Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

The New Zealand Blood Service is calling out for desperately needed plasma.   The demand for so called 'liquid gold' grows by 10 percent each year, with supply not keeping up.  Based on the demand, they’ll need at least 150 more people to start donating regularly.  Transfusion Medicine Specialist Richard Charlewood told Francesca Rudkin the problem is that they’re reliant on other countries.  He said that it’s an American export business, and so when there’s a drop in donations—like there was during Covid— it’s an America-first policy, so we’re at risk by not being self-sufficient.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission's final report into New Zealand's banking sector is out.    It says competition isn't working as it should be in the banking sector, and consumers are missing out as a result.  The Commission says in a well-functioning market with strong competition, they'd expect to see more aggressive strategies to win customers from other banks.  Part of its answer is giving Kiwibank greater access to capital, to make it a stronger competitor to the Australian-owned banks.  Also part of the equation is rolling out open banking faster and making changes so it's easier for smaller banks to compete and for consumers to compare and switch banks.  NZ Herald Wellington Business Editor Jenée Tibshraeny told Francesca Rudkin that the issue is that for Kiwibank to grow, it needs more capital, but the Government’s finances are tight at the moment.  She said that in order for Kiwibank to grow, the Government would need to dilute its ownership and allow in capital from the private sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to another announcement from the Transport Minister Simeon Brown over the weekend, the police have a new target to add to their 'To Do' list. The government has announced a crackdown on drunk and drugged drivers, setting the police a target of performing 3.3 million roadside alcohol tests a year and 50,000 roadside drug tests a year. Anything we can do to get impaired people off our roads and prevent the carnage they can cause is a good thing. It is a simple and effective deterrent to drink or drugged driving. I don’t know about you but I find getting breath tested a slightly nerve-wracking process, even if I haven’t dropped a drop. It works for me – the thought of a breath test is enough for me to make the most of Uber. The problem has been – you'd think we’d stopped testing. Up until about 3 weeks ago, I can't remember seeing a police breath testing checkpoint since before Covid. They were noticeably absent before the festive season – there always used to be checkpoints leading into Xmas as a reminder to us all to get that taxi or bus home from a work Christmas function. And then, as if to make up for the lack of testing, I recently got breath tested three times in the space of 15 minutes by the Royal Oak roundabout in Auckland. It was about 4pm on a Sunday afternoon – obviously they were after the Sunday Funday drinkers from a local pub or two – and they were stopping drivers on two different roads leading off the roundabout. I got done twice on the way to my friends to drop something off, and once again on the way home. I got the giggles by the third, which wasn’t helpful. Point is – bring it on. Last year was a bit of an outlier – the police did manage around 3.2 million breath tests – previous years it had been around 1.4 in 2018 and 2.1 in 2022. So it should be manageable. Keep it up. Be visible. Just knowing the police is keen to up their targets will hopefully mean more people make good decisions. The drug testing is a slightly different and interesting case. Getting roadside drug testing up and running has been a laborious process filled with complexities. In 2022 Labour passed legislation allowing for random roadside drug testing, but then they discovered they didn’t have a device that could record accurate results. Then another law change was introduced adding a lab test to back up the roadside test. Along the way there have also been concerns about people testing positive – even if they are not impaired, and how we monitor people using pharmaceutical drugs and making sure they are not impaired while driving. Under the coalition’s updated legislation, the plan is to use the same technology used in Australia. Transport Minister Simeon Brown explained how it would work to Tim Beveridge yesterday on the Weekend Collective “The legislation on that is currently before a Select Committee which is considering it, that is hopefully going to be passed shortly. Police then need to go through a procurement process in order to identify the test and to then procure one, then they'll roll it out. I mean, if you look at what they do in Australia, what they do is take a swab of your saliva within your mouth, they put it into a little kit, and that kit then identifies where the drugs are present to a certain standard. So that's what we expect will be implemented here in New Zealand. And as I said, legislation is currently before the Parliament, so we can now, we can roll that out and actually roll it out successfully. The last government passed legislation, but it required those tests to be an evidentiary standard, whereas most countries use this from a screening perspective, knowing that the tests aren't 100% accurate. But it will have a checks and balances in place, such as ensuring that you have to have two positive tests to actually be fined, can't just have one. You can have two and then evidentiary sample also has to be taken following that. So we've got checks and