The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Government's being urged to sign off on quarantine-free travel with Australia, before we get left behind.
The issue is due to be discussed at today's Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government wants to make the system as safe as possible, factoring in there'll always be some people who don't follow the rules.
Tourism Holdings chief executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking a bubble needs to be set up as soon as possible.
"The ideal situation is that we get Australia-New Zealand open, then Singapore's clearly ready and in conversation, they've been open to New Zealand for months. So let's get it going to get another country." 
He says that there is an opportunity here to reignite the industry.
"If we get too hooked up and take too long with just Australia how are we going to manage the rest of the world? So let's get the global conversations going."
LISTEN ABOVE

The Government's being urged to sign off on quarantine-free travel with Australia, before we get left behind.
The issue is due to be discussed at today's Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government wants to make the system as safe as possible, factoring in there'll always be some people who don't follow the rules.
Tourism Holdings chief executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking a bubble needs to be set up as soon as possible.
"The ideal situation is that we get Australia-New Zealand open, then Singapore's clearly ready and in conversation, they've been open to New Zealand for months. So let's get it going to get another country." 
He says that there is an opportunity here to reignite the industry.
"If we get too hooked up and take too long with just Australia how are we going to manage the rest of the world? So let's get the global conversations going."
LISTEN ABOVE

Here's a quick 101 on how to read this government.
Last Wednesday I predicted that the pressure for a bubble reciprocation was so great they were about to fold. I said by the end of the last week, or this week, we would finally get what so many had been calling for, for so long.
At that point I knew nothing, but this lot are easy to predict. By Friday it seemed inevitable. There were enough comments, enough leaks, and too few rejections. The build-up was on.
So, what you get with this government is pushback, BS, spin, and hot air as to why they won't be doing whatever it is they're not doing.
But the pressure gets too great. In this case it was Scott Morrison busting their lie, airports lining up saying they had been ready since October, a region like Central Otago crying out in pain, and a general sense from the rest of us this was stupid. At that point a momentum starts, and the government looks like they're buckling.
Thursday nailed it with the GDP, which was a disaster. So, they need a distraction, and today that distraction will be unveiled.
When it's announced, please don’t forget this. This isn't the thrill it will be painted out to be, we are not lucky to be in this position, this isn't a world first, we are not charting new territory, rewriting history, or any of the other crap the Prime Minster will ladle on for the first 15 minutes of spin from the pulpit of truth.
They didn’t move any mountains, they didn’t shift Australia three inches closer to us, and they didn’t invent planes. It was never that hard, all they have done is get dragged kicking and screaming to a line they should have been at in the middle of last year.
You have never seen a government less interested in making decisions, getting on with it, and being positive.
Stuart Nash last Wednesday warned us all that this is not the silver bullet. Australians come here, but we go there. Almost as though he'd forgotten what two-way travel is. Hipkins got rolled out to tell us if we get stranded, it's on us not the government. Almost as though none of us have ever had a holiday in a foreign land and not rung him for help.
Ardern gave us the big lecture about the risk of outbreaks, closed borders, and locusts in Western Australia.
The subtext of all that is, this simply is a government that hates losing control. They see the end is in sight and they're crapping themselves. Their golden goose, the Covid freak you out show is coming to a conclusion.
So, remember that today, this is nothing more than we should have had last year. It's nothing that Australia didn’t offer up last year. It's nothing the airlines and the airports weren't ready for last year.
The only hold up and hold out has been the control freaks with the keys to freedom. They've looked for every excuse to do nothing, but at least they've folded.
Yes, today will be a great day because it’s a day towards a return to normality and economic growth. But it's at best, about 182 days late.

Australian-made vials of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine are set to be released within days after the national medicine regulator approved domestic production.
Late on Sunday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration gave its blessing for pharmaceutical giant CSL to manufacture the AstraZeneca vaccine at its two Melbourne sites in Broadmeadows and Parkville.
The approval does not extend to use, however, with the regulator still needing to review batch documents and test to ensure they meet manufacturing standards.
But it said that was "imminent", paving the way for domestically produced batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be shipped out "in the next few days".
"Today's approval is a critical and very exciting milestone in Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic," the TGA said on Sunday.
CSL has been charged with manufacturing 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab as part of an agreement struck with the federal government.
"These will form the mainstay of Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program over the coming months, and complement imported vaccine supplies," the TGA said.
The announcement coincides with the next stage of Australia's vaccine rollout, which is facing further disruptions as heavy rain and flooding blocks roads in NSW.
The 'phase 1b' rollout - for people aged more than 70, Indigenous Australians over 55, those with a medical condition or disability, and workers deemed high risk - starts on Monday.
Throughout the coming week, more than 1000 general practices in cities and country towns across Australia will start administrating the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the aim to inoculate six million people.
"Obviously we won't be able to vaccinate all six million people (on Monday), or over the coming week, so please be patient," Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
"At the moment, some general practices will only receive 50 doses a week and they will be prioritising their most elderly and most unwell patients."
Authorities expect CSL to quickly ramp up production to a million doses a week once final approval is granted, Professor Kidd added.
In the meantime, the rollout of 'phase 1a' is expected to continue for another six to eight weeks until all people in that group have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Prof Kidd also reminded people to have their annual flu shot, which will become available over the coming month.
But importantly he said it is recommended there is a 14-day gap between having the COVID vaccine and the influenza vaccine.
There were just four COVID-19 overseas acquired cases recorded in Australia on Sunday, two in NSW and two in Queensland.
text by AAP

