The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A US federal appeal court has ruled that Trump has no presidential protection amid trials for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots.   The court has rejected claims by the former president, who says he shouldn't be criminally prosecuted for actions he took while president.   Trump has indicated that he plans to appeal the ruling, which would see the case go before the Supreme Court.   US...

Private sector investment in Queenstown’s plans to become a niche tech ecosystem could bring them to fruition.   Adopting an Australia and Asia Pacific backed funding model for the required $1 million a year could help with taking a 20-year view as opposed to relying on the three year electoral cycle.   Paul Spain, Gorilla Technology’s CEO, told Mike Hosking that it’s encouraging to see businesses...

A senior National Minister has counter-attacked over criticism the Prime Minister's Waitangi speech reused lines from last year.   Christopher Luxon says it was deliberate; he wanted consistency in his message, particularly given some of the misunderstanding around the treaty.   National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that some of the things he said, he will say again next year because they nee...

God bless Brooke van Velden.   As part of the coalition agreement, the Government are looking to expand the terms of the Covid Inquiry.   Why?   Because not all the questions that need asking, were going to be. Ask yourself why that might be.   It's an age-old Government trick. If you set up an inquiry you can deflect questions about your performance by saying "let's see what the inquiry says", or...

A bump to New Zealand's unemployment figures is forecast later this morning.   A number of economists believe it will land at 4.3%, up from the September quarter's 3.9%.   ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley agrees.   He told Mike Hosking that it's important to bear in mind that these figures bounce around quarter-to-quarter.   Tuffley says the trend they're looking for is the weaker labour market, s...

SUV drivers in Paris are facing a financial blow after residents voted to hike parking fees for larger vehicles.   The vote was initiated by the French capital's socialist mayor and will see those driving vehicles weighing more than 1.6 tonnes pay the equivalent of $30 an hour to park in the inner city.   AUT Professor of Future Environments John Tookey told Mike Hosking that people should expect...

It’s a delicate balancing act for Buckingham Palace between transparency and King Charles' privacy.   The monarch is being treated for cancer, discovered during a separate procedure.   The King and Queen Camilla have been seen for the first time since the diagnosis, driven from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace where it's believed they flew to Sandringham.   Prince Harry's arrived in the UK.   R...

The Prime Minister is talking up the conversations had behind the scenes at Waitangi as he comes under fire for what he said publicly.   Christopher Luxon used extracts from last year's speech, which he says he has no regrets for.   He expects to do the same in the future such as his Anzac Day speech.   Luxon told Mike Hosking that while in Northland, he had some good conversations on housing and...

Abuse of the work visa scheme appears to have increased in recent times. RNZ is reporting nearly 200 employers have had their licence to hire migrants revoked or suspended as an investigation into migrant exploitation continues. NZ Immigration Law's Aaron Martin told Mike Hosking that in his experience, the situation has worsened since the Accredited Employer Work Visa system started. He says the...

Canterbury is getting a new pet food canning facility next month, rolling out 30 million tins a year.  Pet food exports already total more than $300 million per year, and Riverland Foods is hoping to increase that number.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are warning that the construction sector is set for a hard year.  New builds are expected to drop drastically, worsening the housing crisis.  Naylor Love Chief Executive Rick Herd joins Tim Dower to discuss.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles has begun treatment for a form of cancer. Buckingham Palace says during his recent procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue was found and subsequent testing identified the cancer. The King has been advised to postpone public facing duties, but will still undertake State business and official paperwork. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says with Prince Andrew not doing an...

Hundreds of protesters have arrived as part of a hikoi at Te Tii Marae. The march has travelled 200km over five days, leaving Cape Reinga on Friday. Senior Political Reporter Sophie Trigger is at Waitangi.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of NZ First joins Tim Dower to discuss Waitangi Day, and what makes this year different to previous commemorations.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waitangi celebrations this year promise to be the most, shall we say, spirited that we've seen in quite a while. To be honest, I've enjoyed a break from some of the drama of the mid-90s - the jostling of a Prime Minister with his arm in a cast, the Prime Minister reduced to tears, the mud throwing. For a little while now the scenes on the TV news have had been more of a festive feel to them with P...

The mayor of a Hawke's Bay town says it's a disgrace that funding from a special Lotto draw after Cyclone Gabrielle, hasn't yet been allocated. The special draw raised more than $11-million. The Department of Internal Affairs expects some action this month. Wairoa mayor Craig Little told Tim Dower that the money would go a long way. He says there are people suffering, have lost their homes and ess...

The Government is bracing for a tense reception at Waitangi today. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, alongside Winston Peters and David Seymour, are being welcomed to the treaty grounds in the Bay of Islands this morning. It comes amid a tumult of reaction to comments from all coalition partners concerning Māori matters. Waitangi National Trust Chairman, Pita Tipene, told Tim Dower the Prime Minis...

There is some doubt whether the US approach to Yemen-based Houthi is the right one. The US and UK have launched a third round of strikes against the militant group -- hitting 36 targets across 13 locations. Washington think tank Defence Priorities senior fellow Gil Barndollar told Tim Dower these strikes aren't going to end the Houthi regime. He's sceptical they're going to change Houthi behaviour...

Climate change and extreme weather events are top of farmers' concerns for the next decade. In a new report funded by Our Land and Water, more than 280 primary industry experts ranked international and domestic factors, to understand how they're expected to impact land use. Water quality and agricultural policy are also major domestic concerns. Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford told Tim D...

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.     James Shaw: 6/10   Likeable bloke and will find life outside immeasurably more fun.     Chlöe Swarbrick: 6/10   The obvious replacement choice I would have thought. Good luck to her, but it doesn’t advance the cause if you like the green bit of the Green Party.     Heat alert...

With the school week having mostly ground back into life this week, I was very pleased that the Prime Minister went to school himself yesterday with a message.   The message was for parents - wake up! The absenteeism crisis is as much our fault as it is anyone's.   Chris Luxon didn’t say it in those exact words, but that was the inference.   While the previous Minister of Education Jan Tinetti bla...

There’s doubt the latest proposed lift in the minimum wage will do enough to help workers.   The Government's increasing the minimum wage by 2% to $23.15 an hour from April.   Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke Van Velden had recommended a rise of just 1.3%.   Victoria University School of Governance and Policy Studies senior research fellow Dr Michael Fletcher told Mike Hosking that a...

Wellington's water service provider is at odds with the City Council after an independent report found multiple failings.   Wellington City Council launched a review of Wellington Water which found shortfalls in their reporting and an inconsistent approach to works management.   It comes amid a water crisis for the region, with the possibility of a state of emergency if shortages worsen.   But Wel...

The Corrections Minister says there are too many people out on electronic bail.   A briefing has revealed the number of people on electronic bail has more than tripled in the past six years.   Mark Mitchell says looking at the Bail Act, the already existing plan to cap discounts for prison sentences, will help.   He told Mike Hosking that it's not the only problem he will be investigating.   Mitch...

The United States says it'll take all necessary actions to defend itself, its interests, and its people in the middle east.   It comes after three US soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Jordan, near the Syrian border.   The US has blamed an Iranian-backed militia group.   CBS says officials have told them the US has approved plans for a series of strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq....