The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 27th March 2024, Mike looked at China hacking our systems and questioned whether we should be surprised by the government’s “revelation.” Social Development Minister Louise Upston talked the employment challenges facing the country as the next brain drain phase begins. Mike was baffled by a "new" feature on his car that's been around for years. Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined Politics Wednesday to talk supermarket thefts, SailGP and red tape, and whether Winston Peters is owed an apology over his Serious Fraud Office case. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Government seems to be a bit bloated. A study from New Zealand Initiative shows New Zealand has 44% more ministers, and one and a half times as many departments as similar sized Parliaments. Researcher Max Salmon told Mike Hosking that it’s all politics, as having extra portfolios can be useful for coalition negotiations and securing allies. He suspects that the number of departments and ministers is contributing to the productivity issues this country faces. While Salmon doesn’t know if there’s a magic number of ministers, similar countries only have about 20 cabinet ministers total. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents get for accommodation is being looked at by the Government. An out-of-date map of the town from 1992 is still being used to determine the accommodation supplement. The suburbs of Frankton, Shotover Country, and Lake Hayes Estate are classed as rural despite the rapid urban growth in those areas. Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking that increasing rents are a challenge across the country. She says any changes to accommodation supplement boundaries must be financially sustainable. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US officials are scrambling to get a critical Baltimore port reopened after a bridge collapse. A fully-laden container ship lost power and rammed into a support of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. They were able to send a distress signal in time for officials to shut the bridge. Ninety seconds later it collapsed, and six people remain unaccounted for. Baltimore port is one of America's biggest, and US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that it will take a while to get it back in working order. He says they will have to clear out all the wreckage from the shallow waters first, which will be a massive job. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s believed that the New Zealand and China relationship will be able to overcome recent cyber-attack allegations. The GCSB has connected an attack on our Parliamentary entities in August 2021 to Chinese state-sponsored group, APT40. New Zealand China Council Executive Director Alistair Crozier said New Zealand has always had its own unique approach to China. He told Mike Hosking that the issue can be worked out. Crozier said when differences emerge, the two countries hold robust conversations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the political battle unfolds with the public service over savings, it is worth remembering a couple of things. As much heat as the Government is taking over the so-called cuts, and to be honest I am not sure that there is in fact a great deal of heat outside of Wellington, it might be worth remembering that the previous Government was the one who handed out the jobs like there was no tomorrow. When you artificially stack the deck the way they did, you must in your heart of hearts know that it can never last. So, what the current government is doing is not heartless but realistic. It was always going to happen, and if we were a bit more honest about these things, we all knew it. Secondly, it has never ceased to amaze me how much work people take on without ever really asking the question about its long-term viability. The media and its various trials and tribulations at the moment is full of people who have been seemingly genuinely shocked that the department or programme they are working for is closing, yet those of us from the outside looking in saw the writing on the wall months, or in some cases, years ago. And that’s before you get to the debate, that I thought had been going now for years, and that is a job is not for life and hasn’t been for ages. You will have many jobs. Jobs come and go, along with boards, and management, and mergers, and sales, and floats, and divestments, and changes of direction. And then the bit that really hasn’t been covered at all, have a look at how many of the jobs being cut are a combination of jobs that simply haven't been filled, and jobs that will give you a cheque on the way out. Voluntary redundancy has been, and in this case, is being widely used. In other words, many of the people who are losing their jobs have stuck their hands up and said yes please, I’ll take that deal. And I can tell you for nothing, getting paid to get out can be a revelationary and uplifting experience. Doors open, opportunities arise, fresh perspectives become present, it might well be one of the best things that ever happened to you. As in most things in life, the commentary we are currently seeing and hearing is very one sided and needlessly emotive. Life is what you make it. The growth comes from the tough times, and not all tough times are as arduous as you might have thought. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is on maximum alert in response to a shooting in Moscow. At least 137 people were killed and 150 injured when gunmen opened fire at a rock concert over the weekend. An urgent meeting of the Defense and National Security Council saw the alert implemented and 4000 additional members of the Sentinel team out and about in France. Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that the heads of the security services will meet again on Thursday to review the security and decide whether new measures should be put in place ahead of the Easter Break. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niche fields are being prioritised as the Tertiary Commission decides who gets funding. Piano tuning and scaffolding are among the fields they’re willing to fund as they aim to boost enrolment, but larger fields like primary teaching are missing out. Tom O’Neil, Managing Director of cv.co.nz, told Mike Hosking that the decision blows him away He said that while piano tuners are great to have, he’s used teachers a lot more than he’s ever used tuners. O’Neil said that young people are being sent a signal that New Zealand will rely on immigrants to fill that field, and they should look at another career. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 26th March 2024, the Prime Minister joined the show in his weekly slot to talk red tape and SailGP. Mike Bush detailed just what is wrong with our civil defence system after the damning review into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle. Mike broke the fourth wall by talking about this very podcast. And the brilliantly funny David Walliams was back on the show ahead of coming to the country. 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.

An iconic name in the comedy scene, David Walliams is giving a glimpse behind the curtain in a manner he’s never done before. ‘An Audience with David Walliams’ will be hitting kiwi stages later this year, the comedian bringing his signature wit and charm to the stage, telling stories and answering questions regarding absolutely anything. Walliams told Mike Hosking that the show is a real journey of his life up to this point. “The things people know me for, and there will be a few things I think people won’t know about me too.” The first half of the show is more structured, the questions and answers planned, but the second half is more spontaneous as audiences are given the opportunity to ask their questions. “The show is kind of planned without it being written down, if you know what I mean.” “It’s not like a script or anything, but at the same time, I wanna go out there and deliver like, you know, a hundred funny stories and maybe one or two slightly, sort-of, pointed ones too.” An Audience With David Walliams New Zealand Dates Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre Auckland - Saturday 28th September St James Theatre Wellington - Monday 30th September Douglas Lilburn Auditorium Christchurch - Wednesday 2nd October LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says it's too hard to hold events like SailGP in New Zealand. The two-day event in Lyttelton over the weekend was overshadowed by CEO Sir Russell Coutts' comments after a dolphin spotting cancelled the first day of racing. He claimed there's too much red tape around the event. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that there's a lot of obstructions when events are held in the country. He says the Government wants to see a lot more international events in New Zealand, but we make it too hard. The Government is also interested in looking at the banking sector's competitiveness. A draft Commerce Commission report last week found the big four lack competition, have price matching strategies, and focus on profit margins which stifles innovation. Luxon says the Government will agree and disagree with different aspects of the report. He told Hosking that once a final version of the report is released, the Government will make a decision on how to respond. Luxon says that could involve something like a Select Committee where the banks are questioned around profits. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns that Civil Defence isn't adequately prepared for emergencies, after failings were revealed in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle. An independent review led by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush found officials were "overwhelmed" by the disaster. Bush told Mike Hosking that the system is not fit for purpose. He says the current model sets good people up to fail, and changes are needed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Potential issues are being raised with the Government's childcare policy. From July, parents and caregivers will be able to claim a maximum of $75 a week for childcare costs. Early Childhood New Zealand Chief Executive Kathy Wolfe says it will definitely help people. But, she told Mike Hosking, proving eligibility and applying for it may cut off access for some. Wolfe says some families don't have computer access to get onto the IRD website. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One person has been arrested and taken into custody after two men were found dead and three others were injured from a 100-person mass brawl in Gisborne on Saturday night. Police Minister Mark Mitchell flew to Gisborne to assist the mayor and police. Mitchell tells Mike Hosking that there is a large gang presence in the area but police are very effective at policing the issue. Mitchell reiterated that this incident was not a gang conflict. Hosking also questions Mitchell on police pay negotiations and a lack of police action over community violence. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis over the weekend. Kate Middleton says she has been keeping the news private to explain to her young children after months of speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding her absence from the public eye. UK correspondent Enda Brady tells Mike Hosking that a lot of people are ashamed of their actions after the Princess was effectively bullied into making the video announcement. It is thought the video’s release was timed with the children’s Easter holiday break for their protection and privacy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 25th March 2024, the police speak about the deadly Gisborne brawl and Mike gets to Britain to hear the latest on Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis. Police Minister Mark Mitchell answers questions on when we will turn a page on crime, plus his thoughts on the producer of the show being assaulted over the weekend with nothing being done. Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined the Commentary Box to discuss the first day of SailGP in Lyttelton being called off and what to do with the Crusaders. 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 homicide investigation has been launched after two people died and three others were injured in a mass brawl in Gisborne on Saturday night. The large fight involved around 100 people and started when two uninvited guests arrived at a 21st birthday party. Police Detective Inspector Dave de Lange tells Mike Hosking the investigation is making steady progress but is complex due to the number of people involved. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins gave a State of Nation speech on Sunday with a big focus on tax policy. Hipkins tells Mike Hosking the scale of cuts the current Government are implementing go well beyond what people thought they were voting for. The Labour party plan to release a tax policy for the New Zealand public well before the next election. “We need to give them a compelling reason to vote for us.” 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. Common sense: 7/10 You can't beat a good dose of it - the Kainga Ora crackdown, part of a growing trend where a lot of ideological gobbledygook gets put right. And you can add the vape decisions to this week's offerings The plug-in hybrid back down: 6/10 When you overreach you see it and fix it. That's almost as good as common sense. Conspiracy theories: 2/10 The blight of the age. I can't work it out. Even when you saw the video at Windsor people still questioned it. Is it stupidity? It's wilful stupidity, mesmerising stupidity, mixed with a next level gormlessness. Winston Peters: 7/10 He got exactly what he wanted. Surely even he must be surprised that a trick that old still works. The recession: 2/10 The second one now. That’s called a double dip recession and brought to you by the same people that oversaw the aforementioned crime stats. The French: 7/10 First in the world to pass laws around fast fashion. I doubt they will work but the intent deserves credit. Ryan Fox: 8/10 Tournaments, prize money and trophies come and go. But a hole in one on the greatest hole in golf is forever. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Department of Justice and 15 states are suing Apple. They're alleging it's used the powerful demand for its iPhone and other products to drive up prices for its services and hurt smaller rivals. Apple joins a list of the biggest tech companies sued by US regulators, including Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms, and Amazon.com across the administrations of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that they’ve fired the opening shot in what he guesses will be a drawn-out legal battle. He said the company has been accused of using anti-competitive tricks to maintain its bestseller position, including limiting functionality when communicating with other brands by pixelating videos and not encrypting conversations. Apple denies that they’re doing anything sneaky. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, a recession it is then. Another one. We had one at the end of 2022, going into 2023. Remember those good times? It got revised initially and the Government of the day said "see, told you it wasn't a recession". Then we got the final read and, yes, it was indeed a recession - two solid quarters where we went backwards. That’s bad enough. Recessions in modern economies are rare. Normally we argue about growth not being strong enough. No such luck for us. And now, to break the record, another recession. The third quarter of last year and the final quarter of last year were another two quarters of negative activity. Another recession. The record? Well, there isn't a modern Western economy that has done what we have. Britain fleetingly went into a single recession and Germany has had trouble. But Australia, the US, in fact, most countries have not only skirted a recession, they increasingly look like they are going to pull off this famed term we refer to - the soft landing. Even those who have struggled and, let's be honest, everyone has and is having a hard time, but no one, not a single one, has managed to go backwards twice, except us. We are the worst of the lot and that, despite Grant Robertson saying it's not a contest, it is unforgivable. The ongoing issue is that, as well as going backwards, we are still stuck with inflation that is far too high. Now, the commentary will tell you inflation is coming down, which it is. But not enough and not fast enough. This was the role of the Reserve Banks - get inflation down by applying a level of tightness to the economy without crashing it. Squeeze, but not so hard you choke people. Well, we are at less than zero, turning red in the face with the lack of oxygen. But inflation is nowhere close to where it needs to be. They say it'll be later this year before it reaches the target, the midpoint, and we can look at rate cuts. Will it? I don't think they really know. But what we now know for a fact is we failed the experiment abysmally. As history is starting to be painted all over the world with all the individual stories of the reaction to Covid, New Zealand now officially stands out as the example of what not to do. What a legacy. What a reputation. What a cluster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby are back to wrap the week with Mike Hosking, discussing the Warriors, intermittent fasting, and vintage shirts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a big weekend for the Garden City. Auckland's loss is Christchurch's gain when SailGP returns for a second year in a row while the Warriors play in the city tonight. The events are reportedly bringing in four million dollars of revenue to the city. Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger told Mike Hosking it will sell Christchurch and New Zealand to the world. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The perception of chronic migraines as "just headaches" need to change in the workplace. An Otago University study shows nearly a quarter of participants experience the disease for at least 15 days a month. It's suggested it causes significant levels of disability and limits people's ability to work and socialise. Researcher Sue Garrett told Mike Hosking that employers need to recognise how bad it can get. She says people would drug up before going to work and spend their day offs recovering. Garrett says people want to work but would like more support in the workplace. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister is defending the time it will take to reverse the last Government's blanket speed reductions. Cabinet has agreed to reverse most of the changes and require travel times and other economic factors to be considered in all future decisions. But speed limits may not return to what they were until the end of the year. Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that there's a process they need to go through. He says the rules the last Government put in place took about two years to do so, and they have to go through consultation before they change the rules back to what they were. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis promised Kiwis that there’s still “hope” despite the bleak outlook for the economy. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning after yesterday’s announcement of a recession. Willis said very high inflation and rising interest rates had been prolonged. “There’s been a big hit to the growth forecast.” On Q1, Willis said, “There is hope.” “Both the Treasury and the [Reserve] Bank are forecasting growth this year.” She said tourism was coming back and the dairy price was okay, as examples of positive moves for the economy. Hosking disagreed that the dairy price was okay. “People focus on the headlines with the recession and the GDP. But that has happened despite a very fast-growing population and immigration,” Willis said. “So on a per-capita basis, on a per-person basis, the economy has barely grown in several years, and that is a real worry.” “There are always people that think there’s a money tree at the back of the garden.” “I don’t think we have seen the value for the borrowing the last Government took on.” She said the Government cuts and restructuring won’t have a huge impact on the recession because the money will go to more “front-line” workers for Government organisations. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.1 per cent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with the September quarter, which also shrank. Economists traditionally define a recession as two successive quarters in which the economy contracts. GDP per capita fell 0.7 per cent in the last three months of the year, Stats NZ said yesterday. Real gross national disposable income fell 1.4 per cent. Wholesale interest rates and the New Zealand dollar fell in response to the news. Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon outlined the Government’s plan for the next 100 days and blamed the recession on Labour. “Sadly, the previous Government has borrowed more. We’ve got to face up to that. We’ve got nothing to show for it. We’ve got a big fiscal repair job to do,” Luxon said. Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Banking Association says there is indeed competition in the market. A draft report from the Commerce Commission has found a two-tier system divides smaller banks from ANZ, ASB, BNZ, and Westpac, as well as a lack of competition. It says an apparent focus on profit margins has resulted in under-investment in platforms and low innovation. It recommends the Government improve capital for Kiwibank and smaller banks. Banking Association Chief Executive Roger Beaumont told Mike Hosking that the commission also recognised the impact of industry regulation. He says the regulation banks have been required to do is off the charts and has been a handbrake on innovation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russian election has sparked a tussle between Italy’s Prime Minister and her Deputy. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has gone against the critical response from Western leaders, saying that the voters’ verdict must be accepted. Salvini was a stanch ally of Putin’s before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and said that the results must be accepted as “when people vote they are always right”. Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking that this reinforces the murky relationship that Salvini and Putin have had over the years. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been trying to play down these comments, McKenna said, coming out very strongly to show support for Ukraine and Navalny. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a court case going on in Wellington over Uber drivers and their so-called rights. It's on the back of a massive case last week in Australia, which Uber lost, over the impact on the market their arrival had. That’s on the back of any number of cases all over the world where unions have tried to muscle in and change the rules because they see them as unfair. Along the way Uber has had trouble turning a profit and the ride share business in general has been fraught with difficulties. The Uber experience for me is largely contained to our kids who have grown up knowing nothing else but apps and rides. What luddite would ring and book a cab? But as their experiences have shown over and over again, ringing and booking a cab actually works as opposed to their experiences which involve, in no particular order, surge pricing they weren't expecting, Ubers that cancel on them for no reason and the ensuing charge issue around it, Ubers that accept rides then as you wait you watch the arrival time go from one minute, to three minutes, to five minutes, to who knows when. And that’s before you get to Uber Eats, where you are on the tail of four other deliveries and your meal is a combination of the wrong order, not their fault, and cold, which is definitely their fault. What I don't get about the court cases is the Uber model is not, and has never been, compulsory. What the unions want is overtime and mealtimes and holiday times. They want to make it a regulated job and it was never meant to be that. They never said it was going to be that and the people who work for them never expected that or wanted that. The whole gig economy idea was predicated on flexibility - work when you want, for as long as you want, for whoever you want. Why does a union, and by extension a court, have a right to rearrange a series of deals that were entered into by all parties perfectly happily? Why does a court get to fine a company hundreds of millions of dollars for bringing a new service to a marketplace? If they do, which they have in Australia, why doesn’t every business or industry have a case against any other business who rolls into town, or the country, and disrupts stuff by way of a competitive edge? What Uber offers is choice and the thing about choice is you don’t have to engage. If you want to, fine. If you don’t want to, also fine. You reckon when they dreamed it up in 2009 they envisaged 15 years later they would only have just turned a profit but still be in court all over the world? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The home of country music has launched another rising star. Cooper Alan is one of Nashville’s up and comers with over 225 million streams, and 14 million followers across his social media platforms, selling over 85 thousand tickets for his tours and concerts. He and a few others were in New Zealand this week, giving kiwi audiences a taste of country coming straight out of Nashville in the Country Music Association’s ‘Introducing Nashville’. “We had CMC in Australia on the books for a while, and then CMA reached out about this event,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking. “It was a reason to get over here and see Auckland, and kind of get introduced to the fans a little bit.” That won't be his only New Zealand performance this year. While the details aren’t set in stone, Alan is certain he’ll be back sometime in October. “We have potential dates and venues for like, shows down here, it’s just deciding which ones.” The popularity of country has surged lately, Alan attributing it in part to the worldwide success of acts like Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs. “It’s that Lainey song, ‘Country's cool again.’” But despite the major success he’s seen, Alan would still describe himself as an ‘up and comer’. “We’re still kind of in the building phase,” he told the Newstalk ZB host. “There’s always somewhere you can go.” There’s a reason Nashville is considered the home of country music, and it has much to do with the other musicians and the environment they’ve cultivated. “We’re all friends, you know, or, or if you don’t know somebody, you meet them and then you feel like you're friends with them.” It’s an industry built on camaraderie and collaboration, “if you don’t make friends in Nashville doing country, I, I think you kind of sink pretty fast.” Alan moved to Nashville straight out of university, fortunate enough to be signed with songwriter and producer Victoria Shaw within weeks. “I always kind of knew I wanted to try to give a serious crack at the music thing.” Although he blew up on TikTok, social media wasn’t Alan’s first thought, confessing to hating the platforms and not wanting to work with them. "I was one of those dudes,” he revealed. However, the opportunities TikTok provides is unmistakable, and Alan took the chance. “You have the opportunity to take a little bit of control of, you know, your career and not wait on somebody else to make it happen for you.” Meeting Shaw was a strike of luck, Alan told Hosking, the two connecting through a family friend of Alan’s who had done some charity work with the producer. “I think she kind of saw something in what I was doing. She said, finish college, but let me know when you know, you want to move to Nashville and get serious.” "It’s been so, so fortunate having a champion like that in my corner,” he said. “Somebody who you know, knows, really knows what she’s doing and works her ass off.” Alan’s career is nowhere near finished and although he still always wants more, where he’s sitting now is what he’s dreamed of. “I have to kind of wake up some days and be like, dude, I’m in New Zealand right now and you know, I’m not losing a bunch of money,” he laughed. “I’m coming to play songs and people are showing up and some people might know some of this stuff.” “Stuff like that is, is really cool moments.