Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The Government promises “granny flats” of 60 square metres or less will be easier to build after planning changes that will force councils to permit small dwellings on rural and residential zones without resource consent. Making it easier to build granny flats was part of NZ First’s coalition agreement with National. NZ First leader Winston Peters, taking over as Acting Prime Minister while Christopher Luxon is in Japan, used Monday’s post-Cabinet press conference to announce consultation on changes that would fulfil that policy promise. “Making it easier to build granny flats will make it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them best,” Peters said. “Over a quarter of households that do not own their home spend more than 40 per cent of their income on housing. High housing costs have a greater impact on Māori, Pasifika, and people with disabilities, as well as seniors - so unlocking the space in the backyards of family members opens the door to new ways of living. “We know granny flats are

This weekend's Super Rugby semifinals have raised a few eyebrows over their smaller-than expected attendance numbers. ZB sports reporter Andrew Alderson suspects this is because these Super Rugby matches had to compete with this weekend's Warriors' clash. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Princess of Wales has returned to the public eye for King's Birthday celebrations, making her first public appearance this year. Kate faced wild internet speculation on her whereabouts earlier this year before revealing she's undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. She was pictured smiling, sitting alongside her three children in a carriage for the Trooping the Colour parade. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the public were thrilled to see her back. "She looked a little thin, a little drawn, but she did look, still, pretty amazing. And after all the chemo she's been in - perhaps that's no surprise at all."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One teachers' union is concerned abut the recommended changes to teaching standards in a new report. The Ministerial Advisory Group reviewing English and maths learning has recommended annual 'checkpoint' tests for students. It also recommends children be encouraged to write by hand as much as possible for their first three years at school - and cursive lessons in years four to six. NZEI president Mark Potter says children in society are facing all sorts of issues, but how teachers teach isn't one. "Things aren't going well for children in our society right now, but just focusing on what teachers do in the classroom all the time, especially by political groups and political figures, is not going to help children at all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is on the ground in Japan, but his business delegation won't be touching down for another day. The Prime Minister's plane has broken down yet again, this time while refuelling in Papua New Guinea. Luxon's been forced to fly commercial to Tokyo, while the business leaders, officials and others in his delegation are travelling to Brisbane and then on to Japan today. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon abruptly disappeared from the airport, leaving his delegation confused about what was happening. "The Prime Minister leaving took everybody by surprise, I saw his face as he was leaving in the motorcade... he was not happy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain’s Labour Party has launched its manifesto.  It said on Thursday that it would be “pro-business” and prioritise “wealth creation”.  Among the party’s flagship pledges is the creation of a new publicly owned energy company, a ban on awarding new North Sea oil and gas licences, and reducing medical wait times.   UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that it’s quite different from the manifesto they ran on a few years ago under Jeremy Corbyn.  He said that Starmer is very much saying that his party is the party for change, but he is for stability, and in his own words, there were no “rabbits out of the hat”.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a big weekend in sports as the Super Rugby semifinals kick off tonight.  The Blues and the Brumbies are facing off at Eden Park tonight, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs going head-to-head in Wellington’s Sky Stadium tomorrow afternoon.  Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Mike Hosking that if he could only watch one of the matches, he’d take the Hurricanes v Chiefs.  He said it’s got blockbuster written all over it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been push back against the Government's plan to scrap around the clock speed limits outside schools.   The Coalition's reversing speed limit reductions implemented over the past four years under the previous Government.   The draft report wants speed limits in place at the start and end of each school day as opposed to the current 24-7 system.    Healthy Auckland Together spokesperson Dr Jamie Hosking told Mike Hosking that kids are outside schools much more than just the first and last 30-minutes of the day.   He says five out of six deaths and serious injuries that happen around schools are outside those times, when the variable limits wouldn't be operating.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's ditching plans to make gender pay gap reporting compulsory.   The Labour Government pledged it would require companies with more than 250 workers to publish a pay gap report.  But acting Minister for Women Louise Upston's instead developing a tool for businesses to calculate pay gaps voluntarily.  Mind the Gap Co-Founder Dellwyn Stuart told Mike Hosking that while mandatory reporting would likely make more of a difference, it's great to see the Government taking action.   She says most businesses don't set out to pay people unfairly, they just don't see what's happening in their payroll until they measure it, and then they want to fix it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday saw another historic ruling in the United States, as Hunter Biden was found guilty in his federal gun trial.  The conviction makes him the first child of a sitting President to be found guilty of a crime.  He was convicted of three gun offences for lying about drug use while illegally buying and possessing a gun in 2018.  US Correspondent Katherine Firkin told Mike Hosking that several legal experts have already suggested that there are several avenues of appeal that Biden could take.  She said that the most likely route is that the defence will argue that under the Second Amendment, Biden has a constitutional right to own a firearm.