The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A former Parliamentary Speaker says standards of the House have slipped in recent years.  During debate around ACT's Treaty Principles Bill, Labour's Willie Jackson called David Seymour a liar, while Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi compared the party to the KKK.  Former Speaker of the House, Sir Lockwood Smith told Mike Hosking that this is “as bad as he's ever seen the House”.  He said it was “really sad” to see Parliament.  “The whole standard of the place has been lowered in recent years.  “Once you start letting it slip, another inch happens, another centimetre.”  Smith argued standards had been slipping in the house for a while.  “Parliament is meant to be where people we chose to represent us… they are meant to be the leaders of our communities.  “Parliament is the highest court in the land, our most respected citizens.”  Smith said Brownlee should not be blamed and he had “no choice” but to clear the House.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A financial policy advisor says he's sceptical IRD's student debt crackdown will work.  The agency's engaged debt collectors to secure more than $2 billion of outstanding student loans from people who have moved overseas.  Fincap Senior Policy Adviser Jake Lilley told Mike Hosking those with large student loans shouldn't be expected to pay it back on the spot.  He says if people don't have the money, it's never going to get paid, and those being chased down should talk to their creditors.  He says there’s often relief available for those unable to pay their debts.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's latest nomination for roles in his Cabinet has drawn shock from some Republicans.   He's nominated Congressman Matt Gaetz to be his Attorney General.   Gaetz has previously been investigated over allegations of sexual misconduct.  US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it's causing backlash.   He says multiple Republicans are scathing about their colleague — with one reportedly using a swear word when he found out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk has copped some flak from Italian officials.  President Sergio Mattarella has told Elon Musk not to interfere in Italian affairs after the billionaire said Rome judges blocking a government anti-immigration initiative should be sent packing.   Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking that Mattarella used very diplomatic language to tell Musk to butt out of Italian politics.   In response, Musk issued a statement expressing his respect for Mattarella and the Italian constitution, but reaffirmed his intention to continue to freely express his opinions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Treaty Principles Bill gets debated this week, and then off it goes to the committee that will hear a lot of fear mongering and whinging about how it is the end of the world.  After that it will come back to Parliament, a vote will be had, it won't get the numbers, and it will be dead.  This is unusual as Governments normally put bills in they know they are going to pass.  Here is why it ties into Trump's victory last week:  Trump won because he is the repository for grievance. If you don’t like the left you vote for what's not the left, because you only have a choice of two.  Under MMP you have more choices. We have taken a lot of time to work that out, but as MMP matures we are reaching a place where more parties will establish themselves as ongoing contributors to the system, as opposed to being seen as fringe and on the verge of survival.  This Government will be especially helpful if it performs well as a group, gets re-elected and possibly goes for a third term, because it will show three parties can coalesce and agree to disagree, while remaining separate and independent.  The Greens have already arrived at this place. They are a permanent fixture on the landscape, and they don’t dabble with 5%.  The point here is, as a result, the big parties will shed support. The days of National being 45%-ish are gone because parties like ACT and New Zealand First look to head towards 10%, if not more.  The Treaty bill might well be ACT's ride to permanence.  The same way Trump hoovered up blacks and Hispanics who were sick of being treated like a block and not individuals, ACT could hoover up New Zealanders sick of race-based policy.  If National don’t, or won't deal to it, ACT can.  In an MMP environment Trump would not have stood a chance. But their system is less sophisticated than ours.  Choice is good. It gets over-represented in jurisdictions where the threshold is too low because you end up with single issue nutters. But at 5% it looks like we have picked it right because you can be small without being too fringe.  Hopefully ACT and New Zealand First break the MMP hoodoo where small parties vanish in Government because there are enough specific issues and enough electoral confidence for parties to stake clams and build support.  Big parties no longer have to be everything to everyone.  If this is an emerging trend, MMP will have properly arrived, and we will all be better off for it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new approach to land zoning could be the answer to the housing crisis.  New Zealand’s housing crisis is locking families out of home ownership, but what would happen if local streets and neighbourhoods were the ones to decide what can be built and where?   Hyperlocal zoning allows the community to vote on potential developments, balancing the preferences of locals with the need for more housing.   The system has found success over in the States, with housing becoming more accessible and affordable in Houston, Texas.   Maxim Institute Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour told Mike Hosking that it could either work as an opt-out system or an opt-in, but either way it would need the support of a majority of the community.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golfer Steve Alker wants to keep playing professionally until he's 60, after winning a second season-long crown on the PGA Champions Tour.  The 53-year-old's joined the likes of greats Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer in claiming the overall title more than once.  He's mulled over what to consider before putting the clubs away.  He told Mike Hosking that staying fit is the biggest thing, and from there it’s about the drive.  “If I'm just finishing 40th or 50th in the field, and not having a chance then it's probably time to hang up the boots, you know?”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first of Coldplay's three concerts at Eden Park is a night many concert-goers will never forget.  Over 50 thousand people braved the bad weather last night, the rain unable to dampen the electric energy of the performance.  Newstalk ZB's Matt Heath told Mike Hosking he arrived a critic and left a fan.  He says he always found frontman Chris Martin to be a talented man, but one with a sort of punchable vibe around him – but after that concert, he’d follow him into battle.  ‘He’s one of the greatest men I’ve ever seen – he's up there with Freddie Mercury and Mick Jagger.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 14th of November, despite all the talk and bluster our tourism numbers haven't budged, and analysts say they don't see a way to get us back to pre-Covid levels. The boss of Tourism New Zealand gives his verdict.  Mike has some thoughts on schools encouraging students to attend the hikoi.  Kiwi golfer Steve Alker is now a two-time champ of the PGA Champions tour, and he joined Mike for a chat about his continued success.  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.

The Infrastructure Minister maintains that more public-private partnerships won't mean more privatisation of assets.  Chris Bishop's unveiled a new framework for the PPPs to encourage the government to work with developers to build key projects.  He told Mike Hosking concerns of privatisation are unfounded.  Bishop says while projects would be built by private developers, ownership would remain with the Crown.  He says that it’s just project delivery method and a procurement method, but at the end of the day it sits on the Government’s balance sheet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s expected that The Christchurch Show won't disappoint Cantabrians.  The three-day event begins today in place of the usual New Zealand Agricultural Show.  It's the product of local company Event Hire, who came to the show's rescue after the previous board pulled the pin due to financial issues.  Canterbury A&P Association Chairman Sir David Carter told Mike Hosking he's confident locals will turn out in droves.  He says there's been strong interest with a tremendous response from exhibitors and members— who all want the show to continue for years to come.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gaming machine lobby group is pleased about a government move to bring online operators into line.  The Government's announced it's starting a licensing program, which will see 15 licences given and an up to $5 million fine for anyone operating online without one.  Gaming Machine Association Independent Chair Peter Dengate Thrush told Mike Hosking internet casinos threaten the current gambling model, which works well for them.  He says New Zealand has low problem gambling rates and puts millions of dollars back into the community, as per government regulation.  Despite being pleased about the crackdown, the group does believe the Government should be doing more, and online casinos should face the same rules as other operators.  Dengate Thrush says the law doesn’t address any of the major problems, not does it require online companies to invest into the community.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite a plateau in tourism arrivals, the sector is seeing positive signs.  Overseas visitor arrivals were at 3.23 million for the year to September, which is up on the same month last year, but well below 2019's almost 4 million.  But Tourism New Zealand CEO Rene de Monchy says international holiday visitors are up 29% on last year.  He told Mike Hosking international visitor spending is also on the rise.  De Monchy says while visitors are at around 83% of 2019 levels, we're at 100% of the value in the year to June 2024.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's new administration is taking shape.  