The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A Hamilton bar is cutting off patrons under 20.  House on Hood announced last month it would return to being a "20+ bar" on Saturdays after 10pm.  It had dealt with five figure damages after lowering the age limit to 18+ for a year.  Owner John Lawrenson told Mike Hosking there’s a notable difference in the way 18 year olds drink, versus those over the age of 20.  He says that when someone’s 18, they’re still learning their limits and what is acceptable behaviour, and older demographics don’t necessarily want to be around people discovering alcohol for the first time.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Say whatever you want about Trump, but his demeanour and influence is genuinely global.  Peter Dutton has been accused of his "Trumpian" stance on everything from the public service to immigration, and now Winston Peters is all over DEI - diversity, equity and inclusion.  DEI is not new, and the New Zealand First move to change the rules in the public service could easily have been part of the Government deal.  But given it isn't, it’s a private members bill that will have to be drawn and even then, do they have the numbers?  That in and of itself is an interesting proposition. Act will be behind it, but what about National? Is DEI mainstream, or niche?  How many do they risk offending if they take a stance? It's got a touch of the "rock and a hard place" feel about it.  Part of the issue is the fraudulent behaviour of the corporates. If America is anything to go by, most of them will dump it as quick as for the simple reason that they never believed in it in the first place.  Apple are kind of holdouts, despite the shareholders telling them different.  It's actually very like BP and climate zero – everyone's on board until they realise it's all theory and the bottom line might actually count for something.  The fact the basic principal that the best person for the job has been largely ditched as we genuflect our way around a series of invented nonsense, speaks not to just how wayward we have become, but also to just how weak willed we are and how easily we can dispense with common sense in a desire to not be seen as out of step with the theory of the day.  Age, gender, height, sexuality, and left-handedness should have little, if anything, to do with your employment.  Skills, determination, dedication, and performance are your beginning, middle, and end.  Your results are your ticket to promotion, not your pronoun.  “Feels” are not a guiding principle in the workplace.  As always, humanity has allowed the pendulum to swing too far. For all the old ways we grew tired of, what replaced them has increasingly been proven to be farcical.  DEI only ever belonged on a white board, when someone uttered "come on, there are no bad ideas".  Except there were. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 10th of March, the Government is aiming to speed up land acquisitions for public infrastructure, and the Environment Court is on its way out.  A Hamilton bar has re-increased their age restriction to 20-years-old after too many 18-year-olds smashed up the place.  Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the Black Caps loss, the squash, and some Super Rugby in the Commentary Box.  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.

There are positive signs of inflationary pressures easing in supermarkets.  Latest data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs shows suppliers charged supermarkets 1.8% more last month than the same month last year.  That's the lowest increase in more than three years.  Infometrics Chief Executive Brad Olsen says many fruit and vegetables have been getting cheaper, while dairy prices are driving costs increases.  He says chocolate, coffee, and noodles are also seeing jumps.  Olsen told Mike Hosking that it’s not perfect, but it’s in a much better position.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The weekend was filled with sport, so Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to dig into the action.  The Black Caps fell short of claiming the Champions Trophy and the Crusaders were the only New Zealand team to find success with a 43-19 win over the Reds. They also touched on the squash, among other sporting events.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Landowners could have less room to haggle over land deemed necessary for essential infrastructure work.  The Government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to speed up the acquisition of land for major projects.  There'll be premium payments to private landowners and objections would no longer go through the Environment Court.  Dentons Kensington Swan public works expert Matthew Ockleston told Mike Hosking additional payments in the current legislation are low.  He says an increase of up to $150 thousand for an early sale and a recognition payment of $92 thousand will make a difference.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new set of amendments looks to turbo charge major infrastructure projects.  The Government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to speed up acquiring land, including premium payments to private landowners.  The Environment Court will be sidelined from the objections process.  Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking a lot of these are NZTA roading projects.  He says they don't like taking land, but it's the reality if we want to build infrastructure in this country.