Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

A protest over DOC's new tahr culling programme brought traffic to a crawl in the Mackenzie District yesterday.The New Zealand Tahr Hunting Foundation wants an end to the programme to eliminate the Himalayan mountain goat from the area.Foundation spokesperson Willy Duley joined Kerre McIvor to discuss yesterday's protest and what they want to see happen enxt.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerre McIvor has torn into the Government and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over the continued handling of the Covid-19 crisis. Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined the framework of the next steps of the Covid-19 response.Amongst the plans was that another outbreak of community transmission could see alert levels enforced in different regions or communities.Ardern said the country will remain at Alert level 1 nationally - but stronger restrictions could be applied in separate neighbourhoods, towns or cities, if local cases emerge.She said before bringing in a national change, they would move to a local or regional levels - as appropriate.The response sparked criticism from McIvor, who says that people are already concerned enough about the virus.She played audio from one caller, who said that he felt that, should the border be relaxed, then he stands at risk of catching Covid-19 and dying. McIvor says that the lockdown has kept the worst of Covid away, but there have undoubtedly been cases that have slipped through the cracks but we haven't felt their impacts.McIvor says that it is reprehensible that the country is being kept in a state of fear over community transmission - that is damaging not only the economy, but people's wellbeing. "She is creating a climate of terror designed to keep people cowed and bowed. "It's cynical, and I believe she was acting in the best interest of the country in the beginning, and now it's become almost a mania."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two high profile MPs have decided they don't have a future in a Judith Collins-led National Party.Nikki Kaye and Amy Adams have announced they'll retire at this year's election - having both served their respective electorates for 12 years.Former leader Todd Muller convinced Adams to rescind her original resignation, and lead the party's Covid response.But Adams told Kerre McIvor things have changed under Collins.“She is a different leader, with a different style and approach. The role she saw for me, which was a generous offer, wasn’t what I came back for."Adams says now is the right time for her to move on and let Judith Collins put together the team she wants.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National leader Judith Collins has just announced her new shadow cabinet.She will be the Minister of National Security.Gerry Brownlee will be Minister for the SIS, GCSB and Covid recovery.Paul Goldsmith will retain the finance portfolio.Simon Bridges will be Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice.Shane Reti had already been confirmed as Minister of Health - and Nicola Willis has been given Nikki Kaye's education portfolio.Listen to the audio above as Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joins Kerre McIvor to share his thoughts on the cabinet reshuffle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered Huawei equipment to be purged completely from Britain's 5G network by 2027, risking the ire of China by signalling the world's biggest telecoms equipment maker is no longer welcome in the West.The seven-year lag will please British telecoms operators who feared they would be forced to spend billions of pounds to rip out Huawei equipment much faster, but it will delay the roll-out of 5G.The United States had long pushed Johnson to reverse a decision he made in January to grant Huawei a limited role in 5G.South China Morning Post writer Nicolas Groffman joined Kerre McIvor to discuss the local reaction.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National party leader Todd Muller has resigned, saying the job has become untenable from a health perspective.New Zealand Herald political editor Audrey Young told Kerre McIvor she's been lead to believe Todd Muller has had a mental breakdown."I think he's largely pointed towards that himself.  It has all become too much for him, and last week was just the breaking point."Young says the pressure of the job would've got a lot worse and more intense towards the end of the campaign, with every word subject to scrutiny."It's all unfortunate, I feel very sorry for him. You can't know how you are going to deal with that level of pressure until you are in that job."Young says the two or three contenders for the leadership, include Judith Collins, who could be an emergency option.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National cabinet minister says voting for a 'caretaker' party leader would be an injustice to the party and the country.The sudden resignation of Todd Muller will see the National Party caucus gather today to decide on a new leader.In the meantime, Nikki Kaye is the party's acting leader.Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Kerre McIvor his read of things is the mounting pressure was causing health concerns for Muller.Joyce told Kerre McIvor Muller's shock decision has to be respected."Part of these things in knowing it's not for you. Once you know in your heart that you cannot do this for whatever reason, then you have to put your hand up and walk away."Joyce says a 'night watchman' leader would be undermining the role of an opposition."The days of any caucus thinking, oh we we will put in a caretaker in and see how it goes, you are just consigning yourself to another three years."LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Sol3 Mio perform Three Little Birds for Kerre McIvor aboveNZ's greatest opera trio are back in town and taking to the stage once again in Auckland's Spark Arena next month.Sol3 Mio announced the news this morning.Following on from their hugely popular live streamed Spark Session during lockdown, Spark Sessions: Sol3 Mio will see the group perform with a live orchestra on Thursday August 13.Pene Pati, his brother Amitai Pati and their cousin Moses Mackay haven't sung together since last Christmas, when they sold out the Civic Theatre with two concerts.It's their only live concert for 2020, but fans who can't be there in person will be able to watch it live streamed on Spark's Facebook page.Pene said they can't wait to perform together again."With an orchestra behind us it's going to be a really memorable night, especially since it's our only concert this year."We really hope all our Auckland fans and a few out of towners can make it because it'll be a while before we see our fans again."The trio are known for combining classic opera with a touch of comedy."If the audience can see that you're having a good time on stage, they love it," Amitai said.They're also hoping to showcase some young talent as part of the show."If someone wants to play a solo we want to advocate for young artists," Pene said.Sol3 Mio have sold out Spark Arena twice in the past.Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 17 via Ticketmaster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerre McIvor looks at a piece written by The Spectator's Kate Andrews, " The Magic Money Tree - What can Possibly go wrong?" The UK government is being kept financially afloat through money printed by the Bank of England and the sums are vast.The magic money tree can't keep blossoming forever and questions are being asked as to how long this artificial market can continue.  Is the same thing happening here in New Zealand? Former Reserve Bank Economist Michael Reddell joins Kerre with analysis of the New Zealand economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rio Tinto has announced its New Zealand Aluminium Smelters company will wind up operations in August 2021 - due to high power costs and poor outlooks for the industry.The Tiwai Point plant employs a thousand workers directly, and has created 1600 jobs in the wider community.Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie told Kerre McIvor thousands of people will lose their livelihoods."Rio contribute are large amount towards our regions GDP, so Southland is go through some tough times."But Dowie says there are plenty of promising industries in the south.She says aquaculture's her personal favourite - because it's both sustainable and creates lots of jobs.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.