The Mike Hosking Breakfast

In America at the moment there is a lot of talk about the “K” shaped economy.  Car dealers see it. If you have a good, safe job, good income and you're in the markets invested in AI (before it all pops) you are feeling good.  You are the upward bit of the “K”. You're buying a flash new car with carbon add-ons.  If you've been laid off, or about to be by a robot, you hate AI because you never earned enough to buy stock anyway and your SNAP payment hasn’t come through because of the shutdown and you're holding onto your car, not to mention sweating on making ends meet, you are the downward bit of the “K”.  It looks like we have a similar story here. Recruiters Robert Walters are already warning of the increased cost of labour in the recovery because people with the skills that are going to be in demand can charge more.  Why?  Because we are short of them. Why? Because the others are in Australia.  In ideal times, as an economy recovers you hoover up those who have lost their jobs when times were tight.  This time anyone who was marketable left and what we have, sadly, are a group of people who it would appear are not available to take part as growth returns.  Yes, there are plenty of unemployed – 5.3% as of last week. Not to mention a growing number of so-called "underutilised". But as far as skills go, that’s where we have an issue.  Not everywhere or everyone of course. But it's becoming increasingly obvious that there are too many under-skilled, under-qualified people in this country.  That is sadly what eventuates when you have system that spits kids out at 15, 16, or 17-year-old without a pathway to success.  When times are good any number of people get swept up for bits and pieces-type jobs that lots of employers can afford to fork out on.  But they are also the first to go. And when the rest of the talent bails, the ones without the skills aren't the ones to fill the growth areas, hence we will once again rely on imported labour, which this time around may or may not be available depending on whether they see us as a cool place to be.  If they don’t, that weighs on recovery and the speed at which we pick up.  Robert Walters seem to suggest it's an issue.  For those who stayed and have the skills though, you will be in a new car before you know it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th of November, Public Services Commissioner Sir Brian Roche speaks on McSkimming, Coster, and what’s next for the investigation.  Health Minister Simeon Brown discusses the rollout of 12-month prescriptions, private cancer patients gaining access to publicly funded medication, and the cutting of red tape around medical conferences.   Acclaimed author John Grisham is back on the show for a chat about his latest book 'The Widow'.  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.

John Grisham is back, but with a bit of a twist.  His legal thrillers made him a bestselling author but his latest novel is a bit of a departure, a whodunnit murder mystery titled ‘The Widow’.   Grisham writes his novels in a slightly unorthodox manner, starting with the end and looping back around.  “I learned the hard way years ago,” he told Mike Hosking.  “I wasn’t sure how to end the book, and so you keep writing, and you can’t get to the end, and you boxed yourself in a corner.”   “I’m not gonna waste time like that, I’m gonna know the ending when I start, and if you know the ending, it’s hard to get lost.”   Despite starting with the ending, the conclusion to ‘The Window’ is not the one he initially wrote, as his wife wasn’t a fan.   “It was risky,” Grisham explained.  “This one just didn’t work, and my wife said, hey buddy, this is not gonna work."  “I sent it to my publisher and to my editor in New York, and they agreed and when all three of them lined up against me, I can't, I can't argue.”  So he changed the ending, writing 25,000 more words in the month of January in order to get the novel finished on time.  “I think it’s important to listen to people you trust,” he said.   “You’ve gotta have a reader you trust, somebody who loves you and wants to see you succeed, but will be brutally honest with you.”  Grisham has written over 50 books in his career, all bestsellers, and he says the secret is writing what he likes.  “I write for myself, because I know what has worked,” he explained.  “I know the stories I want to tell, and so far, those are the stories people want to read.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new festival is launching for the wine industry.  Titled ‘Sauvignon 2027’, it will celebrate the innovation and diversity of New Zealand’s most iconic wine.   It'll be welcoming global industry leaders and trade influencers to Marlborough in February.  Chair Natalie Christensen told Mike Hosking that although Sauvignon Blanc is a popular wine around the world, there’s still lots to talk about and they want to get that word spread far and wide.  She says there’s a lot more depth to Sauv that a lot of people don’t know about, things like the subregional stories and different characters you get from different parts of New Zealand, and they want to share that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A million dollar compensation deal with Watercare is only short-term relief for Auckland oyster farmers, who've lost income from a massive sewage spill in the Mahurangi River.  The issue caused by a power surge at the Warkworth pump station has meant an almost month-long halt on harvesting.  Watercare's now paid out one million dollars to Aquaculture New Zealand for distribution to 10 impacted oyster farmers.  Matakana Oysters owner Tom Walters told Mike Hosking they’re feeling relieved, but it’s only a start.  He says this cheque is just for the event that happened two weeks ago, and the payout would need to be much larger to fix the damage caused by the spillages that happened throughout the year due to outdated infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More convenience and savings are being offered for those on long-term treatments.  From February, people will be able to receive 12-month prescriptions.  Patients will still collect their repeats from the pharmacy but will no longer need to return to their doctor each time for a new script.  Health Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking this could save patients up to $105 per year in reduced GP fees.  He says it will also free up appointment space.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Port of Auckland's pushing back against criticism of its move to raise fees.  The port's increasing peak time fees from $130 per container to $180 next year, and $350 the following year.  Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says it's one of several cost pressures facing businesses, alongside rising fuel excise taxes and soon-to-be-introduced congestion charges.  Port boss Roger Gray told Mike Hosking the fees are fair and Kalasih should come visit the port to understand why.  He says he's never met Kalasih, who's never accepted invitations to visit to the port.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner is saying little on the details of Andrew Coster's ongoing employment after his involvement in the Jevon McSkimming scandal.   A scathing IPCA report has found the former Police Commissioner was among those in senior police leadership who failed to properly address sex allegations against the then Deputy Police Commissioner.   Coster is now head of the Social Investment Agency.   His employer, Sir Brian Roche, says an employment process is underway for Coster and can't mention details.    But he told Mike Hosking someone can be let go for behaviour at a previous job.   Roche says the key issue is whether the information would have been relevant at the time of employment.  The Public Service Commissioner says a review into the employment process of Jevon McSkimming was a little unfair to the commission.   The independent review has been released into McSkimming's reference and probity checks before his 2023 appointment as Deputy Police Commissioner.   Last week he pleaded guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices.  Sir Brian Roche says the review raised some valid points for improvements, which the commission is embracing.   But he told Hosking it would have detected Jevon McSkimming's behaviour had it been given the right information from the right people.   He says the man was living a double life which he was hiding from his family, his employer, and the Commission.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 12th of November, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers responds to the damning IPCA report into the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming.  Did we get anything out of the Arms Act announcement?  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen give their thoughts on the police and their culture and how much damage has been done to their reputation on Politics Wednesday.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seemed like a thing, until it wasn’t.  Guns are like fluoride and the MSM – they get people angsty.  Out of the Christchurch mosque attack came the idea that gun law needed amending. The amending got another look when ACT came to power because they are libertarians and people with, broadly speaking, a common-sense view of the world.  The idea that the more you restrict weaponry the less likely you are to have a massacre is, of course, nonsense.  Like so many things the Ardern and Hipkins era was responsible for, real world policy for real world behaviour wasn’t one of them.  Nutters get guns. The fact Brenton Tarrant got his legally didn't change the equation, and that’s before you get to the bit that this is not a country of hot-head crazies with a long list of violent massacres.  It's true that we have a lot of guns per head of population. But that reflects our outdoors and rural lifestyles, as opposed to an American-type view of defending yourself.  Anyway, Nicole McKee, straight from the gun side of the equation, was going to have a look and from that came the expectation that some sort of major liberalisation was coming.  But it was not to be. Yesterday was more dabble than revolution.  The fact McKee and ACT have invoked the agree to disagree is either a sign of political maturity, seething anger, or possibly both.  If you listened to Mark Mitchell around the Police's role and the Firearm Safety Authority, National were never budging.  There is some stuff there about 3D printing, which makes sense. But overall, it puts this whole exercise into the category of a review, not an overhaul.  I personally never thought a loosening of access to these so-called "mass weapons" was a major, but I get a lot of people would have.  In a way it’s a good example of the disconnect between the country and city. The city would be aghast because the city doesn’t use guns or get it.  