Some health workers say they want the priority to be the workforce rather than the budget.

The Health New Zealand board has been sacked and replaced with a commissioner - Lester Levy.

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the agency is overspending by $130 million a month.

Resident Doctors' Association National Secretary Deborah Powell told Ryan Bridge it is underfunded.

She says the money they get is always in catch-up mode, and they need to get into an investment phase.

LISTEN ABOVE

Some health workers say they want the priority to be the workforce rather than the budget. 
The Health New Zealand board has been sacked and replaced with a commissioner - Lester Levy. 
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the agency is overspending by $130 million a month. 
Resident Doctors' Association National Secretary Deborah Powell told Ryan Bridge it is underfunded. 
She says the money they get is always in catch-up mode, and they need to get into an investment phase. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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

Deborah Powell: Resident Doctors' Association National Security on Health NZ's overspending

An election analyst says Kamala Harris' nomination is probably a done deal. 

The process will be formally open for challengers, and none of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention are required to vote for her.

Election analyst Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge it's likely any possible contenders would be feeling it's not worth taking on Kamala Harris. 

He says some could privately think she isn't the strongest candidate and personally want the job, but have decided it’s better to choose discretion.

LISTEN ABOVE

An election analyst says Kamala Harris' nomination is probably a done deal.  
The process will be formally open for challengers, and none of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention are required to vote for her. 
Election analyst Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge it's likely any possible contenders would be feeling it's not worth taking on Kamala Harris.  
He says some could privately think she isn't the strongest candidate and personally want the job, but have decided it’s better to choose discretion. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Henry Olsen: Election Analyst says Kamala Harris is set to secure the Democrats' nomination

Maritime experts are still cautious after a report into KiwiRail. 

Interislander ferries have been deemed safe and well maintained, and will stick around for years to come. 

Aratere ran aground last month when the autopilot was mistakenly turned on according to a leaked document.      

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says workers are still anxious because of historical technical problems. 

He says there's real safety concerns for the staff manning the deteriorating ships.

Findlay told Ryan Bridge that with the given history, they need to have a very, very clear, well thought out rescue plan. 

He says he’d rather be prepared than the old story of the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

LISTEN ABOVE

Maritime experts are still cautious after a report into KiwiRail.  
Interislander ferries have been deemed safe and well maintained, and will stick around for years to come.  
Aratere ran aground last month when the autopilot was mistakenly turned on according to a leaked document.       
Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says workers are still anxious because of historical technical problems.  
He says there's real safety concerns for the staff manning the deteriorating ships. 
Findlay told Ryan Bridge that with the given history, they need to have a very, very clear, well thought out rescue plan.  
He says he’d rather be prepared than the old story of the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Carl Findlay: Maritime Union NZ National Secretary on the Interislander ferries being deemed safe to run

In the Herald this morning, the boss of traffic management firm Traffix laid into the Transport Minister, saying he and Wayne Brown don't understand how the industry works.

He says they don't charge per road cone for work, but rather per worker and truck.

He says the public's abusing his staff on site because of misinformation being spread.

The problem here is an independent report, which we spoke about yesterday, from EY.

It was pretty damning, finding said rules incentivise contractors to cause maximum disruption to maximise profits. NZTA looked at 800 maintenance work sites on highway network and found 145 of them were not needed.

Doesn't that make your blood boil?

And Auckland council alone spends $145m a year on road cones and temporary traffic management.

There was a contractor around the corner from my place who had to dig a small hole on side of road, I couldn't believe they had to actually close the road.

Small, quiet suburban street, down to one lane with stop go signs.

Madness.

I'd never say anything to workers, because it's not their fault, but clearly after the EY report and the message from NZTA, something needs to be fixed, and fast.

Wayne Brown wants the power to set fees and charge penalties if work drags on or wasn't needed in the first place.

I say give it to him.

In the Herald this morning, the boss of traffic management firm Traffix laid into the Transport Minister, saying he and Wayne Brown don't understand how the industry works. 
He says they don't charge per road cone for work, but rather per worker and truck. 
He says the public's abusing his staff on site because of misinformation being spread. 
The problem here is an independent report, which we spoke about yesterday, from EY. 
It was pretty damning, finding said rules incentivise contractors to cause maximum disruption to maximise profits. NZTA looked at 800 maintenance work sites on highway network and found 145 of them were not needed. 
Doesn't that make your blood boil? 
And Auckland council alone spends $145m a year on road cones and temporary traffic management. 
There was a contractor around the corner from my place who had to dig a small hole on side of road, I couldn't believe they had to actually close the road. 
Small, quiet suburban street, down to one lane with stop go signs. 
Madness. 
I'd never say anything to workers, because it's not their fault, but clearly after the EY report and the message from NZTA, something needs to be fixed, and fast. 
Wayne Brown wants the power to set fees and charge penalties if work drags on or wasn't needed in the first place. 
I say give it to him.

Deborah Powell: Resident Doctors' Association National Security on Health NZ's overspending

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