The Mike Hosking Breakfast

We can thank the new Reserve Bank Governor for ending the week on a high note.  New charter details were announced yesterday.  Charters and Reserve Banks were once as dry as old dust but these days I think we have a new understanding of the importance of their role.  Out of Covid and economic shambles has come more talk than ever about cash rates and inflation and debt and wasteful...

Formula 1 is back in business this weekend.  The Miami Grand Prix follows a month-long break due to the conflict in the Middle East – both the Bahrain and Saudi races getting shelved.   Tweaks to the controversial new regulations and car upgrades will also be in play at the race.  Motorsport Expert Bob McMurray told Mike Hosking Miami is pivotal for the very future of Formula 1.&nbs...

It’s Friday which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back to Wrap the Week that Was.  They indulged Mike’s desire to build a fountain in his “lake” and delved into work drinking cultures, school colour runs, and their weekend plans.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC’s playoff fate has been sealed.   The side is looking to avoid second-season syndrome after a record-breaking entry into the A-League.  It comes down to a do-or-die elimination final against reigning champions Melbourne City, kicking off Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium.  CEO Nick Becker told Mike Hosking they have good form against the Australian team, but he doesn’t want t...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 1st of May, Marcus Beveridge discusses some interesting immigration stats as our visa rejection rate falls to a post-Covid low.  David Seymour provides some context around the school lunch situation and for all the news articles, there's been a minuscule number of issues compared to the millions of lunches delivered.  Kate Hawkes...

Major changes are set to make future Official Cash Rate decisions far more transparent.  The RBNZ's Monetary Policy Committee will release details of who voted which way to the public if they're unable to come to consensus.   Committee members are also encouraged to speak openly about monetary policy.  Former Reserve Bank Special Advisor Geof Mortlock told Mike Hosking that he and o...

There’s praise for the 'tight ship' Immigration New Zealand's running.  Data released to Newstalk ZB reveals just over 65 thousand visa applications were turned down in 2025, plunging from more than 83 thousand in 2024.  The rejection rate last year sat at around 6.3% – while the two years before both sat at 7.3%.  Queen City Law Managing Director Marcus Beveridge told Mike Hosking...

Air New Zealand's cutting another set of flights on top of its already stretched network.  On top of cancellations across May and June announced last month, the airline's now axing further flights across July, citing rising jet fuel costs.  It says this will impact around 2% of passengers travelling nationwide.  Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking whe...

The Associate Education Minister's defending the school lunches programme despite dozens of early safety complaints.  There were 21 food safety probes into the lunches from May 2024 to mid-November 2025.  Some investigations came after reports of metal wire, fragments, or glass were discovered in food.  David Seymour told Mike Hosking it's 21 lunches out of around 13 million.  ...

It probably wasn’t a surprise to learn the parents being prosecuted over their kids not going to school didn’t turn up to court.  So the reason the justice wheel turns so slowly is partially because of those sorts of folks.  I doubt any court action will achieve a lot in this specific case. But then you can argue it probably wasn’t supposed to.  Governments prosecuting parents over...

A Kiwi music icon is firmly rooted back on our shores, with new music on the way.   Gin Wigmore returned to New Zealand’s shores in late 2024 after years spent living in Los Angeles, California.   Last time she spoke with Mike Hosking she was in Palm Springs, moving to LA when she was pregnant with her second child and running a hotel out of Santa Monica.   But after a while, she re...

Our wine industry continues to find success on the global stage.  Marlborough’s Spy Valley achieved a clean sweep at the London Wine Competition, claiming seven golds for the seven wines they entered.  It’s one of the industry’s most influential events, and on top of their golds, they were also named New Zealand’s Winery of the Year.  Owner and Managing Director Amanda Johnson told...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 30th of April, Dr Rober Breunig takes a look at Australia’s surging inflation whilst Finance Minister Nicola Willis compares their experience to ours.   The Cancer Society has released their election manifesto, calling for more investment in skin cancer prevention.  Kiwi singer Gin Wigmore is back to living in New Zealand – she...

Australia’s cost of living has jumped yet again.   Headline inflation jumped 1.1% in the March quarter, while the Consumer Price Index rose to 4.6% in the year to March, up from 3.7%.   Surging oil prices have largely driven the jump, with petrol prices increasing by 32.8%, lifting transport costs by 9.2%.  The Reserve Bank of Australia will be making an announcement regarding the O...

Confidence for small business owners, with sales continuing to grow.   New Xero small business data shows business sales rose 3.9% in the March quarter – March alone rising 5.5%.    ABC Business Sales Managing Director Chris Small told Mike Hosking it's been a tough 12 months, with many weaker businesses weeded out, leaving high quality small businesses in the market.   He says...

The Cancer Society's asking political parties to stop tinkering around the edges and unite to more strongly fight the disease.  It's joined with the Government to each commit another $1 million towards the Sun Smart skin cancer prevention programme.  But the Society is also calling for more cervical and lung cancer screening, and to bring down the bowel cancer screening age.  Chief...

The Finance Minister says New Zealand's inflation situation is very different to Australia's.  Across the ditch, the rate's surged from 3.7% in February to 4.6% in March.  Our headline rate was unchanged at 3.1% in the March quarter, but economists expect it to approach 4.5% for June.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking Australia was experiencing higher inflation before the fuel crisis...

The greatest sadness of the India Free Trade Deal, for me to this point, is that the rhetoric has not paid due respect to where free trade basically began.  New Zealand.  We are the pioneers. Well, the modern pioneers.  The concept goes back to the mid 1800's where Britain and Europe had various deals.  The GATT agreements of the 1940's made significant progress but the deal wi...

The big power companies are officially on notice, with electricity prices under scrutiny.  Household bills are climbing an average 8% this year – the same as last year.   But profits for the big four gentailers spiked 42% in the six months to December.    Electricity Retailers and Generators Association Chief Executive Bridget Abernethy told Mike Hosking the reliable and modern...

It's Politics Wednesday and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest political stories of the week to date.  They discussed the Maiki Sherman situation, the amount of drinking that goes on at Parliament and whether it's appropriate, and whether Labour mislead ratings agency Fitch on the details of its Capital Gains Tax.  LISTEN ABOVE S...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 29th of April, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones discusses the deal that would bolster our supply of diesel – plus, power companies are set to raise their prices again.  Mike gives his take on the Maiki Sherman saga and the role this show had in the story.  And Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk drinking in Parliament,...

Home lending is on the rise – up 17.5% in the six months to December.  The Banking Association's latest report also shows almost a quarter of new loans going to first home buyers.  Chief Executive Roger Beaumont says it's encouraging, because a few years ago they were thought to be locked out of the property market.   He told Mike Hosking that there’s been a relatively flat housing...

AI seems to be having a positive impact on Kiwi businesses.  A new report from 2degrees and Deloitte suggests small and medium businesses using high levels of AI made around $400,000 more in 2025 than comparable non-users.  Larger businesses averaged around $59.1 million more, with 82% of firms using some form of AI.   2degrees Chief Business Officer Andrew Fairgray told Mike Hoskin...

The Government says work to modernise aviation rules is already off the ground.  Its major sector overhaul is promising to update pilot training and safety rules, cut red tape, and ease drone use on farms.  Associate Transport Minister James Meager told Mike Hosking there are 23 projects to get into, with three already started.  He says they're taking 20 years' worth of work and fas...

The Associate Energy Minister says an extra diesel stock is a buffer against worsening conditions.  The Government's inked a deal with Z Energy for another 90 million litres of diesel to be stored at Marsden Point.  It's put up $21.6 million this month.  Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the deal provides a buffer in the event of a logistical problem or a clog in the supply lines. ...