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an expectation New Zealanders will continue to file out of the country in high numbers.  The latest figures from Stats NZ show more than 130,000 people left the country in the year to April, the highest number on record.  Among those were a record 81,200 NZ citizens.  ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking that we are moving in the right direction, but there’s still a way to go yet.  He said it’s reflective of what’s happening offshore as well, as Australia’s unemployment rate is lower than ours, as well as higher wages and lower living costs being on offer.   He said it’s pretty clear from a New Zealander’s point of view that it’s probably better across the ditch.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief that there's a problem with the New Zealand electricity business model, not just the new disclosure rules.  Gentailers —companies that both generate and sell electricity— are required to disclose the price they use internally to sell power to their retail arms.   But NZIER research found the new disclosure rules don't provide enough information to show if companies are artificially inflating prices.  Chief executive of consumer group NZ Compare Gavin Male told Mike Hosking that the market wasn't designed to be dominated by a few large gentailers.  He says a recent OECD report found there's a need for more competition in the sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought New Zealanders' faith in rural banks is dwindling.  The Government's requested for the Finance and Expenditure and Primary Production select committees to lead a joint inquiry into rural banking.  Rural Women NZ says their communities are facing a range of problems including banking competition and customer service.  Chief Executive Gabrielle O'Brien told Mike Hosking that a lot of them are losing confidence in the banking sector.  She says they hope the inquiry can address what needs to change and restore that confidence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment is hitting the UK hard.  It’s unexpectedly risen to its highest level for two and a half years, climbing to 4.4% in the three months to April.  On the other hand, wage growth has remained strong and is outstripping inflation, having increased at an annual rate of 2.9%.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking the other striking figure is the inactivity rate, which is the number of people of working age who are not actively looking for work.  He said that it’s standing at one in five, the highest level in nearly a decade.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have already received tips on the back of the $80 thousand reward offered in the case of the Phillips children.  The now eight, nine, and ten year olds, along with their father Tom Phillips, have been missing since 2021.  They're believed to be in western Waikato, near or in Marokopa.  Police have given two weeks for the reward to be claimed and say information has been coming in since yesterday's announcement.  Private Investigator Chris Budge told Mike Hosking that it's the best path forward for Police.  He says it's much more economical than using spending money on helicopters and manpower to search.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's decision to work with farmers to price their emissions by 2030 is being welcomed by the industry.  A law change will stop farming being charged through the Emissions Trading Scheme, which offsets credits against emitting.   It was a fallback option if partnership group He Waka Eka Noa didn't find an alternative for agriculture.  Meat Industry Association advocacy manager Jason Krupp told Mike Hosking that the previous Government wasn't fully committed to finding a solution.  He says a solution was handed to them by the end of 2022, which they sat on for nine months.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fuel retailer's applauding the Commerce Commission for raising awareness about prices at the pump ahead of the removal of Auckland's fuel tax.  The commission's calling out retailers who lag in dropping prices at the pump, saying it's costing motorists millions each year.  It says it's a timely reminder, with the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax being removed at the end of this month.  Waitomo Group Chief Executive Simon Parham told Mike Hosking that they can't wait for it to be scrapped.  He says it was poorly thought-out tax and it's created complexity for both customers and themselves.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A council in Australia’s New South Wales is displeased after being ordered to repay millions of dollars.  The NSW Government has ordered the Hornsby Shire council to repay $36 million as after six years, it still has yet to develop and build a park.  Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock, a former federal minister, has accused the government of looking to save money ahead of the state budget coming next week.  Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Mike Hosking that the NSW Government said that the council has not been able to prove that they’re on track to have anything developed, so it’s time to pay the money back.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of building a new home's starting to stabilise.  Figures from QV CostBuilder show the average cost to build a three-bedroom home in main centres has risen by 1.8% for the year, and 0.3% this quarter.   It compares to an annual average increase of nearly 5% last December, and nearly 10% last June.  Newstalk ZB’s Resident Builder Pete Wolfkamp told Mike Hosking that the main difficulty builders were facing over the last years were prices rising after they’d been locked into a fixed term contract.  He said that it puts enormous pressure on projects to keep their costs to a reasonable level, which was incredibly difficult.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political scientist says the allegations that Census data has been misused by a political party would be very concerning if true.  The Prime Minister's announced the Public Service Commission will undertake an independent investigation amid allegations surrounding Te Pāti Māori and Manurewa Marae.  It relates to the misuse of Census data and Covid-19 vaccination information.  Political commentator Grant Duncan told Mike Hosking that the alleged mixing of Census and Covid related functions with election campaigning would be inappropriate.  He says all of those choices should be private to the individuals concerned.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.