The National Public Health Service is exactly what's wrong with this country.

The Health Minister, who shouldn't have had to, intervened in their submission to the district council looking at the application for McDonald's in Wanaka.

Why was the health service offering a submission? Because the council asked them to.

So who is more at fault (the answer is of course both of them), the council for creating work and waste, or the service for creative work and waste?

The health service, among other things, talk of health. They talked of health in the wildest of contexts, like the World Health Organisation context, which essentially means anything can be dragged into the health sphere if you are determined.

And my word, were they determined.

They won't be in future because Shane Reti told them to stop wasting everyone's time.

The irony of the outcome is the submission wasn’t even correct, hinting perhaps that these people have little, if any, knowledge of what they are actually doing and simply fill their days with pointless exercises.

They sighted Te Tiriti of course. What Te Tiriti has to do with fries and a chocolate shake, I have no idea, and I suspect they don’t either. But that is why all this is so criminal.

Te Tiriti is everywhere for no particular purpose. Its overreach has reached the point of absurdity.

So hundreds of submissions, days of hearing, the Treaty and a Government department admonished by the minister. That is why nothing gets done and that is why the country is in the state it is.

These people want to sell a hamburger. They want to employ locals, they want to contribute to the growth of the community and they want to pay their tax.

They simply want to do business.

Why is the industry and apparatus in not doing business so vast, so complicated, so expensive and so wasteful?

And who is blowing it up?

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The Government wants to launch the first satellite controlled by New Zealand.

Currently we rely on satellites from "friendly countries" - such as the US and the UK.

Options are now with MBIE – but what would a sovereign satellite mean for us?

Auckland University physics professor Richard Easther joined Mike Hosking.

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 2nd of December, Labour leader Chris Hipkins on what the party tax plans are, pulling out of AUKUS and rebuilding Dunedin Hospital.

Mike couldn't believe the report that came out of the Manawanui handling and you won't want to miss his thoughts on it!

And he speaks to Guy and Sav for the last time this year and gives his pick for the overall Halberg Awards winner.

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

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Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to wrap the weekend in sport – including fielding errors by the Black Caps in their eight-wicket loss to England, the Breakers signing former NBA centre Tacko Fall and Auckland FC continuing their historic run.

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Ukraine and Russia look to be heading towards a ceasefire - but it could be messy.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hinting he'd temporarily cede territory to Russia – if the whole country's extended an invite to NATO.

Former UK Defence Attaché in Moscow John Foreman told Mike Hosking both Ukraine and Russia seem to be trying to influence Donald Trump ahead of him taking office – but Trump's kept his cards close to his chest.

He says the only clarity we have is from Trump tapping General Kellogg to serve as special envoy – who wants to delay NATO membership, but offer Ukraine security assurances.

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An early Christmas present for the Coromandel Peninsula as the walking track to Hahei's Cathedral Cove reopens.

It closed in Feburary last year because of damage caused in Cyclone Gabrielle.

Thames-Coromandel Mayor Len Salt says combined with the reopening of State Highway 25A, the region is ready for a busy summer.

He told Mike Hosking the next step will be repairing other tracks in the area.

“Not just down to the Cove, but the other bays. We’ve got Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay which is still closed to access.”

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins believes AUKUS is not in New Zealand's best interest.

His party has ruled out joining the transnational pact between Australia, the UK, and the US.

The current Government's considering joining pillar two of the agreement - with non-nuclear aspects.

Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking we should continue to have good, strategic relationships – and recognise some other partners are not happy with AUKUS.

“If you look at the way it’s perceived internationally, including in our region, it’s perceived as part of the polarisation of geopolitics in our region.”

Meanwhile, the idea or a capital gains tax was also talked about.

Hipkins says we're closer to seeing public appetite for reform.

“When we started talking about this 15 years ago as the Labour Party, we were the only people talking about it. Now everybody’s saying actually New Zealand’s tax system needs reform.”

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Donald Trump's nomination of loyalist Kash Patel for FBI director could be his most contentious yet.

Patel's widely considered controversial for his comments about shutting down the FBI headquarters and ceding all power to the President.

He's also spoken about coming after the media – and offering retribution to his enemies inside government.

US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking one of the issues is the post isn't open – with current head Chris Wray still having more than three years left.

“Wray was appointed by Donald Trump during his first term, but their relationship soured early on. And then things worsened when the FBI issued that search warrant for classified documents.”

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