Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A new heavily mutated Covid variant has been identified named Omicron. It's been rapidly labelled a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation, and is already spreading to other countries, including Australia. Originating from South Africa, there's a shortage of real-world data, and no one really knows how big of a threat it poses. Principal scientist at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research professor Mike Bunce joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surprise from Judith Collins' former and current colleagues, about how her time as National leader came to an end. MP Jacqui Dean has told the Otago Daily Times she's surprised and disappointed Collins used a conversation from some weeks ago to demote Bridges. But speaking exclusively to Newstalk ZB, Collins says she has no regrets about demoting Simon Bridges. Former colleague Chris Finlayson told Kate Hawkesby while he isn’t surprised by her departure, but he is shocked by how it happened. “It is a real doozy.” He said the frontrunners for leadership, Luxon and Mitchell, are both are very able.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who’d be in politics, eh? I mean talk about brutal.  How do they just keep getting knocked over and get back up again. It’s so so tough. I don’t know what came over Judith, apart from obvious desperation and I actually feel a great deal of sympathy for her; she clearly felt so backed into a corner she lost all perspective. And I don’t know whose advising her anymore or if anyone did, but it goes to show how important the team around you is, the perspective, the depth of talent needed. And that’s what worries me going forward. I think a reheated Simon 2.0 is just Simon again but at a different time. There’s nothing that leaps out at me to say he’s morphed into a considered strategic and smart team player. He still seems unable to hold his cards close to his chest, keep his cool, look considered and elder statesman like. He’s more relaxed, for sure, but I don’t know that’s enough to lead this motley crew and rein them in as much as they clearly need to be reined in. Then there’s Luxon. Still new, naïve, learnin

England and France are at odds over how to deal with illegal migrants crossing the Channel, after 27 people died trying to get across. It's the largest loss of life there in a decade. Europe correspondent Vincent McAviney told Kate Hawkesby 25,000 migrants are trafficked across each year from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Eritrea. He said they're smuggled by gangs from the Netherlands, Belgium and France. McAviney said the French believe the coastline's too hard to police, so Britain's offering to send officers to help, but France is resisting that. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The retail sector is in for a much-needed boost today.  The industry is set to make about 270-million dollars from Black Friday sales. Retail NZ Chief Executive Greg Harford told Kate Hawkesby he's hoping Kiwis will get out and support businesses. “It could really be busier than Boxing Day. Black Friday has become a really significant part of the shopping calendar.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins says history will judge her kindly, for her decision to demote Simon Bridges. Collins was removed from the leadership yesterday -- after her surprise decision to demote Bridges the night before. She says she was acting on a complaint from a female caucus colleague about comments Bridges made in that colleague's presence five years ago. Speaking exclusively to the Mike Hosking Breakfast, Collins says it was an inappropriate action, by a person in a position of power. She says in the fullness of time, people will see she did the right thing for the party, knowing there would be consequences for her. Auckland University political commentator Lara Greaves told Kate Hawkesby opinion is likely to be divided. She says the culture of Parliament isn't comfortable for women and for many people, but on the scale of what could have been, this seems to be on the minor side. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the hell is going on inside the National Party? Here's the problem with that question. We shouldn't even be asking it. We shouldn't need to ask it. They shouldn't be making everything about them and drawing attention to themselves in this way - at a critical time for the opposition to make hay, with so much material available to them to clobber the government with. What are they thinking? This hit job on Bridges is so poorly timed, mind you, so is his clearly bungled coup attempt. But look at all the things they could be jumping on here: the staggering MIQ announcement yesterday - no Kiwis coming home for Christmas, no trans-Tasman bubble, in fact, no access for Australians at all without MIQ until April next year for goodness' sake. I mean this is the most cruel and crazy decision. In fact, even the Kiwis who can come home mid-January still have to self-isolate for seven days when they do. It's pure fortress NZ madness and ripe fodder for a functioning opposition. Add to that, the traffic light law rush

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has arrived in Canada, but little is known of what her day will entail.  It's the last leg of her first international trip in the role. She's meeting with her Canadian counterpart today Melanie Joly. But Correspondent Anna Burns-Francis, who's in Canada with Mahuta, told Kate Hawkesby it's all a bit hush-hush. She said she’s not sure what they'll discuss, saying the media wasn't even allowed to film them meeting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of Auckland's city slickers are upping sticks and moving north to the Hibiscus Coast. Within three days, seven coastal properties were snapped up for more than seven million dollars. Bayleys Orewa owner and manager Kirsty Macky told Kate Hawkesby inner city Aucklanders are pushing up the prices very quickly. “It’s just supply and demand. We’ve just got more buyers than we have properties for sale and so the competition for what we do have is fierce.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are welcoming back the ability to travel internationally without MIQ. Fully vaccinated Kiwis will be able travel home from Australia without MIQ from January 16, and from all other countries from February 13. All other fully vaccinated travellers will be able to come here from April 30. All must still self-isolate for seven-days. Christchurch exporter Enztech chief executive Iain McMillan told Kate Hawkesby this is great news. “We probably look to be travelling in January to Australia; it’s a nice little warm-up market for us.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bus carrying tourists back to North Macedonia crashed and caught fire in western Bulgaria early Tuesday, killing at least 45 people, including a dozen children, authorities said. DNA tests were being carried out to identify the victims. The bus apparently ripped through a guardrail on a highway, though authorities said the cause was still under investigation. Photos taken shortly after the crash showed the vehicle engulfed in flames as plumes of thick, black smoke rose. Daylight revealed a burned-out shell with all of its windows blown out, sitting in the median. A portion of the guardrail was lying in the road. Seven survivors were hospitalized after the crash, which took place as a group of buses was returning from a trip to Turkey. Twelve children were among the dead, according to the North Macedonia chief prosecutor, Ljubomir Joveski. Bulgarian Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov told reporters at the crash site that he had "never in my life seen something more horrifying" and that the identification proces

