The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Attorney-General says the Government's crackdown on ram raiding youth is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights.   A Bill allowing 12 and 13 year olds to be charged for ram raid offences in the Youth Court passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday.   It had support from Labour, National, and Act.   David Parker says children have the right to be dealt with in an age appropriate way, to be...

The controversial Central Otago airport near Tarras could host over 3.5 million passengers a year.   This is according to documents released by Christchurch airport - who will be building it.   The report also confirms the airport will impact the village of Tarras, but the site is the best spot between Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra.   Chief Strategy and Stakeholder Officer at Christchurch Air...

Parliament is checking what it can do about MPs who appear to reference court cases with suppression orders under cover of Parliamentary Privilege.   Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi was suspended for 24 hours yesterday for the conduct the Speaker labelled grossly disorderly.   Electoral Law Expert Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking the precedent is being considered.   He says the speaker sent...

90-day trials are back in the campaign conversation.   National is promising to reintroduce the scheme, which allows employers to dismiss workers - without cause - within the first three months of employment.   The trials were heavily restricted by the Labour Government in 2018.   New Zealand Restaurant Association President Mike Egan told Mike Hosking says it's good news. Egan says it worked well...

Christopher Luxon has confirmed National will make changes to the tax brackets if it wins the election. It'll unveil its tax policy later this morning, with the leader trumpeting benefits to the "squeezed middle", meaning as much relief for middle income earners,  as higher income earners.   It'll be funded through a mix of spending cuts and "targeted" revenue tools.   Luxon told Mike Hosking it's...

In a display of brass neck that even for Labour was quite something, Carmel Sepuloni tried to explain in an interview on TV that the current cost of living crisis wasn’t necessarily the Government's fault.     As regards an explanation as to who's fault it might be, she seemed to settle on the weather. There is a theme here as the weather has taken a lot of heat this year.     What a spectacularly...

Despite AlphaTauri being impressed, Liam Lawson still says there's work to do after his 13th place finish in his Formula 1 race debut.   The 21-year-old got the call up to the Dutch Grand Prix after teammate Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in practice.   In a statement, AlphaTauri said Ricciardo was on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery on his hand.   “We hope to see him at the track ag...

The Government is defending its level of spending over the past few years, saying much of it was out of its control.   It's cutting spending on public contractors and consultants, in a bid to return to a more sustainable fiscal position.   The Finance Minister says it'll save almost $4 billion over four years.   Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking we're having to pay the economic price...

A new home is on the way for the country's orchestra.   Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh have chipped in $2 million towards Victoria University's new National Music Centre.   It's also used by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and comes after revelations the Micheal Fowler Centre and Opera House were deemed earthquake prone.   Symphony Orchestra Chief Executive Peter Biggs told Mike Hosking...

Job ads listed on Seek have fallen for a fourth consecutive month.   Its July report shows ad numbers fell four percent month-on-month and are just one percent higher than July 2019 - while applications rose 11 percent.   The decline has been driven by weakening demand in manufacturing, transport and logistics, information and communication technology and trades.   Country manager Rob Clark says t...

The Government is trying to cut spending as economists predict it'll need to borrow billions more.   Finance Minister Grant Robertson is cracking down on public contractors and consultants spending, announcing it'll mean savings of almost $4 billion over four years.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking the Government is spending $137 billion dollars a year, but this'll help at...

Two weeks out from the Rugby World Cup the All Blacks faced a record loss to South Africa, losing 35-7.   ZB’s rugby commentator Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking that the game really sharpened the focus of how good South Africa might be at the World Cup.   He said that Fiji is a team to keep an eye on, but England seems to have gone backwards after changing their coach last year. LISTEN ABOVE   See...

To use an old but, nevertheless, true saying, it would never have happened in my day.   I read with alarm the revelation that TVNZ, a place I have worked for a couple of times over the years, including starting the countries first TV breakfast show about a life time ago, has taken money from the Government. In this case, the money came from a Government energy agency and in return TVNZ produced so...

There are plenty of questions in the wake of an aircraft crash which has claimed the lives of three U.S. Marines.   They died yesterday off the coast of northern Australia, during a routine military exercise.   The Marine Rotation Force says five others have been transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious condition.   International Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that there were...

Staffing issues at Palmerston North Hospital's emergency department are reaching extremes.   Earlier this month, the department's clinical lead wrote to Te Whatu Ora to say they're at risk of not being able to provide an emergency medicine service.   Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking that it's an issue still affecting many hospitals, and...

Bail breaches are proving to be more challenging for police.   A leaked police report shows people are taking advantage of the limitations of ankle bracelets by wrapping them with tinfoil and re-offending.   Police Assistant Commissioner Naila Hassan told Mike Hosking that the percentage of people breaching hasn't changed, but the number of people on bail has.   Hassan says the increased volume me...

A racially-motivated shooting in the United States over the weekend is being investigated as a hate crime.   The 21-year-old gunman legally bought the firearms used to kill three black people at a dollar store in Jacksonville, Florida.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that it was on the 60th anniversary of the civil rights march on Washington.   He says a recent FBI report shows...

Chris Luxon says Winston Peters is an afterthought.   The National Party leader is refusing to say whether he'll work with New Zealand First.   Labour and ACT have already ruled out working with Peters, with Hipkins labelling him a force of instability and chaos.   National Leader Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that Winston Peters and New Zealand First are not a consideration at all.   He says they...

Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby joined Mike Hosking to wrap the week that was. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the growth industries these days is alarmism.   There has been some solid reading to be done this week in Australia as they trumpeted some stunning so-called facts on climate change, based on "ground-breaking new research".   The first claim is that globally we will be paying $1.5 trillion more each year on our debt as a result of the world not being contained, climate wise.   The second is...

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.       Lists: 6/10  Between the gender balance and the whack jobs, I am not sure lists are a good thing for democracy and good Government.       Polls: 6/10  A horrible week for the Government with further shovels of dirt in the political hole in which they are currently being bur...

The All Blacks have signed off preparations for tomorrow's last World Cup warm up match against the Springboks in London.   Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby, Elliott Smith is in the UK and joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems unlikely that Transmission Gully will get the green light for a speed boost anytime soon.   Waka Kotahi's looking at potentially raising the speed limit on the Mackays to Peka Peka, and Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressways to 110km/h.   Regional Relationships Director, Emma Speight told Mike Hosking Transmission Gully can't have the same treatment soon, due to outstanding work.   She says there...

Air New Zealand is promising customers it will get its processes right by Christmas.   After a successful financial year the airline is looking to improve in other areas, including making the process of flying more efficient for passengers.   CEO Greg Foran told Mike Hosking baggage collection and connecting flight delays can be up two hours - and this isn't good enough.   Foran says he's committi...

New alcohol legislation is being dubbed a move in the right direction.   Communities will now have more of a say on whether liquor licences should be issued in their area.   Community Law Centres Aotearoa's Sue Moroney told Mike Hosking people are concerned about the impacts of alcohol in their neighbourhoods.   Moroney says although crime is often alcohol fuelled, communities don't have the oppor...