The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Politicians aren’t worrying too much about the latest poll results.  There were starkly different results in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll and 1News-Verian poll – with the first showing the left bloc in the lead and the second showing the right bloc well ahead.  Labour’s Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking the polls bounce around, so they don’t take them to heart that much.  She says in general, Labour is gradually trending upwards but they know they have more work to do, which is what they’ve been taking from the polls.  National’s Mark Mitchell told Hosking he doesn’t take much notice of them, as what matters is what happens next year heading into the election.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs North Island's facial recognition trial might have the tick of approval overall, but there's still work to do.   The Privacy Commission's ruled the trial was compliant with the Privacy Act and was successful in reducing harmful behaviour.    But Commissioner Michael Webster told Mike Hosking they're recommending Foodstuffs keep systems updated and review impacts of skin tone on identification accuracy.   Webster says there are still concerns over technical bias issues due to the software coming from overseas.   It's also made recommendations for other interested businesses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renewing existing infrastructure rather than investing in new shiny projects is the best way to go, according to a new report co-produced by the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP New Zealand.   The foundation claims 99% of the infrastructure New Zealand needs, has already been built.   Foundation Deputy Director Kali Mercier says renewals and repairs are much cheaper.  She told Mike Hosking one of their recommendations is keeping scorecards so the management and condition of major infrastructure can be tracked.  Mercier says that currently, just one of six central government agencies keeps a full asset register, and just two have comprehensive asset management plans in place.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol admits their members have been approached to join a new global breakaway club competition.  R360 —backed by former England international Mike Tindall— is set to launch in 2026.  The league plans to mirror the likes of sevens and F1, moving from port to port with events at major cities and stadia around the globe.  Nichol told Mike Hosking they've been across the proposal since last year.  He says that from a player perspective, it’s about waiting and seeing as competitions like this have to get through some pretty strong headwinds to succeed.   Nichol says one of R360's proposed calendar blocks from April to June is likely to face strong opposition from the sport's global governors.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns bad investment choices in electricity generation will keep our supply unreliable.  Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is ramping up production reversing previous restrictions, to ease winter supply concerns.  Meridian Energy says the hydro storage is looking much healthier this winter.   Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord told Mike Hosking restrictions will likely be back in force next winter, without investment in firmer electricity supply like geothermal and hydro plants.  He says solar panels only generate electricity 25% of the time and wind turbines only create energy 40% of the time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fewer people are behind on debt payments.  Centrix's May Indicator Report shows consumer arrears fell in April – it was the fourth month in a row where overall arrears were lower than 2024.  However, the number of consumers who are more than 90 days past due has risen to its highest since July last year.  Managing Director Keith McLaughlin told Mike Hosking they’re starting to see household budgets become balanced.   He says to an extent, it could be due to the dropping interest rates starting to flow through into budgets.   However, it could be a while before we see an easing in the high rate of company liquidations.   Company liquidations are up 30% year-on-year, with 175 recorded in April.  McLaughlin says they should stabilise in the next couple of months, before trending downward.  He says there's an increase in consumer confidence, meaning people are going out and spending more, which will create stimulation for businesses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourists are being told New Zealand is open for business.  A Government survey's found international visitor spending increased by 10% and contributed more than $12 billion to the economy in the year ending March.  But this is only 86% of pre-Covid visitor numbers and spending.   Tourism Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking it shows there's work to be done, especially targeting key markets like China.   She says we want our visitors to return and come back in the numbers they were.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is set to spend more on defence.  Prime Minister Keir Starmer's unveiled plans to lift the defence spend, signalling it could reach 3% of GDP at the next Parliament.  He vowed to make Britain "a battle-ready, armour-clad nation”, and Defence Secretary John Healey says they’re in a “new era of threat”, which demands a higher spend.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that although many understand the need for increased defence, it’s not understood where the money is going to come from.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the headline is right, and I hope it isn't, the Government are seeking advice on what to do about Run it Straight.  If the Government is seeking this advice, they have been sucked in.  Unless of course they are saying they are seeking advice so everyone shuts up for a bit, because the whole thing has got hopelessly out of control.  We need to break the ongoing grip too many New Zealanders have with Government, or the ongoing spell that too many are under, that Governments run our lives and it is only Government that can do stuff.  Ardie Savea, God bless him, got it spot on last week. He spoke for all of us in trying to balance a sensible observation about an activity, while balancing the reason for the angst for the tragedy that led to the heightened upset around it.  What happened was a tragedy. But accepting that, we seem unable to separate out tragedy from Government, or accident from rules, or mishap from common sense.  We fail to recognise the most obvious lack of connection – Run it Straight the competition, the organised sport, was not involved in a death.  The death happened at a 21st party. As the Prime Minister pointed out, no law is stopping a 21st.  We want desperately to stop stupidity. We would like to find a way to prevent young men, mainly, doing dumb stuff young men do.  But as Ardie quite rightly put it, the athletic side of the activity is part of contact sport. We have all in our own way, whether it be bullrush, or league, or union, or MMA, all done something like it.  Savea and his brother did what many, many, many, young men do in backyards: try to run each other over. Why is his brother called 'Bus', do you reckon?  The heat I took on this last week when I said similar things was interesting. There seem a group who feel if they spray, or get aggro with a person like me, that makes them feel better.  Maybe psychologically they can absolve themselves for feeling helpless.  Tragedy generally leaves us helpless.  But looking to a government is pointless and a government looking for advice is even more pointless. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to reflect on the sport that took place over the long King’s Birthday weekend.  They covered the Warriors’ latest victory, how Super Rugby Pacific is shaping up ahead of the playoffs, and the latest in Formula 1 and IndyCar among others.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.