The Mike Hosking Breakfast

There is confidence New Zealand's relationship with China is safe.
The world's second largest economy expanded 4.9 percent in the July-to-September quarter, compared to a year ago.
New Zealand China Council chairman Sir Don McKinnon told Mike Hosking the appetite of Chinese people for New Zealand dairy and meat products is increasing.
“Some people in this country might have doubts about eating red meat, but there's no question for the Chinese because they love it.”
McKinnon says we have a lot of experience dealing with major powers on the trading front.
He says we don't find it necessary to publicly assassinate people all the time.
‘We tell them what we don't like but we don't broadcast it across the airwaves.”
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A $200 travel card for every Kiwi would help activities and amenities.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa wants the Government to do five things immediately to help revive and the sector.
They include giving every person a $200  travel card to be used on weekdays, make a plan to reopen the border, and provide bridging finance for businesses.
Haka Tourism Group general manager Eve Lawrence told Mike Hosking it probably won't help the wider tourism industry.
'Doing it on weekdays is fantastic because it would spread the flow of tourism more evenly."
Lawrence says operators don't want the Government to go harder and faster at the border.
She says they want a strategic plan for border reopening for how Covid's going to be managed, because it doesn't seem it's going to go away anytime soon.
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Wales became the second nation in the United Kingdom to lock down large swaths of its economy to combat rising coronavirus infections, even as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday resisted loud calls to do the same throughout England.
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said Monday administration was backing a short, sharp “firebreak” to slow the spread of COVID-19. All non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses will close for two weeks beginning at 6 p.m. Friday — a lockdown similar in scope to the U.K.-wide measures imposed in March.
“This is the moment to come together to play our part in a common endeavor to do everything we can together to protect the (National Health Service) and to save lives,'' Drakeford said.
Authorities across the U.K. are imposing new restrictions on business and social interactions as COVID-19 infections rise throughout all age groups and parts of the country, filling hospital beds and intensive care wards. One of their main goals is to reduce the strain on the NHS ahead of the winter flu season.
Public health experts say a lockdown can help reset the pandemic at a lower level, giving doctors time to treat the ill and providing breathing room for the government to improve its response. Britain has the deadliest coronavirus outbreak in Europe, with over 43,700 confirmed deaths.
Drakeford said the Welsh lockdown will definitely end Nov. 9.
“The benefit will be seen in the weeks that follow,'' Drakeford said.
Northern Ireland has already ordered schools to close for the next two weeks, banned most social gatherings and shut down many businesses including bars and restaurants for a month.
The Welsh decision came as officials in Greater Manchester continue to reject efforts by Johnson's Conservative government to move the region into the highest level of restrictions in the three-tier system Johnson unveiled for England a week ago. While the government’s scientific advisers have recommended a short national lockdown, Johnson says his tiered, regional approach limits the economic and social damage from the pandemic on areas where infection rates are lower.
Johnson’s government said the talks with authorities in Manchester must be completed urgently because the public health situation is deteriorating, but local officials were holding out for more financial assistance for those hurt by the restrictions.
“Disappointingly, we have still not been able to reach an agreement," the British government said Monday in a statement. It said it was "carefully considering next steps.”
Johnson's government has threatened to impose the measures unilaterally if an agreement can’t be reached.
Sean Fielding, a council leader in the Manchester area, told the BBC that local leaders are trying to protect residents from the government’s “untested” strategy. Fielding said a short national lockdown would be “much less painful because it will be for a shorter period."
“It will be cheaper in the long run as well, because you will only have to provide that financial support for those few weeks whereas this could run on and on and on beyond Christmas,” he said.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told Sky News that a deal was not just about the “size of the check.’’ Local officials want to protect low-paid workers, self-employed people and businesses that may collapse under the restrictions, he said.
“We’ve always said we would put people’s health first, and we will do that,” he said. “But health is about more than controlling the virus — people’s mental health, I think, is now pretty low given that we’ve been under restrictions here for three months already.”
Under the U.K.’s system of devolved government, the regional administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales control health policy in their areas and the U.K. government makes the rules for England.
Johnson’s three-tier strategy applies only to...

I note calls for changes to election day rules around campaigning. Every time I vote I am reminded what an old world, quaint, and disconnected from our normal life type affair it is.
I enrolled, got my papers to prove my enrolment, but then didn’t get my easy vote card. I didn’t worry, given nothing that’s supposed to come in the mail these days arrives in a way that makes any sense. I sent a parcel to one of the kids the other day. I put so many stamps on it, I was expecting it to be personally choppered. But almost two weeks later it finally turned up a few hundred kilometres down the road at my daughter's place.
My wife's card arrived, still nothing for me. Don't worry they said, it will arrive. It didn’t, but even if it doesn’t, I don’t need it. That obviously begs the question, why have it?
So, I go the bloke at the desk with a stack of papers full of names. He goes through them, I'm not there. So no card, and indeed no enrolment. Fortunately, one of the few changes they have made to voting in this country is you can enrol on the day.
So, I did. It took a while given the person helping me didn’t know how that worked. The paper, the envelopes, the stickers, the instruction cards, someone is making a fortune in printing.
It should be digital, of course, but then the Russians or the Chinese will doctor things. Isn't that the latest fear? So, we've got the tech and the smarts, but we also have the fear and the crooks, so we still act like it's 1976.
Early voting has helped, or has it? They don’t count any faster despite starting at 9am on polling day. And given more and more vote early, how is it they vote mid campaign amid the promises and the arm twisting, and yet those who vote on the Saturday aren't allowed to hear a word? It makes no sense.
I've always liked the American judicial practice of being able to talk to jurors. Was it unanimous? Why was he guilty or not? Was there much debate? Insight is always useful, and what have we got to fear from information?
In Australia they stand outside polling areas handing out leaflets, and Australia doesn’t seem adversely affected by it.
It's just a decision. You're entitled to it, you can make up your mind anyway you like, it doesn’t have to be a mystery and all steeped in weird practice. Exit polls are good as well, why not have them? What are we afraid of?
But between the lost card ,the lack of enrolment, the forests of paper, cardboard, pens, the slow counting, and arcane rules, the whole process is ripe for a renovation.

National will be reviewing the election today, but National MP Mark Mitchell says that shouldn't include a leadership change.
They're gathering in Wellington today after suffering its worst election result since 2002.
Preliminary results give the party 35 seats ... losing 19.
Mark Mitchell will return after winning the Whangaparaoa electorate.
The National MP, who previously had a tilt at the leadership, gave his unqualified backing to Collins saying his dreams of being the leader were buried.
"We're not focused on any change in leadership, we're one hundred per cent behind the leader, we've got a lot of other work to do and other things to focus on and that is namely getting organised, getting back into Parliament and holding the government to account," he said.
He told Mike Hosking it would be a difficult day in the caucus room with 20 politicians losing their jobs at the weekend.
"It's going to be a very sombre mood today without a doubt because we're going to farewell 20 of our colleagues."
But now more than ever was the time to have united caucus.
"We just had a really tough three years really and it's a chance for us to reset and do our job as an Opposition."
He said the National Party would be working closely with Act in the next Parliament to provide a strong Opposition.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) What Really Killed National/Time for a Shake-Up/Let it Go, Hosk/Bubble Trouble/Keeping Cash

A time of reflection and change for the National Party, but not its leadership.
The party is gathering in Wellington today after suffering its worst election result since 2002.
Preliminary results give the party 35 seats, losing 19.
Speaking to Mike Hosking, former cabinet minister and party strategist Steven Joyce pinpointed the party's demise back to Jami-Lee Ross "and it went on from there". 
Joyce, who did the National Party election review in 2002, said while the party was predictably hurting from the result introspection was important to find a way forward and learn from mistakes. 
He was confident Judith Collins would remain as leader of the party despite the loss.
Joyce said it was likely when the party looked over the past term they would identify a number of areas where they would have done things differently.
"I don't think there should be any change. I think Judith has done a good job. By her own admission she says it hasn't been perfect - it's very hard for it to be in that situation.,
" I think it's really important that people stop talking out of school and caucus will know who's doing that - they'll have a fair idea - and only they can impose that discipline but that only looks self-serving."
He said there were no political factions within the National party of any note.
"The factions are personality factions and there are a few personalities who think they should run the show and they would have done a hell of a lot better," said Joyce.
"I've got news for them - they probably wouldn't have."
"They should probably just pipe down and get on with the job of rebuilding the team because that's what's really important."

