The Mike Hosking Breakfast

We're still losing people to Australia, but not as badly as we were.   Stats out yesterday tell the story.   If I could pick a country right now, I would go with New Zealand and by some margin. I haven't always said that.   Of course, most people go because they are going to go. If you want reasons to stay or go, and justify it to yourself, you can always find them.   The same...

Greg Johnson is headed back to New Zealand after the release of his new album, ready to take his music around the country.  With 'Some Night, Somewhere' now out in the world, he's celebrating his 60th birthday in style with a career spanning tour that takes him right up the country.  Johnson's tour takes him to a unique series of venues, ranging from intimate music venues like Nelson's R...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 15th of October, we've put all the "best bits" of the leader's debate into a package for you, plus we have good news re: police recruitment.   Labour leader Chris Hipkins discusses the debate, how his candidates are going in the Māori electorates, and the Greens and Te Pāti Māori's meeting with the Mongrel Mob.  Kiwi musician G...

Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett has rolled out the red carpet for the 17th edition of rugby league's World Cup starting tonight in Sydney.  The 10-team men's tournament begins with defending champions Australia hosting New Zealand in Group A.  Barnett told Mike Hosking the emergence of Samoa and Tonga as genuine contenders has been a coup for the international game.  He says bas...

The Government says the legal test wasn't passed for safeguards for the aluminium sector amidst a flood of cheaper imports from China.  Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer declined a request for the measures to protect them.  The sector says thousands of jobs are at risk, warning local production has slowed down 40%.  Brewer told Mike Hosking there's been MBIE inve...

Chris Hipkins is lambasting Greens and Te Pāti Māori for engaging with gangs.  MPs from those parties met and posted photos with members of the Mongrel Mob in South Auckland this week, surrounded by patches.  It's led to the Labour leader ruling out any MP from the Greens or Te Pāti Māori holding the Justice or Police portfolios in any government he leads.  Hipkins told Mike Hosking...

There's confidence police recruitment standards mean only the best candidates are getting through.  New data shows 2026 will be one of the highest graduating years in the history of New Zealand Police.  Around 730 recruits are expected to graduate – almost 50% more than the average over the past two decades.  Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers told Mike Hosking Police aren't dro...

What are the rules of engagement in this election campaign?  Prominence was given by media for a good chunk of yesterday to Kieran McAnulty's crack at Christopher Luxon and how Kiwi families were $6000 worse off under National.  Now for a start, it isn't National, it’s the Government, and the Government is three parties.  So McAnulty got his headline. If you don’t read past a headli...

Today on Politics Wednesday, National’s Mark Mitchell and Labour’s Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to break down the biggest stories of the week thus far.  They discussed the latest education results, and whether political debates in their current form are still worth it, or if they’re just a waste of time.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14th of October, we watched the multi-party debate so you didn't have to and have condensed it all into a handy three-minute package.  Air New Zealand are on to talk about their punctuality, fuel, and ending the codeshare with Qantas.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen debate all things education and whether debates in their st...

Our economy seems to be faring better than our neighbour across the Tasman.  The International Monetary Fund has issued a stark outlook for the Australian economy, as it’s dealing with some of the worst inflation in the developed world.  It’s forecasting GDP growth of just 1.6% next year, and the biggest rise in unemployment among developed economies – going from 4.4% to 4.7%.   ANZ...

Air New Zealand says it is confident punctuality is achievable at a large scale.  The airline says 87.3% of its flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule over September, up 2% on August, and up from 75.5% a year ago.   Total cancellations have also fallen to 1.4%.  Regional services hit 90.3%, with the airline now ranked third in Asia Pacific.  Chief Operations Officer Kate...

Our local aluminium sector says it's been left with no protection from a flood of cheaper imports from China.   Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer has declined a request for safeguard measures to protect them.   Production has slowed down 40% in this country, and the sector says thousands of jobs in manufacturing and downstream businesses are at risk.   McKechnie...

Primary school maths achievement is showing a significant rebound.  The New Zealand Council for Educational Research has analysed 15 years of Progressive Achievement Test results in reading and maths.  It found the average maths score this year was about four months ahead of 2024's.  Education Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking that's a huge jump and the biggest improvement i...

Latest numbers from the Electoral Commission as of the weekend show 63.4% of 18-24-year-old voters are enrolled.  It's a shockingly low number.  It's lower than previous elections. This is bad news for democracy and especially bad news for the Greens.  There's no excuse for this.  You can't blame the Electoral Commission. You can't blame the media either. They have fallen over...

New England test cricket coach Stephen Fleming has already laid down a challenge to their Australian rivals ahead of next year's home Ashes series.  The former New Zealand captain told Mike Hosking that he hasn't been given any KPIs per se, but the Ashes aren't too far away, and he learned pretty quickly that that's the be-all, end-all.   He says the timing is really good as he can see a...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 13th of October, NZ Initiative's Bryce Wilkinson joined us to crunch all the data from all the parties' fiscal plans.  Nicola Willis pours over the National Party's numbers.  Black Caps legend Stephen Fleming joins the show to talk about his new job with England, his brief visit to NZ, and look ahead to the Black Clash in Januar...

There's confidence Christchurch's covered stadium won't leave attendees hot under the collar this summer.  Temperatures inside parts of One NZ Stadium hit 31 degrees during Sunday's NPC quarter-final and Farah Palmer Cup final, despite outdoor temperatures in the low 20s.  Venues Otautahi say cooling systems weren't at full capacity.  Chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare told Mike...

New research suggests people aren't waiting around for the election to make big financial decisions.   ASB analysis of the last 20 years of elections shows spending and investment don't tend to slow down just before elections or speed up right after them.   Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking while there are some differences due to things like the Global Financial Crisis and Co...

National claims it has a credible path for paying down the country's debt.   The party plans to keep the Budget operating allowance at $2.4 billion —matching Labour's— and return to surplus in two years.   It would cut foreign aid and welfare spending to fund its election commitments, with $7.5 billion left over.   Tax cuts are off the table until New Zealand's in the black.  F...

A business think tank says there's not much different in National's fiscal plan from its budgets of the past couple of years.   The party wants to keep the operating allowance at $2.4 billion, with all commitments funded and $7.5 billion left over.   It suggests tax relief won't be on the table until debt's paid down.   New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson told Mike...

The Teaching Council's promising change after repeatedly failing to act on warnings about a convicted sex offender  A KC inquiry has found the council had multiple chances to cancel Timothy Fisher’s licence, but he went on to work at dozens of schools after admitting an indecent act in sight of children in 2015.  Teaching Council Chair Patrick Walsh was appointed in July after two other...

Hss Paddock to Pantry just confirmed what most of us who think the whole “blow up the super market” game is stupid …were in fact right? The most open display of pandering to the lowest common denominator I have seen in years is virtually every party promising to take you to the promised isle of cheap food, and the only one left with common sense and an adult approach is ACT, who see this for what...

Over the weekend, One Nation's Pauline Hanson got some digs in at the Coalition, but said she'd work with them if it means removing Labour.  Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Hanson urged voters to ditch the Coalition and voiced opposition with the Liberal Party's policies.  Australian correspondent Steve Price says she also called Opposition leader Angus Taylor a...

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to review all the big sporting events of the weekend, including the All Blacks' victory over Australia at Eden Park, the memorable moments of Bathurst 1000 and more! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.