The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Government is defending its budgeting for the torture redress of Lake Alice survivors.  It's set aside more than $22 million for eligible survivors who were tortured at the psychiatric hospital in the 1970s.  They'll be able to choose between a one-off $150 thousand payment or apply for independently assessed redress.  Lead coordination minister Erica Stanford told Heather du Pl...

A 17-year old female student is the suspect in a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin.  One teacher and a teen student have died, and six people were injured at the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.  Police say the suspect was found dead.  CNN reports this is the US's 83rd school shooting this year, overtaking last year's record 82.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold t...

We knew the Government books were going to be bad, but not this bad.  No way we’re getting to the surplus we expected in 2028. That is now so far away it’s not even in Treasury’s forecast period anymore.  It’s some time, who knows when, in the 2030's.  We’ll have to borrow another $20b in debt to tide us over for the next four years. That’ll push our interest payments over $10b ever...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 18th of December, the Government books are in a shocking state, so Heather du Plessis-Allan asked Nicola Willis how much is on the last Government, and how much is on her.  Did you hear the one about the judge, the doctor, and NZ First at the Northern Club? Trust us, it's a doozy.  For the final time this year Mark Mitchell an...

Businesses hope to employ more migrants after changes to work visas.   The Government's updating the Accredited Employer Work Visa in March, removing the median wage threshold and reducing minimum experience requirements for lower skill roles.   They'll also reduce the minimum threshold for how many domestic workers must be employed.  BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich told H...

It's suggested the Government's dealing with an economic hangover.  The half year economic and fiscal update, opening the Government's books, signals a surplus is further away than previously thought.  Politicians are clashing on what the numbers signal.  Speaking to Heather du Plessis-Allan, Labour's Ginny Andersen's accusing the Government of austerity, as public sector jobs have...

The Commerce Commission has issued a draft decision to reduce fees for businesses accepting card payments.  It's proposing an estimated reduction of around $260 million a year where costs are handed down from banks to process payments.  The commission revealed in July that businesses incur $1 billion in fees to provide card payments.  Chair Dr John Small told Heather du Plessis-Alla...

A promise the Government's eyeing-up growth as the light at the end of the economic tunnel.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis is vowing to keep cutting what she sees as wasteful spending.  The half year economic and fiscal update suggests books will remain in the red for longer than predicted.  Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's going to be challenging, and the Governmen...

There’s a view growth is coming, despite a grim outlook for the New Zealand economy.  The half year economic and fiscal update shows a surplus is not expected until at least 2029.  Cost savings which have led to job cuts and re-prioritisation in the public sector this year are set to continue.   Independent tax expert Geof Nightingale told Heather du Plessis-Allan there are green sh...

There’s hopes a review into early childhood education will better clarify regulation for the sector.  It's made 15 recommendations to simplify and modernise regulation, to help better provide safe, high-quality care and education.  Regulation Minister David Seymour says one major issue is the overlapping of multiple agencies on the same matters.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan the...

Prince Andrew seems to be standing on increasingly thin ice.  The UK has upheld a ban of an alleged Chinese spy who formed an "unusual degree of trust" with Prince Andrew.  The British Home Office banned the man on national security grounds in March 2023, believing the relationship could be used for political interference.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Heather du Plessis-Allan t...

Even people who think councils do a fantastic job must by now understand why the Government is going to have to pass law to get councils to focus on doing their jobs.  It has been clear to councils for about four months now that the Government wanted them to drop the distractions and just do their work.  Yet, councils just can’t help themselves.  Even last week Tauranga City Council...

The hospitality sector is optimistic about the coming season.  On average, restaurant revenue was down 6% in the second quarter, improving markedly in quarter 3 to only 1%.  Although Christmas started late, trading has picked up lately.   Chef Josh Emett told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they had although September and October were down, they had a really positive August and the la...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of December, the Government are reining in local councils , telling them to get back to basics and stop wasting taxpayer's money.    It's the Prime Minister's final interview for the year on Breakfast and Heather du Plessis-Allan has some questions for him to answer about the ferries and the Government books.  Celebrit...

The Prime Minister's defending the Government effectively delaying a Cook Strait ferry decision.  Christopher Luxon appears to have let slip the Government's signed off two rail-compatible ferries, unless a better proposal is on the table within the next few months.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan the ferries need to be replaced in 2029, meaning the procurement decision doesn't need to...

It’s a bleak outlook for domestic wine production, with a two-decade low forecast.  Estimates suggest New Zealand's output will be down 21% this year.  Director-General of International Organisation of Vine and Wine, John Barker says it's largely due to frost damage in Marlborough.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan other climate issues contributed to a low wine output from the South...

A mayor doubts removing wellbeing measures from the Local Government Act will change much.   The Government's removing references to social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being in a push to get councils to focus on core services.   Council performance will be benchmarked and a yearly report published.   Local Government New Zealand Vice President Campbell Barry told Hea...

There's an expectation the Government's surplus will be pushed back a year or so.  The state of the Government's books will be unveiled today, as Treasury release its half yearly economic and fiscal update early this afternoon.  May's budget laid out expectations for further cost savings across government departments across years to come.  Former Treasury Director Bryce Wilkinson to...

There's a concern many people may not fully understand the risk of recreationally using pharmaceuticals.  The 2024 New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey of more than 10,000 people shows more than a quarter of respondents use the drugs for non-medical reasons.  It's also found a quarter of recent psychedelics users did so for therapeutic purposes.  Author Chris Wilkins told Heather du Ples...

At this time of year it’s traditional for political commentators to pick their politician of the year. And interestingly, the NZ Herald this past weekend went for Simeon Brown. Now, I think Simeon’s right up there. There’s a reason he’s called Golden Balls. But I don’t think he’s the one. I think that honour has got to go to Erica Stanford and it’s not even a competition as far as I’m concerned. N...

The five remaining members of the  Australian “Bali Nine” drug ring  have returned home after 19 years in jail in  Indonesia , the Australian Government said Sunday. Indonesian police arrested the nine Australians in 2005, convicting them of attempting to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin off the holiday island of  Bali . In a case that drew global attention to Indonesia’s unforg...

Auckland FC has just named their first fan representative group, a council of eight people, linking supporters directly to management. It's an A-League-wide initiative with every club set to have one. The group will meet at least four times a year, with the chair meeting with the A-League's fan representative group from the 12 other clubs. Inaugural chairman Tim Adams joined Heather du Plessis-All...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the Black Caps getting on top of England in the dead-rubber third test in Hamilton, Auckland FC’s losing their winning run after drawing 2-2 against Melbourne City, the delay on Liam Lawson’s F1 future, the NRL’s Papua New Guinea expansion and China, and everyone’s holiday plans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast with Heather du Plessis-Allan for Monday the 16th of December, the Minister for Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour has a plan to run it better, cheaper and more successfully. All our court judges perks have been revealed - business class travel, school uniforms for the kids, flying their partner out to wherever they are among others. In this tim...

It's drone-mania in the US, after many mysterious sightings in New Jersey and the East Coast over the last month. Associated Press reports there's been sightings in multiple states, including at a military research and manufacturing facility and at President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course. Homeland Security and the FBI both say there's no evidence the sightings pose a national security threat. U...