The Mike Hosking Breakfast

It's hoped Kiwis' new enthusiasm for tramping will continue.
Great Walks bed bookings are up 23 percent, despite reduced seasons on the Milford and Routeburn tracks, due to storm damage.
Department of Conservation strategy manager Tim Bamford told Mike Yardley it's absolutely fantastic.
He says the surge in popularity will continue if borders remain closed.
"Hopefully a number of New Zealanders will get the outdoor bug from their experiences over summer."
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More than four years after helping set Britain’s course out of the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is headed to EU headquarters to try to finish the job.
With less than a month until the U.K.’s economic rupture with the European Union and talks on a new trade deal at a standstill on three crucial issues, Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed Monday to meet in person “in the coming days” to see whether they can find common ground.
Brussels is dangerous territory for Brexit-backing British leaders. Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, came time and again to negotiate a Brexit deal, only to see it repeatedly rejected by her own Parliament, ending her top-level career. Johnson will be hoping for a quick in-and-out that leaves his reputation intact and his country on course for a free trade deal with its biggest economic partner.
Johnson and von der Leyen spoke by phone Monday for the second time in 48 hours, as their negotiators were stuck in gridlocked trade talks. They said after the call that that “significant differences” remained on three key issues — fishing rights, fair-competition rules and the governance of future disputes — and “the conditions for finalizing an agreement are not there.”
The two leaders said in a joint statement they planned to discuss the remaining differences "in a physical meeting in Brussels in the coming days."
Despite the continuing impasse, plans for a top-level meeting will be seen as a sign there is still a chance of a deal, though No. 10 Downing St. said the situation was “tricky” and failure a distinct possibility.
No timing was given for the face-to-face meeting. Leaders of the 27 EU nations are due to hold a two-day summit in Brussels starting Thursday.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had no news of a breakthrough when be briefed ambassadors of the 27 member states early Monday on the chances of a deal with London before the Dec. 31 deadline.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Barnier’s message was “very downbeat.”
Penny Mordaunt, a junior minister for Brexit planning, told lawmakers in the House of Commons that the “level playing field” — competition rules that Britain must agree to to gain access to the EU market — was the most difficult unresolved issue.
Officials on both sides said there were also major differences over the legal oversight of any trade deal and European boats’ access to U.K. waters.
While the U.K. left the EU politically on Jan. 31, it remains within the bloc’s tariff-free single market and customs union through Dec. 31. Reaching a trade deal by then would ensure there are no tariffs and trade quotas on goods exported or imported by the two sides, although there would still be new costs and red tape.
Both sides would suffer economically from a failure to secure a trade deal, but most economists think the British economy would take a greater hit because the U.K. does almost half its trade with the bloc.
EU member states have to unanimously support any post-Brexit trade deal and the agreement still needs to be voted on by the European parliament, procedures that would push any deal right up to the end-of-year deadline.
While both Britain and the EU say they want a trade deal, trust and goodwill are strained after months of testy negotiations.
In a further complication, Johnson’s government on Monday revived legislation that breaches the legally binding Brexit withdrawal agreement it struck with the EU last year.
The U.K. government acknowledges that the Internal Market Bill breaks international law, and the legislation has been condemned by the EU, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and scores of British lawmakers, including many from Johnson’s own Conservative Party.
The House of Lords, Parliament’s upper chamber, removed the law-breaking clauses from the legislation last month, but Johnson’s government is asking lawmakers to put them...

Lawyers are expected to have their work cut out for them in a concussion lawsuit against British rugby bodies.
Seventy ex-players are thought to be involved, including about five ex-All Blacks.
Former All Blacks and Warriors team doctor, John Mayhew, told Mike Yardley their legal teams will need to do a lot of work.
“They’ll need to prove a link between the head injury of their particular client and subsequent medical problems.”
John Mayhew, told Mike Yardley what's being said is high on emotion and short on facts.
“There's not a lot of evidence repeated concussion causes permanent brain injury, if the injured person has recovered from the concussion."
Lawyers are expected to argue rugby authorities have known about the risks of repetitive head injuries for decades, but have underplayed them.
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THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) From the Thick of It/Government's Nicotine Addiction/Apperage Driving/Didn't We Do This?/Burger Bonding

