The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Finance Minister says they've over-delivered on their promise to save money from public sector job cuts.  Latest Public Service Commission data shows the core workforce decreased 4% in the year to December 2024.  Public Service Minister Judith Collins says the Government's expecting to save $800 million by June – double the initial target.  Nicola Willis —the coalition government's initial Public Service Minister— told Mike Hosking the money saved is going into much better purposes.  She says it’s instead going into things like the Family Boost Policy, to support early childhood education costs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boss of Eden Park remains hopeful of convincing the Government to help fund a major expansion.  Auckland councillors have voted to back the upgrading of the stadium over the building of a new arena near the waterfront.  But Eden Park has yet to secure any public funding.  Chief Executive Nick Sautner told Mike Hosking work will now begin on making a case to government.  He says while everyone's doing it tough right now, there are opportunities for money to be re-allocated and invested in New Zealand's national stadium.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A review confirms better access to care should be a key priority.  Health New Zealand's released a Clinical Quality and Safety Review using data from the past decade.  It reveals the number of people waiting more than four months to see a specialist tripled between 2020 and 2023.   Royal College of GPs Medical Director Luke Bradford told Mike Hosking fewer people are also choosing not to access care, especially since Covid.  He's concerned there's been a drop off in immunisations and cancer screenings.  However, there is a belief the quality of care is getting better despite taking longer to access it.   Bradford says there's been a decrease in surgical complications and better experiences had by patients in the system.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The problem with Red Bull and Liam Lawson is several fold.  One, the most egregious part is, if the reports are true, that Honda offered another $10 million to get their man Yuki Tsunoda in the seat. This is not new, they have done so before but were rebuffed.  Two, next weekend would be the first track Liam had actually driven on previously. Red Bull would have known this when they hired him. To have two races on unknown tracks is pretty tough.  Three, they hung in with other drivers who struggled a lot longer than two races. So suddenly the harshness has reached a new level and probably reflects an internal level of panic given the performance of other teams.  Four, they know Liam can actually drive the car. They saw it, they tested him, and he can do it. So, they are not guessing. They took a punt on him but not a blind punt.  So, you then have to look at the damage you are doing to a young driver and his confidence.  Yes, he is still in F1 and yes, the Racing Bulls are improving on what they did last year, but he will never win mainly because Racing Bulls is a feeder team to Red Bull, so they are not allowed to win.  Red Bull also carry responsibility for building a car that doesn’t work. Even Max Verstappen, the driver of his generation, is having trouble.  So Liam goes to a mid-field team to do what? Hopefully perform well to then be lured away to someone who can offer the hope of better prospects.  As exciting as living a F1 dream is, turning up each weekend to come 13th can't be that much fun after a while.  The cutthroat part though is life. The good thing about motor racing is they have been in it since they were kids. They have been schooled in winning and losing and in victory and failure.  Liam has had Helmut Marko in his ear forever. It's a tough and unforgiving business. But that’s the keyword, business. They aren't in it because they like you, they are in it to use your talent for as long as you are useful.  The reward is if you're good you get rich, famous, collect trophies, buy a place in Monaco, and live your dream.  If you're okay, you drive for Alpine or Sauber, travel the word, and get moderately wealthy.  It ain't over, but your heart goes out to a bloke who was that close.  He seems sadly to be on the end of some poor management, ruthless ethics, and the cold reality of elite sport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer was one to remember for the cherry industry.   Exports have hit a new milestone, surpassing five thousand tonnes.  The previous record was about 4,200 tonnes in the 2017/18 season.  Summerfruit New Zealand CEO Dean Smith told Mike Hosking exports were not only high, but also of high quality.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there anybody who doesn’t know the name Bob Geldof?  Along with the Sex Pistols and the Clash, Geldof and the Boomtown Rats are attributed with changing the face of music.  A significant part is due to the Live Aid concert and Geldof’s activism – which is part of the reason he’s made his way to our shores.  Geldof has a couple of dates lined up in New Zealand, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid and the 50th anniversary of the Boomtown Rats.  The show’s called ‘An Evening with Bob Geldof: Songs and Stories from an Extraordinary Life’, and it’s a slightly different type of show than he normally performs.  Geldof told Mike Hosking that it leans more theatrical, with visuals and songs accompanying the storytelling element.   “It’s not something I’d normally do,” he continued.  “In the summer, as you said, the Rats are 50, we do all the big festivals and then we're talking off mic about, y'know, suddenly Bobby Boomtown's in the house."  "The sagacious quiet person you're listening to right now becomes something else.”  This show is set to be a bit less intense, Geldof jokingly warning people to bring a sleeping bag as the stories may go on for a while.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of March, the banks are continuing to call for capital rules to be eased. But Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews is warning against it.  We get reactions to the new sentencing and drug driving testing laws coming into place.  Fonterra's CEO Miles Hurrell defends the proposal to sell of the company's consumer brands, like Anchor.  And the iconic Bob Geldof is the country for his stage show - so he joined Mike in studio for a chat.  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.

Fonterra’s elaborating on the details of their consumer brand sell-off.  The conundrum comes off the back of a monster half year result in which operating profit rose to 16%.  The planned divestment could see brands like Anchor and Mainland sold off.  CEO Miles Hurrell told Mike Hosking the key for any good business is knowing what you’re good at.   He says that over the years, the returns as an ingredients business have been stellar, but farmers aren’t getting the desired return on capital from the consumer side of things.  He says they believe they can get higher returns from investing that cash back into ingredients and food service.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Lawson's future at Red Bull in Formula 1 remains gridlocked by speculation.  Reports suggest Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda will swap with Lawson for the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend, joining defending world champion teammate Max Verstappen.  Lawson's opportunities have been slim on unfamiliar tracks in a new car thus far, one of which was in the wet at Melbourne.  Formula 1 Journalist Chris Medland told Mike Hosking Red Bull has likely decided to make a change before the situation becomes irreparable and damages Lawson’s confidence too much.  From his point of view, they should have had the more experienced Tsunoda in instead, as he has nothing left to prove and whereas Lawson still has more learning to do.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence roadside drug testing won't pick up prescription drugs.  Legislation giving police powers to do random saliva tests has passed its third and final reading in Parliament.  Police should be ready to use tests late this year.  Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking there will be two tests at the roadside.  He says it will be testing for cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.