The Mike Hosking Breakfast

There's an expectation farmer confidence will stay high as long as commodity prices stay up.  The latest Rabobank survey's found farmers' faith in the broader agricultural economy is at its second highest level in the last decade, up to 46%.  51% expect it to improve in the year ahead.  DairyNZ Board Member Jacqueline Rowarth told Mike Hosking the sector's cautiously positive, as trade may change at any time.  But she says New Zealand is the best producer of essential amino acids at the lowest environmental impact, so our meat and milk is wanted.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 15th of September, we've got a $70m package to secure major events here. Is it enough? And what does it get us? The Prime Minister is in to talk the Pacific Islands Forum, why a protest can block SH1 and when we are getting an Indian trade deal. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the disappointing week of sport for Warriors and All Blacks fans - and the good news if you're a Canterbury rugby or Black Ferns fan! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noeline Taurua isn't the first coach to be badly treated. But she might be the most successful and well regarded. Sport is a funny thing, especially nowadays where it seems to want to walk a line between being successful and being modern, or dare I suggest the word "woke"? Last week when reports of players feeling unsafe emerged I didn’t even know what they meant by that. "Unsafe" is something that might happen in the dark, in an alley. It’s a physical danger thing, as opposed to an emotional state on a court. On a court you can be exhausted, or exhilarated, or furious, or elated. I just can't work out how you are "unsafe". Which in part is the problem. It's an invention or a new derivation of the word. Your “environment” has been interfered with. Even if you accept its new usage it’s the sort of thing you might find on a university campus among the angsty. On a sports field or court it has no place. Even less so if that court is at the elite level. Cycling had a horrible time, but that was abuse. Is netball talking about abuse? Does Taurua abuse people? That doesn’t seem to be the suggestion. Next problem is the lack of clarity, if not honesty. All reports seem to indicate "unsafe" is code for the coach being old fashioned, demanding high standards and not putting up with slackness. We used to like that approach. That approach was the norm. The only purpose of elite sport is victory. It exists for no other reason than to let a chosen few express themselves in a way where they win and others can piggyback by way of TV licensing and ticket sales. Unless Noeline Taurua has had a personality transformation and they are all wandering around at Netball NZ going "what happened to Noels, man she's changed", which I suspect hasn’t happened, then what we are left with is the inescapable conclusion that Taurua is the victim of soft management in a world where every crybaby is “heard” and the ultimate victim, in an irony of irony's, is one of the sport's greatest exponents. She is benched while the woke in the boardroom wreck the national women's sport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks lost 43-10 to the Springboks in Wellington on Saturday night.  It is the biggest defeat the All Blacks have suffered in a test match.  Former All Blacks player Sir John Kirwan told Mike Hosking that the All Blacks need to have a look at their play and seriously review how the match unfolded  ‘Normally we go away saying, OK, we can fix that up we'd be right, but I think this one is a little bit more serious’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cabinet discussions are continuing over whether New Zealand will recognise the State of Palestine. A number of countries have said they'll recognise Palestine next week at a UN meeting. Chris Luxon says recognition is a complex issue and that there's a range of views to consider, and the Government will make its own decision on whether recognition is appropriate. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking an announcement on the matter, won't be made today. He says the Government has always said it's a matter of "when not if" -  Foreign Minister Winston Peters will have more to say on the matter in the coming weeks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Excitement over the Government's change in event funding, with its newly announced $70million tourism package.  It includes $40million to secure large-scale international events from next year and a ten-million-dollar fund to support existing events.  Eccles Entertainment Founder Brent Eccles [eck ils] says the main change is now concerts can access major event funding, which will have a huge impact.  He says in the next three months, new shows will start to be announced, reflecting the success of the fund.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from Corrections,  reveals more than 3,000 gang members and associates make up the just over 10,000 sentenced and remand prisoners. It equates to about a third of the country's estimated gang population.  Corrections Association President Floyd du Plessis says the chances of rehabilitation for these inmates is low.  He says it needs to be possible for prisons to separate people,  based on their intentions to turn their lives around.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fallout from Charlie Kirk’s death continues as politicians, commentators and celebrities weigh-in on the situation.  The likes of Stephen King, Ted Cruz and President Trump have all commented on the situation – with King and Cruz butting heads on twitter.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the investigation into the killing is ongoing.   He said that only the roommate of the suspected shooter has acted cooperatively so far.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hasn’t working from home become funny?  Seek have produced a thing called Money Matters, and they look at work-life balance.  