Letting fees are being banned in a move referred to by landlords as another slap in the face.

The Government says letting fees will be gone before next year in order to protect tenants during the peak summer season. 

But Property Investors Federation executive director Andrew King told Mike Hosking these new laws are hurting rental property owners at a time that we need them most.

"It's taking away a lot of the property rights, it's taking away the incentive to actually provide rental property at a time when we need more rental properties."

He said there is currently a 'real shortage' in rental properties.

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW KING SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Brett Kavanaugh looks set to become the newest addition to America's Supreme Court.

The FBI has completed its confidential report into allegations the President's nominee sexually abused women three decades ago. 

It has found no hint of misconduct. 

US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it paves the way for a Senate committee to approve Kavanaugh's nomination.

"The committee will vote tomorrow before Senate, on Sunday New Zealand time. So they are trying to push this through as they have been all along."

He said the FBI report will not be made available to the public.

Arnold said the report clears the way for undecided senators to vote Kavanaugh through.

"Some of the key undecided senators whose votes will decide this thing, signal they are moving to favour Kavanaugh."

LISTEN ABOVE AS RICHARD ARNOLD SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Flexo’s Mark Stolten shares his final thoughts on Supersize SME it comes to an end.

As the newest business in the Supersize SME program this year, Flexo's challenges were around international distribution, channel-to-market strategy and finding investment.

Mark Stolten spoke to Mike Hosking about how Supersize SME helped them.

LISTEN ABOVE AS MARK STOLETN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Calls for children to learn at school how to argue and be more empathetic.

Woolf Fisher Research Centre director Stuart McNaughton says it would help kids learn to think about other people's positions.

The call comes in the age of increasing digital classrooms.

Professor McNaughton told Mike Hosking he's concerned the concept hasn't been put in the foreground at schools, when it's something people need to be good at.

"They don't have to be separate from these things, you know, maths and science, you think about having a really good argument about fracking or drilling for oil or sustainability."

LISTEN ABOVE AS STUART MCNAUGHTON SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Damning findings have been released after a review into New Zealand Football, upholding complaints made by members of the Football Ferns about the organisation's conduct and culture.

The report found now former coach Andreas Heraf offended, humiliated or intimidated players and had breached human resources policies on harassment as well as bullying.

The report also found that 12 current players would have walked away from the squad if Heraf remained as coach.

Former Football Fern Christie Hill told Mike Hosking it is good the recommendations have been made public.

"There is a sense of relief amongst the players, and they can now move forward and put this behind them."

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHRISTIE HILL SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

The possible axing of Tui's catch-a-million competition is being seen as an example of fun being removed from sport through law.

The promotion is under threat following concerns about the danger it poses to spectators not taking part.

Lane Neave managing partner Andrew Shaw told Mike Hosking sports organisers are responsible for risks unanticipated by the public.

"Risks include people diving in unusual areas or deflecting a ball into someone else. If organisers can do the competition in a safe way with an element of risk, then why take it away."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW SHAW SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Could gene editing ease the burden on the country's biosecurity services?

Royal Society research suggests the technology could remove allergens from milk and make plants disease resistant.

But Otago University genetics expert Peter Dearden told Mike Hosking before using it to combat biosecurity concerns, more research needs to be done.

"At the moment, there are other ways we can better respond and detect pests coming into the country."

LISTEN ABOVE AS PETER DEARDEN SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Graham Norton says his new book was a huge leap out of his comfort zone but well worth the risks.

The king of the British talk show's latest book A Keeper looks at the dark side of human nature, covering topics such as loneliness and death.

Speaking with the Mike Hosking Breakfast, Norton said writing his latest book was far more rewarding than writing his autobiography.

"It is something I didn't know I could do, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do but  ultimately, it is more rewarding."

"An autobiography is interesting because it's how you're going to tell the story. You think 'oh I've captured that quite well' or 'that's a funny part of that story', But you know all the stories, there are no surprises."

"When you go to fiction, you plan it out as much as you can and you plot it and you do all of that, but there are still days when you're like, 'I can't believe what's going to happen in about two pages' and then you're just typing away furiously to get there." 

He said his workflow is a wild scramble of inspiration.

"I really enjoyed the process. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would."

"If I see in my diary I've got a day, I will go, 'that's a book day' and I will block it out for the book."

While writer's block may hinder some, Norton says he doesn't have 'the luxury' of experiencing it.

"What you see in that book is what I wrote because you have just got to seize the time you have." 

He said writing the book was extremely nerve-racking but he just thought of the 'worst case scenario'.

"I write a book and the world goes 'oh my god that is terrible, that's the worst book ever written' and I'm embarrassed."

"So it would be humiliating but it wouldn't be career ending. So you think am I willing to take that risk? And I am." 

This book was a more 'confident' and 'out there' book for the talk show star, who said it was all about 'taking risks'.

Originally from Ireland, Graham Norton said he likes writing books about rural Ireland because it's the world he grew up in and one he 'knows very well'.

LISTEN ABOVE AS GRAHAM NORTON SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

The battle lines are being drawn over the future of steel company Steel and Tube.

Construction giant Fletcher Building has made a $282 million takeover bid for the steel maker and distributor.

But it could take some time to get approval, because of Fletchers existing size and dominance.

JMI Wealth director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking Steel and Tube directors are also reluctant to accept it.

"The Steel and Tube directors of the board think it undervalues the company, they have knocked it back but Fletchers say they have the support of some key shareholders."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW KELLEHER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

There is belief most of Theresa May's party will support her over Brexit.

The UK Prime Minister is pleading for some cohesion over her plan to leave the European Union.

At the Conservative Party annual conference in Birmingham, she's asked all party members - whichever side of the question they stand on - to pull together.

UK correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking Theresa May has most of her Cabinet and Conservative Party behind her.

He says time is on her side.

Liddle says it's no use Boris Johnson screaming blue murder about how the UK would be better off with a no deal Brexit, telling the EU to get lost.

He says it's too late.

LISTEN ABOVE AS ROD LIDDLE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING