The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The new Local Government Minister is confident in his replacement to three waters.   The government's looking to introduce legislation attempting to make it easier for councils to make council-controlled water entities.   Labour's Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty fears smaller councils with high debts will be left in the dark.   But Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that plans p...

KiwiRail appears to be stating the obvious by saying there's an underlying fragility in Auckland's Rail Network.   Some Auckland train services were cancelled through yesterday afternoon and evening, including at peak hour.   Kiwi Rail, which owns the tracks, blames the high temperatures which reached 48 degrees in some places.   That's despite the air temperature yesterday going no higher than 25...

New programs have been launched to help get New Zealand's backyard business ideas off the ground. Entrepreneurs can apply to get free coaching services, upskilling and training and start up support services. Head of programs for the Ministry of Awesome Zach Warder-Gabaldon joined Mike Hosking to talk about why he was doing this and what it means for New Zealanders.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

Last week I said that I think Act are onto something. It was referencing the angst we saw at Waitangi and how those who gather at such places and those who cover such places have no real connection to middle New Zealand and the real world. What Act are trying to do with the Treaty is have a conversation. They argue that the intent was we are all equal and you don't get excluded because of race and...

Supermarket costs may be moving in the right direction. The latest Infometrics Foodstuffs Grocery Supplier Index has found supplier costs increased 4.3 percent in the year to January. It's much lower than the prior double digit increase. Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy told Mike Hosking that more people are keen to work in the sector which is a good sign. He says there are some great oppo...

Israel looks set to proceed with its ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, despite a lack of support from western allies. Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking the US wants Israel to come up with a plan for protecting the safety of the civilian population, before the military advance begins. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says our government is "extremely concerned" about the potential...

Las Vegas is in Super Bowl mode today as thousands are in town for the big game. The NFL match between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will kick off at 12:30 this afternoon. Sirius XM host Ben Harlum is there, and told Mike Hosking that the streets are packed, security's been increased and the Swifties are in full force. He says he's been to Vegas many times but has never seen it li...

The Emergency Management Minister says additional money for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery will help Hawke's Bay reach silt removal targets. The Government's announced $63-million for sediment and debris removal. Hawke's Bay Regional Council will get 40-million, three million of that is for removing debris in Wairoa. Gisborne District Council will receive 23-million. Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike H...

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 short week: 7/10   Who doesn’t love a day off during the week? Ask the folk at Perpetual Guardian.   Shane Jones: 7/10   My political hero of the week. Read his piece in the NZ Herald over Waitangi and overreach and rewriting history. He speaks for many of us with the adv...

The US Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in an attempt to rid the Colorado ballot of Donald Trump.   Voters claim he participated in an insurrection during the 2021 Capitol attack on January 6, and therefore should be disqualified.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the outcome could take away power from voters, and both sides of the political game don't want the Court t...

Great news for sports fans as another dose of free sports is on its way to screens.   Friday Night Footy will see 25 NRL matches shown live on Sky Open this season, seven of which being the Warriors, plus additional matches for Anzac Day, Magic Round, and State of Origin I.   Super Saturday Rugby fans aren’t being left out either, with 19 Super Rugby Pacific matches airing, kicking off with the Hi...

The use of so-called well-known people in scams, I would argue, is now so common that a couple of things should be happening.   The first question: is there anyone left who is moderately well known that hasn’t been used in some sort of scam?   Given virtually everyone you have ever heard of has been used in a scam, surely the penny is dropping that, well, it’s a scam.   Yesterday it was Wendy Petr...

Building activity may be easing as new numbers show demand returning to pre-Covid levels.   Recent years have seen a strain on the sector, with record demand after lockdowns.   An MBIE report shows consent numbers steadying.   But the Ministry's Combined Building Supplies Co-op Chairperson Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking that demand is affecting parts of the sector differently.   He says some large...

There’s hope change is on the horizon for the GP funding model.   Clinics are hiking prices as government funding fails to keep up with rising costs.   The funding problem isn't new, with successive governments carrying out reviews.   Rural GP Network Chairperson Fiona Bolden told Mike Hosking that there's good evidence about what can be done.   She says they are starting to see some recognition o...

It might be time to look at new methods to get transport projects across the line.   Auckland's Regional Fuel Tax will be scrapped at the end of June, a decision the city's mayor says will leave a $1.2 billion gap in transport funding, over the next four years.   Northern Infrastructure Forum Coordinator Barney Irvine told Mike Hosking that we have to find ways to fund and finance the projects we...

There’s an uncertain winter ahead for Mount Ruapehu's ski fields.   Whakapapa Holdings has pulled its bid on the Whakapapa side of the mountain, claiming there's not enough Crown funding.   It comes as a conditional agreement for Pure Turoa to run the Turoa ski field has been signed.   Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that the change of government has probably stretched out t...

The red meat industry is taking a bit of a hit.   Red meat exports in October were down 14% on the same month the year before.   Exports to China, our largest red meat export market, declined 31& due to weaker consumer demand, imports of Brazilian beef, and competition with Australian sheep meat.   Meat Industry Association Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva told Mike Hosking that this is more th...

There’s a busy year ahead for Liam Lawson, both on and off the track.   He’s the reserve driver for both Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB, formerly known as AlphaTauri.   But before he gets back on the track, Lawson is taking to the silver screen, staring both in the new 'Drive to Survive' season and his very own documentary.   ‘In The Wings’ was released yesterday and details his impressive rise in...

The actions of some of our biggest polluters are set to be thrust into the spotlight.   Climate activist Mike Smith has won the right to sue seven companies —including Fonterra, Genesis, and Z Energy— for their role in contributing to climate change.   Environmental law specialist Rob Enright told Mike Hosking that the companies argued managing carbon footprints for corporates should be left to Pa...

I was wondering how long it would take, given what we have seen this week at Waitangi.   ACT have launched a campaign to outline some facts on their Treaty Principles Bill.   They have done this because, like most of these sort of debates, what you start out with by way of an idea very quickly turns into something else, due largely to those who oppose it and start to spread the misinformation.   T...

New Zealand's latest unemployment figure didn't quite land where many expected.   Stats NZ figures show it's risen to 4% in the three months to December.   Business NZ Advocacy Director, Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking that the numbers feel wonky.   She says they expected the figure to be higher after the Employment and Manufacturers Association highlighted the rise in enquiries about restructur...

There’s now an opportunity to tell the Royal Commission of Inquiry about your Covid pandemic experiences, and the lessons you want to leave for the next pandemic.   A website launches today for public submissions.   It's running alongside a process where people can provide feedback on how they'd like the inquiry's terms of reference to be tweaked.   Inquiry Chair Professor Tony Blakely told Mike H...

The passenger train between Hamilton and Auckland is increasing off-peak services.   Beginning today, Te Huia will have a third service on Thursdays and Fridays, where demand has been the highest.   There will also be a second return service on Saturdays.   Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange told Mike Hosking that she hears from Waikato people who are excited about the inter-regional servi...

Modelling commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development point to more people on welfare, and people staying there for longer.   It suggests those on the job-seeker benefit spend an average of 13 years getting the support.   Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking that it's a problem her Government has inherited.   She knew the figures were getting worse, but says this new...

The Corrections Minister says reducing prisoner numbers just puts offenders into the community.   The Government's also scrapping funding for pre-sentencing cultural reports.   Those reports consider how an offender's personal background may have contributed to their crime.   It's scrapping Labour's target to reduce the prison population by 30% and will introduce legislation to cap sentence discou...