Most gun owners are regular people, burdened by the irregular thinking of the Arderns, who wouldn't know one end of a gun from the other.  McKee was from the other side of the argument but ultimately lost.  So carry on then. The angst was wasted. Nothing to see here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Division within Democrats as US Senators approve the final version of a Bill that could end the weeks-long Government shutdown.   The deal from a group of Democrats and GOP leaders will go to the House of Representatives, then will need signing into law by the President.   Under the deal, the Government will reopen in exchange for a future vote on extending Affordable Care subsidies.  Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley told CNN it's unlikely that vote will go anywhere, because Republicans have vastly different healthcare ideals.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the Democrats who flipped say that they’ve at least set the table for the debate in the midterm elections.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transporting New Zealand warns increases in Auckland port fees will be passed on to consumers.   Fees per container at peak times will increase from $130 to $180 in January 2026.   They'll then jump to $350 in January 2027.   Transporting New Zealand CEO Dom Kalasih told Mike Hosking that it would be one thing if the port was seeing productivity gains from the increases, but they’re not.  He says there comes a point in time where you have to wonder if this is just a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The implementation of roadside drug testing is being hailed as a huge step in the right direction.  From December, Police across Wellington can do random roadside saliva tests – screening for cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine.   They'll spread to cover the whole country by mid-next year.  Drivers testing positive will need to do a second test that checks for 25 substances.  Drug Detection Agency Chief Executive Glenn Dobson told Mike Hosking data shows 30% of all road deaths now involve an impairing drug.  He says it’s not going to be a game changer, but it is a massive move in the right direction.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A damning report into the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming reveals interference and cover-ups during the "Commissioner-appointment" process.   The former Deputy Police Commissioner is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices.  A watchdog report finds some of the nation's highest ranking officers ignored a young woman's anonymous complaints against McSkimming and prosecuted her for harassment.  Gagging orders were put in place to ostensibly protect the reputation of McSkimming - who was a top candidate to replace outgoing Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.  It has been revealed that emails regarding the subject were also sent to the office of Police Minister Mark Mitchell, but he was blocked from seeing them.  “They put a protocol in place whereby I was not to have visibility on it, or any of my political staff, and they were going to be handled by PNHQ,” he told Mike Hosking.  “So I had no visibility on any emails that I received, you know, that came through my office.”   When asked who is the bigger criminal in this case, McSkimming for his behaviour or Costa for covering it up, Mitchell told Hosking they’re as bad as each other.   "It’s atrocious behaviour,” he said.  “They have put the rest of our outstanding police officers in an awful position – who turn up every day and quite simply do outstanding work.”   The concern for Labour’s Ginny Andersen is the impact this situation will have on public trust and confidence in the Police.  “New Zealanders should have every confidence that if they take a complaint to the Police, that it is investigated fully,” she told Hosking.  “It does erode public trust and confidence that taking a complaint forward will be taken seriously and investigated.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland businesses are gearing up for a busy Wednesday next week - as hotel occupancy reaches 100%.  Forty thousand are expected from Metallica fans alone, with the rock band set to perform at Eden Park.  Meanwhile, nearly 3,800 international delegates are gathering at Aotea Centre for New Zealand's largest ever academic conference, celebrating Indigenous education over five days.  Auckland Unlimited Destination Director Annie Dundas told Mike Hosking the city will probably average 80-85% occupancy over the summer.  She says these nice big event spikes lift them up for certain parts of the year, giving the accommodation and hospitality sectors a boost.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief New Zealanders are no safer than they were before changes to the gun laws.  A rewrite of the Arms Act simplifies rules for licensed owners for storage, repairs and visitor use, and adds harsher penalties.  Gang members also won't be able to own a gun and semi-automatics will stay banned.   Council of Licensed Firearms Owners spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack told Mike Hosking they were promised overwhelming reform but have only got a re-tweak of the existing law.  He says the things that are mentioned are pretty good, but it’s what is absent that is going to annoy a lot of licenced firearms owners who were expecting more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says he only became aware of an investigation into Jevon McSkimming two days before taking up the top job.  