The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Thursday 11th of December, as Australia bans social media for under 16s, what does our interim report say we should do?   David Seymour responds to the findings of the investigation into the mouldy lunches at a Christchurch school.   US billionaire Mark Cuban talks the All Blacks, being an NBA owner, the state of US politics, and AI.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Cuban has his hands in all sorts of pies.  The US billionaire businessman is involved with tech, media, health insurance, the NBA, and more recently, politics.  He got his first major start with the media company Broadcast.com, which he sold to Yahoo in 1999 for US$5.7 billion worth of stock.   The next year he got into the NBA, buying the Dallas Mavericks for US$280 million, selling a majority stake of the team in late 2023 for $3.5 billion.   Cuban has become something of an authority on sports, and while he’s not familiar with the economics of rugby in New Zealand, he does have a few ideas on it could be saved.  “You’ve got to make it more fun,” he told Heather du Plessis-Allan.  “Not so much on the pitch, right, but in the stands."  There’s a difference, Cuban explained, between the quality of the sport being played on the field or court, and the experience people attending the game have.  “When I got to the Mavs, the people that were at the NBA thought it was all about basketball ... but I was like, you don’t even remember the score of the last game you went to.”  Instead, he says, what you remember is the people you went to the game with – the first date or the buddy that got drunk.   “And I think rugby is fun, but it’s not, it’s not as much a spectacle."  “You’ve got to make it different, otherwise you just get the purists that have been going for 50 years that don’t want to see it changed.”   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brand new kiwifruit is about to hit the market.  Zespri has approved the commercialisation of a new red variety, Red80, following the success of Red19.  The fruit has been naturally bred through Zespri’s Kiwifruit Breeding Centre in partnership with Plant & Food Research.  CEO Jason Te Brake told Heather du Plessis-Allan Red80 has a later harvest than Red19, which extends the time RubyRed will be available for consumers.  He says the fruit likely won’t be sold until 2028, as they’re releasing the licence to growers next year, and it will likely be a couple years after that before the first crop is available.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourists continue to flock across the ditch to New Zealand.  Stats NZ figures show more than 260 thousand overseas travellers visited in October, 22 thousand up on the year before.  More than 120 thousand came from Australia – a record October high.  Tourism Holdings CEO Grant Webster told Heather du Plessis-Allan that New Zealand is currently a cheap destination for Australian tourists when compared to places like the United States.   He says there’s also been strong marketing from Tourism New Zealand, which has been paying off.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just because something's hard to do, doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.  Parliament's education committee is recommending New Zealand consider following Australia in banning under 16s from social media.  It's found the platforms are exposing young people to a wide range of harm.  Acting Committee Chair Carl Bates told Heather du Plessis-Allan teens will get around a social media age limit like they get around the drinking age limit, but that isn't a reason not to try.  He says this is about a cultural shift, and the majority of the committee believe we need to step up and ensure the internet is safe for children.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A week of drama” could have been avoided had the principal of a school with mouldy lunches waited for the investigation rather than going public, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says.  New Zealand Food Safety said yesterday the mouldy lunches served at the Haeata Community Campus were most likely caused by an error at the school.  Seymour told Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan the school should have “kept an open mind” so he did not have to spend a week talking about “what happened to 20 lunches”.  “I guess people might start to ask themselves, ‘Look, this whole saga, it was unreasonable to have a principal who was out in the media for a week, when in reality, Food Safety New Zealand completed the assessment within 10 days, which is lightning speed for most things that happen in government’.  “And if they were just open about what might have been the possibility, we could have waited till now, we could have saved a week of drama.”  One of the lunches given to students at Haeata Community Campus  He also said he had been told by Food Safety that the school had a policy of leaving school lunches in the cafeteria so students could have extras if they wanted, and the mouldy lunches came from there.  He had been told by Food Safety that the school had a policy of leaving school lunches in the cafeteria so students could have extras if they wanted, and the mouldy lunches came from there.  He said the same lunch was served on Thursday, so this seems like the most “plausible” answer.  Seymour said Food Safety NZ had been all over the school and Compass “like a rash” and was confident in the result revealed yesterday.  Haeata Community Campus principal Peggy Burrows did not wish to respond to Seymour’s comments this morning.  She previously told the Herald the findings of the school’s internal investigation were with the board and the school’s lawyers and were due to be released on Friday.  Haeata Community Campus principal Dr Peggy Burrows. Photo / Supplied  Vincent Arbuckle, deputy director-general of New Zealand Food Safety, said an investigation into the incident found that the mouldy lunches were not part of a wider food safety issue with the School Lunch Collective.  “We know the issue caused a lot of concern among parents and students at the school, so we considered it important to provide accurate and independent information about the likely cause,” Arbuckle said.  “After carefully examining all the possible causes, we are able to reassure parents that there is not a wider, or ongoing, food safety risk with the School Lunch Collective.  “The most plausible explanation is that lunches intended to be served to students the previous week were accidentally mixed in with that day’s lunches.”  Burrows earlier maintained that none of its “robust” systems failed between Thursday and Monday, when the food was served.  The lunches served at Haeata Community Campus were covered in a thick layer of mould.  Arbuckle said New Zealand Food Safety’s food compliance officers considered the possibility that the error was made by the distributor.  They found it was unlikely that the distributor delivered lunches from the previous week because several other schools received the same lunch on the same day with no reported issues.  Arbuckle said another reason was that the Compass Christchurch Kitchen (Central Production Kitchen) only receives the number of meals required for the following school day because of the minimal capacity of available chillers.  A food poisoning warning was issued last week after several children from Haeata Community Campus ate school lunches covered in thick mould.  The meals, provided as part of the Government’s school lunch programme, were eaten before a teacher intervened.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns our health system isn't keeping pace with our accelerating cancer rates.  The Cancer Control Agency's latest State of Cancer Report has found more New Zealanders are being diagnosed with cancer, but they're surviving cancer for longer.  It's projecting diagnoses will increase by 50% over the next two decades.  Otago University Medical Oncologist Dr Chris Jackson told Heather du Plessis-Allan this means fewer people getting scans, surgeries, and procedures.  He says funding is increasing, but outcomes aren't improving at the same rate.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major New Zealand apple grower is pulling the pin on exporting to the US due to Donald Trump's tariffs.   Export tariffs for New Zealand increased to 15% in August.  New Zealand's $70 million of apple exports were excluded from exemptions last month.  Yummy Fruit Company General Manager Paul Paynter told Heather du Plessis-Allan turning away from the US has been an easy decision.  He says if the US wants to charge tariffs and Yummy Fruit can sell its apples elsewhere, that's what they'll do.  Paynter says apple exports to the US have fallen about 30% in the past two years.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cast your mind back a couple of weeks to what the boss of Auckland Port Roger Gray said.  He told us New Zealand is a country that says 'no' so often, Miami cruise bosses he spoke to had taken to calling us 'No Zealand'.  Yesterday the Government unveiled its plan for how we stop that, which is a rewrite of the RMA because the RMA is part of the problem.  It has turned 'no' into an art form in this country. No to your new deck, no to that road, no to you putting a door on the side of the house rather than the front of the house.  We are a country the size of Japan geographically, yet we have 1200 planning zones each with its own unique, bespoke set of rules, while Japan has 13 zones.  Chris Bishop’s proposal is to take that 1200 and drop it down to 17. It's still more than Japan, but about a 98.5% reduction, which can’t be sniffed at.  So prolific and ridiculous are the stories that we can all tell about our encounters with the RMA that I think you’d struggle to find anyone who opposes change.  The trouble has always been agreeing on what change looks like and that is no different this time around.  This RMA reform is welcome, overdue, brave, and almost certainly going to help the country grow.  But mark my words: it will create all kinds of political problems.  Just look at the case of Auckland and Wellington. Both cities need to build more houses but the minute the rules change to make that a reality, the nimbys start complaining.  And that will happen with the RMA. Because sure, your property rights are being strengthened so you can do what you want on your property.  But it's the same for your neighbour, which means if he wants to build that big whatever you have to look at, you might not be able to say no.  None of us want to lose our views, have a road running right next to us or want the infrastructure development to kill the precious, indigenous snail.  And those things might happen because we are all losing some of our ability to say no.  Now, I think that’s a good thing. There’s been too much 'no', clearly, otherwise we wouldn't be 'No Zealand'.  But saying yes will take some getting used to. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has waded into the battle to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.   Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile bid for company in a last ditch effort to outbid Netflix.  The offer would be worth about NZ$188 billion compared to the $125 billion Netflix has been offering.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this level of presidential involvement is new, with Trump saying he’ll look at both proposals.  He says Trump has said that neither company are particularly great friends of his, so it’s unknown as to what his approval will hinge on.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 10th of December, the Contact Energy CEO responds to Chris Bishop's RMA reform and Chris Bishop responds to the industry.  Is there a New Zealander who hasn't skipped a stone? If you think you're pretty good at it, we've got the first ever NZ Stone Skimming Champs coming next year.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss the RMA reforms and whether Sunny Kaushal and the Ministerial Advisory Group for retail crime are taking the mickey with how much they're charging for their services on Politics Wednesday.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Politics Wednesday, Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the week thus far.  They discussed the newly-announced RMA reforms – how does Labour feel about the new acts?   There's been another development in the McSkimming saga, with Andrew Coster claiming he briefed both Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell on the situation previously – something neither of them recall.  And is the Ministerial Advisory Group for Retail Crime taking the mickey with how much they’re charging for their services?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A classic pastime is getting its own national championship.  The Stone Skimming Nationals will be held next May at Lake Hāwea, with the winners heading on to the World Championship in Scotland.  Around 150 people are expected to compete, with more than 100 spectating the event.   Lake Hāwea Station’s Tourism Manager Richie Lang told Heather du Plessis-Allan originally there wasn’t a huge amount of interest in hosting the event, but then a cheating scandal at the World Stone Skimming Championships came around and put the sport on the world map.   After that, he said, they thought it was time to strike.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an assurance RMA changes won't clog the courts.   The Government's confirmed it's replacing current Resource Management Act laws with two new pieces of legislation, one for the environment and one for planning.   It's expected to save about $13 billion in consenting costs.  RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop told Heather du Plessis-Allan there's too much Environmental Court litigation at the moment.  He says it’s inevitable there will be cases, but the aim is to reduce the amount of litigation and debate about things like the definition of “sustainable management”, which has been a topic of debate for around 30 years.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mortgage broker is saying not to panic about rising mortgage rates.   Westpac has announced a 30 basis point increase to its 2-5 year fixed rates.  They claim the move reflects rising wholesale rates and higher costs for long-term funding.   Sue Tierney told Heather du Plessis-Allan that people do have the opportunity to negotiate rates.  She says the bank has an advertised rate, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Covid-type outbreak of common sense.  That's how Contact Energy's describing the Government's Resource Management Act reforms, which will see current rules replaced with two new pieces of legislation.   One will be for planning, and the other for the environment.  Contact Energy Chief Executive Mike Fuge told Heather du Plessis-Allan he likes what he sees.   He says it will liberate the country from the burden of bureaucracy and complication.  Fuge says the changes should provide much needed pace to infrastructure development.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A monumental change for people caring for severely disabled family members. A landmark Supreme Court ruling yesterday means those providing full-time care for severely disabled family members are entitled to pay. It was brought by two parents, Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys, who care for severely disabled adult children. Disability Advocate Jane Carrigan told Heather du Plessis-Allan getting minimum wage is the bare minimum for these families. She says this will impact roughly 10 thousand families. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So tomorrow's the big day, isn't it? And it is, I think, not an overstatement to say that the eyes of the world, well, at least politicians around the world, are going to be on Australia and whether the social media ban will actually work. And that is still a live question, isn't it? We're less than 24 hours from the thing taking effect and none of us can totally say for sure that we know it's going to work.  For two reasons: one, it's the internet, so there's always a workaround out there. And two, it involves kids, and if there's a workaround, kids will find the workaround. I'm going to call it for you now: it's not going to work, if your definition of working is that 100% of children under 16 get kicked off and stay off until they're 16.   But I think it is possible that it is going to work if your definition is a little bit more flexible, which is that most kids get kicked off and stay off because their parents force them to do it. And I think that is the key thing here, like it always is, parents getting involved.   Talking about whether it works or not, actually I think kind of misses the point here, which is that this gives parents something that they haven't had yet, which is permission to keep their kids off social media. Because what parents have been finding is it's very hard to keep 14 year old Susie off social media, off Facebook, off Instagram, off TikTok, off Snapchat, because all Susie's friends are on it. And if Susie's not on it, then she becomes the weird kid, and nobody wants their kid to be the weird kid, right? So you relent and you let Susie on it.   This has the potential to flip all of that pressure around. Now everyone's off. Now the kid that's on it, little Johnny's on it, Susie comes home and says, oh Johnny's on TikTok, can I go on TikTok? You go, no, Johnny's a naughty kid from a family that has no rules, no boundaries, no discipline. Susie, you've got boundaries and discipline your parents care about, you stay off. It gives permission for the parents to be able to do that kind of thing.   