The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Transpower says contractor Omexom is working through its own recommendations after the June pylon topple that caused a power outage in Northland.   An Electricity Authority report found bad practice that caused the Transpower tower to topple had probably happened before.   Unsupervised, inexperienced maintenance crews from contractor Omexom unfastened three legs at once.   Transpower Executive Gen...

A lucrative free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates could be signed into action today.   Trade Minister Todd McClay is meeting with his Emirati counterpart as part of his three-day visit to Wellington.   Negotiations for the FTA began in May, meaning it would be less than 100 days to get it over the line.   Former trade negotiator Charles Finny told Mike Hosking there's huge potential f...

The Government's re-prioritising funding from an unaccredited te reo programme for teachers into new maths curriculum resources and teacher guidance.   The Education Minister says there's no evidence the te reo programme directly helped student achievement, and it's more than double the cost of similar courses.   Primary teachers can select resources this year for delivery in term 1.   Erica Stanf...

So for what I think is the fourth time in a week, we hear from Tory Whanau.   This is a problem in itself because in the third interview, or possibly her fourth she has given, she reveals that originally she thought mayors flew below the radar.   So in her ongoing quest not to fly below the radar she also reveals, in her third or possibly fourth interview, that the advice she has been getting abou...

There's concern for wider conflict in the Middle East as Israel and Hezbollah trade strikes.   Israel's Defence Force says its mission is to stop the Iranian-backed Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel's north, and to push it back from the border.   Lebanon's health ministry says around 500 people have been killed in air strikes.   Journalist and analyst Gideon Levy told Mike Hosking there's no in...

Facial Recognition technology will stay in 25 supermarkets, as Foodstuffs North Island deems its trial a success.   The company, which owns Pak'n'Save and New World, installed the technology in the stores for a six-month test.   Early results suggest it prevented about 130 serious incidents and was able to identify repeat offenders more than 1,700 times.   Company Secretary, Julian Benefield, told...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25th of September, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is done and moving on in November, six months early. So how did he find his time in the job?   What have the results been from Foodstuffs facial recognition trial and will it be brought out all around the country?     And on Politics Wednesday, things get a bit tetchy between Mark Mit...

The current Police Minister's standing by his criticism of the Police Commissioner while in opposition, and believes things have changed.   Andrew Coster will lead the new Social Investment Agency, exiting the role of Commissioner earlier than anticipated.   During the last Labour Government, National's Mark Mitchell slammed Coster's approach to policing, once suggesting it was like having cups of...

Kiwis are drinking increasingly less cow's milk. Around 1.2 million fewer glasses are consumed every year, fuelling health concerns. There's been a 17 % decline in the last two decades.   ABC Nutrition's Angela Berrill told Mike Hosking it's largely due to the rapid rise of plant-based alternatives.   She said it could be concerning if people reduce their dairy and milk intake but don't get calciu...

Farmers could be about to get a new technological tool to help count stock.   Farm suppliers PGG Wrightson have teamed up with Inde Technology to use drones and AI to make the process faster and easier.   It works by having drones fly across the paddocks and the resulting footage is run through an AI scanner to count the stock.   PGG Wrightson CEO Stephen Guerin told Mike Hosking it's getting up t...

Israel and militant group Hezbollah are continuing to trade strikes.   Israel's Defence Force says its mission is to stop the Iranian-backed Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel's north, and to push it back from the border.   Lebanon's health ministry says more than 500 people have been killed in air strikes.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that President Biden has called for a...

Outgoing Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has accepted there'll be a range of views on whether he's been tough enough on crime.   The top cop, whose been in the role since early 2020, is leaving the role earlier than signalled.   He's stepping down as commissioner in November to lead the new Social Investment Agency.   Coster copped criticism from current Police Minister Mark Mitchell, while he w...

There’s a belief that cracking down on abuse against public transport workers will help address a wider societal issue.   The Government is set to make it an aggravating factor in court after noting a worrying increase in abuse to staff and passengers.   Local authorities will soon be able to apply for funding to make safety improvements, including safety screens and real-time CCTV monitoring.   B...

Italy’s Prime Minister is set to receive a prestigious award.   Elon Musk is set to present Giorgia Meloni with the Atlantic Council’s Global Citizen Award in New York, an award presented to key global citizens seeking to improve the state of the world.   Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking that she’s making all the right noises about working on a multilateral level, talking about nee...

A couple of things interested me with the Government's back-to-work edict:   1) We need a back-to-work edict and the fact we haven't had one until now.   2) Sadly, the admission no one knows what the hell is going on, who is where, what percentage of time people aren't there, how many aren't there, when they are or are not there compared with any other piece of the public service, etc.   It's Mick...

Geothermal emissions of methane and CO2 could soon be put to good use.   Work is underway in Rotorua to create livestock feed from the gasses in world-first research that could net the country $500 million by 2045.   The feed would be created from protein rich biomass, produced when microorganisms feed off greenhouse gas emissions captured from geothermal power stations.   Upflow Business and Inno...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 24th of September, we delve into the Polkinghorne verdict and the Government's edict telling public service workers to get back to the office.     Is a 4-year Government term actually realistic? The Prime Minister has the answer.   Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney are two of NZ's great architectural geniuses and we have a new doco abo...

The friendship of two celebrated Kiwi architects is uncovered in a new documentary.   'Maurice and I' looks at the partnership between Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney and how they refurbished the Christchurch Town Hill after the quakes.   Director Rick Harvie told Mike Hosking he always wanted to make a documentary about the Town Hall, but didn't think it would be a feature-length film.   He...

Kiwifruit exports are winning gold this year.   Exports were valued at $3.1 billion in the year to August - the highest value point ever.   It's a 20% increase from 2023, and $524 million jump.   Kiwifruit Growers CEO Colin Bond told Mike Hosking the top destination for green kiwifruit is Europe, while China's the top market for gold.   He says Europeans have always recognised the health benefits...

The Prime Minister claims productivity is behind the new guidance around working from home.   The trend of public servants relying on working from home may soon be coming to an end.   Guidance is being updated as the Government says working from home is not an entitlement, and agencies have to monitor working from home agreements and report back.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking working from...

There’s hopes a new Government directive will actually bring public servants back to the office.   Agency chief executives are being required to report on how often their public servants are working from home.   Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says working from home is not an entitlement.   Wellington Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Manager Conor Whitten told Mike Hosking for many, working from...

A criminal defence lawyer says the Polkinghorne trial is an example of the criminal justice system working.   A jury has found eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne not guilty of the murder or manslaughter of his wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home in April 2021.   The verdict —given at the High Court in Auckland yesterday— followed 10 hours of deliberations over two days.   Criminal defence lawyer...

Australia’s Labour party has fallen to its lowest level since the election in the latest poll.   Meanwhile, migrant intake has blown forecasts, set to exceed 400,000.   Opposition leader Peter Dutton has condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to manage population growth during a housing crisis.   Australia correspondent Murray Olds tells Mike Hosking this has added to the government...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt join Mike Hosking to discuss the Bledisloe Cup, Argentina’s victory over South Africa, Black Caps v Sri Lanka, AFL and making baseball history.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A growing trend of cocktail kegs has made its way to New Zealand.   Some in the hospitality industry say mass batches of drinks such as martinis, margaritas and mojitos are speeding up service.   Norma Taps co-owner Luke Jones says he set up the business to prove kegs as a viable option to minimise waste and operate efficiently.   Jones tells Mike Hosking the cocktail kegs use fresh ingredients an...