Among a rush of names of Trump appointees and likely Trump aides, there seem to be signs of some headwinds for the President Elect.  Senator Marco Rubio has been proposed as the Secretary of State, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has been nominated as the Ambassador to Israel, and Florida congressman Mike Waltz has been confirmed as the next national security advisor.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that cabinet selections are voted on by the Senate, but instead Trump wants to make the selection while the Senate is shut down at the start of next year.  He says that Trump would be using recess appointments which don’t require Senate approval, running the show unilaterally.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've got an EV car question for you.  But first, the latest EV news.  Nissan are laying off thousands of workers, Toyota says the California regulations are unworkable, Trump has arrived, tariffs are an issue and he is anti-EV, and in Britain they are discounting EVs by a third because of rules that make manufacturers sell a certain number of EVs, and if you don’t sell that many you are fined.  Sales here are dire. Sales of petrol cars for the past month are up. Last month was the second best month of the year, apart from EVs, which sold next to none.  So, to the question - what are they going to do?  Under normal market circumstances a product lives and dies on demand.  Demands can waver and prices are adjusted accordingly, models are updated, and marketing is refreshed to fizz up demand or awareness. But ultimately, if something doesn’t have a customer base it dies.  EVs don’t appear to have a customer base. They did, to a degree, when Government's subsidised them, but that I suspect simply gave early adopters a cheaper ride.  It's not like you can't get a good deal now, but even with a cheap price they still don’t sell. People, in bulk, simply don’t want them.  What's made this unique is the manufacturers have been forced into producing something, I suspect, they knew wouldn’t work.  They would have been way quicker to bail on a failed product if they hadn't had Government's lecturing them, hectoring them, and changing the laws and forcing them into a business that looks like it's going nowhere fast.  So the question is, just what needs to be done to either increase sales or kill off the whole idea and come back another day?  You can't force people into something they don’t want and the lack of sales show this to be true.  Are they going to ban regular cars? No.  Are they going to subsidise them forever? No.  Are jobs going to be lost, bottom lines going to bleed red and factories close because of all this? Yes.  So, who blinks first? The ideologues, or the realists? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A step forward in energy production, with a Wellington company hitting a significant milestone.  The capital's OpenStar Technologies says it's created and confined plasma, allowing them to now spark fusion reactions.  It comes as New Zealand grapples with significant supply challenges in the energy market. Ratu Mataira is behind the development.  He told Mike Hosking that if they're able to scale it up, it could revolutionise the energy market.  Mataira says they're now back in the race and could beat other competitors to be the first to crack fusion energy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 13th of November, the gang patch ban kicks in next week, and the police have been communicating with gangs as to how the new legislation will play out. Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham explains how it’s being received.  A man by the name of Donald J. Trump interrupted our call with the Prime Minister yesterday, so Christopher Luxon joined Mike this morning for a chat about how the call went and the abuse in care apology.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk about their experience at the apology, the police in Parliament, the hikoi, and Ginny's praise from Audrey Young 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, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest political stories from the week thus far.  Yesterday was an emotional day for everyone as the Government offered an official apology to the survivors of abuse in state care.  Ginny Andersen was watching the livestream alongside survivors at Shed 6, which she says was a humbling experience.  She told Mike Hosking that she got the opportunity to hear some of the survivors’ experiences during the breaks, and it was a really heavy day.  Mark Mitchell says it was an important historical day for New Zealand as a country.  He told Hosking that although some people say words don’t matter, if the apology is heartfelt it does matter, and the recognition matters as well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has shared new details about his phone call with Donald Trump.  Christopher Luxon has had a one-on-one chat with the US President Elect yesterday morning, a call Trump was late for.   But Luxon told Mike Hosking it was a warm conversation and a productive chat, covering everything from international conflict to golf.  Luxon says Trump's perception of New Zealand, and our Government, is very positive.  He’s also confirmed that a new compensation scheme for abuse in care survivors will be in place by mid-2025.  Redress was a major talking point at yesterday's historic national apology.  Luxon's already committing a further $32 million to the existing settlement process.  He told Hosking that the Government's also working as fast as possible to get a new redress system in place.  Luxon says there's a lot of design work to be done, as the current claims process goes through four different Government agencies, who all work at different speeds.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland commuters can also expect disruption tonight as Eden Park plays host to Coldplay.  More than 50,000 people are expected to attend tonight's concert.  Extra flights and public transport services are being scheduled, but there will be heavy traffic and road closures around Eden Park this afternoon.  Chief executive Nick Sautner told Mike Hosking they're excited to be involved.  He says the tour's been running since March 2022, and after looking at rehearsals last night, he thinks it will be unforgettable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abuse in care survivors are united in their desire for urgent action following the Government's apology.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed renaming streets and public amenities that are named after known abusers and establishing a National Remembrance Day.  He's also committing $32 million into the existing settlement process.  Criminal barrister Rosemary Thomson —a Lake Alice survivor— told Mike Hosking some survivors are sceptical, while others want to give the Government the benefit of the doubt.  She says everyone agrees redress is urgent, as the survivors are getting older, and generally aren't in good health.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police units around the country will be taking a proactive approach to the Government's new gang patch ban.  Patches and insignia will be banned in public places from Thursday next week.  Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham says Police have been speaking with gang leaders, and have made it clear that anyone breaching the law can expect a response.  He told Mike Hosking that dedicated units will respond to reports of law-breaking, gather intelligence, and work with other branches of Police.  He says they'll also take opportunities to reduce the ability of gangs to operate, and cause fear and intimidation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are not unique, but we are most definitely different from the way we were.  Once again we are into exam season, and once again we have the flurry of stories of questions that can't be answered, the tears that flow, and the end of the world that is ensuing.  For comfort, the same number of stories are floating about the place currently in Australia.  For context, the last time I did exams these tears and high drama were nowhere to be seen.  So what has happened? Is it possible the way we study has changed?  Is it possible all the mocks that are taken lead you into an area of confusion, whereby unless the real exam looks remarkably similar to the ones you have just practiced on, you freak out?  Is it possible because of the way we teach, it's too rote? In other words, you can parrot back what has been taught but you can't extrapolate out?  Is it also possible that exams and entry to university has become such a big deal that the whole of the future of your life is flashing in front of your eyes, and unless it appears to have gone well you have no future?  Perhaps my advantage was that I wasn’t going to university. I was out into the world to get on with it.  What I needed was University Entrance, preferably endorsed, and that would give me, at the very least, a foot in the door to a job.  Yes, exams seemed hard. Yes, a lot of people were nervous.  Yes, a lot of people after the exam, as we wandered off home, either ran the line that it was a nightmare and they don’t stand a chance, or that it was so easy they couldn’t believe their luck. And we ran those lines no matter what had actually just happened.  We were full of it.  But what we didn’t do was melt down, the media didn’t cover the fallout, and we had no headlines. We were simply kids doing exams and sometimes they went well and sometimes they didn’t.  I wish I knew then what I know now – that school is but a fleeting moment in time that will seem increasingly irrelevant. Although it's your whole world, or at least a decent chunk of it, when you are a kid, ultimately it will all be put into perspective.  Life and its success is rarely, if ever, defined by what you did in year 12 or 13.  Maybe we could teach more of that. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is going to change the world – or is it?  The world of artificial intelligence has been booming, with major corporations and small businesses alike integrating the software into their work.  Tom Gruber is one of the minds behind Siri, the iconic virtual personal assistant purchased by Apple in 2010.  He’s now an entrepreneur and co-founder of another company, an adaptive music company called LifeScore.  Gruber told Mike Hosking that compared to some other major technological advances, AI is likely to be on the more transformative end.   “It’s omni-purpose,” he said.  “You can do all kinds of things, pretty much anything involving language on the input and language on the output, with this new technology.”  “It cuts across all vertical industries.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Cup Day in Christchurch and the mood at Addington is upbeat.  Gates open for today's New Zealand Trotting Cup at 11am.  Ticket sales are up 10% this year after prices for general admission tickets were slashed from $40 to just $25.  Addington Chief Executive Brian Thompson told Mike Hosking they've tried to make the event more accessible.  He says they wanted to give everyone the opportunity to get down and enjoy the racing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 12th of November, we have the major apology from the Government to victims of abuse in state care. Will it go far enough, and when does talk of compensation come into play?  Mike plays a game of cat and mouse with the Prime Minister, trying to figure out whether he'll be on for his regular chat after Trump scheduled his first presidential call with him.  The founder of Siri, Tom Gruber joins the show to talk the future of AI and if this is the next big world changer.  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.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says Wellington City Council’s new Crown Observer Lindsay McKenzie will sort through its “dysfunction between personalities". Former Tasman and Gisborne council boss Lindsay McKenzie will start in the role tomorrow.  Brown told Mike Hosking that McKenzie will be “working with the mayor and councillors to help them get on.”  McKenzie’s other role would regard Wellington City Council’s long-term plan, after the council “decided to throw it out and start again.”  “That’s created some significant concern about the financial position of the council.”  Brown says he'll be getting monthly reports from McKenzie ahead of a final report at the end of his term on July 31.  He said McKenzie would provide external advice and assist with a fresh pair of eyes, though it’s up to the council whether they follow the Crown Observer’s guidance.  “[He is] someone else who … has not been part of all the drama over the last little while and can provide an extra set of advice.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's disappointment the Government's abuse-in-care apology doesn't come with a financial redress scheme.   A Royal Commission report estimates 200,000 people have experienced harm in state and faith-based care between 1950 and 2019.   The report has called for urgent financial redress, but the Government says it will not decide on a system until early next year.  Cooper Legal Senior Associate Lydia Oosterhoff, who represents the survivors, told Mike Hosking that the Government's apology will mean nothing unless it signals a commitment to change.  She called the announcements yesterday “smoke and mirrors” and said it is just a “drop in the bucket” of the work that needs to be done.  “The changes, I think, are deflecting from what the survivors have been calling for months now, which is redress and change.”  Oosterhoof said the lack of redress today “quite upset” her clients and she believes the Government has had plenty of time to work on it.  “They have had the interim redress reports since December 2021, so they have had nearly three years to prepare for this.”  On the announcement by Children’s Minister Karen Chhour, she also said it was a “distraction” from the real issues.  “There was not one change to the law that was about keeping children safe in the home.”  Oosternhoof believed she would continue this fight for decades if the pace of progress persists.  “This is not incremental change, this is not going to keep children safe.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra appears to have the backing of farmers for its sale of big-name consumer brands.  The dairy co-op has confirmed plans to sell its consumer arm —which owns Anchor, Mainland and Kapiti— for up to $3 billion.  It's also set to sell off its Oceania and Sri Lanka businesses.  Fonterra Co-Operative Council Chair John Stevenson told Mike Hosking farmers have indicated they're open to either a trade sale or an IPO.  He says farmers want to see the best possible value in any sale, and they will have to a vote on what happens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the biscuit tin on Friday.  It aims to protect comedians, critics, and artists when poking fun - without breaking the law.  Green Party List MP Kahurangi Carter joins to explain more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Issues are arising with employment advocates, who are able to represent clients without being lawyers.  A judge described a recent run in as abusive and unprofessional, renewing calls for stricter regulation.  Catherine Stewart from the Law Association joins with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mass hikoi has departed Northland and is heading to Parliament.  As many as 20,000 people are expected to arrive on the grounds early next week.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell joins to discuss how the police are preparing.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 11th of November, the police and Mark Mitchell as they tackle the response to the nationwide hikoi beginning today. Our diabetes issue is projected to be shocking and a huge blight on our health system by 2040 - but are we listening and do we actually care? Guy and Sav cover all the rugby from the weekend, whether we care about the Black Caps T20 series against Sri Lanka and if Mike should invest in a horse. 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.

