The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A National MP is suggesting it's undemocratic for councils to decide whether we should have Maori wards.
Gisborne and Taupo this week joined the growing list of Councils in favour of introducing them, but in Northland, hundreds have signed a petition opposing them.
The law allows the decision to go to a binding referendum, if five per cent of the population demands it.
National MP for Whangaparaoa, Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking councillors who bring in the wards should be voted out.
"I like to leave decisions with the community - and stop elected officials grabbing more and more power."
Labour's Stuart Nash says he's not against the idea of Maori wards.
"I am in favour of having them, but its up to local councils to determine, not the government."
LISTEN ABOVE

Medical specialists are calling for a shake up to our health system -- to take pressure off Emergency Departments.
It follows revelations Middlemore Hospital was giving people hundreds of vouchers for private clinics, to deal with the number of people showing up at ED.
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking there's been instances in Christchurch, where people are showing up with out-of-control dental problems. 
She says they're ending up in hospital for pain dependency issues or other complications because they can't afford to see a dentist.
"This is much more expensive than if they'd been able to access dental care in the first place."
Dalton says they're concerned about the supply of senior doctors, and whether they're working in the right places.
She says there's a much bigger picture around health and workforce planning, and if things were more joined up, it would have a positive effect on who's showing up at EDs.
LISTEN ABOVE

As multiple states and territories adjust their travel rules or get rid of them altogether, it’s hard to keep track of where you can and can’t travel in Australia.

Earlier this month Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed all of the nation’s borders will be open by Christmas, with the exception of Western Australia.
By December 1 most of the country’s borders should be reopened, with Mr Morrison saying it was welcome news for families desperate to spend time with loved ones at Christmas.
“That is a plan to have Australian open … with the exception of Western Australia,’’ he said.
“The plan importantly embeds public health metrics in ensuring that when Australia opens safely that it remains open safely, and that is incredibly important.”
So, from where you can go to whether you’ll have to quarantine, here’s a state-by-state guide to Australia’s border restrictions.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
People travelling from anywhere in Australia, apart from Victoria, can enter the state without having to go into a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Currently essential travellers from Victoria are allowed to enter the state but from December 1, the border will be completely open to all Victorians.
Anyone travelling in SA is still required to complete an online approval form before crossing the border.
QUEENSLAND
Anyone can cross the border into Queensland unless they have been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot in the past 14 days.
Current hot spots include Sydney, 20 LGA’s in South Australia and all of Victoria but these rules are set to change.
From December 1, the border will open to all of NSW with Victorians also likely to be able to travel into Queensland from that date as well.
There is no timeline yet on when the border will reopen to all of South Australia, with chief health officer Jeannette Young saying the government was waiting “a little bit longer” before making a decision.
Anyone looking to travel into Queensland will still need to complete a Border Declaration Pass beforehand.
NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW opened its border with Victoria on November 23, ending months of tough restrictions due to Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Victorians entering NSW no longer require a permit or need to quarantine upon arrival.
The only border restrictions in force for the state relate to South Australian travellers.
Anyone travelling into NSW who has been to South Australia in the last 14 days must complete a NSW entry declaration form before entering the state.
“Non-NSW residents who have been to any areas of concern at the times specified will be unable to enter NSW unless you are transiting through,” the NSW government said.
NSW residents who have been in an area of concern and are re-entering the state must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days upon their return.
VICTORIA
Like many other states, Victoria recently introduced travel restrictions for people crossing the border from South Australia.
Anyone entering Victoria from South Australia are required to have a Victorian Border Crossing Permit.
“A Victorian Border Crossing Permit will be issued for travellers based on the locations they have visited or travelled through in South Australia. These locations are categorised as green, orange and red zones,” the Victorian government’s website states.
“The 70km cross border permit arrangements between Victoria and South Australia are still in place. You can display your previous cross border permits or your driver’s licence with an address within 70km of the border, as long as you have not visited a location in the red zone.”
There are currently seven locations listed in the “red zone”, which can be found here.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
If you’re travelling to the Top End from or through a declared coronavirus hotspot, you’ll be sent into mandatory quarantine for 14 days at your own...

The New Orleans Pelicans have confirmed the signing of Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams.
The NBA franchise announced the arrival of Adams who makes the move from the Oklahoma City Thunder where he was played since 2013.
"Please help us welcome the two newest members of the family! Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe".
"Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe are not only fiercely competitive and driven to succeed at the highest levels, they are proven winners with a team-first mentality," Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin told NBA.com.



"As we continue to build toward the sustainable success our ownership demands and our fans so richly deserve, we are grateful to be able to do so with such high-quality teammates and human beings."
The Kiwi centre has reportedly signed a two-year US$35 million ($50 million) deal that will keep him under contract at the Pelicans until the end of the 2022-23 season.
On Saturday the 29-year-old was part of a large four-team trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks that saw the Thunder deal him and bring in five new players and three draft picks. He had previously spent all seven seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City franchise.
The move was confirmed on Monday.
The contract is fully guaranteed and is set to tip Adams' career earnings to north of US$140 million.
Adams initially had one year at US$27 million ($38 million) remaining on his contract which was absorbed by the Pelicans, but now has two more years tacked as the Pelicans indicate the Kiwi centre is part of their future.
Within the trade included former New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton, who was sent from New Orleans to Denver on the day of the NBA draft. Hampton was selected 24th just last week in the draft and will make his debut this coming season.
So far, there's been a mixed reaction to the move on social media.
"You know how you can't shoot? And run like your feet are in cement buckets? Here's 35 million more," one fan wrote.
"Are people not realizing how good of a player he is, both on the court and off of it? 17.5 is nothing for somebody who will do everything most players won't do... people need to relaaax," wrote another.
Adams joins the Pelicans after some strong seasons with the Thunder, averaging 12.9 points and 9.3 rebounds a game across the last three seasons.
His playoff experience will come in handy for a franchise beaming with talented youth and eyeing continual playoff runs in the future. Just once in his career has Adams not played in the NBA postseason.
He also forgoes the chance to enter free agency in 2021 and choose where to play amongst the teams that showed interest.

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday tapped Obama-era officials for top national security and economic roles, signalling a stark shift from the Trump administration's “America First” policies that disparaged international alliances and favoured deregulation and tax cuts.
The picks include former Secretary of State John Kerry to take the lead on combating climate change. Biden is also expected to choose Janet Yellen, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama to lead the Federal Reserve, as the first woman to become treasury secretary.
Biden's emerging Cabinet marks a return to a more traditional approach to governing, relying on veteran policymakers with deep expertise and strong relationships in Washington and global capitals. And with a roster that includes multiple women and people of colour — some of whom are breaking historic barriers in their posts — Biden is fulfilling his campaign promise to lead a team that reflects the diversity of America.
The incoming president will nominate longtime adviser Antony Blinken to be secretary of state, lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas to be homeland security secretary and Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be ambassador to the United Nations. Avril Haines, a former deputy director of the CIA, will be nominated as director of national intelligence, the first woman to hold that post.
Thomas-Greenfield is Black, and Mayorkas is Cuban American.
They “are experienced, crisis-tested leaders who are ready to hit the ground running on day one,” the transition said in a statement. “These officials will start working immediately to rebuild our institutions, renew and reimagine American leadership to keep Americans safe at home and abroad, and address the defining challenges of our time — from infectious disease, to terrorism, nuclear proliferation, cyber threats, and climate change.”
In the weeks ahead, Biden could also name Michèle Flournoy as the first woman to lead the Defense Department. Pete Buttigieg, the former Indiana mayor and onetime presidential candidate, has also been mentioned as a contender for several Cabinet agencies.
In making the announcements on Monday, Biden moved forward with plans to fill out his administration even as President Donald Trump refuses to concede defeat in the Nov. 3 election, has pursued baseless legal challenges in several key states and has worked to stymie the transition process.
Trump said Monday that he was directing his team to cooperate on the transition but vowed to keep up the fight. His comment came after the General Services Administration ascertained that Biden was the apparent winner of the election, clearing the way for the start of the transition from Trump’s administration and allowing Biden to coordinate with federal agencies on plans for taking over on Jan. 20.
The nominations were generally met with silence on Capitol Hill, where the Senate's balance of power hinges on two runoff races that will be decided in January.
The best known of the bunch is Kerry, who made climate change one of his top priorities while serving as Obama's secretary of state, during which he also negotiated the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord. Trump withdrew from both agreements, which he said represented a failure of American diplomacy in a direct shot at Kerry, whom he called the worst secretary of state in U.S. history.
“America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is,” Kerry said. “I’m proud to partner with the president-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the president’s climate envoy.”
Biden will appoint Jake Sullivan as national security adviser. At 43, he will be one of the youngest national security advisers in history.
Blinken, 58, served as deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration and has close ties with Biden....

