The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Finance Minister says businesses should be more confident about the economic recovery.  The Reserve Bank's been weighing up lower-than-expected growth and higher inflation in its decision to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 3.25%.  Nicola Willis says businesses have been battening down the hatches.  But she told Heather du Plessis-Allan they’re maybe more wary than they should be.  Willis says all of the fundamentals in the economy are good.  She says the Government is business-friendly and is on the side of those wanting to invest, make money, create jobs, and export overseas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let me tell you what Chris Hopkins is busy doing to the Covid Inquiry.  Let me tell you, when he says that the Covid Inquiry is providing a platform for those who have conspiracy theorist views, he is trying to undermine it, and he's doing that. So it doesn't matter what the outcome of the inquiry is, people have already written it off as a nut job investigation.   I suspect Chippy already knows that he's not going to come out of this flash. Neither is Jacinda. Neither is Ashley. Neither is Grant.   Because we already know what went wrong. We can see that the lockdowns went too long. We know that the border was done badly. We know how much money was printed, to name just a few things that they did wrong.   It's kind of rich of Chris Hipkins to complain that the terms of reference have been deliberately constructed to achieve a certain outcome, because that's coming from the guy whose government did exactly the same with the original Covid Inquiry.   They set up such a limited set of terms of references that we had to set up a second inquiry after they lost the election just to get to the stuff that we actually care about, which is the mandates and the Auckland lockdown, and so on.   They set up an inquiry, deliberately designed their words to only learn lessons, not assign blame when actually blame, or you can call it just taking responsibility, is exactly what a lot of us affected by all of this stuff would like to see.   But what really bothers me about what Chris Hipkins is doing is the continual demonising of conspiracy theorists. Now, look, I don't love a conspiracy theorist. They're a bit nutty. I've had to sit through lectures about the world order hours on end, trying to be polite and pretending that you care because you love the person, right? A lot of these people went down the rabbit hole because Labour forced to the jab on them, so they went off to do their own research and they came back a bit strange.   They shouldn't be excluded. They may be conspiracy theorists, but they're still our friends and our brothers and our uncles, even if they're a bit slightly different at the moment. Conspiracy theorists or not, they were as affected by these decisions as everyone else, therefore, they get a say too.   And whatever, by the way, happened to “they are us”? Or does that only apply when it suits Labour? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Details have emerged about the career-ending night former Minister Kiri Allan was arrested in Wellington for drink driving.   Allan resigned immediately after crashing into a parked car and testing over the legal limit in mid-2023.   Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan her behaviour was unacceptable, but he believes in redemption and everyone makes mistakes.   Labour's Ginny Andersen says there is public interest in knowing what happened, but it must be difficult for Allan to have everything playing out again.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9th of July, will the Reserve Bank act in line with consensus and hit pause on OCR cuts?  Why have Auckland Arena’s billionaire backers pulled out of the Western Springs stadium deal? Why is a free stadium now off the table for ratepayers?  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell debate mandatory sentences, whether Jacinda Ardern should come back for the Covid inquiry, and if $230,000 is too much to get the Government's FamilyBoost money on Politics Wednesday.  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 belief a plan to resurrect the extinct Moa will have ample roll-on effects.  US company Colossal Bioscience has partnered with Ngāi Tahu in a $50 million project to revive the flightless bird through gene editing.  Canterbury Museum's Senior Curator of Natural History Paul Scofield says it's a great eco-tourism opportunity.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan people could come and see Moa roaming the hills in a reserve.  Scofield says scientists would also be able to see how these birds affected the ecology of New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas has now climbed to at least 108 people.  Search and rescue efforts have reached their fifth day, with the dead including 28 children due to flooding west of San Antonio.  Dozens of people are still missing.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allan hundreds of volunteers have joined in.   He says searches along the Guadalupe River are slow and dirty.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministerial Advisory Group believes the community is a vital part of the solution in stomping out organised crime and drug use.  The group has released its third report which highlights being tough on organised crime means also focusing on drug users.  Advisory Group for Organised Crime Chair Steve Symon says it requires early intervention and community-based treatment.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it no longer involves just patches and motorbikes - it's about organised crime reaching in as a business and affecting communities.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confusion over the billionaire-backed Auckland Arena proposal being withdrawn from options for Western Springs.  Businesswoman Anna Mowbray, her husband and former All Black Ali Williams, and Auckland FC owner Bill Foley withdrew their 12,500 seat proposal, which wouldn't have cost ratepayers a cent.  It follows news Aucklanders don't have a clear preference on an option for the site.  The group cites unique challenges.   Chair of the Stadium Venues Working Group Shane Henderson told Heather du Plessis-Allan they've been left largely in the dark.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's making moves to ensure we'll no longer lag behind when it comes to Artificial Intelligence.  Science Minister Shane Reti's announced the Government's first strategy for using AI - claiming it'll reduce barriers to adoption and promote responsible use.   He says it could lift our GDP by $76 billion by 2038.   Reti told Heather du Plessis-Allan the strategy's a signal to both businesses and the community over what policy settings the Government will follow.  He says modelling suggests AI use could free up an hour a day of working time for businesses.   Reti says that's an hour that can be better spent on other high value tasks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists say pausing the OCR could be prudent as we wait to find out more about the state of global trade.   The Reserve Bank will make a call today on whether to cut the Official Cash Rate for a seventh consecutive time or hold it steady at 3.25%.   There's much to consider, including uncertainty about the US tariffs.   ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Heather du Plessis-Allan we'll have more information next month about inflation and inflation expectations.   He says hopefully all the trade deadlines will be dealt with and we'll have more clarity about what tariffs countries face.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.