The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Finance Minister says he's tried to create an environment where businesses can flourish. The quarter three GDP figure exceeded many economists' predictions by rising two percent. New Zealand's growth trumped that of the UK, US, EU and Australia. Grant Robertson singled out construction as something he was particularly proud of. He told Tim Dower he feels while the Government can't control exac...

Auckland councillors have voted to send mayor budget proposals out to public consultation. But not without a flurry, after Wayne Brown said Auckland Airport would be seeking cash for a new domestic terminal. That caused a temporary halt in Airport share trading. Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina joined Tim Dower to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fears a positive economic result could yield a negative one down the track. Our GDP grew two percent in the three months to September, blowing most economist predictions out of the water. But former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell says he's suspicious of the result and wonders if it will be revised to a lower rate. He told Tim Dower it could be a problem next year. Reddell says it will incr...

Fiji has taken the title as top destination for New Zealand holidaymakers. Flight Centre has released its travel wrap for the year, showing there's been a comeback for international travel for the country. It's seen an explosion in Kiwis jetting overseas, with Fiji making the strongest recovery post Covid. Flight Centre General Manager of Leisure Heidi Walker told Roman Travers in a three hour fli...

There are few many bigger names in music than Billy Joel. Since the 1970s - the P iano Man, We Didn't Start the Fire and Movin' Out singer has sold more than 160 million records worldwide. Billy Joel joined Mike Hosking ahead of his concert at Eden Park in December. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our most famous Kiwi bands is using its own record label to help give another band a leg-up. Six60's Massive Records is designed to foster and bring in up and coming Kiwi talent and groups - with Six60 acting as mentors with the promotional power. One of the first acts they've signed is coterie, four brothers who grew up here, now based in Perth. Their debut album has just been released, th...

There's a pretty clear message from the opening of the Government's books. The Crown right now isn't doing too badly at all. Debt looks to be on a downward track and somehow, despite the spending, the Government could be back in surplus by 2025. You might find it hard to get your head around but Treasury even says the Government’s management of the economy is not contributing to inflation. Not onl...

Is Stonehenge on your bucket list? Here's your chance to get a little more familiar with one of the most famous landmarks on the planet. International exhibition Secrets of Stonehenge is opening at Auckland Museum today. Featuring more than 300 ancient artefacts from more than 4,000 years ago, it shares the breakthrough scientific evidence that's unravelling the story behind the monument. The exhi...

Big numbers are expected at Auckland Airport this Christmas season. 50,000 people will be flying in and out of the country across December 23 and Christmas Eve. It's a far different picture than last year, when fewer than 3,000 people came and went over those two days. CEO Carrie Hurihanganui told Tim Dower a lot of work has been done to make sure everything goes smoothly. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnys...

Kiwis are set for more pain at the pump next year. The Government is extending its 25 cent a litre petrol tax cuts to February 28, before then phasing them out entirely by the end of March. Gull NZ General Manager Dave Bodger told Tim Dower once you add GST it's actually 29 cents a litre, which impacts the back wallet. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delight over the funding of EpiPens. Pharmac will fund the adrenaline auto-injectors for people who've experienced anaphylaxis, or are at significant risk of doing so, from February next year. Around 12,000 people are expected to qualify in the first year. Allergy New Zealand Chief Executive Mark Dixon says it's the best news allergy sufferers have had in the more than 40 years the organisation's...

Today's GDP figure is expected to show small growth, but some economists are more optimistic than the Reserve Bank. It predicted 0.8 percent growth, but ANZ Senior Economist Miles Workman is picking a 1.1 percent growth. He told Tim Dower other data released prior to today's announcement  is why he's changed his tune. Workman says things like retail spending data and manufacturing surveys are more...

The future of greyhound racing is uncertain after a new report on the industry is before Cabinet. Racing Minister Kieran McAnulty has read through the report from the Racing Integrity Board, but won't be able to present it until February. He says they could put the industry under strict monitoring, or shut it down entirely. Greyhound Racing New Zealand CEO Edward Rennell told Tim Dower they've mad...

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined Tim Dower to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacinda Ardern’s off-mic, but not quite far enough off-mic, comment in the House yesterday betrays just how rattled the Government’s front bench has become. I doubt it was anything to do with the Curia poll, which put Labour off by another two points and National up another one. It was possibly more to do with having to give in after holding out, inexplicably, for so long on green-listing the nurs...

An opportunity to raise awareness of New Zealand's rarest species, no matter their shape or size. The Endangered Species Foundation has launched the We Love You, Even If You're Ugly campaign, which allows people to adopt animals such as a Hamilton Frog or a Chatham Shag. After adopting the animal they will receive a certificate and a link to learn more about it. The Foundation's General Manager Na...

House prices are down sharply and questions remain as to whether they will stay down. ASB Bank predicts prices will eventually be lower by 40 percent once we adjust for inflation and 25 percent in cold cash terms. They're now 14 percent below the peak last year and there are signs the rate of decline may be increasing. ASB's Nick Tuffley joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener f...

There's hope families will have better emergency housing options put in front of them. The Government is making changes, including quality standards for suppliers and improved grants to help get people into private rentals. It follows a Human Rights Commission review that warns it's failing to meet basic human rights standards or help people in their journey out of homelessness. Solomon Group hous...

The Treasury will be opening its book for the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update today. Westpac Acting Chief Economist Michael Gordon says it will show us the state of the Government's finances. He says it's likely to predict flat growth or even a recession like the Reserve Bank has. Gordon told Tim Dower it will most likely be grim reading for the Government. He says they will probably be looki...

Questions over the immediate effect of a landmark smokefree legislation. The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after the 1st of January 2009. It will also see the amount of nicotine in smoked tobacco products reduced, and the number of tobacco selling retailers decreased. ASH chair Professor Robert...

We are at the business end of the biggest sporting event in the world, the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The trophy is now just two wins away. Today we will see Argentina vs Croatia, and tomorrow it will be France vs Morocco. Former All White and football commentator David Chote joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chief Ombudsman has delivered a pretty critical report on the MIQ lottery. Peter Boshier's report says officials didn't really think hard enough about the “very real impact” that the lobby system was going to have on people's lives. Now, you'll remember it didn't come in right at the start. It was set up in September 2021, supposedly to improve on the chaos we had. Tens of thousands trying to...

A tobacco giant is threatening the Government with legal action over its vaping review. Newstalk ZB has seen documents that reveal British American Tobacco is calling in the lawyers over a review of the country's vaping substances, including high nicotine levels. Our newsroom understands questions remain over the compliance of almost 1700 products in New Zealand - with 466 already removed. Massey...

In a year where the Royal Family has never been more in focus, we have another insight from one closest to them. We first talked to Lady Anne Glenconner back in 2019 when she released her memoir L ady In Waiting. She, of course, was the Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret and was the Maid of Honour at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Now - she's telling more of her story with Whatever Next - whic...

2022 was a fantastic year for McArthur Ridge wine; its Southern Tor Pinot Noir 2020 has been awarded trophy after trophy, including gold at the New Zealand International Wine Show. McArthur Ridge now has our most-awarded Pinot Noir and Winemaker of the Year Matt Connell joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.