balances in place, but again, it's about sending the message if you're driving drugged or drunk on our roads, the police are going to be resourced to screen for it and then hold people to account for those dangerous behaviours which cause far too many deaths on our roads each year.” So under the proposed law, anyone who failed two roadside drug tests would be suspended from driving for 12 hours and could face further penalties, such as fines and demerit points. The oral fluid sample would also be sent for more sophisticated laboratory testing. It has been difficult getting roadside drug testing up and running – and it’s not perfect, and it might raise problems for a few people – but it really is time for it to be in place. The police need to have the resources to test people that they believe are impaired and take them off the road for all our sakes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tougher alcohol laws for Auckland, including banning sales in supermarkets and liquor stores after 9pm, could be in place by December.  The council designed Local Alcohol Policy is aiming to reduce alcohol harm, and will come up for a council vote at the end of the month.  The policy would also see a two-year ban on new bottle stores in the central city and 23 other areas, unless they meet a very high threshold.  Sports Clubs and RSAs would also have stop selling alcohol after 1am, while bars and other on-licenses would have to stop at 4am in the CBD and 3am everywhere else.  Lawyer and Secretary of Communities Against Alcohol Harm, Dr Grant Hewison told Francesca Rudkin they welcome these changes.  He says Auckland, particularly the City Centre faces significant issues around alcohol related harm.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We spend a lot of time talking about alcohol harm, and yet we tend to do very little about it. Therefore, it is good to see Auckland Council has stuck to its guns and persisted in what they believe is a game changer for some communities.    After an 8-year court battle with supermarkets, Auckland Council looks set to place a ban on selling booze after 9pm in supermarkets and bottle stores in Auckland by December. Also on the cards is a two-year freeze on new liquor stores in the central city and 23 other areas with high alcohol-related harm and crime.  At the end of the day, how you drink is up to the individual. It is your health and your responsibility. But as a society, we all pay the price. Alcohol impacts our health and our mental wellbeing. It’s a factor in family violence, and crime, and creates unsafe communities and roads.  It adds to the workload of police, and emergency departments. We know the benefits to reducing alcohol harm.    So good on the Auckland Council for taking some responsibility. The aim of this Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) is to minimize alcohol-related harm in communities while balancing fair and reasonable requirements for businesses. So, you can still buy your alcohol, you might have to be a bit better organised, but if it is making it less available in communities that are seeing the brunt of the harm, then I say let’s give it a go.  Do we really need more than 100 liquor stores in South Auckland?  There are about 18 in the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area, 18 in Manurewa, 29 in Ōtara-Papatoetoe, and 40 in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki. Sounds like enough to me. Gosh don’t you wish we’d been more proactive around vape stores? ...  Those working in this space are calling it a game-changer. Dr Grant Hewison, a lawyer who works on alcohol issues with two community groups in South Auckland, said the policy would lead to significant improvements in alcohol-related harm.  He believes that shifting the closing time regarding the sale of alcohol at supermarkets and liquor stores from 11 pm to 9pm will prevent pre-loading with cheaper alcohol outside licensed premises.    Manurewa- Papakura ward councilor Angela Dalton said on Breakfast TV this morning “easy access to alcohol is not helping our people who are really in distress from addiction and that goes across any age, any culture, it’s nondiscriminatory but it's certainly impacting our kids.    She went on to say the area has a young population, and children are walking past liquor outlets daily. She believes it’s subliminal messaging and they might be going home to places that are fueled by alcohol. She believes if we can calm that, this is going to be better off for everyone.      The new rules mean:  Supermarkets and bottle stores cannot sell alcohol after 9pm (the cut-off is 11pm now).  Bars, restaurants and other on-licences cannot sell alcohol later than 4am in the central city and 3am elsewhere.  Applications for new bottle stores in the central city and 23 other areas will be rejected for two years unless they meet a very high threshold.  Sports clubs and RSAs can sell alcohol no later than 1am.  No change for liquor licences for festivals and events. They will continue to be assessed by the district licencing committee.  I can work around this – it doesn’t need to be an issue for me – but if it helps other people and other communities, I am happy to deal with a small inconvenience of fewer sales hours.  You?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So if you get good news, does it matter how the news is delivered?    When it comes to running the economy, and making decisions about refixing your mortgage, you could argue it does.    But let’s focus on the surprising, good news yesterday.  For the first time since March 2020, the  Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%.  