The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2nd of July, Finance Minister Nicola Willis responds to the latest IMF report, which seems to have good economic news for us.  L.A.B are launching their own festival in a sector where most are losing money or shutting down. So, do they have the magic?  CNN anchor Richard Quest talks everything from oil, to the war in the Middle...

A major new music festival is set for Rotorua in January, with hopes of it going international.  New Zealand reggae band L.A.B and their record label Loop have launched '8th Wonder'.  The one-day family friendly event is expected to attract 10 thousand people to the lakefront, showcasing Kiwi talent.  L.A.B's Frontman Joel Shadbolt told Mike Hosking the aim is to go big after the in...

Blues CEO Karl Budge believes a revamped Super Rugby Pacific format for 2027 will enhance interest in an improved on-field product.  10 teams will play 16 regular season matches with an ANZAC Day Bledisloe test break, before the top two teams get direct passage to the semi-finals while the next four ranked teams face off – no Lucky Loser.  While the draw is yet to be released, Budge is g...

The ACT Party says it has killed three birds with one stone as new workplace legislation is passed.  The bill reverses a number of changes in the 2015 Health and Safety at Work Act, and will shift focus to critical risks.   It passed its third reading in Parliament yesterday, despite criticisms from New Zealand First.   Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke Van Velden told...

Open home attendance is picking up, despite the housing market remaining soft.  Cotality’s latest Home Value Index shows the national median fell 0.2% in June, slipping 0.9% on last year.  It's 17.5% below its 2022 peak.  Independent Property Commentator Tony Alexander told Mike Hosking the market remains fundamentally weak, but we're back from the brink because of events overs...

The Finance Minister believes all signs are pointing to economic growth this year.  The International Monetary Fund's recommending the country continue to hike taxes and make spending cuts.  It predicts the economy will grow by 2% throughout this year, rising to 2.7% next year.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking the IMF's quite optimistic about our growth this year, and she believes t...

Labour will not have move on orders and Labour will undo the social housing changes, which don’t actually start anyway until next year.  These are their latest policies and it's these ideas and policies that will lead to their election loss.  Social housing assistance is being adjusted so the money can be offset in the private sector, so those paying more can get a better deal. It's a pe...

The death toll from last week's twin earthquakes in Venezuela is expected to increase as search efforts ramp up.  More than 1,700 people have died, with tens of thousands still missing.   More than 5,000 people are known to be injured, and nearly 16,000 people have been displaced.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking some 27 countries have responded to the disaster, wi...

Kiwibank believes there’s no need to increase the Official Cash Rate just yet.  They believe the figure should be held at 2.25% when the Reserve Bank reviews it next week.  Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr told Mike Hosking that oil prices were a temporary shock and some of the fears around secondary inflationary pressures haven’t eventuated.  He told Mike Hosking that wages are...

Labour is confident its proposed expansion of the Apprenticeship Boost scheme will bring more opportunities.   It has pledged to restore a two-year, $500 employer subsidy per apprentice, and provide apprentices up to $1000 for work-related costs.  Without criteria, it could allow for major overseas construction companies to get taxpayers money to help with employment.    But La...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1st of July, an independent review is highlighting the Treasury’s flaws – Secretary Iain Rennie unpacks the results.   Associate Education Minister David Seymour responds to the report criticising the school lunch programme.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss Labour’s proposed Apprenticeship Boost expansion and the abus...

Auckland Council will no longer be stumping up for flood damaged homes.  It comes after a $2.57 billion bill for its 2023 weather response, which included 1,200 home buyouts and infrastructure upgrades.   Mayor Wayne Brown says councils can't be the insurers of last resort, and they’re calling on central government and the insurance sector to take greater responsibility for disaster reco...

David Seymour says the Auditor General's report on the Healthy School Lunches programme is one half of the story.   Only 50% of last year's lunches complied with Education Ministry nutrition standards, and the Auditor General also took aim at safety issues, contingency planning and rollout.  The Associate Education Minister claims the report's driven by former lunch providers upset about...

The number of people behind in their repayments is at its lowest point in four years.  Centrix's latest Credit Indicator report reveals arrears levels across mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, and auto-lending are all down.  The number of people behind on their repayments in May was 432,000 – 12.5% lower than a year ago.  89,000 people are 90 or more days overdue, which Centri...

The country's only two star Michelin chef has been left speechless over the achievement.  Essence in Queenstown was the only New Zealand venue awarded two stars at last night's Michelin ceremony.  Fourteen New Zealand restaurants received a single Michelin star including Kika in Wanaka, Ortega Fish Shack in Wellington, and Ahi at Auckland's Commercial Bay.  Essence Head Chef Paul Fr...

Treasury's secretary says he knew there'd be a need for change, and now it's about making it happen.  A new report's calling for Treasury to up its game, detailing a litany of blunders, including incorrect ACC deficit numbers, and costings for the Interislander ferry replacements.  The Public Service Commission also finds some ministers are losing confidence in its advice.  Secretar...

Poor old Australia is finding out governments can't fix everything.  We often want governments to fix everything because we collectively aren't up to fixing it ourselves.  On the social media ban for teens, Australia was the pioneer. A chunk of the world followed but Australia, to a degree, was hailed a hero, and yet Albanese has exploded with frustration a few short months after introdu...

It’s been a busy few months for Kiwi country musician Zac Griffith.  He’s just released his debut EP ‘Where I Belong’ – following on from a couple of standout performances at the All Country Australia Showcase and CMC Rocks Queensland, and his previous single ‘Sunday Sober’ making it into the Top 10 on the NZ Country Airplay Charts.  The six-track EP is a collection of songs written on t...

The worst seems to be over when it comes to the job market.  Filled jobs rose 0.3% in May —an extra 2,515 roles— with strong gains in the service and public sectors.  The annual lift of 0.7% was the fastest in over two years.   Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Mike Hosking in terms of the economy, it’s as if we’re on State Highway 1, travelling around 60kp/h when the speed...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 30th of June, just how fast has the fast-track system been? Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop discusses.  Tonight is the night when we find out if/how many New Zealand restaurants have been awarded a Michelin star.  Kiwi singer Zac Griffith has released his debut EP so is back on the show - just wait until you hear his perfor...

Angst continues to surround netball’s future.  Players and coaches alike are lashing out, saying there’s still no clarity on next season’s ANZ Premiership.  It comes after a 20% pay cut, another expiring TV deal, and three straight years of uncertainty.  Northern Mystics Head Coach Tia Winikerei told Mike Hosking the product is great, and she’s not sure what would need to change to...

A small chance Michelin inspectors may not dish up any stars at all tonight.  Tourism New Zealand's coughed up $6.3 million to bring the world-class restaurant ranking to this country, with a ceremony taking place in Auckland this evening.  Secret judges have been roaming restaurants across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown for more than a year.  Tourism NZ CEO Rene...

No end in sight for those in Europe suffering from record breaking temperatures in the heatwave.  More than 1,300 deaths have been linked to the record-breaking temperatures – some well exceeding 40 degrees.  Alcohol sales have been restricted, and there's no more space in the Parisien mortuaries.  Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the situation may get worse.&n...

New Zealand appears to be bucking a global downturn in demand from Indian students.  The BBC reports Indian students are increasingly reconsidering study abroad options, driven by a weaker currency, visa restrictions, and dimmer job prospects in the UK and US.  But Waikato University Vice-Chancellor Neil Quigley told Mike Hosking Indian enrolments are expected to hold steady over the nex...

A leading blood cancer specialist with more than 30 years’ experience says he's leaving New Zealand for Australia, due to unsafe staffing levels.  Terry Taylor has resigned from his specialist cancer diagnostic role at Dunedin Hospital's pathology lab – frustrated by the lack of a national plan to recruit and retain scientists.  Taylor told Mike Hosking he knows his departure won’t help...