The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The former Covid Response Minister admits some pandemic decisions were mishandled.  The second phase of the Covid inquiry has found New Zealand’s overall response was effective, but the Government went too far with some restrictions and moved too slowly in some areas.  It's recommending new pandemic legislation before future outbreaks and stronger financial reporting.  Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking he recognises his mistakes, in hindsight.  He says he'd would've made decisions about the Auckland lockdown and the roll-out of RAT testing differently.  But he’s defending their Covid spending, saying the inquiry raises questions about what was included as ‘Covid spending’.   Hipkins told Hosking that the category was too broad, and could’ve been broken down.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister is highlighting the importance of the Covid-19 Inquiry.   The Royal Commission's second phase report's found overall, New Zealand responded well, but highlighted concerns including the length of Auckland's lockdown.   Health Minister Simeon Brown says it shows the previous Government extended the Auckland lockdown, in spite of official advice saying it was safe to lift.  He told Mike Hosking the report highlights that, as well as the Government’s overspending, causing many of the challenges New Zealand is facing today in terms of inflation and the economy.  Brown says this report was needed, as the previous administration didn’t want to the hard questions to be answered, and the reality is that the lockdowns and their economic impact were significant for New Zealanders.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people could be put off travel as surging jet fuel costs push up airfares.  Air New Zealand's increasing its domestic fares by $10, its short-haul fares by $20, and its long-haul fares by $90.  Air Chathams is raising its standard fare by $20.  Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking while it's a little early to say what will happen, it's likely demand will drop.  She says the increase in the price to travel, coupled with the challenge of travelling to certain places, could see people change their plans.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luxon - 1, media - 0.  After no small effort on the media's part to drum up a crisis on a bad poll, there's two important points and we can put this whole nonsense to bed.  1) Luxon doesn’t have a coup brewing. Despite all the detractors' best efforts, there is no one counting numbers. The nearest they have managed to get is Chris Bishop, who was more interested in being in India over the weekend than lining up a new job for the new week.  Also, we don’t vote for Prime Ministers. They are not presidents. We vote for parties and policies and results. If you like National you don’t not vote National because the leader isn't to your taste.  2) The revelation from the Curia poll, that on one hand they tried to tell you how unpopular Luxon was with a net negative rating of -19. It turns out Bishop is about as bad on -14. Erica Stanford is -16. Everyone is underwater.  Chuck in Winston, Seymour, and Hipkins, you'll see no one is in positive territory and that tells you a couple of things as well. We live in an era where likeability is irrelevant because we hate everyone.  Post-Covid we have never got over the funk, so as much as you want to bang on about Luxon not connecting, according to the numbers, no one connects.  It's all over the world. Trump is underwater, Starmer is underwater, Albanese is underwater and Macron is underwater.  Chris Minns who runs New South Wales is popular currently because of his handling of Bondi. Apart from that pick a politician because we hate them all.  In the likeability numbers, the likes of which we see in the TV1 poll, if Hipkins was 50% and Luxon was 20% then that's an issue. But they aren't. They both have been stuck at about 20% forever and all the others are below that.  That's why none of this matters. In the past the polls have shown an answer, a suitor, a name that drives a bit of fizz. We have no such names.  Now, you can debate the merits or otherwise of great leaders with great personalities, or lack of them. But we are where we are and none of the current lot will go down as Churchill's, to paraphrase Trump. And Churchill, by the way, for a lot of the time wasn’t popular either.  So let's see this nonsense for what it is: we are voting on the economy, not show-men. There is no coup, this is but one poll. Mountain versus molehill. A waste of time.  Let's all try and do a lot better. There is too much at stake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK and France are sending more defence assets to the Middle East as the conflict's death toll ticks over 1700.   Iran has appointed the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, signalling a defiance to the US and Israel.   Many of the deaths so far have occurred within Iran and Lebanon, with Israel ramping up its strikes.    French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will deploy 10 warships and an aircraft carrier to nearby waters as a defensive measure.  France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that Macron is saying what most other European leaders are saying – they are there to protect their interests, assets, and citizens.   She says they’re defending their assets and allies in the area, but they’re not getting involved in the wider conflict.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our best up and coming country music talents is being recognised across the ditch.  Zac Griffith is a self-taught musician from Tapawera, near Nelson, and his rise started at the Gold Guitar Awards, which he won in 2023 at the age of 18.   He joined Kaylee Bell on tour last year, and got a co-sign from Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson.   Griffith told Mike Hosking that Bell has been a big influence and cheerleader for him.  “She really has boosted my confidence, especially with taking me on that tour that she did last year,” he explained.   “It’s, you know, getting the praise from people that you look up to – people that are doing what you want to be doing.”  Griffith had won a handful of country music awards before taking home the Gold Guitar, but it was that award that reinforced his path in music.   “Winning that really was, was a testament to me, and was, yeah the thing that made me go, okay, I must be doing alright.”  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10th of March, we look at the share market and what will happen to prices at the pump after oil prices spiked.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses the potential for the Government to scrap the fuel tax next year, plus inflation pressures from the war.  And Kiwi country up-and-comer Zac Griffith performs his new single and details his self-taught rise in the country scene.  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 research suggests daily multivitamins could slow biological ageing.  A clinical trial in the US found slower changes in the DNA based epigenetic clocks of older adults who take multivitamins.   It suggests that simple nutritional interventions could potentially influence the body’s ageing process.  Professor at Massey University’s Centre for Public Health Research and Nutrition, Lisa Te Morenga told Mike Hosking it’s not a magic pill.  She says the effects so far are quite tiny, and there’s no evidence yet that multivitamins actually help you live longer, it's just changing things they believe are associated with living longer.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is actively monitoring the impact international fuel prices are having on the price we're being asked to pay at the pump.  Crude oil prices have topped US$100 a barrel for the first time in three years, and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents in the weekend.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that they’re conscious that the price at the pump impacts not only most New Zealanders, but also freight costs and other costs across the economy.  But she says they need to understand what the bigger picture looks like before they overreact, as any money they throw at the problem is money they will need to borrow.   “We need to be prudent about New Zealand’s fiscal position.”  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mussel farmers are warning that plans to discharge partially treated sewage into the ocean to deal with Christchurch's Bromley stink, could wipe out aqua culture. The City Council's planning to dump 30% of partially treated wastewater into the ocean to ease pressure on the poorly operating treatment plant.   Two thousand tonnes of green lipped mussels come from eight Aroma New Zealand farms in Banks Peninsula annually.   Company director Ben Winters told Mike Hosking chlorine and sewage don't need to go to sea.   He warns if plans go ahead, it could be a national disaster.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.