The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Today on Politics Wednesday, Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell delve into the biggest political stories of the week so far.  They discussed the proceedings at Waitangi, the joint press conference between Labour and the Green Party, and the resignation of Labour MP Peeni Henare.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More good news on the tourism front.  Auckland Airport has reinstated its partnership with Thai Airways, bringing back non-stop flights between Auckland and Bangkok.   The route reconnects New Zealand with one of Asia’s major aviation hubs, and is expected to bring in around $250 million a year in visitor spending.  Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer Scott Tasker told Mike Hosking not only will it make it easier for Kiwis to visit Thailand, the flights also make New Zealand a much more attractive destination for Thai tourists.   Also, he says, Thai Airways has a network of 56 international destinations from Bangkok, so this route will help bring in more high spenders from places like the UK, Germany and India.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A chance to open next year's Rugby World Cup with a blockbuster Wallabies-All Blacks clash has been passed by.  Organisers have opted to kick-off the tournament with Australia taking on Hong Kong on October 1, with the All Blacks facing Chile the following day.  The move is being labelled as a play to keep interest levels “alive”.   International Rugby Players’ Association CEO Omar Hassanein told Mike Hosking getting a mostly guaranteed win in the first match is important, and while one would like to hope Australia could beat the All Blacks, form over the last decades indicates they may struggle.   He says the opening match in Peth is likely to sell out regardless of opposition, so it was a tactical ploy to ensure Australia stays in the tournament and momentum continues.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wine industry is trying to stay positive.   It's facing an oversupply of sorts after around 100 thousand tonnes of grapes —about a fifth of the crop— were left on the vine last year.  Some growers put it down to people changing their drinking habits globally, others blame the pandemic, tax increases, and US tariffs.   New Zealand Winegrowers Chief Executive Philip Gregan told Mike Hosking there are issues, but they will keep making quality products.  He says long term, the industry is confident it's producing the types of wines people want to drink.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are divided on whether unemployment is finally starting to fall.  Stats NZ is releasing its latest employment update at 10.45.  Economic conditions are improving, but that's also prompting more people to re-join the labour market.  Most bank economists expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged from three months ago at an historically high 5.3%, but ASB economists think it will fall slightly to 5.2% – the first fall in unemployment in four years.  Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking that hiring is starting to pick up after being on the backburner for so long.   He says the economy has some underlying momentum, and after waiting on the sidelines last year, firms are going to convert those intentions into actions.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it's modernising the drivers licensing system, with the key change being the end to full license practical tests.    After passing the restricted license test, drivers under the age of 25 will have to wait out a mandatory 12-month period as a restricted driver before they can apply for a full licence.   Those aged over 25 will have to wait six months.   Transport Minister Chris Bishop says it'll save time and money.   He told Mike Hosking most countries don’t make drivers do a second practical test, so they’re bringing New Zealand in line with that.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building townhouses and apartments is becoming increasingly popular, with Auckland leading the charge.   More than 36-thousand building consents for new homes were issued nationwide in the year to December, up 9%, with multi-unit homes making up the majority of those.   Master Builders Chief Executive Ankit Sharma told Mike Hosking this is likely to continue in the long term due to infrastructure constraints and population growth in big cities like Auckland.  He says it's better to build before demand comes or else there will be shortages.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A small tip on news coverage.  The media can go some small way to redeeming its reputation by asking more questions.  One of the current obsessions is the closure of hospitality outlets.  A café only needs to announce their closing, and the media can't swoop fast enough with a doom and gloom headline.  To be fair, The Hospitality Association doesn’t help. They roll out no shortage of misery stories.  Ruby in Auckland got headlines the other day after they announced they were leaving downtown Auckland. Now, Ruby isn't hospitality, but the same fetish for bad headlines applies.  Get into the detail and, yes, the Auckland vibe isn't what it might once have been, but the real reason they were leaving is the space didn’t suit them anymore. They were off elsewhere and days later their original space was snapped up by a business that was keen to expand.  Fast forward to this week and it’s the Rice Bowl Burger Bar in Wellington.  Cue the Stuff headline: "Another Wellington hospo business announces closure".  Here is what I know: every story has a story. It is not always the economy. In fact, often it isn't the economy. In some cases, it's wrong place i.e. they took the car parks away, or sometimes it's bad luck i.e. they built the CRL around you and didn’t compensate you.  Sometimes it's because you aren't very good at your job i.e. your food is crap and there are better places down the road.  Sometimes it's about migration. Hospo is an easy way to buy work for you and the family, but that doesn't mean you're any good or understand the culture. But it is a ticket to work and a visa.  The evidence, for those who want to look at it, shows hospo for those who work hard, offer good food and good service, does well. The country, sadly, is over hospo-ed.  And irony of ironies, despite the closure and woe and misery headlines, we actually have more hospo outlets than we ever have.  One closes, but at least another one, if not more, open. But they don’t write about the start-ups.  Because that would be just a bit too upbeat, wouldn't it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 3rd of February, Education Minister Erica Stanford unpacks the new reporting system for junior education.  Meta VP and Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis is in the country and discusses what they're doing to protect kids online and her thoughts on the social media bans gaining traction around the world.  9News Finance Editor Chris Kohler puts both our and Australia’s financial concerns in humorous light and discusses his book ‘How They Get You’.  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.

Fresh allegations have emerged linking former UK-US Ambassador Lord Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein.  Newly released files suggest Mandelson shared internal government information with the convicted sex offender.  The revelations follow the release of photographs showing Mandelson in his underwear.  Mandelson was sacked as the ambassador last year and is now stepping down from the UK Labour Party entirely.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking the Labour Party’s leadership is tainted, as Sir Keir Starmer made him the Ambassador having known he had connections with Epstein.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.