congestion will cost the city 2.6 billion dollars a year by next year.   The National Road Carriers Association says it supports congestion charges, as long as they're fair.  But Chief Executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Andrew Dickens it still needs a second harbour crossing and fixes to council roads.   He says some parts of the motorway also need to be widened. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 5th of March 2025, Donald Trump has paused all military aid into Ukraine, Marco Rubio's Former Chief of Staff tells Andrew Dickens what he thinks will happen next.   New documents reveal $300 million was set aside by the Government to cover it's broken ferry build contract with Hyundai.  Could congestion charges come in sooner than expected? National Road Carriers Association CEO Just Tighe Umbers shares his thoughts.   UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey shares the latest on US vice-president JD Vance sparking a row with comments he made about the potential involvement of international forces to police a peace deal in Ukraine.   Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You could hear the disappointment oozing out of the Maritime Union Spokesperson yesterday as we found out the break fee for the Interislander ferries would be around 300 million.    The ferries only cost 551 million at 60 per cent of the cost of the ferries.   All up 1 billion dollars has been spent on nothing at all.   It’s making Labour’s light rail fiasco look trivial.  The Union guy called the situation Nicola Willis’ mistake. And it is.   She’d be hoping to be remembered as the Saviour of the economy, but she will never escape the billion-dollar boat botch up.   A botch up she jumped into just to strike a blow against Labour and KiwiRail   As Winston Peters rushes to patch things up we seem to forget what the real cost of the project is.  It’s the wharves and more particularly the Wellington wharves   They need to be renovated.   They need to be earthquake strengthened.   We need to decide if they need rail infrastructure so we can roll a train

Questions over the future of Wellington Water's chairman, with calls for him to go after troubling findings within the organisation.  A scathing review has found poor procurement processes, potential for fraud, and a serious lack of value for money.  Board chair Nick Leggett says if the region's mayors ask him to go, he will, but thinks he's taken good action on the issues.  Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says he doesn't need to go.  She told Andrew Dickens they’re a year out from water reforms and him and Pat Dougherty are working exceptionally well together to achieve them.  Baker says she doesn’t see the point.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queensland's bracing for Cyclone Alfred to hit later this week.  It's been upgraded to category two overnight, and is brewing off the Australian coast, where it's already causing heavy surf and high tides.   Correspondent Donna Demaio told Andrew Dickens it's expected to hit on Thursday or Friday.   She says there's a possibility of destructive winds and life-threatening flash flooding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's sinking just under $12 million into salmon farming.  The five-year aquaculture investment will increase production and drive-up exports.  It's estimating the extra support will create an additional $500 million of exports by 2035.  Aquaculture New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Hooper told Andrew Dickens that's a conservative figure.  He says when everything is up and running, there will be up-to 60-million tonnes worth of exports annually – pushing a billion dollars in value.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns general practices will take too many patients to secure performance-based Government funding.   The Health Minister's set aside 285 million-dollars to help uplift general practices as part of a larger boost to healthcare.   The General Practice Owners Association welcomes the initiatives - but is cautious about the impacts.   Chair Angus Chambers told Andrew Dickens practices will open their books to get more money without increasing their workforce.   He says he's waiting until it's made clear how performance will be measured.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did we manage to bring so many people into the country and fail to have enough doctors when they get here? This is the question we’ve all asked every surge of immigration we’ve ever had.   And there’s been many. I’m one. I came out in 1965 with my English father and Kiwi mum.   And there’s been many more waves.   Every time we’ve opened the door there seems to have been an attitude that we’ll take the immigrants labour, money, and advantages but ignore the consequences of a bigger population.  So Simeon Brown's announcement of a faster track to qualifying overseas doctors who come here is welcome and about time.   Our immigration booms have distorted our society.   It swamped our motorways; it put strain on housing and infrastructure.   And it crushed our service sector including doctors.   Yet it also made people think we had a rockstar economy. It was artificial.  If the economy is rocking but you can’t see a doctor, is it really rocking?   Finally, we s

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 4th of March 2025, The new Health Minister's begun making moves to try save our deteriorating healthcare system, Genpro Chair Dr Angus Chambers tells Andrew Dickens how big of a difference it will make.   Councils in Wellington are furious with a new scathing report into Wellington Water, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker shares a plan for how to move forward.   Good news for the Aquaculture sector, the Government is Putting almost twelve million dollars into salmon farming.   Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio shares the latest on the prominent ex football player joining a class action against the AFL - alleging racial abuse.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.     LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pope Francis has been unable to deliver his traditional Angelus prayer in person for the third week in the row.  The Vatican published the Pope's written comments instead, saying he had written the text from his hospital room in a Rome "in the past few days." UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks the Andrew Dickens about the Pope's current health, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with European leaders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his intention in the Oval Office was for the US to "stand more firmly on our side."  During the meeting Trump told Zelenskyy to make a deal with Russia or the US would be out.  Former US Defence Department official Jeffrey Price joins the show to discuss the meeting that continues to be felt around the world. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have faced a crushing defeat in Las Vegas as the 2025 NRL season opener.  The Black Caps also crumbled to India by 44 runs.  Dame Lydia Ko, on the other hand, has won the LPGA Women's World Championship.  Newstalk ZB's Elliott Smith joins the show to debrief our sporting events over the weekend.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Dickens: Trump's meeting with Zelensky was schoolyard bullying Well who didn’t see the Trump Zelensky meltdown coming? The whole thing has been a show for the crowds and not a real play for peace. Before the summit Zelensky made it very clear that he wanted a ceasefire but with security guarantees.   Reportedly America told Zelensky not to mention the security guarantees at the press conference. But that’s the heart of his position. He doesn’t trust Putin because they’ve had a ceasefire with Putin before that Putin broke. Trump made it very clear he wants out and he wants a payoff of minerals for everything the US has put in so far. He has a mandate for that. He campaigned on it and he got the vote. So when they met and the press started recording, Trump and Vance spoke as though their plan was a fait d’accompli. But it wasn’t. Ukraine has always said “no security guarantee no deal” So when Zelensky starts reminding them of what had happened in the past, Trump and Vance went 2 on 1 and

The Government is trying to hit the mark on work-life balance as it announces a new Police training site in Auckland.   The Police Commissioner says he hopes to open the new base by the end of June to help the force reach its goal of 500 new officers.   However, Richard Chambers says they are yet to confirm its location.    Associate Police Minister Casey Costello told Andrew Dickens the base will attract people wanting to live at home while training.   She says there are currently barriers to police college for people starting young families.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Monday 3rd of February 2025, Auckland's getting a new police training facility, Associate Minister for Police Casey Costello tells Andrew Dickens how it will help with reaching the Government's goal of increasing the number of frontline police by 500.  Former US Defence Department Official Jeffrey Price analyses the weekend's spectacle between US President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky where Trump told Zelensky to make a deal with Russia or theUS would be out.  And UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey shares the latest on the European leaders summit in London where security talks have been under way.  Newstalk ZB's Elliot Smith shares the latest on the Black Caps facing India in the ICC Champions trophy in South Africa.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, who didn’t see the Trump Zelensky meltdown coming?   The whole thing was a show for the crowds and not a real play for peace.   Before the summit Zelensky made it very clear that he wanted a ceasefire but with security guarantees.     Reportedly America told Zelensky not to mention the security guarantees at the press conference. But that’s the heart of his position.   He doesn’t trust Putin because they’ve had a ceasefire with Putin before Putin broke.   Trump made it very clear he wants out and he wants a payoff of minerals for everything the US has put in so far.   He has a mandate for that. He campaigned on it and he got the vote.  So, when they met and the press started recording, Trump and Vance spoke as though their plan was a fait d’accompli.   But it wasn’t. Ukraine has always said “no security guarantees no deal”   So, when Zelensky starts reminding them of what had happened in the past, Trump and Vance went two on one and gave him a lesson. &n

The Warriors have gone to Las Vegas with a purpose.  The team is in Sin City for their season opener, clashing with the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.  CEO Cameron George told Andrew Dickens the team has prepared really well.  American sports fans seem to be enthusiastic as well, as George says that 15,000 of the 48,000 tickets sold have been purchased by Americans.   “It’s a great sign that the game’s being, y’know, accepted over here.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hope from farmers and growers as the Government commits to speeding approvals for animal and plant health products. It's accepted all 16 Ministry of Regulation recommendations for cutting red tape in agriculture and horticulture.   Its review last year looked into processes for new veterinary medicines and agrichemicals.  Animal and Plant Health NZ CEO, Liz Shackleton, says this is a sign change is coming.  She told Andrew Dickens that when farmers have these products, it’s a race to the top, but without them it’s a race to the bottom.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changing the rules of the electricity sector is one thing, getting the sector to follow the rules could be another.  The Electricity Authority is proposing requiring the four main electricity generators to sell power to independent companies at the same price they sell power to themselves.  The independents would also get the same access to hedge contracts, protecting them from price fluctuations.  Mike Casey —the chief executive of electrification advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa— told Andrew Dickens the rules need to be given teeth.  He says there is a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure this actually happens, rather than being enforced after the fact.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speculation over how much the United States intervened in the Romanian justice system, to help the Tate brothers reach American soil.   A private jet believed to be carrying Andrew and Tristan Tate has landed in Florida, in the midst of Romanian investigations into their trafficking, and rape charges.   European Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Andrew Dickens it appears Richard Grenell - a special US presidential envoy - held a meeting with the Romanian foreign minister at the Munich Security Conference to let them leave. McAviney says once in the US, it's highly unlikely extradition for Romanian and UK charges would be possible.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.