The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Not only are we doubling sick leave, we are now arguing over just how quickly you can access it.
Can you get it from day one? Can you get it after six months?
We are also, of course, upping the minimum wage a number of times, and the call for a so-called living wage is never ending. All that money is not for more work, or more productivity, but just for turning up. Hell, even turning up has become a thing.
Amazing to believe in the middle of a pandemic and tens of thousands of people losing work we have still been immersed in this dreadful business of a labour shortage. Business after business, industry after industry not able to find enough people to do the work required.
There is a theme, a commonality to all of this.
Laziness.
What's free? What can you get for nothing? How can you get more by doing less?
The agenda is all wrong. It's cart before the horse, and the entitlement is shocking.
Why are we so focused on sick leave? Why is sick leave a thing? It's a thing because people abuse it. It’s a thing because unions have made it a thing.
About 3 years ago I got what i assume was flu. I was crook for days having got back from London where I was also crook, but kept working. I don’t know how many days I took off, because it didn’t matter because I couldn’t stand up. That's sick leave.
But modern sick leave is a sniffle, a hangover, or a bad attitude. Sick leave astonishingly in some jobs can be carried over, why?
If you're sick, and you can't work, that’s life. But that's not what it's turned into. It's now a needless entitlement that’s scrapped over. And while all the scrapping is going on, our eye is off the ball, and the work isn't getting done.
The message being sent is that sick leave, or not working, is more important than anything else.
What happened to grafting? What happened to just getting on with it? What happened to doing a good job, wanting to do a good job, and taking pride in your work? How come we've ended up with not working being the news?
We have gone soft, and not just that, we seem to be proud of it.

A warning from the Finance Minister about more economic pain on the way.
New figures from Stats NZ show the unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in the three months to December, down from 5.3 percent in the three months to September.
Grant Robertson says the result reflects the strength of construction and export industries like dairy.
But he told Mike Hosking the full effects of the Covid 19 pandemic are yet to be seen in some parts of the economy.
“Tourism businesses in particular will be reassessing their situations in March and April. Clearly with Covid-19, we are yet to see the full impact of it.’
Robertson says the Government is doing what it can, to help tourism businesses pull through.
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Some people who sought Covid swabs after last week's community case scare needed to be tested twice due to an 'error in the system', says director general of health Ashley Bloomfield.
He said this didn't represent an alarming issue, as sometimes numbers fell off Covid codes from time to time.
Bloomfield told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB that a number of people in Northland had to be retested because there were no records of their results.
"It does happen ocassionally. We had many thousands of people get tested last week in a whole range of centres.
"Every now and then, and it's just usually an error in the system, a small one, it may be just a data entry error, sometimes a label falls off a sample, this happens in hospitals as well, but the important thing is to make sure we find out whether or not the test result is there and if it's not to retest people," Bloomfield said.
Airborne transmission seemed the most likely way Covid was spread among returnees in the Pullman hotel which led to last week's community outbreak in Northland and Orewa, Bloomfield said.
"It's hard to see how it would go through that. All the rooms are separate," he said.
He said it was possible when the infected person went out of their room the virus could have been swept out into the corridor.
Someone in the same area a short time later could have inhaled the same air and become infected.
"Airborne transmission is the most likely route so that's as far as we've got so far."
The three community cases - all of who tested positive after leaving managed isolation at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland - sparked a testing blitz where thousands of people sought swabs.
"You do see this happening, remembering in the northern region over the last year or so there's been 800,000 Covid-19 tests done and reported."
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to roll out Covid-19 vaccines to 225,000 Kiwis on the frontline, including cleaners, bus drivers, port workers, security staff, air crew and their households.
Bloomfield this morning was not able to give a firm date for when the immunisation would start, saying it would be in the first quarter.
Bloomfield said as soon as health officials knew when the rollout of the upcoming vaccination drive could take place they would inform the public of dates.
"It's the first quarter. Our hope is that it will be sooner rather than later in the quarter and we will be ready if it is sooner."
The aim was to be able to offer the vaccine to every New Zealander by the end of the year.
Medsafe had now started looking at data as the approval process now started for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
At least two more vaccines had started the process to gain Medsafe approval, he said.
Janssen was in the process at the moment and AstraZeneca had this week put in its formal application.
He said both vaccinations were likely to be available in New Zealand from April onwards once approved.
On addressing concerns about the use of AstraZeneca for those aged over 65 years, Bloomfield said he was looking closely at overseas results.
"I'm not worried. What I am interested to do is see what happens in the countries because many countries have approved it for over 65s. It's just that the number of over 65s in the trials were small and some countries are a bit cautious about giving it in that group."
There was nothing to suggest that it wouldn't be effective in that group, he said.
Bloomfield said the upcoming Covid vaccine drive was going to work because officials had put a "huge amount of effort" making sure it would work.
He said it would be necessary to replace the existing national immunisation register with a new register.
"The team, by the end of last calendar year, already had a system that could be used if needed and they are upgrading and improving that on a weekly basis," he said.
Health officials have also recommended...

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Thursday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Can We Have a Date Please?/Off Sick Again?/Debtwatch/Calling Google's Bluff/Car Love Moments

Luna Rossa helmsman Jimmy Spithill has often mentioned the importance of race time for this America's Cup campaign - in terms of progress and development of their vessel, and how to sail it. 
However, he believes that may not be the case for Team New Zealand. 
As the defender of the Auld Mug, Team New Zealand do not get the luxury of competitive sailing during the Prada Cup. Their experience with competing against another syndicate is instead limited to just a handful of races contested in the America's Cup World Series and Christmas Cup.
Speaking to Mike Hosking, Spithill said even without the extra racing, Team New Zealand deserve to have the title of being the team to beat. 
"As the defender, that's probably one of the toughest things," Spithill said. "OK, you're guaranteed a spot in the main event, but you're sitting there watching the challengers go head-to-head, you know they're learning; it's a tough one. 
"But from what I saw in the Christmas racing, the Kiwis are the team to beat. There's no doubt in my mind. They've produced a very, very good package, and it's not a surprise. They've always been very innovative, very logical, and always pushed it. They're going to be a handful. Whoever goes through between us and Ineos [Team UK], it will be a very tough ask against the Kiwis."
Luna Rossa have had the most races of any team remaining in the hunt for the America's Cup, with 16, with Ineos Team UK having competed in 12 and Team New Zealand in just six. Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK could add as many as 13 races during the best-of-seven Prada Cup final series. 
Spithill said he was glad to have gone through the Prada Cup semifinal stage against American Magic rather than qualify straight through to the final as Team UK did, and said while Team New Zealand are the team to beat, for now, his crew could not let themselves think that far ahead. 
"It's great for the team where we are. I'm happy we went through the semifinals; I'm happy we had to go through that repechage because it just meant we got more battle-hard training preparing us for this final," Spithill said.
"We can't think too much about the end result of the America's Cup. What we need to focus on now, 100 per cent of our time and energy, is getting through this final series and beating Ineos. We just can't think too much about the Kiwis now, because we've got to get past this next stage."
The Prada Cup final series begins on February 13.

The good news is you’re not losing your BBQ.
There has been quite a lot of coverage on the Climate Commission’s interim report on what it is we need to do to get our climate act together.
I mean, it’s not like we haven’t had reports before, and lots of them. And it’s not like we haven’t signed deals before making a lot of promises that were never going to come true.
That’s the great failing of big issues like climate change: we are fully on board with the furrowed brow and deep concern, just not so much when it comes to the doing.
It’s why Kyoto got replaced by Paris and all the stuff we signed up to in Paris isn’t going to happen.
Hence we need a special climate committee to write more reports and admonish us.
It also suits people like the Prime Minister, whose great gift is talking a lot and doing not much.
Her line was “we are not going to hold back”, which sounds important but says nothing.
Once again, farmers are fearful as to what all this means for them, and we should be equally fearful of what it means to farmers given we only do a couple of large scale things in this country: tourism and farming.
And given we are one of the cleanest lowest emitters in the world when it comes to cows and land, one can only conclude if we were to follow up on any of these recommendations, it would mean fewer cows.
And that means less income. That is where traditionally the rubber has hit the climate change road.
All for doing stuff, just not at a price we can’t afford.
A headline grabber from this report seems to be around gas cookers. And that really is the ultimate issue, isn’t it? Rightly or wrongly, at the nutty end of the climate change spectrum there is always a certain amount of thinking from outside the norm, or indeed this world.
To make change, you need buy in. To get buy in in this country, you don’t mess with farming, and you don’t talk about banning gas cookers because it’s stupid.
They also might like to put a number on it, a bill for all this upending and reform. The nearest we’ve got is somewhere between $2 and $11 billion or even more. No one does business on ropey numbers like that. No one takes a guess seriously.
So a couple of predictions: combustion engines aren’t getting banned and your BBQ is safe for a myriad of summers to come. You can relax, it’s just another report.

Australian authorities have warned residents in Perth's east that they "need to act immediately to survive" as a massive bushfire continues to burn out of control.
Crews are struggling to contain the blaze, which has destroyed at least 70 homes and sent residents fleeing.
Despite the coronavirus lockdown in the region, people have been advised to put their safety first.
"Firefighters are continuing to fight the fire and are protecting life and property within the warning areas," the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said.
"People in the warning areas must remain vigilant and keep up to date.
"Protect yourself and your family from the immediate danger of the bushfire first and foremost.
"Whether you are in lockdown or have been personally directed to quarantine for Covid-19, you must do whatever you need to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe."
Residents have been warned they are in immediate danger as the bushfire rages. The DFES describes conditions as "extreme".
Those in the black shaded Incident Area on the above map have been warned "it's too late to leave and leaving now would be deadly".
More than 200 firefighters have been battling the massive blaze, which started on Monday afternoon and has torn through the town of Wooroloo and affected the shires of Mundaring, Chittering, Northam and the City of Swan.
The blaze has doubled in size and is moving in a west-southwesterly direction. It is out of control and unpredictable. Burning embers are also becoming problematic, starting spot fires up to 100m ahead of the fire.
Strong winds have caused huge problems for crews on the ground and it could be days before the fire is contained. It has so far burned through 9189 hectares. The cause of the fire is unknown.
About 220 firefighters are on the scene. Aerial support has been sent to protect crews and homes.
Emergency warnings in place
Emergency warnings are in place for parts of The Vines, Bailup, Ellenbrook, Gidgegannup, Millendon, Walyunga National Park, Upper Swan, Aveley, Henley Brook, Avon Valley National Park, Red Hill, Belhus, Baskerville, Herne Hill, Bullsbrook, Wooroloo, and Brigadoon in the shires of Mundaring, Chittering, Northam and the City of Swan.
"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
"You need to shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
"You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you.
"Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
"Choose a room with two exits and water such as a kitchen or laundry.
"If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burned.
"Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from cotton or wool, and strong leather boots."
Those north of the marked incident area have been advised to travel northwest, away from the fire.
People in the remainder of the emergency warning area have been told to leave now if the way is clear by travelling west-southwest.
WA's Department of Communities has set up three evacuation centres.
'Two different kinds of emergencies'
Western Australia's Premier Mark McGowan yesterday praised fire and emergency authorities for continuing to battle the fire and said the "extremely dangerous" blaze was still threatening homes and lives.
"This is an extremely concerning and serious situation," McGowan said.
"The thoughts of all West Australians are with the people impacted.
"DFES advise they have lost 80 per cent of all properties in the rural area of Tilden Park in Gidgegannup [and] will be conducting inquiries to establish whether there has been any loss...

Gamestop and the US sharemarket may be getting the headlines, but back here we are seeing Kiwisaver investments hit their stride.
Our total investments grew to more than $76 billion at the end of December last year.
The results are from the research firm Morningstar, and reveal assets under management went up 7 percent, and in total we were $13 billion better off than the year before.
Former associate Minister of Finance, economist and chair of the Simplicity Kiwisaver board, Peter Nielsen joins Mike Hosking to crunch the numbers.
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Without Government support, tourism businesses may be operating on borrowed time.
The Tourism Export Council is asking the Government to inject $200 million into the industry.
It says without the support, many businesses including accommodation and tourism consulting services won't see out the year.
Tourism Export Council chief executive Lynda Keene told Mike Hosking these businesses help shape New Zealand's identity.
"It affects New Zealand's international reputation to the time to act is now and we need a plan."
Keene says things haven't gone to plan.
She says they'd thought by the end of last year, we'd have seen the return of international visitors but that's not the case.
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Stuart Nash says you'd have to be a nutter not to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
That's the stern word from the Labour MP, as MedSafe reviews the Pfizer vaccine's clinical data.
Provisional approval could come today,  but roll-out isn't set to start until about April - firstly for at-risk border staff.
Nash says the Prime Minister will address the nation this afternoon.
"There'll be enough vaccines for every Kiwi - and while Government can't make it compulsory, he would if he could."
Listen to the audio above as Stuart Nash and Mark Mitchell join the Mike Hosking to discuss the issues making news this week.