The Mike Hosking Breakfast

2024 is coming to a close and with it the Coalition Government’s first year in power.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking for the last time this year to reflect on his first year as Prime Minister.  In response to the reports that say New Zealand faces an investment gap with a growing population, Luxon says that it's a marvellous set of challenges. "The last 30 years, what we've had is a productivity disease," Luxon said.  He said countries with similar populations are wealthier than New Zealand.  "I've studied this for about 20 years and it comes down to about five things, it's education, science, technology, innovation. What you're seeing at Fonterra, they're really adding a lot of value to their product services, it's definitely infrastructure..."  Luxon said as a country we are bad at attracting foreign investment. Hosking asked Luxon if he thinks people "truly understand how troubled this country is."  "No," Luxon responded, referencing the past six years of previous government policy. "We run the country like it's 1975," Luxon said.  Hosking said the mentality in the country is "the government will wipe my bum."  There needed to be a "better quality economic engine" in place for New Zealand to be able to fund its public services better, Luxon said.  In regards to his first year as Prime Minister, Luxon said it's been a great 12 months, but you don't really have time to digest it while you're in it. Hosking said his criticism of Luxon was that he hasn't gone hard enough, but the Prime Minister says problems are often more complex than they seem from the outside. "You can get very lost in it if you don't have great clarity," he said.  "This Spotify wrapped of yours, are you a fraud?" Hosking asked, referencing that Luxon had previously said he was a country music fan and there was a lack of country music on his list of most listened-to songs and artists.  "That was quite an accusation..." Luxon responded.  Luxon defended himself by saying Post Malone and Dua Lipa have created a country song together and is one of his favourites.  He called Post Malones new album the "best album of the year."  He gave a shout-out to "Day of the Jackal," a TV series he was enjoying and joked with Hosking that they were supporting TVNZ+ by doing so.  While the Prime Minister was in, Hosking gave him a Christmas gift that was "one of one" and a "prototype."  It was a book titled "The Complete Guide to Surviving a Mike Hosking Interview."  "That is genius," Luxon said.  Luxon gave Hosking a Christmas card with a family photo on it and some "furikake seasoning," a Japanese seasoning typically made with toasted sesame seeds and nori.  "People like me, who are men of the people, just use salt, I mean I come from a very humble background.  "This is what really posh people do," Luxon said.  "Absolutely love it," Hosking said in response to the gift.  Luxon also gave Hosking a "special energy Voost" that was described as "posh Berrocca."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister is adamant his government will deliver on its promise of 500 new cops by the end of next year.  New police commissioner Richard Chambers warned yesterday they're unlikely to meet those numbers until 2026.  But Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking they're going to get as close to the target as they can.  He says that they’re not dropping standards, and though they always knew the target of 10,711 officers trained by November 2025 was ambitious, they remain committed to it.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a view the benefits of facial recognition tech in supermarkets outweighs potential risks.  Data analyst firm Scarlatti has found a trial of the new technology at 25 Foodstuffs North Island supermarkets reduced harm by 16%.  Security were alerted to offenders early, and could intervene to prevent harm from escalating.  Scarlatti Director and Trial Evaluator Adam Barker told Mike Hosking there was a balance to be struck around privacy impacts.  He says they found the 16% reduction in harm was more than enough to justify the use of the tech in the views of the public.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An interesting, but good, move on forestry and farming.  It is another example of practical thinking and application in an area that relied, to be frank, on laziness to solve a problem.  Ever since we became obsessed with climate change and we became obsessed with things that might or might address climate change, the low hanging fruit has been trees and carbon markets.  Carbon markets, as we have seen yet again this year, don't work. The government has mucked with the rules, changed the prices, freaked the market out, and all the credits that go up for sale by and large don’t get sold.  They all pile into the next auction and don’t get sold until they get to the fourth auction of the year where, after they aren't sold again, they then get dumped.  Dumped as in they never actually existed in the first place. It’s a mad, invented idea that only works if people believe it works.  So far they don’t.  Then we plant trees. Why? Because it's easy.  So a paddock of trees - or a paddock of sheep, or crops, or cows.  In a country where we already build too many houses on productive land, planting trees on that sort of land is criminal and stupid.  