There are still many questions regarding the man who drove his car into a crowd in Liverpool.

Fans of Liverpool Football Club had flooded the city's streets to celebrate its Premier League title win.

Nearly 80 people were injured, and a 53-year-old local was arrested for attempted murder.

UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking one theory is that it was an accident.

He said the driver may have simply followed the ambulance and upon finding themselves surrounded by screaming people, didn’t know what to do.

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I am here to help the ol' Chipster.

The Chipster, aka Chris Hipkins, was in the building this week. I said hello to him.

He asked me when I was dropping the blacklist I have on him appearing on this show.

I said he had appeared once already this year and that was plenty. We both laughed.

What I like about him is that he doesn’t seem to take any of this personally.

He knows I think he's hopeless and he knows I think he wrecked the country. But he is playing the long game and he knows I know he will be back next year in the election campaign and, if he wins, he will be back as a regular.

Which brings me to the help.

In Australia this week their Labor Government approved the extension of a massive gas project – Woodside are Australia's largest gas producer.

Before the word came from the Government, the company had launched a fairly vigorous, and as it turns out, effective campaign reminding us all that if you want to look at Spain the other day, and indeed various parts of Europe that have been spending increasing periods of time in the dark, you will find they became obsessed with renewables and that obsessions led to blackouts.

Continuity and consistency of supply, Woodside argued, is just as important as where you get your energy.

Anyway, Labor gave them the tick. Yes, the conservationists are upset, but aren't they always?

The point for Hipkins is this: this is a Labour Government that did this. A Labour Government that romped home in an election just the other day. A Labour Government with a gargantuan majority.

Why? Because it's what you'd call here a Labour Government of old. It's a centrist Labour Government.

It's not a woke, handwringing, ideologically obsessed Labour Government of, say, 2020-2023.

Blair Hawke and David Lange are your Labour Governments of success.

Hipkins is your Labour Government of failure.

Albanese has clearly learned the lessons of history and worked them nicely to his favour. Yes, he can be centre left, but the lights will always be on.

Last time the Chipster was in charge we stopped looking for gas altogether and, as far as I know, he wouldn't start looking again.

That’s the sort of thinking that leads to blackouts and an electorate that doesn’t see you as viable.

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29th of May, the Reserve Bank made the decision to cut the OCR by 25 basis points, but did we get any sort of clear direction for the future? Acting Governor Christian Hawkesby is on the show.

The Prime Minister has recovered from his illness and is on the program to give his reaction to the OCR announcement and the public service leaks.

We love Tami Nielson, so when she has a new NZ tour to announce, a new single, a new album coming soon, and multiple NZ Music Awards nominations, we had to get her on for a chat.

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

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One of the most significant country music figures to emerge from New Zealand, Tami Neilson continues to grow on the world stage.

Later this year she’ll be touring around the US with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, as well as a string of European dates – but unlike some other stars, she’s not leaving New Zealand out.

Neilson is returning to our stages this October for her ‘Neon Cowgirl’ tour – performing five shows across the country.

She’ll be performing songs from her new album of the same name, which releases in July.

Although it's common for artists to labour over their work, often taking years to complete and release albums, Neilson told Mike Hosking that comparatively, she works quite quickly.

“From the time I’m kind of laying down the music to when it comes out, it’s usually a year,” she said.

“I usually write my albums and then track them within a week, so most of my albums are live off the floor.”

The recordings listeners hear are full takes performed live by Neilson and her band, which she says adds a realness to the songs.

“I think in this age of, you know, impending AI, the more we can lean into our humanity, you hope that comes through in the music and connects with other human hearts.”

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The effects of centralising New Zealand's polytechs continue to be felt.

New data shows there were about 75 thousand international students in the country last year, down from 125 thousand in 2016.

Tertiary's seen the biggest drop, halving in that timeframe.

Tertiary Education Union's national secretary Sandra Grey told Mike Hosking polytechs had major reform after Covid, which disrupted courses and staff.

She says that confuses students looking to study, who will then consider options elsewhere.

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Don't bank on further cuts to the Official Cash Rate.

The Reserve Bank's dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 3.25%, and is now forecasting it could reach a low of 2.9% by the end of the year.

But Governor Christian Hawkesby says further cuts aren't guaranteed.

He told Mike Hosking they're taking things one step at a time, as they wait to see how global developments affect the economy and inflation.

Hawkesby says the OCR is now close to "neutral" and the Reserve Bank's next move won't be pre-programmed, it will depend on how things unfold.

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A new plan is being touted as a way to fast track shaking up the grocery sector.

The New Zealand Initiative is proposing allowing new entrants to enter the market, rather than forcing any break-up of the existing supermarket companies.

It outlines the need for fast track plans for rezoning, consenting, overseas investment clearance, and a more neutral stance from the government.

Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking a new entrant should get a head start.

He says within five years the government would find out whether planning barriers are what's held companies back.

Foodstuffs and Woolworths are both members of the New Zealand Initiative.

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Christopher Luxon remains hopeful the latest cut in the OCR isn't the last.

The Reserve Bank's dropped the Official Cash Rate 25 basis points to 3.25%, and is now forecasting it will reach a low of 2.9 percent in December.

But the Monetary Policy Committee wasn't able to reach a unanimous decision to cut the cash rate.

The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking Acting Governor Christian Hawkesby is dealing with a period of global uncertainty.

He says there's a huge amount of volatility that Hawkesby is navigating, but the economy is turning a corner.

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