The Mike Hosking Breakfast

As world leaders descend on Washington DC for NATO talks, domestic politics remains front of mind in the US, UK, and France.   Donald Trump is hitting the campaign trail in Florida and Pennsylvania just days before he's due to unveil a running mate at next week's Republican National Convention.   Joe Biden is continuing to fend off questions over his re-election bid.   US Correspondent Richard Arn...

A new report says our fuel tax system is outdated and unfair.   A new report from the NZ Initiative proposes replacing the fuel excise duty with a new Smart Road User Charges system.   Under the system all vehicles would be charged based on actual road usage, time of day, and vehicle type.   Lead author Matthew Birchall says it would reduce congestion and ensure a fairer distribution of costs.   H...

A sharp decline in new forest plantings is a lost opportunity.   Data from the Ministry for Primary Industries shows that this year 24% less is getting planted than last year.   Some within the industry are warning that this could result in a shortage of biofuel in coming years.   Bio Energy Association Executive Officer Brian Cox told Andrew Dickens that they don’t plant specifically for biofuel,...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 10th of July, what will the Reserve Bank do with the Official Cash Rate , and who will lowering the clean car importer standard help ?   SailGP is coming to Auckland but is Auckland ready for SailGP? And where will we be able to watch it?  Mark Mitchell and Carmel Sepuloni cover everything from Darleen Tana to Matt Doocey and his inabil...

Deputy Labour leader Carmel Sepuloni thinks Darleen Tana should resign.   The Greens have asked Tana to resign from parliament after receiving the report on alleged migrant exploitation at her husband's business.   She was suspended on full pay for the 115 days it took.   Tana's now left the party, but not parliament.   Sepuloni told Andrew Dickens Tana needs to do the right thing and walk away.  ...

There are expectations the Reserve Bank will leave the OCR untouched once again.   The Official Cash Rate's been held at 5.5% the last six times in a row.   Many bank economists believe it'll be held again while the Reserve Bank waits for more evidence inflation's falling back towards its target band of one to three percent.   ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Andrew Dickens they think there a...

Auckland Council has confirmed the venue for next year's SailGP.    It's hosting the start of the Australasian leg in January after Christchurch proved too problematic and it was moved.   Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill says the international event will be based just off Wynyard Point.   He told Andrew Dickens it will be under the Harbour Bridge with a grandstand close to the water. ...

A Canterbury construction boss says remote building inspections is one of several tools that could speed up the building process.   The Government says the current in-person inspections mean long delays as builders stop work while they wait for an available appointment.   David Reid Homes Canterbury Director of Construction, Carl Fordyce told Andrew Dickens remote inspections sped things up during...

There’s hopes changes to car import regulation will ease costs.   The Government's watering down regulations brought in by the previous government, that encouraged importers to bring in less polluting vehicles by charging an emissions standard.   Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association chief executive Greig Epps told Andrew Dickens while it won't change car prices overnight, it's good news for...

It was a punishing election for conservative and national parties across the UK.   Overall, Labour gained 211 seats, giving them a firm majority in the House of Commons, leader Keir Starmer becoming the new Prime Minister.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Andrew Dickens that although Labour was elected with a massive majority, it’s only just under 2% more than they got when Jeremy Corbyn was the...

Another legendary Kiwi band is making a return.   Though we thought they were done in 2020, Th' Dudes are performing a one-off show at Auckland’s Powerstation next month.   They’ve got the blessing of Dave Dobbyn, who isn’t involved, picking up renowned guitarist Brett Adams of the Mockers and the Bads fame instead.   Founding member Peter Urlich told Andrew Dickens that when they played those las...

What’s more important – what you own or how hard you work?   New research from online investment platform Stake reveals twice as many Kiwis think what you own is more important.   It found that fewer Kiwis define financial success as having a business or a good job title, and four in five think we’ll be working past the retirement age.   Plus, 60% of respondents believe that the intergenerational...

House prices are beginning to drop.   The QV House Price index showed a decrease of 0.9% nationally in the three months to the end of June, which remains 2.6% higher than last year’s figure.   Auckland prices saw a 2.6% decrease, but South Island prices are remaining strong overall.   QV Operations Manager James Wilson told Andrew Dickens that it's a case of the main urban areas pulling the nation...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 9th of July, Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick talks about the Darleen Tana report and tries to bat away questions about transparency and cost.   Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters responds to the Tana scandal and tells us what we'll get out of the PM's U.S trip.   'Th Dudes' are returning for a one-off show after telling us they we...

After spending 114 days, more than half her Parliamentary career, suspended, Darleen Tana was defiant after she left the Green Party over the weekend, jumping before she was pushed.    She remains as an MP for now, unless she heeds the plea of Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick to “please resign” from Parliament altogether, or the Greens decide to invoke the waka-jumping bill, controversial among par...

Gun control advocates want more regulation on a firearm popular among gangs. The 782 Alfa carbines and Alfa hunters look indistinguishable from a handgun once its barrel and stock are cut off.   One hundred and 63 of them were imported and passed on to criminals from 2019-2021.   Gun Control NZ Co-Founder Nick Green told Andrew Dickens there is no reason they should be legal.   He says semi-automa...

Chloe Swarbrick says they'll continue asking Darlene Tana to resign from Parliament.   The request was made yesterday after the party received the investigation into alleged migrant exploitation at her husband's business.   Tana's been suspended on full pay for 115-days.   She doesn't accept the findings, claiming it substantially misrepresents her level of involvement in her husband's business.  ...

There’s scepticism over how well the surprise winners of France's parliamentary election will work together.   The left wing New Popular Front coalition beat out the centrist Ensemble party and far-right National Rally, who had been hopefuls after a successful first round of voting just over a week ago.   French Correspondent Catherine Field told Andrew Dickens the NPF has been together all day ju...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Monday the 8th of July, how many of our new roads of national significance will be tolled ? All of them says the Government, as long as the NZTA signs it off. An absolutely huge win for Lulu Sun in Wimbledon to continue her record breaking run for a Kiwi female tennis player as she advances into the quarterfinals. Speaking of...

Blockbuster film-maker James Cameron is bringing the bulk of his visual effect work from Hollywood to Wellington. Active recruitment is underway for visual effects crew for Avatar sequels. Mark Westerby is the Head of Attraction at Screen Wellington and he speaks with Andrew Dickens this morning.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heart services are being described as "in crisis" as much-needed drugs lack funding.  The Cardiac Society is calling on Pharmac to cover chronic heart failure medicines with their funding boost. The drugs have been standard in cardiac care in the UK, Australia, and Canada; but here in New Zealand they are only funded for type 2 diabetics who meet certain criteria.  Martin Stiles is the Chair of th...

The left have tactically held out the National Rally and they are projected to finish a distant third to new popular front and Macron's centrist coalition.  The first exit polls are out, and the second round of voting has begun. France Correspondent Catherine Field joins Andrew Dickens for more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is preparing to meet with international leaders at the NATO Summit.  Auckland University international relations expert Stephen Hoadley says it's significant for New Zealand to be included in the NATO Summit as the Government moves closer to an alliance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New roads of national significance will be paid for by tolls.  Seven roads are being fast-tracked and construction is set to begin within the next three years.  The projects are Belfast to Pegasus, the Hawke's Bay Expressway, State Highway 1 Cambridge to Piarere, State Highway 29 Tauriko, Takitimu North Link Stage 2, Mill Road, and Warkworth to Wellsford.  Transport Minister Simeon Brown joins Mik...

Grocery prices are continuing to rise - but not as quickly as they have been.  The latest data shows a 2.7% increase compared to June last year, down from 2.9% in May and 3% in April.  Cost increases for fresh produce are less intense than a year ago but have increased 1.2%. Chair for Vegetables NZ, John Murphy, joins Andrew Dickens to discuss the rising rates.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...