The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Insurers have found an answer for councils looking for more climate resilience funding.  The Insurance Council is proposing replacing the insurance-linked Fire and Emergency levy with a new Community Protection Levy.  It would see firefighters Crown-funded and allow up to $700 million a year to be redirected into climate resilience and risk reduction projects.  Chief Executive Kris...

A new lease on life for the gas industry, with the Government's $200 million exploration fund already catching the eye of private companies.   Newstalk ZB can reveal there have been 11 expressions of interest since January.   Resources Minister Shane Jones expects the bulk of approved projects to be based in Taranaki.  Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie told Hea...

A banking expert says a TSB–Heartland Bank merger may not transform the market but could still be a good thing for Kiwis.   Heartland has struck a deal to buy TSB for $620 million and form a new entity by the end of the year, pending consultation and regulatory approval.  Banking Reform Coalition Convener Kent Duston told Heather du Plessis-Allan the banks' regional focus is a point of d...

The Local Government Minister says most councils will be affected by the Government’s overhaul of committee voting rights.  A Bill amendment will strip voting rights from unelected members —including iwi and youth representatives— on council committees.  Simon Watts told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's open to further changes down the track, but acknowledges some unelected members still br...

I don't think anyone should be offended by Pete Hegseth saying that New Zealand is freeloading off the American military.   This is not a controversial thing at all to say. The Australians have been privately complaining about us sponging off them for decades – they've urged us to lift our spend to 2% of GDP for decades.   We have kept our spending at only 1%, or thereabouts, for decades...

The latest batch of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment to be released is reflecting poorly on the UK’s Labour Party.   More than 1,500 pages of messages, emails, and other correspondence was released, and among them was criticism of Sir Keir Starmer by both Mandelson and other ministers.  In May 2025, Mandelson told Minister Pat McFadden that Starmer “lacks verve”, and the s...

Returning after the long weekend, Jason Pine and Andrew Saville joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to recap this weekend's sporting events. On today's agenda:  The Warriors fell short against the Panthers, the game ending with a tight 20-18 score in favour of the Australian team. Is it a good idea to rest your star players? The decision saw the Hurricanes lose to the Crusaders, but the Chiefs st...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2nd of June with Heather du Plessis-Allan, the number of times school staff are having to physically restrain students has risen .  The Prime Minister joins on a Tuesday to respond to Pete Hegseth's "freeloading" comments and discusses what they're going to do with superannuation in this year's election.  Jason Pine and Andrew S...

The chief economist of one of the largest banks across the Tasman is quashing talk of New Zealand becoming Australia's tax haven.  A recent Australian newspaper declared the country's recent capital gains tax changes had lifted our appeal to local property investors due to our lack of capital gains, stamp duty, or land tax.   Westpac Group's Luci Ellis told Heather du Plessis-Allan there...

A reminder to watch our spending while overseas.  A survey by money transfer company Wise has found almost half of respondents say they spend in the moment and worry later, and a similar number say money doesn’t feel ‘real’ overseas.  More than four in ten say they go over-budget.  Wise's travel spending expert Anhar Khanbhai told Heather du Plessis-Allan that over-spending becomes...

Amnesty International says it's entirely possible for New Zealand to take on big tech.  Several media companies, industry groups and other organisations have signed an Amnesty open letter, calling for a stronger crack down on digital platforms like TikTok and Facebook.  They're calling for an independent regulator to manage risks like fraud, extremist content, and misinformation.  A...

“We choose our defence spending and no one else,” the Prime Minister says as the United States continues to pressure other nations, including New Zealand, to increase military spending. Speaking with Heather du Plessis-Allan on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Christoper Luxon has backed New Zealand’s defence spending. Luxon denied New Zealand is “freeloading” off America after US Defence Sec...

Schools are calling for greater access to specialist support amid a rise in the use of physical restraint.  Ministry of Education data shows the number of restraint incidents has risen from about 2,600 a year to about 3,000 a year since 2018.  Pat Newman —spokesperson for Northland's Te Tai Tokerau Principals' Association— says schools are dealing with increasingly complex needs.  H...

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.    The Budget: 6/10  The days of drama are gone. It reflected the state of the place; one with prospects but difficult days ahead and discipline required.    Horse-faced duck: 1/10  You literally can't make this stuff up. A behind the scenes reality...

I asked for the surplus to arrive sooner than previously forecast and, as though she was listening this time yesterday, the first words out of Nicola Willis' mouth were it will be a year ahead of schedule.  You can't ask for more than that.  That’s not an election year lolly, but I'm increasingly of the belief that a growing number of New Zealanders have got the message.  A growing...

Donald Trump's yet to sign-off on a tentative agreement between the US and Iran.   US sources report negotiators from both sides have reached a deal to extend the ceasefire for 60 days, begin nuclear talks, and open the Strait of Hormuz.   It's understood neither of the nation's leaders have approved the agreement.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that according t...

After a busy week, Friday has finally arrived which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed Dame Lynda Topp’s criticism of the Budget at last night’s Aotearoa Music Awards, Mike and Kate’s upcoming holiday, and Oura Rings.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend will be a test to see if this is truly the Warriors’ year.  Sydney is hosting the top of the table clash between the number two Warriors and the number one Penrith Panthers.  The Panthers have won ten of the last eleven clashes against the Kiwi side, but they’re also backing up after State of Origin.   Former Kiwis Captain Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking the Warriors n...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 29th of May, we got the trades’ reaction to the Budget and an economist’s thoughts on what the books might look like in a couple years’ time.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Winston Peters both relay their wins from Budget Day.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss Mike's holiday, the Music Awards, and Oura Rings.  G...

It’s an uncertain future for farmers, with global events making it harder to predict the milk price.   Fonterra's midpoint payout forecast for the current season is $9.70.   It's slightly up for next season, at $9.75, but it's signalling that could be as low as $8 or as high as $11.   Dairy NZ Chief Executive Campbell Parker told Mike Hosking the gap is mirroring the current volatil...

There’s a view the Government's restoring the balance between university and vocational pathways.  The Budget doubles Trades Academy places from 10,000 to 20,000 over four years, giving more secondary students access to training while at school.  Employers and Manufacturers' Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking it’s a full-circle moment – recognising how vital tra...

Most households may not see any immediate direct benefit from the Budget.  It shows a return to surplus in the 2028/29 financial year, a year sooner than previously forecast. The forecast uses the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC.     Infometrics Economist Brad Olsen says it might be a tad optimistic, given the state of the world, but we could maybe use some optimism.  The B...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis hopes her Budget will convince voters to re-elect the Government in November.  It includes significant investment in infrastructure and health.  It also shows a return to surplus in the 2028/29 financial year – a year sooner than previously forecast. The forecast uses the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC.   Willis told Mike Hosking her message is si...

Over $1 billion allocated for KiwiRail's planned network investments in the Budget means “all the things we want to upgrade are going to happen”, Rail Minister Winston Peters says.  He told Mike Hosking they have not asked for more than they should get.  Peters says it’s based on the fact that it’s a business or industry that’s been turned around rapidly where it’s going to make a greate...

I'm immeasurably uplifted by some Trade Me data.  Could it be we are finally getting the message on rural or provincial New Zealand?  Job data increasingly shows we're looking to the regions for work.  More people (68%) are prepared to move, supposedly. Always be careful of surveys because what people say versus what they do doesn’t always equate.  But at least some of the 68%...