When I chose to leave full-time radio a year after the Christchurch quakes, I never imagined I’d be back on-air as a hometown terror attack horrifically unfolded. I was filling in on the Drive Show, on that fateful March Day.  And when I reflect on that afternoon, I remember the numbness. How I had to park up my state of shock, revulsion and immense distress as sirens screamed so loud all over the city. I just had to get on with the job, breaking the news and sharing the story, warts and all. I had family all over the city, paralysed by fear and in forced lockdown – like at the Court House,  where initially it was feared a bomb had been laid.
So today we hear from the Royal Commission. It’s a sure bet a plethora of agencies will be on the mat. Customs for not noticing his peculiar travels. The police over their alleged mishandling of his gun licence application. And the failure of our spooks to detect or act on his brand of violent extremist tendencies.
Post 9/11, the proliferation of radical Islamic terrorism warranted enormous scrutiny. But our security services must not soft-peddle on other twisted ideologies. Violent White supremacism.
The likes of Phillip Arps, an unrepentant hate-mongerer, can no longer be considered just a wayward, harmless rooster. The net must be cast wide.
But similarly, in the great rush to respond and act on the Royal Commission’s findings, let’s not lose our heads or sacrifice our principles, in the great stampede to be seen to be doing something. Exhibit A, Free speech.
Let’s not conflate edgy, sharp or obnoxious opinions with hateful abuse that incites violence. Widening the definition of hate speech and codifying such speech as a hate crime is a recipe for over-reach. The Crimes Act is already well-equipped to deal to the freaks and fire-breathers who foment or threaten violence.
But we gear up for a period of national reflection and self-flagellation, one fundamental truth stands out.  March fifteen was not a case of homegrown terror. Brendon Tarrant wasn’t one of us. We were all invaded, in a bid to rip our cohesive society apart.
He demonstrably failed. Al-Salam Alaikum.

The Christchurch mosque gunman required hospital treatment after accidentally shooting himself while cleaning a firearm in the months before the terror attack.
He was treated for injuries at Dunedin Hospital months before the March 15 attack last year - but hospital staff did not report the incident to police.
The injury was accidental after a bullet was not correctly chambered as he was cleaning or handling the weapon at his rented Dunedin home, the Herald has confirmed.
The self-shooting took place in mid-2018 and the gunman had bullet fragments in his eye and leg.
Police search the gunman's rented Dunedin home in the days after the mosque shootings.
The incident caused damage to his rented Dunedin home and required the landlord to repair it.
Royal Commission report released publicly today
The self-shooting is believed to be detailed in today's public release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the mosque attacks.
Muslim leaders hope its recommendations will help prevent future terror attacks.
The Herald understands it is likely that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will speak at an embargoed press conference at secured "lock up" events from 10am to analyse the commission's findings.
Andrew Little, the minister in charge of the country's spy agencies, the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau, will also be in attendance - as will Police Minister Poto Williams, Minister of Justice Kris Fa'afo'i and local MP Megan Woods.
A total of 51 worshippers, including children, died in what is New Zealand's worst terrorist attack in the country's modern history.
Survivors have been told of the commission's findings.
Almost 21 months since the worst terror attack on New Zealand soil, the contents of the Royal Commission's 792-page report, examining how the tragedy was able to occur, can be publicly revealed at 2pm.
Mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant suffered injuries when he shot himself in mid-2018.
The inquiry, chaired by Commissioner Sir William Young, has been investigating the Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant's activities before the March 15, 2019, attacks, including his travel in New Zealand and around the world, how he obtained firearms, his use of social media, and what relevant state sector agencies knew about him before the attacks.
It also looked at what actions state agencies took, what more they could have done, and whether some of them, such as intelligence agencies, were too busy looking at Islamic fundamentalism at the expense of the threat of white nationalism.
It's expected that the report – which took into account around 400 interviews, including one with Tarrant who was jailed for life without parole in August - will include many recommendations aimed at avoiding future similar tragedies.

A step in the right direction - but there's a long way to go.
The Wallabies sang an indigenous version of Australia's national anthem for the first time at the weekend -- prompting calls to make it a fixture at the country's sporting events.
But Megan Krakouer, an indigenous woman at the forefront of race relations in Perth, told Mike Yardley there's more work to do.
"This is about unity, this is about collaboration, this is about partnership, this is about capturing the voices of not just the Aboriginal nation but all nations."
She says the anthem isn't inclusive of the Aboriginal people.
"It's not reflective of the views of our people, it certainly doesn't encompass our views and our concerns, and us as a united front in terms of us being together and walking together."
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THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) If We're Okay and They're Okay.../Bad Blame Game/No Free Money/Victoria Unlocked/Midnight Lights

No apology from The Safety Warehouse for its weekend giveaway which turned violent.
The company promised to throw $100,000 into a crowd at Auckland's Aotea Square on Saturday.
But people grew angry when some discovered vouchers were being dished out instead of cash.
The company says it stands by its marketing and what was issued at the event.
Public relations expert Deborah Pead told Mike Yardley the event was very off-brand.
"It's a safety warehouse and they sell protection gear, so they probably should have done something that was more targeted to their audience."
She says the company can still come back from the botched stunt.
"They've got great publicity for the wrong reason, but they should know apologise to their audience and make amends."
It's unclear how much real money was involved during the drop or in what denominations.
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The Black Caps coach won't be waving the big stick after his fielders spilled half a dozen catches in the opening test against the West Indies.New Zealand opened the test season with an innings and 134 run victory over the visitors.
Gary Stead told Mike Yardley the dropped catches weren't ideal but he won't be losing sleep.
"There were a couple of very, very tough ones, and I think it's just a factor of tiredness a little bit.
"People make mistakes, we're human, and we've just got to keep getting better at it."
The second test starts on Friday at the Basin Reserve.
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