The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The controversial Canterbury feral cat killing competition is back.   Nearly 250 cats were caught last year, causing protests and backlash from animal safety advocates. This year, the competition has dedicated two categories to hunting and killing feral cats.   North Canterbury Hunting Competition organiser Mat Bailey tells Mike Hosking the backlash has settled down this year. Bailey hopes the cou...

Nearly half of youth offenders placed in community remand homes run away.   A memo from Oranga Tamariki revealed between August 2020 and February 2023, 40 percent of youth offenders placed in community remand facilities nationwide escaped lawful custody. In Auckland, 49 percent escape.   Blue Light Chief Operating Officer Brendon Crompton tells Mike Hosking the remand facilities have no restraint...

The Government has made a deal with Auckland Council as part of its Local Water Done Well reforms.   The deal saves Aucklanders from Watercare’s proposed 25.8 percent rates increase. Watercare will be able to borrow $1.9 billion over the next ten years for long-term investment in water infrastructure.   Local Government Minister Simeon Brown tells Mike Hosking similar actions will be taken regiona...

Boeing is poised to launch astronauts to the International Space Station for Nasa.   The Boeing Starliner is set for launch tomorrow, years behind schedule and more than a billion dollars over budget.   US correspondent Richard Arnold tells Mike Hosking Boeing has struggled with all sorts of technical issues as they work to become the alternate space operator.   When it was tested for the first ti...

The cancellation of New Zealand Fashion Week has highlighted wider issues within our fashion community.   A report commissioned by Mindful Fashion looking into the economic and cultural contributions found that last year, the sector added 7.8 billion to the economy, paid 4.4 billion in wages and contributed 1.9 percent to GDP. There are calls for the Government to engage with the sector.   Mindful...

More protesters have been arrested as students continue to demonstrate at US universities.   Police dismantled a Pro-Palestine camp set up in front of Royce Hall at the University of California, making more than 200 arrests.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the protests turned to mayhem after midnight and fights erupted when pro-Israel counter protesters tried to storm the...

Kiwis are being urged to check if Inland Revenue has any unclaimed funds in their name.   Almost 416,000 Kiwis are owed more than $477 million from forgotten funds, unknown debts, or unclaimed inheritance, which eventually goes to the Crown if unclaimed.   That includes the inheritance of Kiwis who died without a will and with no known relatives.   Lawyer Joanna Pidgeon told Mike Hosking that peop...

The Reserve Bank has an odd mandate.   On one hand they directly involved themselves in cocking up the economy to the extent it has been by throwing printed money about the place, often with no real guidelines to banks as to where it would end up. Small clue: it went into housing.   But the on the other hand they are all over us in terms of rules around what we can and can't do with income to debt...

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.     Julie-Anne Genter: 0/10   She's unhinged.     James Shaw: 7/10   Badly let down by a narcissist who stole the headlines by being unhinged.     Pay rises: 5/10   When it comes to MPs and money you can't win. Some are brilliant and some are liabilities, but the pay structure do...

New Zealand Fashion Week's planning to come back bigger and stronger next year.   It's had to cancel this year's event and shift to a two-yearly showcase due to a lack of designers.   Owner Fehroz Ali said they've responded to feedback from designers who say they don't have the financial resources for it.   But, he told Mike Hosking, they will give it everything they have to ensure its back next y...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 3rd of May we discussed the changes the Government is making to the education sector, Lifting Literacy Aotearoa’s Alice Wilson joined to discuss them.   Former MP Peter Dunne dug into what we need to do to bring some decorum back to our Parliament and debates after years of issues, prompted by the situation with Julie Anne Genter.   Kate H...

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back once more to wrap the week with Mike Hosking. They discussed everything from musicians they enjoy to the number of contacts they have in their phones to Tim celebrating his anniversary on the wrong day. They also touched on the Julie Anne Genter situation, asking whether it's a sackable offence. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stronger focus on literacy in education appears to be well-received by educators, so far.   The Government's set a target of getting 80% of year eights to the expected curriculum level by 2030.   It's committed $67 million in the upcoming Budget to teacher training and resources, particularly on teaching children how to read using phonics.   Lifting Literacy Aotearoa Chair Alice Wilson told Mi...

More adult Kiwis are receiving ADHD medicine than ever before.   There's been a tenfold increase in the amount dispensed for adults between 2006 and 2022, today's Medical Journal study has revealed.   0.6% of the adult population are receiving treatment, although 2.6% of adults are estimated to have the condition.   Clinical psychologist for Umbrella Wellbeing, Dougal Sutherland told Mike Hosking...

We're being told Parliament has lost its sense of decorum because MPs have lost their respect for Parliament as an institution.   Green MP Julie Anne Genter is facing disciplinary action from her party after walking across the debating chamber to confront National Minister Matt Doocey, during a debate on Wednesday night.   Former Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that Genter's behavio...

The Trade Minister is taking the legal fight to Canada over a trade dispute.   The Government says Canada's refusing to comply with a ruling over dairy trade, where it breached CPTPP rules by blocking exporters' access to its market.   A panel ruled it had until May 1st to change how it administered its tariff rate quotas and to stop prioritising domestic access.   Todd McClay told Mike Hosking th...

The teacher shortage has hit a new crisis point.   A Post Primary Teachers Association Survey has found that 56% of principals had to employ untrained or unqualified teachers because they were unable to find qualified staff.   President Chris Abercrombie told Mike Hosking that a lot of it comes down to those being hired having a limited authority to teach.   He said this might be someone without a...

Do you want some savings?   I have found a couple of hundred million for you then.   A report out has looked at who gets the Winter Energy Payment. It's a shedload of money that is yet again going to be doled out this month for the colder period, so oldies don’t freeze to death.   It's one of the more shameful decisions of this new Government and reminded me of the Christchurch Call, which they al...

One small step for peanut butter, one giant leap for New Zealand foods.   Kiwi nut butter brand Fix & Fogg has launched 50 pouches of various products into space for astronauts aboard the International Space Station.   Fix & Fogg Chief Executive Roman Jewell told Mike Hosking that it also has wider implications for New Zealand food products.   He says it proves to NASA kiwi producers can b...

A New Zealand Initiative report details potential hidden risks in China's Belt and Road Initiative.   The pro-free-market think-tank points to potential implications for our foreign policy, independence, and development.   Director Oliver Hartwich says it's not just about infrastructure investment.   He told Mike Hosking that we need to be wary about China trying to draw New Zealand into its spher...

Kiwis have had enough of being on hold after more than 22 million hours on the phone for customer service.   ServiceNow commissioned research surveyed more than a thousand people, finding wait-times rose for the second year in a row.   On average it takes businesses six days to solve a customer's issue despite more than half of Kiwis saying they won't wait longer than three.   ServiceNow Country M...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2nd of May, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters joined to dig into AUKUS and the likelihood of New Zealand joining.   Two Green MPs were in the news last night, for very different reasons. Mike reviewed James Shaw's valedictory speech and Julie Anne Genter's moment of madness in the House.   Heath ‘Chopper’ Franklin joined Mike in st...

One of New Zealand’s favourite comedians, Heath ‘Chopper’ Franklin is back from his break.   The Australian comic is returning from his three year break with a bang, back in New Zealand with fifteen shows as well as his set in the International Comedy Festival.   His tour kicks off today, as Chopper's 'Not Here To F*ck Spiders', the name of his tour setting the tone for the show. His iconic person...

Winston Peters says Julie Anne Genter should face consequences for confronting a minister in the House.   The Green MP has apologised in Parliament and could face further disciplinary action after a complaint was made of intimidatory behaviour toward Minister Matthew Doocey on Wednesday night.   Genter walked across the debating chamber to Doocey, waved a booklet and spoke angrily to him while get...

More people are competing for work for fewer opportunities as the unemployment rate's expected to keep rising.   The unemployment rate is at 4.3 % in the March quarter, the highest it's been in three years.   Business advisor and Pivot & Pace co-founder Kendall Langston told Mike Hosking that the difference between recent years and now is night and day.   He says this time last year you'd be g...