The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A former New Zealand First MP has given his tips as to what Winston Peters will be negotiating for.   Peters and Act Leader David Seymour haven't spoken, with Seymour saying he tried to call and text him but didn't get a response.   Former MP Andrew Williams says Winston will likely want Foreign Minister, a knighthood and treasurer as well.   He told Mike Hosking Peters may want his number three,...

The Kiwis have their chance for redemption.   The Pacific Championship Final is this weekend, the Kiwis facing Australia once again after their defeat in Melbourne.   Coach Michael McGuire told Mike Hosking that he’s confident the team will have a really strong performance and get the desired result.   He said they’re looking forward to having the home crowd behind them.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnys...

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 World Cup: 7/10  Because we watched in droves. It was the biggest TV audience of the year for anything, and we believed we were in with a chance.       Rugby: 3/10  The World Cup's biggest loser. They are killing the game with rules and zealous officialdom.       Mike P...

Am I weird to be excited?   As of this afternoon we will have a Government. Sort of.   We will know the final vote. Yet again, there will be the questions around the timeframe, and how refreshing it was to hear Chris Luxon on the show this week promising to upend how it all works.   In part, that is why I am sort of excited. At last we get to get things underway. The workload to sort this country...

Australian woman Erin Patterson will appear in court today after allegedly cooking and serving a lunch that killed three.   She faces three murder charges and five attempted murder charges.   Her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson as well as Gail's sister Heather died from suspected toxic mushroom poisoning in July, and Gail's husband Ian was hospitalised.   Three other charges relate to incide...

Australian woman Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.   Her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson as well as Gail's sister Heather died from suspected toxic mushroom poisoning in July, after eating lunch Erin Patterson allegedly made.   Gail's husband Ian was hospitalised.   Three other charges relate to incidents in 2021 and 2022, when p...

A recruitment agency says we need to listen to the younger generation.   A Randstad survey shows almost half of jobseekers face barriers to securing employment, including around language, ethnicity, and gender identity.   It found more than a quarter of workers would rather face unemployment than work for an organisation whose values don't align with their own, millennials in particular.   Randsta...

The Salvation Army is raising concern about a loss of support services for people suffering gambling harm.   The charity says Te Whatu Ora has rejected its bid for a contract renewal, despite providing gambling programmes for 31 years.   Social Services Director Lynette Hutson told Mike Hosking that they’re not sure if the service will be replaced, but they suspect there will be fewer services ava...

Departing All Blacks coach Ian Foster has condemned the growing abuse professional sportspeople and officials are encountering.   His comments came after news Wayne Barnes is retiring from refereeing following an international career spanning 17 years and a record 111 tests across five World Cups.   The Englishman was reportedly the subject of death threats in the aftermath of the World Cup final....

There's no clue yet on how long it will take to form a government following today's special vote count. At two this afternoon to results of around 570-thousand votes will be released by the Electoral Commission. The results will likely dictate whether National and ACT need New Zealand First to run the country. Former Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, told Mike Hosking that how fast National can form...

She’s been making music for fourteen years but has only recently turned 23.   Nashville-based singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen is taking the world by storm, the Grammys comparing her perceptive storytelling and pop-country music to a young Taylor Swift.  She released her first album in late 2021, and just this year released her deeply personal three-part album ‘Twenty Something.’   The album is...

The news this week is that this is the month in which the Covid inquiry people will be wanting to hear from us.   Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, a Kiwi living in Melbourne, was appointed to lead the investigation   The key, sadly, is the terms of engagement. This is how Governments get around things   You announce an inquiry and this immediately gets trouble off your back, because whatever the drama...

Countdown's aiming to make healthier choices easier for customers, and combat checkout 'pester power'.   The supermarket chain —soon to be Woolworths— has committed to 80% of foods at checkouts carrying a Health Star Rating of 3.5 or more.   It's also moving "kids confectionary" elsewhere.   Woolworths NZ Nutritionist, Deb Sue, told Mike Hosking that this same approach has had really good feedback...

