The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The cancellation of New Zealand Fashion Week has highlighted wider issues within our fashion community. A report commissioned by Mindful Fashion looking into the economic and cultural contributions found that last year, the sector added 7.8 billion to the economy, paid 4.4 billion in wages and contributed 1.9 percent to GDP. There are calls for the Government to engage with the sector. Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald tells Mike Hosking the industry spans a complex ecosystem of businesses from textiles through to design, manufacturing, retailing, education and media. The report identifies where there are opportunities for the industry to grow its contribution to NZ. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More protesters have been arrested as students continue to demonstrate at US universities. Police dismantled a Pro-Palestine camp set up in front of Royce Hall at the University of California, making more than 200 arrests. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the protests turned to mayhem after midnight and fights erupted when pro-Israel counter protesters tried to storm the camp. He said that flares and fireworks were launched over the encampment, and although no one was killed or seriously injured, it was pretty ugly and threatening. At least 2000 people total have been arrested at protests across the country in the last few weeks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are being urged to check if Inland Revenue has any unclaimed funds in their name. Almost 416,000 Kiwis are owed more than $477 million from forgotten funds, unknown debts, or unclaimed inheritance, which eventually goes to the Crown if unclaimed. That includes the inheritance of Kiwis who died without a will and with no known relatives. Lawyer Joanna Pidgeon told Mike Hosking that people have to know where the will is, and the estate then has to claim it. She says everyone should have a will to make things easier for locating, accessing, and distributing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank has an odd mandate. On one hand they directly involved themselves in cocking up the economy to the extent it has been by throwing printed money about the place, often with no real guidelines to banks as to where it would end up. Small clue: it went into housing. But the on the other hand they are all over us in terms of rules around what we can and can't do with income to debt ratios, how much money a bank has to hold in reserve for troubled times, etc. The latest is the directive to banks about insurance cover on the places they lend money on, i.e. when we get a mortgage, we need cover and they now expect the banks to be even more vigilant about the sort of cover, how much for and how long it will last. It's all in their Financial Stability Report. But on the insurance issue they revert to their hands off approach, where they point out that they are seeing more people having trouble getting and paying for insurance and that this will be a growing issue. Thanks for the warning. Have you got any advice? Well, they have, sort of. They recommend insurers, Governments and home buyers, as well as lenders, should take action to improve our understanding of natural hazards and to proactively manage affordability challenges. Awesome. Thanks for that. This in some respects is the issue of our time. Like it or not insurance, if it hasn’t already, will become a burden, if not a nightmare. The Government has already moved on the earthquake rules around buildings, knowing full well the current deadlines are unrealistic. But the day is coming, if it isn't already here, where people cannot afford to be where they are or want to be, or even if they have money, can't find a backer. So, the big question the Reserve Bank doesn’t answer is - then what? If you can't get insurance, you can't get a mortgage. Maybe you can't get a mortgage because you can't afford insurance to the level they now expect. You are stuck in a place that was once safe and now isn't. What do you do? This all has enormous economic and social consequences. So, who is in charge of this and what is the plan? Telling us it's an issue in a stability report isn't really a solution and that’s probably the way they like it. It's always easier to point a problem out than to actually deal to it. 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. Julie-Anne Genter: 0/10 She's unhinged. James Shaw: 7/10 Badly let down by a narcissist who stole the headlines by being unhinged. Pay rises: 5/10 When it comes to MPs and money you can't win. Some are brilliant and some are liabilities, but the pay structure doesn’t take that into account, hence you have what you have. Martin Freeman: 7/10 Truth to power. He's no longer a vegetarian after he discovered the meat alternatives weren't actually that flash for you, reminding us that when you read the label it's often a lot different to the marketing. Fast track: 7/10 It's depressing to watch the people who whine about actually getting on with stuff. Premium economy: 7/10 A 19% increase in sales at the front of the plane. What cost of living crisis? Te Huia: 2/10 $500 a seat subsidisation. It's the premium economy of public transport. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Fashion Week's planning to come back bigger and stronger next year. It's had to cancel this year's event and shift to a two-yearly showcase due to a lack of designers. Owner Fehroz Ali said they've responded to feedback from designers who say they don't have the financial resources for it. But, he told Mike Hosking, they will give it everything they have to ensure its back next year. Ali hopes the show's international and New Zealand partners, like Air New Zealand, will continue to support them to make sure it's successful. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 3rd of May we discussed the changes the Government is making to the education sector, Lifting Literacy Aotearoa’s Alice Wilson joined to discuss them. Former MP Peter Dunne dug into what we need to do to bring some decorum back to our Parliament and debates after years of issues, prompted by the situation with Julie Anne Genter. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrapped the Week and talked about everything from Beth Orton to celebrating your anniversary on the wrong day! 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.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back once more to wrap the week with Mike Hosking. They discussed everything from musicians they enjoy to the number of contacts they have in their phones to Tim celebrating his anniversary on the wrong day. They also touched on the Julie Anne Genter situation, asking whether it's a sackable offence. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stronger focus on literacy in education appears to be well-received by educators, so far. The Government's set a target of getting 80% of year eights to the expected curriculum level by 2030. It's committed $67 million in the upcoming Budget to teacher training and resources, particularly on teaching children how to read using phonics. Lifting Literacy Aotearoa Chair Alice Wilson told Mike Hosking that it's critical we get this right. She says they're thrilled the Government's put its money where its mouth is and invested in teacher education in a tight fiscal environment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More adult Kiwis are receiving ADHD medicine than ever before. There's been a tenfold increase in the amount dispensed for adults between 2006 and 2022, today's Medical Journal study has revealed. 0.6% of the adult population are receiving treatment, although 2.6% of adults are estimated to have the condition. Clinical psychologist for Umbrella Wellbeing, Dougal Sutherland told Mike Hosking the study highlights the shortage of specialists. He says people would be very lucky to get an ADHD assessment as an adult in New Zealand's public mental health system currently. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're being told Parliament has lost its sense of decorum because MPs have lost their respect for Parliament as an institution. Green MP Julie Anne Genter is facing disciplinary action from her party after walking across the debating chamber to confront National Minister Matt Doocey, during a debate on Wednesday night. Former Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that Genter's behaviour is part of a wider trend that's been happening for several years. He says there's always been robust debate, anger, and passion. But, Dunne says, people used to be able to control the way they presented that and show respect towards each other and the institution as a whole. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister is taking the legal fight to Canada over a trade dispute. The Government says Canada's refusing to comply with a ruling over dairy trade, where it breached CPTPP rules by blocking exporters' access to its market. A panel ruled it had until May 1st to change how it administered its tariff rate quotas and to stop prioritising domestic access. Todd McClay told Mike Hosking that we've been left $120 million out of pocket. He said that's about three and a half percent of their dairy market and suspects domestic politics are behind it, but they need to honour their international commitments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The teacher shortage has hit a new crisis point. A Post Primary Teachers Association Survey has found that 56% of principals had to employ untrained or unqualified teachers because they were unable to find qualified staff. President Chris Abercrombie told Mike Hosking that a lot of it comes down to those being hired having a limited authority to teach. He said this might be someone without a qualification or it may be hiring people to teach subjects they aren’t specialised in. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you want some savings? I have found a couple of hundred million for you then. A report out has looked at who gets the Winter Energy Payment. It's a shedload of money that is yet again going to be doled out this month for the colder period, so oldies don’t freeze to death. It's one of the more shameful decisions of this new Government and reminded me of the Christchurch Call, which they also inexplicably carried on with. The Christchurch Call isn't that expensive, but it is a grandiose truckload of virtue signalling, psychobabble that, as information revealed this week shows, has achieved basically nothing but “feels”. If a new Government was looking for easy day one savings, that would have been a goodie and the Winter Energy Payment would not have been far behind. So, the detail is that 53% of those getting superannuation don’t need a heating top up. They have enough to look after themselves. So why do they get it? Well, that’s Labour all over, isn't it? It's a high trust model. You can opt out if you like. But