The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Junior Rugby is potentially in for its biggest shakeup in decades.  Under a new proposal, kids wouldn’t play 15-a-side until they reach high school, playing 10-a-side until year 7 and 13-a-side in year 8.  The changes are aimed at improving enjoyment and confidence levels.  NZ Rugby Participation Development Manager Mike Hester told Mike Hosking they want to provide opportunities fo...

An expectation less red tape for Kiwi businesses bidding for Government contracts will benefit the economy. The Finance Minister's slashing 71 requirements in the Government's procurement rule book down to 47 – including scrapping a company's requirement to pay their employees a living wage. It's also introducing a new economic benefit test. Building Industry Federation chief executive Julien Leys...

The Economic Growth Minister is making it easier for New Zealand businesses to win government contracts.  Nicola Willis is scrapping 24 requirements in the Government's procurement rule book, including a requirement for the company to pay cleaning, catering, and security staff a living wage.  She's also adding a new economic benefit test.  Willis told Mike Hosking they're encouragin...

Belief from David Seymour that the collapse of a school lunch provider is a non-story.  The Libelle Group, which is sub-contracted by Compass Group to deliver about 125,000 meals daily, has gone into liquidation.   The Minister in Charge, Seymour says that won't impact lunch deliveries.  He's admitted the Government knew Libelle may have been in strife when it signed the deal, but h...

The US is immediately lifting its pause on military aid and intelligence-sharing to Ukraine.   It follows several hours of discussions between officials from Washington and Kyiv in Saudi Arabia this morning.   Ukraine's backing the United States' 30-day ceasefire proposal – contingent on Russia's agreement.  Russia's not at the talks.  Kyiv-based foreign policy analyst Jimmy Ru...

My long-held suspicion, oft produced for the Prime Minister on Tuesdays, that the public service might well be working against the Government seems to have been laid bare in the Deloitte report into the failed health system.  As you will be aware, we are going back to a board from a commissioner.  But what the report seems to indicate is the board or commissioner is not the issue. The is...

Paul Coll admits fulfilling a dream by winning the New Zealand Open squash title in front of a record crowd in Christchurch.   The 32-year-old says the tournament exceeded expectations.  A 2-time British Open Champion as well as a Commonwealth Games Champion, Coll is currently ranked number 4 in the world.   He told Mike Hosking the tournament was a really good week for everyone inv...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 11th of March, Canada has elected a new Prime Minister whose focus is locked on Trump and the trade war.  The Prime Minister talks the coalition of the willing, bank capital and what Nicola Willis is doing about it, and whether anything tangible will come out of the India trip.  Kiwi squash champion Paul Coll has had two early w...

Wellington Water's boss says local councils have every right to be angry at them.  Tory Whanau yesterday described her council's relationship with the organisation as “tense” at a special meeting, following revelations last week it wasn't getting value for ratepayers' money.  Wellington Water CEO Pat Dougherty told Mike Hosking he and his staff are doing everything they can to find the i...

A staggering victory for economist Mark Carney, who's set to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada's next Prime Minister.  The 59-year-old has an ample resume, having served as head of the banks of Canada and England.  He's indicated he'll hold his ground against Donald Trump as the US President holds the threat of more tariffs over Canada's head.   Globe & Mail Ottawa Bureau Chief R...

Christopher Luxon is defending his work as Prime Minister.  The latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll suggests Chris Hipkins has leap-frogged Luxon as preferred PM.  Labour's also ahead on 34.1%, with National trailing on 33.6%.  The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking they're putting through legislation to address a range of issues.  He says they're working harder than any governmen...

The Prime Minister's taking one of the largest ministerial delegations to India.  Christopher Luxon is heading to New Delhi and Mumbai on Saturday with a contingent of ministers and business leaders.  Prioritising a deal with the fast-growing economic giant was a coalition condition with NZ First.  India Business Delegation Lead Dame Therese Walsh told Mike Hosking businesses have a...

The US is facing a budget battle.  House Republicans have unveiled a stopgap spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded and avoid a government shutdown.   The measure is backed by President Donald Trump, but some key Republicans in the House have refused to back similar measures in the past.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Trump has posted pleading...

A Hamilton bar is cutting off patrons under 20.  House on Hood announced last month it would return to being a "20+ bar" on Saturdays after 10pm.  It had dealt with five figure damages after lowering the age limit to 18+ for a year.  Owner John Lawrenson told Mike Hosking there’s a notable difference in the way 18 year olds drink, versus those over the age of 20.  He says that...

Say whatever you want about Trump, but his demeanour and influence is genuinely global.  Peter Dutton has been accused of his "Trumpian" stance on everything from the public service to immigration, and now Winston Peters is all over DEI - diversity, equity and inclusion.  DEI is not new, and the New Zealand First move to change the rules in the public service could easily have been part...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 10th of March, the Government is aiming to speed up land acquisitions for public infrastructure , and the Environment Court is on its way out.  A Hamilton bar has re-increased their age restriction to 20-years-old after too many 18-year-olds smashed up the place.  Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the Black Caps loss, the squash...

There are positive signs of inflationary pressures easing in supermarkets.  Latest data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs shows suppliers charged supermarkets 1.8% more last month than the same month last year.  That's the lowest increase in more than three years.  Infometrics Chief Executive Brad Olsen says many fruit and vegetables have been getting cheaper, while dairy prices are d...

The weekend was filled with sport, so Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to dig into the action.  The Black Caps fell short of claiming the Champions Trophy and the Crusaders were the only New Zealand team to find success with a 43-19 win over the Reds. They also touched on the squash, among other sporting events.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Landowners could have less room to haggle over land deemed necessary for essential infrastructure work.  The Government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to speed up the acquisition of land for major projects.  There'll be premium payments to private landowners and objections would no longer go through the Environment Court.  Dentons Kensington Swan public works expert Mat...

A new set of amendments looks to turbo charge major infrastructure projects.  The Government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to speed up acquiring land, including premium payments to private landowners.  The Environment Court will be sidelined from the objections process.  Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking a lot of these are NZTA roading projects.&nb...

The benefits of major events is on full display in the city of sails.  Auckland hotels saw a $5 million boost in January, largely thanks to SailGP and country musician Luke Combs' Eden Park concerts.  An extra 8,000 hotel rooms were booked over the four days, both events were on.  Hotel Britomart General Manager Clinton Farley told Mike Hosking the events helped make a strong start...

The Government may only be putting up four projects for public-private partnerships at its Infrastructure Investment Summit later this week.   It's invited large companies from 14 countries to drive foreign capital into New Zealand.  Northern Infrastructure Forum Executive Director Barney Irvine told Mike Hosking there's a positive glow around the New Zealand market and investors are lik...

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.    New Zealand: 7/10  Quite a bit of good news this week, from the Government accounts (which are better than thought), to house prices (which are up), to red meat exports (which are booming). All good, and welcome, news.    School lunches: 2/10  In...

Am I joining too many dots?  I wonder aloud whether the Government and the Prime Minister, having had by any measure a very good week, has at last got the message that some action, as opposed to yak, might be what the punter wants a bit more of?  There's been several solid health changes; more doctors already here to be parked at GP's, more nurses and scripts via tech when we want them....

Friday has come and Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  With Chris Stapleton arriving on our shores for his New Zealand concerts, they discuss concerts and whether they’d go see a tribute show.  They discussed the raft of resignations and job losses this week, as well as the ventures of nepo babies.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/list...