Larry Williams Drive

The Reserve Bank's reacted to rising inflation with a double hike of the Official Cash Rate.  It now sits at 1.5 percent. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley told Andrew Dickens we have rampant inflation and demand is well outstripping the ability to keep up with that. “The Reserve Bank’s job is to basically pull that demand down, unfortunately, that does mean slowing the economy down to something a lot more sustainable and as we’re already starting to see, one of the casualties of that is the housing market was already softening.” Meanwhile, ANZ's upping rates on its fixed and floating home loans, savings and term investments are on the back of the OCR hike. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bye bye red light, the country is moving on and from midnight tonight we'll be in orange.  This means yes to a boogie on the dance floor and no more mask requirements at schools or at hospitality venues.  But Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins had trouble explaining why you still have to wear a mask at the shops. Greg Harford, Chief Executive of Retail NZ, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The traffic lights have changed, but does Chris Hipkins know? The OCR, interest rates are expected to rise. Should the Ukrainian President be addressing our Parliament?  Political editor Barry Soper joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest on the subway attack in New York.   The first day of testimony in the Johnny Depp defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Inflation is at the highest point in 40 years. US correspondent Katherine Firkin joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RTS returning to the Blues line-up – and this Friday they're hoping to end their Christchurch hoodoo. Panthers have created a cleary super-team, signing Ivan and Nathan for five years. Elliot Smith joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's recorded its highest annual food price increase in more than a decade. The latest Stats NZ data shows food prices were 7.6 percent higher in March compared with the same time last year – the largest increase since July 2011. Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark told Andrew Dickens the figure highlights the role the grocery sector is playing in driving up prices. “Globally, we know we have inflation going on, that’s true, but what we can see here is that the food price index has gone ahead of inflation.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, congratulations New Zealand.   We're in Orange.   2 years and 1 month after the first lockdown we emerge into the autumn sun. I can go to my Midnight Oil gig I've been holding the tickets for forever. My better half has been looking at the cost of airfares to New York. Everyone in my immediate family has kept their jobs. The vaccine mandates have effectively gone for most. Only 1 person in my extended family has died. High five. Essentially though this will make no difference to the life I'm already living. I've been going to the gym every day. I've been coming to work, I've been using public transport. I've actually been to more restaurants and cafes than ever have as I look to support hospo. But I know that there are many people who haven't been that free and today will be a revolution. Enjoy it. So, to masks. Which remains an area of regulation. Explaining where and when fell to Chris Hipkins today, Despite knowing this would be a thing he managed to fluff it and confuse everyone. Nor did he have a pit

The man who pleaded guilty to Fau Vake's manslaughter has been sentenced to 2 years, 9 months... too short do you think?   Should we make travel insurance compulsory for incoming travellers to avoid having to pay for their hospital costs? Would you mind if your Airbnb had cameras at the door to check you're not throwing any parties? Is it problematic that National's Shane Reti is seen to be getting involved in the Australian election debate? Tim Wilson, Maxim Institute, and Jack Tame, Host of Saturday Mornings and Q&A, joined Andrew Dickens on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greenpeace are making the case again that our dairy herds needs to be halved. Where has this come from? How much have emissions increased in the last 20 years according to this inventory?  Host of the Country, Jamie Mackay joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no question inflation is going through the roof at the moment, but the question is how hard does the Reserve Bank want to go tomorrow to counter that? David McLeish from Fisher Funds joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're staring down the barrel of an impending exodus of Kiwis overseas.  Immigration officials expect between 50,000 and 125,000 New Zealanders to leave the country in the next year.  It's not clear how many migrants they expect to come into New Zealand during that time but you'll remember Kiwibank recently predicted a net outflow of 20,000 kiwis. Wendy Hewson, a recruiter with PERSOLKELLY, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch Holiday Homes have put cameras outside the entry and exit points of their rental homes. It's to catch those throwing parties, having more people stay over than the booking said, or anyone breaking curfews.  Christchurch Holiday Homes Business Director, Sue Harrison joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why should New Zealanders have to pay for the healthcare of tourists? The debate's re-emerged today that instead of tourists coming under ACC, why not make travel insurance compulsory for all tourists instead? The borders open up to Australians tomorrow, so it's all very timely.  Spokesperson for the Taxpayers Union, Louis Houlbrooke joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior National MP Shane Reti's forced a rule change within his party.  Reti took a shot at the Australian Labor Party on ABC News radio – over a proposed new policy.   Leader Chris Luxon says he didn't know the MP planned to make the critique... and Reti told Andrew Dickins he won't do it again. “I’ve been made aware that I shouldn’t be taking enquiries from Australian media during campaign time.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Havili has been sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his role in MMA fighter Fau Vake's death. Havili was one of the four men who attacked Vake and his brother in Auckland CBD and he threw a coward punch that knocked Vake to the ground. Vake suffered a brain bleed, and he died in hospital days later. UFC fighter Dan Hooker is a friend and teammate of Fau Vake. He joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor is trying to salvage what they can after Albanese's shocker of a start to the campaign. The incumbent Prime Minister has had a spot of trouble too after reports that more than half a million dollars of taxpayer's money is being used to pay off a staffer who had an affair with the education minister. The Commonwealth Games to be held in Victoria in 2026. Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commonwealth Games are to be held in Australia once again. The Warriors are embroiled in controversy over a homophobic slur. Newstalk ZB Christchurch sportsreader Nick Bewley joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fatal Upper Hutt crash caused by two motorists not merging into a lane has been labelled entirely preventable  Open Justice reports David Armstrong was killed in 2020 when he and another driver, Lucilla Linda Brunt, failed to merge.  The collision seriously injured two others. Crash investigator Hamish Piercy told Andrew Dickens the crash didn't have to happen. “Neither one backed down and the outcome was tragic, whether one was in the right or the wrong, both of them had the choice to prevent it.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walking in to hear the news today that Daniel Havili had been sentenced to 2 years and 9 months for the manslaughter of Fau Vake Was like being punched in the solar plexus myself. Fau and his brother ended up in a brief brawl against 4 strangers in May last year. The Vake brothers did not throw any punches themselves and were not the aggressors, prosecutors have repeatedly pointed out. Fau died. Hit by Daniel Havili. He fell and hit his head causing a brain bleed. As the judge noted he had no chance to defend himself. The blow is often described as a coward punch.   I prefer killer hit. The CCTV footage clearly shows Fau standing with his arms at his side. Not in fight mode. Havili moved his weight to one side and then lashed out with a well-timed and well-judged punch that felled a Mixed Martial Arts professional instantly. Dan Hooker, the UFC fighter and mate of Fau Vake's, is horrified. He felt there was as much murderous intent in that one punch as in a flurry of 200. But the horror is in the sentence. A

Did the PM really tell Louisa Wall she would never be in her cabinet? How has the PM handled the drama? NZ is set to send lethal aid (via financial help) to Ukraine after all. How does this sit with you? Are we crossing any problematic lines here? Debate over an incident at a Rugby league game from the weekend, where a security guard forcefully tackled a woman who was streaking. Did he go too hard?  Can we believe these latest numbers from the Roy Morgan poll? The fourth Roy Morgan in a row that predicts a change in government at the next election. Clare de Lore, journalist, and Hayden Munro, Capital PR and former Labour Party campaign chair, joined Andrew Dickens on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.