The Mike Hosking Breakfast

As cold weather continues to grip the country amid uncertainty about power supplies, consumers are being urged to make sure they are getting the best deal on their electricity.   Consumer Advocacy Council Chair Deborah Hart tells Mike Hosking that electricity bills can be terribly complicated and confusing, making it hard to compare prices.   Hart believes power companies should be required to hav...

From July 1, Auckland CBD residents and visitors will be stung with new 24-hour parking charges covering overnight, weekends and public holidays.   Mayor Wayne Brown has expressed dissatisfaction about the change, and CBD workers are residents say they were blindsided.   Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Steve Armitage tells Mike Hosking this is not a helpful time for Auckland Transport to find reven...

One in eight Auckland homes on sale are at risk of selling for a loss or minimal profit, according to OneRoof data.   Since skyrocketing to a record high of $1.58 million, prices have fallen around 19 percent, while interest rates have jumped sharply.   OneRoof Editor Owen Vaughan tells Mike Hosking people are selling homes in a stress point due to high mortgage interest rates.   LISTEN ABOVE   Se...

Israel’s military operations intensified in Rafah over the weekend.   US President Joe Biden has issued a warning to Israel that he won’t supply weapons if they move into Rafah.   Meanwhile, New Zealand has voted in favour of a UN Palestine resolution.   International relations expert Geoffrey Miller tells Mike Hosking that the conflict will play a huge part in the US election this year, with prot...

The Education Review Office (ERO) found new teachers are not being set up to succeed and need more support.   Nearly two-thirds of principals reported teachers are coming to the role unprepared. More than a quarter of new teachers say their initial teacher education was ineffective.   Education Minister Erica Stanford tells Mike Hosking strengthening initial teacher education is a priority.   Stan...

1.4 million refugees are fleeing for their lives yet again, amid warnings that Israel intends to move with force.   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is clear in his signaling that Rafah will be pummeled in order to take the remaining Hamas contingents. The US will not supply heavy bombs for this type of campaign, as the US State Department has issued a report concluding it is reasonable t...

Thousands of parents owe more than $1 billion in child support debts that in some cases date back more than 30 years.   The amount is owed by 97,597 debtors as of April 30 this year. Nearly half a million of the debt is penalty fees.   Family lawyer Sharon Chandra tells Mike Hosking that active steps aren’t always taken to recover debts that are owed. Inland Revenue do not have the resources to al...

Israeli politicians and Republicans are lashing out at US President Joe Biden for suspending a shipment of US bombs.   The US President's warned he'll continue withholding shipments, if Israel proceeds with its plans to invade Rafah, admitting US weapons have been used to kill civilians.   It is the most direct move Biden has made regarding Israel.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hoski...

Here is an insight into why bits of Wellington are not like the rest of the country.   There is pushback from Whaikaha.   Who are Whaikaha? They are the Ministry of Disabled People.     Under the new Government, names were to be restored to English.   Why? Because very few people speak Māori and, as such, most of us had no clue as to what a lot of these renamed groupings did, or who they once were...

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.     Jamie Arbuckle: 4/10   For failing to read the room.     Julie Anne Genter: 3/10   For being that angry about bikes.     The Greens: 2/10   For hiding two of their MP's while they stall, obfuscate and generally play for time over behaviour that most of us find exceedingly abn...

Climate change is becoming increasingly pressing and so is New Zealand’s response to it.   As a result of cross-party work on climate change, the Finance and Expenditure Committee will conduct an inquiry on climate adaptation.   It will provide recommendations for the design of climate adaptation framework, which is intended to aid us in our response.   Adrian Macey, Adjunct Professor at the NZ Cl...

A transport group's pinpointed a route in Auckland where it would like to build a cable car system.   Doppelmayr New Zealand shortlisted 20 sites last year and has now chosen an eight-stop arterial route from Auckland Airport to Botany.   It would connect with Puhinui Station, and integrate with Airport transport infrastructure.   CEO Garreth Hayman told Mike Hosking that their analysis has shown...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 10th of May, Transpower and Energy Minister Simeon Brown discussed our energy issues and the fact we've been warned to turn off appliances when it's only May.   The Government is looking to introduce compulsory work seminars for people on the Jobseeker benefit. Social Development Minister Louise Upston explained their reasoning.   Kate Haw...