Reading Recovery support is becoming less common in schools.   The number of children receiving the intensive one-on-one literacy assistance has dropped by a third over the past three years.   Less than half the country's primary schools now offer the programme.   Education Hub Founder Nina Hood told Mike Hosking that many don't think it provides their students with the level of support they requi...

Some positive news for Aucklanders left with flood-damaged homes.   The council has agreed to fund mitigation for properties which could feasibly be protected from harm in future severe weather events.   It's offering to pay up to 25% of a property's capital value for work like retaining walls, landscaping, and drainage improvements.   Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told Mike Hosking that the issue is...

Some mortgage holders are in for a tough adjustment come 2024.   A Reserve Bank report says the average household will spend about 18% of their income on interest payments alone by mid-next year.   It comes as those on extremely low interest rates in 2019 start turning over to new rates.   Kiwibank Chief Executive, Steve Jurkovich, told Mike Hosking that the upside is the doubling of interest rate...

Demands for families to be held to account to stop kids dying from abuse.   A homicide investigation has been launched into the death of Lower Hutt toddler Ruthless-Empire Wall, who was killed from blunt force trauma.   Newstalk ZB understands that his uncle contacted Oranga Tamariki, wanting the toddler to be uplifted.   In July, Police conducted a welfare check in with no concerns noted.   Whana...

Concerns rise as New Zealand's red meat exports take a sharp decline.   The Meat Industry Association reports exports dropped to $617 million in the 12 months to September; a near 20% annual decrease.   It says the global market is softening, but the numbers look worse than they are because last year's meat prices were at record highs.   ANZ agricultural economist, Susan Kilsby told Mike Hosking t...

Some questions around yesterday's White Island verdict:   Was justice done? Was justice seen to be done?   Did a lot of people needlessly get dragged before the court for no good reason?   Did those who had their charges dismissed get any compensation for lost time and energy on a case for them that went nowhere?   Is it fair that the law allows a Government agency to simply machine-gun a series o...

Israel has confirmed it caused an explosion at a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, saying it targeted a Hamas leader.   Reuters reports Palestinian medics say at least 50 are dead.   CNN reports the Israel Defence Force says it was targeting a very senior Hamas commander in the area around the camp.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the director of a hospital nearby s...

Frontline medical staff are facing more pressure at our hospitals.   Te Whatu Ora clinical performance metrics show the number of patients waiting more than four months to see a specialist has jumped 46% in the last year.   College of Physicians President, Stephen Inns, told Mike Hosking that this reflects what their members are seeing in ED.   He says people are waiting longer to see them, so the...

Ten months into his five-year deal, Eddie Jones has walked out on the Wallabies.   As of yesterday, his resignation is official, with his final day coming on the 25 th of November.   While it’s not known exactly what Jones’ next plans are, there is a rumour that he could be off to Japan.   Australian Radio Network’s Sports Director, Jim Dolan, told Mike Hosking that it’s the million-dollar questio...

National's Justice Spokesman is standing by his suggestion of requiring gang members to cover up their gang tattoos with foundation.   Mark Mitchell says National could potentially ban gang facial tattoos on top of patches, and gang members would have to apply make-up over tattoos, or face arrest.   Labour's Megan Woods told Mike Hosking that it would be a hard rule to enforce.   But Mitchell told...

Our largest bank's Chief Economist believes the anticipated unemployment figures show that the Reserve Bank's approach to tackling inflation is working.   Stats NZ will release the latest data just before 11am.   Most economists forecast an unemployment rate of 3.9%, up from 3.6% three months ago.   ANZ's Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking that spare capacity is needed in the labour market to avoid...

The incoming Prime Minister is pleased with the progress they’re making as the count is still ongoing.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that while they won’t be able to form Government completely on Friday, they’re going to move as quickly as they can in the coming week.   According to Luxon, there’s still negotiations to be had and issues to work through, but all parties involved have been w...