We're seeing a lot of raw emotion and huge pressure unfolding at the Olympics aren’t we?Which isn’t necessarily new, elite sport at that top level is hugely competitive and nothing but pressure.You're carrying the weight of the world, or at the very least your whole country, on your shoulders. There are tears, collapses, enormous highs, catastrophic lows. That’s elite sport, and most athletes at that level know that.But I just wonder whether this Olympics will be remembered for something else.For mental health issues coming to the fore and taking precedence over performance, and I can’t work out if this is a good or a bad thing.On the one hand, I appreciate how huge the toll is and admire athletes who have the guts to say, you know what? Not this time, can’t do it, my head’s not in it.I mean that can’t be easy and it takes guts. It also helps identify and draw into the mainstream that mental health as a very real issue, at even the highest levels of success.But I’m torn because on the other hand, you worked really hard to get to this level, you knew going in, surely, that competing in elite sport representing your country is no picnic.Having your head in the game is part and parcel of the deal, it’s something athletes train for these days, the sporting challenge is no longer just physical, and in most arenas it’s mental too.It's a whole body, mind approach.So you surely know that and have trained for that.So on the one hand pulling out for mental health is a good reminder to the world that even top Olympians struggle too.And there’ll be people on the sidelines going ‘oh thank god for that, that makes me feel better, I’m not alone in this.’But equally on the sidelines there may also be other world class athletes who maybe just missed out on qualifying for the Olympics, going ‘well hang on a minute, I could've had that spot, I'm mentally fit for this.’So does going all the way to the Olympics, then at the eleventh hour saying – 'no can do' is it heroic? As many are claiming, or is it a cop out? And is it heroic because it's new and different this time?Like would it still be heroic if athlete after athlete withdrew due to pressure and mental health? Are they all heroes? And if so, what do you call the ones who stayed and actually competed then?  So two camps here I reckon.Those who'll say a mental health issue is just like any physical health issue, it’s the same, it forces you to withdraw and you should not be judged on that. Quite right.But equally meritorious in my view, is the other camp which says you are physically able, but if your head’s not in it then did you train enough for the mental part of this deal?And if not, then have you let yourself and your team down?

Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Kate Hawkesby: Olympians dropping out of the Games due to mental health, brave or a cop out?

A plan to close the Milford Sound airstrip has been met with outrage by local tourism operators who use the runway.The Milford Opportunities Project Masterplan has been unveiled in Te Anau today, aimed at addressing visitor pressures and safety. It includes proposed changes to the way we access the UNESCO World Heritage site, including a plan for carbon neutral buses, charging international visitors, a ban on cruise ships in the inner sound and the removal of the airstrip.Tourism Industry Aotearoa says the plan could radically change the way we look after the jewel in New Zealand's tourism crown.However the Queenstown Milford Users Group (QMUG) is describing the plan to close the Milford Sound Airport a 'kick in the guts' and is strongly opposing the recommendation.Glenorchy Air owners James Stokes and Kirstin Stokes. (Photo / Supplied)QMUG represents the commercial GA operators flying to Milford.Chair James Stokes, who is also the owner and Managing Director of Glenorchy Air, says flying into Milford Sound is tied into the history of Fiordland, since the first fixed-wing aircraft landed there in 1932."On Trip Advisor the top three rated tourism operators in Queenstown all offer Milford Sound flightseeing experiences, and that's what they intend to put an end to.Where to next?"This would have an immediate impact, not only on the many family run businesses in the region, but on tourism too."For the businesses operating out of Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau, Milford Sound experiences make up more than 90 per cent of their revenue. To make this call is a kick in the guts after the most challenging 18 month period of our lives. We have invested in supporting the region and the people whose livelihoods depend on us."Stokes says the rationale seems flawed. "Why close the airport and cut out alternative modes of transport, when you are trying to reduce road traffic congestion?"The Milford Sound masterplan is aimed at protecting the future of the iconic site. (Photo / Supplied)He says from a sustainability perspective, the industry is proactively pursuing more sustainable aircraft options."If we work together and do this right we can be an example of sustainable tourism initiatives to the world."We want to work constructively to solve some of the issues together but shutting down a key contributor to the Milford tourism economy is a short sighted recommendation, which will create more problems than it solves."Stokes says the group will meet with the MOP tomrorrow to challenge the recommendation.Project governance group chair Dr Keith Turner accepts the proposal is controversial and will affect people's livelihoods."But the airstrip is in a poor state of repair, is already beginning to flood at extreme high tides, is very exposed to alpine fault tsunami risk and would be very expensive to rebuild to a modern and sustainable standard."It only carried about 3 per cent of visitors in 2019. And the visual impact and risk of cruise ships are in conflict with the majority of land-based visitors, and they have other Fiordland options equally spectacular to visit."Other proposals in the masterplan include making zero emission hop-on hop-off buses the main transport on Milford Road, with a park and ride system established. Most international visitors will only get access via the bus system, with those in campervans gaining access only if they have a booking along the road or at Milford Lodge.Under a new proposal for Milford Sound, cruise ships would be banned from the inner sound. (Photo / James Allan)There's also a recommendation for a new Te Anau visitor centre and bus hub, which would help enhance the visitor experience by helping reduce the number of day trips from Queenstown, and improved walking and some cycle tracks on the corridor.TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says they support the overall vision of the new masterplan, but more discussion is required."Many of the details will need to be closely exa...

James Stokes: Proposed Milford Sound Airport closure a 'kick in the guts' to local operators

New Zealand will get the clearest look at the inner workings of the supermarket giants on Thursday when the Commerce Commission releases its draft report into the level of competition across a $22 billion sector.Shortly after the election, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark announced the competition watchdog would undertake a market study into supermarkets to determine "whether the sector is as competitive as it could be".The market study is the second of its type under new powers to compel companies to provide detailed financial information, following an examination into petrol companies ordered by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2018.For months, the Wellington-based competition watchdog has been receiving evidence and interviewing witnesses, sometimes under oath.The study will be released at 8:30am, followed by a press conference. You can watch it live here.Like many industries in New Zealand, it is a sector dominated by two companies. Foodstuffs, which counts New World, Pak n Save and Four Square among its subsidiaries, and Australian-owned Woolworths, the owner of Countdown.The market study is set to take around 12 months but even the draft report is likely to run to hundreds of pages and make recommendations to improve competition levels.Multiple parties are speculating that among its recommendations would be a binding code of conduct for supermarkets to adhere to, the regulator could urge the government to consider requiring a break-up of some parts of the sector.The study has been a long time coming. In 2014, Shane Jones, then a Labour MP, used Parliamentary privilege to assert that Countdown was treating many of its suppliers poorly.Katherine Rich, the former National MP and long time chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council has been providing materials to the commission including research that suggests most suppliers believe the supermarket groups engage in anti-competitive behaviour.This week, Rich launched a stinging attack targeting Foodstuffs' North Island business, claiming that even on the eve of the draft report, its members were facing the threat of having their products removed from shelves as part of negotiating tactics, demands for a "display fee" which did not promise any actual prominence or contribution to staff wages.Foodstuffs were "either not reading the political environment or dismissing government concerns which led [Clark] to call for the Study," Rich wrote on her LinkedIn page.Foodstuffs did not respond to a request for comment on the claims.

Jon Duffy: Commerce Commission supermarket competition inquiry - Draft findings released today

Fiji 27New Zealand 12Five years after sevens made its Olympics debut, the world was treated to a dream final in the event.But unfortunately for New Zealand, it wasn't quite a dream result.The All Blacks Sevens had to content themselves with the silver medal after being overpowered by great rivals Fiji 27-12 at Tokyo Stadium tonight.It was New Zealand's second sevens silver after the women's side were runners-up in Rio five years ago, a medal collection that could increase with the Black Ferns Sevens kicking off their campaign tomorrow.But despite that silver hue now complementing the black jersey, the men's side were unable to attain the redemption they sought after the horror show of Rio 2016.They Kiwi men nervous debutants at those Games, losing to Japan and Great Britain in pool play before being dumped out of the quarter-finals by Fiji.New Zealand's woes denied the sport what would have been a fitting finale to its first inclusion at the Olympics. But the wait for a showpiece between the traditional rivals was fortunately brief.And if tonight delivered a perfect advertisement for the game on the global stage, defending champion Fiji were more than worthy gold medallists.New Zealand players with silver medals. (Photo / Photosport)"Fiji were the better team," an emotional Scott Curry told Sky TV. "We gave it everything and that's all we could do, all we could ask from this group. Every day, every game that's what we do, and we came up short."Fiji's players were the ones in tears as their anthem rung out pre-game but, moments later, the prevailing emotion was joy as their early tactic of kicking undid the challengers.Errors from Joe Webber and Andrew Knewstubb were ruthlessly exploited for the first two Fijian tries through Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala, and a frantic first half continued when Jiuta Wainiqolo powered through a couple of would-be tacklers.Waisea Nacuqu of Fiji celebrates beating New Zealand for gold. (Photo / Getty)"The bounce of the ball in sevens is huge and a couple went their way early on," said Curry. "I guess they got a lot of confidence from that and got their tails up a little bit. It was always going to be tough to fight back from that."Curry did his best to lead that fightback, showing his power and pace to score his side's first try, while Sione Molia crossed after the hooter to cut the deficit to 19-12.The pressure of the occasion - absent during the first half - was a factor after the break as defence came to the fore, before the outcome was sealed by two moments that exemplified what separated the sides on the night.First Regan Ware's promising break came to nothing after the ball sprung loose from his grasp, then Asaeli Tuivuaka crossed for the decisive try as Fiji unlocked a resolute Kiwi rearguard with a timely display of their ball skills.There would be no miraculous comeback for New Zealand as the Pacific Islanders were able to celebrate their second straight sevens gold, remaining undefeated in Olympic men's play.Dejected New Zealand players. (Photo / Photosport)But despite being unable to find an answer to Fiji's quality in all facets, Clark Laidlaw's team will one day soon be able to reflect on an excellent tournament.New Zealand built well through the last few days, with their semifinal success over Great Britain their best performance, guaranteeing this country another medal for its tally.But once Fiji took care of business against Argentina in the second semifinal, New Zealand must have suspected that gold could prove elusive.In the third-place playoff, Argentina claimed their first sevens medal, backing up their heroic quarter-final victory over South Africa with a 17-12 win over Great Britain.

Tokyo Olympics 2020: All Blacks Sevens lose to fantastic Fiji in men's sevens gold medal match

My kids and my husband think I’ve gone mad; it wouldn’t be the first time.But I can't help this sense of foreboding at the moment, that we just won't and can't escape Delta coming here.I’m not scaremongering; I’m not saying this to cause alarm. I’m just incredulous as to how we’ve escaped it thus far.Because we are virtually the only country to do so.Yes our geography and isolation helps, yes sheer good luck helps, we avoided potential catastrophe with the Wellington traveller didn’t we? That could’ve been a lot worse. But I can't help thinking logic would dictate that’s it’s only a matter of time.I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m way off beam. (However I have been ramping up my health and wellbeing lectures to my kids.)I'm also mentally preparing myself for what will be our only possible response given our slow vaccination rollout; a lockdown.We would have to respond just like Australia is now.I’m just looking at the odds and going 'hmmmm.'How long until it accidentally trips its way in here?  How much luck do people get? Let’s be frank, we’ve had huge amounts of it so far.I’m grateful that my parents got vaccinated, a lot of people in the older category still aren’t and that’s a travesty. I feel bad for the people who can’t advocate or hustle for it, or have trouble getting to a vaccination centre, or just don’t know how to go about it.There’re older people in this country who are alone or just don’t have the means to push themselves forward for a vaccine which they’re entitled to. I was told yesterday of a 90 year old man with respiratory issues who lives in his own home, and has still not been offered a vaccine. That breaks my heart; people like him should absolutely have been contacted for a vaccine by now.And in communities where vaccines are being offered but they’re not turning up for them? Let’s fill those slots with people who ARE keen. I was at the optometrist yesterday and I asked him if he’d been vaccinated, given he could be described as a health worker, surely.Certainly, he’s in people’s faces, literally, on a daily basis. Surely, he’d be somewhere near the top of the list? But he’s not vaccinated yet either.In fact, he said the Optometry Board has had to proactively agitate with the Government to make a case for vaccinating optometrists. They’ve only just found out they can book vaccines now. He’s getting his in two weeks.So I hope I'm way off beam, and that maybe we really can be virtually the only country in the world to escape Delta.But I do worry that at this point, we may just be pushing our luck.

Kate Hawkesby: Odds are... Delta could make its way to NZ

The Olympics are now in full swing, with wall to wall coverage, yet it seems not as many people are watching them overseas.Over in the all-important US market, ratings for the opening ceremony dropped by 36 percent compared to Rio 2016.There are several factors thought to be behind this, but should Olympic officials be concerned?Senior TV editor at Variety Brian Steinberg joined Kate Hawkesby from New York and said the multitude of viewing options available these days makes it hard for broadcasters to pin consumers to one medium.“People are watching TV as they see fit, there are dozens and dozens of Olympics streams.”LISTEN ABOVE

Brian Steinberg: TV editor says Olympics ratings drop should be a cause for concern

A suggestion more should be done to remove barriers for people wanting to get the Covid jab.It comes as the Group 4 rollout begins today, with people aged 60 plus, now able to book an appointment.That's despite many in Group 3 who say they still haven't received their jabs.Auckland University vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris says Kate Hawkesby vaccination centres need to be more approachable and accessible.“These clinics aren’t generally places that people find themselves comfortable in; I do think you have to find other ways to reach people.”LISTEN ABOVE

Helen Petousis-Harris: Vaccinologist says vaccination centres need to be approachable and accessible

Scientists say they care about animals and there are strict rules about how they experiment on them.Twenty-one science organisations have signed an agreement to be more open about their use of animals in testing, teaching and research.Auckland University education lecturer Sally Birdsall was involved in developing it.She told Kate Hawkesby scientists are keen for more people to understand how the process of using animals happens.“And how the regulations actually mean that they can’t just do what they want, they’re heavily regulated.”More than 315-thousand animals were experimented on in New Zealand in 2019.LISTEN ABOVE

Sally Birdsall: Scientists want more transparency around animal testing

So, in what should be a surprise to absolutely no one, we are taking back an alleged ISIS terror suspect and her children. Why?Because we snoozed, and we lost.ScoMo snookered us. Australia was first out of the blocks in revoking this woman’s citizenship – she had both Australian and NZ citizenship, but she hadn’t lived here since she was 6.When she was captured on the Syrian border and detained by Turkey for deportation, Australia promptly revoked her citizenship so she couldn’t go back there.They did this on the basis of her travelling to Syria on an Australian passport in 2014 to join ISIS.In doing so, Australia deftly dumped the problem right on our doorstep. Remember that? Jacinda Ardern was furious, she huffed and puffed at Scott Morrison and in her words, “made very strong representations to Australia” that they should take this woman back, not make it our problem.Australia ignored her. They’d already gotten in first; they’d already bailed on it and exposed our government as being asleep at the wheel.When Ardern was asked at the time if she would therefore accept this Australia-NZ citizen and take her back as our problem, Ardern gave her best aggrieved facial contortion and said “Well, there’s children involved.”What we in effect know now, is that of course we were going to take them back.Justifying it with the, ‘but there are children involved’ line, was merely buttering us up for the inevitable.So yesterday, Cabinet officially announced a ‘managed return’ of this 26 year old and her two kids.What does that mean? Who’s managing it? What’s that costing? How long are they managing it for? Who’s taking responsibility? Where is she being managed? Where are the numbers on this? What are we paying to manage an alleged ISIS terrorist to come back here and make NZ her home after a 20 year absence?I notice the statement from Ardern yesterday also included her tried and true line about the kids again. “We have taken into account our international responsibilities as well as the details of this particular case, including the fact that children are involved,” she said.This is Marketing 101.If you have a winning line you think is effective, keep using it.So, apparently, she’ll be managed in a way that “minimises any risk for New Zealanders.”Really? How can you guarantee that?Let’s just hope for all our sakes, that they don’t employ more of their ‘high trust’ model here.Because when it comes to this government’s ‘kindness programme,’ I think extending it now to terrorists is a bridge too far.

Kate Hawkesby: The Govt's 'Kindness Programme' shouldn't extend to ISIS terrorists

The true impact of the Sydney lockdown protest won’t be known for days, with one medical expert warning the thousands of people who attended could plunge all of NSW into lockdown.Greater Sydney is already preparing for another lockdown extension announcement this week, with editor of the Medical Journal of Australia, Professor Nick Talley, saying there is a high chance demonstrators who travelled to the protest from outside Sydney could spread the virus into regional areas of the state.Thousands descend on Sydney’s Town Hall for anti-lockdown protest. (Photo / NCA) “This was an idiotic thing to do, just idiotic. Yes, we risk a superspreader event,” he told 2GB on Monday morning.“There were people from, not only across Greater Sydney, but I understand people from also outside of Greater Sydney at those protests.“That means we might even risk outbreaks outside of Greater Sydney that really lead to the whole state locking down. Just a disaster.”Thousands of people converged on the Sydney CBD on Saturday to protest the lockdown, with images and videos showing unmasked demonstrators packed tightly together shouting “freedom” and holding anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination signs.The demonstration quickly descended into chaos, with protesters reacting violently towards police officers and attacking police horses.So far 63 people have been arrested in relation to the protest and at least 90 were issued fines for breaking public health orders.NSW Police say they have received more than 5500 reports from members of the public regarding the protest.Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “absolutely disgusted and disappointed” in those who attended the protest, warning it could lead to a “super-spreading” event.“We don’t want a setback, and yesterday could have been a setback. Time will tell,” she said on Sunday.“But I’m just so utterly disgusted, disappointed and heartbroken that people don’t consider the safety and wellbeing of their fellow citizens.”Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys described the events that occurred on Saturday as “violent, filthy, risky behaviour”.He said a strike force had been set up to investigate the protest and urged anyone with video footage, photos or any information to submit it to Crime Stoppers.“The investigation into people’s behaviour yesterday will continue for some time, so I expect over the next few days and perhaps weeks that number of penalty infringement notices will continue to be high,” Mr Worboys said.Men wearing Anonymous masks during the protest in Sydney. (Photo /NCA)It comes as the NSW government has requested financial modelling for an extension of the Greater Sydney lockdown until mid-September.The state’s crisis cabinet will convene this morning to discuss a significant lockdown extension, according to The Australian.The publication reports a September 3 lockdown end date was originally considered but officials are now understood to be modelling multiple financial scenarios, including one where stay at home orders remain in place until September 17.Speaking to 2GB, Professor Talley said he wouldn’t be surprised if the lockdown remains in place into September.“NSW is in a terrible place and it’s really sad that this is where we are now. I think it will be extended and how long – it’s unclear,” he said.When asked why NSW has struggled to get this outbreak under control, Professor Talley said it was a combination of the highly-infectious nature of the Delta variant, not locking down early enough and not having enough people vaccinated.“I think we needed to squash it very hard very early if we were going to succeed fast enough and that just didn’t happen. And of course we are largely unvaccinated which is also a problem and I think that’s why we are where we are,” he said.“We just have to deal with where we are now rather than worry about the past.”

Donna Demaio: Fears Sydney protest may spark full NSW lockdown

Suhayra Aden and her two children are coming back to New Zealand.Aden was identified as an Islamic State terrorist by Turkey, when she was caught crossing the border from Syria in February.She's the woman who had Australian-New Zealand dual citizenship, which Australia revoked.Given there are two children involved with this case, Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft told Kate Hawkesby we have a duty to stand up and help New Zealand citizens.“There are children who are New Zealand citizens who have nowhere to go, I think this is a chance to stand up and support them.”LISTEN ABOVE

Andrew Becroft: Children's Commissioner says New Zealand has a chance to support citizens in Suhayra Aden and her kids

There are calls for more help for young people living on the streets.A new report estimates an additional 18,000 children have been pushed into poverty since the first lockdown, with Maori and Pasifika worst hit.The number of homeless young people is especially concerning.Lifewise youth housing team leader Aaron Hendry told Kate Hawkesby young people need therapeutic interventions and we need to work with the community to house them long-term.“Rather than just putting them in a hotel for the night by themselves without any support, they get further harmed and they go back to the street.”LISTEN ABOVE

Aaron Hendry: Report estimates 18000 children pushed into poverty since first lockdown

I think the trans-Tasman bubble being popped is no surprise to anyone.This government was always going to act with its standard ‘abundance of caution’ and with the backing still of the majority of New Zealanders loving being a hermit kingdom, it’s a win-win.Caution and safety.. check.Political points.. check.Protect ourselves from any potential border cock ups creating a fiasco with a Delta outbreak… check.It’s not a win-win for everybody however.Anyone in the productive sector of the economy crying out for staff, will be bristling at this.Get it and understand it as they well may, it doesn’t help their plight.Those strapped for staff, those who’ve lost or are losing their immigrant workforce due to visa delays, those in small towns unable to hire locally.I saw some of this first hand when I was in Queenstown during the school holidays.Which by the way, if you’re thinking of travelling to tourist hotspots like Queenstown or Rotorua during school holidays when borders are shut, think again.It was heaving.What a shambles.I actually felt for them.Here were all these domestic tourists turning up in their droves to help the place out, and everywhere you went, the lack of staff was a glaring issue.From long wait times at cafes and restaurants, to queues out the doors of shops, to a lack of housekeeping staff to service Hotel rooms, to a shortage of transport options due to very few Ubers or taxis operating.I know for the skiiers, if you weren’t up by 5am heading up the mountain you could forget it.. the snaking queue of traffic, the supply issues like running out of coffee – quelle horror!Cleaning toilets, clearing queues.The Remarkables had two record breaking days just in the week we were there.. just on 5 thousand people up the mountain each day.Now that’s all great and fabulous, as long as everyone that’s going is spending up large and having a good time.But if you can’t spend up large because you can’t get into a restaurant because there’s not enough staff to service the crowds, then will those crowds be back?I know from friends who went to Rotorua that it was crazy busy there too.Look, I get it, great.. so good for them.. I’m not poo pooing their moment in the sun, but.. what about all the other regions needing help?  And what about the fact some of these tourists would have been put off by huge crowds and lack of ability to service them, and therefore may decide not to come back?So a closed Australian bubble for 8 weeks of peak ski season may sound dire, but trust me, Kiwis are still travelling domestically in their droves.So it won’t be punters tourist towns are short of.. just staff.

Kate Hawkesby: Closing bubble not a win-win for everyone

Little surprise at a new report highlighting the housing sector's increasing impact on the economy.Analysis commissioned by the Property Council shows the industry makes up 15 percent of our GDP.It also reveals the sector has grown by $19.6 billion between 2009 and 2019.Infometrics Senior Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby the growth is in line with other data.“The general economy in New Zealand grew about 25 percent over the same period. So you're seeing property trend in that similar sort of position.”LISTEN ABOVE

Brad Olsen: Housing sector makes up 15 percent of GDP

The Tokyo Olympics could be a good chance to get more young people interested in sport.New Zealand athletes will be back in action today in the triathlon, shooting, rugby sevens, tennis, cycling and hockey.They'll also be out on the water in the surfing, rowing, swimming and sailing.Sport New Zealand National Sport Development Manager Alex Chiet told Kate Hawkesby it's a good time for sport.“Kids and families are captivated by seeing different athletes in different sports. It's great for young people to see different sports than they'd usually see here in New Zealand.”LISTEN ABOVE

Alex Chiet: Tokyo Olympics good time for getting young people into sport

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition, hosted by Kate Hawkesby on Newstalk ZB.

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Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

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