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The benefits of major events is on full display in the city of sails.  Auckland hotels saw a $5 million boost in January, largely thanks to SailGP and country musician Luke Combs' Eden Park concerts.  An extra 8,000 hotel rooms were booked over the four days, both events were on.  Hotel Britomart General Manager Clinton Farley told Mike Hosking the events helped make a strong start to 2025.  He says that, combined with the usual inbound tourism, helped make it a cracker summer season.  Farley backs ideas for a bed-tax to pay for these money-making events, but says it needs to be nationwide.  He says they don't want to create a messy visitor experience for tourists, where they pay different prices in different centres.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government may only be putting up four projects for public-private partnerships at its Infrastructure Investment Summit later this week.   It's invited large companies from 14 countries to drive foreign capital into New Zealand.  Northern Infrastructure Forum Executive Director Barney Irvine told Mike Hosking there's a positive glow around the New Zealand market and investors are liking the signals so far, but we need to retain this interest.   He says they need to see a pipeline of high-quality funded projects, and if they don't see that, the glow will probably fade.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    New Zealand: 7/10  Quite a bit of good news this week, from the Government accounts (which are better than thought), to house prices (which are up), to red meat exports (which are booming). All good, and welcome, news.    School lunches: 2/10  In a world of seismic movement, of global upheaval, good, old New Zealand still had plenty of time for that crap.    Tariffs: 2/10  About as idiotic as economic policy gets. Warren Buffett calls them an act of war and Buffett has a track record of knowing what he is talking about.    Richard Prebble: 8/10  Hero of the week. He quit on principle and the reality is the Waitangi Tribunal is a runaway train that the Government actually needs to do something about.    The Warriors: 1/10  What a waste of a game, of a pre-season, of a launch, of a flight... and of my time.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Am I joining too many dots?  I wonder aloud whether the Government and the Prime Minister, having had by any measure a very good week, has at last got the message that some action, as opposed to yak, might be what the punter wants a bit more of?  There's been several solid health changes; more doctors already here to be parked at GP's, more nurses and scripts via tech when we want them. I mean, the idea that getting a script on the net at an hour that suits you really shouldn’t be a thing, but it does show you how backward we have become.  They are all practical, sensible, and politically beneficial.  The exam concerns from principals that wanted less hard work and more free credits? That was dismissed as the minister hammers home the concept of hard work and not giving up.  The big one was Adrian Orr gone. It was a sacking without a sacking and a result the Government wanted and needed.  Then there was Phil Goff gone. Was it thinly veiled? Maybe.  It was a stupid comment, if you didn’t catch up on it, and a Commissioner's job is to represent the Government, and never more so than when you are dealing with a new, unpredictable America and walking a tight rope in the Pacific between China and the US.  A couple of other minor ones - the Prime Minister's marmite sandwich line on this show. It was a nod to middle New Zealand who are fed up with elite moaners and elite media and their pile on over an issue that, in a convulsing world, is really embarrassing now.  Secondly, and more importantly, health again with bowel cancer. The screening age has been has been dropped from 60-years-old to 58-years old. The money comes from the segregated Māori bowel screening programme.  The message is this is one country, with one rule for everyone. Bowel cancer is not a race issue, it’s a health issue.  So by the time you put all that together on a Friday morning you have collected up a fairly substantial seven days, and the vast majority of it is positive, on the right side of the voter and gives the very clear indication that a week's worth of actual “doing” is vastly more appealing and productive than a week worth of announcing, or defending, or scrapping, or time wasting.  Keep it up and the polls will show it's what the majority of people actually voted for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday has come and Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  With Chris Stapleton arriving on our shores for his New Zealand concerts, they discuss concerts and whether they’d go see a tribute show.  They discussed the raft of resignations and job losses this week, as well as the ventures of nepo babies.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 7th of March, Phil Goff has lost his job as the High Commissioner to the UK – was it warranted?  The Black Caps are preparing to clash against India for the Champions Trophy final and Tom Latham joined to break down the campaign to date.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discussed the ventures of nepo babies and the raft of resignations and job losses 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.

