The Mike Hosking Breakfast

I have read the latest KPI's for the Government. This is the things they are going to do before the end of the year. "Drag this dump out of the quagmire" would have been my number one, but theirs is introducing new planning legislation to replace the RMA. Which is no bad thing. But introducing stuff isn't the same as ticking stuff off, is it?   And in this list, which is 33 "things" long, is part of this Government's image issue. You most likely won't have read or seen the 33 because it’s a good example of the news cycle, or our attention span, or a bit of both. Remember when they first came out? There was mass coverage. A Government with a "to do" list was novel. It showed things you could see and come back later to and check whether it had actually happened. It was very business like. You may also remember that, mainly, they get done. This Government has roughly achieved what it set out to do so as an exercise in discipline it deserves some sort of recognition. But here's the problem - a cheaper power bill and an annual surplus might have been more use. So as several quarters and lists have passed we appear, and by that I mean mainly the media, to have lost interest. As far as I can tell the latest list is virtually nowhere to be seen, and I do quite a bit of looking. Further, it starts to look like a list, and this is the problem, that has stuff in it that is a mix of indecipherable, non-specific, and/or part of a sort of ongoing, broad-based thought bubble. Here's a good example - number 3 is "pass legislation to allow granny flats to be built without a consent". That's perfect; it's simple, clear and ticks the box. But what about number 15? "Begin the hospitality sector review". Is forecasting the start of a look at something, a thing? Number 20: "Take cabinet policy decision on options to provide more tools to address antisocial behaviour". Take a decision? For tools? For behaviour? Come on, that’s stacking a list. That’s whiteboards and blue skies and boring meetings. We have an economic shambles on our hands and your hot, fourth quarter take is some tools for behaviour? Maybe one of the KPI's in the first quarter could have been "lets not make bollocks up for future lists so they look like we ran out of stuff to do". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: The weekend of supercars at Bathurst has concluded in a thrilling wet race that came down to the wire. Canterbury look set to win the NPC, can they be stopped? And Tiger Woods undergoes another back surgery, is it time to hang up the clubs? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turnout in the weekend's local elections has fallen even further this time around. By the end of Friday, less than 33-percent of Kiwis had cast their vote. Local Government New Zealand President Sam Broughton - who was unseated as Selwyn Mayor - says we should be aiming for much higher turnout. He says general elections get double the turnout and we should expect the same for local elections. Prime Minster Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking both candidates and voters alike are to blame. He says candidates have to be compelling and set out a clear vision, but the public also can't complain if they don't vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outgoing three term Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton says rates increases played a part in his job loss.  Former Councillor Lydia Gliddon has taken the top spot in the country's fastest growing district, unseating the incumbent. She unseated the current Local Government NZ President by more than 13,000 - he was seeking a fourth term. Broughton believes Selwyn's larger than average rates increases contributed to voting behaviour.  He says although it took a personal toll, raising rates was the right thing to do, so the region could invest in long-term infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assurance for farmers with the latest methane target update.  The Government's set the 2050 targets to 14 to 24-percent below 2017 levels - which is 24 to 47-percent lower than the previous.  Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford told Mike Hosking they'd been advocating for lower, but this at least gives farmers a clear direction of travel.  He says the numbers are scientific rather than idealistic, which is good for farmers.  Langford says it's measurable, and they're on track to achieve it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual report by ACC revealed a $1.5billion deficit, taking the total debt up to $13.8billion.  ACC Chief Executive Megan Main told Mike Hosking that the numbers are improving, but it's a 'big ship to turn around.'  She said that the costs for services from providers have risen more than inflation, hindering ACC's ability to provide rehabilitation for those who need it.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So soybean farmers, like a lot of American farmers, are having a very tough time of it.  Soybean farmers particularly so because most of their product goes to China. So far this season, China has bought no beans.  A lot of countries, when they can, are doing business with other countries and avoiding the American tariff regime.  China in particular is caught up in an ongoing shambles around trade generally, so China has gone to Argentina for their soybeans.  This has left the people of Minnesota, where most of the beans are grown, with a problem.  If you remember when Trump announced the tariffs, the tariffs had no downside, apart from a little pain at the start. His words: "a little pain".  I'm assuming losing your biggest soybean customer is the "little pain" bit.  Anyway, the White House’s response to this is a massive bail out. Farmers all over America from beans, to wheat, to corn are going to get money because they can't sell their products.  