The Mike Hosking Breakfast

International visitor numbers aren't quite back to pre-pandemic figures, but their wallets are.  Overseas tourist spending hit nearly $17 billion to the year to March 2024 – just under 2019 levels.  Visitor numbers sit at around 89% of figures five years ago.  Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive, Rene de Monchy told Mike Hosking there's plenty of capacity for international visitors, particularly in the 'off-peak' season.  He says encouraging people to come between March and November is a major focus.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the “here we go again” file: we are being lined up once more for another winter of shonky power supply. A deal has been done again with Tiwai to cut production. Oh, the irony in a country that is supposed to be focused on growth, growth, growth. Mercury is the bearer of the glad tidings that the power price is heading north by an average of 10%. Why? Because we don’t make enough power. We are hopelessly reliant on rain and we stopped looking for oil and gas. We didn’t get enough windmills and solar panels up. So we are short. We were also short last year, and the year before. The spot price is about $200, not the $800 it was for a time last year. But it's well north of what it should be. Yet again the year has started dry, but in a reassuring sign of expertise in meteorological minutiae, the power company said there's still plenty of time for it to rain. So that’s okay then. Cost plus accounting is not confined to councils. Power companies do it too. We are paying for the windmills whether we want them or not. A lot of the renewable investment is not about it solving the problem, because it doesn’t automatically, at least not in a sensible, cost effective way. What a lot of it is about is wokeness and being seen to be part of the Paris crowd. The same way the BNZ likes to haunt petrol stations, power companies like to gouge us for their green credentials. Like banks, there is an argument we are not well served by these big gentailers who, in simple terms, are not doing their job. What is their job? Power. Is there enough power? No. Was there enough last year? No. Is it good enough in 2025 in a country economically on its knees looking for growth, growth, growth? No.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New South Wales nurse that was stood down over a social media video where she claimed she would refuse to treat Israeli patients, has been arrested.   The 26-year-old has been charged with threatening violence to a group and using a service to harass and threaten to kill.   In the filmed conversation with an Israeli influencer, the nurse allegedly bragged about refusing to treat Israeli patients, killing them, and saying they would go to hell.   Australian correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking federal police have put in a lot of leg work on the case.   Price says the officers travelled to Israel and translated the interview from Hebrew to English.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a good six months for the Port of Auckland.  It’s doubled its half-year profit and will deliver a 20% increase in its dividend to Auckland Council.  Car and structure steel imports are down, but bulk cargo levels are rising.  Chief Executive Roger Gray told Mike Hosking that's partly due to one-off events, like Genesis rebuilding the coal stockpile for its Huntly power station.  He says their operational performance is also increasing, which is attracting more customers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opposition is wary innocent people may come off worse if more citizen's arrests are permitted.   The Government is due to announce a refresh in the way it handles retail crime this afternoon, following a 12% rise in rates last year.   A loosening of citizen arrest rules is expected, which currently only allow arrests between 9pm and 6am, and for crimes with a maximum punishment of at least three years in prison.  Labour's Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen says New Zealand has already seen examples where people have been injured or lost their life, because a weapon was involved.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking the police can’t be everywhere all the time, and they want to make sure that business owners and customers are protected.  He says they want to ensure people have the right to defend themselves and their property without criminalising themselves.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 26th of February, violent crime is down for the first time since 2018, much to the pleasure of the Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.  The Government is making an announcement today, loosening the citizen’s arrest laws. So would you, if you could? Or is it a recipe for disaster?  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell debate policing strategies and Andrew Bayly on Politics Wednesday.  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.

A Kiwi robotics company is at the heart of a new agriculture branch of Yamaha Motors.  Yamaha's bought Robotics Plus, developers of AI-orchard vehicles designed to pick, prune, and spray fruits such as apples for an undisclosed fee.  Co-founder Steve Saunders told Mike Hosking this new venture will help expand the company.  “Exciting times ahead for us.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Police Minister is declaring his support for a loosening of citizen's arrest laws.  The Government is set to announce a retail crime strategy re-jig based on an advisory group's recommendations, which include making it easier for people to arrest others.  Currently they can only occur at night between 9pm and 6am, for crimes with a maximum punishment of at least three years in prison.  Stuart Nash told Mike Hosking hard working Kiwis have their hands tied while crime is being committed, and it's crazy that they can't do anything.  However, he says they have to be proportionate, and can’t become an excuse for beating others up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's competition over the rugby broadcast rights.  British streaming disruptor DAZN is reportedly being courted by New Zealand Rugby.  Talks with Sky have been dragging on – it's understood the broadcaster's offered $85 million dollars a year to renew, a smaller bid than its current deal of $111 million a year.  Duco Events founder David Higgins told Mike Hosking he believes people would pay for DAZN just for the rugby – initially.  He says they'd have to get everything right, including having the players become interesting stars, not robots.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The company behind Northland's Marsden Point Oil Refinery wants to turn it into a new energy precinct.  The refinery closed in 2022 and is decommissioned, with Resources Minister Shane Jones now considering making the area a special economic zone, meaning different planning, investment, and even tax rules.  Jones says transforming the asset to enable alternative fuel manufacturing like bio-fuel would help with energy security. Channel Infrastructure Chief Executive Rob Buchanan told Mike Hosking they welcome the Government's approach.  He says they're pleased the minister is willing to support the exciting project.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.