The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Labour's committing to further shake-ups within the supermarket sector in a bid to break up the grocery duopoly.   While details are in the early stages, help with finances, gaining land space, and making regulator changes are on the cards.   Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, told Mike Hosking a new competitor won't enter the market without Government support.   He doesn't believe it would be in the f...

Political candidates are facing increased violence.   National says a volunteer's faced death threats, another was attacked by a dog, and one candidate has moved house after threats from a gang.   In the past week, Labour's Angela Roberts says she was slapped at a debate, and Te Pati Maori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says her home was invaded.   Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzale...

All eyes are on Ruapehu to see what happens with the future ownership of its ski fields.   Cabinet has approved seven million dollars to keep Ruapehu Alpine Lifts running.   It includes a $4.3 million loan to the under-liquidation company.   Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that they're looking forward to a resolution to the ownership issue of the company.   He says they just want to...

Who has the ability and the answers to take New Zealand forward?   Christopher Luxon joined Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking for an extensive look into the policies and plans behind the National Party leader.   Two hours of the toughest questions, covering the topics New Zealanders really care about.   The economy, their tax plan, education, healthcare, what do they actually plan to do?   Crime is risin...

Labour's new education policy is being described as a Band-Aid for a deeper problem.   The party is promising two million hours of free literacy and maths tutoring for intermediate and high school students and a training fund to help teachers.   Education Hub founder Dr Nina Hood told Mike Hosking one-on-one or small group tutoring is one of the most effective interventions.   But she says unless...

Based on the premise that you learn from your mistakes and the general idea that you want to improve, the conclusion I have reached this week as another seven days in the campaign ends is we need to have a good long think about the debates.   I am not alone. Several pieces I have now read say essentially the same thing.   Debate one was widely panned as being boring, unproductive, and certainly la...

The All Blacks are facing off against Italy tomorrow morning, both teams vying for a place in the quarterfinals.   The odds are in favour of the All Blacks, and they must win this game to ensure they move forward.   Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, Elliott Smith, told Mike Hosking that Italy aren’t that good.   He said people have tried to talk them up by saying that they beat Australia last year but...

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.       Infrastructure: 3/10  From the sink holes in Auckland to the bugs and illness in Queenstown, how third world does this country seem right now?     Auckland Airport: 3/10   Not only are the punters over it but the airlines have joined the queue as well. How much bad press do...

We'll learn more today about how National plans to fund its election commitments, including lowering taxes and debt. National Finance Spokesperson Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that she's confident National can pay for what it's promising on the campaign trail. She says they haven't promised to spray the money around, and they'll be very careful with every dollar they spend. LISTEN ABOVE   See o...

The South Island’s West Coast and Bay of Plenty are facing the worst medical specialist shortages.   The problem is so severe people in some regions have to travel a hundred kilometres to see a paediatrician.   The shortfalls —including oncologists and dermatologists— are contributing to lengthening waitlists.   Te Whatu Ora data shows the number of patients waiting more than a year for treatment...

National outplays Labour according to this year's rankings from business leaders.   More than 100 CEOs and business leaders have ranked MPs in the Herald's Mood of the Boardroom survey.   Luxon comes out on top with 3.24 out of five, compared to Chris Hipkins' 2.95.   Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope told Mike Hosking that National still has to do more, with one boss saying he's too corporate...

Auckland flood-affected residents have raised concerns about being excluded from their communities.   Category 3 homeowners presented to the Auckland Council yesterday, telling councillors that buyouts based on rates valuations would be too low for them to buy in their communities.   Property commentator Ashley Church told Mike Hosking that under normal circumstances the council would negotiate a...

I think most people would agree with the winner, wouldn't they?   Andrew Webster deserved the Dally M Coach of the Year.     But back here we seemed to call it for Chris Hipkins.   I'll come back to that, but a couple of broadcasting notes for TVNZ, given Newshub's effort last night was in a completely different league.   - Get an audience that reacts because it brings life to a broadcast   - Get...

