Building costs have gone through the roof. 

A new QV CostBuilder survey revealed a significant increase to costs over the last four years. 

It looked at the comparative costs of a standard 150m square home over six main centres, and revealed an average increase of 44%. 

The biggest increases were seen in Palmerston North, Dunedin, and Wellington. 

Blackburn Management’s Mike Blackburn told Andrew Dickens that most of the increase would have occurred during the 2021/22 period when the pandemic was causing problems with the supply chain. 

The good news, he says, is that in the last 12 months, the average cost increase on a square metre basis was on 3% across the entirety of New Zealand. 

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There’s a sign of heightened tensions as China deploys warships off the coast of Australia. 

Three Chinese warships have been seen sailing around 280 kilometres off Sydney, in the Tasman Sea. 

Defence Minister Judith Collins says the Chinese Government hasn't told us what they're doing there. 

Foreign policy analyst Geoffrey Miller told Andrew Dickens it's significant, and tensions are not getting any better in the Indo-Pacific. 

He says we need to be careful not to overreact, as they are quite entitled to be there. 

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There has been no change to child poverty in the last year.

That's according to data released yesterday by stats NZ which shows 17.7% of all children are in poverty. 

That's based on household income after housing costs have been paid. 

Save the Children NZ's Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey says we need to start looking at how we can build more affordable homes and lifting incomes for sole parent families. 

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On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Friday 22nd of Feburary 2025, There has been no change to child poverty in the last year, Save the Children Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey tells Andrew Dickens how the Government can change that. 

A new QV CostBuilder study shows that there has been a huge increase to building costs over the past four years.

The New Zealand Defence Force is monitoring activity by a chinese naval taskforce, located 150 nautical miles from the coast of Sydney, Foreign Political Analyst Geoffrey Miller tells Andrew whether New Zealand needs to worry.

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Can we get Parliament back to work?

At a time when the Prime Minister is urging us to work work work for growth growth growth, Parliament is playing around with unproductive publicity stunts.  

Winston is still banging on about using Aotearoa in the house. 10 minutes debating time was spent on the topic.  

There is no bill on the floor asking for a name change. We know the sorts of people who like to say Aotearoa New Zealand to make them feel good.  

And whatever happened to free speech?

No bill, no story, but Winston’s voters are lapping it up.  

Glad you’re entertained.  

Meanwhile the Treaty Principles Bill continues to frustrate.  

Yesterday Jenny Shipley and Chris Finlayson turned up to rail against the law, earlier Hekia Parata.  

It’s quite amazing the parade of National Party grandees who have been so keen to come out against the bill.  

It shows the bill is not part of the National party DNA. It never has been.  

It’s the plaything of Act and it’s 8 per cent support.  

And no disrespect, I know you care deeply about the general idea, but the bill is a dog. It’s sucking up valuable time and energy and money.  

It’s doing nothing for our productivity or our economy.  

It’s not going to happen and yet the farce rumbles on.   

Glad you're entertained.  

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The Foreign Minister says New Zealand is officially resetting its relationship with the Cook Islands.  

Tensions have continued to escalate between our Governments as the Cooks inked in a new partnership with China.  

In a speech yesterday, Winston Peters has reiterated his concerns New Zealand was in the dark about this agreement, and is yet to see key details. 

Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Andrew Dickens it’s clear Peters is well past fed up at this stage.  

Walls says it’s no small feat to completely snub New Zealand in a sense, and sign such a major agreement with China without giving us a heads up. 

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There's frustration about rubbish dumping along the Desert Road detour.  

State Highway 1 between Tūrangi and Waiōuru closed in mid-January for about two months of roadworks. 

The detour, which runs through State Highways 41, 47, 4, and 49 has seen a noticeable rise in rubbish.  

Ruapehu District Councillor David Nottage has been picking up the rubbish himself. 

He told Andrew Dickens it's more than people throwing a few things out the window.  

Nottage says it's hard to believe people are carrying that much around while they travel, so they may be taking advantage. 

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Banks could soon be competing a bit harder for our business. 

The Reserve Bank's signalling yesterday's double cut to the OCR will be followed by at least two more single cuts at the next reviews in April and May. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Andrew Dickens that's going to drive banks' rates down. 

She says mortgage-holders and small businesses should be expecting to see their interest rates keep dropping. 

Governor Adrian Orr says banks that don't cut their rates enough could lose market share to their competitors. 

He says banks will be "sniffing and hunting" for business and may even have reduce their profit margins. 

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Tensions are rising between the US and Ukrainian presidents. 

In a post on social media network Truth Social, Donald Trump has labelled Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator without elections, who's duped the US into spending billions of dollars in defence against Russia.  

It comes hours after Zelensky accused him of repeating Russian disinformation. 

US correspondent Mitch McCann told Andrew Dickens this comes at a delicate time.

He says the US is looking to negotiate with Russia without Ukraine at the table and Ukraine is getting impatient. 

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On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Thursday 20th of Feburary 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis reacts to the Reserve Bank cutting the OCR by 50 basis points. 

Roadside dumping is an increasing problem along the Desert road detour Ruapehu District Councillor David Nottage tells Andrew Dickens, it's disgraceful.

Winston Peters delivered a speech calling to 'reset' our relationship with the Cook Islands, Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls shares his analysis. 

US Correspondent gives the latest on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky responding to President Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine started the war.

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