The Mike Hosking Breakfast

What's the bet that once people stop moaning about McDonalds in Wanaka, it goes off? There is a wonderful disconnect between theory and reality in this country, especially around things like food. The reason we are one of the fattest countries on Earth is because too many people each too much crap. The fast food industry has a lot to answer for in that area. But then so do we. The reason McDonalds...

Aucklanders could be losing their weekly kerbside rubbish collection.   The council is proposing to change the weekly service to a fortnightly one from 2026.   It says the aim is to reduce kerbside rubbish.   But Councillor Daniel Newman says hundreds of thousands of residents will be caught out, and it will be up to Aucklanders to object.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Henry Kissinger is being remembered as one of the most distinctive voices in foreign affairs.   The former US Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and senior diplomat died yesterday at the age of 100.   He served in the administrations of presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Kissinger was a controversial figure, who was both h...

A popular Waiheke Island hotspot is being put up for sale.   The Tantalus Estate Vineyard was established in 2016 as a wine and beer tasting spot, a restaurant, and an event venue.   The past few years have been difficult for many business owners on Waiheke, with Covid restrictions, accommodation costs, and limited worker availability.   However, the vineyard's majority owner, Bruce Aitken, told M...

The problem of people turning up to emergency departments with non-emergencies may have been overstated.   Medical experts writing in today's New Zealand Medical Journal says the pressure hospital EDs are under isn't due to too many people turning up unnecessarily.   They say it's mostly due to an actual increase in urgent cases.   One of the experts—Te Whatu Ora Acute Care Clinical Lead Peter Jon...

An entertainment industry figure says Coldplay bringing a third show to New Zealand is a great sign for future events.   The pop supergroup has added one more date to their New Zealand tour, making the band the first to play three nights at Eden Park in its 123-year history.   Greenstone Entertainment General Manager Dean Calvert told Mike Hosking that it's promising news for an industry that was...

There are a few new faces in Labour's new Shadow Cabinet.   The top 10 has six women and four men, and prioritises portfolios like climate change, child poverty, and social development.   Most former ministers are staying on in their roles, including Grant Robertson, Ayesha Verrall and Ginny Andersen, but Damien O'Connor has lost the agriculture portfolio to Jo Luxton.   Former Labour Cabinet Mini...

Several factors may contribute to New Zealand being the most expensive country in the world to build infrastructure.   Some projects cost four to five times as much to complete here as they do in Europe.   City Rail Link Chief Executive Sean Sweeney says the industry has suffered a market failure.   Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking that it's partly due to o...

Well-known for playing Claudia Colby on Coronation Street, Rula Lenska is reprising her role in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for kiwi audiences. The stage show is coming to New Zealand in April and May of 2024, Lenska back in the role of Madge. She told Mike Hosking that the last time she came to New Zealand was in 1984.   “I sort of fell madly in love with the country when I was there before.”...

New Zealand’s largest ever squash festival is set to take place in Tauranga.   Over 400 athletes from 30 nations will be competing in the three major tournaments this December in the 2023 NZ Festival of Squash.   Dame Susan Devoy, Vice President of the World Squash Organisation and Squash NZ Board Member, told Mike Hosking that it’s been a lot of hard work over the years to get to this point.   No...

There is a lot to take in this week. There is a lot to do because a lot of change is coming. But one of the starker moments was when we asked the university people how it was that we are not getting the number of offshore students the way they are in Australia? As it turns out, Australia is up over 30%, so much so they are looking to put a cap on it. Here, it's only a 15% increase. This was a $5 b...

A Wellington City Councillor says the Mayor's behaviour has become an embarrassment for the city.   It comes after revelations Tory Whanau was publicly intoxicated at a Wellington bar two weeks ago.   Whanau responded to the allegations saying she is a flawed person but is getting professional help with her drinking problem.   But Councillor Nicola Young told Mike Hosking that Wellington can't go...

