The Mike Hosking Breakfast

There are fears limited information sharing is hindering authorities efforts to tackle transnational crime.  A report from a Ministerial Advisory Group focused on organised crime says there's sparse coordination between agencies, technological limitations, and people are fearful of sharing what could be useful information.  It's recommending a new sharing framework and tweaks to the Privacy Act to make it easier.  Chair Steve Symon told Mike Hosking change is needed.  He says he's been a prosecutor for 20 years and it's been the bane of their existence, which has worsened over time as agencies become more siloed and risk adverse.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm assuming the instigators of the second Covid Inquiry are deeply disappointed in what is unfolding, in terms of accountability.  Inquiry Part 1 was a Labour Government stitch up. It was an exercise in smoke and mirrors.  Inquiry Part 2 is a coalition deal driven by ACT and NZ First, and was designed to look into areas not touched on in Part 1: access to vaccines, lock downs, economic damage, and so on.  I have argued since the start that we needed an advisorial approach. In other words, we do it like the Brits, who called people to a witness stand and held them accountable.  We didn’t do that and now we're paying the price.  Ardern and Hipkins, along with Robertson, have declined to appear.  No kidding. What a surprise. I wonder why?  Grant Illingworth KC, who is in charge of the current work, has the power apparently to pull them in. He is choosing not to do so, hence my assumption of disappointment at political party level.  The Illingworth justification is the aforementioned operators are cooperating with proceedings.  That's not good enough in my book, or indeed anywhere close.  Simple question: is there a broad expectation among ordinary, everyday New Zealanders that those who made life-changing calls in a life-changing period of New Zealand owe it to us all to front and be questioned under oath about why they did what they did?  Another question: what does it say about the morals and characters of said people, who seek public mandate and public support and approval, that when things get a bit awkward they are nowhere to be seen?  Where is the courage of their conviction? Where are their spines and gonads?  Can a person like Hipkins, and indeed Verrall, who I also understand is refusing to front, possibly present themselves to the voting public next year with a straight face and ask once again for the power to run the land, having been the same people who in august of the year before ran for the hills when accountability came calling?  The rules of engagement were lacking. We were let down.  As the head of this with power to do better, Illingworth is letting us down.  But nowhere near the level of Ardern, Hipkins, Robertson, and Verrall, who should be ashamed of themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US has accused the UK of backsliding on human rights over the past year, claiming it’s not a free country.  The US State Department says the UK’s Labour government ‘repeatedly intervened to chill speech’, their annual assessment also highlighting laws limiting free speech around abortion clinics.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it’s something that both Trump and Vance have said before, and it has a certain resonance with people like Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage.  He says the claims are causing a problem for the Government, who are already under fire for being a two-tired government that seemingly penalises the right for saying things, but lets the left go scott-free.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, the All Blacks were praised for their mental fortitude.  When it came down to the wire, fans could expect the team to handle the pressure, trained and prepared for all scenarios.  Much of that fortitude can be attributed to Gilbert Enoka – our national team’s mental skills coach for 23 years.  He retired at the end of 2023, and has now written a book that covers his mentality and philosophy during his tenure: ‘Become Unstoppable’.  Though some of the techniques used changed over his nearly three decade long career, Enoka told Mike Hosking that the underlying principles are the same.  “Pressure wears a new face every season, every year,” he explained.  “But the principles for managing and navigating your way through, I believe, are timeless.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief many farmers will be feeling disappointed and betrayed after a report to Parliament on the ban of carbon forestry.  The Environment Select Committee’s recommendations show carbon farms across productive farmland, won't be coming to a stop.  Currently under the Emission Trading Scheme there's a ban on whole-farm conversions for land that's not used for beef and sheep farming.  Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson Richard Dawkins told Mike Hosking this still puts beef and sheep at risk of full conversions.  He says there's less export income without a productive meat industry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 14th of August, then-Covid Minister Chris Hipkins defends his decision not to appear publicly for the Covid-19 Inquiry.   Public Service Minister Judith Collins responds to the latest strike action from both nurses and secondary school teachers.    All Blacks mental skills expert Gilbert Enoka imparts his wisdom and philosophy from his 23-year career with our top side in his new book 'Become Unstoppable'.  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.

New Zealand exporters are remaining upbeat.  The latest Export New Zealand DHL Export Barometer shows about four in five have maintained or increased export volumes over the past year.  Exporters say it's been getting cheaper to do business, but they're getting more worried about trade wars.  NZ International Business Forum Executive Director Felicity Roxburgh told Mike Hosking the impact of tariffs will take some time to flow through.  She says some of the goods impacted are still on the water and wont be paying until the 5th of October, so while there’s currently a lot of positivity, time will tell.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is blasting the secondary teachers union for calling a strike.  Post Primary Teachers' Association members will put down the tools next Wednesday, rejecting a three-percent pay increase over three years. Tens of thousands of healthcare workers are also preparing to walk off the job on two separate days next month. Public Service Minister Judith Collins told Mike Hosking it seems the union spent more time on its marketing, than it did at the bargaining table. She's urging teachers to stop using kids as political footballs and get a union that actually cares about them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says our NCEA achievement results are ticking up as we climb out of Covid.  Last year Level 1 achievement dropped slightly to its lowest level in a decade, and Māori fell further behind.  There were improvements though in NCEA Levels 2, 3, and University Entrance for the first time in five years.   Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking these students also came through after she became Minister.  She says they've had that hour of reading, writing, and maths which has helped this incline, but she's really worried about Level 1.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he's already answered the Covid Inquiry Commissioner's questions, negating any need for him to appear publicly.  Hipkins and former Ministers Dame Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall declined open hearings, leading the second part of the inquiry to be called off.  Hipkins says lawyers raised several issues around them appearing, including setting a precedent and possible abuse. He told Mike Hosking he doesn't see the point in repeating the process.   Hipkins says the Commissioners themselves have said former ministers have answered every single question put to them and they are seeking no further information.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.