Holiday Breakfast

Hospitals across the country may be at breaking point.  
An internal email from Auckland's emergency department has described it as an unsafe situation, in light of staffing becoming so stretched.  
One senior clinician is quoted as saying 'we cannot continue like this', in reference to a shift that started with 60 patients waiting to be seen. 
College of Emergency Medicine spokesperson Dr John Bonning says this is being echoed across the country, with a big issue being staff lost over the last year. 
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Thanking the bus driver may be a thing of the past for some kiwi commuters.  
Drivers across the country are copping abuse both verbally and physically - and calling for more security and support. 
Tramways Union President Gary Froggatt told Tim Dower drivers are now reporting around one serious incident a week, but more minor issues are becoming constant. 
He says some passengers aren't wanting to wear masks, pay fares, and even attack each other on the bus. 
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The unearthing of a giant sea monster fossil has astonished paleontologists worldwide.  
A mammoth 10 metre long ichthyosaur has been discovered in England.  
The bones of the large marine reptile were uncovered when a lagoon was drained in the East Midlands.  
Paleontologist Hamish Campbell told Tim Dower it's a spectacular find for Britain. 
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Businesses may soon be required to make public the details of what they're paying staff.   
It's part of a government effort to close pay gaps between men and women - and different ethnic groups. 
More than 6,000 businesses would be impacted.  
Labour MP Camilla Belich told Tim Dower generally two-thirds of OECD countries have pay transparency regimes.  
She says its not about compromising individual privacy. 
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Covid-19 could be prompting some people to learn a new language. 
The deaf community is reporting a dramatic rise in those wanting to learn sign language, after seeing interpreters at the 1pm televised press conferences.  
But Deaf Aotearoa Chief Executive Bridget Ferguson told Tim Dower says many people don't realise it takes years to get the level seen in those briefings. 
“We train at AUT in Auckland, and so, from there then it takes years of experience in the vast sectors of society, because you can one day be interpreting for the Prime Minister, next day interpreting in a GP consult.” 
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A health expert says it's important there's continued checks and balances for doctors. 
The medical council has taken action against a North Canterbury doctor, under investigation for allegedly issuing fake vaccine exemptions.  
They've confirmed Dr Jonie Girouard won't be able to practise medicine at all in New Zealand.  
Bryan Betty from the Royal College of GPs' supports the move. 
“We need to have trust in the system, we need to have trust in the behaviour of doctors which are held to very high standards, and it is important that these issues are dealt with appropriately through the system.” 
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Protestors are taking to the streets in parts of Europe amid a surge of the Omicron variant.  
This comes as countries move to tighten restrictions and introduce more rules around vaccination.    
Europe correspondent Catherine Field told Tim Dower there have been demonstrations in Paris, Vienna and Italy. 
“In Vienna about 40,000 people turned out in the end, really to protest more about the fact that the jab is about to be made compulsory for citizens of Austria from next month.” 
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Novak Djokovic is out of court, but is hoping he'll back on court by next week. 
The world tennis number one was released from detention yesterday after a judge quashed the decision to cancel his Australian visa. 
But, he's not in the clear yet, as the Australian Immigration Minister will decide today whether to use his discretionary power to deport Djokovic anyway.  
Sunrise Reporter Nathan Currie told Tim Dower the Government will definitely be weighing up its options. 
“So, from their point of view, I suppose, they’re thinking, do we need to cancel it all over again so we come out of this looking like the winners, or do we just accept that he’s here and let him play out?” 
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Former Green party MPs aren't happy with the party's current leadership and agreement with the Government.   
Some members have stepped away from the party amid concerns.  
Former MP Catherine Delahunty told Tim Dower the party has little power.  
Delahunty says current co-leader James Shaw is failing to live up to Green vision and principles on climate change, and not enough is being done on welfare. 
“The Green’s should be a strong voice, and they would be much freer if they were not tied up with Labour, being overwhelmed with the Labour Government.” 
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A movement dubbed The Great Resignation is expected to grow.  
Internationally, the number of workers wanting to leave their jobs has risen during the pandemic, and Labour shortages have made recruitment difficult in a number of industries.  
Employment relations expert Max Whitehead told Tim Dower the word is that people are ready for change – but there's some risk involved in moving jobs. 
“Will your new employer pay you during the lockdown? Flexible hours, can you have some flexible hours? Can you work from home? The 90-day-trial period might be in your contract.” 
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