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International student enrolments topped 59,000 for the first eight months of 2023, a 43% increase compared to the full year in 2022. English Language Schools have seen the greatest increase, up by 347% to surpass 7000. Education NZ's Geoff Bilbrough told Mike Hosking that it's good to have the students back after the Covid border closures. He says the students come to New Zealand looking for a safe place to live, a good quality education, and a unique experience. New Zealand's border re-opened to international students at the end of July 2022. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More consequences are on the way for retailers selling illegal vaping products. The Government is cracking down on vaping, banning single use vapes and increasing the fines by the end of the year. The penalty will increase from $10,000 to $100,000. Auckland University vaping researcher Dr Kelly Burrowes told Mike Hosking that enforcing fines will be the biggest challenge. She says it sounds like 15 staff are allocated to regulating the new rules but hopefully the increased fear will have some impact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Robertson says he acted in the best interests of New Zealanders throughout his career. The politician delivered his valedictory last night, saying he's proud of the Covid response. He also said it had been his honour and privilege to be a minister but wishes he could've changed the tax system. Robertson told Mike Hosking that he gave 100 percent. He says he fronted up and explained why they were doing what they were doing, and he understands why people may disagree but doesn't get the hate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's gross domestic product isn't expected to have grown in the last quarter. ASB is predicting a 0.2 percentage point drop, ANZ expects 0.1 percentage point growth, and the Reserve Bank's forecast a flat zero percent. If the economic growth figures are negative, New Zealand will enter a technical recession given the last quarter's figure was also negative. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking they're predicting minus 0.2. He says given there's been the strongest population growth since 1946 at 2.8%, GDP at either side of zero is pretty sad. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought people shouldn't get too ahead of themselves as the idea to bring back Northland's Marsden Point Oil Refinery is floated. The Government's investigating the feasibility of re-opening it as part of a study into New Zealand's fuel security requirements. The privately-owned fuel refinery was decommissioned in 2022 to become an import-only fuel terminal. Energy Resources Aotearoa's John Carnegie told Mike Hosking it's important to remember it's just a study at this stage, and it's not a commitment. He says the study asks whether we have sufficient fuel security in a post-oil refinery world - noting that so far, we haven't had any fuel shortages. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no shortage of political drama amongst Trump’s cohort. A former White House official, Peter Navarro is facing a four-month jail term for refusing to cooperate in the January 6th inquiry. Navarro worked as an assistant to the President during Trump’s administration, and in response to Donald Trump has been speaking out about retribution. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that he has said that former Republican Senator Liz Cheney should be in jail, and called the convicted January 6th rioters hostages, whom he will pardon. In Trump’s words, the January 6th rioters were patriots and now they’re hostages. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am not sure how it is, well over a quarter of a century into MMP, that we still have this mad idea that just because you are the head of one party, you are the boss of another party. Christopher Luxon is somehow supposed to be having a word with Winston Peters over the comments from the weekend, not to mention yesterday. Problem number one is the media walked right into the trap and it's not even a new trap. It’s a tired old game Peters has played for years. He says something emotive, cue the outrage and then milk it for as long as you can. In many respects it’s the great shame about Peters, because in some areas he is actually a bright, experienced operator. It seems from his turn this time around as Foreign Minister, like the last time he played the role, he is actually quite good and quite effectual. It's just, given the vagaries of MMP, he has to run the populist lines around race to get the required 5% to keep him and his mates in work. So, you have this dichotomous mix of a loudmouth, headline grabber and senior operator in heavyweight areas like foreign relations. Anyway, back to the Prime Minister. What people clearly forget is this is a deal of convenience. They are not natural bedfellows and Luxon, despite the fact he holds the top office and despite the fact his party has the most members in the deal, is not the boss. I am sure he would like to think he is. But here is the MMP reality; can he govern without Peters? No. So who really has the power? Dare I remind you that I was quite vocal in saying during the campaign that the smartest thing Chris Hipkins did was rule Peters out. Luxon, having been gifted the perfect “out”, failed to follow suit and look what happened. A simple truth about our system is you make do with what you’ve got. And what Luxon and Seymour have is a potential problem. This is merely months old and if you think there isn't more where this came from you haven't followed the Peters playbook for the past three decades. Say whatever you want about the bloke, but what you cannot accuse him of is being inconsistent. Race has been his ticket to relevance and will continue to be because there has been, and always will be, enough New Zealanders who swallow the bait hook, line and sinker. If Luxon is just waking up to that now it's going to be a very, very long two and a half years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks Grant Robertson’s final day in politics. He’ll be delivering his final speech to Parliament today at 5:30, and leaves the field with a contested legacy. Labour’s Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that he’s a real human in politics, making complicated topics understandable and reachable for everyday people. She said he always had the funniest stories and she’s sure his final speech will encapsulate that. National’s Mark Mitchell told Hosking that while he likes him on a personal level, he was a wrecking ball on the books as the Finance Minister. He’s not sure that Grant’s legacy in politics is that great. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to road user charges for EVs are being welcomed. The Government's officially confirmed owners of plug-in hybrid vehicles will now pay $38 per thousand kilometres, a reduction from the planned $53 policy. The change comes after the Government accidentally backed an amendment from the Labour Party. Motor Industry Association Chief Executive Aimee Wiley told Mike Hosking that the reduction makes it more equitable. She says every motorist has a responsibility to contribute to the roading cost but we have to make sure they pay their fair share. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Completing a Great Walk is set to become more expensive for the first time in four years. The Department of Conservation is increasing the price of a hut on a Great Walk or a campsite by 18% from July. Paparoa will increase by 6%. Fees will range from $19 to camp in the Abel Tasman, to $92 for a hut on the Milford Track. Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Rebecca Ingram told Mike Hosking that the majority of international tourists come to New Zealand for our scenery. She says about 50% visit a national park each year, and for many it's a Great Walk. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More issues are arising within the Police force. In an effort to meet the Government’s cost cuts, indefinite restrictions have been placed on the recruiting of non-sworn staff. The Police Association has said that the freeze on hiring backroom staff will trickle over and impact the front line. Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that you have to be really careful. Without the backroom staff there would be no one to answer emergency calls or sort administration. There are some real pressure points, he said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Treasury paper reveals how the Government's main weapon for tackling the climate crisis could affect families financially. It demonstrates how leaning heavily on the Emissions Trading Scheme could increase costs for households disproportionately. Carbon prices are expected to move upwards, bringing other household costs up with it and hitting lower income families the hardest. Victoria University climate expert Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that the modelling is a useful thought experiment about the effects of the ETS. He says it sends a message to the Government it can't just set and forget the ETS, it has to consider compensation for the people most affected. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A business leader says there's a retail crime emergency. Police data shows more than 400 retail crimes were reported a day last year, with six staff a day complaining to police they'd been assaulted. There were more than 2000 assaults on retail workers over the course of the year, including almost 400 sexual assaults, a 20% increase from 2022. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that the figures reveal there's a reported retail crime, on average, every three and a half minutes. He believes real crime figures would be much higher as most crime goes unreported. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rumours a coup is brewing in the UK Conservative Party likely hold little truth. In the last few days MP Penny Mordaunt has been at the centre of speculation that she’s trying to oust the prime minister, after which she’ll step into his place. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that while there is disquiet within the Conservative Party’s backbenches regarding Rishi Sunak’s performance, a coup is unlikely. He said the Tories aren’t used to the fact that its them the country hates, not just Sunak, his trust, or those who came before. People are sick of the conservatives, Liddle said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I watched an interview the other week with Marama Davidson. It came after the elevation of Chloe Swarbrick to the leadership. Davidson wasn’t at the press conference, Chloe told us, because it turns out she had Covid. In watching the interview, although Covid ridden, Davidson looked and sounded perfectly well, although she was isolating, which is what we do, isn't it? Well, some of us do. A friend of the kids had Covid the other day and hopped on a plane, the way I am sure many people do, and have done, for ages. But the power of the narrative is still on display by some because we were convinced, or have convinced ourselves, that Covid, although affecting the vast majority of us in exactly the same way as any other flu-like, viral type condition, is different. And one of the outworkings of getting Covid is some people ended up with what has become known as long Covid. Now, the research out this week from Queensland's Chief Health Officer is that long Covid does exist, but we need to stop calling it that. Because, to use their words, it creates unnecessary