The Mike Hosking Breakfast

New Zealand's red meat industry is booming, yet there are fears export growth may slow following a busy month. Export values have risen, with beef up 25 percent from the previous year, and sheepmeat up 15 percent. However, external factors are slowing growth as inflationary challenges present themselves - a drop in value of the Japanese Yen has meant beef exports are down 23 percent. Meat Industry...

It does, on the surface, seem odd that Jacinda "nuclear moment” Ardern is not front and centre in Egypt saving the world at COP27. And yet if you think about it, it isn't. What Ardern is, and more and more have realised it, is all talk. As we discovered last week, with the court victim programmes that were announced by her with great fanfare, but when they turned out to be duds, she was taking no...

An internationally renowned circus company is pulling out all the stops, bringing its first acrobatic production on ice to New Zealand shores. Cirque du Soleil's show Crystal will combine all the heart-stopping circus disciplines they're known for, with traditional and extreme figure skating. They've now announced shows in Christchurch and Auckland next June. Cirque du Soleil Artistic Director Rob...

The Climate Change Minister is tempering expectations about this year's UN Climate Change Conference. James Shaw will head to Egypt alongside delegates from 200 other countries. He says it will mostly be about following through on previous promises rather than creating new ones. Shaw says while we may not be feeling climate change other countries aren't so lucky. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li...

The Social Development and Employment Minister says their extension to childcare funding will be appreciated by many families. The Government's announced the income threshold to access the childcare subsidy scheme will be raised from April. More than half of New Zealand families will be eligible. The Working for Families tax credit will also increase by nine dollars a week for the oldest child, an...

A school principal says they're doing what they can to support students after three disrupted years. Tens of thousands of secondary school students will begin NCEA exams today. Some exams are offered digitally while most are sat in-person, on paper. Avonside Girls' High School Principal Catherine Law told Mike Hosking that it's been the strangest year of the pandemic for students. LISTEN ABOVE See...

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 Government's Week: 1/10 "It really does have a death rattle about it. Covid money for Three Waters, tourism money announced but not delivered, the sound of screaming and desperation from everyone wanting someone to do a job for them, and their own candidate for Hamilton Wes...

One of life's lessons is that the more things swing one way, the greater the eventual correction. McLeod Transport in the Bay of Plenty are looking at becoming landlords because they can't get workers. The broadest of questions once again has to be asked of the Government. Just how badly do they want to cripple business and constrain the economy with their mad immigration policy? How many examples...

It's time for the business end of the Women's Rugby World Cup. The Black Ferns face their toughest challenge of the tournament so far with France in the semi-final this Saturday night. France have won the last four games against the Black Ferns and coach Wayne Smith has made just the one change to the starting line up from their quarter-final. Wayne Smith joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

Jordie Barrett has been given another chance to lay claim to the All Blacks' No 12 jersey after earning a starting spot in the team to face Wales in Cardiff. Barrett, who along with brothers Beauden and Scott was a late arrival on the northern tour following the death of his grandmother, will again link with Rieko Ioane in midfield on Sunday morning (NZT). The 25-year-old has been preferred at ful...

Some advice has come for Starship Hospital on how to handle problematic donations. The children's hospital has been in hot water this week after rejecting a donation of more than $500,000 from a horse racing win. Another man's now come forward to say his $10,000 offer from selling a horse was also turned down due to the money's origins. Their communication has been described as confusing, with a c...

Data obtained by the National party shows rent owed to Kāinga Ora has increased from $9 million to $16 million in the past year - an 81 percent jump More than 9,000 Kāinga Ora tenants are in arrears. Solomon Group Housing Manager, Bernie Smith, told Mike Hosking increased inflation, pain at the pump and the supermarket squeeze is putting financial pressure on our more vulnerable. He says when you...

The Waimakariri mayor wants a national ban on private fireworks. It comes as more than 200 hectares of coastland between Pegasus Beach, Woodend and Pines Beach was set alight with investigators finding fireworks were to blame.  Two young people have been spoken to by Police, one of them has been referred to Youth Aid. Fire crews and an aerial team are still at the scene, tackling spot fires and da...

