Like most things in life, there is nuance and subtlety that is lost along the way.  David Seymour is of a personality that undoubtedly gets up the noses of some. He might even bother the Prime Minister periodically.  But his Land Rover Escapade is not a sackable offence. Neither is his letter written, not as a minister, for Polkinghorne a sackable offence. Even if you want to combine them and throw in the Treaty Principals Bill because he's agitated people with it, he is still not in sackable territory, nor indeed anywhere close.  Here is the simple truth about MMP: why do we still report it like FPP and they're all in the same party?  Could the Prime Minister sack David Seymour from Cabinet? I guess, but then what would happen? The end of the Government.   Is he going to do that? No, he is not.  When companies take over other companies there is often a clean out of talent. When a new CEO arrives the same thing often applies. The business of running a country in an MMP environment is unique. You don’t merge or take over, you coalesce.  You are individual entities who agree on a series of ideas and a level of cooperation. It won't go perfectly. It might not even go swimmingly, because at no stage did you ever merge into one. You always remained, in this case, as three.  When Chris Hipkins calls yet again for a sacking —and surely we are bored witless with that tactic— he tells us that not since the 80's and Lange and Prebble have we seen in-fighting like this.   He is of course wrong. He forgets Peters and Shipley, and Peters and Bolger, and Anderton and Clark, and Kopu and Shipley, and the NZ First Tight Five. He forgets a vast swathe of our local and recent history and, not just that, he forgets Prebble and Lange were in the same party. Seymour and Luxon are not.  In many respects we are lucky with this current line up. In a small country coalition choice is limited. In Spain and Germany where they have recently stretched the bounds of credibility in forming deals, they have collapsed.   This deal won't collapse. The majority of the time there is cordiality, respect, and productivity. But reportage doesn’t appear to feature those aspects.  The great frustration I have with the Hipkins approach and the coverage of this frippery is that this is a time of tremendous importance on serious matters.   This country is a mess, and it is in desperate need of addressing. The side show game increasingly looks from another age and also childish.  If Seymour, Peters, or Luxon is on the phone to the Governor General to dissolve arrangements then come back to me.   But stunts and a bit of personality back and forward is a day at the office, not a lead story and certainly not a crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LIV Golf seems to be growing with every event.  Upon it’s arrival, the tour was rather controversial due to its financial backing from Saudi Arabia, but its popularity is continuing to grow.  Professional golfer Ben Campbell joined the league in 2024 as a reserve player, but is making his official debut this year as a member of Bubba Watson’s squad.  Campbell told Mike Hosking that it’s definitely getting bigger and bigger compared to previous years.  “Even from last year,” he said.  “The crowds have got bigger just the, the whole following had got a lot bigger.”   “And LIV just producing such a good product – they're getting better and better and better at every event, which is exciting.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A soft landing for the red meat industry after a tough 2024.  Meat Industry Association data reveals there was an overall 3% decline in last year's red meat exports, which reached around $10 billion.  Total sheepmeat exports fell 3% in both volume and value.  Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva says it ended on a positive note with December's exports rising by 17%, reaching more than one billion dollars.  She told Mike Hosking they’re focused on putting one foot in front of the other for 2025 and making sure they continue what they do best: producing and exporting fabulous products to the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A reminder landlords aren't privy to the personal information of their tenants.   Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says many renters feel the need during the busy rental season to disclose more about themselves to secure a flat.   He says it can be tempting for landlords to collect this information when considering applications.  Webster says there's also been issues in the past of landlords black-listing tenants and sharing their information when they've had issues.  But he told Mike Hosking there are processes to protect landlord's property through bond arrangements in rental agreements and the Tenancy Tribunal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th of February, there’s potential reforms for both the fisheries and media sector – will either make an impact?  Can you still buy KFC and rent a house? The Privacy Commissioner has new rules for what landlords can and can't look through bank accounts for.  Kiwi golfer Ben Campbell has got a full-time gig with LIV Golf, and he joined to explain how it’s currently running and whether the stigma still exists.  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.

Sealord says the current Fisheries Act regulations are no longer fit for purpose.   Consultation's open on changes to the Act to allow catch limits to be more readily altered and let camera-fitted boats dump unwanted catch at sea.  If agreed on, the public would no longer be able to access fishing boat surveillance camera footage through official information requests.  Chief Executive Doug Paulin told Mike Hosking there's no longer so much need for such strict oversight.   He says they now have digital reporting, vessel locators going to MPI daily, and cameras on many of the fishing boats.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wānaka's business community doesn't appear to have been fazed by the now unlikely prospect of McDonalds setting up shop in town.   The fast-food giant has had its resource application to open in the town declined after 90% of submissions opposed the idea.   Wānaka Business Chamber Chair Jo Learmonth told Mike Hosking there was a variety of opinions in their community survey.   But she says most indicated they don't see it impacting their business, or the business economy.  McDonalds has two weeks to appeal the decision.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce says the council needs to financially compensate businesses affected by the Golden Mile works.  Construction on the Kent and Cambridge intersection with Courtenay Place will begin in April, as part of the project to revitalise the city's tired night-life stretch.  Mayor Tory Whanau previously floated a business support package, but officials yesterday said that was no longer an option.  Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Mike Hosking that while the works need to be done, support for operators is a must.  He says it's not good enough to put businesses and livelihoods in peril and not offer any protection.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mapped-out shake-up of television and screen production legislation is garnering overwhelming support.   The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has laid out five proposals to combat declining viewership and ad revenue in light of the global shift to streaming.   Merging the Film Commission with NZ on Air and requiring offshore platforms to invest in more local content are among the suggestions.   South Pacific Pictures Managing Director Andrew Szusterman told Mike Hosking the recommendations are on the money.   He says there's been consultation with the industry and the proposals being put forward are pretty good.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are contradictory statements from Donald Trump, who says there will be no exceptions to the steel and aluminium tariffs, but seems open to treating Australia differently.   The US President's signed off on 25% tariffs for all steel and aluminium imports, but yesterday Australia's Prime Minister spoke to Trump, who assured him he'd consider exempting Australia.   Trump says Anthony Albanese is a very fine man, and luckily for Australia, it buys a lot of US planes.   He says Australia is one of the only countries which has a surplus with the US, which he'll give great consideration to.  Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking the ball is firmly in the US’ court.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.