Waitangi celebrations this year promise to be the most, shall we say, spirited that we've seen in quite a while. To be honest, I've enjoyed a break from some of the drama of the mid-90s - the jostling of a Prime Minister with his arm in a cast, the Prime Minister reduced to tears, the mud throwing. For a little while now the scenes on the TV news have had been more of a festive feel to them with PM's on the BBQ rather than hiding in the toilet. But this year, that's changed again. Judging by the intense powhiri for Kīngitanga, and thanks to considerable rarking up by Te Pati Maori, strong feelings are already being whipped up. Te Pati Maori obviously intends to keep running this three-headed taniwha line as their way to describe the coalition. I'm guessing that whatever he says publicly, the Prime Minister isn't really looking forward to tomorrow and he'll be glad when it's over. But it really is an opportunity to straighten a few things out and maybe, just maybe, defuse some of the rhetoric and tension that's been going on. Labour and the Greens are allowing themselves to be dragged into it and it really does them no credit. Talk by MPs of a "fight" against the Government on behalf of Māori and the need to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi is misleading at best, downright dishonest at its worst. And for Labour to claim gains were made for Māori under its time in office... well, if it wasn't such a whopper it would be laughable. Māori went backwards on pretty much every metric under Labour. So the opportunity for Chris Luxon is to set things straight and somehow dispel this idea the coalition is anti-Māori and hose down the notion anyone wants to rewrite the Treaty. He's been saying the right things to the media, and in person too, and I believe he wants to deliver the right things, but fronting at Waitangi to do exactly the same is a necessity. Even if it means suffering a little indignity to show you mean what you say.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mayor of a Hawke's Bay town says it's a disgrace that funding from a special Lotto draw after Cyclone Gabrielle, hasn't yet been allocated. The special draw raised more than $11-million. The Department of Internal Affairs expects some action this month. Wairoa mayor Craig Little told Tim Dower that the money would go a long way. He says there are people suffering, have lost their homes and essentially living in a third world country in Wairoa they've lost everything.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is bracing for a tense reception at Waitangi today. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, alongside Winston Peters and David Seymour, are being welcomed to the treaty grounds in the Bay of Islands this morning. It comes amid a tumult of reaction to comments from all coalition partners concerning Māori matters. Waitangi National Trust Chairman, Pita Tipene, told Tim Dower the Prime Minister needs to articulate a clear vision of where we're going as a country. He says we can focus on today's anger and frustration - but let's start painting a picture on what was envisaged when Te Tiriti was signed.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is some doubt whether the US approach to Yemen-based Houthi is the right one. The US and UK have launched a third round of strikes against the militant group -- hitting 36 targets across 13 locations. Washington think tank Defence Priorities senior fellow Gil Barndollar told Tim Dower these strikes aren't going to end the Houthi regime. He's sceptical they're going to change Houthi behaviour, he says the goal is to degrade their arsenal but he's not sure that's realistic.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate change and extreme weather events are top of farmers' concerns for the next decade. In a new report funded by Our Land and Water, more than 280 primary industry experts ranked international and domestic factors, to understand how they're expected to impact land use. Water quality and agricultural policy are also major domestic concerns. Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford told Tim Dower that the extreme weather last year had a huge impact. He says when it comes to climate change and extreme weather, it's important to get rid of the hype and excitement and focus on practical solutions to protect ourselves.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    James Shaw: 6/10  Likeable bloke and will find life outside immeasurably more fun.    Chlöe Swarbrick: 6/10  The obvious replacement choice I would have thought. Good luck to her, but it doesn’t advance the cause if you like the green bit of the Green Party.    Heat alerts: 3/10  When did we decide 27 degrees needed a heat alert, and who decided that?    Wellington Water: 1/10  It's not this council's fault, but it is multiple council's fault and is beyond a joke now. Perhaps it's a lesson in paying attention to local body politics and who we vote for?    Shane Jones: 6/10  My politician of the week for having the gonads and the experience to be able to stand up to some of this race-based nonsense and give it right back.    The return to work: 7:10  I have no time for those mad articles about how to cope, the New Year blues etc. If you don't like what you do, then fix it. Life is short.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the school week having mostly ground back into life this week, I was very pleased that the Prime Minister went to school himself yesterday with a message.  The message was for parents - wake up! The absenteeism crisis is as much our fault as it is anyone's.  Chris Luxon didn’t say it in those exact words, but that was the inference.  While the previous Minister of Education Jan Tinetti blamed Covid and the cost of living and specialised in excuse making, the reality is we have no one to blame but ourselves.  The failure of our kids to pass exams probably sits a bit more with parents than many would like to admit as well, but at least a Government can play their part, and they may well have.  The idea of an hour of reading and writing every day as a policy in 2024 is one of the more bizarre things I have seen. It introduces what we used to take for granted and thought worked.  How far off track has a system gone when the failure rate speaks for itself, and you have to literally go back to basics the way they have?  It's part of the whole education debacle I have never understood.  For all those who argue we don’t want change and a phone ban is a bad thing and the absenteeism rate can be explained away and the NCEA pass rate is somehow fine, the facts tell a different story this isn't a debate about nuance.  Most kids don’t go to school. Literally a majority don’t go to school 90% of the time as required and a growing number each year, for the past three years, fail NCEA.  At the risk of sounding like a bit of a snob, having had five kids through NCEA, you have to be pretty behind the pace to fail it.  In other words, the fact it's so easy and the fact more and more can't even pass it is, I would have thought, a crisis.  It's no wonder we are a low wage economy. We don't educate kids, and when we don't, we find excuses for it.  Luxon said his lot are doing their bit at his school visit. Time will tell if it's enough.  I suspect it's not.  But part of his message, which in a wider context is way more reassuring, is to be found in his words to parents. Wake up.  The inference is at last we have a Government that is prepared to hold a few people to account and some of those people might well be us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s doubt the latest proposed lift in the minimum wage will do enough to help workers.   The Government's increasing the minimum wage by 2% to $23.15 an hour from April.  Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke Van Velden had recommended a rise of just 1.3%.   Victoria University School of Governance and Policy Studies senior research fellow Dr Michael Fletcher told Mike Hosking that at a minimum, it should rise at the same rate as inflation.  Inflation is currently sitting at 4.7%.   He says the Government says beneficiaries should get increases in line with the Consumer Price Index, so the lowest paid workers should get the same.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's water service provider is at odds with the City Council after an independent report found multiple failings.  Wellington City Council launched a review of Wellington Water which found shortfalls in their reporting and an inconsistent approach to works management.  It comes amid a water crisis for the region, with the possibility of a state of emergency if shortages worsen.  But Wellington Water CEO Tonia Haskell told Mike Hosking that she disputes the findings.  She says some parts of the report "aren't quite right".  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Corrections Minister says there are too many people out on electronic bail.  A briefing has revealed the number of people on electronic bail has more than tripled in the past six years.   Mark Mitchell says looking at the Bail Act, the already existing plan to cap discounts for prison sentences, will help.   He told Mike Hosking that it's not the only problem he will be investigating.   Mitchell wants to look at the rise in people being granted electronic bail despite police opposition.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States says it'll take all necessary actions to defend itself, its interests, and its people in the middle east.   It comes after three US soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Jordan, near the Syrian border.   The US has blamed an Iranian-backed militia group.   CBS says officials have told them the US has approved plans for a series of strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that they're still finalising plans, and it's expected there'll be a series of strikes over a number of days including on Iranian personnel and facilities inside Iraq and Syria.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking she did not ask to remove the excise tax on tobacco. However, she conceded there was a line in a document from last year about removing it for three years.  Costello declined an invitation to go on TVNZ’s Breakfast this morning but has fronted up over her denial she specifically sought advice on freezing the tobacco excise tax.  “It’s just a broad document,” she said.  “There’s no involvement from big tobacco, this is just nonsense.”  Costello confirmed she had links to the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, but has no association or involvement with the tobacco industry.  “I have sympathy [for smokers], I’m getting messaging from people who know they should stop smoking, but they’re addicted.”  She said prohibition doesn’t cure addiction, and they want to look at a range of things to help people quit.  Documents show Costello asked for advice on freezing the excise, despite denying in an interview with RNZ that she had specifically sought the advice.  But when speaking during Question Time on Thursday, Costello doubled down, maintaining she had not specifically asked for the advice, and she had not written the documents she sent to officials.  “The documentation is a range of historical policy positions and notes that were held in New Zealand First policy positions. Some of it relates to things that were passed in the legislation when New Zealand First was in Government. This is a range of points and positions and it’s about five pages long.”  She said her actions had been distorted by the media.  “The fact is, I was asked a question about whether I had sought specific advice. I had not sought specific advice, which was the question I answered. I referred to a range of advice I had sought from officials,” she said.  Costello said she was unsure who wrote the documents.  Labour’s health spokeswoman, Dr Ayesha Verrall, said the minister was still responsible for the documents she presented, and the Prime Minister should relieve Costello of her duties.  “When a minister gives documents to officials, if that is done or collated by her office it is still her responsibility. Her office acts on her behalf, she needs to take responsibility for it.”  Senior National Party minister Chris Bishop said that while ministers were responsible for things they gave officials, there was a question over whether they were responsible for the generation of that material.  “I would argue they cannot be, in the same way that if, for example, a Labour Party minister gave a document to the Ministry of Education, that was the NZEI or the PPTA or the CTU, for example, they cannot be questioned about the CTU in Parliament.  “They can be questioned about the handling of that document and what’s in the document, but the generation of that document I think would fall outside the scope of ministerial responsibility.”  Speaking to media after Question Time, he said the matter of the authorship of New Zealand First’s policies was for Costello to answer, but he had certainly presented party policy to officials.  He said talking to a range of groups was how the country gets good policy.  “People have easy access to ministers and MPs in New Zealand. All political parties work with a range of groups when it comes to developing policy.”  Standing in for the Prime Minister in the House, Act leader David Seymour said he had had assurances from all coalition partners they had had no funding from the tobacco industry.  “I am confident that there has been no undue influence on the policies of this Government by the tobacco industry.”  Seymour told reporters it was possible Costello had misinterpreted RNZ’s questioning, and RNZ had misinterpreted her answers, which had caused confusion.  “I think that she was being open to the best of her ability. The other thing I just say is this: We say we want people in our democracy to stand up, run for office, and become ministers, and actually go and listen, take the best advice, and make the best policy. She’s done all that stuff and people are jumping all over her.”  - NZ Herald with RNZ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those with even a passing interest in architecture and design will know the name Kevin McCloud.   The award-winning presenter and broadcaster of Grand Designs UK, the show running for 25 years.  Kevin McCloud has ridden its wave of success as he takes viewers on a tour of astonishing homes and wondrous architecture.  The presenter has a love of architecture, telling Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that the extent to which people take a “piece of nothing” and turn it into something is fascinating.  “Ever since we, you know, crawled out of a hole, or out of the water onto dry land millions of years ago, we’ve been attempting to try and kind of straighten the earth a bit.”  “Make it in our image almost.”  McCloud told Hosking that he’s sure that every architect has the desire to try and defeat the universe and build something that lasts.  “What the universe wants to do is, basically, turn every mountain into dust.”  “And then every human being wants to kind of, somehow, lift up the dust and form it into something.”   There is one thing McCloud will critique about architecture though, and that’s scale.  “I think generally we, we do build really too big.”  “We spend all this money on stuff, and ideas, and all were doing is just trashing our planet, trashing resources, trashing, you know, trashing our bank balances.”  McCloud told the Newstalk ZB host that in his opinion, that money should be spent on storage, clever design, joy, craftsmanship, and perhaps fewer bathrooms.  “We tend to build houses with more toilets than occupants, which I don’t understand.”  He’s bringing his love of architecture to kiwi audiences, taking to the stage for ‘Kevin McCloud’s Home Truths’, bouncing around telling stories and showing slides.  Unlike what his producer might want, it’s not much of a song and dance but he does want audiences to enjoy themselves.  “That’s what it ought to be.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"To whom much is given, much will be required."  It's a great quote and is one of the reasons why my sympathy for Golriz Ghahraman is somewhat limited.  I think Winston Peters said that it's sad, and if it was him, he is right.  It's also made worse by the fact the whole tawdry mess is being played out so publicly. But then, "to whom much is given". She chose her life and with that came the scrutiny.  $10,000 is a lot of clothing. She's back in court late this month and faces seven years in jail, which she will of course not get.  In some respects, and this is where I do have sympathy, because of who she is her punishment has already well and truly started. Given retail crime in this country she is far and away your highest profile operator, or alleged operator.  This carries the usual rider of innocent until proven guilty and so on.  But we can psychoanalyse this stuff until we are blue in the face and given this happened over the holiday period while I was away, I watched in astonishment as so much of the media did.  Almost instantly the story leapt from one of crime to endless interviews with mental health experts and psychologists about pressure and social media, in what turned out to be a mad mix of trying to extrapolate every last angle out of the story they could, to what appeared like some weird justification or bandwagon around people who either get abused or attacked, to the role of women in public life, to the impact of undiagnosed stresses.  I like to keep things clean - theft is theft and it's against the law and there is no excuse.  There's even less excuse if you are in a position of privilege.  Complicit, and appallingly so in all of this, is her party. The Greens knew yet said nothing and said nothing for weeks. That in my eyes is aiding and abetting.  In some ways the whole tragic saga turned into yet another of those modern-day soap operas, where we look to find an excuse for anything.  Yes, women get attacked online. We all get attacked online. Anyone with a public profile is open to ludicrous amounts of commentary and abuse and behaviour that should really never happen and be dealt with a lot more severely than it is. But it doesn’t mean you nick stuff.  Sometimes when you are guilty, if you are guilty, you just have to own it.  If she did it, she is a thief and she deserves what's coming to her.  A justice spokesperson in the Parliament of the land stealing stuff - it doesn’t get a lot worse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday saw a major win for some of New Zealand’s top athletes.   The Employment Relations Authority has ruled in favour of the Athletes’ Cooperative, forcing High Performance Sport NZ to engage in collective bargaining with the co-op.  HPS had previously rejected attempts to hash out a collective agreement on the basis that they did not formally employ athletes.   Former Olympic Rower Mahe Drysdale is spearheading the co-op's efforts, telling Mike Hosking that he’s not sure why HPS tried to avoid it for so long.  He said that all they want to do is get on with this and change sport for the better in New Zealand.   The crux of the situation, Drysdale told Hosking, is getting better conditions for athletes and allowing them to have input into how the system is run.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns hold fast as the pressures of the cost of living continue to spread.  The latest Centrix Credit Indicator shows non-discretionary arrears are going up, with telco arrears above 10% for the first time in four years.  Managing Director Keith McLaughlin says the number of households behind on utility accounts are up to 4.9%, well up on the last couple of years.  He says we're starting to see those consumers who don't go out and buy things because they can't afford to still getting caught by credit that's not discretionary.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's education reputation remains strong with overseas audiences as new research shows the benefits international students bring to the country.  It reveals 84% of international students rate their experience positively, and three quarters of kiwis believe international students are an asset to our education system.  Education New Zealand's Geoff Bilbrough told Mike Hosking that the system should be celebrated.  He says the numbers show students are coming back.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From today, recycling rules will be the same for most New Zealanders.  Standardised recycling has been introduced in a bid to make the process more efficient.  Items like plastic lids, coffee cups, and aerosol cans are no longer able to be recycled.  Waste Management NZ's David Howie told Mike Hosking that much of the country already has standardised recycling.  He says many councils have adopted the standard prior to today, and it works well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The banking sector is celebrating as the Government plans to slash red tape on lending.  The financial services sector will see regulations cut on licensing and loan requirements, a u-turn on laws introduced in 2021.  Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Andrew Bayly told Mike Hosking that while he agreed with the intention of previous regulations, the last government didn't adequately consult the sector.  He says it's about freeing up the banks and lenders, to make it easier to give small loans.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Defence Minister says there's still a lot of groundwork to lay before any decision on AUKUS is made.   Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will meet with their Australian counterparts in Melbourne today.   She says that while other topics will be on the agenda, the defence and interests of New Zealand in the Pacific will come first.   Collins told Mike Hosking that New Zealand doesn't yet have enough information on pillar two of AUKUS.   She said that's because AUKUS members are still trying to figure out how New Zealand could fit into the agreement.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High inflation in certain parts of the economy is dashing hopes of a cut in the OCR.   Reserve Bank Chief Economist Paul Conway says that despite overall inflation being at 4.7%, non-tradable inflation is still high at 5.9%.  Westpac Senior Economist Darren Gibbs told Mike Hosking that they expected an OCR cut to occur in February of next year, and that didn’t change after the announcement.   He said that they think due to some elements of domestic inflation being quite sticky, it will take longer for inflation to decline than other economists predict.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is considering its response to the first deadly strike on its forces in the Middle East since the Gaza war began.  Three US servicemen were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, an escalation in the violence that has erupted beyond Gaza.  President Joe Biden has ordered retaliatory attacks on Iranian-backed groups.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the Pentagon is reviewing how the attack drone was able to get through American defences.  He said that the Secretary of State said that Biden is walking a fine line between an effective response and widening the war in the Middle East.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell is 'fessing up to a mistake he made around the timeline for extra police.   Yesterday he told Parliament the original two year target to add 500 officers had been pushed out to three.   But the Prime Minister says he didn't express himself well, and the original target is still in place.   Mitchell told Mike Hosking that he should have been clearer.   But Labour Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen says that the whole situation is a joke.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctors are warning of the risks of implanted chips after Elon Musk's company Neuralink claims to have successfully implanted a device in someone's brain.  The tech billionaire says the patient is recovering well and wants to continue work on the project to connect human brains to computers and tackle neurological conditions.  But AUT Neuroscientist Valery Feigin told Mike Hosking that it's risky.  He says it's easy for bleeding and infection to occur.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister seems to be differing from his Police Minister on the timeline of when the Government will add 500 cops to the beat.   In Parliament yesterday, Mark Mitchell pushed out the original timeline from two to three years, citing difficulties with recruitment.   But Christopher Luxon says the two year commitment is still in place, despite the difficulties.   He told Mike Hosking that any Labour Party claims around a backdown from their promise is wrong.   Luxon says Mitchell didn't express himself well and the commitment still stands.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outgoing Green Party co-leader James Shaw says his next career steps remain uncertain.   He announced his resignation yesterday after almost nine years at the helm alongside Marama Davidson.   Shaw says he will stick around until a decision is made around his member's bill, which was pulled from the ballot last year.   He told Mike Hosking that he's not necessarily on board with speculation he'll be the next Climate Change Commissioner.    Shaw says he's uncomfortable with the idea of the commissioner being a former politician, because it's supposed to be independent.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Silver Ferns took third at the Nations Cup and the conversation quickly turned to Dame Noeline Taurua’s future as coach.  Her original contract expired last October, and she signed a mini-extension to remain with the team until the end of their campaign in England.  While she still hasn’t committed to her future plans, Taurua insists an announcement is imminent.   Former Ferns player and coach Yvonne Willering told Mike Hosking that should Taurua retire, we don’t have good coaching stocks from which to replace her.  She said that she would like to see Taurua stay on for another year and bring in a co-coach to get them used to the structures.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looks like a good year is ahead for the horticulture industry.  The Horticulture Department is estimating a 12% increase for this year’s apple and pear crop in comparison to the 2022 total.  Cherries are also slated to have a great year, with some growers saying that they got what they hoped for, and in some cases slightly exceeded their hopes.  Horticulture NZ CEO Nadine Tunley told Mike Hosking that everyone’s pretty upbeat after a tough last year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction that the US southern border will be a big issue for both political parties.  Joe Biden has been struggling to get a border deal over the line, facing impasses from Republicans over aid to Israel and Ukraine.  But Donald Trump also has a challenge stemming from inaction on it when he was in office, as well as trying to insert himself into negotiations.  Former Republican Communications Director Doug Heye told Mike Hosking that in trying to campaign on the border, Trump has potentially gifted Biden.  He says Biden is looking for anything to hang his hat on, and saying Trump doesn't want anything to happen for political reasons is giving him hope.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure is mounting on politicians to act urgently to fix Wellington's water crisis.  The city is currently under level 2 restrictions but faces tighter restrictions if shortages worsen.  Water experts say that for decades, governments have neglected our water infrastructure.  Water NZ Chief Executive Gillian Blythe told Mike Hosking that she's hopeful central and local governments will work towards addressing the water woes.  She's calling politicians to prioritise water infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s being predicted that interest rates won't be going down for some time.  Despite inflation in line with expectations of 4.7%, non-tradable inflation is still high at 5.9%.   The Reserve Bank is also contending with slow employment growth, weaker business investment, and weaker global growth.  Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking that ongoing struggles with non-tradable inflation will keep interest rates higher for longer.  He says they might change interest rates earlier in the year, but if they do, the risk is they'll have to reverse course as the year goes on.  Reserve Bank Chief Economist Paul Conway will deliver a keynote speech on the economy this morning.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought the Government's 'Māori Issue' will be its biggest hurdle this year.  Parliament sits for the first time this year today and the coalition parties will resume their 100 Day Action Plan.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Mike Hosking that Chris Luxon probably made David Seymour the Associate Justice Minister to try to distance the Nats from ACT's proposed Treaty Principles Bill.  He believes it's too late.  Soper says National agreed to it in coalition agreements, and why they'd do that but only back it to Select Committee is beyond him.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought the Government's 'Māori Issue' will be its biggest hurdle this year.  Parliament sits for the first time this year today and the coalition parties will resume their 100 Day Action Plan.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Mike Hosking that Chris Luxon probably made David Seymour the Associate Justice Minister to try to distance the Nats from ACT's proposed Treaty Principles Bill.  He believes it's too late.  Soper says National agreed to it in coalition agreements, and why they'd do that but only back it to Select Committee is beyond him.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oranga Tamariki says there's been an increase in emotional abuse of children returning to their parents, and physical harm between children in its residences.   The agency's Safety in Care report for the year ending June 2023 shows 9% of children in its care were harmed.   That's up from 5.6% in 2019.   Oranga Tamariki's Nicolette Dickson told Mike Hosking that in the past, harm children have experienced in care has probably gone undetected.  She says what's really difficult is when children are open and honest but aren't believed and action isn't taken, which is why Oranga Tamariki reports on this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The West Coast is punching above its weight with visitor spending numbers. Last year's figures rose more than 30-percent from 2022. It's way ahead of the national average of 11.6 percent. Development West Coast Chief Executive, Heath Milne says it's an outstanding result, for the first full-year of having international visitors back. He says it's encouraging to see international spending nearly at pre-Covid levels. Milne believes the region's being more greatly recognised for its natural beauty and experiences on offer, by both domestic and international tourists. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An education researcher says the government's new education requirements will mean no change for some schools -- and a lot for others. The new government's making an hour each of reading, writing and maths compulsory at years zero to eight. Next term schools will be required to have cellphone policies in place -- but it's expected most schools will implement them this term. Education Hub founder Nina Hood told Tim Dower it's important students spend time every day on those subjects -- but it's more about the quality of instruction happening in that time. She says there are likely to be more announcements about the curriculum, lesson content and method of teaching. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international geopolitical analyst says New Zealand's review of funding to the UN's aid agency in Gaza is appropriate - but should be done quickly. Several western countries have suspended funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency - following allegations its staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Australia, the US, the UK and Canada are among them. Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Tim Dower the allegations warrant scrutiny. He says it means western donor countries indirectly funded Hamas attacks on Israel -- which are why the allegations are so serious. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour wants New Zealand to recover from what he calls two lost decades. In his state of the nation address over the weekend, he claimed not much progress was made under the Ardern, Key and Clark governments. He pointed to the housing crisis, lagging education standards and productivity problems. Seymour told Tim Dower infrastructure is a key part of the turnaround. He says we need to reform regulation so things don't take so long to build. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councils are getting the push from scientists to create their own risk maps for deadly landslides. Landslides are responsible for more deaths in New Zealand than earthquakes and volcano's combined. The calls are especially applicable in Nelson, where for hundreds of years the town has built on the unstable Tahunanui Slump. Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Tim Dower the information will be useful in preventing them from building in similar areas. Smith says if geo-technical engineering can't be met and an area is high risk, it should not be built on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councils are getting the push from scientists to create their own risk maps for deadly landslides. Landslides are responsible for more deaths in New Zealand than earthquakes and volcano's combined. The calls are especially applicable in Nelson, where for hundreds of years the town has built on the unstable Tahunanui Slump. Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Tim Dower the information will be useful in preventing them from building in similar areas. Smith says if geo-technical engineering can't be met and an area is high risk, it should not be built on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you were after tickets to New Zealand and Australia’s next cricket clash, you’re out of luck.  Despite the test still being a month out, tickets have officially sold out.   Black Cap Neil Wagner told Tim Dower that it’s good to see everybody who’s excited, and hopefully they can put on a good show.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Cathedral Cove tourism operator believes the Department of Conservation's latest track update is just another delaying tactic.   The track has been closed for almost a year after damage from severe weather.   DOC says it'll know in coming months if the track is feasible, or if other options need to be considered.  It has commissioned further land stability monitoring.    Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruises' Ken Hindmarsh told Tim Dower that he's on the water constantly and hasn't seen any rockfall since the main weather damage.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the heck is the Associate Health Minister doing floating the idea of a freeze on cigarette tax increases?  We know the ongoing hikes in tobacco excise duty have done the job, smoking is right down and only about 8% of us are now daily smokers.  Tax has essentially priced us out of smoking, they're a couple of dollars a pop these days.  Now, the coalition dropped a shocker on us with respect to smoking before Christmas, when it ditched that world-leading legislation which would have banned anyone born after 2008 from ever being able to buy tobacco.  It also abandoned the move to cut the number of tobacco outlets and reduce nicotine content.  All of those, you'd have hoped, would have helped create an environment in which, slowly but surely, New Zealand would evolve into a nation of non-smokers.  And as I said at the time: what an achievement that would have been.  Not that I have anything at all against smokers. It's a personal choice, but it costs you and there's no excuse for not knowing about the health risks.   But I do know what it's like to be addicted to a harmful substance and the tortures of trying to get off nicotine.  So, I feel strongly that if we can spare the next generation from that and everything else that goes with smoking, it's the right thing to do.  So, back to the Associate Health Minister —Casey Costello— and her sniffing around for information that would support a three-year freeze on tobacco tax hikes.  The job of the Health Ministry and of its Minister and Associate Ministers is to manage the health system, it's not meant to concern itself with taxation or excise duties.  It gives the impression that the Associate Minister doesn't recognise the taxes are good for the nation's overall health.  And worse, it gives the impression the Associate Minister cares more for the tobacco trade, than she does for health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks 236 years since Britain's First Fleet landed in Sydney Harbour.  Protestors have marked it by vandalising statues of Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria in Melbourne.   But Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that despite the visible opposition to Australia Day celebrations, a recent poll says otherwise.   He says it shows almost 70% of Australians say they must keep celebrating it —up on last year— and 60% say the date must stay on 26 January.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida's legislators have passed a bill to ban social media for children under 16.  It will affect any site that tracks user activity, allows for online interaction, and uses features designed to cause excessive use.   Both Democrats and Republicans support it, arguing social media can cause mental health issues and addiction in children.  US correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that Florida isn't alone, Utah has also banned children under 18 using it without parental consent.   He says an industry group is suing Utah over their bill, and New York mayor Eric Adams called social media an "environmental toxin".  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A win for our local tourism operators as inbound travel bookings to New Zealand surge.  Flight Centre data shows they've increased 65% in the last three months.  General Manager, Heidi Walker, told Tim Dower that a close to home destination is leading the pack for bookings.  She says 57% of soon-to-be travellers are from Australia, as well as solid numbers from the UK and Canada.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Cabinet Minister wants the Government to be more careful around sensitive information.  An MBIE investigation’s found a confidential cabinet paper, sent to Oranga Tamariki and 19 other agencies was leaked, regarding repealing Fair Pay Agreements.  It was sent to a union representative from an Oranga Tamariki worker, and then leaked to media.  Workplace Relations and Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden told Tim Dower that she doesn't think it was necessary for the document to be sent to other agencies.  She hopes Cabinet looks into how it treats sensitive information.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People have been left shocked and disappointed by Oranga Tamaraki's data issues around children's healthcare.  An Independent Children’s Monitor report has revealed gaps in information about whether children in state care are receiving medical and dental checkups.   Whanau Ora Commissioning Chair, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, told Tim Dower that these standards of care have been required since 2019.  She's surprised to hear it hasn't happened, particularly as child in care's health outcomes are poorer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes that the increase in breath tests will be a turning point for reducing deaths and injuries from drunk driving.  Provisional figures show Police took more than three million tests last year, up from 2.4 million in 2022.  It's the first time it's surpassed three million tests since 2014.  AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen told Tim Dower that it's testament to the huge effort to crackdown on drunk driving.  He says the challenge now is to make sure it isn't a one-off.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lower inflation is thought to be responsible for ASB reducing interest rates on its three, four, and five-year home loans.  The Official Cash Rate's predicted to peak early this year before falling, and inflation is lower than previously predicted.  Squirrel Mortgages Chief Executive David Cunningham told Tim Dower that he believes the Reserve Bank would like to see retail banks continue to lower rates.  He thinks it would be pleased with how things are unfolding but would like to see one-year rates start to drop.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2023 is well on the green for kiwi golfer Steve Alker.  He took the opening tournament of the 2024 PGA Tour Championships by four strokes, making this his eighth Championship victory.   This follows on from his second-place win in the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup.  Alker told Tim Dower that you never quite know what you’ve got game wise coming into the new year.  His win is attributed in part to a lucky shot on the seventh course, to which he said that while there is always luck involved, he was the one to make the putt and the eagle, helping with momentum.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American politics is pretty baffling, isn't it?  In arguably the most powerful nation on earth, with a population of well over 300 million and both the main candidates for President look pretty shabby, don't they.  The way things are looking now, the country will be led by either a doddery old fart with some dodgy offspring, or a raving egomaniac with a dodgy business track record and his own dodgy offspring.  Out of that massive population and all that economic power, they're the best that aspires to occupy the White House?  Where's the Kennedy? Where's the Clinton? A Reagan would do, a Carter perhaps, even an Obama?  Barring a major political shock, the Republican nomination will go to Donald Trump and Joe Biden will have another crack.  Perhaps what it tells us is the rest of America is either completely satisfied with the way things are going or that they perceive no prospect of changing the way things are done.  You'd think voter turnout would be an indicator. Only two-thirds of the eligible population bothered to vote in the last presidential election.  Three out of ten people there haven't voted in the past three election rounds, not for the presidency in 2020, nor in either the 2018 or 2022 mid-terms.   Less than 40% voted in all three, less than four out of ten.  Is that apathy? Or a signal that people see no point because they don't like either side, and their system is still a first past the post duopoly.  Just as a side note, our turnout last time was 78% overall, it has been in the 80s under MMP.  So why does it matter to us anyway? If they want a lunatic president that's their business, isn't it?  Well, apart from the significant geopolitical issues, we do quite a lot of business with the States, and there's a lot of two-way travel between here and there.  Oh, and we've just agreed to get involved in a contentious military adventure led by the Americans, in the Middle East. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A night at the theatre is back on the table.  The Pop-Up Globe returns next month, bringing well-loved classics to life for the first time since 2020.  Audiences will be able to enjoy Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet in comfort, the company taking to the stage of SkyCity Theatre.   David Lawrence, the Artistic Director for the Globe, told Tim Dower that the shows feature a lot of returning actors and the same performance style, just with comfortable seats and air conditioning.   He said that the Pop-Up Globe is a populist theatre company, and they perform these plays so everyone can come together under the same roof and have a great time together.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baby boomers are back in the business of selling their businesses.   Professional services network PwC says it’s seen an uptick in enquiries from owners looking to exit successful firms.  ABC Business Sales Managing Director Chris Small told Tim Dower that they list approximately 800 businesses for sale each year, about half of which belong to baby boomers.  He said that uptick began at the backend of 2023, as the economic uncertainty caused by Covid is abating.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says the Government still has work to do in reducing inflation.   The Consumers Price Index rose 4.7% in the year to December, a two year low.   Nicola Willis says they want that into the 1-3% percent range.   Rents were one section of the economy which bucked the trend by increasing.   Willis told Tim Dower that the Government is working to make it easier to build more houses.   She says they are making it easier for council to build more and consent the accompanying infrastructure.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is considering giving lethal aid to Ukraine in a proposed new round of assistance.  Most of Aotearoa's support to the nation, under siege from Russia, has been in the form of humanitarian aid.  Massey University international security expert John Battersby told Tim Dower that they're considering it.  But he believes New Zealand's more likely to go where our strengths are; in training, advice, and humanitarian support.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is remaining defiant in the face of a lack of enthusiasm for his treaty plans from his boss.  The Prime Minister is making it clear that National has no interest in meddling with the Treaty of Waitangi.  Christopher Luxon's party has promised to support ACT's proposed bill on treaty principles to first reading, but no further.   But Seymour told Tim Dower that public opinion might sway them.  He says it may be more popular than National and New Zealand First think, and their support could continue further than just to select committee stage. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six Defence Force specialists are off to the hot zone in the Middle East.  Judith Collins has been at pains to stress they won't be in combat roles, and won't be going into Yemen itself, where the Houthis are launching their attacks on shipping from.  The job is defined as helping to protect shipping routes and playing a part in bombing targets in those parts of Yemen under Houthi control.  We're being told it's wrong to conflate the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea with what's going on in Gaza.  Thing is, the Houthis do conflate those two, and their main backers —Iran— see Israel as the ultimate enemy.  So, effectively, by joining this US and UK coalition under the banner of protecting trade, whatever message we're intending to send is going to be perceived in a different way in that part of the world.  I'm not saying we shouldn't in the long term be looking to have closer ties with the US or the UK.  I think it would be to our advantage to negotiate a way into the AUKUS alliance, and to upgrade our military significantly in the ways that would require of us.  So, playing our part here is kinda timely.  But do we want to be at the beck and call of any other nation, especially when it comes to the Middle East?  Is getting involved in the attacks on the Houthis a contradiction of our stated position on Gaza?  I guess that depends on your position on that. But isn't perception the important thing here? How will our part be perceived in the Middle East?  So, in summary: do we need to show some solidarity with our traditional allies over the Red Sea attacks? well yes, we do. As a trading nation, we rely on safe shipping routes.  Do we need to have better ties with our traditional allies? Yes, it's a volatile world right now.  But we also need to remember that sometimes being a good ally is like being a good friend.  And sometimes being a good friend means confronting your friend and being prepared to speak your mind bluntly when what they're doing, or not doing, is wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand wool is finding its feet in the US market.  New research from the Campaign for Wool reveals that at least three in four purchasers would buy again, and when it comes to insulation 88% percent of customers would use wool in future.  The Campaign’s chair, Ryan Cosgrove, told Tim Dower that this study is empirical evidence that global attitudes towards wool are shifting.   He said that New Zealand is rating highly for producing quality, luxury, and sustainable wool.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All signs are pointing to a much-needed easing in inflation.  Consumer Price Index data for the December quarter will be released later today.  The Reserve Bank has forecast annual inflation to come in at 5%, while ASB thinks 4.7%, and KiwiBank 4.6%.  Jarden Economist John Carran told Tim Dower that they’ve seen clear signs that components of the CPI are coming down, with things like food, petrol, and some goods prices.  He said that they’re also seeing some easing in the economy, and all these factors point to the inflation rate starting to ease.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electricity prices are continuing to bite as kiwis deal with a scorcher of a summer.  Genesis Energy is raising its prices for the second time in the span of eight months, increasing rates for 11% of their customers.  Inflation is being blamed.  Genesis’ Chief Retail Officer Stephen England-Hall told Tim Dower that the cost of energy is growing with demand, as kiwis seek to decarbonize their lives and increase their electricity usage as a result.  He said that they’re trying to be as fair and reasonable as they can, as they’re very conscious of the cost-of-living crisis.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour says New Zealand has no place in the fight against Houthi rebels.   Six personnel are being deployed to the Red Sea to support coalition airstrikes against the group, who have been attacking commercial shipping.   Labour and the Green Party have come out against the move.   Labour's Palmerston North MP Tangi Utikere says the move has shades of the Iraq invasion.   He told Tim Dower that National should follow Helen Clark's example, and not support this latest venture.   On the other hand, National’s Mark Mitchell said that it’d be wrong to bury our heads in the sand and say it doesn’t impact us.  He said that the Houthi attacks on shipping lines has a big impact on New Zealand, and the Government has been clear that we have to support our partners in the US and UK.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An immigration lawyer says people are asking to buy job offers in New Zealand.   Newshub reports 10 young migrant workers claim they paid between $50-70,000 to Indian agents for the jobs, but were underpaid and made redundant just months in.   Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says she's seeking advice to further tighten settings for the Accredited Employer Work Visa.   Immigration lawyer Aaron Martin told Tim Dower that some people ask recruiters, immigration agents, and immigration lawyers here how much it will take to buy a job.   He says they spend a lot of time saying that's not legal in New Zealand and they won't deal with them, but there's clearly a group of employers who are tempted.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to face some heat at Ratana today.  Chris Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters are both expected to attend the celebrations near Whanganui.   Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Tim Dower that there will be no hiding from the debate for the Prime Minister, but it will be done respectfully.   She says celebrations around Waitangi Day tend to feature more protests and stunts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Defence Minister says New Zealand has taken a principled stand against Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Middle East.   New Zealand will send six personnel to the Red Sea, as part of an ongoing US-led mission to strike the Iran-backed rebels carrying out the attacks from Yemen.  Judith Collins told Tim Dower that the war and the attacks shouldn't be conflated, as the attacks were going on long before the war in the Gaza.   She says the groups have seized on the war as an excuse to ramp up their attacks.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voting is underway in the American state of New Hampshire, with former President Donald Trump and his former ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, facing off to be the Republican nominee.  It comes after Trump's victory at the Iowa caucus and rival candidate Ron DeSantis dropping out and endorsing the ex-President.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that it's Nikki Haley's last stand.  He says latest polls give Trump a 22-point lead over Haley, and says it looks like Trump will seal the deal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Established in 2019, kiwi band 'NO CIGAR' has already found massive success on a world stage. They toured the Northern Hemisphere in 2023, playing headline shows in the UK and France before dropping back home to play the festival circuit over summer. Self-described as 'semi-rock', the band recently released their sophomore album 'The Great Escape', a coinciding tour taking place from December through to February.  When it comes to overseas tours, Lead Guitarist Josh Morrice told Tim Dower that they didn't really know what they were getting into. "We kind of just thought, let's give it a crack."  They knew they had fans throughout Europe and the UK, but didn't expect to sell out shows in Amsterdam and London. "London sold out three times, which was pretty, pretty spectacular and pretty amazing to kind of have that happen on our first time." Morrice said that selling out these shows was validating. "It feels like we're doing the right things, and we just need to keep doing it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarkets are under fire again.   The Commerce Commission now says it will look into what might be dodgy pricing practices.  If past performance is anything to go by, expect them to find pretty much nothing when they report back.  And again, going on past performance, expect to see that report sometime around the early 2030s.  Consumer NZ has been asking for an investigation since August, I guess Comm Comm since then has been investigating whether it's got time to do an investigation.  After all, it's busy with...err...well...it's busy. Just busy.  Any road up, there probably is a case to answer.  But I wonder if the horse hasn't kind of bolted with the new labelling that’s already on its way, and recognition on the part of the supermarkets that shelf tickets can and should be more standardised.  That way people can compare like with like and decide if they're getting a good deal or not.  It's actually information that's been there, on a lot of products for long enough if you have the time to look for it.  Now, some stuff you buy goes on so-called 'special' on a regular cycle and those deals are actually often driven by the manufacturers and suppliers.  So, if you have the time and the inclination and the desire to plan, you can take advantage of those deals by bulk buying when things are cheap, and not buying when they're not.  Have a bit of sport trying to beat the supermarkets at their own game, knowing all along that you'll never win.  End of the day, the thing is we all have to eat and for most of us, the main source of our food is the supermarket.  The duopoly knows this and rubs their hands with glee every time we go in. They're smart enough and tough enough businesspeople to know how to maximise their profits from our needs.  So, what's needed is not an expensive and long-winded report from the Commerce Commission, what's needed is more competition.    We’ve seen how tough it is to break into the market just from a couple that have tried, we've known that more competition is the answer for years now.  So, the question is: how do we get more competition into the market? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The America's Cup match will start on October 12th in Barcelona.  The dates for this year's regatta have been confirmed, with a winner expected to be crowned by October 21st.  A preliminary regatta will be held in late August to bed in the new AC75s before Team New Zealand faces their challengers in the Louis Vuitton Cup round robins from August 29 to September 8th.  They then watch on with interest as the semi-finals and finals unfold in September and early October before the Cup Match.  Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton told Tim Dower that when it comes to the teams involved, they have to be wary of all of them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lawyer says it would be useful to have a look at regulations around parking fines.   Some concert goers at a Foo Fighters show in Auckland were left hundreds of dollars out of pocket after a parking scam led to them being towed.   Clifton Chambers Barrister Ben Hamlin says people will have to pay the fee, but they can raise a dispute after the fact around if the fee was reasonable.   He told Tim Dower that there's room for reform.    Hamlin says there should be a maximum fee for private towing, same as there is for public carparks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Republican strategist thinks Donald Trump is a shoo-in for the party's Presidential nominee.  Florida's Ron DeSantis has officially dropped out of the race to be the 2024 candidate and endorsed Trump.  The New Hampshire primary is tonight, with Trump seen as a frontrunner to South Carolina's Nikki Haley.  Campaigner Matt Terrill told Tim Dower that DeSantis supporters will likely go with his endorsement.  He says if New Hampshire goes with Trump, which he expects it will, that's going to lock him in as the presumptive nominee.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is again pouring cold water on ACT's Treaty Principles bill. ACT Leader David Seymour plans to introduce a bill to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi by May. National will support the bill to the Select Committee stage, but no further.   Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka told Tim Dower that they aren't interested in rewriting the Treaty.   He says the Treaty stands as it is, and is important for the past, present, and future.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer NZ is pleased that the Commerce Commission's investigating the two supermarket chains on the back of its complaint.   The commission's investigating whether certain pricing and promotional practices comply with the Fair Trading Act.   Consumer NZ received more than 600 complaints from consumers.   Chief Executive Jon Duffy told Tim Dower that this includes the price on the shelf being different to what's being charged at the till.   He says more complex issues include multi-buys like two for ones, but it's more expensive to buy the two than buy them separately.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Otago University researchers have taken strides towards solving the mystery surrounding Long Covid. A new study has found strong links between the illness and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, suggesting those suffering from either condition, may benefit from a coordinated treatment strategy.   Otago University Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry Warren Tate told Tim Dower that research on each illness could be translated across to help each other.   He says there are some differences, but both conditions have the same physiology defects in the immune system proteins and in energy production.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Maori King's chief of staff says his national hui exceeded expectations. Around 10-thousand people attended the hui which was held in response to concern about the Government's Māori policies. National's Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka went - but there were no representatives from other coalition partners Act or NZ First. Kiingitanga Chief of Staff Ngira Simmonds told Tim Dower that there was unity, peace and harmony. He says iwi from across the country, pakeha, pasifika, and all people who live here came in numbers far greater than expected.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some locals want a permanent vehicle ban on Auckland's Muriwai beach. A teenage girl died yesterday after being thrown from a ute that rolled on top of her - two others have serious injuries. A fisherman described a vehicle hooning and doing burnouts. Rodney Local Board chair Brent Bailey told Tim Dower vehicles were banned from the beach during the holiday break - but allowed back from January the 15th. He personally believes it's reached a point where they can't afford to have vehicles on the beach with all the fishers, bathers, dog walkers and horses.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of troops have been injured from an Iran-backed militia group's missile attack, on Al-Asad airbase in western Iraq. It's the latest in attacks on US troops since the outbreak of war in Gaza, with international shipping in the Red Sea also targeted by Houthis in Yemen. US Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis told Tim Dower that there's pressure in the US to target Iran, to get the militia groups -- but it's very dangerous. He says if the US adds Iran or Hezbollah into their mix of targets, the whole region could turn into a flame. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 25-thousand people -- with 178 killed in the past 24 hours.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People shouldn't hold their breath for sunshine on Christmas. There'll be a mixture of muggy and wet days as people travel in the lead up to the 25th. But MetService Forecaster Heath Gullery told Tim Dower the big day is looking overwhelmingly rainy, with exceptions for the east coasts of the North and South islands. He says it's likely to be warm and rainy in central and northern New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister believes falling immunisation rates come down to access, and trust. The government's aiming to lift immunisation rates at Maori health providers, with a 50-million dollar package. Shane Reti says told Tim Dower that this will prevent children ending up in the emergency department with measles, mumps, and rubella. He says Maori health providers carry mana, and have trust, which it's looking to also re-build.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dolly Parton is a music legend. Her career spans 50 years, 11 Grammys, countless country music awards, and over a hundred-million records sold worldwide. She’s released over seventy albums, and since her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she’s decided to live up to the title and release a rock album. So she joined Newstalk ZB’s Hosking to talk her 49th studio album, Rockstar. It features both original songs as well as covers of iconic hits, and on 27 of the 30 tracks Parton is accompanied by a whole cast of music stars. When it came to building the album, Parton told Mike Hosking that it started with choosing songs she especially loved. “Then you think, well, am I gonna be able to sing this song good and make the rock person that I’m stealing from proud?” She said that she didn’t want to be just another country artist who made a rock album. “If I’m gonna do a rock album, I’ve got to do it well enough to where the rock world will think, ‘Wow. You know, that’s pretty good.’” While she didn’t get to record in person with every artist who features on the album, there were a few. “That was fun,” Parton told the Newstalk ZB Breakfast host. “To actually get to stand there, get to talk to them after, you know, behind the scenes.” It always seems like every famous person knows each other personally, but Parton revealed that wasn’t the case. “I would actually... couldn’t honestly say I knew anybody other than Cheryl Crow and even Lou Harris.” Dolly Parton’s genre of choice is country, so a rock album was a bit of a departure for her in terms of musical style. She told Hosking that Kent Wells, her musical director and guitar player of over thirty years, told her that if she was going to do this, she had to be true to the genre. “He said ‘you really need to kind of be true to the song, as true to the melody as you can be also, and still be yourself.’” “I tried hard to, to try to stay in my lane so to speak,” she said. These days, most modern albums feature between ten to fifteen songs, with twelve being the standard length. Rockstar has thirty. “I always said I didn’t intend to do 30 songs,” Parton confessed to Hosking. “I was just doing all these songs on a demo scale, and then I just kept doing songs that I really liked.” With the completion of this album Parton’s done with the genre, telling Hosking that she’ll never need to do another rock album. Country music has boomed over the years, the genre growing and becoming more successful globally, and in New Zealand. “I’ve loved watching it grow too, and I’m just proud, you know, that people want to have that title: ‘I’m a country singer, I’m in country music,” Parton told Newstalk ZB. With such an extensive career, last month’s release of her autobiography, and the upcoming release of Rockstar, there is one question: where does she go from here? “I’m very passionate and very energetic and I have to focus that on something, but every new dream kind of spurs on another.” “I have all these chances now that I have my “brand,”” Parton joked. “I can sell cake one day and a rock and roll record on the next.” Although she has plenty to look back on, Parton doesn’t dwell on the past, “I’m still looking to the future.” “I’m gonna go just as long as I can and I’m gonna, I’m gonna create as much as I can,” she told Mike Hosking. She plans to leave as much good in this world as she can, feeling that it’s her duty to make the most of herself. “If I don’t, nobodies gonna do it for me.”   Rockstar was released on November 17th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Rod Stewart has made another promise to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking. When the British rock icon joined Hosking, the radio host reminded him of his last time in New Zealand, where he dedicated a song to him. "You said was I coming to the show and I said I'd come to the show if you played Handbags and Gladrags and I was joking. But you did, and you dedicated it to me and that meant the world. I thought it was one of the greatest nights of my life," Hosking said. Chuckling, Sir Rod asked if there is anything else Hosking would like to hear to which he replies People Get Ready, which is a song that is performed regularly, and the artist tells Hosking he will "see you there." The 78-year-old was last in New Zealand in 2015 and is back next month for the third, and possibly final, time with shows in Dunedin, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland. With a record of 250 million records sold and an entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sir Rod says he and his team have their shows down to a science. "It does take a lot of planning," the London-born rocker told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking. "Not too much rehearsal, because we don't take years off. We played our last show only two weeks ago, so we don't need any rehearsals." Stewart prides himself on his performances and will be bringing his alter ego to New Zealand in order to give fans one last taste of his infectious live show, saying he brings as much of his personality as he can. "I'm old school, it's entertainment, people want to be entertained," he says. "I'm Mr. Razzle Dazzle, aren't I?" "I lived through the sixties and the seventies and the eighties were especially razzle dazzle, but I've always been a bit of a show off." After Australia and New Zealand, the United States and Britain are on the itinerary and while many at 78 would recoil at the thought of spending months on end at the other side of the world, Sir Rod Stewart relishes in the opportunity. "Love it! It wouldn't be doing it if I didn't love it. It's what the good Lord put me on this earth to do." The inevitable retirement rumours have swirled in recent years, with many predicting Sir Rod to hang up his microphone. He says he plans to work with a number of artists, including Jools Holland, and produce some music of some other genres and take up some new endeavours. "I just want to get away from what I'm doing, I've been doing it a hell of a long time and I love it, but I want a new challenge." In recent years he has become something of a philanthropist, having notoriously been called cheap in the past by Ronnie Wood, most recently housing a number of Ukrainian refugees who had fled the Russian invasion. "Lovely, lovely people. We've got to win this war, it'll be the end of man-kind as we know it if we don't." This is not the only example of the rock legend's generosity. In late February, he visited Essex Hospital and paid for a full day's worth of MRI scans following a phone call with Sky News, in a bid to reduce waiting times. He told Mike Hosking he had heard the effort had reduced times but 10 percent. If these are in fact Sir Rod Stewart's final shows in New Zealand they promise to be full of razzle dazzle, although fans will be hoping this is not the last time we see the famed performer on our shores. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paris Hilton has spoken of the empowerment she's feeling in telling her truth, detailing her experiences of childhood abuse. She's just released her auto-biography Paris: The Memoir. The 42-year-old addresses the alleged abuse she endured at boarding school, being raped at 15, having an abortion in her twenties and her infamous sex tape scandal. Hilton told Mike Hosking since sharing her experiences of alleged abuse at Provo Canyon School in Utah, tens of thousands of others have spoken out too. She'll go back to Washington D.C next month to push for federal legislation to introduce her new Bill regulating troubled teenage centres in the U.S. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She’s been making music for fourteen years but has only recently turned 23.  Nashville-based singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen is taking the world by storm, the Grammys comparing her perceptive storytelling and pop-country music to a young Taylor Swift.  She released her first album in late 2021, and just this year released her deeply personal three-part album ‘Twenty Something.’   The album is made up of three six song instalments: ‘Messing It Up’, ‘Figuring It Out’, and ‘Getting It Right,’ the full album containing eighteen songs total.  Springsteen told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that she’s a big signs person, with eighteen being her lucky number.  “It’s just kind of popped up throughout my entire life,” she said.   “My birthday is the 18th, my parents got married on the 18th, and we’ll see it in the most random place.”  Keeping in line, Springsteen released the album on August 18th. Eighteenth of the eighth.   “I just tried to pack as much good luck into it as I could.”  Not only is Springsteen a big signs person, but she’s also a big manifester.  “I always had huge dreams when I was a kid,” she told Hosking.  “I just had this blind faith that it was what I was meant to do.”  Springsteen picked up the guitar when she was seven, started writing songs when she was nine, and started co-writing music with industry heavyweights not long after.   She told Hosking that it was the first time she found people that spoke the same language that she did.  “People were calling their friends being like, ‘you’ve got to come meet this girl,’ and it was just such an organic way of finding community.”  Despite her youth Springsteen has already made songs with a variety of artists including Mitchell Tenpenny and Brad Paisley, and toured with Luke Bryan.  “I learned so, so much just from watching him,” She told Hosking.   “The way he interacts with the crowd, he’s so fan focused.”  Community is a key part of music, country music in particular, and Nashville is where the roots of this community are planted.  Springsteen has performed twice at what she calls the ‘Holy ground’, the Grand Ole Opry, telling Hosking that it’s hard to find words to describe the experience.  “It doesn’t really hit you until you step in that circle. Until you’re thinking about everybody that’s come before you, and you feel like you’re officially part of the country music family.”  Joining the family brought with it advice from the older generations, and for Alana Springsteen, Kenny Chesney had some words of wisdom.  “Just do it your own way, let it come to you.”  “The biggest thing he told me that stuck with me is not to be impatient, you know? He’s like, take your time.”  She says she has to constantly remind herself that a slow rise builds a lasting foundation.  “The most important thing to me is to have a long career and do this for the rest of my life.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just days away from the King's coronation and the New Zealand delegation have all landed in the country. One of those is Order of New Zealand holder and former All Black captain Richie McCaw, selected as one of the ten extraordinary Kiwis to attend with the delegation. Richie McCaw joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast back in February to wrap the week that was, with Kate hoping to get some family news out of the way early. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Reacher has returned in yet another novel from Lee and Andrew Child.  ‘The Secret’ is the 28th book in the series and was released only a few months before the second season of the TV show is set to be released in December.  Lee Child told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that this is the last of their transitional collaborations, after which Andrew will be taking over completely.  He said that he made himself a promise years ago that his career wouldn’t end with a downwards slope.  “I tried to remain as self-aware as I could,” Child told Hosking.   “When was the moment that I was just running out of gas, running out of energy?”  So while Lee Child is going to stop, his brother Andrew is taking over and keeping Jack Reacher alive.  “The secret is really Andrew’s book and it’s very good, and that’s driving me crazy,” he said.  “He could be better than me.”   When it comes to the TV show, Child is an executive producer and consultant.  “I don’t really want a role,” he confessed.  “I truly believe the best thing to do is hand over the project and give them confidence to do it on their own, without me looking over their shoulders.”   Child’s wound up being a “friend of the production”, as he puts it, as the showrunners would call him up and ask for his insight and input.  Although he’s officially stepping back from writing Jack Reacher novels, he said it doesn’t feel like a huge step.  “You learn very early on,” he told Hosking. “That the readers grab him, the readers fall in love with the character, and from that point onward, the reader owns Reacher.”  “It fades away from you over time.”  Child said he wanted to be decisive in avoiding that downward slope, saying that he’s glad he did it this way.  “We’re going to get another ten, twelve, fifteen years of Reacher that I could not have done myself.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iconic actress, Pamela Anderson, told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking ahead of the release of her memoir Love, Pamela and her documentary Pamela, a Love Story that was a “relief” to be able to tell her side of a story that has been told by many others over the years. Anderson catapulted onto our screens with Baywatch and Home Improvement and her career has featured more than 25 movies, dozens of TV shows and relationships with the likes of Tommy Lee and Julian Assange. “I never felt like I was ever going to get the chance to do it because I always felt so different, kind of like an observer looking at somebody else’s life and the people that knew me always thought that one day I would tell it how it was. “It’s such a relief. I haven’t been this happy in a long, long time. I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders.” Anderson says that while the memoir has taken some time to be finished and released, the timing was fortuitous as her documentary was released at the same time as her book. “I said here’s the keys to the archives, I don’t know what I’ve saved, what’s up there, but I know there’s no dead bodies up there, just have at it and don’t tell me anything, I’ll see it at the premiere.” Anderson told Mike Hosking she wanted to bring the audience along with her and felt not wearing makeup would be the most authentic way to do so. “I just said film it, I don’t care. I’m going to take everything off and I want to go through this journey with people. “If you like me at my worst, you can like me at my best, maybe. I thought I’m just a human being and this is what I look like.” Love, Pamela is out now. Photo / Supplied While Pamela is a pop culture icon to many, there are clips in the documentary in which she suffers horrendous treatment at the hands of the likes of David Letterman, but says it was moments like that that have made her who she is today. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now,” she says “I wouldn’t be able to write a book, I feel like everything happened for a reason and I don’t feel like a victim at all, I feel like I’ve had this really incredible opportunity now to be who I really am.” It’s this reflection that Anderson says she is grateful for. “I kind of look at myself and think, wow, you got through a lot, I got through a lot of things and to still have joy and love and forgiveness and all of that good stuff.” When Julian Assange, activist and founder of WikiLeaks, was introduced to her the pair struck up a relationship in which Anderson would bring him vegan meals during his time at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. She told Mike Hosking she is saddened by his experience and hopes for a resolution in the form of a pardon by US President Joe Biden. “This psychological torture that he’s going through, it’s a waste of a beautiful mind and I don’t know what’s going to happen, I hope Biden pardons him.” Being 55, single and not knowing what the future holds may be frightening for some, but Anderson says it is liberating. “This is the sexiest time of my life, the most romantic time in my life,’ says “the capacity to be alone is the capacity to love, you have to know how to be alone and how to love yourself.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dinosaur fossils and life size models have made their way to Te Papa, with a new family friendly exhibition opening its doors tomorrow.  Dinosaurs of Patagonia, which includes 150-million-year-old dinosaur remains, has travelled all the way from South America.  But exhibition curator Florencia Gigena says getting the dinosaurs here from the other side of the world wasn't easy.  She says their largest dinosaur takes up two whole shipping containers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm sorry, but if you listened to this programme for any period of time the headline you saw in the NZ Herald would make you scratch your head. The headline read "shock as GDP falls 0.3%". What shock? Just yesterday we had Westpac who saw a fall of 0.1%, we have said consistently this country is in recession, and by that I mean the Q3 number confirmed yesterday and the state we are currently in, in Q4. My only reservation is around immigration and whether its heft holds us up enough at the moment to avoid a true recession when we get the Q4 numbers next year. But immigration was booming in July, August and September, and it didn’t save us then, and the mix of funk and reality has well and truly set in since then. Yes, we have a change of Government and with it comes hope. But you can't hide from the reality that the Reserve Bank, having pumped the place with cash, has now whacked the brakes on so hard the mortgage will kill you, if you sell stuff offshore your returns are down in volume and price, tourism is way too slow on the bounce back - once again because of the Labour border policy and students aren't back, which is the same story. The debt is crippling us, the current account is a joke and the Auditor-General's report into the billions in waste exposes the calamitous mess Labour got us into. What part of this story have you not heard numerous times on this programme? This is not to bag the economists and forecasters. But I said the same thing during Covid - you can be too expert, too microscopic, you can have too many spreadsheets and overthink stuff. Try the real world for a while. Go to a supermarket, talk to a few trades people, some kids looking to make their way in the world. You soon see and feel what's really going on. I have also told you about inflation. We are stuck. Yes, it may, may, be falling slightly. But not enough. We will have less than zero growth and we will be in recession with elevated interest rates all of next year. We are in deep trouble. Shock? It's been a freight train of fiscal ineptitude coming down the track for the past two years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    Christchurch: 8/10  Really the New Zealand city of the year. SailGP back for more, having watched Auckland drop the ball, and the beneficiary of 11,000 new arrivals who chose it over everywhere else.    Immigration: 6/10  On balance, new people are good people and more people is good news. 120,000-ish is too many and my fear is there are not enough of the right skills and too many New Zealanders going out the other way.    90 Day Trials: 7/10  Movement at last from the new Government.    FPA's: 7/10  Biggest joke of the lot from the whingers, given there hadn't been a single one of them passed anyway.    Smoking: 3/10  If you smoke that’s on you, not the Government. Let's try a bit harder to break the crutch or belief, if not obsession, that a Government is responsible for everything and everyone.    John Ryan: 8/10  The Auditor-General's report into shovel ready waste sets new low around a Government that really should be banished from public office and the cheque book forever.    The year: 9/10  I have had a ball. We won some awards, got some new listeners, remained the biggest game in town, went to London to see the King and marked our 15th year. How good!    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2023 comes to a close, Mike Hosking decided to take a trip down memory lane and look back at all of the biggest names who have graced the show this year. Highlights of the highlights include Pamela Anderson, Sir Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, and of course, Dolly Parton. LISTEN ABOVE FOR THIS YEAR'S HIGHLIGHTS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talks of impeachment against President Biden are being written off as a politically motivated attack.  The Republican majority House of Representatives voted this week to formally authorise its ongoing impeachment inquiry.  So far, House Republicans have produced no evidence of Biden's wrongdoing.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that they might have ulterior motives.  He suggests the Republicans want an even playing field for next year's election, with a twice impeached Donald Trump running for re-election.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Organisers of the FIFA Women's World Cup are thrilled with the legacy left by the event.  Auckland played a major role in the tournament by hosting nine matches.  Over $87 million in GDP was injected into the region's economy, surpassing the initial projection by just under 50%.  MBIE NZ Major Events Manager Kylie Hawker-Green told Mike Hosking that the event exceeded expectations.  She says the tournament boosted the economy in the quieter months of July and August.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says they've inherited a toxic trifecta of high inflation, high interest rates, and recession.   GDP fell 0.3% in the three months to September, a much worse result than economists had predicted.  The June quarter's figures showed 0.5% growth, revised from 0.9%.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that it's bad, but claims her government can clean it up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Motor Industry Association's concerned for the future of electric vehicles in New Zealand.   Parliament's repealed the Clean Car Discount —dubbed a 'ute tax' by its opponents— under urgency, following a third reading.  The policy subsidised the purchases of electric vehicles by charging a tax on purchases of polluting vehicles.   CEO Aimee Wiley told Mike Hosking that while it's great to have clarity from the Government, it's a shame the rebates are ending.   She says they're worried things will go backwards next year with no form of incentive.  But, Wiley said, the market's now more competitive, and hopefully this will help pricing kick in.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says we're in an economy that's significantly smaller than estimated.   GDP fell 0.3% in the three months to September.   The June quarter's figures showed 0.5% growth, revised from 0.9%.  NZ Initiative director Oliver Hartwich told Mike Hosking that it means we're in a technical recession, but the revision's more shocking.   He says all together, the effect was the economy is now 1.8% of GDP smaller than the Reserve Bank last thought when they set the Official Cash Rate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders drinking behaviour may be improving, according to new data.   This year's Health Survey shows a record low 16% of the adult population reporting hazardous drinking, an almost 3% drop on the year before.   NZ Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director Virginia Nicholls told Mike Hosking that positive community support and education have definitely played a role.  She says she thinks there's been a positive cultural change happening for at least the past 20 years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it just me or are the growing number of reports about the ineptitude of the last Government an ever-larger indictment on what might be the most useless collection of buffoons in the modern political age?  I mean we all knew they were trouble, hence the election result, and as I mentioned at the start of the show no one held them to more account than this programme.  But then there's this new report from the Auditor-General John Ryan on the shovel ready projects.  How big of a nail in the coffin of economic credibility do you want? How big a laughingstock do you want to be?  "How to blow $15 billion" was one headline.  It talked about the advice they got and the advice they ignored. By the way, the members of the media who wet themselves the other week about the new Government ignoring Treasury advice, I hope you read this report and I hope you report on the report.  Because no one ignored more advice than Labour 2017-2023. Also, the report covers some activity of the first Labour term, the one with New Zealand First. So, if you are one of those that thought Winston was on top of his brief, read up. It was a shambles.  Everyone was telling them they didn’t have the money, they didn’t have the planning, and they didn’t have the workforce. The risk of blowouts were all over the place, none of it was set to go, or dare we suggest, shovel ready.  But so desperate were they to appear to be doing something to drag the economy out of the post Covid hole they had engineered, they weren't listening. And so, we end up with yet another reminder of the great calling card of Labour - non-delivery.  Say a lot, do nothing. Announce it, then do nothing. Trumpet it for the news, then watch the crickets chirp.  It is all there. Billions upon billions of dollars, of ideas and disaster, of no planning and even less listening.  Nicola Willis is right, and we will hear all about it next week. The shambles she has been left is almost criminal.  Luxon is right as well, when he said the other day, this lot should not be let within a million miles of the cheque book ever again.  Read the report. If we hadn't lived through it, you wouldn’t believe it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's sunk plans for the Cook Strait ferry upgrade, pulling the plug on contracts already underway.  KiwiRail's plans to fix the infrastructure got too expensive according to Finance Minister Nicola Willis, who announced they won't be going ahead with the plans.   KiwiRail Chief Executive, Peter Reidy, told Mike Hosking that they now need to come together to find a way forward.  He says they respect the Government's decision but would like to sit down with them to secure a resolution for the infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commuting to and from New Zealand's busiest airport is changing with a new Transport Hub opening up next year.  Over the past 12 months, the old carpark outside Auckland Airport's international terminal has been replaced, and a $300 million transport centre has taken form.   Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui told Mike Hosking that they've tried to create a seamless commuting process for people.   She says they thought about how they could make it as easy as possible for public transport, taxis, and private vehicle owners.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Purchasing Christmas lunch will be more expensive than last year despite falling food prices.  For a third month in a row, food prices have continued to fall, but they're still 6% higher than a year ago.  Grocery food's 7% increase was one of the largest contributors to the annual change.  Foodstuffs managing director Chris Quin told Mike Hosking that he expects most shoppers will have to stick to a budget this Christmas.  He says people will have to look at the food options that fit their budget.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's less optimism for today's GDP figure than there was for the last.  Stats NZ will release the September quarter figure later this morning.   In June, Gross Domestic Product rose 0.9%.  Westpac Senior Economist, Darren Gibbs, told Mike Hosking that they're predicting a 0.1% decrease to our economy.  He says the manufacturing sector's seen weak growth, which is a strong economic indicator.  Gibbs believes the sector will be a drag on our GDP figure, as manufacturing's PMI figure has been at dreadful levels recently.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two of the former Government's massive infrastructure programmes were rushed against the advice of officials, leading to costly blowouts.   Auditor-General John Ryan's released a report on the $15 billion NZ Upgrade Programme and Shovel-Ready Projects.   He found ministers received ample warning from officials that some projects would struggle to be delivered on time and on budget.   Bookkeeping was so poor in some cases it's difficult to determine all the initiatives that received funding.   Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking that it's a disgrace.  He says in one case, Ministers announced projects and Auckland Transport, who were receiving the money and delivering the projects, found out through the media.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Requests for restructuring and redundancy support is up nearly 50% as the slowing economy starts to bite.   The Employers and Manufacturers Association says requests have been steadily increasing over the past year, but there's been a surge in the past four months.    Businesses across the board, but particularly in the manufacturing, retail, and hospitality industries, are suffering the most.   Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that we can expect the unemployment rate to rise over the coming months.  He says it's looking like it's going to continue, which is a reflection of how hard things have been over the past three years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am wondering if the Tauranga-based group that have filed for an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing are the same, or an associated group who have busied themselves causing grief to the Tauranga port, who want to expand their operations because they need to grow and employ more people and return more dividends to the local economy.  There must be something waring about being so negative, or destructive, or activist. They won't see it that way. They will argue they are putting things right or addressing grievances.  But that’s the problem with grievance, isn't it? It's become a gravy train.  How many tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars do you reckon have been spent in the past 50 years at or around the Waitangi Tribunal arguing about perceived wrongs?  The Tauranga group want an urgent hearing over the Government's attack on their language and their culture. Nothing more specific than that, just a broad-based attack.  No matter what you call it, does the Waitangi Tribunal take into account the fact that the policies are the result of a democratic process? Plus, the main outworking of the new Government so far around this issue appears to be the desire to have Government department names in English first. The fact they have been English first for decades, if not forever, doesn't seem to have been an issue worthy of the tribunal up until now.  The ACT Party are looking at a referendum on the Treaty, but that is a long way off. So, is the whiff of an idea as yet enacted, and indeed may never be enacted, an attack also?  Is it not time to ask a few questions around the tribunal, given it is now 50 years old and the vast majority of the settlement business is sorted, and we have moved into the broader area of activism?  How much activism do we want? How much are we prepared to pay for it, and what is the value of this activism? In other words, what's actually changed?  Based on the fact it's seemingly never-ending and they have no legally binding ability to change anything anyway, as we approach the 50-year mark are we asking about the value of the exercise in its totality? It seems as angsty as it ever was. Has having a tribunal made New Zealand a better place?  The good bits were those who used the original historic mechanism to argue their case, settle their claim, get their apology, and move on.  Those tribes are the stories we want to hear more of. But what we seem left with are the agitators, the stirrers, and the troublemakers, and the Waitangi Tribunal seems funded and ready to indulge their whims.  To what end? For what good?  For how long? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for a mature conversation on our immigration settings.  Latest Stats NZ data shows a gain of 128,900 migrants in the year to October.  Prime Minister Chris Luxon has said our record net migration gain is unsustainable when it comes to housing and infrastructure.  Labour's Megan Woods told Mike Hosking that it's time to stop using it as a political football.  She says we've got to ensure we're meeting demand for housing and infrastructure for all migrants that move here and make it a good place to settle.  But National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that we've also got to make sure businesses have got access to skilled workers to grow the economy, without displacing Kiwis.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised over how to tweak immigration policies to get the right net migration levels.  Stats NZ data is showing a record high net migration gain of 128,900 migrants in the year to October.  Infometrics Chief Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that it's difficult to get it right, especially with a near two-year lag between policies and arrivals.  He says often ministers go too far the other way when they make changes, and two years later neither matches up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Commission's provided the government with advice on meeting climate goals.   Its 27 recommendations include supporting swapping from fossil fuels to renewable energy, encouraging switching to electric vehicles, and retrofitting buildings to be healthier and lower emissions.  Commission Chair Rod Carr told Mike Hosking that the Government's committed to New Zealand's climate targets and has been clear it'll make different policy choices.   He says the Commission's providing advice on the direction of policy, but at the end of the day, it's the elected leaders who will make the choices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand is working to roll out sky-high Wi-Fi onto its domestic network.  The airline is teaming with Starlink to install the network and after trials next year, plan to roll it out across the wider fleet in 2025.  Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking that it'll be a gamechanger for productivity.  He says walking up and down the aisle on domestic flights, people are already working on phones, tablets and laptops.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2022 School Audits Report's found some Covid related wellbeing payments for new principals were used for personal holidays and exercise equipment.   Secondary Principals Association President Vaughan Couillault told Mike Hosking that wellbeing could be different for each person.   The audit report also found seven schools are in serious financial difficulty.   There are recommendations around financial reporting, maintenance plans, budgets, and Education Ministry communication.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SailGP is set to be bigger than last year when it returns to Christchurch in March.  The city's Lyttelton Harbour will have additional grandstands for the two-day event and is expected to host 22,000 people across the weekend.  ChristchurchNZ General Manager of Destination and Attraction, Loren Heaphy, told Mike Hosking that she is confident the city has the ability to host more people than this year.  She says they are looking at adding 4000 seats for the event.  The 2025 event will also be held in Christchurch as planned.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blanket speed limit reductions are being left in the rear-view mirror.  The Transport Minister's removed requirements for Road Controlling Authorities to implement speed management plans.  Work will begin to account for economic impacts —like travel times— and community views, alongside safety when setting speed limits.  Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that the changes allow them to re-write the rule, to put a stop to a one size fits all approach.  He says the requirements effectively meant 30-kilometre limits on urban roads, and 80-kilometres max on State Highways.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's trial has been fast-tracked ahead of next year's election.  The former President of United States is scheduled to stand trial on federal charges relating to an alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election results.  Trump's case will be decided by the Supreme Court in March.  However, international correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Trump appointed three of the Justices himself.  He says there is a clear conservative majority in the court.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scottish actor Graham McTavish has been calling New Zealand home for over a decade now, moving over back in 2011.  He’s well known for his roles in Outlander, the Witcher, House of the Dragon, and of course, playing Dwalin in the Hobbit series.  However, McTavish doesn’t limit himself to fiction as he and Sam Heughan return for a second season of Men in Kilts.  This time instead of their native Scotland, they’re taking a trip across New Zealand.   McTavish told Mike Hosking that he’d love to do another season, joking with the Newstalk ZB host that considering the last one, the show is probably what he’ll die doing.   After each season the pair write a book about their adventure, complete with pictures.   This season’s ‘Clanlands in New Zealand: Kiwis, Kilts, and an Adventure Down Under’ was released in November.  “I’ve learned so much in, you know, the travelling that we did, my own research for the book,” he told Hosking.  “That’s the real delight for me.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Off the back of the PISA results last week into maths, science, and reading, comes the OECD's disciplinary climate index.  It won't surprise you to learn we aren't doing very well in that either.  There are just four countries in the OECD where students do not report a favourable disciplinary climate. They are Finland, Canada, Australia, and —you guessed it— us. What an indictment.  The Australian Government acted immediately and threw $3.5 million at schools to boost resources. Erica Stanford on the programme last week talked of the cellphone problem and the distractions raised in the PISA report.  Isn't it funny to think that when the National Party announced a phone ban during the election campaign a lot of people scoffed. Labour claimed there already was one, in the sense schools could do it if they wanted. A lot of people asked how that works. What if there is an emergency? What if I need to ring Mum?  Yet, a few short months later here we are, an embarrassment on an international scale, at the bottom of an increasing number of metrics.  Distraction and discipline, or lack of it, are clearly major issues and yet we have allowed the problem to not just present itself, but to fester.  I am reminded of Jan Tinetti earlier this year madly defending absentee numbers by suggesting school post-Covid was hard, and teachers had it tough, and numbers were slowly getting better, so there wasn’t anything to worry about.  What the reports show us was that although everyone went through Covid, some actually got on with it and some didn't.  In some respects, the lack of discipline in school is a reflection of the top-down lack of discipline we have seen these past six years from a Labour Government who had no relationship at all with discipline, either fiscally or morally.  They were a Government for the lowest common denominator, where average was more than adequate and there wasn’t a crime that couldn't be excused in some way, shape, or form.  You have to feel sorry for the teachers. It must be a war zone at times, between the distractions, the lack of discipline and, as a result, the lack of results.  What a mountain it is to climb.  First job though is to accept the state we are in, because surely these reports that encompass the entire OECD spell it out pretty clearly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure as his flagship migrant deportation bill is set to be voted on this week.  The proposed law would see illegal immigrants who arrive in the UK sent to Rwanda.  But the bill's courted controversy, with the latest being some conservative Tory MPs questioning its effectiveness.   UK correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that lawyers have also been called in to analyse the bill.  He says lawyers will have the final say no matter what the government tries to do.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Hawke’s Bay iwi leader has blocked vehicles from a local beach, placing limestone boulders over access points.  Debate's been rife in the community for months over whether four-wheel drive vehicles should be allowed on popular Waimārama Beach, east of Hastings.  Ngati Kahungunu leader Bayden Barber told Mike Hosking that he's had to take the matter into his own hands.  He says it's been a long-standing issue, with the vehicles posing a major safety risk to beachgoers, especially children.  The Hastings District Council is currently seeking feedback in regard to vehicles on the beach.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expect stone fruit supply to stay tight this summer.  The supply from Hawke's Bay peach, nectarine, apricot, and cherry trees continues to be hampered by damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. However, Summerfruit New Zealand Chief Executive Kate Hellstrom told Mike Hosking that things are looking up despite a wet winter.  She says the El Niño weather pattern will help dry the fruit trees out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail crime's already spiking in the lead up to Christmas.  It's 26% higher than quarter four last year, even though we're only near the start of December.   Just 10% of people are causing 60% of the impact.  Auror CEO Phil Thomson told Mike Hosking that this is organised retail crime.  He says a lot of people will think it's down to the cost of living, but there are people out there stealing to order and doing it as their full-time job.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought an energy shortfall could be around the corner, with gas demand forecast to outstrip supply by 2025.  The Gas Industry Company research shows renewable supply options are on the horizon but will still take time and investment to develop.   Ernst and Young Hydrogen and Energy Transition Director, Angela Ogier told Mike Hosking that we have to look at it in the context of climate change and the global energy transition.  She says oil and gas companies around the world are having more issues financing their investments, so having a stable regulatory environment is important.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National Minister's urging the Government to back down on any idea of a referendum on the Treaty.  ACT Leader David Seymour says debate about a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill being introduced to Parliament could be deferred until later in the legislative process.  He says it’s helpful if the content of the bill and the referendum are dealt with separately.  Former Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Chris Finlayson told Mike Hosking that Seymour should scale back his efforts in this space.   He says the temperature's rising too high and there're bigger issues the Government needs to tackle right now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workplace Relations Minister says they want to ensure employment law is as flexible as possible.   The new government is extending 90-day work trials to all employers, which were previously restricted to small businesses.   A bill to make the change will be passed under urgency by Christmas.   Fair Pay agreement legislation has also been repealed.   Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking that the government's delivering what New Zealanders voted for.   She says it's a clear policy that they entered the coalition agreements with, and is part of the 100 Day plan.   Van Velden says they want to send a clear signal this government backs business.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The famous Ritz hotel in Paris has been embroiled in a controversy over a missing diamond ring.  The ring, worth over a million dollars, disappeared from a guest's room while she was out shopping.  But security staff at the hotel got lucky, finally finding the ring in a vacuum cleaner bag after police got involved.  Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that the discovery was a great coincidence.  She says the ring was simply vacuumed up, according to the hotel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vaping rates among young people appear to be trending in the right direction. Next week, disposable vapes must have removable batteries, child safety features and a maximum nicotine strength of 20-milligrams per millilitre. A survey also shows the number of Year 10 students who regularly vape has fallen for a second year in a row. Action on Smoking and Health chair Robert Beaglehole told Mike Hosking we seem to be getting things right at last. He says it looks like they're moving on, and the news at the moment is relatively good.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister claims the previous Labour government mismanaged the economy abysmally. The half yearly economic and fiscal update will be released next week. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has also promised a mini budget before Christmas. Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking over the last week they've discovered Labour's left fiscal cliffs and holes. He says there's unfunded commitments, time limited funding and he thinks there'll be massive overruns, which have been seen with transport projects.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are being urged to look at how they can reduce the risk of quad bike accidents. There has been four quad bike fatalities in the last nine days, with the latest on Saturday night. Chair of Safer Farms Lindy Nelson told Mike Hosking a common factor is the lack of safety features. She says unlike a car, a quad bike does not have the ability to fail safely.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that we actually have things underway, this Government had a good week.  Taking almost two months after voting to open things is ludicrous, the three weeks of counting that is now under investigation anyway given they cocked it up, the swearing in and speech from the throne on two separate days when it could have been done in one - but at least after all that they have promised a shortened summer break given all there is to do.  The media, having not learned their lesson about being Labour Party apparatchiks, did their best to undo a Government that has barely started by banging on about ignoring Treasury advice over FPA's, despite yesterday's revelations about their beloved Labour Party making it a habit on things like uncosted infrastructure.  They also tried their best on Māori bonuses and went to town over smoking. The smoking had some merit given that was, to many, a surprise out of the coalition deal.  But the media, like a lot of the unions and lobby groups who have gnashed their teeth, seem to fail to grasp that a change of Government actually means things get done differently and the reason they are to be done differently is because we voted for it to be so.  An uplifting aspect of the week, if not a small irony, was the Māori side of the National Party capped off by the comments of James Meager, who was surely the star of the show.  In the heavily Māori ceremony of swearing in Tama Potaka spoke for National, reminding us that the stereotype of a white male grouping is not remotely realistic in 2023.  That was followed by Meager, who gave a wonderful reminder that too much of the Māori political story in this country is portrayed in a light of misery, deprivation and handouts, when in fact Meager is most probably closer to reality, being young, bright, determined and successful.  Getting rid of Onslow was easy and the light rail mess in Auckland will follow suit.  In these early days a lot is easy, tangible and reminds us that help is on the way for the economy.  But Mark Mitchell's letter, although creative, is not perhaps the outcome you were led to believe when the rhetoric was flying in Opposition. So, the lesson is that delivery is everything. You can promise all you like but the voters goodwill extends only to the point you pony up.  But there is momentum. Chris Luxon looks fit to burst with energy, Nicola Willis lined us up for the bad news this Wednesday week, Erica Stanford spoke so well in response to the PISA shambles and Winston Peters called for a cease fire in the Middle East (he might want to apply that to himself in general).  All in all, a week in for this country, I am hopeful. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    The Government: 7/10   Underway at last and a very solid start. A lot of intent, a lot of promises and a lot of energy.     Parliament: 6/10  Underway at last, almost two months since voting day. Politics moves about as fast as justice.     James Meager: 8/10  Universally seen as the star of the week with that speech. The trick now is to live up to the words.    The Auditor General's election audit: 3/10  When you have to investigate counting you know we are not up to much.     PISA results: 2/10  What a disgrace. What an abject, intergenerational failure and what a shocking way to deal with our kids.     Singapore: 8/10  The good news is they have the answer and they are like us, except with their act together. So the model is right there.     Tohu Harris: 8/10  Yes, Beaudy is good but Harris is the man. And with Harris you know it means next year is our year.    Golf: 4/10  New balls that don’t go as far. Talk about killing the fun.     LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SYNTHONY is looking to become New Zealand’s largest music export.  They’re taking their blend of the Metropolitan Orchestra, electronic music, and immersive lighting and visuals to the steps of the Sydney Opera House tomorrow.  Duco Events Founder and Director, David Higgins, told Mike Hosking that they’re recording every show they do with near-cinematographer level videographers and posting them on YouTube.  He said that doing their channel is growing exponentially, and they’re now getting inquiries from around the world to come and perform.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Government's issued a call to end the violence in the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on.  All parties in the House have supported a motion urging those involved to 'take urgent steps towards establishing a cease-fire'.  Auckland University international relations expert, Stephen Hoadley, told Mike Hosking that actions like this are to prove that New Zealand's aware of what's happening internationally, and is concerned.  He says it may have no material effect —given there are far more powerful players in the arena— but does put New Zealand on the side of the majority.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes the end of the polytech amalgamation can happen smoothly.   The Government has halted the plan which would consolidate 16 polytechnics and nine workplace training providers.   Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds —herself a former chief executive of the Southern Institute of Technology— says they're looking at having eight to ten providers total.  She told Mike Hosking that a key part of the process will be looking after those most affected by any changes.   Simmonds says they will need to make sure students are kept safe.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best efforts are being made in the dairy sector.  Fonterra's lifted its Farmgate Milk Price midpoint for the 2023/24 season by 25 cents, to $7.50 per kilogram of milksolids.  The company's had an 85% lift in profit, which bought them to $392 million in the first quarter of the financial year.  Lincoln University adjunct professor Jacqueline Rowarth told Mike Hosking that projections for farmers are looking promising despite a volatile market.  She says everyone is doing their best to indicate to farmers what the future looks like.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passion in Parliament from all sides around potentially calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.  Political Editor Jason Walls says the Greens were not happy about the motion to support moves towards a ceasefire, rather than calling for it outright.  But, he told Mike Hosking, Foreign Minister Winston Peters believes we can only work towards a ceasefire if all parties agree to it, which is extremely unlikely with Hamas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's proving to be an attractive proposition for Kiwi nurses.  Almost 8,000 have jumped the Tasman in the past year.  They're part of the more than 9,000 health workers approved to work in Australia under the trans-Tasman legislation in 2022/23.  College of Nurses Executive Director, Kate Weston, told Mike Hosking that they're increasingly seeing New Zealand nursing registration open doors internationally.   She says a nurse may register to work here, but never actually end up doing so.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several things out of the PISA results in our schools that didn’t get covered properly yesterday.  Firstly, the most eye-opening headline that sums it all up: ‘NZ records worst ever PISA international test results, amid global decline’.  Worst ever... think about that and what it tells you.  Then, turns out, our results were most likely higher than they actually are because our participation rate was so abysmal.  In other words, their thinking is those that did take part were from more successful schools so the numbers such as they are skew higher.  The most worrying thing for me personally, was the fact that when you crunch the results it turns out there are fewer kids doing really well, and more kids doing really badly. So we are in the midst of a proportional shift.   And by way of comparison, Singapore, also a small island nation with 5 million people, turns out to be, yet again, at the top of the pile in every single category.  How is it a similar sized country in similar circumstances gets such a disproportionate result?  Then ask yourself this: given the entire world went down, and it was due in part to Covid, why isn't Covid and its approach a major part of our Covid inquiry?  Who cares how the jab got rolled out and how many hospital beds were occupied when an entire generation of kids has been hobbled educationally because they couldn’t go to school, and those that did, did so in a gerrymandered-online kind of fashion.  The critical decisions around tech support, the variation in quality of teaching during lockdowns, the length of the lockdowns in places like Auckland all had a material, potentially lifelong effect on hundreds of thousands of young New Zealanders, and what part is that part playing in the inquiry? The answer is none.  It’s scandal piled upon scandal.  We can hide a bit, if you want, behind the fact everyone sank, but that’s the mediocrity part of all this.  The simple fact is we are failing and failing badly.   The system needs major overhaul and yet the establishment, from teachers, to unions, to previous governments defends it and, at best, tinkers with it.  Apply it to your own life:   The worst, fill in the gap, ever. The worst what? Job, decision, risk, plan... The worst thing you ever did or made, would you accept that for yourself? And yet we do for our kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While a lot of attention may have been on Liam Lawson this year, he’s not the only kiwi making waves overseas.   Twenty-year-old Callum Hedge is New Zealand’s most successful driver of 2023, winning both the Carrera Cup Porche Championship and the Formula Regional America’s Cup Championship in the US.  Next year Hedge is competing in the Indy NXT series, the feeder series into the IndyCar big leagues.  He told Mike Hosking that it’s going to be difficult to perform at his best, especially coming from a different discipline, but he’s looking forward to the challenge.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's being suggested there aren't as many vegetarians in our midst as first thought.  New research from Auckland University's School of Population Health shows the number of New Zealanders who follow a strictly vegetarian diet is just 2%, and vegan is even lower at 1%. Previously, market research suggested the number of vegetarians was around 20%. Lead Author Dr Kathryn Bradbury told Mike Hosking that the finding isn't a surprise, as she'd thought the figures were way too high.  She says if you look at countries similar to us, the number of vegetarians is usually less than 5%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is keen to progress the implementation of his ten year budget.  The ten year budget will go out for a month of consultation in February.   Brown says central government has crushed local government for too long, and imposed consultation on them when they hardly do it themselves.    He told Mike Hosking that there are also councillors standing in the way of proposals like his port operations lease, despite public support.   Brown says there are councillors who have made a long career of saying no to everything.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'He's the man that's there': Police union boss coy on Coster's suitability -Jamie Lyth, NZ Herald As the new Government makes its expectations for Police clear, the performance of Commissioner Andrew Coster has come into question - with the Police Association describing him as “the man that’s there”.  Last night, National’s new Police Minister Mark Mitchell publicly released a letter of expectations he had agreed to with Coster.  The letter sets out National’s key policies, including those in its first 100 days plan, including gang patch bans and law changes to give police more search powers and stop gang members associating with each other.  Mitchell said earlier today that he has full confidence in Coster, despite his past criticism.  But Police Association President Chris Cahill did not give such an endorsement when asked by Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking whether Coster was still “the man for the job”.  Cahill responded with: “Well he’s the man that’s there and we’ve got to move on.”  Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Commissioner of Police Andrew Coster. Photo / Alex Burton  On the letter itself and the expectations from the new minister, Cahill said he expected mostly positive reactions from ground-level staff.  “I think most frontline cops will be on board with the reset in focus.  “I think they’ll be very enthusiastic, it’s pretty clear now what they want is to get out there and put some pressure on criminals and put some pressure on crime.”  Cahill said the letter showed police were being asked to work less in the prevention area, and more in direct response.  “I think you can’t say that Andrew Coster didn’t have ideas around the prevention space and long-term changes.  “What he’s been told now is that he’s got to focus on the here and now, so I think it’s pretty clear in that letter of expectation that that’s what he’s got to focus on.”  Cahill said the ideas in the letter were good in theory but police need more resources to achieve the goals set out.  “The challenge, of course, is who is going to do all of this if we’re losing cops to Australia.”  Hosking mentioned that the coalition deal promised 500 more police officers, but Cahill said he wasn’t sure what this would look like in reality.  “We’d like to see that word extra, rather than just new.  “We already get 450 new [officers] a year, so that needs to be clarified that it’s extra, not just new.”  Cahill said police need government organisations to do their job in the crime prevention area so police can focus on responding to crime.  “I want to see the letter of expectations going to the CEO of Health [NZ], the CEO of Oranga Tamariki because they’ve got to step in and do their job because it can’t just be police.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drought and war plaguing the world's main maritime trade routes is disrupting the global supply chain.  A severe drought around the Panama Canal since June has had ships reroute to the Suez Canal, where congestion is building.   Combined with attacks in the Red Sea area over the weekend, higher costs and delays are likely on the horizon.   Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation chief executive, Sherelle Kennelly told Mike Hosking that the impact this will have on New Zealanders has yet to be determined.   She says it will drive importers and exporters to build an extra lead time for their cargo.   What impact that will have on additional costs, Sherelle Kennelly says, is variable right now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell says he has confidence in Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and is looking forward to working with him.   The new Police Minister has made public a letter he wrote to Coster outlining his focuses.   Mitchell says he's keen to put Coster's approach under Labour in the past.   He told Mike Hosking that much of what he criticised him for was actually because of who was in Government.   Mitchell says it was Labour's responsibility for policy Mitchell was against, like reducing prison populations and removing three strikes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The investigation is underway as to how Treasury advice was leaked around the Fair Pay Agreements.  One headline suggested the Government were shaken by it.  I wonder if that is slightly overstating the case, but you would at least be surprised that something like this happened so soon after the country decided you were “it” for the next three years.  But then, this is what we see at a change of Government. There are people who don’t like what happened at the election, just as there are people that don’t like what happened at every election.  In a way it's another of those weird outcomes of MMP, despite the fact the result was very clear, and we wanted the old lot out and a new lot in.  You just don’t know in detail what that new lot are going to deliver.  This time especially, given it’s a three-way deal for the first-time involving Cabinet responsibility, you get the mix of three lots of thinking.  The irony though, when it comes to the FPA's and the leak, is several fold.  The most significant bit is that none of the parties now in Government campaigned to retain FTA's, so you can't have it both ways. You can't vote for change then be surprised when change comes.  A lot of the coalition document does actually have a commonality in thinking about it.  Yes, the foreign house buyer idea of National got shelved and yes, ACT's Treaty vote only gets to go to select committee. That's the headline stuff.  The meat and potatoes, the bulk of what this Government will do, comes with three-way universal agreement.  As for Treasury, we must remember they are but a Government department. They are often wrong and, most important to remember, all Governments have and do take advice and not automatically act on it.  So, when the media breathlessly trumpets this as some sort of scandal, they conveniently choose to forget this has happened many, many, many times before, including very often with the last Government, and if you took the advice each and every time you could ask why Treasury aren't in fact running the country. Why do we need a Government?  The advice must be treated as a whole. The specific advice the unions are pedalling was that the lower paid would get more money, and that is true. But there is a cost to that. It's called a deficit, it's called debt, and it's called inflation. The last Government handed out money for no return like it was water and look where that got us.  You don’t need to be in Treasury to work that out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s support from the other side of the House for the new Speaker.  National's Gerry Brownlee took up the role yesterday as the new Government and Opposition were sworn in for their first term.   Fellow Christchurch MP, Labour's Megan Woods, told Mike Hosking that Brownlee's love for the business of the House will work in this favour.   She's worked closely with Brownlee over the years and is sure he'll be able to make the switch.    The Police Minister is confident it wasn't a cabinet member who leaked a confidential cabinet paper.   The paper, which was for Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden, was leaked to Newshub and related to the repeal of fair pay agreements.   MBIE has launched an investigation into the leak.   Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that that's a good step.   He says if someone isn't being a team player something needs to be done about it.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows building activity is down 2.3% on the last quarter.  Naylor Love Chief Executive Rick Herd blames the drop on a decrease in commercial property activity due to the high cost of building.  He told Mike Hosking that a lot of the private development work that was happening previously is on hold, as developers wait for interest rates to drop.  But the total building value is $9.3 billion, up slightly on the same period last year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes that new research will help boost the Coromandel's tourism.  The region has now been scientifically proven to be good for the soul, with participants reporting significant improvements in wellbeing and happiness.  It's also welcoming news for the peninsula after bearing the brunt of extreme weather at the start of the year.  But Destination Hauraki Coromandel General Manager Hadley Dryden says it's still been business as usual for international visitors.  He says when State Highway 25A opens it's likely to get the boost from the domestic market heading to their favourite haunts.  That's due to open by December 20.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Jones says he's going to be taking Te Pati Māori's recent actions to the new Speaker.   Te Pati Māori MPs defied tradition at Parliament's opening ceremony yesterday by swearing allegiance to both Te Tiriti and their mokopuna, as well as King Charles III.  The New Zealand First MP told Mike Hosking that if it's good enough for Winston Peters and himself to follow the letter of the law and swear allegiance to the King, its good enough for Te Pati Māori.   Jones believes they've contravened section 11 of the Constitution Act, and he will be speaking to Gerry Brownlee.  He says he's also unhappy with the imagery the party used to organise recent protests.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parnell sewer leak in Auckland also caused a flow-on effect of about $3 million in lost social and environment costs per day.   A massive sinkhole opened up on St George’s Bay Road in September, spewing millions of litres of raw sewage into the Waitemata Harbour every day.  The Institute of Economic Research says the total cost of the 50-day spillage ranges between $50 million and $166 million.  Lead author Michael Bealing told Mike Hosking that part of it is lost recreation in the harbour.   He says that was determined by surveys of people's activities there.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woolworths New Zealand's revelation of a 52% drop in profits is being labelled a 'PR fudge'.   The multi-national supermarket giant reported a $76 million profit for this year.  Monopoly Watch financial analyst Tex Edwards told Mike Hosking that this just means gross profits are up $76 million.  He says, essentially, there's an increase, not in operational costs, but in transfer of costs to Australia.   Edwards says Woolworths' profit margins are still approximately three times more than those of other supermarket companies internationally.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Different ideas on the best way to change falling PISA scores.   Education Minister Erica Stanford says the declines in reading, writing, and maths are disappointing, but entirely predictable.   She says we've been using incorrect methods for the past 30 years.   Stanford told Mike Hosking that National spent the campaign talking about the need for a change in approach.   She says we need a curriculum that teaches strong strategies starting at primary schools.   But PPTA Chris Abercrombie says constant curriculum changes between Government's is a factor in long term decline.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Cop28 rumbles on, and I have little if any faith anything truly tangible will come out of it, you have to give them credit for the latest move, which involves 100 odd countries signing up to the idea that they want to boost renewable energy by 2030. These pledges are part of the problem. It's one thing in the heat of a meeting when everyone is hyped to make promises you may, or may not, be able to keep. The reason we have Cop28 is because the promises made at Cop1 through Cop27 didn't amount to enough to solve the issue. In this latest promise they will boost renewables, by actually trebling them. That second part will prove to be the undoing of it all. 2030 is but a handful of years away and, as laudable as it may seem, just trebling stuff isn't realistic. But the important part, and the positive part, is it is a step change in the obsession we seem to have had around stopping stuff and banning stuff and generally messing with peoples lives in a way that was never going to work. Banning the combustion engine is most likely to prove to be the biggest piece of idiocy yet. Back when they started making promises about it, 2025 or 2030 or 2035, depending on where you were, seemed a lifetime away. Now that it's here reality has hit and the combustion engine is still very much alive and shows no sign of disappearing anytime soon. Britain has backed off their ban, America has no appetite for it whatsoever and its replacement, the EV, is in real trouble in terms of non-subsidised uptake. People seem to prefer the hybrid, which has of course an internal combustion engine. Given we like cars and aren't giving them up, how about more wind, more sun, more wave and, dare I suggest, more nuclear. Boosting good stuff is a better calculation than cutting bad stuff. Essentially, this is a lesson in human nature. We all want to do the right thing but we will not be inconvenienced and we will not be bludgeoned into submission. The trick is simple - whether my lights get turned on via the sun, or wind, or coal doesn't matter, as long as the lights are on. Reliability is the key. Renewables currently are not reliable. Maybe a trebling of supply will make them so. Let's hope so. Let's hope this path is the chosen one at meetings like Cop. Otherwise before you know it, it will be Cop45, Cop51, Cop67. And so it will go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning kiwi country artist Kaylee Bell may mostly call Nashville home these days, but she's back in New Zealand for the summer.  A couple weeks ago she joined Mike Hosking to chat about winning the Country Music Awards, and now she's back to give him the low down on her recently announced 12 date New Zealand Tour. Bell told Hosking that she's so excited to be touring New Zealand, and coming back through the country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourism New Zealand is feeling positive about tourist spending this summer following the release of the latest travel figures from Stats NZ.   The September 2023 quarter saw an increase in travel exports to $2.48 billion up from $1.65 billion this time last year.  Chief Executive René de Monchy says this is the first summer, post COVID, where travel from significant markets like China is possible.  He says last summer, which is our peak season, was not yet a fully open summer.  De Monchy says we're already seeing a strong return out of places like Australia and North America.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Change at the Warriors under coach Andrew Webster has seen captain Tohu Harris commit to a further NRL league season through until the end of 2025.  The Warriors went from 15th in 2022, to a preliminary final appearance this year.  Harris told Mike Hosking that the last year ignited the passion and the want to continue for longer.  He said what Webster's done since his return to the club has gotten everyone excited, and their performance in the last season was the icing on top.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are reassuring the public they have the resources to make sure a series of large protests in the North Island run smoothly.    Hundreds have gathered in various locations around the motu to protest against Government policies perceived to be harmful to Māori.   Large crowds are at locations as far flung as Auckland, Wellington, Hastings, Tauranga, and Whangarei.   Assistant Police Commissioner Sandra Venables told Mike Hosking that various protests over the past three years mean Police are prepared.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Finance Minister is painting a dismal fiscal picture ahead of the incoming mini budget.  The Government's announced the mini-budget will land on December 20th and outline actions the new regime is taking around fiscal discipline.   Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that she believes the previous Government left fiscal booby traps, and she is working through the messes systematically.   She says they knew spending was out of control, but not the scale of financial mess Labour left behind it.   Willis says it's about being responsible custodians of public money.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Child Poverty advocates don't appear to be jumping for joy over the Government's new Working for Families payments.    The Government's raising Family Tax Credit rates by $8 to $144 per week for the eldest child and $117 for each subsequent child.   Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson Alan Johnson says that overall, indexing tax settings to inflation is a good idea.  But he told Mike Hosking that it's just an adjustment to make up for increased food, fuel, and electricity prices, and is no more generous than it was a year ago.  Johnson says the group believes the system could be made more generous to relieve child poverty.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims that the Department of Internal Affairs' new gambling regulations are unworkable.   Among the changes, staff have to note down descriptions of people who withdraw cash and keep a record of descriptions of everyone in a gaming room every 20 minutes.   Independent chair of the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand Peter Dengate Thrush told Mike Hosking that it's unrealistic.   He says recording 20 people at an average venue, three times per hour, equates to millions of hours of wasted time across New Zealand venues every year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might have seen that Steve Maharey quit. I first met him decades ago when he was Minister of Broadcasting. We had a long chat at the Radio Awards and I decided he was a nice bloke. He went into academia, and of course a few good jobs, courtesy of Governments who return the favour for having hung out with them over the years. One of those jobs was as Chair of Pharmac Pharmac is in trouble for a couple of reasons. The first is David Seymour is gunning for them and will reform them as part of the new Government. And the second reason is the Sarah Fitt scandal, which unfolded before the election and never got properly resolved. Fitt is the CEO and she, for reasons best known to herself, put some astonishing views about a journalist in email form, only to have them OIA'd and exposed to the world, which gave us an insight into what a narcissist she is. Because it unfolded during the election Chris Hipkins, who had little if any spine left, didn’t do anything about it. By the time the board at Pharmac had a look and decided a “sorry” was in order, the election had been held, the three week wait for the count period had begun and every time I asked Hipkins what he proposed to do, he had gone into his "it's not my problem" phase. Fast forward to December and Maharey, who is no fool, has seen the writing on the wall and bailed. He carries blame, because making Fitt apologise was pathetic. She needed sacking. The entire affair exposed the deep dysfunction and arrogance within an agency that so many very hard done by New Zealanders so heavily rely on. Maharey had the power to address the problem properly, but failed to do so. Pharmac needs major change. It needs more money, which is the easy part, but the other issues around politics and games played as to what gets funded and when, has bogged the place down for years. There is no golden bullet to get every pill and potion a country needs, but our model could be way better than it is. It could also be a lot better run, with not only a new chairman but a new CEO as well. On that I wish Seymour Godspeed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's fine dining establishment 'The French Cafe' features alongside seven other New Zealand eateries as one of the best restaurants worldwide. The competitive 'La Liste' out of Paris, provides an International ranking of the top 1000 restaurants based on data from top publications and review sites. Co-founder and owner Chand Sahrawat told Mike Hosking that many of the fine dining restaurants that place, show off the craft of food in creative ways.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris says Israel has a right to defend itself - but too many Palestinians are being killed. Fighting in Gaza has resumed after an agreed pause last week. Some hostages taken by Hamas were released, in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners. International geopolitics analyst Geoffrey Miller told Mike Hosking the US is "increasingly worried about what's happening."   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Whatu Ora says it's taking a Covid data breach extremely seriously. The man downloaded large amounts of data related to vaccination, which has been posted to an overseas conspiracy site. The data was anonymised and Te Whatu Ora isn't aware of any National Health Index Numbers or personally identifiable information that's leaked. Chief people Officer Andrew Slater told Mike Hosking they are investigating the process by which the data was made anonymous.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says international relationships have weakened. While international student numbers have bounced back to new records in Australia - New Zealand's figures aren't at the same level. Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that the country went internal, myopic and a bit negative over the past six years - and hasn't been out in the world. He added that "we've just been so inward looking over the last six years and we haven't been out in the world circulating, so we've got to go back to all the places where we had a fantastic reputation". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   The Government: 7/10 Off and running and plenty to do. Two cabinet meeting and 49-long list of things to do in 100 days. Looks good.   The reaction to the new Government: 7/10 There is a palpable sense that this is different, this might be a bit professional and there is a decent amount of good will.   Smoking: 4/10 A little bit of political capital might have gone up in smoke.   EV's: 3/10 The letter to Joe Biden from the car retailers is a sign of what is happening globally. The hype is not translating.   Tauranga City Council: 7/10 Listening to the ratepayer over parking, my word! You reckon that attitude could spread?   Shane van Gisbergen: 9/10 Despite the fact he got all pissy this year over his car, he is still one of the greatest and what a joy he has been in Supercars.   Wanaka: 4/10 Come on Wanaka. What's wrong with Macca's? You've got a dominos, you like hot apple pies. Don’t be snobs.   Tory Whanau: 4/10 We don’t mark personal troubles. But the Green's lame defence of the indefensible is all you need to know about the Greens. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the bet that once people stop moaning about McDonalds in Wanaka, it goes off? There is a wonderful disconnect between theory and reality in this country, especially around things like food. The reason we are one of the fattest countries on Earth is because too many people each too much crap. The fast food industry has a lot to answer for in that area. But then so do we. The reason McDonalds is big is because we like it and eat a lot of it. Wanaka is a lovely place. But this idea with the petition that it is somehow so different to the rest of the country and can't possibly be tainted is condescending nonsense. Now, I'm not in the Macca's camp, I don’t eat McDonalds and can't remember the last time I did. But here is what I know. McDonalds, as they are structured in this country, are owned by individuals. They are owned by families, mainly local families in local areas. My bet is the Wanaka McDonalds will most likely be owned by a local. They may well already own a McDonalds and be looking to expand. One of the things McDonalds does is employ people, and a lot of them. Like many hospitality outlets, getting good people has been, and is, hard work. So by the time the place is built and the ovens are turned on and the locals are employed my guess is that, given it’s a drive-through apart from anything else, it will be well frequented and be a successful local business contributing to the local economy. I think if you look around Wanaka you will also find other fast food outlets. But McDonalds, for whatever reason, seems to be the poster child for negative fast food protest. There is a lot of burger and deep fry action going on, but Macca's is the bad guy? Your local fish and chip shop is fantastic because Bob runs it and Bob is a cool guy and his kids go to the local school and Bob is one of us. Somehow the chips at the fish and chip shops are OK but the McDonalds one's aren't? It makes no sense, of course. So, let's see how quickly this goes from being a story driven by superficiality and snobbery into one of another local business melding in to be part of the community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders could be losing their weekly kerbside rubbish collection.  The council is proposing to change the weekly service to a fortnightly one from 2026.  It says the aim is to reduce kerbside rubbish.  But Councillor Daniel Newman says hundreds of thousands of residents will be caught out, and it will be up to Aucklanders to object.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Henry Kissinger is being remembered as one of the most distinctive voices in foreign affairs.  The former US Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and senior diplomat died yesterday at the age of 100.  He served in the administrations of presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Kissinger was a controversial figure, who was both hated and revered.  He says Kissinger lived a remarkable life after his family fled Nazi Germany in the early 1930s.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A popular Waiheke Island hotspot is being put up for sale.  The Tantalus Estate Vineyard was established in 2016 as a wine and beer tasting spot, a restaurant, and an event venue.  The past few years have been difficult for many business owners on Waiheke, with Covid restrictions, accommodation costs, and limited worker availability.   However, the vineyard's majority owner, Bruce Aitken, told Mike Hosking that the prospects for the business appear to be strong.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The problem of people turning up to emergency departments with non-emergencies may have been overstated.  Medical experts writing in today's New Zealand Medical Journal says the pressure hospital EDs are under isn't due to too many people turning up unnecessarily.  They say it's mostly due to an actual increase in urgent cases.  One of the experts—Te Whatu Ora Acute Care Clinical Lead Peter Jones— told Mike Hosking that we have low numbers of presentations per head of population, compared with other countries.  He says our issue is mainly getting the people that should be there to the right place, to the care they need.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An entertainment industry figure says Coldplay bringing a third show to New Zealand is a great sign for future events.  The pop supergroup has added one more date to their New Zealand tour, making the band the first to play three nights at Eden Park in its 123-year history.  Greenstone Entertainment General Manager Dean Calvert told Mike Hosking that it's promising news for an industry that was on its knees for much of the pandemic.  He says it tells promoters there's confidence coming back into the market, so they can take more risks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a few new faces in Labour's new Shadow Cabinet.  The top 10 has six women and four men, and prioritises portfolios like climate change, child poverty, and social development.  Most former ministers are staying on in their roles, including Grant Robertson, Ayesha Verrall and Ginny Andersen, but Damien O'Connor has lost the agriculture portfolio to Jo Luxton.  Former Labour Cabinet Minister Iain Lees-Galloway told Mike Hosking that the line-up seems to be based on talent and future prospects.  He says no one can be particularly upset with their position, and Chris Hipkins has done a good job distributing the portfolios to people who will do well in them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several factors may contribute to New Zealand being the most expensive country in the world to build infrastructure.  Some projects cost four to five times as much to complete here as they do in Europe.  City Rail Link Chief Executive Sean Sweeney says the industry has suffered a market failure.  Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking that it's partly due to our geography, partly due to slow consenting, and partly due to the ability of officials to negotiate.  He says they try and screw down the market because they think they can get out of the risk, but the market then prices the risk into the contract and things get more expensive.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well-known for playing Claudia Colby on Coronation Street, Rula Lenska is reprising her role in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for kiwi audiences. The stage show is coming to New Zealand in April and May of 2024, Lenska back in the role of Madge. She told Mike Hosking that the last time she came to New Zealand was in 1984.  “I sort of fell madly in love with the country when I was there before.”  “So I hope that feeling is going to be repeated.”  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has been performed all over the UK over the last six months, with audiences enjoying the show immensely according to Lenska.  “They leave the theatre bopping, and dancing, and smiling.”  “It’s a lovely, lovely feeling.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s largest ever squash festival is set to take place in Tauranga.  Over 400 athletes from 30 nations will be competing in the three major tournaments this December in the 2023 NZ Festival of Squash.   Dame Susan Devoy, Vice President of the World Squash Organisation and Squash NZ Board Member, told Mike Hosking that it’s been a lot of hard work over the years to get to this point.  Now that squash has made it to the Olympics, she said they’re hoping that it will catapult their sport into a whole new stratosphere.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a lot to take in this week. There is a lot to do because a lot of change is coming. But one of the starker moments was when we asked the university people how it was that we are not getting the number of offshore students the way they are in Australia? As it turns out, Australia is up over 30%, so much so they are looking to put a cap on it. Here, it's only a 15% increase. This was a $5 billion industry before our approach to Covid wrecked it. Admission number one from the universities was that we were too slow to open. Those that did got the students. Admission number two was when we did open the visa processing it was too slow. People apply in multiple countries and those who work fast, get the rewards. Admission number three was about the Māorification of the system. There was some push back from the universities, with some suggesting this could have been a bonus. Fair enough, but also an admission that university education is global and Māori culture, unless you specifically want it, is not conducive to global qualifications. So, in a series of fairly simple questions and answers, we got a frighteningly clear picture of what has happened. And what has happened is we have blown it. You can also toss in the downtown Auckland problem, where most of the accommodation is taken up by 501's and emergency housing, which means there is nowhere to live, and even if you do get a place, you'll have trouble in the neighbourhood. Part of this week's lift in spirit about the place is a reaction to the realisation that this past six years for too many has been a mess, or if not a mess, a nightmare. Education has been crushed by a combination of ideology and ineptitude. Covid, and the way we ran it, has seemingly permanently changed the way the world sees us. It's not just university, my suspicion is it's in tourism as well and is why the bounce back has been nothing like the bounce back they have seen offshore. Once again, it will be borders, visas, marketing and of course the now infamous entry to the country - Auckland Airport. It is only once a Government goes that those like the universities lift their heads up, look for clear air and provide what turned out to be a damning and also astonishing account of just how bad it has been. The trouble is the worse it is, the harder it is to fix. But there is upside. So far the new lot look at least like they are determined to get the repair work started.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City Councillor says the Mayor's behaviour has become an embarrassment for the city.  It comes after revelations Tory Whanau was publicly intoxicated at a Wellington bar two weeks ago.  Whanau responded to the allegations saying she is a flawed person but is getting professional help with her drinking problem.  But Councillor Nicola Young told Mike Hosking that Wellington can't go on hold.  She said Whanau’s lost the trust of Wellingtonians.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A clear message from the Reserve Bank Governor.  The central bank held the Official Cash Rate at 5.5%, and signalled any cuts aren't on the immediate horizon.  It's also left the door open for another rise if inflation pressures are stronger than expected.  Governor Adrian Orr told Mike Hosking that their statement was intentionally hawkish.  He says they don't see room for rate cuts anytime soon, and markets had been trying to guess when that would happen.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report into New Zealand's achievement of water quality targets has provided a sombre read.  It's evaluated four contaminants —nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli, and sediment— in rivers, lakes, and estuaries nationwide.   Every region needs to substantially reduce at least one to meet freshwater standards.  75% of land is contributing more E. coli to water than is allowed.  Our Land and Water Director, Jenny Webster-Brown told Mike Hosking that the worst areas are those where agricultural production has been most intensive.  She says it's a combined factor in some cases, with some land's geology favouring sediment and erosion.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's got its work cut out for it with its 100-day plan including 49 actions.  That includes the scrapping Auckland's fuel tax and the clean car discount, repealing Three Waters, and passing new RMA laws.  Prime Minister Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that Auckland's light rail will be knocked on the head, although some practicalities need to be worked through, like the land bought for the project.  He says they've made their intent clear.  Luxon says they're pulling out the teams and project's resources, and any useful IP will be returned to the Transport Ministry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Joe Biden is pushing for the ceasefire to be extended.  He is stepping up pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue the release of hostages and delay a return to full scale fighting.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Biden’s envoy is pushing for the scope of the hostage releases to be broadened.  He said that so far, the hostages released have been women and children, but they want the releases to include men and military personnel as well.  Arnold said that the US is also seeking a longer military pause, the release of American hostages held by Hamas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bit of good news for dairy farmers.  Synlait has upped its forecast base milk price by 25 cents for the 23/24 season, bringing it up to $7.25.  Richard McIntyre, Chair of Dairy for Federated Farmers, told Mike Hosking that it reflects an upwards trend in the global dairy trade.  He said that we’re up by 17% over the last couple of months.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of the trouble with Winston Peters and his media obsession is that very few are more obsessed with the media than the media themselves. The media tend to take themselves far too seriously, so Winston has played right into their hands. What they should be doing, of course, is seeing him for what he is - a bored, old troublemaker who found 6% of the bewildered and angry to stick him back in power. He is not there for the betterment of the country. His behaviour so far, and it is only days in, shows you all you need to know about his modus operandi. He is not a team player. He is self absorbed. For all he does that gives you hope he might be on the mend, he then goes and does what he has this week so far, which is to hijack events, turn attention on himself and generally remind you he is not a serious operator and therefore doesn't deserve to be treated like one. Once again, let me state very clearly that his claim that the public broadcasting fund was a bribe is simply not true. I have been in this game for over 40 years. I have seen how Governments operate around media. I have seen how media operate around Governments. This is where it gets a bit sticky. Although he is wrong on the fund, because it did not buy favour, what it did do in my view was encourage those who didn't actually need a lot of encouragement to put material out, that if you were of a certain disposition you could easily see it as being favourable to the people who gave you the money. If you read them, the criteria are innocuous, with the exception of the first bit. It talks of a commitment to Te Tiriti and to Te Reo Māori. That is an issue. It troubled me and it smacked of an agenda. But it doesn't mean you write positive stories about the Government. Labour's entire time in office was obsessive when it came to the Treaty and the language so, as a result, you can argue using the Peters' logic that a lot of people were bribed. All those who adhered to any of the pro-Māori edicts could be said to have been bribed. Or were they simply on board because it suited their way of thinking? That is not bribery. The media, as I have said many times, at least in part badly let themselves down in terms of impartiality. At times, for some, it got embarrassing. But they did that by themselves. They didn't need a fund to salivate the way they did. And that's the bit Peters misses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister won't say if the Police Commissioner will be keeping his job.  Mark Mitchell has met with Andrew Coster for the first time since taking on the role, after previously being an outspoken critic of Coster in opposition.  Coster says the meeting went well and Mitchell has confidence in him.  But Mitchell told Mike Hosking that he'll be having further meetings with Coster to discuss his future, including another meeting today.  He says Coster has to deliver on the new government's policies and priorities, including an increased presence on the frontline.  Labour’s Megan Woods told Hosking that what she’s hearing is a whole lot of ice skating around the question of whether Mitchell has confidence in Coster or not.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's Mayor is looking for more bang for his buck as he looks to sell off the Port of Auckland.  Wayne Brown's put forward two options for the port in his proposed 10-year budget, which also includes a rates rise of 7.5%.   Either keep the business, gradually releasing land for public use, or sell the operating lease to raise up to $3 billion for an investment fund.   Brown told Mike Hosking that the port is a very poor financial performer.   He says by putting it into a fund, they'd be taking value and putting it into something more valuable, as the returns from the port and airport don't cover the costs of owning them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nazi salutes are set to become illegal in Australia after a spike in racism.  It comes after a letter was signed by more than 600 prominent Australians denouncing anti-Semitism and racism.  But Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley warns that the law change may have unintended consequences.  He says there should be more public dialogue and education before legislation is introduced.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Official Cash Rate is expected to remain steady.  The Reserve Bank is tipped to keep it unchanged at 5.5% at its next review at 2pm today.  Economists and commentators remain divided on whether there will be further hikes in the current cycle.  Investment Strategist and Economist at Jarden, John Carran, told Mike Hosking that inflation has been a bit weaker than expected.  He said that the labour markets have started to cool quite materially.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former senior National Party Minister is weighing in on the stir caused by new the Deputy Prime Minister at the first Cabinet meeting.  Winston Peters called the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund provided during Covid a "bribe".  He told reporters to "tell the public what they had to sign to get the money".  Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking that it's a bit of 'Winston being Winston', although some people do have genuine concerns.  He says the media put itself in this position by taking the money in the first place, which wouldn't have happened in his time.  NZME's funding agreement included acknowledgement of absolute editorial independence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oz Clarke is one of the world's leading wine experts. Clarke has been writing about wine since the 80's, starting as Britain's Sunday Express' first wine writer, and then moving over to become the Daily Telegraph's first Wine Correspondent.  He's written over forty books on the topic, recently releasing another: 'Oz Clarke’s Story of Wine: 8000 Years, 100 Bottles.' Clarke has been wandering New Zealand, reacquainting himself with the best the industry has to offer, speaking at two inaugural winegrowers events as he does so.  He was last here in 2016, and told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking that since his last visit he's seen confidence come back into Chardonnay.  "It's about time," he said. "New Zealand makes fantastic Chardonnay, a lot of the best Chardonnay in the world." Clarke says it comes down to the fruit New Zealand winemakers have available to them. "I often say to winemakers, 'don't be frightened of it.'" "People would love to have the fruit that you have in New Zealand." He placed an emphasis on New Zealand wines being different to those produced elsewhere, admitting to Hosking that he's "full of excitement." "So my general feeling is that, that the place is in a pretty good, good state." New Zealand is known for its Sauvignon Blancs, and while there is an idea that the popularity can't last, Clarke doesn't necessarily agree. "The Sauvignon Blanc is not going to fade away, so long as you go on making it well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's three little things I am enjoying about the new Government so far.  The first is the media imploding about the use of Māori language. Winston Peters didn’t help with his claim at Government House yesterday that the media were bribed by the previous Government.  That is categorically not true. But a lot of what Winston says has the seeds of some sense about them.  What he is commenting on is the media's shocking performance around neutrality these past six years and especially the first three years and their lovefest over Jacinda Ardern.  The $55 million broadcasting fund he refers to did not buy favour. But it went into an industry that already favoured the people who gave them the money so you can see how those who want to see what they want to see, get to think Winston has a point.  The second is the tertiary fees deals. It hasn't got a lot of coverage, given a lot has happened.  But handing out a year for free at the end of the study was what we all collectively said when Labour, for reasons best known to themselves, decided to make it the first year.  “Next year's on me,” said Ardern. Do you remember that vacuous nonsense?  Most of us questioned why you would give it out year one when people get to try university for nothing, then walk away when it's not for them, leaving us stuck with the bill.  Why not make it an incentive? Six years on there's a touch of good, old common sense.  The third thing is wool.  Government departments must prioritise wool, which the Education Department didn’t last year because they bought American and artificial to essentially save themselves money.  In a true centre-right Government the market would win, efficiency would win and cheap would win. But there are times in life you want the influence to pick winners.  New Zealand is about farming. It's about sheep and it's about wool. We have the best wool in the world.  Can it beat plastic when it comes to the price for flooring? No. But neither can Savile Row beat Marks & Spencer.    But, sometimes backing quality for quality's sake is worth the price and wool, like farmers, has had a hell of a time.  But merino has shown there is money to be made and Italy is interested, so the rest of the wool sector can be lifted by a Government backing something profoundly local and of the best quality.  See, it's only Tuesday and already things look brighter. And we haven't even had our first Cabinet meeting yet.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six French teenagers are going on trial, accused of complicity in the murder of a teacher who showed students cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad during a class about freedom of expression.  They were between 13 and 15 years old when teacher Samuel Paty was stabbed and beheaded in 2020 by a Chechen refugee.  They're accused of slander and pointing the teacher out to the killer at the school.  If found guilty, they could face up to two and a half years behind bars.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga City Council is listening to frustrated residents, hitting the brakes on changes to bus lanes and parking.  Commission Chair Anne Tolley told Mike Hosking that a pause is necessary, and the council won't rush ahead with the Cameron Road roll out of part-time bus lanes.  She says that although transitioning to public transport is important, it's not the right time to go ahead with the works.  Anne Tolley says the council need to have the community on side.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new $200 million development in Otago's Arrowtown is aiming to put the region on the map as a global food destination.  The Ayrburn project is taking shape on a 60-hectare farm, with the first stage opening next Friday.  It includes four hospitality venues and an outdoor events space.  Project Developer, Chris Meehan, told Mike Hosking that he believes it's one of the area's most important tourism infrastructure developments in 30 years.  He believes it's a destination spot for Queenstown visitors, and somewhere people will visit multiple times throughout their trip.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Health Minister is vowing not to undertake major structural change to the health system, with the exception of disestablishing the Māori Health Authority.  The health system reforms, including the scrapping of the 20 DHBs and replacing them with Te Whatu Ora, was widely criticised by National in Opposition.  Shane Reti told Mike Hosking that the sector is tired.  He says the College of GPs have told him if he makes major changes, they'll fight him, so there'll be a period where they stabilise things and provide a clear direction of travel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early childhood centres are stretched as they deal with more children with learning and behavioural challenges.   The Educational Institute says the increase has meant waiting lists for specialist support are far too long.   It's thought there could be a connection between the issue and children experiencing Covid lockdowns early in life.   Speech and language therapist Conor Fraser told Mike Hosking that the services have been stretched for a long time.   She says this year, there's been a 20% vacancy in special education roles.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's had a record number of international students.   Numbers hit a record 725,000 this year, a 31% increase on the year before.    Australia's government is facing pressure to cap the number as the country deals with high inflation and a housing crisis.   Universities New Zealand Director Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking that New Zealand isn't at Australia's figures, but interest in coming here is up.   He says compared with the UK or Canada that never closed their borders over Covid, they hit their growth targets 18 months into the pandemic.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is heading to his first Cabinet meeting today with a pledge to reduce the public service headcount and redirect resources to the new government's agenda.  The Prime Minister says he wants to find savings of 6.5% from the public sector.  JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that that's likely to push up unemployment and ease pressure on the tight labour market.  He says unemployment was already lifting before the election, but the change of government could contribute to that trend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First says the new Regional Infrastructure Fund won't be a slush fund. National was critical of the similar Provincial Growth Fund under the previous government, with Deputy Leader Nicola Willis saying it was like spraying a money hose around. New Zealand First MP Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the new 1.2 billion dollar fund will be controlled. He says it will have specific criteria to improve resilience in the regions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon admits many people will be angry with National for giving up, on lifting the foreign buyer ban. He told Mike Hosking it's a concession he needed to make in coalition negotiations, and it won't stop the new government from cutting taxes. Luxon says all three parties have committed to tax relief for low and middle income earners.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says he will be cutting red tape from farming to finance in his new role as Minister for Regulation.  He'll take on the newly created portfolio alongside Associate Minister roles in Health and Education.  Seymour told Mike Hosking he will be looking over new regulations to check if they have a solid cost-benefit analysis behind them.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   The deal: 7/10 About time. Although in saying that;   The deal in the grand scheme of things: 8/10 18 days post votes counted, for a first time three way Government, complete with egos and early aggro. Come on, that’s pretty good.   Top Gear: 3/10 There is little enough great telly left these days, killing off the stuff so many watched has got to be painful.   Joe Biden: 81 It's not the number, it's what it looks like. That’s his problem, when he is 82 and it's election year.   Las Vegas: 6/10 They got saved by the race, but F1 is too big and too important to have that sort of shambles on display at an elite level. Auckland Transport: 1/10 $470,000 for a pedestrian crossing tells you how mad it's all become, how out of control it all is and how unaccountable too many people are.   Israel: 6/10 It seems wrong to mark a war, but a pause and a deal is better than what we have seen.   Pies: 5/10 Debate of the week in some respects. Is a free pie a nice gesture, or hundreds of thousands of dollars we don’t have of waste?   Kate Hawkesby: any number you want/10 A sad day for Newstalk ZB and listeners, as one of the industry's very best talents walks away. I am hoping it's only for a while. Believe me, this industry is shockingly short of great personalities and her exit hasn’t helped. I am working hard on a return.   LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So it turned out OK.  Well, this part at least.  A deal is done, the pens and papers getting rolled out today and we have a Government.  You have to say, 20 days on from the final vote is not bad going.  There is a lot of weird democracy going on in the world. If you look at Argentina or Spain or Holland in just the past couple of weeks alone, the fact that some got exercised over 20 days in a free and fair election reminds us we don’t know how lucky we are.  As it has been pointed out, three parties in Government is a first in Cabinet, bound together by what I assume is a moderately detailed document.  You have to commend, firstly, Chris Luxon. The media gave him a ridiculous serve over his mergers and acquisition claims. Even if you suggest, and I probably do, that he shouldn’t have spruiked his credentials 20 days shows, details pending, he delivered.  But that is the Luxon story so far isn't it?  The media, who have been shockingly exposed these past six years over their bias, decided Luxon was a clown, couldn't connect, didn’t know politics and was set for a fall.  Yet, look at the proof. He fixed National, won the election and stitched together a three party deal in less than three weeks.  You also have to commend David Seymour and Winston Peters. There were no leaks, plenty of professionalism and Seymour, as I have said, gets extra kudos for being pretty available to tell us, within constraint, what was going on.  The potential here is huge.  MMP has been ropey. Too many deals have not been delivered, too many people have fallen out and too many parties have been punished, even vanished, as part of deals.  This one might end up the same. But my gut says it's got a better-than-even chance of actually being a hit.  There is genuine good will and genuine common purpose, with people who have a combination of real world experience, political experience and plain, old zeal to get this country, this once great country currently battered and hobbled, back on its feet and firing.  There are details, jobs, policies and compromises to come.  But at this stage - let's get into it, let's sort some stuff and let's wish them well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niagara Falls' Rainbow Bridge is set to reopen tomorrow after the car explosion on the US-Canada border.  Two people were killed when their car sped up and flew into a security checkpoint from crashing into a pylon.  Authorities were initially on high alert with terror-related fears due to the mass travel ahead of Thanksgiving.  US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that they have since determined it wasn't terror related.  He says the two victims, a New York couple, were heading to a KISS concert.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix look ready to put up a fight to hold onto their Auckland fan base.  The club's A-League double header at Mount Smart Stadium tomorrow is likely the Phoenix's last venture to Auckland in the near future, as the Super City prepares to house its own franchise from next year.  Phoenix GM David Dome told Mike Hosking that despite their absence further north, they're not ready to relinquish their followers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tens of thousands of shoppers are expected to hit the malls for Black Friday sales today and over the weekend.  Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking that sales and card spending has been down in 2023.  She says Black Friday will be a much-needed cash injection for struggling businesses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Whatu Ora is standing by its $100 million consultant spend.  Former boss Rob Campbell says the $102 million spent on consultants in the year to July is excessively high.  This is despite it dropping from $139 million the year prior.  Chief People Officer Andrew Slater told Mike Hosking that they've tightened where they're using contractors and consultants and are focusing on making sure they have the appropriate expertise.   He says it doesn't make sense to have some of these skills in house all the time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The finer details of the incoming government will be revealed today - including who becomes Deputy Prime Minister.  The leaders of National, ACT, and New Zealand First have been hashing out the details of the partnership.  Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that he doesn't expect the incoming Government to split the role of Deputy Prime Minister between David Seymour and Winston Peters.  He says they talked to Peters yesterday, who said that's never been done before in New Zealand history.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police cybercrime unit is investigating the origin of threatening emails.   Schools and hospitals around the country received the emails yesterday.   Police are confident they pose no threat.   Police Association president Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that these things always need to be taken seriously, and there has to be a thorough threat assessment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The outgoing Trade Minister is adamant that the country's new FTA with the EU is necessary.  The agreement has been passed by the European Parliament and is expected to come into force early next year.  However, meat and dairy farmers have criticised the limited gains we've secured, which saw Australia pull out of a deal last month.  But Damien O'Connor told Mike Hosking the reality is that we can't just shut up shop to free trade.  He says if we don't have it it'll cost us all a lot more money, make us less efficient, and lead to poor use of our resources.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2008 two kiwis created Invivo with the intention of bringing New Zealand wine to the world.  Sarah Jessica Parker joined the team back in 2019, and their wine collaboration is now wildly successful, their Sauvignon Blanc the fastest growing Premium Sauv currently available in the United States.  A third wine for the collection is releasing soon, this time a Pinot Noir.  Parker told Mike Hosking that when it comes to her business endeavours, she prefers to be directly involved.  “It allows me to be enthusiastic about what I’m doing and talking about it,” she told the Newstalk ZB host.  “It also just simply allows me to know about the business of fragrance, the business of wine.”  Parker said she’s directly involved with the creating the blends, the marketing strategies, the meetings with distributers.  “It’s just, for me, better for business.”   She said she prefers to be in a position where she knows about her products and can keep learning.  “I have friends that, initially, have known far more about wine than I did.” Parker confessed.  “They would be the type of people at dinner where I would, if a server came with a wine menu, I would be turning the menu over to them.”  She told Hosking that these friends were much more well-versed in wine than she was, but since her collaboration with Invivo they’ve been coming to her for bottles.  "’Bring some Rosé,’ or ‘bring the Sauvignon Blanc,’ and hopefully soon they’ll be saying ‘bring the Pinot Noir.’”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allbirds co-founder Tim Brown remains bullish he can steady the ship.  The company's shares dived to a new low of US-80 cents in post-market trading earlier this month, a long way from its $26.03 high after its debut two years ago.  It also forecasts its Christmas revenue will be around 15 to 22% percent lower than the same time last year.  But Brown told Mike Hosking that their idea has been resilient for so long, and it will soon pay dividends.  He says their focus on sustainability and natural materials is part of where the world's going, and there's some extraordinary opportunities to come.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a threat of legal action in Auckland.  It involves a group called 'Save Queen Street Society' and the council. The council is selling a parking building and with it, its almost 2000 car parks.  The society has what they think is a better plan and one that will net the council a better return and save some car parks. They are potentially suing under a rule that says councils must consider all options when making decisions.  The frustration is driven by the zealousness of most major councils in urban New Zealand to get cars out of cities, despite the fact we mainly love cars and have not, and will not, give them up.  All that has unfolded over the years, as it has become increasingly hard to enter the CBD, is we go to the local mall where parking is plentiful, it's undercover and often free when you shop.  Mall owners deal in the real world. Councils deal in ideology.  To say downtown Auckland is a mess is to understate the matter in fairly spectacular fashion.  We see it in Wellington with the farcical 'Let's Get Wellington Moving' and the ongoing destruction of the Golden Mile, a project still going ahead because the council knows best, even though 'Let's Get Wellington Moving' is dead.  They all want us to look like some sophisticated European city, with our e-scooters and trams to enjoy croissants and pedestrian walking spaces. The fact public transport is as shambolic as their thought process doesn’t seem to matter.  Those who have to try and make a living in the centre of our cities are dying. As Viv Beck of Heart of the City wrote the other day in yet another of her exasperated articles, there are 25% fewer people in the city.  Why do you reckon that is?  Wellington is a ghost town because the civil servants never came back and those who did got sick of the trains breaking down, and the buses getting cancelled, and there being nowhere to park.  Christchurch, yet again, might be an exception. Maybe they can make it work.  But the arrogance of councils is born of our lack of interest. We don’t vote, we don’t care and that’s on us, and councils know it.  Look at Lower Hutt this week and their astonishing Petone vote. What a bunch of condescending tossers. They thumb their noses at us.  They do as they please because they can, and in doing it, they wreck places.  Watch this space on the downtown carpark.  Hopefully the 'Save Queen Street Society' actually get to save Queen Street.         See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamilton-based aeronautical engineers have developed a new multi-million dollar aircraft to help fight the impacts of climate change.  The new 750 XL SuperPac, which can take off without a sealed runway, has been designed to assist in controlling wildfires and offer humanitarian aid.  NZAero CEO Stephen Burrows says the plane has taken seven years to develop at a cost of $10 million  He told Mike Hosking that they’re one of only nine turboprop manufacturers in the entire world.  Burrows said their aircraft is lighter, more agile, climbs better, and its tricycle undercarriage makes it easier to land and manuever on the ground than its competitors.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost a half of over 50s are worried about how little they have to leave to their loved ones.  The NZ Seniors Legacy Report shows 41% of Kiwis are concerned about not leaving behind as much wealth as they'd like when they die.  It also found 37% of those surveyed are transferring their wealth before they die, as opposed to leaving it as an inheritance.  Family lawyer Vicki Ammundsen says people are feeling guilty if the figure in their will isn't large.  She says while on one hand people want to be remembered for more than just money, when it came to executing that, it got put back in monetary terms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More squeeze on tenants as rents around the country surge over by an average of 6%.   The latest CoreLogic housing stats show rental growth's running at historically high levels, rising 6.1% in the year to October.   It's roughly double the average growth rate over that same period, which is 3.2%.   Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says high levels of migration is one of the main drivers.   He says wages have risen and the supply side has been tight as investors haven't been adding more to their stock of rental properties.   Davidson says this rise in rents is mainly driven by demand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political commentator thinks the incoming government could have a 'standoff mentality,' based on coalition talks.  Christopher Luxon and David Seymour are back in the capital, and it's thought that Winston Peters will join them today.  The role of Deputy Prime Minister has not yet been announced but Nicola Willis has ruled herself out.  Political Commentator and former United Future leader Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that we're getting an insight into how the government might function when it's finally formed.  He says if it's seen to be a cumbersome, awkward arrangement, that's a long-term problem for the government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Israeli hostages will soon be released, as well as Palestinian prisoners.   Israel's cabinet has agreed to a four day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of 50 women and children hostages taken by Hamas.   The agreement includes Israel releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners.   CBS correspondent Linda Gradstein told Mike Hosking that Israel's said it is open to extending the truce, but only a little bit.   She says Israeli officials, including the Prime Minister, have repeatedly stressed that Israel intends to go back to the fighting after.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Mark Mitchell says he has a flavour of what's coming in terms of law and order policy in the next Government.  National, ACT, and New Zealand First have struck policy deals and are now discussing ministerial positions.  But Mitchell told Mike Hosking he's staying tight-lipped on the detail.  He says the respective teams have worked together to make sure the policies are aligned, and there's agreement in the different spokesperson's areas.  Labour’s Megan Woods told Hosking that when it comes to who will get the role of Deputy Prime Minister, they just have to wait and see.  She said that Labour is ready to hand over the keys, and who takes what ministerial role will be revealed when they do.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deputy Prime Minister debate has begun to occupy the bored. Who will it be? David Seymour, Winston Peters or Nicola Willis? As the jobs at the highest level get divvied up there are some jobs to pay attention to and deputy Prime Minister isn't one of them. Firstly, the job issue is partly resolved by the size of the Cabinet, and the beauty of the size of Cabinet is it can pretty much be whatever size you want. Previous Governments set a precedent of sorts. You don’t want to make it look like you’ve invented portfolios, but the number of ministers in the high 20's seems to be a fair, old guess. Then you have the inside/outside Cabinet jobs, the Minister of whatever outside Cabinet and deputy ministers. By the time you have added all those jobs together that’s a lot of jobs to go around and, more importantly in an MMP deal of three parties, plenty of baubles to assuage the angsty. As regards deputy Prime Minister, the Carmel Sepuloni/Kelvin Davis deal sort of shows that it doesn’t matter. We spent the last three years completely confused over who was deputy leader of a party vs deputy leader of a country. There is no point getting too exercised about who gets what from what party because in many cases whoever gets whatever they get will be a vast improvement on what we had. I think Nanaia Mahuta in foreign affairs was surely the most bizarre and shockingly thought through appointment of the modern political age. I am also looking for rough proportion. 38% for National vs 8% for Act and 6% for NZ First. So, on those numbers, well under half the portfolios should go to Act and NZ First. You need common sense in some jobs. Mark Mitchell as Police Minister, for obvious reasons. We already know Nicola Willis will be Finance Minister. Is there a Treasurer? If there is, does that look like an invented role like it did last time? Foreign affairs is important. Education and health are important. With massive turnarounds required, they need to be handed to professionals, not look like negotiated favours. But Minister of statistics, racing, internal affairs, local Government, Auckland (if they keep that), commerce and tech are not so much. Although everyone in that sector would argue their importance, they don't make or break Governments. Deputy Prime Minister fits that category as well. It's the fill-in when Christopher Luxon is away, its ceremonial, it's a title. And as we will find out, some are more interested in titles than others. If you know what I mean.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some nurses are giving up in frustration at being overworked.  Nurses Organisation Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says around 75,000 nurses have annual practising certificates.  But up to 5% are either not working in the sector or aren't in the country.  Nuku told Mike Hosking that a nurse goes to work to deliver safe, quality care.  She says whenever that's compromised, the nurses become more pressured and decide to leave.  Nuku says that's especially the case when it's attractive to go to another job without that pressure or responsibility.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lower Hutt City Council has voted unanimously to correct the historic misspelling of Petone to Pito-one.  Mayor Campbell Barry told Mike Hosking that decision-makers will need to get the public on-board with the update.  He says that while he acknowledges that there hasn't been widespread engagement with the council, the decision is now in the hands of the New Zealand Geographic Board.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says the three parties working to form the next government are still negotiating over jobs.  National, ACT, and New Zealand First have struck policy deals and are now discussing ministerial positions.   The ACT Leader told Mike Hosking that he thinks they'll get it done ASAP.  He says they know where the bus is going, it's just a matter of making sure the right people are sitting in the right seats so their skills are used properly.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are signs our annual trade deficit is closing, but not closing enough.  Stats NZ data for October shows it reduced to around $14.8 billion from more than $15 billion in September.  Exports have also fallen by more than 500 million dollars on last year, while imports were down by $1.2 billion.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking that the gap is narrower, but still significant.  She says we've had an overheated economy with a lot of imports, and we're also working through what's been stocked up from shipping disruptions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news at Wellington Airport, where a backlog of disrupted flights is being cleared.  Airport Operations Duty Manager Tim Ferguson told Mike Hosking that he's glad they're able to resume service but warns passengers should still expect some disruption after this week's fog.  He says the backlog should clear in a couple of days.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An increase in Transpower's transmission charges looks to be on the cards.  The state-owned enterprise has submitted its proposed spending to the Commerce Commission for the five years starting April 2025.  The charges would rise from 8% to 10% of the average household electricity bill, or about $7 a month.  Chief Executive Alison Andrew told Mike Hosking that it would help pay for the near $5 billion costs ahead for the national power grid.  She says it will pay for upgrades to ageing assets nearing the end of their life, which would ensure the safe and reliable performance of the grid.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dara Ó Briain is bring his comedy back to kiwis.  The Irish comedian has shows in both Auckland and Wellington this weekend as part of his ‘So... Where were we?’ tour.  Ó Briain told Mike Hosking the key to live comedy is making every show different from the last.  He says comedy shows need to draw from the audience, rather than just follow a set script.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does stepping down have a gender component to it? Who would know.  But you could argue, especially in this day and age, that the resignation of Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, the CEO of Optus, is a very clear sign of the buck stopping at the top.  Female leaders are leading the way when it comes to responsibility for their actions, and it comes at the same time we didn’t get a resignation from a man. It took a rolling of Hamish McLennan from Australian rugby.  Both made horrific errors, both were in charge of catastrophic cock-ups, and both had most of Australia calling for their heads. But only one did the right thing.  It's often the case. We are very quick to criticise those at the top. It looks easy being the boss of stuff, you get big money, big power and, most of the time, nothing catastrophic happens.  Your success or otherwise is dealt with behind closed doors, by boards who hold you accountable for KPI's and goals and various other bits and pieces that the wider world never really sees, nor cares much about.  But in these two exceedingly high-profile cases what is, or should never be forgotten, is the cold, hard truth that you are only one mistake away from calamity.  Sport is important to countries like Australia and New Zealand and being able to use your phone and internet is kind of up there as well.  No one would have been able to name the head of Optus, the same way most of us don’t know who heads Spark, or the chair of the NZ Rugby board.  But in Australia you become a household name overnight when you're in charge of the mess.  McLennan looked like a prat. He made a captain's call on Eddie Jones, not unlike NZ made a call on Scott Robertson over Ian Foster. That is yet to play out fully.  For Eddie, we all know what happened, but someone left behind had to pay for that. McLennan, despite it being his call, didn’t want to go so he got rolled, and rightly so, and looks like the miserable sod he is.  To Rosmarin's credit she owned it, fronted the Senate committee last week and quit yesterday. She didn’t pull the plug or mess up the software, but she ran the company that looked for about 10 hours a week or so back, like a third-world shambles. At the time she didn’t front and when she did, she was shocking, the Government bailed her out and the public wanted her gone.  She did the right thing  The lesson is leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and all forms. You lead on good days and bad. Knowing when to quit and how to act honourably is a skill.  Both are gone. But only one did it the right way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s some good news for kiwis in need of a doctor.   The Royal College of General Practitioners will see their highest intake of specialist GPs next year.  239 graduates are starting their program, making a 25% increase.  College President Samantha Murton told Mike Hosking that while it’s an enormous boost to the overall numbers, they still need lots more people to come in.  She said they need 317 people a year to ensure everyone can get appointments when needed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Body cameras and fog cannons have been introduced to Woolworths stores as part of new security measures.  The supermarket giant is reporting a 131% rise in physical assaults on staff in the past six months, compared to the same time last year.  Fog cannons have been rolled out in stores which have seen multiple break ins, while body cameras are being trialled in ten stores.  Spokesperson Denva Wren told Mike Hosking that they're used as a deterrent and have so far been used for minor events.  However, she says, they're seeing behavioural changes from aggressive customers when they have been activated.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for more sensible spending on road safety in Auckland.  Auckland Transport is spending an average of $470 thousand for each of the 27 new signalised pedestrian crossings as part of its road safety scheme.  Spokesperson Mark Lambert says despite the high cost, they're necessary in areas of high safety risk like schools.  But Auckland City Councillor Maurice Williamson told Mike Hosking that his time as Transport Minister shows it can be done for much cheaper.  He says they spent nowhere near that amount of money on the photo driver's licence, and he claims the road toll came down every year as a direct result.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The manner of talks to form a government could be a sign for the next term.  National, ACT, and New Zealand First have remained tight-lipped on the policy details as they continue to work towards finalising a governing deal.  Former National Party Deputy Leader Paula Bennett told Mike Hosking that that suggests they're working respectfully together.  She thinks that holds true for what they're going to try to do over the next three years: have the conversations among themselves, and then come out strongly in agreement.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advocates are warning about the prevalence of online gambling among high school students.  An investigation by Newstalk ZB has found young people are betting on sport and online casino sites during the school day.  Problem Gambling Foundation spokesperson Andree Froude told Mike Hosking that gambling at school is becoming increasingly common.  She says gambling has become normalised among these groups.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tour bus access to one of the best views in the country is being restricted due to safety concerns.  Signs stating 'no coaches' were placed in the Lake Clearwater hut settlement by the Ashburton District Council in June.  It's been amended to ban coaches over 20 seats following a hearing.  Ashburton Mayor, Neil Brown, told Mike Hosking that it's been problematic for Bach owners.  He says the road is unsealed and the buses create dust, making it a safety issue.  Brown says the buses now park at the main road and passengers walk 300 metres to the lake's edge.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Details remain scarce on how far along coalition negotiations are. Incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon says National, Act and New Zealand First have about three issues to settle. The trio have been meeting in Auckland since Wednesday, where Luxon now believes they'll stay for the next few days. Act Leader David Seymour told AM a deal could be struck 'any day now'. Although, Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking it appears progress stalled over the weekend. He says it's been the Peters-Luxon show the entire team, with the pair going in and out of meetings saying how close a deal is every time, but giving nothing further.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders with ADHD, are being forced to switch medication, after supply chain issues have meant that a popular drug is no longer available. Four thousand people no longer have access to Teva [tee va] , a popular stimulant drug used to treat ADHD, and have been left scrambling to adjust to alternative medication. ADHD New Zealand's Darrin Bull told Mike Hosking the issue isn't going away anytime soon.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel is hopeful of reaching a deal with Hamas to release hostages in the "coming days". Correspondent Haggai Matar told told Mike Hosking that there are lots of rumours going around, but little is known for certain. He says there is some talk about a deal of 50 to 80 people being released, including women, children and migrant workers.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the weirdest debates of the modern age, and one that doesn’t seem to want to go away, is this business of pay transparency. It's been back in the headlines once again this week. In some places in America they have rules and if you don’t comply they fine you. Not surprisingly, it's in the more liberal states like California, which I assume gives you an insight of what the whole idea is all about. It's essentially communism - by everyone knowing what everyone earns we are all equal and in being equal life is fair. As part of the push for transparency it is suggested by those in the recruitment game that jobs with advertised salaries attract more applications. It's hardly a surprise, given if you don’t know what you are dealing with, why would you bother? But in reality the way you get around that is salary bands. You advertise a decent size band and that way it is open to negotiation around experience and skill. Some in the recruitment game argue a job should come with a salary, not the "person". How they argue that with a straight face I have no idea. The person who cooked your vindaloo last Friday can cook and is paid to do so, but is he worth the same as Gordon Ramsay? . So is it the job or the person? Income is about talent, although not always. In some cases you would struggle to separate out a bus driver, therefore they are paid the same. Teachers who you can separate out in terms of talent should be paid on talent, but aren't. That is why, in part, our education system is so hopelessly lacking in results. But many many jobs are not just "jobs". They are endeavours driven by skill, experience and talent and that is why you pay some more than others. And because that is, in part, open to interpretation it is madness to have everyone in on the debate. The greatest hurdle of all is the human condition. Of course we would love to know what everyone earns. Who wouldn’t? But, like the card trick, once you know it's ruined. It's ruined because you are furious, or ropeable, or insulted, or devastated, or feel robbed, or elated, or shocked, depending of course on what you have just found out. Is the person next to you, who is a doofus, getting more than you and if they are what sort of scandal is that? And so it goes. The lesson is - be careful what you wish for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new twist in the recruitment methods of The Hilton Australia.  Instead of a traditional CV, the company is asking for candidates to create a short video demonstrating how they’d go above and beyond for their guests.  The video would then be uploaded as a public TikTok.  Founder of Role Call, Vanesha Din, told Mike Hosking that while she is concerned about the privacy issues, she does think it is a positive move.  She said that there needs to be a change in how companies are engaging with their future workforce as they want to choose work in a different way than what’s currently being offered.  Din said as long as this video method is supported by a really good hiring process and still includes other methods of applying, it could be a positive decision.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   The Government: 4/10 For the third week - what Government?   David Seymour: 7/10 Star of the show so far. He's been cordial, collegial and, within constraint, has kept us up to date.   Winston Peters: 3/10 Nothing changes.   Chris Luxon: 6/10 Could be higher if he delivers. But the pressure and expectation now grows by the day.   Ginny Andersen: 4/10 Clearly she is not Snow White, but by the end of the angst and allegations I don’t think the scandal was there that some in the media were hoping for.   Congestion charges: 2/10 When you look at London and still want to go ahead you are driven by ideology, not reality or common sense.   McDonalds and Crocs: 2/10 You should be ashamed of yourselves.   The Beatles: 7/10 New record and a new record, for the record. Another number 1 with a 60 year gap since the last. That's cool. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breast cancer experts are hopeful after a new study has shed light on how pre-existing medication could be used to prevent the disease.  A hormone drug that is currently prescribed to treat cancers in older women has been found to also have preventative qualities when given to those with family history of breast cancer.  Adele Gautier from the Breast Cancer Foundation told Mike Hosking that it's promising.  She says that unlike quitting smoking or applying sunscreen, breast cancer has, until now, had no obvious preventative measures.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s believed that US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping's relationship still has a way to go.   The pair have met in San Francisco around APEC, where they discussed disrupting fentanyl drug production, resuming military communications, and assessing AI risk.   Biden has since doubled down on his comments calling Xi a dictator.   Otago University international politics expert Nicholas Khoo told Mike Hosking that there's very basic structural problems in the relationship.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Joe Biden is calling talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping constructive and productive.   The pair have met in San Francisco, committing to resuming military communications and investigating AI risks.  They've also agreed to reduce the flow of precursor chemicals from China to counter the US's fentanyl drug crisis.  On China's side, US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Xi criticized what he called America's efforts to contain China's growth. He said that the two are engaging with each other but many of the key issues are still unsettled.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s believed that Auckland's surging rental prices won't stop anytime soon.   According to global realtor and research firm Knight Frank, it's among the top three most expensive cities to rent in.   The price for prime property has risen 6% in the six months to September, second to Sydney and Singapore.   Aspire Property Management Managing Director Mike Atkinson told Mike Hosking that migrant arrivals continue to push prices.   He says properties are still renting after about a fortnight on the market, even with raised prices, so rents will probably continue to go higher.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scepticism about the Reserve Bank's plan to add muscle so it can intervene in the currency market.   It's buying and borrowing more foreign currency assets to protect the economy from a big shock.   Former Westpac Treasurer Jim Reardon says it's an idea that sounds good in theory but would have very little value.   He told Mike Hosking that he's not sure the bank has enough resources to affect the market enough.    Reardon says history has shown the market will correct itself.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon, Winston Peters, and David Seymour appear to be getting very close to a deal for forming the new government.  Talks continued into the night in central Auckland and are set to resume today, Luxon and Peters describing the meetings as professional, but robust.  Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that having a deal reached by Sunday isn't completely out of the question.  He says they're now working on policy specifics and cabinet positions, which are usually left until the end of negotiations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dolly Parton is a music legend. Her career spans 50 years, 11 Grammys, countless country music awards, and over a hundred-million records sold worldwide. She’s released over seventy albums, and since her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she’s decided to live up to the title and release a rock album. So she joined Newstalk ZB’s Hosking to talk her 49th studio album, Rockstar. It features both original songs as well as covers of iconic hits, and on 27 of the 30 tracks Parton is accompanied by a whole cast of music stars. When it came to building the album, Parton told Mike Hosking that it started with choosing songs she especially loved. “Then you think, well, am I gonna be able to sing this song good and make the rock person that I’m stealing from proud?” She said that she didn’t want to be just another country artist who made a rock album. “If I’m gonna do a rock album, I’ve got to do it well enough to where the rock world will think, ‘Wow. You know, that’s pretty good.’” While she didn’t get to record in person with every artist who features on the album, there were a few. “That was fun,” Parton told the Newstalk ZB Breakfast host. “To actually get to stand there, get to talk to them after, you know, behind the scenes.” It always seems like every famous person knows each other personally, but Parton revealed that wasn’t the case. “I would actually... couldn’t honestly say I knew anybody other than Cheryl Crow and even Lou Harris.” Dolly Parton’s genre of choice is country, so a rock album was a bit of a departure for her in terms of musical style. She told Hosking that Kent Wells, her musical director and guitar player of over thirty years, told her that if she was going to do this, she had to be true to the genre. “He said ‘you really need to kind of be true to the song, as true to the melody as you can be also, and still be yourself.’” “I tried hard to, to try to stay in my lane so to speak,” she said. These days, most modern albums feature between ten to fifteen songs, with twelve being the standard length. Rockstar has thirty. “I always said I didn’t intend to do 30 songs,” Parton confessed to Hosking. “I was just doing all these songs on a demo scale, and then I just kept doing songs that I really liked.” With the completion of this album Parton’s done with the genre, telling Hosking that she’ll never need to do another rock album. Country music has boomed over the years, the genre growing and becoming more successful globally, and in New Zealand. “I’ve loved watching it grow too, and I’m just proud, you know, that people want to have that title: ‘I’m a country singer, I’m in country music,” Parton told Newstalk ZB. With such an extensive career, last month’s release of her autobiography, and the upcoming release of Rockstar, there is one question: where does she go from here? “I’m very passionate and very energetic and I have to focus that on something, but every new dream kind of spurs on another.” “I have all these chances now that I have my “brand,”” Parton joked. “I can sell cake one day and a rock and roll record on the next.” Although she has plenty to look back on, Parton doesn’t dwell on the past, “I’m still looking to the future.” “I’m gonna go just as long as I can and I’m gonna, I’m gonna create as much as I can,” she told Mike Hosking. She plans to leave as much good in this world as she can, feeling that it’s her duty to make the most of herself. “If I don’t, nobodies gonna do it for me.”   Rockstar is released on November 17th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a problem is, by and large, one of perception, we seem to have very successfully managed to work ourselves into a weird sort of lather over home ownership.  The banks have all been announcing profits in the past week or so and there has been plenty of profit to announce.  ANZ in Australia decided to tell us that they feared home ownership is becoming the domain of the rich, and upon hearing that the local CEO of the bank, Antonia Watson, entered the debate suggesting she thought the same thing.  Yet, we do this against the backdrop of first home buyers being represented by the largest presence in the market ever; 27% of all home sales go to first timers.  Are they all rich?  That, I guess, is your first question - what is rich?  Who decides what rich is? Is it kept simple by defining it by just house ownership?  We forget in our modern-day obsession that home ownership has always been hard. It doesn't mean you had to be rich, but it was always hard.  Chris Luxon's story in the campaign debate about him and his wife sitting in a furniture-less lounge in their first house painted the picture of many a first home buyer.  I was the same at the age of 18. I had a house but that was all.  There is some truth in the idea that expectation has changed. Once two or three beds with a bathroom would do, now it's two bathrooms and a good area for schools, or a deck, or some indoor-outdoor flow.  Then you've got the banks themselves, or at least the Reserve Bank. Needing 20% for a deposit in a major city is a couple of hundred grand. Now, that is hard. Harder than it needs to be.  5% is plenty. Housing is a very stable commodity in this country and if you are in a town or city where the average cost is $600,000, 5% is $30,000. That’s doable.  For better or worse, we obsess about housing. We think it’s a right, which it never was. But that’s part of the angst and that's why we obsess about prices and builds and consents.  The simple truth is for some, housing was always a stretch and always will be. But there are too many of us who started with barely anything, sacrificed hard, did our homework, bought smart and started the climb.  You want it? You can do it.  The 27% number tells you that is still the reality.  The rest, the commentary - that’s just rhetoric. You buy into that, you lose before you start. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland councillors are meeting shortly for a discussion about proposed congestion charges.  Mayor Wayne Brown wants to have the charges in place as soon as possible, potentially with discounts for Gold Card holders and people on low incomes.  Manurewa-Papakura Councillor Angela Dalton told Mike Hosking that she believes the idea has sufficient enough support around the council table to proceed.  Waitakere Councillor Shane Henderson says he's open to the idea as long as it's designed right.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for New Zealand to develop more specialist children's hospitals around the country.  It follows new research that reveals that Kiwi kids are dying from serious trauma injuries at twice the rate of those in the Australian state of Victoria.  In Victoria, children under 16 are sent to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.  Here, children are sent to a range of hospitals, depending on their location, with varying levels of care.  Lead Researcher Doctor Warwick Teague told Mike Hosking that Australia's system may be key a factor in increasing survival rates for New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headwinds are continuing to hurt the regional economy, with warnings of a primary sector slowdown.  Infometrics' latest economic monitor for the three months to September shows economic growth slowing compared to earlier in the year.  Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that population growth has supported some areas like Auckland.  He says areas like Northland haven't had as many international arrivals, meaning spending growth hasn't been as solid recently.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's economy looks to be at the front of Xi Jinping's mind ahead of his meeting with Joe Biden.  The two are due to meet this morning in San Francisco ahead of the APEC summit, the first time they've met in a year.  Xi's visit comes as China's economy is plagued by unprecedented housing prices, and record youth unemployment levels.  University of Mary Washington Political Science Professor, Elizabeth Larus, told Mike Hosking that Xi is pleading with US businesses to keep investing in China.  She says China can't really do due diligence with US investors as US investment has nearly dried up due to a national security law making investors more cautious.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says a huge number of issues have been worked through in coalition negotiations and remains bullish a deal could be struck in coming days.  The ACT Leader met with National's Christopher Luxon and New Zealand First's Winston Peters for their first three-way meeting at an Auckland hotel yesterday.  Peters briefly returned last night, seemingly for further talks.  Seymour told Mike Hosking that they've narrowed down what areas of disagreement remain but wouldn't be pressed on specifics.  He says all three have promised not to disclose what issues remain, but you can see from the election campaigns what priorities each party has.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps are set to play their semifinal match against India tonight, aiming for a spot in the finals.  India lost their last four knockout matches against the Black Caps, and the team's hoping to maintain that winning streak.  Black Cap Tim Southee told Mike Hosking that whoever turns up over the next couple of games walks away with their hands full.  He said that you have to believe you have a chance, that anything can happen.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby's community boss Steve Lancaster has highlighted the effect of the Black Ferns World Cup victory last year on the grassroots game.   Women's participation in the playing, coaching, and refereeing sectors has increased in the governing body's latest review.   Lancaster told Mike Hosking that the Ferns performed really well and were great role models for young women and girls around the country.  He also said there’s been significant investment in infrastructure around the country, the upgraded facilities providing more opportunities to play.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Mark Mitchell is defending his party as the clock ticks on coalition talks.   Winston Peters didn't turn up to an expected meeting in Wellington yesterday, so both Christopher Luxon and David Seymour have flown up to Auckland for a meeting today.   Mitchell told Mike Hosking that he's putting the delay down to the three-week gap in receiving the special votes.   But Labour MP Kieran McAnulty told Mike Hosking that this negotiation has taken longer than most, even though it should have been easier.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of Southlanders has come together to save their local pub.  Six locals have raised funds for a deposit to buy the Waikaka Royal Hotel.  The eastern Southland hotel has been a beloved institution for more than a century, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2018.  Waikaka Hotel Enhancement Company Director Jason Cleland told Mike Hosking that they're now looking for community support to sell shares in the pub.  He says it's an investment to keep the local watering hole open.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand First MP's showing sympathy towards David Seymour's position on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ACT wants a referendum on Treaty principles, and signalled it's a priority in post-election talks. Shane Jones told Radio Waatea the courts have been liberal in their interpretation of the Treaty, and he understands why Seymour wants it tidied up.  Former National Party Treaty Minister Chris Finlayson told Mike Hosking that while he is against the referendum, Jones did raise a good point about the Waitangi Tribunal.  The Tribunal was formed in 1975 so, he said, a 50-year review of its role is a good idea.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a view that Winston Peters is playing power games as David Seymour and Christopher Luxon prepare for coalition talks in Auckland.   Winston Peters failed to make it to an expected three-way meeting in Wellington yesterday.   Former New Zealand First MP Andrew Williams told Mike Hosking that Peters is showing his experience.  He said that Peters entered Parliament in 1979, when Luxon was only nine and Seymour was yet to be born.  I think, Williams said, that Winston is trying to give them a real lesson in politics 101 and calling the shots.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's controversial Golden Mile project could have its day in court.  The Wellington City Council says a judicial review application has been lodged over the contentious transport plan from opposition group Guardians of the Golden Mile.  Newstalk ZB has revealed the main contract for the policy is still unsigned more than a month after the election.  Guardians of the Golden Mile spokesperson Barry Wilson told Mike Hosking the project is a 'question mark' under the new government.  He says they have to ask if it's a wise spend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Anthony Albanese a genius, or has he landed us with a headache we don’t know how to get out of?   In signing up Tuvalu the way he has and offering an easy entry into Australia, who is next? Are we expected to do the same, or similar?  If we are, what is the criteria? We save a place from climate change? How does that work?  What is the trigger point? When they are knee deep instead of ankle deep?   If we are offering them free entry to the country, is that everyone and all their families, whether that family lives on an island or not?   If we are offering free entry to New Zealand or Australia does that mean we stop the climate related aid in the meantime, given we have already admitted the end point is a relocation of country?  Do we offer welfare if they can't get work when they arrive? Is it open to a change of Government? There are a million questions and not quite that many answers.  And the bigger, more overarching question - is it really about climate change or is it really about China, in the sense Tuvalu can't do anything strategically without the say so of Australia?  If Australia is now the one-stop shop for geo-political decision making in the Pacific, where is it we fit into that model? What happens if we don’t agree?  Can the Solomon Islands sign the same deal despite the fact they already have a deal with China? Does it apply to all the Pacific or just the most vulnerable islands?  Does it impact arrangements we already have, like the various worker programmes? Do we just have an open door, no barrier, back and forward sort of arrangement from here on in?   What about China? In them seeing this do they up the ante and increase the aid and loans and assistance? If they do, do we counter their counter?   You might remember one of the first things the Government here of 2017 did, at the behest of Winston Peters, was to hand a billion dollars to the Pacific to help stabilise the relationship and offset the influence of countries like China.  Where has that got us?  It seems, whether because of the weather or foreign interest, the Pacific has become a marketplace and the bidding is hot.   The implications for us are enormous and I'm not even sure we are paying attention.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Cameron has been named the UK's new Foreign Secretary.  It comes seven years after he quit as PM over the outcome of his Brexit referendum.  King Charles has approved giving Cameron a seat in Britain's House of Lords, allowing him to return to government as a minister despite no longer being an elected MP.  France Correspondent, Catherine Field, told Mike Hosking that there is relief in various places in Europe that the new Foreign Secretary is a moderate.  She said that they’re pleased that it’s someone they know, and someone who is going to speak their language.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Lawson will fill a key role for both Red Bull teams as his wait for a Formula One seat continues.  He recorded a best placing of ninth, filling in at Alpha Tauri for five races in his debut year.  Director of both Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri, Helmut Marko, told Mike Hosking that the 21-year-old still has room for growth.  Marko says Lawson will need to be patient in pursuit of a fulltime drive, with incumbents contracted until the end of next year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A UK political commentator says appointing David Cameron to the Foreign Secretary role is like pulling a dead rabbit out of a hat.   The former British PM has been appointed as part of a major cabinet reshuffle, sparked by the removal of Home Secretary Suella Braverman.  It was after she wrote an op-ed accusing the police of double standards in handling protests.   UK Political Commentator Rod Liddle says Cameron's Brexit stance will alienate some Conservative Party voters.   He told Mike Hosking that firing Braverman could come back to haunt Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.    Liddle says that while she was fiery, she echoed the views of many voters.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The early reopening of State Highway 25A is being called a 'game-changer' for the Coromandel Peninsula economy.  The route between Kōpū and Hikuai was severed in Cyclone Gabrielle.  A new 124-metre bridge that now spans the resulting abyss will open by December 20, three months earlier than expected.  The tourism-reliant area suffered a severe economic downturn as a result of the extra effort required to get there.  Thames-Coromandel Mayor, Len Salt, told Mike Hosking that some of their hospitality operations have already booked out for this year's holiday period and are taking bookings for next year.  He said that the official date gives both businesses and visitors certainty.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tolerance of Israel's actions from the international community is running thin.  The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 11,000 people have been killed in the territory since October 7th.  Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says there's probably two or three weeks before calls for a ceasefire will become too strong for the Israeli operation to continue.   Miller told Mike Hosking that western allies are running out of patience.   He says French President Emmanuel Macron has called for ceasefire and US representatives are also expressing concerns.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A criminal defence lawyer thinks common sense has prevailed as deportations from Australia plummet.  New Zealand Police data shows an average of 18 people a month have been deported to New Zealand in the past year.  It's a decrease from a high of just under 44 in mid 2018.  Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg told Mike Hosking that it's had a dreadful impact on a lot of people.  She says people can be considered as having socially undesirable connections to a group, even without a criminal record.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Objection to the foreign buyers tax could create a tough financial situation for the incoming Government.  Newstalk ZB understands coalition negotiations are being held up by disagreements over tax.   It's understood New Zealand First has problems with the foreign buyers tax, along with the proposal to redirect the Climate Emergency Response fund.  Independent tax expert Geof Nightingale told Mike Hosking that getting rid of that would leave them with few options for raising revenue.  He said that without the tax, the Government may look to the public service for savings. Nightingale said that because they campaigned on fiscal prudence borrowing isn't an option, so they will most likely look to make further cuts to spending. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shreyas Iyer and Lokesh Rahul scored attacking hundreds to help India make it nine wins in nine games with a 160-run victory over the Netherlands in the final group-stage match at the Cricket World Cup today. Iyer hit his first World Cup century, scoring 128 not out off 94 balls, while Rahul smashed the fastest Indian hundred at a World Cup, as India piled on the runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The pair put on 208 runs off 21 overs for the fourth wicket. Rahul scored 100 off 62 balls, beating Rohit Sharma’s 63-ball record against Afghanistan in Delhi earlier in this tournament. In all, the two-time champions had five batters scoring 50-plus in their innings, and finished at 410-4, the fifth highest World Cup total. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gil put on 100 for the first wicket. Virat Kohli was out for 51 but will likely remember this match for claiming his first ODI wicket in almost a decade. Jasprit Bumrah (2-33) and Mohammed Siraj (2-29) shared four wickets as the Dutch were dismissed for 250 in 47.5 overs. India advanced to the semifinals with a perfect 18 points from nine wins. They will play fourth-place New Zealand in the first semifinal at Mumbai on Wednesday. Second-place South Africa will play third-place Australia in the second semifinal at Kolkata the following day. The Netherlands finished 10th in the standings, despite their two upset wins against South Africa and Bangladesh. India made a fast start after Sharma won the toss. Sharma made 61 off 54 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. Gill scored 51 off 32 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. Gill was first out, holing to square leg off Paul van Meekeren. It brought Kohli to the crease with a loud cheer from the anticipating crowd. Kohli struggled to time the ball properly before finding his rhythm and hitting 51 off 56, including five fours and a six. He went atop the most runs’ standings – 594 in nine matches, ahead of South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (591 runs in nine matches). At the other end, Sharma was out caught at long on as India was down to 129-2 after a fast start. Iyer and Kohli then put on 71 off 66 for the third wicket. Just as Kohli had found his rhythm, Roelof van der Merwe stunned the partisan Indian crowd in the 29th over. He bowled the star batter, who was searching for a record 50th ODI hundred. The score read 200-3 at that time and the Iyer-Rahul stand wasn’t then broken till the final over. Iyer scored his first 50 off 48 balls, and then accelerated to score the next 50 off 36 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes in this part. He scored another 28 off the last 10 balls faced. Rahul was even more impressive in his acceleration. He got to 50 off 40 balls, and then to 100 off another 22 balls – in all, he hit 11 fours and four sixes. India scored 126 runs for one wicket in the final 10 overs to finish with the tournament’s second-highest total. It was also India’s second-highest total in World Cups after 413-5 against Bermuda in 2007. In reply, Netherlands gave a good account but their batting lacked the firepower needed to seriously challenge India’s score. Sybrand Engelbrecht scored 45 off 80, including four fours. He also finished as the Netherlands’ top run-scorer in the tournament with 300 runs in eight games, including two half-centuries. Max O’Dowd (30) and Collin Ackermann (35) put on 61 runs for the second wicket, the highest partnership of the Dutch innings. Their biggest highlight was when Kohli came on to bowl and dismissed Scott Edwards for 17, caught behind down leg side. It was Kohli’s first ODI wicket since January 2014. Sharma wasn’t too far behind, also picking up a wicket. Teja Nidamanuru holed out to long on after scoring 54 off 39 balls, including six sixes. Mohammed Shami went wicketless in his six overs, after picking up 16 wickets in the previous four games. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2-41) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-49) made their presence felt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world, where increasingly the battle for renewables is being dented if not lost, how wise is it to find a solar farm idea near Lake Tekapo has been rejected because of the environment?  You want to 'save the environment' but you can't because of the environment?  As Rishi Sunak opens more oil fields because renewables can't cover the gaps, as EV manufacturers pull back investment because demand falls, as many countries don’t know what to do about the increased power demand if more people do buy EVs, as the Australians increasingly worry about what they will actually do about power production, given they don’t have hydro like we do and as we still haven't answered whether we want to spend $16 billion-plus on Onslow as a bucket for dry years, it seems increasingly pointless coming up with ideas that may work at scale and yet they are turned down to protect the very thing we are trying to protect.  The Tekapo idea was an 88-megawatt plan over 113 hectares. It would have serviced about 13,000 homes.  Now, it may be this project specifically was a bridge too far and in general, it could have worked, but so much of this is open to interpretation and dare we suggest an astonishingly large amount of nimbyism.  The problem, according to Environment Canterbury, was the risk of "permanent and irreversible loss of threatened land environments". What does that actually mean?  It would also "potentially impact indigenous flora and fauna". Potentially? Well, would it or would it not have?  Isn't there "potentially" indigenous flora and fauna everywhere you go in this country? Just what bit of New Zealand are we looking for?  The toxic waste dump where nothing has grown for 1,000 years?  The renewables game is fraught. On one hand, you have the Government looking at Onslow, a project so big it scares off investors in other ideas, and when investors do have other ideas the authorities look for reasons not to do it.  We don't like nuclear. Solar, at scale, needs to avoid mountain, daisies and snails apparently. Wind is a partial solution but is far from the sole answer. And we are a mile behind in offshore wave generation.  So shall we stick with Indonesian coal?  We either want to sort this or we want to find excuses.  How many times do the folks behind the Tekapo solar project and ideas like it, need to be rejected before they say "why would we bother?" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pro-Palestine protests in Melbourne on Friday night were a display of “anti-Semitic, thuggish behaviour” and an attempt to assert primacy over Jewish Australians, the Coalition has claimed.  The opposition’s defence spokesman Andrew Hastie made the claims on Sunday morning, as Defence Minister Richard Marles called for “careful language”.  Hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters entered Caulfield, the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community, on Friday night to demonstrate after a Palestinian-owned burger shop in the suburb was destroyed by fire the night prior.  Hash Tayeh, who owns the Burgertory store, has previously attended pro-Palestine rallies, but had also spoken about his recognition of the plight of Israeli people in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.  In an Instagram post on Friday, Mr Tayeh said the incident would “not deter me”.  “I am not a coward. My commitment to raising my voice for a ceasefire and peace remains unshaken,” he wrote.  While police had said they were “very confident” the blaze had not been racially or politically motivated, pro-Palestine supporters alleged it was a hate crime and called for supporters to gather on Friday night.  A clash was sparked after a nearby synagogue was evacuated and Jewish Australians began to counter protest.  It escalated into violence and the police had to break up the groups.  Organisers of the protest have apologised and claimed they did not realise there was a synagogue in close proximity.  Mr Hastie said Friday night had been “an assertion of one group over another for primacy in the public space”, and added it had undermined public safety and public order.  “The government has to lead, and they have to give clarity to the Australian people about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable behaviour,” he told Sky News.  “We can’t be mealy mouthed about this. We have to be direct and clear.  “And for protesters to go into a suburb of Melbourne where we have a lot of Jewish Australians living and to impose themselves upon that group, and to do it in such an anti-social and thuggish way, is just unacceptable.”  Mr Marles said Jewish Australians had “never felt less safe” in Australia but welcomed the apology from the Free Palestine group who had organised the protest.  “What matters for those of us in positions of leadership is that we are using our voices to turn the temperature down, and that’s actually how we get social cohesion and how we ensure that peace is maintained here in Australia,” he told Sky News.  “Jewish Australians have a right to feel safe, be safe in their own country – no ifs and no buts – and that standard applies to every Australian.”  Mr Marles said Australians had a right to demonstrate against what was happening in the Middle East and to put pressure on the government, but “social cohesion has to be paramount”.  “We do have to look after each other and acknowledge that other Australians are not the focus of the protest,” he said.  He said the damage caused to a Melbourne war memorial, coinciding with Remembrance Day on Saturday, was also “unacceptable”.  “People have a right to protest the issues that have been raised, and … we live in a country where there is freedom of expression … but people need to take responsibility for the way in which that is occurring,” he said.  “Defacing a war memorial does nothing to advance the cause of what’s happening in Gaza. It does nothing to advance the cause of the humanitarian situation … but what it does do is add enormous stress to people seeking to commemorate a very sacred moment in our country’s history.”  He said the government was remaining steadfast in its bid to “turn the temperature down”, alluding to growing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as the death toll in the Palestinian territory continues to climb.  Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government had called for humanitarian pauses as a necessary first step.  “We need steps towards a ceasefire because we know that it cannot be one sided,” she told ABC’s Insiders.  “Israel should do everything it can to observe international humanitarian law.  “We have seen a harrowing number of civilians, including children, killed. This has to end, and we are particularly concerned with what is happening with medical facilities.”  Mr Hastie meanwhile threw unequivocal support behind Israel.  “Hamas must be destroyed completely,” he said.  “I think Israel has shown great restraint … They’ve had people from across the globe calling on them for restraint and they’ve sent warnings to millions of people living in Gaza to evacuate … They’ve given the opportunity to get out of the danger zone.  “For people who say that Israel should show more restraint is I think ignoring the problem, which is that Hamas are using civilians as human shields.” - by Ellen Ransley, news.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After nearly 2 years in the making, a Kiwi filmmaker has created a motorsport documentary surrounding racing champion Liam Lawson.  The film follows Lawson on his journey to become the fastest-ever racer at both the Highlands and Ruapuna Race Circuits in the Rodin Fzed.  Filmmaker Ryan McDonald from MoMac joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humanitarian concerns about the situation in Gaza continue to worsen.   CNN reports the healthcare crisis is deepening, with health officials saying Al-Shifa hospital is in a catastrophic situation.   Israel says it's ready to evacuate babies from the hospital.   The Palestine Red Crescent Society says the second-largest hospital is also out of service.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking there's increasing concerns in Washington about the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.  He says Secretary of State Antony Blinken says far too many Palestinians have been killed in the fighting.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in nearly two years, grocery supplier cost increases have eased.  Infometrics data shows the annual rate of growth in October was at 5.4 percent, down from 6.1 percent the month before.   Vegetables NZ Chair John Murphy told Mike Hosking the drop shows the momentum is starting to shift.  “Right now, our growers are actually saying that they’re sending market to product right around cost price, so it’s a little bit of a dicey one there but really good for consumers.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says coalition talks with NZ First and Act could take up to a week to complete and he’s unlikely to make it to Apec. Luxon had stated his desire to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit in the United States this week, which would require a deal to be finalised ahead of a flight on Wednesday evening. Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, the incoming Prime Minister said that was now not likely. An “awful lot of ground” had been covered in discussions with NZ First and Act, covering the manifestos and full policy positions of all three parties line by line. Discussing every single policy was a huge amount of work, he said. ”We’re very aligned on the big goals but [we have] different policy mechanisms for how we deliver those goals.” Discussions were now into areas that were “a bit crunchier” and discussions about Cabinet posts were underway. But they hadn’t really talked in terms of bottom lines, he said. ”It’s been a bottom-up build of ‘Take us through your manifesto, we’ll take you through ours’.” Speaking to both Hosking and TVNZ’s Breakfast, Luxon repeatedly refused to commit to delivering a foreign buyers’ property tax - claiming the confidentiality of negotiations. He said what voters cared about was the outcome of tax relief to lower and middle-income New Zealanders, and he was absolutely committed to that happening. It comes after various meetings took place over the weekend as National, Act and New Zealand First continued with talks in Auckland after spending time in Wellington last week. It’s understood Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters are yet to meet all together but could have the opportunity to in the coming days with both Seymour and Peters indicating to the Herald on Friday they would return to Wellington at some stage this week. Seymour yesterday was predicting the next government could be formed in time for Luxon to head to Apec on Wednesday. He said representatives of the three parties had worked hard over the weekend but more work was still to be done. “We’re narrowing the range of issues and that gets us closer to an agreement, but it would also be fair to say that we’re not there yet.” Despite the progress made over the weekend, Seymour believed it wasn’t guaranteed Luxon would make it in time for Apec. “Just the sheer amount of administrative stuff that has to happen, checking and cross-checking, makes it a really tight timeline.” However, he was optimistic Kiwis could have their next government decided in a matter of days. “I think there’s every prospect of having a government by the end of the week, but like I say, [government formation] only happens once every three years, every time is different.” It has been speculated one aspect the parties were still working through was National’s $14.6 billion plan to provide tax relief. To achieve that, National campaigned on partially removing the current ban on foreign buyers in the housing market so they could be taxed. Luxon intended to allow homes worth more than $2 million to be bought by foreigners but they would be taxed at 15 per cent. Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Renney said it was possible removing the ban could be a sticking point in negotiations. “I can’t see a universe in which New Zealand First decides it wants to restart selling New Zealand houses to overseas purchasers. “I think one of the key reasons that New Zealand First possibly chose Labour in 2017 was because Labour had proposed a foreign buyers ban, so to do a complete 180 on that in that period of time would seem to be a bit of a stretch and it kind of runs completely counter to the economic philosophy of New Zealand First.” Renney, also a former staffer of Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson, said some compromise could be found concerning overseas investment in new builds. However, Renney believed that was “pretty well covered” in current legislation. Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie Jones has given the strongest indication yet he's keen to take on the Japan rugby coaching job for a second time, admitting he's "definitely interested".  Jones departed the Australian post only nine months into his five-year deal after overseeing the Wallabies' shambolic World Cup campaign.  Now in Japan on holidays with his wife, Jones has told local media he would jump at the chance to again coach the Brave Blossoms.  Former Wallaby, Peter Fitzsimmons, told Mike Hosking that it’s been the most extraordinary saga.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers says Fonterra's climate reduction plan is doable but extremely ambitious.  Fonterra is aiming to reduce farm emissions 30% by 2030.   It will do this through a combination of new technologies, using new and existing vegetation to remove carbon and on farm practices.   Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford told Mike Hosking that they’re on track to meet the target already.  He said that farmers have been doing a lot of the work already, and some of Fonterra’s numbers show that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Electoral Commission the most useless Government department going?  The counting for three weeks, to be fair, is required by law. But when it's done problems have now been found in 15 different places and, unlike the revelation on the first three places, National's vote has been materially affected and has now gone up.  What else? There was the issues over voting papers being unavailable on the day as well.    There's a growing sense over the past month, remember it is four weeks tomorrow since we voted and to be frank it appears far from being settled, but a growing sense we cocked this up.  Recounts, and there are three, aren't the fault of the commission. But given the reputation of the commission they better pray the numbers come back the same, or else there will be more questions.  But the most egregious bit from yesterday was the revelation that the Māori seat in Auckland had a voting booth at the marae where the Māori Party candidate is the CEO.  So, a candidate and the boss of the place where the polling booth is at. As someone in the Labour party asked -how does that work? Not a bad question.  Then we get to the allegation where food was handed out. Food being handed out on a marae is common. But food being handed out at a polling booth raises questions.  Not helping the case is the fact the electorate is one of the three involved in a recount. The difference is four votes.  Another aspect of it was on the night, election night, the difference was 495 votes to the other side. That's quite the swing on specials.  When you take all this and look at it in totality you can see why in places like America the more conspiratorially minded can take one and one and come up with 17.  I don’t think we have skullduggery here. But we have a lot of unprofessionalism, we have sloppiness, we have incompetence, and we still don’t have enough answers.  Whether by law, rule or just plain common sense, setting up a polling booth at a place where the candidate and CEO works is beyond belief. Yet here we have it.  What happens if the recount numbers are different, given one of the reasons for such a long time to count is to allow those counting to get it right?  This is a shabby, unholy mess.  We have no Government, we have no final count and rules are about to be timed out around ministers carrying on post the election. They expire tomorrow.  Do we look second, or third rate? How confident are you that those in charge have any real clue as to what they are supposed to be doing? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   Vote counting: 2/10 They've told us for years reading and writing and math is an issue in our schools. Did the people who struggled end up at the Electoral Commission?   Mt Albert: 3/10 The election review leak whining about everyone except yourself is an insight into what a mess Labour is.   Chris Hipkins: 7/10 A good week. He holds the job and, given the hospital pass he got from Ardern, deserves a crack on his own terms.   His own terms: 2/10 First thing he does is raise tax talk. Read. The. Room.   Chloe Swarbrick: 1/10 Buffoon.   Willie Jackson: 1/10 Double buffoon.   The new Government: 3/10 What new Government?   Christchurch: 7/10 According to this week's survey it's the 10th most popular city in the world to move to. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood's set to burst into life following the end of the actors' strike.   The actors' union has reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios.  The 118-day strike was sparked by demands for increased minimum salaries, a share of streaming service revenue, and protection from being replaced by digital replicas generated by AI.  US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that this was the longest strike in the union's history.   He says this is a billion-dollar bonus for the actors, with more money to be paid by streaming services, and more control over the use of AI material.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi country music singer Kaylee Bell has won big on the country music world stage.  Bell took out the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award in Tennessee last night, recognising outstanding achievements by a country music artist signed outside the US.  She told Mike Hosking that she's living the dream.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has finally met face-to-face to Winston Peters, but admits it could still be a while before a coalition deal can be struck between National, ACT, and New Zealand First.  The ACT Leader told Mike Hosking that there are still some substantive issues of disagreement.  He says while a lot of work has been done, the last stage of negotiations could take a bit longer as the three parties need to get down to "brass tacks".  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s shock from National over the latest revelations from the Electoral Commission.  It's investigating concerns about a voting place at Manurewa Marae, where Te Pāti Māori candidate Takutai Tarsh Kemp is chief executive.  The commission's also confirmed that 15 voting places have been found to have data entry errors and a box of votes from the East Coast was forgotten about entirely.  National Campaign Chair Chris Bishop says told Mike Hosking that while the issues don't change who won the election, they're still astounding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School attendance is again in decline, with less than half of students regularly attending.  Education Ministry data shows 47% were regularly going to school in term two, down from 59.5% in term one.   It's an increase on just 40% in term two last year.   Secondary Principals Association President Vaughan Couillault told Mike Hosking that you can only compare like for like.   He says term one in anyone's life has less cold and flu than term two and three due to the winter effect.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to longevity, there are few musical careers that equal Graham Nash.  The British-American singer-songwriter was a founding member of the Hollies, and folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.   He has a variety of nominations and awards under his belt, and almost six decades into his career is visiting New Zealand’s shores on his worldwide solo tour.  Nash told Mike Hosking that he’s still passionate about performing, and that music as a form of communication is incredibly important to him.  He said that he and his audiences are enjoying these shows, and he hopes that kiwi audiences will enjoy them just as much.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think part of the comfort we should take around the so-called "rabid outbreak" of free speech this week is that words don’t automatically lead to anything. You've got your two prime examples: Chloe Swarbrick and her outburst on Palestine, and Willie Jackson and his outburst on a potential vote over the Treaty.  The difference is one has an implied threat and the other doesn’t. Swarbrick should never have said what she said, it's inflammatory.  You have a responsibility as an elected member of Parliament to try and be at least a little bit moderate. But the upset is about her comments specifically, not what might come out of them because little, if anything, will come out of them.  You could argue she adds to the fear that Jews may be feeling right now. So yes, it's highly irresponsible and the fact she doesn’t apologise, or get it, makes it worse. But can I ask - what else do you expect?  But with Willie, and might I add that Debbie Ngarewa-Packer of Maori Party and Marama Davidson of the Greens might have suggested something similar, they are talking action.  "Civil disobedience five or ten times worse than the Springbok tour". Now, the trouble with that is that is a straight up-and-down threat.  There is no disguising what that is.  What we are actually talking about here is a vote, a referendum. A question for the people of this country as to how we deal with the Treaty.  The Treaty has been interpreted in a way by the previous Government that many don’t like. You could actually argue their treatment of the Treaty may well lead to the sort of result they fear, if it ever got put to a vote.  But that is the insidious thing, isn't it? It never got put to a vote. Things like He Puapua were secret, so have they dug their own grave.  Could it be different if they had been more inclusive? Either way the threat is against democracy. They don’t like democracy.  These are people to be feared. Not because they may hit the streets, but because they don’t want the rest of us to have a say and they hope before they hit the street they can scare us into submission.  Democracy thrives in sunlight free speech and the exchange of ideas, not anger, bitterness and fear.  But that is what they are selling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s first Ocean Festival is hitting Auckland’s waters next year.  Moana Auckland is set to launch on February 24th 2024, lasting a full thirty days as summer comes to an end.  The festival is set to feature the Auckland Boat Show, Z Manu World Champs, the New Zealand Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, and more.   Chris Simpson, Auckland Unlimited’s Head of Major Events, told Mike Hosking that while there are new events, some of these events have been running in isolation for some time.  He said that bundling them together and creating an overarching Moana Auckland brand creates a platform the marine sector can use to promote the industry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A win will all but secure New Zealand a semifinal berth.  Thunderstorms are forecast during the course of the match which starts at 9.30pm.  If the game is called off, the Black Caps would need South Africa to beat Afghanistan tomorrow and England to defeat Pakistan on Saturday to reach the semi-finals.  Coach Gary Stead told Mike Hosking that the forecast is getting better day by day, so he’s pretty sure they’ll be able to get some sort of match in.  He said that they know they have to beat Sri Lanka, and if they do that there’s a good chance they’ll qualify for the semifinals.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are concrete roads the solution to our pothole problem?  A member of the American Concrete Pavement Association has driven the length of New Zealand.  He's highlighting the opportunity for concrete pavements as opposed to asphalt.   Senior Technical Services Director Eric Ferrebee told Mike Hosking that concrete roads are a long-term solution that reduce the need for maintenance and rehabilitation.  He says the concrete roads are commonly used in the United States, and can get up to 50 years of use.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Work-life balance appears to have changed, with the typical nine to five work hours becoming less common.  A survey by Hays Recruitment has found people working overtime increased in more than a third of organisations last year.  Researchers found it was unpaid in 30% of organisations.  Talent Propeller Managing Director Sharon Davies told Mike Hosking that the workforce has significantly changed.  She says a lot of roles have moved to part time but there might be more work if people want more hours, so there's a lot of give and take.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G7 foreign ministers have voiced support for humanitarian pauses in Gaza but haven't called for a ceasefire.   Their statement follows a meeting in Tokyo.   The US maintains it doesn't believe Israeli forces should re-occupy Gaza, while Israel's Prime Minister says Israel will have overall security responsibility for the strip.   Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that the Americans are recoiling from the world reaction.   He says many people are questioning the strategic wisdom of what Israel's doing.   Patman says there's probably not a military solution to a political problem.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A record surge of first-home buyers hits the market as prices come down.  First-home buyers now account for 27% of the market share according to new data from CoreLogic.  The Wellington region has the strongest market share, with one third of the market taken up by first home buyers.  Independent economist Tony Alexander told Mike Hosking that conditions have been in their favour.  He says average house prices fell about 18% from late 2021 to earlier on this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the record, I am a fan of Air New Zealand.  Mainly because we own it, it's our national airline and, overall, it's been fantastically successful. If you're balanced there isn't a lot of reason to be as angry towards it as so many people are.  But on the same day the CEO came on this show to break the news they have engine troubles that will affect thousands over the next two years, he then attends a tourism summit and talks about supersonic and hypersonic travel.  In that, is a messaging problem.  Air New Zealand gets a lot of free publicity mainly because aviation is a fascinating area. As New Zealanders we like to travel and a lot of journalists get freebies and that’s free PR.  Small note by the way - to those in the media who do reviews of trips that involve business class travel, of which I have read two lately - it's OK to be thrilled given you have never been in business class before. But that’s not really a review and good reviews make comparisons and you can't compare things that you haven't experienced. So it sounds more breathless freebie than actual journalism.  Anyway, this past week we have had coverage of Air New Zealand's Koru Club changes, re-useable cups and their new uniform. Ms Wickstead of royal connection is doing the honours.  All of that is fantastic, as long as you can catch a plane, afford a ticket and get through an airport in good order. All of those are now issues or have been for some time.  So, in other words, co-ordinate that messaging. Stop banging on about sustainability and cups and uniforms when you are inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of punters who are paying through the nose for what many regard as average product.  Stop fantasising about flying to London in four hours when you're offering ATR's between main centres.  What Covid has taught us is aviation is fragile. It has massive engineering issues, capacity issues, service issues and labour issues.  Airports are OK at best, with the odd one actually what you would call first world. In other words, for all the hype and romance of the rhetoric, when push comes to shove it hasn’t advanced all that much in decades, with the exception of longer haul, point-to-point services.  Get some engines that work, get jets on main trunk routes, drop prices, increase competition and work out the airport experience.  Be as climate friendly as you want but until then, let's leave the hypersonic to the Jetsons, because it was as real then as it is now.  Which is to say, not very.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s an intense time in the US political arena.  A New York Times poll released this week has Donald Trump leading Biden in five crucial battleground states: Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Biden is in the midst of a whirlwind at the moment, with the economy being a key issue for voters.  However, he said, that there is still a long way to go as the 2024 election is still one year away.  He said that at this time before the 2016 election the person leading in the polls was Ben Carson, who then lost to Donald Trump.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politicians from both Labour and National want answers from an Electoral Commission review.  The commission has apologised after our newsroom revealed errors at three polling booths, incorrectly assigning hundreds of party votes.  A polling booth in Port Waikato wrongly assigned more than 500 votes to the Leighton Baker Party that were intended for National.  Labour MP Megan Woods told Mike Hosking that questions need to be asked.  National MP Mark Mitchell says a review under the Justice Select Committee should make sure this doesn't happen again.  He says it's pretty clear there have been mistakes made. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumers could benefit from a supermarket merger if Foodstuffs has to make other changes.  The supermarket giant is proposing to merge their North Island and South Island co-operatives into one national co-op.  Business consultant Ernie Newman told Mike Hosking that Foodstuffs could be asked to break up into separate wholesale and retail business units.  He says suppliers could have other avenues.  Newman says companies like Night 'n Day and The Warehouse could buy from Foodstuffs Wholesale, and become truly independent.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early childhood teachers from around 100 centres are striking this afternoon.   Teachers that fall under the Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement are taking part.   NZEI says negotiations have reached an impasse and the government's funding model isn't fit for purpose.   Union representative and Capital Kids cooperative childcare centre manager, Megan White, told Mike Hosking that they're hopeful the incoming government will change things — which is why they're taking industrial action now.   She says early childhood issues have been quiet for some time, and kids are the ones suffering.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Electoral Commission has apologised over errors in the vote count at three polling booths.  It's checking all results after admitting a data entry error caused hundreds of votes to be assigned to the wrong party.  At a booth in Port Waikato, more than 500 votes intended for National were wrongly assigned to the Leighton Baker Party.  Another booth in Port Waikato, and a polling station in Ilam, both had the incorrect count.  Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne told Mike Hosking that they're re-checking candidate votes at the moment.  He says most were processed yesterday and there are possibly a few more errors, but they're just confirming that today.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says bringing wealth and capital gains taxes back on the table is about being up-front with New Zealanders.   After getting the vote of confidence to stay on as Opposition leader, Hipkins says the party needs to start again with a blank page, including on policies.   Hipkins told Mike Hosking that he always said his tax policy was for the next three years, but having lost the election, it's time for the party to go back to the drawing board and come up with another policy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's Mayor doesn't understand the decision to make infrastructure changes to accommodate more public transport on a popular city centre road.  Auckland Transport's decided to remove car parks on Karangahape Road and restrict the times on loading zones to allow room for a new bus service.  Businesses were given less than a week's notice.  Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Mike Hosking that he doesn't know why this has to happen.  He says there's no car parking until 10 in the morning anyway because there's a lot of people catching the bus, and there aren't many carparks and those businesses need them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we wait for a Government, Talbot Mills did a poll on the most divisive issues around the election.  The most divisive, and I am not even sure it played any sort of role in the vote, but the most divisive is males wanting to compete as females in sport.  60% oppose, only 14% are in favour and the rest are various versions of not sure.  In one of the more surprising findings, same sex marriage is only supported by 56% of us. Listening to the media and commentariat you would think it's normal and 99% of us aren't bothered.  Equally on the “noise to reality” metre, it shows the vast majority of supported the gun register, at 75%.  Most people supported the wearing of masks (68%) and almost half of us (49%) supported vax mandates, with only 25% against.  The area that wasn't surprising were Māori wards, opposed by 60% of us, and bilingual signs which was basically evenly split.  That last part is perhaps an insight into why Labour did so badly at the election. They could back up their stance on guns and masks, but they were way out of line when it came to special treatment for Māori.  Egregiously, it is proof positive that when they changed the law around being able to vote against Māori wards, if your council foisted them upon you, they were voting against the vast majority of us, and our views, and they must have known that.  Also, all the councils who continue to insist on introducing Māori wards, and many are in the process as we speak, are now knowingly going against the will of the people who put them there.  I note with interest that there is some sort of organised campaign at the moment over the ACT Party idea of having a vote on the Treaty and its obligations. That will be because they know full well that if we got a say what the outcome would be it wouldn't be swinging their way.  The upside for them is I doubt it will see the light of day out of the coalition talks.  But if you want to take the pool at face value, and in totality, it paints a picture of a conservative country, and socially is nowhere near as progressive as many would have thought. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s finest artists are coming together to celebrate the women who pioneered rock.  ATOMIC! Hailing the Pioneering Women of Rock harnesses the energy of kiwi musicians Boh Runga, Julia Deans, Dianne Swann, Gussie Larkin, and Jazmine Mary as they perform a catalogue of hits fronted by rock’s iconic female artists.  Julia Deans told Mike Hosking that the music is predominantly from the early seventies to the late eighties.   She said they had to draw the line there because they only had space for about a hundred songs.  “There’s just too many good songs.”   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain's Armistice Day tribute could be taken over by Pro-Palestinian rallies.  Huge rallies have been held in London every weekend for the last month, with upwards of 100,000 attending some of them.  UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking that senior Ministers have made it clear that they don’t think protests should be occurring this weekend.   He said there is potential for this too spill over, and a day with such significance is not the place for it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand talent will be on display at this afternoon's Melbourne Cup race in Australia.  Twenty-four horses will compete at Flemington Track at five o'clock, in a contest known as the 'Race That Stops a Nation'.   The TAB is expecting New Zealanders to invest more than $12 million, for a chance to win big.  Australian Racing Media Personality, Glenn Munsie, told Mike Hosking that you can’t cast aspersions on anyone’s selections on Melbourne Cup Day.  He said it’s the only day in the year where anyone can be an expert.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New revelations about a reported mugging of Ian Foster's wife and daughter in Paris, just days before the start of the Rugby World Cup.  1 News is reporting Leigh Foster and 24-year-old Football Fern Michaela Foster were accosted by a man with a knife near the All Blacks' hotel in early September.  All Blacks management subsequently warned people travelling in their contingent not to go out at night.  Newstalk ZB’s Paris correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that the hotel —allocated to the All Blacks at random— was in a notorious part of the city.  She says the area —on the south-east of greater Paris— is well known for the amount of violence that goes on there.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand is pausing two major routes and making changes to others as it works through engine issues with some planes.  The national carrier says it's having to adjust its schedule due to the grounding of 16 aircrafts undergoing mandatory engine maintenance by aerospace company Pratt & Whitney.  It will pause flights to Seoul and Hobart from April and is reducing flights on other routes as well as moving aircraft between routes.   Chief Executive Greg Foran told Mike Hosking that Pratt & Whitney has to accelerate the process of taking the engines off-wing and checking them.   He says they're not sure how long it'll last, but it could be two years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliamentary Service has confirmed MPs' Koru Club memberships are paid for by Air New Zealand.  It comes after unseated Labour MP Dan Rosewarne claimed his post-parliamentary life was made real when he saw the “red lights of doom” upon trying to swipe himself into the lounge and being rejected. Unlike most MPs’ perks, lounge access isn’t actually paid for by the taxpayer, instead it's gifted by the airline itself  Victoria University School of Government Senior Research Fellow Max Rashbrooke told Mike Hosking that the membership should be declared.  He says any gift given to MPs has to be declared in the register of pecuniary interests so members can provide transparency.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's caucus is meeting in Upper Hutt today to decide whether 'boy from the Hutt' Chris Hipkins will keep his hand on the tiller.  It's the team's first caucus meeting since the election saw Labour thrust out of office.  Political Commentator Josie Pagani told Mike Hosking that Hipkins has to set his image as a fighter in opposition.  She says he should move the party back to basics, with a focus on cost of living and how to make the economy tick for working people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 20% drop in lamb prices has seen them at levels not seen for six years.  Lamb schedules have fallen in recent weeks, with some companies now offering $6.50 a kilo, down from $8.30 just two seasons ago.  The drop is being put down to lack of international demand, especially from China.  Farm consultant Gary Massicks told Mike Hosking that prices were expected to drop around February, but they're here already.  He says they've hit harder and faster with a fair bit of stock in freezers, and international demand much lower than normal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here is the good news so far post the final vote.  By the way, I expect a recount for a couple of seats. If you win or lose by less than 100, I think it's only fair to test it.  But how much pressure does that place on the Electoral Commission to have done their job properly.  It's one thing to take three long weeks to count, but in a recount if the numbers aren't exactly the same, and my suspicion is they won't be, then just what was it you were doing all that time?  Anyway, we will wait and see. But back to the good news. So far Chris Luxon has delivered what he promised; relationship building outside public glare. The positive signs are all parties have played by the rules. The further good news to that is that Winston Peters, I am hoping, and this could be my naivety, wants at last to cement his place in political history by becoming a proper centrist success story that can survive more than one election cycle without him spitting the dummy, falling out with everyone and getting sent off into the wilderness.  MMP has become stuck in a centre left/centre right rut, with Act and the Greens established, successful brands, but limited to one major party each.  True MMP is about centrists who can move both ways and with united, ancient history, New Zealand First has a genuine chance at cementing a place.  The weakness is the fact they are supported by the angry, not necessarily the thinkers. But if Peters can grab a couple of good portfolios, look professional, deliver a few specific polices that don’t look like pork barrel, provincial growth slush funds, then he has a chance.  Luxon's great skill is he comes from business and business is about deals and co-operation. It's about common good and common goals. You don’t have to love each other or be mates.  New Zealand is a mess. There is a job to be done and it's not that hard to coalesce around that idea.  David Seymour is a professional. So all this noise about him hating Peters is for the media to obsess about, not the adults to let get in their way.  If everyone got on famously, we wouldn’t have separate parties, and that is the trick to MMP. It's not a love in, it’s a deal. A deal with a common purpose.  The first true MMP deal, 2017-2020, was OK, but was created for the wrong reasons and Covid blew it up. This might just be our first real crack at adult, professional politics. Fingers crossed.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is currently in China and plans to meet with Premier Xi Jingping, making him the first Australian PM to meet Xi since Malcolm Turnbull. Meanwhile, some Australian banks have started to raise interest rates, with all eyes on the Reserve Bank of Australia to see if they follow. Australian correspondent Steve Price talked to Mike Hosking about it.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report this morning outlines that an average Auckland house deposit could reach $1 million by 2045. Aera founder Derek Handley spoke with Mike Hosking about it.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is buckling in for one thousand days of Winston.  Coalition talks are ongoing; however, the Act leader and Peters aren't actually talking to each other yet with Seymour being sent to voicemail.  Incoming prime minister Chris Luxon says he's speaking to the parties individually before getting all three in a room together.  He says things are progressing well.  Act Leader David Seymour told Mike Hosking they're going to have to work together for three years.  He says he's working on how they get the best relationship possible, because New Zealand voted for change.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health workers say engineered stone workshops need to do better to prevent a deadly disease, that can cause lung scarring.  A Ministry of Health check recommends more be done to prevent silicosis, which can happen when engineered stone dust is inhaled.  The ministry supports more ventilation systems, and masks, to stop this.  College of Physicians silicosis expert Alexandra Muthu told Mike Hosking there should be a better occupational health service.  She says at the moment, everything falls between Worksafe, ACC, Te Whatu Ora, and industry.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon had a good idea the special votes would pan out the way they did saying coalition talks are progressing well.  There is still no timeline on when a government will be formed, although all three parties of National, Act and New Zealand First say they want it done quickly.  The National party leader says he would like to be able to make the APEC summit next week - however Peters and Seymour aren't speaking to each other.  Luxon told Mike Hosking by and large their goals are aligned.  He says there are differences and bespoke policies, and they'll all have to make trade-offs, but progress is being made.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently shuttling between various Middle East states hoping to push for a cease fire between Israel and Gaza.He has held talks with met Egyptian, Jordanian, Saudi, Qatari and Emirati diplomats and a senior Palestinian official.Meanwhile the largest Pro-Palestinian protest occurred over the weekend in Washington DC, with many protesters gathered outside the Whitehouse.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking, there has been a backlash against Biden for his support of Israel.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former New Zealand First MP has given his tips as to what Winston Peters will be negotiating for.  Peters and Act Leader David Seymour haven't spoken, with Seymour saying he tried to call and text him but didn't get a response.  Former MP Andrew Williams says Winston will likely want Foreign Minister, a knighthood and treasurer as well.  He told Mike Hosking Peters may want his number three, Casey Costello to be associate Police Minister.  Williams says his number four Mark Patterson is an ex-Otago farmer and Federated Farmers chair could build bridges across to Act's Andrew Hoggard.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kiwis have their chance for redemption.  The Pacific Championship Final is this weekend, the Kiwis facing Australia once again after their defeat in Melbourne.  Coach Michael McGuire told Mike Hosking that he’s confident the team will have a really strong performance and get the desired result.  He said they’re looking forward to having the home crowd behind them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.     The World Cup: 7/10  Because we watched in droves. It was the biggest TV audience of the year for anything, and we believed we were in with a chance.     Rugby: 3/10  The World Cup's biggest loser. They are killing the game with rules and zealous officialdom.     Mike Pence: 4/10  Another one bites the dust but the fact it’s an ex-Vice President tells you the effect Trump has had on his party.     Votes: 9/10  Because today is the day, at last.     The Electoral Commission: 5/10  I only have sympathy for them because, as we found out, it's the law. They are following the law.     Craft beer: 4/10  Fads are not a business and a lot of people going “Hey, I can do that” does not a bottom line make.     Supie: 4/10  The irony was the receiver told us how competitive the market was, and yet, the Government has told us it's not competitive enough. Which is it?     Hackney Diamonds: 8/10  Number one in the UK, Germany and Australia. Genius never gets old.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Am I weird to be excited?  As of this afternoon we will have a Government. Sort of.  We will know the final vote. Yet again, there will be the questions around the timeframe, and how refreshing it was to hear Chris Luxon on the show this week promising to upend how it all works.  In part, that is why I am sort of excited. At last we get to get things underway. The workload to sort this country is gargantuan and three weeks is wasted time.  The first real test will be the formation of the Government.   How long will that take after this afternoon? The clue there is what they have been doing for three weeks, how much progress has been made and how set to go they are.  Presumably there are working scenarios, depending on today's numbers, as to how the final look shakes down. But a good sign would be that the basis of it is already in place.  By the way, Winston Peters will be involved whether he is technically needed or not, and that is no bad thing from a strategic point of view.  The other good indicator we have had this week around us being excited was the business confidence survey. It was a massive lift and for no specific reason other than the election. That is the power of expectation for you.  A lot of this country is placing a lot of faith and hope on a Government that has the "wherewithal" to take the mess they have inherited and do something positive about it.  That, in the end, is the great challenge, isn't it? In a way, it's make or break.  Gone are the days of National and Labour being interchangeable. Labour of 2020-2023 were dangerous ideologues who ran rampant, and the damage is there for all to see.  26% of the vote is their return for the arrogance of it.  The new Government will get a honeymoon. But before they know it we will expect returns and we will expect to see things that were promised. From gangs, to the Maorification obsession, to the big policy stuff like fair pay agreements and 90 day trials.  Then there's the tax cuts, the trimming of waste and the cutting of spending.  The upside of having much to do is you can hoe in. The downside is the risk that it takes too long to materially change and the electorate grows impatient, and that's before you get to the trickiness of having three parties working together in a way that looks cohesive.  MMP ain’t flash at that.  But for now, at last it is on.  New Government, new day.  New hope.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian woman Erin Patterson will appear in court today after allegedly cooking and serving a lunch that killed three.   She faces three murder charges and five attempted murder charges.  Her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson as well as Gail's sister Heather died from suspected toxic mushroom poisoning in July, and Gail's husband Ian was hospitalised.   Three other charges relate to incidents in 2021 and 2022, when police allege that a 48-year-old man became ill after meals.   Herald Sun Reporter, Athos Sirianos, told Mike Hosking that her first hearing is this morning, in which they’ll bring out the charges and plan her journey though court.  He said they’re strapping themselves in for a lengthy one.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian woman Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.   Her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson as well as Gail's sister Heather died from suspected toxic mushroom poisoning in July, after eating lunch Erin Patterson allegedly made.   Gail's husband Ian was hospitalised.   Three other charges relate to incidents in 2021 and 2022, when police allege that a 48-year-old man became ill after meals.   Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking that Police searched her property with specially trained forensic sniffer dogs.   He says those dogs are trained to look for things like USBs and SIM cards.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recruitment agency says we need to listen to the younger generation.  A Randstad survey shows almost half of jobseekers face barriers to securing employment, including around language, ethnicity, and gender identity.  It found more than a quarter of workers would rather face unemployment than work for an organisation whose values don't align with their own, millennials in particular.  Randstad General Manager Ian Scott told Mike Hosking that people want more than just turning up to a job.   He says they want to feel connected to an organisation, so employers need to create an environment that makes people feel included.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salvation Army is raising concern about a loss of support services for people suffering gambling harm.   The charity says Te Whatu Ora has rejected its bid for a contract renewal, despite providing gambling programmes for 31 years.   Social Services Director Lynette Hutson told Mike Hosking that they’re not sure if the service will be replaced, but they suspect there will be fewer services available.  She said that there was no indication from Te Whatu Ora that their service was problematic and they were going to go another way.  Te Whatu Ora says it's not appropriate to comment,while it's in the process of requesting proposals to procure gambling harm services.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Departing All Blacks coach Ian Foster has condemned the growing abuse professional sportspeople and officials are encountering.  His comments came after news Wayne Barnes is retiring from refereeing following an international career spanning 17 years and a record 111 tests across five World Cups.  The Englishman was reportedly the subject of death threats in the aftermath of the World Cup final.  Foster told told Mike Hosking that some of the feedback is unacceptable.  Meanwhile, Foster maintains he's spoken to nobody about future coaching opportunities but isn't ruling out any avenues yet.    Revealed: Foster spurned job talks on eve of World Cup -NZ Herald Departing All Blacks coach Ian Foster has revealed he was approached about coaching jobs on the eve of the Rugby World Cup but refused to discuss further so he could be fully focussed on the side’s campaign.  Foster’s side fell just short of claiming a fourth World Cup title after going down 12-11 to the Springboks in Paris. Scott Robertson now takes over as All Blacks coach.  Talking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Foster said he wants to continue coaching but said he hasn’t talked to anyone including Rugby Australia after the departure of Eddie Jones.  “I’m not saying anything about my future at the moment, but all I’d say is I haven’t spoken to anyone about anything and I’ve done that deliberately,” he told the Mike Hosking Breakfast.  “I had a couple of options before the World Cup that I basically said, if you want to talk to me, you have to wait till after the World Cup.  “Because I don’t want this team or in fact, this country, thinking that I was busy trying to sort myself out before the biggest event.  “And for me, I wanted my team to know that I was 100 percent focused on the team. I’d like to think that everyone saw that and now I’ll take my time and figure out what’s next. The timing is not perfect because a lot of jobs have all gone, but that’s ok. I was willing to take that risk.”  Foster joined the All Blacks as an assistant coach in 2012 and was part of the coaching staff when the side won the World Cup title in 2015. He took the reins from Steve Hansen following the 2019 World Cup. Under Foster, the All Blacks won four Rugby Championship titles and retained both the Freedom Cup and Bledisloe Cup. He has the third most wins as an All Black coach (32 from 46 tests).  Foster was asked whether he wanted to continue coaching at the highest level.  “Well, I think that’s one of the options. You consider two things. You got the club stuff in Europe. You’ve got Japan, and then there’s the international game.  “But it’s immensely difficult to talk about trying to coach another country when you’ve just had 12 years with the best team in the world and who’s so close to my heart and quite frankly I just need to breathe a little bit before I go down that path,” he revealed.  Ian Foster at peace with coaching era  Hosking asked Foster whether he was at peace with his time as All Blacks coach.  “I think I am but I’m still going over everything.  “We went into a World Cup that everyone thought, we all knew, was going to be probably one of the toughest ever and nearly nailed it.  “So, I’m at peace that we did everything we could that we gave it everything we got but still there’s always a massive disappointment we couldn’t get across the line.  “It’s been interesting four years. It started with the board and players fighting at each other over Silver Lake and that took about 12 months to get resolved. It set a sort of a platform of a niggly relationship between the players and the board, which wasn’t actually anything to do with me. But that was the paradigm that we came into.  “We then went through Covid and the way we structured our seasons became very different. For example, I think we only played South Africa once in New Zealand in the four years.  “But everything settled down and I feel we got ourselves into a really good position going into that World Cup and ultimately that was the goal. I’m pretty proud of the effort that my coaching group, my management team put through and knowing that that things were over at the end of the campaign, but we were able to keep our focus singular on what we needed to do.  “And for that, I’m really proud of that group.”  “When I got the job, it always seemed to be under a condition, didn’t it? It was the two year contract. They had another candidate that half the people wanted and from then on it was the leaves that they looked at everything that we did.  “And so once people fix their minds on an opinion, it’s very hard to move them and to be fair, I’m relaxed with that.  “I’d like to think that now they realise that I lead a group that was highly motivated that could really produce a team that can win a World Cup. And the support that I’ve had has been phenomenal.”    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no clue yet on how long it will take to form a government following today's special vote count. At two this afternoon to results of around 570-thousand votes will be released by the Electoral Commission. The results will likely dictate whether National and ACT need New Zealand First to run the country. Former Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, told Mike Hosking that how fast National can form a Government will be determined on their future coalition partners. He says they've been talking about getting it sorted sometime next week, but he wouldn't bet the house on it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She’s been making music for fourteen years but has only recently turned 23.  Nashville-based singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen is taking the world by storm, the Grammys comparing her perceptive storytelling and pop-country music to a young Taylor Swift.  She released her first album in late 2021, and just this year released her deeply personal three-part album ‘Twenty Something.’   The album is made up of three six song instalments: ‘Messing It Up’, ‘Figuring It Out’, and ‘Getting It Right,’ the full album containing eighteen songs total.  Springsteen told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that she’s a big signs person, with eighteen being her lucky number.  “It’s just kind of popped up throughout my entire life,” she said.   “My birthday is the 18th, my parents got married on the 18th, and we’ll see it in the most random place.”  Keeping in line, Springsteen released the album on August 18th. Eighteenth of the eighth.   “I just tried to pack as much good luck into it as I could.”  Not only is Springsteen a big signs person, but she’s also a big manifester.  “I always had huge dreams when I was a kid,” she told Hosking.  “I just had this blind faith that it was what I was meant to do.”  Springsteen picked up the guitar when she was seven, started writing songs when she was nine, and started co-writing music with industry heavyweights not long after.   She told Hosking that it was the first time she found people that spoke the same language that she did.  “People were calling their friends being like, ‘you’ve got to come meet this girl,’ and it was just such an organic way of finding community.”  Despite her youth Springsteen has already made songs with a variety of artists including Mitchell Tenpenny and Brad Paisley, and toured with Luke Bryan.  “I learned so, so much just from watching him,” She told Hosking.   “The way he interacts with the crowd, he’s so fan focused.”  Community is a key part of music, country music in particular, and Nashville is where the roots of this community are planted.  Springsteen has performed twice at what she calls the ‘Holy ground’, the Grand Ole Opry, telling Hosking that it’s hard to find words to describe the experience.  “It doesn’t really hit you until you step in that circle. Until you’re thinking about everybody that’s come before you, and you feel like you’re officially part of the country music family.”  Joining the family brought with it advice from the older generations, and for Alana Springsteen, Kenny Chesney had some words of wisdom.  “Just do it your own way, let it come to you.”  “The biggest thing he told me that stuck with me is not to be impatient, you know? He’s like, take your time.”  She says she has to constantly remind herself that a slow rise builds a lasting foundation.  “The most important thing to me is to have a long career and do this for the rest of my life.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news this week is that this is the month in which the Covid inquiry people will be wanting to hear from us.  Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, a Kiwi living in Melbourne, was appointed to lead the investigation  The key, sadly, is the terms of engagement. This is how Governments get around things  You announce an inquiry and this immediately gets trouble off your back, because whatever the drama of the day is the next time the question arises you can say "we will leave that to the inquiry".  If the inquiry result is bad news you release it on a Friday and hope no one notices, or if worse comes to worst, you say you accept the findings and recommendation  This inquiry needed to happen given a lot of countries are having one and because there was tremendous upset and a huge array of question marks around how the pandemic was handled  So far they’ve talked to a few at the coalface. Now it is time for the public submissions.  Which means the next part is the disappointment.  Whatever it says won't change anything and I think that, ultimately, is the great Covid lesson. You got what you got based on who was running the place, not because there was a playbook.  If you want a good reference Britain is having their inquiry this week and one of this week's highlights has been Dominic Cummings.  Dominic hates Boris Johnson. Dominic once liked Boris and worked for him, but when that changed Dominic has spent quite a lot of time and, certainly quite a lot more energy, crapping all over the Tories in a campaign of some real intensity.  Part of that has played out for the cameras this week. The point being is it has less to do with Covid and more to do with politics. Dominic wants Boris to look bad.  Ours will be no different.  That's because, and this is the second part of the lesson, Covid is not only about who happens to be running the place but their response will almost certainly be politically motivated, not health related.  They told us ours was health based. But the overlay was the Jacinda Ardern view of the world, the control freak-like approach to bossing everyone around and making astonishing amounts of rules based on not a lot.  If you're an anti-vaxxer, an anti-mandater, an anti-MIQ'er then I wouldn’t bother. They say they want to hear from you, but they don’t.  It ultimately will be a door-stop report with lots of anecdotes, a lot of praise for the difficult days and a suggestion we did amazingly.  But as for light, clarity, lessons and change?  Forget it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countdown's aiming to make healthier choices easier for customers, and combat checkout 'pester power'.  The supermarket chain —soon to be Woolworths— has committed to 80% of foods at checkouts carrying a Health Star Rating of 3.5 or more.  It's also moving "kids confectionary" elsewhere.  Woolworths NZ Nutritionist, Deb Sue, told Mike Hosking that this same approach has had really good feedback in Australia.  She said the intent is not to take away choice, but simply to nudge people to make healthier choices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reading Recovery support is becoming less common in schools.  The number of children receiving the intensive one-on-one literacy assistance has dropped by a third over the past three years.  Less than half the country's primary schools now offer the programme.  Education Hub Founder Nina Hood told Mike Hosking that many don't think it provides their students with the level of support they require.   She says they're now offering different programmes, which they find more effective.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some positive news for Aucklanders left with flood-damaged homes.  The council has agreed to fund mitigation for properties which could feasibly be protected from harm in future severe weather events.   It's offering to pay up to 25% of a property's capital value for work like retaining walls, landscaping, and drainage improvements.   Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Mike Hosking that the issue is vexed, but is a mixture of what he calls sensible decisions.  He says it minimises costs but maximises the help council can provide without upsetting ratepayers too much.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some mortgage holders are in for a tough adjustment come 2024.  A Reserve Bank report says the average household will spend about 18% of their income on interest payments alone by mid-next year.  It comes as those on extremely low interest rates in 2019 start turning over to new rates.  Kiwibank Chief Executive, Steve Jurkovich, told Mike Hosking that the upside is the doubling of interest rates comes from a low base.  He says in context, the number is pretty normal compared to what we've seen over the past decade.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demands for families to be held to account to stop kids dying from abuse.   A homicide investigation has been launched into the death of Lower Hutt toddler Ruthless-Empire Wall, who was killed from blunt force trauma.   Newstalk ZB understands that his uncle contacted Oranga Tamariki, wanting the toddler to be uplifted.  In July, Police conducted a welfare check in with no concerns noted.  Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency Chair, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, told Mike Hosking that families need to take on greater responsibilities.  She says that it takes committed whanau, hapu, and iwi leadership to say this has to stop.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns rise as New Zealand's red meat exports take a sharp decline.  The Meat Industry Association reports exports dropped to $617 million in the 12 months to September; a near 20% annual decrease.  It says the global market is softening, but the numbers look worse than they are because last year's meat prices were at record highs.   ANZ agricultural economist, Susan Kilsby told Mike Hosking that there's been a big drop in demand from our biggest market, China.  She says Chinese consumers are saving —not spending— as financial confidence remains low amidst the country's current challenges.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some questions around yesterday's White Island verdict:  Was justice done? Was justice seen to be done?  Did a lot of people needlessly get dragged before the court for no good reason?  Did those who had their charges dismissed get any compensation for lost time and energy on a case for them that went nowhere?  Is it fair that the law allows a Government agency to simply machine-gun a series of charges about the place, in the hope a few will stick? Do you machine-gun charge, hoping some will take the path of least resistance and simply plead guilty?  Did some of those that pled guilty do so for essentially the wrong reasons and, if so, do they now regret that?  Does the landing of a single guilty verdict from all those charges justify the approach from WorkSafe?  Given what the judge said about WorkSafe and their reportage of operations on the island, are they potentially as culpable as anyone else? And if they are, where are the charges against them?  Where is any accountability from them at all?  Why do we have a system whereby you get charged and then have those charges dismissed and you can essentially do nothing about it?  Where is WorkSafe and why don't they front to defend their actions? Given that, is there a gross unfairness in the balance of power in matters such as this?  How many of the WorkSafe charges, or indeed the WorkSafe approach to all of this, was a butt covering exercise designed to make them look better than they clearly are?    Accepting this was a tragedy and lives were changed forever, how much of their approach was about looking like they cared and were out to get some people, even if those people were not in any way culpable?  As tragic as the circumstances turned out to be, does some level of responsibility lie with individuals who took part in a tourist exercise involving a live volcano and there fore a level of risk was entered into?  Is the reality not that if you are dealing with nature and you can't control, or tame nature, it is at all times beyond your control and therefore risk is involved and people buy into that risk?  The fact one charge, one contested charge of all the charges, actually stuck - what does that change?  Was justice done?  Was justice seen to be done?  Or are the questions just asked an indication of a sloppy Government department who are as guilty, if not more so, than anyone else who appeared in that court? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel has confirmed it caused an explosion at a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, saying it targeted a Hamas leader.   Reuters reports Palestinian medics say at least 50 are dead.   CNN reports the Israel Defence Force says it was targeting a very senior Hamas commander in the area around the camp.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the director of a hospital nearby said that hundreds of dead and injured have arrived at the hospital, and many are still under the rubble.  This figure is still unconfirmed.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frontline medical staff are facing more pressure at our hospitals.  Te Whatu Ora clinical performance metrics show the number of patients waiting more than four months to see a specialist has jumped 46% in the last year.  College of Physicians President, Stephen Inns, told Mike Hosking that this reflects what their members are seeing in ED.  He says people are waiting longer to see them, so they are sicker when they get there.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten months into his five-year deal, Eddie Jones has walked out on the Wallabies.  As of yesterday, his resignation is official, with his final day coming on the 25th of November.  While it’s not known exactly what Jones’ next plans are, there is a rumour that he could be off to Japan.  Australian Radio Network’s Sports Director, Jim Dolan, told Mike Hosking that it’s the million-dollar question.  While there’s nothing wrong with moving to coach another team, he said that if Jones was on a Zoom meeting in the weeks leading up to the Cup, you’ve got to wonder if he was focused on the job.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Justice Spokesman is standing by his suggestion of requiring gang members to cover up their gang tattoos with foundation.  Mark Mitchell says National could potentially ban gang facial tattoos on top of patches, and gang members would have to apply make-up over tattoos, or face arrest.  Labour's Megan Woods told Mike Hosking that it would be a hard rule to enforce.  But Mitchell told Hosking that gang members have been charged and prosecuted for breaking a similar rule in Western Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our largest bank's Chief Economist believes the anticipated unemployment figures show that the Reserve Bank's approach to tackling inflation is working.  Stats NZ will release the latest data just before 11am.  Most economists forecast an unemployment rate of 3.9%, up from 3.6% three months ago.  ANZ's Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking that spare capacity is needed in the labour market to avoid the risk of a wage price spiral, and bring down inflation.  She says it's not a great recipe, but if inflation and other pressures aren't tackled now there'll be a bigger bust down the track.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming Prime Minister is pleased with the progress they’re making as the count is still ongoing.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that while they won’t be able to form Government completely on Friday, they’re going to move as quickly as they can in the coming week.  According to Luxon, there’s still negotiations to be had and issues to work through, but all parties involved have been working diligently.  While he told Hosking he can’t give a specific timeframe, he can say there’s good intention from everybody not to draw this out any longer than it needs to be.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A law expert says the Whakaari White Island trial was a messy process.   The island's owner, Whakaari Management Limited, has been found guilty on one health and safety charge brought by WorkSafe.   WorkSafe charged 13 parties in 2020; six pleaded guilty ahead of the trial and another six had charges dismissed.  Law expert Chris Gallavin told Mike Hosking that not having corporate manslaughter in our legislation, is a glaring hole.   He says it would cover a lot of people dying at work, and the members of the public who died in this kind of situation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Reacher has returned in yet another novel from Lee and Andrew Child.  ‘The Secret’ is the 28th book in the series and was released only a few months before the second season of the TV show is set to be released in December.  Lee Child told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that this is the last of their transitional collaborations, after which Andrew will be taking over completely.  He said that he made himself a promise years ago that his career wouldn’t end with a downwards slope.  “I tried to remain as self-aware as I could,” Child told Hosking.   “When was the moment that I was just running out of gas, running out of energy?”  So while Lee Child is going to stop, his brother Andrew is taking over and keeping Jack Reacher alive.  “The secret is really Andrew’s book and it’s very good, and that’s driving me crazy,” he said.  “He could be better than me.”   When it comes to the TV show, Child is an executive producer and consultant.  “I don’t really want a role,” he confessed.  “I truly believe the best thing to do is hand over the project and give them confidence to do it on their own, without me looking over their shoulders.”   Child’s wound up being a “friend of the production”, as he puts it, as the showrunners would call him up and ask for his insight and input.  Although he’s officially stepping back from writing Jack Reacher novels, he said it doesn’t feel like a huge step.  “You learn very early on,” he told Hosking. “That the readers grab him, the readers fall in love with the character, and from that point onward, the reader owns Reacher.”  “It fades away from you over time.”  Child said he wanted to be decisive in avoiding that downward slope, saying that he’s glad he did it this way.  “We’re going to get another ten, twelve, fifteen years of Reacher that I could not have done myself.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call to centre the discussion around breaking up the supermarket duopoly as an online grocer folds.   Supie began as a start-up in 2021, aiming to introduce competition in the supermarket industry.  Voluntary administrator PwC New Zealand estimates a debt of up to $3 million, and suspects liquidation in the coming days.   Monopoly Watch Spokesperson, Tex Edwards, told Mike Hosking that there’s a universal regret around not focusing on creating price competition, nutrition competition, and sustainability.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's always a sad, old business when a half-decent idea doesn’t quite work out.  That's how it appears with Supie, the company and the start-up designed to shake up the supermarket game.  Now, it's important to remember we don’t know why they have gone into liquidation. Even if a business fails, it may say nothing about the economic environment, it may say nothing about the specific sector it operated in, or then again it may say a lot.  The reason it's interesting is because the supermarket game has got a lot of attention.  The supermarket game is a rip-off apparently, they make far too much money, they need upheaval and change, they need a grocery commissioner, they need the whole sector being busted up and the competition to roll on in and offer the cheap prices and choice we all long for.  Yet, Supie was supposed to be it.  Is it possible to suggest that the market isn't quite as it has been portrayed?  One of the ironies with Supie was the suppliers who wanted better prices from them. In that scenario is the tricky business of supplier to customer. Supie says "I'll give you a $1 to sell at $1.50 retail"  The supplier says "I want $1.25 because that's what the other guys pay". Can you blame the supplier? No you can't.  Can you blame the customer for not flocking to Supie? About 50,000 odd did but it clearly wasn’t enough.  It's sort of like Kiwibank. No one is stopping you banking there, its just not as many do as those at the big four  Why do we shop at the so-called duopoly when we are told it's not good value? Why are we trying to bust up a market we so openly support?  What did the grocery commissioner, or the previous Government, do apart from make a lot of noise to save Supie and those who want to be like Supie?  Is there actually room in the market for another player, or do we just wish there was? When the others come along, why don’t we leap all over them with our business?  Why, when allegedly we are crying out for competition, doesn’t the competition make a killing?  That’s a lot of questions for a market or industry, that is apparently so in need of reform.  Or is it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland University researchers have identified links between more Airbnbs in neighbourhoods and higher crime-rates.  The findings —which use Auckland region census data— show it leads to lower house prices.  It highlights how Airbnbs replace long-term owner occupiers with short term occupants, which can erode the anti-crime capability of the community.  Higher density neighbourhoods —like those with apartments— are more affected than areas with single family houses.  Nice Place Property Management Director, Keith Powell, told Mike Hosking that it's hard to pinpoint.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major bank has increased the rate it uses to check potential borrowers can afford a loan.   ANZ has upped its test rate to 9.1%.   That's despite home loan rates sitting around 7% for a two-year fix.    In past week ANZ and Westpac have raised interest rates.  Squirrel Mortgages Chief Executive David Cunningham told Mike Hosking the test rate doesn't make much of a difference.   He says the good news for first home buyers is that compared to two years ago, because property prices are lower, they can still afford the same amount based on the test rate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he has been spending a lot of time lately packing boxes as he prepares to depart office.  “My boxes are all packed, we’re ready to go,” Hipkins told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.  Hipkins said the transition phase is a little bit frustrating.  “I can’t really embrace the position of opposition, and I can’t embrace the position of Government,” said Hipkins.  “We’re just here keeping the fire burning.”  He said yesterday’s cabinet meeting only touched on the Israel and Gaza conflict and what New Zealand’s stance is.  He said the position was that Israel needs to comply with international humanitarian law, but they “absolutely” had the right to defend themselves against Hamas.  Hipkins said the country’s stance is very similar to Australia’s which was shared in a joint letter from the country’s former Prime Ministers.  He said he would have no problem if New Zealand’s former Prime Minister group wanted to form a statement as well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's Mayor is looking to crackdown on unsafe housing providers in the city.  Tania Tapsell is targeting motels, hostels, and backpackers that might be operating unsafely by taking on long term tenants.  It comes after a deal was struck between local government, council, and iwi last year, aiming to slash emergency housing motel numbers to near zero.   Tapsell told Mike Hosking that it's disappointing to see long term tenancies in what should be short term accommodation.  She says the healthy home requirements for a house are a lot different for those at a backpackers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the Rugby World Cup final, changes that need to be made to officiating, and Joesph Parker's win over Simon Kean in Saudi Arabia. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of talk about the match. But what about the game of rugby? As I was watching Bill Beaumont hand out the prizes I wondered whether he has the slightest clue that he is killing the game's chances at the domination or growth they so desperately want. For the sport's show piece, yesterday morning was a bust. If you expect the casual observer to tune in, as so many do for the pinnacle of sport, whether it’s the Olympics or World Cups or finals of anything at the elite level, you have to give them a reason to come back, and yesterday wasn’t it. For the departing players, what a miserable way to end a career. Rugby is like any other event that wants fans, or sales, or eye balls. It is entertainment. It competes against video games, Taylor Swift concerts, as well as all other athletic pursuits. It's chasing the attention of those of us who wish to be mesmerised, or thrilled, or amazed. You need to put on a show. Everything that is wrong with rugby featured in those 80 dull, slow, meandering and boring minutes. Rules no one understands, penalties for things that don't make sense, interminable gaps between actual play as bandages are applied, tired players are allowed to milk the clock, a scrum gets lined up by a series of instructions so long you can boil the kettle, or the TMO runs through a couple of hundred angles to try and find something criminal. It is sport by committee and old men who have missed the memo. It would be simpler to call it flag football, or touch, and just do away with most of the rules. Looking at people the wrong way seems to be a card. There's so much interpretation and if you're not interpreting, you're fearful. So many rules around trying to stop things like concussions and head injuries and law suits, all laudable I am sure when they waxed lyrical about them around a boardroom table. But in application, all they have done is wreck the game. To grow a sport you have to justify the price of admission. Look at the NBA - 60% growth this year in viewership and ticket sales from 92 countries. Why? Because it's spectacular. The biggest growth market is India. Is India a basket country? No. But make it cool enough and you don’t have to be. Rugby isn't cool. It can still be played well, but too often it isn't. Yes the All Blacks lost, but not as badly as rugby did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the officiating and all the rules ruin rugby’s big showpiece? The match officiating was under hefty scrutiny in the All Blacks’ 12-11 loss to the Springboks in Paris, with referee Wayne Barnes heavily relying on the TMO throughout. The game saw three yellows and one red card, as well as questions over Springboks captain Siya Kolisi’s yellow not being upgraded to a red like Sam Cane’s for a similar challenge, as well as Aaron Smith’s disallowed try. Former international rugby referee Vinny Munro joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland University think-tank study's highlighted the significant degree to which weight problems can be triggered both before birth and in early childhood. The Knowledge Hub for Maternal and Child Health at the Centre for Informed Futures found links between caregiver feeding practices, what age infants are introduced solid foods, and the weight of parents at conception. Lead researcher Dr Felicia Low joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our tourism sector's popping the champagne as American aviation giant Delta Air Lines enters the New Zealand market today. The airline will transit between Los Angeles and Auckland every day during summer, and three times a week in late March to late October. United Airlines have also joined the party, adding more offerings to New Zealand. House of Travel Chief Operating Officer Brent Thomas told Mike Hosking there's big demand from North American travellers. “And New Zealand has been the top of the bucket list for a lot of Americans for a long time. The other side of the coin, of course, is that means with all that competition, we get great flights out of New Zealand.” Thomas says the increasing competition has driven down prices in the last year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Perry's being remembered after his unexpected death yesterday. The 54-year-old actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. Sources say first responders were called for a person suffering cardiac arrest. Flowers and cards are piling up outside the New York building which doubled as Central Perk. Although KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin told Mike Hosking the main Friends cast still haven't commented. “I think this going to be a very considered series of remarks. Whether that comes from the remaining five collectively as a group or each of the five individually, I don’t know.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel says its next stage of war with Hamas has begun as it expands ground operations in Gaza. The UN has warned that civil order is breaking down in Gaza. Israeli journalist Haggai Matar told Mike Hosking they don't know if this is THE ground invasion that's been expected for some time. “We are seeing additional ground operations, but I don’t think it’s of the mass scale that was envisioned when Israel initially announced that there would be a ground invasion.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rugby World Cup final didn’t end the way the All Blacks were hoping for. The Springboks are four-time World Cup champions after defeating a 14-man All Blacks 12-11 at the Stade de France in Paris. The final was a controversially over-refereed affair, that proved disappointing for the sport’s showpiece game. Former All Black Sean Fitzpatrick joined Mike Hosking the over-refereeing was already an issue well before the final. “Throughout the tournament there’s just been so many inconsistencies that it doesn’t give you any confidence and it spoils the game.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s potentially the sports headline, good news, hold the front page, story of the year. Rugby has had a good week. I like what the internationals are doing with the North/South expansion. What people want is the best and playing the best. Boxing has understood that for years that you create the contest, build the hype and sell it. Splitting the game between hemispheres, as we play Australia and South Africa and Argentina over and over again, is not a recipe for anticipation and excitement. How many northern tours have there been where we don't play the team you want not a lot is on the line anyway? Put a stake in the ground, get a cup, call it a contest, give it a title and you're off. Then you come to this weekend. In all honesty I would have liked France, and if it wasn’t France, then England. But only if England looked like they might be up to something, which sadly, they're not. If they had won last week that would have been their final. We would have killed them on Sunday. South Africa, bar France, are the right team to win the cup against. While we are re-organising the sport, we need better draws. Our victory, if there is indeed a victory, came about because we beat Ireland and that's about it. We get crowned the world champs because we beat Ireland? Is that enough? We beat Italy, Namibia and Uruguay. They are not competition. So we lost to France, beat some nobodies, but won it all because we played two good teams and came out victorious. As long-winded as the current world cup in cricket may be, at least it’s a contest where they play everyone. How can you be the best if you haven't proved it by beating the rest? Anyway, I think we will win because we look more complete than we have been in a while. We look confident without being cocky, we look organised, we haven't panicked when pressured and we have the greatest of reasons to finish this with Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith and, of course, Ian Foster. If Foster wins this, how good is that as a story? Written off, bagged, bullied, treated abysmally by his employers and, yet, victorious. He'd be the best in the world, the Halberg would be in the bag and a massive middle finger, he is far too gracious to expose, to a period of his career he never deserved, and must have wondered at times whether being a tall poppy, in a country that hates them, was worth it. That, if it pans out, is a redemption story to beat them all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.     The process of elections: 2/10  Surely we have collectively decided this week that three weeks is nutty. The Electoral Commission have some answers to produce and it can't be as hard and slow as they make it.     The All Blacks: 8/10  I feel good, don’t you? It's not a forgone done deal, but they look good, they look confident, and they look a lot better than when we all decided they weren't up to much.     Andrew Webster: 8/10  A three-year extension for one of the best coaches we have seen in years.     Houses: 6/10  Banks doors are open, apparently, to lower deposits - plus prices are rising and investors are bullish.     Squid Game: 4/10  A real-life version of the movie on Netflix? Normally it's a movie of real life.     Eight hour working day: 5/10  Fewer and fewer of us actually work eight hours. It seems work is all a bit hard for a growing number of us. What happened to work being fun and good for us?     Donald Trump: 2/10  How many of his people have to turn and cut a deal before he is crushed under the weight of it?     The rugby expansion: 7/10  The North/South thing I like, the World Cup changes are a waste of time    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meridian Energy and NZ Windfarms have struck a deal, aiming to further New Zealand’s venture towards net zero emissions.   The joint-venture is to expand Te Rere Hau wind farm near Palmerston North, estimated costs sitting between $500 million and $600 million.  Meridian’s CEO, Mike Roan, told Mike Hosking that they plan to remove the existing wind farm and build new turbines at the site.  He said that it’s a big challenge to decarbonize the economy, and partnerships between local wind farms and major corporations will allow the projects to get off of the ground.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids will be kids, but one US restaurant has become fed up with parents who refuse to control their children.  The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in rural Georgia has introduced a “bad parenting fee”, charging parents a surcharge if their kids’ behaviour is disruptive or unruly.   The surcharge is stated plainly on the menu, but the choice has angered many social media users who are asking just what constitutes an “adult unable to parent”.  Michael Dearth, owner of The Grove, told Mike Hosking that the onus is on the parents to ensure their kids behave, but there as a restauranteur, he also has an obligation to ensure that every customer and member of staff has a great time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have made it to the Rugby World Cup final for the fifth time.   They're set to face the Springboks Sunday morning in an epic clash for the cup.  Former All Blacks Captain, John Hart, told Mike Hosking that the combination of youth and experience is really working for the team.  He said they’ve got the team they want, and they’ve gone in injury free, and are prepared to put in a first-class performance against South Africa.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 300 law enforcement personnel are searching for the suspect in the mass-shooting in Maine.   At least 18 people are dead and a further 13 injured after the shootings at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston.   Suspect 40-year-old Robert Card is believed to be armed and dangerous.   There's a "shelter in place" order for residents of the town and two neighbouring ones.   Maine Monitor Editor David Dahl told Mike Hosking that Card had mental health issues.   He says images of him that have been circulated show him pictured with what appears to be an assault rifle.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rugby World Cup is coming to a close this weekend as the All Blacks face South Africa in what’s set to be an epic final match.   All Blacks Coach, Ian Foster, told Mike Hosking that getting to this point wasn’t easy, but it helped build the team’s character.   He said that a little adversity never killed anyone, as long as you don’t sulk about it but you do roll your sleeves up and get stuck into it.  Foster said he’s incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved and now they know they can go on to play the game they want to play.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland councillors are almost split down the middle on whether to establish separate Māori ward seats.  Councillors have voted against the idea, 11 votes to 9.  Howick Ward Councillor Maurice Williamson —who voted against the seats— told Mike Hosking that most public submitters were opposed to Māori seats.  He says the council already has separate Māori representation around the council table through the Independent Māori Statutory Board.  Whau Ward Councillor Kerrin Leoni —who voted for the seats— says the result is disheartening.  She says it's a lost opportunity to allow some great Māori to contribute to the future of the city.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come Together has announced another tour in their series.   The iconic kiwi supergroup is combining the biggest and best songs they’ve recreated since their inception for a “banger” end-of-year-tour.  Jon Toogood, Shihad frontman, is a member of this star-studded group, and told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that he plans to perform David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.  He’s pretty sure Bowie is going to be featured in the tour, and picked the song because it’s one he knows on acoustic guitar.  Toogood told Hosking that music is a part of pretty much his whole day.  “It’s been my thing since I was two years old.”  The only time he’s not thinking about music is when he’s with his kids, saying that that’s when he feels “like a dad rather than a musician.”  He did pass the musical gene on to his children though, telling Hosking that his five-year-old daughter is either going to be a punk rock drummer or a truck driver.  “We made a decision early on with our kids,” Toogood revealed. “That whatever they’re passionate about, we’ll back them 100%.”  “I’m not into making copies of myself.”  Touring also comes naturally to Toogood, telling Hosking that he feels at home in front of an audience.  “I’m more comfortable on a stage than I am New World shopping,” he joked.  This particular tour however, comes with a bit of a challenge: picking the songs.  “There’s so many highlights on all the records we’ve done.”  But before that he’s taking his solo music to the East Coast, playing three shows to test out his new material.  “I’m looking forward to those.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yet another competition has arisen between Australia and New Zealand.  KiwiSaver is underperforming, with only a 6% contribution rate in comparison to the 11% contribution rate to Australia’s Super System.  Simplicity Founder, Sam Stubbs, told Mike Hosking that politicians tend to think in the short term when it comes to KiwiSaver.  He said that they might be worried that if they make KiwiSaver compulsory or increase contributions, it takes money away from people and makes them less likely to vote for them.  Stubbs said they don’t see the long-term impact on infrastructure and the economy that super funds can have.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aside from the ongoing scandal at Three Waters headquarters that we talked about yesterday, is the news from ratings agency S&P, who tell us the real issue around water and what to do about infrastructure is not Government debt but local council debt. Now at this point Labour will yell "I told you so". The problem is the Government is not encumbered by debt if you compare it as S&P do to other countries. But at a local level there are no shortage of councils who can borrow no more because they are maxed out. The fact they are maxed out should be of alarm to us all. For years we have failed to pay attention to the amateurs, well meaning or not, who we elect to run the town or city who then go and borrow to the eyeballs in their mad three year-cycle psychology and we end up where we are; unable to deal with the big picture issues without imposing massive rate increases. Auckland is a good example, exposed so badly by the summer weather back in January. And Wellington appears to be on course to win the prize for the biggest bunch of dysfunctional buffoons for 2023. But that doesn’t solve water, so the inference from S&P is Government has to do the heavy lifting. Fair enough. So can you kill Three Waters without the same mess Labour managed to foist upon us? The answer is yes. The trouble was never the issue. We all agree water needs to improve. The trouble was the mechanism of taking assets off councils, bribing councils and forcing a Maori lens on councils. These were the problems that made it so toxic. Dare I suggest water is not a race issue. It's an issue for all of us and as such, a co-governance model is not necessary. Can I suggest, if some councils want to opt out they can? Leaving the Government and its ability to borrow to help those that do want it, on the understanding that some sort of fiscal arrangement is struck where the lender is not left high and dry if the borrower defaults. Can I also suggest the model of four bodies made into ten bodies merely goes to prove the number of bodies doesn’t matter, it's how you do it that does. Maybe some of the power at local level needs to be devolved so we don’t end up with endless fiefdoms arguing over what they do and don’t run. The main point being- if we have agreement at the core of the issue, which we do, …then the rest is doable if there is good will and less ideology. Three Waters is a business case lesson in how to take a problem and complicate it beyond recognition and leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. A problem that, badly mangled, is never that hard to actually sort.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invivo was created back in 2008 with the intention of bringing kiwi wine to the world.  Fifteen years on they, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, lead a seminar and tasting for some of the most influential beverage industry professionals at the world’s biggest wine event in New York.  Their wine collaboration is the fastest growing premium Sauvignon Blanc currently in the United States, with sales increasing by 49% over the past seven months.   Invivo Co-Founder, Tim Lightbourne, told Mike Hosking that there’s still big opportunities out there and room for growth.  He said it’s lead by Sauvingon Blanc, but once they get that mainstream US audience into Sauvignon Blanc, it’s all on.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small business sales have seen a decline in growth for the first time since Covid-19 lockdowns.  New Xero data for the September 2023 quarter shows a 1.5% decline year-on-year in sales, the weakest since September 2021.  It puts New Zealand well behind Australia and just behind the UK, but well ahead of the US and Canada.  Max Whitehead, the CEO of the Small Business Voice, told Mike Hosking that it comes down to the election.  He thinks that people are holding back and being cautious for the time being, but things may change once there’s a more concrete government and policy in place.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a debate around whether teachers and students should be able to contact each other on social media.   A student who was groomed and sexually abused by her teacher is calling for teachers to be banned from talking to students on social media.   Secondary Principals Association President Vaughan Couillault told Mike Hosking that it's about appropriate use.   He says it's not necessarily the tool that's the problem, but the adult that's using it inappropriately.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helen Clark says the fact New Zealand has a caretaker government means it's taken time for a statement on the Israel Gaza conflict.   Outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, in consultation with incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon, has joined international calls for humanitarian corridors in Gaza and designated safe areas.   The former Prime Minister told Mike Hosking that hostages will be fearing the worst.   She says a humanitarian pause will give time for the negotiation of hostage release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City Councillor thinks the Town Hall saga is beyond the point of no return.  A majority of councillors yesterday agreed to accept a new budget of up to $329 million for the redevelopment and quake-strengthening of the heritage-listed building.  Tony Randle told Mike Hosking that they would have to consult the entire city if they voted not to continue works.  He says they were trapped into doing this and given little choice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another piece has fallen into place for next year's America’s Cup.  Louis Vuitton has returned as the main sponsor for the event, marking forty-one years since they first got involved in 1983.  Team New Zealand CEO, Grant Dalton, told Mike Hosking that their return is really good for the cup.  He said it shows that they have faith in the Cup going forward, whether Team New Zealand wins or loses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local Government New Zealand maintains there are still council meetings that need a degree of privacy.  A Chief Ombudsman investigation into eight councils has found some have been effectively closing workshops to the public for invalid reasons.  It followed complaints they were undermining local democracy.   Local Government President Sam Broughton told Mike Hosking that the legislation still allows for publicly excluded meetings.  He said that these might be used for things that are commercially sensitive.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the coronial inquest into the mosque shooting gets underway surely one of the ironies is the fact that something that it is hoped will provide answers needs to answer a couple of questions itself. Why does it take so long to get an inquiry underway? Is something this far down the track from the event able to give the answers people want? One of the stories yesterday suggested the great hope was this inquiry would lead to something like this never happening again. I'm not sure how this is possible. A mass shooting has not been part of New Zealand history so there is not really a pattern to be studied. The outworkings of an errant, crazy man is not something that an inquiry can prevent. It can potentially delve into some of the other issues like the emergency response, they are looking at an exit door and whether it failed to function. Some are looking for closure. I hope for those who are looking for closure they get it, but for that to happen surely it must be based on the mere functionality of the inquiry, not the specifics and outworkings because an inquiry is not a miracle. It’s a series of questions and probes and recollections. I can't see how we are going to conclude mass, catastrophic, systematic failure, whereby a large series of recommendations are put forward and the fabric of society is changed as we implement them and go about our business in a completely different way. This was a tragic day, as a result of a crazed man with a gun, bent on madness and destruction. I may be proved wrong, but the emergency response appeared astonishing and the bravery involved was extraordinary. The things we have done already, the gun amnesty and register, seem as political as a response as they are practical. The Christchurch call that was set up has not stopped online hate. If an entire Government and its contribution is limited to that, what is a coronial inquiry going to achieve? Call me cynical, but this seems as much procedural as anything. It's four and a half years later, with findings not until at least five and a half years later, it's not what you would call urgent, is it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politicians from opposing sides want special votes to be counted more quickly.  Special votes and the final election result will be released in nine days, giving the final makeup of Parliament.  National and ACT can govern alone on current numbers, but those may change once November 3rd comes around.  Labour's Megan Woods told Mike Hosking that she doesn't see how allowing people to enrol on the day adds a week to counting specials.  National's Mark Mitchell agrees.  He said the Justice Committee will conduct an electoral review.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fresh shout for Kiwi kids to back their team in black this week.   A campaign is calling on school kids to ditch their uniforms and don something black to show support for All Blacks ahead of the Rugby World Cup Final.  The man behind the campaign, former NZR Chief Executive, David Moffett told Mike Hoksing that it's a way for kids around the country to feel involved.  He says it'll give the final a bit more meaning.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sick leave is becoming an increasing issue for employers.  Business Desk reports bosses are noticing that people are not shy about using up all their sick leave entitlements.  Data shows that on average people take 5.5 sick days a year, a big jump from where it was at 4.5 pre-pandemic.  Business NZ's Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking that everyone's position on illnesses has changed.  She puts it down to a shift in attitudes towards sickness following the pandemic, as well as a more progressive view of mental health.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 220 Israeli hostages remain in captivity as the war with Hamas continues.  Four women have been released — one says she was led through a spider's web of damp tunnels into a large hall where she was under 24-hour guard.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that hopes for the rest remain unclear.  He says the US and Israel are pressing for a much larger hostage release but they're tough negotiators.  Meanwhile, more than 700 Palestinians were also killed overnight by Israeli air strikes, according to Gaza's health ministry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon has agreed coalition documents should be made public.  Special vote results get released on Friday week, showing the final make-up of MPs after the election.  Luxon wants vote-counting to be faster than that.  ACT's David Seymour says he has no problem making the coalition agreement public.  Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that he's wanting to work with both parties and progress conversations.  He says they're very supportive of making it available, so people can understand the commitments they have made.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The British Government's determined the explosion at a hospital in Gaza was most likely caused by a missile fired from within Gaza, not a rocket from Israel.   Palestinian officials say 471 people were killed in the blast at the hospital.   British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says their judgement is based on deep knowledge and analysis of their intelligence and weapons experts.   UK Correspondent, Rod Liddle, told Mike Hosking that the Conservative Party is full square behind Israel.  He said that there are very few people in the party who have sympathies with Hamas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French President Emmanuel Macron is the latest world leader to attempt to calm waters in the Middle East.  He'll meet with the Israeli Prime Minister and President, following British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden last week.  Europe Correspondent Catherine Field says they're trying to avoid a broader escalation of the conflict.  She says they're asking for some kind of humanitarian pause, where aid can get in and then the possibility of a ceasefire.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Webster has been locked in as the New Zealand Warriors head coach until the end of 2028.  The three-year contract extension means he'll equal the club's longest coaching tenure of six seasons.  Warriors CEO, Cameron George, told Mike Hosking that he has a way about getting belief into people.  He said that in tough situations you can measure a person’s leadership, and Webster didn’t move, he kept believing, and they eventually came through.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Barnes is the most experienced referee in test history.  He has been confirmed to referee the World Cup rugby final between the All Blacks and Springboks in Paris on Sunday morning.  Former International Rugby Referee, Vinny Munro, told Mike Hosking that he’s been there, done that.  He said that with that much experience, you’re going to get a good performance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billions could be saved if we had a more concrete infrastructure project timeline.   An Infrastructure New Zealand-commissioned report shows streamlining delivery could result in savings of more than 26% on future projects.  CEO Nick Leggett says if applied, these savings could increase the amount spent on delivery by between 2.3-billion and 4.7-billion-dollars a year, over the 2025-31 period.   He says planning, procurement, and people become more secure, and as a result the money saved can be reinvested.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rise in workplace conflict could be down to people used to working from home, returning to the office.  A survey from GeniusYou shows 36% of people say they deal with conflict in the office often, up from the previous 29%.   Employment Specialist Jennifer Mills told Mike Hosking that it seems as if employees have a shorter fuse following lockdowns.  She says while people would've walked away from conflict in the past, we're now seeing outbursts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MetService is explaining why its models struggled to predict how bad the fatal Auckland Anniversary Storm was going to be.  An internal review reveals it failed to indicate the severity of the event and has found fault with the warnings issued.  MetService CEO Stephen Hunt told Mike Hosking that teams were in a real state of flow on the day.   Stephen Hunt says they're looking at using AI technology to better predict the weather.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The caretaker convention's being blamed by the outgoing and incoming governments for their lack of comment on the situation in the Middle East.   The convention applies when an outgoing administration is preparing to make way for an incoming one.   Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that what New Zealand says on the issue is important.   He says as the crisis has unfolded and people have witnessed the disproportionate response of Israel, people are looking for a more qualified and nuanced response.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not that I was aware of it on the night, but we asked Tamatha Paul to have a chat with us about her victory in the Wellington Central electorate. She said no, based on some thinking within the Green Party that I say stuff they don't like. Now, here is the problem with that. It shows an astonishing arrogance from the Green Party that, somehow, they feel as public representatives that they can dictate who they do and don't talk to. Don't get me wrong, I am not bothered in the slightest. It is unlikely I would ever have talked to her anyway as a newbie, given this is a nationwide show and until she did something newsworthy, or got herself higher up the pecking order in terms of influence, she would not have qualified to end up here in any case. There is a bus load of Labour MP's making their way back home as we speak that I never got the chance to ask a question of because many MP's arrive, don't do a lot, and then vanish without ever having troubled the wider public. Ol' Dan Rosewarne only came to most of our attention this because he was whining about the Koru lounge. Anyway, Ms Paul may or may not like things I say, but that actually isn't the point. In choosing to represent someone i.e a whole electorate, it is your duty to defend, advocate and answer on their behalf. You are at their service. Simple question - are there people in Wellington Central that want their story, no matter what that story entails, talked about in front of the biggest radio audience in the country? Yes there are, and that's Ms Paul's job. She doesn't have the right to pick and choose based on personal, or in this case, the party's taste. We have been here before of course with the Ardern mistake, and I think time has shown without a shadow of a doubt her decision to exit her opportunity on this programme was a mistake. It proved damaging to both her party and to her reputation. That decision and the Paul decision tramples on the very basic premise that I think most people would support - that discourse is critical. If the only discourse allowed is between fellow travellers who nod heads in agreement, then it will never be robust, it will never challenge, it will never change things and you certainly won't get the chance to argue your case or defend your corner. Rounded out, human beings relish the debate, and I would hope that would be one of the basic criteria for any public representative; that you relish debate and you are rounded out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   The election: 7/10 A change of Government, reasonably clean result and an immediate lift in mood.   National: 8/10 Better result than most thought, a leader proved better than most thought, new MP's, a lot to play for and high hopes of at least two terms.   Labour: 3/10 Worse than they believed and that could be part of the problem. Got smashed in Auckland and deserved every bit of it. Now there's a lot of people without work, a leader who doesn’t seem to want to stay and no obvious successor. There's a long time in the wilderness coming.   Damien O'Connor: 4/10 Telling people to f*** off sort of summed up the mindset.   Tamatha Paul: 4/10 Not coming on a show like this is their loss, not ours.   Andrew Little: 6/10 First of those to walk but he won't be the last. But he's a good bloke with a decent disposition and a pretty solid contribution. He will be remembered well on the Coast and rightly so.   The All Blacks: 9/10 As good as rugby gets and another example of a team that was underestimated. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infometrics has revised its expectations for economic growth next year upwards.   It now predicts year-end growth at 0.9%.   Inflation data out this week also shows inflationary pressures were easing more than had been expected.   Chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan told Mike Hosking that they’re looking at a soft landing.  He said that growth is holding up and inflation is slowing in line with what the Reserve Bank would be hoping for, so there would be little need to increase interest rates further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have their eyes on the prize as they go into the semifinals tomorrow.  Former All Black Sean Fitzpatrick told Mike Hosking that while the fans are more relaxed than last week, the team itself is focused and driven.  He said that the teams previous experience in 2019 is helping keep apathy and complacence from setting in.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A step towards increasing the availability of CBD products.  CBD is a compound found in marijuana but has little to no psychoactive effects.  Medsafe has reclassified CBD from prescription only to a restricted medicine, meaning low-dose CBD medicines can be sold by pharmacists.  But Pharmacy Guild Chief Executive Andrew Gaudin told Mike Hosking that there are currently no low-dose products approved here.  He says this is the encouragement to manufacturers to start the process of developing products, which they'll then have to demonstrate the benefits of to get them approved.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City Councillor says the mayor's ignoring the wishes of the incoming government by pushing ahead with the Golden Mile redevelopment.  Tory Whanau says the final contract is days away from being signed despite National opposing it.   It would see cycling and pedestrian improvements and get rid of cars between Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place.   Diane Calvert was asked by Mike Hosking if the comments are just to stick it up the new Government because Whanau doesn't like them.  She reckons that's part of it, because she claims Tory Whanau's continually championing the Green agenda.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A construction boss is allaying fears of flooding of development sites.  Neighbours are raising concerns about a new housing development on land which flooded during Auckland's January downpours.  Mayor Wayne Brown says he's not aware of the specific situation, but he has concerns there are plots of land with resource consent that have recently flooded.   Naylor Love Chief Executive Rick Herd told Mike Hosking that just because the piece of land has flooded, doesn't mean there isn't an engineering solution to it.  He says it may be the developers have already got a plan to get rid of the water off the site should there be flooding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belgium and France remain on high alert despite a potential terror suspect being shot dead by police.  The Tunisian gunman —believed to have shot dead two Swedish football fans yesterday— has been killed by authorities in a Brussels cafe.  The 45-year-old identified himself as a member of Islamic State and claimed responsibility.  Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking that the gunman had applied for asylum in Belgium in 2019 but first arrived on Italian island of Lampedusa in 2011, making his way to Europe from Italy.  She said that the Italian Government is stepping up controls over concerns about similar attacks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues have found their home for the next two years.  Eden Park has been confirmed as the Blues’ home venue for the 2024 and 2025 Super Rugby seasons.  Eden Park CEO, Nick Sautner, told Mike Hosking that they’re confident the contract will be extended in the future.  He said that sport and entertainment are evolving, and fans’ experience is critical on game day.  Sautner said that they’ve invested $33 million into infrastructure over the last three years to ensure they can continue to provide great experiences to fans.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is falling behind in terms of digital competitiveness.  A new report has revealed that the country’s manufacturing sector is the weakest performer in terms of productivity over the past 20 years.  The annual growth rate of labour productivity and manufacturing is only 0.92% over the last decade, sitting below the New Zealand average of 1.17%.  Employers and Manufacturers Association CEO, Brett O’Reily, told Mike Hosking that we’re falling behind because we refuse to put in place things like the accelerated depreciation scheme.  He said that there’s a lack of incentive for businesses to grow their productivity.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the ironies of MMP and the fact this year's election marked its 30th birthday, if birthday is the right word to use, was that a recommendation had been made years earlier over some sort of electoral reform, but nothing had been done about it.  But in a debate with Jim Bolger, David Lange promised that he would look to hold a vote on it if returned to power.  Sort of like David Cameron promised, under pressure, to have a vote on Brexit, never assuming in his wildest dreams that people would actually vote to leave Europe.  But reform it we did and here we are 10 elections later still wondering if it was all it was cracked up to be.  The greatest lesson is that there is no perfect electoral system.  The last Labour Government, with their First Past the Post numbers, surely nailed the coffin shut on any form of debate around resurrecting FPP.  If you wanted a show of a tin ear and blind arrogance and all that is weak about the old system, the Labour Government of 2020 to 2023 was it. But in this election alone we have several of the MMP frailties on show.  There will be an overhang, both from the Māori seats and an overhang from Port Waikato, based on a rule very few knew even existed, far less how bizarre it was. And, once again, a minor player may or may not have an outsider role when it comes to participating in the Government.  What both systems have managed to throw up is the frailty of democracy itself. Not that having a one person, one vote system is bad. But the outworkings can be.  From the very minor parties who literally wasted their time and money to drum up a percent or two's worth of support to no end whatsoever, to the ongoing confusion among so many three decades on as to just how the system works and the belief that a level of manipulation and control is available with your two votes, when nothing of the sort exists at all.  As I have said before, I honestly can't remember how I voted in 1983 when we held that binding referendum. It would have been my first vote, given I had just turned 18, but what I do remember is, like most elections, many turned up without a real clue as to just what it was they were voting for. As a result, a certain level of surprise and disappointment ensued.  But at 30 it's too late. We won't change it, we won't revisit it, we had a crack and it went nowhere.  It is what it is. But that’s the point - what is it?  I'd say it's something OK, without being anywhere close to great. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

X —formally Twitter— is creating a $1 annual fee for new, unverified users, starting with a trial in New Zealand and the Philippines.  The company says it's a bid to combat bots and scammers.  Gorilla Technology CEO, Paul Spain, said it has the potential to make a difference.  He said that while this may drive some people to move away, it doesn’t impact any existing users in a negative way and reduces the chances they’ll see bots going forward.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the world's most popular authors is going back to where it started in his new book.  John Grisham is releasing a sequel to the book which launched his career: ‘The Firm.’   The legal thriller, which was released in 1991, was adapted into a film starring Tom Cruise.  It's sequel ‘The Exchange’ picks up 15 years later with the same characters.   Grisham told Mike Hosking that the book sees main character Mitch McDeere —an international lawyer— going around the world.   He says parts of the book take place in Rome, Libya, London, and Istanbul.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Z Energy's Chief Executive is raising concerns over government monitoring of fuel profits.   The Ministry of Business and Innovation releases weekly data that shows the margin retained on a litre of petrol.  It shows on regular 91, the margin made by fuel importers has risen from 33 cents to 52.4 cents a litre in the past three weeks.   But Lindis Jones told Mike Hosking that it's not reflective of the margins they're seeing.  He contends that in a ballpark figure, the margins are roughly half those quoted in the data.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden's walking a diplomatic tightrope as he does his part to ease tensions in the Middle East.  Israeli and Palestinian officials are trading accusations over who's to blame for a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital.  The latest death toll has 471 dead.  The US President has spoken from Tel Aviv, saying he's outraged and saddened, while urging Israel not to be consumed by rage.  New Haven University Professor of National Security Matthew Schmidt told Mike Hosking that Biden's trip has achieved something.  He says it gave a strong signal to groups like Hezbollah and Iran to stay clear as much as possible, which is quite effective.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those who failed to fill out the 2023 census will not be prosecuted, due to an error by Stats NZ.  The agency says it generally prosecutes up to 60 people for refusing to take part, encouraging others to do the same, or threatening census staff.  Deputy Government Statistician Simon Mason told Mike Hosking that they're following legal advice after realising they hadn't met all the requirements of the Data and Statistics Act.  He says they decided not to prosecute as they didn't feel it was right to try to force prosecutions through the court.  Mason says this decision won't affect the quality of the data.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no small irony yesterday in watching Sam Neill's lovely interview on the ABC about his diagnosis and ongoing battle with blood cancer. His family featured some of his background and his arrival from Ireland. I didn’t know he was called Nigel, but hated being called Nigel so changed it to Sam. It looked at his life in Australia and his passion project in Central Otago with that pinot noir that’s turned out to be such a success story. The prognosis isn't that flash. The experimental medicine he is on will not work forever. Which then led me to the article on Sue Wall-Cade. She is an advocate of funding life-prolonging cancer medication, the very sort Sam Neill is on. She is a survivor, or what she calls a METAvivor. She, like so many of us, is furious at Pharmac over the Sarah Fitt scandal. She wants Fitt gone and the board not far behind her. This is over the emails that have exposed Fitt's attitude to journalists and her general contempt for pretty much anyone who would dare ask a few questions and want a few answers. Wall-Cade says the emails are sickening and derogatory, and she is right. And possibly a little contained in the description. Part of the trouble with the story, to this point, is the election got in the way. Last time we talked about it with Chris Hipkins all he would say was the Health Minister had had a word with the chairman, who is Steve Maharey, a former Labour minister who would do... well... who knows what. He's done nothing so far as far as I can tell. What strikes me as alarming is the lack of apology from Fitt herself. I am happy to be corrected, but I have not heard from the woman post the revelation through the Official Information Act. Where is she? Does she want to apologise? Does she not want to apologise? Why hasn’t the minister told her to front? Why hasn’t the chair fronted? Why hasn’t the chair told Fitt to front? To a degree, this is the level of contempt that not just Fitt, but clearly chunks of the public service, and indeed the Government, hold the public in. It's sniggering, condescending chat that we aren't supposed to know about, if it wasn’t for the sheer stupidity of Fitt having put it all in writing. So lets start with the apologies, shall we? It needs to be genuine and fulsome and then follow it up with at least one, if not, two resignations. Or is this to be a final mark of this Government to deal with nothing and hope it goes away?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to take a look at the election result and how the next few weeks will play out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death toll in Gaza is well past 3000, with Israel seeing at least 1400 casualties.  US President Joe Biden will arrive in Israel tomorrow, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also understood to be going.  Biden is hoping to avoid a wider regional war breaking out with Iran's warning it may get involved if Hezbollah steps in.  International Geopolitical Analyst, Geoffrey Miller, told Mike Hosking that Biden’s initial plans to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and take the heat out of the conflict may no longer be enough.  He said there’s a real risk that Israel will wind up fighting a two-front war.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Performing surgeries on the weekend is being described as a short-term answer to a long-term problem.  Hospitals are increasingly running surgical lists on weekends to reduce the huge wait times which built up during the Covid pandemic.  While that's helped cut some of the worst waiting lists, medical staff claim it's also contributed to a rise in surgery cancellations as nursing rosters are run thin.  Association of General Surgeons President Vanessa Blair told Mike Hosking that weekend surgeries have been done before, but don't resolve the underlying reasons for long-wait times. She says it's a complex issue, but asking people to work weekends is not a long-term solution.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is still mulling over his future as Labour Leader after what he admits was a "pretty rough" meeting with his Caucus yesterday.  Tempers flared at the meeting, with Damien O'Connor swearing at a journalist stationed outside the caucus room.  Under the party's rules, Labour MPs must vote on the party leadership within three months of a lost election.  Hipkins told Mike Hosking that he still doesn't know whether he'll put himself forward but will have more to say soon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Reserve Bank economist says while inflation is falling, it's still terrible.   CPI rose 5.6% in the year to September, down from 6% in the year to June.   Michael Reddell says he hasn't seen anything which would give him confidence the Reserve Bank is trending towards the 2% target.   He told Mike Hosking that the Reserve Bank shouldn't put a pause on OCR hikes.   Reddell says they should have raised it last month and should raise it in November.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are signs the Government may have been asleep at the wheel while fuel profits crept up over the election period.  Weekly monitoring data shows the margin made on a litre of regular 91 petrol by fuel companies has risen from 33 cents to 52.4 cents a litre in the past three weeks.   AA Principal Policy Advisor, Terry Collins, told Mike Hosking that there's been action from the Government when these changes have happened in the past.  He says the last time the margins got to these levels Energy Minister Megan Woods wrote a ‘please explain’ letter to fuel companies.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy prices are continuing their upward trend.  Overall prices are up a further 4.3% at the latest Global Dairy Trade auction overnight, with the all-important Whole Milk Powder price up 4.2%.  It's the fourth consecutive rise, with prices now 17% higher than they were back in August.  Prices are 38% lower than the record high reached last year, but JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that dairy farmers have reason to celebrate.  He says the rising prices support Fonterra's decision to lift its forecast Farmgate Milk Price for this season.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founders of 42 Below Vodka, Justine and Geoff Ross are a controversial pair within the farming world.  In 2017, the pair sold their company and bought a farm, aiming to change the model and confront the climate crisis, establishing Australasia’s only climate positive farm.  Geoff told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that despite the controversy, most of what they saw and felt was positive.  “We got huge numbers of messages of support from pretty much every agricultural company in the country,” he said.  “A huge number of farmers wanting to visit and exchange knowledge.”   Their South Island farm is 6,500 hectares, holding 10,000 merino sheep and 280 angus beef cattle.  “We were naïve,” Justine told Hosking with a laugh.  “Although we come from farming backgrounds, we’d never, we don’t know anything about sheep and beef farming.”  The pair fell in love with the property, realising that it provided the opportunity for them to pursue their goal in farming in a climate positive way.  “We emit two-and-a-half thousand tons of greenhouse equivalent and we sequester, we remove five-and-a-half thousand tons.”   Justine and Geoff detail their experiences in their new book “Meet You At The Main Divide.”  “If you read the book,” Justine told Hosking. “You will see that there was a bumpy road.”  “It hasn’t been easy.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Labour party, still technically the Government of course, gather in Wellington to do that time-honoured thing of all losers, which is some soul searching, the trick is not to say you are doing it, but to actually do it. The trouble, as we have discovered these past three years, is they don’t actually do anything except talk. To search one's soul, one has to accept what has happened to you and take a level of blame. You have to see it's actually on you, it is your fault, and if you don’t want to repeat the exercise it needs to be different going forward. I'm not sure they have the slightest idea how to do that. Do you think, as Jacinda Ardern sits in Boston having wrecked the country and then scarpered for her own financial benefit, any of the carnage of Saturday night sits heavily with her? Or do you think she could blabber out a couple of one-liners about there being no play book and we thought we are right and we tried our best? As they gather in their offices this week and box up their three years worth of stuff, how many of them know in their heart of hearts they cocked it up in spectacular fashion? Or how many of them still hold the broader contempt, so often on display, that we are basically not that bright, but fortunately they are, so if only we could be as good as them things would be different? That is the fraud of soul searching. Very few people actually want to change and far less are actually capable of it. The end of the Helen Clark era is no different to this one - they were arrogant and we got sick of it. The last Labour Government that worked was David Lange's and even that only lasted one term before it blew up in their faces. The reason it worked is because that was the Labour of old, the Mike Moore Labour, the Labour that reflected a hard-working country of working class New Zealanders, who aspired to graft and do well for themselves and all we wanted was opportunity. The Clark/Ardern Labour Governments were about entitlement and race and laziness and crazed ideology. That view is shared by, comparatively, very few New Zealanders because it isn't who we are. Labour will be back. Both major parties have won and lost and come back for more. But I don’t see this lot having the slightest intention of changing. Worse for them, I don’t see enough talent left, once Grant Robertson and David Parker and whoever else quits, to even look like they know how to change. It's two terms minimum in the wilderness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Airport is considering an offer of fixed rate bonds maturing in November of 2029.  The bonds would be offered to retail and institutional investors.  Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand Executive Director, Cath O’Brien, told Mike Hosking that it makes sense that they would need to raise some capital.  Their plan requires $2.5 billion to 2027 and then another $3.4 billion to 2032, which O’Brien said is a lot that they’ll need to find the spare change to fund.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-lost prop from the original 1977 Star Wars film was auctioned off for a record-breaking $5.3 million.  The 50cm X-Wing Starfighter model was considered missing for decades, before being found in a cardboard box in the garage of an Oscar nominated model maker.  Toy Collecting Expert, Bob Collins, told Mike Hosking that it’s likely that the model maker wouldn’t have a clue that it was going to be worth so much.  He said that collectables become desirable due to the nostalgia factor, as people want to recapture their memories.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is on its highest counter-terrorism security alert after a knife attack at a school.   The BBC reports witnesses heard the attacker shout "allahu akbar" during the attack, and President Emmanuel Macron's condemned the "barbarity of Islamist terrorism".  An additional 7000 soldiers were deployed into the streets, on top of the 10,000 that were already there.  European Correspondent, Catherine Field, told Mike Hosking that there’s both a fear of attacks being connected to events in the Middle East, and a concern about alienated young people in France.  She said that there are nearly 200 youths on a watchlist as they have extremist views that could possibly inspire an attack.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising fears that Israel's war with Hamas will spread.  The death toll has now reached more than 1,400 in Israel, with more than 2,700 deaths in Gaza.  China says Israel has gone beyond self-defence, while the US says occupying the Gaza Strip would be a mistake.  Israeli journalist Haggai Matar told Mike Hosking that Hezbollah, Iran, and Lebanon have added to the timeframe pressures.  He's confident the US is pressuring against a deterioration of the situation, while supporting Israel's efforts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is being warned that its pledge to change laws in the first 100 days will probably take some time to implement.  The party committed to an action plan to deliver on promises including the banning of gang patches, repealing Labour's water services reform legislation, and cracking down on serious youth offending.  Barrister and constitutional law expert Mai Chen told Mike Hosking that this won't get off the ground straight away.  She says no laws can be changed until Parliament is re-established, so it will be difficult to implement most of the first 100 days programme.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our largest companies is taking a major hit from allegations of a manufacturing fault in Australia.  Fletcher Building is rejecting an Australian building company's claim that it's Iplex pipes leak, putting the problems down to incorrect installation practices.  But analysts expect the dispute to ultimately end up in court.  JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that in the meantime, Fletcher shares are taking a hit, down 11.6% yesterday.  He says that's historically a very large single-day fall in a company, but some had feared an even larger one.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is set to make his first public appearance since Labour's election loss.   The party will farewell a huge number of outgoing MPs at their first caucus meeting this morning.   Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Mike Hosking that the media hasn't heard from the Labour leader over the past few days.   He says Hipkins has basically gone to ground after the election loss, but he will front media before caucus meets this morning.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High inflation may be sticking around for a while longer.   Stats NZ will release the figure for the three months to September today.   Petrol is a big factor in that increase, with a combined removal of the subsidy and international factors driving it up.   ANZ Economist Henry Russell expects the annualised figure to September to be 6.1%.   He told Mike Hosking that there other factors contributing to that.   Russell says wages are an important factor in domestic inflation and contribute towards the Reserve Bank's decisions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What I enjoyed most about Saturday night was the message. What National and Act have argued for, and got support for, is to take this country back to what it was - aspirational, successful, outward looking and positive. For years we were the rockstar economy. When tragedy and upset struck as it did with the earthquake and the Global Financial Crisis, we didn’t buckle and we didn’t sink. We backed ourselves to work through and walk out the other side better off for the experience. What we have had for the past six years, and certainly three years, is a small-minded, inward-looking, miserable little country that lost its way. Top down leadership counts and when that leadership lacks any real grunt and fills that gap with slogans and one-liners, everyone under it suffers. The lack of leadership these past few years has been as depressing as it has been astonishing, and the sadness was you didn’t have to look back that far to see it didn't have to be that way. Because until recently, it wasn’t. There is nothing wrong with political divergence of thought or ideology. But extremism, which is in part what we have been delivered these past handful of years, never sits well in a country like ours. Mix that with arrogance, and an arrogance driven by incompetence, and you had a recipe for the sort of disaster we have had to endure. The National/Act message is not just about tax cuts and welfare settings and public service numbers. It's about vision. It's about being better, it's about incentive, it's about opportunity, it's about backing yourself and improving and it's about being relentless, positive and aspirational. These are powerful and useful qualities and, when applied well, can lead you anywhere you want to go. It applies to every single one of us individually, it applies to groups and companies and teams and it applies to countries. We have not been what we can be, or anywhere close. That, fingers crossed, is about to change. The adults are back, they seem to have thought about what they want to do and how they want to do it. The task is massive given the state of the place. But the attitude, at least to this point, is right. We are good when we want to be. We are winners if we are determined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bridge too far for the Voice to Parliament referendum across the ditch.  It sought to change Australia's constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.  But it was defeated, with all states voting no, and ACT the only region to vote yes.  Australian Correspondent, Steve Price, told Mike Hosking that this is major damage for Anthony Albanese.  He said that the moment he lost the Australian public was election night, when the first thing he said after winning was that they intend to implement the ‘Uluru: Statement from the Heart’ in full.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have powered through to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals at the expense of the Irish.   They managed to beat the Irish 28-24, in a thrilling, highly competitive match.  All Blacks fullback Beauden Barrett told Mike Hosking that it was do or die.  He said they needed to trust themselves, not overplay their hand, and really work hard for one another.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Joe Biden has met with Palestinian Authority President Abbas.   Biden says on social media he assured him that the US is working with partners in the region to ensure humanitarian supplies reach civilians in Gaza and to prevent the conflict from widening.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that US Secretary of State Tony Blinken was in Egypt, seeking to open that border to those who hold international passports at the very least.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he wants to "get cracking on" building relationships and starting conversations with respective political parties in forming a government.  Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning, he acknowledged there is a large chunk of special votes still needing to be counted.  Asked about his thinking on NZ First and party leader Winston Peters, he said: "I would prefer as I've always said, in a coalition National and ACT - I think that would be the strongest and simplest way to do it."  But he said there are other things to consider, namely special votes and an overhang.  "What I want to do is progress the relationship, progress arrangements. And we might move at different rates and different paces, with respective parties, but actually want to get on with that."  Pushed on Peters and whether or not he would be part of the new government, Luxon was firm: "Again, I'm not going to go into that. I'm really not."  "As I've said, my preference is to work with National and ACT - if we can do it alone, we will. But as I said, I'd pick up the phone and we would work with Mr Peters and New Zealand First."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Party leader David Seymour said what is clear is there is going to be a process driven by the special votes that may well deliver them a majority to work together with the National Party.  "But there's also a possibility that there's going to be a third person in this marriage —as Diana once said— and we're going to have to work through how we create a three-way deal," he said, acknowledging the potential inclusion of NZ First.  Seymour said the public had voted for change, but he also acknowledged the importance of the special votes and democracy.  “About 567,000 people's votes haven't been counted yet and their vote counts too - so we wait. That's the rules."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A polling expert has given New Zealand's general election polls a pass mark.  Curia Principal David Farrar told Mike Hosking that the polling industry gave a pretty good idea of what to expect.   He says with half a million votes to come, National's probably going to end up somewhere between 37 and 38%, which is where polls expected them to land.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trading in Fletcher Building resumes this morning after the Kiwi construction giant pushed back on a Perth company's claims about leaks in its Iplex pipes.  JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that Fletcher is front-footing the allegations, claiming other companies haven't experienced similar issues and it was due to poor installation.  He says the company's response should be successful in mitigating the degree to which the market will react today, when trading resumes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're not the only ones with an election tomorrow.  Australians will vote in their first referendum in more than 20 years.  If successful, it will change Australia's constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.  Australian Correspondent, Murray Olds, told Mike Hosking that it’s currently seeming as though the referendum will be lost.  He said that the prominent indigenous leader Noel Pearson has made a last-minute appeal to voters, but it’s likely to fall on deaf ears.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talent agencies are calling on New Zealanders to put on a red suit and give being Santa a go this year. Posing for a photo with Santa is an annual tradition for families but since Covid, fewer Kiwis are applying for the role.   Scene to Believe says demand from shopping malls has increased this year, and they're struggling to cover all the required shifts.  Veteran Santa Eric Diamond told Mike Hosking that it gives him the best satisfaction out of any job he’s ever had.  He said that they’re provided with the suit, a fan, and the job pays very well.  Diamond absolutely recommends taking up the hat to anyone interested in giving it a shot.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's set to be an intense match as the All Blacks play Ireland in the quarter-finals this Sunday. The All Blacks will be playing as if this is the finals, Coach Ian Foster said, reassessing after the game.  Former All Black and rugby commentator, Justin Marshall, told Mike Hosking that it's a toss of the coin for both quarter-finals matches. He said that Ireland is going in as the favourite for this match, and it's well deserved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well we made it... we made it, didn’t we? Are you as fatigued as I am? I'm not sure I can put my finger on it, but this has been one of the more forgettable campaigns. Maybe it was the fact we ultimately all know the Government will lose and another one will be elected. No, we don’t know in what shape. But we know Labour is done and, because they are done, this campaign has just been a long drawn out goodbye with confirmation on Saturday night. There is always finger pointing and negativity but this time seems to have been turbocharged. There has been a lot of mis-information, the debates seem to have heralded nothing, there were no zingers, no head-turners and no revelations. It just seems to have been a slog. That might have something to do with the state of us as a country and, given the state of us, that's why the Government will lose. But we entered the race rundown and punch drunk and ready for a new start. It probably has something to do with the talent. I think there is a real story there in Hipkins and Luxon and their anaemic numbers. Neither have set the world alight, so charisma, or lack of it, played its part. I have learned some stuff we need to urgently address about the system we operate in. The dead person revelation is an astonishing mistake and may well play an even greater part in the new Government than we ever could have imagined. Our knowledge of MMP is something I am deeply worried about. The number of communications I have received with questions that genuinely show a minimal understanding of the system is little short of a crisis. I have learned about the Germans way of doing it. They get the result one minute after the polls close and negotiations and discussion of coalitions on the night. There's no dumb rules around no campaigning on the day and postal votes have to be in by election day so a result comes faster. These are easy fixes and would improve the system severalfold. The fact Winston Peters can pop his head up after all these years, say nothing other than "hey, angry people, vote for me" says something about us. All in all, it's been unsatisfying. The Saturday night game of "what do you think will happen" will be a bit of fun. And if the All Blacks win on Sunday next week will feel a lot better. But here's the campaign takeaway - it was like one of those movies where the best bits were in the promo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.     The campaign: 6/10  Because it’s a chance to vote and that should never be taken for granted. But man, it's been hard work in places.     Labour: 4/10  It was negative, it wasn’t fought on their record for very good reasons, Hipkins held his own but was pretty much shot from day one.     National: 6/10  A lot of noise, a lot of money and plenty of ideas and policy. Luxon proved by debate number one he was a genuine contender. They've been helped by the polls and the negative view of the Government but strategically blew it on Peters and the second election thought bubble. Tomorrow night will reveal how bad those errors are, or aren't.     The Greens: 7/10  Didn't get the spotlight because they are not a major party and most of the media still report campaigns with a First Past the Post mentality. But they made no dramatic errors, split the work well between leaders and benefited from a soft Labour vote.     ACT: 7/10  Probably the best of the campaigns if you count the whole year. Seymour has been disciplined and relentless, had good one-liners, endless press releases, all the policy ideas you could ever want and was quite entertaining with it. He's marked down if it turns out he peaked a bit soon.     The Maori Party: 3/10  Only because they have been invisible. I assume they are busy in the electorates, although if polling is accurate, they could be the disappointment story of the night and end up going nowhere.     New Zealand First: 8/10  They have partially stolen the show. If they end up in Government they completely stole the show. But, they have policy they can't price, promises they won't keep and a patter from 1995 that about 5% of people keep buying. As far as an effort goes, the return on input is potentially astonishing.      LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A supermarket boss says food price increases are heading in the right direction.   The Stats NZ Food Price Index shows there was an 8% increase in the year to September, which is a lower increase than previously.   Foodstuffs North Island Managing Director, Chris Quin, told Mike Hosking that while the trend is heading down food prices are still up, impacting every household.   He says it's not until late next year we're expecting to get back to numbers around 3%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dire is the word being used by the United Nations to describe the situation in Gaza as food and water runs out.  Israel says they've dropped around 6000 bombs on the enclave since the fighting with Hamas broke out.  The UK's confirmed a military support package for Israel, promising maritime patrol and surveillance planes.  And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East, vowing unending support to Israel.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Blinken called his visit 'overwhelming'.  He says it's as the death toll on both sides rises beyond 2,600, including 27 Americans.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-running case that's ended with a Christchurch man convicted of murdering his childhood friend is being described as unique by a criminal lawyer.   It was the second trial faced by former prison guard David Benbow over the disappearance of Michael McGrath in 2017.  It followed an eight-week trial in the High Court in Christchurch.  The verdict follows six years of investigation and two trials, one ending in a hung jury.  Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told Mike Hosking that this case has been on solely circumstantial evidence.   But he says this can happen, and with such a small population in New Zealand, it can be easier to whittle suspects down.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir John Key believes the blue team could come out on top this election.  Key put out a video last week endorsing the party he used to lead, and warning of people waking up after the election in 'limbo land.'  The former Prime Minister's been looking back on the campaign and told Mike Hosking that he hasn't seen a poll where Labour-Green bloc has been above 40%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the final day of the election campaign.  The leaders of both major parties hashed it out in the final televised leaders debate last night.   We'll begin getting results from 7pm tomorrow.   Outgoing Labour MP Stuart Nash told Mike Hosking that the campaign's been reasonably uninspiring.   He says what surprises him is that National should've knocked this out of the park, but for some reason they haven't.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern about a gap between urban and rural students at med schools.   Research from Auckland University has found that rural students had a 15% lower University Entrance rate, creating barriers for them to get into medicine.   Paper lead Author Kyle Eggleton says it's due to fewer resources and higher socioeconomic depravation.  He said that in urban areas you’re more likely to have single-sex schools and private schools, and they tend to be less deprived, which leads to better outcomes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland A-League football franchise is expected for the 2024-25 season.  The competition has confirmed American billionaire Bill Foley as the preferred bidder.   Foley owns NHL ice hockey's Golden Knights and the Premier League's AFC Bournemouth.  He told Mike Hosking that he believes they can be really successful by tapping into the New Zealand football market, and provide younger players with a pathway into professional sports.  Foley said that while a few people may come down from the Golden Knights, this will be a New Zealand team, not an American team.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's leader is pitching his party as the way to create a government that can put New Zealand on the right track.  Herald poll of polls shows National and Act have only a 28.5% chance of getting into Government without New Zealand First.  David Seymour told Mike Hosking why people should vote for him.  He said that those who want real change and stability should party vote ACT.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's leader has weighed in on the latest poll numbers.   The Herald's final Poll of Polls shows National and Act have only a 28.5% chance of getting into government without New Zealand First.  Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that they're now getting down to the business end of the election.   He says public polls are showing it's going to be close but there's a very strong mood for change.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most recent polls continue to point towards a change in government.  Surveys by Newshub-Reid Research and 1News-Verian both pick a National-New Zealand First-ACT coalition as the likely winners on Saturday.  Former MP and political commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that there's no clear path to power for the centre left, and National's path increasingly relies on Winston Peters' party.   He says there'd have to be a big surge in Labour votes to alter that, and the way the polls have been tracking all year it won't move more than one percent, which won't be enough.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Worker recruitment remains as tight as ever despite net migration reaching record highs.  Stats NZ says in the year to August, 110,000 more people moved to New Zealand than left.  Propeller Recruitment Managing Director Sharon Davies told Mike Hosking that despite the numbers, they still aren't seeing this reflected in applications or good candidates.   She says we need to look at who we're bringing in, the talent leaving, what skills they're taking, and who they're being replaced with.   Davies says there is a big difference in career experience if those arriving are younger than those leaving.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm not sure that MMP needed another reason to be hailed as a deeply flawed mechanism we voted for, not once, but twice.  I still argue we did it because we were too lazy to have a decent look at alternative systems way back when we were deciding we hated First Past the Post.  One of the more interesting factoids of the campaign was when James Shaw told us last week he had seen research that shows we are actually getting less knowledgeable about MMP as people are born into a system that they never really bother to study properly.  This Government, despite MMP, having been a First Past the Post operation has hardly been a shining light and one of their great failures was to not take the astonishing First Past the Post-style majority and convince more of us to come along with them.  By not doing that, the resentment that has built is the same resentment that built under Muldoon-type Governments, whereby we were merely sheep who were lucky enough to be allowed to vote once every three years.  Of all the weird rules of MMP the overhang is probably the least trouble and, in part, explainable.  But the coattailing isn't and if we were to make a change that would be it. An electorate, although important, is not so important it should drag extra seats along with it well below the 5% threshold.  The threshold also is fine. Any less and you are dealing with weirdos and the number of weirdo parties lined up this year shows you the level of crazy we could be open to.  But to take the cake is the "death of a candidate" rule and its subsequent by-election. The rule, with its extra MP and therefore a larger parliament thus disrupting the proportionality, is so stupid it defies logic and quite obviously should be changed.  Why a list MP gets installed until the by-election and then stays makes no sense.  And the fact it could decide a Government is even more bat-shit crazy.  The trouble with MMP, apart from its potentially bizarre outcomes, is it is too complicated. The sheer amount of communication I have received from people this year clearly confused about the value of their electorate vote as opposed to their party vote, is frightening.  And 99.9% of us would not have even known about the dead person rule. And there is nothing wrong with a dead person rule if the dead person rule isn't complete and utter insanity, which it is.  Which makes it not only confusing but stupid as well.  Yet an entire country could be run as the outworking of that one new entirely invented seat we don't actually need.  Go figure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news and look ahead to the final days of the campaign period. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent study has revealed an insight into the usage of AI in the workplace.  53% of Gen Z participants said they’ve used tools such as ChatGPT, and more than a quarter said that they’ve used it for work.   However, the study revealed that only one in five participants were aware of the cybersecurity risks of using AI tools.   Aura Information Security Principal Consultant, Alastair Miller, told Mike Hosking that young people are gravitating towards these tools as they tend to have more laborious jobs, and want to make their jobs easier or more entertaining.  He said that it’s been surprisingly good, as businesses start to question if these tools will be able to access their data, and what will happen to them if so.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour will look at beefing up the Commerce Commission's powers to break up dominant firms, if re-elected.  Commerce and Consumer Affairs spokesperson Duncan Webb says the Commerce Act doesn’t stop a business developing a monopoly position inch-by-inch.  He says New Zealand needs to be a little more vigilant than other countries as the ability to dominate is high.   Webb told Mike Hosking that anything that's causing real losses to consumers needs to be looked at.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National could have its work cut out for itself following its latest trade promises.  The party is vowing to double the value of exports in the next decade, pursue Free Trade Agreements, increase trade missions, and make India a focus.  Business NZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking that it's a heroic goal.   She says it would be great to get the gulf, the UAE, and particularly India under our belt, but they're not easy.   Beard says geopolitics, particularly what is being seen in the Middle East, makes these areas challenging.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Whatu Ora is blaming old tech for its failed payments.  Up to 10,000 nurses in Auckland, Waitemata, Counties Manukau, and Nelson have still to receive their pay rises.  The money was supposed to hit their accounts by September 27 at the latest.  Te Whatu Ora Chief People Officer Andrew Slater told Mike Hosking that the situation is a big frustration for their people, and for them.  He says many of the payroll systems that pay more than 90,000 people are out of date, and not up to the job  Slater's assuring people they will be paid by the end of this, and next month.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are high in Israel and Gaza as the conflict continues between Israel and Hamas.  At least a thousand people have now died in Israel since Hamas's surprise attack, while more than 800 have died in retaliatory attacks in Gaza.  It's believed that up to 150 Israelis are being held hostage, and Hamas says it won't negotiate over them "until the end of the battle".  Israeli journalist Haggai Matar told Mike Hosking that neither side is willing to back down yet.  He says neither side is interested in full-scale war, but both sides want to see how much damage they can cause without paying a severe price.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Wayne Smith is well known within the rugby world.  With two All Blacks World Cup Wins as assistant coach under his belt and one with the Black Ferns as head coach, he was the first coach to win both.   But there are lows amongst the highs; losing his position as head coach in 2001, and the backlash from the 2007 Rugby World Cup loss.  Smith covers it all in his new book Smithy, co-authored with longtime rugby journalist and commentator Phil Gifford.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have always had an element of sympathy for Pharmac in the sense the model we run in this country is a fiscal set of handcuffs.  If you have a set budget you can only spend what you have. Other countries have models that have criteria saying if the medicine or treatment reaches a certain threshold, it is funded.  Neither system is perfect and given the way medicine operates, there will always be someone who has a case or who has some sympathy behind their cause. There will always be a new treatment or breakthrough and that’s before you get to the vexed areas of funding for cures as opposed to treatments.  How do you take all of those ever-changing and varying sets of circumstances and cover them off with a budget with a limit?  You can't, and that is the Pharmac dilemma.  But when you do it, you do it with professionalism and humility and that is where they have been found so atrociously wanting. With the realise of the various emails we find a CEO who treats people with arrogance and contempt.  The fact she was stupid enough to put it down in writing only adds another nail to her coffin. The fact she still hasn’t been sacked given the story broke Friday is of some surprise.  It's not a complete surprise given the hallmark of this Government is allowing astonishingly long ropes in which people may, or may not, hang themselves.  For all the Official Information Act is maligned, and it is and rightly so, this time the OIA has done Sarah Fitt in.  She cannot continue. Doctors and patients are now openly calling for sackings, resignations or just her general removal. And they have every right to.  The stance Pharmac has taken around some cancer treatments is defendable, at least in part because of the constraints I mentioned. What is not defendable is the sneering arrogance of Fitt, who in her emails, shows a personality trait of a narcissist.  There are calls for the chairman to go as well. I am not sure we need to go that far, unless of course he doesn’t remove her.  But the buck stops at the top. The crime was committed by the CEO, the evidence is irrefutable and the disgust and outcry entirely predictable and justifiable.  Pharmac need to be seen to be doing their best. They can never be perfect and they can never meet everyone's needs, but they can do what they can with professionalism and humility and give us all a sense they care about what they do and they work hard at it.  The Fitt emails show beyond a shadow of a doubt they are being led by the wrong person. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louis Sharp's hailing the nature of his maiden Formula 4 title as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Liam Lawson in the world of motorsport.    The Rodin Carlin driver secured the championship on the final day of the season with a second placed finish.  Sharp said the competitiveness of the series was invaluable.  He told Mike Hosking that he learned how to fight for a championship, and deal with everything that came along with that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is considering this week's Rugby World Cup quarter-final as the final, saying they’ll reassess if they’re left standing after the match.  New Zealand goes in as the bookies' underdogs for the match against Ireland, for the first time in their history.  Foster told Mike Hosking that they are under no illusions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is now very likely to get an extra seat in the next Parliament.  The traditionally safe National seat of Port Waikato will now be determined in a by-election on November 25, following the death of ACT's Port Waikato candidate Neil Christensen.  In the meant time the 120th seat will be filled by a list candidate, likely to be from National's list.  Otago University law expert Andrew Geddis told Mike Hosking that it's due to a rule that we inherited from the First Past the Post system.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After peaking at record highs the past few months, it appears the job market is starting to slow down.  Seek's latest employment figures for September show a 4% dip in applications per job compared to the month prior.   The number of job ads have also fallen by 2% month on month, and by 25% compared to last September.  Infometrics Principal Economist, Brad Olsen, told Mike Hosking that despite the number of job ads being down by 25%, the number of jobs is up by 3.3%.  He said that it’s encouraging from a macroeconomic point of view, as businesses who are looking at a darker economic outlook are unlikely to be hiring as many people.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another rise in the death toll in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.  Israel confirms 900 of its people have been killed since the Palestinian militant group launched its attack.  In Gaza, nearly 600 have died after Israel retaliated.  Israel's cut off all electricity, food, and fuel to Gaza.  International correspondent Lisette Reymer told Mike Hosking that it will be dire and hostile for civilians and hospital workers trying to treat the wounded.  Hamas is threatening to kill an Israeli hostage every time the country's military bombs civilian targets in the Gaza Strip without warning.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Finance spokesperson is defending her party's fiscal plan in the wake of criticism from her opponents.  Labour is calling out the Nats' proposed public service cuts.  The party suggests National would have to cut $3 billion a year to the public services, alleging that even if all communications staff and advertising was cut from some ministries, it still wouldn't add up.  National's Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that savings will not undermine front line services, saying it's about backroom bureaucracy and reigning in wasteful spending.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So do we have panic, or a cunning plan?  In a sign the campaign has gone way too long, the Labour Party are spending their precious energy banging on about National's tax policy.   They are suggesting they are now falling apart and are doing this, mainly because they don't want to talk about their record.  The prize for hyperbole over the weekend goes to Chris Hipkins, who saw a "resurgence" this week and a "big poll surprise".   If you check the numbers Labour are at least 10 points behind National and there are, allegedly, 10 percent undecided. So that would require every single undecided voter to break Labour's way. Guess what? That ain't happening.  As regards National, in suggesting a new election all it does is remind us that we never had to be here and that they should have ruled New Zealand First out before Labour did and, as a result, it would have been a non-issue.    There is a right-wing party that will do well today in the regional elections in Germany. But no one will work with them so they are not in play. The Germans get it, we clearly don't.  The interesting thing about a new election is we have never had one and who would be punished if we did?   Normally when you call a snap poll the way Robert Muldoon did all those years ago, you need a very good reason because people don't like to vote twice, or earlier than is necessary. All over the world early polls generally punish those who call them.   So would National get punished or New Zealand First?   My guess is National would have to explain the negotiations, what was asked for, what was rejected and why, and then say we found the requests from Winston Peters so egregious we would be more decisive in the second vote.  Here is one out of left field for you - what about National and New Zealand First doing a deal, with Act so repulsed they sit on the cross benches?  Anyway, back to reality. None of it is going to happen, which is the sad, mad thing about this whole last week.  We are so far into the weeds of bitching, moaning, backstabbing and inventing weird conspiracies that Saturday can't come fast enough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is angling for another go in Government.   The polls haven’t been kind to them as New Zealanders increasingly agree that it’s time for another party to give it a shot.   Chris Hipkins joined Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking for a rigorous interview to see if Labour is worth another term.   Hosking grilled the Labour leader on their key policies, getting right down to the gritty details and seeing if they stack up.   Will Labour be able to fix the problems of their previous terms?   Should voters trust Labour to be “in it” for them?    Mike Hosking found out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 1,000 people are dead in the unfolding war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israeli television says more than 700 of their people have been killed in the day and a half on since the attacks from Gaza. Palestinian officials say retaliatory Israeli air strikes have killed at least 370 people in the Gaza Strip, and wounded more than 2,000. Auckland University international relations expert, Stephen Hoadley told Mike Hosking there's some hope the conflict can be contained, and not become a generalised Middle East war. He says other Arab countries haven't mobilised, and are leaving Israel to fight it out with Hamas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Devon Funds Management market commentator Greg Smith says people are keeping a close eye on oil prices as the conflict in Israel and Palestine unfolds. He says the two aren't major oil players, but they're in a big oil producing region. Smith says the key will be whether there is any escalation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   NZ Rugby: 3/10 When it comes to the Ranfurly Shield, it's these sorts of examples that damage the reputation of the game, the administration, and running of the game and remind us that for all the greatness of the All Blacks and the Rugby World Cup there is a lot of very provincial, old-world dopey thinking running the machinery.   All Blacks: 7/10 Although we were always going to win, the way we did against Italy made the watch worthwhile.   The Republicans: 3/10 Between McCarthy, Matt Gaetz and Donald Trump, what a collection of dysfunctional doofuses.   Birkenstock: 7/10 The genius of taking a really rude product and yet making it worth billions in an IPO.   Weetbix: 3/10 We have supply issues - oh whoops, no we don’t. Not very Christian, is it?   The campaign: 6/10 I can't help but think it’s a week too long, considering all the policy is out. The bitching over break-ins and race and costings is getting petty. If it was over tomorrow I wouldn’t be sad.   Voting: 8/10 It's open, it's on. I voted early for the first time ever and it still feels good doing it. It’s a tangible boost to your day.   LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was like a time warp for me this week watching Brock James and Brad Weber bumble their way through what passed for a press conference, answering, or not answering, questions about the Ranfurly Shield. The whole way the rugby union has handled it reminds me of some sort of scandal from the 80's or 90's. A bit of hush hush, let's not say too much, let's keep it to ourselves, if we have to we will roll someone out to offer a few half-hearted nondescript one-liners. In a sign of what's changed in rugby in my lifetime, thank the Good Lord for Sir John Kirwan who, from France, lambasted them and their behaviour. He reminded us what a disgrace it was, what a moral failure it was, what a bad look for the game he loves it was and what a massive disservice these clowns in Hawkes Bay were doing to people like him who actually take the game seriously. The advent of a former player-turned-commentator has been good for the sport because the odd one is actually articulate and tells it like it is, from an insiders point of view. Kirwan is from an era, and Jeff Wilson was with him and agreeing, when professionalism came of age, when they got rid of the meat pack and the beer crates and actually got paid for being athletes. With that, came responsibility. And as Kirwan pointed out, they have all made mistakes. But like life away from rugby, when you do make a mistake you own it, and in owning it we all move on. This Hawkes Bay business is the stuff of another age. In a world where an increasing number of these elite players don’t even drink, what an astonishing sight to see a shattered shield, God knows what sort of substance on top of it, a drink driving charge and a whole bunch of Neanderthals claiming they know nothing or weren't there. Enter head office, with yet another display of head-in-the-sand arrogance and their so-called investigation. It meant you end the week with a sport reminding us, yet again, that some move with the times and others don’t. Rugby's many and varied problems, from the finances to the participation of kids, is well documented. And part of that story has always been a mind set where open, honest transparency has never been a forte, clear, clean, modern communication is not the favoured route and looking like you really care and want to be as good a custodian of the sport as you can never came naturally. The Ranfurly Shield is the last vestige of genuine broad-based interest in the game at that level and look what they did to it. It’s a shabby, low rent, uncouth set of circumstances and an even worse response to them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning to councils taking too long to comply with new water supply rules.  Water regulator Taumata Arowai has sent a letter to 27 councils informing them they have till mid next year to sort a sufficient protozoa barrier.  Regulations took effect last November, but the heat's really come on since Queenstown's cryptosporidium infection outbreak.    Head of Regulatory Steve Taylor told Mike Hosking that they have the power to prosecute if compliance orders aren't followed.    He says prosecution comes at a cost, and they'd rather that money is invested in the plant necessary to keep water safe.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Players in the country's space sector are optimistic over recent election commitments.  National and Labour are both promising to grow the aerospace industry, including trialling and testing new technologies  National will also appoint New Zealand's first Minister for Space, if elected.  Rocket Lab Founder Peter Beck told Mike Hosking that the space industry isn't some future aspiration, it's current and it's booming.  Beck says having a minister and a centre of focus to signal space is something we should invest in and is a good thing.   He says the industry represents $1.7 billion annually.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shortage of New Zealand kumara from Kaipara has forced Nelson chip company Proper Crisps to temporarily switch to sweet potato from Australia.  It had already opened a sweet potato factory in Yarra Valley in Victoria last year to meet demand across the ditch.  Kaipara Kumara managing director Anthony Blundell told Mike Hosking that it's not a major blow to either party.  He says that variety of sweet potato isn't too dissimilar to the kumara they grow, so switching to Australia is the best option.  Kumara in some supermarkets at the moment are around $13 a kilo.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the sky-high airfares, air traffic numbers are almost back to pre-pandemic levels.  Global traffic is now at almost 96% of pre-Covid levels, with August seeing an annual increase of around 28%.  August domestic air travel is also up by around 25% on last year, and almost 10% more than 2019.  Board of Airline Representatives executive director Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking that there's still some regional variation.  She says while Auckland Airport is at 92% of frequencies back, Christchurch Airport is only around 79% recovered.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert says that National's proposed tax changes demonstrate the challenges of conveying complicated policies to the electorate.    The party is defending its policy after it was revealed just 3000 households will reap $250 in tax relief a fortnight.   They say the promised rebate to the average family always came with the caveat that it was "up to" $250.   Geof Nightingale told Mike Hosking what he thinks the situation conveys.   He says it shows policies interact in complex ways which is hard to promote simply for voters.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the Reserve Bank call unfolded the way we thought. There was no change - for now.  The “for now“ is the trouble.  Where once Adrian Orr stood in front of us and told us 5.5% was it, it now isn't. To be fair to some of us that have been saying it for some time now, it was never going to be.  Let us not forget that at 5.5%, we are way higher than many other central banks. Australia, which is also in a holding pattern, is barely over 4% and they are barely over 4% because they didn’t fire hose the economy the way Adrian did, watched and egged on by the Finance Minister. And they certainly didn’t hand out gargantuan pay rises to compensate for the fact we had no workers, so the workers we did have held their hands out big time.  Between the printing of the money and the astonishing adherence to a closed border, we can fairly comfortably say now that of all the economic mistakes that were made around Covid, when it came to the economic part of it, although we were doing roughly what everyone was doing and we were doing it with alacrity.  We printed more per head of population than just about anyone, we held the border closed longer driven by the mad belief that all the Jobseeker Support locals would fill the gaps, and when they didn’t, six, seven, eight, nine and ten percent pay rises were needed.  Everyone everywhere has, and is, paying some sort of price for how we handled the pandemic. But we are paying a particularly severe one.  The trap we are now in is because we didn’t buckle down and bite the economic bullet last year, and now the borders are open and the wages are up and the house prices are rising, we have shifted our inflationary behaviour from printing and wage rises to immigration and housing.  Our Reserve Bank whacked the rates up fast. But the Government spent like drunks and counteracted it and at every stage, instead of taking our medicine, we stalled and procrastinated and tried to find excuses.  And now 5.5% won't be it.  Not only is the economy broken, it'll be broken for longer, to a degree the election will fix the political incompetence, but the question for the rest of us is - just how long do you want the pain to go on for? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a suggestion that pricing carbon might not be the only answer to deal with climate change.   New research shows that relying on the Emissions Trading Scheme alone to de-carbonise would trigger petrol prices to soar by 60 cents a litre.  Massey University Professor Robert McLachlan told Mike Hosking that making the carbon price go so high is unfair on consumers.  He says when they looked at the international evidence, they found the ETS does work a bit but it can't reduce emissions alone. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party's James Shaw joined Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking on the Minor Leaders Breakfast for an intense thirty-minute interview, to see if they have what it takes to make a difference in New Zealand.   Their party may be minor, but their policies aren’t.   Mike Hosking asked the questions New Zealander’s need answered to see if the policies and the politicians can hold up under pressure.   Will the minor parties be able to make a difference when it comes to crime, education, the economy, or the climate?   Is the time really now for the Green Party?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT’s David Seymour joined Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking on the Minor Leaders Breakfast for an intense thirty-minute interview, to see if they have what it takes to make a difference in New Zealand.  Their party may be minor, but their policies aren’t.  Mike Hosking asked the questions New Zealander’s need answered to see if the policies and the politicians can hold up under pressure.  Will the minor parties be able to make a difference when it comes to crime, education, the economy, or the climate?  Does ACT have the ability to create “real change”?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mixture of cruise ships is set to grace New Zealand's shores ahead of a bumper summer.  A total of 54 ships will make 1,000 visits this season, expecting to bring around 350,000 passengers.  Domestic travellers are also on board, with around 12% of New Zealand travellers planning for one.  New Zealand Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd told Mike Hosking that around half of the ships coming in have under 1,000 passengers.  She says there's a nice mix of large, small, and shore expedition ships, and they're working on a national strategy to ensure it all goes smoothly at each port.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Electoral Commission is being defended this morning.  About 1.4 million voters haven't received their EasyVote packs three days into the 13-day voting period.  Electoral law expert Graeme Edgeler says the thing that delays them is that the cards have party lists and the names of local candidates.   He told Mike Hosking that this delay is the norm, and it would be almost impossible to get them out on time.   Edgeler says it's difficult for them because that information was only available mid-last month.   He adds mail is not as fast as it used to be.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should I have been surprised?  The debate around the Press debate has entered day two. If it carries on today that’s day three and that's two days too many.  Sure, it's news that a Prime Minister gets ill and can't attend a pre-arranged event. But that’s about it.  There is a certain irony that, having spent the past week deciding broadly that debates are a bit of a waste of time, certain players should be wasting energy and going out of their way to scrap over yet another one.  In a sad kind of way it displays just how lost the Labour Party are. Even if you accept Chris Hipkins won the second debate, nothing has changed. The needle didn’t move.  Chris Luxon didn’t fall apart, he just wasn’t as interested in yelling over people as Hipkins was. As one reviewer put the Newshub debate, it was more game show than game changer.  To an extent, it's all Labour have left. Voting is underway, they are a mile behind, there isn't a poll that shows their three-way combo of craziness can get the numbers required, so what have they got to lose?  Well, quite a bit actually. One school of thought, surely, is that each debate they run the risk of losing.  Debate one they lost and they interjected their way to victory in debate two. Although, it's important to point out that it was the so-called media experts that called it for Hipkins. An online poll in the NZ Herald using real people had it for Luxon. Either way there is risk.  Labour might want to try and sure-up their vote and hope it doesn’t sink further.  Here is the simple truth if you are Luxon - why bother? His final week is full. I have seen the agenda and he is all over the country.  He is in the lead, he has the momentum and his final week and his schedule is carefully controlled. Why shake it up because the Prime Minister got sick?  Control the narrative, say the stuff you want to say and wait for the numbers to roll in Saturday night. Besides, there is already the previously scheduled debate on TV1 next Thursday.  The nonsense about Christchurch and the South island and a large audience smacks of desperation. It was on, one bloke couldn’t do it, it's now off. That's life.  You probably would have gained more brownie points by calling it off straight away and saving those of us who are left, and can be bothered to watch, a couple of hours of yet more regurgitated material, mixed with inaudible bickering. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps have arrived in Ahmedabad for their opening 50-over World Cup cricket match against England tomorrow.  They played and won two warm up matches, winning by five wickets against Pakistan and seven runs against South Africa.  Coach Gary Stead said the key for the World Cup matches is adapting to what is in front of them.  He said there’s been improvement globally, and while he’s sure that there will be upsets throughout the tournament, the goal is to make sure they’re not one of them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The need for a regularly updated medicines strategy is being underlined.  ACT's pledging to require the Ministry of Health to publish one every two years.  Medicines New Zealand CEO Graeme Jarvis says Pharmac has publicly supported the need for a strategy, and it was also one of the findings of an independent Pharmac review.  He says innovation doesn't stand still, so it makes sense to develop a strategy and refresh it frequently.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National and Labour are continuing to argue over who's going to rely on who to form a government after next week's election.  National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that Labour will need to make concessions to form a government with the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori.  But Labour's Megan Woods says that National and Act will have to submit to the wishes of Winston Peters and New Zealand First.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems that Auckland Airport's international arrivals express lane trial has been a success so far.  Just over 6000 passengers have been processed in the trial attempting to cut down wait-times at the border, which for some reached up to two hours last month.  Average processing times from the trial have been close to nine minutes, down from the 13 it took in February without the lane.  Biosecurity NZ Northern Regional Commissioner Mike Inglis told Mike Hosking that it's made a huge difference.  He says they're not reducing their biosecurity focus, but those low-risk passengers with nothing to declare have been in and out much more quickly.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand homeowners will find out whether mortgage rates are set to increase again today. The Reserve Bank will update the Official Cash Rate, which has been on hold at 5.5% since May. Inflation currently sits at 6%, with economists picking interest rates may have peaked.  JMI Wealth's Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that further hikes are possible after the election, but opinion is still divided on whether it's necessary.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's announced more powers for local councils to decide where new commercial forests are located, and new standards.   It includes requirements to remove slash from erosion-prone land.   Carbon forests will have to meet the same standards as plantation forests.   Forest Owners Association President Grant Dodson told Mike Hosking that landowners should be able to plant the crop they want without having to win permission.   He says if you own the land, you should be able to choose the best and most economic crop to put on it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's red meat industry is still grappling with a volatile global market.  Exports are down 16% to $730-million compared with the same time last year.  It's largely down to a 44% decrease in Chinese exports, due to increasing competition.  Meat Industry Association Advocacy Manager Jason Krupp told Mike Hosking that our high-quality product doesn't always alleviate the problem, as it's subjective.  He says New Zealand has found a niche for itself in the upper markets, but everybody is doing it tough at the moment, especially those in the market for the first time.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most shameful promise this election came from Labour, who promised in 2017 to increase the breast screening age, and then for six years didn’t do anything.  And now they are promising it again, as though you are supposed to believe them and things will be different.  The most ridiculous promise came yesterday, suggesting Labour are now wanting to run a Four Square.  It would be a Government-run supermarket, or at least they want to help you get into one. They want to be an investor in the supermarket business.  When the market study, as done by the Commerce Commission, was first mooted by David Clark, who in his own way has done as much damage to the economy as anyone, he didn’t rule out the Government getting involved in the supermarket business.  At the time we laughed and ridiculed it because it was so absurd but we didn’t, or at least I didn't, actually think it would lead anywhere.  To be frank, it still won't lead anywhere because the election for Labour is over. But the fact that things have got this mad and this unhinged shows you just how tragic it has all become.  David Clark by the way, in the current Commerce Commission market study into banks, has been mentioned as well. Not only did he cycle his way through the Covid lockdown, not only did he want to run a supermarket, but his CCCFA reform might well be the biggest reason first-home buyers in particular have not been able to get access to money.  His initial reforms were so haphazard that the banks screamed at him to not go as far as he did. When he ignored them, he got dragged back to the table to have another crack, a crack he suggested had sorted matters. Fast forward to the study and the banks are busy telling us it's been a complete disaster, and some banks are skirting the rules simply to be able to get people into homes.  Armed with that intel, why wouldn’t a genius like that and his mates want to dabble in retail?  Given Labour's record on delivery, what fool would even consider going into business with them selling apples? Or any other grocery item?  Government-run supermarkets is the stuff of communism and third world backwaters.  And as close as we may have gotten to that status, surely most of us are bright enough to work out they have completely and utterly lost the plot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ is an iconic show, ran for nine years, nominated for an Emmy 70 times, and won 15.  The show's creator and writer, Phil Rosenthal, is also responsible for Netflix’s most popular food and travel show ‘Somebody Feed Phil’, watched worldwide by over 190 million people.   In amongst filming the next season, Rosenthal is bringing the next leg of his tour to New Zealand and Australia, giving kiwi audiences ‘An Evening with Phil Rosenthal.’  He’ll be talking about his travels, the food he tried along the way, and the release of his book back in 2022.  Rosenthal told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that he worked for ten years to sell ‘Somebody Feed Phil.’  “I was coming from the world of sitcoms, and you can't just change lanes like that without getting a raised eyebrow.”   “They see you as one thing and they don’t really see you as anything else.”   Rosenthal said he had to prove that the series would work, and now they’ve just finished filming the seventh season.   He said that it’s potentially one of those things that could “go on forever.”   Shows get cancelled all the time, shows picked up and dropped again as streaming services seek out the next big hit.  “Every single season is a life and death struggle,” Rosenthal told Hosking.  “You never know if they’re going to pick up the show for a new season.”  Rosenthal refers to his show as a ‘travel show,’ saying that while he loves food and it is a big part of the show, it isn’t the main point.  “The main point of the show is to travel and make the world nicer.”  “What you get back in return is absolutely invaluable.”  ‘An Evening with Phil Rosenthal’ is on at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland on Wednesday the 4th of October. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins says a new supermarket competitor won't enter the market without Government intervention.  It's pledged further action to break the grocery duopoly.  While details are in the early stages, help with finance, gaining land space, and making regulator changes are on the cards.  Supie Founder, Sarah Balle, told Mike Hosking that we need solutions for kiwis who live outside of the main centres.   She said that introducing internationals such as Aldi is unlikely to help kiwis who live in places like Gisborne, Whangārei, Palmerston North, and Hawke’s Bay.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for credit has spiked as consumers’ pockets continue to be hit hard.  Latest figures from credit reporting agency Centrix show new vehicle loans are up 14.4% year-on-year, with credit card demand rising 13%.  New mortgage lending is up 3% from pre-pandemic August 2019.  Centrix Managing Director, Keith McLaughlin, told Mike Hosking that historically, interest rates aren’t as high compared to where they have been over the last ten to fifteen years.  He said that while they have risen from where they were during Covid, they’re still not that high relatively, and as such, people are willing to borrow money. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's committing to further shake-ups within the supermarket sector in a bid to break up the grocery duopoly.  While details are in the early stages, help with finances, gaining land space, and making regulator changes are on the cards.  Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, told Mike Hosking a new competitor won't enter the market without Government support.  He doesn't believe it would be in the form of a grant, but rather a loan or financing for establishment.  Hipkins says all options are on the table and bringing in an overseas chain like Aldi would be massive for the country.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political candidates are facing increased violence.   National says a volunteer's faced death threats, another was attacked by a dog, and one candidate has moved house after threats from a gang.   In the past week, Labour's Angela Roberts says she was slapped at a debate, and Te Pati Maori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says her home was invaded.  Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero told Mike Hosking that they've seen a rise in attacks and intimidation this election campaign.   He says what's concerning is volunteers and support staff are also experiencing it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on Ruapehu to see what happens with the future ownership of its ski fields.  Cabinet has approved seven million dollars to keep Ruapehu Alpine Lifts running.   It includes a $4.3 million loan to the under-liquidation company.   Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that they're looking forward to a resolution to the ownership issue of the company.  He says they just want to get this season out of the way and then they'll wait with interest to see what happens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who has the ability and the answers to take New Zealand forward?  Christopher Luxon joined Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking for an extensive look into the policies and plans behind the National Party leader.  Two hours of the toughest questions, covering the topics New Zealanders really care about.  The economy, their tax plan, education, healthcare, what do they actually plan to do?  Crime is rising and people are feeling increasingly unsafe. National has plans to correct it, but will it work?  And the kingmaker himself, Winston Peters. What does Luxon really think about him?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's new education policy is being described as a Band-Aid for a deeper problem.   The party is promising two million hours of free literacy and maths tutoring for intermediate and high school students and a training fund to help teachers.   Education Hub founder Dr Nina Hood told Mike Hosking one-on-one or small group tutoring is one of the most effective interventions.   But she says unless the underlying issues of why so many young people aren't achieving literacy and maths are addressed, there won't be a long term change.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Based on the premise that you learn from your mistakes and the general idea that you want to improve, the conclusion I have reached this week as another seven days in the campaign ends is we need to have a good long think about the debates.  I am not alone. Several pieces I have now read say essentially the same thing.  Debate one was widely panned as being boring, unproductive, and certainly lacking any illumination. Debate two was criticised for being a yell fest, where one candidate was determined to out-shout the other. And for his efforts he got awarded the prize from the so-called experts as the winner.  Then you had the other debates; the minor leader's debate was another yell fest in a pub. In the youth debate there was more yelling.  Then, for my sins, to give some perspective I watched yesterday's second debate in the states with the Republicans. I watched the first debate with the Republicans as well.  What you conclude from the American scenario is they don’t do a lot better than we do. The mistake in the first one was there were too many people on stage and too many moderators, they had two of them.  Yesterday there were seven candidates and three moderators.  The advantage the Americans might have is talent and budget. In a country of 300+ million, surely the best broadcasters are better than ours? The truth is, not really.  The three yesterday had one talent and two second-raters. They got around the yelling of candidates by holding it in a massive space, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where if you turned the mic off you couldn’t hear them. But it did nothing for the debate itself.  It was an unfulfilling, disjointed two hours I won't get back. And that seems, to me, to be the trouble with these things.  If you follow politics you have heard it all before. If you don’t, you'd be forgiven for not voting because what you're watching is bollocks.  So, here and in the great democracy of America debates seem dead.  The format doesn’t seem to work anymore. As one writer said yesterday about Newshub's effort, it was more game show than game changer.  They don’t add to the overall sum of things. We make much of them in the buildup and feel deflated with the experience.  So let's learn from it. Come 2026, let's come up with something a lot different and a lot better than what this cluster has turned out to be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are facing off against Italy tomorrow morning, both teams vying for a place in the quarterfinals.  The odds are in favour of the All Blacks, and they must win this game to ensure they move forward.  Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, Elliott Smith, told Mike Hosking that Italy aren’t that good.   He said people have tried to talk them up by saying that they beat Australia last year but considering Australia’s poor showing last week it’s not that impressive.  Smith said Italy hasn’t gotten closer than 10 points in 32 years, and he can’t see that changing tomorrow.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.     Infrastructure: 3/10  From the sink holes in Auckland to the bugs and illness in Queenstown, how third world does this country seem right now?    Auckland Airport: 3/10  Not only are the punters over it but the airlines have joined the queue as well. How much bad press does it take before someone there actually pulls finger?    The second Leader's debate: 6/10  Because it was a world away from the first one. But honestly, as far as education and insight is concerned, we are hardly setting the world on fire are we?    The NZ First call: 2/10  At the risk of saying "I told you so" Christopher, I told you so. In not ruling NZ First out and being clear from day one, how has the week gone for you?    National and Jobseeker: 8/10  Policy of the week. Not because it's revolutionary, because it isn't, but because it will restore an element of decorum to the moral, fiscal and social shambles we endure at the moment.    Overstayers and amnesties: 2/10  Policy fail of the week. The simple truth is indisputable; you can't come to this country and lie about it and then get let off. As someone called Trump once said: "if you don't have borders, you don’t have a country".    Dan Andrews: 6/10  Because although he is a dictatorial ogre, he did get re-elected twice, and in a democracy, the voter is never wrong.    Eddie Jones: 3/10  And we thought Ian Foster was an issue.     LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We'll learn more today about how National plans to fund its election commitments, including lowering taxes and debt. National Finance Spokesperson Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that she's confident National can pay for what it's promising on the campaign trail. She says they haven't promised to spray the money around, and they'll be very careful with every dollar they spend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The South Island’s West Coast and Bay of Plenty are facing the worst medical specialist shortages.  The problem is so severe people in some regions have to travel a hundred kilometres to see a paediatrician.  The shortfalls —including oncologists and dermatologists— are contributing to lengthening waitlists.  Te Whatu Ora data shows the number of patients waiting more than a year for treatment is growing in 14 out of 20 districts.  General and Development Paediatrician Dr David Newman told Mike Hosking that they're trying their best to stop the problem from sinking further.  He says their waiting lists are horrendous and they don't know how to fix them without more staff.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National outplays Labour according to this year's rankings from business leaders.  More than 100 CEOs and business leaders have ranked MPs in the Herald's Mood of the Boardroom survey.  Luxon comes out on top with 3.24 out of five, compared to Chris Hipkins' 2.95.  Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Mike Hosking that National still has to do more, with one boss saying he's too corporate and has no real connection.  He says Nicola Willis is favoured from a finance perspective, and Luxon still has a bit of work to do with the business community.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland flood-affected residents have raised concerns about being excluded from their communities.   Category 3 homeowners presented to the Auckland Council yesterday, telling councillors that buyouts based on rates valuations would be too low for them to buy in their communities.   Property commentator Ashley Church told Mike Hosking that under normal circumstances the council would negotiate a fair market value, but these houses won't be habitable again.   He says the council has the choice of negotiating the best deal on behalf of the ratepayers, or sympathise with the residents and find a solution that allows them to get on with their lives.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think most people would agree with the winner, wouldn't they?  Andrew Webster deserved the Dally M Coach of the Year.    But back here we seemed to call it for Chris Hipkins.  I'll come back to that, but a couple of broadcasting notes for TVNZ, given Newshub's effort last night was in a completely different league.  - Get an audience that reacts because it brings life to a broadcast  - Get a moderator with a personality and some energy. At times Paddy Gower is a mile over the top and says a lot of random stuff. But he is engaged, he is having fun, and he wants to get the most out of every moment.  It is, and has been, in many respects the difference between TV3 and TV1 for years.  So, to the winner and I have a couple of questions;  Was Hipkins declared the winner by the so-called experts merely because he was more lively than debate one? And was a winner declared because people seem to want to have a result?  It's sort of like going to the doctor. It doesn't matter how innocuous your issue is, unless you get a script for pills or potions you feel ripped off. So who spends that long watching two men argue if we can't decide who won it?    The point being is Hipkins, if you want to give him the prize, simply argued a lot, at times, for the sake of it.  In arguing a lot, do you help your cause or are you simply looking to deflect away from your case and try and put the spotlight on the other bloke?  I am not saying he didn't win. But, to be honest, I am not sure I learned a lot.  They will both sort feral cats. Hipkins had a road cone in his student flat. Neither had taken MDMA.  The one prime ministerial moment I will give to Hipkins is when he refused to hand out knighthoods, saying it's not something a Prime Minister does in public. It's the difference between a person with the job and the responsibilities versus everyone else who can say what they want.    And that, I guess, is the trouble with debates. It's hard to find the balance between the stuff that needs debating, like the economy, and the stuff that doesn't like 'gotcha' questions and knighthoods.  The other point is this - are these things material? If you give the win to Hipkins does it move the needle? Will we see the gap close in the next poll? Given it's 10 points, do you save your hide and party with a debate?  I don't think so. And given there are two more debates, what the hell do they cover?  We know their favourite beaches, books and drug habits. Is there an original question left to ask?    Will you be back for more? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi music legend Tiki Taane is well known for his music.  He started with Salmonella Dub, going solo after eleven years with the band and releasing his album ‘Always On My Mind.’  He’s topped the charts and won multiple awards for his music, and now he’s taken a step into the world of film.  A recording of his 2021 concert extravaganza ‘Ōtautahi Proud’ has been transformed into 'Tiki Taane in session with CSO,’ the film finding international acclaim.  After sold-out screenings in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga, and Hamilton, Auckland dates have finally been announced.  Taane told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that he was stoked that he took the time to capture the performance.  “I wanted to record it and film it and hopefully get some good YouTube videos, you know what I mean?”   “It ended up being like, okay, this is really good.”  Taane’s known as one of the pioneers of the New Zealand dub scene, but he’s always been experimental with his music, bending and blurring the lines between genres.  He started working with orchestras in his twenties, telling Hosking that it “feels like a privilege.”  “Seeing the power of an orchestra, where they can go so, so quiet to massively dynamic in a matter of seconds, is an incredible feeling to watch and witness.”  When it comes to translating his own music to work with orchestral accompaniment, Taane said that he broke it down to the fundamentals and built around them.  “I wanted the orchestra to be really involved and really just going for it.”  The intent was always there to create something that could potentially be turned into a film and they certainly succeeded, winning multiple international awards.  Taane is using the success of ‘Tiki Taane in session with CSO’ as an opportunity to push into the film industry.  “I kind of wanted to show the film community, this is what I can do.”   “It’s like, ‘hey, let’s go, I’m ready to make some music for films, bring it on, bring it on.’”  ‘Tiki Taane in session with CSO’ premieres in Auckland on the 5th of October.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's food waste remains high despite a cost-of-living crisis.  A Rabobank-KiwiHarvest survey estimates that $3.2 billion of food goes in the bin annually.  Households waste 12.2% of groceries yearly, a slight decrease from last year's 13.4%.  Sustainable Business Development Head, Blake Holgate, told Mike Hosking that as food becomes more expensive, the value of what is thrown out increases.  He said that despite the reduction in waste, in terms of total value food waste has actually increased.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No money means Aucklanders will likely have little to no events to look forward to beyond next year.   Auckland Unlimited has revealed to the council that no major events are confirmed in the city beyond August 2024 due to a lack of funding.  Events Director Richard Clarke told Mike Hosking that it's as bad as it sounds.   He says their Covid recovery funding from the central government expires at the end of next year.    Clarke says their last funded event is Fashion Week next August.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is denying he conceded defeat at last night's leaders' debate.  National's leader told Mike Hosking that he was disappointed with Hipkins aggressive approach.  Following the debate, Hipkins gave himself a rating of nine, while Luxon rated himself a seven.   Pundits judged Hipkins a near-unanimous winner.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins appears to be utilising New Zealand First's growing strength in the polls.  The Labour leader went up against National's Christopher Luxon last night in what commentators agree was far more fiery second leaders' debate.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that Hipkins is now on the attack with a new approach, hinting a vote for National is a vote for Winston Peters.  However, Jason Walls says if he had to pick a debate winner it would be Winston Peters, who wasn't even in the room.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington businesses are hoping that today’s planned protest events blow over fast.  Police numbers have been boosted, with officers redeployed in the capital ahead of planned protest action today.  Brian Tamaki's Freedoms and Rights Coalition is one of several groups demonstrating.  A number of roads near Parliament are blocked off and some public servants are being urged to stay home.  Hoff Hospitality Group Director Matt McLaughlin told Mike Hosking that he hopes it's low-key and demonstrators all go home after.  He says Wellington is stalled, its pre-election, and trade's slow at this time of year so this is the last thing they need.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the great mysteries of the economic landscape is how on earth we ended up with more people on the Jobseeker Support benefit, at a time when jobs were so plentiful it wasn’t funny. When the borders were closed, there were mass labour shortages and yet, there we were, with tens of thousands more jobless. National will fix it and in fixing it remind us of what we once had as a country; discipline and consequences and expectations. Gareth Kiernan of Infometrics has been looking at this mystery of the Jobseeker Support benefit. It's worth looking up and reading, but he claims to be perplexed as to how we ended up where we did. There are 170,000-ish people on Jobseeker as of the latest figures and over 100,000 of them are job ready. I'm not confused. Basically, getting Government money has become a way of life for many in this country under Labour. The idea you have to front for an interview is non-existent and there are no penalties for non-compliance. To even have a system that calls you "job ready" when you clearly aren't, is typical of the farce it has become. There is nothing radical in what National want; it’s a traffic light system. You get to red, you lose some of your benefit, you do mandatory community work and training. I am sure the advocacy groups will collectively gasp in horror. A growth industry in this country has been the advocacy group. As an experiment, it has been shown that there is no cause, no dilemma, no problem possible that doesn’t produce a group who are more than willing to offer up an endless series of excuses as to why people shouldn’t be doing what they should be doing. Think of the carnage of Covid in the horticulture industry, the fruit that never got picked and the jobs that never got done. Think of the damage to tourism and reputations as places had to close or barely open for lack of staff Over 100,000 people job ready and yet there were no jobs to be found? That is your legacy of the Labour laziness and excuse making. There hasn’t been a layabout they weren't happy to fund, or make an excuse for. Carmel Sepuloni on this show repeatedly rolls out her favourite line of "It's complicated Mike". What it was, was pathetic. And now thank the good Lord the scam is up. If you want welfare, earn it. Respect the taxpayer, respect the fellow New Zealander who doesn’t mind their tax helping in tough times, but is fed up to the back teeth with the gargantuan piss-take that the Jobseeker Support benefit has become.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's defending its idea of a fourth amnesty visa for overstayers, saying many are still incognito.  If elected, the party's promising another one-off visa for people who have been in the country for more than a decade and were impacted by the 1970's dawn raids.  Immigration Minister Andrew Little told Mike Hosking that even after the last couple amnesties, many people were still afraid to come forward.  He said that this is a way of saying that for those who came here, raised their families, have been working, have been doing all the right things, they will let them off on this one occasion.  Little said that they want to give a signal that these situations are rare.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report has been released by New Zealand Initiative, looking into the Labour Government’s fiscal record over the past six years.  The report found that Labour’s fiscal projections before the 2017 election were too optimistic, resulting in an $18 billion discrepancy between intended and actual expenditure by the end of 2019.  Executive Director Oliver Hartwich told Mike Hosking that they were spending beyond what they planned before Covid, $29 billion more by 2019.  He said that Covid opened the floodgates in terms of spending, but once the pandemic was over they kept their spending levels at the level it was at in 2020.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's police spokesperson has accused her National counterpart of touring the country "scaring old ladies".  Ginny Andersen told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast that Mark Mitchell is holding public meetings to drum up fear about crime.  “These meetings where you go around the country scaring old ladies. Mark's being going around the country scaring old ladies, that's exactly what his whole campaign has been."  Mitchell fired back, accusing Andersen of downplaying the concerns expressed in those meetings.  "Actually attend one of those meetings, and you'll find it's not just old ladies, and old ladies care about their safety as well. You might find that it's a big cross-section of the community."  Mitchell gave the example of a meeting he attended in central Auckland attended by Queen Street residents."  They're seeing open drug dealing happening, they're seeing anti-social and violent behaviour, they have to deal with a homicide just about weekly, assaults."  “They don't feel safe on Queen Street at seven o'clock at night.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Andrews decision to quit is a sign of how tough leadership is.  The Victoria Premier steps down today, just months after pulling the state out of hosting the Commonwealth Games.   Andrews is Victoria's longest-serving Labor Premier, with nine years in the job and leading his party through three election wins.   A replacement will be picked today.   Channel 9 Political Editor, Charles Croucher, told Mike Hosking that it came completely out of the blue.  He says Daniel Andrews simply announced he'd had enough, which shows how taxing being a leader can be in this day and age.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of putting on a big event has skyrocketed in New Zealand and it's enough to put off the big names like Taylor Swift.   The Events Association wants more grants, subsidies, and tax incentives to entice big acts to our shores.  It says it's often not financially viable for shows to come here and extra investment would boost the economy too.  Events Association General Manager Elaine Linnell told Mike Hosking that major artists know they can do a residency as opposed to a tour because it's cheaper, and they know people will come to them.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former WINZ boss is applauding National's new beneficiary scheme.  The opposition is promising to impose traffic-light style sanctions on those who fail to meet Jobseeker requirements.  Measures include reductions and mandatory work experience.  Former WINZ boss and Conservative Party candidate Christine Rankin told Mike Hosking that she absolutely loves the idea.  Rankin says it's cruel and sad to let people rot on the benefit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite quote of the week, and admittedly it is only Tuesday, is from the Governance Services Manager at the Auckland city council.  Submissions have just closed on the council's plan to establish Māori wards. The manager says "most submitters seemed to not want Māori seats".  No kidding.  Now, there are two sorts of democracy; one is what we are in at the moment, the election, where we get to have a vote and that vote counts. The other is the bit where they say they want to hear from people on any given idea, or decision, and they will listen.  The difference in this one is it’s a con. They won't be listening at all. They say you can have a say, so you think you have had a say and that what you say is irrelevant, but if they don’t say you can have a say they worry that a lot of people will say we didn’t have a say.  When it comes to the Māori seats on the council, or indeed any council, what you say will make no difference and, as such, you have wasted your time.  But it does go to show why the likes of ACT are onto it with their co-governance stance. That stance is more popular than any council, or indeed most media, would have you believe. The unfairness of it is not the fact Māori, or indeed any race, should have a say or a voice, because they can and they should.  And they can, through the well-established mechanism they call democracy.  But in that is the danger. In hijacking that mechanism they take democracy away from most of us, but pretend they haven't by deciding to do something they know is not representative of what the people think, but also by lying to us and telling us we can have a say, which technically we can, but under the subterfuge that it actually is representative and means something when it doesn’t.  The old rule when councils decided they wanted Māori seats or wards was if the voter got a petition going and raised enough signatures. They had to hold a vote.  The Government changed that rule because each time we had a vote the councils lost. That is democracy and they didn’t like democracy so they made it so you can't have a petition.  Instead, they do what they want anyway and treat you like a sucker and ask for submissions and pretend your view counts.  Back to the real democracy i.e the election. If this is a big deal to you and you want something done about it there are parties that will change it  And unlike a submission your vote actually counts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi country icon Tami Neilson has been busy over the past few years. In 2022 she released her latest album 'Kingmaker,' complete with a single featuring the legendary Willie Nelson. Since then she's joined Nelson on his tour across the United States.  Neilson told Mike Hosking that getting to know Nelson and his 'tribe', as his wife refers to them, has been incredible. She said they're really good people that enrich your life from knowing them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consumer Advocacy Council wants electricity retailers to make power bills as simple as possible, in an effort to help save consumers money.   It's asking companies to inform customers if there's a cheaper plan available and how much they'd save by switching.  Chair Deborah Hart told Mike Hosking that there needs to be more done to make electricity more competitive, and that this initiative would do so.   She said it would place much more power in the hands of consumers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mixed bag in the latest Seek NZ Employment Report.  August's data shows a 2% month-on-month rise in job ads, the first increase since March.  That's 4% higher than August 2019, but 26% lower than a year ago.  But Country Manager, Rob Clark, says comparisons to last year is dangerous as it saw levels likely never to be seen again.  He says that's why the data's also compared to pre-pandemic levels, to see if things have normalised, which is what it would be described as currently.  Clark says a dip in job ads is usually seen pre-general elections, but not in this case.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's questioning the timing of Labour's amnesty policy.  It's pledging to provide a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country for more than a decade.  Labour leader Chris Hipkins says it's about providing residence to dawn raid survivors, and could cover up to 20 thousand people.  National Immigration Spokesperson Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking that our borders are currently compromised.  She says we haven't been doing the right checks of people at the border, so people will be getting the message they'll be okay if they stay long enough.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that polls are polls, and they need to spend the next few weeks getting their poll numbers up.  “Every day in an election campaign matters, and we intend to fight until the last day.”  When questioned on why election odds for Labour, Greens, and  Te Pati Maori sit at 0.2% if the election was held today according to a Herald poll, Hipkins said National and ACT’s numbers are coming down.  “Luxon should have done what Key did and ruled Winston Peters out.”  Hipkins said he will absolutely not work with Winston Peters.  “We worked with him in the first three years, and it was very challenging, and he is not an easy person to work with.”  “I don’t think National, NZ First, and ACT would agree on much, and it would be bad news for a country as a whole.”   “I will not, as Prime Minister, have Winston Peters in any government I am part of.”  When questioned on falling behind Luxon in the preferred Prime Minister numbers, Hipkins said he is who is and people will make their own judgements.  Hipkins said the party’s new immigration plans for overstayers amnesty affects those still living in New Zealand from the 1960s and 70s.  “Their children who were born in New Zealand can’t access things like tertiary education because their parents were never regular in the first place, and I think that needs to change.”  “This would be the last of the amnesties and that’s why we have set the barrier at 10 years.”  When questioned why amnesty should be given to those who have deliberately overstayed, he said people fall irregular in their immigration status for multiple reasons.  “People who are here contribute to New Zealand, their kids are here should be able to stay.”  Hipkins said the “Minister for Just Transitions” would help New Zealanders with the problems climate change will pose.  “We’re going to have a lot of jobs that will become redundant from climate change and therefore we have to transition them to new jobs, we are going to have people who will have to relocate, so we will have to help them relocate.”  “The money will come from the green investment fund.”  “We believe we will have the money to fund it through the fund.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are the quiet movers in the latest poll.  The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll puts them up 1.9 points to 14.2%, a result which would deliver them 18 MPs.  Labour was down slightly to 26.5%, National dropped a bit more to 39.1%, and ACT fell to 8.8%.  New Zealand First would just make it to Parliament on the numbers at 5.2%.  Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw told Mike Hosking that he's campaigning to be returned to Government.  He says a lot of people write off the election before voters have their say, but he wants to see where the cards fall and play the hand they're dealt the best he can.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss Eddie Jones' next move, the possible Rugby World Cup quarterfinal between Ireland and the All Blacks, the Warriors' 42-12 loss to the Broncos, the Japanese Grand Prix and Liam Lawson being overlooked by AlphaTauri, and Supercars going to Taupo. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning's call by National that they will deal with New Zealand First, if they have to, is exactly the sort of thing they should have been able to avoid if they took the advice of people like me weeks ago.  The poll last week showing 82 percent of us wanted to know one way or the other shows how shockingly National misread the mood.  By spending all that time and energy the way Chris Luxon did sticking his fingers in his ears, telling us he wasn't even thinking of it, he didn't want to talk about it, he wasn't above the threshold, he wasn't in parliament, it wasn't an issue, has all led to this.    It's turned into a victory for Winston Peters and a break for Labour.  The line that National had about the Greens and the Maori Party and the coalition of chaos is now null and void, as you look at the prospect of National and Act and Peters, with the latter two openly hating each other.  I still maintain they should have ruled Peters out day one, which would have made him irrelevant. But even if they had said they could work with him, at least you would know where they stood.  It was made worse by Hipkins when he ruled New Zealand First out, one of the few clever things he has managed to achieve in the campaign so far.  The irony was he got full headlines for ruling out a party who had already ruled them out. He wasn't going to work with a party that had already said they weren't working with him but most people forgot that and he got the upper ground he was after.  Cue Luxon, bumbling and stumbling his way through question after question, refusing to deal with an elephant in the room that was getting more and more embarrassing.    So, this morning you get the back down where Luxon is forced to admit he will have to deal with him if necessary.  My guess is it won't come to that. My guess remains that National and Act on the night will in fact have plenty to do it by themselves.  But as you will also see today, the other prediction I made last week is already coming to pass; National will start to run the line about complacency. "Don't think it's over, don't take a National win for granted, you've got to vote".  What National want at this stage of the campaign is ongoing momentum, they want to be controlling the narrative. By failing to deal with Peters early, they have strategically failed.  It isn't the end of the world, but they never needed to be here if they had had a proper plan from day one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has launched court proceedings against ICAC after the watchdog found she had engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”.  Ms Berejiklian has launched the legal challenge to ICAC’s findings after it earlier this year found she had committed a “grave” breach of the ministerial code by failing to disclose her relationship with former partner Daryl Maguire.  The report found she oversaw the approval of two grants in Mr Maguire’s electorate of Wagga Wagga - a $5.5m grant to the Australian Clay Target Association and a $10m grant for the renovation of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.  She also failed in her ministerial duties by not reporting her suspicion that Mr Maguire had engaged, or might have engaged in corrupt conduct, the report found.  Despite the findings, ICAC did not recommend she be referred for criminal prosecution.  Ms Berejiklian will now challenge the ICAC findings in the Court of Appeal.  The matter will first come before the court on October 9.  Mr Maguire was found by ICAC to have improperly used his public office during his time as a MP in order to promote his own financial interests, and those of his associates while deliberately not disclosing his position, and potential pecuniary benefits.  “Let it not be forgotten that during his time representing the people of Wagga and region he worked tirelessly for his constituents,” Mr Maguire said in a statement released in July.  “Indeed, he was described in evidence as a dog with a bone, a vociferous advocate for the electorate, or a pain in the arse when it came to getting improvements for the Wagga Electorate.”  - by Steve Zemek, news.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An asteroid sample collected by NASA has touched down on Earth, giving scientists the opportunity to learn more about the origins of the solar system and capturing a piece of a massive space rock that has a chance of colliding with our planet in the future. It’s the first time the agency has accomplished such a feat.  Seven years after launching to space, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft flew by Earth Sunday to deliver the pristine sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.  OSIRIS-REx, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, lifted off in 2016 and began orbiting Bennu in 2018. The spacecraft collected the sample in 2020 and set off on its lengthy return trip to Earth in May 2021. The mission traveled 3.86 billion miles total to Bennu and back.  The spacecraft dropped the sample capsule — containing an estimated 8.8 ounces of asteroid rocks and soil — from a distance of 63,000 miles (102,000 kilometers) above Earth’s surface early Sunday, and entered the planet’s atmosphere at 10:42 a.m. ET while traveling at a speed of about 27,650 miles per hour (44,498 kilometers per hour).  Parachutes deployed to slow the capsule to a gentle touchdown at 11 miles per hour (17.7 kilometers per hour). The sample landed in the Defense Department’s Utah Test and Training Range about 10 minutes after entering the atmosphere.  “Congratulations to the OSIRIS-REx team. You did it,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson. “It brought something extraordinary, the largest asteroid sample ever received on Earth. This mission proves that NASA does big things, things that inspire us, things that unite us. It wasn’t mission impossible. It was the impossible that became possible.”  OSIRIS-REx is continuing its tour of the solar system — the spacecraft has already set off to capture a detailed look at a different asteroid named Apophis.  The mission now has a new name: OSIRIS-APEX, for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-APophis EXplorer.  What happens after landing  Four helicopters transported recovery and research teams to the landing site and conducted assessments to make sure the capsule wasn’t damaged in any way, said Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The team confirmed that the capsule was not breached during landing.  Recovery teams, which have been training for the event for months, retrieved the capsule once it was safe, said Sandra Freund, OSIRIS-REx program manager at Lockheed Martin Space, which partnered with NASA to build the spacecraft, provide flight operations and help recover the 100-pound capsule.  The initial recovery team, outfitted with protective gloves and masks, ensured that the capsule was cool enough to touch, given that it reached temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius) during reentry, Burns said. The team also ensured the capsule’s battery didn’t rupture and leak any toxic fumes.  A science team collected samples from the landing site, including air, dust and dirt particles.  “One of the key scientific objectives of OSIRIS-REx is to return a pristine sample and pristine means that no foreign materials hamper our investigation during sample analysis,” said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “As unlikely as it is, we do want to make sure any materials that are out there in the Utah range that may interact with the sample are well documented.”  A helicopter carried the sample in a cargo net and delivered it to a temporary clean room near the landing site. Within this space, the curation team will conduct a nitrogen flow, called a purge, to prevent any of Earth’s atmosphere from entering the sample canister and contaminating it. The larger pieces of the capsule will be stripped away, said Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curation lead at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.  A team will prepare the sample canister for transport on a C-17 aircraft to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. Scientists expect to remove the lid to see the sample for the first time on Tuesday.  What the sample may reveal  Details about the sample will be revealed through a NASA broadcast from Johnson Space Center on October 11. While the science team will not have had time to fully assess the sample, the researchers plan to collect some fine-grained material at the top of canister Tuesday for a quick analysis that can be shared in October, Lauretta said.  Scientists will analyze the rocks and soil for the next two years at a dedicated clean room inside Johnson Space Center. The sample will also be divided up and sent to laboratories around the globe, including OSIRIS-REx mission partners at the Canadian Space Agency and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. About 70% of the sample will remain pristine in storage so future generations with better technology can learn even more than what’s now possible.  If a government shutdown occurs, “it will not endanger the curation and safe handling of the asteroid sample,” said Lori Glaze, director for NASA’s Planetary Sciences Division.  “Certain steps leading to this highly anticipated analysis will possibly be delayed, but the sample will remain protected and safe despite any disruptions to the schedule,” she said during a news conference Friday. “The sample has waited for more than 4 billion years for humans to study it and if it takes us a little longer, I think we’ll be OK.”  Along with a previously returned sample of the asteroid Ryugu from Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission, the rocks and soil could reveal key information about the beginning of our solar system. Scientists believe that carbonaceous asteroids such as Bennu crashed into Earth early during the planet’s formation, delivering elements like water.  “Scientists believe that the asteroid Bennu is representative of the solar system’s own oldest materials forged in large dying stars and supernova explosions,” Glaze said. “And for this reason, NASA is investing in these missions devoted to small bodies to increase our understanding of how our solar system formed and how it evolved.”  But the sample can also provide insights into Bennu, which has a chance of colliding with Earth in the future.  It’s crucial to understand more about the population of near-Earth asteroids that may be on an eventual collision course with our planet. A better grasp of their composition and orbits is key to predicting which asteroids may have the closest approaches to Earth and when — and essential to developing methods of deflecting these asteroids based on their composition.  - by Ashley Strickland, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Lawson has officially been overlooked for a full-time seat with AlphaTauri in 2024.  Instead, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo have been named as AlphaTauri’s full-time drivers for the next Formula 1 season.  But just last night, Lawson finished 11th at the Japanese Grand Prix, beating Tsunoda by 1 spot.  Motorsport commentator James Allen joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trucking industry is calling National's road speed promises a return to common sense.  If elected, National intends to lift the speed limit on a number of roads that were dropped to 80, and many local roads to 50.  National Road Carriers General Manager James Smith told Mike Hosking it's about getting New Zealanders’ productivity up.  “We need to get the people where they want to go when they want to go, and we need to return the focus onto getting the roads fit for purpose.”  Smith says the attitude to driver risk is too high.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says National would work with New Zealand First if it had to, and he thinks Labour would do the same.   He's confirmed his position this morning after weeks of questions.   Labour and New Zealand First have both ruled each other out, but Luxon believes both could still choose each other.   Luxon says David Seymour and Winston Peters would find a way to work with each other.  But the ACT leader told Mike Hosking he doesn't think he'll be able to sit around the same Cabinet table as Peters.  “If he’s making those demands, it’s because he is using the leverage that he might otherwise go with Labour. If that’s the case, then I think people have everything they need to know that they can’t trust the guy.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A just-released snapshot paints another worrying picture of New Zealand’s rivers.  Land, Air, Water Aotearoa project data shows up to two-thirds of monitored rivers are graded poorly for E. coli contamination.  The analysis reveals E. coli levels are the highest in those sites surrounded by urban and pastoral land.  Cawthron Institute scientist Roger Young told Mike Hosking more effort is needed to turn the trends around.  “It’s definitely a swimming problem, it’s not such an issue for wading, but it’s certainly for swimming.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National leader Chris Luxon says working with New Zealand First isn't their first preference, but they will if they have to.   After weeks of questions, Luxon's confirmed this morning he would work with them.   He's also suggested Chris Hipkins would do the same, despite Labour and NZ First both ruling each other out.   Luxon told Mike Hosking the election isn't done and dusted – it'll be extremely close.  He says his strong preference is for a National Act coalition.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willow-Jean Prime, who I think it is fair to suggest will lose her Northland seat this time around, has nevertheless been out on the hustings campaigning and she has struck trouble. She has been in local and national politics for 20 years and has never seen racism like it, she says. She calls it unhinged. Here, in part I suspect, is the problem. A couple of events at local pubs have led her to make the comments. For the record, verbal abuse is never acceptable, and one can imagine the sort of thing that gets tossed around at a rowdy, old pub meeting of the candidates. It's also important to point out we weren't there, so interpretations as to what is unhinged or not will vary. However, it doesn’t surprise me. One of the things that happens at election time is we feel, for once that we have power and we have a voice. It’s a tangible out-working of democracy. We have two votes and we want to use them. So when you end up in a room with a politician it's a chance for the voiceless to be heard. That's where the frustration comes in. A lot of people feel ignored. A lot of people want to know that their local MP knows what the mood of the community or electorate is. What this Government has done, whether they acknowledge it or not, is divide this country with their co-governance stance. Special services and programmes, and ministries, and departments, and polices, and treatment, based on race. And a lot of people think race based policy, is racist. The media tried to get up David Seymour's nose this week on his co-governance stance. He said he was merely reflecting what is being said. He is right. It is being said, and it is being said loudly, in places like pubs and public meetings with candidates. Co-governance and its outworkings have caused anger and division. Huge swathes of New Zealand feel that Māori have got deals because they are Māori, that they are treated differently because they are Māori. And those people believe in a free and open democracy that race does not, and should not, play a part in delivery of anything, whether it is health or voting or schooling or welfare. As aggrieved as Willow-Jean might be, what she is seeing is democracy in action and the outworkings of separatism. She can call it unhinged if she likes. But a lot would argue it's merely trying to redress the imbalance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.   The campaign: 6/10 All in all, by the time you deal with the policy, the debate, the polls and the ratings we seem engaged and that’s a good sign for democracy.   The Leaders' Debate: 4/10 Because it was flat. Because given the malaise and trouble we face, you might want to see a bit of life and energy. Instead, we got what your favourite book is.   Gangs: 2/10 Revelation of the week is that the Government funds them, and willingly so, and when offered the chance not to the Cabinet turned it down.   GDP: 7/10 The recession is over. Or, if you believe some of the banks, the recession has taken a breather until it arrives in quarter three i.e now.   Fonterra: 6/10 Those results show you just how important farming and dairying is to this country.   Cruise ships: 7/10 The other good news story of the week. A record summer is on the cards and over half a billion in spending is coming our way.   Auckland airport: 2/10 The week from hell as, at last, a national level of exposure has been placed on one of the most dysfunctional businesses this country has. If the bags flowed as easily as the excuses, we might be getting somewhere.   LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing builds energy in stadiums quite like a good chant.  Last week the Warriors demolished the Newcastle Knights, 40-10, and a packed-out 26,083 crowd celebrated their victory with a roaring rendition of the team’s chant.  The chant was created over twenty years ago by kiwi music icon Peter Urlich, and was previously only sung within the privacy of the sheds.  Urlich told Mike Hosking that hearing the fans take up the chant felt like they were throwing down the shackles of their reticent selves.  He said it was like they were a part of the team.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drive Electric has released its first ‘State of the Nation’ report, revealing how New Zealand is doing when it comes to electrifying our transport fleet.  The report reveals that over the last five years, the number of electric cars on the road has increased 9.5 times over, and by 70% in just the last year.  The Clean Car Program is largely responsible for the uptick in EV ownership, with over 100,000 rebates granted so far.  Kirstin Corson, Deputy Chair of Drive Electric, told Mike Hosking that there are billions of dollars' worth of savings to be had by enabling kiwis to buy EVs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party is facing yet another scandal.  MP Shanan Halbert has been accused of bullying by several former staff, labelling him “manipulative”, “scheming”, and “a narcissist.”  The allegations date back more than a year.  Political Commentator, Peter Dunne, told Mike Hosking that there doesn’t seem to be any oversight of the relationships between MPs and their staff.  He said they’ve been too much of a siloed management system.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors aren't buying into talk of Penrith and Brisbane being a class above the rest heading into this weekend's NRL preliminary finals.  Andrew Webster's side have arrived in Queensland ahead of tomorrow's clash against the Broncos at a sold out Suncorp Stadium.  Captain Tohu Harris told the Mike Hosking Breakfast that they showed in last week's win over Newcastle what they're capable of.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown businesses are bracing themselves for tough times ahead with the town potentially having to boil water for months.   The area's in the grip of an outbreak of infections from a waterborne parasite.  Known cases of the cryptosporidium illness have reached 21, and the national water regulators have slapped a compliance notice on the region.   Queenstown Chamber of Commerce CEO Sharon Fifield told Mike Hosking that businesses are managing things at the moment.   Adding to the misery, a state of emergency has just been declared in Queenstown due to the weather.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An agency review finds urgent change is needed at Oranga Tamariki as it highlights ill-trained managers and alleged bullying.  Staff say there aren't enough beds, there's little vision, and processes are slow, confusing and bureaucratic.  It determines that performance improvements are now urgent.  Voyce National Care Experienced Lead Tupua Urlich told Mike Hosking that it's difficult to tell whether anything is getting better at the agency.  He says the report —like many others— is on the right track.   The issue they're running into is a lack of execution when it comes to the recommendations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While New Zealand's GDP has grown, the economic pain isn't over.   Stats NZ figures show GDP increased 0.9% in the three months to June, and 3.2% in the year to June. It's also revised its March 2023 quarter figure to 0%, up from a 0.1 percent drop.   Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that he expects the third quarter we're currently in to be weaker.  He says he wouldn't have declared victory like the Finance Minister did, as the tough times are still to come.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am very reassured by the ratings of the first Leaders' Debate.   It was a bit over one million, which is about the same as the last election and down a bit on the 2017 debate between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern.  I am reassured because engagement is critical and you could argue never more critical than currently, given the state of the country.  Just because the result is a forgone conclusion doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be involved.  If you want to talk numbers, look at the Ipsos issues poll.  It’s a disaster for Labour. They have collapsed in virtually every issue that is important to us, I'll give the numbers later, but essentially, who do you trust more on any given issue? The answer is now National.  Also never forget the direction poll: is the country going in the right direction? The 63 % that say no is the real key to the election. Governments that deliver that number don’t get three more years.  But along with the podcast numbers I gave you the other day, where this shows podcast has generated over a million downloads for the first time.   But not just for us, but for any podcast in this country, that shows we are into this thing, despite the fact it's not really a contest.  In a couple of weeks the debate will shift, it’ll be about turn out.   Labour will have trouble with apathy. People can't be bothered turning out for losers.   But National will worry about people assuming it's over and therefore not voting.   Although I would argue those days are gone given early voting basically gives you no excuse not to participate.  A million people reminds us that elections are important, and politics, for all you want to say about it, still galvanises us.  You don’t get a million people for anything anymore, apart from the All Blacks in World Cup, possibly the warriors in the final, and elections.  As segregated and busy as we may be, who runs the country and how they run it still matters to the vast majority of us, and that is a good thing.  They talk about teaching civics in schools, the best civics lesson you'll ever get is watching this campaign: studying what they say, what they promise, and what their record is.   And once you have done that, exercising your democratic duty.   It still thrills me that voting here is voluntary yet we still get such a good turn out  A million plus people.  Whether its viewership or downloads, numbers don’t lie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie Puth is bringing his music to New Zealand for the first time ever.  Best known for his 2017 single ‘We don’t talk anymore’ featuring Selena Gomez, Puth has multiple number one singles and top ten albums, as well as four Grammy nominations.  His latest album ‘Charlie’ was released in October last year, and his latest single ‘Lipstick’ was released just last month.   He’s now on the road, and will be bringing kiwis his ‘Charlie, Live Experience Tour’ in November.   Puth told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that when he released his second single ‘One Call Away’, the first place it went number one was New Zealand.   Coming full circle, Puth is opening his show at Spark Arena with that very song.  “What better way to go back into New Zealand,” he said.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A message to whoever forms the next Government: do something about dementia.  Numbers are expected to jump markedly here in the coming years, particularly among Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities.  Alzheimer's New Zealand Chief Executive Catherine Hall says the current government has endorsed the Dementia Action Plan but hasn't yet committed to implementing or funding it.  She says dementia is such a big growing problem for New Zealanders and the health system.  Hall says it's urgent that the next government takes this challenge seriously.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand could be back out of recession this morning.  The latest GDP figures for the second quarter of this year —due out this morning— are expected to show New Zealand's economy is growing once again.  Spending on goods remains weak, and the economy isn't growing on a per capita basis.  But Westpac's Chief Economist, Kelly Eckhold, told Mike Hosking that it’s better to focus on the annual rate of growth, which is forecast to be 1.5% for the year.  She said that 0.8% growth in this quarter is a bounce back from a very weak first quarter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“At the end of the day it comes down to the economy,” Luxon said on what the big difference is between Labour and National after the two leaders agreed on several topics during the recent leader's debate.  Luxon told Mike Hosking that the party is working incredibly hard to pull the undecided 12% vote onto their side. When asked why Luxon wasn’t being “upfront” on what his coalition plans would be if he won, Luxon said the nature of MMP meant he had to keep his options open. “David and I have a good personal relationship, we do catch up and talk regularly,” Luxon said of the ACT Party leader. Luxon would not confirm whether he would work with Winston Peters after being repeatedly grilled by Hosking. “All I can say Mike is it depends on what happens on the night. “I will work with whatever the New Zealand people give me, my preference is a National-ACT coalition,” Luxon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's senior doctor and dentist strike won't be the last if nothing's done.   Members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists will strike for four hours from 10am, following two hour strikes in each of the last two weeks.  It will see up to 250 planned care procedures and specialist appointments deferred.  Association head, Sarah Dalton, told Mike Hosking that further strikes have already been arranged, including notices for 12 hour and 24 hour action.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An education researcher says some of ACT's education policies would be a radical change while others are no brainers.   The party wants to implement standardised testing, with University Entrance replacing NCEA Level Three.   The B4 School Check would be extended to include education progress, and Early Childhood Education providers that don't contribute to child development risk losing funding or licensing.  New Zealand Initiative Research Fellow Michael Johnston told Mike Hosking that one thing he likes is that schools can develop their own curricula, as long as they adhere with core requirements.   He says that's a good way ahead to avoid an ongoing political battle over curriculum.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi driver Liam Lawson is seemingly set to receive some bad news about his future in Formula 1.  Reports have surfaced that AlphaTauri are set to extend under-fire teammate Yuki Tsunoda's contract, likely at the expense of Lawson.  Formula 1 Reporter, Daniel Moxon, told Mike Hosking that since they’re trying to fit three very good drivers into two seats, one of them is going to be left on the sideline regardless.  He said that at this stage, no one really seems to know how it’ll shake out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, the debate. Firstly, I fear I may be wasting your time if you didn't see it. If you didn't, you didn't miss much. If you did see it you will have been, I assume, bored witless. If you were a Chris Hipkins fan going in I don't think he did anything to put you off. Chris Luxon did well because it was his to lose. In fact, given the build up about him being new and so on, he did very well. He looked in command of what he was saying but then, hype aside, you don't get to be the leader of a large political party by not being able to front and explain yourself. So in that sense I wasn't surprised. They agreed on a lot of stuff, which plays into the idea that National are Labour-light and may give room to the minor players who want a bit more upheaval. There were a series of hopelessly condescending quick-fire questions about their favourite beach and the last book they read and whether they had ever had a speeding ticket. Those questions are for breakfast TV, not a prime time debate. The questions from the viewers were a waste of time and smacked of tired lazy production. There is not a question out there a moderator can't ask, we don't need to see Ken of Kaitaia. Both men were respectful, and that might be to Hipkins' disadvantage. He never looks like he is desperate and he should, because he is. He is losing this campaign, and badly, and he needed to show us he cared. He never looks over-exercised about anything. Nothing is brilliant, nothing is a shambles. It's just good ol' Chippy, talking about vaping or gangs or tax or his favourite beach. If you have followed this campaign you would have learned nothing. If you had followed none of it you might have picked up a few generalities but, to be fair, if you hadn't followed the campaign you are not the sort of person to watch a debate because you clearly aren't that interested. Ultimately, that's why the debate failed its audience. People who watch debates know what's going on. We needed life, we needed spark, we needed passion. Yet, we got a couple of blokes holding their own and a moderator sadly working too hard on telling us it was fun. My theory is this campaign is over and has been for sometime, that the result is a forgone conclusion, and the debate sort of reflected that. We went through the motions, no one fell on their face and we all know what's going to happen in a couple of weeks. Was there a winner? Yes. It was those who didn't watch because you had a more productive time. And Chris Luxon, who showed he is more than up to the task.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great news for skiers over the upcoming year.  The Department of Conservation has approved a new chair lift for the Remarkables, replacing the 33-year-old lift, and opening up 47 hectares of new terrain.  NZ Ski CEO, Paul Anderson, told Mike Hosking that it’s a significant investment.  He said the Remarkables are run by a local family who are passionate about ensuring they have the best equipment possible for the skiers and riders who visit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night saw the first leaders’ debate between Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Chris Luxon.  Most seem to agree that it was a lacklustre affair, with Luxon perhaps winning by a hair.   Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that in the past, audiences would see politicians under pressure when it came to live debates.  She said that since every press conference is now streamed live on social media, the pressure is off, and the debates just become a competition of talking points.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Airport's Chief Executive is acknowledging that the long delays some travellers are facing in customs and picking up bags is unacceptable.   The issue has long been a problem, but passengers are now saying some wait times have been even worse this month.   Carrie Hurihanganui told Mike Hosking that she feels people's frustration and has some herself, but they're working to improve the problem.   She says they're now meeting with all chief executives from across the airport's eco-system on a fortnightly basis and are committed to resolving the issue.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Coromandel Peninsula community is set to hold an emergency meeting after a gang caused chaos over the weekend.  A video obtained by Newstalk ZB shows several Rebel gang members attacking what appears to be members of the public on the side of the street in Coromandel township.   Locals say there were multiple attacks and thefts.  Coromandel Business Association Vice Chair Anne Louden told Mike Hosking that they're shocked by the experience.  She says she's stunned to see the level of gang violence on the videos, specifically the brutal violence shown in their local hotel on Saturday night.   The meeting starts at 6pm in the Coromandel Citizens Hall.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Corrections Spokesperson is unfazed by Government's move to drop its prison population reduction target.   The party has scrapped its 2017 promise to bring numbers down by 30% within 15 years.  Kelvin Davis told Mike Hosking that they were facing a prison capacity crisis in 2017, but that's changed.   He says re-sentencing rates after 12 months have dropped 11% since 2017, showing there's been a number of success stories.  Davis is fairly relaxed about the Government's position on prison numbers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just how far will five Kiwi blokes go to earn a buck?  Ladies Night sees Craig, Barry, Norm, Wes, and Gavin dare each other to put on a strip show to earn some extra cash, and rapidly find themselves faced with the terrifying prospect of actually having to strip in front of a crowd.  New Zealand comedy royal Mark Wright is joining the cast as Bernie, the aging, sleazy nightclub owner.   Wright told Mike Hosking that while the play is a comedy, it’s a thought provoking one, as they explore a lot of the issues prominent in the 80’s.  He said it’s interesting to see how far we’ve come in some of those areas in the nearly forty years since the time the play is set in.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's debate night tonight.  As the campaign takes its next step in intensity, the unknown this year is the Luxon factor. We have never seen him head to head, unless you watch Parliament and no one does.  He has down played his credentials against a bloke who has spent his entire career in politics.  A lot of energy goes into these things. Having hosted a couple over the years, they get nervous and they spend a good chunk of the day preparing.  They arrive early and get given a specific room, on a separate floor, so they can hunker down with their aides and run prep some more.  Their aides spend too much time asking questions about who goes where and why and when and how. There is a lot of flapping around in terms of TV crew, especially given these days not a lot of big production TV is done live anymore, so extra resources are wrangled and that creates an atmosphere all of its own.  So, quite a bit to play for.  The media are invited and they settle into a separate area, or as we did at least once in 2020, they sit in the studio as part of an audience.  They get to quiz the participants after the event, it gets dissected and the theory is it leads the news the next day.  There will also be a poll tonight to set the scene.  That poll will almost certainly be bad news for the Government, which will all most certainly lead to the first question of something like, "why are you doing so badly in the polls?"  Quite a bit comes down to the moderator. Tonight's is non-combative. I am not sure she will look to hold anyone to account per se, or inject herself into proceedings.  But as a punter, what I want is less dribble and more fact.  Someone like Hipkins has a hundred lines down pat, he can babble incessantly and say nothing. It doesn’t serve him well but it fills time.  And that is the Luxon key to victory. He has a Government on the ropes and he has a litany of examples where things have gone wrong, if not disastrously. He has material for Africa.  Hipkins has costings on a tax policy and he milks that at his risk, given the fatigue factor of the past week.  There is normally no winner, which leads to the two separate camps.  One camp will think tonight is critical while camp two thinks its important, but hardly the be-all and end-all.  I am in camp two. It's possible the poll, if it's really bad, will outshine the debate.  Hipkins, given his position, needs to win.  Luxon, given his position, needs to look credible.  So no pressure then. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London police have received an accusation of sexual assault dating back 20 years, following media reports about accusations against comedian and actor Russell Brand.   The statement from the Met Police says the assault took place in 2003 in central London's Soho.   Brand's accused of sexual assaults and rape dating from between 2006 and 2013.   UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking that she wouldn’t be surprised if more people came forward.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A2 Milk has cancelled the exclusive manufacturing supply arrangement it had with infant formula maker Synlait Milk.  The reason A2 has given is that Synlait has fallen below delivery standards.  Adjunct Professor at Lincoln University, Jacqueline Rowarth, told Mike Hosking that Synlait is coming off worse in this situation as they now need to find someone who will buy their product.  She said that due to the falling market and increase in stress, people may think the premium A2 had isn’t worth it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's positive news coming from across the Tasman over their big uptake in solar panels.   If the Labour party's re-elected, it will offer a rebate of up to $4000 for installing the technology.   In Australia, over a quarter of households have solar panels.   Australia Institute Principal Adviser Mark Oggie told Mike Hosking that it offers some great benefits.   He says not only does it lower emissions, but saves a lot of money on electricity bills.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Momentum is expected to continue building in the country's hospitality industry as demand to own a business soars.   Enquiries from potential hospo owners are nearly twice that compared to 2019, and historic levels of confidentiality agreements are being signed.   This demand is mainly driven by new arrivals.   ABC Business Sales Managing Director Chris Small told Mike Hosking that a lot of migrants see owning a business here as a way they can control their own destiny.    He says they also feel the harder they work, the better they'll go, rather than being subscribed to a salary where they're put in a box.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he knows there is a lot riding on his performance in tonight's first leaders debate as Labour needs to make up ground in the polls. The PM told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking his party can be trusted to deliver on its election promises, will tackle crime and that the economy will bounce back. When asked by Hosking if the leaders' debate was his to lose, Hipkins replied he "wouldn't go that far". "They are often more difficult for incumbent Prime Ministers than leaders of the opposition," he said. "But I'm looking forward to the debate because we actually don't get much time in these election campaigns to talk about issues." "And the leaders' debates are one of the times when you actually get to explore issues in a bit more depth."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It will be Chris v Chris in the first leader's debate tonight.   Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Chris Luxon will face off on TVNZ.   The Labour leader says he hasn't spent a lot of time preparing, while Luxon says the country needs a great leader not a great debater.   But Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that it will be important for those voters who haven't yet decided who they like.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was more of a celebration than a win, wasn’t it?  The Knights, on a ten-game roll, were brought to a shuddering halt by a side that, if we play that way this weekend and then the final, we will win it all.  It was funny to read some of the post-game commentary about the Broncos, about how good they are, how big they are and how fast they are.  It’s a signature of a small country and a small mind if the first thing you do is look ahead to what the problems next week are.  What that thinking fails to recognise is that we are big, and fast, and good as well.  We finished 4th on the table.  We are in the final four and we didn’t scrape in. We didn’t rely on luck, the other sides didn’t play badly. We won because we are as good as anyone.  Read some of the Australian commentary because it's been some of the most uplifting coverage in the latter part of the season. The Australians are in genuine awe of what the Warriors have achieved.  They are the fairytale of the season. And that's coming from the Sydney Morning Herald.  They see Shaun Johnson as the Dally M winner and they see Webster as coach of the year.  They haven't forgotten, unlike the NRL, the price we have paid over the Covid years, stuck away from home with all those promises about making it up to us.  Saturday night was as good as you will ever see, both in atmosphere and performance. To be so dominant that you pull a couple of your best players off with time left is the stuff of dreams.  Johnson seemed untouched by his leg injury and was a reminder of just how influential and brilliant he is.  And it's because of that quality that I still maintain that unless we make the final, this will be a season and a chance lost.  The only point of competing is to compete to win. We haven't won yet.  But, unlike the other years when we have made it but fallen short, we look a better side. We look better credentialed, and we look like we belong there.  We have all we need. The rest is up to us.  If we play two more times like we played Saturday, then this really is our year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined in an interview aired Sunday to answer questions about whether he watched the Capitol riot unfold on television, saying he would “tell people later at an appropriate time.”  Trump, the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, refused to say on NBC's “Meet the Press” how he spent Jan. 6, 2021, once the insurrection began and whether he made phone calls as his supporters stormed the seat of American democracy.  “I’m not going to tell you. I’ll tell people later at an appropriate time,” Trump told moderator Kristen Welker after she asked if he spent that afternoon watching the attack on television in a dining room at the White House.  Trump's former aides have said he sequestered himself in the room off the Oval Office to watch, at times even rewinding and rewatching some parts.  In the interview, taped Thursday at Trump's golf club in New Jersey, Trump refused to say who he called as the violence unfolded. “Why would I tell you that?” he said.  Trump said in response to Welker's pressing him about his public silence during the violence that he had made “beautiful statements" on the day of the attack.  Trump's supporters, fueled by his lies about the 2020 presidential election, stormed the building as Congress prepare to certify the victory of Democrat Joe Biden. Trump is facing federal criminal charges for his efforts to overturn his loss in that election but he is not facing charges related to the insurrection.  Trump said he might consider pardoning some of the rioters charged for their actions that day.  More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot and more than 600 have pleaded guilty or been convicted.  “I’m going to look at them, and I certainly might if I think it’s appropriate" to pardon them, the former president said.  Trump also said he would consider pardoning former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison orchestrating a failed plot to keep Trump in power. Trump said Tarrio was treated “horribly," according to a full transcript of the NBC interview, which included parts that were not aired.  Trump is facing 91 criminal charges across four cases in federal and state courts related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, the mishandling of classified documents and charges related to allegations of hush-money paid to cover up extramarital affairs. He has denied wrongdoing.  Trump was asked if he fears going to jail.  “No, I don’t really. I don’t even think about it. I’m built a little differently I guess,” he said.  As he pushed to overturn the election, Trump relied on a band of outside allies who undertook what federal prosecutors have called a “criminal scheme” to fraudulently overturn the 2020 results instead of relying on the advice of attorneys in the White House who urged him to accept his loss to Biden.  Trump was asked in the interview why he didn’t listen to those lawyers.  “I didn’t respect them,” Trump said.  “In many cases, I didn’t respect them. But I did respect others. I respected many others that said the election was rigged.”  Trump said he was listening both to his instincts and “different people” to guide his actions around the election's results.  The NBC appearance was Trump's first broadcast network interview since leaving office and marked Welker's debut show as host.  Trump also said he was pleased to hear Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks praising Trump for suggesting that he were elected to the White House again, he would negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Putin on Tuesday said Trump’s statements were “good” and brought “happiness.”  “Well, I like that he said that. Because that means what I’m saying is right,” Trump said on NBC.  Trump said he had had a good relationship with Putin, something he has said several times before, and denied that any deal he would seek in Ukraine would be a win for Russia and allow it to keep territory it has seized.  “That’s something that could have been negotiated,” Trump said. He went on and said, “They could have made a deal where there’s lesser territory right now than Russia’s already taken, to be honest.”  Trump repeatedly declined to say whether he would support a federal ban on abortion and he criticized a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy that was signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trump's top rivals in the presidential primary.  “I think what he did is a terrible thing and a terrible mistake," Trump said.  Trump said he did not care whether abortion was ultimately banned at a federal level or settled by laws in each state. The U.S. Supreme Court, with the support of three justices appointed by Trump, last year overturned the federal right to an abortion.  “From a pure standpoint, from a legal standpoint, I think it’s probably better” to be handled at the state level, Trump said.  “But I can live with it either way. It’s much more important, the number of weeks is much more important.”  - by Michelle L. Price, AP See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salvation Army has opened its first medical centre in Auckland.  It will be giving holistic health care to those experiencing mental health and addiction issues provided at an affordable price.  Salvation Army National Director Lieutenant-Colonel Rod Carey joined Mike Hosking.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is after-work schmoozing becoming a thing of the past?  With more people working at home, there is less chance for impromptu after work drinks, along with pandemic-altered eating and drinking habits, and more people wanting to keep a stricter work-life balance.  Vivace Restaurant part owner Mandy Lusk joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a triumphant 40-10 win against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday, the Warriors showed they are still in the running for the NRL Grand Final.  Next Saturday they will play the Broncos in Brisbane, and if they win there is a chance they could return to the Grand Final for the first time since 2011.  Warriors legend Monty Betham joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has done it again. The world number 42 claimed his fourth victory on the DP World Tour after storming home to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Surrey in the UK. Fox earned US$1.53 million (NZ$2.59m) for the win, the biggest payday of his career. Fox had a triple bogey seven on the third hole after starting two shots off the lead, but then went eight-under for the rest of the round including six birdies on the back nine to claim a one-shot victory. He finished on 18-under, with English duo Tyrell Hatton and Aaron Rai a shot back, and secured victory with a birdie on the final hole. World number 3 Jon Rahm was two shots behind Fox with FedEx Cup winner and world number 4 Viktor Hovland another shot behind. Ryan Fox claimed his fourth victory on the DP World Tour in winning the 2023 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images The win sees him jump to third in the DP World Tour standings, with the top 10 earning PGA Tour cards for next season. “I certainly didn’t think I’d be talking to you after the third hole today,” he said in the TV interview following his victory. “I don’t really know what to think at the moment, to be honest. I’ve always struggled a little bit around here. I’ve maybe snuck one top 20 and barely made it to many cuts around here. To have a back nine like that, especially after how I started the day ... it’s amazing. I played great, pretty much didn’t miss a shot from the third hole onwards and saw a couple of putts go it. It was a pretty cool feeling on the last to know I had one to win and actually make it.” Fox had not registered a top 10 in what he said has been a tough year. His second child was born four months ago, and his father-in-law died in June after a brief battle with cancer. He was third last week in the Irish Open and now has his first Rolex Series title.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is taking aim at the Government in what it claims is not putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system.   Cabinet rejected a proposal in July by then Justice Minister Kiri Allan banning anyone gang-affiliated from receiving public funding.  National's Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the country has a soft-on-crime Government that doesn't see crime for what it is.  He says much of it is being pushed into the community by gangs and they need to put an end to it. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says many of the funded programmes in question are making a difference.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of staff checking migrant employers' applications has halved.   There have been numerous recent cases of migrant exploitation.   Newshub reports in the third quarter of last year there were 15 full-time staff – in the third quarter this year it's seven.   U Immigration director and immigration advisor Josh Kennedy told Mike Hosking originally, employers were accredited for 12 months.  “In February this year they decided to automatically extend everyone’s accreditation by an additional 12 months, so effectively, some employers could be going 24 months without having any sort of checks or interactions with INZ.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour says raising the age limit for breast cancer screening is incredibly important.   The party's launched its "women's manifesto" – which includes improving endometriosis care.  It's also promising to extend the free breast cancer screening age to 74 – a National Party members bill promising that was drawn from the ballot box earlier this year.   Labour first promised the change in 2017.   Women's Issues spokesperson Jan Tinetti told Mike Hosking it should be celebrated, not challenged over when it should've happened.  “We know that we’ve got cross party support in this. We know that this has been a strong campaign from all sides of the House.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nation is holding its breath hoping that Shaun Johnson will be fit enough to play against the Newcastle Knights in tomorrow night’s semi-final in Auckland. He missed out on last week’s game against the Panthers which resulted in the Warriors losing 32-6. Heather du Plessis-Allan asked Warriors Assistant Coach Stacey Jones for an update. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says it will review its policy to lure international tech talent to New Zealand after a year to see if it's working. If elected, would introduce a three-year visa targeting the world's top graduates and a separate visa to give residency to those at the top of the field. Immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford says they wanted to think outside the square. She says New Zealand really struggles to attract top talent. She says looking at how many have come here on the Green list, only 51 were on tech-visas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week two of the campaign has come and gone - so who are the winners? Well, if you go on polling alone, it's the new Government of National and Act. But if you believe that this campaign counts, if you believe that these events and stunts and announcements count for a lot, then there is still much to play for. For the record, I will repeat, I think the whole thing is a foregone conclusion. This, more than most elections, has already been decided on the Government's record. It's not about policy from the opposition, because most people already broadly know that the opposition is offering a change from the status quo. It's what happened when we tossed David Lange's Labour out. What happened when we tossed Robert Muldoon? What happened when we tossed Helen Clark out? For a variety of reasons, in Muldoon and Clark's case, we were over the agenda. In Lange's case, we were over the party imploding and the chaos. That’s why they say Government's lose elections and oppositions don’t win them. If you're interested in policy there have been some good ones. Act's law and order policy is full of common sense and scratches an itch felt by many a New Zealander fed up with crime. You can't argue with more doctors, except the fact Labour took six years to do it, which in and of itself is an example of why they are losing. National's literacy policy last Friday makes sense and many a parent will welcome a crack at tangible improvement in the classroom. But the downside of campaigns is the down in the weeds obsession you tend to get when the media put a lot of resource into a single event. When you're looking to eke every last dollar out of having journalists wander aimlessly around the country, you tend to end up with the nonsense we got on National's tax policy. Some economists thought there was a hole. My take - so what? There are other economists who don't think there is a hole. The Treasury PREFU said we aren't going into recession and the media swallowed that hook, line and sinker. Yet Bryce Wilkinson of the NZ Initiative wrote yesterday and said those numbers are bogus. Where was the media's obsession around that? Duelling economists is the sort of side show a campaign brings. But in summation, you can see poor, old Hipkins looking more and more deflated and Luxon looking more and more bullish. Seymour overplayed his hand a bit on the confidence thing, James Shaw called an Act MP a "clown show", Winston Peters refuted the polls, again, and I think one of the Maori leaders went surfing. Next week we have the debates. I don’t put the weight some do on them. They're important, yes. But they aren't a deal breaker. As I say, my gut says this thing is over, the script was written over the past 24 months. We are, to a degree, going through the motions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    Polls: 7/10  They are in full flow now and provide an increasingly obvious view towards a change of Government.     Food: 3/10  Real proof that the dreamers who claim inflation is on its way to normality next year haven't bought kumara lately.     The PREFU: 2/10  By the time you look at the debt, the cost of servicing the debt, the stickiness of inflation and the extra spending it is a good insight as to why the polls are the way they are. Talk about wrecking the joint.     The Warriors: 6/10  Because they are still alive and Shaun Johnson is back, but it needs to be a lot better than last week and a shite load better than the week before.     The All Blacks: 6/10  Because a loss is bad but it’s a long tournament and the final is the goal, not the first game.     Novak Djokovic: 8/10  Must surely be close to being the greatest of all time now?     King Charles: 7/10  One year in and the poll this week showed he is a steady hand and Britain at least has no desire whatsoever to be a republic.     David Seymour: 6/10  Still looks fresh, still has the one-liners but made a mistake with the confidence and supply threat and paid the price.     LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks face Namibia in their second World Cup pool match tomorrow, and Coach Ian Foster decided to rotate the squad ahead of the game.  Former All Black Ian Jones told Mike Hosking that the All Blacks have to be ruthless with their approach.   He said that this game is about getting back on the horse and springboarding the campaign.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are set to play their highly anticipated home game against the Newcastle Knights to a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow night.   Fortunately for fans of the team, it’s looking likely that Shaun Johnson will be back on the field. Coach Andrew Webster told Mike Hosking that he’s had a really good week, and has been training well.  He said fans will know for certain to if he’s playing when the team is announced this afternoon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willis said National is offering tax reductions to working Kiwis, and Labour is "obsessed" with finding holes in their tax policy.   "We've gone above and beyond," Willis said of the party's budget.  Willis told Mike Hosking that she would not release the costings of the budget because the next step would be "releasing Excel sheets."  "We've chosen more conservative numbers."  "I'm confident people will see we've been thorough here and we've been careful."  "Ultimately what New Zealander's need right now is more money in their bank accounts."  Willis said Labour "spray the money hose around" while National had a "proven track record."  "We will be spending less than Labour," Willis said.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The horticulture industry is welcoming a new policy on water storage with open arms.   National's promising that farmers will not need a resource consent to build a water storage pond in most cases unless wetlands or Significant Natural Areas are affected.  It's a plan they say cuts red tape around food production.   Horticulture New Zealand Policy Manager Michelle Sands says it's a positive policy.   She told Mike Hosking that most growers are conscious of managing their environmental effects, but there are rules being developed that create costs for them without achieving any benefits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's promising a justice system shake-up, with the party saying it'll streamline the process for people to take legal action.  The party claims it'll be a more cost-effective way for groups of people to take legal action together by establishing a class actions regime.  Labour's Justice spokesperson Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that this has worked overseas.  She says for example, it's good for small investors who get "done over" by a big company.  It also wants to investigate the threshold for jury trials and increase the uptake of audio-visual technology in courts, to try to speed up hearings.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like so many of these things, a day or so after the big event is when you really get a measure of what is true and what is BS, or spin.  The PREFU was bad news.  The upside of the bad news was the Government argued and, sadly, the too many of the media, who either don’t have time to digest the real numbers, don’t care to digest the real numbers, or don’t know how to digest the real numbers, swallowed the line that there was "light at the end of the tunnel".   The light at the end of the tunnel came from a journalist in the gallery who are now famous for asking patsy questions. "Is there light at the end of the tunnel?" What do you think Grant Robertson was supposed to say to that?  A couple of the banks have put some perspective on where we are really at. These are real numbers and they involve debt.   Debt, as I keep trying to argue, is the thing that will sink us.  Debt is easy to get into, it's easy to get even deeper into, and then once you’ve been sucked into that it's a nightmare to get out of.   What we know from PREFU is the annual surplus, that's the yearly balance of whether you spent more than you earned, has been pushed out yet again. We can't even balance the books and annually haven't for years.  Then you get to what we already owe and what that costs to service. The updated figure was close to $10billion a year and that’s only the interest.   Now, the banks have put a number on what we will need to borrow going forward, what we need to go to the market for to cover the obligations the Government has made.   $1billion is what we will be borrowing. $940million to be exact.   Per week.  Let that sink in. Virtually one billion dollars a week of borrowings. Not earnings, not profit. More debt.   And you wonder why the bill to service that goes to almost $10billion a year. As the banks say, that is a lot for the market to absorb.  Here's a question; what if the market can't, or won't, absorb it?  The answer is we go to people who will give us the money. But what happens then is we pay a premium and the $10billion servicing bill climbs higher.   It can't be any more black and white than this. Look at what we spend on defence, or police. That's pocket change compared to what we borrow and that is why things are as bad as they are.  Numbers don't lie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Dalton is not expecting much backlash from the decision to take an America’s Cup preliminary regatta to Saudi Arabia.  After being touted as a potential host venue for the 37th edition of the America’s Cup in 2024 before Barcelona was finally revealed as the chosen host, Jeddah will host the second of three preliminary regattas, with America’s Cup teams to descend on the Saudi Arabian port city in late November.  It’s another case of Saudi Arabia’s controversial rise as a major player in world sport, labelled as ‘sportswashing’. Examples include the country’s heavy involved in the worlds of football, Formula One, combat sports, and golf, with human rights organisations arguing Saudi Arabia is using sport to divert attention from its tarnished reputation and human rights violations.  Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, Dalton said he did not expect to face much political backlash when the America’s Cup ventures to the Middle East.  “No. Frankly, I think that, from our side, it’s the future,” Dalton said.  “Saudi Arabia and, in this case, Jeddah is embracing it, all sports are embracing it. There’s always political fallout but, I would suggest, from a lot of people that frankly haven’t been there. I have been there and I’ve seen what is happening, and I think it’s a great place.”  Posed with the debate over Saudi Arabia pumping money into sports and that it is where the centre of sport is eventually going to be, Dalton said “you’ll never win that argument” but noted that with a large percentage of the Saudi Arabian population being under 34 it was a way for the nation to find pathways into sport.  Reuters reports that a 2022 census showed 63 per cent of the nation’s population were under age 30, while the median age of the total population was 29.  “It’s just one fact alone,” Dalton said. “I think get onboard because that is the future.”  The decision to host a preliminary regatta immediately created an issue for one America’s Cup syndicate, with the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic unsuccessfully seeking an exemption from participating in the regatta. They cited heightened safety concerns for a team representing America in a place marked by the US State Department as a terror risk.  Sailing in the preliminary regattas is compulsory for all teams, and the arbitration panel ruled the matter was out of their hands, leaving the decision to Team New Zealand and Ineos Britannia as the defender and challenger of record respectively.  In their submissions to the panel in regard to American Magic’s application, both Team New Zealand and Britannia opposed it being granted, however a formal decision on the matter is yet to be announced.  For now, all attention will be on the first preliminary regatta in Vilanova i la Geltru, about 50km southwest of Barcelona, this weekend where the teams will get their first opportunity for proper racing against one another – albeit in the one-design AC40s.  The same vessels will be used for the event in Jeddah, with the final preliminary regatta being contested on AC75s, just before the beginning of the Challenger Series next August.  -NZ Herald See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of food is still going up, but more slowly.  Stats NZ says in the year to August prices rose 8.9%, particularly eggs, yoghurt, and non-perishables like potato chips.   That's down from the 12.5% lift in April and June, but still historically high.  Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director, Chris Quin, told Mike Hosking that while it is increasing year on year, it’s coming down month on month.  He said that they know customers need prices to fall again, and they hope that they can move past some of the weather events and shortages causing these prices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The divide between the right and left continues to grow heading into the election.  The latest 1 News Verian poll shows Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins are neck-and-neck in the preferred prime minister rankings: both on 23%.  But the right bloc is on 49%, well ahead of the left bloc on 41%.  Put to him that they had "less than no money" to run a country, Luxon said: "Yep. We're going to have a really tough and difficult country. But National governments always have to come in and clean up a mess left behind by Labour. We'll have to do the same, I think, here again."  He told Mike Hosking that the country can’t afford another term of a Labour-led government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A medical school leader says they've been waiting to be allowed to train more doctors.   If elected, Labour's promised to train an additional 335 doctors every year from 2027, with numbers increasing from next year.   National previously announced a new medical school at Waikato University, which would provide 220 extra places by 2030.   Otago University Acting Dean of Medicine, Tim Wilkinson, told Mike Hosking that they're not able to train more than the Government allows.   He says there's plenty of people who want to be doctors, most would be good doctors, but they haven't been able to train more until now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A retired judge believes the public shouldn't be driving policy when it comes to law and order.  Party leader David Seymour wants to boost prison capacity by 500 beds and toughen sentencing for offending against vulnerable workers.   Act also wants new youth justice beds under Corrections and ankle bracelets on youth offenders.   Rosemary Riddell told Mike Hosking that what we need is prisons with serious rehabilitation.   She understands dairy owners want to see tough punishments but if policy is driven by public outcry, we'll get it all wrong.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So was this PREFU better than expected as a number of headlines suggested?  Answer: possibly. Possibly not.  What numbers were they looking at?  It's important to point out this is not retrospective. This is not stuff that has happened, therefore cannot be argued with.  This is a projection and the projection comes from Treasury. There are some numbers from their projections to ponder, such as we are not returning to surplus until 2026/27. That is now years after they first suggested they would.  That's strike one.  Strike two is tax revenue is dropping in terms of what they thought it would be.  Strike three is expenses are rising from what they originally thought.  Strike four is debt per GDP is worse.  Strike five is net Government bond issue, which is debt, to 2027 is worse.  Strike six is inflation is higher for longer.  So where is all this good news? Well, they see a little bit more growth.  Unemployment, although going up, isn't going to go up as much as they thought.  And that is about it.  In totality I am not seeing a net score card that is demonstrably better than they thought. When you look at the numbers, at the debt, the spend and the current account deficit, none of it is good at all.  The tired, old line the Government uses about us being not as badly off as others is technically true.  But given there are almost 200 countries in the world, it's not hard to line yourself up against a bunch of economic numpties. It is not aspirational in any way, shape or form to find a collection of failures and pump your tyres up by standing next to them.  The simple reality is there is no hiding from the real danger this economy is in. It is one of the few, among our trading partners with Germany being the other, that has reached recession.  We have spent more, we have borrowed more and we are still nowhere near close to even looking like achieving an annualised surplus.  Our saving grace might, might, be migration and that might lead to a boost in housing and alleviate the labour shortage.  But I think what has happened here is we are so punch drunk, so beaten down by the misery of the economic mess that anything, no matter how meagre, is grasped as some sort of shiny nugget in a desert of economic sand.  When you see where we were, i.e the rock star economy a handful of years ago, and where we are now there is little, if anything, to be proud of. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've never seen record migration figures like we are now.   The country's seen a net gain of 96,200 people in the year to July, with 135,000 non-citizens arriving, and 39,400 New Zealanders leaving.   Citizens of India, the Philippines, China, South Africa, and Fiji have driven the numbers.   CEO of Malcolm Pacific Immigration, David Cooper, told Mike Hosking that having a high number of people coming into New Zealand is good for the country.  He said that to reverse the trend of people leaving we need people coming in, bringing their skills and talents.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is confident in Treasury's prediction that New Zealand will avoid a long-term recession.  Treasury's pre-election update forecasts that Government debt will peak at $185-billion in 2025, and the Government won't return to surplus until 2027.  That's predicted in a forecast that the economy will grow by an average of 2.6% over the next four years.  Grant Robertson told Mike Hosking that he believes Treasury's forecast over the gloomier predictions from some commentators.  He says while growth forecasts have become more an art than a science, the overall trend is line with most other forecasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former finance minister is warning that whoever wins the next election will need to tighten the belt.  Treasury's pre-election update is forecasting the Government won't return to surplus until 2027, a year later than previously forecast in the May Budget.  Government debt is now forecast to reach $185-billion by 2025, well above the $83-billion forecast from three years ago.  Former National Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking that the Government's books are in a worse position now than at the peak of the Global Financial Crisis.  He says there will have to be a closer look at government spending than there was when National came to power in 2008.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ICC Cricket World Cup is set to take place in India from the 5th of October through to the 19th of November.   The team features a number of experienced players, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee joining the ranks of players who have been selected for four or more ODI World Cups.  Black Caps Coach Gary Stead told Mike Hosking that they tried to select a squad that gives them balance.  He said they wanted to have options and the ability to change players in and out depending on environmental conditions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tide could be beginning to turn on our real estate market.  QV data shows the average national home value increased by 0.5% in the last three months and its now sitting at just over $893-thousand.  It's the first quarter of positive growth since the housing downturn began in late 2021.  Operations Manager, James Wilson, says it's driven primarily by first-home buyers outside of our main urban areas.  He expects the trend of flattening and slight increases will continue to be seen in coming months.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elton John is one of the most iconic artists of the fifty years, but his lyricist Bernie Taupin is nearly as well known.    The partnership between the two is known as one of the most successful in history, as the pair have been working together since the 1960s.  It began with a talent advertisement from Liberty Records and while neither of them passed the initial audition, a connection was formed.   “It’s beyond explanation, and I don’t think you really want to figure it out.” Taupin told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.  “If you think about things too much you might gum up the works,” he said.    While it might be hard to believe considering the massive critical acclaim the music has received, Taupin said they weren’t that good in the beginning.    “We were just trying to find our way and we were sort of emulating what was current at the time,” he told Hosking.  “We we’re just doing bad versions of a lot of good stuff.”     Eventually they realised that they needed to create something original, culminating in the creation of ‘Your Song,’ their first International Top 10 single.   While Taupin wrote the lyrics, Elton John was the one to put them to music.    In the early days, Taupin explained that he didn’t really know what song writing entailed and was “flying by the seat of his pants.”    “The fact that I got hooked up with somebody who could actually make sense of it was icing on the cake.”   Although most people would know of Bernie Taupin through his partnership with Elton John, going into his memoir expecting 417 pages of Elton would be a mistake.   “I think the subtitle of the book is a bit misleading if people think the entire book is about Elton and I’s adventures,” Taupin told the Newstalk ZB host.  “He only partakes of the book, probably about a quarter of it.”    Most of the book focuses on Taupin’s own life and experiences to date: “It doesn’t get any better than what it is at the moment.”    “That’s not to say this is the end of my career,” he told Hosking. “We’ve got lots more to do.”   He said that they’re going to start recording again now that Elton is done with touring.  “We can’t wait to get back in the studio.”  ‘Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton and Me’ is out now and available at all bookstores. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is accepting responsibility for the party's falling poll numbers.  There's now a 14-point gap in support between the incumbent party and National according to the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll.   Labour is down to 26.8% while the Nats hit 40.9%, and both party leaders are on 22.5% for preferred Prime Minister.   The Labour leader told Mike Hosking that the polls are not where they need them to be, and they have a job to do to turn them around over the next five weeks.  He says they have to campaign on their policies, claiming a lot of people are yet to register what they're putting forward.  Hipkins says they'll also be campaigning on the risk of a change of government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economic slowdown is likely to be having a major impact on the Government's books.  Treasury is releasing its Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update at 1pm, the final fiscal update before Advanced Voting begins in two weeks.  It's expected to show revenue is lower and debt is higher than forecast in May's Budget.  Economist Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking that New Zealand now has a very high fiscal deficit.  He says while our debt is below the OECD average, it's much higher than it's been in the past.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The psychological impacts are becoming clear for our two main parties 32 days out from the election.   The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll has Labour down 5.5% to 26.8%, while National has jumped 4.3% to 40.9%.  ACT has fallen two points to 10%, but can comfortably govern with National.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that it’s hard for Labour to get supporters out there knocking on doors when they're low.  He says meanwhile for National, they've hit heights not seen for some time, which will rally and energise their base.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

eal in hand to draw yet another one of China’s neighbors closer to the United States.  In just the last five months, Biden has hosted the Philippines’ president at the White House for the first time in over a decade; he has fêted the Indian prime minister with a lavish state dinner; and he has hosted his Japanese and South Korean counterparts for a summit ripe with symbolism at the storied Camp David presidential retreat.  At each turn, Biden’s courtship and his team’s steadfast diplomacy have secured stronger diplomatic, military and economic ties with a network of allies and partners joined if not by an outright sense of alarm at China’s increasingly aggressive military and economic posture, then at least by a growing sense of caution and concern.  The latest page in the US’s Indo-Pacific playbook will come via the establishment of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” that will put the US on par with Vietnam’s highest tier of partners, including China, according to US officials familiar with the matter.  “It marks a new period of fundamental reorientation between the United States and Vietnam,” a senior administration official said ahead of Biden’s arrival in Hanoi, saying it would expand a range of issues between the two countries.  “It’s not going to be easy for Vietnam, because they’re under enormous pressure from China,” the official went on. “We realize the stakes and the President is going to be very careful how he engages with Vietnamese friends.”  The US’ increasingly tight-knit web of partnerships in the region is just one side of the US’s diplomatic strategy vis-à-vis China. On a separate track, the Biden administration has also pursued more stable ties and improved communication with Beijing over the last year, with a series of top Cabinet secretaries making the trip to the Chinese capital in just the last few months.  The latter part of that playbook has delivered fewer results thus far than Biden’s entreaties to China’s wary neighbors, a dichotomy that was on stark display as Biden attended the G20 in New Delhi, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not.  The president did not appear overly concerned when questioned Saturday about his Chinese counterpart’s absence at the summit.  “It would be nice to have him here,” Biden said, with Modi and a handful of other world leaders by his side. “But, no, the summit is going well.”  As Biden and Xi jockey for influence in Asia and beyond, merely showing up can be seen as a power play and Biden sought to make the most of Xi’s absence, seizing the opening to pitch the United States’ sustained commitment both to the region and to developing nations around the world.  In Vietnam, it’s not only China whose influence Biden is competing with. As he arrived, reports suggested Hanoi was preparing a secret purchase of weapons from Russia, its longtime arms supplier.  On Monday, Biden plans to announce steps to help Vietnam diversify away from an over-reliance on Russian arms, a senior administration official said.  As China’s economy slows down and its leader ratchets up military aggressions, Biden hopes to make the United States appear a more attractive and reliable partner. In New Delhi, he did so by wielding proposals to boost global infrastructure and development programs as a counterweight to China.  Beijing and Moscow have both condemned a so-called “Cold War mentality” that divides the world into blocks. The White House insists it is seeking only competition, not conflict. Biden told reporters on Sunday that he is “sincere” about improving the United States’ relationship with China.  “I don’t want to contain China, I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up-and-up, squared away, and everyone knows what it’s all about,” Biden said. “We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. That’s what this trip is all about, having India cooperate much more with the United States, be closer to the United States, Vietnam being closer with the United States. It’s not about containing China. It’s about having a stable base – a stable base in the Indo-Pacific.”  Still, the desire to pull nations into the fold has been evident.  Squeezed by rival giants  On Saturday, Biden held a photo op with the leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa – three members of the BRICS grouping that Xi has sought to elevate as a rival to US-dominated summits like the G20.  If there is a risk in that approach, it is leaving nations feeling squeezed by rival giants. For Biden, however, there is an imperative in at least offering poorer nations an alternative to China when it comes to investments and development. The president on Sunday acknowledged that China’s economy has faced “some difficulties” recently, noting stalled growth and an unfolding real estate crisis in the country, but attempted to tamp down the idea that the United States was rooting against China’s economic success, telling reporters, “I want to see China succeed economically, but I want to see them succeed by the rules.”  “We’re not looking to hurt China, sincerely, we’re all better off if China does well – China does well by the international rules,” he added.  But increasingly, China’s neighbors – like Vietnam – are seeking a counterweight to Beijing’s muscular and often unforgiving presence in the region, even if they are not prepared to entirely abandon China’s sphere of influence in favor of the US’.  “We’re not asking or expecting the Vietnamese to make a choice,” the senior administration official said. “We understand and know clearly that they need and want a strategic partnership with China. That’s just the nature of the beast.”  Days before Biden’s visit and the expected strategic partnership announcement, China sent a senior Communist Party official to Vietnam to enhance “political mutual trust” between the two communist neighbors, the official Chinese Xinhua news agency reported.  Asked about Biden’s upcoming visit to Vietnam, China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday warned the US against using its relations with individual Asian countries to target a “third party.”  “The United States should abandon Cold War zero-sum game mentality, abide by the basic norms of international relations, not target a third party, and not undermine regional peace, stability, development and prosperity,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily briefing.  Vietnam has also sought to maintain good ties with China. Its Communist Party chief was the first foreign leader to call on Xi in Beijing after the Chinese leader secured an unprecedented third term last October. In June, Vietnam’s prime minister met Xi during a state visit to China.  But even as it seeks to avoid China’s wrath, Vietnam is increasingly pulled toward the US out of economic self-interest – its trade with the US has ballooned in recent years and it is eager to benefit from American efforts to diversify supply chains outside of China – as well as concern over China’s military build-up in the South China Sea.  Experts say those tightened partnerships are as much a credit to the Biden administration’s comprehensive China strategy as it is a consequence of the way China has increasingly aggressively wielded its military and economic might in the region.  “China has long complained about the US alliance network in its backyard. It has said that these are vestiges of the Cold War, that the US needs to stop encircling China, but it’s really China’s own behavior and its choices that have driven these countries together,” said Patricia Kim, a China expert at the Brookings Institution.  “So in many ways, China’s foreign policy has backfired.”  From foes to friends  The upgrading of the US-Vietnam relationship carries huge significance given Washington’s complicated history with Hanoi.  The two countries have gone from mortal enemies that fought a devastating war to increasingly close partners, even with Vietnam still run by the same Communist forces that ultimately prevailed and sent the US military packing.  There were signs during Biden’s visit that some of those differences remain. Reporters representing US media outlets were physically held back from covering events at the Communist Party Headquarters – an event the White House and Vietnamese officials had agreed would be covered by the American press.  The episode only served to underscore the extent to which Biden is elevating US strategic and economic interests despite human rights and press freedom concerns.  Vietnam is the world’s third-largest jailer of journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders, and the country ranks 178th out of 180 countries on the organization’s World Press Freedom Index.  The White House has defended its engagement with autocratic regimes around the world, insisting that Biden raises human rights and democracy issues privately.  While the upgrading of that relationship has been a decade in the making, US officials say a concerted drive to take the relationship to new heights carried that years-long momentum over the line.  A late June visit to Washington by Vietnam’s top diplomat, Chairman Le Hoai Trung, crystallized that possibility. During a meeting with national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the two first discussed the possibility of upgrading the relationship, according to a Biden administration official.  As he walked back to his office, Sullivan wondered whether the US could be more ambitious than a one-step upgrade in the relationship – to “strategic partner” – and directed his team to travel to the region and deliver a letter to Trung proposing a two-step upgrade that would take the relations to their highest-possible level, putting the US on par with Vietnam’s other “comprehensive strategic partners”: China, Russia, India and South Korea.  Sullivan would speak again with Trung on July 13 while traveling with Biden to a NATO summit in Helsinki.  The conversation pushed the possibility of a two-step upgrade in a positive direction, but it wasn’t until a mid-August visit to the White House by Vietnam’s ambassador to Washington that an agreement was in hand. Inside Sullivan’s West Wing office, the two finalized plans to take the US-Vietnam relationship to new heights and for Biden and Vietnam’s leader, General Secreatary Nguyen Phu Trong, to shake hands in Hanoi.  The trip was still being finalized when Biden revealed during an off-camera fundraiser that he was planning to visit. The remark sent the planning into overdrive.  Still, US officials are careful not to characterize the rapprochement with Vietnam – or with the Philippines, India, Japan and Korea, or its AUKUS security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom – as part of a comprehensive strategy to counter China’s military and economic heft in the Indo-Pacific.  “I think that’s a deliberate design by the Biden administration,” said Yun Sun, the China program director at the Stimson Center. “You don’t want countries in the region or African countries to feel that the US cares about them only because of China because that shows a lack of commitment. That shows that, ‘Well, we care about you only because we don’t want you to go to the Chinese.’”  - by Jeremy Diamond and Kevin Liptak, CNNSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The only thing National did wrong on Friday was release its literacy policy.  Friday is not a good day for news cut-through.  To a degree, they were at a disadvantage, as was every other party considering Labour released some heating ideas for houses.  If you release it Friday many will miss it. But if you don't release anything you can be accused of a missed opportunity.  But the literacy policy is more fertile ground for National given the record of the Government. Labour rolled out poor, old Jan Tinetti who was gobsmacked and heartbroken and various other emotions over the change.  But she, like Ginny Andersen the day before when Labour laughably promised to crack down on gangs, is in no position to debate their portfolios, given they have been abject failures.  There is simply no hiding what has happened to our education system under this Government.  It has been Maorified, kids don’t turn up, results are shocking, standards have slipped and international testing shows the parlous state we are in.  Enter Erica Stanford, who is as good a prosecutor of her portfolio as any politician and is backed up by Chris Luxon, who talks of her being world-class.  Also on Friday, as a death knell of sorts for Labour was yet another poll. This one was the Taxpayers Union Curia poll showing Labour in nightmare country in the 20s. Winston Peters is also below 5 percent so there is a change of Government.  The other criticism was the growing commentary from the media on the lack of energy by Chris Hipkins. It is palpable - he looks tired and worn down and lacklustre.  He has nothing to say. A lot of his policies fall flat because they are juxtaposed against the reality of what has been delivered. Also, against him is what the media are claiming is the energizer bunny of Chris Luxon.  Luxon and Hipkins in the aforementioned poll in preferred Prime Minister numbers are even. That’s a growing story and next stop is Luxon overtaking him.  Let me tell you this for nothing - a lot of the media have been kind to Labour and even kinder to "Chippy from the Hutt".  That has turned. They see what we see.  They see a bloke from the private sector, a success story who at last is delivering with confidence and detail and aspiration. And they see a political lifer, out of puff with a record in tatters.  As much as we can say it, in mid-September, it is over.  If you want to make predictions, not only will we see a change of Government. It is increasingly likely that a landslide is on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi Erin Routliffe has been crowned US Open doubles champion after winning the final in straight sets with partner Gabriela Dabrowski, of Canada, today. In only their fourth tournament together, they beat 2020 champions Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (9), 6-3. It was the first grand slam women’s doubles title for both Dabrowski, a Canadian, and Routliffe. The No 16 seeds in Flushing Meadows first paired up last month in Montreal. The final lasted more than two hours. The last New Zealand woman to win a grand slam doubles title was Judy Connor in 1979, when she claimed the Australian Open title with Diane Evers. After the lengthy tiebreaker in which both teams had set points, Dabrowski and Routliffe quickly seized control in the second set by breaking Zvonarena’s serve in the first game, then Siegemund’s in the third for a 3-0 lead. The No 12 seeds won the next two games and were within 4-3 after Siegemund held during a lengthy game, but Dabrowski and Routliffe won the next two games to close it out. An emotional Routliffe was close to tears at the awards ceremony, praising Dabrowski for taking her on as a teammate. “She really took a chance on me. I really appreciate it and love her for it and, obviously, I hope we get to have many great results to come in the future,” the Kiwi said. The Canadian was equal in support. “You took a chance on me too,” Dabrowski said. “It’s been a tough year for us both. I’m proud of the way we stood by each other through thick and thin the last two weeks. We improved a lot from the first tournament we played in Montreal. I am so grateful we’ve been able to work together.” Siegemund and Zvonareva were playing in their first tournament together when they won the title at Flushing Meadows, with no fans attending because of Covid-19 restrictions. They have won four championships as a team. Siegemund, who cried after being booed by fans for playing slowly when she lost to women’s singles champion Coco Gauff in the first round, was thankful to have them in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday. “It was just great to play with people again, not like in 2020,” Siegemund said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's plenty of water to go under the bridge before a call's made on the future of Christchurch's cardboard cathedral.   The Anglican Diocese has made the decision to pull together a working group to discuss options for its future use.  They say the cathedral will be safe from being sold for at least four years.  Anglican Bishop of Christchurch Peter Carrell told Mike Hosking they won't be solely focused on the building.  “We’ll be also focused on what is our best inner-city ministry in Christchurch. We used to have three parishes plus the cathedral – we're now down to one parish plus the cathedral and that’s some food for thought.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not the way the All Blacks wanted to kick off the Rugby World Cup. But the pool games aren't the problem - it's the knockout round where there are more sides as good as France waiting. Former All Blacks coach Alex Wyllie joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An opinion New Zealand needs to lift its game in addressing its critical housing shortage.   Act wants builders to be able to use insurance companies as an alternative authority for consenting - cutting local council out of the process.   Leader David Seymour says he tried to help a man get a new type of Gib plasterboard approved by Auckland Council at the height of the Gib crisis.   He told Mike Hosking the council worker responsible for registering building material had gone away from work for three weeks.  “If you can’t get something like that done in any length of time in New Zealand, then there’s no way we’re gonna see innovation and get the more affordable housing that we want.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions around the National Party's plan for Road User Charges.   It's looking to extend road user charges to all vehicles if elected, including electric vehicles.    Motor Industry Association chief executive Aimee Wiley says it's not clear exactly how it will be rolled out.   She told Mike Hosking there are clear benefits to a fuel tax which aren't present with this new model.  “It’s a complicated problem because charging a fuel excise duty per litre is almost a foolproof system. It doesn’t need enforcement or monitoring.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Health spokesperson Shane Reti says he's hopeful of fixing the health portfolio.  The party's pledging to bring back targets if elected – focusing on shorter ED stays, faster cancer treatment and child immunisation rates.  It also wants shorter wait times for first specialist assessments and surgery.  Reti told Mike Hosking he's committed to getting the system to a point where it's out of the political spotlight.  He says health has been a bit like education was: one of those suicide portfolios – it's hard, and been made worse by Covid.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An end may just be in sight for Rotorua's emergency housing.  If elected, the National Party are promising to scrap Rotorua's emergency hotels within 2 years.  They also want to reform Kainga Ora, giving the organisation more power to evict unruly tenants.  Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.     The All Blacks: 8/10  Here we go. Is it possible we can win? Is Foster a redemption story? Pretty much nothing, sports wise beats the Rugby World Cup and the All Blacks.  Or does it?     The Warriors: 8/10  Putting last week behind us as quickly as possible, what chance we beat the Panthers? What chance we go all the way? What chance that this is our year?     The election campaign: 7/10  Because with the launches it got real. So then, the launches and the week;     Labour: 4/10  A chaotic launch. Too many loose MP's with lies, two bad polls and bad policies, especially yesterday's gang one that looked like too little, too late.     National: 7/10  Solid launch. Very American, very expensive, some good policies like the ute tax turnaround, a tunnel, and the ombudsmen. The polls aren't great but aren't bad either and Luxon is looking increasingly confident.    Act: 7/10  Good cut through for a smaller party normally squeezed at this time for space. Their productivity idea is the policy of the week.     Greens: 4/10  James Shaw not really having a degree despite his LinkedIn page saying he does, doesn’t help.     Liam Lawson: 8/10  Did all they asked for and more at Monza. He's on his way to Singapore next weekend, then hopefully Japan and then hopefully full time in 2024.      LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So week one of the campaign, well I call it week one because the two major parties had their launches. Of course, they've been campaigning for months, unless you are Chris Hipkins who upon receiving a poll a week or so back claimed he hadn't campaigned at all, until Megan Woods on this show busted him. He showed ironically that same trait this week when he started defending Willie Jackson, who blatantly made stuff up about Act and National and the minimum wage. Even when he corrected it, he got it wrong. Instead of being straight up and down about it, Hipkins started dancing on the head of a pin and used the word "technically". He shouldn't do that, it makes him look churlish and dishonest. It was the same trick with the vaccines. No one made you get one, technically he was right. But if you were a nurse, or ran a business where a jab was required, you didn't have to get one the same way you didn't have to have a business or a job. So not really a choice then, is it? The policy of the week was Act and their productivity work. National gets a mention for a tunnel and some EV chargers, but mainly the dumping of the ute tax. Labour get the "are you serious?" policy award for their five things to make the economy grow, as though anyone can argue with them and they should have already been in place for at least six years. And in that is part of their problem. The cold, hard truth is they really can't campaign on their record, for obvious reasons. The media get a 6/10. There is no shortage of coverage but, boy, you have to look for it. There are live streams of announcements, there is detail about the place; but there is also a predilection for the pointless. There's been coverage of protests and name calling and, from some, an obsession to see skullduggery where there isn't. The lying, the straight up and down lying, by your Andrew Little's and Willie Jackson's and Shannon Halbert's does need to be called out. It needs to stop. Chris Bishop gets Cry Baby of the Week for his faux upset over the union ads. Yes, they were low rent and, given about a quarter of union members voted for National in 2017, you might ask whether it's a good use of your subs. But it is hardly the most egregious campaign crime ever committed. Add to that a couple of polls, so we've had the numbers to chew over, and for the first week I've had a ball. The desperation isn't on show yet and no one made a major gaffe. But there's plenty of time for that yet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bad news for Warriors fans as Shaun Johnson has been ruled out of the playoff against Penrith.  It was announced on Instagram that the halfback has a calf injury and is unable to play as a result.    Former League player Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking that calve injuries are the most difficult injury to have when it comes to getting back onto the field.  He said they’ll be doing anything possible to get him back on the paddock.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says we should be the safest country in the world,  but we're not.  If elected, Labour's announced a plan which would boost Police numbers by 300 over four years and tackle gangs.  It would allow Police to go after convoys and confiscate cars, motorbikes, and tractors.  National’s Justice Spokesperson Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that they have their own announcement to make soon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury scientists say they're getting closer to growing fruit without a tree, vine, or bush.  The Food by Design research team is 18-months into a five year programme, aiming to produce fruit from cells.  Co-leader Samantha Baldwin told Mike Hosking that at the moment they're working on growing cell clusters and then fruit tissue.  She said the goal is to produce a product which provides the same eating experience as a fruit, but without the pips or cores.  Baldwin added that lab grown fruit could be a solution to urban population growth.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.