The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Bledisloe Cup is back in storage for another year but the Rugby Championship remains up for grabs for all four teams going into the final round.  The All Blacks are taking on Australia at a sold-out Optus Stadium, while South Africa clashes with Argentina at Twickenham.  Seven changes have been made to the side, with Scott Barrett returning from injury to his position as captain.  Vice-captain Jordie Barrett told Mike Hosking a week is a long time in international rugby, as the game has become so competitive and the margins are so small.  He says they’re making a few adjustments after last week’s game, but the Rugby Championship is there to win if they really want to.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 3rd of October, what is going on with Te Pati Maori? In fights, out fights, and one of the biggest Māori-led activist groups has severed ties. And all of this comes before they “reset” in a week or so.   All Black vice captain Jordie Barrett says we're in for a good chance of reclaiming the Rugby Championship, so long as we beat the Wallabies and South Africa loses to Argentina.  And as they Wrap the Week, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson celebrate Tim turning 60 and Mike shows his empathetic side... he thinks.  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's electric car market is reaching a tipping point.  Five new Chinese car brands have entered the market in the last two months – Dongfeng being the latest.  Its launch lineup includes three fully electric models, and dealerships are set to open in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch later in the year.   Auto Distributors NZ CEO Simon Rutherford told Mike Hosking the market has shifted over the last few years to be more accepting of EVs.  He says people who are looking to buy a second car are increasingly more likely to consider buying electric, and even in the last year there’s been a shift of about 10% out of pure ICE vehicles into something electrified.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A more analogue type of vacation at a new retreat.  Created by Kiwi Michelin Star Chef Toby Stuart and his wife Sabina Bronicka-Stuart, ‘Slow Stay’ is a luxury retreat over the Abel Tasman.  The idea is to switch off technology and relax, recuperate, recharge, and reconnect with one another and the world around us.   It’s tapping into the global wellness tourism market, which is projected to hit US$2.1 trillion by 2030 – growing at 12% per year.  Stuart told Mike Hosking that while it’s not cheap, there is value for money.  Some of the things included are dinner, breakfast, yoga classes, and wellness facilities, and he says it’s up to guests whether they want to embrace the wellness elements or embrace a bit of indulgence.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's launched an NZTA-backed freight action plan, which will link big airport projects with road and rail.  It'll look at national demand and set up a freight advisory council after calls from the industry to make exports more competitive, and imports more affordable.  Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking that although the plan focuses on roading, it needs to bring all modes of transport together.  She says there's only so much that can be achieved through airports investing in cargo, if the road connections aren't good enough.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ex-Māori party co-leader suspects problems within the current cohort as an influential former supporter cut ties.   Toitū Te Tiriti's Eru Kapa-Kingi's described the party's leadership as "effectively a dictatorship model".    The party's emailed members overnight, saying it remains committed to transparency, accountability, and unity.  Former co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell told Mike Hosking he's not close to the leadership but based on the last few weeks there could be issues.    Flavell's pointing to the fall out around Takuta Ferris and the removal of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi as whip.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes new welfare requirements for pig farming will streamline how things operate.  The changes include requirements for the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls, as well as requirements for space to grow pigs.  They won't come into force until the end of 2035, so farmers have time to prepare.  Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard told Mike Hosking] this gives the industry certainty in how to move forward.  He says they've been living in a bit of a limbo land for the last five-to-seven years, and it’s affecting confidence in the sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget the detail of the power reforms, because we dealt with them yesterday, let's deal to the politics of it and a habit the Government has that is hurting them.  There is a pattern.  The pattern is the Government tells us there is something wrong, it could be banks, it could be supermarkets, it could be power, or it could be airlines.   The last Government had the same issue – they took on petrol stations.  Their concern is partially real. It's real because 1, there might be bits and pieces of the sector that could do with some tightening or tidying and 2, there is almost always consumer concern.  The consumer angst is part of the problem, because the consumer will always see a problem whether there is one or not. That’s why lazy journalists do vox pops – is butter too expensive? The answer will always be yes. Doesn’t mean that’s a problem a government can solve.  So having stated the problem, you have then created the expectation that you will do something about it.  The trouble with yesterday's power deal was the obligatory report suggested more than what actually eventuated by the time the final decisions were made.  Hence the reputation, and the reputation is of a government that talks a lot, does a lot, but the “a lot” doesn’t amount to much.  Yesterday was your classic example: the Electricity Authority gets clearer riding instructions, big deal, the industry has the perception removed that the government don’t want to get into big projects, a phone call could have done that.  We are to import, in several years time, some LNG – great. Nothing wrong with any of it and it would have landed well if they hadn't given you the sense that Reform —capital letters— was on its way  Personally I never thought the industry was that broken. Labour and their oil and gas debacle hobbled us for several years while we wait for the windmills – bit of coal bridges the gap. Like butter, and indeed airlines, there is generally logic as to why things are the way they are.  The report fell flat not because what was in it made no sense or hurt an industry, but because it had an “is that it?” feel about it.  And it had that feel about it because the Government haven't worked out the balance between hype and reality.  Of their passion projects, where trouble sits, banks, airlines supermarkets, or power – name me the one that’s materially different because of what they did, not what they said.  Politically, that’s their failing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new cookbook and a celebration of the farming sector.  Kiwi Chef Nadia Lim has spent over five years designing her new cookbook, which she says is about paying tribute to the farmers, land, and sustainable food.  ‘Nadia’s Farm Kitchen’ is filled with seasonal recipes, as well as offering a glimpse into life on Royalburn Station with personal stories and anecdotes.  She joined Mike Hosking to discuss the book and for a bit of a trip down memory lane, telling him that looking back, their journey on the farm is quite different to what they originally expected.  “I would describe the whole journey, if I could sum it up, as starting from quite an idealistic place,” Lim told him.  “You know, oh, we’re going to be on this farm and we’re going to diversify and we’re going to have a full farm to plate model, to being chipped away, chipped away at slowly over the years, to definitely becoming a whole lot more realistic.”  “It’s really a game of you win some, you lose some.”   However, despite some mixed results, Lim says they love living on Royalburn Station.  “It might not be the best financial return, but I can tell you it is the best lifestyle return, and you can’t beat that.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2nd of October, the Government is teaming up with banks to try deliver more social housing – Minister Chris Bishop unpacks the scheme.   Pharmac’s new Chief Executive Natalie McMurtry speaks for the first time on how she plans to lead the entity.  Beloved Kiwi chef Nadia Lim has been working on her new cookbook for about 5-6 years and is on to talk about it and the value of the farm.  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.