who does? No one. So, the waste builds. With that 53%, if you didn’t hand it out you have just saved $205 million. Now, you can only blame Labour until someone else comes along to re-introduce a bit of reality to the room. Except the new lot decided not to. It's not dissimilar to John Key who thought Working For Families was communism by stealth, until he decided to carry on with the programme. Here it is to this day, churning through billions as you work and pay your taxes only for them to take your money, have an entire battalion of public servants rifle through your entitlements and, if you are lucky, hand some of it back. It is ruinously wasteful. I assume someone, somewhere thought about the slightly simpler idea of you keeping the money in the first place so you don’t need the paperwork and hassle of trying to repatriate it. Of course, if they did it that way they wouldn’t have a financial hold over you, which of course is what a previous Labour Government had in mind when they invented it. So, we end up with $205 million in wasted money. Clearly not all money saving ideas have been exhausted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One small step for peanut butter, one giant leap for New Zealand foods. Kiwi nut butter brand Fix & Fogg has launched 50 pouches of various products into space for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Fix & Fogg Chief Executive Roman Jewell told Mike Hosking that it also has wider implications for New Zealand food products. He says it proves to NASA kiwi producers can be trusted to work with. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand Initiative report details potential hidden risks in China's Belt and Road Initiative. The pro-free-market think-tank points to potential implications for our foreign policy, independence, and development. Director Oliver Hartwich says it's not just about infrastructure investment. He told Mike Hosking that we need to be wary about China trying to draw New Zealand into its sphere of influence. Hartwich says when you have to do something political in return, you are no longer the client of the project but the product. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis have had enough of being on hold after more than 22 million hours on the phone for customer service. ServiceNow commissioned research surveyed more than a thousand people, finding wait-times rose for the second year in a row. On average it takes businesses six days to solve a customer's issue despite more than half of Kiwis saying they won't wait longer than three. ServiceNow Country Manager Kate Tulp told Mike Hosking that the current economy has inflated the issue. She says customers' expectations have continued to rise, while our dollar hasn't. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2nd of May, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters joined to dig into AUKUS and the likelihood of New Zealand joining. Two Green MPs were in the news last night, for very different reasons. Mike reviewed James Shaw's valedictory speech and Julie Anne Genter's moment of madness in the House. Heath ‘Chopper’ Franklin joined Mike in studio to talk about his New Zealand tour and how long his iconic character can last. 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.

One of New Zealand’s favourite comedians, Heath ‘Chopper’ Franklin is back from his break. The Australian comic is returning from his three year break with a bang, back in New Zealand with fifteen shows as well as his set in the International Comedy Festival. His tour kicks off today, as Chopper's 'Not Here To F*ck Spiders', the name of his tour setting the tone for the show. His iconic persona ‘Chopper’ was based off the real life criminal in the 2000 movie by the same name, his career taking off from there. “I watched it when I was... early twenties, and you know, like a lot of the movies you watch when you get to that age, you just sort of watch it and then you absorb it slowly.” Franklin recounts hanging out with friends at parties and, prompted by friends going off to sleep early, doing an impression of the character. He then brought this through into the sketch comedy shows he was doing at the time. The movie came out in the 2000s, and Franklin told Mike Hosking that there’s a level of freedom in people no longer knowing the original story. “I find the thing that kind of weighs me down the most is, especially when I go to Melbourne where they’re quite parochial and proud of even, you know, even the violence of their criminals, that yeah. You know, there’s a constant kind of reference between what I do and what he would have done.” “So I really love coming to New Zealand where I kind of get to define what the character does, and I get to kind of step out of that shadow.” He was never trying to be a biographer, he told Hosking. “I was just a guy who liked a movie and made a dumb sketch.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says Julie Anne Genter should face consequences for confronting a minister in the House. The Green MP has apologised in Parliament and could face further disciplinary action after a complaint was made of intimidatory behaviour toward Minister Matthew Doocey on Wednesday night. Genter walked across the debating chamber to Doocey, waved a booklet and spoke angrily to him while getting close to his face. The incident happened at about 8pm, while Labour’s Nelson MP Rachel Boyack was speaking and followed some interjections between Doocey and Genter. It was visible in the background of the footage on Parliament TV. “Miss Genter. Miss Genter, please resume your seat,” demanded the chair at the time, Barbara Kuriger. “It’s not appropriate to get out of one’s seat to go and have an argument with somebody on the other side.” Speaker Gerry Brownlee had to be recalled to the debating chamber to deal with the issue after National’s whip Scott Simpson asked Kuriger to do so. Simpson said in Parliament that he had never seen anything like it, describing it as a “serious, intimidatory physical attack upon another member”. The Deputy Prime Minister told Mike Hosking that Genter appeared to, quote, "lose the plot". He says there are processes to discipline someone like that, and just apologising to Doocey for making him feel unsafe doesn't cut it. Also last night, Peters gave a speech regarding AUKUS Pillar 2, and has said the details are still fairly new to him. The Foreign Minister has outlined New Zealand's position to the Institute of International Affairs at Parliament. He says we should be open to exploring the technology leg of the nuclear-powered submarine pact and what that could look like for us. Peters told Hosking that he's still trying to find out exactly what Pillar 2 would entail. He says in the middle of public discussions, all sorts of people are rushing to judgement without having been remotely briefed on the matter. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More people are competing for work for fewer opportunities as the unemployment rate's expected to keep rising. The unemployment rate is at 4.3 % in the March quarter, the highest it's been in three years. Business advisor and Pivot & Pace co-founder Kendall Langston told Mike Hosking that the difference between recent years and now is night and day. He says this time last year you'd be getting a handful of suitable applicants, but in the last couple of weeks there can be well over 60 quality applications for a role. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, bye bye James Shaw; Valedictory Day today. He is in the interesting position of having left behind something potentially quite substantive. The Net Zero laws, we will be neutral by 2050. But then that’s the problem isn't it? My bet is we wont. So, what's your legacy when the big bit you left behind turns into dust? Could be wrong of course, but as 2050 gets ever closer, the goal doesn’t. In fact, we are moving in completely the wrong direction. It's an idea and a series of polices that have been driven by good intentions but overtaken in ensuing years by cold hard reality. He will mention it, I am sure, in his Valedictory today in the Parliament. He will speak proudly of it, as well he might because the bit he leaves behind is the reputation that he was actually a Green MP in the true sense of the word as opposed to being like too many of the others; loud mouth protestors and reactionaries to the buzz cause of the day. He also has the advantage of being a nice guy. You don’t have to agree with him to get on with him. But in totality you can't help but conclude he got hijacked by causes beyond his control. The way they handled his co-leadership was shocking for a bloke who provided so much ballast to the party. They rewarded him with yet another of their wackjob hatchet attempts which culminated, if you remember, in him standing for the job unopposed because the idiots who drove it lacked any sort of planning or spine. He also spent a lot of time explaining, or apologising, or defending the various versions of madness that passed for Green Party behaviour. Turei to Golriz to Tana, a report we are still standing by for by the way, how many times was it suggested he was in the wrong party? But then as easy as that is to say, what would his party have been? He is a good old fashioned environmentalist who came from the corporate world to try and make a bit of decent change and rarely lost his good sense and fine humour in doing so. The Parliament has too much rabble these days, so his departure sadly tips the balance even further. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Prime Minister is copping some flack after speaking at a domestic violence rally on Sunday. He was caught on camera asking the organiser whether she wanted him to speak or not, saying “I am the Prime Minister” before taking the microphone. He then proceeded to tell the crowd that he’d initially been asked not to speak, which the organiser said was a “flat-out lie”. Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that he’d suggest the Prime Minister was under immense pressure. He said that his behaviour on the weekend was out of character and ridiculous. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment is expected to be up today, and it's thought to be just the beginning. Stats NZ will release the numbers for the first three months of the year around 10:45 this morning. The rate for the final quarter of last year was 4%. ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking that the labour market tends to lag behind. He said that what we’re seeing now is the last bit of a residual strength, but there are signs it will be weakening from here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data reveals where Kiwis can pay off their mortgage the fastest. The latest OneRoof-Valocity House Value Index found 46 areas across the country where a mortgage could be paid off in less than a decade. That's assuming a buyer was intending to pay a thousand dollars a week on their mortgage, on a two-year fixed interest rate of 6.75%. OneRoof Editor Owen Vaughan told Mike Hosking that it’s good for first home buyers as it shows where they can buy and where they can be mortgage free. He said that people can live a little more freely and be less worried about debt if they think outside the box a bit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another kiwi startup has broken into the US market. Alcohol-free brand AF is launching its products in US retail stores Target and Walmart from today. Founder Lisa King told Mike Hosking that they’ve been in the US market for 12 months and have gone from being in 400 stores nationwide to over 2100 stores. She said their success comes from being alcohol-free, as they were one of the first brands to launch in that category in the US. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1st of May the Remuneration Authority’s Geoff Summers joined, the group behind whether MPs get a pay rise and how much it should be. Should judges be getting paid by the taxpayer for limo rides, free airfares and their spouses to travel with them around the country? A barrister thinks it makes sense. Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined Politics Wednesday to discuss MPs pay, the National Party reshuffle, and James Shaw on his final day. 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.

It’s Politics Wednesday so Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to discuss this week’s biggest political stories. They discussed the recently announced pay rise MPs are receiving, the National Party reshuffle, and James Shaw’s final day in Parliament. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The benefits of the Christchurch Call are being debated in the wake of allegations that it's silencing member organisations. Jacinda Ardern established the global alliance in 2019 to combat online extremism in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks. But Newstalk ZB has revealed a member organisation of the Advisory Network has quit, claiming it was pressured not to release a report suggesting India isn't honouring its commitments. Tech commentator Peter Griffin told Mike Hosking that the alliance has helped achieve some global change, but it's ultimately a voluntary collective. Griffin says big-tech companies have little incentive to act and would rather spend the money on advertising. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A barrister's defending generous work perks for judges. Those in the profession are entitled to thousands of kilometres of free air travel for them and their partners. Crown limos are available for free, alongside top-ups to phone and internet payments. Wellington barrister Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking that in the profession, having your spouse go with you makes sense. He suggests judges based in Wellington, Auckland, or Christchurch would have to uproot their lives for a trial in Rotorua, as all the witnesses would live there. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We could be seeing the end of the pay freeze for MPs. The Remuneration Authority's set to increase most MP salaries 10.5% over three years. The first rise of 2.8% will be backdated to the election. This is the first pay rise since 2017 when Labour overruled the increase due to the cost of living. Remuneration Authority Chair Geoff Summers told Mike Hosking that salary increases are determined by looking at what's paid elsewhere. Summers says the 2.8% pay rise was a result, not a decision, made from aligning with the market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite grand speeches from Ukraine’s allies and NATO, pledged aid is not arriving. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday and found a lack of ammunition and air defence despite the promises made. France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that this failure to deliver is being exploited by the Russian forces. She said that in the last few hours the Commander in Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has said that his troops have had to withdraw from some of their positions in the Donetsk region as Russian troops surge forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I read an article yesterday about how we need to play in dirt more. It's good for your health, that’s why you should “ground” yourself. Get your feet in the earth every day, it's good for your health. That’s why we love growing our own veggies. 1. They’re fresh and good for your health, 2. your hands are in the dirt. And 3. increasingly it is assessed that it’s the grains and greens that is the best thing you can do for your gut, and your gut is pretty much the key to everything. It's also a lot easier than finding $1.7 billion over 4 years, which is what David Seymour has had to do for Pharmac. Pharmac is modern medicine, and modern medicine is an expensive business, and that’s because we don’t take our health seriously enough and end up with the mess we have in health care. We have never been more unwell. In a world where some anyway have never been more well, while at the same time living in an age where new information, life extending, lifesaving information has never been more accessible. At the same time Seymour was offering $1.7 billion, another bloke was blowing up at the Health Minister, having been told he needs to wait a year for an op. All this is the end of the line stuff. And before you complain too loudly, no, some people don't get a choice. Medical carnage besets them through no fault of their own. But for most of us that isn't the case, it is generally the culmination and accumulation of lifestyle. A lifestyle of a western world that knows full well what it is doing to itself and yet would rather debate a Phamac budget, because that easier than changing the way we eat or live. Pharmac’s Combined Pharmaceutical Budget (CPB) will be $1.5 billion, which is $6 billon over four years - and the money announced yesterday, which is another 400 plus million every year over 4 years, is merely to top up the underfunding which Labour left behind. This doesn’t improve things; it holds the line. It avoids the cuts. And it doesn’t include all the stuff Pharamc and the various pressure and lobby groups around the country will tell you we should be funding but don’t, because we don’t have enough money. But then how much is enough? In a country of 5 million, when there are more cost-effective answers than big pharma, how much is enough? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 30th of April, Housing Minister Chris Bishop discussed the first phase of getting families out of emergency housing while the Prime Minister dug into the poor poll result. Pharmac CEO Sarah Fitt, in her first series of interviews since the scandal last year, talks the new money for Pharmac. Comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld was back on the show after eight years to discuss his new movie and bringing his standup show to New Zealand. 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 Black Caps squad for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean has been named. This selection will make it Tim Southee’s seventh T20 World Cup, and he told Mike Hosking that he’s certainly not bored yet. He said that he’s very fortunate to be living a childhood dream and still loving every moment. While there’s a fair few unknown teams in the upcoming tournament, Southee said they have a great squad to cover the conditions and flexibility in the ways they want to play. He’s sure that there will be plenty of upsets, and some unknown names will become household names by the end of it all. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most iconic names in comedy, Jerry Seinfeld is no stranger to audiences. He’s been performing since the late 1970’s, creating and starring in the semi-fictionalised sitcom of his own life —Seinfeld— which became the most watched sitcom in American television by its third season. Seinfeld is returning to New Zealand, bringing his comedy tour to kiwi stages, and while for most tours are sporadic the comedian revealed that he’s always on the road. “I’m always touring,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking. “I never stop.” He compared it to muscle memory, saying that stopping would have him lose the sharpness of his comedy. “You can do this because if you stop and think about it too much, it doesn’t look possible. How could I walk out there onto that stage and not come back for an hour?” Despite his status as a comic legend, Seinfeld doesn’t view himself the same way, revealing that most comedians are driven by doubt. “It is a tricky, a little balance beam to do your dance on.” Unlike many other comedians Seinfeld’s show doesn’t have a name, and he told Hosking that that’s for the younger people. “I did a sitcom so I don’t have to do that,” he said. “I hope you like it, but if you don’t, that’s fine too.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is attributing last night’s poor poll result which showed coalition parties losing support to the “challenging time” Kiwis are facing. National, Act and NZ First have collectively dropped five percentage points according to the 1News Verian poll. Based on the poll, the left bloc would be able to form a government and NZ First would be out of Parliament. The poll had National at 36 per cent, down two points from the last poll in February. Labour jumped to 30 per cent, up two, and the Green Party also increased by two to 14 per cent. Te Pāti Māori was on 4 per cent, the same as the last poll. “We’ve got high inflation and high interest rates, they’re sick of it,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking this morning. “We’re making some pretty tough decisions and we need to do that in order to fix the mess that we’ve been left.” New Zealanders would make a call in 2.5 years’ time, he said. Everyone in the coalition Government was “very very focused” on fixing the “mess” they had inherited. And he laughed off some reporting of the poll results, calling it “a little frothy & sensationalist”. “I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about polls… “They can say what they want to, the bottom line is we know we’re here to do a job.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children living in emergency housing motels are set to be pushed up the priority list. From today the Ministry of Social Development will focus on families with dependent children who've been in emergency housing for longer than 12 weeks. They'll be moved to the top of the social housing waitlist. Housing Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking that the situation the government has inherited is a mess. He says families weren't a priority and there was no structure from moving them from emergency to social housing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac's record funding-boost will address the fiscal cliff it faces. An additional $1.7 billion spread over four-years has been ear-marked for the drug-buying agency in the upcoming Budget. Chief Executive Sarah Fitt told Mike Hosking that the extra cash covers time-limited funding for some treatments, which ends this year. She says the fiscal hole was always known, as the funds outlined in Budget 2022 only went through to Budget 2024. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Disability spokesperson says funding was laid out for the Ministry of Disabled People until 2027. It's under review after abruptly announcing funding changes that ultimately resulted in Minister Penny Simmonds' demotion. A briefing is now suggesting multiple problems, dating back to its formation under the previous government. Priyanca Radhakrishnan told Mike Hosking that it had been looking at fixing the issues it inherited from the Ministry of Health. She says in the interim, Penny Simmonds should have ensured it had the funding to meet cost pressures while working on systemic issues. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 29th of April, we look at the cost of implementing the Government's health targets in hospitals. It's the first day of term two, which means cellphones are officially banned. Education Minister Erica Stanford tells us how it's gone so far as most schools have already implemented the new rule. Guy and Sav cover Scott McLaughlin's Indycar win this morning, as well as Super Rugby - and they attempt to talk about the Wellington Phoenix! 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.

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the first ANZAC NRL match in Auckland since 2015, a high-quality weekend for Super Rugby, the Black Caps four run win over Pakistan in the fourth T20 cricket international and the weekend's motorsport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian research has found middle managers are the ones suffering heightened levels of burnout, largely due to premature promotions. In the survey, 73 percent of middle managers reported burnout. AUT Professor of Human Resource Management tells Mike Hosking juggle pressure from both sides of the chain. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Term two begins today, kicking the ban on cellphones in schools into effect. National announced the policy before the election in order to “help students focus and improve their academic outcomes”. The ban mandates schools ensure students don’t use or access a phone during class time, lunchtime and breaks. Education Minister Erica Stanford tells Mike Hosking the policy has been overwhelmingly welcomed. When it comes to those pushing back against the policy, Stanford is “happy to be the bad guy” if it means improved mental health and academic outcomes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fuel prices continue to rise. Unleaded 91 petrol has increased by 26 cents per litre this year, so far. Bagrie Economics Founder Cameron Bagrie tells Mike Hosking the three major factors of supply, demand, and geopolitics all contribute to the higher prices. War in the Middle East and drone attacks on Russian refineries raises concerns about fuel supplies. New Zealand prices are still away from their highest point of $3.16 per litre in July 2022. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fees for re-sitting driver’s licence tests could return as nationwide wait times surge. Since October, it has been free to retry licence tests as many times as needed after paying a one-off fee. NZTA says there has been a significant increase in demand since the change, leading to unacceptable wait times. AA Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Simon Douglas tells Mike Hosking there needs to be a cap on the number of free re-sits allowed as people join the waitlist but do not show on the day. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cutting down health system backlogs could come with a hefty price tag. Meeting planned care targets has been modelled by health officials to cost $723 million over two years. This comes from a briefing to Health Minister Shane Reti, which looked at three proposed targets to bring down wait times for first appointments and treatment. Former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell tells Mike Hosking that staffing is the biggest issue in making up the backlog. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden is facing new pressure to step up his response to the growing number of anti-Semitic incidents on university campuses. Protests have popped up in numerous states, and resulted in the cancellation of the University of California’s graduation ceremonies. US correspondent Richard Arnold tells Mike Hosking these are the most significant student protests seen since the anti-war demos of the late sixties. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett has been appointed as the new chair of the national drug purchasing entity, Pharmac. Paula tells Mike Hosking her experience within government, dealing with big change makes her the right person for the job. She says Pharmac needs major upheaval, with many challenges ahead. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday marked another year since the Gallipoli campaign, the yearly services commemorating not only those who fell in World War I, but conflicts and wars that came after. Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Andrew Dickens that it’s been a feature in recent years, the significance growing over the years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.