Actually, hasn’t that become a thing as well – work-life balance. I can't place it exactly, but it seems like a Covid thing. The world changed and so did we.  Working hard is now so last year, or so last decade. We all long for work-life balance with a good sprinkling of mental health days.  But working from home is a scam because according to Money Matters if you got a pay rise you would go back to the office quick as you like.  So is it about work-life balance or is it about money?  Everything is about money. We just like to pretend it isn't. You feel more virtuous if you pretend it isn't about money.  But Money Matters spills the truth. Working from home is easier, we save on the commute, you claim you are more productive, blah blah blah. "Hey, how about 20% more?" Then you're out of there.  We would work more hours for more money, we would take on an increased workload for more money, and we would commute further for more money.  There isn't much we wouldn't do for more money.  The work from home thing, by the way, is funny because before Covid there was virtually no such thing. The idea that you could invent a thing and then having invented it, because we were all locked down anyway, turn it into a permanent thing that could only be broken by a pay rise is the ultimate in farce. It's an insight into how quickly a habit can form if it suits you.  Anyway, the only other thing that can make us blow up our precious work-life balance is more time off.  But it still doesn’t beat money.  It's why lotto is popular I guess – money solves everything.  Do we value work-life balance? My word we do.  But do we value it more than money? Don’t make me laugh. 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 cathedral: 7/10  If I wasn’t from Christchurch, I doubt I'd be gripped, but that thing is in such desperate need of being sorted so a new plan is most welcome.    The by-election: 3/10  A bust on every level, but mostly for the lack of interest in basic democracy.    Charter schools: 7/10  The first public, publicly declared school having a look at the option. The idea might have come of age.    Compulsory KiwiSaver: 6/10  Between Peters and several new reports, it's building a head of steam as an idea. The ideas time might have come.    Takuta Ferris: 1/10  Idiot.    The Warriors: 8/10  Webster was right yesterday: it is a new season now. We are 6th and 6th is good, 6th is alive, and 6th is a ticket to the big dance. Let's dance!    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My uplifting story of the week involves charter schools.  Charter schools are the little idea that could. Or maybe they are the big game-changing idea that could.  We heard this week of the first public school wanting to explore the charter route.  It's in Northland and it's being driven by the realisation that what they currently do doesn’t work for their kids.  And that is the genesis of the charter school thinking.  Remember, charter schools go back to a previous Government, before Labour took to them in 2017.  So this isn't new. But the basic premise was one size does not fit all and a lot of kids may well benefit from different styles and approaches to learning.  I have been a fan from day one. Not because charter schools are magic bullets, but rather the simple premise that what we have demonstrably doesn’t work for everyone.  You can't hide from the facts and the truth and our pass rates, our success rates, are shocking.  The unions simply bleat for more resource. Even if it is a partial answer, it isn't close to being the whole answer and their myopic view that there can only be one way is a very large part of the overall handbrake that has prevented real change and advancement.  The Northland school, I thought, gave excellent insight. They have good people, they work hard, but they are simply not getting the cut through, so they need to try something different. They didn’t used to be “for” charter schools, but just their ability to accept change needs to be admired and encouraged.  Chris Hipkins as Education Minister in 2017 killed them. Not because they weren't working, but because he is beholden to the unions and there was no way they were ever going to get a chance to prove them wrong.  So what we have seen this time round is no shortage of demand for schools. In fact, more schools are demanding it than there is money allocated.  We see the first public school, or at least the first public school prepared to admit they want to look at change, which leads surely to a growing sense charter schools might at last have their time.  Some may well turn out to be brilliant, lives may well get changed and the recognition of a decent idea may well be widely accepted.  It seems the momentum is on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back to Wrap the Week that was with Mike Hosking.  They reminisced about David Bryne, discussed the Dame Noeline Taurua situation and the cost of marimbas – plus, Mike was given a lovely gift.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Army is embracing the race to the latest drone technology.  A tri-service team is being sent to the UK for the Military Drone Racing Tournament.  It aims to develop the Defence Force’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities as drones become a key part of combat systems.   Major Richard Adams, the NZ Army’s lead on Uncrewed Aerial Systems, told Mike Hosking that if you look at what’s happening in Ukraine at the moment, every six months looks completely different to the last, given the way this technology is changing.  He says they’re looking to adapt as quickly as possible, so they have the most up to date equipment available to their people.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 12th of September, a new school subject list has been announced, and there’s an emphasis on artificial intelligence.   There’s a new plan to restore the Christ Church Cathedral, coming not a moment, or a year, too soon.   Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk Mike's gift and Noeline Taurua's suspension as they Wrap the Week.  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.

Authorities say they are making significant progress in the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer.   The highly influential conservative activist and Donald Trump ally died after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University yesterday morning.   Investigators say they've recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle and have good quality video of their latest suspect.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking there has been bipartisan denunciation of the murder.  He says there have been statements not just from Trump, but every living former president condemning this attack and any and all political violence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voter turnout could be an issue for a proposal to introduce binding referendums on major council spending projects.  The Local Government Business Forum has released a report in favour of holding referendums for significant projects exceeding $500 per ratepayer.  It says it should only apply to non-essentials, preserving councils' ability to invest in key utilities like water and transport.    Forum Secretary Nick Clark told Mike Hosking thresholds need to be in play to help low voter numbers.  He says there should be a turnout threshold or a super majority, particularly if it's a binary choice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's cautious optimism in the construction sector and hopes the economy will improve.   The Master Builders State of the Sector Report cites remaining demand issues like consumer confidence.   The report finds 66% of people describe their recent build as a positive and a similar number of people report no significant delays.  CEO Ankit Sharma told Mike Hosking regions are leading the way while urban centres like Auckland and Wellington are still facing headwinds, but there’s a strong pipeline.  He says they’re transitioning from survival mode into a place of, hopefully, sustainable recovery.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christ Church Cathedral rebuild could be the last milestone for the Garden City to thrive.   Work will begin next year to complete the nave, entrance way, tower, and restore the rose window by 2030.  This halves the funding to about $40 million, with the Anglican Church pledging another $20 million.  Reinstatement Director Mark Stewart told Mike Hosking they've been working on this for years and have a robust plan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says a lot of schools were already trying to teach some of the new curriculum subjects.  A new list of study topics has been unveiled as part of a refresh of the national curriculum from 2028.  It places greater emphasis on the STEM subjects and adds Civics, Politics and Philosophy, and Media and Journalism.  Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking a lot of schools were trying their best to teach some of these subjects in the NCEA system.  She says they were trying to cobble together credits from different subjects, to make topics like Civics, Philosophy, and Politics work.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the teachers maybe, maybe not accept their pay offers and maybe, maybe not go on strike yet again, I can't help but worry about the new recruits.  We were busy celebrating just last week, enrolments to become teachers have gone up markedly – big, big increases.  This seems, on the surface anyway, to in part be a solution to a long-term problem, i.e. our permanent shortage in a profession that has lost its lustre.  I am not against migration to solve issues, but there is a balance to be struck and you would like to think that the profession is actually staffed by people who like what they do, and not a pile of recent arrivals whose main criteria for being in a New Zealand classroom was to be in the country, not the job itself.  So, lots of new recruits, good. But once out the other side, what awaits them, and does it look like the ongoing industrial mess that pervades our work landscape at the moment?  Do these recruits know what they will get paid? What their conditions are? Do they know what actually teaching in a New Zealand classroom in 2025 entails and looks like?  Because somewhere between the enthusiasm of enrolment and the jaded misery of experience a decade on, something dramatically goes wrong.  The money seems decent —not spectacular, but decent— the same way it seems decent for nurses and doctors.  It seems to me we have got to a point where no small amount of energy, money, and change has been put into education, and between that and the pay, it’s not a bad deal.  Yes, it's challenging, given kids and their issues. Yes, you'd like more specialist teachers, or non-contact time, or whatever, but negotiations are quin pro quo.  The rises we have seen in recent years, the change currently being implemented to turbo charge performance by way of results, seems to be setting us up for a decent sort of system producing a decent sort of outcome.  Is it the unions that are wrecking this? Are they really the impediment? Do most teachers just want to get on with it?   We seem at a place where the public support is most certainly not what it was for the teachers' plight, and might just be tipping against them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s finance leaders are more confident for the year ahead.  A new report from the Hunter Campbell Group shows an uptick in confidence from CFOs, with 38% expecting modest to strong growth over the next 12 months – up from 31% last year.  But on the flip side, confidence in the Government’s ‘responsiveness’ remains low across the board.  Hunter Campbell Managing Partner Lee Marshall told Mike Hosking they’re starting to see a two speed economy take shape in New Zealand, with almost half of businesses surveyed meeting or exceeding their targets, while the other half stagnated or went backwards.  He says in general, those whose businesses performed well in the last 12 months are very confident things will continue to improve in the next 12 months.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for the business end of the NRL season.  The Warriors have finished 6th, securing a home final against the Penrith Panthers, but losing a couple more players to injury.  Coach Andrew Webster says after their loss to the Manly Sea Eagles over the weekend, the real season starts now.   Webster told Mike Hosking that he wants them to be judged on where they are now and what’s about to happen.  He says their mentality is to play the best football and see where it takes them, instead of putting a team on a pedestal and assuming they’re beaten before they get to the start line.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 11th of September, the Government are looking at the idea of guilty until proven innocent when it comes to shoplifting.  MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University and Mike provides the latest details throughout the morning.  Warriors coach Andrew Webster details how the Warriors are going to win this weekend in their do-or-die playoff game against the Panthers.  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.

