The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The global plastic bag crisis may have a simple solution - a caterpiller. 

Scientists have discovered that the common waxworm is able to break through plastic bonds, which could have huge implications.

Cambridge University biochemistry researcher Paolo Bombelli joins Larry Williams to explain the research.

Australian comedian Nazeem Hussain says being a Muslim in his field can be the 'elephant in the room'.

Hussain told Larry Williams that there can be a lot of suspicion directed at Muslims in Australia, and that there can be friction between being Muslim and living in the West.

However, he says he's found ways to find humour in his identity, and says comedy can be a "good way to talk about things that might ordinarily depress us."

"As a comedian you need to be punching in all directions, so I definitely make fun of people's lack of understanding of my life and my beliefs." 

LISTEN ABOVE TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NAZEEM HUSSAIN

An American woman who forked out more than $1000 for an Uber from Auckland to Wellington, says it was worth every cent.

Lisa Kottke ordered the Uber after she and her husband landed in Auckland in the midst of Cyclone Debbie, and found their connecting flight to Wellington cancelled.

The dental software saleswoman told Larry Williams she had a meeting in Wellington she couldn't miss, and checked buses, trains and taxis, but with no luck.

Mrs Kottke said they then met the Uber driver, who drove for nine hours through the night to get them there.

"It was worth every penny. I didn't want to fly 20 hours to arrive and not make it to the one meeting that I needed to be at, and we were just blessed to have car pool there to take me to my meeting."

She said she was giddy she was able to make it, and that someone would go to great lengths to help them out.

LISTEN ABOVE AS LISA KOTKE SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

New statistics are painting a wider picture of who's immigrating to New Zealand, and how.

Skilled migrant arrivals have risen by around 24,000 people in the last 13 years.

A New Zealand Herald analysis shows work visas are mainly issued to migrants from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.

LISTEN HERE: Michael Reddell: Most NZ immigrants come from Asian countries

But Massey University professor of Sociology Paul Spoonley told Larry Williams the student visa category is topped by migrants from India, China, and the Philippines.

"We give them the opportunity to transition to permanent residence once they've completed their qualifications. So that's a more typical route for migrants arriving from Asia."

Spoonley said it will be a while before we see immigration slow as a result of the changes to the skilled migrant visa, and New Zealand's record levels of immigration are likely to keep growing for some time.

He said a similar rule-tightening by the Government last year hasn't had much effect on our growth.

"So the announcements last week by the Government will probably I think reduce, but not for the short-term. The numbers that are going to be announced today will see increases all round."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MASSEY UNIVERSITY'S PAUL SPOONLEY SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

One last dawn service for a fallen soldier.

Vietnam War veteran Francis Toko had always planned to be at this year's Anzac Day commemorations at Auckland's War Memorial Museum - but he died on Monday.

His family took his casket along and placed it in front of the Weeping Wall.

 

His son Manu Toko told Larry Williams his father had attended a dawn service nearly every year since he left the army.

"When he died the day before this dawn parade service, it was my resolve that we needed to take him to his last service."

Toko said his father was always so proud when attending Anzac Day services.

He said his father had to be at the dawn service, and had every right to be there.

LISTEN ABOVE AS MANU TOKO SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

In Australia, tight security at Anzac Day services is being noted.

Two years ago in Melbourne, arrests were made in connection with a planned attack on police officers during commemorations.

Australia correspondent Steve Price told Larry Williams that yesterday the country saw some of the lowest crowds in 20 years, at services in main centres.

"I was at the Melbourne march yesterday, and the security around the march itself was unbelievably strong, including a special operations group of officers armed with automatic weapons."

LISTEN ABOVE AS STEVE PRICE SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

Restrictions for those travelling to the United States from the UK and Europe could be about to get tougher.

President Donald Trump has already implemented additional security checks on flights from Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East.

US correspondent Richard Arnold told Larry Williams the US is now considering laptop bans on flights from the UK and Europe.

"The initial move was to ban anything larger than a smartphone," Arnold said. "It was said at the time that terrorists have been working on building bombs into various electronic devices."

LISTEN ABOVE AS RICHARD ARNOLD SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

The men behind a highly successful campaign to buy Awaroa beach are backing another bid to buy up Kiwi land.

Duane Major and Adam Gard'ner are supporting a Givealittle campaign to buy 112 hectares of native forest in Northland's Wekaweka Valley.

It follows their own crowdfunding campaign to raise $2.3 million to buy a beach in Abel Tasman National Park.

The price of saving the block of native forest near the world-famous Waipoua kauri forest is only $185,000. However, with less than two weeks to go before the crowdfunding campaign closes, the Native Forest Restoration Trust has only been pledged $18,620 to date, well below the target of $120,000.

The trust is urgently appealing for public help to seal the deal on what it calls an amazing opportunity to turn the last remaining fragment of internationally significant indigenous forest in the Wekaweka Valley into a fully protected reserve.

Mr Major told Larry Williams the area has unique features which need protecting. He said it's near Northland's kauri, and runs alongside a national park.

You can donate to the campaign here.

LISTEN ABOVE AS DUANE MAJOR SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

There's been a call to pick up the pace on regulating Netflix.

The Government says it's planning to introduce laws for video-on-demand some time this year.

It comes after the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why bypassed the censor's office, despite its graphic depictions of teenage suicide and rape.

But Chief Censor Dr Andrew Jack told Larry Williams the Government made a similar commitment in August last year, and this time it needs to follow through.

"People should be able to get information that helps them make informed choices about what they watch so that they can decide 'do I really want to watch this or would I rather watch something else?'"

Dr Jack said it's not right that 13 Reasons Why has been given an 'adult' classification by Netflix, as it's aimed at teenagers.

He said more descriptive warnings for on-demand shows would be useful, then parents can decide whether they should watch a show with their child.

LISTEN ABOVE AS DR ANDREW JACK SPEAKS WITH LARRY WILLIAMS

Those in northern parts of the country may be out of luck if they're hoping to spot the Southern Lights again.

Clear skies and geographical positioning have made southern areas like Otago and Southland the ideal spot to watch the aurora over the past few nights.

Astronomer Dr Grant Christie told Larry Williams while it was possible to spot it through a camera lens in Auckland over the weekend, weather will hamper efforts for northerners over the coming days.

"In order to see it you'd need to have cloudless conditions with no moon," he said. "We've got no moon at the moment, but we do have cloud."

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE