The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Prime Minister says the Government is not releasing any new tax policy. An Inland Revenue report released early this afternoon will estimate the effective tax rate of the country's rich, taking into account their full economic income, rather than just taxable income.  Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking they were clear in 2020 about their tax policy. He says they're sticking to that and they'll le...

Questions are being raised about whether the country's transport agency is putting enough focus on road infrastructure. In 2020, 400 risks were identified on state highways by Waka Kotahi, including major and extreme threats, but the agency has only started work on ten of them Transporting New Zealand Acting Chief Executive, Dom Kalasih told Mike Hosking he understands the Government's planning to...

More information is to be released on how much the rich are paying in tax. The Inland Revenue report will estimate the effective tax rate of the country's  wealthiest - taking into account their full economic income, rather than just taxable income.  PwC Partner Geof Nightingale says the tax system is collecting adequate revenue and there's no revenue crisis, even with cyclone expenses. He told Mi...

A majority of Aucklanders appear to be on board with at least sell-offs and cutbacks at Auckland Council. Newstalk ZB can reveal more than half of submitters and survey participants believe there needs to be some spending cuts, but most support only some of the possible cutbacks. A majority also support selling off council shares in Auckland Airport, but opinion is divided on whether that should b...

There appears to be almost no appetite in America for another Trump-Biden Presidential race. Joe Biden has announced he will stand for re-election in 2024. He would be 86 before the end of a second term. Trump is 76 and looks to be leaving his Republican rivals in his wake, despite recent legal action. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking just five percent of Americans want that remat...

The Aussies, and come to that our own prime minister, have gone overboard telling us what a great deal they’ve done for New Zealanders living in Australia. And on the face of it, yes. It’s a great deal for our people already living across the ditch. Six, maybe seven-hundred thousand of them. Much, much easier now for them to achieve security of tenure, and access to the kinds of services and benef...

Schools will still operate as normal, despite a work ban by principals starting this term. Those working in primary and area schools are pausing the work they do with the Education Ministry for the next two months over a recent pay offer. It includes all work outside 8am to 5pm weekdays, apart from board meetings. NZEI lead negotiator Lynda Stuart told Tim Dower that it has nothing to do with anyt...

Disputes brew over New Zealand's most famous harness racer, as a carpark could be paved over his grave. The NZ Trotting Hall of Fame wants to exhume Cardigan Bay's remains from Auckland's Alexandra Park to Cambridge. The Auckland Trotting Club plans to pave over the grave site for a potential road or carpark. Auckland Trotting Club President Jamie Mackinnon says that they reached out to the sole t...

Fans of Barry Humphries say his comic legacy will always be remembered. The Australian comedian died in Sydney Saturday night, at the age of 89. He was best known for Dame Edna - a character with lilac coloured hair and cat eyed glasses. Auckland entertainment writer David Hartnell says Humphries was a comic genius, sometimes compared to Charlie Chaplin. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The family of the cinematographer who was fatally shot on the set of Rust is still planning to sue Alec Baldwin despite his criminal charges being dropped. Halyna Hutchins died after a live bullet fired from a prop gun by Baldwin during filming in 2021. The Emmy-award winning actor was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. US correspondent Richard Arnold told Tim Dower that the gun...

More New Zealanders look to be jetting off overseas. It comes as Australia announces a new direct pathway to citizenship for eligible New Zealanders who have lived across the Tasman for at least four years. Malcolm Pacific Immigration CEO David Cooper says that a lot of young people are planning international trips this year, with plans to be out of New Zealand for a while. He says we won't only l...

The Police Commissioner was a little slippery in his response to the report on the Parliament Grounds riots yesterday. Andrew Coster's statement was gushing in its praise of the frontline officers, as it should have been. They ended up facing a raw and violent confrontation which was completely avoidable if police top brass had done their job. There's a glaring contradiction in the Commissioner's...

A 33-year-old is making an attempt on the New Zealand ultra-distance open water swim record, hoping to bring attention to the poor health of Hauraki Gulf in the process. Jono Ridler will set off from Karaka Bay on Great Barrier. Island, aiming for Narrow Neck Beach in Auckland, roughly 100 kilometres away. Jono joined Tim Dower to discuss the mammoth task he's set for himself. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

After a season with the Blues and All Blacks, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is set to make a sensational return to league. Not only that, he has signed a three-year deal with the Warriors, starting from next season with the Penrose-based club. One NZ Warriors CEO Cameron George joined Tim Dower to talk through the coup for the club. George says he and the club remained in contact with Roger and his team and...

Brace for higher prices at the petrol pump. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has just confirmed to Newstalk ZB that the Government won't be extending the current fuel tax discount beyond the end of June. The Government extended the 25 cents per litre discount for a fourth time back in February, against Treasury advice. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has previously refused to rule out further extensi...

The top cop says Police planned for the Parliament protests last year to the best of their ability. The Independent Police Conduct Authority review of how police handled the occupation is out. Overall, it found police served the public well, but the watchdog has made 14 recommendations for improvement. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Tim Dower it's a 'one in 40 year' incident. "How you main...

Otago University isn't alone in its mass redundancies. The university is looking at cutting hundreds of jobs to help reduce its annual operating budget by $60 million. Enrolments have fallen, with 670 domestic students down on last year. Universities New Zealand Executive Director Chris Whelan told Tim Dower this is happening at universities across the country. He says Otago is just the latest to...

Good news and sobering news has come from the latest inflation announcement. The inflation rate increased 6.7 percent in the 12 months to March. That's a slow down from the 7.2 percent jump recorded in the previous quarter. Devon Funds Management Head of Retail Greg Smith told Tim Dower the sobering news is that inflation has moved to domestic items and may not come down too quickly. He says the R...

A boost to the retail crime prevention fund is being given the tick of approval from the retail sector. It's been given a $9 million top-up, to a total of $15 million. More than 500 ram-raided or robbed stores have had quotes approved, and over 1000 security interventions completed. That includes hundreds of fog cannons, CCTV systems, and roller doors. Retail NZ spokesperson, Aimie Hines told Tim...

NCEA; what a cluster. Changes to both the curriculum and the assessment process that is testing to you and me - are being slowed down. The Minister says this will help lift performance, and tackle those awful numbers showing about half our kids are leaving school barely capable of basic reading and writing. What I read into that is that the Minister knows if we moved into the new regime now, the r...

You'll know the name and you'll know the voice. Moses MacKay, one third of the very well known and popular Sol3 Mio is our guest this morning. But Sol3 Mio isn't why Moses is with us; next week he is releasing his debut solo album. It's called G race - and at the end of last month The Mike Hosking Breakfast got the chance to hear the first single from the album called ' Some Sorta sensation' and t...

After three years, the Auckland home show is back. Starting today, about 40,000 visitors are expected over four days and it is the largest home event in Australasia. Show organiser Amanda Magnus joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With food prices up 12.1 percent in a year, it's no surprise more people are seeking food support. The New Zealand Food Network is a not-for-profit that collects surplus and donated food for redistribution. It's now supporting almost half a million people a month. CEO Gavin Findlay joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our current period of high inflation isn't over yet. Latest figures due out this morning are expected to show consumer prices rose between 6.9 percent and 7.2 percent in the year to March. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Tim Dower inflation isn't easing here as fast as it is in other countries. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The delay of some proposed changes to the NCEA system to make room for a fresh focus on literacy and numeracy skills is being well received by the education sector. New tests on the subjects will be introduced next year, along with the new NCEA Level One while the updated Level Two and Three have been delayed to 2026 and 2027. Secondary Principals' Association President, Vaughan Couillault says to...