Jetstar says it's done its homework on the New Zealand market before unveiling its latest —and biggest— expansion in the trans-Tasman market.  The airline's adding close to 500 thousand seats a year across five of its most popular domestic and trans-Tasman routes.  The Australian based carrier has operated in New Zealand for 20 years.  Jetstar Chief Executive Stephanie Tully told Mike Hosking it's always looking to open new markets and expand on existing ones.  She's seen a shift in preference and demand for Jetstar.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A young inventor has taken home the top honours at the James Dyson Awards for a pair of glasses made to tackle epilepsy.   University of Canterbury engineering student Mark Campbell has developed ‘Lensare’, which uses smart LCD lenses that detect harmful light patterns and instantly darken, providing protection for people with epilepsy and photophobia.  Campbell told Mike Hosking it’s still in the early stages of development, but the aim is to make it as bulletproof as possible.  He says the next steps are to make the prototype as robust and unobtrusive as possible, but after that there’s the potential to commercialise it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A telling response as speculation swirls around the standing down of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua ahead of next week's international series against South Africa.  Netball New Zealand claim they've made the decision due to "issues" within the high-performance environment which remain unresolved.  When asked by Mike Hosking if the players were boycotting Taurua because she’s pushing too hard, Board Chair Matt Whineray paused, before denying the claim.   Whineray told Hosking that they have some issues they need to resolve, and they’re hopeful they can, but in the meantime, they need to focus on the series against South Africa.  Yvette McCausland-Durie has been parachuted in as interim coaching cover.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government wants to deal with shoplifting offences in a quicker way instead of going through the entire court system.   The Justice Minister's newly released Cabinet paper proposes the burden of proof should fall on the suspect to prove their innocence.   This clashes with the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, as protected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.   But Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking this could be compared to a traffic offence.  He says someone caught speeding is given a ticket and must pay a fine unless there is a reasonable excuse.  He’s also welcoming a High Court ruling that the decision to extradite Kim Dotcom was legal.   The Megaupload millionaire had challenged Paul Goldsmith's decision to surrender him to the US earlier this year, arguing the charges against him are politically motivated.   Dotcom fought the extradition process all the the way to the Supreme Court and his latest effort was a judicial review.   The Justice Minister told Hosking he's pleased to see his decision upheld but notes there are still potential appeals to be had.  The Dotcom legal battle began 13 years ago.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expectation New Zealand needs to do more to keep people here longer.  Latest Stats NZ data shows close to 48 thousand New Zealand citizens left in the year to July.  There were 14 thousand migrant arrivals and nearly 10 thousand departures during the same period.  Immigration lawyer Marcus Beveridge told Mike Hosking half of the citizens leaving for Australia weren't born here.  He says the government could look at extending the period new residents have to be here before they become a citizen.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have been wondering when the penny would drop and yesterday might have been it.  There were two stories on Chris Hipkins' problems with the Māori Party.   For all the energy the media wants to put into Chris Luxon and his future, the very obvious other side of the coin, if they ever wanted to explore it, lies in the very real issue for Labour in even coming close to putting together the numbers for a government.  The genesis of the coverage came out of the Takuta Ferris post on all the "Asians and blacks" and other racist bile he managed to pedal in the lead up to last Saturday's debacle of a by-election.  The Māori Party had to apologise, and obviously Hipkins had to face the growing reality that these folks are crazy and not remotely interested in being helpful, useful, or part of a coalition.  Why this hasn’t occurred to more in the media before now, I have no idea, other than to offer the suggestion it may just be a bit inconvenient for them and their agendas and its far easier to help build on the so-called demise of the Prime Minister.  But yesterday we got there at last, through simple questions: how does Labour even begin to form a deal with the Māori Party?  This is one for their coverage of the polls too. You will note polls are presented as simple centre-left/centre-right numbers.  