In a country like New Zealand, none of this will come as any surprise given we have been basically tariff free for years and we do business on the very simple basis that it costs what it costs to make something and you sell it to willing buyers for what the market can bear.  Need I introduce the butter story at this point?  The problem in some cases is if the tariff or barrier is too high into a market you look for other markets. This is happening a lot in food.  By the way, it's also reported Trump is looking at some kind of major carve out around car production as well, given there is no car that is truly American made and they told him this at the start.  So the tariffs arrived, the prices went up, and the demand went down.  I'm assuming even Trump can see that a farmer who grows something that he once sold to the world to make a living but now can't because he has been priced out of the market, does not a good economic story make.  And when said farmer then has to earn an income from the Government, not the market, something about the Trump tariff plan doesn't seem to be working.  But then there was no shortage of people pointing that out earlier this year. 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.    Attention seekers: 1/10  What a dreadful week as we gave far too much energy to narcissists who masquerade as people with causes, both at sea and on land.    Noeline: 2/10  Still nothing. How badly handled can a badly handled scandal be handled?    Winston Peters: 7/10  In between cleaning up the glass on his dog, his Pacific reset speech was a reminder of what a considered and sensible Foreign Minister he is.    Chlöe Swarbrick: 1/10  The party under her leadership really has become farcical. If Palestine was a national park, it might make sense.    Chris Hipkins: 3/10  Telling us how appalling it was that Winston's house got smashed but then didn’t vote for the new protest law. H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.T.E.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump's confident the momentum will continue beyond the first phase of a Gaza peace plan.   The Israeli Government's voting this morning on whether to implement the terms agreed with Hamas yesterday.   It would see hostages released early next week and Israeli troops withdraw to agreed lines.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the remaining hostages are believed to be held by splinter groups, so getting them all together will be challenging.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I argued it because I thought it was the right thing to do.  Winston Peters entered the Fonterra brands sale debate yesterday, I suspect because he thinks there are points to be scored.  Not because he is wrong, because he isn't, but if you really cared about the sale that Fonterra has been involved with for some period of time, you might have stumped up a bit earlier.  In a way it's none of our business, neither mine nor Peters’. We aren't farmers and we don’t have a vote.  The people who do have a vote are in that process as we speak.  My guess is it will romp home and each farmer on average will be several hundred thousand dollars better off.  But there is also, as it's always been, the Fonterra social licence. Although the average punter doesn’t own them, or have a say, they are so big that their role in the New Zealand economy is outsized to the point that what they do has national implications.  I have always argued that their argument for sale is wrong.  There is, and never has been, any reason they can't and don’t run their brands successfully. They say it's not their core business.  Isn't it?  Milk turns into cheese and ice cream. Cheese and ice cream are the brands they are selling.  The French company, also in the same business as Fonterra, doesn’t seem to see it that way either, otherwise they wouldn’t be stumping up over $4 billion for it.  There is an agreement, and this is Peters' main point, that the new owner uses Fonterra products. But, says Peters, how long for, and when the clock stops, which it will, our milk will be in just another in a long line of milk jugs.  Peters tosses in a bit of conspiracy about Fonterra executives and bonuses. But that’s the politics of it all.  But then that’s always been the Peters way, hasn’t it?  At its core he makes sense. He values New Zealand and New Zealand products, so his view is consistent. But then there is always a little conspiratorial spice for the headlines.  If this sale was to be debated properly, far less halted, he needed to be front and centre ages ago.  So overall, the Peters' foray – good point, just too late.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.   They discussed Dolly Parton’s not-dead announcement, the art Mike and Kate bought over the weekend, and whether or not they could pass a practical drivers test nowadays.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bathurst 1000 returns this weekend.  The first practice has seen New Zealanders Ryan Wood, Matt Payne, and Andre Heimgartner sit first, fourth and eighth respectively.  Brodie Kostecki is the current champion, looking to obtain back-to-back victories.  Former Supercars driver Paul Radisch told Mike Hosking at the end of the day, everything just comes down to luck.  He says that even if you’re leading the race and make all the right preparations, someone else could still claim the win.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 10th of October, the first stage of a peace deal in the Middle East is in progress. Whether it holds is the next question.  We announce the winner of our brilliant trip to Melbourne – you won't want to miss her reaction!  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk about the art bought over the weekend and whether or not they'd pass their driving test these days as they Wrap the Week.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Minister believes cuts within the sector aren't the slash and burn they're made out to be.  