A clear message from the Reserve Bank Governor.   The central bank held the Official Cash Rate at 5.5%, and signalled any cuts aren't on the immediate horizon.   It's also left the door open for another rise if inflation pressures are stronger than expected.   Governor Adrian Orr told Mike Hosking that their statement was intentionally hawkish.   He says they don't see room for rate cuts anytime s...

A new report into New Zealand's achievement of water quality targets has provided a sombre read.   It's evaluated four contaminants —nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli, and sediment— in rivers, lakes, and estuaries nationwide.    Every region needs to substantially reduce at least one to meet freshwater standards.   75% of land is contributing more E. coli to water than is allowed.   Our Land and Water...

The Government's got its work cut out for it with its 100-day plan including 49 actions.   That includes the scrapping Auckland's fuel tax and the clean car discount, repealing Three Waters, and passing new RMA laws.   Prime Minister Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that Auckland's light rail will be knocked on the head, although some practicalities need to be worked through, like the land bought for...

US President Joe Biden is pushing for the ceasefire to be extended.   He is stepping up pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue the release of hostages and delay a return to full scale fighting.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Biden’s envoy is pushing for the scope of the hostage releases to be broadened.   He said that so far, the hostages released have been women and ch...

A bit of good news for dairy farmers.   Synlait has upped its forecast base milk price by 25 cents for the 23/24 season, bringing it up to $7.25.   Richard McIntyre, Chair of Dairy for Federated Farmers, told Mike Hosking that it reflects an upwards trend in the global dairy trade.   He said that we’re up by 17% over the last couple of months.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Part of the trouble with Winston Peters and his media obsession is that very few are more obsessed with the media than the media themselves. The media tend to take themselves far too seriously, so Winston has played right into their hands. What they should be doing, of course, is seeing him for what he is - a bored, old troublemaker who found 6% of the bewildered and angry to stick him back in pow...

The Police Minister won't say if the Police Commissioner will be keeping his job.   Mark Mitchell has met with Andrew Coster for the first time since taking on the role, after previously being an outspoken critic of Coster in opposition.   Coster says the meeting went well and Mitchell has confidence in him.   But Mitchell told Mike Hosking that he'll be having further meetings with Coster to disc...

Auckland's Mayor is looking for more bang for his buck as he looks to sell off Port of Auckland's operating business. Wayne Brown's put forward two options for the port in his proposed 10-year budget, which also includes a rates rise of 7.5%. Either keep the business, gradually releasing land for public use, or sell the operating lease to raise up to $3 billion for an investment fund. Brown told M...

Nazi salutes are set to become illegal in Australia after a spike in racism.   It comes after a letter was signed by more than 600 prominent Australians denouncing anti-Semitism and racism.   But Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley warns that the law change may have unintended consequences.   He says there should be more public dialogue and education before legislation is introduced.   LIS...

The Official Cash Rate is expected to remain steady.   The Reserve Bank is tipped to keep it unchanged at 5.5% at its next review at 2pm today.   Economists and commentators remain divided on whether there will be further hikes in the current cycle.   Investment Strategist and Economist at Jarden, John Carran, told Mike Hosking that inflation has been a bit weaker than expected.   He said that the...

A former senior National Party Minister is weighing in on the stir caused by new the Deputy Prime Minister at the first Cabinet meeting.   Winston Peters called the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund provided during Covid a "bribe".   He told reporters to "tell the public what they had to sign to get the money".   Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking that it's a bit of 'Winston being Winston',...

Oz Clarke is one of the world's leading wine experts. Clarke has been writing about wine since the 80's, starting as Britain's Sunday Express' first wine writer, and then moving over to become the Daily Telegraph's first Wine Correspondent.  He's written over forty books on the topic, recently releasing another: 'Oz Clarke’s Story of Wine: 8000 Years, 100 Bottles.' Clarke has been wandering New Ze...

There's three little things I am enjoying about the new Government so far.   The first is the media imploding about the use of Māori language. Winston Peters didn’t help with his claim at Government House yesterday that the media were bribed by the previous Government.   That is categorically not true. But a lot of what Winston says has the seeds of some sense about them.   What he is commenting o...