The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Chris Luxon is firing back at Winston Peters over his latest comments about immigration. The New Zealand First Leader has been accusing his Coalition partners National and Act of being too slow on immigration. The Prime Minister and National Leader says he feels like there's a bit of anti-immigration cos-playing going on, whereby some politicians pretend to be Donald Trump, Nigel Farage or Marine...

The New Zealand First leader says they'll be telling the National Australia Bank we want our bank back - as he lays out plans for the Government to buy BNZ. The party will campaign on the purchase - after its sale in 1992 - and merging it with Kiwibank to create a National Bank of New Zealand.  Winston Peters told Mike Hosking that the bank may not be for sale, but they'll make sure it is. He...

A defence lawyer believes removing good character references for sexual offending is unlikely to make much difference at sentencing. The National Party's latest policy would see judges no longer be allowed to consider positive testimonies about offenders. Law Association Vice President Samira Taghavi told Mike Hosking that those references already carry limited weight in court. She says judges don...

A significant investment's in store for primary schools - as maths results begin to improve. The Education Minister's set to announce a boost for classroom resources and teacher support this afternoon. It comes as 36% of Year 6s met maths expectations in 2025 - up from 30%.  Massey University Distinguished Mathematics Professor Gaven Martin says that's more than four thousand extra students s...

I have learned a lot about kids and university, having had two attend and graduate and one still immersed in the experience.  Here are the takeouts.  Generally, you go for a reason. You have an idea of what you want to achieve and those who don’t, flounder quickly.  I have many examples of kids who enrolled because "that is what you do".  Schools too often give university as a...

Is Chris Hipkins missing a gene?  Does he have a self-destructive predilection? Or is he just a pillock by nature?  He rolls into Auckland to tell the nation's biggest city and engine room in election year that she's all good and everyone has moved on from the lockdowns. His lockdowns.  The home handyman from the Hutt, telling Auckland what's what.  What an arrogant twat. ...

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.    "Next year's on me": 7/10   Got there at last. In a country with less than no money, why spend a fortune on an idea that didn’t, doesn’t, and won't, work.    Sir Graham Henry: 8/10  This is an excellent idea, and Dave Rennie needs to be congratula...

The leaders of the world's two most powerful countries haven't been able to agree on many things during their face-to-face talks in Beijing.  US President Donald Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping is offering to help in some way with America's war in Iran, without providing military assistance.  But Xi's warned Trump the US and China could clash over Taiwan if they're not on the sam...

The end of the week has arrived, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back on the line to Wrap the Week that Was.  They offered some viewing recommendations and discussed awards ceremonies and a significant date for one of the Breakfast team.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 15th of May, all eyes are on the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing , and Nikhil Ravishankar discusses a shocking forecast for Air NZ .  All Blacks coach Dave Rennie gives his first one-on-one interview since taking up the role.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk gifts and an anniversary for one of the tea...

A concession from All Blacks coach Dave Rennie as he deliberates his first squad for July's Nations Championship series.  He'll attend the Chiefs-Highlanders Super match in Hamilton tonight as the squeeze comes on for players to impress.  A 34-strong group will be named for the tests against France, Ireland, and Italy, with a further 10 added for the tour of South Africa.  Rennie to...

A major roll out of the Government's new curriculum's been delayed for some subjects following months of pressure from the education sector.   The new curriculum for science and social sciences will be phased in across two years, beginning at the start of 2027.   The new health and physical education, the arts, technology, and languages curriculum will also begin to be rolled out in 2029...

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have agreed they want to build a stable relationship, but their competing priorities could get in the way.  Trump claims Xi is offering to help in some way with America's war in Iran, without providing military assistance.  Sky News Australia correspondent Jonathan Kearsley says Trump sees an opportunity for China to help.  But Kearsley told Mike Hosking...

Air New Zealand's woes are expected to last for as long as the war in Iran continues.  The national carrier's revealed its looking at staff redundancies and more flight reductions due to the surging cost of jet fuel.  It's now forecasting a full-year pre-tax loss of up to $390 million.  Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking run rates won't get worse, but fluctuating jet fuel prices w...

Bit of buzz around Kiwibank as it potentially looks to have another crack at getting bigger, and by getting bigger, then becomes better able to take on the so-called "big four".  This is business and it's politics.  Asset sales are back on the agenda, especially for the National and ACT parties.  NZ First, not so much. So it may well be one of those things that gets tossed around as...

Qantas and Jetstar have announced their biggest-ever investment in New Zealand.  Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson says the Qantas Group wants to work with our Government to achieve more routes, access, and affordability.  She says Jetstar's undergoing it's biggest-ever expansion in New Zealand and has added more than 800-thousand trans-Tasman seats over the past 12 months.  Hudson ack...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 14th of May, we get a couple of interesting insights into business in this country when it comes to governance and brick and mortar retailers .  Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses her ever shrinking Budget operating allowance.  And CEO of Jetstar Steph Tully unpacks the recent claim they’re committed to New Zealand while...

A big day for New Zealand football.  The All Whites squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup is set to be announced this morning.  36 players will be selected, each set to receive at least $250,000, and New Zealand Football is guaranteed US$10 million just for qualifying.  CEO Andrew Pragnell told Mike Hosking it’s a massive amount of money, and a good chunk rightfully goes to the play...

Many Kiwis still prefer to shop locally and in person.  A survey of about 500 people by retail management platform Lightspeed has found almost eight in ten prefer shopping in store, rather than online.  About four in ten shop at independent local stores.  Lightspeed Managing Director Nicole Buisson told Mike Hosking consumers very much want the convenience of online shopping, but al...

The Government says it won't punish genuine mistakes with its planned new crackdown on misleading pricing.  A bill's been introduced to Parliament that would increase the maximum penalty for misleading prices from $600 thousand to $5 million.  The Commerce Commission estimates such prices are costing New Zealanders tens-of-millions-of-dollars a year.   Consumer Affairs Minister Came...

The Finance Minister says the Budget "lolly scrambles" are well and truly a thing of the past.  The Government's cut its operating allowance by another $300 million to $2.1 billion.  Nicola Willis says Government ministers have been looking carefully for savings.  She told Mike Hosking they're having to be very careful about the choices they make.  Willis says they need to look...

New research suggests nearly 100 of our CEO's are backing their businesses but not New Zealand.   The Pivot and Pace survey found many CEOs are growing frustrated with the country's lack of long-term thinking.   Many are saying three-year political cycles and a lack of cross-party agreement are holding the country back.  Founding Partner of Pivot & Pace Kendall Langston told Mik...

So given the original Māori Party was formed in 2004, would we call it a success?  A party for Māori. What have they achieved?  Have they done more damage than good? Do we differentiate between Māori and "Māori". By that I mean Māori who aren't as angsty as some and are perfectly happy on the general roll.  Is the Māori movement generally just for the agitators? And as such, you hav...

Migration and housing supply are emerging as key issues, following the Australian Government's latest Budget.  The Labor Government is raising taxes on investment properties and some trust funds to pay for a $250 tax break for working Australians.  Its expected 35 thousand fewer homes will be built, despite net migration remained at 300 thousand people per year.  Australia Correspon...

Luke Metcalf is poised to leave the Warriors.  The NRL club have agreed to a request from Metcalf's management to talk with other clubs.  It's unclear whether they would allow an immediate release for the halfback, who only re-signed until 2028 late last year.  Metcalf has been unable to regain his halfback role since returning from injury with Tanah Boyd impressing in his absence a...