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 

Natalie McMurtry says Pharmac's model drew her to the agency's top job. &nbsp;
She is just three weeks into her five-year-contract as chief executive at the drug-buying agency.&nbsp;
The Canadian is tasked with continuing efforts to improve the agency's standing with the New Zealand public after years of degradation.&nbsp;
McMurty told Mike Hosking she’s happy to keep moving forward on the reset plan that’s been put in place.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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, 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

Natalie McMurty: Pharmac CEO on entering her new role

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/09e9b97e-671b-493d-89bf-b36901512b58/transcript

It probably wasn’t a surprise to learn the parents being prosecuted over their kids not going to school didn’t turn up to court. 

So the reason the justice wheel turns so slowly is partially because of those sorts of folks. 

I doubt any court action will achieve a lot in this specific case. But then you can argue it probably wasn’t supposed to. 

Governments prosecuting parents over non-school attendances is a sad, but good, policy at the same time. 

Sad because we got to this point. Good because what it will achieve is a chilling effect for those who may not get to court but could have. 

The reason they didn’t was because of the test cases we hear of this week. 

Like the school phone ban not everyone follows it. It's not bulletproof, but it is effective. 

Chilling effects are not to be underestimated. 

The light system in Jobseeker is another good example. When there are no consequences for not looking for work, it's amazing how many are happy to take the invitation not to do anything. 

Offer them a bit of stick and all of a sudden, the number of people who fail and reach red and get a benefit cut becomes negligible. 

Once again, what a tragedy that there seem so many who are happy enough to waste a life. 

But the lowest common denominator is in fact quite common, given how many frequent it. 

It's doubly sad of course when it comes to kids and school. It's not their fault the parents are wasters and you run the risk the habits are contagious, and the kid carries the wastage on for another generation. 

So no, the initial prosecution will involve the worst of the reprobates and, no, it most likely won't make a jot of difference. 

But enough people will see it and hear of it, it will be around the school grounds, word will spread, and with that for some anyway, what might have been will be avoided. It may well be that if a handful of kids get to go to school properly, it might eventually benefit us all. 

It takes a tough Government to take their people to court over something as fundamental as education. Certainly, previous ones haven't been interested and that is why, in part, we have ended up where we are. 

But, potentially, it's also at a point where tough love could pay off. 

It probably wasn’t a surprise to learn the parents being prosecuted over their kids not going to school didn’t turn up to court.&nbsp;
So the reason the justice wheel turns so slowly is partially because of those sorts of folks.&nbsp;
I doubt any court action will achieve a lot in this specific case. But then you can argue it probably wasn’t supposed to.&nbsp;
Governments prosecuting parents over non-school attendances is a sad, but good, policy at the same time.&nbsp;
Sad because we got to this point. Good because what it will achieve is a chilling effect for those who may not get to court but could have.&nbsp;
The reason they didn’t was because of the test cases we hear of this week.&nbsp;
Like the school phone ban not everyone follows it. It's not bulletproof, but it is effective.&nbsp;
Chilling effects are not to be underestimated.&nbsp;
The light system in Jobseeker is another good example. When there are no consequences for not looking for work, it's amazing how many are happy to take the invitation not to do anything.&nbsp;
Offer them a bit of stick and all of a sudden, the number of people who fail and reach red and get a benefit cut becomes negligible.&nbsp;
Once again, what a tragedy that there seem so many who are happy enough to waste a life.&nbsp;
But the lowest common denominator is in fact quite common, given how many frequent it.&nbsp;
It's doubly sad of course when it comes to kids and school. It's not their fault the parents are wasters and you run the risk the habits are contagious, and the kid carries the wastage on for another generation.&nbsp;
So no, the initial prosecution will involve the worst of the reprobates and, no, it most likely won't make a jot of difference.&nbsp;
But enough people will see it and hear of it, it will be around the school grounds, word will spread, and with that for some anyway, what might have been will be avoided. It may well be that if a handful of kids get to go to school properly, it might eventually benefit us all.&nbsp;
It takes a tough Government to take their people to court over something as fundamental as education. Certainly, previous ones haven't been interested and that is why, in part, we have ended up where we are.&nbsp;
But, potentially, it's also at a point where tough love could pay off.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Parent prosecutions were a deterrent

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b8bcbe3f-a6d6-45ba-9aca-b43b018adbc8/transcript

A Kiwi music icon is firmly rooted back on our shores, with new music on the way.  

Gin Wigmore returned to New Zealand’s shores in late 2024 after years spent living in Los Angeles, California.  

Last time she spoke with Mike Hosking she was in Palm Springs, moving to LA when she was pregnant with her second child and running a hotel out of Santa Monica.  

But after a while, she realised she wasn’t content with her life and her marriage, separating from her husband, moving back to New Zealand, and opening a deli in Auckland’s Kingsland.  

“I felt like I needed, I missed New Zealand, I missed my roots,” Wigmore said. 

“I missed having my kids grow up in this environment ... there’s something about the freedom of that sort of childhood that was getting less, it was getting harder to do in Los Angeles.”  

Although she’s currently in the midst of her divorce, Wigmore says she still has a good relationship with her ex.  

“We were just kids when we met and we couldn’t, couldn’t evolve together,” she told Hosking. 

“And we’re two lead singers – I mean it was sort of destined to f***ing fail in some fiery emotional explosion, and so, y’know, we kind of, we called it.”  

It’s been eight years since Wigmore released an album, but even amid all her other ventures, music is still deeply important to her. 

“Music’s amazing in that it always catches me in my worst moments,” she explained. 

“Sometimes I’ve likened it to a really toxic boyfriend —kind of like this player that I’m seeing— and then sometimes it’s just this really steady go-to that always catches me in my worst, hardest moments.”  

And that second sentiment is what her upcoming album, ‘Beautiful Mess’, channels – filled with all the highlights and lowlights of Wigmore’s life. 

“Together it’s like a whole complete world of what my life... a snapshot of my world for the last five years or so.” 

LISTEN ABOVE  

A Kiwi music icon is firmly rooted back on our shores, with new music on the way. &nbsp;
Gin Wigmore returned to New Zealand’s shores in late 2024 after years spent living in Los Angeles, California. &nbsp;
Last time she spoke with Mike Hosking she was in Palm Springs, moving to LA when she was pregnant with her second child and running a hotel out of Santa Monica. &nbsp;
But after a while, she realised she wasn’t content with her life and her marriage, separating from her husband, moving back to New Zealand, and opening a deli in Auckland’s Kingsland. &nbsp;
“I felt like I needed, I missed New Zealand, I missed my roots,” Wigmore said.&nbsp;
“I missed having my kids grow up in this environment ... there’s something about the freedom of that sort of childhood that was getting less, it was getting harder to do in Los Angeles.” &nbsp;
Although she’s currently in the midst of her divorce, Wigmore says she still has a good relationship with her ex. &nbsp;
“We were just kids when we met and we couldn’t, couldn’t evolve together,” she told Hosking.&nbsp;
“And we’re two lead singers – I mean it was sort of destined to f***ing fail in some fiery emotional explosion, and so, y’know, we kind of, we called it.” &nbsp;
It’s been eight years since Wigmore released an album, but even amid all her other ventures, music is still deeply important to her.&nbsp;
“Music’s amazing in that it always catches me in my worst moments,” she explained.&nbsp;
“Sometimes I’ve likened it to a really toxic boyfriend —kind of like this player that I’m seeing— and then sometimes it’s just this really steady go-to that always catches me in my worst, hardest moments.” &nbsp;
And that second sentiment is what her upcoming album, ‘Beautiful Mess’, channels – filled with all the highlights and lowlights of Wigmore’s life.&nbsp;
“Together it’s like a whole complete world of what my life... a snapshot of my world for the last five years or so.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Gin Wigmore: Kiwi singer-songwriter on her upcoming album, return to New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/83a12ee9-98c2-43f6-838b-b43b018233c0/transcript

Our wine industry continues to find success on the global stage. 

Marlborough’s Spy Valley achieved a clean sweep at the London Wine Competition, claiming seven golds for the seven wines they entered. 

It’s one of the industry’s most influential events, and on top of their golds, they were also named New Zealand’s Winery of the Year. 

Owner and Managing Director Amanda Johnson told Mike Hosking they aim to make really good quality wine at different price points, so it was a delight for their hardworking team to be rewarded across all the skews.  

LISTEN ABOVE  

Our wine industry continues to find success on the global stage.&nbsp;
Marlborough’s Spy Valley achieved a clean sweep at the London Wine Competition, claiming seven golds for the seven wines they entered.&nbsp;
It’s one of the industry’s most influential events, and on top of their golds, they were also named New Zealand’s Winery of the Year.&nbsp;
Owner and Managing Director Amanda Johnson told Mike Hosking they aim to make really good quality wine at different price points, so it was a delight for their hardworking team to be rewarded across all the skews. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Amanda Johnson: Spy Valley Wine Owner and Managing Director on their seven gold awards at the London Wine Competition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ba179bb6-d290-4adb-8808-b43b01618bb8/transcript

Natalie McMurty: Pharmac CEO on entering her new role

In 1 playlist(s)

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips