Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

New Zealand has dodged recession after the economy 1.7 grew per cent in the June quarter. To discuss, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's is confident progress is being made towards addressing the current emergency housing situation in Rotorua. Mayor Chadwick says she met with Housing Minister Megan Woods and MSD Minister Carmel Sepuloni on Tuesday, and assures the Rotorua community that they do have the attention of the Government. Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news, people. Good news! A much needed boost for education. The Government has allocated $44 million to recruit 1000 new teachers and to give extra support for students whose learning has been disrupted by Covid. I'm so excited by this.  I don't even care where the money comes from. Don't care, just print it as they say. According to Jan Tinetti, the Associate Education Minister and a passionate advocate for education, the long-term goal is to improve the supply of domestic teachers, but in the meantime, they're looking to recruit 700 international teachers and 300 from within our own borders. This is all well and good. We know that Chris Hipkins, the Minister, and Jan Tinetti, the Associate Minister, believe fervently in education as a way of giving marginalised young people more options, more choices in life. And no one is doubting their commitment.  But saying they're going to recruit 1000 more teachers, 700 from overseas as a bit like me saying I intend to be 65 kilos by summer. I mean, it's doable. But will it be done?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is moving to boost teacher supply and give extra support to young people whose learning has been disrupted by Covid. They're investing another $24 million in recruitment initiatives here and overseas. $20 million will also go into extra teaching and tutoring services including exam prep, workshops, and one-on-one mentoring. Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti joined Kerre Woodham. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sophie Gray, author of Destitute Gourmet, called in to Kerre Woodham with ways to manage the grocery spend through tough financial times. Gray has lots of free resources on her Destitute Gourmet Facebook page and website. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it was as expected. Yesterday we heard that 927 days since the Covid pandemic triggered extraordinary defensive measures here and around the world, the Government has decided, as the Prime Minister put it, to turn the page. No more mandates, no more requirements for masks, except in health care facilities and aged care environments, no more traffic light settings. I think I'm happiest about the traffic light settings. They just seemed absurd.   No more household contacts, having to isolate if a family member contracts Covid, although anyone who does test positive with Covid, will still have to isolate for seven days. It makes sense for the majority of restrictions to be lifted. And it makes sense for those few that remain to stay. I think what we've seen is a restoration of common sense and long may it prevail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've just been watching the news coverage of the cortege as the Queens coffin has been making its way from Balmoral Castle on its way to Edinburgh. It has been stopping off in places so people could pay their respects and there's some very moving footage of just people lining the streets, not just in the countryside but also thousands of mourners lining the streets in Edinburgh. Clearly the coming days will culminate in a funeral, an event the likes of which we will have never seen and maybe never see again in terms of scale. I was a huge fan of the Queen, an incredible life of service over 70 years. Which makes this morning point of discussion, frankly, pretty tricky. A very tricky one because the question is should there be a public holiday to commemorate this occasion? It's an unenviable decision, I think, and I think a difficult one. And here it is. I don't think there should be a public holiday. I know it seems to go against everything I've just said, but we know from recent arguments around Matariki, that the cost of a public holiday is in the region of $450 million to New Zealand employers, who have being through a really difficult time over the past two or three years.   If it weren't for that, I'd have a different opinion, but I just don't think we should be expecting New Zealand businesses, small businesses, medium, large, whatever, New Zealand employers to be picking up the tab for what I think should be a personal choice. She was a wonderful Queen and an incredible example of service to our country and Commonwealth, but in the end, I think the choice around how we all reflect on the Queen's passing should be an individual one, a personal one. As we've seen with all the people who have been lining the streets or who are making a pilgrimage to pay their respects, their grief, and their reaction and their choice is personal, let's not require others to pay for it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Peter Gordon, Restaurateur, co-founder of Homeland, joins Kerre Woodam memories of Queen Elizabeth and that of his own investiture. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key had the unusual privilege of staying at Balmoral with the Queen - one of the greatest memories of his life. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a morning to remember Queen Elizabeth the second, who died at 96. An extraordinary woman and a number of people who had the great good fortune to work with her great good fortune to spend time with her in a capacity have been able to share their memories. One of those was Clare, Lady McKinnon, wife of Sir Don McKinnon who spent many years in London.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.