A mixed approach is being touted as the best way to decrease meth use. The high price and demand for the drug here is making New Zealand an increasingly attractive place for international manufacturers. Drug Detection Agency Chief Operating Officer Glenn Dobson says we have a softening attitude towards drugs. He told Mike Hosking it won't just be about things like rehabilitation and prevention. Do...

Part two of Laurel and Hardy of the New Zealand economy. This time it's Grant Robertson and the Government's immigration policy. The wage numbers were the worst thing that could possibly have happened. They increased at a rate not seen since records began. It's not the sort of record you want to break. Wages are going up at the rate they are because there are no people left to hire. As long as thi...

Al Murray is one of Britain’s most successful comedians and writers. He's been on the scene for more than 30 years and came up with iconic persona - The Pub Landlord. And that character has delighted audiences worldwide. But Murray is also a bit of a history buff - and has released a book on world war two, Command: How the Allies Learned to Win the Second World War. Al Murray joined the Mike Hoski...

Looks like we are likely to have an Anzac test against the lions. Rugby Australia are in talks with NZR to put together an Anzac XV as part of the Lions tour of Australia in 2025, with both parties splitting the profits. The last time we did such a game was in 1989 when the Anzac xv lost 19-15 - Alex Wyllie aka ‘Grizz’ was the All Blacks coach at the time and joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Tough times ahead for mortgage holders but they won't have to go it alone. The Reserve Bank has issued a warning about negative equity where people owe more than the value of their house. Kiwibank has around 30 to 40 customers a week asking to make changes to their mortgages, CEO Steve Jurkovich says that's not a huge proportion of their customers overall. He told Mike Hosking the housing market h...

The Government's defending dipping into the Covid response fund to financially support Three Waters reforms. It diverted more than $70 million from the pandemic Response and Recovery Fund towards Three Waters reforms including consulting and helping councils adapt. National party Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis is labelling the Government sneaky and dishonest and says the fund should've only be...

Calls for urgent financial support for the struggling tourism sector. The Government has drawn criticism for their lack of action towards a $54 million innovation fund to help with post-Covid recovery. The scheme was announced in May's Budget, but none of the fund has been spent because the eligibility criteria is still yet to be written. Tourism Export Council chief executive Lynda Keene told Mik...

The Government's being slammed as dishonest after redirecting $70 million of the pandemic response fund, to Three Waters reforms. Official documents show the cash was diverted to Three Waters in April, despite Grant Robertson promising to only use the fund for the government's Covid response. National party Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking the government hasn't been truthful. L...

A warm welcome for regulation of the buy now, pay later sector. The Government has announced compulsory affordability checks for loans more than $600, to ensure the borrower doesn't end up in a debt trap. Providers will also need to have hardship processes in place, especially as the Christmas season looms near. LayBuy managing director Gary Rohloff told Mike Hosking as long as the regulation is a...

What are the Government going to do when this year turns out to be one of the deadliest on the roads in years? That is the way we are tracking, this past weekend it stood at 307 deaths. Leaked material from Waka Kotahi suggested they had mapped the country for problem roads and turns out just about every road is a problem road. So they are suggesting they drop the speed limit to 80 kilometres per...

Politicians are divided on the argument over the rejection of a donation to Starship Hospital. Horse breeder Mark Chittick says he was told the children's hospital couldn't accept his offer of more than half a million dollars, because it was associated with horse racing. National MP Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking the money could've made a world of difference, and can't understand why Starship tur...

The music industry is crying out for gig crew as concerts and festivals are set to be bigger than ever this summer. Industry experts say they're facing a staffing crisis with a serious lack of set-up and pack-down staff for all shows, ranging from small gigs to huge concerts. Production and Stage Manager Gavin Downie has been in the industry for 20 years and told Mike Hosking it's never been more...