Intense weather conditions are kicking off along the southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coast as Cyclone Alfred inches closer.  It's within 200 kilometres, and is expected to make landfall overnight.  Energy providers report more than 35,000 homes and businesses are now without power.  Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking residents are feeling the effects of the tropical cyclone well before it makes landfall.  He says 450 millimetres of rain is expected for northern rivers, and winds could exceed up to 155 kilometres an hour.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s the race that stops the nation, and a new one that’s about to.  The NZB Kiwi will take place for the first time at Ellerslie Racecourse tomorrow – our country’s richest sporting occasion.  It’s a new race and a new format, with $3.5 million in prize money on the line.   It’s the brainchild of Warriors Boss and former New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chair Cameron George, who told Mike Hosking it’s put the industry out in the public domain globally.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps are on the verge of another historic win.  They’ll face India in the Champions Trophy final this Sunday evening – a clash that seems to be India’s to lose.  Black Cap Tom Latham told Mike Hosking the performance they put out yesterday was pretty much exactly what they wanted, and they couldn’t have asked for anything more.  He says they have every chance of, if they put out a good performance, beating the quality Indian side.  Latham says they’ve done it before, whether it be at home or away, and they know they’ve got the talent and experience to do it again.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petrol prices could be lower in the coming days as the price of oil slumps and the Kiwi dollar stabilises.  Waitomo Group Chief Executive Simon Parham told Mike Hosking global supply is increasing, while demand is decreasing.  He says prices are going to hover about where they are, creating a period of good value for Kiwi consumers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former High Commissioner to the UK says while they feel bad for Phil Goff, Winston Peters was right to sack him.  The Foreign Minister stepped in to fire Goff over comments made questioning Donald Trump's understanding of history at a public event.  Sir Lockwood Smith was in the role from 2013 to 2017 and told Mike Hosking those kinds of comments aren't acceptable.  He says the High Commissioner acts as the voice of the New Zealand Government and so needs to be very careful.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief outgoing Air New Zealand boss Greg Foran's lack of aviation experience may have hurt his career.  He's announced he'll leave the company in October.  Foran's told his board the time's right to step down, and the airline is well set up for the future.  Forsyth Barr head of research, Andy Bowley told Mike Hosking Foran's had to deal with Covid, a national recession, and engine maintenance issues throughout his tenure.  He says it's also been the biggest period of inflation seen in a generation, which added up, has been pretty challenging.  The company will also have little trouble finding a new CEO.  Bowley told Hosking the company has a history of attracting talented people for the role from around the world.  He says they're typically Kiwis, who have learnt their trade offshore.  The CEO before Foran was none other than now Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fact Adrian Orr is leaving is excellent.  It shows a level of accountability and responsibility for what has been a ruinous period for the New Zealand economy.  The receipts and reviews are in, and the story is stark.  We have been hit harder than any other country in the OECD.  We had three recessions while most countries, as a result of the Covid plan, had none.  Grant Robertson carries some blame for encouraging and endorsing Orr but, more dangerously, reappointing him so close to the last election.  The new Government could have/should have sacked Orr, although that would have set a fairly disturbing precedent given the Governor is supposed to be neutral.  Orr made the Governor's job a household fascination. Yes, Don Brash got well known, but really only when he went political. The others came and went.  I might have interviewed Allan Bollard a couple of times. Before Spencer Russell, who you also never heard of, the job was called the Chief Cashier. Russell was your first Governor.  Anyway, the upside of Covid and Orr was we at last took an interest. We had a view, and we know about cash rates and inflation and quantitative easing.  But we learned the hard way. We paid an enormous price and are in fact still paying the price.  Orr has years to run on his contract and clearly the pressure was on. The Government is currently negotiating a budget with the bank, and I assume they were twisting arms, hard, behind the scenes.  By the way, the bank staffing numbers have ballooned.  Orr has come across as haughty and arrogant, unable to really express any level of regret, if in fact he has any, for all the damage he has done.  Giving banks money for free and not putting restrictions of where that money went was the height of incompetency.  Still handing out money when we knew a lot of what we thought would happen during Covid didn’t, was a scandal.  The onerous banking restrictions he placed on the retailers with his “just in case” thinking was needlessly restrictive.  The conclusion has to be that although everyone flew blind during Covid, no one flew more blind than us.  And no one was led by a more ideologically driven, fiscal ransacker than Adrian Orr. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Northland has a bit of a problem – a horse poo problem.   It’s enough of an issue that a bylaw is being considered that would hold riders accountable for their animal’s droppings.  However, riders have expressed concern over the risks of collecting the manure near busy roads.   Far North Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford told Mike Hosking the bylaw wouldn’t impact people riding on roads, just those in public spaces like town squares.   She said the consultation is making a mountain out of a molehill.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 6th of March, Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has quit, so what is his legacy? And what's next for the Reserve Bank?  We fact check the almost two hour long speech from Donald Trump to Congress yesterday.  Kiwi chef Peter Gordon gives an insight into the current state of the restaurant industry - and tells us how to make a good meatball!  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.

