The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Kiwi company OpenStar Technologies has taken a serious step forward in the global race towards nuclear fusion.  Backed by $35 million in government funding, they’ve successfully levitated a half tonne superconducting magnet, confining a cloud of ultra-hot plasma.   It’s a key milestone in recreating the same process that powers the sun – ultimately producing carbon-free energy.  CEO Dr Ratu Mataira told Mike Hosking now they’ve proven the engineering can be done, it’s time to push for performance and see just how hot they can get the plasma.  He believes they’ll definitely be able to reach nuclear fusion within his lifetime.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to discuss the biggest stories of the week so far.  They discussed the details Labour’s seeking from the India Free Trade Agreement, the National Infrastructure Plan and the possibility of tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and the latest political polls.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 18th of February, the first National Infrastructure Plan has been unveiled, and it’s a sobering read. Minister Chris Bishop joined to unpack the report.   Netball NZ's chair Matt Whineray is resigning from the board, along with three other members, in an end to a tumultuous time at the organisation.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell debate the India FTA, tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and the latest polls on Politics Wednesday.  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.

The new Reserve Bank Governor will deliver her first Monetary Policy Statement today.  The central bank's expected to keep the OCR unchanged at 2.25%.  It's likely to show when inflation should start easing, and when the economy should recover from last year's downturn.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking today’s announcement will likely see them swap out the mild easing bias the bank had in November and replace it with a mild tightening bias.   He says they believe the Reserve Bank will probably want to signal a hike by around December this year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Infrastructure Minister believes a toll is a fair way of paying for a new Auckland harbour crossing.   The Infrastructure Commission’s 30-year plan makes 10 recommendations for what should be prioritised over the next decade, with hospital investment topping the list.   The plan suggests the extra crossing in Auckland, tunnel or bridge, gets a $9 toll, but the Government is still weighing up whether the existing bridge should also be tolled.  Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking ultimately, roads have to be paid for.  He says the second harbour crossing will be the biggest infrastructure project ever built in New Zealand, and they think it will wind up being tolled as it’s a fair way of paying for the project.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outgoing Netball New Zealand chair Matt Whineray regrets the way they communicated with the public during the drawn out Silver Ferns coaching saga.  Whineray is ending his eight-year tenure alongside three others at board level.  The governing body came under scrutiny last year for their handling of the standing down, and eventual re-instatement, of Dame Noeline Taurua.  Whineray told Mike Hosking they had the right intentions.  He says they were trying to balance the obligations they have with the need to keep people informed, but they know their communication could be better.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland and Northland are being deemed New Zealand's most vulnerable regions when it comes to infrastructure.  The infrastructure Commission has laid out a 30 year plan, with 17 recommendations for how to strengthen our delivery model.   Downer Managing Director Murray Robertson believes Auckland and Northland are exposed due to lack of electricity which other infrastructure sectors rely on.  He told Mike Hosking power largely comes from hydro in the south, to it's important to try get that reticulation closer to those key networks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sharp rise in food inflation could unfortunately be out of our control.  Latest Stats NZ data reveals the rate's risen to 4.6% – well up on 4% a month ago.  Fruit and vegetable prices have jumped 6.3% in the last year, and meat, poultry, and fish rose by 8.9%.  Grocery Action Group Chair Sue Chetwin told Mike Hosking there's been a lot of uncontrollable factors impacting prices, like recent storm damage affecting crops.  She says fresh fruit and vegetables should be at their cheapest at this time of year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My summation of what we have heard so far in the Judge Aitken case. The “Did I yell at and interrupt and disrupt Winston?" case.  Aitken was on the stand, so to speak, yesterday, remembering none of this is criminal.  In fact, I would describe it as outrageously political.  Judge Aitken shouldn’t be here. No one should. It’s a storm in a judicial teacup.  Should she have had a pop at Winston at the Northern Club? Of course not.  The incident, much disputed in terms of angst, animosity, and volume, shows the judge in a poor light.  It was none of her business and you don't go around running commentary on other people's evenings.  Then again you don’t go dobbing interlopers in to the Attorney General, which is what has happened, and next thing you know you have a legal circus where a person's career is potentially about to be blown up.  Also disturbing for me as the casual observer, is the Chief District Court Judge's role in the apology by Judge Aitken. He involved two media advisors and amended Aitken's wording so it wouldn’t offend New Zealand First.  At all times the Chief Judge seemed to be obsessed with not offending political parties. His overt weakness worries me, not to mention Judge Aitken's inability to have her voice heard. She's not 13-years-old, she's a judge.  My sense of where we are at is we will never get to know the full story because the versions vary. Therefore, the panel doing the deciding won't come to a definitive conclusion, therefore whatever they put before Paul Goldsmith will go nowhere.  So maybe what we are seeing currently is the actual punishment. In other words, a judge, her reputation, her drinking habits, her words all being dissected, is the punishment. It is the humiliation.  Overall the insight in the legal fraternity, not forgetting the good judge's celebratory doctor partner and the KC on video, does not come off reputationally well.  If you wanted to think of them broadly as a bunch of champagne-swilling, self-serving snobs, they haven't done a lot to dissuade us.  But then New Zealand First look like a petty, point score-y, loser group of narks, who don’t mind wrecking peoples lives.  The hearing continues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis love their cooking shows.  Once you get past ‘The Chase’, the likes of MasterChef Australia is consistently within the top watched shows, both on TV and online.   Recognisable from her four seasons on MasterChef Australia, Melissa Leong has moved on to host Dessert Masters, and is now fronting a new Kiwi cooking show.  She’s partnered up with Aimsfield Head Chef Vaughan Mabee for ‘Taste of Art’, a show that pits ten Kiwi chefs against one another, aiming to create visually stunning food.   Leong told Mike Hosking the reason food and cooking related shows tend to do well is because of the element of human connection.  “You know, the stories that food allow us to tell about culture, about time and place and connection, all of these things are just so very enduringly human,” she said.   "We are always going to find that compelling.”   She says there’s something there for everyone, whether it’s a show like MasterChef that heroes the humble, homegrown cooks and recipes, or something like ‘Taste of Art’, which showcases imagination and incredible possibilities.   “There’s something in it for everyone ... being able to share a little bit, a little part of who they are in the form of food.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.