A business delegation travelled with the trade minister to Shanghai last week, and they're heading home with a projected $340 million worth of deals for the next three years.  New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Chief Executive Pete Chrisp joins with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    The Americans: 8/10  Spoke with a rare clarity around a singular idea called 'Trumpism'.    Trump: 9/10  As profound a redemption and comeback story as you will ever see.    The All Blacks: 8/10  Awesome start to the Northern Tour against England because, no, we don’t count Japan. Next stop is Ireland, which is not the same as England.    Boris Johnson: 7/10  Enjoyable and on his way here. Politics aside, the world needs more irrepressible and brilliant people.    Auckland FC: 8/10  A sensational story. They're barely formed, haven't lost and you can't score against them.    Cars: 6/10  Because October's sales were some of the best of the year, unless of course you sell EVs.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our old friend Adrian Orr has decided Donald Trump will be slightly inflationary and that peak free trade is over.  On both counts he is right.  He is not always right. He wasn’t right this week on the jobs, when he thought they would be 5% by way of unemployment. And I don’t think he's right when he talked in his fiscal risk report that more jobs will lead to more mortgage defaults on housing.  If we have learned one thing out of this whole mad Covid experiment it is that New Zealanders and our relationship with housing is something out of the box.  It's obsessive. If we don’t believe it’s a right to own a house, it's certainly on the “to do” list and we work awfully hard to make it happen.  And having made it happen, we ain’t letting go easily, which is why the mortgage cliff never happened. All the doom and misery around all the houses that would be foreclosed on never came to pass.  So a few more job losses isn't going to add to the calamity that never happened in the first place. An interesting question to ask is whether Adrian's conservatism has, and indeed continues to, hold us back.  He has a “just in case” feel about him.  I refer to the amount banks have to keep aside for things that so far haven't happened, the jobs that might be lost that in fact weren't, the money all the banks needed for free during Covid so they could spray it about to protect a lot of stuff that, as it turned out, didn’t need protecting.  This is not to say things haven't been, and aren't, bad, because they are. Adrian has made a godawful mess of it all, as bad as anywhere and worse than most.   But this week I think we saw a bit of hope. The jobless rate is still to rise, but if the forecasts were wrong now, my bet is those who think it could go to 6% will be wrong next year.  The mood has, or is, changing. People don’t want to be any more down than they have to be and the tide, my gut tells me, is turning.  Even Adrian saw better times ahead for farming in his report.  I see it for farming and, indeed, for most of the rest of us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They dug into the US Election – its polls, results, and whether celebrity endorsements mean anything anymore.  Are there things you should and shouldn’t do as you get older? And at what age do you tire of owning things.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have had a hell of a start to their Northern Tour.  They began their end of year international season with a dominating win over Japan, following it up by beating England at Twickenham.   This weekend they’ll be facing Ireland, who they haven’t played since the Rugby World Cup semi-final.  Coach Scott Robertson told Mike Hosking that this is a massive weekend for the Irish, especially after what happened the last time they faced off.  He says that it’s going to be a hell of an atmosphere on Friday night.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch City Council is continuing to push back against KiwiRail's multimillion dollar safety improvement requirement, which has forced the closure of a cycleway.  The freight transport company says a crossing on the Heathcote Expressway needs $6.5 million in safety upgrades because of the cycleway  That could take two years.   Councillor Aaron Keown told Mike Hosking he assumes they're referring to the gate systems.  He says it's odd given the path doesn't cross there but runs beside the rail line.  Keown says Mayor Phil Mauger has written to the appropriate ministers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 8th of November, David Seymour discusses his Treaty Principles Bill now that we have the full details of what he wants to achieve.  Scott 'Razor' Robertson pops in for a chat ahead of the biggest game of the Northern Tour against Ireland.  Tim and Katie take a look at the US Election and discuss what you should and shouldn't do at an advanced age 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.

A programme aimed at getting more under-served groups into medical school is being scrutinised.   New research in today's New Zealand Medical Journal has found Otago University's affirmative action initiatives haven't increased the number of students from poorer backgrounds.  Māori now make up 20% of enrolments, reaching parity with European and Asian enrolments for the first time.  But Auckland University Emeritus Professor of Medicine Des Gorman told Mike Hosking the programme wasn't designed to just lift Māori enrolment.  He says when it was brought in 50 years ago, it was aimed at improving Māori health outcomes and access.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT leader David Seymour told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that he refuted claims that the bill was dead post the first reading.  He said the other parties see “that this far more constructive than anything they have seen before”.  “I think it's very clear that more and more people see that this is an initiative that promotes equal rights.”  He reiterated that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had not taken him up on his multiple offers to “join the wagon”.  “I think the National party is afraid of taking on hard issues.”  Seymour said that this Bill is about giving “everyone a fair chance in life”.  “Ultimately we are democratising the treaty... we are saying anyone gets a say in our constitutional future.  “There has become this idea that the treaty is a partnership so therefore everything becomes about your identity and which side of the partnership you are on.  “Until we remove the underlying idea that our treaty is a partnership between races and we each have a different role in our society based on our background those policies will all be back in the stroke of a pen.”  He said Bill has produced a “difficult debate” on whether the Treaty allows people to have equal rights or provides a partnership based on identity.  “If I am completely wrong and it never gets past the first reading, all that happens is that we produce the idea that each New Zealander has the right to have a say about their constitutional future.  “My ultimate challenge to those who oppose this bill… where in the world has divided people up based on this background been a success?”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World trade is ramping up rapidly ahead of the changeover of power to Donald Trump.  The US President Elect has campaigned on an agenda of increased protectionism, with tariffs of up to 20% on all imports.  He's also planning higher tariffs on Chinese goods, potentially setting the stage for another trade war.  Mainfreight managing director Don Braid told Mike Hosking that if tariffs are applied, there'll be a price increase in some places.  He says they are already seeing people filling their warehouses with stock-piled products before tariffs are applied.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best thing about the result is you can't argue with it.  You can hate it, but you can't argue with it.  To win not just the College, but also the popular vote, gives the result a legitimacy that is rock solid.  As I said yesterday, it's hard to know what the bigger deal is - a Trump victory or a Harris defeat?  The Democrats will ask themselves how is it possible, with all their money, all their incumbency and all their endorsements, they could lose to that?  The answer, of course, is obvious. That's not the point. The point is whether they will ever be able to bring themselves to see it.  The lack of planning post-Biden was astonishing. You wonder whether Obama, who wanted a contested race as opposed to a coronation, was right, or would it have made no difference? Biden had done them irreparable damage.  "Demography does not lead to democracy", was a Kellyanne Conway line I liked yesterday. In other words, treating black people, or women, or Latinos as a singular group and expecting them to act like sheep is a path to nowhere.  Why don't they get that?  There is a lesson there for this country and our debate around Māori.  As a message, it's almost like America didn't realise what they had in Trump last time. Or maybe Covid and the economy was all they really cared about and the carnage they are living through is so great they just want better times.  If there was a consistent line I heard over and over it was: "I was richer under Trump".    That's uniquely American. You would never hear people in New Zealand say "I was richer under Key" or "I was richer under Luxon".  How do you explain young people? Harris underperformed everywhere.  Look at New York for God's sake. They hate him, they indict him, then they vote for him in increased numbers.  Speaking of indictments, what happens to his legal woes? And how mad does that all get?  How about that Iowa poll from the Seltzer Group that we fell over? Yes, it was an outlier and a blow to their reputation and pollsters everywhere.  