The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Six French teenagers are going on trial, accused of complicity in the murder of a teacher who showed students cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad during a class about freedom of expression.   They were between 13 and 15 years old when teacher Samuel Paty was stabbed and beheaded in 2020 by a Chechen refugee.   They're accused of slander and pointing the teacher out to the killer at the school.   If f...

Tauranga City Council is listening to frustrated residents, hitting the brakes on changes to bus lanes and parking.   Commission Chair Anne Tolley told Mike Hosking that a pause is necessary, and the council won't rush ahead with the Cameron Road roll out of part-time bus lanes.   She says that although transitioning to public transport is important, it's not the right time to go ahead with the wo...

A new $200 million development in Otago's Arrowtown is aiming to put the region on the map as a global food destination.   The Ayrburn project is taking shape on a 60-hectare farm, with the first stage opening next Friday.   It includes four hospitality venues and an outdoor events space.   Project Developer, Chris Meehan, told Mike Hosking that he believes it's one of the area's most important to...

The new Health Minister is vowing not to undertake major structural change to the health system, with the exception of disestablishing the Māori Health Authority.   The health system reforms, including the scrapping of the 20 DHBs and replacing them with Te Whatu Ora, was widely criticised by National in Opposition.   Shane Reti told Mike Hosking that the sector is tired.   He says the College of...

Early childhood centres are stretched as they deal with more children with learning and behavioural challenges.   The Educational Institute says the increase has meant waiting lists for specialist support are far too long.   It's thought there could be a connection between the issue and children experiencing Covid lockdowns early in life.   Speech and language therapist Conor Fraser told Mike Hosk...

Australia's had a record number of international students.   Numbers hit a record 725,000 this year, a 31% increase on the year before.    Australia's government is facing pressure to cap the number as the country deals with high inflation and a housing crisis.   Universities New Zealand Director Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking that New Zealand isn't at Australia's figures, but interest in coming h...

Christopher Luxon is heading to his first Cabinet meeting today with a pledge to reduce the public service headcount and redirect resources to the new government's agenda.   The Prime Minister says he wants to find savings of 6.5% from the public sector.   JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking that that's likely to push up unemployment and ease pressure on the tight labour market....

New Zealand First says the new Regional Infrastructure Fund won't be a slush fund. National was critical of the similar Provincial Growth Fund under the previous government, with Deputy Leader Nicola Willis saying it was like spraying a money hose around. New Zealand First MP Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the new 1.2 billion dollar fund will be controlled. He says it will have specific criteria to...

Chris Luxon admits many people will be angry with National for giving up, on lifting the foreign buyer ban. He told Mike Hosking it's a concession he needed to make in coalition negotiations, and it won't stop the new government from cutting taxes. Luxon says all three parties have committed to tax relief for low and middle income earners.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

David Seymour says he will be cutting red tape from farming to finance in his new role as Minister for Regulation.   He'll take on the newly created portfolio alongside Associate Minister roles in Health and Education.   Seymour told Mike Hosking he will be looking over new regulations to check if they have a solid cost-benefit analysis behind them.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

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 deal: 7/10 About time. Although in saying that;   The deal in the grand scheme of things: 8/10 18 days post votes counted, for a first time three way Government, complete with egos and early aggro. Come on, that’s pretty good.   Top Gear: 3/10 There is little enough great t...

So it turned out OK.   Well, this part at least.   A deal is done, the pens and papers getting rolled out today and we have a Government.   You have to say, 20 days on from the final vote is not bad going.   There is a lot of weird democracy going on in the world. If you look at Argentina or Spain or Holland in just the past couple of weeks alone, the fact that some got exercised over 20 days in a...

Niagara Falls' Rainbow Bridge is set to reopen tomorrow after the car explosion on the US-Canada border.   Two people were killed when their car sped up and flew into a security checkpoint from crashing into a pylon.   Authorities were initially on high alert with terror-related fears due to the mass travel ahead of Thanksgiving.   US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that they have s...

The Wellington Phoenix look ready to put up a fight to hold onto their Auckland fan base.   The club's A-League double header at Mount Smart Stadium tomorrow is likely the Phoenix's last venture to Auckland in the near future, as the Super City prepares to house its own franchise from next year.   Phoenix GM David Dome told Mike Hosking that despite their absence further north, they're not ready t...

Tens of thousands of shoppers are expected to hit the malls for Black Friday sales today and over the weekend.   Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking that sales and card spending has been down in 2023.   She says Black Friday will be a much-needed cash injection for struggling businesses.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Whatu Ora is standing by its $100 million consultant spend.   Former boss Rob Campbell says the $102 million spent on consultants in the year to July is excessively high.   This is despite it dropping from $139 million the year prior.   Chief People Officer Andrew Slater told Mike Hosking that they've tightened where they're using contractors and consultants and are focusing on making sure they...

The finer details of the incoming government will be revealed today - including who becomes Deputy Prime Minister.   The leaders of National, ACT, and New Zealand First have been hashing out the details of the partnership.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that he doesn't expect the incoming Government to split the role of Deputy Prime Minister between David Seymour and Winston Pete...

The Police cybercrime unit is investigating the origin of threatening emails.   Schools and hospitals around the country received the emails yesterday.   Police are confident they pose no threat.   Police Association president Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that these things always need to be taken seriously, and there has to be a thorough threat assessment.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/lis...

The outgoing Trade Minister is adamant that the country's new FTA with the EU is necessary.   The agreement has been passed by the European Parliament and is expected to come into force early next year.   However, meat and dairy farmers have criticised the limited gains we've secured, which saw Australia pull out of a deal last month.   But Damien O'Connor told Mike Hosking the reality is that we...

Back in 2008 two kiwis created Invivo with the intention of bringing New Zealand wine to the world.   Sarah Jessica Parker joined the team back in 2019, and their wine collaboration is now wildly successful, their Sauvignon Blanc the fastest growing Premium Sauv currently available in the United States.   A third wine for the collection is releasing soon, this time a Pinot Noir.   Parker told Mike...

Allbirds co-founder Tim Brown remains bullish he can steady the ship.   The company's shares dived to a new low of US-80 cents in post-market trading earlier this month, a long way from its $26.03 high after its debut two years ago.   It also forecasts its Christmas revenue will be around 15 to 22% percent lower than the same time last year.   But Brown told Mike Hosking that their idea has been r...

There is a threat of legal action in Auckland.   It involves a group called 'Save Queen Street Society' and the council. The council is selling a parking building and with it, its almost 2000 car parks.   The society has what they think is a better plan and one that will net the council a better return and save some car parks. They are potentially suing under a rule that says councils must conside...

Hamilton-based aeronautical engineers have developed a new multi-million dollar aircraft to help fight the impacts of climate change.   The new 750 XL SuperPac, which can take off without a sealed runway, has been designed to assist in controlling wildfires and offer humanitarian aid.   NZAero CEO Stephen Burrows says the plane has taken seven years to develop at a cost of $10 million   He told Mi...

Almost a half of over 50s are worried about how little they have to leave to their loved ones.   The NZ Seniors Legacy Report shows 41% of Kiwis are concerned about not leaving behind as much wealth as they'd like when they die.   It also found 37% of those surveyed are transferring their wealth before they die, as opposed to leaving it as an inheritance.   Family lawyer Vicki Ammundsen says peopl...

More squeeze on tenants as rents around the country surge over by an average of 6%.   The latest CoreLogic housing stats show rental growth's running at historically high levels, rising 6.1% in the year to October.   It's roughly double the average growth rate over that same period, which is 3.2%.   Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says high levels of migration is one of the main drivers....