The Government's latest health and safety regulatory reforms are being viewed as a win for hunters. 

A new change makes clear landowners won’t be responsible, if people are injured on their site, while doing recreational activities. 

Fault will lie with the organisations running them. 

Deerstalkers Association Chief Executive, Gwyn Thurlow told Andrew Dickens it's a return to personal responsibility. 

He says landowners were becoming hesitant and shutting gates to hunters. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 2nd April 2025, Auckland businesses are disappointed the city will not host the 38th America's Cup, Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck shares her thoughts.  

The Government's reassuring landowners that they won't be legally responsible for recreational activities they permit on their land, New Zealand Deerstalkers Association CEO, Gwyn Thurlow tells Andrew Dickens what this will mean for the tourism industry.  

Andrew talks to marketing expert Mike Hutcheson on what will happen now the New Zealand Rugby and INEOS sponsorship feud has officially ended.  

UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey shares the latest on the UK and EU plotting their own responses to Trump's planned tariffs.  

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

LISTEN ABOVE   

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The draft year 7-13 English curriculum proposes compulsory Shakespeare for senior secondary school students. 

That’s provoked a furious debate about the relevance of Shakespeare in this day and age - Shakespeare is important, but is it essential?

Even when I was at secondary school 45 years ago, Shakespeare was not popular. 

One year we were studying Hamlet. So, the school organised an afternoon matinee of the play at the Mercury Theatre.

The boys were so rowdy that a young Michael Hurst commented it was the worst audience he had ever had. 

We didn’t even calm down during the sword fights. 

That didn’t happen when we studied Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman or Thomas Beckett’s Murder in the Cathedral.  

Those plays used language we understood and themes we could relate to. 

To teach you must engage and much and all as we bemoan the fall of Shakespeare, he’s still so strong that his influence on the modern world will not fail.  

So, what will engage the kids, I don’t know. This generation is less engaged than ever - so much so I had to explain who Bob Geldof was to my 26-year-old son.

And speaking of which the most engagement I had in English at school was when we studied the lyrics of David Bowie’s 'Time' from the Aladdin Sane album. 

And let’s remember that in 2016 Bob Dylan won the Nobel prize in literature. Would anyone mind if he was added to the curriculum?

Post script:  

I see that the new curriculum says that spelling and keyboard lessons for children at intermediate schools should be compulsory - you mean they’re not already? How do our kids survive in this modern world?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian officials are closely monitoring a Chinese vessel that's passing through its waters, after completing a joint mission with Kiwi scientists off the coast of Fiordland. 

The high-tech Chinese research ship is carrying a deep-sea submersible that's capable of exploring extreme depths. 

It's following the route of Australia's deep-sea submarine cable, off the southern coast, weeks after Chinese warships carried out live drills in the Tasman Sea. 

Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Andrew Dickens that when asked, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there's not much Australian can do about it. 

Albanese says they'd prefer it wasn't there, but it's able to pass through, just like Australia is able to have vessels in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the future of the Cook Strait ferries becomes clearer, some are lamenting how long it's taken.  

Two new road and rail-enabled ferries and port-side infrastructure will be ready by late 2029.  

Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Todd Valster says while the cost isn't public yet, he's happy they will be rail-enabled.  

He told Andrew Dickens the delays haven't given people confidence.  

Valster says the previous Government's plan took ages to put together and there's been more delays as this Government's plan has emerged. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some are struggling to see the point of the Government's face-lift to workplace health and safety obligations. 

Minister-in-Charge, Brooke van Velden confirms small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury – to reduce compliance costs.  

Institute of Safety Management Chair Mike Cosman told Andrew Dickens multiple things the Government's painted as an issue are imaginary. 

He says there's no current requirement to report minor injuries or have signage for minor risks. 

Cosman believes the Government's created a myth and is now congratulating itself for cracking that. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission and Auckland Airport's latest interactions are being seen as a sign regulation is working. 

Auckland Airport isn't lifting its airline charges for the next two years as much as intended, after the commission's report showed their targeted returns were too high.  

The report also found the airport's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investment plan is appropriate. 

New Zealand Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Andrew Dickens the investigation is all part of the part of the process. 

She says the feedback wasn't unexpected because these processes take time. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston’s great rail solution is now revealed: it’s just like KiwiRail’s iReX but cheaper.  

The boats are still big and they’re rail enabled but the portside infrastructure is more reasonable.  

And that’s always been the thing. The original boats were a good deal, but the kicker came portside.  

KiwiRail was under the belief that the project had to be future proofed.  

This was something that had to last 50 years - a type of thinking that New Zealand hasn’t done often.  

So, the Ferrari was not the boat, it was the ports. 

Now Winston says Picton needs a big revamp. But the earthquake prone Wellington port just needs a revamp. 

In an ideal world this is not ideal. But it is, as Winston says, pragmatic. 

I know people involved with the original iReX deal on the Government side.  

And when this story first broke, they told me that KiwiRail shouldn’t come to the Government expecting an open cheque book.  

And he was right. The original iReX deal was a good deal, and the one that we should aspire to. 

But as the Government keeps telling us, now is not the right time for aspirational long-term planning.  

But if not now, when will we ever do anything right first time?

And while this deal looks like a saving short term, will we end out paying more long term?

The upshot is that we have ferries coming and they’re less likely to sink than the ones we already have. That’s about it - we’re right back to where we were 30 years ago.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Tuesday 1st April 2025, Todd Valster General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Union shares his thoughts on the Government's plan for the new Cook Strait ferries.  

The Commerce Commission says Auckland Airport's been over-charging airlines by $190 million since 2023, NZ Airports Chief Executive Billie Moore shares his thoughts.  

The Government's announced changes to workplace health and safety Mike Cosman, Chair at the NZ Institute of Safety Management tells Andrew Dickens what this will mean for businesses. 

Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio shares the latest on the Australian Prime Minister responding to a Chinese research ship travelling in Australian waters.  

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

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moana Pasifika completed the biggest win in the Super Rugby season so far, beating the Crusaders 45-29.

It’s the first time the team have beat the Crusaders.

Sports Contributor Andrew Alderson joins the show to discuss the win, Ryan Fox at the Houston Open, and the Warriors win.

LISTEN ABOVE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.