Tensions in the Middle East are on a knife's edge in the aftermath of Iran's barrage of missiles on Israel. 

The Israeli defence force says there's been no reports of casualties and most of the around 180 projectiles were intercepted. 

Iran has confirmed the attack and says it's targeting Israel in response to deaths of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. 

Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine James Mackenzie told Ryan Bridge it’s a big deal despite there having been an attack from Iran back in April. 

He said that the first time there was limited damage and a sort of tacit agreement to let it slide, but with it happening again, the stakes are definitely raised. 

They’ve already seen a really sharp uptick in essentially the beginning of a war in Israel.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Tensions in the Middle East are on a knife's edge in the aftermath of Iran's barrage of missiles on Israel.&nbsp;
The Israeli defence force says there's been no reports of casualties and most of the around 180 projectiles were intercepted.&nbsp;
Iran has confirmed the attack and says it's targeting Israel in response to deaths of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah.&nbsp;
Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine James Mackenzie told Ryan Bridge it’s a big deal despite there having been an attack from Iran back in April.&nbsp;
He said that the first time there was limited damage and a sort of tacit agreement to let it slide, but with it happening again, the stakes are definitely raised.&nbsp;
They’ve already seen a really sharp uptick in essentially the beginning of a war in Israel. &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

James Mackenzie: Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine on the ground invasion in Lebanon and missile attacks on Israel

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/45076308-0cc7-4088-bddb-b1fc01515359/transcript

Democracy is a delicate and fragile thing, and yesterday's protest was a good example of it working. 

People oppose something, they protest peacefully, respectfully, they present a petition, they go home. 

The bill, by the way, that they don't like, well, it's not becoming law. 

You don't have to look far this morning for examples of things going tits up in a big way, and quickly. 

We've basically farewelled freedom in Hong Kong, 45 activists sentenced to long-term prison sentences overnight, kids in the West Bank being killed.

You've got a tyrant in Putin lowering the bar for the use of nuclear weapons, plus you've got US made long range missiles firing on Russia.

But here, we have a functioning democracy. 

Now the hīkoi is over, Rawiri Waititi wants to go further. He wants a separate Māori parliament. He wants two systems.

He references on his website the Irish, Welsh, and Scottish systems. The latter of which controls its own justice, education, tax systems.

How would that work here? Who would fund such a parliament? 

Who would fall under the Māori parliament, given 75% of Māori didn't vote for Rawiri's lot at the last election? 

How would you build a nation within a nation, separated not by borders, but ethnicity? 

Serious question. 

You see, democracy works when we're all in it and we're all in it equally. 

It's true that not every group will get the same outcomes from that system, but that's no reason to throw the system away entirely. 

What it is, sure, is a call to better use that system to effect change through strong and pragmatic leadership, the likes of which Te Pāti Māori has been known for in the past. 

Whether you'll get that leadership from Debbie and Waititi... well, we'll have to wait and see. 

Democracy is a delicate and fragile thing, and yesterday's protest was a good example of it working.&nbsp;
People oppose something, they protest peacefully, respectfully, they present a petition, they go home.&nbsp;
The bill, by the way, that they don't like, well, it's not becoming law.&nbsp;
You don't have to look far this morning for examples of things going tits up in a big way, and quickly.&nbsp;
We've basically farewelled freedom in Hong Kong, 45 activists sentenced to long-term prison sentences overnight, kids in the West Bank being killed.
You've got a tyrant in Putin lowering the bar for the use of nuclear weapons, plus you've got US made long range missiles firing on Russia.
But here, we have a functioning democracy.&nbsp;
Now the hīkoi is over, Rawiri Waititi wants to go further. He wants a separate Māori parliament. He wants two systems.
He references on his website the Irish, Welsh, and Scottish systems. The latter of which controls its own justice, education, tax systems.
How would that work here? Who would fund such a parliament?&nbsp;
Who would fall under the Māori parliament, given 75% of Māori didn't vote for Rawiri's lot at the last election?&nbsp;
How would you build a nation within a nation, separated not by borders, but ethnicity?&nbsp;
Serious question.&nbsp;
You see, democracy works when we're all in it and we're all in it equally.&nbsp;
It's true that not every group will get the same outcomes from that system, but that's no reason to throw the system away entirely.&nbsp;
What it is, sure, is a call to better use that system to effect change through strong and pragmatic leadership, the likes of which Te Pāti Māori has been known for in the past.&nbsp;
Whether you'll get that leadership from Debbie and Waititi... well, we'll have to wait and see.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: The hīkoi was a good example of democracy working

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/733a4e48-ce15-4033-b43d-b22d015dbb42/transcript

Freight carriers agree upcoming State Highway 1 repairs are necessary. 

The Desert Road in the Central North Island is shutting to traffic between Tūrangi and Waiouru from January 6 until the end of February. 

NZTA says the detour will add half an hour and an extra 50km to people’s journey. 

National Road Carriers Policy & Advocacy manager, James Smith, says the entire network has maintenance that needs to happen. 

He says they've known about it since August, and the road will end up with a much better finish. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Freight carriers agree upcoming State Highway 1 repairs are necessary.&nbsp;
The Desert Road in the Central North Island is shutting to traffic between Tūrangi&nbsp;and Waiouru from January 6 until the end of February.&nbsp;
NZTA says the detour will add half an hour and an extra 50km to people’s journey.&nbsp;
National Road Carriers Policy &amp; Advocacy manager, James Smith, says the entire network has maintenance that needs to happen.&nbsp;
He says they've known about it since August, and the road will end up with a much better finish.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

James Smith: National Road Carriers Policy & Advocacy Manager on Desert Road closing for two months

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/81368057-f8ac-4c8a-9d10-b22d015c09dd/transcript

Many European countries are accusing Russia of sabotage after the cutting of two communication cables under the Baltic Sea.  

One of the cables links Finland and Germany, while the other connects Sweden to Lithuania.  

It comes as Ukraine's fired its first set of US-made long range missiles into Russia.  

While Russia shot down five of them, the shrapnel from a sixth caused a fire at a military facility in the Bryansk region. 

Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge other moves inside Russia are increasing concern in Europe.  

He says Russia has changed its rules around when it can use a nuclear weapon. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Many European countries are accusing Russia of sabotage after the cutting of two communication cables under the Baltic Sea. &nbsp;
One of the cables links Finland and Germany, while the other connects Sweden to Lithuania. &nbsp;
It comes as Ukraine's fired its first set of US-made long range missiles into Russia. &nbsp;
While Russia shot down five of them, the shrapnel from a sixth caused a fire at a military facility in the Bryansk region.&nbsp;
Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge other moves inside Russia are increasing concern in Europe. &nbsp;
He says Russia has changed its rules around when it can use a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Gavin Grey: Europe Correspondent on the European countries accusing Russia of sabotage

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9219346d-a349-48c4-8af3-b22d01538006/transcript

James Mackenzie: Reuters Bureau Chief for Israel and Palestine on the ground invasion in Lebanon and missile attacks on Israel

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