The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A lack of competition in the banking sector is being blamed on poor regulation.   Financial experts believe a fundamental change to the Reserve Bank and the Council of Financial Regulations is required.  Andrew Body, one of the experts, told Mike Hosking the regulators have created a “moat” around the large banks in New Zealand.  He says the capital requirements, the Reserve Bank’s...

The Pope's sense of humour is well and truly intact, even as it's expected his funeral preparations are underway.  New medical tests reveal the 88-year-old pontiff has developed bilateral pneumonia.  Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has visited the Pope in hospital, where she was happy to find he hasn't lost his sense of humour.  Rome Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking...

The name of the game for the government this year is economic growth and increased productivity.  For that, what New Zealand needs is successful businesses.  One of New Zealand’s most successful entrepreneurs believes more can be done to grow business confidence and the economy alike.  Rowan Simpson, one of the founding members and investors in TradeMe and Xero, is releasing ‘How to...

Given the issues around KiwiSaver, it’s a miracle any of us save anything to become remotely independent in retirement.  Last week we told you about the Morningstar rankings and how the biggest operator in the market was performing so poorly, and now we have yet another crack at where the money is actually invested.  Mindful Money is upset over the increase in funds going to fossil fuel...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 20th of February, Winston Peters says we need a reset in our relationship with the Cook Islands.  Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr joined to talk our future plans after they cut the OCR by 50 basis points.  One of our most successful entrepreneurs Rowan Simpson has some ideas about how to turn this country around, and it's...

A researcher's warning better security is urgently needed as New Zealanders become soft targets for scammers.   Independent Research Solutions Director Jarrod Gilbert has found people earning more than $100 thousand are significantly more likely to become victims, with rates increasing 10% since 2018.  He told Mike Hosking it's the country's most prominent crime, and we need to act as at...

The timeframe for the 500 officer increase in policing numbers is shrinking.   Police News magazine reports there are actually fewer cops in the country than when the target was set 14 months ago.  Associate Police Minister Casey Costello says they've lost 150 through attrition, but they're expecting to put 650 recruits through in the first half of the year.   She told Mike Hosking...

Pressure is mounting on banks to pass OCR cuts onto their customers.  The Reserve Bank's signalling yesterday's double cut to the cash rate will be followed by at least two more single cuts.  All major banks have started dropping their rates.  But Governor Adrian Orr told Mike Hosking they need to go further.  He says they need to be doing better, looking at their own margins,...

Borrowers may want to be shopping around more for better deal following yesterday's double cut to the OCR.  The Reserve Bank's signalling more cuts in April and May.  All banks have started dropping short-term rates.  New Zealand Home Loans Chief Executive Kip Hanna told Mike Hosking that's likely to continue as banks fight it out for available lending business.  He says banks...

The Foreign Minister's calling for a 'reset' of the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.  New Zealand claims Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is not sharing all the documents on his recent agreement signed with China.  Some details have been released, including working together on seabed mining, and looking at setting up embassies.  Winston Peters told Mike H...

The latest cuts in the US Government have been described as a “total farce”.  The Trump Administration has reversed the firings of hundreds of employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, the department tasked with working on the nation’s nuclear weapons programs.   The cuts were part of a DOGE purge across the Department of Energy.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold tol...

You have to read it to believe it and even in reading it, it might well be you still can't believe it.  A report, one of a number of investigations now underway, has reported back on whether personal Census and Covid intel collected at Manurewa Marae was misused for electoral purposes.  It's important to point out that this particular report didn’t have it within its scope to find out wh...

Another large cut to the Official Cash Rate's on the cards today.  Economists and markets are almost certain the Reserve Bank will slash the OCR by 50-basis points.  That would take the cash rate from its current 4.25% to 3.75%.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking that things are tracking as the Reserve Bank expected when they last met in November of last year.  H...

There's controversy over a New Zealand MP taking part in an anti-government protest in the Cook Islands.  Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has taken part in a rally against Mark Brown's government over its new strategic partnership with China.  The deal will see the countries cooperate more on trade, investment, and tourism, with China providing a $4 million grant for future...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 19th of February, a few questions are asked: What will the Reserve Bank do with the OCR? How did the peace talks between Russia and the US in Riyadh go ? And what are the findings of the shocking report into the public service?  The IPCA want a law change so police can better deal with protests that get out of hand.   Ginny An...

A push for government agencies to raise the bar when handling public data.   The Public Service Commission's revealed multiple failures by Stats New Zealand, Health New Zealand, and the Ministry of Health, with regard to safeguarding data.    It comes after allegations surfaced last June about a potential misuse of Census and Covid vaccine data by providers at Manurewa Marae. ...

Hamish Kerr has claimed another title.  The Olympic gold medallist has been awarded Sportsman of the Year at the Halberg Awards.   The high jumper beat out some tough competition for the title, including two other gold medallists Finn Butcher and Hayden Wilde.  Kerr told Mike Hosking that it was cool to see not only New Zealand Olympians at the event, but also crickets, and football...

There's a potential new era in European security.  The US has got Russia to the table to reach three key agreements, including reinstating ambassadors to each other's countries during high-level talks in Saudi Arabia.  Neither Ukraine nor Europe were invited.  Senior Russian expert at Britain's Chatham House think tank, Keir Giles told Mike Hosking these are historic moments. ...

Federated Farmers is crediting the coalition government for a surge in farmer confidence.  Confidence within the sector has reached its highest level in more than a decade, jumping from a dismal -66% in July last year to 2%.  Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford told Mike Hosking while the last few years have been tough for farming families, favourable farming rules have seen thing...

The Police Association says clarification around protest laws are long overdue.   An Independent Police Conduct Authority report makes several recommendations for laws which would protect protestor rights and ensure public safety.   One law would let police and local authorities set conditions in advance about how a protest may be carried out.   Police Association President Chris Ca...

How fascinating is the Daman Kumar case?  How would you like to be Chris Penk, the minister in charge of making the call as to whether to deport people?  In a way this is a singular example of what the Americans deal with millions of times over.  There seems to be no dispute 18-year-old Daman's parents are overstayers.  Daman was born here and New Zealand is his home. So does h...

They call it a once-in-a-generation crisis summit. Keir Starmer will be there. Emmanuel Macron called it. Olaf Scholz is ropeable over the JD Vance comments. The JD Vance comments that has put Europe into meltdown were a very good example of what is good, but also what is bad, about Trump. His suggestion that Europe should really be worried not about Russia or the Chinese, but the pressure from wi...

Graham Norton is hopping off screens and onto the stage.  He’s embarking on a three-city tour of New Zealand this year, performing nine shows across Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland.   ‘An Evening with Graham Norton’ will delve into some of his biggest TV highlights and memorable moments, Norton sharing tales from behind the scenes and legendary red sofa.  The original tour da...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of February, France is hosting an emergency summit for European leaders as the talks between Russia and the US loom .  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon answers questions about Ukraine, the public service, and just what it is our retail crime group is doing, if anything.  Friend of the show Graham Norton steps away from the...

There's an unclear picture of what New Zealand's losing from people moving overseas.  About 70 thousand Kiwis left the country last year. Of those, 38% were people aged 18 to 30.   New Zealand had a net migration gain of 27,000 migrants in 2024, just a fraction of the 128,000 gained in 2023.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking while there's clear data on th...