The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A Kiwi business group that operates in the United States thinks New Zealand's relationship with the US will stay strong, during Donald Trump's presidency.

Prime Minister Bill English got a 15-minute call yesterday from the US President, where they discussed trade, the economy, terror and golfing great Bob Charles.

There was even a casual invite to the White House.

NZ US Council chair Leon Grice told Mike Hosking the New Zealand relationship with the US is right across the board, across the American political community.

"There's a lot of support for New Zealand and I don't see that in any way in question."

Grice said there's currently a huge amount of relationship building going on with the Trump Administration in Washington D.C., to ensure "the New Zealand voice is heard" and our interests are pushed as much as possible.

LISTEN ABOVE AS LEON GRICE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Mike Hosking says Labour's recruitment of Willie Jackson would have been a big win, were it not for Labour MP Poto Williams criticising it publicly. 

"This is fundamentally where the Labour Party undo themselves - infighting" says Hosking.

Bill English says it was worthwhile to chat to Donald Trump on the phone because the US has a huge influence and it's important to maintain a good relationship.

The Prime Minister got a 15-minute call yesterday from the US President, where they discussed trade, the economy, terror and golfing great Bob Charles. There was even a casual invitation to the White House.

English told Mike Hosking it wasn't a negotiation about anything in particular, but was "an opportunity to set some common ground".

"It was just re-setting the relationship - he's the new President, I'm the new Prime Minister - we haven't met, we haven't discussed anything before, so it good to be able to do that," he said.

English said Donald Trump seemed open to a range of discussions that concern both countries and was quite personable about it.

SEE ALSO: 'Remarkable' NZ one of only 15 countries Trump has called

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the way Waitangi Day went yesterday is a blueprint for moving forward.

English marked the day in Auckland after being denied speaking rights at Te Tii Marae at Waitangi. He said he met hundreds of people, who were all positive.

He said they want to celebrate New Zealand's achievements and what's great about our country.

"In the past as we all know it's been distracted a lot by the goings-on of one marae in one place in New Zealand," English said.

LISTEN ABOVE AS PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOUT HIS CALL WITH DONALD TRUMP AND WAITANGI DAY

Musical legend Don Henley chatted to Mike Hosking ahead of his tour of New Zealand.

The former member of The Eagles speaks about the sort of music his 15 piece band will be playing, saying they have such a huge amount of material to work with they can be spontaneous on the night.

Listen to the full interview above

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD (highlights from Friday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) ...Assuming Labour Can Get its Act Together/Mark the Week/Not-So-Virgin/Sharing Streaking Experiences/Price of the Jungle

The new Police Minister says National hasn't just plucked a number out of the air when it comes to extra police numbers.

That's what Paula Bennett says other parties have done.

The party is promising 880 more sworn police officers if it gets back into government, including 500 on the beat.

Labour's pledging 1000 more cops if it gets voted in.

Paula Bennett told Mike Hosking National has looked at prevention, rural policing and the eagle helicopter.

"This investment is where it's needed and it's not just a political pick a number thing, it's really the kind of depth that's needed."

Bennett said there'll be a reduction in crime when the policy's enacted, mainly because police will have more prevention resources.

Crime rates have increased since 2014 but Bennett says the party has put a big investment in over the last eight years.

"Six hundred new police and then another 354 equivalent in police time because of the investment we've made in mobile technology. Yeah it was time but I think the timing was about right."

She told Mike Hosking they'll also be able to respond quicker and there'll be clear targets.

"Reoffending is a big part for us in that part of the package as well. You will see more burglaries attended quicker and resolved."

National is promising police will attend every burglary within 48 hours.

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD (highlights from Thursday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Nothing to See Here. Move On/Ex-Eagle Living in Hostile Territory/That;s Not Italian/Acquired Tastes/Depp Expenses

'A beat up' - that's the reaction of an immigration consultant on the granting of New Zealand citizenship to billionaire Peter Thiel.

Manager at Chalkhills Immigration Consultants Howard Levarko told Mike Hosking he has come across a few special cases like this before.

"I just think the timing is all Trump related - what a shame we have to denigrate the person," he said.

"He got granted a special grant, his interests are huge as is his entrepreneurship and investment in New Zealand."

LISTEN ABOVE AS HOWARD LEVARKO SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD (highlights from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Where Racism is Popular/Shut Up, Obama/Getting Hairy/Oprah Misses the Issues/Where's Steve?

Scientist Alan Mackay-Sim, named Australian of the Year, joins Mike Hosking to discuss his medical research.

His research on how stem cells could help repair damaged spinal cords was critical in allowing a quadriplegic patient walk again.

He said people are coming up to him on the street and saying they are glad a scientist won it.

"It gives me a chance to talk about science in general, and our kind of science, and funding of science in these hard economic times."