The Mike Hosking Breakfast

New data shows hospitals were, on average, 587 nurses short every shift last year.  A Nurses Organisation Infometrics report analysed Te Whatu Ora data from 1.69 million shifts from 2022 to 2024 in 59 public hospitals.  Last year saw a slight improvement on 2023, when the shortage averaged 684 nurses per shift.  Former Health New Zealand Chair Rob Campbell told Mike Hosking it confirms that issues facing the health system are dire.  He says nurses have had to face people telling them they're wrong about the issues, but now it's clear they aren't.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than seven thousand people have been sent to prison following a conviction.  Ministry of Justice data shows the proportion of convicted charges leading to prison sentences has reached an all-time high at 27%.  People convicted of robbery, sexual offences, and homicides have the highest imprisonment rates.  Criminal defence lawyer Steve Cullen told Mike Hosking it's worrying to see such a large number of people involved in illegal activity.  He says it could be due to a wave of young people coming through, social media, or gang and drug influences.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I see the plan.  Labour is sweating the current Māori Party meltdown, so they have rolled out Willie Jackson, who claims Takuta Ferris is handing political extremists ammunition to paint the Māori Party as too weird to ever do business with Labour.  There are several problems with the plan.  Firstly, post the by-election Willie has no credibility.  Willie couldn’t win a raffle, far less a vote. And not only couldn’t he win the vote, he couldn’t get anyone out to even contemplate voting. What we saw a couple of weeks ago in Auckland was the biggest by-election shambles in many a long year.  The next problem is the Māori Party are too wacky to ever be in Government, Ferris or no Ferris. In citing Ferris as some sort of issue, you are forgetting Packer, Waititi, and Maipi-Clark, and all the others who found themselves in front of the Privileges Committee and sanctioned in a way we had not seen previously.  These are not people remotely interested in working with others.  In that is the real issue for Labour. It's not the Māori Party's problem.  If the Māori Party weren't attached to a centre-left bloc by polling, none of this Ferris nonsense would be of any interest to anyone.  But because mathematically they are needed in an invented deal for polling purposes, they take on a larger importance.  Without them Labour stand zero chance in the election next year.  To make the story interesting, the pollsters and the media have to align all three parties otherwise the narrative doesn’t work.  Then there's the other issue for Willie: the so-called "political extremists" he talks of. Another name for them is middle New Zealand, who saw what Labour, and Labour alone, did with Māoridom 2020-2023 with the obsession, the name changes, the new rules and courses and the compulsion around all things Māori. Talk about turning the punter off with obsession.  Between the Greens with their Palestine and wealth tax fascination and the Māori Party and their separatism, no wonder Labour are worried.  They have freaks for friends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Davies is a well-known funnyman.  He’s best known for starring in Jonathan Creek and for his permanent spot on QI, as well as his nearly 40 years of stand-up comedy.  Davies has had a busy career, and in amongst it all he’s written two memoirs, Just Ignore Him, released in 2020, and White Male Stand-Up, released just this month.  In both the memoir and his latest stand-up performances, Davies covers his extensive career, the highs, the lows, and the struggles he’s had with the abuse he experienced as a child.   He joined Mike Hosking for a chat, delving into his struggles, comedy, and White Male Stand-Up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 16th of September, the state of our economy took another hit with the 18th straight month of contractions in our services sector. Q2 GDP numbers on Thursday will be fascinating.  Yet again we are looking at Eden Park and whether more concerts could be held there. Can we just get on and do something about it?  Alan Davies of Jonathan's Creek and QI fame is on for a chat about his new book titled "White Male Stand-Up".  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 Gisborne forestry industry wants to manage expectations when it comes to cleaning up slash.   One company is appealing the district council's order, which would force it to prevent all woody debris from leaving a forestry block.   Samnic Forest Management says it would likely go bankrupt if the order were to go ahead.   Forest Owners Association Chief Executive Elizabeth Heeg told Mike Hosking there must be a compromise.   She says the judiciary must understand what is and isn't feasible for the industry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wētā Workshop has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Saudi Arabian princess.  The agreement is part of five new commercial partnerships signed by Kiwi and Saudi businesses, valued at $100 million.  Creative organisation Rukun was founded by HRH Princess Noura bint Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and will work with Wētā to help grow Saudi Arabia's creative economy.  Wētā Workshop co-CEO and COO David Wilks told Mike Hosking they’ve increasingly diversified over the years, and Saudi Arabia is the next step in the process.  He says the opportunities are significant – the country is changing at a great rate and is looking for the kinds of talents Wētā has.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our largest sector is continuing to do it tough.  Latest data from BNZ and Business NZ shows our services sector —which makes up almost three quarters of the economy— has contracted for the 18th consecutive month.  Our manufacturing sector is also back in contraction after a period of growth.  Business NZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking we're still seeing a tale of two economies.  She says the primary sector is doing quite well, but the services sector is continuing to face challenges.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Government paper suggests gas demand could outpace supply before the turn of the decade.   The briefing from Resources Minister Shane Jones delivers a strong warning for the coming years.   It says, unless the country finds new gas or alternative power generation, there won't be enough gas from 2029.   Jones told Mike Hosking there will be some available, but it will be snapped up by industrial companies.   He says the crisis will be caused by businesses which continue to be reliant on gas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims the current Eden Park rules are comical.   The Government's looking at settings including the number of concerts held at the Auckland stadium and their duration.   RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says there will be a four to six week investigation period.   He told Mike Hosking he won't be making a pre-emptive decision on what needs to change.   Bishop says even though he's publicly stated that the rules are stupid, he will follow the proper process.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.