The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Good news for the Italian Prime Minister.   Giorgia Meloni and her allies have kept control of the southern region of Basilicata in the regional election, defeating their centre-left opponents by a wide margin.   Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking that turnout was low, and that seems to have favoured the incumbent.   She said that this is the second regional win for Meloni, and she’l...

A new TV3 show is aiming to highlight New Zealand’s food waste.   Chefs are coming together in ‘Food Rescue Kitchen’ to challenge viewers’ perceptions of waste and what can be done with ingredients they otherwise might not consider.   Peter Gordon, one of the country's most iconic chefs, is taking part and told Mike Hosking that he had a really good time on the show and enjoyed the challenge.   He...

Surely we didn’t miss the irony on climate change?   On the day it's announced we have reduced our emissions now for three years in a row, so good on us, the very next day Transpower, the people who get the electricity into your lounge, tell us yet again that this Winter has issues and peak load and demand might be problematic.   Part one of the emissions reduction bit is increasingly about us fee...

Resident doctors are set to take to the streets, protesting a recent pay offer.   The Resident Doctors' Association say while some workers were offered up to 25% pay-rises, others were offered pay cuts in negotiations.   As a result, they'll strike for 25 hours on May 7.   National Secretary Deborah Powell told Mike Hosking that Health New Zealand's offer was uneven and unfair.   She said it's rob...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 23rd April, the Government is bringing back the Three Strikes law. The public seems to be on the board, but lawyers and judges aren't. We got an expert’s thoughts.   Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike in studio to talk his recent overseas trip, the Waitangi Tribunal stoush, and criticisms against his fast-track bill.   Fantastic...

Employers have more choice with competition for work heating up.   Recruitment companies are warning of thousands joining the unemployment queue and more people signing up for jobseeker benefits.   The latest SEEK data shows job ads falling by 0.4% in March.   Talent ID Recruitment's Holly Oppers told Mike Hosking that there's been a change of tide.   She says a lot more skilled candidates are com...

A criminal defence lawyer is hesitant to endorse the incoming Three Strikes legislation.   The Government is looking to re-establish the laws which will see mandatory prison sentences for violent and sexual criminals committing a third offence.   It will only apply to sentences above 24 months and give judges more discretion.   Lawyer John Munro told Mike Hosking that overall, the evidence is conf...

Christopher Luxon is defending spending millions on clean energy in Asia while cutting costs and Government jobs in New Zealand.   The Government has committed $41 million towards an Asian Development Bank clean energy transition initiative.   Luxon says the funding demonstrates New Zealand's commitment to help reduce global carbon emissions.   He told Mike Hosking the money comes out of an existi...

Wool could be making a comeback.   The world's largest wool processing facility has reopened near Napier following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project   Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, told Mike Hosking there's a big global trend going back to natural fibres.   He says New Zealand could be at the forefront.   Patterson says there's a highly motivated cohort of New Zeala...

The US House of Representatives has voted 311 to 112 in favour of a US$61 billion aid package for Ukraine, helping to provide ammunition to keep them in the fight against Russia. But US correspondent Richard Arnold says while it was a major win for House Speaker Mike Johnson, some internal turmoil is brewing from his hardline Republican colleagues. And opening statements for Donald Trump's hush mo...

A good lesson in life is to work out, that if things aren't working the way you are currently doing them, then you want to change it. We have a gargantuan hole in this country in terms of doing things in infrastructure. We haven't, and don’t, get things done and when we crack on with the odd project it is almost always behind in time and over in money. Part of the issue is the Resource Management...

Elon Musk and his social media company X have pledged to fight Australia’s online safety watchdog over posts about the alleged Western Sydney church stabbing. The CEO has accused Australia’s eSafety commissioner of censorship and has vowed to challenge an order to remove content on X, formerly Twitter, relating to the horrific incident in court. On Tuesday, X and Meta were issued a notice to remov...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 22 April, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly explained why the Government is changing the CCCFA to make it easier to get loans, while Trade Minister Todd McClay gave us insights from his trip to China . Taupō Super400 winner and series leader Will Brown joined the show to recap Supercars returning to New Zealand and the fu...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the Black Caps' 7 wicket win in Pakistan, the Warriors' 30-12 loss to the Dragons, V8 Supercars in Taupō, the weekend's Super Rugby, and the Formula 1 in China. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full steam ahead with plans to re-build Christchurch's Catholic Cathedral on the same site as before. Following a survey, the Catholic Diocese has selected their 160-year-old Barbados Street site as the cathedral's future location. The former cathedral stood there before being demolished following earthquake damage. Mayor Phil Mauger told Mike Hosking the city may see a Catholic Cathedral before a...

Taupō enjoyed some V8 Supercars racing over the weekend. Championship leader Will Brown overhauled his Australian teammate Broc Feeney in a tense battle to win the second and final race of the weekend. Brown cleared Feeney with nine laps remaining to claim the lead, following a nail-biting battle that saw the two Red Bull Ampol Camaros run side-by-side on multiple occasions. Will Brown joined Mike...

Donald Trump's support for the US$95 billion relief package for international aid is a good sign for Ukraine. The US House of Representatives has budgeted a US$61 billion aid package for Ukraine. It's likely the funding will be used to boost their military defence, including air defence systems, mid to long-range missiles and artillery shells. International relations analyst Geoffrey Miller told M...

The Trade Minister is optimistic about China and New Zealand's relationship after his visit. The Government's focused on deepening international ties with Asia, as Christopher Luxon comes back from his Southeast Asia trip. Todd McClay visited China and told Mike Hosking the meetings have been constructive and respectful. He says he's very pleased officials will work on upgrading the services part...

Growing operational costs are partially to blame for an increase in domestic airfares. Air New Zealand's told travel agents domestic fares across all routes will be going up from midnight tonight. House of Travel Chief Operating Officer Brent Thomas told Mike Hosking the airline is trying to cover rising fuel prices and wage costs. “But obviously also they got an airline to run and profits to be m...

The Government wants to make loans more accessible to people who need them. It's revoking 11 pages of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act introduced by the last Government. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says vulnerable New Zealanders are being driven to gangs and loan sharks because the process takes far too long. He told Mike Hosking they want to allow lenders to g...

The Trump-trial saga continues, and the former US President has been spotted dozing in court again.   Donald Trump is the first president in US history to face multiple criminal charges, this time for his alleged role in using hush money to silence a mistress before the 2016 elections.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Trump appeared asleep almost the whole time.   Arnold re...

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.     The Government: 7/10   A very solid week with the Prime Minister in Asia selling our image, Todd McClay in China drumming up business, Mark Patterson in Australia spruiking our wool and Shane Jones slashing red tape in mining and sticking it up the Waitangi Tribunal. That's i...

This weekend will see up to 70,000 fans pouring into Taupo to catch the Supercars event.   Jaxon Evans, a third-generation kiwi racer, won the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship in 2018, and is back this weekend to compete for Brad Jones Racing.   He told Mike Hosking that this is actually his first race at Taupo, having spectated a few races but never running the track himself.   Evans sa...

A study has found that housing has a significant impact on the prospects of homeless people.   University of Otago research has found that those who live in a housing first programme have better health, income, and justice outcomes.   The study involved 387 homeless people, and in five years the number of hospitalisations fell by 44%, nights spent in mental health units fell by 63%, and there was...

Liz Truss has a book out.   It's what you do when you have been Prime Minister, even though she was only Prime Minister for about three and a half minutes.   Slight digression - I am going to be fascinated to see how they promote Jacinda Ardern's book when it finally arrives.   My assessment of her legacy is that it is increasingly dark and as the cold, hard economic reality of what she left behin...