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Let me tell you what Chris Hopkins is busy doing to the Covid Inquiry.
Let me tell you, when he says that the Covid Inquiry is providing a platform for those who have conspiracy theorist views, he is trying to undermine it, and he's doing that. So it doesn't matter what the outcome of the inquiry is, people have already written it off as a nut job investigation.
I suspect Chippy already knows that he's not going to come out of this flash. Neither is Jacinda. Neither is Ashley. Neither is Grant.
Because we already know what went wrong. We can see that the lockdowns went too long. We know that the border was done badly. We know how much money was printed, to name just a few things that they did wrong.
It's kind of rich of Chris Hipkins to complain that the terms of reference have been deliberately constructed to achieve a certain outcome, because that's coming from the guy whose government did exactly the same with the original Covid Inquiry.
They set up such a limited set of terms of references that we had to set up a second inquiry after they lost the election just to get to the stuff that we actually care about, which is the mandates and the Auckland lockdown, and so on.
They set up an inquiry, deliberately designed their words to only learn lessons, not assign blame when actually blame, or you can call it just taking responsibility, is exactly what a lot of us affected by all of this stuff would like to see.
But what really bothers me about what Chris Hipkins is doing is the continual demonising of conspiracy theorists. Now, look, I don't love a conspiracy theorist. They're a bit nutty. I've had to sit through lectures about the world order hours on end, trying to be polite and pretending that you care because you love the person, right? A lot of these people went down the rabbit hole because Labour forced to the jab on them, so they went off to do their own research and they came back a bit strange.
They shouldn't be excluded. They may be conspiracy theorists, but they're still our friends and our brothers and our uncles, even if they're a bit slightly different at the moment. Conspiracy theorists or not, they were as affected by these decisions as everyone else, therefore, they get a say too.
And whatever, by the way, happened to “they are us”? Or does that only apply when it suits Labour?
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Details have emerged about the career-ending night former Minister Kiri Allan was arrested in Wellington for drink driving.
Allan resigned immediately after crashing into a parked car and testing over the legal limit in mid-2023.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan her behaviour was unacceptable, but he believes in redemption and everyone makes mistakes.
Labour's Ginny Andersen says there is public interest in knowing what happened, but it must be difficult for Allan to have everything playing out again.
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9th of July, will the Reserve Bank act in line with consensus and hit pause on OCR cuts?
Why have Auckland Arena’s billionaire backers pulled out of the Western Springs stadium deal? Why is a free stadium now off the table for ratepayers?
Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell debate mandatory sentences, whether Jacinda Ardern should come back for the Covid inquiry, and if $230,000 is too much to get the Government's FamilyBoost money on Politics Wednesday.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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There's a belief a plan to resurrect the extinct Moa will have ample roll-on effects.
US company Colossal Bioscience has partnered with Ngāi Tahu in a $50 million project to revive the flightless bird through gene editing.
Canterbury Museum's Senior Curator of Natural History Paul Scofield says it's a great eco-tourism opportunity.
He told Heather du Plessis-Allan people could come and see Moa roaming the hills in a reserve.
Scofield says scientists would also be able to see how these birds affected the ecology of New Zealand.
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The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas has now climbed to at least 108 people.
Search and rescue efforts have reached their fifth day, with the dead including 28 children due to flooding west of San Antonio.
Dozens of people are still missing.
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allan hundreds of volunteers have joined in.
He says searches along the Guadalupe River are slow and dirty.
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The Ministerial Advisory Group believes the community is a vital part of the solution in stomping out organised crime and drug use.
The group has released its third report which highlights being tough on organised crime means also focusing on drug users.
Advisory Group for Organised Crime Chair Steve Symon says it requires early intervention and community-based treatment.
He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it no longer involves just patches and motorbikes - it's about organised crime reaching in as a business and affecting communities.
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Confusion over the billionaire-backed Auckland Arena proposal being withdrawn from options for Western Springs.
Businesswoman Anna Mowbray, her husband and former All Black Ali Williams, and Auckland FC owner Bill Foley withdrew their 12,500 seat proposal, which wouldn't have cost ratepayers a cent.