An urge for Kiwis to not worry about market impacts from Donald Trump's tariffs on their KiwiSaver.  The US President's slapped import levies on Canada, China, and Mexico, and has signalled more for other countries.  Trump says he's spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over easing tariffs on the auto sector.  But Milford Asset Management head of KiwiSaver Murray Harris told Mike Hosking it's a long term investment, and markets always go up and down.  He says their advice is to ignore the market fluctuations, stay the course, and not panic.  Harris says when markets go down, contributions are buying more value, and when markets recover, KiwiSaver users will benefit from those extra units, bought more cheaply.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our air traffic management provider's signalling its own prices will soar, come July.  Airways NZ's proposing a 7.7% price rise for airlines – a per seat increase of up to $2.80.  Air New Zealand warns it could bring detrimental impacts, while the Aviation Industry Association struggles to see how it could be justified.  Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking she's not a fan of the proposal.  She acknowledges Airways have projects to invest in, but says it's the latest in a long list of price increases for airlines flying here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says there's no argument for getting rid of some NCEA tests over fears some students will end up with no credits.  RNZ reports principals from some of the country's poorest communities, want the Government to scrap new reading, writing, and maths tests.  They say a number of Māori or Pacific students could end up leaving school without a qualification.  Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking she is aware of every single student in that situation and is doing everything she can to turn it around.  She says they've put in millions of dollars of targeted support to get them across the line.  Stanford also says she’s cut through the bureaucracy to building school property after a ministerial inquiry found the old model was inefficient and unfit for purpose.  The Education Minister says since then, there's been a 35% increase in the number of standard buildings delivered, and a 28% reduction in the average cost of each classroom.  She told Hosking the results of the new model have been obvious.  Stanford says at Wellington Girls they built four two-storey blocks with 14 classrooms in 12 weeks, for $50 thousand each.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi Chef Peter Gordon is a staple of New Zealand’s hospitality industry – but he’s had a bit of a change in focus recently.  Hawke’s Bay is set to host New Zealand’s first ever Meatball Festival, with up to 25 vendors filling the city’s CBD on March 14th.  Gordon will share his years of experience with students at the newly reopened Eastern Institute of Technology Culinary School, rolling out a special recipe he’s created and perfected for the occasion.  His meatball offering consists of First Light Farms wagyu beef meatballs with kawakawa salsa verde – a slightly more creative choice than the standard recipe most would be familiar with.  Gordon told Mike Hosking that there’s going to be a real variety of things at the festival, with seafood to pork and everything in between.   “I thought it’s just got to look really pretty, be tasty, and sort of, y’know, do a good service, not a disservice.”  He told Mike Hosking the numbers of students enrolled in culinary schools around New Zealand have dropped off, which is a shame.  “Hospitality is one of our big earners here, and y’know, we export really good kitchen people around the world,” Gordon said.  “It should be a really appealing job.”  Although the hospitality industry is currently struggling, Gordon says there’s always a give and take when it comes to opportunities and new ventures.   “Every day there’s something, y’know, you read in the paper an institution or something is shut down, but at the same time, there are lots of new places opening.”  “There’s always lots going on.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a peaceful night for the Pope as he continues his three-week recovery from a severe respiratory infection  The 88-year-old was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with double pneumonia in both lungs.  The Vatican says he wore a ventilation mask overnight to help him breathe, following two episodes of acute respiratory failure earlier this week.  Europe Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking there's no sign he'll be leaving hospital anytime soon.  She says they say he's stable, but the episodes of respiratory failure are definitely of concern.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Reserve Bank senior staffer ranks Adrien Orr as the least competent Reserve Bank Governor New Zealand's ever had.  Orr's announced he's quitting two years into his second five year tenure.  Geof Mortlock told Mike Hosking there's been many negative results from his monetary policies.  He contends Orr has left New Zealand taxpayers with more than $10 billion of debt.  His shock exit announcement yesterday comes as the bank is in the process of agreeing its funding increase for the next five years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am thrilled for the White Island company that had their conviction quashed on appeal on Friday.  White Island and its judicial process has worried me from the get go.  Work and Safety appeared to panic in their response to the disaster.  Make no mistake, what happened at the island was a disaster and a tragedy. But it was a natural disaster and tragedy, and what level of legal recompense was required was questionable from the start.  