What this country does is feed the world. Our ability on quality in many areas is unmatched, and we get the price return for it.  But, and here is where the old freedom of movement thing comes in, if you have 100 hectares and you want to sell it and the person who wants to plant trees is offering more than the bloke next door who wants to expand his farm and keep sheep, you are now potentially limited by a government that has decided for you what you do with your property.  That’s always a tricky area.  Ultimately though governments must act in these circumstances on behalf of the nation and if we weren't so reliant on food production, if we were a tech centre, or a space centre, or an oil centre of a strategic global base like Singapore or Dubai, it might be different.  But land is our calling card and one day we will work out trees aren't the answer to climate change.  But by the time we work that out re-converting wont be possible, so in that sense this decision has saved us from ourselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Superstar Luke Combs is winging his way to New Zealand next month, and his opener isn’t someone to sneeze at.  Country-pop singer Jordan Davis has had multiple number one hits, two platinum albums, and won multiple awards at the Country Music Awards.   He has a significant fanbase in the US, and Kiwi audiences will be able to get a taste of him live.  Davis told Mike Hosking that visiting New Zealand has definitely been on the bucket list for a long time.  “I thought it would just be me travelling to see the beautiful country that I’ve seen growing up, but now, being able to mesh that with going over and working some is awesome.”  The two first toured together about two or three years ago, Davis revealed, and after headlining a tour of his own, he agreed to do another stadium tour with Combs this past year.   “I think Luke knows that I’ll jump at any chance to get out and play shows with him,” Davis said.  “I love him to death, and he’s been really good to me, so I’m excited to continue playing music with him.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The days of having your flight delayed by fog could soon be over.  Every year, the airline industry loses a collective $13 billion as flights are delayed or cancelled due to foggy conditions.   Pyper Vision is aiming to solve this problem, with new technology that predicts fog and prevents delays.  Founder Emily Blythe told Mike Hosking that they’ve built an initial model that can predict fog more accurately than traditional models, although they it still has a way to go in terms of lifting performance.  She says they’ve teamed up with a team at Attentive Technologies to collect the data sets they need to improve accuracy.  Blythe says it should be making an impact for the public in early 2026.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of December, the farmers are happy with the changes to the farm to forest conversion rules and the plans the government is considering for methane emissions.   Mike evaluates all the public sector’s Christmas parties for this year, so if you value an end of year do, he has the place for you.   Country music star Jordan Davis is winging his way to NZ next month along with Luke Combs, and popped on the show to talk about his journey.  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 Citizen's Advice Bureau says it isn't a surprise that MSD incorrectly processed 1-in-4 benefit entitlements.   The Ministry of Social Development's revealed its accuracy has slipped over the past few years, largely due to system and resource challenges.   CAB Deputy Chief Executive Andrew Hubbard says the stat stacks up with inconsistencies it's hearing from clients.   He told Mike Hosking it creates stress for those who have been overpaid and are facing debt they shouldn't be held responsible for.   Hubbard says mostly it's to do with a change in circumstance, like they've been a week late or it's taken MSD time to catch up with the change they've told them about.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The French government has collapsed.  Prime Minister Michel Barnier has been ousted in a no-confidence vote just three months after he was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.  Newstalk ZB's Paris correspondent Catherine Field says the right and the Government are warning the no confidence vote will result in chaos, and plunge France into the "unknown".  Field says it's the first time since 1962 that a French prime minister has lost a vote of confidence.  She says Macron last week began asking around to see if anyone wanted the job, and there are four names who are ready to step into the role of Prime Minister.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes new legislation will protect the most productive farmland.   The rule change will stop Category 1 to 5 land being converted into forestry.   Those with category 6 land will only be allowed to convert 15 thousand hectares.   Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson Toby Williams told Mike Hosking that it restores the balance between farming and production forestry, and makes sure they’re playing on an even field.  He says they’ve been working on for three or four years with the National Party, and it’s really answered their calls.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.