There are calls for the rest of the country to follow in Wellington's steps when it comes to transport.

A new study by the University of Otago has found if other cities adopted a more sustainable transport system like the capital's, their residents would be in better health and get more physical exercise.

Lead author, Dr Caroline Shaw told Mike Hosking that people from Wellington use more public transport, walk and cycle to get around than any other city.

"If you look at other flat cities like Christchurch and Hamilton for example, they are much flatter so much of these things should be much easier to do."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DR CAROLINE SHAW SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

International modelling is looking at the effects that mitigation and what it does to our agriculture goods.

A new study that explores whether global hunger could increase if we implement climate mitigation is in progress.

Anita Wreford is an associate professor at Lincoln University and says according to the policy, regulating irrigation will most likely increase costs.

"Food may become more expensive for consumers, but irrigation doesn't do anything to help with our emissions, as the water quality is separate."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANITA WREFORD SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

If you are struggling through Monday morning already then we may have the perfect life advice for you.

Recruitment agency Randstad New Zealand have crunched the numbers on how to have a good work/life balance.

A third of people who leave their role put the work life balance in their top five list of reasons, women seek out companies who offer a good balance when choosing a new employer and this balance is more highly valued the older we get.

So what life advice do we have for you this Monday morning?

Randstad New Zealand country director Katherine Shaw joined Mike Hosking to discuss the issue.

LISTEN ABOVE AS KATHERINE SHAW SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Finance Minister Grant Robertson is rejecting a claim our businesses are rightly pessimistic.

National's finance spokeswoman Amy Adams says we have the second lowest business confidence figures in the developed world.

But Robertson says he sees quite a lot of optimism.

"The last time Labour was in government business confidence levels were even lower than they are now, and average growth was at 3.2%."

LISTEN ABOVE AS GRANT ROBERTSON SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Smaller class sizes might be good for some primary school children, but not all of them according to one expert.

Debate has been reignited after Simon Bridges announced a National government would reduce class sizes.

Massey University education expert John O'Neill told Mike Hosking in 2012, National's argument was one or two extra children in a classroom wouldn't make much of a difference.

He says back then they wanted to focus more on teacher quality.

'Bridges is not saying that teachers don't have enough time in the classroom and there is some evidence that if you have fewer children in the classroom then it does give teachers more time to work with children."

He says that there are other ways that could help teachers have more quality teaching time.

"One of the alternatives to reducing class size would be to reduce the amount of bureaucracy that teachers have to engage with and that is certainly one of the major complaints that you hear from teachers, it's not necessarily the number of children in the class although that is an issue, it's much more to do with their workload outside of teaching and the reality is that teachers spend much more time doing non-teaching activities during the course of their working week than they do actually teaching."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JOHN O'NEILL SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

He talked the talk, but ultimately Joseph Parker could not walk the walk.

Parker lost the second fight of his career to Dillion Whyte yesterday morning by a unanimous decision.

Boxing analyst Mike Angove told Mike Hosking that he didn't execute the plan.

"Dillian Whyte did what Dillian Whyte does best. He was rough and rugged, and he hurt Parker in the body."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MIKE ANGOVE SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Sir John Key is concerned about the global economy entering into dangerous waters again.

The former Prime Minister's now in the thick of business, as the chair ANZ's board and a director of Air New Zealand.

He told Mike Hosking a few local and global factors are causing concern for economists and bringing back thoughts of the financial crisis a decade ago.

"These fears include two major economies falling into worse positions, the US running big budget deficits, and China's massive year-on-year growth starting to slow."

LISTEN ABOVE AS SIR JOHN KEY SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Sir John Key is concerned about the global economy entering into dangerous waters again.

The former Prime Minister's now in the thick of business, as the chair ANZ's board and a director of Air New Zealand.

He told Mike Hosking a few local and global factors are causing concern for economists and bringing back thoughts of the financial crisis a decade ago.

"These fears include two major economies falling into worse positions, the US running big budget deficits, and China's massive year-on-year growth starting to slow."

LISTEN ABOVE AS SIR JOHN KEY SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Firefighters battling northern California's fast-moving wildfires say they have never seen anything like it.

Five people have died in the fires, including a woman and her two great-grandchildren, and more than 38,000 people in the Redding area have been ordered to leave their homes 

US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the fires are out of control.

"It feels like California is burning, and much of it is. I can see two of the fires from my place."

LISTEN ABOVE AS RICHARD ARNOLD SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Every Friday morning, Mike Hosking takes you through the big ticket items of the week and lets you know what he makes of it all.

 

Here's a taste of what he reckons.

DOPE

3/10.

“The Government wants a vote, surveys show we want it growing in our lounges. This in a country where we bemoan our many social issues and how we can’t afford to deal with them, yet we’d like to toss another on the pile. Gobsmacking.”

TOBBACO EXCISE

7/10.

“It is proof positive it cuts smoking, and yet armed with the evidence the Government looks like it’s going to wave the white flag on the 2025 target because they’re soft. Gobsmacking.”

NEW ZEALAND FIRST TURNS 25

8/10.

“Say what you like about the turbulence of the ride - a lot have come and gone. But this party has not only survived, but ended up with the balance of power.”

BLAIR AND TUKE

9/10.

"They’re back. Back for gold and the cup.”

PARKER

8/10.

"Looks and sounds good for the weekend. We wish him well.”

SIR RAY AVERY

7/10.

“What’s his crime? Having a good idea, wanting to help others? And look what he gets. What a disgrace.

FISH OIL

7/10.

“It improved the Chiefs rugby team’s performance. It improves my performance …..get a bit up ya.”

LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW