The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Non-farm payrolls - a monthly statistic released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows concerns over the Trump administrations policy blitz.  In April 177,000 jobs were added to the US economy and unemployment rates are stable at 4.2 percent.  But business and consumer surveys are still sending warning signals. Andrew Kelleher of JMI breaks down the data with Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A revealing interview has taken place between US President Donald Trump and broadcaster NBC.  He made headlines when talking about contentious issues such as the economy, immigration and the potential of seeing through a third-term.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking about the interview.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think I'm encouraged by the numbers of submissions into the Covid inquiry.  This is Covid inquiry part two.  The second part is to try and rectify the stitch up that was Covid part one from the previous Government, who were determined to set criteria that would not expose the true damage they wrought upon most of us.  31,000 have had their say this time. It is pointed out they came from all ages, all locations and were both positive as well as negative.  Given Health NZ submitted on whether Wanaka should have a McDonalds, do not underestimate the establishment's ability to spend an indecent amount of time and money in putting a best-case scenario forward in a butt-covering exercise.  This part of the inquiry looks into masks and mandates, vaccines and lockdowns, and 31,000 submissions tells me we are still very much exercised about the historic nature of the event and our keenness to try and come up with something that sees nothing like a repeat of the last exercise.  I note the other day poor, old Chris Hipkins still tries to walk that very fine line between admitting they were in charge of a balls up and pretending it went mostly well.  He is in an unwinnable place. As the last sap left standing, given Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson are long gone, he has the sorry task of defending what really were some astonishingly poor decisions.  But that doesn’t mean the inquiry will come up with answers.  Answers such as will a pandemic be the same, or similar, or not similar at all? What sort of Government will be in? Will that Government be competent or experienced? What roll will the public service play?  Will epidemiologists become household names again?  Will New Zealanders sink into a myopic funk again waiting for a leader to tell them what sort of stuffed animal to put in the window?  What made last time so bad was the control, and out of the control, followed the anger and fear.  I'm not sure an inquiry can dictate answers or solutions around emotion.  But 31,000 submissions tells you the emotion is still very, very real.  At least in putting the second part of the inquiry on, we attempt to recognise how profound those dark and troubled days really were. 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.    Tory Whanau: 9/10  She scored it herself and why wouldn’t you, shouldn't you, when you are as brilliant as her? God, she deserves a holiday.    Donald Trump: 7/10  For the sheer madness, calamity and unbelievable amount of bullshit he has spouted in 100 days. You will never see the likes again, unless of course he runs for a third and fourth term.    Auckland FC: 8/10  You can't argue with that execution of success. Have a dream, get a team and win the competition. That's brilliant!    Canada: 7/10  Election of the year so far and will almost certainly beat tomorrow's in Australia, unless Dutton does a Morrison. And I'm not running odds on that.    Toyota: 7/10  The All Blacks deal is a nice fit. How good will Tamaiti Williams look in a Yaris?    James Meager: 3/10  For saying random stuff like he's looking into helping Air New Zealand into the regions and getting fares down. He's also looking to get butter under $4 a block.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three prizes for three good calls this week by the Government.  1) Financial literacy coming to a school near you in 2027, and not a day too soon. In many respects it’s the more valuable end of the education spectrum. It's education you can actually use.  2) Nicola Willis and her cutting of the operating allowance from $2.4b to $1.3b. The $2.4b number already had headlines for being skinny, or unrealistic. $1.3b is rabbit out of a hat material.  I assume she is telling the truth when she says she has found billions in savings, because you can't run a country on thin air.  3) David Seymour, with more reality check reminders that we have too much Government. In his speech he alerted us to just how much - 82 portfolios, 41 departments and 28 ministers.  If ever you wanted an example of bloat, there it is.  The portfolio joke is about appeasing people. There isn't an issue or pressure group you can't appease by inventing a label.  The real issue is ministers. The good news currently, as Audrey Young in the Herald pointed out this week in her famous marking of ministers annual outing, is most of them are getting good scores and most of them are decent operators.  But it is not always the case and too often, with the last Government being your classic example, portfolios are used and/or invented to reward loyalty and/or give people pay rises. Whether you can do the job is secondary.  Good governments are run by a handful of talent. In David Lange's day it was the Prime Minister, Roger Douglas, Richard Prebble and David Caygill.  With Helen Clark it was the Prime Minister, Michael Cullen, Phil Goff and Annette King.  With John Key it was Key, Bill English and Steven Joyce.  This time its Christopher Luxon, Chris Bishop, Nicola Willis and Simeon Brown - multiple portfolios at the heavyweight end of the index.  Unlike the real world, you will note Cabinet and Government never downsize. The public service can be downsized, but the Government never is.  Sadly for Seymour, unlike the other two ideas this week, his isn't real.  Financial literacy will materially improve our kids’ future.  Willis and her austerity will materially improve our economy.  If Seymour somehow trims a single minister or ministry, it won't be an idea - it will be a miracle.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 2nd of May, Health Minister Simeon Brown is forcing doctors back to the negotiating table via the ERA.  Just what is happening with the Indian Panthers basketball team? The team was suspended and the CEO is on to tell us their plans to fix it.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss Mushroomgate, Suzanne Vega, and a new whisky infused manuka honey 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.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back today to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed the latest to come out of Mushroomgate, Suzanne Vega, and a new whiskey-infused manuka honey the show’s producers received.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One day out from the Australian Election and Labor seems to have it in the bag.  If the polling stacks up, Anthony Albanese will remain Prime Minister and Peter Dutton will once again be relegated to opposition.   There’s been criticism across the ditch that the coalition’s campaign has been full of U-turns and back tracks – undermining their credibility.  Australian Political Commentator Bruce Hawker told Mike Hosking Dutton presented a risky persona, with many of his policies and comments quite Trumpish in their attitude.  He says people likely started to think they’d prefer having the devil they know.   The state of Dutton’s policies were also a concern, Hawker says, with many feeling underdone.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unshakable insistence from Indian Panthers boss Parveen Batish that their indefinite ban from the National Basketball League won't be permanent.  The first year team were handed an immediate ban mid-season following serious allegations of payment issues and player unrest.  The Panthers can return to the NBL if they meet various conditions set by the league's commission.  When asked if has been asked if their catalogue of off court issues have been sorted, Batish told Mike Hosking they’re 100% sorted.  He says when they come back they’re going to be much stronger, as the positivity around what they can do and deliver is enormous.  Newstalk ZB understands the other 11 NBL teams were unanimous in revoking the Panthers league license.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Declining stats for Auckland's Eden Park, as the number of major events coming to this country reduce.  Revenue fell from $44.3 million in 2023 to $29.7 million in 2024 and major event attendance fell from 881 thousand to 540 thousand.  Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner told Mike Hosking one of the factors to blame is the lack of seed funding.  He says there’s been limited funds available from Auckland Unlimited and the central government, and they’ve missed out on a number of events over the last 12 months.  Sautner says Eden Park went through a 125 year journey to get concerts, and now we’re in a situation where artists are bypassing New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.