The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Christchurch is acting as a magnet for thousands of Kiwis making the move down South.  The latest Stats NZ census data shows 85,000 people moved to the South Island between 2018 and 2023.  Around half of those have gone to the Canterbury region.  ChristchurchNZ Chief Executive Ali Adams told Mike Hosking the Garden City's versatility is being recognized.  She says people are realizing you can have a brilliant career and a great life.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand is outsourcing more elective operations to private facilities to ease strain on the system.   The agency aims to deliver more than 10,500 additional elective procedures by the end of June, by partnering with private hospitals to expand surgical capacity.  The target is within reach with more than 8,600 procedures complete since March.     Christchurch colorectal and general surgeon Chris Wakeman told Mike Hosking that although he gets paid less to do public work, this is the future of healthcare.   He says it's so much more efficient and you can do a lot more work.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd McClay says surging value and supply is behind the rise in food and fibre export revenue.  The latest forecasts project export earnings of $59.9 billion for the year ending later this month.   It's now on track to reach $65.7 billion by 2029.  Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking we're seeing sectors like Horticulture raise exports by 20%.  He says for the first time ever we saw Zespri sell $5 billion worth of kiwifruit around the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italy’s squeezed middle class could be getting a breather.  Tax cuts are at the top of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s agenda, as she says the middle class is the backbone of the Italian production system.  She says they want to make the system fairer.   Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking she’s reduced the tax rate from around 26% to 24% so far.   She says they’re likely going to need to do a lot more, because many are still struggling financially.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says a move to require wool carpets in state housing makes financial sense.  Nicola Willis has announced a change to Kainga Ora's supplier agreement that will see it re-open its previously nylon-only carpet tender process.  From the start of next month, all public entities will also be required to use woollen fibres where practical and appropriate.  Willis told Mike Hosking officials have told her it makes sense for Kainga Ora to make this change.  She says it's cost-neutral, and it performs well across a number of other dimensions.  Nicola Willis says the Reserve Bank should never be exempt from cost-cutting across the public sector.  Newly released documents show Adrian Orr's abrupt resignation as Governor came after he was denied the Budget allocation he was seeking.  The Finance Minister says the central bank still has the funding it requires to do its statutory duties.  She told Hosking the Reserve Bank can't operate as a "gilded palace" – it needs to be fiscally responsible, like all other government departments.  Willis says any idea that the Reserve Bank doesn't need to abide by the same funding constraints as other Government agencies is wrong.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unrest is spreading in the US over immigrant deportations.  Donald Trump is sending hundreds of US Marines and has ordered 2000 more National Guard troops to go to LA's immigration protests.  California Governor Gavin Newsom's called the US President's orders deranged and has filed a lawsuit.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking of the 2000 National Guard troops deployed, only 315 were mission assigned, the other 1700 having no particular responsibility.  He says that 100 arrests have been made, but no charges have been laid.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, the great rates upset has begun to unfold.  Auckland this week got its long-awaited council valuations.  Why people get excited about them, I have no idea.  It's a rough guesstimate by a council. It takes into account the broadest of criteria, but people seem to live and die by them.  The upset of course has come from the fact that the value of a lot of properties has dropped, while the rates bill is going up. So we get the cost-plus-accounting scandal that is council economic policy exposed.  This is happening all over the country and it's a specific and broad-based problem. It's broad-based because it's inflationary and it's specific because depending on where you are depends on how bad the scandal is.  Auckland properties are down 9% while rates are up over 7%.  In Wellington values are down 24% and rates are up 16%.  Nelson values are down 9% and rates are up 6%, so this whole idea that rates are linked to value is of course complete crap and always has been.  In short, councils are inept and will spend forever, will waste your money forever, will plead poverty forever and will always find something that is critical and needs doing now.  For example, Christchurch got shafted last week by Chris Bishop, when the council rejected the Government's intensification plan.  The council didn’t like it, spent three years and millions of dollars to go back and forward and to achieve what? Nothing. That's council for you.  As Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said, "it is what it is". He's right because he knows a couple of home truths; no one is turning up for local body elections, so very few people will be held to account, and he also knows a lot of people will moan but ultimately do nothing about it.  If ever there was a reason to get exercised over the way we are being played, this is it.  Your asset has dropped but the bill is up. The bill, in theory, is based on the asset value. Nowhere else in life is this scam played and gotten away with, apart from local body politics.  We have too many councils, too much representation, too many boards, too much incompetence, and every year the bill for it rises.  Democracy only works if you take part.  What better reason can there be this year than to get your voting paper, look at the value of your property, look at your rate rise, put a name to the con and vote them out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new rideshare option is skidding into the New Zealand market.   Bolt, hailing from Europe, is promising better deals for both drivers and customers, while challenging the duopoly that currently dominates.   They’re first launching in Auckland, aiming to bring a breath of fresh air to the market.  General Manager Adam Muirson told Mike Hosking that for the last couple of years, the competition has been stagnant at best, leading to increasing prices, limited choice, and decreasing service levels.  He says that there was a growing sense of frustration among drivers at that lack of competition, and the sheer number of applications they’ve received leading up to the launch has reinforced that.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s unlikely New Zealand will be in for a repeat of last year’s power shortage.  Our winter stocks are in better shape thanks to improved lake levels, extra gas supplies, and an enlarged coal stockpile has added security to the system.   And although customers are still battling high energy prices, a major government review is expected in the coming weeks.  Meridian CEO Mike Roan told Mike Hosking that they’re deep into investing in the sector so they can overcome the challenge represented by lost gas supplies.  He says they’re currently stabilising the impact, and in the long term, they’re in good shape.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 11th of June, we've got a new mental health report that shows the $1.9 billion spent has seemingly been wasted, and we talk all things energy with Meridian.    Fieldays begins today and is sure to be successful, considering how well the rural sector has been doing of late.   Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk the new stalking laws, the regulatory standards bill, and solar power 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.