The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A higher than forecasted jobs report has been undergone in the U.S. The year’s economy created 227,000 non-farm jobs in November, which is above estimates of 214,000. Retailers continue to come to the party with earnings reports. Shares in Lululemon soared 16% on stronger than expected sales. The eurozone economy expanded by 0.4% in the third quarter, doubling the previous quarter’s growth rate. T...

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.    Yoon Suk Yeol: 2/10  What the hell was that about?    Joe Biden: 0/10  A liar and inexcusable, with any amount of damage not just to his reputation but to the party for Lord knows how long.    Labour and AUKUS: 4/10  Having run with...

We paid our last school fee last week.  One more term and the high school years at our house are over.  One of the great insights we have been lucky enough to have over the years is in having five kids you see a lot of school and schools.  We have pretty much touched every part of the New Zealand education system.  We have been to private school, public and integrated, single s...

Auckland FC’s CEO is blown away by the team’s success.  The Black Knights have won their first five A-League games without conceding a goal, and now sit at the top of the table.  Saturday will see them clash against the Wellington Phoenix once more, this time at Mt Smart Stadium.  CEO Nick Becker told Mike Hosking that coach Steve Corica has done a great job pulling together a squad...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 6th of December, has scrutiny revealed some broken promises from the Government regarding the police and prison numbers? Police Minister Mark Mitchell fronts up.  The Prime Minister joined Mike in studio as we bring back the infamous gift exchange at the end of the year.    For the final time of the year Mike, Kate Hawkesby...

For the final time this year, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed their plans for the holiday season, the tragic state of public sector Christmas parties, and the best stats from their Spotify Wrapped.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hints of a potential motive in the shooting of a top US executive in New York.  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot in the back in a premeditated attack on his way to a conference in Manhattan yesterday.  Police have been investigating nearby hostels, while it's also reported the bullets had the words "deny" "deflect" and "depose" inscribed on them.  US correspond...

Donald Trump's US election victory has been a big factor in Bitcoin hitting record numbers.  The cryptocurrency has hit US$100 thousand in value – the highest trading price in its history.  Bitcoin has grown by 70% since the start of the year, buoyed by political campaigns and an increased confidence in digital assets.  Easy Crypto chief commercial officer Paul Quickenden told Mike...

2024 is coming to a close and with it the Coalition Government’s first year in power.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking for the last time this year to reflect on his first year as Prime Minister.  In response to the reports that say New Zealand faces an investment gap with a growing population, Luxon says that it's a marvellous set of challenges. "The last 30 years, w...

The Police Minister is adamant his government will deliver on its promise of 500 new cops by the end of next year.  New police commissioner Richard Chambers warned yesterday they're unlikely to meet those numbers until 2026.  But Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking they're going to get as close to the target as they can.  He says that they’re not dropping standards, and though...

There’s a view the benefits of facial recognition tech in supermarkets outweighs potential risks.  Data analyst firm Scarlatti has found a trial of the new technology at 25 Foodstuffs North Island supermarkets reduced harm by 16%.  Security were alerted to offenders early, and could intervene to prevent harm from escalating.  Scarlatti Director and Trial Evaluator Adam Barker told M...

An interesting, but good, move on forestry and farming.  It is another example of practical thinking and application in an area that relied, to be frank, on laziness to solve a problem.  Ever since we became obsessed with climate change and we became obsessed with things that might or might address climate change, the low hanging fruit has been trees and carbon markets.  Carbon mark...

Country Superstar Luke Combs is winging his way to New Zealand next month, and his opener isn’t someone to sneeze at.  Country-pop singer Jordan Davis has had multiple number one hits, two platinum albums, and won multiple awards at the Country Music Awards.   He has a significant fanbase in the US, and Kiwi audiences will be able to get a taste of him live.  Davis told Mike Hosking...

The days of having your flight delayed by fog could soon be over.  Every year, the airline industry loses a collective $13 billion as flights are delayed or cancelled due to foggy conditions.   Pyper Vision is aiming to solve this problem, with new technology that predicts fog and prevents delays.  Founder Emily Blythe told Mike Hosking that they’ve built an initial model that can p...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of December, the farmers are happy with the changes to the farm to forest conversion rules and the plans the government is considering for methane emissions .   Mike evaluates all the public sector’s Christmas parties for this year, so if you value an end of year do, he has the place for you.   Country music star Jordan Dav...

The Citizen's Advice Bureau says it isn't a surprise that MSD incorrectly processed 1-in-4 benefit entitlements.   The Ministry of Social Development's revealed its accuracy has slipped over the past few years, largely due to system and resource challenges.   CAB Deputy Chief Executive Andrew Hubbard says the stat stacks up with inconsistencies it's hearing from clients.   He told M...

The French government has collapsed.  Prime Minister Michel Barnier has been ousted in a no-confidence vote just three months after he was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.  Newstalk ZB's Paris correspondent Catherine Field says the right and the Government are warning the no confidence vote will result in chaos, and plunge France into the "unknown".  Field says it's the first...

There's hopes new legislation will protect the most productive farmland.   The rule change will stop Category 1 to 5 land being converted into forestry.   Those with category 6 land will only be allowed to convert 15 thousand hectares.   Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson Toby Williams told Mike Hosking that it restores the balance between farming and production forestry, and m...

Auckland University's keen to work with Immigration New Zealand in a bid to boost international enrolments.  Data shows enrolments are up year-on-year but lag around 7% behind pre-Covid levels.  Auckland University Vice Chancellor Dawn Freshwater told Mike Hosking there's already some work going on in terms of automation and support for international applications.  She says visa pro...

The Government's paying little attention to global action around climate change.   A coalition-appointed panel's suggesting New Zealand weaken its current 2050 climate target of up to 47% less emissions than 2017.  It's offered a new target of just 15%.  Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking the rest of the world needs to step up, but we only need to focus on New Zealan...

There’s more trouble with Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.  Allegations have come out about Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nomination for Secretary of Defense.  Reports reveal that he was twice ousted from military organisations he led for financial mismanagement and improper behaviour, as well as allegations of sexual assault from 2017.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that i...

From our “it worked fine, even though many didn’t think it would” file, there are two things to mention.  Thing number one is the benefit sanctions the handwringers argued were unfair and not nice.  It turns out virtually no one has hit red. Remember it was the green, orange, red system? All the Government ever asked in introducing them was for you to do your bit.  You are not sanct...

New AI technology is giving farmers an insight into the eating quality of their lamb and beef.  Alliance group-shareholders can now use Meat Eating Quality technology to analyse the tenderness, juiciness and flavour of meat.  Chief executive Willie Wiese told Mike Hosking the tool predicts the performance of livestock using genetics.  He says they've tested and validated the outcome...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 4th of December, our health debt is coming down, but Health NZ Commissioner Lester Levy says there is more work to be done.  We finally get some good news on tourism - international visitor numbers and spending is up, so is the industry seeing the benefits?   For the last time of the year Mike, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen...

In the final Politics Wednesday of 2024, Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to dig into this week’s biggest political stories.   With just one sitting session left for the year, Parliament has shifted its focus to examining Government agencies for this year’s Scrutiny Week.   Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that it’s important to hold people account...