The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Australia's National-Liberal coalition has made up after a three day split.  New Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley is expected to announce her shadow cabinet this week.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price says it will be a battle between the Conservatives who were closely aligned to former leader Peter Dutton, and the moderates who are aligned to Sussan Ley.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 26 May. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks to Mike Hosking about the week's big issues after the budget announcement last week.  Health New Zealand's aiming to perform more than 30-thousand elective surgeries by June 2026 by outsourcing more straightforward cases to private hospitals.  Willis says getting doctors and specialists on longer term contracts will get more people the care they need sooner.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last week announced his intention to raise the retirement age. Willis says no discussions have taken place yet, but says the Government would need to be upfront with their plans.  "At some point, a future government is either going to have to slap a lot more tax on people or it's going to have to front up to whether the settings can be tweaked a little bit," she says.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol out of New Zealand's showing strong results around the world.  Bluff Distillery's London Dry Gin had a very good day out at the Gin Guide Awards in London, winning five awards, including Best Contemporary gin over 42 percent. They also took out Best Australasian gin and best branding. Bluff Distillery co-founder David Nash talks to Mike Hosking about the success.  LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than half of the children on the waiting list for dental surgery have been waiting more than four months. Data from Health New Zealand shows that as of March, there were 5564 young people aged 14 and under on the waitlist, with 2942 waiting more than 120 days. The overall waitlist has grown by about 1500 children in two years.  New Zealand Dental Association Spokesperson Robin Whyman talks to Mike Hosking about the issue.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More benefit sanctions are coming in today for beneficiaries not meeting their requirements.  People on a main benefit like Jobseeker Support could be hit with money management and community work sanctions if they fail to meet one of their obligations, which involve preparing or looking for work.  One sanction means half of a person's benefit would be put on a payment card for four weeks - only to be used at approved, essential retailers.  Social Development Minister Louise Upston talks to Mike Hosking about the sanctions.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes are coming to Auckland City's density rules.  It means height limits for buildings have been increased, and more buildings are expected.  Greater Auckland writer Scott Caldwell talks to Mike Hosking about what it means for the city.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia unleashed a massive drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv on Sunday, killing 12 people.  Ukrainian officials say it's the largest aerial assault since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  It came hours after the two countries swapped hundreds of prisoners in the third and final part of a major exchange.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking about the raid and the seven people arrested after escaping prison in New Orleans.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's economic recovery is now forecast to be slower than the half year update.  Unemployment is slated to peak at 5.4 percent in the June quarter. Job ads in April increased for the second consecutive month, this time by 1.1 percent.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KiwiSaver.  I was thinking about this at the weekend. I get why the government is doing the old switcharoo. I get it. Means test the government sweet we, halve it for everyone else… save some money.  Then we workers… and our employers… will slowly put more into the scheme… So that when it all comes out in the wash, we’re at least no worse off than before budget day.  Except that we will be worse off, because it’s us and our employers paying for it. We pay more up front. Our employers pay more up front. That’s added cost. Businesses recover cost by putting up prices, which we end up paying, or by lowering costs, like wages… which is how most of us make a living, right? So, the net effect is worse for us and better for the government. Now again, I get why they need to slash spending but the irony with tinkering with KiwiSaver is this. For your average kiwi working hard and saving and planning for retirement… that’s what we’re told to do…. These changes throw all your calculations out of whack. You plan on a long-term, predictable set of circumstances. When they’re changed without warning and at random, it punishes people who are trying to do the right thing.  We need more of a heads up on changes to KiwiSaver… and more importantly… NZ Super. It’s not a matter of if but when that also gets means-tested. Even if the when is post-Winston.  Nicola Willis says she’s been giving this some thought. The future of superannuation. I’d like to know, and other hard-working Kiwi-savers I’m sure would also like to know, sooner rather than later, what those thoughts are. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.