The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The US Government is business as usual after the longest shutdown in US history – but only till January. US President Donald Trump's signed a bill to end the shutdown and fund the government, while providing back-pay to federal workers. It's caused a divide among Democrats, as it doesn't ensure access to Affordable Care subsidies. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the shutdown costs are estimated to be around NZ$24.6 billion per week, or as much as 1.5% of the GDP. He says the National Economic Council is estimating that 60,000 non-federal workers lost their jobs during the period. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's being urged to take urgent and decisive action on our banking sector.  Ministers have accepted most of the recommendations of a select committee inquiry into the industry, including directing the Reserve Bank to focus on more competition.  But banking expert Andrew Body says Nicola Willis needs to go further.  He told Mike Hosking the Minister should be seeking law changes and a harmonisation of Australian and New Zealand banking rules.  Body says the Minister should be ringing Treasury Secretary Ian Rennie, asking for a proposal for legislative change by 8am Monday.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Regulation Minister says a small number of groups have hijacked the public submission process. ACT's Regulatory Standards Bill has passed its third reading at Parliament. The policy, which provides principles for lawmaking, received 156-thousand public submissions – 98% of those opposed. David Seymour told Mike Hosking there have been more select committee submissions in the past two years than in the history of Parliament. He says organisations like Greenpeace spread mistruths and automate submissions for people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In America at the moment there is a lot of talk about the “K” shaped economy.  Car dealers see it. If you have a good, safe job, good income and you're in the markets invested in AI (before it all pops) you are feeling good.  You are the upward bit of the “K”. You're buying a flash new car with carbon add-ons.  If you've been laid off, or about to be by a robot, you hate AI because you never earned enough to buy stock anyway and your SNAP payment hasn’t come through because of the shutdown and you're holding onto your car, not to mention sweating on making ends meet, you are the downward bit of the “K”.  It looks like we have a similar story here. Recruiters Robert Walters are already warning of the increased cost of labour in the recovery because people with the skills that are going to be in demand can charge more.  Why?  Because we are short of them. Why? Because the others are in Australia.  In ideal times, as an economy recovers you hoover up those who have lost their jobs when times were tight.  This time anyone who was marketable left and what we have, sadly, are a group of people who it would appear are not available to take part as growth returns.  Yes, there are plenty of unemployed – 5.3% as of last week. Not to mention a growing number of so-called "underutilised". But as far as skills go, that’s where we have an issue.  Not everywhere or everyone of course. But it's becoming increasingly obvious that there are too many under-skilled, under-qualified people in this country.  That is sadly what eventuates when you have system that spits kids out at 15, 16, or 17-year-old without a pathway to success.  When times are good any number of people get swept up for bits and pieces-type jobs that lots of employers can afford to fork out on.  But they are also the first to go. And when the rest of the talent bails, the ones without the skills aren't the ones to fill the growth areas, hence we will once again rely on imported labour, which this time around may or may not be available depending on whether they see us as a cool place to be.  If they don’t, that weighs on recovery and the speed at which we pick up.  Robert Walters seem to suggest it's an issue.  For those who stayed and have the skills though, you will be in a new car before you know it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th of November, Public Services Commissioner Sir Brian Roche speaks on McSkimming, Coster, and what’s next for the investigation.  Health Minister Simeon Brown discusses the rollout of 12-month prescriptions, private cancer patients gaining access to publicly funded medication, and the cutting of red tape around medical conferences.   Acclaimed author John Grisham is back on the show for a chat about his latest book 'The Widow'.  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.

John Grisham is back, but with a bit of a twist.  His legal thrillers made him a bestselling author but his latest novel is a bit of a departure, a whodunnit murder mystery titled ‘The Widow’.   Grisham writes his novels in a slightly unorthodox manner, starting with the end and looping back around.  “I learned the hard way years ago,” he told Mike Hosking.  “I wasn’t sure how to end the book, and so you keep writing, and you can’t get to the end, and you boxed yourself in a corner.”   “I’m not gonna waste time like that, I’m gonna know the ending when I start, and if you know the ending, it’s hard to get lost.”   Despite starting with the ending, the conclusion to ‘The Window’ is not the one he initially wrote, as his wife wasn’t a fan.   “It was risky,” Grisham explained.  “This one just didn’t work, and my wife said, hey buddy, this is not gonna work."  “I sent it to my publisher and to my editor in New York, and they agreed and when all three of them lined up against me, I can't, I can't argue.”  So he changed the ending, writing 25,000 more words in the month of January in order to get the novel finished on time.  “I think it’s important to listen to people you trust,” he said.   “You’ve gotta have a reader you trust, somebody who loves you and wants to see you succeed, but will be brutally honest with you.”  Grisham has written over 50 books in his career, all bestsellers, and he says the secret is writing what he likes.  “I write for myself, because I know what has worked,” he explained.  “I know the stories I want to tell, and so far, those are the stories people want to read.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new festival is launching for the wine industry.  Titled ‘Sauvignon 2027’, it will celebrate the innovation and diversity of New Zealand’s most iconic wine.   It'll be welcoming global industry leaders and trade influencers to Marlborough in February.  Chair Natalie Christensen told Mike Hosking that although Sauvignon Blanc is a popular wine around the world, there’s still lots to talk about and they want to get that word spread far and wide.  She says there’s a lot more depth to Sauv that a lot of people don’t know about, things like the subregional stories and different characters you get from different parts of New Zealand, and they want to share that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A million dollar compensation deal with Watercare is only short-term relief for Auckland oyster farmers, who've lost income from a massive sewage spill in the Mahurangi River.  The issue caused by a power surge at the Warkworth pump station has meant an almost month-long halt on harvesting.  Watercare's now paid out one million dollars to Aquaculture New Zealand for distribution to 10 impacted oyster farmers.  Matakana Oysters owner Tom Walters told Mike Hosking they’re feeling relieved, but it’s only a start.  He says this cheque is just for the event that happened two weeks ago, and the payout would need to be much larger to fix the damage caused by the spillages that happened throughout the year due to outdated infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More convenience and savings are being offered for those on long-term treatments.  From February, people will be able to receive 12-month prescriptions.  Patients will still collect their repeats from the pharmacy but will no longer need to return to their doctor each time for a new script.  Health Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking this could save patients up to $105 per year in reduced GP fees.  He says it will also free up appointment space.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Port of Auckland's pushing back against criticism of its move to raise fees.  The port's increasing peak time fees from $130 per container to $180 next year, and $350 the following year.  Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says it's one of several cost pressures facing businesses, alongside rising fuel excise taxes and soon-to-be-introduced congestion charges.  Port boss Roger Gray told Mike Hosking the fees are fair and Kalasih should come visit the port to understand why.  He says he's never met Kalasih, who's never accepted invitations to visit to the port.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.