The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Our United Nations representative says the situation in Syria is not as simple as good guys versus bad.

A ceasefire in Aleppo has lasted less than 24 hours, leaving thousands of people trapped in the rebel-held part of the city.

New Zealand representative at the United Nations, Gerard van Bohemen, told Mike Hosking a good guy in Syria could be a bad guy another day.

"Certainly Assad is not looking too good from anyone's perspective, but the people opposing him are a mixture of people with different ambitions and are often at conflict with each other."

Gerard van Bohemen said the harsh reality is, that Syria's president Bashar al-Assad may have to stay for a while in order to get an outcome because he won't go voluntarily at this point.

LISTEN AS GERARD VAN BOHEMEN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

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Governments around the world are being urged to join forces to end the war in Syria.

A ceasefire in the rebel-held part of Aleppo is in tatters, less than 24 hours after it began.

World Vision spokeswoman Christina Latif told Mike Hosking people have had to move themselves and their families three, four or more times.

"And each time they're leaving with less and less hope of what's going to happen to them, but also less and less resilience and ability to look after themselves."

Latif said some sort of peace needs to be restored to Syria.

She said people in Aleppo simply aren't going to be able to rebuild their lives if the conflict continues.

"Really, all I can see in terms of a resolution, is some sort of diplomatic resolution to this to bring peace to Syria, and governments really need to get together and push this issue."

Latif said we have to maintain that hope because there's no alternative in terms of having a stable future for Syria.

LISTEN ABOVE: WORLD VISION'S CHRISTINA LATIF SPOKE WITH MIKE HOSKING

Political commentator Matthew Hooton has poured a bucked of cold water on suggestions that new Prime Minister Bill English is pursuing renewal, saying despite the recent spate of departure announcements, most of the old hands are being kept in place. 

Hooton argues that Sam Lotu-Iiga and Craig Foss were likely to be sacked regardless, and so their departures don't have any wider meaning.

He also says English "lacks the bottle" to really push for renewal, citing the likelihood of long-serving Ministers Nick Smith, Murray McCully and Gerry Brownlee keeping their jobs. 

"Nick Smith is clearly a person who at an absolute minimum Bill English has to get out of Cabinet."

As Kaikoura's biggest tourist season begins, forecasts for the town's economy remain up in the air.

One month on and access to Kaikoura is improving, with State Highway One south of the town available to the public before Christmas.

But, the town thrives off of tourism to survive, and although government support packages are being handed out, there are still fears for the economy's longevity.

Kaikoura Mayor Winston Gray told Mike Hosking people are holding it together in anticipation of the re-opening of State Highway One.

"I mean there's not too many people coming into the village itself, so not much spend going on through the shops, through the hotel bars, restaurants," he said.

Gray said getting back on the water will be a big plus for the town's tourism industry.

"If we can get the boats on the water, the recreational and commercial, then that's going to be a big help."

Dolphin cruises, seal sightings and whale watching are all major draw cards for the seaside town.

LISTEN ABOVE AS KAIKOURA MAYOR WINSTON GRAY SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

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Former Labour leader David Shearer has thanked those who put their faith in him and stood by him while he had the job.

The Mt Albert MP has given his goodbyes in Parliament as he heads off for a top UN job in South Sudan.

SEE ALSO: Shearer: South Sudan a 'remarkable' job despite dangers

Mr Shearer told Mike Hosking the key challenges will be managing the millions of displaced people and making political progress. He said the fighting and hostility in South Sudan needs to stop.

His departure will spark a by-election in his electorate.

Shearer said his political timing in taking leadership of the Labour Party wasn't quite right.

"It was coming in as early as I did, after just only two years in politics, coming in from overseas meant that I didn't have the roots perhaps that I needed in politics and in the Labour Party," he said.

Yesterday, Mr Shearer told the House being the Leader of the Opposition is the toughest job in politics.

"I can tell you, without doing it nobody knows quite how tough it is. Of course everyone around you is the world's expert on what you should be doing."

Shearer choked up as he talked about his wife, who he called his rock.

He received a standing ovation from both sides of the House.

LISTEN ABOVE: DAVID SHEARER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

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Jemaine Clement, the Kiwi comedy legend of Flight of the Conchords fame, joins Mike Hosking to discuss his role of 'Tamatoa' in the hit Disney film Moana, which has been at the top of the US box office for three weeks.

New Zealand's new Prime Minister is playing coy over who'll be in his new Cabinet.

Bill English won't be drawn on whether close friend Nick Smith will go, despite rumours he might be one to chop. Mr English has indicated he'll have a line-up of sorts to announce before Christmas.

He told Mike Hosking there will be some change, but it'll be more of a shift of skills than an overhaul.

"It's not change for the sake of change, I mean this is a Government that's been delivering results for people, that's why it has pretty good levels of public support."

Mr English said he's not concerned about whether his party's popularity will take a hit as a result of his leadership. He said he's not put any thought to the polls that will be released following his appointment.

He said the National Party has done well in dealing with a surprise leadership change, and believes the public agrees.

"I think the public are generally pretty happy with the way that's happened and the result of it, and now we've got to get on the job, and if we keep delivering then the support will remain," he said.

LISTEN ABOVE AS NEW PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING