The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast with Heather du Plessis-Allan for Monday the 16th of December, the Minister for Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour has a plan to run it better, cheaper and more successfully. All our court judges perks have been revealed - business class travel, school uniforms for the kids, flying their partner out to wherever they are among others. In this time of needing to cut back are we all on board with this? For the last time of the year, Guy and Sav are in the commentary box talking the cricket, Auckland FC and holiday plans. 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.

It's drone-mania in the US, after many mysterious sightings in New Jersey and the East Coast over the last month. Associated Press reports there's been sightings in multiple states, including at a military research and manufacturing facility and at President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course. Homeland Security and the FBI both say there's no evidence the sightings pose a national security threat. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis Allan many local officials aren't convinced. He says the New York Governor's been calling for further investigations and rolling out drone detection technology. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grocery supplier costs to supermarkets have gone up again. In the year to November, prices rose 2.1 percent according to Infometrics and Foodstuff's monthly index. The report makes clear there's still some stubborn cost pressures in the system. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion Police charge out their time when working large events. It comes from Maungakiekie MP Greg Fleming, who says officers have told him about the amount of time they spend policing events. He says the law change would only focus on large events and charge around one dollar per ticket on an hourly basis. Fleming told Heather du Plessis-Allan it'd be a big win for Police. “Number one, most importantly, it would keep our local bobbies actually on the front line. Secondly, it would allow off-duty officers to earn some overtime.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A retired district court judge is defending taxpayer-funded perks her former colleagues receive. The Post reports benefits for first appointments, or if a district court judge is required to move, include new carpets and curtains, and new school uniforms for children. They also get business-class flights, annual Koru membership and allowances for spouses while on work-related travel. Retired district court judge Rosemary Riddell told Heather du Plessis Allan it's reasonable. “Judges in many cases have to move from one end of the country to the other, so I don’t see anything unusual in that.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes further negotiations with India eventuate in a successful trade deal. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay's travelling to India today – meeting with his Indian political counterpart and business leaders to boost relations between the countries. He's already visited a number of times in the past year. India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla told Heather du Plessis-Allan this is a positive direction. He says this is good momentum - and the minister's going again and again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new plan in the fight against family and sexual violence, looks at making sure spending is making a true change – and outcomes are measured. The Government's announced a second action plan as part of a 25-year national strategy. Focus areas include expanding prevention, strengthening workforces, cross-government agency collaboration and taking action on sexual violence. Minister for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour told Heather du Plessis Allan including a sexual violence focus is important. “Because that’s a scourge on our society that we don’t talk about often enough, that causes real harm and long-term issues for people in this country.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It looks like we were never really in with a chance to get a second team alongside the warriors in the NRL, were we?  Because it was always going to go to Papua New Guinea.  Because it wasn’t a rugby league decision in the end, it was a political decision.  It turns out, and they’ve been pretty explicit about it, that giving PNG the NRL team is to keep them out of military and security deals with China, and if they sign any deal like that, they lose the team.  That's why the Australian Government is giving them $600 million to fund the team.  This is obviously great for regional geopolitical manoeuvrings to cut China’s lunch but I very much doubt this is going to be good for the NRL.  Do you actually think this team’s going to be any good?  Who’s going to want to join a team based in Port Moresby, which has one of the highest crime rates in the world?  There's probably not a lot of players, which is probably why this team is getting a tax exemption, so players get to keep more of their pay packets to make it more attractive to join the team.  It’s also definitely why the team are building a gated compound for their players.  So are fans ever going to travel to PNG to watch games there?  Are they even going to bother watching this team’s games if they perform as expected? It remains to be seen, but you can probably hazard a guess.  So sure, smart political move to cut China’s lunch, but the NRL doesn't exist to cut China’s lunch.  It exists for the fans to enjoy.  And you can’t say this is great for the fans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 13th of December, Solicitor-General Una Jagose joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to talk the updated prosecution guidelines, and how she made the mistake in the first place.  Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche discussed his new working from home guidelines for civil servants.  Tim Wilson and Kerre Woodham Wrap the Week and discuss whether it's appropriate to give your kids' teachers a present for Christmas.  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 week has come to an end, so Tim Wilson and Kerre Woodham joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed the ferry announcement, mess in the studio, and whether it’s appropriate to give your kid's teacher a present for Christmas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.