Mark The Week: The Drop In Teacher Numbers Is Hardly A Surprise The Mike Hosking Breakfast podcast

2:03

Kristine Bartlett was, to many, a hero. She was a very likeable woman. She was a caregiver who argued her work was undervalued and she deserved more. The Labour Party who love “feels” and are not exactly unfamiliar with the unions leapt all over it and the Equal Pay Act 2022 was born. The downside was how to compare this so-called "underpaid work" like in nursing homes, where women dominate and a comparable profession dominated by men. They decided at the time comparing mechanics to rest home workers made sense, even though it didn’t, and doesn’t. That's why Brooke van Velden has announced pay equity is going to be, quite rightly, tipped up and sorted out. Now, whether you can sort it out sensibly is your next issue. Under current law the job must be performed by at least 60% of the same sex. That will rise to 70%. On grounds that lead you to believe that the work is historically and currently undervalued you will need evidence, and they are looking at comparators. That's your apples and oranges, or rest home workers and mechanics. The trouble with the Bartlett issue was twofold. 1) Part of the argument was if you paid people more you would recruit more easily. Turns out that’s wrong as after huge pay rises rest home gaps are still a disaster 2) The bill to reach this so-called equity was $2b. That's a lot of money then and a lot of money now. I wish van Velden well. But the simple truth is the moment you try to engineer something, you tend to strike trouble. Work is worth what work is worth, no matter who does it. Some work pays more than other work. It's based on demand, or skills, or sales and revenue, or scarcity, or demand, or a combination of them. Given no one makes anyone work in any given area, you strike extraordinary complexity in trying to gerrymander it. It also singles out just one element of work —money— as being the sole reason for work. Which it isn't. What we have doesn’t work, hasn’t solved anything and was done for poor reasons. So reform is good. But reform to what is a bigger trick than they may realise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Mark O'Connor: Australian Catholic Journalist on the vote for a new pope 4:29

11 hours ago4:29

4:29

135 cardinals from around the world will take their picks on who the new pope should be. They'll be locked in Rome's Sistine Chapel from tomorrow to decide who will replace Pope Francis. There's no timescale for how long it'll take, but the last two papal elections lasted for two days. Australian Catholic Journalist Mark O’Connor told Mike Hosking the cardinals know what they're looking for. He thinks the cardinals want to have someone with charisma, who can connect with ordinary people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Catherine Wedd: Tukituki MP on the member's bill that would ban social media for under 16s 5:41

11 hours ago5:41

5:41

There's acceptance banning social media for under 16s may be easier said than done. National has put forward a members’ bill to prevent under 16 year olds having social media accounts, with large corporations being responsible for technically regulating age verification. The author, Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd told Mike Hosking she knows anyone can use a fake age to set up a social media account, but if companies fail to manage it, they'll face significant penalties She says it's not going to be perfect, but this is a direction from the government that we need to do more to protect kids from online harm. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Full Show Podcast: 07 May 2025 1:29:46

11 hours ago1:29:46

1:29:46

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 7th of May, Brooke van Velden talks improving the pay equity process and why it isn't, apparently, all about the Budget. And we've got a National bill that wants to ban social media for under 16s. Possible or not? Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk pay equity and the feasibility of the social media ban – and can we get through a whole segment without Mark putting himself on mute? Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on the pay equity rules, social media ban 12:23

12 hours ago12:23

12:23

MPs across the political spectrum are fired up over the latest proposal to overhaul —under urgency— rules around pay equity. The proposed law, which would lift the threshold of pay equity claims of gender-discrimination, is expected to have its third reading this morning. Labour's Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking the Government was boasting about savings. She says the women in these jobs need to know their wages have been undercut to pay for the Government’s budget. Mark Mitchell says it's not that simple. He says taxpayers are the ones funding the pay equity system, and so they need to ensure it’s sustainable. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Sharon Zollner: ANZ Chief Economist on the unemployment rate likely hitting its highest point since 2016 2:12

12 hours ago2:12

2:12

An observation the recession hasn't been felt evenly. Stats NZ data out this morning could show unemployment has hit its highest point since 2016 during the March quarter – reaching around 5.2%. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking she expects it will have bigger impacts on different age groups and communities. She says young people as well as Māori and Pacific communities have always been on a bigger rollercoaster when it comes to the labour market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the meeting between Donald Trump and Mark Carney 5:45

12 hours ago5:45

5:45

The US President and Canadian Prime Minister have had some tough conversations today. Donald Trump and Mark Carney met at the White House and vowed to bring up tough points that are dividing their countries since Trump won office. On Trump's desire to make Canada America's 51st state, Carney stated the country is not for sale. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Donald Trump says the countries have a good relationship, and love each other. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Ronan Payinda: Auckland University study lead on nearly half of schools being within a ten minute walk of a vape store 3:15