The upside for Labour is they’ve got the place to themselves.
Which is good for the markets. Markets don’t like the Greens, they don’t like the uncertainty of the Greens, and although the Greens will be there, it will be in a non-confrontational ‘don’t break the china’ kind of way.
This is FPP in all but name, and whether that’s Covid or whether that’s us deciding MMP doesn’t work who would know
But the last government was pure MMP. Three parties that muddled along with handbrakes, standoffs and the lack of progression you’d expect from a lot of behind the scenes compromise.
So the up side is you can do what you want. Down side is, do they know what they want to do really?
Short of a vaccine what actually is their plan? Their campaign was a rock star leader and a lot of selfies.
Yet the economy is in a world of trouble, and a vaccine seems to be their answer.
Before Covid, their year of delivery was anything but. This will have to change or they’ll be toast in 2023.
Another issue to worry about is who the hell is coming to Wellington.
Whether large party or small, history is littered with tales of people you never heard of, people who never in their wildest dreams thought they would be an MP, actually get to be an MP.
That makes new stars, but also produces carnage. Having a large caucus gives you the votes you need, but also the trouble you don’t.
Talent is their other issue. Ardern, Robertson, Woods, Little, Parker and Hipkins, Nash; having more people in your team doesn’t mean the team is any more gifted, just larger.
Mind you, look at Helen Clark. It was her, Cullen, Goff and King. You don’t need a hall full to run the place, but ideally they probably need more than they’ve got.
And here’s the greatest challenge of all. This is their best result in decades. Ardern has taken them from 24 percent to 36 percent to 48 percent. It’s an astonishing record, but this is as good as it gets.
To improve it is impossible. To maintain it is hard work. That’s the test.
What do they say about being at the top?
Big picture, to be truly great you need three terms, with a genuine shot at four. So this chapter is potentially still early days, and these are unprecedented times
So no pressure then.

Australian state officials are reportedly scrambling to gain access to airline passenger lists to identify travellers who have arrived from New Zealand under the trans-Tasman bubble arrangement.
It comes after flights from New Zealand touched down at Sydney Airport on Friday carrying international passengers who, for the first time in seven months, did not need to quarantine upon arrival.
However, while the arrangements were meant to permit New Zealanders to travel freely into NSW and the Northern Territory, 23 have slipped into WA, and 55 to Victoria without the state governments' knowledge.
Five travellers have also entered Tasmania and are currently in hotel quarantine.
Victorian officials have reportedly asked the Australian Border Force to speed up the release of passenger lists to prevent a repeat of the surprise arrival when more flights land from New Zealand.
It comes after Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued a statement on Sunday night revealing it had made contact with all 55 travellers to Victoria.
The statement said: "The travellers, some in family groups and most staying in private homes, were provided with information about Covid-19 and the current Victorian health directions.
"Three of the travellers did not cross the border into Victoria and remain in NSW, and one who was in Victoria returned to NSW today.
"Twenty-one of the 55 travellers arrived at Melbourne Airport on Friday and Saturday.
"The remainder arrived using other modes of transport.
"DHHS Authorised Officers continue to meet incoming flights at Melbourne Airport and provide information to arriving passengers."
Meanwhile, the 23 people who "jumped borders" from NSW to WA are in mandatory quarantine.
Premier Mark McGowan first announced on Sunday morning that 25 people had arrived in the state, before the number was officially revised to 23 later in the day.
He called for "better management" after the New Zealanders slipped in without exemptions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is leaving it to state officials to contact airlines themselves under a decision made by the national Cabinet on September 18.
"On arrival into Australia from New Zealand, passengers are advised to check the entry requirements for other states, which includes needing to undertake hotel quarantine if they travel to WA," said a federal government spokesman at the weekend.
More flights are due to arrive from New Zealand in the coming days.
On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews called on the federal government to "work" with Victoria, saying the state never agreed to be part of the travel bubble.
It comes after Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge claimed the Victorian government "authorised" a group of 17 people who arrived from New Zealand to enter the state.
Under the deal between the two nations, New Zealanders are permitted to travel quarantine-free into both NSW and the Northern Territory, under the proviso they've not been in a Covid-19 hotspot in the 14 days leading up to their travel.
Tudge savaged the Victoria government, saying: "The fact that people cannot recall being in meetings, people cannot recall emails being sent, people cannot recall making decisions, it is just deja vu in relation to the Victorian government.
"That just seems to be a pattern now of not being able to recall what is going on, not being able to recall being at meetings, not being able to recall sending emails to authorise such activities".
However, Andrews has hit back at suggestions Victoria agreed to be part of the travel bubble saying "we can't just have people wandering into the place from another country".
He said they had now been informed 55 travellers from New Zealand had arrived.
"We are having to find these people," he said.
"We are ringing them, one of them was in Byron Bay. And yet we were told they had landed and travelled to Melbourne."

This year's Bathurst 1000 was the perfect realisation of Shane van Gisbergen's comment in his pre-race interview with the Weekend Herald. From the time the lights went out at 1pm Sunday afternoon the Great Race turned out to be a six-and-a –bit-hour sprint race.
Van Gisbergen finally got the win he so coveted after coming oh so close over the past few years.
"It's just awesome," said van Gisbergen after getting out his car. "The team did a faultless job all weekend and the car got better all weekend.
"It's a great way to see out Holden and thanks to [co-driver] Garth [Tander] who did an awesome job. I just wish Mum and Dad were able to be here."



Compared to previous years, on balance the 2020 race was a little subdued for the majority of the contest with the leading protagonists there or there about all afternoon, though there were a few fender benders, including Jamie Whincup's huge error and the odd mechanical drama.
However, the race came monumentally alive over the last 20 laps. With two safety car incursions putting pressure on race leader van Gisbergen at each restart it was edge of the seat stuff. The closing laps were exhilarating with Cameron Waters trying everything in his repertoire to get past the cagey Kiwi each time the safety car pulled into pitlane. The laps the pair put together where some of the best you'll see at any race meeting. It was nip and tuck on steroids.
"The last few laps with the safety car coming out twice was tough. I knew if I got through turn two okay, I'd be fine. He [Waters] got pretty close a few times but I managed to get good grip and was alright," said van Gisbergen.
"Man, those last few laps were all qualifying laps — just awesome. The team effort was on point and having good track position was important as it's super hard to pass.
"It's been an awesome couple years for the Kiwis [in the category] and for me to finally win this race has been amazing."
Shane van Gisbergen. Photo / Photosport
The second big story of the day was the pairing that had the pedigree and historic results at Mount Panorama coming unstuck due to an uncharacteristic error from main game driver Whincup. He and Craig Lowndes have 11 Bathurst 1000 wins between them and were among the leading favourites to win.
It all came unstuck very early in the race when Whincup tried to put a move on Brodie Kostecki heading into The Cutting and cannoned into the outside wall ending their race.
"This place, you've got to have respect for it," said Lowndes.
"If it doesn't, it bites you. We've all made mistakes here. It is a shame, the car was working extremely well.
"Jamie was in for a stint and a half and it is difficult because obviously you want to get around cars, and as soon as you're about half a car's width wide coming into The Cutting, it's all obviously dirty there. I'm sure he'll be disappointed with himself."
Supercars champion elect and former Bathurst winner Scott McLaughlin, along with co-driver Tim Slade, managed to come home in a solid fifth place to round out his stellar year before heading off to the US to embark on his next adventure in IndyCar.