On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Friday 11th April 2025, The Treaty Principles Bill is dead in the water, Former National Minister for treaty negotiations Chris Finlayson shares what happens from here. 

New data shows only one in three Kiwi parents have rules around their children's use of social media, Netsafe Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons shares his concerns with Andrew Dickens. 

It's Supercars weekend in Taupo, Mayor David Trewavas tells Andrew what we can expect from the weekend. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on EU reaction to Donald Trump's back-down on tariffs. 

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Last night on 1News I heard the single most logical and sane thing said in the entire bulletin in a long time.

It was said by Simon Upton, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. A very smart man. A Rhodes Scholar. A Former Minister for the Environment for National. 

Simon Upton said we should in, an ordinary way, take forestry out of the Emissions Trading Scheme. 

And I thought, why has it taken so long for someone to say it?

We should, in an orderly way, take forestry out of the Emissions Trading Scheme. 

Forestry for climate change has been a Ponzi scheme. The 1News reporter called it a golden ticket. 

It’s swamped productive land for easy gain. It’s caused rampant wilding growth through our wild lands. 

In essence, it’s a very big weed unless you’re farming it for wood and paper and even then, that market is turning sour - ask Tokoroa and Kawerau.  

But has it done anything to reduce emissions? We’ve had long enough for proof. It has not.  

It’s provided excuses for well-meaning pop bands to travel the world in private jets, planting useless forests in their wake and claiming moral superiority.  

But the 1News bit then went and missed the point. 

The headline was that we should plant natives instead of pine. 

Which he did say, but only if we keep with the nutso forest planting scheme.  

What Simon proposed was completely removing the ability of carbon polluters to rely on planting trees to meet their climate obligations. 

He said what New Zealand currently had been mostly a "tree planting scheme" that did little to cut planet-heating gases. And then the zinger quote:

"The world actually needs real reductions in gross emissions, not an accounting triumph".  

If you want to cut your emissions, then cut your emissions. But don't plant a tree.

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The Reserve Bank's keeping a watchful eye on global trade developments. 

It's lowered the Official Cash Rate by 25-basis points to 3.5%, with another cut expected next month. 

But it's still waiting to see how trade barriers affect inflation before deciding what to do after that. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Andrew Dickens the central bank is right to take a wait-and-see approach. 

He says what's become very clear over the past couple of days, and again this morning, is how everything can change in an instant. 

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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. 

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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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