Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

Labour shortages across the country have led to fierce competition among employers looking for staff.Trade Me data shows there were more than 80,000 vacancies listed for the quarter ending June 30, 2021.Trade Me Jobs sales director Matt Tolich described it as a job hunter's market, with employers paying more to attract staff from their competitors."With application numbers down and more listings for job hunters to choose from, in Q2 we saw the largest annual percentage increase in average pay that we have seen in more than 10 years," Tolich said."When compared with the same quarter last year, the average pay increased by 3 per cent, to $64,939. The last time we saw an annual increase this large was in Q1, 2011.""It really is the perfect storm, and job seekers are well and truly in the driver's seat. It's a great time to be looking for a new role."The challenge, however, is convincing workers to leave their current roles to take on new positions.While nationwide job listings on Trade Me increased by 25 per cent in the second quarter of 2021 when compared to the same period in 2019, applications are failing to keep up with the demand."In Q2, we saw a 29 per cent drop in the number of applications for jobs when compared with the first quarter of the year," Tolich said."We're still seeing a massive candidate shortage in the market with the absence of migrant workers."The fact is, right now there are not enough people in New Zealand to fulfil demand in a large number of job categories and this is constraining the ability of Kiwi business to grow."Adding further pressure is the fact that Kiwis are sticking to their current roles, amid the continued global uncertainty."Kiwis appear to be sticking it out in their current roles until our borders are open, and the world begins to return to normal."We know that job security is highly important to employees at the moment. In a recent survey we conducted with 1,400 Kiwis, just 17 per cent said they were looking to move roles in the next 12 months. That's down from 27 per cent in 2020."The sectors most desperate for staff at the moment are hospitality and tourism, which saw a 56 per cent increase in listing between 2021 and 2019.This was followed by manufacturing and operations (52 per cent), construction & roading (46 per cent) sectors, transport and logistics (40 per cent), and trades and services (37 per cent).In terms of pay growth, the IT sector offers some of the best opportunities."As we have seen consistently over the previous year, IT roles are still paid the most," Tolich said, pointing out that IT architects earn the most of any role at $162,206 on average.He said the growth in IT salaries comes down to companies bolstering their tech approach to keep up with competitors and protect their businesses in a post-Covid world.Online job listings have surged as employers scramble to find workers. (Photo / Getty Images)"On top of this, closed borders are putting pressure on the sector by preventing new talent from entering the country to meet the sector's growing needs."Tolich said the biggest pay growth in wages in the second quarter when compared with the same period in 2019 was seen in the retail and tourism & hospitality sectors which both saw the average wage increase 12 per cent to $53,071 and $52,960 respectively.The minimum wage increased from $18.90 per hour to $20 per hour in April this year, off the back of an earlier increase from $17.70 at the end of 2019.The growth in wages based just on the minimum wage during the overall period accounts for a 12 per cent increase.The data also broke down the highest wages by region, with Wellington City coming out on top with an average salary of $76,102.This was followed by Auckland City's average pay of $74,282.With the borders set to remain closed for the foreseeable...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was an exceptional call - Hone and his 'English Rose' are in Kaitaia, and have started an initiative called One Whanau (family) At A Time. With methamphetamine use rife, families are struggling to find housing, food etc. They are helping one family at a time to get basic needs met.Hone is former gang member who has turned his life around and has a fascinating story. If you want to help Hone in his work, here's the link to his Give A Little Page.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A purpose-built Covid-19 facility for just 11 million dollars maximum.  A purpose built facility that could then be repurposed into emergency housing perhaps or refugee resettlement.11 million dollars represents just 11 days of housing people in motels around the country. Surely it’s a no brainer to spend that sort of money.  Some people have been calling for a purpose built facility since we first started quarantining people coming into NZ, but I can understand the Government choosing to use hotels in the first instance. For one, they were there, empty and ready to go.  For another, it kept people in work.  And thirdly, there wasn't awareness last year that hotels leak like sieves. With the benefit of hindsight, sure, a purpose built facility makes sense.  