The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Health Minister's unveiled an overhaul of the health system.  It will see workforce, budget, service delivery, and recruitment decisions made at the local level from July.  Simeon Brown says it's a significant change but isn't a return to the old district health board system.   He told Mike Hosking the Government's also committing $25 million towards a new winter health plan.  Brown says New Zealand has a growing and aging population, so the investment is needed to ensure the country is prepared for winter.  The plan will deliver hundreds of extra staff, 71 extra hospital beds, and up to 567 short-stay aged-care beds over the peak winter period.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New alcohol legislation could go further.   The Bill put to Parliament yesterday includes a raft of changes to bar licences, aiming to cut red tape and bureaucracy.   But Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director Virginia Nicholls told Mike Hosking changes should also limit the number of district licensing committees.   With 67 committees currently around the country, she says it's hard to create consistency.   She says it's a reflection of out-of-date rules, that doesn't acknowledge a difference between a good and bad license holder.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra's preparing to recruit a new boss after the resignation of current CEO Miles Hurrell.  Hurrell's given six months' notice to allow for a smooth transition.  The board and management regularly discuss succession plans and they'll be running a robust process to appoint a new CEO.  Co-Operative Council Chair John Stevenson told Mike Hosking it's unclear if Hurrell's replacement will come from inside or outside the organisation, but farmers have high expectations.  He says Hurrell has built a strong team around them, but they'll be plenty of interest from outside Fonterra as well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An electric vehicle provider saw an uptake in electric and hybrid car sales over the weekend as fuel prices continue to soar.  BYD General Manager Warren Wilmot told Mike Hosking the number of fully electric and hybrid BYD cars bought on Saturday quadrupled their usual sale.  “We sold 80 on Saturday as opposed to the usual 20 to 25 we sell on a Saturday.  “Our Australian friends did even better they sold 902.”  Wilmot told Hosking a lot of people had already done their research and were sitting on the fence about whether to buy one, and that they “took the opportunity now.”  “Higher fuel prices aren’t great for anyone; you know the cost will go up for us too for shipment and other things.”    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has emphasised there’s a range of scenarios for inflation amidst the global oil crisis – not just the worst-case scenario of 3.7% outlined yesterday.  “We don't know what's going to happen with factors that are outside of our control,” she told Mike Hosking.  “We don't know how long the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed. We don't know whether Asian refineries will be able to access alternative supplies of oil in sufficient quantities, and we don't know whether importers will be able to access alternative supplies of refined products. So we're preparing for all of those scenarios.”  The Government remained "hopeful" there was enough cover, refineries could keep producing enough fuel and importers could bring in the quantities New Zealand needed.  Treasury would be the first to acknowledge their forecasts were “guessing games”, but "we have to plan for what could be around the corner so that if bad things happen, we're ready".  Hosking pointed out other countries were taking action to relieve mounting costs, including heating oil relief in the UK overnight.  But Willis said the UK and Europe’s energy and electricity prices were much more affected by events in the Middle East than New Zealand, which relies largely on hydro and renewables.  Our Government is closely monitoring the international response to the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.  Donald Trump is calling on several allies to send warships and other support to secure the strait.  Japan and Australia say they currently have no plans to send naval ships and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer say neither will Britain be drawn into a wider war.  But Willis told Mike Hosking there will be much to play out in the days ahead.  She says they do want to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened, and it will be up to all countries to decide whether and what role they plan.  "We haven’t been asked to participate in any particular efforts in the Strait.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia Correspondent Steve Price joined Mike Hosking to talk about the latest news out of Australia.  One Nation have reached 24% in the latest poll, just five points away from Labour.  Price said, "if you'd told me a year ago that they were gonna be sitting right now with a primary vote of 24%, I would've said you're crazy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold joined Mike Hosking to chat the latest in US news including the US attack of Kharg Island and the increased security measures at today's Oscars. "They have police dogs and SWAT teams, anti-drone technology, even sharpshooters on patrol," he said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of March, we enter week three of the war and get the analysis from on oil and fuel prices. The Prime Minister calls in from Samoa to confirm he didn't ask for a title and tells us what we're getting out of the trip. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk Liam Lawson's brilliant weekend, the Warriors brilliant weekend and the Crusaders not so brilliant weekend re the media ban. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oscars arrive at noon (NZT) today with One Battle After Another as the front runner for Best Picture, with a chance of 76.3%, but Sinners is being eyed for a possible underdog win.  Jessie Buckley is the favourite for Best Actress after already taking home the Critics Choice, SAG, and Golden Globe for her role in Hamnet. Variety's Chief Film Critic Peter Debruge joined Mike Hosking to chat his expectations for the event.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking for their weekly catch up to chat fuel security, his visit to the Pacific, and Trump's calls for aid in the Strait of Hormuz.  Luxon told Hosking he is 'confident' in New Zealand's fuel imports as most of our supply comes from South Korea and Singapore.  "We've got very good cover and stocks," he said.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.