The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Tourism operators are reaping the benefits of a boost in international visitor spending, but believe there's more work to do.  International visitor spending has risen by 30% in the year to September.  It's grown to just under $11 billion.  Tourism Holdings Chief Executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking it's around 85% of pre-Covid levels, and they have to focus on growth.  He...

The Transport Minister says changes to Auckland Transport have been a long time coming.   Auckland Transport will have its right to make decisions about policy, planning, and strategy taken away.   A new regional transport committee will be formed with the goal of creating a 30-year transport plan.   Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking AT took the news well.   He's spoken with the C...

There’s confidence All Black Sevu Reece was not given special treatment after charges against him ended in a discharge without conviction.  The 27-year-old Crusader crashed a car into a garage door after being asked to leave the post-Christchurch Cup Day party last year.  Reece initially pleaded not guilty before admitting a reduced charge of wilful damage yesterday.  Rugby Players'...

Health Commissioner Lester Levy says a lower health deficit than expected is a sign of progress.   Health New Zealand's revealed a $1.1 billion deficit – well short of the $1.76 billion it initially reported.  The Opposition's accused the Government of manufacturing a crisis to justify its cuts.   Levy told Mike Hosking he's confident Health New Zealand will be at zero deficit in th...

Wool sector advocates are disappointed with housing agency Kainga Ora for saying no to pricey wool carpets. A prior directive suggested Kainga Ora should choose wool over synthetic fibres for carpets, but the state landlord has chosen the latter as it's around 34% cheaper.   Bremworth Chief Executive Greg Smith told Mike Hosking they were not asked to participate in the procurement process.&n...

France’s Government seems to be on the brink of collapse.  It looks likely to fall apart later this week after far-right and left-wing parties said they will vote for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier.   The move comes after Barnier pushed through the 2025 social security budget without a vote.   France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that...

Fluoride is a funny thing.  I like it. Not too much, but just enough to help out in the water.  Not everyone shares the view, but science is on the right side.  Before he left his job Ashley Bloomfield (remember him?) issued an edict to a number of councils to fluoridate the local water. He had the power to compel them to do it.  Most have, some have had a bit of an angst about...

Ivan Cleary is the most successful sports coach in Australia.  A former Warriors coach, Cleary has led the Penrith Panthers to victory, claiming the NRL Grand Final four times in a row.   He’s now co-authored a book all about leadership and success, detailing, as Cleary puts it, what he’s learned and how he leads.   ‘Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters’ reflects on the deca...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 3rd of December, the benefit numbers are up, and the lower target set by the Government is the one most at risk of not being hit.  The Prime Minister talks the Supreme Court decision on the Foreshore and Seabed Act, autopilot on our ships, and what's happening with the CRL.  Ivan Cleary is currently the most successful coach in...

There’s a chance for the Government to reset, with a successful appeal from the Attorney-General offering more clarity on Māori customary rights to the foreshore and seabed. The Supreme Court's rejected a Court of Appeal judgment as a narrow interpretation of criteria. It's unanimously ruled applicants must use and occupy an area, and maintain this use without substantial interruption. Thorndon Ch...

A variety of barriers still exist for some people looking for work.   The number of people on the Job Seeker benefit increased by 8,000 in the September quarter to sit at 70,000.   Whangarei New Focus Career Guidance Service founder Muriel Willem says some people are missing skills in areas like computers.   She told Mike Hosking that at the moment, even people without those barrier...

The Government's reconsidering amending customary marine titles legislation following a landmark Supreme Court decision.    The court's rejected a Court of Appeal judgment from October last year as a narrow interpretation of criteria.  It's unanimously ruled applicants must use and occupy an area for customary rights to the foreshore and seabed, and maintain this use without substan...

Health New Zealand says it's committed to reaching a settlement with nurses.  About 36,000 nurses, midwives, and health workers walk off the job between 11am and 7pm today.  They say they're overworked and understaffed, which is threatening patient safety.  Health New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Mark Shepherd told Mike Hosking he's disappointed nurses are striking so early in the...

There's confidence from the Ministry for Primary Industries that a bird flu strain will be eradicated.  Around 80,000 chickens are set to be slaughtered after the disease was found at a Mainland Poultry-owned property at Moeraki in Otago yesterday.  A second barn tested positive last night, but neither is the strain circulating in wildlife globally.  MPI Director-General Ray Smith t...

The National Public Health Service is exactly what's wrong with this country. The Health Minister, who shouldn't have had to, intervened in their submission to the district council looking at the application for McDonald's in Wanaka. Why was the health service offering a submission? Because the council asked them to. So who is more at fault (the answer is of course both of them), the council for c...

The Government wants to launch the first satellite controlled by New Zealand. Currently we rely on satellites from "friendly countries" - such as the US and the UK. Options are now with MBIE – but what would a sovereign satellite mean for us? Auckland University physics professor Richard Easther joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 2nd of December, Labour leader Chris Hipkins on what the party tax plans are, pulling out of AUKUS and rebuilding Dunedin Hospital.   Mike couldn't believe the report that came out of the Manawanui handling and you won't want to miss his thoughts on it! And he speaks to Guy and Sav for the last time this year and gives his pick fo...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to wrap the weekend in sport – including fielding errors by the Black Caps in their eight-wicket loss to England, the Breakers signing former NBA centre Tacko Fall and Auckland FC continuing their historic run. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine and Russia look to be heading towards a ceasefire - but it could be messy. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hinting he'd temporarily cede territory to Russia – if the whole country's extended an invite to NATO. Former UK Defence Attaché in Moscow John Foreman told Mike Hosking both Ukraine and Russia seem to be trying to influence Donald Trump ahead of him taking office – but Trum...

An early Christmas present for the Coromandel Peninsula as the walking track to Hahei's Cathedral Cove reopens. It closed in Feburary last year because of damage caused in Cyclone Gabrielle. Thames-Coromandel Mayor Len Salt says combined with the reopening of State Highway 25A, the region is ready for a busy summer. He told Mike Hosking the next step will be repairing other tracks in the area. “No...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins believes AUKUS is not in New Zealand's best interest. His party has ruled out joining the transnational pact between Australia, the UK, and the US. The current Government's considering joining pillar two of the agreement - with non-nuclear aspects. Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking we should continue to have good, strategic relationships – and recognise some other partner...

Donald Trump's nomination of loyalist Kash Patel for FBI director could be his most contentious yet. Patel's widely considered controversial for his comments about shutting down the FBI headquarters and ceding all power to the President. He's also spoken about coming after the media – and offering retribution to his enemies inside government. US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking one o...

A belief Labour missed out on opportunities when announcing its position on AUKUS. The party has promised not to sign up to the international security pact – a partnership between Australia, Britain, and the United States. Former Labour leader Andrew Little told Mike Hosking he wants more of an indication on how those relationships would be managed in the future. “So if we’re not signing up to tha...

Lower numbers of drownings are a blip and not yet a trend. 61 lives have been lost in water-related incidents this year – 26 percent down compared to the 10-year average. Water Safety New Zealand says there needs to be more education in schools and a standardisation because each school is learning something different. Chief Executive Daniel Gerrard told Mike Hosking there are still massive gaps. “...

Three American citizens detained in China have been released after several years. U.S Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the prisoner swap comes after 'many months' of negotiations from the Biden administration to bring the prisoners home to their families. One prisoner, Mark Swidan, spent 12 years detained on drug related charges and was sentenced to death. Swidan, alongside a fellow...