The former Deputy Police Commissioner is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices.  A watchdog report finds some of the nation's highest ranking officers ignored a young woman's anonymous complaints against McSkimming.   They then went after her for digital harassment.  The Government has installed an Inspector-General of Police to ensure there is stronger oversight than the IPCA alone.  Commissioner Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking the report points out about five top cops who are at fault.   He says most of them have departed the organisation, but he is also launching employment investigations for other members.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm trying to work out what the ratio would be.  How much squeaky clean, beyond doubt, rock solid truth would the BBC need to deliver to offset the one gargantuan cock up that has seen the Director General and Head of News quit?  Or in this day and age, where doubt and mistrust is so high, is it a futile exercise and the damage is permanent?  Like all these stories you can dilute its seriousness – the Panorama programme wasn’t actually made by the BBC, it was a contract company, so was the bias external not internal? Obviously I am clutching at straws.  Does a resignation mean the organisation is no longer biased, or perceived as biased? I would have thought not.  How do you prove inherent bias? Which is an ongoing charge not just at the BBC but a number of public broadcasters all over the world.  I cited the Radio New Zealand example yesterday, out of the boot camp report, their headline read the conclusion was of a ‘rushed’ exercise.  That wasn’t the conclusion. It was an observation, not a conclusion. But even if you argued the observation was a conclusion, that would mean there were many conclusions. Why pick that one when there were positive ones to choose from as well? And is that inherent bias or just a busy journo looking to publish a story?  Are we the punter inherently biased and therefore whatever we see and we don’t like must be biased?  The BBC bit is of course indisputable. It's not about inference or emphasis, it is about making something seem real which factually wasn’t – they made it up.  Why would you do that unless you had an agenda? Why would the BBC not spot it? Too busy or too biased?  The Culture Secretary said now more than ever the need for trusted news is essential to our cultural and democratic life. Which is what they say when they have carnage to deal with using taxpayers' money.   The BBC were already booked in this week, ironically, for a parliamentary inquiry into their coverage of trans rights and Gaza, cementing in many people's minds what they already suspected.  My summation is basically: it's over. The jury is in, the verdict is guilty, and the people are always right. Whatever the media might once have had by way of respect and trust is largely, if not completely, gone.   And two resignations cemented any remaining doubt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The BBC's chairman has denied claims the BBC is trying to bury accusations of bias as Donald Trump threatens to sue the company.  A leaked BBC memo suggests the Panorama programme edited Trump’s speech to imply he encouraged the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021.  The US President is demanding a full retraction and is threatening to sue for nearly NZ$1.8 billion in damages.  BBC director general Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness have both stepped down.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that Chairman Samir Shah said he doesn’t believe the BBC is institutionally biased, but Liddle isn’t sure he believes that.  Liddle believes Shah said it as he feels the need to hold the BBC together in the wake of its two most damaging resignations, Davie and Turness.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi is at the helm of the latest movie in an iconic franchise.  The first Predator film was released in 1987, and four films —and two Alien vs Predator films— and 38 years later, Kiwi-born Dimitrius Koloamatangi holds a starring role in ‘Predator: Badlands’.   Auditioning for the role of Dek was a bit of a funny process, Koloamatangi revealed to Mike Hosking.  “My character is obviously an alien, so he doesn’t really speak English,”  “So I had to do a take in just like, a made-up language.”   While the audition process had Koloamatangi integrating elements of Samoan and Tongan into his own language, for the actual film, he had to learn something entirely new.  “When I jumped on, I had thought I could just freestyle and do my own thing, which I was like, ‘oh this is gonna be fantastic, no lines.’”  “But then they were like, oh we’re gonna set you up with the Zoom call with this guy named Britton who constructed the whole language,” Koloamatangi told Hosking.  “I was like, bro, I have to learn a whole made up language? Like, I struggle Samoan somewhat fluently, now I have to learn this? But it was fun.”  The Predator franchise is iconic, boasting a massive fanbase, including Koloamatangi’s father.  “My dad’s a massive fan of the first one – we used to watch that one a lot growing up,” he said.  “It’s pretty surreal to be honest,”  “The franchise has such a massive fan base, like you said, spans like 20 years, you know, and, yeah, it’s kind of crazy to think that I’m now a part of it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.