The Mike Hosking Breakfast

We could spend some time on the ineptitude of Jan Tinetti, who may well go down as one of our most ineffective education ministers.   The blow out in school buildings, as the Prime Minister suggested, borders on a crisis and, according to Labour, that’s just the price of stuff going up.   Which leads you to ask - were they setting traps for a new Government knowing they were going to lose, or were...

Nearly 40 years on, Crowded House is still going strong.   The band was formed in Australia back in 1986, with kiwi Neil Finn and Aussies Paul Hester and Nick Seymour at the helm.   After more than two years since they last released original music, Crowded House has just dropped their new single ‘Oh Hi’.   The single is part of their 8 th studio album ‘Gravity Stairs’, which is due out in a couple...

With the Trade Minister off at the World Trade Organisation meeting in Abu Dhabi, there’s been a call for an immediate capping of agricultural subsidies.   This, along with an urgent request to reduce them, aims to prevent and correct production and trade distortion.   Adjunct Professor at Lincoln University, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, told Mike Hosking that subsidies stop innovation.   She said that...

Napier Port says this summer cruise season is expected to be its busiest ever.   It's had 72 cruise visits this season, with another 17 bookings coming up in the months through to April.   That translates to more than 130,000 visitors.   CEO Todd Dawson says this year will be their record, which is very welcome after Covid-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle cutting the season short last year.   He told Mike...

The Prime Minister says the Government is heavily invested in education and knows it needs to step it up.   It's launching a three-month inquiry into school building projects that it says has expectations beyond the scope of delivery.   So far 20 projects have been put on hold, with up to 350 up in the air.   Christopher Luxon says the highly bespoke additions tacked on to projects have blown cost...

Jan Tinetti has defended the previous Government's spending on school property, saying they had the funding factored into their budget.   Labour's education spokesperson says the projects being stopped were already funded through appropriation.    Tinetti told Mike Hosking that the communication of the ministry has been strong.   She says this is setting the Ministry of Education up to fail, and s...

Stuart Nash has hit out at his former Labour colleagues over changes to laws targeting gangs he wanted to introduce, but which others wouldn’t progress due to fears they would unfairly target Māori. Last year the Labour government changed the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act to allow police to seize gang leaders’ property, such as cars and bikes, if valued over $30,000 and if it could not be prove...

Popeyes is set to appear in Auckland's Takanini in April. Auckland University nutritionist Sally Mackay told Mike Hosking that it's another addition to an already saturated fast food market. She doesn't think New Zealand needs any more fast food chains, but the market will dictate whether that's the case.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen have been carried out by US and UK fighter jets over the weekend. The Pentagon says fighter jets carried out strikes on 18 Houthi targets in eight different locations. Underground weapons and missile storage facilities of the Iran-linked group were targeted - as they continue to attack shipping in the region. Former US lieutenant Daniel L. Davis told Mike Hos...

The union representing Police officers is waiting on the detail of the Government plan to curb gangs. Legislation is soon to be introduced banning gang insignia in public places, enabling police to issue dispersal notices, and allowing courts to issue non-consorting orders. Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that if the law allows Police to retrospectively take patches off...

Admission Wellington's trains are in a 'bad situation.' The region's public transit users are set to face around 10 to 15 years of buses replacing trains on days when maintenance is needed - across some weekends and public holidays. The region's Transport Committee Chair Thomas Nash told Mike Hosking that the situation's been put off, until now. He says they've skated by and didn't want to pay rat...

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.     Grant Robertson: 7/10   Witty, decent bloke. He lightened the mood.     Grant Robertson, the Finance Minister: 2/10   Buggered the economy and that, sadly, is his legacy.     Ginny Anderson: 1/10   With a fulsome apology still pending, she ends the week having blown up her re...

The poverty figures out yesterday confirm once and for all that what the previous Government tried to do was all theory and no reality.   We are going backwards, and no amount of free money was going to fix it.   Poverty reduction was Labour's calling card, it was the Jacinda Ardern nuclear moment. She was the minister in charge of it and yet, they failed.   For all those bleating and worrying abo...

An attempt at the closest ever landing to the Moon's south pole will take place a little later this morning, at NZT 10.30am.   Robotic spacecraft Odysseus will attempt to be the closest US vehicle ever to the moon's South Pole, and the first privately built spacecraft to land in one piece.   Private Japanese, U.S, and Israeli crafts have already failed at the feat.   U.S Correspondent Richard Arno...

Child poverty continues to increase, coming as no surprise to frontline organisations   The latest Stats NZ figures show a two percent rise to 12.5% of all children are living in households that can't afford the basics.   Child Matters chief executive Jane Searle says the numbers of two-income families needing the help of community initiatives has risen substantially.   She told Mike Hosking that...

Bad news for air travellers as current air fares are set to be the new normal.   Air New Zealand has announced earnings before tax of $185-million for the first half of the current financial year.   CEO Greg Foran told Mike Hosking that some costs, such as for parts, food and beverage, wages, and air navigation are with them to stay.   He says they have to work out how to become more efficient.  ...

Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby joined Mike Hosking to wrap the biggest news stories from the week. Mike's got an update on the coffee kiosk and what on earth happened to Tim Wilson? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Infrastructure Commission report has found that we need to be spending 60% of funds on what already exists.   Its worried not enough investment is going into areas like highways, roads, and water to ensure they're ready long term.   Director of Economics Peter Nunns says we need to start with having a good understanding of what's in the ground.   He says those are the assets we rely upon for...

The Government says it's looking to recognise achievement with its plan to change the tertiary fees free policy.   The Tertiary Education Commission says there's no discernible evidence that the first year free policy helped more low decile school students into university.   The coalition's planning to shift the free year to the final year of study.   Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny S...

Tough talks lie ahead for the Trade Minister who's heading to World Trade Organisation meeting in Abu Dhabi.   Todd McClay will be vice-chairing the meeting which will discuss topics including agricultural trade rules, e-commerce, and fishery subsidies.   He told Mike Hosking that he's optimistic there will be gains in some areas.   McClay says we'll be banging our drum for fairness and a better d...

Almost 40 years and counting, highly prolific kiwi singer-songwriter Greg Johnson is still going.   Those decades were packed with awards and albums, the thirteenth of which, ‘Thunder in Fall’, is releasing tomorrow.   The album's first single was released back in December, 'Rooster Tail’ inspired by the sight of a rocket launched at sunset and the trail of smoke coming down.   Johnson told Newsta...

The Kiwis have a new coach.   Rugby League legend Stacey Jones has officially been given the role, having served as assistant coach from 2018 to 2023.   Former Kiwis player Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking while Wayne Bennett was a well-liked option, it’s time for the Kiwis to have a kiwi leading the charge.   He said the roster he’s coaching is probably the most impressive one we’ve had, and with...

It's one of life's oddity's when it comes to things playing out publicly, that what might have exploded one day, doesn’t on another.   The tragedy of Efeso Collins quite rightly became yesterday's political story, and in doing so, saved Ginny Anderson from greater scrutiny and, perhaps, embarrassment.   The house was paused after speeches. Mark Mitchell quite rightly didn’t want to talk about it g...

The Commerce Minister is in talks with Air New Zealand and Auckland Airport about their latest stoush over redevelopment plans.   The airline claims the plans will make airfares five times more expensive by 2032, but the airport says it hasn't made any pricing decisions beyond 2027.   Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly says he's awaiting the outcome of a Commerce Commission review into airport pricing...

The Chief Ombudsman says Oranga Tamariki needs to start getting the basics right.   In his latest report, Peter Boshier details distressing themes from an investigation of two thousand complaints over four-years.   He says there were frequent instances of reports of concern not being acted on, nor being reported correctly.   Boshier told Mike Hosking that Oranga Tamariki's legislation is sound, an...