The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of December, the Government are reining in local councils, telling them to get back to basics and stop wasting taxpayer's money.    It's the Prime Minister's final interview for the year on Breakfast and Heather du Plessis-Allan has some questions for him to answer about the ferries and the Government books.  Celebrity chef Josh Emett talks how the hospitality industry is faring, and what their hopes for the summer.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, discusses the government's recent decision to procure two rail-compatible ferries for the Cook Strait, set to replace older models by 2029. He explains that although the proposal is on the table, they're open to better alternatives. Luxon emphasizes the importance of value for money and safety in this procurement process. The conversation also touches on the need for financial discipline in tough economic times and the balance between spending and long-term investments.

It’s a bleak outlook for domestic wine production, with a two-decade low forecast.  Estimates suggest New Zealand's output will be down 21% this year.  Director-General of International Organisation of Vine and Wine, John Barker says it's largely due to frost damage in Marlborough.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan other climate issues contributed to a low wine output from the Southern Hemisphere.  Barker says the Northern Hemisphere will be likely worse because of a small harvest from France.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mayor doubts removing wellbeing measures from the Local Government Act will change much.   The Government's removing references to social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being in a push to get councils to focus on core services.   Council performance will be benchmarked and a yearly report published.   Local Government New Zealand Vice President Campbell Barry told Heather du Plessis Allan the four wellbeing pillars have come and gone two or three times in 14 years.   He says exercises like benchmarking and looking at how they can be more transparent makes more sense, and will make a tangible difference.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an expectation the Government's surplus will be pushed back a year or so.  The state of the Government's books will be unveiled today, as Treasury release its half yearly economic and fiscal update early this afternoon.  May's budget laid out expectations for further cost savings across government departments across years to come.  Former Treasury Director Bryce Wilkinson told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's looking for signs of cutting 'wasteful' public spending.  He says slow productivity growth is not helping income grow.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a concern many people may not fully understand the risk of recreationally using pharmaceuticals.  The 2024 New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey of more than 10,000 people shows more than a quarter of respondents use the drugs for non-medical reasons.  It's also found a quarter of recent psychedelics users did so for therapeutic purposes.  Author Chris Wilkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan many people believe, just because the drugs are pharmaceutical, it means there's a lower risk.  He says many are similar to illegal drugs and are particularly more risky if mixed.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this time of year it’s traditional for political commentators to pick their politician of the year. And interestingly, the NZ Herald this past weekend went for Simeon Brown. Now, I think Simeon’s right up there. There’s a reason he’s called Golden Balls. But I don’t think he’s the one. I think that honour has got to go to Erica Stanford and it’s not even a competition as far as I’m concerned. No disrespect to Simeon Brown, because he is fixing up a bunch of stuff that needs fixing up like speed limits, potholes, Wellington City Council, speed bumps, Transpower etc. And he’s done it without causing days of drama. He’s decisive and rarely makes mistakes. You get the impression he’s absolutely not taking BS from public officials behind the scenes. But that's all regular running-a-Government stuff. Erica Stanford though, has done something pretty special - she banned phones in schools. Now, I have a feeling this is going to sound silly to some people as my reason for picking her as the politician of the year. But that will only be if you don’t realise how distracting and addictive those phones were being in school time and how much they were hurting kids’ grades and social skills and ability to just be kids, like we were. Remember how we ridiculed her when she did it? Now, you find me a teacher who doesn’t think it’s a wild success. This is so important that international experts who study the impact of phones on kids say this is one of about four things we must do to help kids out, and she’s done it. She didn’t have to be begged. She didn’t have to be cajoled. She just did it. Watch the impact it will have on a generation of kids. As far as I’m concerned, no politician has made a call this significant for a group this important, all year. So never mind any of the other stuff she’s done, like the State Abuse Inquiry, for the phone ban alone she’s the MVP of 2024. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The five remaining members of the Australian“Bali Nine” drug ring have returned home after 19 years in jail in Indonesia, the Australian Government said Sunday. Indonesian police arrested the nine Australians in 2005, convicting them of attempting to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin off the holiday island of Bali. In a case that drew global attention to Indonesia’s unforgiving drug laws, two of the gang would eventually be executed by firing squad, while others served hefty prison sentences. “The Australian Government can confirm that Australian citizens, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj have returned to Australia,” Canberra said in a statement. “The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.” Accused ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015 despite repeated pleas from the Australian Government. Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, months before Renae Lawrence was released after her sentence was commuted. Australia’s Government expressed “deep appreciation” for the Indonesian Government’s co-operation to let the remaining men return on humanitarian grounds. It did not give further details on the agreement, including whether they would need to continue to serve their sentences following their return home. Heroin-lined suitcase The Government said it had consistently advocated for the men and provided consular support to them and their families during their incarceration. It asked the media to respect their privacy. Muslim-majority Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. It is not uncommon for foreigners to be arrested for drug offences in Bali, which attracts millions of visitors to its palm-fringed beaches every year. The release of the Australians follows weeks of speculation that a deal for their return was in the works. In November, a senior Indonesian minister said Jakarta aimed to return prisoners from Australia, France and the Philippines by the end of this year. Earlier this month, Indonesia signed an agreement with the Philippines for the return of mother-of-two Mary Jane Veloso, who was arrested in 2010 after the suitcase she was carrying was found to be lined with 2.6kg of heroin. Her supporters claim she was duped by an international drug syndicate, and in 2015, she narrowly escaped execution after her suspected recruiter was arrested. - Agence France-Presse LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC has just named their first fan representative group, a council of eight people, linking supporters directly to management. It's an A-League-wide initiative with every club set to have one. The group will meet at least four times a year, with the chair meeting with the A-League's fan representative group from the 12 other clubs. Inaugural chairman Tim Adams joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the Black Caps getting on top of England in the dead-rubber third test in Hamilton, Auckland FC’s losing their winning run after drawing 2-2 against Melbourne City, the delay on Liam Lawson’s F1 future, the NRL’s Papua New Guinea expansion and China, and everyone’s holiday plans. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.