But at the time I can understand why the government chose to use hotels. They had an eighteen-month plan and hotels fitted the bill for that, and now that the Government has decided that Covid is enemy number one, and we will be quarantining anyone who comes into the country for the foreseeable future, they need more than a quick fix. This seems to be the plan, although there hasn't been a road map presented to us of when and what that might look.  It depends very much, as it does with every other country, on how quickly we can get the population vaccinated, and given that the vaccination programme is chaotic for many, we will be looking at quarantining being part of a new normal. How does that feel to you?  I'm well aware that there are many in the community who are quite happy being locked up in paradise.  They consider anyone who chafes against restrictions to be ingrates, anyone who calls for a loosening of restrictions to be heartless granny killers. Clearly though this Government has decided that there will be no deaths from Covid on their watch, and yet other killer diseases get a free pass.  RSV is a terrifying disease for parents of babies, diabetes and obesity related illnesses are crippling the health system and we all know about suicide. I get that Covid is serious, I get that a rampant galloping Covid could crash the health system and yet, while we're focusing so much energy and time and money on preventing a single death from Covid, I worry that resources are being diverted from other killers in our community. So purpose built MIQ facilities; a good plan? Quarantining for the foreseeable future; a good plan?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sound of flapping you hear in the air is the sound of all our chickens coming home to roost. Treasury's most recent analysis of the Government's long term finances sees the country facing an interminable cycle of debt and deficits, with debt levels rising to more than two trillion dollars in 40 years if it doesn't get the costs of an ageing population under control. The cost increases will be driven by the cost of healthcare and superannuation, which will both increase under the weight on an ageing population. In 20 years, life expectancy for women has risen two and a half years; for men, it's three and a half years.  And that's only going to keep going up. There was much more bad news from Treasury - the cost of government spending will swell to 43 per cent of the economy, tax revenue won't keep up, debt will be five times larger than it is today, putting us on a par with the Greece of today, but let’s not dwell too much on the gloomy. They are only projections and things can change, but we really do have to talk about raising the age of superannuation entitlement, and we need to do it sooner rather than later. Both National and Labour have talked about raising the age, and according to former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell on the Mike Hosking Breakfast, someone is going to have to go into an election saying we are going to put the retirement age up.Who will pull the trigger?We simply have to.  And I know that there are plenty of hard working people who are simply knackered by the age of 65. They have worked hard physical jobs, their bodies are worn out and all they want is a few years where they can go fishing or pootle round the country in a camper van doing the things they never had time to do while they were slaving away in all weather and every condition. So let people access their Kiwisavers at 65 or even earlier, and have the super kick in at 67 or 68. Australia has moved the pension age to 67 from 2023, Denmark its's 67 from 2027, in the UK 65 to 66 years by 2026, to 67 years by 2036, and to 68 years by 2046.  You get the drift.  Everyone is seeing the writing on the wall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living in New Zealand can be akin to living in Paradise - or it can be sheer hell. It's not about your ethnicity - although Māori are overrepresented in the worst stats - its about poverty and its about location. Look at the stories that have been in the news in the past week - wastewater testing has shown struggling rural towns are bearing the brunt of New Zealand's methamphetamine crisis. The New Zealand Herald says there are a handful of small towns where people there are consuming disproportionate amounts of meth - sometimes up to four times as much as the national average.  Kaitaia, Opokiki, Waiora, Kawerau, Tokoroa, Huntly - these are the towns being hit hard. Then we had a story on TV One - One News counted thirty cars on the main street of Kaikohe - half of them had expired warrants or registrations - and having been to Kaikohe on a number of occasions, I have often wondered just how road worthy many of the vehicles I see might be. The Sunday programme highlighted the chronic need for health funding for the people of the East Coast where life expectancy is much lower than anywhere else in the region  - the average man lives to 69 whereas the average New Zealander is 81. Meanwhile, over on Newshub the wait times for state houses has absolutely exploded - it's now taking more than six months to house the one per cent of those most on the at risk list. It's a tale of two New Zealands really - look at some of the announcements and pronouncements from the government too in the past week. Rebates on electric cars - vehicles that cost around 40 thousand dollars which is beyond the budget of any of these families in the small towns. The Boomers Bike Bridge to Birkenhead when these small towns are screaming for driveable roads so they can drive the many hundreds of kilometres they need to access hospital treatment or to simply be able to get supplies into their town - like Methven. It's difficult for anyone to access mental health and addiction services - but try getting help living in a small town. You have Nanaia Mahuta telling the people of Auckland that they can subsidise the water reticulation in the Kaipara district because a lot of Aucklanders have holiday homes in the North - seriously?! The vast majority do not.  