The polls though, were within their margins. They roughly seemed right. Although the remaining states will probably go the way we think, they are close, as predicted.  As I also said yesterday, you have to admire the force of nature he is. He is a lesson in being unrelenting.  For all the madness, dishonesty and illegality, he overcame it all, not once, but twice. They will study it for years to try and make sense of it.  Or maybe they already have made sense of it and it's uniquely American and it's us that thinks it's odd.  Either way, it's clean, clear, unambiguous, show-stopping, possibly gobsmacking, and now we have the prospect of four years of who knows what.  You'd like to think, given the campaign was slicker this time, the presidency will be slicker this time as well.  A bit of legacy is in the back of their minds, so let's see.  Buckle up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To some, it seems that kids these days just don’t want to work.  Australian Gen Z’s have been labelled as ‘arrogant’ by recruiter Tammie Christofis Ballis from Realistic Careers, saying their expectations are leaving a “bad taste” in bosses’ mouths.  Ballis claims kids have told her they won’t get out of bed for anything less than $100,000.  Jane Lowney, Senior Director of Robert Walters Brisbane, told Mike Hosking that the belief is a little bit harsh.  She says that when they surveyed 5000 workers across Australia and New Zealand, the sentiment was broadly the same regardless of the way you sliced it.  “I think the whole workforce is looking for things that are, you know, pretty aligned: salary, career progression, work-life balance.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 7th of November, it was an incredible night in the US. We get both the Republican and Democrat view on the historic Trump victory.  We get a first hand account of what it was like at Kamala HQ as the votes rolled in and she lost the election.  And our number one expert Nick Bryant tells us what a Trump presidency will look like second time around, and how the Dems can pick themselves up in four years' time.  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 results are expected to spark soul-searching in the Democrat Party.  Donald Trump has secured the presidency after claiming more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed.   Kamala Harris is set to officially concede the race after projections show her securing only 223 votes to Trump’s 276.  Former BBC correspondent Nick Bryant told Mike Hosking one of the big 'what ifs' the party will be grappling with is whether Harris was the right candidate.  He says that voting on a candidate within the party could’ve risked splitting the Democratic Party and splitting the vote.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man who "wrote the book" on Kamala Harris says the Democrats would have been in a worse position without her.  The Democratic Party has lost the 2024 Election, Kamala Harris falling short as Donald Trump claimed more than the 270 Electoral votes needed to secure the presidency.  CNN is also projecting that the Republican Party will control the Senate, though the House is still up for grabs.   Former LA Times Editor Dan Morain —who wrote a biography of Harris— told Mike Hosking Harris has raised more than a billion dollars for the cause.  “Money doesn’t always determine the outcome, but it sure helps.”  “And she had this incredible ‘get out to vote’ effort in the swing states, and [Trump] was relying on something that was much less organised than what the Democrats did.”  Morain says that Harris ran as good a race as she possibly could have run in the three months she had.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a shift within the United States.  Donald Trump has claimed the Presidency, securing the over 270 Electoral College votes needed.  CNN projects that the Republicans will gain control of the Senate, but the House of Representatives is still up for grabs.  Former Republican Party Communications Director Doug Heye told Mike Hosking that Trump gained ground in traditionally blue states, which says a lot about how the country has changed and is changing.  Trump lost New Jersey by only four points as opposed to the 16 points he lost by in 2020, Connecticut was lost by eight points compared to 20, Maryland was 22 compared to 33.  “New York state is a good example – Trump lost the state by 12 points, he lost it by 23 last time, and Kamala Harris is on track for the worst performance in New York City since 1992.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While there are signs of light at the end of the economic tunnel, the job market is likely to remain tough for a little while yet.  The unemployment rate has risen to 4.8%.  It's lower than expected as more people are leaving the labour force, many opting for retraining or retirement instead.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking unemployment is likely to keep rising, as it always lags behind other economic indicators.  She says it may not go reach the level some of the more pessimistic outlooks have predicted.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.