Podcasts about Mike Hosking

A new cookbook and a celebration of the farming sector. Kiwi Chef Nadia Lim has spent over five years designing her new cookbook, which she says is about paying tribute to the farmers, land, and sustainable food. ‘Nadia's Farm Kitchen' is filled with seasonal recipes, as well as offering a glimpse into life on Royalburn Station with personal stories and anecdotes. She joined Mike Hosking to discuss the book and for a bit of a trip down memory lane, telling him that looking back, their journey on the farm is quite different to what they originally expected. “I would describe the whole journey, if I could sum it up, as starting from quite an idealistic place,” Lim told him. “You know, oh, we're going to be on this farm and we're going to diversify and we're going to have a full farm to plate model, to being chipped away, chipped away at slowly over the years, to definitely becoming a whole lot more realistic.” “It's really a game of you win some, you lose some.” However, despite some mixed results, Lim says they love living on Royalburn Station. “It might not be the best financial return, but I can tell you it is the best lifestyle return, and you can't beat that.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natalie McMurtry says Pharmac's model drew her to the agency's top job. She is just three weeks into her five-year-contract as chief executive at the drug-buying agency. The Canadian is tasked with continuing efforts to improve the agency's standing with the New Zealand public after years of degradation. McMurty told Mike Hosking she's happy to keep moving forward on the reset plan that's been put in place. She says she saw an opportunity to make an impact, and a board that has a great plan in place – one she could get behind. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big headache for NRL bosses ahead of the grand final. 10 stars are reportedly lined up to leave league, defecting to rugby union's Saudi-backed ‘R360', including Ryan Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomaz, and Warriors winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. The competition is targeting an October 2026 start date. But Australian Sports Journalist Jim Dolan confirmed to Mike Hosking that no one has officially signed onto the project yet. He says there's no coaches, no venues, and while there's plenty of talk of money coming in from around the world, no one's actually put their hand up and confirmed they're investing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view the property market will continue to be in buyers' favour for some time, despite values edging up. Cotality data shows property values in New Zealand ticked up by 0.1% in September, following a cumulative 1.6% drop over the five months to August. Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says regional New Zealand properties are faring better. He told Mike Hosking that 2026 is looking better, but right now things are pretty flat. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corrections says a steep increase in prison assaults is due to better reporting of incidents. New data shows there were more than 2600 assaults in the last financial year. It includes more than 1500 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, and more than 1000 on staff. Custodial Services Commissioner Leigh Marsh told Mike Hosking they've been working hard to improve how they deal with these incidents. He says the encouragement of reporting assaults has seen an increase in the number of non-injury assaults being reported, which where the biggest number lies. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercury Energy says the Government's new energy plan gives it confidence to keep investing in projects. It's offering Crown-controlled companies more capital to invest in generation projects, establishing a Liquefied Natural Gas import facility, and giving the Electricity Authority greater power. CEO Stew Hamilton told Mike Hosking businesses now have some form of clarity. He says it allows them to keep building at pace, adding they're on the right track, as more power projects have been delivered in the last 18 months than the past 15 years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac believes it makes sense to leave the day-to-day stuff to Health NZ. The Associate Health Minister and Minister Simeon Brown have jointly announced the national agency and drug-buyer can both procure medical devices. Pharmac will focus on more-technical equipment —due to its level of clinical input and assessment— and Health NZ on bulk-buying standard items. Pharmac Chair Paula Bennett told Mike Hosking it clears up uncertainty around who does what. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's revealed progress is being made towards their mental health and addiction targets. The latest data shows 80.3% of New Zealanders are accessing specialist mental health and addiction support within three weeks. However, that percentage is carried by eight of the 20 regions, leaving behind Northland, Gisborne, and Canterbury. Clinical Psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland told Mike Hosking the access to specialist services was a positive surprise, as it's not necessarily what he'd heard. He says he's cautiously optimistic about the progress, but there is still room for improvement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fresh blueprint has been developed to boost Dunedin's future. Business South's new targets include delivering more than 15 thousand high-value jobs by 2034, welcoming 150 new businesses a year by 2029, and growing Māori-owned businesses by 129% in four years. CEO Mike Collins says the goals may be stretched, but are going to be remarkable, with many motivated people backing the growth. He told Mike Hosking they're firing up some wraparound support services that would identify the gaps in a business' practices and match them up to what they need. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister says uncertainty around Donald Trump's tariffs is most concerning, following threats he'll impose a 100% tariff on all movies made outside the US. The US President didn't confirm when or how it could be enacted in a post on social media, which followed an initial threat on foreign-produced movies in May. Todd McClay told Mike Hosking he was in Malaysia last week with other trade ministers, who are all dealing with the rolling wall of announcements with no clarity. He says Trump's social media announcements are creating a lot of uncertainty, and Hollywood won't know what's going on. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's proposed peace deal for Gaza is bringing some hope and optimism. The deal would end the war, and requires all hostages to be returned, Israeli troops to be pulled out of Gaza, and would allow Trump to lead an interim Government. It's being supported by our Foreign Minister Winston Peters as well as European and Middle Eastern leaders. The Economist Middle East Correspondent Greg Carlstrom told Mike Hosking it's good to see a serious proposal. He says it's an actual plan to end the war, unlike Trump's wild suggestion in February to depopulate Gaza and turn it into a beach resort. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes that investment will flow into the energy sector once Government reforms are announced. Energy Minister Simon Watts will unveil the changes this morning, targeting issues the market hasn't been able to resolve on its own. The Government ordered the review last year after gas supply issues and soaring wholesale prices. Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge told Mike Hosking the industry needs support for renewable investment already under way as no one wants that momentum lost. He says the most important thing for the country is continued investment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's conceded earlier or more aggressive OCR hikes may have reduced inflation sooner. It's been reviewing its response to the recent three-year period of high inflation. Chief Economist Paul Conway says the central bank was also required to maintain maximum sustainable employment. It had limited data and less accurate forecasts due to Covid uncertainty. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking the bank will absolutely draw lessons from the report, just as they did with things like the Christchurch earthquake. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a New Zealand-based team join the Big Bash T20 cricket competition? NZC governing body chief executive Scott Weenink says they are investigating whether joining the Australian league is viable. Cricket Australia is mulling over expansion options – Singapore, New Zealand, and Canberra have been deemed candidates. Weenink told Mike Hosking they've been in talks for about a year about the potential of adding a men's and women's team to the Big Bash. If it were to happen, he says it wouldn't be at the expense of Super Smash, as it's important to have a strong domestic competition in New Zealand as well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It appears other countries are still thirsty for our wine. The New Zealand Winegrowers 2025 Annual Report states exports are sitting at more than $2 billion per annum, fuelling investment in 42-thousand hectares of vineyards. The US remains the major export market despite a 3% drop at $762 million, and newer Asian markets are doing well. NZ Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan says balancing supply and demand, and growing markets remain the two major challenges, which they're prepared to meet. He told Mike Hosking there are lots of market opportunities out there for the industry. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police scrapped millions of dollars from crime prevention to meet the Government's savings expectations ahead of this years' budget. The cuts were found in funding to burglary prevention programmes. Documents show Treasury had warned funding cuts could lead to higher cost and more crime in the longer term. But Police chief operating officer Andrea Conlan says difficult decisions had to be made in order to be fiscally responsible. She told Mike Hosking prevention is a key focus across the organisation, so it's not about reducing their effort or focus on prevention. Conlan says the specific initiatives were identified as areas in which the money could be moved and reinvested. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister acknowledges more work's needed to ensure the Government's targets are met in every region. Data shows there's been improvements around cancer treatment access, childhood immunisation rates, ED stays, and wait times. But regional averages paint a different picture, with Counties Manukau and Auckland going backwards in ED wait times. Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that decrease is due to localized factors. He says there's been a significant increase in people turning up to those hospitals' EDs, which has an impact on wait times. Child immunisation rates have seen the biggest lift among the targets. The proportion of children fully immunised by age two is up more than five points, to 82 percent. Brown told Hosking significant work is going into lifting immunisation rates to avoid declines like those seen in the US. He says they're investing more money and working with primary care, but adds that some regions need more work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Building and Construction Minister says new earthquake building rules are more nuanced. Changes to the rules will remove Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands from the regime. Coastal Otago, including Dunedin, will be classified as a medium seismic hazard area, and will remain within the earthquake-prone building system Building Minister Chris Penk says the rules are ultimately designed to protect life. He told Mike Hosking under the current system some owners were unable to afford the upgrades. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Winston Peters has articulated New Zealand's position on Gaza well. Over the weekend the Foreign Minister announced that New Zealand would NOT recognise Palestinian statehood, yet. Chris Luxon says Hamas is the de facto government and a designated terrorist organisation in New Zealand. He told Mike Hosking that New Zealand's also called out the excessive response of Israel. Luxon says we're a friend to both groups and are focused on peace. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: The AFL semi finals draw 100,000 fans to each game. Liam Lawson finished 5th in Baku to secure his best ever finish in F1. And what should the Black Ferns take away from their defeat in the Rugy World Cup semi finals? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kiwi dollar continues to weaken against the Australian dollar, hitting a three-year low last week. The NZD is currently trading at 88 cents off the back of soft GDP growth and rate cuts, and concerns are raising as China's economic rebound could widen the gap further. Investment director for Craigs investment partners Mark Lister told Mike Hosking that New Zealand's rate cuts are having a stronger impact on the economy than Australia's. 'We are obviously looking at more rate cuts than we expected and not for the right reasons.' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has decided against recognising a Palestinian state. Foreign minister Winston Peters argues that the move would be counter-productive, but he retains the "when, not if" stance. CBS News correspondent in Jerusalem Linda Gradstein told Mike Hosking that Israelis are worried about a 'diplomatic front turning against Israel.' She said that the public want the war to end as the international community's opinion of Israel grows increasingly negative. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International students are loving their time in New Zealand, as new data shows a steady recovery in enrolments. The 2025 International Student Experience Survey shows the number of students enrolled in domestic institutes, has increased 16% to almost 64,000 since 2024. It found 87% of students gave a positive rating of their overall experience. Education New Zealand Chief Executive Amanda Malu told Mike Hosking that students value the connections they make, the overall living experience, and the visa process. She says there's a 10% jump in students finding the via process positive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The argument over our Corrections Minister's looking through rose tinted glasses continues, as the organisation begins to run out of new money. A $98million boost in this year's Budget was expected to last until June, when the population was projected to hit 10,800 - but that milestone is already nearly met. Despite this, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says there's no looming crisis. Corrections Association President Floyd du Plessis told Mike Hosking says this is a rosy version of the truth as staff are well and truly short. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday has come which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week with Mike Hosking. They discussed Mike's interview with Scott Roberson, whether or not Producer Sam should hit confirm on his holiday booking in Asia, and whether it's time to cancel your streaming subscriptions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Donald Trump: 2/10 Possibly his worst and easily his maddest week yet. Tylenol, the war, Jimmy Kimmel, James Comey, the visas, the escalator, and the teleprompter. Unhinged doesn't even come close. Jimmy Kimmel: 7/10 Won the moral ground on free speech. Disney: 2/10 Lost the morale ground by being spineless, and putting their prices up. Fonterra: 9/10 The numbers and the success are amazing. The Ranfurly Shield: 7/10 It's changed hands four times this season and the last two have been sensational games. Palestine: 4/10 Are you as surprised as I am that after all those pledges of recognition the war hasn't stopped, the food hasn't flowed, and Hamas are still open for business in Qatar? LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief a shooter in Dallas, Texas, was motivated by violent ideology and divisive rhetoric. One detainee is dead and two more are critically injured after a rooftop sniper fired indiscriminately at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility, also known as ICE yesterday. The gunman later died from a self-inflicted gunshot. Dallas ICE Director Joshua Johnson says it's being investigated as an act of targeted violence. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the shooter reportedly left behind notes including a game plan of the attack and target areas at the facility. One note reportedly says he wanted to give ICE agents a sense of “terror”, the shooter describing ICE employees as "people showing up to collect a dirty pay check". LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says its changes to the court system are making a real difference. It has released figures showing civil cases in the District Court have dropped 20% in the year to July to over 10,200. The Disputes Tribunal cleared 900 more cases over the same period. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee told Mike Hosking there are fewer cases coming to civil court. And she says the cases which are coming through are being resolved more quickly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Food and Fibre sector claims the education system is letting it down. Leaders from farming, forestry, horticulture, and seafood have joined forces to launch a Food and Fibre Workforce Capability Strategy. They're pushing for tertiary education reform —with an employer-led, work-based learning model— to match real industry demands. Horticulture NZ Chief Executive Kate Scott told Mike Hosking the current model isn't working. She says it tends to favour the volume of learners rather than the value. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are returning to Eden Park to defend their record. Coming off the back of the worst-ever defeat just 12 days ago against South Africa, they're set to host the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday. There are six changes to the side, with Ardie Savea taking over the captaincy from an injured Scott Barrett. Coach Scott Robertson told Mike Hosking the pressure of performing at Eden Park is still there, but he would describe it as a gift. He says people care so deeply about performing in a place with so much history, and their gift is to earn it again. “You've just gotta rise to it – that's the key.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our largest company has been seeing profits surge, despite a period of contraction in the economy as a whole. Fonterra's confirmed a 13% rise in annual operating profit. Its final farmgate milk payout to farmers has reached a new record high of $10.16 and its cash return to shareholders is up 30.6%. Fonterra Chair Peter McBride told Mike Hosking we need dairy to do well for the country to do well. He says dairy is a critical part of the New Zealand economy, and the Government can't grow the economy without growing dairy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council is moving to allocate up to two million new homes in the coming decades. The council's Policy and Planning Committee voted 18-5 to pass the plan, which will see more housing near transport hubs and less in natural hazard zones. Councillor Maurice Williamson has compared it as a choice between a firing squad and lethal injection. He told Mike Hosking he's a fan of intensifying along rail corridors and busways, but it doesn't make sense to go into suburban streets and force the building of “ghastly pieces of junk” when they aren't needed. Williamson says there needed to be more consultation and negotiation around what the upper figure of builds would be. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Black Steve Devine is hailing the launch of a new portable brain scanner that's set to revolutionise concussion diagnosis for rugby players in New Zealand. The Nurocheck headset will be able to detect head injuries in just two minutes without the need for baseline testing. Devine has suffered a number of head knocks in his playing career and says the device is especially beneficial for the amateur game. He told Mike Hosking players are probably only getting a test if they've taken a reasonable hit and usually there's a moment where you can tell they're not well. He says if a player goes back on and recieves a second knock, that can be fatal, and that's the one they're trying to stop. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour believes a refresh of Pharmac's operations is benefiting New Zealanders. Its latest funding proposal includes five new medicines for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, eye conditions, and lung cancer. The Associate Health Minister says a board and leadership change has worked well, and the next step is ensuring strong budget bids. Seymour told Mike Hosking that instead of Pharmac working within a set allocation, it will now go to the Finance Minister each year for funding. When it comes to recognising Palestine, David Seymour appears to be backing a more cautious approach to the thorny question. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is set to announce our decision at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday. Doing so would mean our country joins the likes of Australia, the UK, and France. Seymour told Hosking he has his own opinion on the matter but will support any Government position. He suggests some countries are jumping up and down for political theatre, but New Zealand will consider all the facts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say recent cannabis busts show how widely cultivated the drug is. Over the course of a month Operation Beryl busted 120 properties across Auckland, seizing 11-thousand illicit plants, estimated to be worth more than $58 million. More than ten tonnes of cannabis from Vietnamese organised crime groups have been destroyed. Detective Inspector Callum McNeill told Mike Hosking it's likely one of their largest cannabis busts ever. But he says the crime groups have probably already found new locations to grow new plants. McNeill told Hosking his main concern is the money going to trans-national organised crime groups, and going on to fund other criminal activities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Fox has had an excellent run this year. He's back in New Zealand off the back of a season that includes two PGA Tour wins and a Guinness World Record. The end of the year also brings with it the return of the increasingly popular ‘Chasing the Fox' event, which is now into his fourth year. Despite his major success this year, not much has changed in regards to Fox's mentality. “I've always believed my golf was good enough to beat the best players in the world,” he told Mike Hosking. “Especially in that Canadian Open, I did beat a decent chunk of them that week, and you know, you've always got that in the back of your mind that, yeah, I've done it once, I know I can do it if I'm in that situation again.” “It's easier once you know you've done it.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gaming continues its upward trajectory. New stats show that in Wellington alone, jobs in the sector grew 12.8% over the last year. New Zealand now brings in $170 million more in revenue than Australia does. NZ Game Development Sector Rebate Programme Director Chantelle Cole told Mike Hosking the $170 million figure is just from the rebate recipients, so they're expecting the number to rise upon the announcement of the industry-wide figures. She says revenue is predicted to reach a billion dollars by as early as 2027. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a busy start to the week, and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to delve into the political happenings so far. The Government has announced two new residency pathways for skilled migrants, which Winston Peters has raised concerns about. Is he right to be concerned? The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey has been released – how is the Government faring? And there's a decision on the way about whether New Zealand will officially recognise a Palestinian state. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders aren't sugarcoating their messages for the Government. The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago. Only a third of respondents back the Government's current growth agenda. Forsyth Barr Managing Director Neil Paviour-Smith told Mike Hosking concerns are being expressed about the need to tackle the difficult problems and long-term issues. He says there's a need for the Government to be much clearer around the plan to tackle things like infrastructure, long-term savings, and the Crown's fiscal position, which acts as a ball and chain around the economy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Secret Service has dismantled a massive network of electronic devices that could have been used to disable New York City's cellphone network, officials say. Investigators found devices in vacant properties within 55km of the UN General Assembly meeting that's taking place in Manhattan this week. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that allegedly foreign governments and criminals located in the US are using this network to run their organisations. He says they appear to have identified links to at least one foreign country and links to some known criminals, but have not said who. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis admits the economy isn't where the Government would like it to be. The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago. Only a third of respondents back the Government's current growth agenda. The Finance Minister told Mike Hosking they're hearing the call for harder, faster action, loud and clear. She says business leaders broadly think the Government's doing the right things, but she accepts the Government isn't there yet when it comes to economic growth. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief there's more that needs to be done to smooth immigration processes in New Zealand. The Government's revealed two new pathways for skilled migrants to secure Kiwi residency. One is for skilled work experience and another for trades and technicians. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking there's a lot more announcements to come, but they're often held up by IT changes. She says they're working on a start-up visa while more needs to be done in the RSE space, and there's a whole list of other things. Stanford's also standing by her decision to miss the PPTA's annual conference in Christchurch. The Education Minister had been scheduled to speak to the secondary teachers union yesterday for months but abruptly cancelled due to an 'unavoidable clash.' She told Hosking it was because the Prime Minister's office gave her a date for yesterday's skilled workers' announcement in Auckland. She says authorities also advised her it wasn't the best time to give a speech due to the ongoing pay bargaining. Stanford adds she is frequently meeting with the PPTA, and this is the first conference she's had to miss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pickleball is taking the world by storm. Originating in the United States, it's now one of the fastest growing sports globally – the biggest growth being among 18-35 year olds. The NZ Pickleball Open is taking place this weekend, with 443 players registered for the event. NZ Pickleball Association Chair Ange Brady told Mike Hosking the growth is super exciting. Gone are the days where it was perceived to be the sport tennis players went when they could no longer play tennis, she said, with more young people attracted to the fast and athletic sport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are still grey areas in the Government's proposed leave legislation. The Government's announced a new system to replace the 2003 Holidays Act. Coffee Club Director Brad Jacobs told Mike Hosking while some parts still need clarity, the proposal appears to solve many issues. He says as long as he's been in New Zealand, the Act has caused problems, and he's concerned by the long timeline ahead. Government systems may be slowing down the implementation of the new leave legislation. Jacobs told Hosking it will likely be three years before the new system —including an hourly accrual— is used. He says massive payroll providers should be able to build these systems faster, and it may be government systems that are the handbrake. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic difficulties across the ditch appear to echo the struggles felt in many New Zealand households. The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered a brutal reality check to the nation on the cost of living, as it expects the situation to worsen. It warns prices will never return to pre-pandemic levels. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking it's the same story here. He says it would be a sign of very tough economic times if businesses were cutting their prices so drastically. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A much-needed boost to rural schools' infrastructure, which has been neglected for many years. The Education Minister's unveiled a $413 million package to get maintenance and improvement jobs at schools underway sooner. More than half is for improvements on all isolated, rural, or small schools. Rural Schools Leadership Association President Andrew King told Mike Hosking it will predominantly go towards basic infrastructure. He says in the past, rural schools haven't had work done simply because of the cost to get trades people out there. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to the rules around leave will be revealed today. The Government is announcing their overhaul of the 2003 Holidays Act, which includes annual, sick, and bereavement leave regulations. Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking hourly accrual of leave is expected to come in. He says this will simplify processes and take the sting out of the back-pay issue employers have at the moment. McDonald says the overhaul is a long time coming, and while there may be some political tradeoff, both employers and employees will benefit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unreliable weather forecasts could become a thing of the past. Earth Sciences NZ has unveiled a new supercomputer called Cascade, which uses AI to predict the weather patterns. It can now make a five-day forecast as reliable as a two-day one. Chris Brandolino, Principal Scientist at NIWA, told Mike Hosking this supercomputer is about three times more powerful than its predecessor, with computing speeds of 2.4 petaflops. He says they'll be able to expand the area they monitor, and then over the next year or so they'll be looking to grow longer range predictions from 5-days to 10-days. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an expectation coal will become more popular as gas supply diminishes. Genesis Energy's signed a two-year agreement with BT Mining to supply 240 thousand tonnes of local coal to Huntly Power Station amidst electricity shortages. It's expected to boost the local economy and reduce reliance on Indonesian exports. CEO Malcolm Johns told Mike Hosking they've bought all the local coal for Huntly until now – about ten thousand tonnes a year. He says they now have a supply for ten thousand tonnes a month, economically competitive with Indonesian coal. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France has formally recognised the state of Palestine, joining the likes of the UK, Canada, and Australia. President Emanuel Macron has made the announcement at the UN General Assembly, where the US and Israel are absent. France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that they know this won't change much, but it could eventually be part of a pathway to a two-state solution. She says it's more of a way for France to stand up and make the statement that something has to be done. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.