On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 13th of February, is there a water tax in the RMA bill? Chris Bishop responds to some angry farmers.

Karen Chhour answers questions about why there is Maori leave entitlements at Oranga Tamariki and whether it is more widespread than one Government department.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson on concert reviews, adult kids back at the house and Kiwis bed times.

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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March 6th is your day.

This is the date that the changes to foreign buyers of expensive houses comes into play.

This date, in a way, is like the LNG announcement.

The idea of foreign buyers for houses isn't new. It's been part of the Government's plan ever since the Government became the Government.

The LNG idea got floated in the winter of 2024, not long after the Government became the Government also.

This proves one of two things - either it's hard work being in Government and things take longer than you think, or this lot aren't that flash at getting things done despite the rhetoric to the contrary.

The foreign buyers rule is a righting of a horrible, myopic, narrow-minded wrong from the previous Government.

House prices were never driven by Germans buying $15 million homes in Herne Bay, nor the Chinese buying $19 million homes in St Heliers.

And Auckland is essentially where they were all bought.

Queenstown has joined the party a bit lately. But the vast swathe of New Zealand never saw a mega purchase from a filthy, rich foreigner.

Why it's important is we should see foreigners as good people who want to improve their lives, while improving ours via the improvement of the country.

People who have money do things with it, like buy or build business, they invest, they grow, they employ and they pay tax.

They bring knowledge and expertise and they, more often than not, fall in love with our piece of paradise and end up doing far more than they ever set out to do.

I think a lot of Julian Robertson, an American who built lodges and golf courses here that bring in millions. He enhanced the place. And next time you're at the Auckland Art Gallery, go see one of his Picasso's. He gave them a fortune in art.

What drives bans is envy, shallowness, fear and, often, stupidity.

We have at last made it right. Yes, it will help the housing market, but more importantly it will help the country and this country needs to pull every trigger in its arsenal to fire it up.

Nine years ago we were a place of pride and growth and global admiration. Labour 2017-23 destroyed that.

March 6th is a small step back towards redemption and better days.

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At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.

LNG: 7/10

An example of the times. A decent idea to help solve a genuine issue and yet too many miss the point and bitch about tax vs levy vs fee.

Greg Foran: 7/10

Back where he belongs. There is a book there. What he thought it might be and what it was, is several chapters worth.

OT and cultural leave: 2/10

When you promise something as this Government did, especially around emotive issues like this, you've got to deliver. The fact this is real and still exists speaks to the angst around the race issues this country battles with.

The Covid review: 8/10

I don’t care if it's political. It's good its political. We all need a reminder of the damage and pain that results from incompetence and arrogance.

Super Bowl: 8/10

The second most watched TV event ever, only behind the most watched TV event ever, which was also the Super Bowl. Spot the sport going places.

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