The Mike Hosking Breakfast

More than 300 people in Auckland have been ordered to re-sit their practical driving tests.  It followed allegations VTNZ officers took money in return for giving passes.  Five officers at VTNZ's Highbrook branch have been sacked and police have launched an investigation into potential fraud.  The wrongdoing's alleged to have taken place over a few years.  President of the Institute of Driver Educators Mark Revill-Johnson told Mike Hosking there can't be any faith in the results of the tests.  He says it's unknown if they were properly conducted tests according to the rules.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are split on how far the Reserve Bank will go with slashing the Official Cash Rate.  The central bank will reveal its latest monetary policy decision this afternoon.   There are strong expectations of a cut from three percent, but debate over its size.   ANZ says a 25 basis point cut could be strategic at this point in the cycle, with the OCR near its bottom.   But ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking he favours a 50 basis point cut.   He says you can make a case either way, but he thinks it's time to give it a firmer nudge than what we've seen recently.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stars are aligning for the red meat sector with record returns and global demand.   Rabobank's latest report suggests two-million underutilised dairy calves are born each year, at a time when beef prices are hitting record highs.   It's calling for a coordinated effort across breeding, rearing, and value chains to add an alleged $1.2 billion to the economy.  Meat Industry Association Chair Nathan Guy told Mike Hosking there's a lot of system change that needs to occur.   He says farmers know the demand is there, so it's an exciting time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi Chef Chelsea Winter is all about making a practical resource for Kiwi families, having written nearly ten cookbooks over the years.  Her last few books have been focused on plant-based recipes, many of them dairy-free, egg-free, and refined sugar-free, but her 8th book, ‘Nourish’ is a return to the basics.   “My books have always been created with the intention that they are to be used,” she told Mike Hosking.  “It’s not a coffee table book.”  ‘Nourish’ is filled with recipes designed not only to taste good, but to feel good, Winter says, adaptable recipes that allow a family to thrive.  “It’s a culmination of everything I’ve learned over the last 13 years, but also the person I’ve become.”  “There’s a purpose behind this book now, it’s not just like, oh look, I won MasterChef, I’m going to put out a book,” she said.  “I’m doing it to empower people in the kitchen, to uplift and inspire them, to help them nourish their families in a way that’s accessible and useful and joyful.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 7th of October, there are new measures from the Government to improve attendance rates, with dozens more schools signing up for support.   Health NZ’s buying thousands of vapes —including flavoured products— for those trying to quit smoking, and Mike is incredulous.   Chelsea Winter discusses her new cookbook and answers questions on that wellness retreat.  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.

A researcher says all she can do is laugh about the Government ordering more vapes for those wanting to quit smoking.  Health New Zealand's been providing vape kits to smokers for almost a year as part of a pilot programme, initially ordering three thousand kits.   Newstalk ZB has revealed it's ordering more, including flavours like cinnamon and blueberry.   Auckland University researcher Kelly Burrowes told Mike Hosking the Government seems to be promoting and supporting vaping as a healthier product.  She says there's many studies coming out showing there are negative short and medium-term impacts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 200 people have won by default in this weekend's local election, but that's an improvement on decades prior.  Newstalk ZB analysis of the thousands of council races over five consecutive elections have found more than one in seven roles have been won by the only person who stood.  Unopposed elections have fallen by about a third since 2001.  Gisborne Mayor and Local Government NZ Vice-President Rehette Stoltz told Mike Hosking there are two sides to the story.  She says that while in some areas the lack of people standing for office may be caused by apathy, it could also be that the people who are already there are believed to be doing a great job.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uncertainty whether a potential law criminalising protest action near private residences will be effective.  Legislation is currently before Parliament that would give the Police greater power to move protesters in residential areas along – submissions on the bill closing yesterday.   At the same time, an arrest has been made after an alleged vandalism at Winston Peters' Auckland home, which saw a window smashed and glass shattered over his dog.  Peters says a number of pro-Palestine protests have been taking place outside his house recently, blasting loudspeakers just metres from his door.  But Constitutional Law Expert Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking there's some confusion in the way the new legislation has been drafted, and he suspects people and police won’t be sure what’s covered.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Airlines are backing the Commerce Commission's decision to stop short of a formal inquiry into airport regulation.  It's instead looking at changing how much information airports should provide airlines about major upgrades.  This follows Air New Zealand writing to the regulator, raising that the costs it was facing from airports were growing out of control.  Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director Cath O'Brien says a formal inquiry wasn't worth it.   She told Mike Hosking the process is complicated, expensive, and not fit for purpose, as if they ran it, they’d have to apply the findings to all airports, not just one.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is farewelling its fifth Prime Minister in under two years as it enters a fresh political crisis.  The country's new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned just hours after appointing his new cabinet.  His ministerial line-up has been heavily criticised by parties in the National Assembly.    Newstalk ZB's Paris correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking Lecornu believed negotiations between other parties had stalled.  She says he believed other parties just wanted to push their own programme on to the government, without making any compromises.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.