It follows news Aucklanders don't have a clear preference on an option for the site.
The group cites unique challenges.
Chair of the Stadium Venues Working Group Shane Henderson told Heather du Plessis-Allan they've been left largely in the dark.
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The Government's making moves to ensure we'll no longer lag behind when it comes to Artificial Intelligence.
Science Minister Shane Reti's announced the Government's first strategy for using AI - claiming it'll reduce barriers to adoption and promote responsible use.
He says it could lift our GDP by $76 billion by 2038.
Reti told Heather du Plessis-Allan the strategy's a signal to both businesses and the community over what policy settings the Government will follow.
He says modelling suggests AI use could free up an hour a day of working time for businesses.
Reti says that's an hour that can be better spent on other high value tasks.
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Economists say pausing the OCR could be prudent as we wait to find out more about the state of global trade.
The Reserve Bank will make a call today on whether to cut the Official Cash Rate for a seventh consecutive time or hold it steady at 3.25%.
There's much to consider, including uncertainty about the US tariffs.
ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Heather du Plessis-Allan we'll have more information next month about inflation and inflation expectations.
He says hopefully all the trade deadlines will be dealt with and we'll have more clarity about what tariffs countries face.
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A view that current family trust laws have too much red tape.
The Government's making it easier to sell property held in a family trust in its latest revamp of anti-money laundering policies.
It means realtors won't need to collect extensive information about a trust's history to make a sale.
Family Trust Services' managing director, Janet Xuccoa told Heather du Plessis-Allan people have to provide the same information to realtors, lawyers, and accountants.
She says the changes are a relief to most providers, as the legislation is complex, time-consuming, and repetitive.
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If you listen to parenting experts, you'll hear the same thing time and time again about raising kids properly.
They need love, but just as importantly, they need boundaries.
They need to be told no, they need to be disciplined, and they need to learn what they can and can't do.
And if you don't do that, you basically ruin their chances at success.
Now, bear that in mind when you hear people like the Children's Commissioner arguing that kids should be off limit on citizen's arrests.
At the moment the Government is proposing a law change to allow retailers, or security guards, or you and I, to hold a shoplifter until the cops can get there and take over.
The Children's Commissioner is well-meaning because she just doesn't want kids hurt.
These things can go badly, especially if you've got the worst case playing out like we've seen, which when you've got weapons involved with kids turning up with hammers and knives and so on to raid a store.
But while she means well, she is wrong.
Because a loophole like that will be exploited by adults.
Gangs already use kids to commit their ram raids and their thefts because they know that kids get off more lightly than they would.
If you make a rule that kids are allowed to escape but adults get held down, you only make it more likely that they send the kids in, thereby making it more likely that kids end up ruining their life.
Which brings us back to the very start - kids need boundaries.
Not just from parents. But also from the state.
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On the Government considering minimum sentences, I would have no problem with this.
I realise the judiciary aren't going to love it because it's tying their hands.
But frankly, that is the point.
Because some of the sentencing discounts that have been handed down by judges are frankly outrageous.
The worst case that I've come across is the case of a rapist who attacked a woman in Albert Park in Auckland three years ago.
He was given a discount of 77% by the judge for being young, for pleading guilty, for being good before that and for trying to be better after that.
The defence lawyer had sought discounts totalling 110%.
Discounting to that point feels like nothing more than trying to get as light of a sentence as possible.
Now, I know the Government has already amended the law so judges are limited to handing down discounts of no more than 40%.
But that doesn't fix the problem entirely because there are still ways to game that, for example by simply beginning with a low starting point, so that by the time you've discounted to the max of 40% you end up at the low point you want.
We seem to think if you're in jail for murder that's a bit much and I don't think it is.
A minimum sentence sets a bar below which even the craftiest judge can't fall.
The problem with it is obviously the risk that it becomes the default sentence but if that starts happening then that can be dealt with.
Also, this is not a novel idea.
They do this in the U.S, in the UK, in Australia, in Singapore etc. And I see a case for us doing it too.
If you're discounting three quarters of a sentence, you've got a problem.
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New Zealand can’t get enough of Bill Bailey.
The UK comedian last came to our shores in 2023, tickets to his ‘Thoughtifier’ tour selling out.
He’ll be back towards the end of the year, bringing a celebration of comedy, songs, and skills by the name of ‘Vaudevillean’ to Kiwi audiences.
Bailey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to delve into comedy, technology and AI, the resurgence of people seeking out live shows and performances, and just why Kiwis love him so much.
“Most of life is just showing up, and so if you turn up somewhere and you show willing, then I think you draw people along with you.”
“Plus the fact I think there’s quite a lot of similarity between our senses of humour. I think there’s a sort of shared love of the absurd, and a love of language, and a love of the general sort of oddity of life.”
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday the 8th of July, we look at the changes to the FamilyBoost scheme and if it makes the policy a boom, or if it's still a bust.
Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson was finally found guilty, after days of deliberation from the jury.
World renowned comedian Bill Bailey is winging his way back here for another nationwide tour, so we need to find out why he's so popular with Kiwis.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Wellington waits with open arms as anticipation builds for the arrival of Welsh football club Wrexham.
Owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Wrexham AFC is due to visit the capital for a friendly against the Phoenix on July 19.
New data from Booking.com shows Wellington is the most searched NZ location on the site, with interest in accommodation up 600%.
WellingtonNZ Events Manager Heidi Morton told Heather du Plessis-Allan the city offers a great opportunity for a unique location.
She says there's still rooms and tickets available.
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New Zealand isn't likely to get a better deal than we're currently getting, when it comes to trade with the US.
Almost all goods to the US now face a 10% base tariff rate.
Donald Trump's announced a 25% tariff rate for Japan and South Korea from the start of next month and may also raise tariffs on other trading partners.
Business NZ Advocacy Manager Catherine Beard told Heather du Plessis-Allan New Zealand probably can't negotiate a tariff rate below the 10% rate we're facing.
She says if that's the best rate going, it's probably not worth New Zealand trying to get into a "David and Goliath" battle with the US.
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Donald Trump is set to host Israel's Prime Minister at the White House as the US pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The BBC reports Israel and Hamas resumed indirect talks in Qatar but ended after three hours without a breakthrough.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton told Heather Du Plessis-Allan there's no compromising between the two sides.
He says Hamas' objectives are to get Israel out of Gaza, while Israel's is to destroy Hamas as a military and political force.
Discussions to strike a permanent deal with Iran in the wake of recent airstrikes on its nuclear facilities are expected to also be on the table.
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The Australian mushroom murder trial could end up in the appeals court.
Erin Patterson's been found guilty of murdering her estranged husband's parents and aunt, and attempting to kill his uncle with a beef wellington containing death cap mushrooms.
Newstalk ZB's Lesley Yeomans is in Victoria, following developments.
She told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Patterson's legal team now has 28 days to decide whether they'll appeal the verdict.
Yeomans says we’ll have to wait for the next month or so to see if they’ll do so, but you would assume it’s likely.
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Doubts over the amount of admin needed for families to get the FamilyBoost scheme.
The Government's announced changes, which mean eligible families can now get 40% early childhood education fee rebates, up from 25%.
The threshold household income has risen to $229 thousand.
Early Childhood NZ chief executive Kathy Wolfe told Heather du Plessis-Allan ECE providers have to help families access the scheme, which creates more admin for services.
She says it would better for providers to have more control, and help families afford the fees.
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Iwi-owned commercial entities have outperformed some of New Zealand’s largest listed companies.
ANZ’s annual Te Tirohanga Whanui report shows the entities emerged from the economic downturn in good shape, faring better on a return on assets basis.
Waikato-Tainui’s among the strong performers, having a balance sheet of $1.9 billion.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka told Heather Du Plessis-Allan there are some reasons behind the uplift.
He says many iwi and Māori businesses are land and people based, they have low debt levels, and are often generational players.
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