Pharmac's looking to expand free flu vaccines to the group with the highest rates of influenza. 

The agency's looking at providing jabs to an extra 260 thousand children, between six months and five-years-old, from next year.  

Otago University Public Health Professor Michael Baker told Ryan Bridge a small number in this age range die from influenza every year.  

He says given they often infect other family members, other countries around the world are already funding vaccines for under-fives.  

Baker says vaccines remain the best way to develop immunity. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Pharmac's looking to expand free flu vaccines to the group with the highest rates of influenza.&nbsp;
The agency's looking at providing jabs to an extra 260 thousand children, between six months and five-years-old, from next year. &nbsp;
Otago University Public Health Professor Michael Baker told Ryan Bridge a small number in this age range die from influenza every year. &nbsp;
He says given they often infect other family members, other countries around the world are already funding vaccines for under-fives. &nbsp;
Baker says vaccines remain the best way to develop immunity.&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

Michael Baker: Otago University Public Health Professor on Pharmac's proposal to expand free flu vaccines

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ff827efb-12ce-4016-869f-b4510187d932/transcript

Auckland FC are heading for their first A-League grand final at a sold-out stadium. 

It’s both the first time a grand final has been played in New Zealand, and the first time a Kiwi team has made it this far in the competition.  

Auckland FC Fan Group’s Tim Adams told Ryan Bridge that the game is going to be insane. 

“The ability to comprehend being in a final and being in a home final after having a club for only two years, it’s actually just crazy.” 

He says the hardcore fans are going to make sure it’s an event that won’t be forgotten. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Auckland FC are heading for their first A-League grand final at a sold-out stadium.&nbsp;
It’s both the first time a grand final has been played in New Zealand, and the first time a Kiwi team has made it this far in the competition. &nbsp;
Auckland FC Fan Group’s Tim Adams told Ryan Bridge that the game is going to be insane.&nbsp;
“The ability to comprehend being in a final and being in a home final after having a club for only two years, it’s actually just crazy.”&nbsp;
He says the hardcore fans are going to make sure it’s an event that won’t be forgotten.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Tim Adams: Auckland FC Fan Group Representative previews the A-League Grand Final clash

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/586256b8-e188-444b-858b-b4520002b5be/transcript

There are concerns elderly people will be left behind in a housing support overhaul. 

This year's Budget includes hiking the amount social housing tenants have to pay, from 25% of their income to 30%. 

It means low-income earners in private rentals receive an average increase of nearly $15 a week. 

Social Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive Paul Gilberd told Ryan Bridge thousands of people in social housing are older, and many can't afford current rental prices. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There are concerns elderly people will be left behind in a housing support overhaul.&nbsp;
This year's Budget includes hiking the amount social housing tenants have to pay, from 25% of their income to 30%.&nbsp;
It means low-income earners in private rentals receive an average increase of nearly $15 a week.&nbsp;
Social Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive Paul Gilberd told Ryan Bridge thousands of people in social housing are older, and many can't afford current rental prices.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Paul Giberd: Social Housing Aotearoa CEO on the social housing overhaul and possible impact on elderly people

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/276e7842-1922-4f1a-b8bb-b451018ac849/transcript

Nicola Willis' Lotto comment yesterday was clumsy, but in the end, much ado about nothing.

The politics of this housing thing are pretty simple. You've got 80,000 social housing tenants who probably weren't going to vote National, who now definitely won't vote National. 

You've got 110,000 better-off voters who might soften to you. You've got a frothy media and opposition who will use this as a stick to beat the Government with until November.

But here are the facts. If you're a voter worried about rent, they're now materially cheaper than they were under the last lot. The average is down $30 a week nationwide, from $660 to $630 in April according to Realestate.co.nz.

They shot up for a couple of reasons, one of which was Labour's landlord-bashing interest deductibility shocker. Which didn't hit mega-slumlords, by the way, it hit mum-and-dad investors, many negatively geared, who couldn't afford to hold on to their retirement nest egg any longer, got hit with new tax and compliance costs, and got out. Shortages help push up prices.

The bad news is Labour's more likely than not to do this again if they get back to the Treasury benches. The social housing waitlist was 25,000 in 2023. It's now 19,700. Labour was paying $1 million a day on motels.

So, let's talk about what's cruel and what's fair, and what motivates these politicians. Let's play "who's more cruel".

Willis and Bishop are changing rules to even the playing field. It's cost neutral. The Government's not saving money here. Hipkins and Co. were banking $1.8 billion in extra taxes that other legitimate businesses weren't having to pay. Just landlords.

In which of these two scenarios are Kiwi renters better off, and in which are they worse off? If there's one thing worse than being cruel to be kind, it's being careless.

Nicola Willis' Lotto comment yesterday was clumsy, but in the end, much ado about nothing.
The politics of this housing thing are pretty simple. You've got 80,000 social housing tenants who probably weren't going to vote National, who now definitely won't vote National.&nbsp;
You've got 110,000 better-off voters who might soften to you. You've got a frothy media and opposition who will use this as a stick to beat the Government with until November.
But here are the facts. If you're a voter worried about rent, they're now materially cheaper than they were under the last lot. The average is down $30 a week nationwide, from $660 to $630 in April according to Realestate.co.nz.
They shot up for a couple of reasons, one of which was Labour's landlord-bashing interest deductibility shocker. Which didn't hit mega-slumlords, by the way, it hit mum-and-dad investors, many negatively geared, who couldn't afford to hold on to their retirement nest egg any longer, got hit with new tax and compliance costs, and got out. Shortages help push up prices.
The bad news is Labour's more likely than not to do this again if they get back to the Treasury benches. The social housing waitlist was 25,000 in 2023. It's now 19,700. Labour was paying $1 million a day on motels.
So, let's talk about what's cruel and what's fair, and what motivates these politicians. Let's play "who's more cruel".
Willis and Bishop are changing rules to even the playing field. It's cost neutral. The Government's not saving money here. Hipkins and Co. were banking $1.8 billion in extra taxes that other legitimate businesses weren't having to pay. Just landlords.
In which of these two scenarios are Kiwi renters better off, and in which are they worse off? If there's one thing worse than being cruel to be kind, it's being careless.

Ryan Bridge: What's cruel versus fair in the social housing debate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bdaf7443-4879-437a-821b-b45101841784/transcript

Michael Baker: Otago University Public Health Professor on Pharmac's proposal to expand free flu vaccines

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