The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Prime Minister says his new action plan isn't just an announcement of an announcement.   The 36-point action plan includes reintroducing three strikes, creating a school attendance plan, and delivering tax relief by June 30.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the actions have a tight focus.   He's concentrating on rebuilding the economy, improving law and order, and delivering better p...

There’s rising concerns new school stand down figures are a symptom of a report on classroom behaviour.   New Education Ministry data shows around 22,000 stand downs last year, up from 18,600 in 2022, higher than pre-pandemic figures.   It comes after a new report last week found disruptive classroom behaviour has worsened in the last two years.   PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Mike Hosking...

A new Government priority list is being described as a gimmick.   The checklist includes reintroducing three strikes, delivering tax relief, and creating a plan to tackle school attendance problems by June 30.   Former United Future leader and Political Commentator Peter Dunne says some of that will take real work to accomplish.   He told Mike Hosking that part of it is building public perception....

An agricultural expert's hopeful that China's growing dairy industry isn't all bad news for New Zealand.   China is on track to become the third biggest milk producing country, with its imports falling 15.7% year on year in 2023.   Lincoln University Honorary Professor of Agri-Food Systems Keith Woodford told Mike Hosking that China's Agricultural and Rural Affairs Ministry believe agricultural im...

I've been surprised this week by the amount of coverage Chris Hipkins managed to get himself around tax.   If you think about it, he didn't say anything specific, and certainly nothing new. The left generally argue the tax system is not fair.   The trouble is he had a chance to do something about it but, living up to the ongoing reputation of his and Ardern's Government, failed to deliver.   Part...

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.    Donald Trump: 7/10   He floated and made a fortune and got a bond reduction with more time to pay. Stormy turned out to be a bit of an issue, but all in all he's had worse weeks.     The Chinese: 3/10   The US, the UK and New Zealand all say essentially the same thing and the...

With Easter cutting the week short Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby joined Mike Hosking to wrap this week. This week's agenda covers everything from real estate and travel costs to expensive pies and wicking beds. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Rugby is aiming to overhaul its governing structure.   The board released a proposal aiming to change the sport’s leadership structure and create generational change for the game.   It comes off the back of the Pilkington report, which found that the current structures aren’t fit for purpose and would see them transition to a fully independent model.   The Provincial Unions want to ensure that...

The Easter break could see the retail sector get a much-needed boost.   The sector has seen eight quarters of declining sales, kiwis tightening their spending as the cost-of-living crisis continues.   Retail NZ’s CEO Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking that 85% of stores are struggling, 15% doing okay.   She said that small pockets of businesses will be doing well over the weekend, those with exemptio...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 28th of March,  Finance Minister Nicola Willis joined to discuss the vagaries of yesterday’s Budget Policy Statement.   Mike talked to the Education Evaluation Centre’s Ruth Shinoda about the report saying our kids are among the worst behaved in schools in the OECD.   The latest news and analysis on Liam Lawson continues to point to good...

Another sport is finding its way to free to air TV.   TVNZ has signed a multi-year partnership with Hockey NZ, the first long term deal between the two.   Men’s and Women’s games will both be broadcast live, free to air, kicking off with the Women’s team versing Japan on April 13 th and 14 th .   Hockey NZ CEO, Anthony Crummy told Mike Hosking that their biggest objective is getting in front of as...

Switching up your internet provider could save you hundreds.   NZ Compare has found that households could save up to $360 a year by changing their broadband providers.   While the cost of living has six in ten people struggling with household finances, the study found that only two in ten would consider switching providers.   Gavin Male, CEO of NZ Compare, told Mike Hosking that it’s often due to...

The behaviour of our kids in the classroom continues to be a problem.   New research from the Education Review Office shows disruptive behaviour has become worse over the past two years, despite New Zealand ranking among the worst in the OECD for the last 20.   A quarter of principals are seeing students physically harm others and steal property at least every day.   Education Evaluation Centre He...

Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking this morning, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she wants to stick to her $3.5 billion promise for her budget.   ”In terms of the economy, we’ve got the treasury forecasts still coming in.   ”In terms of discussions with coalition partners and ministers, I’m still having budget bilaterals.”   Willis said the economy was very slow, and that makes things “tou...

It was hard to watch the China spying coverage yesterday without wondering what all the fuss was about.   It had an air of breathlessness about it, as though this had come as some sort of surprise.   Does the fact China spies on people honestly come as news to anyone? I guess hacking, as the PM suggested, is new, but spying and hacking... it's all nefarious skulduggery, isn't it?   Have a look at...

The Australian Labour Party is making an effort to clean up an immigration “mess”.   Moments before question time yesterday the party introduced a bill that would have noncitizens who have been convicted of a crime but refuse to return to their country of birth jailed for one to five years.   Australian Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that this was prompted by a case in which 150 detai...

The Finance Minister will today unveil the Government's long-awaited Budget Policy Statement.   The document will shed important light on the fiscal situation ahead of May's full Budget.   Nicola Willis has told Kiwis for weeks the financial situation is much worse than expected, and today she'll give clues on how bad it really is.   Darren Gibbs, a Senior Economist for Westpac, told Mike Hosking...

The question is being raised of whether Winston Peters is owed an apology after the Serious Fraud Office's case against the New Zealand First Foundation failed.   The SFO took the party's foundation to the Court of Appeal over two men —who have continuing name suppression— who handled the party's donations.   Peters wants an apology from the SFO, but one legal professional says he shouldn't get on...

Placing warning signs ahead of all permanent speed cameras would be a quick win for road safety.   Of the 10 new cameras added to Auckland and Northland roads last year, only one, on State Highway 1 in Kawakawa, is set to have signage.   But the AA says signs remind people who are unintentionally speeding to slow down in high-risk locations.   AA Road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen says this wo...

Is red tape harming our country’s event industry?   Christchurch’s SailGP event has been overshadowed by CEO Sir Russell Coutts suggesting the event is unlikely to return to Lyttelton.   Saturday’s race was called off when dolphins were seen on the course, the race taking place in a marine mammal sanctuary.   Labour’s Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that it’s unfortunate since the event was such...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 27th March 2024, Mike looked at China hacking our systems and questioned whether we should be surprised by the government’s “revelation.” Social Development Minister Louise Upston talked the employment challenges facing the country as the next brain drain phase begins. Mike was baffled by a "new" feature on his car that's been around fo...

The New Zealand Government seems to be a bit bloated.   A study from New Zealand Initiative shows New Zealand has 44% more ministers, and one and a half times as many departments as similar sized Parliaments.   Researcher Max Salmon told Mike Hosking that it’s all politics, as having extra portfolios can be useful for coalition negotiations and securing allies.   He suspects that the number of dep...

A zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents get for accommodation is being looked at by the Government.   An out-of-date map of the town from 1992 is still being used to determine the accommodation supplement.   The suburbs of Frankton, Shotover Country, and Lake Hayes Estate are classed as rural despite the rapid urban growth in those areas.   Social Development Min...

US officials are scrambling to get a critical Baltimore port reopened after a bridge collapse.   A fully-laden container ship lost power and rammed into a support of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.   They were able to send a distress signal in time for officials to shut the bridge.   Ninety seconds later it collapsed, and six people remain unaccounted for.   Baltimore port is one of America's bigges...

It’s believed that the New Zealand and China relationship will be able to overcome recent cyber-attack allegations.   The GCSB has connected an attack on our Parliamentary entities in August 2021 to Chinese state-sponsored group, APT40.   New Zealand China Council Executive Director Alistair Crozier said New Zealand has always had its own unique approach to China.   He told Mike Hosking that the i...