On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday 22nd of January 2025, Donald Trump's made a speech to the World Economic Forum saying he won't use excessive force to acquire Greenland, but he will push ahead with Tariffs, University of Iowa Economics Professor Anne Villamil explains the impact this will have on the US. 

Confidence seems to be returning to the construction sector, with jobs ads for construction increasing 3.4% from November to December, Certified Builders CEO Malcolm Fleming shares his thoughts.

Christopher Luxon's announced the date of the election will be the 7th of November and he's ruled out National working with the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and Labour Political Commentator Liam Heir shares his thoughts. 

Plus, US Correspondent has the latest on Donald Trump's speech in Davos and wild weather in the US. 

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Builders across the country are starting to feel the benefits of the rise of employment opportunities. 

SEEK NZ's latest Employment Report shows a drop of 0.3% on overall job ads.

But demand for construction workers continues to add volume, with a rise of 3.4% nationally, up 43% year on year.

Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Andrew Dickens jobs are coming from across the country. 

He says employment agreements in January are up 20% on this time last year - which is positive at this quieter time of year. 

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I am becoming even more impressed with Mark Carney as time goes on.

I said that yesterday on the radio and got a text that Carney is just Trudeau but without Katy Perry - a snappy one liner fed to my texter by the President’s camp, and nowhere near the truth.

Carney yesterday gave a speech to Davos that may go down in history as era defining.

He said great powers can go alone. They have the size and the money and the military to do whatever they want. But that does not mean the middle powers don’t exist.

He made a call for countries like Canada, Australia, South Korea, and others to build strategic autonomy and collaborate to stabilize the global system. 

He argued that middle powers could no longer rely on great powers to maintain order - they appear hell bent on sewing disorder.

Carney framed the moment as a pivot point: either middle powers coordinate to build a more resilient, cooperative system, or the world slides deeper into fragmentation.

And then he said some words that completely freaked out the conspiracy class: he said the old era is gone and it’s time to build a new world order.

But his new world order is not built on power and subjugation, it’s built on co-operation.

He named the rupture, explained its causes, and argued that the future will be shaped not by superpowers alone, but by coalitions of capable mid-sized nations.

He’s brilliant. Trump is not. Trump is a big bully. Carney may be the smart guy who always wins at the end of the movie.

We’re not a middle power. We’re not even a small power anymore. The world order has changed and New Zealand’s virtue signalling no longer carries weight.

It’s time to find our friends and maximise our relationships with them.

The elephants are dancing. Us mice need to find a safe place so we don’t get crushed.

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Opposition leaders in the UK are concerned following through with plans for a giant Chinese Embassy in London. 

The UK Government's approved the mega embassy, located near Tower Bridge in the central city. 

Opponents have been warning the embassy could be used as a spying base. 

UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens there are fears the embassy will be used to eavesdrop on both data, and people. 

He says the embassy's so big, and  there are lots of rooms that appear to have no use. 

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Calls are growing for tougher gambling regulations to prevent relapse. 

New AUT research shows one in four gamblers who recover from harmful gambling slip back and return to the habit at a risky level. 

Problem Gambling Foundation Clinical Director Bridgette Thornley told Andrew Dickins people need concrete plans in place to kick their addiction, and New Zealand needs to help.  

She says they need to remove predatory online marketing and gambling advertising in front of young people. 

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An inquiry into the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children will analyse if New Zealand met its obligations under international law.  

The four year search for the group ended in a shootout last September, where Phillips severely injured a police officer before being shot dead. 

An inquiry into their disappearance will begin hearing evidence today, looking at whether agencies should have done more or acted faster to protect the children.  

Waikato University Senior Law Lecturer Anna-Marie Brennan told Andrew Dickens New Zealand has obligations to protect children under UN conventions.  

She says children deprived of their family environment must be given special protection and assistance. 

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Fletcher Building's calling time on its construction arm after a difficult few years. 

It's signed a sale deal with French multi-national Vinci Construction, subject to regulatory approval. 

The final reckoning could sit on about $334 million, and it'll move its focus to manufacturing and distribution. 

AUT Construction Professor John Tookey says it's a seismic shift, but Fletcher's been overstretched in recent years, so it's not a big surprise. 

He told Andrew Dickens the question is going to be whether the removal will significantly impact the profitability and sales of the building products side of things. 

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It might be today that the Government announces the date of the election.

Some have called for an early election. They argue that the job to fix us up needs more time. The Government could argue they’re the ones to do it.  

They could ask for a mandate for another three years to finish the job, and the sooner we get on with it the better.

I can see that, but I don’t agree with it.

We’ve been through a tough two years. Government’s always get the blame for tough years.  

So the Government is currently at a low ebb in their popularity, but as we’re starting to hear there are good signs in the economy.  

Not just here, but everywhere - geopolitical events not withstanding.

So why not wait until the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop?

And with Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech being portrayed as a yawn fest with little new vision, there’s no silver bullet in the chamber that might excite the electorate.

So why pull the trigger early?

My pick is still nearly November.

And that will mean every party will be looking at the economic indicators with extra trepidation.

Labour hoping that economic dissatisfaction lasts while National hoping the economy turns the corner and blows favour on their campaign.

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On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 21st of January 2025, the Tom Phillips inquiry is underway today, Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato School of Law Dr Anna-Marie Brennan tells Andrew what we can expect from it. 

A new study is hoping to highlight just how hard it is to kick a gambling habit, Problem Gambling Foundation Clinical Director Brigette Thornley shares her thoughts. 

Fletcher Building has sold its construction arm to a French multinational, John Tookey, Professor of Construction Management at AUT, tells Andrew what this means for the company. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on world leaders arriving in Davos for the World Economic Forum and the UK approving China's plans for a huge new embassy in central London. 

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As prices for everyone's favourite sweet treat soar, chocolate makers are searching to find cheaper alternatives. 

A Rabobank report reveals manufacturers are exploring ways to replace cocoa beans, including lab-grown options, as climate pressures disrupt supply and make global cocoa prices rise. 

Raglan Chocolate Head Maker Mike Renfree told Andrew Dickens the commodity price of cocoa has been double what it was in 2023, but it's mostly impacting the large multi-nationals.  

He says it was $2 a kilo in 2023, went up to $12 a kilo in 2024 and 2025, and it's now lower down at $5, but there's a lag in the system.  

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