But the approach that Work and Safety took appeared to be a panic-driven “scatter gun” affair, whereby all-and-sundry faced a barrage of charges in the hope some of the judicial mud would stick.  The brothers who owned the island faced a couple of charges. One was dropped but they were found guilty on the other. They appealed it and have had it, quite rightly, turned over.  The company simply gave licences to conduct tours. They didn’t per se "manage" anything and therefore could not be held accountable for what others directly did.  I still believe a lot of the other charges were overreach, given the nature of a volcano.  Adventure tourism, by its nature, carries risk. A live volcano, by its nature, carries risk. At some point the people who buy into that, as in the visitors, must take some level of responsibility.  From what I could see or have read about no one acted recklessly, they weren't crazy and there was no daredevil behaviour involved. It was an unforeseen disaster.  As the judge pointed out, given the island company simply handed out licences, what was there to manage? He also pointed out, quite rightly as far as I can see, that we are dealing with bare ground, so there's not a lot to manage there.  Many of those charged pled guilty early on. I'm convinced they did it not because they believed they were, but because it was easy, whether on legal advice or not to simply cave and pay.  This quashing is proof that it didn't need to be that way. All the charges that were dropped is proof it didn’t need to be this way.  So how much damage, stress, money, energy and failed business do we have from an agency that, it looks increasingly likely, set about things in a very haphazard, if not dangerous, way.  And yet they're in no way being held to any level of account. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America's trade war with Canada, Mexico, and China is ramping up.  All three countries are introducing retaliatory tariffs in response to the steep tariffs introduced by Donald Trump last night.  Trump's responded, saying he will raise tariffs on Canada even further.  China's vowing to fight the US "to the bitter end", and Canada's Justin Trudeau says his country won't back down.  Trudeau says Canadians are reasonable and polite, but they won't back down from a fight when the wellbeing of their country is at stake.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that within the US, major franchises such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Home Depo are all warning of price spikes ahead.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The North Island is getting a new motorsport circuit.   The first details of a brand-new motorsport and driver training facility in the Bay of Plenty’s Tect Park have been revealed.  Thunder Ridge Motorsport Park will feature 3.2 kilometres of track, with 26 meters of elevation and eight corners.   Director Tony Robers told Mike Hosking they’re aiming to be a community facility.  He says driver training will be a huge thing for them, as they’re aiming to get young people off the streets and onto the circuit safely.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 5th of March, things were moving quickly this morning regarding aid to Ukraine and a possible peace deal, so Jimmy Rushton joined out of Kyiv to give the latest.  Winston Peters talks ferries, the Chinese, and his new Mongolian horse.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell discuss gangs running prisons, Wellington water and MPs’ credit card expenses 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.

Kiwis are spending more and more time stuck on hold.  For the third year in a row, ServiceNow’s Annual Customer Experience Report has seen phone wait times worsen.   Last year, it’s estimated Kiwis spent 24 million hours on hold – approximately 9.7 hours per person.   ServiceNow NZ Country Manager Kate Tulp told Mike Hosking the best space in 2024 was the transport space, while financial services and government lines have room for improvement.   She says they’re seeing more customers choosing to engage with a digital method over a phone call when they’re available.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Corrections Minister says a report on prison culture doesn't say anything the Government doesn't already know.   The report from Independent Research Solutions says the influence of gangs in prison has grown significantly in the past decades, with non-members lower in the social hierarchy.   It finds 35% of inmates are in voluntary segregation.   Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking prisons are a microcosm of society, and gangs are known for their intimidation tactics in the community.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research into New Zealand prisons has found more than a third of inmates are in voluntary segregation.    The report from Independent Research Solutions says the influence of gangs on prison culture has grown significantly in the past decades.   It finds inmates are being categorised as being gang members or non-gang members - with the latter being the worst off.   Author Jarrod Gilbert told Mike Hosking prisoners must either join a gang, fend for themselves, or be separated.    He says the massive increase in voluntary segregations is unconsciously establishing two prisons within a prison.   Gilbert says the Department of Corrections may hold the keys to the prisons, but on the inside it's a different story.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s push back on the cost of the Government's broken ferry deal.  Hyundai is back in the running to build the two new ships after the coalition canned its original contract in 2023.  Documents indicate the Government's set aside $300 million to cover that broken agreement.  It must be paid regardless of a new deal.  Rail Minister Winston Peters told Mike Hosking the issue's being considered in negotiations, but disputes the cost.  