The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Finance Minister is confident she hasn't jumped the gun with her fuel relief package.  The Government's unveiled a temporary $50 weekly tax credit for about 143 thousand eligible lower-income families with children.  It will continue for a year, or until the price of 91 drops below $3 a litre for four weeks in a row.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking she has to prepare for a range of scenarios.  She says the conflict could be prolonged, and the supply chain disruption that's causing prices to rise could continue for some time.  Willis says she’s focusing on securing supply rather than providing support for businesses facing rising fuel prices.  When it comes to helping businesses, the Government is changing fuel rules so importers can bring in fuel refined to Australian standards.  She told Hosking it's essential the transport, manufacturing and agriculture sectors have enough fuel to keep going.  Willis says it would be wrong to artificially push down the price of diesel when —if the worst-case scenario plays out— we could be having to preserve our diesel supply.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the question is "what can the Government do to help you offset the war and its costs?", the answers will not only all be different, chances are no one is going to end up satisfied, or even grateful.  Yet that is the dilemma the Government currently faces, as indeed do all governments.  The moment something untoward happens our first port of call is a government.  Operation Epic Fury is not the Government's fault. It's not of their making; it's just life in an increasingly unsettled and unpredictable world.  Depending also on your political leaning depends on just what sort of role the government should have in your life.  It's made worse for our government because it's election year.  Their great fear will be:  1) This thing isn't over soon and,  2) The fallout will simply keep getting worse and worse.  Outside of petrol we actually haven't seen any impact because most have already forgotten this thing is only three weeks old and even though they said it could be six, we are over it.  But in some way, shape or form we will be short of something sooner or later.  The trick for the Government is when to pull the trigger and what sort of trigger it is.  Once you start, your first trap is the “out”. Getting in is always easier than getting out. Turning the tap on is easier than turning it off.  What is the 'end'? What's it look like? What has to happen? You rarely win on that.  Given we don’t know what happens next in a conflict we have no control over, what are the parameters of the help? How targeted can we be? How much should a government help, and who?  If it's petrol, why not food? Why not your mortgage? They are all directly related and will all potentially move because of the war.  The best scenario is of course that this thing gets wrapped up, it’s a blip and we can all get on with life.  But from the starting point of having less than no money, in a world where debt is getting more expensive and nothing you do will be enough, you wouldn’t wish that headache on your worst enemy, would you?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest names in food is undoubtably Phil Rosenthal.  The creator of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ has gone on to write cookbooks, children's books, and present food and travel documentaries, including eight seasons of ‘Somebody Feed Phil’.   He’s effortlessly entertaining, and has figured out a way to bring his passion to the stage, visiting New Zealand and Australia in a few months' time for a moderated conversation about his life, career, food, travel, and family.   'Somebody Feed Phil’ is incredibly popular, with Rosenthal's love and appreciation for the things he experiences keeping audiences coming back.   “There’s enough in the world to make you angry and scared and frustrated, but I’m here to tell everyone that most of the world is not that,” he told Mike Hosking.  “I sold the show with one line, this is the line: I’m exactly like Anthony Bourdain, if he was afraid of everything.”   Bourdain, an American celebrity chef, hosted a wide range of food and travel programmes throughout his career, exploring international culture, cuisine, and the human condition.  “I would watch Anthony Bourdain like everyone else and was a huge fan, and I thought, this guy’s a superhero, he’s amazing – I'm never doing that,” Rosenthal explained.  Unlike Bourdain, Rosenthal is not the type to travel to Borneo and get a traditional hand-tapped tattoo from the native Iban people, and he bet most of the audience is the same.  “So maybe there’s a show for people like me, who are sitting on the couch, and maybe just getting off that couch is taking a giant step out of their comfort zone.”   “I figured out a niche for myself.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major merger in the hotel sector.  Two local players, Capstone Hotel Management and Marsden Group, are set to merge from April 1st, creating the country’s largest independent hotel platform.  With around 45 properties and 2,500 rooms, the group is positioned to compete directly with big international hoteliers.   Marsden CEO Sajad Bassam has been appointed CEO of the combined group, and told Mike Hosking they had two big local businesses performing well independently, and when they saw the opportunity to create something more powerful, they took it.  He says with international brands expanding into New Zealand, they need the scale of the combined group in order to compete.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 24th of March, the Government intends to relax our fuel standards to align with Australia. What does that actually look like, and does it mean we’re bringing in “dirty fuel”?  NZ Cricket has decided to back the new T20 franchise league. Players Association CEO Heath Mills explains the benefits of the new system.   Phil Rosenthal from 'Somebody Feed Phil' is coming to NZ and joined for a chat while he was on his elliptical.  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.

A T20 cricketing revolution is officially underway in New Zealand.  The governing body is backing the proposed NZ20 privatised franchise league as a preferred option for the domestic game next season, which already has major association and players' association support.  NZC say the decision is in principle only.  Players Association CEO Heath Mills told Mike Hosking the level of interest in the competition and potential teams has been encouraging.  He says New Zealand is institutionalised to believe we’re too small or don’t have enough money for a league, but other, smaller economies such as the West Indies have had incredibly successful leagues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a tale of two cities, with Canterbury crowned the top regional economy and Wellington finishing last.   ASB's latest Regional Economic Scoreboard shows Canterbury outperformed in nearly every key measure, including employment, retail spending, housing activity, and population growth.  Otago and Waikato tied for second and Auckland climbed to fourth.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking it follows the theme they’ve seen over the past few years of export-focused regions being more resilient.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes aligning with Australian fuel standards could allow us to work together in an Anzac-type arrangement for fuel supply.  The Government's changing the standards aiming to make it easier for importers to source fuel.   Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says they're currently drawing the line at higher-sulphur fuels until officials know if it'll damage new European emissions-compliant engines here.  He told Mike Hosking Australasia is at the end of the railway track, so we should work together.  He says our Prime Ministers have been talking so we can act robustly together to secure supply if needed.  Jones told Hosking the Government's signed off on all the specifications which can be harmonised.  He says the specifications are down to different temperatures between our countries, with fuel designed for Queensland not as useful in Twizel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait's boss says the company's facing its toughest period in 20 years, but hopes a turnaround is near.  The Canterbury milk processor's posted a half year loss of $80.6 million.  Revenue rose $32 million to $949 million, while debt soared 88$ to $472 million.  Chief Executive Richard Wyeth told Mike Hosking the next six months are critical.  He says they've got the sale of a North Island asset coming up but need to catch up on a backlog for advanced nutrition, then they can focus forward.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A refined oil expert's dismissing the idea the Government's allowing 'dirty fuel' into the country to ease supply.  Our fuel specifications are changing so importers have the option to bring fuel refined to Australian standards.  It says the fuel's compatible with New Zealand vehicles and meets safety and quality expectations.  Australia's Macquarie University's Lurion De Mello told Mike Hosking they've used these fuel standards for the last ten years.  He says it won't have the environmental damage some people are thinking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.