Kiwi music legend Tiki Taane is well known for his music.   He started with Salmonella Dub, going solo after eleven years with the band and releasing his album ‘Always On My Mind.’   He’s topped the charts and won multiple awards for his music, and now he’s taken a step into the world of film.   A recording of his 2021 concert extravaganza ‘Ōtautahi Proud’ has been transformed into 'Tiki Taane in...

New Zealand's food waste remains high despite a cost-of-living crisis.   A Rabobank-KiwiHarvest survey estimates that $3.2 billion of food goes in the bin annually.   Households waste 12.2% of groceries yearly, a slight decrease from last year's 13.4%.   Sustainable Business Development Head, Blake Holgate, told Mike Hosking that as food becomes more expensive, the value of what is thrown out incr...

No money means Aucklanders will likely have little to no events to look forward to beyond next year.   Auckland Unlimited has revealed to the council that no major events are confirmed in the city beyond August 2024 due to a lack of funding.   Events Director Richard Clarke told Mike Hosking that it's as bad as it sounds.   He says their Covid recovery funding from the central government expires a...

Christopher Luxon is denying he conceded defeat at last night's leaders' debate.   National's leader told Mike Hosking that he was disappointed with Hipkins aggressive approach.   Following the debate, Hipkins gave himself a rating of nine, while Luxon rated himself a seven.   Pundits judged Hipkins a near-unanimous winner.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins appears to be utilising New Zealand First's growing strength in the polls.   The Labour leader went up against National's Christopher Luxon last night in what commentators agree was far more fiery second leaders' debate.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that Hipkins is now on the attack with a new approach, hinting a vote for National is a vote for Winston Peters.   H...

Wellington businesses are hoping that today’s planned protest events blow over fast.   Police numbers have been boosted, with officers redeployed in the capital ahead of planned protest action today.   Brian Tamaki's Freedoms and Rights Coalition is one of several groups demonstrating.   A number of roads near Parliament are blocked off and some public servants are being urged to stay home.   Hoff...

One of the great mysteries of the economic landscape is how on earth we ended up with more people on the Jobseeker Support benefit, at a time when jobs were so plentiful it wasn’t funny. When the borders were closed, there were mass labour shortages and yet, there we were, with tens of thousands more jobless. National will fix it and in fixing it remind us of what we once had as a country; discipl...

Labour's defending its idea of a fourth amnesty visa for overstayers, saying many are still incognito.   If elected, the party's promising another one-off visa for people who have been in the country for more than a decade and were impacted by the 1970's dawn raids.   Immigration Minister Andrew Little told Mike Hosking that even after the last couple amnesties, many people were still afraid to co...

A new report has been released by New Zealand Initiative, looking into the Labour Government’s fiscal record over the past six years.   The report found that Labour’s fiscal projections before the 2017 election were too optimistic, resulting in an $18 billion discrepancy between intended and actual expenditure by the end of 2019.   Executive Director Oliver Hartwich told Mike Hosking that they wer...

Labour's police spokesperson has accused her National counterpart of touring the country "scaring old ladies".   Ginny Andersen told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast that Mark Mitchell is holding public meetings to drum up fear about crime.   “These meetings where you go around the country scaring old ladies. Mark's being going around the country scaring old ladies, that's exactly what his who...

Daniel Andrews decision to quit is a sign of how tough leadership is.   The Victoria Premier steps down today, just months after pulling the state out of hosting the Commonwealth Games.   Andrews is Victoria's longest-serving Labor Premier, with nine years in the job and leading his party through three election wins.   A replacement will be picked today.   Channel 9 Political Editor, Charles Crouc...

The cost of putting on a big event has skyrocketed in New Zealand and it's enough to put off the big names like Taylor Swift.   The Events Association wants more grants, subsidies, and tax incentives to entice big acts to our shores.   It says it's often not financially viable for shows to come here and extra investment would boost the economy too.   Events Association General Manager Elaine Linne...