Billions in spending has already been announced, and more to come for today's budget. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hours away from unveiling her second budget, and is promising no frills or excess.  

The Government's been slowly teasing figures, including a $600 million infrastructure investment into the country's rail network.  

Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Mike Hosking they're trying to make some progress. 

She says it's good to see they're continuing to build on the fundamentals. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Billions in spending has already been announced, and more to come for today's budget.&nbsp;
Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hours away from unveiling her second budget, and is promising no frills or excess. &nbsp;
The Government's been slowly teasing figures, including a $600 million infrastructure investment into the country's rail network. &nbsp;
Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Mike Hosking they're trying to make some progress.&nbsp;
She says it's good to see they're continuing to build on the fundamentals.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Michelle McCormick: Infrastructure NZ Policy Director on the infrastructure announcements still to come from the Budget

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8d73aea8-e33c-4556-9f63-b2e40144c996/transcript

I do worry about Paul Goldsmith's ability to make a decision. 

The BSA and its abolition is a “done by morning tea, let's move onto the important stuff” sort of thing. 

And yet he seems to have been waxing and waning and pontificating for the past two years of Government. 

At last, he has got there. The Broadcasting Standards Authority is over and thank the good Lord for that. 

It was from another time: pre-streaming, pre-international, no borders broadcasting. It caught the few originals left in a weird, old net that made no sense. 

And that’s on top of the fact they had next to no complaints given no one can be bothered and most of the industry is professionally run anyway. 

The NZ Media Council will apparently take over duties, which I'm sort of torn over. 

I think we need someone who corrects mistakes. 

A decision this week over a story on the Interislander found the numbers used in the story on costings was wrong. 

Winston Peters complained, he was right, they needed to correct the record. The point in that example is he went to the company who published and they rejected his argument. You would like to think they were better than that, hence the need for the council. 

But those sorts of examples aside, what these quasi-courts end up doing is adjudicating on nuance and argument based on the moaning of some bored loser in suburbia, who would probably be better off watching less TV or reading less news and writing fewer letters. 

I do worry about the council. The current lot appear all lawyers and consultants, with not a single proper broadcaster. They do, they tell me, have some industry people who offer advice. 

But let me tell you this; unless you have driven a three-hour live radio programme or a live TV show with its varying unpredictables, you have no idea of the pressure that unfolds literally instantly, therefore the potential for verbal carnage. And yet that’s the sort of thing they pass judgement on. 

Anyway, the BSA – been there, done that. It made no difference. It was an idea past its time. 

And it will not be missed. 

I do worry about Paul Goldsmith's ability to make a decision.&nbsp;
The BSA and its abolition is a “done by morning tea, let's move onto the important stuff” sort of thing.&nbsp;
And yet he seems to have been waxing and waning and pontificating for the past two years of Government.&nbsp;
At last, he has got there. The Broadcasting Standards Authority is over and thank the good Lord for that.&nbsp;
It was from another time: pre-streaming, pre-international, no borders broadcasting. It caught the few originals left in a weird, old net that made no sense.&nbsp;
And that’s on top of the fact they had next to no complaints given no one can be bothered and most of the industry is professionally run anyway.&nbsp;
The NZ Media Council will apparently take over duties, which I'm sort of torn over.&nbsp;
I think we need someone who corrects mistakes.&nbsp;
A decision this week over a story on the Interislander found the numbers used in the story on costings was wrong.&nbsp;
Winston Peters complained, he was right, they needed to correct the record. The point in that example is he went to the company who published and they rejected his argument. You would like to think they were better than that, hence the need for the council.&nbsp;
But those sorts of examples aside, what these quasi-courts end up doing is adjudicating on nuance and argument based on the moaning of some bored loser in suburbia, who would probably be better off watching less TV or reading less news and writing fewer letters.&nbsp;
I do worry about the council. The current lot appear all lawyers and consultants, with not a single proper broadcaster. They do, they tell me, have some industry people who offer advice.&nbsp;
But let me tell you this; unless you have driven a three-hour live radio programme or a live TV show with its varying unpredictables, you have no idea of the pressure that unfolds literally instantly, therefore the potential for verbal carnage. And yet that’s the sort of thing they pass judgement on.&nbsp;
Anyway, the BSA – been there, done that. It made no difference. It was an idea past its time.&nbsp;
And it will not be missed.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Good riddance to the BSA

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/211b49c2-acf0-408a-b221-b44201766024/transcript

Fans eagerly awaiting the release of Mel Parsons’ new album will be able to experience it live, the Kiwi singer taking it on tour. 

Earlier this morning she announced a seven-date tour for her upcoming album ‘Castle Hill’, named for the remote Southern Alps town in which it was recorded.  

The album is due out in August, but half a dozen singles have already been released, including Post High Slide, Brick By Brick’, and her latest release, ‘Grain by Grain’.  

“It’s just kind of the way that people are releasing these days,” Parsons told Mike Hosking. 

“With the way, y’know, the way that Spotify and the streaming side of things works, is that you just sort of start teasing them out ... that’s the way we’ve done it for this record.” 

And to celebrate the official release, Parsons is bringing 'Castle Hill’ to life on stage with a full live band, performing in Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, and Palmerston North. 

Parsons is no stranger to touring and is frequently on the road. 

“On the one hand, it’s my job, but also I, genuinely it’s my favourite part of the whole thing,” she told Hosking. 

“I don’t think it’s being in front of people, but I think it’s, it’s what that opportunity gives you – being on stage is this very, very special chance to just connect with people.” 

“I’m not particularly woo-woo Mike, but it’s a bit of an energy, kind of, transfer, y’know like, what you give out, it comes around,” Parsons said. 

“It’s a very, very special, unique feeling, performing live.” 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Fans eagerly awaiting the release of Mel Parsons’ new album will be able to experience it live, the Kiwi singer taking it on tour.&nbsp;
Earlier this morning she announced a seven-date tour for her upcoming album ‘Castle Hill’, named for the remote Southern Alps town in which it was recorded. &nbsp;
The album is due out in August, but half a dozen singles have already been released, including Post High Slide, Brick By Brick’, and her latest release, ‘Grain by Grain’. &nbsp;
“It’s just kind of the way that people are releasing these days,” Parsons told Mike Hosking.&nbsp;
“With the way, y’know, the way that Spotify and the streaming side of things works, is that you just sort of start teasing them out ... that’s the way we’ve done it for this record.”&nbsp;
And to celebrate the official release, Parsons is bringing 'Castle Hill’ to life on stage with a full live band, performing in Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, and Palmerston North.&nbsp;
Parsons is no stranger to touring and is frequently on the road.&nbsp;
“On the one hand, it’s my job, but also I, genuinely it’s my favourite part of the whole thing,” she told Hosking.&nbsp;
“I don’t think it’s being in front of people, but I think it’s, it’s what that opportunity gives you – being on stage is this very, very special chance to just connect with people.”&nbsp;
“I’m not particularly woo-woo Mike, but it’s a bit of an energy, kind of, transfer, y’know like, what you give out, it comes around,” Parsons said.&nbsp;
“It’s a very, very special, unique feeling, performing live.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Mel Parsons: Kiwi indie-folk singer on her upcoming album 'Castle Hill', NZ tour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3a2eff49-b99d-416c-b254-b4420170547e/transcript

Fresh conflict between US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV. 

Trump launched another attack on the Pope, suggesting he believes it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and claiming his stance is endangering people. 

The Pope made no such claims and responded to the attack by saying the mission of the church is to preach the Gospel and to preach peace, and people were free to criticise him for it.  

Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking Pope Leo said he's never supported nuclear weapons, and those criticising should do it with the truth. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Fresh conflict between US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV.&nbsp;
Trump launched another attack on the Pope, suggesting he believes it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and claiming his stance is endangering people.&nbsp;
The Pope made no such claims and responded to the attack by saying the mission of the church is to preach the Gospel and to preach peace, and people were free to criticise him for it. &nbsp;
Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking Pope Leo said he's never supported nuclear weapons, and those criticising should do it with the truth.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Jo McKenna: Italy Correspondent on the latest conflict between Donald Trump and the Pope

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/da9b252d-b1c6-43b6-8e30-b442016640dd/transcript

Michelle McCormick: Infrastructure NZ Policy Director on the infrastructure announcements still to come from the Budget

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