A collection of parties added up and the headline is formed from the result of the maths. In this week's Curia poll, there was to be a change of Government, apparently.  But each time it involves the assumption, and what an assumption it is, that Labour and the Greens and the Māori Party are one group and no such thing has ever happened.  Let me make this prediction right now: it never will.  So add the numbers of likely groupings and you are left with Labour and, maybe, the Greens. Do they get to Government? No, they don’t.  So Hipkins, given it's his issue, not the Māori Party's, has to answer the very simple question: will you work with the Māori Party, and if so, how? What jobs do they get? What policies of theirs are you implementing?  Given he can't answer that and, dare I suggest, won't, he needs to grow his party support to about 40%, which he can't, and won't, either.  Which is why he is not winning the election next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ministers from both sides of the divide are praising the Police for their handling of the Tom Phillips situation.  The four-year manhunt for Phillips ended early on Monday, when he was shot and killed by Police after he shot at an officer in rural Waikato.  The children were safely recovered and are in the care of Oranga Tamariki.  Former Police Minister Ginny Andersen says authorities have been doing their best, during the four-year search for Phillips.  She told Mike Hosking the area is very remote and a difficult part of the country to navigate, so she thinks the police did everything they could.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Hosking the police have been outstanding, and the huge relief is having the children in a safe situation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 10th of September, the Children's Commissioner speaks on what happens now with Tom Phillips' kids and calls to give them privacy.  We have a record number of 15-year-olds leaving school early, but the vast majority are moving straight into different education.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen speak on the police operation that finally caught Phillips 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.

Airports could save money and drive down airfares by bringing domestic and international terminals together.  A study has found integrated airport terminals save on double-ups and encourage passengers to spend more money.  It shows this extra revenue could help airports cut costs for airlines, which could mean cheaper fares for travellers.  NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore told Mike Hosking integration is the dream for all airports.  She says it helps them build better, save on spending over time, and makes the passenger experience better.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand red meat prices are at record levels and are expected to remain strong throughout the year.   Earnings for core red meat exports are expected to rise by $1.4 billion to $10.5 billion for the 2024–2025 season.   Beef + Lamb New Zealand Board Chair Kate Acland says there's incredible global demand for red meat.   She told Mike Hosking that while they're seeing lower export volumes in the current year, the value is rising.  Acland says there's been fewer exports from key countries like Brazil, Australia, and the US, so it’s a perfect storm of supply and demand coming together.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A panel of experts has a solution to tackling organised crime but won't yet say what it is.  The Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime has put out a new list of recommendations ahead of its final report later this month.  Among the suggestions are greater accountability across government departments and a new minister whose entire job is working on the problem.   Group chair Steve Symon told Mike Hosking the overall solution is bold.  He says they've had a lot of encouragement; the question is whether it will translate into financial support and the political will it needs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view that more students are dropping out of school early because they have a clear career pathway in mind.  More than 1300 15-year-olds received an exemption last year and 90% went into further study.  Canterbury's Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Mike Hosking schools have been working hard with polytechs, while the Ministry runs a youth guarantee programme.  He says students can spend one or two days with a tertiary provider while attending school, and sometimes they want to do that full time before they turn 16.  It’s also believed some students are leaving early due to the people around them in successful careers.  England told Hosking lots of students, particularly in rural areas, look up to people who leave school early.  He says role models often don't have an academic pathway but many are in successful careers or running businesses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new digital health service is being praised, but one doctor believes it's doing more harm than good.  More than 21 thousand consultations have been delivered through the 24/7 online scheme, which launched in July.  