The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 6th of May, we have new unemployment data out today and the Government is giving local councils an amalgamation ultimation .   Tracy Atiga and Kanaloa Rugby have a plan to save Moana Pasifika – a plan that’s allegedly being blocked by the current group.   And Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen bicker and banter their way through...

The ceasefire between Iran and the United States seems to be on unstable grounds, the two sides making opposing claims about the Strait of Hormuz.  US President Donald Trump claims they have full control of the key shipping route, while Iran is warning that any ships trying to pass through without approval will be fired at.  Iran rejects claims ships have transited the Strait under US pr...

A Pacific rugby consortium claims politics within the sport are preventing a bid to save Moana Pasifika.  The Super Rugby franchise is being disbanded at the end of the season by the current owners.  However, Kanaloa Rugby claims to have the finances and plans to keep the side afloat.  Chief executive Tracy Atiga told Mike Hosking that Moana boss Debbie Sorensen is preventing the bi...

We're spending more on fuel, crowding out most other areas.   ANZ card data from April shows spending at the pump jumped 0.9% on top of March's 20% hike shortly after the Iran war began.   Spending on retail, public transport, car dealerships, and the normally recession-proof health and beauty sector all took a hit.   There was an unusually large drop at supermarkets too – 1.4%.&nbs...

The RMA Minister says councils have already signalled they'd like to join forces with neighbours.  The Government's announced a fast-track amalgamation process, asking councils to submit proposals for merging with neighbours to form unitary authorities.   They have three months to submit a rough plan.  Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking there’s quite a lot of momentum behind it already....

Kiwis struggling to find work aren't alone in it. Stats NZ data due out this morning is expected to show unemployment's remained steady or risen slightly in the first three months of this year.  It was already at a near-decade high in the previous quarter.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking the jobs being created don't seem to be keeping pace with the number of people mo...

This is quite possibly from our "hopeless causes" file.  But can I at least try and make the plea that we have a look at the economic damage done by trigger-happy weather offices and compliant clickbait media when it comes to storm warnings?  Cyclone Vaianu was the latest and is hopefully still fresh enough in our memories to remind us of a week's worth of hyperbole and headline nonsense...

European leaders have been expressing their concerns over Donald Trump's "Project Freedom" as they met at a political summit in Armenia.  Project Freedom began on Monday with the stated aim of getting stranded neutral commercial ships out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.  But French president Emmanuel Macron overnight warned the US project lacked clarity and risked furth...

With the Miami Grand Prix officially having run its course, it's time to assess the changes to the controversial Formula 1 regulations.  Tweaks were made following backlash from the drivers, with the electric batteries impacting their ability to race effectively.   Former Team Manager at Williams and former GM at Ferrari, Peter Windsor told Mike Hosking quite a few people spoke out again...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 4th of May, immigration is shaping up to a big election issue. Minister Erica Stanford has numbers of her own, plus she responds to David Seymour's six-point plan.  The so-called Freedom Project is underway in the Strait of Hormuz – what does it mean, will it allow ships to go through, and does it break the ceasefire? Former Vice Chi...

Iran's rejecting claims US naval ships and merchant vessels have sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.   Yesterday, Donald Trump announced it would begin escorting ships through the crucial strait.   However Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps says statements suggesting US-vessels have passed through the waterway are "baseless".  Retired US Army Major General Randy Manner believes Iran...

A largely underutilised local energy solution could be right under Aucklander's noses.   In the two years it's been running, the food waste collection programme has converted 62 thousand tonnes of organic material to fertiliser and biogas for the national grid.   But only about 40% of the people who received a bin are using it.   Auckland Council's Parul Sood told Mike Hosking they’...

Demand for New Zealand wool continues to grow, with one company securing a breakthrough deal.  Wools of New Zealand's partnered with Turkish carpet manufacturer Kalida Hali – a deal which will see our wool exported to 69 countries.   Chief Executive John McWhirter told Mike Hosking the value of wool's projected to increase 30% in the next five years.   He says the value of wool clip...

An energy expert says having Singapore's fuel won't do a great deal for supply or price.  A signed agreement between the two countries will see Singapore provide us with refined fuel in return for New Zealand food exports during economic shocks.  During Christopher Luxon's visit this week, the two countries also pledged to not impose export restrictions on each other.  David Keat to...

The Government claims its tightened up immigration settings since coming into power.   Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says since she got the job, net migration's dropped from 135 thousand to around 24 thousand.  She told Mike Hosking 70% of migrants are now high-skilled and 30% are low-skilled – a reversal from a few years ago.  She says over the last two years they've built pr...

US Correspondent Simon Marks joined Mike Hosking to chat the latest out of the USA. Trump has reportedly rejected Iran's 14-point peace plan which included forces to be withdrawn from near Iran's borders, and for all hostilities to cease including Israel's attacks in Lebanon. And, the fleet of fluro-yellow Spirit Airlines planes have been grounded as the company closes it's doors. "They've be...

ACT's newly released immigration policy includes a $6 daily levy on temporary work visas to help fund infrastructure.  Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Karl Dean joined Mike Hosking to chat about the proposed changes and how they would impact our farming and agricultural industries.  "We struggle to get skilled migrants now, they look at Australia, they look at Canada, they choo...

Data from the latest annual ratepayer report shows rates are up an average of $451 nationwide to an average total of $3,386. The report additionally shows debt is climbing with councils owing around 220% of their annual rates revenue. Taxpayers Union Executive Director Jordan Williams joined Mike Hosking to discuss the report. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand spent just over $216 million on locum doctors last year, up from the nearly $209 million spent in 2024, and just over $186 million in 2023. Health NZ clinical national director Dr Richard Sullivan says they are aiming to hire more permanent staff.  But, Sullivan told Mike Hosking, locums will likely always be necessary, "getting people in certain parts of the country is a p...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 4th of May, we've got Act's new immigration policy and a record amount being spent on locum doctors. Speaking of Act, Acting Prime Minister David Seymour is in while the PM is overseas and talks the U.S officially asking us to help with the Strait of Hormuz and Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk a brilliant weekend of sport involving t...

Kiwi exports to the European union have increased by $3 billion in two years under the New Zealand-European Union free trade agreement.  In a press release Trade Minister Todd McClay said, “making full use of the agreement is vital in a time of global uncertainty and supports New Zealand’s goal of doubling export value within a decade." The European Union ambassador to New Zealand, Lawrence M...

David Seymour joined Mike Hosking as acting Prime Minister while Christopher Luxon is in Singapore. They discussed the big topics coming into this week including the war in Iran and the USA's call for support, and ACT's new immigration policy.  On the potential of NZ involvement in Iran Seymour told Hosking, "We're not going into a conflict zone, but if there was genuine, cross-partisan suppo...

Well the war seems live now, doesn’t it. The Americans officially want our help. Which brings us back to the original question - if this encounter ends up ridding Iran of the ability to produce nuclear weaponry, has it been worth it? No, they didn’t see the Strait of Hormuz being the mess it is. You can debate that forever if you want, but ultimately there is no question Iran is done for and it's...

The Primary Production Select Committee is going to have a look into, well, primary production. Namely, the Hawke’s Bay scenario of Heinz and McCain's, both of whom have announced closures and job losses.  A briefing is different to an inquiry, just in case you are thinking the committee is going to come up with something tangible.  This is the sort of sad handwringing we get into around...

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.    Christchurch: 9/10   The stadium, the opening, the spend, the party, and the vibe. That is what all of New Zealand should be.    The Washington Hilton: 1/10  Between yet more violence and yet more conspiracy from all sides, too much of America is...