The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Bic Runga is a name synonymous with Kiwi music.
Her debut album back in 1997 was a hit, and has been certified seven times platinum.
She's gone on to receive 20 New Zealand music awards, has been inducted into the New Zealand music hall of fame, and was given the Order of Merit back in 2006.
And now she's back on the road with a new nationwide tour in October and November.
Bic Runga joined Mike Hosking live in studio for a chat and live performance!
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE

Support for National's plan to make the tech sector bigger than dairy.
The policy includes creating 100,000 jobs, increasing tech exports to $16 billion dollars per annum, creating tech visas and scholarships, and introducing a Minister for Technology.
It is pledging to do this by ensuring 90 per cent of households have uncapped ultra-fast broadband, introducing a fast-track technology skills visa, creating a Minister for Technology and offering 1000 tertiary scholarships a year for science-focused degrees.
Tech Industry Association boss Graeme Muller told Mike Hosking they've wanted an E-Minister for a very long time.
"We currently brief about eight ministers, so having a central coordinator should help the government avoid doubling up or missing out."
LISTEN ABOVE

In a first, the Tour de France winner wore a face mask on the podium Sunday, bright yellow to match the color of the iconic jersey so snug on his young shoulders.
But at least there was a winner.
Three weeks ago, when 21-year-old Tadej Pogacar set off with 175 other competitors that he ended up beating, not even race organizers were sure they would make it through the storm of France's worsening coronavirus epidemic and reach Paris.
“Really, I was scared we wouldn't get to the end,” race director Christian Prudhomme conceded at the finish.
And so it was that Pogacar, up there on that podium, backlit by the pink hues of a Paris dusk, not only became the Tour's youngest champion in 116 years but also a symbol of resilience, of can-do, of learning to live with — but not surrendering to — the virus still causing so much pain.
Sure, it all felt weird, as so many things do these days. Example: Pogacar's mask puffed in and out, like an octopus glued to his face, as he sang the anthem of his native Slovenia, played in his honor.
But so liberating and invigorating, too, in this most horrid of years.
The rumble of the riders' wheels hammering over the cobblestones of Paris' Champs-Elysees. Alive, like heartbeats, on the famous boulevard that during lockdown just months ago was deserted.
The applause from the roadside crowds that, when they were all confined indoors, cheered only for doctors and nurses, coming out on their balconies each night to yell “Bravo!"
In towns and villages across France, that word has been heard again, over and over, these past weeks — this time for the Tour's riders as they zoomed past in a kaleidoscope of colored jerseys, the yellow one most prized of all.
And against the virus that doesn't care how old or young its victims are, how hopeful it seemed that the Tour's winner should come from the same generation asking itself: What is life going to be like for us?
“It's super. I adore that," said Lea Tilhac, a 23-year-old student who got to the Champs-Elysees hours early to be sure of being among the 5,000 people allowed to line its length, the socially-distanced limit this year. “It shows there's a future.”
For Pogacar, the future now looks brighter than ever. The victory on the eve of his 22nd birthday and the way he went about it during 3,482 kilometers (2,164 miles) of racing — with an intoxicating mix of youthful insouciance and steely grit — transformed him from prodigy into cycling superstar, a Tour rookie so talented he KO'd the race on his first attempt.
He is Slovenia's first winner and the Tour's second-youngest behind Henri Cornet, who was just shy of 20 when he was crowned in 1904.
Pogacar sealed the win in a high-drama time trial on Saturday, the last real day of racing for the title. In an astounding reversal, he dethroned race leader Primoz Roglic, his countryman who had held the yellow jersey for 11 days. Pogacar held it for just one day, the last and most important, on the processional ride to the finishing line in Paris, with yellow bike to match.
On the podium, Pogacar's mask hid his smiles, but the creases around his eyes gave them away.
“This is just the top of the top,” he said. “It's been an amazing three-week adventure."
With jets trailing plumes of red, white and blue smoke above Paris as the riders raced, organizers could finally breathe free. None of the 176 starters, or 146 finishers, tested positive for the virus in multiple batteries of tests, validating the hermetic bubble of measures that shielded them from infection and the decision to postpone the race from July to September, but not to cancel it.
The only COVID-19 positives touched a handful of team employees and Prudhomme, the director, even as infection numbers soared across the country.
Prudhomme was back after a week of self-isolation. Wearing a mask, he signaled the start of Sunday’s stage at Mantes-La-Jolie west of Paris...

British pubs will have to close early and people who fail to obey quarantine rules will face stiff fines under new lockdown restrictions to curb a surging wave of new coronavirus infections.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce the new measures Tuesday, a day after the U.K.'s chief medical officers raised the nation’s COVID-19 alert level, saying the virus is in general circulation and spreading fast. Other top medical experts said Britain's number of daily new infections — which stood Monday at 4,300 — could rise as high as 50,000 a day in October if immediate action is not taken.
The prime minister's office said starting Thursday, pubs, bars and other hospitality venues will be restricted to table service only and will have to close at 10 p.m.
Johnson is due to update Parliament on the coronavirus situation Tuesday after meetings of his Cabinet and the government's crisis committee, COBRA. He will also make a televised address to the nation about efforts to combat the virus.
The U.K. has gradually been increasing restrictions as cases rise, with people barred from meeting in large groups. But the measures are far less stringent than a nationwide lockdown imposed in March that saw restrictions on movement and most businesses closed. It was eased starting in June as cases began to fall, but that trend has now been reversed.
On Monday, the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland raised the virus alert from three to four, the second-highest level, on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Center. They said cases of COVID-19 were rising “rapidly and probably exponentially.”
In a live televised briefing, Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said after a slow rise in new infections over the summer, the number of new COVID-19 cases is now doubling every seven days. They said new infections could increase tenfold to almost 50,000 a day next month if nothing is done now.
In other countries, such an increase has soon led to a rise in deaths, Whitty said, adding “we have, in a very bad sense, literally turned a corner” after weeks of rising infections.
Whitty stressed that infection rates are rising among all age groups and infections among the young and healthy will inevitably spread to friends, family and ultimately to the most vulnerable in society.
“This is not someone else’s problem," he said. “This is all of our problem.’’
To persuade people to stay home if they test positive, the government announced it would pay low-income workers 500 pounds ($639) if they are told to self-isolate for 14 days. It also said those breaking quarantines could face fines up to 10,000 pounds ($12,800).
Britain has Europe's highest death toll in the pandemic, with over 41,800 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say all such figures understate the true impact of the pandemic.
The 4,300 new infections reported Monday hit a level not seen since early May. Britain's highest daily number of new infections peaked at 6,199 cases on April 5.
While death rates remain relatively low so far, Whitty warned that deaths are likely to rise. The U.K. reported a seven-day average of 21 deaths a day last week, compared with a peak of 942 deaths on April 10.
These numbers include only deaths that are directly related to COVID-19. The real toll could be much higher if emergency services are overwhelmed by coronavirus cases and the National Health Service has to divert resources from treating other diseases, Whitty said.
But Whitty said new restrictions have to be balanced against the impact on the economy and society, because increased deprivation and mental illness will also lead to deaths.
"If we do too little, this virus will go out of control and you will get significant numbers of increased direct and indirect deaths,’’ he said “But if we go too far the other way, then...

A deal on a Covid-19 vaccine is being seen as one of the many things New Zealand has to do.
The Government's signed a $27 million dollar agreement with Covax Facility.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the money for the COVAX Facility will allow us to buy a successful vaccine from a range of candidates.
She says it will cover half the vaccination needs of New Zealand, Tokelau, Cook Islands and Niue.
Malaghan Institute director Graham Le Gros, told Mike Hosking Covax has dibs on some Astra Zenaca vaccines because it's been giving that company money.
"It's like having a bob each way.
"There's also nothing to stop New Zealand doing a direct deal with Astra Zenaca, this is just one of several options."
LISTEN ABOVE

Beloved American TV show host turned TV villain Ellen DeGeneres has debuted the latest season of her controversial talk show with a bang.
Ahead of the show's season 18 premiere overnight, the 62-year-old's opening monologue was posted on social media before the full episode's syndicated broadcast.
It was simply titled: "Today we're starting a new chapter".
In it, DeGeneres spends five minutes bluntly addressing the scandalous, toxic workplace rumours that have plagued her for months.
The personality has spent the American summer in lockdown and has been rarely seen in public after her spectacular fall from grace this year.
"How was everybody's summer? Good? Yeh? Mine was great," she said sarcastically, holding two thumbs up. "Super terrific."
"If you're watching because you love me, thank you," she says.
"If you're watching because you don't love me, welcome," she said, acknowledging the fact that all eyes will be on her as she faced the mounting allegations.
In the searing monologue, DeGeneres admitted she's a "work in progress" but pleaded to viewers that she is still "the person you see on TV".
"There are a lot of things I want to talk about, I've been looking forward to addressing it all directly. And unfortunately, talking to people directly has been illegal for six months," she joked, referencing the coronavirus pandemic, which saw the United States clock past 200,000 deaths yesterday.
"As you may have heard this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show and then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that never should've happened," she said, echoing a previous letter she sent to her crew.
"I take that very seriously, and I want to say I'm so sorry to the people who were affected."
The star – once bubbly and bouncy on each episode of The Ellen DeGeneres show – became 2020's biggest villain after several former staff members, celebrities, security guards and guests of the show opened up about their negative experiences with her.
DeGeneres alluded to the firings of top producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and Jonathan Norman but offered few glimpses of real change or behind the scenes details except for adding the cast and crew had "a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace and what we want for the future".
She said simply they have "made the necessary changes" without revealing what those changes are, except for the fact "we are starting a new chapter".
'I get mad'
She admitted being known as the "be kind" lady is "a tricky position to be in" after current and former employees made allegations of racism and intimidation in explosive articles by Buzzfeed. They also claimed there was widespread sexual misconduct among the top executives at the show.
She said that while she "is the person you see on TV … I am also a lot of other things.
"Sometimes I get sad. I get mad. I get anxious. I get frustrated. I get impatient. And I am working on all of that. I am a work in progress.
"And I am especially working on the impatience thing because … and it's not going well because it's not happening fast enough."
The Finding Dory star said she knows "I am in a position of privilege and power and I realise that with that comes responsibility".
"I take that responsibility for what happens at my show. This is The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I am Ellen DeGeneres."
She joked that while she's a "pretty good actress" having played a "straight woman in movies" she said she isn't good enough to "come out here every day for 17 years and fool you".
"This is me," she said.
"My intention is to always be the best person I can be. And if I've ever let someone down, if I've ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that.
"If that's ever the case, I've let myself down and I've hurt myself as well."
WarnerMedia is reportedly nearing the end of...

Experts doubt tonight's Ardern versus Collins match-up will shake up the polls much.
The election campaign's first leaders debate will be on TVNZ at 7pm.
Auckland University politics lecturer Lara Greaves told Kate Hawkesby it's usually only around ten percent of voters who make up their minds this late in the campaign.
"Labour has been doing so well in the polls. I don’t think the debate performance will make a huge difference,
“It would have to be a horrible performance from the Labour leader and a great one from her National counterpart to sway the polls at all."
Greaves says between 700,000 and a million people are expected to tune in.
She says it's a great chance for leaders to get their ideas out there and show their personalities - but in the social media age there's also a risk.
LISTEN ABOVE

Does Auckland feel like one of the world's most liveable cities?
The trick to understanding the human condition is to realise until it affects you, you don’t really care. You can offer a bit of sympathy, a shoulder to cry on, a few wise words of advice, but until it's up in your grill ruining your day, it's not really your problem.
That's how elections work. It's why Trump, Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison won.
What people say and what they do are often two different things. That's why New Zealand First does better on election day than in polls, people are embarrassed to admit any support. Flip side the Greens, it's cool to be green but you wouldn’t actually vote for them.
So, if you're reading this in Timaru, Christchurch, Wellington, or New Plymouth, the fact Auckland's Harbour Bridge doesn’t work is of no real concern to you. Until, of course, the economic impact it has hits your town, your workplace, or your home.
That economic reality was brought home in the last Auckland lockdown. It affects the whole country. When Auckland doesn't, New Zealand doesn’t work.
Downtown Auckland currently is a mess. It didn’t function before Covid, it doesn’t function now, but in a different way, because a lot of people went home and never came back. Some of the trains are out for the week, again. Ferries are a nightmare, inconsistent and shoddy when they are running.  There is no enough water because they didn’t plan for population growth. Housing is too expensive for many making it harder to attract Labour. And the bridge is falling apart cutting half the population off from the other half.
It's got four days' worth of headlines because the bridge is the most tangible outworking of the dysfunction. And it isn't getting any better. In typical Auckland, come New Zealand, style there is no rush to sort it. The obligatory four weeks to months fixes are offered from another dysfunctional department in charge of something but responsible for nothing.  
And while all this has been slowly but inevitably bubbling to the mess we currently face, leaders have declared climate emergencies, indulged their passion for wastage on things like bike lanes, and pretended it’s a globally liveable city. There should be charges for civil fraud for this sort of behaviour.
We are here because we sadly deserve to be. We don’t care, we don’t vote, and we don’t hold people to account.
The same is happening with the government and Covid-19. We are prisoners to an ideology, the economy has crashed, and we are pretending we did well. But New Zealand as a country is like Auckland and its bridge or its water.
After a while it's damage becomes increasingly evident, the impact increasingly wide, and the tolerance increasingly low. The question at all stages, in all the scenarios, is the same, just how long are you prepared to put up with it?
Why don’t you want more and better? How long can we pretend? Is this actually the best we can do? What needs to break, stop, or die before we finally wake up to the fact this country is, in fact, a broken bridge and no one is going anywhere fast?

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) What a Mess/Is Rainbow's End a Tourist Trap?/Who's Enrolled/Movie Money/Advice for Campbell

Jacinda Ardern and radio host Mike Hosking have gone head to head on New Zealand's Covid response, with the Prime Minister insisting our recovery is on track to be better than Australia's.
Despite New Zealand's GDP falling 12 per cent compared to Australia's 7 per cent in the most recent June quarter, Ardern said New Zealand's debt and unemployment levels were lower, and there had been fewer deaths.
Our wage subsidy supported 1.7 million people and businesses had been supported financially faster, she told Hosking on Newstalk ZB today.
Melbourne was also still in a significant lockdown.
"It's a pure matter of opinion... we've still got a way to run. Many times when you and I have discussed New Zealand's approach to Australia, my view has been let's see how things fare when we are out the other side of this."
Hosking played Ardern an audio clip of Australian PM Scott Morrison, talking about the countries' relative GDP performance.
"Why do you think PM Morrison was having to answer that question? Because New Zealand in Australia is compared favourably for its approach," said Ardern.
She told Hosking that he was assuming New Zealand was not going to have a sharper recovery. "If your measure of success is one quarter of GDP, that's for you."
"All the signs are that we are going to have a sharp recovery."
She said there was no cost-free or impact-free response to the pandemic. "There is no economy in the world that either hasn't had a hit to the likes of consumer confidence or a hit to GDP or a hit to debt levels. Relative to other countries, we are more open."
Hosking challenged Ardern on that comment, saying she was "making this up as you go along" - highlighting New South Wales, which had more cases than New Zealand, would have full crowds back at big rugby league games this weekend.
Ardern said NSW had recently had limits on hospitality and gatherings like New Zealand, which is also easing rules as of today.
Ardern: "Mike, if in your view there's a perfect model here, you are welcome to that view."
Hosking: "No you are being too linear. It's not a matter of a perfect model or a non-perfect model, it's about nuance and subtlety."
Ardern: "Mike, if you're saying you're now a person of nuance and subtlety, bless. I am not going to claim perfection but I will stand by our response."

Ardern said that director general of health Ashley Bloomfield had asked Cabinet to consider a 500-person limit for indoor gatherings at level 1.