The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Reassurances are being given that those on JobSeekers won't be punished if a tough job market means they can't find work. New MSD figures reveal just under 188,000 people are on this benefit, up almost 20,000 people from last year. The Government's hoping to get 50,000 off JobSeekers in the next six years. Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking that if people are doing everything they can, they won't be sanctioned. She says it's about people not taking the steps to get ready for a job and doing their bit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A UK debt industry leader's offering New Zealanders advice following a grim economic forecast. Infometrics data finds the economy's being hit harder than expected and it may be another year until it feels like the worst of the downturn is over. Steve Coppard told Mike Hosking that he’s urging households with increased debt to use the free mentorship available. He says people need to work with professionals to identify the barriers preventing them from escaping debt. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The meeting is underway for the G7 Ministers, taking place on the Italian island of Capri. Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna said we’re likely to see predictable announcements coming soon regarding Iran, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza. She said that they’re likely to reinforce the opposition to what Iran did and reinforce the support for Israel. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More from our common sense file. Resources Minister Shane Jones has had a good week and I'm increasingly falling in love with him. He turned on the country's only electric digger. This is a big mother and may well be the future of heavy industrial work. He is also going to make it easier to dig for coal. As he points out coal, in terms of extraction, is not dissimilar to extracting lots of minerals and although there are a small, but loud, group of people that want to extract nothing, what happens when you don’t have energy is you either have to bring it in or you sit in the dark a lot. In a week where we learned we will need ten times the power we currently use just to search the net, given AI sucks up a shed load more power than your current Google search, it might be time to get a bit real about what makes the wheels turn. While we wait for solar and wind and whatever else to get approved and brought online, the simple truth remains we make most of our energy out of water (which is good), a bit out of hot stuff in the ground (which is pretty good). But we still need coal. Because we can't really look for more coal the same way we haven't been able to look for more oil, we got a bit stuck. So, we had the absurdity of importing coal from Indonesia. Not only was it coal, but it was coal not nearly as good as ours, thus defeating the entire purpose of saving the planet. Speaking of which, surely the numbers also out this week once and for all buried this falsehood that the world is turning on the climate. We have never used more coal and demand has gone up again in the past year. But we are planning and opening more mines than ever before, led of course by China. China, along with a long list of players from Greece to Vietnam to Pakistan to Korea, Bangladesh and Japan are all opening mines. No, that's not ideal. But as Jones points out, utopia in the form of renewables at a level of 100% is years away. In the meantime, it's back to the real world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors CEO Cameron George is trying not to get ahead of himself despite the coup of signing Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris on a four-year deal. The three-time Premiership winning prop has been granted a release from the final two years of his deal with Penrith on compassionate grounds. He's a like-for-like replacement for Addin Fonua-Blake, who will join Cronulla at the end of this season. George told Mike Hosking that it's another positive step for the club post the pandemic era. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans of the reggae and pop scenes will be very familiar with the works of UB40. The English band was formed in the late 1970’s, going through a few iterations as their music finds international success. Robin Campbell is a founding member of the band, having stuck with it for 45 years, throughout the drama, court cases, and a revolt. They’re popping over to New Zealand with the release of their 21st album ‘UB45’ stopping by Auckland and Christchurch in October on their ‘Red Red Wine Tour’. Campell told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that they have a few extra members in the band and a couple of new guys. “We’re firing on all cylinders, having a ball.” 45 years is quite a significant amount of time for a band to be running, and Campbell said it’s always kind of a ‘pinch me’ moment. “You know, how the, how the heck are we still doing this after 45 years? Why are we so popular? How did we get so lucky?” The secret for them is doing what they love and hoping their fans and friends come along with them. “It’s just the way it’s always been for us, it’s always worked.” “It’s a wonderful position to be in.” UB45 releases Friday, 19th of April. The Red Red Wine Tour will be coming to Christchurch on October 8th and Auckland on October 10th. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 18th of April, we spoke to former Finance Minister Steven Joyce about the good and bad news from the latest inflation number. Police Minister Mark Mitchell gave his thoughts on what's next after the Police turned down their third and final pay offer. There's a lot of angst about the public sector job cuts, particularly from Opposition Leader Chis Hipkins. Does he defend the decisions he made while in Parliament that led up to these cuts? Robin Campbell of the original UB40 fame joined the show to talk about their new album and upcoming NZ shows. 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.

Some are saying the Government's updated health guidance for children is bringing back the balance from the pandemic. The guidelines say children with a mild cough, headache, or runny nose can go to school given they don't have Covid-19 or other symptoms like fever or diarrhoea. Auckland Primary Principals' Association's Kyle Brewerton told Mike Hosking that we've had four years of erring on the side of caution. He says it's part of a wider message to get kids back to school. Brewerton says we have a big attendance problem and it's a way of saying to get rid of any more issues. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is defending public servants in the firing line. Just yesterday, more than a-thousand job cutting proposals were announced at the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki combined. The Government's suggesting some of the cost savings could be re-invested into frontline services. Labour leader Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking that he doesn't agree the public service had been 'bloating' under his leadership. He said the people losing their jobs are delivering valuable services like the food in schools programme or curriculum work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tread carefully over plans to extend earthquake-strengthening work deadlines. The Government's announced it's giving people an extra four years to get unsafe buildings up to scratch. It's also bringing forward a review into earthquake-prone buildings. AUT construction expert John Tookey told Mike Hosking that four years or beyond kicks the issue into a future governmental cycle or two. He says this inevitably mixes politics with public safety considerations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former finance minister says there's nothing to celebrate in the latest inflation figures. Inflation has fallen to 4% in the year to March. That's well down on the 4.7% recorded in the year to December but above the Reserve Bank's forecast. Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking that non-tradable inflation —on things like rents and rates that don't face foreign competition— has only dropped slightly from 5.9% to 5.8%. He says that's troubling for the Reserve Bank and the economy, and points to 'stagflation'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says the latest pay offer to Police is the best it can do as the country is basically broke. Three quarters of officers have voted ‘NO’ and a decision now sits with an impartial arbitrator. The Police Association says it's 4% below what teachers have been offered, which is a slap in the face. Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that the package is a quarter-of-a-billion dollars better than the offer that went forward in August. He says for the first time they've been offered paid overtime, a lump sum payment of $1,500, and a 4% salary increase for three years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s wool industry is getting a boost in front of an international audience. Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting the sector and outlining the Coalition Government’s support for revitalising it. Campaign for Wool Trustee Sandra Faulkner told Mike Hosking that it’s fantastic to have a minister who is publicly backing New Zealand farmers and what they produce. She said that with the focus on moving away from plastic products, it’s all about going back to the basics, getting out there, and celebrating the industry. Faulkner said that at the moment it’s a pretty competitive industry and some structures will need to be changed, and she holds hope that this Government will be able to do so. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can ask a lot of questions about the TV3 deal with Stuff. Do Stuff know how to make television? How many people will they actually hire as opposed to re-purposing the staff they already have? Does the programme draw an audience? Will it look anything like what we are used to? Most importantly, does it solve a problem for TV, the media, and Warner Bros. Discovery? To a degree, none of that matters to us. We are viewers and if what they produce is worth watching, we will. If it isn't, we won't. It's important to remember, for all the noise the media has created about itself these past few weeks, TV3 news was never really been that successful, hence it cost more than it was worth. Will it now cost less and therefore be worth about what it costs? What Warner Bros. Discovery have done is what we do with lawns; we get someone else to do it. Small problem is if Jim's aren't up to much, we go get someone else. The media market is a bit tapped out in terms of suppliers, so you want to hope Stuff have the wherewithal to deliver. It's also worth remembering that what has been announced isn't new, or indeed revolutionary. This company sells news services to other operators and has done for years. Newshub makes the news bulletin for Sky TV each night at 5.30pm. It's simply the buying and selling of content. Depending on what you angsted over most depends a bit on whether this is a good deal. If all you wanted was a couple of 6 o'clock news shows on the TV, then that problem seems addressed. If you were worried about 300 people losing their job, that news might not be as good. What makes a deal like this work is synergies; people already doing related stuff, doing more of the same, except different. You write a story, it might end up online, it might end up on radio, it might end up on TV. This isn't new either. So, what we seem to have got is a shuffling of the chairs, except not as many chairs. It's better than what might have been but not better than what it was. It’s a cheaper version, it's scaled down, its different and it’s the new normal in an ever-changing landscape. As I said weeks ago at the start of all this, media has evolved as long as I have been in it. This is just another day and another iteration. But, as always, we wish the players well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 17th of April, we got an economist's thoughts on what we can expect today from our inflation stats, and the former Newshub Head of News Mark Jennings took a look at the TV3/Stuff deal. Speaking of money, the Reserve Bank is looking at digital wallets and e-commerce for New Zealand, is this our future? Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell covered everything from the Waitangi Tribunal to boot camps for kids on Politics Wednesday. 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.

