The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Health Commissioner Lester Levy says a lower health deficit than expected is a sign of progress.   Health New Zealand's revealed a $1.1 billion deficit – well short of the $1.76 billion it initially reported.  The Opposition's accused the Government of manufacturing a crisis to justify its cuts.   Levy told Mike Hosking he's confident Health New Zealand will be at zero deficit in three years, assuming nothing unexpected happens.   But he says that's a temporary and fixable problem, unlike the real problem of long waiting times.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wool sector advocates are disappointed with housing agency Kainga Ora for saying no to pricey wool carpets. A prior directive suggested Kainga Ora should choose wool over synthetic fibres for carpets, but the state landlord has chosen the latter as it's around 34% cheaper.   Bremworth Chief Executive Greg Smith told Mike Hosking they were not asked to participate in the procurement process.  He says nylon and wool are often comparable in price, and is unsure where Kainga Ora got their numbers from.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France’s Government seems to be on the brink of collapse.  It looks likely to fall apart later this week after far-right and left-wing parties said they will vote for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier.   The move comes after Barnier pushed through the 2025 social security budget without a vote.   France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that even if Barnier wins this vote, it’s only part of the battle, as he will still need to get the rest of the budget through.  She says that if he loses, the Government falls, and the best-case scenario is financial and political uncertainty – which could impact the entire Eurozone.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluoride is a funny thing.  I like it. Not too much, but just enough to help out in the water.  Not everyone shares the view, but science is on the right side.  Before he left his job Ashley Bloomfield (remember him?) issued an edict to a number of councils to fluoridate the local water. He had the power to compel them to do it.  Most have, some have had a bit of an angst about it. Tauranga wasn’t thrilled, but the problem was if you didn’t, you could be fined a couple of hundred grand and then $10,000 a day for each day after that if you don’t follow the rules.  On Friday Whangarei voted not to.  Their argument was several fold. It was a tight vote of 7-6. The public gallery was full, and I can bet who it was full of.  The mayor says fluoride won't help the local area's dental hygiene, which is of course complete nonsense and probably why we have people specialising in the health area as opposed to councillors who generally specialise in nothing.  They also argued the area doesn’t want it. A decent question to ask is - does that matter?  Are there areas and issues where the locals actually don’t get a say, kind of like how we don’t get to set our own speed limits or whether we pay our taxes?  Or do you argue at local level democracy is everything?  Mind you, even if you did argue that, they didn't poll everyone so who knows what the locals think in totality.  The interesting thing for me is, is this an issue you really want to die on a hill over?  If you're a council in the northern part of this country, are you honestly telling me this is as pressing as it gets?  Forget the dilapidated state of the place, the fact it gets cut off from the country too often, or the grinding poverty and health issues. How long do you want that list to be?  No, we will defy Wellington and get fined over fluoride.  Too many councils nationally of late are not giving local representation a good name and this lot aren't helping. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ivan Cleary is the most successful sports coach in Australia.  A former Warriors coach, Cleary has led the Penrith Panthers to victory, claiming the NRL Grand Final four times in a row.   He’s now co-authored a book all about leadership and success, detailing, as Cleary puts it, what he’s learned and how he leads.   ‘Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters’ reflects on the decades he’s spent on both sides of the game, as both a player and a coach, his mental health, and the time he spent coaching the Warriors.   He told Mike Hosking that he’s enjoying every minute of the NRL success.  “I was a head coach for 14 seasons, and also played for 11, so that’s 25 years of being in the NRL before I experienced winning a premiership.”  “It’s been a long time coming.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 3rd of December, the benefit numbers are up, and the lower target set by the Government is the one most at risk of not being hit.  The Prime Minister talks the Supreme Court decision on the Foreshore and Seabed Act, autopilot on our ships, and what's happening with the CRL.  Ivan Cleary is currently the most successful coach in Australia and has a new book out around leadership and expertise. It piqued Mike's interest, and he had to ask him whether he wants to come back and coach the Warriors!  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.

There’s a chance for the Government to reset, with a successful appeal from the Attorney-General offering more clarity on Māori customary rights to the foreshore and seabed. The Supreme Court's rejected a Court of Appeal judgment as a narrow interpretation of criteria. It's unanimously ruled applicants must use and occupy an area, and maintain this use without substantial interruption. Thorndon Chambers barrister Max Harris told Mike Hosking the Supreme Court's cleared up a lot of the details. He says the Government probably needs to go back to the drawing board on its legislation now that the position's changed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A variety of barriers still exist for some people looking for work.   The number of people on the Job Seeker benefit increased by 8,000 in the September quarter to sit at 70,000.   Whangarei New Focus Career Guidance Service founder Muriel Willem says some people are missing skills in areas like computers.   She told Mike Hosking that at the moment, even people without those barriers are finding it tough.   Willem says that's because there just aren't that many jobs out there.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, discusses crucial topics like the Supreme Court's ruling on customary marine titles, which emphasizes the need for applicants to prove ongoing use of the area. He reflects on the quick yet complex nature of such legal decisions and hints at potential legislative changes. Luxon also addresses the Navy's handling of the Manawanui sinking, attributing it to human error but commending their transparency. He jokes about the situation while confirming discussions on compensation with the Samoan Government.

Health New Zealand says it's committed to reaching a settlement with nurses.  About 36,000 nurses, midwives, and health workers walk off the job between 11am and 7pm today.  They say they're overworked and understaffed, which is threatening patient safety.  Health New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Mark Shepherd told Mike Hosking he's disappointed nurses are striking so early in the bargaining process.  But he says hospitals are fully prepared to manage the strikes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.