A new report says Governments need to do more to prepare children for the digital era.

The report involving thousands of scientists from more than 80 countries has looked at how digital technologies impact mental health, governance, social inclusion and security.

Report co-author Sir Peter Gluckman told Mike Hosking we need to prepare young people for a vastly different future.

"How you retrain people when jobs are going to be affected by automatic robotics and so forth. Much of the focus needs to shift to early childhood education so that we can develop a resilience to change."

LISTEN ABOVE AS SIR PETER GLUCKMAN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

A sugar tax would generate millions in revenue and save lives, the Prime Minister has been told.

The briefing from the Ministry of Health's chief science advisor Dr John Potter was given at Jacinda Ardern's request.

Chief economist at the NZ Initiative Dr Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking there a few important details missing in the report.

"It's hard to tell to tell how much of this is new work and how much of it was from prior studies."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DR ERIC CRAMPTON SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Gerry Brownlee is rejecting claims he bullied a junior solicitor over the phone.

The incident is alleged to have happened when the former Earthquake Minister called an Auckland law firm which is planning a class action against manufacturers of non-compliant steel mesh.

The firm says Brownlee was forceful with the lawyer and made bully-like complaints.

But he told Mike Hosking he didn't think it was a heated conversation, and is sorry if the questions he asked were stressful

Brownlee's putting it back on the law firm.

"Why did they have that person on the end of a phone number that invited people like me, who received what I think was quite an alarming letter, to call up and have a chat."

LISTEN ABOVE AS GERRY BROWNLEE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Dairy giant Fonterra is expected to post a substantial annual loss when it releases its financial results today.

It has been a tumultuous year for the co-op, with a large compensation payout to French food company Danone, and a write-down of its investment in Chinese dairy company Beingmate.

ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny told Mike Hosking Fonterra has struggled to add much more value to its milk products, but farmers should be pleased considering the current conditions.

"Farmers will be relatively content with the current forecast milk price payout."

LISTEN ABOVE AS NATHAN PENNY SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

The electricity sector says our prices are below average for the OECD, but admits it could do better.

The Electricity Pricing Review has found households are paying nearly 80 percent more for power now, than in 1990.

Electricity Networks Association chief executive Graeme Peters told Mike Hosking the sector has a great future because we're going to be electrifying cars and reducing emissions.

"We don't want to muck it up, there are things we could do better. There is a bit of confusion  between the allocation of residential and industrial."

LISTEN ABOVE AS GRAEME PETERS SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Seventeen years on from the anniversary of 9/11 and Al-Qaeda may be stronger than ever according to recent reports.

Despite the US attacks on the terrorist cell over the years, US policies in the Middle East appear to have encouraged Al-Qaeda to spread. 

Middle East correspondent for the L.A times Nabih Bulos told Mike Hosking that it is worrying how they have moved into new countries.

"The fact is if you look at Al Qaeda's spread, we see them in Libya and the sub-Sahara in Africa now."

LISTEN ABOVE AS NABIH BULOS SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Frustrated Wellington commuters are turning to scooters to avoid the city's public transport woes.

Scooters have been flying out the door at a Wellington shop, and the owners say it's because of the changes to the bus network.

Scooterazzi's Bambi Mitchinson told Mike Hosking sales have almost tripled.

"In the first week of the changeover, there was a new customer every day which was just nuts."

LISTEN ABOVE AS BAMBI MITCHINSON SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

A world-first study by the University of Otago has found that elderly people who take multiple medications are twice as likely to fall and break bones.

This is due to the side effects of the pills which can sometimes not materialise for a few weeks of taking the medication.

Lead researcher Doctor Hamish Jamieson told Mike Hosking they looked at the link between medication and fractures.

'We looked at a whole lot of different effects, the more medications you are on, the higher the risk."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DOCTOR HAMISH JAMIESON SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

The police union believe officers are facing more serious violent attacks on the street.

A report by the Police Association has highlighted the dangers of the job with kicks to the head, attacks with weapons and being run over by fleeing drivers.

Police Association president Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking it's the unprovoked attacks that catch officers unaware that are the problem.

"When you are dealing with people you know that are dangerous, you are often more prepared."

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHRIS CAHILL SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Low business confidence does not seem to be holding back the economy.

ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says electronic card spending rose in the month of August.

She told Mike Hosking that economists are keeping a close eye on key indicators.

"Job advertisements have dropped slightly, but not at an alarming level."

LISTEN ABOVE AS SHARON ZOLLNER SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING