The Mike Hosking Breakfast

For those of you who were super keen to hear from the Labour Party in an election year as to what they might have in mind for policy, my question to you is: now that they have started handing out the ideas, does the size of the cock-up make you wish they hadn’t?
Or can you believe the incompetence of past years hasn’t been addressed?
The bus idea that isn’t $65 million, but, according to economists, possibly well over $100 million.
The cancellation of primary testing that’s been released, seemingly through Ginny Andersen’s Substack of 115 followers.
The doctor visits policy that pays for millionaires to go to the GP.
And the pay equity promise that, despite the fact all would be revealed post-Budget, has still not been revealed – or anywhere close.
You have two things in an election year: the policy itself —and we debate those as ideas around ideology and workability— and the bill for any such idea.
The latter is of increasing importance in recent years because the previous Labour Government spent all the money – and then some. And we still have no money.
Therefore, simply dreaming up ideas with no bills attached is no longer acceptable to most voters
Or is it? That is my other great conundrum in this current election year.
Can a party that might well be Government promise something with an $11 billion price tag, not explain where the money comes from, and still get away with it anyway… given the punter isn’t really that interested?
Polling might help, but that’s another conundrum. Do I trust polling? No. The participation rate is now so ropey that people, to my mind, tell pollsters anything.
If what Labour has produced so far—in terms of ideas, lack of dollars, and general calamity—was accurately measured, you might see a drop in support… or not. But if you trusted polls, at least you could get a good gauge.
The upshot, though, is this: this lot under Chris Hipkins seem to have learned nothing. There is not a lot coordinated, well-honed, or slick about any of this.
For those waiting, it would appear a disappointment – a haphazard, piecemeal sort of effort that, after all this “wait and see” they have been playing, turns out to be the same old group of sloppy thinkers and lazy operators.
Hoping the Government would fail was their best chance. Given when they are forced to sell themselves to you, they look like a Year 8 school project – and not a particularly good one.
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Key details of the US-Iran deal remain under wraps, with Donald Trump promising to release the full text within days.
The US President's at the G7 Summit in France and has already met with Arab leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The deal's been signed electronically by both sides, and a formal ceremony is planned for the end of the week.
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking details of the original agreement haven’t been released, but it seems to be a 1.5 page long memorandum of understanding that leaves all the key concerns still to be dealt with.
He says Israel’s presence in Lebanon and Iran’s nuclear programme are still concerns.
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A major win for New Zealand apple growers in China.
Rockit Global has won a court case against an unlicensed operation that was found to be growing and selling its miniature apple variety without permission.
The win reinforces intellectual property protections in one of their biggest markets.
Their General Counsel and Commercial Director Tom Lane told Mike Hosking the money is important and sends a clear message, but the biggest win for them was the order to remove the trees.
He says plant material is a really valuable piece, and that’s sends a warning to anyone considering infringing on IP that there are real consequences beyond just the financial ones.
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The All Whites started the FIFA World Cup off strong, but their challenges are only just beginning.
They drew 2-all with Iran in Los Angeles yesterday, putting them at the top of the table after Belgium and Egypt ended their match with a 1-all draw.
Elijah Just scored both New Zealand goals, becoming the first All Whites player to score twice in a World Cup match.
Former All White Fred de Jong told Mike Hosking the fact that Belgium and Egypt drew is a problem, as both teams now need to beat us to make it out of the group stage.
He says it’s going to be tough for us, but that’s the World Cup – there's no cakewalk into the next rounds, you’ve got to earn what you get.
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Things are heating up in the political sphere, so Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week thus far.
They discussed Labour’s policy agenda, the scandal with MBIE, and the state of New Zealand’s economy.
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