The Mike Hosking Breakfast

An economist says Donald Trump's 'liberation day' could better be described as 'watch your wallet day'.   The US President will be announcing his next round of tariffs in about half an hour.   Dartmouth College Economics Professor Douglas Irwin say tariffs could be across the board or set specifically to each country.   He told Mike Hosking a blanket option would create a lot of eco...

There’s a belief a surge in Kiwi parents making significant sacrifices to afford sending children to private schools won't last.    In some instances, private school enrolments are closed until 2027, families are being asked to submit videos of their home life, and entrance tests are being made tougher.  Independent Schools of New Zealand chief executive Guy Pascoe told Mike Hosking...

A $664 million mental health programme seems to have challenges to address to help it reach its targets.  The Access and Choice Programme received the five-year funding in Labour's 2019 'Wellbeing' Budget.   It's aiming to support 325 thousand people per year, but during 2023-24 saw just over 207 thousand.   Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission chief executive Karen Orsborn told M...

The Government's crackdown on cowboy builders is seen as a step in the right direction.   Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says there'll be more transparency about suspended builders, stronger discipline, and an improved complaints process.   Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma told Mike Hosking the current disciplinary system doesn't provide enough of a deterrent as it's very...

Two special elections in the US are racking up quite the price tag.   Voters are heading to the polls in two special elections in Florida and Wisconsin.  Florida's holding special elections for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's congressional seats, and both seats are critical races for Republicans, given their slim majority in the House.  The battleground state of Wisconsin is also voting...

Trump tariffs are looming over Australia.  Washington is expected to announce new tariffs on its trading partners tomorrow, and opinions are divided on whether Australia will get pinged.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that they shouldn’t get hit too badly as there’s currently a $17.9 billion trade surplus with the United States.  He says there could be a cou...

As exercised as some have been this week about social media, the Greens and their behaviour, the bigger issue is not the Greens, but Labour and all who might support them into Government.  As much as we may froth and hyperventilate about any given issue of the day or small firestorm, who runs the country and how is what we all ultimately should be focused on.  We will not be going back t...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 2nd of April, New Zealand has abandoned its bid to host the America’s Cup after the Government denied funding.  NZ Rugby have sorted out their advertising stoush with Ineos , and we seem to have done alright out of it. So where to next for the All Blacks brand and company?  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell have a spirited disc...

A new test for Parliament's processes.  Te Pāti Māori MPs are refusing to appear before a Privileges Committee hearing about last year's haka in the House, after being told they can't appear together with their lawyer.  Labour MP Peeni Henare appeared before the committee last month, with the committee finding his conduct was disorderly but didn't amount to contempt.  He apologised...

Petro-chemical conglomerate Ineos have dug deep into their pockets to resolve financial differences with New Zealand Rugby over kit sponsorship.  A settlement has been reached after NZR lodged an injunction at the High Court in Wellington – the figure reportedly in excess of $21 million.  Ineos get to terminate the deal after three years, and NZR can now attempt to secure a new sponsor.&...

Voters are heading to the polls in two special elections in Florida and Wisconsin.  Florida's holding special elections for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's congressional seats and both seats are critical races for Republicans, given their slim majority in the House.  The battleground state of Wisconsin is also voting on a new judge for the state's top court.  It's become the most expens...

Central and local government are being challenged to work together to attract major events.   The bid for Auckland to host the next America's Cup in 2027 has been abandoned after central government refused to put money up for it.   Major Events Group Founding Director Chris Simpson says New Zealand could host great events if the investment is there.   He told Mike Hosking it's somet...

The Privileges Committee will meet with or without Te Pati Māori.  The party's refusing to front up for alleged threatening behaviour towards David Seymour during last year's Haka in the House.  Co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi —along with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke— have all been separately summoned.  They say they haven't been allowed to appear together, at a tim...

An opinion new health and safety regulatory reforms is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.  The Government's change makes clear landowners won’t be responsible if people are injured on their property, while doing recreational activities.  Fault will lie with the organisations running them.  It used the prosecution of the company that grants access to White Island after it er...

I sort of hinted at this the other day when the monitor for the Wellington City Council put out his second report.  My question was, given there was leaking and dysfunction and the punter was at their wits end, what now for Wellington?  Do we just get more reports?  Well, lo and behold, another Wellington operation has their own monitor in the form of the Commerce Commission who hav...

The Commerce Commission and Auckland Airport's latest interactions are being seen as a sign regulation is working.  Auckland Airport isn't lifting its airline charges for the next two years as much as intended, after the commission's report showed their targeted returns were too high.   The report also found the airport's multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment plan is appropriate...

Joseph Parker’s next fight is still up in the air.   The Kiwi boxer was set to challenge Daniel Dubois for the IBF Heavyweight belt, before pulling out last-minute on medical advice.   Since then, Parker has called out Oleksandr Usyk, but Dubois may be first in line for that fight.  Parker told Mike Hosking that there’s a lot of different ways the timeline could play out.  He s...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 1st of April, Winston Peters has revealed the new ferry deal. The majority seem reasonably happy – now its time to hit the targets for cost and timing.   People will be able to call up a hotline to complain about excessive road cones. Presumably nothing can go wrong with that...  And Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker is in studio to tell...

There's a view that the ferry deal timeline is optimistic.   Rail Minister Winston Peters has announced two road and rail-enabled ferries and upgrades to port infrastructure will be rolled out late in 2029.   Former Chair of the Ferry Ministerial Advisory Group Mark Thompson told Mike Hosking that will be a challenge with current conditions.   He says there's an influx of orders for...

The coalition is showing unity on the Cook Strait ferry deal.   Rail Minister Winston Peters has announced two road and rail-enabled ferry and port infrastructure to be delivered by 2029.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis had a plan, but it wasn't confirmed whether those were rail-enabled or not.   Peters told Mike Hosking the fact that a new plan is on the table, isn't being critica...

The Reserve Bank appears to have caved to pressure with its decision to review its capital requirements.  The central bank introduced stricter rules in 2019, requiring banks to hold capital to buffer them against a 1-in-200-year financial crisis.   The rules have been criticised for driving up lending costs.  Former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking there's be...

Bad news for France's National Rally party as leader Marine Le Pen's been barred from running for office for five years.  She's been found guilty of embezzling European Union Funds to finance the party.  Le Pen will be ineligible to run in the 2027 presidential election.  Paris Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking there's no one else in the party with the energy to run a...

A pledge to "bring back common-sense" to New Zealand's approach to workplace health and safety.  The Government confirms small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce compliance costs.   It's also planning a telephone hotline to report excess road cone use.  Minister-in-Charge, Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking most companies are hap...

The Australian election has been called for 3 May and the polls have swung in favour of Labor.  Cost of living is going to the booths with voters and Anthony Albanese's Government is promising tax cuts.  Peter Dutton needs to win 22 seats to get a majority government.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price talks to Mike Hosking about the election and why barbecues are banned in Victo...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 31st of March, we talk the dud that was the supermarket announcement and how the current big players are reacting. The Prime Minister has switched his regular slot to a Monday and talks supermarkets, ferries and the servicing of our Air Force planes. Andrew Saville and Jason talk Moana Pasifika pantsing the Crusaders, the Warriors winn...