The Mike Hosking Breakfast

It never takes long to find the bank of the taxpayer.  The Green Building Council has lined the Government up for Lord knows how many millions so we can all ditch our gas heaters, buy heat pumps, and save money and the gas industry.  We talked during the week with businesses who use gas. Some are looking to convert, and some want discretionary loans from you-know-who.  Major gas users met the Minister last Friday to, I assume, state the obvious that we don’t have enough gas, so “something” needs to be done.  Just what the "something is" no one seems to know, given I haven't been given a clear answer to a fairly simple question.  At the big level like Methanex or Ballance, I don’t know if there is an answer. You either pay the price, and presumably pass it on, or you don’t and close down.  At the smaller level, does a grower of something need a government loan or hand out? Should a grower have seen the price of gas and thought to themselves that they might like to inquire about an alternative?  I guess you get that interface between a business being for personal good versus wider good, like jobs and produce and what role a government might play in that.  At a personal level we use gas. The price is a joke. We may or may not need to look at something different, but in the meantime, I'm prepared to foot the bill, and I have no desire to seek help from the government.  If the Green Building Council are right and we all switched to electricity as supplied by rain, wouldn't life be great? But we all know it's not that easy.  We all know the renewable journey has been, and remains, a cluster. We all know a variety of circumstances have coalesced to provide the sort of business environment that leads to big bills, big cutbacks, job losses and lack of growth.  It's an open question as to how much of the lack of gas is about Labour and the killing of an industry versus what we already had, running out faster than we thought.  But is it possible we could have a mindset change, whereby the taxpayer isn't always the first cab off the rank to cover yet more lack of foresight and planning? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    Visas: 7/10  One of the bright spots of the week. Two more visas and access to labour that solves problems. More please.    Recognising Palestine as a state: 3/10  Talk about angst for no result. Around and around we go.    Disney Cruises: 4/10  Can you blame them? You make this the most expensive place in the world to bring a ship – who needs to deal with that?    Mystery meat: 3/10  What idiot thought of that?    Ardern and her henchpeople: 0/10  I don't know what else there is to say when you have sunk that low. More fool us. I can only imagine what the 50% of voters who wanted a chunk of that arrogance in 2020 think now.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle of duelling responsibilities is unfolding before our eyes and I can't work out whether it will all end in tears.  On one hand you've got the Local Government Minister off to Cabinet with his rates cap plan for councils. The average rate rise is almost 10%. Inflation isn't.  It's not good enough. They are out of control and Wellington is going to do something about it.  But then on the other hand we have Local Water Done Well, the new Government's replacement for Three Waters.  You can buddy up with a group of councils and areas, or you can go it alone.  For example, Gisborne District Council has decided to go it alone. Is that a good idea? Not according to Internal Affairs, who have written to them, having seen their plans.  They have also written to five other councils with similar ideas and said to them that you don’t seem to have the capacity and wherewithal to pull this off.  So, what if they're right?  What if they don’t and the whole thing goes tits up?  How is it a Central Government on one hand is setting the rules of engagement on rates for fear of things getting out of control, yet letting councils, who their own people are suggesting aren't up to it, loose on water infrastructure that may well end up putting them in the poor house?  It's that complex, angsty line between freedom and control, local and central. Where is that line drawn?  If you don't trust them on rates, is water so simple and cheap and easy that they should be fine?  Then you get to the bit about voters and local democracy. Gisborne claim they’ve consulted and the community is behind them.  That almost certainly isn't true, given the consultation would have involved the usual handful of those actually interested, as opposed to the majority who wont be remotely aware, or care, until of course it all goes wrong. At which point there is all hell to pay.  So who is right?   Central Government getting control of the out of control, or letting the out of control dabble elsewhere and going into it with a red flag?  There seems a stark inconsistency in approach from Wellington because both approaches can't be right. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors’ season hinges on tonight's match against the Dragons, crucial for playoff chances.  Injuries and missed opportunities have plagued the Warriors, who have won only two of their last seven games.  A win at Mt Smart would make them a shoo-in for a playoff spot, while a loss could see them slip as low as seventh to finish the round.   Former Kiwis Captain Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking the injury crisis has done a number on the team this season, but they need to get the chemistry back and this is a perfect opportunity.  He says the Warriors have to bring their old game back —their discipline, their aggression— and they need to play a bit more football.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday once more, but Mike Hosking’s panel for Wrapping the Week looks a little different.  Tim Wilson is off on holiday, so a special guest was brought in to replace him – Sir John Key.   It took a while for Kate to guess the "rando" calling in, but once she did they got stuck in discussing clothing, wine, and whether or not Sir John can join Kate’s pickleball league.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have named a predictable side for their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba.  Captain Scott Barrett is returning to the side, with Beauden Barrett returning to No. 10 and Cortez Ratima starting at halfback.  There are no new faces on the team for the first time in 2025.  Will Jordan is playing at No. 15, and told Mike Hosking that Argentina seems to be primed and ready to go for a couple of big tests, particularly since they’re defending their home patch.  He says the key for the All Blacks is to come out and try get on top in the first twenty minutes of the match.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 15th of August, all eyes will be on Trump and Putin in Alaska tomorrow – what will likely come of it?  The Rugby Championship is upon us, so Will Jordan tells us by how much the All Blacks will beat Argentina in the first match.  Kate Hawkesby and mystery guest Sir John Key Wrap the Week - listen to Kate's description of John as she tries to guess the guest.  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.

Robotic surgeries are taking off, bringing positive outcomes for the health sector.  Evolution Healthcare says it's more than doubled the number of robotic surgeries in the past two years at Wellington's Wakefield Hospital.  It says it's on target to complete more than 300 this year, up from 243 last year.  Evolution CEO Michael Quirke told Mike Hosking efficiencies are increasingly being found as the technology develops, with new generations becoming less invasive.  More importantly, he says, the enhanced outcomes are creating an outstanding result for both the patients and broader health systems.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s little sign of recovery soon for the country's sheep numbers as they continue to drop.  Beef + Lamb NZ shows breeding ewe numbers are down nearly 2% on last year, with this season's lamb crop forecast to be down nearly 120 thousand lambs.  However, beef cattle numbers are showing positive signs, rising 4%.  Beef + Lamb NZ Chair Kate Acland told Mike Hosking the lower numbers are driven by the continued afforestation in big traditional sheep areas like Southland.  She says sheep prices are phenomenally good at the moment, and if we weren’t seeing pressure from carbon forestry, the rebuilding would be much stronger.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump estimates his high-stakes diplomatic talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin have a 25% chance of failure.  The two presidents will meet in Alaska tomorrow to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.   Trump's previewed the summit as setting the table for a second meeting, inviting in Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.   New Haven University international affairs expert Matthew Schmidt told Mike Hosking public opinion in Ukraine is strong, on a need to stop the bleeding.   But he says they're not willing to give away everything or be humiliated to get there, so Trump will have to navigate that.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.