Kids will no longer be receiving “woke” food in their taxpayer funded lunches, quinoa and sushi being examples of this according to an ACT Party tweet.   When asked, David Seymour couldn’t say what made those foods “woke”.   So what is a “woke” food? Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to wrap the week.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are waking to freezing temperatures this morning and the threat of rolling power outages due to a nationwide grid emergency on the coldest day of the year.    Christchurch, Twizel and Mt Cook Airport were the coldest spots in the country this morning, dropping to a bone-chilling -6.4C around 5.30am, according to MetService.    Alexandra wasn’t far behind at -5C, while Taumarunui was the cold...

Beneficiaries will now need to attend work plan meetings or face sanctions.   Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston has announced the seminars, which she says will help beneficiaries find training and work.   Failing to attend could result in a cut to someone's benefit.   It's part of the government's target to have 50 thousand fewer people on Jobseeker by 2030.   Minister Louis...

Electricity generation is running right on the line with risk outweighing residual power.   Grid operator Transpower is running frequent assessments of the power situation and so far, this chilly morning is continuing to pose a threat.   It's asked households to limit unnecessary power use at least until 9am by turning off lights and heaters when not needed.   Chief Executive Alison Andrew told Mi...

Another MP has left the Tories.   Former Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke has crossed the floor, joining up with the Labour Party.   She quit just moments before Prime Minister’s Questions, hitting out at Rishi Sunak’s “tired and chaotic government”.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that most of the anger at her move is coming from the from the Labour Party.   He said that one front...

This time yesterday when we were talking about the gas shortage we didn’t have a couple of facts.   The first is that Genesis would later in the day announce their intention to import more coal and would be doing so for the next couple of years   They talked of the unreliability of the so-called renewables. It's not just coal of course, but Indonesian coal, which is not exactly top of the line env...

The New Zealand Rugby board has had a change of tune.   They're now backing the proposal that accepts all changes recommended in the independent governance review last August.    As a result, all board members will likely have to reapply for their jobs.   NZ Rugby Players Association CEO Rob Nichols told Mike Hosking that it’s likely that the full recommendations will be approved.   The game is st...

A job website survey uncovered what workers find attractive when they're job hunting.   Seek has revealed work-life balance is a top priority, followed by fair compensation with 60% saying salary review periods are a must.   Country Manager Rob Clark told Mike Hosking that employees are also considering other factors.   He says they've seen that a workplace's culture, such as work environment, man...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 9th of May, David Seymour discussed his plan for school lunches and why sushi is “woke”.   Should Tony Blakely be heading up our covid inquiry? Mike talks to a brilliant piece of journalism by Kate McNamara highlighting the conflicts of interest.     Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom joined to dive into his new show where he learned t...

Pro-housing advocates say they're thrilled with new regulations around Wellington's district plan.   Newly signed off rules will allow for higher building limits and more townhouses in suburbs.   It's despite a minor amendment to scrap the heritage listing of 10 buildings not being approved.   Jesse Richardson from housing group A City For People told Mike Hosking that on balance, it's a win.   He...

He wasn’t off to Mordor, but Orlando Bloom had set out on some new adventures.   He stepped out of his comfort zone in ‘ Orlando Bloom: To the Edge’, a three-part adventure docuseries in which the actor tries his hand at freediving, rock climbing, and even wing suiting.   Bloom is no stranger to a thrill, having done every risky venture New Zealand has to offer during his original visits, but reve...

The medical industry is backing the Government's plan to repeal the Therapeutic Products Act.   The last government's new medicine regulation will be dropped, which was meant to regulate medicine, medical devices, and natural health products.   It was intended to ensure all of the therapeutic products used are safe, and passed into law in August last year   But Medicines New Zealand Chief Executiv...