It's thought the roll out of David Seymour's new attendance services will make a difference.  

The Associate Education Minister's putting $140 million towards improving attendance over four years, promising to reach twice the number of students. 

Extra support is going to 170 schools with chronic absence. 

Manurewa Attendance Service Lead Principal Cathy Chalmers told Ryan Bridge it's a much fairer way of distributing the resourcing, but there are still challenges.  

She says her school's attendance floats around 60%, so they hope to reach Seymour's goals, but it's an aspirational target. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

It's thought the roll out of David Seymour's new attendance services will make a difference. &nbsp;
The Associate Education Minister's putting $140 million towards improving attendance over four years, promising to reach twice the number of students.&nbsp;
Extra support is going to 170 schools with chronic absence.&nbsp;
Manurewa Attendance Service Lead Principal Cathy Chalmers told Ryan Bridge it's a much fairer way of distributing the resourcing, but there are still challenges. &nbsp;
She says her school's attendance floats around 60%, so they hope to reach Seymour's goals, but it's an aspirational target.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Cathy Chalmers: Manurewa Attendance Service Lead Principal on the Government's new attendance services and targets

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a935048b-43a5-4407-b413-b36e01667f12/transcript

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 23rd of Feburary 2025, The Government’s moving to give Police new powers to move on beggars and rough sleepers, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith tells Andrew about the difference this will make for town centres.

Donald Trump's announced a new 15% global baseline tariff with a new law, after the US supreme court ruled his existing tariffs illegal, Federal Tax Economist at Tax Foundation Alex Durante shares his thoughts. 

Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport. 

Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on new Epstein files say London police officers were instructed to provide security for a dinner party at Jeffrey Epstein's New York home and Spanish police have arrest a 20-year-old man suspected of hacking a hotel booking website and reserving luxury rooms priced at up to €1,000 per night for just one euro cent. 

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

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 23rd of Feburary 2025, The Government’s moving to give Police new powers to move on beggars and rough sleepers, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith tells Andrew about the difference this will make for town centres.
Donald Trump's announced a new 15% global baseline tariff with a new law, after the US supreme court ruled his existing tariffs illegal, Federal Tax Economist at Tax Foundation Alex Durante shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.&nbsp;
Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on new Epstein files say London police officers were instructed to provide security for a dinner party at Jeffrey Epstein's New York home and Spanish police have arrest a 20-year-old man suspected of hacking a hotel booking website and reserving luxury rooms priced at up to €1,000 per night for just one euro cent.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 23 February 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/52dc606d-ca8a-437a-aea4-b3f9011a908d/transcript

The Government is proposing a law which would allow Police to order someone rough sleeping or begging, to leave a public space for up to 24 hours. 

They could be fined up to two thousand dollars or three months in jail if they don't.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith joins Andrew Dickens. 

The Government is proposing a law which would allow Police to order someone rough sleeping or begging, to leave a public space for up to 24 hours.&nbsp;
They could be fined up to two thousand dollars or three months in jail if they don't.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith joins Andrew Dickens.&nbsp;

Paul Goldsmith: Justice Minister on Government proposes law to move on rough sleepers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/12f0799c-412f-4fa2-9e84-b3f9011a78fe/transcript

If I was asked whether I’d back Defence Force professionals over politicians on Defence protocols and training, I’d back the professionals every time. 

ACT and New Zealand First, Winston and David, have asked questions of the Defence Minister Judith Collins on the amount of Māori culture, lore and language which is part of the Defence Force’s preparation for combat. 

This is not a new complaint.  Questions about Karakia and haka come up from time to time. 

Some see this a against the old God, King and country ideal. 

But the Defence force has always used Māori tikanga to build cohesiveness. 

They use haka to bring the forces together.  It’s a war dance after all. 

They use Karakia, Powhiri and other tikanga Māori a lot because a lot of Māori serve in the defence forces. Proportionately more than other segment of the population. 

It’s part of their organizational identity because the culture is unique to New Zealand and therefore beneficial in bonding the team.  

And when serving in multi-national military actions it differentiates us from all the other grunts with guns.  

The question is whether all this multi-cultural woke stuff detracts from making us fighting fit. Well, I’d like to see David Seymour say that to a Māori SAS officer. 

And we’ve had race-based military before.  The Māori battalion. And they made us proud and the world take notice. 

The military has always embraced Māori culture because they see it as a strength and not a weakness.   

It’s only performative politicians in their shiny suits in election year that sees Māori culture in the Defence Force as a problem. 

As any of the 150,000 people at the Edinburgh Military tattoo over the weekend will tell you. The Māori stuff is well liked and is respected. 

If I was asked whether I’d back Defence Force professionals over politicians on Defence protocols and training, I’d back the professionals every time.&nbsp;
ACT and New Zealand First, Winston and David, have asked questions of the Defence Minister Judith Collins on the amount of Māori culture, lore and language which is part of the Defence Force’s preparation for combat.&nbsp;
This is not a new complaint. &nbsp;Questions about Karakia and haka come up from time to time.&nbsp;
Some see this a against the old God, King and country ideal.&nbsp;
But the Defence force has always used Māori tikanga to build cohesiveness.&nbsp;
They use haka to bring the forces together. &nbsp;It’s a war dance after all.&nbsp;
They use Karakia, Powhiri and other tikanga Māori a lot because a lot of Māori serve in the defence forces. Proportionately more than other segment of the population.&nbsp;
It’s part of their organizational identity because the culture is unique to New Zealand and therefore beneficial in bonding the team. &nbsp;
And when serving in multi-national military actions it differentiates us from all the other grunts with guns. &nbsp;
The question is whether all this multi-cultural woke stuff detracts from making us fighting fit. Well, I’d like to see David Seymour say that to a Māori SAS officer.&nbsp;
And we’ve had race-based military before. &nbsp;The Māori battalion. And they made us proud and the world take notice.&nbsp;
The military has always embraced Māori culture because they see it as a strength and not a weakness. &nbsp;&nbsp;
It’s only performative politicians in their shiny suits in election year that sees Māori culture in the Defence Force as a problem.&nbsp;
As any of the 150,000 people at the Edinburgh Military tattoo over the weekend will tell you. The Māori stuff is well liked and is respected.&nbsp;

Andrew Dickens: I back Defence Force professionals

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dcef8b20-9b8b-4dae-9610-b3f901196b56/transcript

Cathy Chalmers: Manurewa Attendance Service Lead Principal on the Government's new attendance services and targets

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