Miami Beach Police fired pepper balls into crowds of partiers and arrested at least a dozen people late Saturday night as the city took extraordinary measures to crack down on spring breakers who officials have said are out of control.
The aggressive enforcement actions came just hours after Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declared a state of emergency and set an 8 p.m. curfew, saying the crowds that have descended on the city recently are "more than we can handle."
"Too many are coming, really, without the intention of following the rules, and the result has been a level of chaos and disorder that is just something more than we can endure," Gelber told CNN's Ana Cabrera.
On Saturday night, hundreds of mostly maskless people remained in the streets well after the 8 p.m. curfew. With sirens blaring, police opened fire with pepper balls -- a chemical irritant similar to paint balls -- into the crowd, causing a stampede of people fleeing, video from CNN affiliate WPLG shows.
Police in Miami Beach said early Sunday that they arrested at least a dozen people following the start of the curfew.
"Officers began dispersing crowds at 8 p.m. and ultimately achieved a satisfactory level of compliance," police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez told CNN.
The 8 p.m. curfew and road closures in the city's entertainment district will be in effect until Tuesday, Gelber said at a news conference Saturday. The causeways to Miami Beach from the mainland will be closed to non-local traffic starting at 9 p.m. for the next few nights, Gelber said.
The attempted crackdown comes as Florida has thrown open its doors to tourists after a year of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions around the country. Gov. Ron DeSantis has bragged that the state is an "oasis of freedom" during the pandemic -- and the stir-crazy are flocking to the state's restriction-free beaches and nightlife.
Gelber told CNN that the biggest issues with the crowds have been at night.
"It feels like a rock concert, wall-to-wall people over blocks and blocks," Gelber said.
On Friday night, someone shot a weapon into the air, and there was a riot, he said.
"Other things have happened that are similarly challenging, and so it feels like a tinder, it feels like just any match could set it off," the mayor said.
The situation has worsened with each day, Gelber said, and the pandemic "makes things even more challenging."
Hotel concerned about safety
Miami Beach nightlife has never been for the faint of heart, but local officials and residents have noticed the particular aggressiveness of this spring's revelers during the ongoing pandemic.
The Clevelander South Beach, one of Miami Beach's most iconic hotels, announced Friday that it will temporarily halt its food and beverage operations due to safety concerns for its employees and patrons.
"Recently, we have grown increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the City to maintain a safe environment in the surrounding area," the hotel said in a message on its website and on social media.
"Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the food and beverage operations" until at least March 24, hotel management said in its message.
The Clevelander said management "will re-evaluate the situation over the coming days and decide whether to re-open or remain temporarily closed." Employees will "be paid their full salary" while the dining and bar areas are closed, the hotel said.
Miami Beach police ramped up staffing on February 3 "to cover Super Bowl weekend, President's Day weekend, and then we rolled straight into Spring Break staffing," Rodriguez, the police spokesperson, said in a summary.
Since February 3, officers have made more than 900 arrests in the city, "more than 300 of which were for felony offenses," the summary said. "At least 50% off those arrested reside...

Auckland's Skypath project may have hit the end of the road.
The Herald understands current plans for the cycle and walking path across the harbour will be scrapped.
Waka Kotahi won't confirm it's being dumped - but has advised Bike Auckland, the Northern Pathway plan has technical problems with how the pathway is supported.
Similarly, Transport Minister Michael Wood is keeping mum.
He's told the Herald he's confident of a good outcome, but describes the pathway as involving significant and complex engineering issues.
Bike Auckland chairwoman Barbara Cuthbert told Mike Hosking she believes the Transport Minister is looking at other options.
"Michael Wood says they are working on an another project to build walking and cycling to get us across the bridge.
"We don't know what that looks like, but that's what he's saying."
LISTEN ABOVE