13 hours ago3:15

3:15

The more vape stores near schools, the more young people vape. Fresh research from Auckland University shows almost half of schools across New Zealand are within a ten minute walk from a vape store The government passed a law in 2023 banning specialist vape shops from opening within 300 metres of schools, but the laws didn't apply to hundreds of existing suppliers. Study lead Ronan Payinda told Mike Hosking that walking past vape shops on the way to school increases the risk of vaping for those who have never done it before. He says he's concerned this introduces a new generation to addictions that may last a lifetime. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Brooke van Velden: Workplace Relations Minister on the new rules for gender-based pay equity claims 4:21

13 hours ago4:21

4:21

The Government says its new tough rules for pay equity claims will result in major taxpayer savings. The proposed law, which would lift the threshold of pay equity claims of gender-discrimination, is expected to have its third reading this morning. It's caused an uproar, with many women and union groups opposed to the idea. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking she can't yet disclose the exact financial impact. However she says the Crown will save billions of dollars, if passed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Mike's Minute: Why our top achievers are leaving 2:15

1 day ago2:15

2:15

I always find it amusing when officialdom is confused, and they seem confused, as to why so many of our brightest minds have bailed and gone off overseas. This is the group of top achievers at NCEA level and the ones with international qualifications. More of them than ever have left the country. Officialdom here doesn’t know if they are enrolled offshore or, and here is the critical point, why they left. Fortunately, I can help. Well, at least a bit. We had one leave the country to go off and study. We have a niece currently studying offshore and we also have a nephew who left, studied and graduated last year. They were, or are, all bright and all got top marks, and here is officialdom's answer: all wanted to get the hell out of here. Studying at an overseas university has become a “thing”. In one way it is no different to the vast swathes of other New Zealanders who set records exiting in the past few years. In simple terms, the brighter you are the more prospects you have. Part of your brain power and academic success will have led you to the realisation that there is a big world out there with a lot of opportunities and you want a slice of this action. Anecdotally, as regards higher study post-secondary school, I can tell you the amount of Māori indoctrination at high school these days is not just absurd, but counter productive. I know it isn't PC to say so and I know it's not scientifically fact-based. But I know what kids tell me and even in this current generation, which is far more willing and open to this type of bilingual Māori-based approach to learning, by the time you have had five years of it, you are done. What they failed to grip when they went hell for leather, and this applies to broader life in New Zealand ranging from Māori names of Government departments to news greetings on the TV at night, is if you over-egg it, you get push back, which is where we are right now. But I think there also must be some acceptance that as a small, insular country at the bottom of the world, when times are tough the world remains shiny and brains gets you access. I would have once said that most come home. But I look at our wider family and I'm not sure that’s actually true anymore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Nick Bryant: Global Political expert on the Trump effect, Australian and Canadian elections 11:50

1 day ago11:50

11:50

Australia's recent election has sparked talks of the 'Trump effect' coming into play. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party's had a landslide win, securing a historic second term. It's widely thought Trump's volatility influenced the outcome. Global Political Expert Nick Bryant told Mike Hosking it's become more apparent the country wanted to elect an authentically Australian Prime Minister, with the landslide win's a rejection of Americanisation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Full Show Podcast: 06 May 2025 1:29:49

1 day ago1:29:49

1:29:49

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 6th of May, free trade negotiations are officially underway in India , and our film industry could be left reeling after Trump announced 100% tariffs on foreign films. Sir John Key is on to talk business growth in New Zealand, as well as everything else Mike throws at him. Nick Bryant is an expert in global politics and is on to talk to us about the recent elections around the world and Trumpism. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Andrew Hoggard: Associate Agriculture Minister on the decline in livestock numbers 3:08

1 day ago3:08

3:08

New Zealand’s livestock numbers are on the decline. Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014. The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period, coinciding with the increase in land being converted for forestry. Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard told Mike Hosking he believes the costs around RMA and other rules and regulations are partially responsible. He says one farmer he visited gave up and converted entirely to forestry as dealing with the wetland rules and requirements were too hard and costly. Hoggard hopes the work they’re doing around RMA will allow farmers to make smart decisions on their farms as opposed to giving up and planting trees. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Sir John Key: Former Prime Minister on the Ignite 25 Growth Summit, Trump tariffs 9:27

1 day ago9:27

9:27

Sir John Key does not believe US President Donald Trump intends to keep tariffs on most of the world. The former Prime Minister is speaking at the Ignite 25 Growth Summit business event in Auckland today. Key, who's supported Trump in the past, says the President is only focused on China in his new trade policies. He told Mike Hosking the stock, bond, and currency markets are not convinced that Trump is going to leave them where they are. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Annie Dundas: Auckland Unlimited Destination Director on North Island tourism organisations teaming up 2:42

1 day ago2:42