And if you're a parent, you know peer pressure is massive, isn't it? Especially in the teenage years. The Aussie government's doing its bit by bringing us to this point. The tech companies are being dragged into doing their bit and ultimately this will live or die in Australia based on whether Australian parents do their bit and actually step up to the plate and parent properly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Working Class Man is back.  Celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark album, For The Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes is bringing his most famous songs to our shores early next year.  The most successful artist in Australian chart history has long loved New Zealand because we showed his band, Cold Chisel, love right from the very beginning.  Cold Chisel headlined a Summer Concert Tour earlier this year, but 2026’s tour will be a solo venture for Barnes, as he plays the iconic album from start to finish, with a few additions from his chart-topping catalogue.  “It was such a, a record that was so pivotal in my life and career,” Barnes told Heather du Plessis-Allan.   “The songs on this record changed my life forever.”   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 9th of December, what will the RMA reform, set to be announced this afternoon, look like? And why are Chinese warships shadowing our Naval vessels?   Investor Malcolm Gillies has bought Wellington Rugby's 50% stake in the Hurricanes as he looks to turn the franchise around and stop them leaking money.  Aussie singer Jimmy Barnes joined for a chat about visiting New Zealand on his next tour, and Working Class Man turning 40.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The debate over out long summer break is heating up.  An op-ed from businessman Toss Grimley claims New Zealand’s extended shutdown hurts productivity, a stance backed up by Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges.  Bridges says there’s a real perception the country “shuts down until March”, and that we’re seen more as “lifestylers” than serious businesspeople.   Massey University Professor of Innovation and Economics, Christoph Schumacher told Heather du Plessis-Allan that while our summer break is long compared to the rest of the world, the question shouldn’t be if it’s too long, but rather if we can afford it.  He says people do deserve breaks, but it needs to be structured a smarter way to keep productivity high.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A significant milestone for the country's wool sector, with an export deal signed.  Wool Source has had its first commercial export order confirmed.  The Wool Research Organisation company's signed a deal with a Japanese company, for eight tonnes of Kiwi products.  Chair Andrew Morrison told Heather du Plessis-Allan they’ve spent about seven years deconstructing strong wool down to a molecular level and finding applications for it.  He says this is the first shipment going into the personal care market, but they’re also looking into fire retardanty, packaging, and pigments.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Hurricanes board chair is determined to turn around the books of the struggling Super Rugby franchise.  Developer Malcolm Gillies has acquired the 50% stake in the club, offloaded by the Wellington Rugby Union to balance its own books.  The franchise has collectively lost $4 million in the past three seasons.  Gillies told Heather du Plessis Allan it's a good investment.  He says there’s a lot of untapped potential, but there’s certainly a lot of things to do.  Tony Philp, who recently departed as the club's general manager of rugby, will assume the interim CEO role.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auditors are calling out schools for questionable spending on overseas trips and travel.  The Auditor-General’s latest report flagged concerns with more than 170 school boards last year, many involving how principals used coaching and wellbeing funds.  Around a third were tied to travel.  Sector Manager for Schools, Jane Rogers told Heather du Plessis-Allan some boards allowed personal travel to be added onto work trips.  She says spending public money has to have a justifiable purpose, so they wouldn't expect it to be spent on personal travel.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand navy ship's been shadowed by seven Chinese warships in East Asian waters.   HMNZS Aotearoa was carrying out surveillance and deterrence activities last month to enforce the UN's sanctions against North Korea.    The Defence Force has confirmed the warships kept a safe distance throughout.  Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Heather du Plessis-Allan it indicates China firmly believes in its sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait.  He says a growing consciousness of military might means China's less tolerant of infringements on what it sees as its sovereign claim.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contractors want one thing from the Government’s RMA overhaul: a simpler system.  Ministers are today announcing significant changes to consenting as part of a shake-up to the Resource Management Act.  It's expected to cut the need for consents in 46% of cases that currently need them.  Civil Contractors NZ CEO Alan Pollard told Heather du Plessis-Allan RMA is the biggest barrier to getting projects off the ground quickly.  He says the act is complicated, vague, and creates significant costs.