The Mike Hosking Breakfast

When you think of the Blues, they largely go hand in hand with their home ground of Eden Park. Eden Park has mysteriously been left off of the Blues 2024 Super Rugby Auckland-based match schedule - are we witnessing a breakup? CEO of Eden Park Nick Sautner joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not a question of whether Lauren Dickason will receive life imprisonment, but rather how long her non-eligibility period for parole will be. The 42-year-old has been found guilty of murdering her three daughters at their Timaru home in 2021. Dickason pleaded insanity, caused by postpartum depression. Massey University Law Professor, Chris Gallavin told Mike Hosking the base level non-parole p...

It's thought the majority of farmers won't make a profit this year. The country’s biggest farm lender ANZ says many farmers are struggling to make their debt repayments. Total lending to agriculture rose by $564 million in June  the highest rise since June 2018. ANZ Agricultural Economist Susan Kilsby says told Mike Hosking some customers are looking to defer debt repayments until the end of the s...

In watching the Prime Minister yesterday in the house, I once again wondered to myself whether he either has a clue economically, or whether he actually does but just assumes the people who may vote for him don't, so he can pull the wool over their eyes.   This time it was about the wages. He was crowing about the wage stats, saying the wage stats are up, hourly earnings are up and the median wage...

The Matildas have definitely stolen the show this World Cup. The Aussie team have reached their first semi-final in team history but, there is still more to go. Tonight they will battle it out against England, and who ever wins tonight will be in the final with Spain, after they defeated Sweden in dramatic fashion at Eden Park. Sports Director at Australia Radio Network Jim Dolan joined the Mike H...

The opposition's crime spokesperson is putting his career on the line, if crime stats don't improve under a potential National government. The party is concerned at at increase in retail crime and police response times, proposing stronger sentences for criminals and restoring the three strikes law. Police Spokesperson Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking public safety is one of the top issues. He says...

Global dairy prices plunged by 7.4 percent overnight at the Global Dairy Trade auction. Whole Milk Powder, which has the biggest influence on Fonterra's milk price, dropped 10.9-percent. It comes less than two weeks after the dairy co-op drastically cut its forecast Farmgate Milk Price - with the midpoint falling from $8 to just $7. The result is unsurprising considering Fonterra was putting more...

A former Reserve Bank economist says the Official Cash Rate may not be able to be halted for long. The central bank will give its latest update today, with economists predicting it will stay at 5.5 percent. At its last review the bank expected it to remain at a restrictive level for some time. But Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking you could make a credible case for at least signalling the prospect...

Possums, rats and stoats beware - a new Artificial Intelligence trap is being added to New Zealand's predator-free campaign. Designed by Critter Solutions, the device only triggers when it identifies a pest to keep inquisitive native birds safe. They're being trialled in Auckland and Coromandel, supported by funding from the Government's Jobs for Nature Initiative. Project lead Doctor Helen Blacki...

Calls have come for a closer look at community retreat in the wake of climate change and severe weather. Climate Minister James Shaw's proposing a select committee inquiry into managed retreat. It'll also look at the potential for the Government to pay to support climate adaptation initiatives, taking lessons from cyclone Gabrielle. Tasman District Mayor Tim King told Mike Hosking it might be a to...

Claims have come that businesses are struggling to keep up as wages continue to rise. Stats NZ has revealed median weekly earnings from wages and salaries leapt 7.1 percent annually in the June quarter. It's the second largest annual increase since records began in 1998 and ahead of inflation's 6 percent. Tauranga Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Matt Cowley told Mike Hosking it's a win for wag...

Global dairy prices plunged by 7.4 percent overnight at the Global Dairy Trade auction. Whole Milk Powder, which has the biggest influence on Fonterra's milk price, dropped 10.9-percent. It comes less than two weeks after the dairy co-op drastically cut its forecast Farmgate Milk Price - with the midpoint falling from $8 to just $7. JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Mike Hosking the drop wa...

It had been a while since I'd watched a Post-Cabinet press conference, but there I was yesterday, watching the current Prime Minister end our Covid response. The seven days isolation and the masks that we are supposed to have been following, are now gone. The irony being, until a week or so back I had no idea they were still in place because I suspect, like most people, I haven't thought about Cov...

Steven Joyce had one of the most colourful careers in politics and has now given an insight into that time with a new book. On the Record reveals what it takes to win and keep office, and the secrets behind the strategy and campaigning that led to National being in power for almost a decade. The former Finance Minister joined Mike Hosking live in studio to talk the book, his political career and h...

The Fifa Women's World Cup is coming to an end. Tonight the last New Zealand match will be played at Eden Park with Spain and Sweden battling it out to see who will compete in the final. Fifa Head of Global Women's Football Sarai Bareman joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are leaving New Zealand at record highs - but net migration is still up. For June this year net migration rose to 86,000, the largest it has been in three years. The increase is down to a gain of 121,600 non-New Zealand citizens which was offset by a loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens. Massey University Sociologist and Immigration specialist Paul Spoonley joined Mike Hosking to discuss. LIS...

New Zealand's economy has managed to gain momentum over the past three months, despite pressures. The Infometrics economic monitor says there was a 1.4 percent rise in economic activity in the June quarter, compared to the year before. That's despite a technical recession and tough interest rate increases. Principal Economist Brad Olsen says there are other numbers rolling in that look good. LISTE...

Clarification has come as Labour's new policy to ditch GST from fruits and veggies could be causing a headache for consumers. It's vying to cut the 15 percent sales tax from fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, if it governs at the next election. Hipkins was asked to front up on the finer details of the plan; whether garlic or processed frozen veggie mixes would get a tax cut. The Prime Ministe...

The tourism sector is hoping it will be back to business as usual. The final Covid restrictions, including the seven day isolation period and mask wearing in health settings, were scrapped by the Government as of midnight last night. Tourism Export Council Chief Executive Lynda Keene told Mike Hosking they've been lobbying for this since last year. She says it's a huge relief to be able to get bac...

A fatherhood support group is backing Labour's commitment to bringing in four weeks of paid parental leave for partners. Plans would be phased in from July if Labour's re-elected - topping up already-existing leave entitlements. Kidz need Dadz Field Worker Allan Harvey told Mike Hosking it would make a difference to partners. He says it'll help people decide to support Mums and bond with their chi...

Read the story about Kirsten Murfitt and ask yourself, is this how bad it's got? Obviously the story that got the headlines is the GST off fruit and veges scam. But as a combination of the weekend's political news, it leaves me with a sense of some despair and sadness. We could also toss in the business of the Green's and yet more money we don’t have on energy grants and interest free loans. But t...

The Finance Minister's now backing Labour's plan to slash GST from fresh and frozen fruit and veggies. Grant Robertson's previously cited concerns the cost savings wouldn't be passed onto consumers, calling it a boondoggle — meaning a wasteful spend. The party's now promising to slash GST from fruit and veg from April, saving the average household around $20 a month. Finance Minister Grant Roberts...

Spongier cities are needed to cope with increasingly extreme weather. A report by the Helen Clark Foundation and environmental consultancy WSP New Zealand highlights a series of actions cities can take to help mitigate future flooding. Report author Kali Mercier told Mike Hosking that Auckland is making efforts, but there is plenty more the rest of New Zealand can do. She says that putting trees a...

A grim picture is being painted in the wake of the deadly inferno in the Hawai’ian town of Lahaina. Ninety three people have been confirmed dead, with hundreds still missing as search teams with cadaver dogs continue sifting through the ruins. US Correspondent Richard Arnold says that one of the most surreal scenes is located at the waterfront. He says there is car after car, completely gutted, li...

The Greens are hailing their new renewable energy plan as their way to tackle the cost of living crisis. The party's pledging up to $36,000 in grants and loans for homeowners to pay for improvements like insulation and heat pumps. It would also put solar panels on Kainga Ora homes, which the Greens claim will save people money on power. Greens Co-Leader James Shaw told Mike Hosking that most of th...