The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Dealing with retail crime could be about to get easier.   Incoming new Government measures are expected to address the possibility of citizen's arrests and make it clearer how people can protect their properties.   Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking a government advisory group has been working very hard on recommendations and next steps, which will be confirmed later today.  It comes as new data shows overall retail crime increased 12%, however ram raids halved last year, and violent crime dropped 2%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a day of a resignation at a fairly high level, we also have a confession in court from another high profile operator.  The problem with "high profile" is it tends to be high-wire.  More is expected of you because of your role. Or is it?  From the details available, which aren't many, Andrew Bayly didn’t commit a sackable offence as far as I can work out.  Putting your hand on the arm of a person you are having a “lively” discussion with isn't very cool, or acceptable, but in and of itself it's not the end of a career.  But the trouble with Bayly is the "loser" thing in some way, shape or form was going to haunt him. So a small infringement, by way of a follow up misdemeanor, was always going to be larger than it would have been with a clean sheet.  Also, Luxon has set the behaviour bar high. The precedent is there, so any trouble and you're out.  Contrast that to Caleb Clark, who has pled guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.  The max sentence, with sentencing happening in June, is many thousands of dollars, or months in prison.  His lawyer wants him discharged without conviction.  Unlike Bayly he hasn’t offered to quit, so the question becomes: is it a sackable offence?  Drink driving has been established with a number of incidents over the years with high profile convictions as not being sackable, so the precedent is set there.  But what about dangerous driving, and more worryingly, with the message it sends of failing to stop for the police?  Failing to stop with a view to what? Scarper? Not get caught? Evade the law? Get away with it?  Law and order has been a major election issue and the polices rolling in to get on top of law breaking has been a major focus for most of us of late.  If I, as a high profile operator, was up on charges of failing to stop or dangerous driving, would you expect me to be sacked? Would this workplace, beyond whatever happens in court, expect to see some sort of resignation?  Or does profile only count in politics, where no law was broken but emotions get you sacked?  What does an All Black have to do, illegally, to be sacked as an All Black? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of keeping Government-owned assets could be more than the return it's getting from them.   A report by The New Zealand Initiative says the Government owns $571 billion in assets, yet the returns from them don't even cover the interest on loans used to buy them.  Author Bryce Wilkinson is calling for a review to identify if assets should be sold, and if so, which ones.    He says the Government should be asking if someone else could put the assets to better use to improve public access.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since winning the IndyCar Rookie Award in 2021, Scott McLaughlin has gone from strength to strength.  He finished 3rd last year, only 39 points shy of first place, as well as having the historic pole lap at Indy500, going faster than anyone in history.  McLaughlin and his wife also welcomed their first child in October of last year, right at the end of the racing season.  He told Mike Hosking that life as a dad has been pretty wild, but he’s enjoyed it.  “Had a great Christmas, and I’m just really, really excited to get back to the racetrack and get amongst it.”   Their daughter will be coming to the track for the first time this weekend, which McLaughlin says will be awesome.  This is McLaughlin’s fifth year racing, and he’s certain he can claim the win.  “I feel like I’m in the right, the right frame of mind, I feel like I’m driving the best I ever have, and I’ve got all the tools to do it.”  “The title for me is a big goal.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 25th of February, Erica Stanford has a new teaching announcement, coming not a moment too soon considering the current shortage of over 2000 teachers.  The Prime Minister tangles himself into a knot when trying to answer if he would have sacked Andrew Bayly if he hadn't offered his resignation.  Indycar driver Scott McLaughlin is taking a pitstop before this weekend’s season opener to talk to Mike about becoming a dad and his expectations for the year.  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.

Some good news for our tourism sector.  Millennium and Copthorne Hotels have recorded its highest full-year revenue in five years, with a sense 2025 will be strong for travel.  Current international visitor arrivals still sit at 89% of pre-pandemic levels.  Chief Executive Stuart Harrison told Mike Hosking they've been holding a 'revive and thrive' strategy.  He says they've been doing refurbishments and upgrades to position themselves in a strong space for the future.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The French President has met with Donald Trump at the White House, seeking stability following America's sidestep of traditional European ties.   It comes as world leaders met in Kyiv on the third-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, and the UN General Assembly voted against a US resolution to end the war without reference to Russian aggression.   Newstalk ZB European Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking Emmanuel Macron will be saying Europe understands his frustrations with defence spending.   But Macron will also be asking Trump to keep the US European security guarantee in place, as it's what their security and economics are based on.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Andrew Bayly's good work can't compensate for bad behaviour.   The Port Waikato MP has resigned from cabinet after touching a staffer's arm during a lively conversation.   It follows an earlier incident in which he called a winery worker a loser.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking the good work that Bayly was doing doesn't excuse it.   He says it's important to have standards and Bayly has realised he didn't meet his own expectations.  Luxon would not be drawn on whether he would have sacked Bayly had he not resigned. He repeatedly said Bayly had not met his expectations.  “The standards are really clear of my ministers. In this case, I laid down, after the last [loser] case, crystal-clear expectations." Pushed on whether his answers were indecisive, Luxon said he was decisive.  He then said he would have demoted Bayly and taken his ministry away from him had Bayly not resigned.  On the Chinese navy, Luxon said it has got “much more benign, much more competitive in the Pacific”.  He said it was normal for airlines to divert flights. “We’re relaxed with what’s happening in the sense of it’s legal, but we want to make sure we get a bit more advanced notice.”  On the Cook Islands, Luxon said he was incredibly frustrated with Prime Minister Mark Brown and the government.  WATCH ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's changing residency rules to allow overseas primary teachers to apply for New Zealand residency.  Speaking exclusively to Newstalk ZB, the Immigration Minister says from next month, offshore primary teachers will only need a job offer, and don't need to have worked here for two years, to be given residency.  Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking it follows the Government putting secondary teachers on the same pathway last year, which made a big difference to their numbers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australian election polls, the Coalition has built a 52 percent to 48 percent lead over Labor, its biggest since the last election.  The margin significantly increases Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's chance of creating a minority government.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price says the Sydney Morning Herald has now said the election will now be sooner rather than later.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.