It’s a big weekend in sports as the Super Rugby semifinals kick off tonight.

The Blues and the Brumbies are facing off at Eden Park tonight, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs going head-to-head in Wellington’s Sky Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Mike Hosking that if he could only watch one of the matches, he’d take the Hurricanes v Chiefs.

He said it’s got blockbuster written all over it.

LISTEN ABOVE

It’s a big weekend in sports as the Super Rugby semifinals kick off tonight. 
The Blues and the Brumbies are facing off at Eden Park tonight, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs going head-to-head in Wellington’s Sky Stadium tomorrow afternoon. 
Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Mike Hosking that if he could only watch one of the matches, he’d take the Hurricanes v Chiefs. 
He said it’s got blockbuster written all over it. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition on Newstalk ZB.

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition on Newstalk ZB.

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition, hosted by Kate Hawkesby on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

Sam Ackerman: Sports Commentator ahead of the Super Rugby semifinals this weekend

Auckland will soon have Police on the beat 24/7.

Community Beat Teams will be based in major centres, with 63 officers in Auckland, 17 in Wellington and 10 in Christchurch.

It's the Police and Government's newest plan to crackdown on crime rates.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking “We want to make sure that we have a safe city – not one that’s plagued with sleepers drug dealers and disorderly behaviour.”

Mitchell said “They’ve already increased foot patrols in the city – but now they’re increasing the number of dedicated police officers that will be out there and highly visible doing their work.”

LISTEN ABOVE.

Auckland will soon have Police on the beat 24/7. 
Community Beat Teams will be based in major centres, with 63 officers in Auckland, 17 in Wellington and 10 in Christchurch. 
It's the Police and Government's newest plan to crackdown on crime rates. 
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking “We want to make sure that we have a safe city – not one that’s plagued with sleepers drug dealers and disorderly behaviour.” 
Mitchell said “They’ve already increased foot patrols in the city – but now they’re increasing the number of dedicated police officers that will be out there and highly visible doing their work.” 
LISTEN ABOVE.

Mark Mitchell: Police Minister on increasing police officers on the beat

King Charles will likely skip New Zealand during his upcoming tour to the South Pacific.

According to The Mirror, he and Queen Camilla are set to visit Australia and Samoa - but have dropped New Zealand.

The visit was never officially announced - just rumoured to be on the agenda.

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking “His Majesty is said to be like a caged tiger - desperate to do more, while undergoing chemotherapy and having the cancer diagnosis.”

Grey said “It’s been decided he’d be better off doing a ten-day trip.”

LISTEN ABOVE.

King Charles will likely skip New Zealand during his upcoming tour to the South Pacific. 
According to The Mirror, he and Queen Camilla are set to visit Australia and Samoa - but have dropped New Zealand. 
The visit was never officially announced - just rumoured to be on the agenda. 
UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking “His Majesty is said to be like a caged tiger - desperate to do more, while undergoing chemotherapy and having the cancer diagnosis.” 
Grey said “It’s been decided he’d be better off doing a ten-day trip.” 
LISTEN ABOVE.

Gavin Grey: UK Correspondent on the King reportedly not going to visit New Zealand

I think we got enough out of Nicola Willis on the programme Friday to know that today, cabinet’s gonna sign off this money for Pharmac to solve the cancer problem. 

The big outworking of this is - I hope they've learned their lesson. 

This government has a couple of problems. The biggest one is the mess they inherited. We are going to spend at least the next year deep in it. 

Two years of economic misery is a lot to ask of an electorate, and it's a lot to expect of a government to rectify. 

Even on a good day - with plenty of intent and hard work - voters get grumpy with whoever’s in charge, whether it was their fault or not. 

So given that, problem #2: self-inflicted wounds. The cancer promise was mad. It was mad because governments don't pick drugs. 

That's what Pharmac is for. If you don't like Pharmac, fine, change it. But don't keep the same system while trying gerrymandering. 

They also put out a list of thirteen drugs, some of which aren't even fit for purpose anymore. 

And then, Problem #3: failure to deliver, I mean OMG – did they learn nothing from Labour? 

And then last week, scrutiny week, Shane Reti says they'll deliver the 13. Nicola Willis says they will deliver some. David Seymour says he can't make a comment because Pharmac is independent. 

Three people, three messages. Mixed messaging - is that problem #4?  

So this week, an answer. And seemingly, an elegant one - more money. 

The money gets spent on stuff that's needed. Not automatically the 13. It's spent by Pharmac. And it might well mean some spending on other drugs as well. 

So, sorted. But big lesson: it never had to be this way. 

And if all they're doing this week is handing out money, why didn't they do it in the budget when they had the chance? 

Delivery and confidence, that's what we want from governments. 

If this is a one off, they'll get away with it. If it's a habit. They're toast.

LISTEN ABOVE.

I think we got enough out of Nicola Willis on the programme Friday to know that today, cabinet’s gonna sign off this money for Pharmac to solve the cancer problem.  
The big outworking of this is - I hope they've learned their lesson.  
This government has a couple of problems. The biggest one is the mess they inherited. We are going to spend at least the next year deep in it.  
Two years of economic misery is a lot to ask of an electorate, and it's a lot to expect of a government to rectify.  
Even on a good day - with plenty of intent and hard work - voters get grumpy with whoever’s in charge, whether it was their fault or not.  
So given that, problem #2: self-inflicted wounds. The cancer promise was mad. It was mad because governments don't pick drugs.  
That's what Pharmac is for. If you don't like Pharmac, fine, change it. But don't keep the same system while trying gerrymandering.  
They also put out a list of thirteen drugs, some of which aren't even fit for purpose anymore.  
And then, Problem #3: failure to deliver, I mean OMG – did they learn nothing from Labour?  
And then last week, scrutiny week, Shane Reti says they'll deliver the 13. Nicola Willis says they will deliver some. David Seymour says he can't make a comment because Pharmac is independent.  
Three people, three messages. Mixed messaging - is that problem #4?  
So this week, an answer. And seemingly, an elegant one - more money.  
The money gets spent on stuff that's needed. Not automatically the 13. It's spent by Pharmac. And it might well mean some spending on other drugs as well.  
So, sorted. But big lesson: it never had to be this way.  
And if all they're doing this week is handing out money, why didn't they do it in the budget when they had the chance?  
Delivery and confidence, that's what we want from governments.  
If this is a one off, they'll get away with it. If it's a habit. They're toast. 
LISTEN ABOVE.

Sam Ackerman: Sports Commentator ahead of the Super Rugby semifinals this weekend

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