Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

At least five are dead only hours after the passing of the UK’s controversial migrant deportation bill.  Approximately 100 migrants were rescued while crossing the English Channel, placed abroad a French Navy ship to be taken to the port of Boulogne.  The approved bill aims to deter situations like this, deporting illegal immigrants to Rwanda as a deterrent to those seeking asylum.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that so far, some 52,000 people have been earmarked for deportation, Rwanda looking to take in only a few hundred.  He said that if the deterrent works, this will be good for the UK, however, there is a backlog and time is running out for Rishi Sunak.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for harsher punishments for repeat distracted driving.  New Ipsos research commissioned by AMI found 55% of drivers admit to driving distracted, with 21% admitting to driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  The top distractions were mobile phones, other drivers, other passengers, and daydreaming.  Road safety advocate Greg Murphy told Mike Hosking that fines have gone up for distracted driving, but it's still not enough to deter people.  He says it's one of those things where a stiff penalty would prevent them from doing it again, but we don't have that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A health recruiter is giving assurances that practices are in place to help migrant doctors.  An Otago University study has found international doctors are struggling with cultural integration and New Zealand is at risk of losing them unless practices improve.   Accent Health Recruiter Prudence Thomson told Mike Hosking that she's been recruiting for 25 years, and migrating is always a challenge.  She says if a good orientation and induction are in place —which the Medical Council has in writing— people adapt pretty well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese business travellers are first priority Auckland tourism for a first-of-its-kind alliance.  Since travel resumed last year, 6% of the 210,000 Chinese tourists were here for business.  Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Auckland Airport will work with China Southern Airlines to market their daily non-stop flights from their main hub in Guangzhou to business travellers.  Auckland Unlimited Destination Director, Annie Dundas, told Mike Hosking that this is the first collaboration they've had with a Chinese airline.  She says we hosted five thousand people from Amway China last year, and this is the kind of business they're looking for.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are fears health worker strikes could become common place as conditions worsen.  Two and a half thousand resident doctors will strike next month over pay and conditions.  Former Health New Zealand chairman Rob Campbell told Mike Hosking that it could be the first of many more health worker strikes.  He said workers are feeling increasingly disaffected and unheard.  Campbell said that the agency needs to do better to prevent the strikes, it’s not good management for the issue to be hashed out in public.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An American comedian is defending his decision to kick a breast-feeding mother out of his Melbourne comedy show.  Flight of the Concords star Arj Barker asked breastfeeding mother Trish Faranda to leave his Melbourne show on Saturday, claiming her baby was disrupting his performance.  Faranda says it was humiliating to be publicly called out.  Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that Barker "feels bad for any upset involved", but says he was thinking of the hundreds of other ticketholders hoping to hear his show.  He says it was a 15-plus show, and the 700 others in attendance needed to be able to enjoy the event.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women's Refuge says it will be a waiting game as to whether Three Strikes legislation is effective.  The Government is preparing to reintroduce mandatory prison sentences for violent and sexual criminals committing a third offence, this time only applying to sentences above 24 months.   Women's Refuge Chief Executive Ang Jury told Mike Hosking that in some instances incarceration is the one way to ensure safety.  But she says they need to be getting help while they're in there to change their behaviour, and that's what's missing from this equation.   Jury says there was no indication it worked last time, but something needs to be done.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A British lawmaker who allegedly used campaign funds to pay off people who were holding him hostage said Sunday that he wouldn't seek reelection after the governing Conservative Party found his behaviour fell below the standard expected of members of Parliament. Mark Menzies' downfall is the latest in a series of scandals to hit the Conservatives, undermining support for a party that has been in power for the past 14 years as it prepares for a general election later this year. The Times of London recently reported that Menzies called a 78-year-old aide at 3 a.m. in December asking for funds to pay off “bad people” who had locked him in an apartment and were demanding money for his release. Menzies' office manager ultimately paid 6,500 pounds ($8,100) from her personal bank account, which was reimbursed from funds donated by political backers, the newspaper said. Menzies, who denies the allegations, has represented the seat of Fylde in northwest England since 2010. “Due to the pressures on myself and my elderly mother, I have decided to resign from the Conservative Party and will not stand at the forthcoming general election," he said. “This has been a very difficult week for me, and I request that my family’s privacy is respected.” Menzies' announcement came after the Conservatives announced the findings of an internal investigation into the matter. The inquiry concluded that the payment had been authorized by two members of a local donors group that sits outside the Conservative Party, and therefore Menzies hadn't misused party funds. “However, we do believe that there has been a pattern of behavior that falls below the standards expected of MPs and individuals looking after donations to local campaign funds which lie outside the direct jurisdiction of the Conservative Party,” the party said. The opposition Labour Party has called for a police investigation into the matter. The Conservatives said they would share information with police if they decide to investigate. The Conservatives have been in power since 2010, but they are trailing in opinion polls amid crumbling public services, high prices that are squeezing consumers and the corrosive effect of ethics scandals. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the party to a landslide victory in 2019, resigned from the House of Commons after an investigation found that he deliberately misled Parliament about parties held at his Downing Street offices during lockdowns imposed to control the spread of COVID-19. Other scandals include a lawmaker who was caught looking at porn in the House of Commons, another who reportedly offered to lobby on behalf of gambling firms and another alleged to have drunkenly groped strangers at a private club in London. But ethical questions are also being asked of opposition politicians as the country prepares for an election that must be called by the end of this year. Conservatives accuse Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, of dodging taxes on the sale of a house sale years ago by falsely claiming it was her primary residence. Police say they are investigating. Rayner denies wrongdoing and hasn't been suspended by her party. - by Danica Kirka, APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government’s cutting more red tape in housing. They’ve announced changes to ease lending criteria for home and other loans, including reforming financial services and updating the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. The time it takes to process loans will lessen and mortgages will be easier to access. NZ Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps have responded in style, as Mark Chapman inspired New Zealand to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Just 24 hours after being bowled out for 90 to lose by seven wickets at the same venue, a heavily depleted Black Caps side flipped the script on their hosts, and chased down their target of 179 runs with ease. That chase was anchored by an unbeaten 87 from Chapman, who continued his love affair with Pakistan after being named man-of-the-series in New Zealand’s 2-2 draw just over a year ago. Arriving at the crease at 53/2, Chapman scored a 29-ball half-century, and added a 117-run partnership with Dean Foxcroft (31 off 29) to all but get the Black Caps home. New Zealand’s win was made all the more impressive by the fact the squad was depleted even further, as neither Ben Lister nor Josh Clarkson travelled to the ground after being struck by illness. As captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and opted to field first, the stand-in skipper would have been forgiven for ruing his decision as Pakistan made 178/4 from their 20 overs. While no Pakistan batter passed 50, partnerships of 55 between openers Babar Azam (37 off 29) and Saim Ayub (32 off 22) and 62 between Shadab Khan (41 off 20) and Irfan Khan (30 not out off 20) made up the bulk of the total. Ish Sodhi was the pick of the Kiwi attack, and took 2/25 from his four overs, as the rest of New Zealand’s attack struggled to contain Pakistan. The pair of Zak Foulkes and Will O’Rourke both went wicketless in their first taste of the shortest format at international level. In reply, New Zealand’s openers got off to their best start of the series, as Tim Seifert (21 off 16) and Tim Robinson (28 off 19) added 42 for the first wicket. Once they fell, though, the pair of Chapman and Foxcroft took over. In 42 balls, the pair added a 50 stand, but needed just 17 more to raise their century partnership as Chapman took over. The left-hander plundered nine boundaries and four sixes in his innings, and reached his seventh T20 international fifty in the process. Once Foxcroft went, though, caught and bowled by Abbas Afridi, New Zealand needed just nine runs from more than three overs. And after Jimmy Neesham found the rope with the final ball of the 18th over, Chapman sealed the win at the start of the 19th, and at the very least ensured the new-look Black Caps won’t leave Pakistan empty-handed. Both teams will now enjoy three days off, as the series relocates from Rawalpindi to Lahore for games four and five. Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expert says Ukraine needs more than just funding for weapons to get ahead in the war. The US House of Representatives has voted 311 to 112, in favour of a US $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. Taiwan and Israel will also receive foreign aid packages, totalling almost US $95 billion in aid for all three countries. Senior Fellow at Defense Priorities in Washington, D.C. Gil Barndollar told Mike Hosking the funding will help with refilling artillery. But he says it's not just about weapons. “The other big piece is manpower and that’s a little bit of a black box because we don’t know the true numbers of Ukrainian and Russian casualties — especially Ukrainian.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supercar Sprints are kicking off in Taupo this weekend.  The event is expected to bring up to 70,000 attendees, giving a significant boost to the city and surrounding region.  Mayor David Trewavas told Mike Hosking that the town is absolutely buzzing.   He said they had the parade through the CBD last night, and thousands of fans came out to see the cars.  Taupo has a three-year contract to keep the race in the city Trewavas confirmed, and although Taupo isn’t quite large enough to handle to influx on their own, it’s become a major regional event.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince William has made his first return to royal duties since Kate's cancer diagnosis went public.  Last month the Princess of Wales revealed she's been receiving treatment amid wild internet speculation.  The family has been away from the public eye but the Prince has returned to show support for a homeless food shelter.  UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking the public have been showing him and the Princess support.  He says someone gave the Prince a 'get well soon' card and told him to look after Kate, which he replied he would.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The turn of the economy could make it tricky for those on JobSeekers to find employment.   New Social Development figures reveal just under 188,000 people are on JobSeeker, up almost 20,000 people from last year.   Employment specialist Jennifer Mills told Mike Hosking that she's sure many on the benefit are ready to work.  She says the new work check-in arrangement may sharpen the focus for those who are job ready, but the question is whether those jobs exist in this market.  Mills says margins are squeezed, profits are down, and businesses are shedding staff.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are forecasting more financial pressure for households, continuing into late next year.  The Infometrics data expects the annual GDP to dip into the negatives mid 2024, meaning slower growth than had previously been expected.  Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan told Mike Hosking that with higher interest rates more properties are on the market with no buyers out.   He says households are showing the signs of all the interest rate rises over the past few years.   Kiernan says it'll be another 12 months before the worst of the downturn is behind us.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven jurors have officially been selected for Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ trial, leaving eleven more still to come.  Despite the trouble they’re facing, US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that it is moving faster than people expected.  He said it could have taken up to 22 weeks to select all 18 jurors, and they already have seven.  The issue is finding people who don’t have bias for or against Trump, with 96 potential jurors entering court, 50 of which walked out within ten minutes, unable to be impartial.  Manhattan, McCann said, is in some ways a democrat city as they always vote blue, so he’ll have to “find a few red needles in a blue haystack” as they said in the New York Times.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Christchurch entrepreneur is attempting to break into the dating app market.  ‘Amor’ is trying to bring something fresh, only giving four matches a week and refusing to show profile photos for the first 2024 hours.  Creator Emily Heazlewood told Mike Hosking that although the market is quite saturated, a lot of them are hook up culture apps.  She said that they’ve gone down the compatibility route with matchmaking, helping drive people away from the app into meeting in the real world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As inflation cools down, homeowners are starting to hold out for cuts to the OCR.   The CoreLogic April Housing report shows 56% of new loans taken out in February were on one-year fixed terms compared to 36% in December.   Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says that's a pretty strong indication people don't want to lock in for too long in case rates fall.   He says the report also contains a prediction of general cooling of the previously hot property market. Davidson's expecting prices to be fairly subdued for the next couple of years, which will be good news for those struggling with affordability.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns the Government's new health guidance for children could impact employer attitudes towards parents.  The guidelines say kids with a mild cough, headache, or runny nose should go to school, provided they don't have Covid-19 or other symptoms like a fever or vomiting.  This move is in an effort to improve school attendance numbers.  But NZEI President Mark Potter told Mike Hosking that parents may be pressured by their employers to go to work, despite their kids being unwell.  He says there's a growing wave of mental health issues at play, which are often very difficult, and parents are struggling with how to help them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Security guards have no more power than a regular citizen when it comes to a threat of danger.  They're expected to be more visible in malls around Australia and New Zealand following the stabbing at Bondi Junction in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.  Forty-year-old Queensland man Joel Cauchi stabbed six people to death, including a security guard.  Security Association CEO Gary Morrison says they don't carry weapons of any sort.  He says they're there to assist members of the public around how to escape when something like that happens and to make it as simple as possible.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.