The Government has rejected National's idea to create a cross-party group to deal with mental health, at least until a major inquiry reports back.

National's spokesman for mental health, Matt Doocey called for cross-party collaboration in July for what he called "one of the biggest challenges of our generation".

Health Minister David Clark says National had the chance to do something about mental health when it was in power but chose to ignore it.

He told Mike Hosking it's why New Zealanders called for the inquiry into mental health.

"It will have challenging findings and I think political parties will show their colours in how they respond to the inquiry."

He says they just want to get on with responding to the inquiry.

"It was set up in our first 100 days in government, it has got real momentum behind it and I think the public doesn't want another talk fest amongst politicians."

"They are going to want to see a real and meaningful response to the inquiry."

Clark says before the last election people were calling for an inquiry but National didn't do anything.

"The then government National said,'look we won't have a bar of it'. They do seem to be shifting their position and saying, 'look we think there's time to talk', but I guess actions speak louder than words."

He says regardless it won't be an easy fix because "it will be different for different people and there are different models across the country".

Labour Minister Stuart Nash and National MP Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to debate the big issues in New Zealand politics.

Topics discussed include the mood of the boardroom survey which was released today, the New Zealand values bill released by NZ First, National MP Jamie Lee Ross taking personal leave, and was the Prime Minister using taxpayer money for photographers in New York against the rules?

LISTEN ABOVE AS STUART NASH AND MARK MITCHELL SPEAK TO MIKE HOSKING

The large billboard on Auckland's motorway sporting an anti-vaccination message is being removed.

The sign showed a man holding a baby with the message: "If you knew the ingredients in a vaccine, would you risk it?"

Since the sign was erected Advertising Standards Authority had received over 140 complaints.

Otago University public health Professor Michael Baker told Mike Hosking the sign is scaremongering and the right decision was made taking it down.

"There will always be a certain part of the population which will be sceptical, but they are a minority."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MICHAEL BAKER SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Forest & Bird is strongly supporting the reduction in Himalayan tahr numbers to protect New Zealand’s alpine ecosystems.

The population is estimated at around 35,000, three and a half times the limit in the Himalayan Tahr Control Plan.

Forest and Bird Canterbury regional chair Nicky Stoyink told Mike Hosking the numbers are out of control.

"The trouble is we have a massive population which is unsustainable, we need to get the population down to 10,000."

LISTEN ABOVE AS NICKY STOYINK SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Roundup is for the first time being tested for in groundwater - which is used to supply up to half of the country's drinking water.

The controversial weed killer made global headlines earlier this year after former school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson successfully sued Monsanto, on the basis that its product contributed to his cancer. The 46-year-old was awarded US$289 million in damages.

Federated Farmers Northland provincial president John Blackwell told Mike Hosking it's a good idea, but he doubts they will find anything.

"We've always been lead to believe that glyphosate, when it comes in contact with the ground it neutralises, and that's the end of it."

Monsanto and New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority, maintain it's safe to use as long as instructions are followed.

LISTEN ABOVE AS JOHN BLACKWELL SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

The Government's being advised to take the Herald's latest Mood of the Boardroom survey to heart.

Each of the 150 CEOs surveyed, think there are too many committees and not enough action.

Herald head of business Fran O'Sullivan says government uncertainty is a big overhang when it comes to what you think about your own business and decisions.

She told Mike Hosking there's also a lot of international issues around trade and a potential hit to global growth.

"So really they want the backdoor tidy in New Zealand. They would like to have as much certainty as possible, [and] get rid of some of the the overhanging questions of employment and issues like that."

However, O'Sullivan says there's a lot of goodwill coming from business to get on and do things and adapt

Secondary teachers say they have two sticking points - pay and workload, which motivated them to reject the latest pay offer.

The Post Primary Teachers Association called the latest offer insulting and unanimously turned it down.

The offer includes a 15 percent pay rise which would take the top pay scale to $89,700 and the entry rate to $58,800, plus an addition annual increase of 3.8 percent.

It also includes a $100 a week accommodation allowance for teachers in areas with rents that are more than 110 percent higher than the national median price.

However, PPTA president Jack Boyle told Mike Hosking you don't go into negotiations carrying a big stick.

He says they're negotiating in good faith with the government.

"We've only been in negotiations for a very short period of time and we are certainly not planning any industrial action at this point, because what we want [is] we want to work with the government."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JACK BOYLE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

The weaker New Zealand dollar could save farmers from the full impact of falling dairy prices.

Prices are down 1.9 percent at Fonterra's latest global dairy auction.

The crucial whole milk powder price is down 1.2 percent, while butter prices have plummeted 5.9-percent.

JMI Wealth director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking the impact of the price drop will depend on the currency hedging Fonterra has done.

"If they've hedged the currency, they are not going to get the benefit of the weaker New Zealand dollar, if the have left the currency hedging exposed the farmers might get the benefit."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW KELLEHER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Perpetual Guardian has permanently signed on for a four-day working week.

It was introduced as a trial in March, and has been proved a success, with  research showing productivity levels remain intact, and job satisfaction has improved.

Employees who opt into the four-day week are eligible for a weekly rest day provided they finish their work and get paid their usual salary.

Founder Andrew Barnes told Mike Hosking he is encouraging other businesses to give it a go.

"It is about getting the maximum from your employees and in return giving them better flexibility about how they work."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW BARNES SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

If you are someone who runs around frantically in the morning before dashing out the door, then you are definitely not alone.

A month long experiment done by Gasoline Alley Services found that people are more stressed getting ready for work than actually on the commute to our destination.

Participants experienced a 10% increase in their heart rate when driving but a 42% increase when they were getting ready to leave, with parents seeing the biggest heart rate increase.

Gasoline Alley Services managing director Tim Ellis told Mike Hosking the results came as a surprise.

"We were expecting stress levels to rise when driving through the traffic, but it turns out it is actually getting ready before the commute which is the most stressful."

LISTEN ABOVE AS TIM ELLIS SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING