The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Local Government New Zealand is making its support known for four-year terms extending to them.  The Government's proposing to keep the standard three-year term, but allow it to be broadened if the opposition of the day is better represented at select committees.   Local Government New Zealand President & Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton told Mike Hosking it makes sense for councils to adj...

A Horowhenua district councillor is under fire for working remotely – from the other side of the world.  Councillor Rogan Boyle left the country in October and is said to currently be in Scotland with no plans to return any time soon.   Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden told Mike Hosking while Boyle has been attending council meetings on Zoom, it's not good enough.  Wanden believes Boy...

The Energy Minister says new rules for the electricity sector can't come soon enough.  The Electricity Authority's proposing changes to give independent power companies the same access to prices and hedge contracts.  Simon Watts hopes that will create a more level playing field.  Power companies are hiking prices, and Watts told Mike Hosking things could get worse as we head into wi...

High hopes for proposed changes to the electricity sector.  The Electricity Authority is proposing new rules, giving independent power companies the same access to hedge contracts and access to the same wholesale prices.  Electric Kiwi was forced to turn away new customers last winter due to surging wholesale prices.  Chief Executive Huia Burt told Mike Hosking these changes will be...

The Government's hoping to clear up backlogs of approvals for animal and plant health products as it commits to speeding up processes.  It's accepted all 16 Ministry of Regulation recommendations for cutting red tape in agriculture and horticulture.   That follows last year's review, looking into processes for new veterinary medicines and agri-chemicals.  Food Safety Minister Andrew...

The trick, and we fail it virtually every time, is not to get bogged down in the minutiae.  There aren't prizes for coming up with dumb scenarios to try and catch the idea out.  Amending the law to allow greater use of locals to grab a scumbag and hold them till the coppers arise is a good, and welcome, idea.  If the Government is making tangible and positive progress anywhere, it's...

The 104th New Zealand Golf Open is underway at Millbrook.  Justin Quiban of the Philippines is the initial leader with two birdies from two holes.  Meanwhile, tournament boss Michael Glading told Mike Hosking that Danny Lee's return from the LIV circuit has been welcome.  He says he’s come with a really great attitude, and apparently can’t walk anywhere without 30 people saying hell...

Pope Francis has shown slight improvement after 13 days in hospital.   He's been undergoing treatment for double pneumonia.  The Vatican's confirmed a CT scan of the pontiff’s chest 'shows a normal evolution' of the inflammation in his lungs.  Rome Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking there could be hope.  She says the problem he had with his kidneys has receded and he's...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of February, we’ve got the details, kind of, of the changes to the citizen’s arrest laws. So, are the cops happy?    What is going on with our power prices? Meridian reckons they have some answers, so CFO Mike Roan joined the show to explain.  Warriors coach Andrew Webster beams in from Las Vegas to tell us how we wil...

More changes are on the way for the electricity sector, as power prices continue to rise.  The Electricity Authority's proposing new measures to stop the big four electricity companies giving their own retail arms preferential treatment.  The Government's lifting restrictions to allow lines companies to invest more in electricity generation.  And Meridian Energy Chief Financial Offi...

The Warriors are balancing work and play heading into their NRL season opener against the Raiders on Sunday in Las Vegas.  Coach Andrew Webster says the team was very social for the first two days, but the players knuckled straight down and got to training ever since.  He told Mike Hosking the Vegas Strip is out of their system now, and everyone’s excited and looking forward to chasing p...

Winston Peters has made it clear to China that we aren't happy with its handling of the warships the Tasman Sea.  The Foreign Minister's been meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.  Peters says the pair talked about China's new deal with the Cook Islands and the Chinese Navy vessels, which have now entered Australia's exclusive economic zone.  Geopolitical analyst...

A child protection advocate says an increase in abuse and neglect in care cases comes as no surprise.   A report by the Independent Children's Monitor has found the number of young people being abused in state care has increased, and children aren't receiving the minimum standards of care required. Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Mike Hosking things need to change.  She sa...

The Police Association is the latest group hesitant about moves to change citizen arrest laws.   The Government's introducing legislation loosening general public arrest rules, including permitting citizen's arrests at any time of the day in response to retail crime.    But association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking while it's not forcing people to take the law into their...

International visitor numbers aren't quite back to pre-pandemic figures, but their wallets are.  Overseas tourist spending hit nearly $17 billion to the year to March 2024 – just under 2019 levels.  Visitor numbers sit at around 89% of figures five years ago.  Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive, Rene de Monchy told Mike Hosking there's plenty of capacity for international visitors,...

From the “here we go again” file: we are being lined up once more for another winter of shonky power supply. A deal has been done again with Tiwai to cut production. Oh, the irony in a country that is supposed to be focused on growth, growth, growth. Mercury is the bearer of the glad tidings that the power price is heading north by an average of 10%. Why? Because we don’t make enough power. We are...

A New South Wales nurse that was stood down over a social media video where she claimed she would refuse to treat Israeli patients, has been arrested.   The 26-year-old has been charged with threatening violence to a group and using a service to harass and threaten to kill.   In the filmed conversation with an Israeli influencer, the nurse allegedly bragged about refusing to treat Israel...

It’s been a good six months for the Port of Auckland.  It’s doubled its half-year profit and will deliver a 20% increase in its dividend to Auckland Council.  Car and structure steel imports are down, but bulk cargo levels are rising.  Chief Executive Roger Gray told Mike Hosking that's partly due to one-off events, like Genesis rebuilding the coal stockpile for its Huntly power sta...

The Opposition is wary innocent people may come off worse if more citizen's arrests are permitted.   The Government is due to announce a refresh in the way it handles retail crime this afternoon, following a 12% rise in rates last year.   A loosening of citizen arrest rules is expected, which currently only allow arrests between 9pm and 6am, and for crimes with a maximum punishment of at...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 26th of February, violent crime is down for the first time since 2018, much to the pleasure of the Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith .  The Government is making an announcement today, loosening the citizen’s arrest laws . So would you, if you could? Or is it a recipe for disaster?  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell debate policin...

A Kiwi robotics company is at the heart of a new agriculture branch of Yamaha Motors.  Yamaha's bought Robotics Plus, developers of AI-orchard vehicles designed to pick, prune, and spray fruits such as apples for an undisclosed fee.  Co-founder Steve Saunders told Mike Hosking this new venture will help expand the company.  “Exciting times ahead for us.”  LISTEN ABOVE  See...

A former Police Minister is declaring his support for a loosening of citizen's arrest laws.  The Government is set to announce a retail crime strategy re-jig based on an advisory group's recommendations, which include making it easier for people to arrest others.  Currently they can only occur at night between 9pm and 6am, for crimes with a maximum punishment of at least three years in p...

There's competition over the rugby broadcast rights.  British streaming disruptor DAZN is reportedly being courted by New Zealand Rugby.  Talks with Sky have been dragging on – it's understood the broadcaster's offered $85 million dollars a year to renew, a smaller bid than its current deal of $111 million a year.  Duco Events founder David Higgins told Mike Hosking he believes peop...

The company behind Northland's Marsden Point Oil Refinery wants to turn it into a new energy precinct.  The refinery closed in 2022 and is decommissioned, with Resources Minister Shane Jones now considering making the area a special economic zone, meaning different planning, investment, and even tax rules.  Jones says transforming the asset to enable alternative fuel manufacturing like b...

Dealing with retail crime could be about to get easier.   Incoming new Government measures are expected to address the possibility of citizen's arrests and make it clearer how people can protect their properties.   Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking a government advisory group has been working very hard on recommendations and next steps, which will be confirmed later today...