Labour and National are clashing over a potential mega-tunnel underneath Wellington. The government's looking at a tunnel connecting The Terrace and Kilbirnie, a distance of around 4km. It has been proposed to bring down travel times and reduce congestion on state highways. National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that they're going through a business case and analysis. But Labour's Ginny Andersen, based in Lower Hutt, is sceptical about how it'll happen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is setting his sights on cutting back safety regulations in early childhood education centres. The Associate Education Minister's announced he will scrap requirements for the Education Ministry to sign-off on new centres being established. Also binned are changes which had been due to take effect in August, requiring people in supervisory roles to hold a full teaching practice certificate. Seymour told Mike Hosking that they’re committed to quality health and safety regulations for kids, but beyond that it’s up to those planning to start ECE centres to take the risk and make their business work. He said that it’s up to parents to decide where they want to send their children, and if they don’t send their kids somewhere, maybe they’re trying to tell the owner something. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's opened consultation on the possibility of a government-backed digital currency. The central bank is currently researching such an option. It would be used alongside physical cash. Director of Money and Cash Ian Woolford told Mike Hosking their view is that there's not enough innovation and efficiency in the financial system. He says they hope a central bank digital cash will spur this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation is expected to cool further today, but some predict it falling more than others. ANZ's expecting today's figures to show annual inflation dropping to 4%, down from the 4.7% it was in last year's final quarter. The forecast is above the Reserve Bank's February expectation of 3.8%. ANZ Economist Henry Russell told Mike Hosking that's a little low. He says there should be enough data in today's figures to show inflation is continuously coming down, but progress is coming more slowly than the Reserve Bank anticipated. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newshub's former head of news believes it's a waiting game as to whether the salvaged TV bulletin will work. Stuff has signed on to produce and provide a daily bulletin on TV3 from July 6, following Newshub's closure. Mark Jennings told Mike Hosking it's better than nothing. But, he says, it's going to be up to the viewers what they make of this, adding they vote with their remotes, and we will know the verdict from July 6th. Jennings says although Stuff journalists are used to collecting video, uploading it to a website is different to packaging it for TV. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dozens of prospective jurors in the Donald Trump 'hush money' trial continue to be dismissed as they say they can't be fair. It's the second day of the trial, and jury selection continues. Trump's charged with falsifying business records over his alleged role in a hush money scheme before the 2016 election. He's pleaded not guilty. US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it's a tough jury selection. He says they've got nowhere, and more than half of those called said they couldn't be fair or impartial. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Northland businesses are telling Government to commit to a full expressway between Northland and Auckland. A NZIER report found a four-lane highway between Auckland and Whangārei would bring millions to the region's economy. Northland Corporate Group Co-Chair Andrew McLeod says the evidence for the benefits are clear. He told Mike Hosking that the Government just needs to make a decision now, because it's currently hurting Northland business. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is walking a tightrope in their response to Iran’s attack on Israel. More than 300 projectiles were launched on Israel by Iran in retaliation for a strike on its consulate in Syria two weeks ago. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that the attack on Israel has bolstered them amongst their allies, Britain among them. However, he said, PM Rishi Sunak is hampered by having David Cameron in the Foreign Office, who's beliefs are antithetical to most of what is wanted by Israel. Liddle said that Sunak will continue to say that they support Israel, but will be mediated by his Foreign Secretary who says that Israel should do nothing more to try get rid of Hamas. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The plans for the grand opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics could wind up changed. France is on high security alert ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and instead of the 6km boat parade down the Seine, the opening ceremony could be shifted to the Stade de France. Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that it seems to have been pushed on by several events, notably the security alert surrounding the Champions League football game and just before that, the attack in Moscow. While plenty of people were shocked by this announcement, she said that it came as a real surprise to those running the Stade de France, who said they’d heard nothing about it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Migration in and out of New Zealand is still at record levels. Provisional estimates for February show more than 253,000 migrants arrived and about 122,000 left, putting net migration at almost 131,000. Arrivals and departures are the highest on record, but net migration was down about 12 thousand from last November. Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking that the large number of Asian immigrants entering New Zealand will have an impact on the cultural make up of the country. He said that its primarily younger people coming over, so in 10 or 20 years we could be looking at a very different New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Waitangi Tribunal are at it again. This time it's with another of their “urgent reviews”. This particular one is into the approach the new Government is taking to Oranga Tamariki. Karen Chhour, who is the Minister for Oranga Tamariki, would be as invested and experienced in the matter as any politician before her. She is a child of the state who rose to Cabinet level and, as such, is driven by the desire to contribute and give back and is a powerful reminder that the state is not all bad when it comes to dealing with kids and that you can in fact, have a tough start and not have it hold you back. In broad terms, Chhour is not as convinced as some others that race should play quite the obsessive role it does. In other words, if a child of Māori persuasion is removed from a home and is then placed in another Māori home that is directly connected to the home that caused the trouble in the first place, is that serving the child in the best way possible? This is not a new debate of course. The “wider whanau” approach and angst has been raging for years. What I think we all agree on is that Oranga Tamariki and its previous iterations have not served many kids all that well. I personally hold the view that in many circumstances we expect too much of the agency. After all, they are a Government department, not a miracle worker. The people they deal with have as challenging a set of circumstances as you would ever want to see. The social worker's caseloads are too high, the dysfunction is too high, and the expectation that these issues get fixed like a magic trick is too high. But the Waitangi Tribunal add nothing by yet again launching what appears to be an ever-growing level of activism and producing reports that, to be frank, will most likely, and rightly, be ignored. They have no real power. The original part of their existence, which was historic claims, is largely over and the stragglers should have been given a deadline decades back and the whole thing should be out of business. But bereft of fresh historic grievance to wallow over, they have created a new work programme of interventionism, of which the Oranga Tamariki case is the latest example. Taking a child out of a mess of a house and putting them on a path to success is the key goal. The moment you overlay that objective with race, race and more race at all costs is partially why so little has been achieved for these kids. Karen Chhour wants to get on with it. The Tribunal revel in being the handbrake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 16th of April, a former advisor for George W. Bush joined to dig into the beginning of Trump's 'hush money' trial, which is the first time in history a former president has faced a criminal trial. Finance Minister Nicola Willis filled in while the Prime Minister is overseas, and talked the CPI number, the public service sector, and whether Melissa Lee actually has any sort of plan for the media. UK comedian and former doctor Adam Kay joined the program ahead of bringing his hit West End show to kiwi audiences for the NZ International Comedy Festival. 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.

Adam Kay has had an interesting career path. The UK comedian and bestselling author started off as a doctor, leaving after undiagnosed symptoms led to severe complications and a stillborn during one of his surgeries. He went on to write This is Going to Hurt, a book based on the diaries he wrote during his time as a doctor, which went on to sell more than five million copies worldwide. Kay has since turned the book into a comedy show which sold out on the West End, and was also turned into a miniseries. He’s bringing the comedy show to kiwi audiences as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival, taking to the stage on May 1st. Coming from a very normal background, fame has been interesting for Kay, telling Mike Hosking that it’s been weird to have people come up and ask for photos. “It’s quite weird that more people know me than I know people,” he said. “But I’m getting used to it and I’m just, I’m glad all these people have watched my shows, or read my books, or whatever and want to say hi.” Performing on stage has a different energy to selling books, the latter being quite abstract according to Kay. “You get an email from the publisher saying congratulations on this many copies, or it’s been published in this many languages, but going on stage, and you know, speaking, hopefully amusing people in their, in their thousands, it’s like nothing on earth.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The continuing high migration figures are a surprise. February's net migration hit almost 131,000, with more than 253,000 migrants arriving, and about 122,000 heading offshore. JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that he's been expecting numbers to cool off, but this hasn't happened. He says lots of people are moving around as both sides of the net migration equation run at record levels. Kelleher adds visitor numbers are positive, with the Chinese market the highest since January 2020. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says there is no plan to "save" major media outlets in their current form. Newshub staff have been summoned to a meeting today about an "important business update", after learning last week that the news service will close with the loss of 300 jobs. TVNZ has also announced significant cuts including the end of its Fair Go and Sunday programmes. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that while Media Minister Melissa Lee is looking into the issue, she isn't working on a salvation plan. She says the Government isn't going to come in on a white horse and rescue the media industry. Willis says the challenges facing the media industry go right to the digitisation of the way people are receiving news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A feeling of justice for many in Australia, following a ruling on ex Australian Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann. A judge has found it's likely Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in 2019. It follows a defamation case against Channel Ten, which he lost. Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Mike Hosking that Lehrmann has claimed he's the victim who's been put through hell. But she says it's now clear Higgins is the victim. Yeomans says Higgins has been forced to move overseas to try to get away from all this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes renters with pets will be better supported in the long run. The Government's bringing in changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to make it easier for pet-owning tenants to find rental housing. It includes paying an extra bond of two weeks rent to cover potential damage. Property Investors' Federation president Sue Harrison told Mike Hosking that the changes have to go through a Select Committee and won't be in place until the end of next year. She says it's a slow process, and this change alone isn't a game changer but more properties in the marketplace will be. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's trial has started in New York. It's the first time a US president has faced a criminal trial. Trump is charged with falsifying business records over his alleged role in a hush money scheme before the 2016 election. He's pleaded not guilty. The trial is one of four criminal cases he faces and may be the only one to face a jury before the election. Former adviser to George W Bush, Scott Jennings, told Mike Hosking that the chances of him being convicted in New York City are pretty high. But, he says, the issue itself is of low concern to Americans, the bigger issue would be if they get to trial for charges he faces about January 6. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rules around opening the week with the Warriors is I do an editorial it’s a Warriors win. Did the Warriors win? No they did not. But was it as good as a win? Yes it was and that is why we are here. Glen Larmer, the commentator, at the end of the game said both sides will feel that they let it slip away. I don’t agree. I think we were losing for most of it. We weren't losing badly, but Manly, for the better part of the game, looked like the better side. We were under pressure and pressure sometimes makes diamonds, but on other days it makes Roger Tuivasa-Sheck drop the ball, which he did twice. Overall, and this is the best bit, it was as good as any game we've seen for a while and was played at a very high level by a couple of really high quality sides. The fact we were behind for most of it, especially the first part, gave rise to some level of concern given that at the very start we looked like we could get caned. The Manly tries were quality tries. They carved us up, they played at pace and they may well have been playing above themselves, given their place on the table. But the comeback eventually arrived, although it was too late. A try, which we got, would leave us two points short. The drop goal missed by a mile, so we lose. Except Shaun Johnson got his leg whacked and we got a life Penalty. Two points. A draw. Extra time. Could we have won? Yes. Could they have won? Yes. But in an odd way, the way it ended seemed fair. Manly should be gutted. For too much of the 80 minutes they were better than us and that is a lesson for the rest of the season. The competition is tight and if a side fires up we need to respond and if we don’t it will be Saturday night all over again. So, we got lucky. But sometimes when you are a pretty consistent, quality side you earn your luck. Which is why a draw is essentially a win. We more than likely could have got nothing, but we got a point and it's one of the best points we will get all year. Speaking of years, I'm still feeling good and still feeling confident. This is our year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 15th of April, we talk to a retired U.S Army Lieutenant Colonel about Iran attacking Israel, the U.S being involved and how far this escalates. We go to Sydney to get the latest on the Bondi Junction stabbing. Mike reckons he's found some public service savings for the Government and it has to do with his breakfast radio competition. On the Commentary Box, Guy Heveldt and Andrew Saville cover Ryan Fox at the Masters and all the great weekend of Super Rugby - plus that Warriors draw, that's as good as a win! 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.

