Region: Auckland

Early Edition

5AM - 6AM weekdays

Early Edition

EARLY EDITION
WITH KATE HAWKESBY

5am–6am weekdays

A fresh and intelligent start to your day.

Kate Hawkesby’s no-nonsense journalistic approach, hard-hitting opinion and engaging sense of humour bring Early Edition to life every day of the week.

Covering the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business, Early Edition is the only place to get your full pre-breakfast fix.

Kate Hawkesby: Auckland's Level 3 move was political

So they did it, they dropped us to level 3, which they were always going to, despite case numbers and mystery cases looking pretty much the same, if not worse, than...
Major brands revealed to be advertising on Covid conspiracy websites

Out in the big space that is the internet there is a lot of misinformation when it comes to Covid-19. But an investigation has revealed dozens of the world's biggest...
Pacific health expert: Case numbers are too high to ease restrictions

Auckland University public health expert Colin Tukuitonga told Kate Hawkesby case numbers are too high to be easing restrictions. "I would have preferred the number...
Disbelief from National that James Shaw intends to travel to Scotland

There's disbelief James Shaw wants to go to a climate change conference in Scotland with an entourage of 14 people. The United Nations summit, dubbed Cop26, is...
Kate Hawkesby: Auckland has to go to Level 3

I know the rest of the country is sick of hearing about this, but for the 1.6 million people who live in Auckland, we're into day 34 of level 4. Since the start...
Australia says France knew of 'grave' submarine concerns

France would have known Australia had “deep and grave concerns” that a submarine fleet the French were building would not meet Australian needs, Prime Minister Scott...
Coromandel MP: Waikato cases worrying for small tight-knit community

Covid has spread to Waikato hours before Cabinet is due to review alert levels. Cabinet ministers will gather at 12:30 this afternoon to decide if Auckland's ready...
Chris Cairns: 'It's the greatest challenge I've ever faced'

Cricket legend Chris Cairns says he is ready to tackle the greatest challenge he has ever faced as he begins rehabilitation following a serious health scare. The...
Grounded Kiwis: Transparency around MIQ booking times will beat the bots

A new managed isolation system hopes to beat some of the bots. At 8am a virtual lobby will open, placing people in a queue for 3000 managed isolation vouchers released...
CBS announces new reality show 'The Activist'

These days there seems to be a reality tv show about anything, but this really takes the cake. CBS have made "The Activist" which involves so-called activists competing...
Kate Hawkesby: Auckland's lockdown has me languishing

Day 31 in Level 4 for Aucklanders, and boy, are we over it. There’s actually a word for how we’re all feeling and it’s been called the dominant emotion of 2021. It’s...
Foreign policy expert: NZ's exclusion from AUUKUS could be a benefit

A foreign policy expert says New Zealand being left out in the cold in a new security pact could be a benefit. The three-way deal between the UK, the US and Australia...
National calls Govt to explain why more Auckland GPs aren't giving vaccines

National is calling on the Government to explain why there aren't more Auckland GPs administering the Covid vaccine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's indicated...
Fears for cultural loss as international student enrolments predicted to fall further

New Zealand schools are missing their international students, and not just because of the money they bring in. Primary, intermediate and secondary schools lost...
Kate Hawkesby: More young people think the world is doomed

Bit of a worry that in these already stressful times for young people, they have an additional worry gnawing away at them; the destruction of the planet and their...
Black Power member: Concerns about Covid spreading in gang communities

A lifetime gang member has concerns, about Covid-19 spreading within gang communities. Some members of an Auckland Mongrel Mob chapter are isolating, after a woman...
Real estate agents report interest from Auckland buyers

Auckland's Level Four lockdown could be making the grass even greener on the other side. Real estate agents in regions such as Tauranga are reporting record levels...
Kate Hawkesby: What's happening with school holidays?

As tough as this lockdown is for many people, it’s really tough for the kids having to do school work from home, and for their parents who may be trying to juggle...
Consumer NZ Chief: Foodstuffs North Island are doing the bare minimum

A suggestion changes being agreed to by one of our major supermarket chains don't go far enough. It comes after a report by the Commerce Commission found competition...
Covid loan scheme seen as win-win for businesses and Govt

The idea of a student loan-type scheme is expected to be a win-win for businesses and the Government. Treasury's being asked to introduce it to help companies get...
Wellington Chamber of Commerce: NZ too reliant on Auckland

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce says New Zealand is too reliant on Auckland. The capital has been in Alert Level Two for a week now...but with Auckland still...
Kate Hawkesby: Auckland stuck in lockdown... is it actually working?

So, although we were delivered the worst kept secret that Auckland’s staying in Level 4 another week, I'm not convinced that'll be it. The PM said cabinet had made...
Questions raised as to how viable elimination strategy is

Another week of level 4 for Auckland and level 2 for the rest of the country. The longer this goes on; the more questions are being raised about at what point elimination...
Carmel Sepuloni: We need to promote vaccination among disabled people

A drive to get more disabled people vaccinated. The Taikura Trust is launching Tiaki, a Covid-19 campaign aiming to break down barriers to access for Auckland's...
Māori Language Moment hoping to set world record

As you'll be aware we're in Te Wiki o te reo Māori at the moment - Māori Language Week. And today the Māori Language Commission want us to get together at midday...