The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A certain desperation is creeping into the language of some as the so-called post Covid-19 recovery settles in. 
Travel agents are pleading for more money or else their industry will "collapse.”
The wage subsidy comes to an end on September 1, that is no bad thing. Will companies fall over and people lose their jobs? Yes. But what's the alternative? Welfare? And not the welfare you can already access, but the artificial welfare that would have replaced the real money no longer being earned by a business sector that has been wiped out.
There is still plenty of money about the place. There is money specifically set aside for the tourism sector, and it's set aside based on sound principles. Those principles being some jobs, some sectors will come back, and we will need them ready to go. There's no point in destruction only to have to rebuild.
But, and here's the new development that hasn’t been worked through properly, now that we know the borders aren't opening until there is no community spread in the countries we are opening to, or a vaccine, just how long should we wait?  And should we be artificially propping people up?
As encouraging as the news is around the vaccine this week, no one seems to think we'll see anything this side of Christmas.
So is a travel agent worth propping up? Sadly, no. You have to  be realistic. We don’t actually have any money to do the propping. There will always be people with plight you can sympathise with, and no more so than in a time like this where none of this is anyone's fault.But as in all great calamities, some will prosper and some won't. In this case many won't.
The trick to good leadership is know the difference, and being bold enough to make the calls.
I might be a bit of a lone vice in this, given what Phillip Lowe at the Australian Reserve Bank said this week, he said more money, more borrowing, and it's only because we are not used to all this that it all seems odd.
But here's what i know about our plight, we have no money. We will need to pay back what we borrow, and we aren't doing it by propping up industries and businesses that, for now anyway, can't turn a dollar by themselves.

NZ First leader and deputy prime minister Winston Peters is capping off a dramatic week in New Zealand politics by saying he will save the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter. 
The New Zealand First leader will address Southlanders this afternoon, vowing to save the aluminium smelter set to close next year.
Peters says in recent decades Tiwai Point has been "utterly screwed" by politicians.
"I am going to expose decades of deceit from central Government and the Crown with respect to Tiwai Point," he told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB.
He says it will not involve government money. "I am down there to talk plain common sense."
He says there are businesses paying massive prices for electricity, way above competitive advantages there used to be in the "good old days".
Winston Peters insists no government money would go into keeping the smelter open.
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Covid-19 cases in Italy are rising, but the mortality rate is dropping.
Rome correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking most cases are coming from three regions in the north of the country, leaving the south relatively untouched.
Despite the country's recovery, Ms McKenna has not noticed too many overseas travellers.
"I haven't seen to many Brits actually, I must admit. No New Zealanders, no Aussies. Few Germans and a few French on the streets.
"I was out and about on the weekend, dropped by the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum and there was hardly a soul to be seen."
Meanwhile, Italy has secured a little over 200 billion euros as part of a relief package from the European Union.
Ms McKenna does not agree with  Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's stance, who sees the combination of grants and loans as an historic moment.
"I don't know how this money is really going to kick-start this economy because it looks pretty grim.
"It's going to get pretty nasty in September when people really face what's up ahead."

Hermione Norris made her name on the British cult hit, Cold Feet.
Since then, she has became a stable on British screens, including starring in the latest season of Luther.
And now Cold Feet is back - with season nine on streaming service Acorn TV now. 
Hermione Norris joined the show to let us know what we can expect from season nine of the popular show.
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A West Coast town will no longer be living in fear of what each rainy day could bring.
The Government's allocated $24 million to the region for flood protection projects, mostly targeting Franz Josef.
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith told Mike Hosking the work could protect the town for the next 15 to 20 years.
He says it means they can focus on planning for the future - including slowly moving the town of Franz Josef to the north.
Smith says with no tourists coming in - the workers will receive a warm welcome in the town.
"This money will bring in about 60 contractors - who will all drink beer, eat food and stay in local motels."
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The Australian state of Victoria is holding off on introducing a full lockdown, despite its coronavirus outbreak getting worse by the day.
Officials expect thousands of new cases over the coming days.
Panicked residents in Victoria’s coronavirus hot spots have been rushing to buy face masks before wearing them out of doors becomes mandatory.
Face masks are compulsory in lockdown areas from today, and authorities will consider stricter lockdown rules if the outbreak isn't contained in the coming days.
Tony Blakely, a New Zealand epidemiologist based at Melbourne University says Victoria may need to consider a New Zealand-style Level Four lockdown if case numbers continue to climb.
But he told Mike Hosking right now, the state government is right to continue Level Three restrictions.
“While our case numbers are not very pleasant, the state currently has about 500 cases a day, it would take about 2500 cases a day to start running out of ICU beds.”
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The delayed Tokyo Olympics could not be held next year if conditions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continue as they are, the president of the organizing committee said Wednesday.
In an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK, Yoshiro Mori said he was hopeful the situation would improve and suggested a vaccine was the key.
“If this kind of situation (with COVID-19) continues, is it possible to hold the games?” Mori was asked by NHK.
“If current situation continues, we couldn’t,” Mori replied, speaking in Japanese.
The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23, 2021 — a year from Thursday. A small, 15-minute ceremony without fans is scheduled for Thursday at the new national stadium to mark the date.
The International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers have repeatedly expressed confidence the games will take place, though they have offered few details on how they can happen in the middle of a pandemic.
The IOC and organizers have also said the Olympics will not be postponed again and would be canceled.
“It would be too much for us to answer each of these hypothetical questions,” Mori said. "I don’t think this situation will last for another year.”
Researchers have said a vaccine could be six-to-nine months away, which Mori said was the key. Some, however, question if young athletes should be a priority, and if all would agree to be vaccinated.
“Whether the Olympics can be done or not is about whether humanity can beat the coronavirus," Mori said. "Specifically, to develop a vaccine or drug is the first point.”
Organizers and the IOC say they want to simplify the games to help reduce the soaring costs. But officials cannot say now if fans will be permitted next year, or if athletes will face quarantines. They say few details will be available until the fall.
Plans call for the full contingent of 11,000 Olympic athletes and 4,400 Paralympic athletes to be competing at 42 venues.
About 1,000 deaths in Japan have been attributed to the coronavirus. Tokyo has seen a rising number of daily cases in the last few weeks, which reached a high of almost 300 last week.
But the numbers are relatively modest for a metropolitan area of 14 million.

Britain's government faced heated questions on national security Wednesday after a damning intelligence committee report on Russian meddling in the nation’s politics concluded the U.K. should examine allegations of interference in the European Union referendum.
The fallout from the report from Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee dominated the agenda on the final day in the House of Commons before the summer break, with lawmakers demanding to know whether the UK had done enough to face the threat posed by Moscow.
The report concluded that Russia sees Britain as one of its top intelligence targets, adding that Moscow’s attempts to influence the U.K. are the “new normal” and successive governments have welcomed Russian oligarchs with open arms.
Russians with “very close links” to President Vladimir Putin are “well integrated into the U.K. business, political and social scene — in ‘Londongrad’ in particular,” the report said.
Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Commons, suggesting he sat on the report despite its dire warnings of the threat to national security.
“The report was very clear, that until recently the government badly underestimated the Russian threat and the response it required,'' Starmer said. “It's still playing catch-up. The government's taken its eye off the ball — arguably it wasn't even on the pitch. After this government has been in power for 10 years, how does the government explain that?"
Though Johnson insisted new laws are coming in connection with espionage, theft of intellectual property and sanctions, he sidestepped on the notion put forward by the report's authors that nothing was done to investigate whether Russia had interfered in the referendum.
The real problem, Johnson insisted, is that some lawmakers still object to the outcome of the referendum — namely, voters' decision to leave the EU.
That group of remainers are now interested in trying to suggest Moscow was responsible for Brexit, he said.
“That’s what this is all about,'' Johnson said. “The people of this country didn’t vote to leave the EU because of pressure from Russia or Russian interference, they voted because they wanted to take back control of our money, our trade policy and our laws.”
Johnson helped lead the campaign for Britain to leave the EU. He has made delivering Brexit his primary goal since he became prime minister last July.

Christchurch Airport has just unveiled a ''new long-term proposal'' for a new airport in the Tarras region.
In a statement a short time ago, it said it is about to begin discussions on the potential of building a "world-class, sustainable airport" on 750 hectares of land near Tarras in Central Otago.
Chief executive Malcolm Johns says the concept would deliver widespread social and economic benefits to regions across the South Island.
"We've been creating social and economic outcomes for the South Island for generations. We now want to use our experience to ensure the South Island is well-positioned to take advantage of future aviation trends and remain well-connected to the rest of the world."
Johns says the airport team is pleased to have secured the land so it can begin discussions about its long-term thinking.
"Our top priority is a conversation with the people who live closest to the site – the Tarras community. This is their home and it's important they are given the opportunity to ask us their questions directly and understand our thinking."
He says the airport had planned to announce the proposal next week when he and other members of the project team will be in Central Otago.
"We've had to announce this early after a media inquiry. But our message to Tarras is we look forward to meeting you – we will sincerely listen to understand your ideas and concerns and we will factor your information into our thinking. We know airports work best alongside communities, not on top of them."

Christchurch International Airport CEO Malcolm Johns. Photo / Supplied
Johns says the project team will consult with people across the South Island.
"South Islanders are great at rolling up their sleeves and working together to get things done. We want to hear from those with ideas and feedback as we further investigate the feasibility of the project and shape its design.
"We have a lot of work to do, but our current concept is to start with a 2.2km, jet-capable runway. Building from scratch would enable us to design and build one of the world's most sustainable airports. Our plan is to build in modules so we can start small and grow to meet any future need."
Johns says $45 million has been spent on the project so far – which includes purchasing the land bordered by State Highways 8 and 8A.
"The expenditure was budgeted and will not impact on Christchurch Airport's operational dividends to shareholders."
Johns says Christchurch Airport has long seen the potential for a new airport in Central Otago.
"We're an intergenerational company that has long seen the potential of a new airport in Central Otago. This would be make a real difference to future generations of South Islanders.
"This site is close to existing infrastructure and is easily accessible for a number of regions. Its topography would enable airlines to use their most sustainable aircraft.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan this afternoon said it was a surprising announcement and "big news for the community".
"Christchurch Airport has signalled in a media release this afternoon that they are taking a long-term approach and their top priority is having conversations with and working alongside the community. This is very early days in what will be a very long process. At this early stage I encourage all our community to get informed and get engaged in the process and form their own view."
CODC chief executive Sanchia Jacobs said her executive team had just learned of the news today.
"As a consenting authority, we don't have a view on this but will be watching with interest and in the event an application is made for consent we will follow the statutory process."
By: Mark Price, Otago Daily Times

Political parties are being urged to reveal more details about policies, following scandals in Parliament that have prompted three resignations.
The latest to go is Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway, who was fired for a year-long affair with a woman who'd worked for him.
Massey University Associate Professor Grant Duncan says we're going through one of the greatest world disasters, and while we've escaped with few Covid-19 fatalities, we're in a deep recession.
He told Mike Hosking we have some serious stuff to deal with.
“Members of the public deserve to hear over the next few weeks what the parties want to do about it.”
Former Labour and Act MP Richard Prebbles told Mike Hosking when he was Labour's party whip, one could deal with bad behaviour quietly and advise the person not to stand at the next election.
“But now, members of the public can publish things so they become public.”
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