He says the real cost is far lower, and it's an appalling situation and shocking decision he's had to deal with.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A security analyst says it's likely Trump's hardball foreign policy with Ukraine is part of his promise to deliver a peace deal as fast as possible.  Ukraine's President says he's ready to sign a minerals deal and reach a peace deal only hours after America's decision to pause military aid.  It also follows a fiery White House meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.  A Kyiv-based security analyst Jimmy Rushton told Mike Hosking Trump's been putting a lot of pressure on Zelenskyy to sign a deal without a US security guarantee.  He thinks the President's found Russia won't budge and it'll be easier to get Ukraine to sign to unfavourable terms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A planning expert is suggesting Aucklanders look to New York City for the impacts of congestion charges.    A report, commissioned by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, has found traffic will cost the city $2.6 billion a year by next year.   Auckland University Architecture and Planning Senior Lecturer Timothy Welch says New York and London have effectively implemented congestion charges.   He told Mike Hosking revenue in New York City has already increased because of faster buses and more foot traffic.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a bit of pushback coming from some sectors in the education business towards the reading, writing, and maths tests.  These are the tests we are failing. Those who are failing mostly come from poor backgrounds.  I'm not sure equating monetary status and academic success should be a thing.  But a bunch of principals from the "poorest communities" have got together to lobby the Government to stop the tests because they say it will lead to more kids leaving school with no qualifications.  After two rounds of these tests more than half failed reading and writing and 75% failed numeracy.  You can't get university entrance if you don’t get these grades.  Now, there is no doubt that failure affects attitude and there is equally no doubt that for some the “give it up” scenario must be tempting if the hurdle is too high.  But then there's also no doubt that allowing kids to leave school having failed is a failure in and of itself.  Any country that has any level of success globally is not a country that goes soft on education.  The principals’ answer is the answer that has failed us for years, which is also the Chris Hipkins Covid answer - give them something for nothing.  An alternative to an exam is the extra 20 credits scenario that is due to expire at the end of 2027. They want that made permanent and instead of 20 credits they want it made into 60 credits. So, like Hipkins and Covid, extra credits for not actually doing anything. Just extra credits for life being a bit crap right now.  No one gains when we do this. It is excuse making. It is an acceptance that we fail, and are failing, and failure is part of what we do.  You can either read and write or you can't. You can either add up or you can't. And if you can't, having people pretend you can, won't fix anything.  Part of why this country is where it is, is because we are apologists in areas like this and instead of being determined to fix it, we set about looking for ways to excuse it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 4th of March, GPs are loving the new health announcement, which should have been implemented years ago.  The Prime Minister joins the show to talk health, school lunches, and Ukraine.  Former Australian Defence Force Major General Mick Ryan is back on the show to talk about the Chinese warships in our waters and the Ukraine war after the Oval Office bust-up.  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 Upper Hutt Mayor says it was obvious the region's water agency was ripping off ratepayers for a long time.  Report findings show a lack of oversight meant Wellington Water was paying nearly three times more to contractors for pipe work, compared with in other areas.  Board Chair Nick Leggett says it means millions of ratepayer dollars wasted.  Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy says Leggett must resign.  He told Mike Hosking his council smelt a rat for years, but their concerns fell on deaf ears.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A military expert says China's sent a clear message with its war ships as they sail away from Australia and New Zealand.  Three highly powered navy vessels entered Australia's exclusive economic zone in the Tasman Sea last week, where they performed live firing exercises.   The New Zealand Defence Force is no longer monitoring the warships as they sail west away from Australia.  Lowy Institute Senior Fellow Mick Ryan told Mike Hosking it's a display of power from China, showing they can disrupt trade whenever they want.  He says it's also a test of Australia's relationship with the US, considering what's happening with Europe.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is defending how much nurses in New Zealand are being paid.   Yesterday the Government announced multiple incentives to improve access to primary care, including a cash injection of $285 million over three years.   Christopher Luxon says any narrative about health services being cut is completely untrue.   He told Mike Hosking the Government's making good progress on recruitment, just not getting the results patients need.   Luxon says the remuneration of nurses has increased to $127 thousand dollars, including allowances and overtime.    He also says that those unhappy with his Government's refreshed school lunches should go make a marmite sandwich.  A number of schools have complained about late deliveries and sub-standard offerings under the new cut-price regime.  Luxon's acknowledged some delivery timeframes and meals haven't been up to scratch, but says some people will never be pleased.  He told Hosking parents should be the ones feeding their kids.  Luxon says he'd rather the state didn't have to provide lunches, but he's not willing to let children go hungry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A nutritionist is defending health star ratings, despite the little impact they have.  Otago University has led a probe of the decade-old voluntary system for rating food products, finding they only slightly improved diet.  It calculates it'd save the health system about 70 times more if it were made compulsory.  Nutritionist Nikki Hart told Mike Hosking it is a helpful system for consumers.  She says people aren't looking at the back of the packet, so the rating gives people a good idea.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GPs say a Government cash injection into general practices is a good start.   The Health Minister's announced $285 million in performance-based funding for practices over three years.   Simeon Brown is also kick-starting initiatives to boost the number of nurses and overseas-trained doctors in healthcare.   Royal College of GPs President Samantha Murton told Mike Hosking practices need a lot more money, but the Government has to start somewhere.  Another measure announced was the 100 new placements for overseas-trained doctors.   The Royal College of GPs says vocational training for the doctors was always done in hospitals.   But Murton told Hosking primary care is now getting a slice of the pie.   She says general practices offer a wider range of training in New Zealand healthcare than hospitals.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a vision Australia and New Zealand can help ease each other's seasonal electricity woes.  Company Taslink is proposing a massive underground trans-Tasman cable, allowing surplus power to be transferred between the two countries.  It estimates the link would increase our power grid's capacity by about 40%.  Co-Director Richard Homewood told Mike Hosking it would have meant 20% lower power prices last winter.   He says Australia has the opposite problem, with power outages during the hot summer days, when we have a surplus.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can argue until you are blue in the face as to whether what happened at the White House on Saturday was bullying, or unfair, but what the U.S President has on his side is common sense and military power. As Zelenskyy slunk off to Downing Street for a hug with Keir Starmer and today's meeting with King Charles, what few in Europe seem to understand is that saying you back Ukraine doesn’t win a war, or come close to it. Without America, this thing is over, and fast. Mark Rutte gets that, hence his plea to Zelenskyy to repair the damage. Norway promised more resource, or at least said they would ask their Parliament. The UK announced another 2.5 billion pound loan. But for what? This thing is three years old and is going nowhere, at best with America fully on board it is a stalemate. It is, as so many have put it now, a meat grinder and Russia has more meat to grind. What was on display in Washington was a simple reality of the Trump administration - they are not interested in war, they are interested in deals. A mineral agreement sees the Americans on the ground in Ukraine. No one is rolling over American interests militarily in Ukraine. Trump is also right in saying a ceasefire is pretty much instant and it's at that point you start working on the “what next“. All the photo opportunities and love-ins that Zelenskyy appears to revel in doesn’t get you an inch of your country back and it doesn’t give you any advantage over the Russians. NATO are incapable of beating Russia without American buy-in. That buy-in is over. Trump keeps it simple - Zelensky has no cards and, to a lesser degree, Europe only has limited cards. It is why America is America. Without them we are done. Where I think Trump is most right is he appears the only one interested in actually getting this thing sorted. The Europeans talk about peace, but peace as a result of victory. There will be no victory. Three years of the war shows us this. The only victory is Russia's if America bails.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 3rd of March, it seems crazy we haven't had a police officer training facility in the centre of Auckland, so we've finally fixed that. Where does the Ukraine war go after the shambles that was the Oval Office meeting? We speak to an expert out of Washington D.C. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine give their sporting highlights of the weekend, which won't be the Warriors. 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.

Cuts in the health sectors "back office" roles are forcing front-line workers to pick up administrative work, resulting in delays for treatment and a reduction in services.  Nurses and social worked are working as reception ships due to the staff shortages.  In the year to June, 12,000 kiwi nurses gained registration across the ditch.  Nurses Organisation President Kerri Nuku talks to Mike Hosking about the issue.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Dutton's liberal party is committing $3 billion to the purchase of extra joint strike fighter jets, if they win the upcoming Australian election.  The party say they will buy 28 fighter jets.  The pledge comes as Chinese warships have circumnavigated Australia.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price talks to Mike Hosking about the commitment, Dutton's 60 Minutes interview, what the polls are saying, and how Trump brushed off Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.