The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Kiwis are spending more and more time stuck on hold.  For the third year in a row, ServiceNow’s Annual Customer Experience Report has seen phone wait times worsen.   Last year, it’s estimated Kiwis spent 24 million hours on hold – approximately 9.7 hours per person.   ServiceNow NZ Country Manager Kate Tulp told Mike Hosking the best space in 2024 was the transport space, while financial services and government lines have room for improvement.   She says they’re seeing more customers choosing to engage with a digital method over a phone call when they’re available.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Corrections Minister says a report on prison culture doesn't say anything the Government doesn't already know.   The report from Independent Research Solutions says the influence of gangs in prison has grown significantly in the past decades, with non-members lower in the social hierarchy.   It finds 35% of inmates are in voluntary segregation.   Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking prisons are a microcosm of society, and gangs are known for their intimidation tactics in the community.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research into New Zealand prisons has found more than a third of inmates are in voluntary segregation.    The report from Independent Research Solutions says the influence of gangs on prison culture has grown significantly in the past decades.   It finds inmates are being categorised as being gang members or non-gang members - with the latter being the worst off.   Author Jarrod Gilbert told Mike Hosking prisoners must either join a gang, fend for themselves, or be separated.    He says the massive increase in voluntary segregations is unconsciously establishing two prisons within a prison.   Gilbert says the Department of Corrections may hold the keys to the prisons, but on the inside it's a different story.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s push back on the cost of the Government's broken ferry deal.  Hyundai is back in the running to build the two new ships after the coalition canned its original contract in 2023.  Documents indicate the Government's set aside $300 million to cover that broken agreement.  It must be paid regardless of a new deal.  Rail Minister Winston Peters told Mike Hosking the issue's being considered in negotiations, but disputes the cost.  He says the real cost is far lower, and it's an appalling situation and shocking decision he's had to deal with.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A security analyst says it's likely Trump's hardball foreign policy with Ukraine is part of his promise to deliver a peace deal as fast as possible.  Ukraine's President says he's ready to sign a minerals deal and reach a peace deal only hours after America's decision to pause military aid.  It also follows a fiery White House meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.  A Kyiv-based security analyst Jimmy Rushton told Mike Hosking Trump's been putting a lot of pressure on Zelenskyy to sign a deal without a US security guarantee.  He thinks the President's found Russia won't budge and it'll be easier to get Ukraine to sign to unfavourable terms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A planning expert is suggesting Aucklanders look to New York City for the impacts of congestion charges.    A report, commissioned by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, has found traffic will cost the city $2.6 billion a year by next year.   Auckland University Architecture and Planning Senior Lecturer Timothy Welch says New York and London have effectively implemented congestion charges.   He told Mike Hosking revenue in New York City has already increased because of faster buses and more foot traffic.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a bit of pushback coming from some sectors in the education business towards the reading, writing, and maths tests.  These are the tests we are failing. Those who are failing mostly come from poor backgrounds.  I'm not sure equating monetary status and academic success should be a thing.  But a bunch of principals from the "poorest communities" have got together to lobby the Government to stop the tests because they say it will lead to more kids leaving school with no qualifications.  After two rounds of these tests more than half failed reading and writing and 75% failed numeracy.  You can't get university entrance if you don’t get these grades.  Now, there is no doubt that failure affects attitude and there is equally no doubt that for some the “give it up” scenario must be tempting if the hurdle is too high.  But then there's also no doubt that allowing kids to leave school having failed is a failure in and of itself.  Any country that has any level of success globally is not a country that goes soft on education.  The principals’ answer is the answer that has failed us for years, which is also the Chris Hipkins Covid answer - give them something for nothing.  An alternative to an exam is the extra 20 credits scenario that is due to expire at the end of 2027. They want that made permanent and instead of 20 credits they want it made into 60 credits. So, like Hipkins and Covid, extra credits for not actually doing anything. Just extra credits for life being a bit crap right now.  No one gains when we do this. It is excuse making. It is an acceptance that we fail, and are failing, and failure is part of what we do.  You can either read and write or you can't. You can either add up or you can't. And if you can't, having people pretend you can, won't fix anything.  Part of why this country is where it is, is because we are apologists in areas like this and instead of being determined to fix it, we set about looking for ways to excuse it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 4th of March, GPs are loving the new health announcement, which should have been implemented years ago.  The Prime Minister joins the show to talk health, school lunches, and Ukraine.  Former Australian Defence Force Major General Mick Ryan is back on the show to talk about the Chinese warships in our waters and the Ukraine war after the Oval Office bust-up.  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.

The Upper Hutt Mayor says it was obvious the region's water agency was ripping off ratepayers for a long time.  Report findings show a lack of oversight meant Wellington Water was paying nearly three times more to contractors for pipe work, compared with in other areas.  Board Chair Nick Leggett says it means millions of ratepayer dollars wasted.  Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy says Leggett must resign.  He told Mike Hosking his council smelt a rat for years, but their concerns fell on deaf ears.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A military expert says China's sent a clear message with its war ships as they sail away from Australia and New Zealand.  Three highly powered navy vessels entered Australia's exclusive economic zone in the Tasman Sea last week, where they performed live firing exercises.   The New Zealand Defence Force is no longer monitoring the warships as they sail west away from Australia.  Lowy Institute Senior Fellow Mick Ryan told Mike Hosking it's a display of power from China, showing they can disrupt trade whenever they want.  He says it's also a test of Australia's relationship with the US, considering what's happening with Europe.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.