Crime show Police Ten 7 is under fire for its negative profiling of Maori and Pacific offenders.
But the sentiment goes beyond the TV show, and is pointing back towards Police.
Manukau Ward Councillor Efeso Collins is criticising the show for focusing on young brown people, saying it feeds racial stereotypes.
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon told Mike Hosking the negative attitude goes back further than the show.
"The Police are racist because New Zealand is top in the world for targeting brown people unjustifiably."
He says brown people are statistically more likely to receive police attention than other ethnicities, and it's reflected in the programme.
"Eight times the spray, nine times the dog will be set on them, 10 times the taser, eight times more receiving police violence."
He says the show needs to have quotas and needs to balance a range of nationalities.
"They can actually proportionalise the filming of brown people. They can actually quota-ise the filming."
LISTEN ABOVE

Eight flood evacuation orders have been issued for the NSW mid-north coast as wild weather and torrential rain continues to lash much of the state's east.
People in Kempsey were told by the State Emergency Service to evacuate by midnight with major flooding possible along the Macleay River at Kempsey and Smithtown Monday morning.
Evacuation orders are now in place for low lying areas of Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie, the lower Macleay, Wauchope and Rawdon Island, Taree and Wingham.
People are being asked to more possessions above the predicted flood height, take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with them and stay with family or friends, or head to evacuation centres.
Kempsey recorded 173 mm of rain between 9am Sunday to 4am on Monday, and it's not letting up.
Heavy rain is likely to lead to flash flooding and will remain a serious risk for the Northern Rivers and Mid-North Coast on Monday and Tuesday, The Bureau of Meteorology warned.
Risks remain for the Hunter and Central Tablelands districts, particularly as catchments are already saturated.
Overnight, emergency workers conducted 150 more flood rescues and responded to 1500 calls for help, taking the total so far for the weekend so far to more than 10,000.
There are 20 evacuation orders in place running from the Mid-North Coast down to the Illawarra, including Sydney and western Sydney, with more expected to be declared on Monday.
Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the NSW government was expected to be able to confirm later on Monday the Australian Defence Force would move in to support the SES.
"That will include logistics, obviously, assistance with making sure we make safe our communities," he told Nine.
Mr Elliott said the most critical area was the Mid-North Coast where communities were facing the worst flooding conditions since 1929.
Almost NSW 200 schools will be closed on Monday but with the extreme wet weather continuing, decisions will be made hourly on further closures.
"Safety has to come first," Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said Seven.
Communities along the Hawkesbury River in NSW are also bracing for once-in-a- generation flooding that could displace thousands of residents and disrupt utilities for months.
The BOM expects Monday to bring the worst flooding event to the area northwest of Sydney since November 1961 - 60 years ago.
Floodwaters are expected to rise to major levels on Monday morning and inundate places such as Windsor, Pitt Town, North Richmond, Freemans Reach and Colo.
The Hawkesbury is predicted to reach peaks of up to 15 metres and the SES says homes and properties will be flooded, some up to roof height.
The floods will cut off evacuation routes and cause lasting outages to utilities, the SES said as it urged residents to prepare to evacuate.
"Extensive outages of water, electricity, sewerage, telecommunications and gas are expected to last many weeks or months," the SES said.
Flooding along the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers comes after the Warragamba Dam spilled over.
Parts of Penrith and other areas along the Nepean were ordered to evacuate on Sunday as NSW battles devastating floods after days of unabated rain.
Scores of people have already been rescued from floodwaters, while prison inmates have been evacuated and more than 100 schools remain shut.
The BOM's Agata Imielska said the severity of rainfall in greater Sydney could ease on Monday but the Mid-North Coast would continue to be drenched and inland NSW would be pounded by rain.
The NSW northwest slopes and plains are forecast to receive four times more rain in two days than the entire March monthly average.
The federal government's natural disaster arrangements have been activated for 18 local government areas across NSW.

The horticulture sector says it can't continue to operate on local labour alone.
One of the country's largest strawberry farms - Auckland's Perry's Berries - has closed due to a shortage of workers caused by the closure of international borders.
Horticulture New Zealand says the Government has been helping the sector fill the gap with local workers.
But chief executive Mike Chapman told Mike Hosking the labour shortage will continue until seasonal workers are exempted from MIQ.
"There are not enough people, and our solution is to look back to the Pacific Islands where we get most of our seasonal workers and getting that running again, and we can do that safely." 
He says this can be achieved with zero risk.
"We're talking about countries that don't have Covid. We can bring them down here in their bubbles, keep them in their bubbles, test them."
Act leader David Seymour has directly criticised the Government over the move.
He says he's supported owner Francie Perry for years as a constituent, and he's incensed by what's happened to her business.
He says the Government's restrictions on seasonal workers have put the horticulture sector at risk.
Seymour says the Government's response to Covid-19 has lacked balance -- as the Government hasn't considered issues other than the virus itself.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) But Then What Will We Talk About?/A Closer Look at Social Housing/Skypath Going Nowhere/Too Many Dicks