A weather forecaster's hoping there can be clearer skies for our Government weather agencies with a merger on the way. 

Legislation's coming to merge NIWA and MetService before the end of the year. 

The Government says it'll deliver a more efficient agency, combining operations and streamlining back-office functions. 

WeatherWatch's Phillip Duncan told Andrew Dickens he wants MetService's clear communication skills to be central to the new agency. 

He says it's compared to NIWA, which frequently uses extreme words that often don't come true. 

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The wool industry believes New Zealand will enjoy the benefits of the Government's new building directive.

From July, all new Crown agency builds costing more than nine-million-dollars, and refurbishments topping 100-thousand, must use New Zealand wool where possible.

It follows Kainga Ora reversing its price-based decision to not use more-expensive wool products in January.

Associate Minister of Agriculture, Mark Patterson told Andrew Dickens it does change the price, but you're getting a better-quality product. 

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On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Thursday 10th April 2025, The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points, Infometrics Principal Economist shares whether or not it was the right move. 

Legislation to merge Niwa and MetService, will be introduced later this year, Weather Watch Head Analyst Philip Duncan tells Andrew Dickens about the difference it will make. 

The Government's directing agencies to use wool where appropriate, but will it come at a cost? Associate Minister of Agriculture Mark Patterson shares the details. 

Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann shares the latest on the markets and tariff turmoil. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.      

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Benjamin Doyle spoke on the controversy surrounding them yesterday and basically called themself stupid.  

We’ve found out that the Greens actively asked them to delete their accounts which introduced us all to the "bussy". 

But they refused, wanting to stand up for what they are and who they stand for. 

Given that, if I was the Greens I would have gone to the next person on the list. If Doyle wasn’t going to drop it, I would have dropped him.  

I said last week they should go, and I stand by that. I don’t see the need for anyone so stupid and bloody-minded in a taxpayer funded Parliament.  

Doyle says the bussy stuff was a knowing joke and I can understand that - Queens are always ironically calling each other Queens. 

That’s not the sort of joke I want to see in an MP. 

But to claim Benjamin must be a child offender is also a step too far and a heinous accusation unless you have proof, and that goes for Hamish Campbell too. 

If they want to put those haters aside perhaps, they need to stand up for themself with a defamation suit, or even let the wife speak out. 

But again, the easiest way to deal with it is to just slope out the door. Carrying on is probably not worth the angst.  

The whole thing is an ugly and entirely avoidable situation.  

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New Zealand faces significant obstacles to take down organised crime groups. 

A ministerial advisory group's first report reveals a sobering reality the country is losing the fight, and claims bold changes are needed. 

It says a significant spike in methamphetamine use last year was dire. 

Associate Police Minister Casey Costello told Andrew Dickens a series of reports will provide practical advice over the next six months. 

She says there will be specific actions released each month - including how agencies could work more closely together and breaking down barriers about information sharing. 

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Prince Harry has returned to the UK to challenge a court decision over his security arrangements in his home country. 

The Duke of Sussex has appeared at the High Court in London, appealing last year's ruling the Home Office fairly gave him different levels of taxpayer-funded protection.  

The 40-year-old's legal team has questioned the way the decision, taken in early-2020 after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals, was made.  

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens the Duke didn't give evidence, and the hearing's outcome will be revealed at a later date. 

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to have got the better of opposition leader Peter Dutton in their first election debate.  

Sky News declared the incumbent Albanese as the winner after asking 100 undecided voters their thoughts.  

Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Andrew Dickens two key issues emerged last night.  

She says the cost of living and energy policy were two of the biggest topics. 

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Economists are seemingly aligned on where they think today's Official Cash Rate figure will land. 

The Reserve Bank's expected to cut the OCR by 25 basis points, down from 3.75 percent. 

It's the first rate decision since Governor Adrian Orr's resignation.  

Jarden Economist and Investment Strategist, John Carran told Andrew Dickens there's been a lot of uncertainty in markets from US President Donald Trump's tariffs. 

He believes it's too early for the bank to panic and cut the OCR any further. 

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Oranga Tamariki is getting rid of its target to place 58% of the kids in its care with wider Whanau.  

And it's also ditching a target for investment with Māori organisations - 23% of funding was targeted for those organisations. 

The Minister for Children Karen Chhour says this is part of OT's 'Safety First' approach. She says the targets were outdated and went against the ‘need not race’ directive.  

And she was concerned whether the priority of Māori organisations were getting in the way of the quality and efficacy of the services being provided.  

And it all makes sense. 

The ingrained belief in our child social workers that kids are always better off rehomed with whanau always seemed counter factual.

In many cases the abuse directed at the kids was at the hands of whanau themselves - people that had been raised by other people in their family but failed at their own parenting. So why would we give the kids to them?

It often seemed that children were being thrown right back into the very cauldron we were trying to help them escape from.  

There have been examples for generations - let us not forget Baby Ru. He was murdered in October 2023, and nobody has been charged for killing him. 

There was anger then and anger now when the people who were there when he suffered did not co-operate with Police.  

Those people were, and are, Rosie Morunga, her partner Dylan Ross, and Ru’s mother Storm Wall. Ru's whanau. What happened people? 

The uplifting of kids is a very serious thing and they need to be housed in safe places with good people. 

But the history of Oranga Tamariki suggests that too many of the supposed saviours are in fact predators hiding in plain sight. 

There's no easy answer to this other than strong vigilance by our agencies and the need to find good people who can help. 

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On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 9th of April 2025, Associate Police Minister Casey Costello joins Andrew Dickens to talk on a report which found a substantial increase in organised crime over the past 5 years.

Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans shares the reaction from the Australian public on the first debate between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his election rival Peter Dutton. 

Plus, It's OCR day... John Carran, Investment Strategist and Economist at Jarden takes his pick on how the Reserve Bank will move. 

And UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey shares the latest on the Duke of Sussex is in court again in London to appeal a decision to downgrade the level of security he receives in the UK.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

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