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The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Mike's Minute: We need more backbone from our leaders

07 May 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: Why does the host feel the need for more backbone in leadership?

0.031 - 6.06 Mike Hosking

Why now, Sean? Eh? Why now, Sean? I had COVID vibes yesterday when I read Sean Sweeney's thinking about the CRL.

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6.1 - 19.76 Mike Hosking

COVID vibes, because during that period, I cannot tell you how many people I know and regularly dealt with, people in the media, people from business, who said one thing about the government and their handling of lockdowns and the economy, and they did that in private and something completely different in public.

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19.78 - 26.99 Mike Hosking

So, Sean, having left the CRL to head to Ireland, now having left Ireland, but has stopped by long enough to tell us we don't scope or price major projects that well.

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Chapter 2: What are the implications of the CRL project on public perception?

27.511 - 42.812 Mike Hosking

Huh! Well, who knew? The CRL at well over $5 billion is a gargantuan waste of money. I mean, yes, it will improve things, and on paper it makes sense because it joins up some rail lines so you can go round and round and round. But like most things in life, convenience or improvement or efficiency comes at a cost.

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42.792 - 71.449 Mike Hosking

what's a terrific idea at 50 bucks is a waste 200 and for something that started out at about two and will come in at about six as in billion the crl has reached the stage where no one really wants to accept responsibility anymore for the price and delays because it got so embarrassing a long time ago and tipped over into that well let's just make the most of it and hope it works it won't of course not to the extent they dreamed because what they dream of is new york or london and we've never been that never will be anyway part of where sean is right

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71.429 - 90.534 Mike Hosking

Is ideology blinds common sense too many people want to say? And before you know it, everything is a combination of delayed and expensive. And yes, the fast-track RMA reform will help. Less legal action will help. Fewer opportunities for review will help. And God forbid, cross-party support would help as well. But... What would also help is some backbone.

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90.815 - 107.848 Mike Hosking

People who say what they believe, whether it gets them attention or into trouble or not. There are too many pussies in places of influence, basically. Too many spineless, scaredy cats who want the job or the title or the reputation or the pay packet and just grin and bear it or defend it or lie about it or babble nonsensical rubbish instead of being honest.

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107.828 - 130.495 Mike Hosking

As much as I appreciate Sean telling it like it is and he's right, and possibly someone in charge might take notice, oh, the irony of Bishop yesterday launching a review, what I would appreciate more was the same commentary before he filed the resignation letter and scarped it.

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