The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The infrastructure sector wants to see certainty in today's Budget, in the form of a construction "pipeline".   Upgrades are needed across a majority of the country’s infrastructure, and the sector wants a program that will give a coherent delivery over the coming years.   Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking that the Government needs to prioritise money in the...

Health New Zealand says it's deeply concerned about today's dual strike action from junior doctors and blood workers.   It's junior doctor's third round of strikes and the beginning of a week of action from Blood Service lab workers.   Health New Zealand's accusing the unions of scheduling action at the same time, compounding patient impact.   But Chief People Officer Andrew Slater told Mike Hoski...

Condemnation of the Reserve Bank's latest change to mortgage rules.   The central bank has confirmed it's going ahead with plans to introduce "debt to income" restrictions, preventing home buyers from borrowing more than six times their pre-tax income.   The changes will be partially offset by the easing of LVR restrictions, to allow for more low-deposit lending.   But property commentator Ashley...

Part of the day of upset, or protest, or whatever the Māori Party are calling it tomorrow, is about the way they feel they are being treated by this new Government.   So, although it's Budget Day, it's not really about the Budget.   It's about section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act and the right to vote if councils unilaterally invoke Māori seats and the move to replace or repeal references to the...

There's no clear end in sight for student protests over accommodation fees at Auckland University.   Members of the Students for Fair Rent group haven't been paying rent since the start of this month.   They're demanding a blanket rent reduction and safeguards against future rises.   Group founder Matthew Lee told Mike Hosking that the university has a responsibility to provide safe, secure, and a...

A Napier wine has been deemed the best in the world.   The city's Church Road Winery has won Best Chardonnay at the International Wine Challenge.   Chief Winemaker Chris Scott told Mike Hosking that they've already been struggling to keep up with demand, and he reckons this will exacerbate the problem.   Despite the local vineyard getting the accolade, France, Australia, and Spain remain top of th...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 29th of May, will the Reserve Bank's recently announced alterations to the debt-to-income ratio help or hinder the economy and housing market?   Is the protest organised by the Māori Party for Budget Day actually legal? We look at the potential consequences that may come of it.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen cover Politics Wednesday...

The Police Minister is condemning protesters' plans to disrupt major motorways tomorrow.   Toitu Te Tiriti is urging people to protest tomorrow as a demonstration against government action towards Māori and Māori matters.   Police are preparing to deal with planned slow-moving motorcades on major roads in a bid to disrupt morning traffic.   Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that it's...

There's been clashes outside the New York City courthouse where Donald Trump's hush money trial has been held.   Actor Robert de Niro has been speaking against Trump.   He's argued with a spectator, saying law enforcement officers had to put their lives on the line during the 2021 Capitol protests.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that de Niro called Trump a “clown”, and said he...

An employment lawyer warns that some workers will be liable for consequences for taking part in nationwide strikes tomorrow.   Toitu Te Tiriti is urging people to protest against the government's position on Māori and Te Tiriti on Budget Day.   Strikes need to be within a legal framework in the context of bargaining, or some health and safety issues.   Employment Lawyer Alastair Espie told Mike Ho...

A media company chief executive says agreements to make tech companies pay for news have been successful in other countries.   A Select Committee's recommended the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill not be passed in its current form.   Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says they've not made a decision.   Michael Boggs, the CEO of NZME which owns Newstalk ZB, told Mike Hosking that th...

The news isn't all bad for prospective first home buyers.   The Reserve Bank has confirmed major changes to mortgage rules from July, which will prevent most owner-occupiers from borrowing more than six times their pre-tax income.   It's also signalling it will keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% for the rest of the year.   Key Mortgages broker Jeremy Andrews told Mike Hosking that at th...

Things are heating up as the UK moves closer to its general election.   The election is generally a two-horse race between the two major parties, the Conservatives and Labour, but UK Correspondent Rod Liddle says nobody really seems to want either horse.   He said that there’s no great enthusiasm for Labour, with a poll saying that only 15% of the public are firmly in their camp, and there’s certa...

Ricardo Menendez March and teachers.   Let me join a couple of dots. And the glue for the dots are standards, or lack of them.   If you don’t have standards you end up with teachers who can't pass NCEA Level 1, and you end up with people like March using the F-word in Parliament.   The F-word is not the end of the world, but it is indicative of the modern day outworkings of an institution that, de...

Keep New Zealand Beautiful claims it's been treated unfairly by the Ministry for the Environment.   CEO Heather Saunderson alleges bullying by the Ministry, and the entire team has resigned.   She claims ministers —past and present— have refused to meet them, there's been a lack of consultation, and funding has been withheld.   Saunderson told Mike Hosking that other organisations that are legisla...

New Caledonia's State of Emergency has lifted after two weeks of unrest.   Fewer than 20 New Zealanders are still there and wanting to come home, with one more flight today.   French President Emmanuel Macron has travelled to the French island territory and says lifting it allows political dialogue.   France correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that all he seems to have achieved is agre...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 28th of May, cancer services in the lower North Island are at critical levels , and trains in the Wairarapa are on schedule only 25% of the time. But hey, at least that's up from February’s 5%!   The Prime Minister talks the Budget , whether he is sick of dealing with the increasingly revealing problems in this country, and whether the Da...

The future of cars is becoming increasingly complex.   EVs, BEVs, and PHEVs have been pushed as the vehicles of the future, and yet there’s been an increasing number of major producers backtracking on the promise to go electric.   The idea that the internal combustion engine will no longer be produced by 2030 seems to be out of reach.   Kay Hart, the President of International Markets Group at For...

Looks to be years to go until Wairarapa trains are back-on-track.   Only 22.5% of Wairarapa trains arrived within five minutes of being on schedule in April. slightly improving from February's 5%.   Trains have also been slowed due to track issues.   Greater Wellington Regional Council Transport Committee Chair Thomas Nash told Mike Hosking that both the track and trains are too old, but work is o...

The level of the public service cuts needed to fund the Government’s tax cuts is becoming clear with more than 240 programmes scaled down or scrapped in Budget 2024.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis also revealed yesterday the Government’s drive to reduce public service spending could lead to 3900 job cuts, comprising about 2750 currently filled roles and about 1150 vacancies.   The Prime Minister...

There's been another push for students to be paid while on placement.   Paid Placements Aotearoa's presenting a petition with more than 16,000 signatures to Parliament today, asking for paid placements to be reinstated.   It's focused on students in healthcare, education, and social work.   Campaign lead Bex Howells told Mike Hosking that it's normal for students to be working 40 hours, on top of...

A doctor at Palmerston North's Regional Cancer Treatment Service says it's holding on by the skin of its teeth.   Oncologist Richard Isaacs says Te Whatu Ora has not approved new staff, despite a 2022 review saying it needed significantly more.   He told Mike Hosking that the situation is just getting worse as more senior staff reduce their hours.   Isaacs says finances are blocking Te Whatu Ora f...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 27th of May, we talk to the teachers and Education Minister Erica Stanford on the major investment for more teachers. The theme for the morning was just how many people had significant careers before switching mid-career to being a teacher! Guy Heveldt and Andrew Saville cover the sport, including James Preston breaking Sir Peter Snell...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the Warriors' 24-20 win over the Dolphins, the upcoming NZR vote, Rob Penney, Jitka Klimkova's leave, Breakers coach Mody Maor stepping away, James Preston breaking Sir Peter Snell's record, and Aimee Fisher getting another one over Dame Lisa Carrington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi middle-distance runner James Preston has made a bit of history. He’s broken Sir Peter Snell’s national 800-metre record of 1:44.3 seconds — Preston ran it in 1:44.04 in Germany. That eclipsed the longest-standing New Zealand athletics record in the books and set a qualifying time for the Paris Olympics. James Preston joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...