The Mike Hosking Breakfast Newstalk ZB

It’s a sad, old business when part of your market update is the cost of the violent crime you are having to deal with. 

Michael Hill this week talked of the sort of things businesses talk of; the downturn, the mood, the spend and the consumer. All of it's bad right now for obvious reasons. 

What is interesting is they said of the various countries they operate in that New Zealand is the worst in terms of sentiment. 

I wonder why. 

But they talked too of the cost of security and the cost of crime, the cost of closing one of their shops because of crime. 

They are not the first of course. We have previously heard from Briscoes and the millions they have to put aside each year to offset the carnage that takes place at their outlets. 

Last week One NZ closed one of their shops because of damage and crime. 

They told the stories of the fear of staff, all the security issues and training required and the manager who was held by the scruff of the neck for ten minutes over a returned product. 

Who needs it? 

That’s before you get to the astonishing footage of the petrol station attendant, who got the life beaten out of him by some thug who literally laid into him and wouldn’t stop. 

He now awaits surgery on an eye, among other injuries. 

So, the question is - when does it stop? When do things change? How many videos do we need to watch before the much hyped and promised crackdown happens? 

The 18-year-old from the petrol station has been arrested and charged. How many years does he go to prison for? Does he go to prison? Does he have a sob story? 

When do major New Zealand retailers stop having to regale the sharemarket with their profit-sapping stories of jungle behaviour and frightened staff? 

No Government can solve this sort of malaise instantly, or overnight, or perhaps even quickly. 

But my word, the pressure is on. When you watch that petrol station video, and we all should, we look third world, and we look lawless. 

My fear is the treatment of such behaviour still leans towards forgiveness, as opposed to what should actually be happening. 
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It's a day of shame after an inquiry into Britain's infected blood scandal suggests a cover up. 

More than 30,000 people received infected blood and products in the 1970s and 80s from the state-funded National Health Service. 

3000 people died and thousands more contracted hepatitis or HIV. 

The inquiry's found the government hid the truth to save face and expense. 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is pledging financial compensation for those impacted. 

He says they'll pay whatever the scheme costs, with details laid out tomorrow. 

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A new model is being proposed to give more local councils more control. 

Local Government New Zealand's calling on the government to adopt city and regional deals, a system that would see local and central government team up for local projects. 

It's hoped the arrangement would allow for more decentralisation. 

Local Government New Zealand President Sam Broughton told Mike Hosking that it's been a success in places such as the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands, but New Zealand must figure out its own solution. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 21st of May, Housing Minister Chris Bishop outlined the absolute shambles that is Kainga Ora and how it's going to be fixed. 

The Greens finally got back to us about how much the Darleen Tana investigation is costing. Mike revealed the full details. 

Robert Patrick of Terminator fame is soon going to be in the country, so we had to get him on the show to hear how his Harley Davidson business is going and what cigars he's smoking. 

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One of the greatest villain actors of all time, Robert Patrick is stopping by New Zealand. 

He’s most well known for playing the T-1000 terminator in the second film of the Terminator series, and for his roles in Reacher, Peacemaker, and the Yellowstone prequel 1923. 

Patrick is coming to New Zealand next month, popping up at panels and signings at Auckland’s Wintergeddon Armageddon Expo. 

He told Mike Hosking that fans don’t normally get the chance to meet their favourite actors in person, so it’s neat that they can have a chance to meet him. 

“It’s neat to have people tell you how much they love your work,” he said. 

“How they saw your film, and where they saw it, and they watched it with their dad, and you know.” 

“It’s neat to see the impact you, you’ve been able to have on some people’s lives.” 

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The Government looks set to devolve large parts of the delivery of public housing to community housing and other social providers after a damning report into Kāinga Ora raised questions about its financial competence, showing it was staring down the barrel of a $700 million annual deficit. 

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the results of the review were worse than they thought. 

“We had known from opposition that it was being abysmally managed,” he said. 

“It is the biggest landlord in the country, a $45 billion enterprise and has a huge responsibility to Kiwis to deliver state housing and it has done a terrible job.” 

Luxon said the responsibility sits with the board and the previous administration, which allowed it to run up $10 billion in debt. 

“It had no plan to stop it getting to $29 billion in 10 years' time.” 

He said the government is moving quickly to implement some of the report’s recommendations such as refreshing the board and getting a turnaround in place. 

Luxon said he was shocked when the board did not have a statement of financial position. 

“When the board doesn’t know to ask for that, that’s a big problem. Clearly, the financial literacy was poor.” 

When asked if the government would use community providers to build state housing, Luxon said organisations like the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Māori and iwi providers can do it at a lower cost. 

“They also provide better pastoral care in those communities as well,” he said. 

“I’m interested in providing more social housing, whether that comes from state houses via KO or community housing providers - the mix will be determined. 

“Ultimately, there is a bigger role to play for community housing providers.” 

Luxon said the government is still waiting for France’s go-ahead before sending an NZDF plane into New Caledonia. 

“We are waiting for the French authorities to deem that it is safe,” he said. 

“The roading out to the airport in the past 48 hours has had issues in terms of security and unrest. It has to be safe when we move. 

“All I can reassure you is we are ready to go. We can deploy NZDF assets, we have also explored other options such as commercial charters. We have been working incredibly well with the Australians. 

Luxon said Foreign Minister Winston Peters is doing a brilliant job at pushing the French system in New Caledonia and Paris. 

When asked whether the French are days away from giving the go-ahead, Luxon said it could well be, but the government, alongside the Australians, are pushing them. 

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