The Mike Hosking Breakfast

There's a view police need back-up, following the revelations more prevention work is needed for the Government to deliver its youth crime crackdown. It aims to reduce the number of serious youth offenders by 15% by 2030. Official briefings show the Police Minister was told this was ambitious and would require cross-agency work. Blue Light Chief Executive Brendon Crompton told Mike Hosking that Police are there to enforce the law. He says provider agencies then give services and support to those who've offended. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand home renovations company is aiming to challenge issues in the renovation market. It's worth around $9 a year in New Zealand but the American market's more than half a trillion, which is seen as an opportunity for Kiwi exporters. Refresh Renovations founder Jon Bridge told Mike Hosking that no one was doing renovations at scale, and there's been a major problem with budget blowouts. He says research indicates nearly a third of money spent on reno's is wasted and around 20% end in disputes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polls are still suggesting a Labour victory ahead of this week's UK general election. Labour leader Keir Starmer remains the clear contender against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that most polls are predicting a 240 majority for the Labour party. He thinks that this is underestimating both a shy Tory vote and those who do not wish to give Labour a carte blanche. Liddle suspects the majority will be smaller than predicted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a season full of ups and downs for the Warriors. After a historic loss to the Titans two weeks ago, they bounced back against the Broncos, taking the win 32-16. Coach Andrew Webster told Mike Hosking that their season has been very inconsistent. He said that their good football is probably better than most, but their worst football is probably worse than most. Webster said that he’s really proud of their win over the weekend, and they just need to find that consistency in their day to day. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal election interference case against Donald Trump is headed back to the lower courts following a historic Supreme Court ruling. The court's ruled 6-3 that former presidents are entitled to absolute immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office, but not unofficial acts. Political commentator and National Columnist for the Washington Post Philip Bump told Mike Hosking that the lower courts will determine what counts as official. Bump says in this case, the lower courts will now rule on whether Trump's pressuring of Vice President Pence to reject electors in certain states was part of his presidential duties. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2nd of July, the Government has revealed their Q3 plan with a focus on public safety. So how do those directly affected feel about it all? The Prime Minister answers those questions, plus why Te Pukenga is taking so long to disband, and Kainga Ora's future. Warriors coach Andrew Webster tells Mike how we're going to make the playoffs as we get into the business end of the season. 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.

Dairy owners want more power to make citizens arrests. The Government's committed to passing four pieces of law and order legislation in the next quarter. It includes allowing police to ban gang patches, confiscate firearms, more efficiency in the courts, and more rehabilitation for on-remand prisoners. Chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that it's a great move. But he also wants business owners, security guards, and law-abiding citizens to be able to take action when they see crimes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is clarifying a six-figure redundancy payment to the resigning Kainga Ora CEO. Christopher Luxon says it was not a decision made by the Government. The public housing agency's chief executive Andrew McKenzie says he didn't sign up for an overhaul of Kainga Ora. He's in for a payment of $365 thousand. Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that those arrangements sit with the chair Simon Mouttar, but he calls it an under-performing organisation. He says they're refreshing the board. Luxon said that he doesn't know the details of the redundancy, and doesn't want to, what he wants to know is that the organisation is starting to get better. The Prime Minister has also pledged to address law and order during the Government’s plan for the third quarter of this year, although he was often coy when asked about specific details of policies. Luxon published his Government’s plan for the third quarter on Monday. The plan covers the period from July to the end of September and included 40 “actions” across areas like the economy and climate change, but Luxon said law and order would be his priority. “The Government I lead is one of action and we are already making meaningful changes that will keep Kiwis safe in their homes, workplaces and communities,” Luxon said. The plan pledges the Government to giving police “tough powers to go after gangs by restricting their ability to associate and banning gang patches in public” and the power to “get guns out of the hands of criminals”. While plans for a Government’s first 100 days in office have become fairly common features of New Zealand politics, Luxon decided his Government would adopt a 100 day plan-style approach to its entire term of Government by publishing a plan each quarter of what “actions” the Government intends to tick off over the next three months. Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Luxon compared his progress throughout his time as Prime Minister to the many “corporate turnarounds” he has accomplished in his career, although he acknowledged the difference between a business and a country. ”I am just focused on the must-do stuff right now, that’s what you to do when you are turning stuff around… we can plant those seeds now that we can benefit from down the road. ”If we don’t do that, we are heading down a very dark road.” Other significant pledges include to publish New Zealand’s second Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP), the first such plan published by this Government. ERPs are meant to set out how a Government meets its emissions budgets under the Zero Carbon Act. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say that community response is to thank for positive youth crime outcomes. More than 70% of children and youths referred through the youth offender support protocol —Fast Track— haven't been re-referred. The protocol, created by Oranga Tamariki, finds support services to prevent youth re-offending. Police Assistant Commissioner Investigations Paul Basham told Mike Hosking that it shows the system is working. He says troubled kids are getting the help they need, and crime is being prevented as a result. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The claims the election in France has set the country on edge are being deemed an understatement. The snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month has the anti-immigration and European Union-sceptic National Rally party enjoying a strong lead in the polls. French Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that the tension is palpable, with nobody quite knowing where this is going to end. She says they're looking at another 36 hours or so before they learn who will be standing in the next round of elections. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former community housing leader says those providers are ready to collaborate with the Government. Kainga Ora chief executive Andrew McKenzie has resigned, saying the Government's changes aren't what he signed up for. It comes after a scathing review of the organisation. Former Monte Cecilia Housing Trust CEO Bernie Smith told Mike Hosking that the last Government stopped community housing providers buying houses from developers, but did it themselves. He says time and time again first home owners were locked out of the market because Kainga Ora came along with a big chequebook. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is true to say that Biden got it together, somewhat, as the debate unfolded. But it started so badly that even in his finest moments it was ordinary. The unmistakable truth is what you saw is as good as it gets. If Americans vote for him he doesn’t improve, he doesn’t get younger and he doesn’t get sharper. I have not, until this point, believed the narrative that you can take a sitting President and replace him mid-race. But now, I am not so sure. If he quits, or gets pulled, they will lose. It would be a disaster. But is it a bigger disaster than letting him carry on and lose anyway? No one in their right mind can vote for him in the state he is in. I can also mount an argument that no one in their right mind can vote for Trump either. He lied his way through most of the debate. Everything was perfect until he left and now it's the worst it's ever been. The water, the air, the war, the border, the economy. "It was perfect like no one had ever seen it and now it’s the worst we have ever had in the history of the world". That's all he said. Pick a topic, same answer. They were both shocking and it's an indictment on the American political system that those two are what you get to choose from. The debate was also the loser. Questions weren't answered, it was locked down to a stop watch, questions were ignored, matters weren't followed up, nothing flowed and it lacked energy. Yes, if they had let them free wheel it would have imploded so I don’t know what they do about the next one. But what you were left with is an empty feeling that the most powerful nation on Earth is run by, or about to be run by, some exceedingly limited people. The low point was surely the exchange over golf handicaps. Biden was a 6, until he was an 8, and Trump wins tournaments and not even senior ones? Are you serious? Trump is dangerous because he's mad. Biden is dangerous because he is in the most obvious cognitive decline. A crook vs a geriatric. What a choice. And that choice was on display for 90 minutes in the most depressing show of credentials I think I have ever seen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 1st July, we have the Government's three year plan for health and Health Minister Shane Reti explains whether it is actually achievable. Mike fact checks the nine lies from Biden and the 30 lies from Trump in the first presidential debate. Guy and Sav cover the Warriors, England's win in the Euros, and just where do NZ'ers watch Wimbledon? 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 young kiwi patient will be one of the first to be treated with a radical new treatment for a rare disease. The drug will be used to target muscle cells and silence a gene which causes Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Neurologist and trial lead Richard Roxburgh says the method is promising. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The President struggled through Friday's debate against Former President Donald Trump, even finding it hard to finish sentences at times. US News and World Report Senior National Correspondent Olivier Knox says it was Biden's worst public appearance during his time in office. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auckland Regional Fuel Tax expires today, saving motorists 11.5 cents per litre. Automobile Association spokesperson Terry Collins says the organisation will be keeping a close eye on fuel companies to ensure they do drop prices. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifty vehicles were impounded and more than 900 infringement notices dished out in Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Wellington, and Canterbury over Matariki weekend. Superintendent Jeanette Park told Mike Hosking this is not a new issue for police. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister is looking ahead as reform of the health system marks its second anniversary. In 2022, the former 20 Distract Health Boards were amalgamated into one central agency - health New Zealand. Health Minister Shane Reti says the previous government did not have a good implementation plan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Integrity Sports and Recreation Commission launches today. It's a new Crown entity that will take responsibility for safeguarding sport and recreation across New Zealand. Chief Executive Rebecca Rolls spoke with Mike Hosking about what this means for the future of sport in New Zealand. 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 Northland transmission tower: 1/10 If you made it up, they wouldn’t believe you. The ferry: 3/10 A bit more believable given the track record leading up, but it's still no less depressing. The Warriors: 1/10 Almost as bad as taking too many nuts and bolts out. Pharmac: 7/10 Because on balance, a naive promise that was broken got rectified in a pretty impressive way and a lot of people get the help they need because of it. Julian Assange: 6/10 On balance it's probably fair. He's a crook, he's served jail time and he endangered a lot of people. The debate over that, or whether he is a hero, will never settle, but the case has. Jetstar: 6/10 Good week. I'm not sure about Cairns. But more domestic choice is good. The fast track poll: 6/10 Proof that a bit of common sense is actually what a chunk of New Zealanders want. Maybe the media can reflect more of that instead of seeking out the moaners all day long LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A little something from the perspective file. Although things are dire and dour and straight up and down bad, in some areas they are not as bad as headlines would lead you to believe. The best line of high drama I have read this week was around jobs. "It's like the Hunger Games", it said. Is it? Really? A lot of press has been given to those who have lost jobs of late. The reason for this is because we haven't gone through a job loss scenario for a while in this country. But if you've been around a while it isn't like the hunger games, or anywhere close to it. The unemployment rate is currently 4.3%. It might be a little bit higher given some of our data is slow, but at worst it's thought it may get to 5% or a little bit over. In a historic context, 5% is a little more than normal. What we are living through is moderately normal. The same can be said about interest rates when it's in the 6's, maybe early 7's. Yes, it's a lot higher than what they have been, but in context it's not remotely unusual at all. In these examples is the value of institutional knowledge. Much of the coverage of job losses and the ensuing Hunger Games has been based around the public service, which brings in another interesting aspect of jobs and choices I read the plight of a person recently laid off who was off to Australia because the work they did no longer desisted here. They were going to Melbourne where the Government puts more funding into the social work they do. Which is great, if that’s your calling. But choosing a job that's no niche that it no longer exists surely was a risky choice in the first place. That's like the person whose story I also read who got laid off from the Auckland light rail project. Surely when they applied they knew that wasn’t long for this world? Having lost a couple of jobs myself there is no question it sucks, especially if it comes as no fault of your own. The job ads may be down and the applications may be up, but at no point is what we are going through any more arduous, difficult or unusual than we have been through many a time before, and indeed will go through again. What I suspect has changed is resilience. There isn't as much of it about these days and that’s why "normal" seems like the Hunger Games. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was. They talked fitness regimes, tomorrow’s US Presidential debate, and Mike waxed poetic about fried bread. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than three billion dollars' worth of household food gets thrown in the bin every year. The Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, Dame Juliet Gerrard, has issued the government 27 recommendations, including a reduction target. Executive Director of NZ Food Waste Champions Kaitlin Dawson told Mike Hosking that we need to focus on other ways to lower the figures. She says there's waste in retail, farming, and manufacturing but overall, it's a system issue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir John Kirwan has been given the ‘all clear’ for a $100 million surf park project in Auckland. The artificial surfing pool will make between 600 and a thousand waves per hour, with more than 30 different settings for all skill sets. If further approvals go ahead, construction can begin on the 43-hectare area in Dairy Flat later this year. The All Black legend told Mike Hosking that there'll be a data centre and hotel, so it'll appeal to more than just the surfers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of June, we explored the dropping dairy profits and the reforms the Government is introducing for sentencing. Mike discovered fried bread this morning and couldn't be more interested in it. Huge anticipation for the U.S debate between Trump and Biden so we got the expert analysis. 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.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump are gearing up for a rematch in the first 2024 US election debate. It's the third faceoff between the President and former President after two heated encounters in 2020. Marco Rubio's former chief of staff Matt Terrill says Biden will have to bring some energy while Trump will have to focus on the policies. He told Mike Hosking that it's going to come down to inflation and immigration. Terrill says those two issues are top of mind for the undecided voters, who both candidates will be trying to win over. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's edging towards becoming more prescriptive with its sentencing reforms. It's introducing changes to lengthen sentences for some crimes including creating a new aggravating factor and limiting sentencing discounts. Law Society Criminal Law Committee Convenor Chris Macklin says it's early days, but it looks like there's still some room for discretion. He told Mike Hosking that he expects Judges will do their best to apply whatever comes out of the legislation as fairly as possible. Macklin says it's just a small step towards becoming more prescriptive, signalling to the courts the expectation of Parliament rather than an outcome. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heavy rain warnings have lifted for Hawke's Bay as the clean up on the North Island's east coast begins. Roads were closed and people evacuated after heavy rain lashed the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne regions yesterday. Wairoa District Council says 400 properties have been impacted, more than 100 significantly. Wairoa Business Association Chair Sue Wilson told Mike Hosking that most main street businesses weren't impacted this time, but many others are. She says agriculture businesses are affected, with two major Angus Bull sales that were meant to be held this week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a tough time for dairy farmers with expenses up and profits down. An industry survey has shown a suite of challenges for dairy producers including a drop in the payout for milk solids and a reduction in herd size. It's caused operating profits to be down 27%. Mark Neal, Head of Data Science at Dairy NZ, told Mike Hosking that it's emblematic of wider economic challenges. He says farmers, like the rest of New Zealanders, are battling inflation and are being forced to watch costs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI has gotten two start-ups in hot water. Their use of AI for music creation has resulted in them being sued by three of the world’s largest record labels: Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records. They say that the AI firms are making money from copied songs, and want $150,000 in compensation for each song that has allegedly been copied. The New Zealand Chair of the Intellectual Property Society, Kate Duckworth, told Mike Hosking that this is likely to be the first of many cases. She said that the defence is likely going to be that it was fair use —a strong defence in the United States— or that the songs were transformative works, as was claimed in a case about Andy Warhol. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby is on shaky ground. It made a loss of almost $9 million in 2023, the second loss making year in a row after 2022’s loss of $47 million. NZR CEO Mark Robinson said that further work is needed to achieve a sustainable financial model, but he was positive about the organisation’s future. He told Mike Hosking that the way things developed over the last 20-25 years means they’ve got a really high fixed cost base, and they’re working really hard with shareholders to try and alter that. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have our first agree to disagree clause of this new coalition. First point to make - what a mature look it is. New Zealand First has invoked the clause, which is probably not the surprise. The surprise is that in previous coalitions this would be described as a crack. "Coalition cracks forming" was the headline from Newshub. Yet in 2024 if it is as it seems, it’s a clause, that's life and we move on. That is to the credit of Christopher Luxon, who stitched this thing together with the view of it holding long term. So far, so good. As regards who is right, it is to do with the ACT-led decision that the Covid inquiry will now be in two parts. Part one is the bit that’s on now, headed by Tony Blakely. They will finish their work and report in November. Then we get part two with a new chair, new commissioners and wider terms of reference. Now, if Brooke van Velden argues it's worth keeping the current inquiry because they are underway and stopping it would be wasteful, then I have an element of sympathy. Although it was a jack up from Labour, it will elicit some things that are of value. As much sympathy as I have for the wastage argument, I have more sympathy for New Zealand First, who on this question, are more right than ACT is. Blakely should never have been appointed and the terms of reference are a joke. It was classic Labour - stack the deck and pretend it’s a proper game. The stuff we desperately want investigated isn't part of the inquiry; vaccine procurement and efficacy and all the wider economic and social issues that we are still wading through. Personally, I'd like to see people called and compelled to turn up, but that is wishful thinking. The other bit is the second part won't report back until 2026, which is election year. Covid started in 2019 and the report is due seven years later? That’s not pace or progress. Act will have their reasons, but on this Winston Peters has read the mood better and I think ultimately is on the right side of it. But the fact he can invoke a clause and not spit the dummy is massive progress in the collegiality of a multi-party arrangement running the country. And the success of that is not to be underestimated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A security intelligence analyst says the US has got what it needed from Julian Assange. The Wikileaks founder has struck a deal with the US and will soon plead guilty to an espionage charge before being sentenced to time already served. Paul Buchanan told Mike Hosking that Assange has spent the last 14 years in some sort of confinement. He says the US has won its pound of flesh out of him, adding that he's a broken guy and this sounds like a fair way to end the entire thing. Buchanan doubts Assange will get the pardon he is seeking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's claims continued Houthi strikes in the Red Sea are to blame for high shipping costs in this country. Another vessel sank last week after being struck, killing three people in the shipping channel and putting strain on the global supply chain. It's caused shipping costs in New Zealand to rise by three times last year's levels. Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation former president Chris Edwards told Mike Hosking that geopolitics play a huge role in international shipping. He says that now, shipping vessels need to travel further to avoid the Red Sea which increases costs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 26th of June, Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden joined to discuss the next stage of the Covid Inquiry. The CRL CEO Sean Sweeney is resigning and the job he's done has been described by the CRL as "successful leadership". Mike has other thoughts... Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell covered boot camps, the Covid inquiry, and whether there are cracks in the coalition after Winston Peters involved the Agree to Disagree clause. 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 invoking of the Agree to Disagree clause doesn’t indicate a cracking coalition, the Police Minister says. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has invoked the first Coalition Agree to Disagree over the second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry. Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that the coalition agreement has that clause so that the things parties don't agree on can be dealt with in an adult way. He said that it’s a strong coalition and thinks that all the ministers are enjoying working inside it. Disagreements are normal in any part of life, Mitchell said, but the reality is that every party recognises the perilous state the country is in, and they have to be united and have a strong government that is focused on delivering. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Internal Affairs Minister says the second phase to the Covid Inquiry will expand the terms of reference. It's due to start in November and will continue until February 2026. Minister Brooke van Velden says phase one centres mostly on the health response and the Government's communication. But she told Mike Hosking that phase two will focus on factors like vaccines and lockdowns as well as any disruptions to health, education and business. She says it will be a bit broader in range and will answer more of the questions that are top of mind for people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supporters and sceptics of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange are speaking out at news of his release. The 52-year-old is a few hours away from pleading guilty to a US espionage charge and will be sentenced to time already served. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that there's been condemnation but also celebration from those closest to him. Assange's wife and lawyer, Stella, says it's been a whirlwind of emotions, and she is elated. However, Richard Arnold says, some media commentators are still suspicious over allegations of Assange's ties to Russia. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

66% of New Zealand's mayors have signed a letter against the Government's Māori ward changes but one mayor says it's a good thing. A Parliament select committee's recommended the Māori Wards Bill go ahead. It will force councils which established Māori wards since 2021 to hold a referendum in next year's local election on whether they should stay. Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen didn't sign onto the letter and told Mike Hosking that the Government's proposal makes sense. He says if councils want to make changes to local democracy by adding the wards, they should have to go to the people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reform may have hit its peak but it’s position in the polls is a cause for concern for the Tories. The party had a surge over the weekend, leaving it ahead of the Conservative Party in the polls, but their lead is “nowhere near enough” to concern Labour, UK Correspondent Rod Liddle said. He told Mike Hosking that it’s enough to ensure the Tories are down to between 50 to 70 seats at most. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So it seems we have ended up with three stories. But all three stories have the same outworkings - we look like a basket case of a country, but we got there three different ways. First is the plane. That’s on the Government, and indeed various Governments, who failed to take defence expenditure seriously and it's caught them out. Like NATO, member countries promise to spend 2% of their GDP on it, but don’t. Until Putin rolls into Ukraine and then they panic. We talk it up here as vital, but make the same mistake until it gets too embarrassing to ignore. Second is the ferries. That seems to be on KiwiRail. KiwiRail don’t seem to be up to much. Yes, they have been mucked around over the years by various Governments. But as I said yesterday, read the paperwork between them and Grant Robertson over what they were looking to do and what it was costing and how clearly they had no control over what was going on and the bill blowing out. Governments can't run literally everything on a daily basis and it is KiwiRail who have let the Government down, and badly. The third story is the power tower. “Inconceivable” was the word. Given it took us about three and a half minutes to work it out and given it only took them less than a weekend to join a few dots, they really shouldn’t have been so defensive on Friday. Idiots were in charge of spanners. Why they have launched a further inquiry baffles me. Once you have worked out thick people don’t follow instructions, what else is there to investigate? So, all in all, a shocking week for a country that is having a tough time of it anyway. All of it was avoidable, but we arrived here through different channels - indifference politics and lack of vision for a plane, laziness and contempt over other people's money and lack of discipline for a ferry, and then people you wouldn’t hire to walk your dog over a tower. All of it was avoidable. All of it is more expensive now because of actions not taken at other times. So the trick is, have we learned anything and, if we have, do we put it into action? Do we get better? Do we work harder? Do we try harder? Do we want to improve? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Total exports reached an all-time high in May despite a continued downward trend in the Chinese market. Last month's exports were valued at $7.2 billion for the first time. China was the number one market, but beef exports dropped 45% compared to last year. Export NZ advocacy director Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking that she believes Chinese demand will come back because they are so large. She says the growth won't be as big as it's been for the last five-to-ten years, as their economy is re-balancing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 25th of June, we finally got the cancer drugs and what a haul! It’s set to help tens of thousands more people. We could have had an hour with the Prime Minister but in the time we had, we talked cancer drugs, the various infrastructure issues, and whether there is a hiring freeze for frontline doctors and nurses. The Scott Robertson All Blacks era has begun! He joined Mike to talk the season ahead and what the team will look like under him. 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 Scott Robertson All Blacks Era has officially begun. Yesterday saw him announce his first squad, with Scott Barrett taking the captaincy and Ardie Savea and Jodie Barrett filling the role of deputies. Robertson told Mike Hosking that it was good to get on with it as they’ve been tracking the players for a long time, so it felt to goof to finalise the squad and put it out there. He’s not yet sure how different his era of the All Blacks is going to be, but a big part of what he’d like to do is bring a bit more insight and connection to who they are and how they do things to the public. “A big part of what I have to do is bring the past and legacy with us, so that’s what you’ll see off the field, but on the field a team that can adapt, play different ways, play the team in front of us to be connected and find ways to win.” “You know, good Kiwi DNA, find ways to be connected and find ways to win.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's praising himself for finally getting there with the cancer drug funding. The Government's committing $604 million to Pharmac, taken from next year's Budget. It will cover the funding for 54 new medicines, including up to seven of 13 drugs the Government promised last year. The cancer medicines funded would treat cancer of the lung, liver, skin, bowel, kidney, head and neck, and bladder. The Government has also promised some of the drugs would combat breast and blood cancers. The 28 non-cancer-related drugs would address a range of conditions likely to include infections, respiratory conditions, osteoporosis, sexual health, dermatology, inflammatory conditions, and mental health. The spend was double what National proposed in 2023. Luxon told Mike Hosking that he's proud of the investment and ultimately for delivering more than promised initially. He says it's different from what was proposed but he's more interested in the outcomes, and he's now surpassed them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief that regular check-ins for beneficiaries will result in more people working. People on Jobseeker are now required to attend the Ministry of Social Development's 'work check in' seminars. The first will be after two weeks of signing on and another after six months. Former WINZ boss Christine Rankin told Mike Hosking that there's a huge need for the entry-level jobs in question. She says it's a Jobseeker's responsibility to find a job that pays more than a benefit, which Rankin says isn't hard to do. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone will be paying the price for last week's power outage in Northland. A pylon toppled over on Thursday after too many nuts were removed from the legs, letting it tip over. Transpower says it's an inconceivable and unprecedented situation, and consumers can apply for compensation through their retailer. Whangarei District Mayor Vince Cocurullo told Mike Hosking that they will need to wait until the incident is fully looked into. He says they need to know who's liable for the insurance claims. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An excellent outcome from a terrible process. That's Medical Oncologist Chris Jackson's summation of Pharmac's latest funding boost. The Government's committing $604 million to cover funding for 54 new medicines, including 26 cancer treatments. Jackson says we have to be careful about implementation because dumping 26 cancer medicines into the system at once could create a capacity demand issue. He told Mike Hosking that a number of cancer services around the country are already stretched. Jackson says if we don't fund the infrastructure for them like chemo units, nurses, and the like, we'll end up with more waiting lists. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The river Seine isn't as clean as officials would've hoped ahead of the Paris Olympics. Many have expressed concerns over the state of the waterway which will also play a major role in the opening ceremony, where teams will float downstream in barges. Europe correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that there's twice the maximum volume of e-coli in the water. She says nearly $2.4 billion has been spent trying to clean up the river in the past decade. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s opposition leader Peter Dutton has vowed to override the nuclear power ban. Dutton made the comments during a federal Liberal party council meeting in Sydney, where he called Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a “fraud” and a “child in a man’s body”. Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking “I expect there’ll be some more fireworks today.” Price said “If we don’t have a mature debate about it – we're going to end up with no energy.” LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.