How many ways can you slice the petrol handout?

Many.

The Government is to be commended on restraint, and I hope that message of restraint has sunk into the New Zealanders who think we have money on trees and debt is never to be paid back.

And for those who think Hipkins, Robertson, and Ardern were economic geniuses, Fitch have provided the wake-up call.

The bill on interest alone for our debt is heading towards $10 billion a year. We have no room to move.

We commend them too on the $370 million coming out of the operating Budget. In other words, no new borrowing.

But its downhill from there I'm afraid.

$50 a week for a year, or until 91 octane is at $3 or less for four weeks.

In that random mechanism is the weakness of not only government, but relying on government.

What's targeted about $50 for certain people based on the fuel price? How many of those people getting $50 drive an EV and their fuel bill is unaffected?

How many don't use much fuel anyway, no matter what the cost? What about the city dwellers who walk a lot?

I drive 12km a day, so 60km a week. If I do 10L per hundred, that's six litres. That's $35-45 a week for fuel.

I'm winning. The Government is giving me free money that pays for my fuel bill. That's nuts.

The people affected by fuel are the people who travel the distance. It has nothing to do with income. It's miles, but a government can't hand out money in that way.

So how targeted is this actually? Yes, low incomes are affected in greater percentage terms when prices rise, but only if the price is a major for you. Petrol might be more expensive, but it's only a burden if you use a lot of petrol.

Money is going to people who we have no idea whether they actually need it, because the mechanism that drives the support is all wrong.

But what are they to do?

The truth is this is the best of a series of bad options. Cap the fuel tax? A lot of people argue that. Sure, then millionaires get Ferrari's full of gas cheaper.

It is the weakness of having a populous who has come to rely on government too heavily.

Itches are scratched for political ends, not economic solutions.

This looks more like a dartboard gesture than an actual economic solution.

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Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran are already underway and Iranian officials are very keen to make a deal.

Pakistan's offering to hold talks and Iranian officials have told CBS its mediators are involved in a potential precursor to discussions.

The US President delayed the Strait of Hormuz reopening deadline after what he says were positive talks with Iran.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that while multiple countries are offering to host peace talks, there is currently no confirmation anyone from Iran would be attending.

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Today on Politics Wednesday, Mike Hosking was joined by Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen to delve into the biggest stories of the week thus far.

They discussed political ‘cash for access’ fundraising events and the Government’s newly-announced fuel relief package for lower and middle income working families.

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25th of March, Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses the new fuel relief package and new All Black's assistant coach Neil Barnes explains his mentality heading into the role.

Big changes are coming to Lotto that will make winning the big prize harder, but we’ll see more people winning some of the minor prizes.

Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk cash for access events and the fuel package on Politics Wednesday.

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

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Lotto's changing things up for the first time in 19 years.

It's increasing prizes and adding four new Powerballs, which means the odds of winning Division One plummet from one in more than 38 million to about one in almost 54 million.

The top prize is also jumping from $50 million, to $60 million.

CEO Jason Delamore told Mike Hosking the game changes every few years and it’s time for a tune up.

He says they’re adjusting the game to match the size of New Zealand’s population, which has increased by 1.1 million since their last adjustment.

“You have to keep tuning the game to keep it up to speed.”

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There are hopes faster emergency care will ease pressure across the health system.

In the three months to October, about 74% of ED patients were admitted, discharged, or transferred within six hours.

That's up from about 72% a year earlier.

Health New Zealand Chief Clinical Officer Richard Sullivan told Mike Hosking teams are working hard to manage patient flow, as EDs are handling up to 7% more patients than last year.

He says they’re working to strengthen primary care, but the pressure is coming from illness in an ageing population and outbreaks.

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A New Zealand tech company is planning a large-scale expansion after raising more than $370 million in funding.

Auckland-based Halter develops "smart collars" for beef and dairy cattle – creating virtual fencing and paddock boundaries without physical infrastructure.

It's set to expand to the UK, Ireland, and South America later this year.

CEO Craig Piggott told Mike Hosking there's currently a lot of capital out there for grabs.

He says the markets in a really good spot if you have a good product, general ambition, and a healthy business.

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Neil Barnes insists he'll be prepared to challenge his new boss Dave Rennie when and where he sees fit.

The Taranaki mentor has been appointed Rennie's senior assistant at the All Blacks.

Barnes told Mike Hosking there needs to be a bit of tension as to how they’re doing things, and while everyone has lanes they’re responsible for, you need to be challenging each other in order to get better.

“You don’t want yes people in there.”

“You want people who are going to come up with new ideas, challenge the norm for the betterment of the whole team.”

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