The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Pressure is mounting on the Government to take drastic action to slash smoking levels with its Smokefree 2025 goals looking increasingly unattainable.
Smoking levels are dropping but at less than half the rate needed, and the Cancer Society has launched a petition to see the number of stores selling the highly-addictive products dramatically culled.
Their proposal would see a phasing out of the 6000-8000 current outlets so that by 2025 tobacco could only be sold by a few hundred licensed tobacco retailers nationally.
However this idea has been met with anguish from convenience stores, who say while they see the writing on the wall for the future of cigarettes, such a drastic ban would be "devastating", cutting up to 20 per cent profits.
Meanwhile, Associate Minister Ayesha Verrall would not be drawn to comment on the proposal, with a discussion document on a draft action plan to meet the 2025 targets to be released in April - nearly a decade after Smokefree 2025 was conceived in March 2011.
Although there has been a steady decline in smoking in the past 40 years, an estimated 535,000 adults (13.4 per cent) currently smoke in New Zealand - with a decline of just 6 per cent since 2006.
Tobacco remains a key driver of health inequalities with 31 per cent of Māori and 22 per cent of Pasifika currently smoking.
A study of 1000 New Zealanders by vape retailers Shosha also found that one in four tobacco smokers increased their consumption in 2020.
Price hikes have been credited with general falling smoking rates, with steady annual increases seeing a pack of 20 now costing at least $33.
However Cancer Society chief executive Lucy Elwood said New Zealand would not reach its Smokefree 2025 goal without legislation to greatly limit the availability of tobacco products.
"Tobacco kills about 11 New Zealanders every day, yet it can be sold absolutely anywhere," Elwood said.
"The current laws are not protecting our communities from this devastatingly deadly product."
On average there were six shops selling tobacco within a 10-minute walk of New Zealand secondary schools, she said.
There were also four times more tobacco retailers in low-income communities where smoking rates were highest.
Advocacy and wellbeing manager Shayne Nahu said removing tobacco from general stores would remove "triggers" for people trying to quit, along with reducing the availability.
New Zealand research also showed school students are less susceptible to smoking when there are a low number of tobacco retailers around their school.
Nahu said the idea had general public support, with a 2018 Government-funded survey finding 68 per cent of New Zealanders supported making tobacco less available.
"We are way off our 2025 goals and we need bold action.
"We are not saying completely ban the number of stores, but that they should be R18 specialist tobacco stores then we look at how many and where they should go across the country."
The petition is also supported by Otago University tobacco research group Aspire.
Professor Richard Edwards said substantially reducing the availability of tobacco and removing nicotine from cigarettes so they were no longer addictive were the two key actions the Government needed to take.
"Our research shows these are the most effective things we can do to stop young people from starting to smoke, and support people who smoke to quit and stay quit."
New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores executive director Dave Hooker said while they supported the country's smokefree ambitions, stopping their stores - which include superettes and petrol stations - from selling tobacco products would be "devastating".
Asked how those two ideas could be compatible, Hooker said moving to licensed tobacco-only stores would simply be "too drastic".
"We understand people are smoking less and less, and a lot are transitioning to vaping and...

