Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

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...

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.

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 Unli...

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. 

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...

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 ...

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 p...

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 M...

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...

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. ...

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 ...

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 publi...

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 fo...

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...

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 h...

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 comp...

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 ...

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 ...

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...