Six people have been killed during a stabbing attack at a Sydney mall. Five of the victims were women, raising questions about the attacker’s motives. 40-year old Queensland man Joel Cauchi has been identified as the attacker. He was shot dead by a police officer. 9News Australia correspondent Charles Croucher tells Mike Hosking the killer was known to police but had no history of charges or intent towards an attack like this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cruise ship season is drawing to a close. It has been estimated to have brought in around $600 million to local economies. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young tells Mike Hosking that with issues in the Red Sea, fewer ships are expected next season. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade Minister Todd McClay is in China this week to meet with the Minister of Commerce and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in hopes of strengthening relationships and promoting New Zealand businesses on the world stage. Former NZ trade negotiator and trade consultant partner at Saunders Unsworth Charles Finny tells Mike Hosking NZ’s relationship with China is good from a trade perspective, but more complex politically. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war in the Middle East escalated over the weekend, with Iran launching an attack on Israel. US, UK and Jordanian forces helped Israel to take down incoming drones and missiles. Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and Foreign Affairs analyst with Think Tank Defence Priorities Daniel L Davis tells Mike Hosking that “everything depends on what Israel does next”. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In another New Zealand business success story, OI Organic Initiative has made it big selling period products in the US. In just five months, the company has made it to number two out of more than 10 companies in that specific market. OI CEO Clare Morgan tells Mike Hosking the company has been in the US market since 2018 but refocused in 2022 by launching into the natural channel. The natural aspect has given the brand an advantage with product certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has had a pretty good week. The nine public service targets make sense. They give us a purpose and an idea of direction and, importantly, they come with markers and reports that tell us where we are. The truancy plan is more common sense. I'm not convinced it's quite the answer, all the lights and fines. But an increased focus on what is a shameful embarrassment and crisis needs all the help it can get. Winston Peters has had a good week. Say whatever you want about Nazi Germany or the Ku Klux Klan clan, when Peters is on the world stage he is a solid, if not a class ac. He represents us well, is connected, serious and reminds us what a monumental load of nonsense Nanaia Mahuta and her appointment was. Probably most importantly in the big picture is the advisory group for fast tracking infrastructure. These are not household names but names from business who will help the Government potentially pull off one of the most critical jobs they have - getting this country moving through actually getting major stuff done. Fast tracking is the only answer, in terms of infrastructure, to a process that virtually everyone agrees has become captured, and by being captured, has failed us all. The usual hand wringers worried about the power of ministers to make too bold a decision. There's not enough consultation and democracy, they said. These are the very people who should look at themselves long and hard in the mirror and realise it is their obsession with stalling everything through courts and lawyers and tribunals and protests that has led to so little actually getting done and us being, as a country, in the precarious state we are. Also this week was the Prime Minister's unrelenting message around getting this place off its knees. The greatest lesson of all over the past six years is just how easy it has been to lose momentum and to watch laziness and procrastination and excuse fill the void. Once true leadership got replaced with vacuous thought bubbles and nonsensical virtue signalling. Trust, success, dedication and runs on the board are hard to get and easy to lose. So the battle is on. We need more weeks like this, more decisions like this and more attitude like this. This week gives me real hope.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget switching on the TV, this weekend TikTok will have your rugby fix. The Women’s Super Rugby Aupiki Final is kicking off this Saturday and due to a partnership between 2Degrees, Sky, and Tiktok, the social media app will be broadcasting it live. The game between the Blues and Chiefs Manawa will be shot vertically by Sky and have its own presenters and commentary team. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, one of the commentators for the game, told Mike Hosking that it’s set up an amazing opportunity for rugby and women’s rugby to be accessible across not only New Zealand, but the entire world. She said that if they can get the big dogs doing this sort of stuff, it will be an amazing development for the sport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With all the issues stemming from online learning, research has found a benefit. Charles Darwin University has found that online learning can increase a student’s short and long-term memory by improving their cognitive capability. They surveyed 482 students studying an accountancy degree between 2020 and 2021, and found students faced difficulties learning, overwhelming students and increasing their cognitive load. Dr Nina Hood, founder of the Education Hub, told Mike Hosking that the situation isn’t cut and dry, and there are a few reasons to be sceptical about this study. She said that while there definitely are benefits to online learning, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be the same quality as in person learning, and it also depends on the subject being taught. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 12th of April we looked at Winston Peter's bi-lateral meeting with the U.S' Anthony Blinken and got a university professor’s opinion on what we should do with puberty blockers following the UK’s report. How well have the Government performed this week? What about the media? Mike marked the week. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson wrapped the week and tried to stop Mike from telling stories he shouldn't. 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.

Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby are back to help Mike Hosking wrap the week that was and stop him from telling stories he shouldn’t. They cover Tim’s holiday in Nelson, The Country’s 30th anniversary, Scrabble going ‘woke’ and the popularity of Vampire Weekend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. The eclipse: 8/10 For no other reason than it seems to get people fizzing …despite the fact i cant for the life of me work out why you would travel miles and spend thousands to do it The Climate Commission: 4/10 Worthy but wacky, we will not be banning petrol cars by 2040. Saying weird stuff doesn’t help, but watch them as 2050 gets closer. The media: 2/10 Tough week. Job losses: 4/10 No fun for anyone but it's what you get when a previous Government spends what they don’t have and creates jobs that don’t really exist. Winston Peters: 6/10 Looks good on the international stage. He looks experienced and serious, which is a different league to our last representative. Immigration: 7/10 Not a moment too soon. No one loves more people than me, but they've got to be the right people who can do more than just cook stir fry or make flat whites. Britain's transgender report: 8/10 Hopefully the turning of a dangerously progressive tide where madness and vibes trump common sense and facts and, ultimately, cause untold damage. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Housing Minister says new tenancy changes will ensure there's a better balance between landlords and tenants. A bill that’s being introduced to Parliament next month will make it easier for landlords to evict tenants. Changes include re-instating 90-day no-cause terminations —removed by Labour last term— and requiring just 42 days notice when a landlord wants to move into their property. Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking that Labour's 'war on landlords' has ended. He says landlords aren't the enemy, and sensible laws are needed to balance the rights of landlords and tenants. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Health is expected to release an evidence brief on the use of puberty blockers in treating gender dysphoria. The UK has banned the prescription of the hormone medication, which delays the onset of puberty, to children. Weak evidence has yet been found for their use, with uncertainty about the potential psychological effects. UOA Professor Dr Paul Hofman told Mike Hosking that the blockers reduce self-harm and suicidal ideation in some patients. But he says there's hasn't been any strong follow up studies looking at quality of life and the impacts, nor any issues around safety. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's decision to strengthen its ties with the United States won't be without risk. Foreign Minister Winston Peters and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have recommitted to our bilateral relationship, during a meeting in Washington DC. They've issued a joint statement saying New Zealand and the US will work more closely with each other and key allies like Australia, including around defence and intelligence. Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that could affect our relationship with both China, and our Pacific neighbours. He says China will be looking at the joint statement with concern, and Pacific countries don't see themselves as pawns in a strategic game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1995 murder trial of OJ Simpson was so gripping, it divided a nation. Simpson has died from prostate cancer surrounded by family aged 76. The former NFL star and actor was cleared by a Los Angeles jury in what the media called the trial of the century. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that he was represented by a group called the “dream team”. He says it was made up of DNA experts and Robert Kardashian, who became famous for his Simpson connection, and later his children for their reality TV show. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.