Self-employed New Zealanders who took up the offer of a mortgage holiday may find themselves in the red.
The year-long payment relief plan, which was designed to ease the pressure on home owners during the pandemic, ends today.
Around 3,000 mortgage holders are still on it.
Mortgage broker Sue Tierney told Mike Hosking business owners hit hard by Covid had no choice but to take up a mortgage deferral.
"They've been affected by Covid because of the different type of businesses they are in, their incomes have reduced, and just to be responsible directors, each and every one of them have had to take a salary cut, and they are not in a position to increase it." 
She says many felt forced to take up the offer, with no savings to fall back on.
"And the problem in New Zealand is the average family only saves just over $400 per annum, so if you just had your salary cut, you just can't meet your mortgage commitment."
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New Zealand Rugby is making three changes to age grade rugby this season in the interests of safety.
All tackles have to be belly or below, there will be no jumping for high balls and players must use a split-stance when guarding the ruck to lower the chances of necks and spines being exposed to when opponents clear players out.
Former All Blacks coach John Hart told Mike Hosking it's understandable.
"Numbers are down and the concussion area is a particular area of concern. 
"I think these sort of moves are very good at trying to eliminate some of the high level head clashes that you can get."
He says that the neck and spines rule is the toughest on referees.
"They've got enough issues at the moment, so that's a bit more difficult, but at least it's a principle of trying to get a better balance of players over the ball rather than putting them in a position where they can be hit and injured."
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President Joe Biden and a top health official warned that too many Americans are declaring virus victory too quickly, appealing for mask requirements and other restrictions to be maintained or restored to stave off a "fourth surge" of COVID-19. The head of the CDC said she had a feeling of "impending doom" if people keep easing off.
The double dose of warnings on Monday local time came even as Biden laid out hopeful new steps to expand coronavirus vaccinations, with all adults to become eligible over the next five weeks. Biden announced plans to expand the number of retail pharmacies that are administering vaccines, and investments to help Americans get to vaccination sites. But the optimism was tempered by stark warnings about the potential for another wave of cases.
"This is deadly serious," Biden said, urging governors to reinstate mask mandates and other restrictions that some states have been easing.
Hours earlier, during a virtual White House health briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, grew emotional as she reflected on her experience treating COVID-19 patients who are alone at the end of their lives.
"We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope," she said. "But right now, I'm scared."
"I'm going to lose the script, and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom."
Cases of the virus are up about 10% over the past week from the previous week, to about 60,000 cases per day, with both hospitalizations and deaths ticking up as well, Walensky said. She warned that without immediate action the U.S. could follow European countries into another spike in cases and suffer needless deaths.
"I have to share the truth, and I have to hope and trust you will listen," she said.
Later Monday, Biden addressed the nation from the White House, declaring, "If we let our guard down now, we can see the virus getting worse, not better. People are letting up on precautions, which is a very bad thing."
Biden delivered a direct appeal to governors, state and local leaders to reinstate mask-wearing requirements if they have lifted them, and said he encouraged leaders to pause plans to further ease virus-related restrictions.
"Please, this is not politics, reinstate the mandate if you let it down," he said.
Biden announced that by April 19 at least 90% of the adult U.S. population would be eligible for vaccination — and would have access to a vaccination site within 5 miles of home. Quick vaccination would still depend on supply.
Biden had previously directed that all states make all adults eligible for vaccination by May 1, but many have moved to lift eligibility requirements sooner in anticipation of supply increases.
Meanwhile, the White House is moving to double the number of pharmacies participating in the federal retail pharmacy program — it has emerged as among the most efficient avenues for administering vaccines — and increase the number of doses for them to deliver. Retail pharmacies are located relatively close to most Americans and have experience delivering vaccines like flu shots.
Biden announced that the U.S. is expecting delivery of 33 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week — including 11 million of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot.
More than 1 in 5 adults and nearly 50% of senior American are fully vaccinated, according to data from the CDC. On Thursday, the U.S. set new single-day record for shots in arms: more than 3.2 million.
"Now is not the time to let down," Biden said. "Now's not the time to celebrate. It is time to do what we do best as a country: our duty, our jobs, take care of one another."
"Fight to the finish," he added. "Don't let up now."
Walensky and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, appealed to elected officials, community leaders and...

An original Banksy artwork sold at an auction in Auckland tonight for $1.45 million.
Banksy's Keep it Real went under the hammer at the International Art Centre in Parnell. Bidding started at $500,000.
The 2003 artwork depicts a chimpanzee wearing a sandwich board inscribed with "Keep it Real".
The centre's director Richard Thomson had said he expected the piece to sell for between $600,000 and $1m.
"Banksy is a modern-day art sensation. There is no one quite like him."
The elusive artist is yet to be publicly identified.
"He's an activist who is deeply concerned about social injustice and inequities and his works carry very powerful and controversial, but often subtle messages."
Banksy works Choose your Weapon, Morons, Soup Can, Chocolate Donuts and Gangsta Rat also went under the hammer.
Choose your Weapon, which depicts a hooded man walking a dog, sold for $390,000.
Morons is based on the historic sale of Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers for more than $50m at Christie's in London in 1987.
The piece depicts the scene of an auction for a large canvas bearing the words in capitals, 'I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MORONS ACTUALLY BUY THIS S**T'.
Morons sold for $213,000.
The highest bid for Chocolate Donuts was $150,000.
Banksy's Soup Can, a play on Andy Warhol's infamous pop art Campbell's Soup Cans, sold for $85,000.
Gangsta Rat depicts a rat sitting next to a boombox with the letter IPOW tagged in the background, which the art centre says is social commentary on the ubiquity of Apple products and POW is a reference to Banksy's print publisher, Pictures on Walls.
Gangsta Rat sold for $60,000.

Millions of Brisbane residents are almost certain to remain in lockdown through the Easter long weekend, with infectious disease experts expecting am extended lockdown to be announced tonight.
Infectious disease physician Associate Professor Paul Griffin told the Courier Mail if there was an increase in cases again today, an extended the lockdown would be inevitable.
Griffith University infectious disease expert Nigel McMillan echoed the call, saying he expected the lockdown to be extended.
“I think they’re going to obviously wait until the last minute (Wednesday) to see what the numbers look like overnight,” he said on Tuesday.
“My gut feeling is if we get similar numbers (Wednesday) as we have today, then we will go for another couple of days."
Another eight locally transmitted virus vases were announced on Tuesday, as the premier confirmed two separate clusters were spreading in Queensland.
The first cluster is linked to a Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor who tested positive on March 12, which sent the hospital into lockdown on Tuesday evening.
The cases linked to the doctor include two men in northern Brisbane, the brother of one of the men, and two colleagues of the other.
Genomic testing is underway to confirm another two cases are linked to that cluster. The second cluster is linked to a PA Hospital nurse and her sister.
text by Benjamin Graham, news.com.au

The wife of a swimmer killed by a Ports of Auckland boat is heartbroken that workers have died at the city's wharves and doesn't want any other families to join such a "devastating club".
Laura McLeod, whose husband Leslie Gelberger died in 2017, says she was pleased that Mayor Phil Goff and Auckland Council were shining a light on the culture at the Ports of Auckland and "holding it to account".
An independent review at the port, released yesterday, found systemic problems with health and safety at the council-owned business.
"The fact that there have been two further deaths since the death of my husband, which itself was a product of a culture that prioritises productivity over welfare, is heartbreaking," McLeod said.
"How many deaths does it take to have them concretely change their ways and, as recommended, prioritise safety over profits?"
In August last year, father-of-seven Palaamo Kalati, 31, a stevedore, was crushed to death by a container on a ship at the Fergusson Container Terminal.
And in 2018, 23-year-old Laboom Midnight Dyer died after a straddle carrier he was driving tipped over.
McLeod said her heart goes out to their families.
"I do not want any more families to join such a devastating club," McLeod said.
In July last year, Ports of Auckland was fined $424,000 for failing to comply with health and safety duties after a pilot boat struck and killed Gelberger as he was swimming.
Goff said the review — by Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) — found a need for significant improvement at Ports of Auckland to ensure that its approach to health and safety reflects the level of risk inherent in port operations.
"Health and safety rules that keep people safe are not 'a nice to have'. They are a vital component of good management in any workplace.
"When someone goes to work, they should go back home to their families and loved ones," Goff said.
"The reviewers make a number of recommendations to improve health and safety at the ports, including new requirements for the ports chief executive to prioritise safety over productivity and profitability, improve trust and communication between management and staff, and for a new health and safety manager to report directly to the chief executive and the board."
Workplace Relations Minister Michael Wood told Mike Hosking he wants to see immediate improvements.
"I've gone on record and made the comment yesterday that if we don't see management and board taking on board the recommendations of this report, showing willingness and ability to implement these recommendations, then I don't think they should stay."
He said the port needs to stop putting profit above people.
"Most companies in New Zealand manage to do that without compromising the health and safety, and potentially the lives, of their employees.
"I don't think that is beyond the ability of companies to deal with that."
Board chairman Bill Osborne acknowledged that the culture of health and safety at the ports had been poor and has fully committed the board to implement the recommendations of the review.
"I now expect Ports of Auckland to implement these recommendations without delay and more importantly to hold management to account on monitoring and compliance."
Meanwhile, the Maritime Union has called for Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson to go, after the report.
Union national secretary Craig Harrison said the report confirmed everything the union had said about the failure of port management to keep staff safe over several years.
"There is no confidence in the chief executive and the board has not done its job," said Harrison, who said the first step should be to replace Gibson.
At a press conference yesterday, Gibson said he had no plans to resign, saying his focus is making sure the wrongs that have been done are put right.
Gibson said he would stay in the job...

There's some doubt over whether power companies will play along with new guidelines. 
Last year it was revealed some Meridian Energy customers were being charged 11 percent more than the price shown on a comparison website.
The Electricity Authority is set to roll out new guidelines - discouraging the practice of charging some people more than others for the same service.
Consumer New Zealand's Jessica Wilson told Mike Hosking retailers structure their plans to make it difficult for consumers to get a better deal. 
"Retailers introduce new plans, make those offers available to new customers, but keep their loyal customers on a pricey tariff and just sit there taking in the money."
She says retailers have deliberately made the market tricky to navigate.
"Retailers have been raking in millions of dollars a year from customers being on a more expensive tariff then they need to be, and those estimates are $39 million each years - so that's alot of dosh."
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THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Worst Possible Timing/You'll Go Renewable and You'll Like It/Interference Never Works/Space Fever/Creating Your Own Market

Mike Hosking has a question for the Prime Minister: Why does she have so much clothing out on loan?
NZ Herald columnist Sasha Borissenko has highlighted how many homes some MPs and Ministers own, as the country once again discusses the housing crisis and what needs to be done in this country.
But one particular comment about Jacinda Ardern - taken from the publicly accessible Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests register - got Hosking's attention. 
"Jacinda Ardern owns a family home in Auckland, and has a mortgage with Westpac Bank and as of January last year the Prime Minister had clothing on loan from designers Kiri Nathan, Kate Sylvester, Harman Grubisa (which is no longer), Juliette Hogan, TAC Pacific, Mena, Maggie Marilyn, and Tanya Carlson," Borrisenko wrote. 
"Is that unusual for the Prime Minister to be dressed by people?" Hosking asked. "A number of people have asked is this fringe benefit tax territory - does she keep the clothing?
"I would imagine if you go international and you need some evening outfits you pack a couple of dresses you borrowed from somewhere else, I would get that, but this seems to be a sort of ongoing [thing]." 
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