Health Minister Simeon Brown says it gives Kiwis faster access to care when usual GPs are unavailable.  Despite views it's easing pressure on the health system, General Practice Association Chair Angus Chambers told Mike Hosking it hasn't made any difference to staffing issues.  He says it's making problems worse as it's taking doctors away from providing care for people in clinics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country is being urged to give Tom Phillips' children time and space to begin their long road to recovery.  The children are now at an undisclosed location after their father died during an altercation with Police near Marokopa in western Waikato.  Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad told Mike Hosking the children's needs must come first.  She says over time, more can be understood about what's happened, but right now the privacy of the children is the most crucial thing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We should all thank Kelly Eckhold, a some-time participant on this show and most-of-the-time economist at Westpac, for his thinking around the future of the Reserve Bank.  As I have said many times, if one good thing came out of Covid, it put the Reserve Bank, its role, and its influence front and centre for many more of us that may never really have paid attention to its workings and its ability to shape everyday aspects of our lives.  Eckhold suggests the new governor put the inflation target a little higher than 1-3%. Historically we sit at about 2.5%, so chasing less than that can have a lot of effects you may, or may not, want.  Do remember some inflation is good. You want inflation, you just don’t want the amount we have had, and you want it produced from growth, not just cost-plus-accounting from councils and power companies.  More importantly for me is the public accountability. The Quigley/Orr debacle shows you what can go on when public disclosure is not as fulsome as it could be.  Eckhold wants the Monetary Committee vote made public. Good idea, so it should be.  It's not often there is a divergence, but there has been lately. In fact, the last statement involved a 4-2 vote, which has never happened before.  So why don’t we know who they were and what they said?  The rules as they stand mean a person on the committee can out themselves. But you will notice from last time that no one has. Why not?  Next idea: a press conference should be held after each meeting, not just the ones that produce a cash rate call.  I know I'm a wonk, but I cannot press enough the value of watching these things live. Not just the Reserve Bank, but opticians who these days, thanks to digital coverage of places like the Herald, run them in full routinely.  The irony of that is you would be amazed what you learn, as opposed to what you may or may not learn from a news bulletin edited and often curtailed to a point of nonsense later in the day in a news bulletin.  The best example is the Prime Minister's press conference on a Monday after Cabinet.  So, more pressers, more transparency, which is more detail, more sunlight, more inquisition and more knowledge.  What possibly could the Reserve Bank argue is wrong with that? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France has been plunged into a fresh political crisis, with MPs voting to oust the prime minister.  The BBC reports Francois Bayrou called the surprise vote of confidence on himself after huge opposition to his budget plans.  France's National Assembly voted by 364 votes to 194 to eject him from office, and bring down his minority government.   President Emmanuel Macron now faces a choice between calling a snap election or picking a fifth prime minister in less than two years.  France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that part of the problem was Bayrou’s attitude.  She says he seemed to antagonise everyone he spoke to, and he didn’t try to negotiate or seek coalitions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to achieve excellence?  James Laughlin is a 7 time world champion drummer, a high-performance leadership trainer, and the mental skills coach for Canterbury Rugby.   He's written a book, ‘Habits for High Performers’, distilling his approach to life into a book that’s shot to #1 on the Book Scan List, and comes highly recommended by the likes of Sir John Key and Sam Whitelock.  The book contains 27 simple principals for those aiming for success.  “High performance is not a birthright, it’s a habit,” he told Mike Hosking.  “What separates high performers from everyone else is not hustle, it’s not luck, it’s simply habits.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 9th of September, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and Police Minister Mark Mitchell discuss the successful operation to find Tom Phillips’ kids and the police officer who was shot in the process.  Sir Brian Roche details his disappointment in the unions for rejecting yet another pay offer, and what they say is the issue.  High performance coach James Laughlin is in for a motivational word.  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.

Rents are falling, with the national average hitting the lowest point since September of 2023.  It’s sitting at $628, with Wellington being hit the hardest, with a drop of 11.8%, while Auckland fell 2.3%.   New rental listings also surged 16% year on year, with 6,700 in August.  Aspire Property Managing Director Mike Atkinson told Mike Hosking Wellington in particular is facing some specific economic challenges, as well as the ones faced by the rest of the country.  He says that the culling of public service jobs, consultants, and contractors has reduced the numbers of people who need to live in the Wellington City area, impacting rents.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Super Fund has bucked economic trends.  It's generated returns of nearly 12% over the past year, growing to $85 billion, and it’s suggested it will reach $100 billion by 2028.  CEO Jo Townsend told Mike Hosking that despite the ever-increasing amount of uncertainty in the world, markets have been incredibly strong over the last five years.  She says it goes to show it’s almost impossible to pick what the market is going to do over the short term – be it one year or five.  Their job, Townsend says, is to build a portfolio that’s resilient enough to cope when markets are doing well, and when they’re not.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says officers faced a difficult and complex situation bringing an end to Tom Phillips's time on the run.  He was shot dead by Police in the early hours of yesterday on a rural Waikato road following a burglary.  An injured officer, who was shot multiple times, remains in Waikato Hospital and is facing a number of surgeries.  One of his three children was with Phillips, the remaining two were found yesterday afternoon at a campsite around two kilometres from where Phillips died.  Mitchell told Mike Hosking it's almost the worst-case scenario for Police.  He says that although it was an absolute tragedy, safely recovering the three children is a good thing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent pay offers to teachers are seen by the Public Service Commissioner as entirely reasonable.  Primary teachers decided to reject its latest offer, while PPTA members are voting on the revised one.  It includes increasing the number of days secondary teachers can be called back to work outside of term time.  Commissioner Sir Brian Roche told Mike Hosking they have the ability to call them back for 10 more days a year, which is what's being asked.  He says they're getting paid for this and just want teachers to be available for career development when students aren't at school.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says they're very relieved to have safely recovered the children of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips after nearly four years.  He was shot dead by Police in the early hours of yesterday on a rural Waikato road following a burglary.  One child was with him, the two others were found in the afternoon at a remote campsite.  Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking it took them a while to recover the children, but they'd been told there were firearms at the campsite.  He says the way the situation played out was not something they wanted, but they suspected it could end that way.   Chambers says the injured officer who was shot multiple times remains in Waikato Hospital.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 8th of September, NZ First leader Winston Peters speaks after his party conference over the weekend. Scott 'Razor' Robertson is on the show on a Monday after an incredible win over the Springboks at Eden Park. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville discuss the All Blacks win, the Warriors loss and buildup to the playoffs and the first "Sunday" football in the NFL. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a contrast Saturday night was. At Eden Park the rugby as good as you could possibly want. For all the hype and worry of the week, the All Blacks reminded us that when it all comes together, when it really matters and records of significance are on the line, there is no side in the world that can touch them. We won well. We never looked like we would lose and when you know you are that good there is no reason to believe you won't win the rest of the season. In the meantime, in the by-election, what a shocking reminder of several things; 1) Given MMP, we no longer need Māori seats. 2) Given those who argue for Māori seats do so at least in part because Māori need to see themselves represented and they need the chance to participate, why then don’t they? The turn out was appalling. It was a joke. 3) What does the result tell the Labour Party? 4) What does the result tell the Māori Party? Let's deal with number three first. The seat has been Henare's for three terms until he lost last time by 42 votes. Not great, but not the end of the world. Yet on Saturday they rejected him spectacularly. Not only couldn’t they get the vote out, but those that did turn up didn’t want Henare or Labour. You can argue all you want about by-elections and history and turn outs, but this was embarrassing. On number four, this was not a win for their candidate. This was a win for the party. The candidate didn’t seem up to much but, worryingly, that doesn’t seem to matter, which indicates in most races we don’t vote for the individual, we vote for the party. The Māori Party will be worried because they too failed to get the vote out. But they'll be buoyed by the fact that they seem to have the Māori vote, such as it is, stitched up. So the All Blacks march on after one of the great matches and the Māori Party take a win that was worryingly troubled. The Labour Party must really be wondering if the size of this rejection is potentially there to be played out again next year, short of them doing something pretty spectacular between now and next October/November.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: The All Blacks have defeated South Africa to defend their unbeaten streak at Eden Park. The Wallabies have narrowly defeated Argentina after scoring a try 6 minutes after full time. And the Warriors have suffered another loss ahead of their game against the Panthers later this week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's surprised Labour lost in the Tamaki Makaurau by-election.  Te Pati Maori's Oriini Kaipara won the seat over Peeni Henare by three thousand votes.  The by-election was triggered by the death of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Total turnout was around 27.1 percent.  Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking he thought Labour would trounce Te Pati Maori, as they've had no policies and have only been criticising. Luxon says he also felt bad for Peeni Henare with Chris Hipkins not showing up to the party.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.