fear and it's probably harmful. In other words, we have freaked ourselves out needlessly. They studied more than 5000 people and found similar functional limitations a year after the event as they found with those who had seasonal flu or other respiratory illnesses. In other words, it didn’t matter what you had, some people still felt the effects 12 months on, the same way it didn’t matter what you had at the time of infection, it still hit you the same way. You might have lost your sense of smell, or you might not have. You might have been fatigued, or you might not have been. But the fact you could take a swab and get a red line gave us all a chance to say "oh it's Covid, I'll isolate" for whatever the current rules were. If it wasn’t Covid we reacted completely differently, the same way we had our entire lives until Covid came along, got a massive Government backed tag and reputation and messed with our sense of common sense. We turned it, because we were allowed to, if not told to, into a “thing”. Well, slowly, as common-sense returns and a slightly more real-world perspective evolves and the test results come in, we can increasingly see this period as some sort of out-of-body experience where we let fear play far too great a role. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the bestselling musicians of all time, Grammy Award Winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor is on his way to New Zealand. He’s sold over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than 50 years and is the only artist to have an album in the Billboard Top 10 in each of the past six decades. The end of April will see Taylor visiting Auckland and Wellington for ‘An Evening with James Taylor,' two stops on his packed tour schedule spanning the better part of the year. He’s been touring for decades, telling Mike Hosking that it’s funny to look back at some of his earlier songs complaining about the uncomfortable fit of working in show business. Taylor said it’s funny to realise that, in spite of his complaints, it’s sustained him for over 50 years now. 'An Evening With James Taylor' is coming to Auckland's Spark Arena on April 30th, and Wellington's TSB Arena on May 1st. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin has claimed a fifth term as Russia’s President. He took an early lead with 88% of the vote upon polls closing on Sunday, and the full count saw him secure the win with 87.28%. While several countries have congratulated Putin’s win, Europe is not under the impression that his win was fair. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky called Putin a power-hungry “dictator”, who is “sick from power”, Italy’s Foreign Minister said the election was “neither free nor fair”, and the Czech Prime Minister called the election a “farce parody”. Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that the French President went even further, saying he couldn’t congratulate someone for an election “lined with the death of those who fought for pluralism in Russia.” She said that there’s a lot of concern about Putin’s plans for Ukraine and Transnistria, a region of Moldova bordering Ukraine that has a high population of Russians. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small town New Zealand is consuming more alcohol than the big cities. New Auckland University wastewater analysis has found New Zealanders over 15 years are having 1.2 standard drinks per day on average, below the WHO's 2018 estimate. South Islanders are consuming more than North Islanders, and towns have higher average consumption than cities. Researcher Lisa Pilkington told Mike Hosking that increased drug use may be affecting alcohol consumption. She says it would take long-term trends to see if illicit drugs are tracking higher and alcohol is lower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's new directives for Kainga Ora are being hailed a step in the right direction by the business community. It's requiring the government agency to take stronger measures against persistent antisocial tenant behaviour and abolish the Sustaining Tenancies Framework. Parnell Business Association General Manager Cheryl Adamson is welcoming the announcement. She told Mike Hosking she's hoping it will give Kainga Ora more power to manage behaviour appropriately. Adamson says if residents understand there are extensive consequences for their actions, it may start to filter through. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says the Government is calling for action over the 20% of Kāinga Ora houses left vacant for a month or more. The Government's issued a Letter of Expectation to Kāinga Ora outlining a series of areas where it needs improvement. Luxon says there's a whole bunch of homes not ready to let because they need repairs or need to be rebuilt. But, he told Hosking, he's concerned it's taking too long to get people into the about 600 homes that are currently available. He says one of the things in the letter was directing Kāinga Ora to turn homes around faster and get people into them. The Prime Minister also says there won't be any new taxes in the Budget, and tax relief will happen. The Government will unveil its first Budget in May. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has pushed out surplus expectations. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has warned of a multi-billion-dollar gap between what was promised and what can be delivered in the budget. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that they're determined to deliver low and middle income working New Zealanders tax relief. He says he'd love it to be effective this July, they just have to go through a cabinet decision making process to ensure they can do it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.