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Correspondent Steve Price joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about a recent poll showing 70% of Australian parents are in support of this weeks social media ban. But, only 35% are confident that the platforms will effectively block children. And, Sports Minister Anika Wells is in more hot water after charging taxpayers more than $4000 in flights so her husband could join her at three cricket events. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will not confirm whether the video footage of a strike on a Venezuelan boat will be released. Critics have called the strike a war crime.  President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the replacement of long-time ally and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. And, self driving car company Waymo has recalled software after its cars repeatedly failed to stop for school buses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of Police issued 'formal warnings' have been scrapped after findings that 63% were issued unlawfully.  'Formal warnings' are used as alternatives to prosecutions where the offence is deemed unworthy of going through the courts.  Last week, Police told all staff that compulsory training will be rolled out and an updated policy for formal warnings would be issued by the end of the year. Defence lawyer John Munroe joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about how this happened, and what it means.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another major shake up is coming to the streaming sphere as Netflix agrees to acquire Warner Bros Studios. The $125B acquisition includes HBO Max - giving them the rights to shows like Game of Thrones, Succession, and Euphoria.  Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has said theatrical releases will become more limited, as Netflix sees them as not 'consumer friendly'. Wall Street Journal media and entertainment reporter Joe Flint told Heather du Plessis Allan, "generally Wall Street and Hollywood already felt Netflix was the king. So yes, if this goes through, not only are they the king, but they've probably extended their reign by 100 years or so." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 5th of December with Heather du Plessis-Allan, Mark Mitchell responds to Andrew Coster's allegations and the police are having to do away with thousands of formal warnings because officers haven't followed protocol. Prime Minister Chris Luxon responds to Coster's allegations and the taxpayers expected campaign against the Government. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine take us through Lando Norris winning the F1 Championship, Lawson getting the nod for next year and why Bazball is failing England in the Ashes series.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs of a brighter economy in the year to come.  ASB's forecasting annual growth of more than two-and a half percent in 2026. It points to an accelerated housing market, more resilient exports, and a renewed willingness to spend. Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Heather du Plessis-Allan we can expect inflation to soften further,  with the Reserve Bank seeing more stimulus in the pipeline.  He says it's in wait and see mode - but seems fairly confident it won't have to cut interest rates any further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell's doubling down on his version of the McSkimming saga timeline - calling recent claims "absolute utter nonsense." Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster's come out over the weekend claiming Mitchell - and Chris Hipkins - knew about the McSkimming affair, years earlier than they're letting on.  However Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan he was only told on November 6th 2024.  He says Coster was told to brief him by the Public Service Commission, and he didn't buy or swallow the narrative that McSkimming was a victim.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the definition of madness. And stupidity.  How many times do you have to do the same dumb thing with no result, thus proving your system doesn’t work, before you admit your system doesn’t work and give up?  The last of the carbon auctions was held this week. You know where this story is going.  I first got interested in this a couple of years ago when it struck me that this auction malarkey might be one of the better examples of the sheer, ideological madness that drives so much of the climate policy.  One of the reasons so many people have got into forestry is it's free money.  It's on land and land, generally, is a good investment and free money isn't a bad deal either.  Also, after a while, they might pay you some good dough for your wood.  So if trees get carbon credits why would you turn up to an auction? You wouldn’t, and indeed this week they didn’t.  Not one person. Not one bid. Not one credit sold.  There are four of these each year for the past two years. No one has bought a thing. Ask yourself why.  They have tried to price the units, to no avail, but what is really causing the issue is the Government.  To buy something you must believe it has value. It has to have worth.  Why would you buy into the Government carbon narrative when they keep changing the rules?  This Government is doing their best to do as little as possible to meet their climate emissions. I applaud that because it’s the right thing to do.  But given the rules keep changing I'm certainly not turning up to buy stuff like a credit I may not need.  The minister, as I told you the other day, took the unprecedented step of offering commentary about the auction and telling us how committed the Government is to climate in the hope we would go "well that’s OK then, see you at the auction".  It didn’t work.  The auction didn’t work, again. Eight down and zero sales, no revenue.  How long before they pull the pin on a gargantuan embarrassment?  The longer this goes the more foolish they look. 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.      Consumers: 7/10  Confidence at a 6-month high.    School lunches: 3/10 This is the stupidest story of the week. Four days it lasted – we've become myopic. We fixate on triviality. It’s got a small village idiot vibe to it, don’t you reckon?     Social media ban: 6/10 Mainly for effort, because it’s not real, it’s not practical – it’s got idealism all over it.     Pete Hegseth: 3/10  Between the narco boats and the Signal report, what odds are you running that he doesn’t make Christmas?     Rates caps: 7/10  Move of the week from the central government.  If local government just stopped whining for a moment and asked themselves who the architects of the mess actually are and why, they might not have as much to moan about.   LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 5th of December, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike to wrap the year before he takes off on holiday.  They also exchanged gifts, and both of them were hugely impressed with each other's loot.  And for the final time of the year, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrapped the Week, talking about the gift exchange and Mike's reaction.    Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand retail experience, as summed up by a frustrated Katherine Hawkesby as of yesterday.  She visited half a dozen shops - one was decent and the rest were useless.  They were useless for a variety of reasons, but the common theme was service, or lack of it.  How is it continually possible that we have a sector crying out for support and yet so unable to offer something worth spending money on, and a country with a lot of people allegedly happy to go find a job and yet the people with the jobs are so fantastically incompetent?    We all know the story. It's not unique to Katie yesterday, on the early burst of Christmas shopping. Retail, tragically, is filled with hopelessness, lack of stock, lack of desire and a lack of professionalism.  Which is why the good ones are so welcome and why I have been able to tell you many times in the past few months, and can name you a decent number of operators in a variety of fields, that have weathered these past few years with no real issues at all.  They are good at what they do. They want to do well. Word of mouth and reputation travels far and fast and they are fine, thank you very much.  Yesterday's highlight was at a liquor shop. It's a large one and is part of a chain.  The woman behind the counter, slovenly, full of tattoos and on the phone with no interest in service or acknowledging a customer.  When asked, because she didn’t offer any help, she didn’t know what Prosecco was.  How can you work in a shop that sells nothing but wine and spirits and not know what Prosecco is, or where in the shop you find it?  Who employed her, and why? And why was there no training? This is a big brand and a brand, I would have thought, that would be interested in reputation and a decent customer experience.  How does a person with clearly no knowledge or interest in the thing they are selling actually get work?  Are you telling me the people who can't get work are even worse than her?  The resentment, Katie fumed, is based on the idea that we all work hard for the dollars.  Handing them over would be easier, nicer and more fulfilling if you thought the recipient, just for a moment, was even slightly grateful. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Defence Secretary seems to be in hot water.  A Department of Defence report concluded that Pete Hegseth put military personnel at risk when he shared information of a planned airstrike over Signal.  The incident came to light when a journalist for the Atlantic was accidently added to the chat in which sensitive details of the strike on Houthi fighters in Yemen back in March.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Hegseth refused to take part in interviews for the investigation, claiming he has the power to declassify material mentally.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final time this year, Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed the gift exchange that happened earlier on the show and Mike’s reaction to the Prime Minister's interesting gift.  Plus, they got into the price of postage, shopping, and good service.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Retirement Commissioner's unfazed at the prospect of a potential retirement village price rise.  The Government's announced changes to the Retirement Villages Act 2003, aiming to ease the experience of elderly people and their families.   Changes include ensuring money is paid back within a year after a resident leaves.  Commissioner Jane Wrightson told Mike Hosking it’s been a five-year process with painstaking consultation and assessment, and the Government has done a very careful balancing act, going straight through the middle of most of the disputes.  She says that both parties, the operators and the residents, are pleased about some things and not so pleased about others, which suggests the changes are mostly right.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister's pleased to see secondary school teachers vote yes for their new collective agreement.   PPTA members have accepted the Government's offer, which includes a 4.6% pay increase over two years and a million dollar a year fund for professional development.   Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking it's a good resolution and she's happy for teachers.   She says they've worked hard to raise achievement and close the equity gap, and they deserve the pay rises they're getting over the next two years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Tis the season for the annual swapping of gifts between the Prime Minister and broadcaster Mike Hosking.  For Prime Minister Christopher Luxon the festive season has begun with meal tray tables bearing the longtime broadcaster’s face, after the pair exchanged gifts in a Christmas tradition that dates back several years.  As for Hosking, he’ll leave the Newstalk ZB studio today with a bespoke calendar with a range of dates highlighted, from sports events to Parliament’s Question Time and random world elections.  “I get a lot of unsolicited advice when I’m in Parliament during question time. So, I’ve marked out in green all the times that you can give me that unsolicited advice,” Luxon said.  “And then the other two big interests in your life are obviously F1 and the Warriors games, so they’re all mapped out there on the planner. And then sometimes you love to give a bit of esoteric advice to the listeners around sort of the Cameroonian election that might be taking place. So, down this side, I’ve just given you a list of random world elections.”  Luxon also gave the broadcaster two wine glass rubber lanyards, briefly alarming Hosking as he unwrapped his gift, which was “only for you and [wife] Kate”, Luxon said.  “Oh my Lord, what is it?” Hosking replied before the Prime Minister revealed the lanyards were bought at Ikea after the Swedish giant opened its first New Zealand store in Auckland yesterday.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking after the pair exchanged Christmas gifts on the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning. Photo / Cameron Pitney “I was the first person in the country to make a physical purchase in the store at Ikea. And I bought Mike ... wine glass lanyard[s], because as he ponders his estate ... him and Kate go wandering around and they often have a glass of wine in hand.  “As you’ve got older, I don’t want you to trip and fall, because that’d be a real problem.”  You can listen here to the exchange.  The tray tables were inspired by a comment Luxon made this year about him and wife Amanda eating dinner on their laps while watching Netflix.  “Stop eating dinner on your knee, it’s not healthy”, Hosking scolded the Prime Minister.  “All I ask of you when you’re sitting with that on your lap looking at me … is not to spill your food.”  The Prime Minister described the trays as having “lovely wood surrounds” and the image of Hosking as being “very wistful”.  “It’s ponderous and thoughtful,” Hosking said.  “The question I’m asking you with my eyes is, ‘Do you really think you’ll win the election next year?’”  The Government has been struggling in the polls as economic challenges continue, with Luxon himself the subject of ongoing speculation that his leadership may face a challenge from within his own party.  But the Prime Minister’s response was to the point.  “Oh hell yeah, don’t you worry about that.”  ‘The Complete Guide to Surviving a Mike Hosking Interview’  Last year, after Luxon’s first full year in the top job, Hosking gave the Prime Minister a gift he described as “one of one” and a “prototype”.  It was a book titled “The Complete Guide to Surviving a Mike Hosking Interview”, which Luxon described as “genius”.  Luxon gave Hosking a Christmas card with a family photo on it and some “furikake seasoning,” a Japanese seasoning typically made with toasted sesame seeds and nori.  “People like me, who are men of the people, just use salt, I mean, I come from a very humble background,” Luxon said.  “This is what really posh people do.”  “Absolutely love it,” Hosking said in response to the gift.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast with host Mike Hosking in October. Photo / Mike Hosking  Luxon also gave Hosking a “special energy Voost” that was described as “posh Berrocca”.  Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also exchanged gifts with Hosking during her time leading the country.  This included in 2018 a framed photo given to Hosking of the pair riding Lime scooters together and, in exchange, a T-shirt with a picture of Hosking holding a vacuum cleaner.  Broadcaster Mike Hosking proudly wearing his Christmas gift from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - a T-shirt immortalising a verbal stoush between the pair. Photo / Supplied  The following year Ardern – who in 2021 would cancel her regular weekly interview on the Mike Hosking Breakfast – gave the broadcaster a T-shirt showing the pair mid-verbal stoush and with the slogan “I heart Tuesdays”.  “This could go wrong,” Hosking then said as he prepared to give Ardern her gift, a miniature “one-off Mike Hosking vacuum cleaner”.  “And I don’t want you to think it’s a sexist gift either because … no one loves to vacuum more than me.”  Broadcaster Mike Hosking gifts Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a miniature vacuum cleane

The Australian social media ban has started.  Well, sort of. It came in on Monday but begins officially on the 10th of December.  The worrying thing is one of the big proponents of the idea said she believed with all her heart that "we were saving a generation".  That is not true. Saving them from what? Themselves?  Theory vs reality is very powerfully at play in this move. We are dealing with too many intangibles.  Between Monday and this time next week, teens are busy finding new apps that aren't covered by the ban. Influencers are busy directing traffic to these new outlets in order to work around the rules.  The Government is smart to this and has announced a new series of apps that will be covered. So we are in a sort of whack-a-mole stage.  As far as I can work out a lot of pressure has been placed on the tech companies to make sure kids don’t lie.  How literally that works I have no idea.  Like alcohol, you will be asked what age you are.  Whether a tech company can be held liable for dishonesty, I suppose in some way, shape or form, will end up in court.  With face recognition user profiles can be used, I guess. But at some point, a market the size of Australia may end up being more trouble than it's worth.  It's far better to battle, as they do, with places like the EU where privacy and trading laws are constantly under review and fines are handed out on an almost continual basis.  Never forgetting of course, we are now dealing with businesses worth more than many countries and Governments.  However, on the flip side this could of course be the Trojan horse. Australia is at the forefront of a major global movement that is going to somehow shift the nature of technological interaction of an entire generation.  Studies may be launched. They'll look at things like if you were banned before you turned 16, when you got to the golden age did you go nuts? Remember repression is a problematic trait in a lot of social activity.  So we watch with interest. I don’t think it will lead to a lot. It has a touch of virtue signalling about it.  But theory in Australia is now reality. I bet a lot of parents wish them well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Song Sung Blue’, a story of hope amidst a tragic love story.  Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as Mike and Claire Sardina, aka Lightning and Thunder, a duo Neil Diamond tribute act that got major attention in Milwaukee.  The film is based off a documentary about the couple with the same name, that was released in 2008.   Before working together on this project, Jackman and Hudson didn't really know one another – meeting a few times but not in any great detail.  But for a movie like this, where the relationship between the two leads is the basis of the film, that can be a risk.  “On day one, Kate said to me, you know, if we don’t work, this movie doesn’t work,” Jackman told Mike Hosking.  “And she was right, but I had a lot of confidence.”   “I had a strong sense that it was gonna be great, but I didn’t know it was gonna be this great or this easy.”  For Hudson, things clicked into place when the two kissed for the first time.  “It’s like we’ve been kissing each other for years,” she said.  One review described the role as Jackman’s most ambitious yet, a sentiment the actor agreed with.  “I think it combines a lot of different things that I do, but in many ways it was asking things of me that I hadn’t done before.”  Hudson agreed, comparing it to asking a baseball player if they want to play in the major leagues.  “It’s scary, but I want that.”  “I love hard work, and I like work that gives me a little of the, you know, the butterflies.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 4th December, Sir Brian Roche discusses Andrew Coster’s resignation from his new role over the McSkimming scandal.  We've got a new ski deal with China that’s set to bring in high value tourists.  Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson talk Oscar buzz on their new movie ‘Song Sung Blue’, how easy their kiss was, and what Neil Diamond gave to each of them.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A welcome boost to New Zealand's premium meat sector, with strong growth expected this season.  Headwaters Farmers —who produce Lumina Lamb— are forecasting returns of $23.50 per lamb, up 60% on last year.  It also reports successful expansion into the Middle East.  Headwaters and Lumina Chief Executive Steve Brown told Mike Hosking these markets attract premium pricing.  He says they also want to take on producers in the UK market and show them what quality lamb looks like.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new partnership deal in the ski industry aims to tap into the booming Chinese market.  NZSki and Sunac-BonSki have signed on, giving New Zealand direct access to 13.5 million active skiers in China.  NZSki CEO Paul Anderson told Mike Hosking while the New Zealanders and Australians make up the bulk of skiers, they’ve seen an increasing number of Chinese visitors to ski areas – particularly Queenstown.   He says they’re no longer the traditional bus tours of groups that came through from China, but high spending free independent travellers.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view the Government has to get a handle on debt, with forecasts showing the economy's now finally recovering.  BusinessNZ's Planning Forecast projects the GDP will grow at just under 3% per year to 2027.  But it warns that an ageing population's set to drive superannuation and healthcare costs to unsustainable levels, consuming all income tax revenue by the late 2040s.  Chief Economist John Pask told Mike Hosking we’re not getting back to surplus until 2028/29, and even that’s touch and go.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view that Government funding for major events is a smart investment.  The first round of events in its $70 million package has been unveiled, including the first ever concert at Christchurch's One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha next May.  Other events include Linkin Park in Auckland and the Ultra Music Festival in Wellington.  Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill told Mike Hosking this funding is designed to make existing events bigger.  For example, he says, the Readers and Writers Festival in Auckland is a fantastic event, but could they use the funding to make it more international?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner says he believes former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is genuinely sorry, following his resignation as Social Investment Agency Head. Coster's accepted responsibility for shortcomings highlighted in an IPCA report on the handling of complaints against his then Deputy Jevon McSkimming. His final pay will be near $124 thousand. Sir Brian Roche told Mike Hosking Coster's always seemed genuine in all his experiences with him.  He says Coster's very sincere and has real courage, and is confident what he says he believes, is true.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.