The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Prime Minister says the Government's still looking into how to get more fuel into the country. It's put 20-million dollars towards an extra diesel storage tank at Marsden Point, south of Whangārei. Chris Luxon says it will be built and completed in seven weeks. He says told Mike Hosking they're considering offers for extra diesel, to fill the new tank. Luxon says there are currently high level...

The latest surge in fuel prices, and disruptions to supply chains - are being felt at the pump, but not yet at the checkout. Stats NZ is due to release its latest monthly inflation update on Friday. But new data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs shows grocery-supplier-cost-inflation actually dropped in March, from 2.3 percent to just 2.1. Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy says told Mike Hoski...

Major exporters are urging political leaders to urgently back a Free Trade Agreement with India, warning against “playing games” with access to one of the world’s largest and fastest‑growing markets. In an open letter released today, leading figures from New Zealand Inc. highlight the opportunity presented by India’s 1.4‑billion‑strong consumer base, which is expected to become one of the world’s...

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 war: 6/10   It ended the way at least some thought it would: within six weeks, with last minute high drama. Now there'll be a bit of back and forward, but eventually, like all Middle East conflicts, we will all go home.    Artemis II: 7/10  I...

Here is an irony for you.  Could it be that the Prime Minister, the one so disliked by the media, is actually so good at his job that his numbers are a result of his excellence?  The pollster David Farrar has broken down the NZ First poll numbers this week.  Now, small warning – the NZ First poll numbers are not accurate given NZ First went up 4%, which is a 30%-ish swing in their f...

Home-base preparations ahead of Artemis II's crew splash down off California's coast on Saturday afternoon.  The four astronauts are on the return trip to Earth after their historic lunar flyby.   NASA landing and recovery director, Liliana Villarreal says a ship's heading towards the capsule landing zone.   The crew will then be helicoptered to dry land, for post-flight medical che...

Friday has come once more which means it’s time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week that was.   They discussed the state of the conflict in the Middle East and the ceasefire negotiations, the follow up to the ‘Jury Duty’ TV show, and the upcoming return of the Artemis II.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has highlighted an issue hidden beneath our feet.  A Ministry for the Environment report shows E. coli has been detected in almost half of monitored groundwater sites since 2019.  Nitrate levels have risen more than a third in the past two decades, and 63% of New Zealand's lakes had poor or very poor health.  Water NZ CEO Gillian Blythe told Mike Hosking a critical piec...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 10th of April, former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump, John Bolton gives his opinion on the conflict in the Middle East and the ceasefire negotiations.   Taupō Motorsport Park Owner Tony Quinn talks the biggest event of the weekend – Supercars is back at Taupō before it heads to the South Island for the first time ever.&nbsp...

Israel’s attacks on Lebanon may be a sticking point in ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States.   More 300 people were killed and over 1000 injured in Israel's strikes on Lebanon yesterday, with Israel claiming the conflict there wasn't covered by the ceasefire agreement.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's since ordered his Cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon to...

A flurry of international tourists is expected in Taupō this weekend for the first leg of the Supercars double-header.    More than two and a half thousand Australians are expected, with accommodation in the town nearing capacity.   Taupō’s hosting for the first time before Christchurch's Ruapuna Speedway's debut for the second round next week.   Taupō Motorsport Park owner Ton...

A former advisor to Donald Trump says he's under more pressure than Iran.  The US and Iran will sit down for talks in less than 48 hours in Pakistan, as the ceasefire between the two nations continues to look shaky.  The Strait of Hormuz is reportedly back open, but Iran says any ships that pass through will need to communicate with its army.   Iran's claimed victory, saying its reg...

David Seymour believes financial flexibility is playing a role in the rapid growth of charter schools.  New figures show more than 1,400 students were enrolled in 16 schools as of last month.  The first seven schools established have seen their rolls jump more than 200% from 215 to 650.  The Associate Education Minister told Mike Hosking charter schools demonstrate what's possible w...

Reviews and reports aren't enough to keep the early childhood sector up to scratch.   The Education Review Office has found almost half of ECE services don't meet the quality threshold, down from 64% a year earlier.  Advocates for Early Learning Excellence Chair Kelly Seaburg told Mike Hosking although the results are better, it also highlights things to work on.   She says there ne...

Do you think we will learn some lessons or change our mind now that the war is essentially over?  Do we need to be more oil independent or, overall, is the way we do it for good reason i.e. it's cheaper to buy refined product? Do we need to seek out new markets for products that have previously been brought blindly through the Strait, like plastics and gases?  In Canada the left-leaners...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's travelling to the Persian Gulf to help shore-up the US and Iran ceasefire.  Both sides have accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks, which looks shaky after Israel bombed Lebanon overnight.    Global oil prices have since plunged below US$100 a barrel.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking Starmer’s looking to replace D...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 9th of April, Iran and the US have agreed to a ceasefire that looks increasingly tenuous – what will happen in the next two weeks?  Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman and Finance Minister Nicola Willis discuss the OCR remaining at 2.25% and the economic impact of the ceasefire for New Zealand.   Kiwi Supercars driver Matt Payne...

Taupō and Christchurch are set for high-octane V8 Supercars action over the next two weekends.  It’s the first time the Supercars championship has held two rounds in New Zealand, and the driver who collects the most points over the two rounds will be awarded the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, named after the Kiwi driver who succumbed to cancer in 2011.  Matt Payne is one of three Kiwis...

A US national security expert believes Iran is gaining leverage out of the ceasefire, showing it can open and close the Strait of Hormuz at will.  “The real question here is: what is Iran holding back?”, New Haven University's Dr Matthew Schmidt told Mike Hosking.  “Can they restart their threats over the Strait of Hormuz six weeks from now, two weeks from now, right, six months from now...

Organised crime groups likely still dictate New Zealand's drug market despite huge increases in seized product.  Border drug busts jumped from 1.5 to 6.5 tonnes between 2018 and 2024.  In the first nine weeks of 2026, more than 12 tonnes of cocaine was stopped in the Pacific.  Chair of Ministerial Advisory Group for Organised Crime Steve Symon told Mike Hosking groups are stockpilin...

The Reserve Bank Governor says the conflict in Iran has materially altered New Zealand's outlook, even if yesterday's ceasefire deal leads to a de-escalation.  The central bank's kept the Official Cash Rate on hold at 2.25%.  It's forecasting inflation will hit 4.2% this quarter and says it's prepared to hike the cash rate if inflation becomes embedded.  Governor Anna Breman told Mi...

The Education Minister's hitting back at union claims her flagship assessment tool is falling flat.  The Educators Collective says fewer than 60% of schools have signed up to the SMART reporting system, with some not planning to use it.  The tool gives parents progress markers and twice-yearly updates for Year 0-10 students.  But Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking the criticism is a p...

Too many 'ifs' around the Iran war for our Finance Minister to guarantee all will be well down the track.  There are differing reports as to whether the Strait of Hormuz is actually open following a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.   New Zealand has more than 60 days of petrol and 50 of diesel.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking a sustained ceasefire and movement of ships paint...

For what it's worth, let me have a crack at the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll.  Firstly, officially, I pay no attention to them other than a broad theme i.e. a collection of polls and an overarching trend.  The trend continues in this latest poll with the Government being re-elected by a fairly heavy margin, 65 seats to 55.  Small point: is it me or do there seem to be a lot of...

Time's ticking, with Donald Trump threatening the end of Iran if a deal isn't reached in the next few hours.   The US President's giving Tehran until midday before he orders the complete demolition of the country's bridges and power infrastructure.   He's posted on social media a 'whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again'.   However, he appears to be weigh...