The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Christopher Luxon says the country needs to get faster at building things.  The Government's announced it is replacing the Resource Management Act with a new planning framework, including new Acts around development of land and on protection of the natural environment.  It comes after the Government also announced plans to allow trusted builders to approve their own work and look at whether consenting authorities are fit-for-purpose.  The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking too many things are standing in the way of getting things done.  He says it currently takes 19 months to build a standard three or four-bedroom house here and is 50% more expensive than in Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes reforms to the Resource Management Act have walked the line between development and environment.  The Government's new framework for planning includes new acts around development of land and on protection of the natural environment.  Each act includes a set of national policy direction for simplifying and streamlining local government plans and decision-making.  RMA Expert Advisory Group chair Janette Campbell told Mike Hosking they're confident it's hit a balance.  She says they had a clear direction to protect the environment bottom line, and they've done that with the Environment Act.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive spike in meth use is being linked to a change in global shopping habits.    Christopher Luxon has asked ministers to look into meth use, after annual wastewater results show a 96% increase in consumption last year compared to 2023.  Massey University drug researcher Chris Wilkins told Mike Hosking it's likely a case of both people using more, and more people using.   He says the increase represents the changes to the drug market, which is moving from a brick-and-mortar store, to a global online platform.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary is facing backlash for his “cavalier” comments regarding Social Security.  Social Security employees have been warning that the Trump administration’s plan to cut staff will result in delayed benefit cheque.  Secretary Howard Lutnick says that anyone who complains about a missed Social Security cheque is a fraudster.  This is despite 40% of all seniors living alone being entirely reliant on the payment – some 40 million people.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another swing and a miss.  Contact Energy wanted to build a wind farm in Southland. They have been turned down. They are not the first and they will not be the last.  Close to $300 million and hundreds of jobs are now not happening because of it.  Also, the need to build 15GW of additional capacity in the next 25 years will not be happening either. So far, we have built less than 3GW.  We are entering yet another winter where it is touch and go on power supply.  The Minister has been busy wagging his finger at the gentailers.   The climate campaigners bark on about the role of renewables, yet we continue to import record amounts of coal to cover the gap.  We have cut a deal to keep Huntly going ever longer because the renewable dream is getting further and further away. Renewables may or may not be the answer to our problems at all.  The simple truth about water, sun, and wind is they are beyond our control.  Coal and nuclear isn't. But we seem to insist renewables are what we want to do, and yet we don’t.  Nimbyism will kill us. We seem happy to be shocked every year at the coal pile and we seem to be happy to be unhappy at the idea we don’t have enough power to get us through a winter.  The industry tells us they are investing in wind and solar. But are they?  How many get turned down vs how many actually get the go ahead? Are we actually progressing, or taking a step forward and a step back?  Here is the ultimate irony: there's been a lot said about this Government's fast track law. Their fast track law is actually just an extension, or an amendment, of the old fast track law, which Labour produced during Covid.  Under that fast track law this wind project got turned down.  So, is a “no” fast tracking? Or no tracking?  If you can't get a wind farm through under fast track, are we actually into solving issues or not?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 24th of March, we get the first inside look at the discussion and process behind the potential FTA agreement with India.   The public service has been asked where they think their sector can make cuts – Judith Collins explained the census as the Minister in charge of our version of DOGE.  Andrew Saville and Jason Pine discuss Liam Lawson's weekend in China and the impact of Alex “Grizz” Wylie in the Commentary Box.  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.

Canterbury rugby great Alex "Grizz" Wyllie, who died on the weekend aged 80, is being remembered for his uncompromising nature.  He played 210 games for Canterbury as a loose forward before a storied coaching career with his province and the All Blacks.  Sports journalist Andrew Saville told Mike Hosking on the Commentary Box that Wyllie loomed large in his formative years, in the good ol' days when players and media actually socialised.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand rugby has lost one of its all-time greats.  Alex "Grizz" Wyllie MBE has died at the age of 80 after excelling as both a player and coach.  Wyllie made 210 appearances for Canterbury as well as 40 matches for New Zealand, 11 of them tests.   He coached Canterbury through a three-year Ranfurly Shield reign, famously ended by Auckland at Lancaster Park in 1985.  Wyllie worked as an All Blacks assistant under Sir Brian Lochore before his own 86.2 percent winning tenure with them from 1988 to 1991.  Former All Black and Wyllie’s nephew, Richard Loe told Mike Hosking he’s left his mark on the sport, and his history will continue for many decades to come.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parking Association believes multiple changes are needed for chasing up unpaid fines.  In the three years to the end of 2024, just 68% of almost $29 thousand Auckland Transport fines were paid in part or in full.  While AT says it's not a straightforward process, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says he's asked for advice on making them better debt collectors.  Association chair Mike Kelly told Mike Hosking the psychology around it is one major issue.  He says there are lots of people who get tickets daily for repetitive offences and aren't too bothered, and the tickets end up with the Ministry of Justice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's top butchers are jetting off to Paris to represent New Zealand on the world stage.  Our national team, the Sharp Blacks, will compete with the best in the trade around the world in the annual World Butchers Challenge.  They'll be judged on things like their cuts, amount of meat wasted, and yield.  Sharp Blacks Captain Riki Kerekere told Mike Hosking the Kiwi team are held in high esteem.  He says the team loves to showcase the great quality of Kiwi butchery.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.