The vast majority are struggling to get by.  Every cent counts.  They don't have a magical money tree that can be shaken to subsidise their every want and desire - unlike the government. If you are parking your Tesla at the flashest food markets, where imported delicacies are still able to be found despite constraints on the supply chain, life is sweet. There might be civilised debates at dinner parties over whether Māori names are being introduced by stealth and there'll be more impassioned arguments between those who believe the borders should be open and those who don't - but these are all theoretical discussions. Nothing really matters, because they have enough.  Their children have enough.  They can access the care they need, when they need it.But it’s a different story in the other New Zealand.  And while I truly believe the government cares about this other New Zealand, caring isn't as important as delivery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watercare is planning on spending 18.5 billion dollars to keep Auckland's water networks up to scratch.The organisation's unveiled its investment programme for the next 20 years, and it's the biggest to date.It includes expanding the region's two largest wastewater treatment plants and delivering new water sources.Watercare chief executive Jon Lamonte joined Kerre McIvor.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the giant entities proposed to manage water includes both the Kaipara District Council and Auckland Council.Heather Du Plessis Allan asked Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta why Aucklanders should pay for the connection to reticulated water of a place like Kaipara.Nanaia Mahuta told her they benefit from water outside of their region via their beach houses.Kaipara District Mayor Jason Smith joined Kerre McIvor to discuss.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Developers will be able to demolish homes and build apartment blocks of at least six storeys deep inside many of Auckland's traditional suburbs under a new Labour Government law aimed at addressing runaway house prices.Auckland Council has released a proposed approach for implementing the changes requiring more intensification across the city.In the biggest change to planning rules since the Unitary Plan, developers will be able to build tall apartment buildings within a 15 minute walk of the central city and 10-minute walk of 10 metropolitan areas - Takapuna, Newmarket, Henderson, Albany, Botany, Manukau, Papakura, Sylvia Park, New Lynn and Westgate/Massey North.The biggest impact will be on suburbs close to the metropolitan areas, which are largely zoned for single houses, such as Remuera, Mt Albert, Sandringham and Milford.Matt Lawrie from Greater Auckland joined Kerre McIvor to give his take on the proposals.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should you be able to swear or use inappropriate terms during a casual game of Scrabble?Kerre McIvor spoke with Howard Warner from the NZ Scrabble Association to find out.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Hooton's column in this morning's Herald highlights why we need a strong opposition in a democracy, especially at a time of perceived crisis and when the government can rule alone, without the constraint of another party to keep them in check. A quick check list from Hooton:The Health Minister Andrew Little forced to admit the centrepiece of the wellbeing Budget has failed, specifically around mental health.There's the bizarre 785 million dollar Boomer's Bridge to Birkenhead. Then, we have the poor vaccination roll-out and the constraint in vaccination supplies. Also, there has been no measureable improvement in child poverty or housing, both the PM's pet projects. To top it all off, gang crime and shootings are up. I'm sure he could go on, we could all go on, and as he points out, a competent opposition would be able to absolutely go to town on the government.  But no,  instead of holding the government accountable, the National Party goes from disaster to disaster, own goal to own goal, vendetta to vendetta. The other parties are making the most of it.  We saw the return of Winston Peters and New Zealand First this week, and conservative National voters have run home to daddy, desperate for the reassurance and comfort NZF provides. Act has picked up a few liberal National voters and anyone who continues to think that National has a show in the next election must be optimistic to the point of idiocy, so what is National to do? It seriously, seriously needs to do something, and something seismic.  Do you have to destroy the village to save it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.