The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Tourism groups aren't pleased with the increase to visitor fees.   The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will rise from $35 to $100 from next month, an increase of nearly 200%.   Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore says that airports and airlines are pretty united in wanting the levy to remain at $35, especially in light of all of the other cost increases that are c...

A second Commonwealth Games in Christchurch is unlikely for now.   Mayor Phil Mauger requested a report on the viability of bidding for the event on the 50th anniversary of the 1974 edition's opening ceremony.   It recommends Christchurch doesn't host a standalone event until a national bid is considered.   Christchurch NZ's Head of Destination and Attraction, Loren Aberhart told Mike Hosking ther...

The government appears to have found an unlikely ally in former Tourism Minister Stuart Nash.    It's increasing the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy from $35 to $100 next month, an increase of nearly 200%.   Nash wanted to bring the levy up by as much as $200 back in 2022.   He told Mike Hosking that anyone saying these fees will deter visitors is wrong.   Nash says they're dre...

The letter from the energy industry yesterday got less coverage than the call last week for a bipartisan approach to big infrastructure. So I am not sure what that means.   Did the media not notice the letter? Or did they notice the letter and not think promoting a bipartisan approach was useful? Or had we given up, given last week's call fell apart the moment it got uttered publicly?   A 30-year...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 3rd of September, Transport Minister Simeon Brown talks the unveiled $32.9b National Land Transport Programme and what's happening with the cycleways.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis fills in for the Prime Minister and talks bipartisan support for a range of issues, and whether politics can be put aside for the good of the country.   The...

More shock in Germany after the far-right secured its first post-war victory in state elections. Alternative for Germany, or AFD, has won almost 33% of the vote in the eastern state of Thuringia yesterday. However, it's believed rival parties will cooperate to keep it out of power. Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking AFD goes against everything Germany has stood for since the Second Wo...

Luke Combs is a country music megastar.   The 34-year-old is one of the biggest names in the world right now, consistently battling it out against Morgan Wallen for the number one spot.   He’s broken records, gone platinum, and earned a range of awards, including three Grammy nominations.   It all started when he dropped out of college to pursue his musical career, moving to Nashville and making i...

The Finance Minister has a simple message for anyone who doesn't like their rates bill.   A new IRD report shows New Zealand's council rates are almost double the OECD average, with most councils opting for double digit rates rises this year.   Most affected households didn't vote in the last local election.   Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that if people don't like how much they're paying in rat...

Israelis are becoming desperate for new leadership following the deaths of six Gaza hostages.   The deaths sparked protests across the country against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not securing a deal sooner.   Netanyahu is also facing criticism from US President Joe Biden, while the UK is suspending some of its arms export licenses.   Political analyst Ori Goldberg told Mike Hosking that...

There are calls for more investment for graduates as confidence hits a new low.   Talent Solutions' annual survey reveals only 19% of university students feel very confident about their job prospects.   Just over half were concerned about competition for early talent roles, while 40% believe there are fewer roles to apply for.   Director Seren Wilson told Mike Hosking the Government and industries...

The Transport Minister's focused on getting back to the basics.   Road maintenance and building new roads and public transport infrastructure are at the centre of a $32.9 billion National Land Transport Plan.   There's a $5.5 billion investment for pothole prevention, and $7 billion for state highway improvements.   Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that too much complexity has been delaying...

There’s a belief overseas workers could be the answer to potential construction worker shortages in Canterbury.   The Workforce Development Council for Construction and Infrastructure estimates more than 23 thousand additional workers will be needed over the next three years.   Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson says it's not a unique problem for the region.   She told Mike Hosking that changes...

With the news last week that a lot of people are changing banks as they re-finance their mortgages, we once again ask ourselves whether the problem we think we have is actually a problem. We seem, at least in part in this country, to be caught up in the idea that if you are big and profitable there might be an issue. Banks have taken heat for years, so much so that Governments past, and indeed thi...

A coffee company director argues consumers should be paying more for their morning fix. Hospitality venues in Wellington are weighing up raising prices, potentially cutting hours, or even shutting up shop as costs rise. Flight Coffee Managing Director Richard Corney believes the current climate is worse than Covid. He says if the price of a cup of coffee increased at the rate of operating costs -...

The Government says it has a clear focus on reducing cancellations for planned surgeries. Health NZ analysis shows about eight percent of elective surgeries are cancelled within 24 hours by a hospital. One in five elective surgery cancellations are caused by an acute or emergency case, needing to take precedence. Health Minister Shane Reti told Mike Hosking there's a number of things to work on. H...

Tyres are set to be turned into industrial fuel, concrete mix and even roading as part of the country's first ever national recycling scheme. The Government backed scheme called Tyrewise will let tyre shops and members of the public get rid of them for free. At the moment, just 40 percent of the 6.5 million tyres imported into the country, are recycled. The scheme will be managed by sustainability...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 2nd of September, two-thirds of people paying child support have defaulted and court action is non-existent. This has been a problem for decades so why don't we do anything about it?   If coffee cost $8 would you pay for it? Cafe owners are arguing that is the cost they would need to make it to make any money.   Was it a try or not for...

A warning there'll be problems, if no changes are made to superannuation. Outgoing Treasury boss Dr Caralee McLiesh has made it clear there's a need for a Capital Gains Tax and changes to super, as the population ages. She points out an increasing share of Government transfers are going to the wealthy. Former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking there's a need to increase the a...

Calls for a review of New Zealand's child support system, which is being described by some as broken.. Figures released under the Official Information Act reveal just 0.05 percent, or 36 of 66-thousand New Zealanders in breach of child support responsibilities have been referred to court, in 12 months. Family law barrister Sharon Chandra says the general tenor of feedback she gets, is that the sys...

A property boom in the Coromandel. OneRoof figures show demand for properties in the area is up 113 percent on last year Bayleys Coromandel General Manager Shaun Paterson told Mike Hosking it's a huge shift and the OCR cut is a huge part of the change. He says potential buyers have been waiting in the wings waiting for something to bring confidence. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Is the insurance market the last to get a good going over from the regulatory authorities?   Having become a country that loves a good market study, we've had petrol, banks, supermarkets – so surely insurance, and while you are at it, Air New Zealand, would be a good next stopping point.   Australia isn't overly happy with the way their insurance industry works either, and the regulator last week...

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.     Ginny Andersen's Police Numbers: 2/10   Bust of the week. Numbers don't lie, Ginny. Was it careless? Was it Machiavellian? Or was it just lazy?     The Police: 8/10   When you arrest every single Comanchero, now that is policing power.     The Greens: 2/10   What a s***show....

ANZ's latest report shows businesses are feeling more optimistic for the future than they have in years.   The monthly update shows business confidence is at its highest in a decade, rising 23 points to 51.   Expected activity jumped to a seven-year high, increasing 21 points to 37.   However, actual business activity rose only one point to negative 21.   Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says many b...

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back again to Wrap the Week with Mike Hosking.   They discussed the tribulations of getting council approval for pools, Father’s Day plans, and touring music acts coming to New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamala Harris is about to give her first and possibly only interview before the November election.   The sit down with CNN’s Dana Bash is expected to air around 1pm.   The Vice President hasn't done an in-depth interview since becoming her party’s presidential candidate.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that normally an interview like this wouldn't draw massive amounts of attent...