The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest political stories of the week thus far.  They discussed the 24 year political career of Judith Collins, who is resigning from Parliament and taking up a new role with the Law Commission. They also discussed Mariameno Kapa-Kingi's split from Te Pāti Māori to form her own party and what this may mean f...

Competition in New Zealand's economy isn't as strong as it could be.  New Commerce Commission analysis of 22 years of Stats NZ data shows average business concentration has dipped slightly.  However, smaller businesses are still struggling to gain traction against larger firms.  Commission Chair John Small says weak competition in essential sectors is also weakening the rest of econ...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 13th of May, Trade Minister Todd McClay attempts to reassure farmers as Trump and the US look into various new tariffs.    Judith Collins reflects on 24 years in Parliament and her valedictory speech.  And on Politics Wednesday, Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell discuss Collins’ career, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi's new party, an...

One of the country's smallest districts could face its highest rates rise this year.  Waitaki District Councillors have voted to consult on a rates rise of up to 45% to address the council's deficit.  It's also consulting on lower rates rises of 19% or 27%, which would leave the council still in the red.  Waitaki Mayor Mel Tavendale told Mike Hosking she'd prefer a lower rates rise,...

Donald Trump's on his way to Beijing for the first visit by a US President to China in almost a decade.  It will include a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.  The US President's travelling with the bosses of Boeing and Apple, and Tesla's Elon Musk.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Trump will be trying to convince China to put more pressure on I...

It's unclear if the Australian Government's latest tax breaks for workers will make much of a difference.   The Labor Government's raising taxes on investment properties and some trust funds to pay for a $250 tax break.  It will apply to 13 million Australians and come into effect in 2028.  9News Chief Political Editor Charles Croucher told Mike Hosking it's on top of similar tax br...

Judith Collins says she has no regrets about spending the last 24 years in Parliament.  The senior National MP has delivered her valedictory speech as she prepares to move on, to head the Law Commission.  Collins has held numerous ministerial portfolios in her time in politics and led National to the 2020 election.  She told Mike Hosking she's grateful for everything she's been able...

The Trade Minister says he'll be making the case against further US tariffs on New Zealand lamb.  Todd McClay says he expects the US Government to launch an investigation into our lamb exports in the coming weeks.  It could result in extra tariffs being imposed to protect the US sheep meat sector.  McClay told Mike Hosking he and his officials will be reminding their US counterparts...

I wonder if it's time to ask the question – is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?  In the Herald's vast poll churn that produces the chances of the current Government being re-elected at about 88%, is the real revelation that the Greens have been going backwards since the last election?  The trouble appears twofold;  1) The falls have been slow. Almost so small and slow you most probabl...

It’s been 25 years of Westlife.  The globally renowned Irish boyband formed in 1998, splitting up in 2012 before reuniting once more in 2018.  They have over three billion streams, 36 number one albums worldwide, and have sold 55 million records and more than six million concert tickets.  And now they’re coming to New Zealand as part of their 25th Anniversary World Tour – performing...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 12th of May, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is creating her own political party , so what does that mean for Labour, Te Pāti Māori, and the left bloc?   The Bank of Mum and Dad has apparently never been more important, nor as expected, among first-home buyers.   And Shane Filan of Westlife talks 25 years of the boy band and coming to NZ n...

New Zealand Rugby League's chief executive-elect is eager to embrace the sport's pinnacle events when she takes charge in July.  Andrea Nelson steps into the role ahead of the men's and women's World Cups in October and November across New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, and November's wheelchair tournament in Wollongong.  She’s replacing Greg Peters, who stepped down after eig...

Almost half of first-home buyers in New Zealand expect help from the Bank of Mum and Dad, according to a new report.  OneChoice's Kiwi Housing Trends survey of more than 500 Kiwis found that 48% needed financial assistance from family to get onto the property ladder.  But of those who did receive support from their parents, 70% said they were worried about the pressure it placed on them....

China could soon overtake Japan as our largest source of car imports.  A new report from the Motor Trade Association shows sales of new Chinese models is doubling each year.  That's due in part to more sales of electric vehicles, which are forecast to make up half of all new light vehicle registrations by 2035.  MTA CEO Lee Marshall told Mike Hosking as long as price talks, it’ll st...

Te Tai Tokerau is shaping up to be an electorate to watch this election.  MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is splitting from Te Pāti Māori to form her own party after months of ructions between her and the party's leaders.  She'll run in her electorate under a party of the same name.   Former Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell told Mike Hosking she could win the seat as she has a footho...

Shane Jones says while Kiwis may be concerned about fuel prices, they don't need to worry about fuel supply.  The Government's updated its fuel response plan, so fuel is only restricted under phase four.  At that phase, emergency services, health services, schools and courts would get uncapped priority access, while others would need to limit their fuel use.  The Associate Energy Mi...

A growing number of British Labour MPs are calling for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, but no one is formally challenging his leadership.  More than 65 MPs are publicly calling for him to resign or set out a timetable for departure.  Four have quit as ministerial aides.  But Kings College Professor of European Politics Anand Menon told Mike Hosking no one knows who will be the Prime Min...

Latest figures show at least 144 kiwi Police left for Australia in the past year, but Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is not concerned.  He told Mike Hosking that we have 'some of the best police officers in the world' and therefore it's no surprise other countries try to poach from us.  Chambers also maintains that our Police numbers are in a good place. "I mean, there's a tremendo...

It's hard to believe that superannuation is still a “thing”. The OECD report told us we need to bump the age. Nicola Willis told us Friday we have to do something. The Prime Minister then goes on Newstalk ZB and tells us they will campaign, again, on bumping up the age. We should not be here. In 1982 when I started work at the age of 16 it was very clearly in my mind that I had to sort my future f...

One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, had a historic win in the Farrar by-election in the weekend.  The victorious One Nation candidate, David Farley, said "people just want change, it's as simple as that." At a victory party Hanson addressed supporters saying, "we're coming after those other seats". Australian correspondent Steve Price joined Mike Hosking to chat about the result.  LISTEN...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 11th of May, are we worried about the amount of cops leaving to Australia? Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says we simply can't keep up with their pay. The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking to talk fees free getting scrapped, superannuation and golden visa events. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk Auckland FC, the Phoenix women t...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking in studio to discuss two major policy changes announced last week - abolishing fees free study, and raising the age of superannuation.  Luxon said that although the changes may not be 'politically popular' they are important, and other party's aren't brave enough to agree.  "I think they're being quite dishonest in terms of not facing...

Independent Economist and Property Commentator Tony Alexander regularly surveys real estate agents.  His latest survey found that 44% feel prices are falling in the area, 51% see fewer people that open homes, and 50% are seeing fewer investors. Alexander contributes this to a number of reasons including global conflict and job instability, but first-home buyers are remaining st...

In an investigation of all New Zealand private schools the NZ Herald found that more colleges than ever are charging $30,000-plus in tuition fees with an average 4.2% tuition rise this year, the smallest increase in three years. Independent Schools of New Zealand CEO Guy Pascoe told Mike Hosking the jump in fees can be attributed to rising cost of living, but that hasn't impacted tuition numbers....

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine was nearing an end on the first day of a United States-brokered ceasefire, despite mutual accusations of violations. Editor of New Voice of Ukraine Euan McDonald told Mike Hosking, "Putin makes these statements occasionally but, what we haven't seen really, is any major change in the situation. "So there's not really any evidence that the wa...