The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Friday has come so Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.   It’s been a scandal filled week, with Darleen Tana being ousted from Parliament, Andrew Bayly’s offensive comments, and the new Crown Observer for Wellington City Council, so they decided to play a game of Rank the Scandal.   They also stand on one leg as they discuss balance, and debate...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 25th of October, Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks contract expectations for social services.  International rugby league is back in Christchurch with a huge game between the Kiwis and Australia. Stacey Jones talks the young Kiwi team's chances.  Kate and Tim stand on one leg while discussing balance, working from home vs teac...

Donald Trump has edged ahead of Kamala Harris in the latest polls, with less than two weeks until the US election.  A Wall Street Journal poll shows the Republican two points ahead of the Democrat – a direct swap from when they last did the poll in August.  A CNBC poll also shows Trump ahead of Harris by two points.  US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking potential reasons...

There’s been a shift in when New Zealand will hit peak petrol imports.  After initially predicting it will peak around next year, Channel Infrastructure says the early 2030s is now the more likely date.  It comes as the company announced plans for an energy precinct at Marsden Point.  Chief executive Rob Buchanan told Mike Hosking some of the reasons of this shift are reductions in...

“It must be better than this” is the message from children's advocate Dame Lesley Max following the Chief Ombudsman's crack down on Oranga Tamariki.   Peter Boshier has taken aim at the organisation over its handling of complaints against a man, accused of abusing his partner's young children, despite nine separate reports.  Great Potentials Foundation Co-Founder, Max says it should not...

Zespri is optimistic for 2025 after what it says has been an encouraging year for growers.  Its last charter vessel for the season has left for Japan, expecting to arrive early next month with just over 4,500 tonnes of fruit.  The company says Europe has been performing really well, while China has seen a 40% increase in volume.  CEO Jason Te Brake told Mike Hosking they're expectin...

There’s going to be a major overhaul in the way the Government contracts social services.  The Government's announcing what it calls outcomes contracts in a bid to deliver results, but also scrap initiatives that are not working.  It's also working on a Social Investment Fund, soon to be spearheaded by social investment secretary and former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.  Social...

We have to ask some simple questions around our attitude to nuclear and whether we are capable of becoming slightly more mature about it.  This country got semi-famous for its anti-nuke stance. We are still anti-nuke, but we got famous a lifetime ago and the world has changed.  Amazon and Google and Oracle are building their own nuclear reactors and, if not building, they are buying nucl...

An iconic Kiwi actor is back in the country.  Craig Parker mostly lives in the United States these days, but has been back in New Zealand for a while, filming a mystery project before he guests at Auckland’s Armageddon Expo.   The last time he was back on this side of the world was a couple of Christmases ago, but he told Mike Hosking that he likes to try visit every couple of years, esc...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 24th of October, there’s yet more inequality and poor performance in our schools, according to a new report. Education Minister Erica Stanford talks the ever-growing job before her.  We hear all the time about how good it is across the ditch, but a new report in the construction industry takes a closer look.  Kiwi actor Craig P...

Some ambulance workers feel the Government's funding boost is too little, too late.  The Government's increasing ambulance service funding by 6%.  Hato Hone St John says the extra money has helped it settle pay disputes with unions, ending weeks of industrial action.  First Union National Ambulance Coordinator Faye McCann told Mike Hosking that it hasn’t really fixed any of the prob...

The construction sector says the grass isn't always greener in Australia.   New research suggests the long-held belief of Australia offering better financial opportunities in the industry than New Zealand may no longer be true.   The Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council says, in some cases, salary and housing prices paint New Zealand as the better option.  ...

Queenstown's film and TV industry finally has a home.  An old department store has been transformed into Remarkable Studios NZ – already ticking off having its first major drama project filmed there.  It's located just five minutes from Queenstown airport and close to several hotels.  Screentime NZ chief executive Philly de Lacey told Mike Hosking they'd been looking for a place for...

Rising concerns from the farming sector as more land is sold off for forestry.   Beef + Lamb's new research reveals more than 51,000 hectares have been sold since the end of 2022.   It estimates almost one million stock units are lost for every 100,000 hectares planted.  Chair Kate Acland told Mike Hosking the issue isn’t forestry as such, but rather the ETS settings..  She say...

The Education Minister hopes curriculum changes gives policymakers more information to work with.  An auditor-general report has found the Ministry of Education lacks information prior to someone entering the NCEA system.  The report suggests it's difficult to identify and tackle equity issues in the education system without more information.  Education Minister Erica Stanford told...

The polls are concerningly tight as the US Election draws nearer.   With Donald Trump and Kamala Harris neck and neck, the focus is on the battleground states.  Harris’ Campaign concerned about a potential crack in the ‘Blue Wall’, made up of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that if Harris loses one of those states, she wouldn...

King Charles and Queen Camilla are leaving Australia, bound for Samoa after a short but sweet trip down under.  The pair had 27 engagements across Sydney, drawing substantial crowds filled with people of all ages.  However, the trip wasn’t without drama, with Independant Senator Lidia Thorpe interrupting the reception to heckle the King.   Australian Correspondent Steve Price told M...

Who doesn’t love katsu chicken?  And with the katsu chicken, and the wraps, and the lasagne, David Seymour has saved us $130m.  All the moaners, whingers, whiners, and hand wringers can say sorry because it wasn’t the end of the world.  Several crimes have been committed in the school lunch drama, which of course should never have been a drama because the previous Government, in yet...

Signs of economic recovery look to be turning the dial on retailers' mood.   Retail NZ's quarterly survey finds 65% of retailers feel confident or very confident their business will survive the next 12 months.  It finds 57% think they will meet or exceed their targets for the final quarter, even after 70% failed to meet their last sales targets.   Chief executive Carolyn Young says...

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mike Hosking was joined by Labour’s Keiran McAnulty and National’s Mark Mitchell for a chat about some of the biggest political stories of the week so far.  They discussed the hot water Andrew Bayly has found himself in after making a Ministerial visit, Wellington’s woes and the appointment of a Crown Observer to the council, and McAnulty explained why he got a ye...

The fallout from the axing of sports from the Commonwealth Games has begun.  10 disciplines will be included in the scaled-down Glasgow event, with hockey, triathlon, sevens, and T20 cricket among the sports missing out.   Track cycling, swimming, athletics, and netball have made the cut.  NZ Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol told Mike Hosking that the cut sports have already begun...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23rd of October, Wellington has finally been appointed a Crown Observer, and David Seymour seems to have cracked it with the cheaper school lunches.  Mike is astounded that people are going in to buy one colour of every clothing item they like, and by how little we are spending on food, on average, per week.  Mark Mitchell and...

Rotorua locals are calling for all of the city's emergency motels to be shut down right away.   The Government's applied to keep seven motels operating after their resource consents expire in December.   Independent commissioner David Hill will look at 176 submissions and decide whether to renew them.   Of the 37 submitters, 36 are against.   Rotorua District Residents and Rate...

School lunches look to open up a number of opportunities for businesses.  The Government says it's saving $130 million a year by reducing the cost per meal from $8 to $3.  The Compass Group has been contracted as the lead supplier.  Associate Education Minister David Seymour told Mike Hosking other businesses will be able to get involved.  He says that for example, the programm...

A former Wellington Mayor thinks Tory Whanau's made the right call to accept a Crown observer at her council.  The city's Long Term Plan's being re-written after the city u-turned on its decision to sell its shares in Wellington Airport.  There's also been a raft of issues around the council table.  Local Government Minister Simeon Brown cited councillors walking out of meetings and...