The US presidential debate looks to be a chance to get to know the candidates.

Vice President Kamala Harris is facing off against Donald Trump for the first time at 1pm our time in Pennsylvania. 

No notes are allowed, and microphones will cut off when each candidate's not speaking.

Former US Ambassador to New Zealand under Barack Obama, Mark Gilbert told Ryan Bridge many polls show people still don't know Harris.

He says this will be an opportunity for her to be seen, as more than 50-million people are expected to tune in.

LISTEN ABOVE

The US presidential debate looks to be a chance to get to know the candidates. 
Vice President Kamala Harris is facing off against Donald Trump for the first time at 1pm our time in Pennsylvania.  
No notes are allowed, and microphones will cut off when each candidate's not speaking. 
Former US Ambassador to New Zealand under Barack Obama, Mark Gilbert told Ryan Bridge many polls show people still don't know Harris. 
He says this will be an opportunity for her to be seen, as more than 50-million people are expected to tune in. 
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

Mark Gilbert: Former US Ambassador to New Zealand on the upcoming debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

The Major Electricity Users' Group says consumers are grossly over-paying for power. 

Electricity prices have risen over the years, both businesses and average citizens struggling to afford their power bills.

Chair John Harbord told Ryan Bridge the companies are producing the same amount of electricity, while making record profits.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Major Electricity Users' Group says consumers are grossly over-paying for power.  
Electricity prices have risen over the years, both businesses and average citizens struggling to afford their power bills. 
Chair John Harbord told Ryan Bridge the companies are producing the same amount of electricity, while making record profits. 
LISTEN ABOVE

John Harbord: Major Electricity Users' Group Chair says Kiwis are grossly over-paying for power

There’s a belief a social media ban could benefit young people.

Australia's holding an age-verification trial in coming months, but it's unknown what the cut off age will be, or how it will be enforced. 

Christopher Luxon has also expressed interest in the idea.

Parenting expert Nathan Wallis told Ryan Bridge there's a correlation between social media and youth mental health issues.

He says if things like social media are banned, it may be revealed as the major cause of the country's mental health crisis in teens.

LISTEN ABOVE

There’s a belief a social media ban could benefit young people. 
Australia's holding an age-verification trial in coming months, but it's unknown what the cut off age will be, or how it will be enforced.  
Christopher Luxon has also expressed interest in the idea. 
Parenting expert Nathan Wallis told Ryan Bridge there's a correlation between social media and youth mental health issues. 
He says if things like social media are banned, it may be revealed as the major cause of the country's mental health crisis in teens. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Nathan Wallis: Parenting expert on a social media ban for youth, the connection between social media and mental health issues

A wild, bizarre, and highly entertaining media scrum took pace in Wellington yesterday, culminating with an MP saying he didn't mind swimming in other people's sewage. Yes, human waste.

A chaotic caucus run with Labour's Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor. 

He was asked why Wellington's dying - with cafes closing down, etcetera: 

"There's not enough to do along that waterfront, there's been stopping things from happening. You can walk a long way there, there's no cafe, there's nowhere to actually get a coffee."

Greg, Greg, Greg. Why don't they just put more cafes in?

These things require business investment and a profit to be had. Could the reason there aren't enough flat whites at Queens wharf be because 1) Labour hiked minimum wage beyond affordability, 2) helped drive inflation sky high through unrestrained government spending, and 3) told everyone to stay home and out of the CBD and the office.

So far so normal, an MP struggling to grasp the realities of running a small business.

Here's where it all gets a bit messy - literally. He says the solution is get more people, tourists, residents, whoever, down to the waterfront and even in the water.

A reporter kindly points out the water's often not safe for swimming due to human waste from bad pipes.

"Are you talking about the same harbour that gets polluted when there's heavy rain due to the bad pipes?"

"It doesn't stop people from swimming in there does it?" O'Connor replies.

Another reporter asks, "Would you swim in the harbour if there's sewage in there?"

"Yeah I do, I do swim in the harbour."

Okay, so don't worry about the faeces in the water. Jump in!

Then, here's the best part, lets' blame the journalists for reporting on the wastewater.

"Is there a warning at the moment? I don't know."

"No, you are allowed," one of the reporters says.

O'Connor replies: "You are allowed, so why bring this up then? So a Wellington positive is that you can go and swim in Wellington Harbour today, is that what I'm hearing from you? Good, report that. Well done guys."

The world according to Greg O’Connor: you can't beat Wellington on a good day.

A good day being one with no wind or rain, no poo in your harbour, and perhaps a coffee cart down at the waterfront.

There's a new slogan in that somewhere. Wellington - take a chance on me.

A wild, bizarre, and highly entertaining media scrum took pace in Wellington yesterday, culminating with an MP saying he didn't mind swimming in other people's sewage. Yes, human waste. 
A chaotic caucus run with Labour's Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor.  
He was asked why Wellington's dying - with cafes closing down, etcetera:  
"There's not enough to do along that waterfront, there's been stopping things from happening. You can walk a long way there, there's no cafe, there's nowhere to actually get a coffee." 
Greg, Greg, Greg. Why don't they just put more cafes in? 
These things require business investment and a profit to be had. Could the reason there aren't enough flat whites at Queens wharf be because 1) Labour hiked minimum wage beyond affordability, 2) helped drive inflation sky high through unrestrained government spending, and 3) told everyone to stay home and out of the CBD and the office. 
So far so normal, an MP struggling to grasp the realities of running a small business. 
Here's where it all gets a bit messy - literally. He says the solution is get more people, tourists, residents, whoever, down to the waterfront and even in the water. 
A reporter kindly points out the water's often not safe for swimming due to human waste from bad pipes. 
"Are you talking about the same harbour that gets polluted when there's heavy rain due to the bad pipes?" 
"It doesn't stop people from swimming in there does it?" O'Connor replies. 
Another reporter asks, "Would you swim in the harbour if there's sewage in there?" 
"Yeah I do, I do swim in the harbour." 
Okay, so don't worry about the faeces in the water. Jump in! 
Then, here's the best part, lets' blame the journalists for reporting on the wastewater. 
"Is there a warning at the moment? I don't know." 
"No, you are allowed," one of the reporters says. 
O'Connor replies: "You are allowed, so why bring this up then? So a Wellington positive is that you can go and swim in Wellington Harbour today, is that what I'm hearing from you? Good, report that. Well done guys." 
The world according to Greg O’Connor: you can't beat Wellington on a good day. 
A good day being one with no wind or rain, no poo in your harbour, and perhaps a coffee cart down at the waterfront. 
There's a new slogan in that somewhere. Wellington - take a chance on me.

Mark Gilbert: Former US Ambassador to New Zealand on the upcoming debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

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