The Government has reduced its contractor and consultant spending across the public service by more than half its target.  It says spending has fallen $915 million, compared to its goal of $400 million, and frontline roles in the public service have also increased.  Judith Collins told Mike Hosking redundancy costs from job cuts also need to be seen in the context of overall savings.  She says some agencies immediately got rid of some jobs because they realised they were coping without them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought there are fundamental issues with the new methamphetamine contamination laws.  Properties with meth residue exceeding 15 micrograms per 100-square centimetres will be considered contaminated and require treatment.   Landlords and tenants will be able to quickly end tenancies with excessive levels.  Residential Property Managers Association Chair Tony Mitchell told Mike Hosking it's great to have clarity, but it's out of step with the rest of the world.    He says we shouldn't be accepting any meth in properties, and we now don't have the ability to enforce a zero-tolerance policy.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ACC lawyer says there's a simple answer to the insurer's deficit problem.   The Scheme's recorded a net deficit of $1.5 billion, blowing the total out to $13.8 billion.  ACC lawyer and researcher Warren Forster told Mike Hosking tackling this issue requires looking at it over a generation.  He says they need to be careful about value for the money they collect and stop changing how they calculate the amount needed.   Forster says ACC did really well with its return on investment this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next phase of the Gaza peace talks could test Benjamin Netanyahu's loyalty.   His Government's voting today on approving the first phase of a ceasefire plan, agreed with Hamas.   It involves Israeli troops retreating to agreed lines, a cessation of fighting, and the release of hostages.   Israeli journalist Haggi Matar told Mike Hosking the Israeli Prime Minister has effectively promised his base he'll continue the war and eradicate Hamas.   He says it's pretty certain that's not what Qatar and the Trump administration are after, so hopefully they will continue to press both sides to agree.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington mayor went out, not really in a blaze of glory yesterday, but more a fireball of misery and bitchiness.  Tory Whanau is probably the local body poster child for ineptitude. She's given her bye-bye speech.  She was a shambles. She may still be back, as she is standing in the Māori ward.  She seems like a person who if she wasn’t in local politics, might have trouble finding work.  She admitted, after it was too late, that she really should have done her homework before chasing the big mayoral job.  She won because too many people stood for mayor and split the vote, so by the time you deal with the appalling turnout and split the vote several times over, you need not a lot of support to get a job you weren't even qualified for any way.  But that’s local body politics, isn't it, at least at national level. Whether list or electorate, a group of experienced operators give you the once over.  Locally literally anyone can have a go and that, if you haven't worked it out yet, is a problem.  It wasn’t all her fault of course. A mayor is not a president and is but one vote. But a mayor's job shouldn’t be a "funsies" party trick because you are bored or unemployable.  There were the personal issues. That is another problem in the lack of vetting. Some people are basically just a shambles and she is clearly one of those.  That's not a crime, we all have issues. It's just advisable not to have them on display while you are trying to run things like a city.  The city is pretty much a reflection of her leadership – a mess.  Infrastructurally it's an embarrassment; level one water restriction when we are barely out of autumn, a devastated CBD and angst, fury and backstabbing having been a feature of decision making. That particular trait aired yet again in her farewell speech.  We seem to be in an era where quality in so many parts of life has gone by the wayside.  Tory Whanau is certainly an example of that. She came, she cocked it up, she flailed and flapped about like we were her psychologists as she aired her many and varied problems, then poof! She's off! Until she wasn’t.  They, sadly, rarely are.  But honestly, in a city of Kitts, Fowler, Belich (maybe even Wilde and Prendergast), ol' Tory is hardly one for the record books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The time has nearly come for Jeffrey Archer to put down the pen.  The prolific author and former member of Lords has sold over 350 million copies of his books, and has just wrapped up the William Warwick series with the release of the eighth book ‘End Game’.  He has one more book left to write, which he’s aiming to finish by Christmas and release in September next year.  But although this will be Archer’s final book, he’s not stepping back from writing altogether, telling Mike Hosking that he still plans on writing short stories and perhaps a screenplay.  “This book is, frankly, bigger than ‘Kane and Abel’ as a story,” he said.  “I’ve got to see if I’ve been able to write it, and frankly, I won’t want to follow it.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 9th of October, the Reserve Bank did what the market, and the Government, wanted and cut the OCR by 50 basis points. Is this the move Nicola Willis needs for growth?  The CEO of the International Rugby Players’ Association Omar Hassanein talks the threat of R360.  Author and former member of Lord's, Jeffrey Archer is back to talk the last book in the William Warwick series and second last novel he will ever write.  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.