The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Auckland University's keen to work with Immigration New Zealand in a bid to boost international enrolments.  Data shows enrolments are up year-on-year but lag around 7% behind pre-Covid levels.  Auckland University Vice Chancellor Dawn Freshwater told Mike Hosking there's already some work going on in terms of automation and support for international applications.  She says visa processing times are critical.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's paying little attention to global action around climate change.   A coalition-appointed panel's suggesting New Zealand weaken its current 2050 climate target of up to 47% less emissions than 2017.  It's offered a new target of just 15%.  Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking the rest of the world needs to step up, but we only need to focus on New Zealand.   He says we don't need to lead the world or do more than others, and the Government will likely just focus on our obligations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s more trouble with Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.  Allegations have come out about Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nomination for Secretary of Defense.  Reports reveal that he was twice ousted from military organisations he led for financial mismanagement and improper behaviour, as well as allegations of sexual assault from 2017.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that in an email following Hegseth’s divorce in 2016, his mother wrote that she has no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego – saying that he was that man.  Arnold says that she says she retracted her remarks a day later in a separate email, having written it “in anger”.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From our “it worked fine, even though many didn’t think it would” file, there are two things to mention.  Thing number one is the benefit sanctions the handwringers argued were unfair and not nice.  It turns out virtually no one has hit red. Remember it was the green, orange, red system? All the Government ever asked in introducing them was for you to do your bit.  You are not sanctioned for not having a job. You are sanctioned for not trying.  Virtually everyone is doing their bit, as only 1% are in red. Those are the ones you can't help. They don’t want help, they don’t want work, and they don’t want to contribute. That’s on them.  The most interesting thing the Prime Minister said on Monday, as they announced their new support programme for those looking for work, is in many respects we are down to the nitty-gritty. The current rate of a bit under 5% jobless isn't high, historically.  Mostly, if you lose your job, you get another one.  So, is moving town reasonable? I answer, yes.  If you are 62 years old and laid off, maybe not.  But I noted with interest when the mill in the central North Island closed, a lot instantly said they are off to Australia. A lot of people have been off to Australia lately.  So moving for lifestyle, or work, or finances clearly isn't a major hurdle, so why would we think it would be one to find work locally?  The simple truth is you either want to work or you don’t. You are either driven, or you aren't.  So some sanctions and the threat of a kick in the pants is not really the end of the world that it was made out to be.  The second thing is Te Papa. Remember the debate about charging tourists? This was bad news apparently. We would put people off, apparently.  Reality? $750,000 in two months. They've sold pretty much exactly the number of tickets they thought they would. They are now filling a funding gap by letting people know, especially internationals, that nothing is free.  So, once again, it's not really the end of the world.  My guess is the new entry visa will be the same. The price is going up so it will be "the end of the world".  A cost to enter the national parks will be the same. They start charging and it will be "the end of the world".  The cost of a visa will be the same. The price went up so "they won't come".  We need to break the mentality that the Government i.e. you and me, pay for everything. It isn't real, but it is a habit.  What is real, is a few rules and a few charges are only an impediment if you think they are. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New AI technology is giving farmers an insight into the eating quality of their lamb and beef.  Alliance group-shareholders can now use Meat Eating Quality technology to analyse the tenderness, juiciness and flavour of meat.  Chief executive Willie Wiese told Mike Hosking the tool predicts the performance of livestock using genetics.  He says they've tested and validated the outcomes of the predictions against chemistry tests.  Alliance will have regional benchmarking data on the new technology by the end of the year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 4th of December, our health debt is coming down, but Health NZ Commissioner Lester Levy says there is more work to be done.  We finally get some good news on tourism - international visitor numbers and spending is up, so is the industry seeing the benefits?  For the last time of the year Mike, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen cover off the big topics on Politics Wednesday, as well as the people they've met that like Mike.  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.

In the final Politics Wednesday of 2024, Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to dig into this week’s biggest political stories.   With just one sitting session left for the year, Parliament has shifted its focus to examining Government agencies for this year’s Scrutiny Week.   Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that it’s important to hold people accountable – if people are saying things that aren’t true, then they need to front up and explain where they got the numbers from.   Mark Mitchell agrees the week is a good idea.  He told Hosking that it’s another way of having scrutiny and transparency around what agencies are doing.   Mitchell says we've got one of the most transparent systems, and we should keep improving it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourism operators are reaping the benefits of a boost in international visitor spending, but believe there's more work to do.  International visitor spending has risen by 30% in the year to September.  It's grown to just under $11 billion.  Tourism Holdings Chief Executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking it's around 85% of pre-Covid levels, and they have to focus on growth.  He says that there have been some barriers put in place with increases in the visitor levy, but 2026 is where they're going to get their market share back.  Webster says they can manage it more effectively, with more digital capability and companies doing more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister discusses significant shifts in Auckland Transport's governance. Decision-making powers will be returned to the local council, aiming to boost accountability. A new regional transport committee is set to develop a comprehensive 30-year transport plan. Simeon Brown emphasizes cooperation with the Chief Executive to ensure a smooth transition, hinting at a positive reception from Auckland Transport amidst these transformative changes.

There’s confidence All Black Sevu Reece was not given special treatment after charges against him ended in a discharge without conviction.  The 27-year-old Crusader crashed a car into a garage door after being asked to leave the post-Christchurch Cup Day party last year.  Reece initially pleaded not guilty before admitting a reduced charge of wilful damage yesterday.  Rugby Players' Association chief executive Rob Nicol told Mike Hosking we have to trust the judicial system.  He says anyone with a high profile is held to account when police are involved, as there's pressure on officers to get it right.  Reece was granted a discharge without conviction in 2018 after he admitted a single charge of common assault following an incident involving his then-partner.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.