The Mike Hosking Breakfast

My ongoing advice to the Government is: don’t make big announcements on a Friday. I watched the Prime Minister from Waikato at the Ruakura Superhub. This is what the Government lives for. It's what they dream of. It's what they preach. The Superhub by the way is one of the great visions for this country. It services 45% of the population and 55% of GDP. It's part of what they call the "Golden Tria...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 14th of April, the Government are proposing changes to the driver licensing system, including no test needed to go from your restricted to full license.   Has trust in the media bottomed out? New yearly report shows the drop in trust has slowed. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the rugby, Supercars and F1 over the weekend. And d...

The Australian election campaigns were officially launched yesterday.  Many financial promises in the billions were made - the Greens leader promised free University fees, which would cost the country $45 billion a year.  Opposition leader promised a one off cost of living tax break that would cost the country $10 billion.  Australian Correspondent talks to Mike Hosking about t...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he has been talking to Iwi leaders about how to better investment for the past 12 months.  It comes as one of the country's wealthiest iwi, Waikato-Tainui makes the biggest investment since Treaty settlement 30 years ago.  On Friday Waikato-Tainui announced a partnership with global investment firm Brookfield to develop an inland port in Waikato that...

Our annual trust in media report shows our trust has fallen by one percent, to 32 percent.  Forty-five percent of Kiwis say they trust their chosen news.  The report's co-author Greg Treadwell says we're no longer among leading countries.  "Our trust in news has been falling much faster than other countries, and now we're way down the bottom with countries like the UK and the US," h...

Donald Trump has backtracked on reciprocal tariffs set on China by removing them on electronics.   Twenty percent of Chinese business in the United States comes from electronics.  Tech Commentator Bill Bennett talks to Mike Hosking about the impact this will have.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes are coming to our drivers licensing system, with only one practical test in a bid to have more Kiwis on full licenses.  Transport minister Chris Bishop tells Mike Hosking a lot of people 'don't bother' graduating from a restricted to full license.  "There are a lot of people out there right now breaking the law, just driving on the restricted," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE. ...

It's good news for supermarkets: In the year to March, supermarket supply costs have risen by 2%.  However, a survey out this morning shows that one in four people are struggling financially and the cost of living remains the main issue for voters.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen talks to Mike Hosking about the survey.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro has been evacuated from his home after a suspected arson attack. The attack took place after the Jewish governor celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday, Passover.  He said he woke up in the middle of the night to authorities banging on the door of the home as a fire spread. US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking about the incident...

The Trump administration has announced it will exclude electronics like smartphones and laptops from his 125 percent reciprocal tariffs on China  It means American's may be spared a price hike on electronics that aren't usually made in the United States.  Processors and chips are included in the exemption.  Devon Funds Management's Greg Smith joins the show to discuss the decision.&...

Keir Starmer is fast becoming a new political hero.  For a bloke who stumbled into office not on his brilliance or a nationwide passion for the Labour Party, but more because the Tories had spent 14 years slowly messing the place up, he turns out to be quite the operator.  He is reforming public health because it's fat and useless. He is trimming welfare because there are too many layabo...

Is it gall, is it cheek, or is it comedic?  The Waitangi Tribunal has been reviewed, and the review recommends it needs more people and more money.  It is strained, says the review. They are of course technically correct. It is strained because the Waitangi Tribunal is busy.  It is busy with “urgent”, and we use that word loosely, numbers of gripes and grievances around the general...

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    Donald Trump: 1/10  Complete and utter chaotic clown. You don’t treat the world economy like this.    Clowns: 2/10  In order: Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth, and Karoline Leavitt.    The IRD: 6/10   Collected close to a...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 11th of April, the Treaty Principles Bill is dead, so where does David Seymour go now?   And we need to look at how the US’ 145% tariffs on China will impact us.   Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby discuss whether Mike would be the perfect host of the Chase as four episodes are being filmed in New Zealand.   Get the Mike Hosking...

New Zealand is finally getting its own version of popular British television quiz show The Chase.  TVNZ has commissioned a four-episode special of The Chase New Zealand to be filmed in Sydney, Australia.  The Host has not yet been announced, and Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson pondered whether Mike would be a good fit as they Wrapped the Week.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/lis...

Supercars driver Andre Heimgartner is getting behind plans for a Supercars round to take place in Christchurch.  Ruapuna Park's the likely candidate to join Taupo as the only New Zealand events on the calendar next year.  Heimgartner's very familiar with the proposed venue.  He told Mike Hosking it’s great for New Zealand motorsport.  He says they’ve been longing for this for a...

Markets have been losing many of yesterday's historic gains.  US markets climbed steeply after Donald Trump paused higher tariffs on most countries – locking them at 10%.  However, they plunged again after the White House confirmed tariffs on Chinese goods are now at 145%.  Business journalist Peter Lewis told Mike Hosking the up-and-down is likely to continue until investors have c...

The Chief Children's Commissioner says we're still dropping the ball in providing some of the basics for our young people.   The Government's Child and Youth Strategy report shows improvements in attendance, smoking, drinking, and offending rates.  However material hardship, immunisations, food insecurity, and avoidable hospitalisations have all worsened.   Claire Achmad told Mike H...

The Education Minister's looking to set it in stone what a school's ultimate goal should be.  Erica Stanford's introducing a new Bill requiring boards to have attendance management plans.  It includes amending school board objectives to make educational achievement the ultimate goal.   Stanford told Mike Hosking she wants to make it clear.  She says under the previous governmen...

Act Leader David Seymour doesn't regret spearheading the Treaty Principles Bill.  The widely unpopular bill was voted down by all but its own MPs at its second reading yesterday.   MPs called it racist, divisive, ugly, grubby, and an assault on history and rights.   Seymour told Mike Hosking he's standing up for equal human rights.  He says the Crown has an obligation to uphold...

I am conflicted.  In the age of tariffs and free trade and making stuff that the world wants, how is it a Government can then argue that you have to buy wool?  If you are redecorating, or building, or refurbishing a major chunk of your consideration will be around cost.  Can wool outprice what might be your desire for the cheapest product going? No, it can't.  Can wool mount an...

As Liam Lawson begins his new Formula One era with Racing Bulls, a new challenge has arisen if he’s to get back into Red Bull’s senior team for 2026.  The 23-year-old claimed 17th place in Formula One’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka over the weekend after a pit stop gamble did not reap the rewards they had hoped for.  He was bested by his teammate, Formula One rookie Isack Hadjar, who to...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 10th of April, Trump put a pause on tariffs, sending the stock markets through the roof, so we look at the resulting scramble.   The Government has said we must buy wool. Can they enforce this or is it anti-free trade?  Former Williams F1 team manager Peter Windsor gives us his thoughts ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.  Ge...

Rugby is mourning the passing of former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew.  Mayhew has passed away after heart complications, at the age of 70.  He served as the All Blacks doctor between 1988 and 2004 before moving to the Warriors for 15 years.  Former All Black Captain Sean Fitzpatrick told Mike Hosking Mayhew was very much part of the team, both on and off the field.   He says h...

Donald Trump's turning up the heat on China but throwing a tariff lifeline to most others.  He's authorised a 90-day pause which will see tariffs dropped to 10% for many countries.   However, China's rate has been increased from 104% to 125%.  Eric Crampton —Chief Economist at New Zealand Initiative— told Mike Hosking it's a rapidly changing situation.  He says it’s really hard...