As much as I like Grant Robertson, and I do, if you ever had any doubt that this government is hopelessly out of its depth economically, Robertson's letter to Adrian Orr should confirm it.
"Dear Adrian, have you seen the price of a house? My god, it's through the roof. What can we do, Adrian? We've banged on and on and on about prices being out of control, in opposition we bagged the government mercilessly, we promised to do something about it, but that blew up in our face. Who knew Phil Twyford was so useless? Anyway Adrian, it seems I'm now stuck, given I am in charge of all the money and the prices are still going up.
It was suggested to me that your monetary policy might be to blame, so given that suits my political agenda, I am writing to you today to blame you. Adrian, it's not good enough and you must do something about it. Don't ask me what, but please, please, please can you make the price of a house go down.
But, and this a big but Adrian, while you're at it can you not sink the economy? The economy is already in trouble and let's not mention how much of that money you’ve printed for me. And I know I added employment to the list of stuff you had to take care of with the OCR, as well as inflation of course, but Adrian have you seen the price of a house!"
So, in essence what Robertson is doing, is dropping Orr in it for political purposes. They have flooded the economy with money, they want people to borrow, but given they haven't created an environment of confidence business isn't borrowing. The only ones who are, are those who want a house.
Go figure, who saw that coming? Apart from about everyone who has ever bought a house.
Orr as much as he is taking heat, can only do so much. He's not in control of everything.
The man who has more control than Orr is Robertson. And he's panicking because he made a promise on housing he couldn’t keep, and he's been caught with his pants down.
The lesson here, as we have said, god knows, how many times, is politicians don't control housing. Never have, never will.  
Stop getting sucked in. And if you insist on getting sucked in, stop blaming others for your inability to understand the market.

The Local Government Minister says the Government would prefer to support councillors, than replace them.
Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell has quit,  in a bid to push the Government into appointing commissioners to replace the deeply divided council members.
The Government is also being urged to intervene in Invercargill City Council.
Nanaia Mahuta told Mike Hosking  the Government wants to keep elected representatives in place where it can.
“As a small country, we value local democracy and decision making. 
"The Government wants to work with local councils,  to support them in the job they have to do.”
Mahuta acknowledges many councils - including Tauranga and Invercargill - are facing challenges.
LISTEN ABOVE

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Letter to the RBNZ/Why So Racist?/Turkey Pardonings Ain't What They Used To Be

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has taken a significant step in the Government's quest to address soaring house prices by lobbying the Reserve Bank to change its mandate.
He has also asked the Treasury for advice on how current measures – such as the brightline test and the ring fencing of rental losses – are working, with a view to possibly expanding them.
Robertson announced today that he has written to the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Adrian Orr, asking him if the bank would take a more active role in cooling New Zealand's overheated housing market.
The move, Robertson hopes, will help bring about a period of "sustained moderation" to New Zealand's housing market.
At the unveiling of the Government's updated books this afternoon, Robertson said New Zealand's stronger-than-expected economic performance has forced house prices up.
REINZ has reported that there has been a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in house prices and the Government has come under enormous pressure to cool the market down.
Today, Robertson took the significant step of writing to Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr, asking the central bank to consider expanding its remit to include the stability of the housing market in its job description.
"I am concerned that the recent rapid escalation in house prices, and forecasts for this to continue, are affecting the Government's ability to meet the economic objectives set out in the Remit," he said in the letter.
In a separate press release, he said that given the extended period of low interest rates, "now is the time to consider how the Reserve Bank may contribute to a stable housing market".
The Reserve Bank acts independently, meaning it does not take its instructions from the Government.
In its agreement with the Government, the Reserve Bank's job is to control inflation, employment and financial stability.
Robertson has asked Orr to add "stability in the house prices" to the Reserve Bank's remit."I want to be clear," Robertson said, "I am not proposing any changes to the mandate or the independence of the Reserve Bank," he said.
The ball is now in Orr's court – it's up to him and his committee to decide if he will take up the Government's call.
In his letter, Robertson made it clear he wants an answer from Orr soon – "would request that you give it your earliest possible consideration".
As well as dropping the official cash rate (OCR) to help stimulate the economy throughout Covid-19, the Reserve Bank has been pumping tens of billions of dollars into the economy through the buying back of bonds – this is often called quantitative easing, or money printing.
Economists have pointed to both these forms of stimulus as the main reasons house prices have been soaring, while the rest of the economy is in recession.
Despite this, Robertson said he was not blaming the Reserve Bank for the rapid house price inflation and said the central bank has served New Zealanders "incredibly well".
The Government has largely focused on the demand-side of the housing equation, saying it was looking into change its rules around first home buyer subsidies.
Robertson said today that the Government was looking at "everything we can" when it comes to the supply of houses.
For example, he has asked the Treasury to provide him with advice around extending the bright line test, which at the moment means people have to play tax on a dwelling if it's sold within five years of its purchase.
Meanwhile, the Crown accounts show the amount of debt the Government has taken on to combat the pandemic is $750 million lower than expected, while the tax take is $172m higher than had been forecast.
The numbers show an updated version of the Government's books, compared to the Pre-Economic Fiscal and Economic Update (PREFU).
Given the nature of the economic environment, the Treasury's numbers have been jumping around as the Government...

I sort of let Stuart Nash’s first foray into tourism slide, because we have him on the show each week and we kind of covered it off at the time.
But what an astonishing, ongoing, ‘can we get over it and move on’ kind of reaction we have continued to have.  
You do realise he isn’t banning people, don’t you? All he said is we want to target the wealthy, we don’t want people crapping in our water ways and all that got banned were vans with no toilets.
to judge by the headlines, op-eds ,whinging, hand wringing and yelping ,you’d think he had gone to Auckland  airport and set up a kiosk that, when borders open again, would be staffed by people shaking down arriving tourists and anyone caught with less than $20,000 would be frog marched back into the plane.
It’s yet another sign that you can’t have an idea in this country. an eminently sensible idea, without the usual array of doom merchants lining up to tell you where you’ve gone wrong and how anything to do with money and success is bad news and we want none of it.
Before Covid, when we had an international tourist industry, there was general if not universal agreement that we had far too many people coming to this country for little net gain.
Small towns were inundated with no facilities from car parks to toilets to cope. There were fly in fly out bus tours, draining resource for no great return.
We had already decided quality not quantity was the way forward.
All Stuart did was articulate that and ban some cheap vans. He’s not banning back packers, he’s not closing youth hostels, and he’s not shuttering any hotels that aren’t five stars. He’s simply wanting to do what we had already decided was a good idea and it is.
When you’re the cream of the crop, and we are, you can be selective. You can set the agenda, and why, given our beauty international reputation and demand, wouldn’t we?
Why wouldn’t we charge through the nose for the experience? Do you want 10 at $100 or one at a $1000? Do we do mass or select? Are we economy or business? Are we Motel 6 or the Ritz Carlton?
The answer is simple. We just hadn’t got past the point of talking and onto the doing. The hope comes in the form of a new minister who gets it
Tourism is the golden goose, or a golden goose. It is a business, not a charity. So let’s get on with it.