The reasoning for the cut is that New Zealand’s annual consumer price inflation is returning to within the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3% target band – it currently sits at 3.3 - but the indication is it will continue to decrease.     The Reserve Bank’s released a new forecast rate track that suggests the OCR will fall from here to at least 5% by the end of the year and to at least 4.5% by June next year.   This morning, Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr explained to the Mike Hosking Breakfast why the RBNZ made the decision to lower the OCR...   “Plenty of time and plenty of information has happened since May, and we've also communicated that as well. You know, we had a July monetary policy statement where we quite clearly showed our level of, growing level of confidence that the monetary policy is working, growing concern that the output is falling quicker than  necessary, and so we moved in August.”  So, hallelujah. It’s a dose of hope, a ray of sunshine, and the right move, but is it enough of a move to make a difference to you? It depends on your individual circumstances as to whether it makes an impact now – or in a years' time   The tax cuts have come into play, and OCR is dropping, but we’re also dealing with rising rates, increases in utility bills and hefty insurances bills. So what impact will this news have on your household?    I am sure that Adrian Orr was excited to finally be announcing a rate cut – but was it communicated well? The news has been overshadowed by frustration and criticism over the way it was delivered.    Reactions among bank economists were mixed, all agreed the direction of travel for rates is down, and sooner rather than later, and New Zealand’s major banks have moved swiftly in lowering mortgage lending rates, but if you’re a consumer  making decisions about your mortgage, or business loan and had looked to the Reserve Bank to give you an indication of how things were going to progress – you quite rightly might be a little taken aback by this earlier than anticipated move.     In February and April, the Reserve Bank reasoned that the OCR would need to remain at a restrictive level for a “sustained period” to ensure inflation returned to the 1-3% target.   In May, that wording changed – it was slightly softer. “Monetary policy needs to remain restrictive to ensure inflation returns to target within a reasonable timeframe.”   And in July, things loosened up more with the central bank stating “monetary policy will need to remain restrictive” but that “the extent of this restraint will be tempered over time consistent with the expected decline in inflation pressures”.   We had been led to believe that we would not see cuts until next year – and I’m not sure this statement has enough detail to make anyone think otherwise.    This was Adrian Orr defending the communication of the OCR cut to the Mike Hosking Breakfast ...  “Nothing we do today is going to affect today's inflation, so we're always looking forward. What are we seeing here? We're seeing more spare capacity of the economy taking out some of that inflation pressure and we're seeing global pricing falling and we're seeing business pricing behaviours change dramatically in New Zealand all for the positive, all consistent with one to 3% inflation.”  The cut is a good move, the RBNZ might have read the economy correctly, but were their intentions clear to you ? Have you been able to read between the lines and make decisions that will allow you to benefit from this cut, and on going cuts over the coming year?    The news yesterday was a step in the right direction – a new direction, but interpreting RBNZ statements has become a bit of an art. Maybe some pictures would have been helpful after all.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have responded to last week’s 38-30 defeat to Argentina at Sky Stadium by making major changes to their squad for the rematch at Eden Park.  Four changes in the starting XV see Tamaiti Williams start in the front row with Ethan de Groot (neck) out injured, Rieko Ioane returns at centre and a new wing combination sees Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan move into the starting roles.  Former captain Sam Cane is in line to make his return to test rugby from the bench, with Anton Lienert-Brown and Mark Tele’a both moving back to the reserves after starting last weekend.  “We’ve reflected deeply on our performance and our preparation individually and collectively is something we have all owned,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said.  “Our intent and focus has shifted solely to Eden Park.”  Newstalk ZB Sport Reporter Nathan Limm told Francesca Rudkin he’s excited to see how Sam Cane goes, since he’ll be going straight from club rugby into a test match, having missed Super Rugby due to being in Japan, and then being off with a back injury.  He said that Cane’s got more than enough experience to pull it off, but it’ll be interesting to see his impact when he does come onto the field.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 2002 election campaign, New Zealand was having a major debate about the safety of genetically modified food. One memory you might have from this time is a televised interview between 3 News’s John Campbell, and Prime Minister Helen Clark. Campbell, fired up and informed by Nicky Hager's yet-to-be-published book Seeds of Distrust, alleged there had been a cover-up over the suspected release of GE corn seed in 2000. The tension was palpable. Clark was furious about being ambushed by Campbell, later labelling him a “sanctimonious little creep”. Remember that? It was an extraordinary interview, and it marked the beginning of Corngate, and it also made genetic engineering a politically untouchable subject.    But that is all about to change.    Yesterday the Government announced it is moving forward on its intentions to overhaul restrictions on the use of gene editing and other genetic technologies in New Zealand and establish a dedicated regulator. A regulator is being put in place to give the public confidence in this new approach.    Legislation is expected to go to Parliament by the end of the year, removing regulatory hurdles on developing genetic technology beyond the lab that has been in place for the last 30 years. These new regulations will put us in line with the approach that Australia is taking.  Back in 2002, like a lot of people, I was interested in the Royal Commission of Inquiry and Corngate scandal and concerned about the potential impact of releasing GM crops into the environment.    But like all technology – so much as changed over the last couple of decades, and if we don’t readdress these regulations then, as former chief scientist Professor Sir Peter Gluckman has warned NZ runs the risk of becoming a biotech backwater.  We can already buy products on our shelves that are genetically modified – they must be labelled, and we have a choice as to whether we buy them, but I can understand why some people are still concerned about the environmental releases of GE crops. Therefore, the government needs to make sure they get this piece of legislation right. It’s good to see robust risk assessments will be in place, which may also include public consultation before the regulator is satisfied with the risks can be managed.    But there is so much more we can do with GE than just grow food. Over the last few decades, we have seen what GE can contribute to medicine, agriculture and the environment. As Science reporter Jamies Morton pointed out in the NZ Herald today.  Look at Wellington’s Malaghan Institute and its development of CAR T-cell cancer therapies that involves collecting a patient’s immune cells, genetically modifying the cells to recognise and kill their cancer and returning the cells to the patient as treatment. Current restrictions around research like this have proven challenging for scientists to work with.  Another company is developing gene-edited sterile Douglas fir trees as a way to help tackle the spread of wilding pines across our landscapes, but is having to conduct field trials in the US.  At AgResearch, scientists have been looking at whether gene editing might unlock a pathway in white clover leading to specific compounds that might also help cut methane and nitrogen pollution. The new laws would make it easier for the agency to run controlled field trials here in New Zealand  Implanting genetically modified sperm, eggs and embryos will remain prohibited.  So, is it something to still be afraid of?    A survey on 1029 people run by Primary Purpose, a research firm specializing in primary industries discovered that attitudes on using genetic tech in food were approximately split into thirds: 34 percent support, 31 percent opposition and 34 percent were unsure. So how do you feel about it?    This is new territory for New Zealand – it's a move away from a cautionary approach. But are we at the point now whereby the benefits for society outweigh the risks.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday the Prime Minister said that the vast amount of people on Jobseeker Benefits were trying hard to find a job and meet their obligations, and before we have a conversation about changes to the Jobseeker Benefit, that is important to remember.    But we do have a problem with the number of people on the Jobseeker Benefit, and how long they are on it.    According to the current government, the number of people on Jobseeker Support increased by 70,000 under the previous government as the use of sanctions significantly decreased, and almost two-thirds of the people receiving this benefit have been for over a year.   The Government’s plan clarifies what they see as the deal between the government and the Jobseeker beneficiary. They have basically said, there are some responsibilities you must meet to receive this benefit, and if you take those responsibilities seriously, then life goes on.    The changes Cabinet have agreed to include:  Requiring Jobseeker Support recipients to reapply every six months, instead of annually – sensible.    Requiring all beneficiaries with work obligations to have a jobseeker profile before receiving a benefit – I would have thought that was already in place!    The introduction of a traffic light system that informs people what is required of them and alerts them if they are not keeping up with their requirements – which is a fair move as it gives people the chance to get back on track.   Those who aren’t interested in fulfilling their obligations could face sanctions such as money management, where half of the benefit goes onto a payment card that can only be used for a limited range of essential products and services.    Social Development and Employment Minister Louse Upston explained this to Heather du Pleiss-Allen last night:  “So the traffic light system: green, you're complying; orange, you've got a warning; red, there's a sanction. So, at the moment the sanctions are either a 50% reduction in the benefit or a cancellation completely. We want to introduce for parents, in particular, a maximum reduction of 50%, but instead of going to that straight away, we could then use a non-financial measure like money management, so they still get the same amount of money but less choice over how they use it.”  Surely this is a better alternative to outright cutting of the benefit? But it is one measure which comes with some risk – the last thing we want to see is the welfare of children or family affected by this sanction.    There is also a new community work sanction requiring beneficiaries to "build skills and confidence", and they have extended the period a failure to meet obligations counts against a beneficiary from one year to two years, which seems a bit petty.    All in all, these are the checks and balances we would expect for people on a benefit, and hopefully they will be delivered with respect.    But will these measures get people back into work? Alongside these obligations, we still need to keep working on breaking down barriers that prevent people finding work – especially with our young people.    Former welfare expert advisory group member and also former BusinessNZ CEO Phil O'Reilly spoke to the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning about the importance of this:   “One thing that was happening very well under the last government was the idea of at least building some work capable skills. So the idea of getting people a driver's licence and a site safety certificate and so on, just so they could go get a job in construction, for example. All of that, I think, is a really important part of building the capacity for people to move off welfare. So most people do want to do that. I mean, there are some people who just want to sit around and do nothing, and they should be sanctioned, of course, but most people want a job, so we should have a bit of yin and yang in this about making sure we can do both.”  While the Government says it has seen enough evidence more sanctions will be effective in getting people into work, Greens and Labour have argued the opposite, echoing findings from the Welfare Expert Advisory Group who deemed sanctions to be “problematic” and ineffective at getting beneficiaries into work.   But it’s a step forward, it’s worth a try and maybe a wakeup call for younger people who have found themselves on the Jobseeker Benefit and discovered they quite like it.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some good news and some not-so-good news for retail crime.   Let’s start with the good news – it’s Monday after all.   Police data reveals that the figures are down for burglaries in Auckland.   They are also down for abductions.   Ram raids have continued to trend down to the lowest number of 15  percent in April this year compared to a high of 86 percent in 2022.  Maybe those bollards and interventions have worked their magic and made it less fun to video a car crashing into shop, or maybe boot camp doesn’t sound like a great way to spend 3 months.   But the Dairy and Business Owners’ Group is still very concerned about the statistics because we have seen an increase in acts that are likely to cause injury – they are up 4 percent.   On the rise, we have assaults, sexual assault, robbery, and theft.   And the retail sector is paying the price for this.   The owner of a South Auckland 24/7 diary is feeling helpless and scared after being robbed twice in the last week. Having fog cannons and panic alarms didn’t deter the robbers – who were targeting the till, cigarettes and vapes.   Also, just recently a security guard was bashed in the head with a hammer by armed assailants during a robbery of a jewellery store, and the owner of another jewellery store in South Auckland suffered a skull fracture and cuts after teenage robbers used a hammer and knife to stab him.   It’s clear to see why retail workers are still scared to go to work and do their jobs.   In July, the Coalition Government announced they were establishing a Ministry Advisory Group for the victims of crime as part of its plan to restore law and order- they want this group of business owners, retail experts, and advocacy groups to provide the Government specific proposals to address urgent challenges in retail crime – over the next two years.   The intention is that this group will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029 and reduce serious youth offending by 15 percent.  Sounds great. A good step forward. But what about today? What about the worker who has to go to work in the 24/7 dairy tonight?   Auckland’s CBD has been crying out for more police on the streets to make the inner city safe again and crack down on violence and antisocial behaviour – and the police have responded. It’s great to see cops walking the streets – being part of the community. Their presence is reassuring.   But what about other areas of Auckland – do we have enough police to make all neighbourhoods feel that same sense of security? So what do we do about retail crime? We have a group that will kick into gear at some point with some new suggestions. We have put physical deterrents into shops and shopping areas. We have more cops out on the street in certain areas. We have a government that is keen on real consequences to crime – stronger sentences for convicted criminals.   But is this enough? What is it going to take to stop there being around 11 assaults every day? Life isn’t getting any easier out there for some people - times are still tough. Hopefully, some of these solutions will have an impact long term – but is there anything left that we could do short term to solve this issue? Because you should be able to go to work in the morning, and not worry about someone coming at you with a hammer.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.