Well, we learnt this week from a senior MIQ official, that Grant Robertson was indeed involved in the decision to refuse entry to the SailGP team, even though he denied it. Not only did he deny it, but he blamed MIQ officials for it, who’ve now called for him to “correct the record.” He won’t of course, because this government is always right, it’s never wrong, never accepts responsibility or blame for anything. And that, to me, is an increasing worry, because as the wheels come off this government, voters have to start looking beyond Ardern; who may well mic drop and exit stage left for the UN anytime. In the early days, the obvious successor was Grant Robertson. He seemed to add substance and hold a calm veneer. But a pandemic is a long time in politics. And we went from world leader to world loser. The last remaining country locked down, locked up and out of luck. During that time, Jacinda’s become increasingly removed from the mainstream, more arrogant, more out of touch. Reports from Wellington mention h

A litigation lawyer says she's been inundated with stories from neighbours of Kainga Ora tenants.  Associate Housing Minister Poto Williams says she's had discussions with the state housing provider about looking at its process around evictions. No state tenants have been kicked out since the start of 2018. Lawyer Adina Thorn told Kate Hawkesby the no evictions policy has to end. “This isn’t going around, evicting lots of people across New Zealand. It is putting deterrence's in place in state houses where we’ve got anti-social tenants.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is set to reap billions of dollars in benefits, thanks to a new travel and trade route. A New Zealand China Council-commissioned report has found a route linking Asia to South America via New Zealand could bring close to 1.9-billion dollars over 10 years Executive Director Rachel Maidment told Kate Hawkesby it would benefit our e-commerce, tourism and education sectors. “There is going to be one major point in Oceania and we really want it to be us so we need government and industries to continue to work together to ensure the right fundamentals are in place.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another major retailer is making vaccination mandatory for staff. Countdown has announced it will require all staff to be jabbed by January 10, following The Warehouse Group's decision to require its staff to be jabbed by January 16. Rival chain Foodstuffs is also discussing a vaccine mandate with its store owners, which could take effect on February 16. First Union retail organiser Ben Peterson told Kate Hawkesby unvaccinated staff should only lose their job, if there's no alternative. “That’s something we really want to avoid. We do want to look at if there are lower risk roles that can be moved into and that all other options are explored before we get to that.” Other businesses, like PWC and Russell McVeagh, have already announced vaccine mandate rules. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say half right isn't wrong, so that's me this time yesterday. I said this time yesterday that they'd open hairdressers and the beauty industry this week. So, half right. Which is pleasing given the pasting I took after the show right across the spectrum from colleagues to siblings, all telling me I was nuts. But I was basing it on Robertson's visit to Auckland last week when he saw how acute the suffering of businesses was and seemed keen to advocate for them.  There’s increasing tension around the Cabinet table, as we know, between the fear mongers and the realists, so I don’t doubt Robertson may've put up a solid argument for Level 3 Step 3, but the fear mongers, (Ardern and Hipkins), won. So just hairdressers get to open, no hospo, no beauty.  And that’s unfair I reckon. Just plain cruel actually. Not only do they have to stay shut, at the traditionally busiest time of year, but it’s almost another fortnight before they can open. Our so-called “Freedom Day”, later than anyone thought, now not until De

Auckland hairdressers can open up from Thursday, for the purpose of trialling vaccine passes.  Aside from that, the Government says step three isn't necessary, given we're going into the traffic light system next Friday.   That's pleased a Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor, who worries vaccination rates among Māori and Pacifika in South Auckland are still desperately low.  Councillor Daniel Newman told Kate Hawkesby they’re still seeing lots of people who are very hesitant coming to get vaccinated because of the mandates and vaccine certificates.  “We’re moving in the right direction but, it has been slow.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody loves hearing stories of Kiwi start-ups using kiwi ingenuity to take on the global business market. A local footwear company based in Wellington says they have developed the world's lowest carbon footprint sneakers. YY Nation are launching their environmentally friendly sneakers both here and in the U.S this morning. Founding Director Jeremy Bank told Kate Hawkesby algae and sugar cane are being used as a substitute to harmful chemicals in the outer soles.  “There’s been all sorts of challenges but it’s great to be at this point where we’re launching...It’s about doing things in a new way.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The criteria for blood donations is being expanded, to help keep up with demand.  The upper age limit for first time blood or plasma donors has risen to 71 - and existing donors are now eligible until 81. New Zealand Blood Service spokeswoman Asuka Burge told Kate Hawkesby having donors give blood for longer is a big help. Three hundred donors, who currently donate, will be able to keep donating as the upper age limit has extended but there may be many more hundreds of people who previously used to donate or considering donating that will now be able eligible.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's reopening its borders to vaccinated international students, business visa holders and refugees from Wednesday next week. In this country, the Government's approved visas for a thousand international tertiary students, but they won't start arriving until March. Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Kate Hawkesby Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the move's a major milestone in Australia's pathway back. “He says allowing foreign visa holders to enter the country is that further stepping of international travel, of course, but also supporting the economy.” Donna Demaio said the international education sector's worth about 36-billion dollars to Australia. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.