The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Adventure tourism operators could benefit by emphasising the wellbeing benefits of outdoor activities. During the 2020 lockdown, Otago University spoke to people who regularly do adventure sports, but weren’t able to. It found they coped quite well, as they'd built up skills like being able to embrace challenges and adapt to things outside their control.  Co-author of the study associate professor...

The wild weather is over, but the travel chaos could continue well into next week. More than 180 flights and most Cook Strait ferry sailings were cancelled during yesterday's stormy weather. Air New Zealand is asking people to delay their flights if possible. But Chief Executive Greg Foran told Tim Dower the airline is trying to make arrangements for people who need to travel. “Got 126,000 people...

Signs the housing credit crunch might be easing a little. A new survey of mortgage advisors by economist Tony Alexander has found banks are becoming more willing to lend funds, a stark turnaround to the situation a year ago. Mortgage broker Bruce Patten told Tim Dower some banks are more willing to lend than others. He says about half of banks are more willing to lend than others, and clients who...

If you think you're seeing more Government advertising around, you're probably right. Newstalk ZB can reveal public sector and Crown agencies have spent almost $125 million on advertising in the last financial year. That's about 122 percent more than they were spending five years ago. Deputy Political Editor Jason Walls told Tim Dower the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is an example of t...

More than 8000 new homes are expected to be built in several centres around New Zealand as part of a new infrastructure investment. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods announced in Ōtaki the new homes would be built across 20 years in Rotorua, Ōmokoroa, Kaikōura, Ōtaki, Napier, Gisborne and New Plymouth. The Bay of Plenty is expected to reap the greatest rewards from the funding, with more than 5600 h...

The severe weather that's been battering the country could be a sign of what's to come. It could take days to get flights back to normal, after about 130 flights and most Cook Strait ferry sailings were cancelled yesterday due to heavy gales in Wellington. Lake Ohau Road Bridge is due to reopen today, but State Highway 6 west of Murchison, Ruapehu's Bruce Road and State Highway 35 east of Opotiki...

We're screaming out for nurses and other health staff right now, tourism and hospitality are trying to fire up after Covid, you only need to walk down your local High Street or check on social media and you see it everywhere. “We're hiring, full-time, part time, immediate starts.” At the same time, we've got 101,000 New Zealanders on JobSeeker Support who are supposedly 'work ready'. Apparently th...

Chris Packham is one the world's most famous environmentalists. In the 1980s he joined the BBC as a camera assistant on its nature show A Toad's Tale. Ever since then he's been passionate over the environment, hosting many documentaries and launching many campaigns to protect wildlife. Now - his new show Waterhole: Africa’s Animal Oasis is coming to sky's BBC earth next Sunday. Chris Packham joine...

The chequered flag associated with motorsport activities at Pukekohe Park will wave for the last time next year amid plans by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) to further develop the site for their own purposes. The last motorsport event at the racecourse will be on April 2 2023 before the site turns its focus to ATR's thoroughbred racing activities. Motorsport legend Greg Murphy joined Tim Dower...

There are fresh questions about universities' commitment to pastoral care after a student at Lincoln was found dead in her hall of residence. A pastoral care code was updated after a Canterbury student died in halls three years ago. Universities NZ’s executive director Chris Whelan joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation has been launched after a complaint was laid about an assisted death in a public hospital. A family member of the person who died laid a complaint about their experience at the hospital to the Ministry of Health. The ministry's assisted dying secretariat has upheld the complaint and referred it to the Health and Disability Commissioner, who has begun an investigation. Further deta...

Argument in the debate over gun advertising. Advocacy group Gun Control New Zealand is calling for an end to the ads after a series of recent firearms-related incidents, including two shootings in the Auckland suburb of Glen Innes this week. Council of Licensed Firearms Owners Chairman Michael Dowling told Tim Dower he struggles with the rationale of demands for the ban. He can't see a direct link...

Britain's Conservative Party has chosen former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — a fiscal moderate and a low-tax crusader — as the two finalists in a party election to replace departing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The result came after the divisive, unrepentant Johnson, who has plunged his party into turmoil, ended his final appearance in Parliament as prime minister w...

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.

It's hard to understand the Government's obstinacy on the Three Waters reforms. From the get-go, the response from local bodies up and down the country has been a pretty resounding, no thanks. They've read the room; local voters either don't like the plan one bit or don't understand or don't even know what's happening. Only a quarter of us think Three Waters is a good plan, that's according to a O...

Fresh may not be best. Research by Rabobank and KiwiHarvest shows only 57 percent of Kiwis are eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, down three percent on last year. Nutritionist Nikki Hart says cost is likely behind the decline and we should consider cheaper alternatives like frozen vegetables. She told Tim Dower when frozen vegetables are harvested, many of them are snapped frozen...

Rugby Australia’s threat to create a Super Rugby split with New Zealand seems to be gaining traction Both its broadcaster and billionaire backer Andrew Forrest have thrown their support behind the idea. Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan first revealed the idea for a beefed-up domestic competition, instead of renewing the Super Rugby allegiance with NZ Rugby. Now Stan sport, which holds broa...

Concerns some businesses are using inflation as a good excuse to raise prices higher than they otherwise would. Industries dealing with things like food, beverage, and tobacco products have been raking in profits upwards of 85 percent on last year. PWC tax partner Geof Nightingale says New Zealand is unlikely to follow the UK and Spain who have imposed taxes on excess profits. He told Tim Dower it...

A survey of Kiwi parents reveals a fear of children's safety online.  The Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report shows nearly 90 percent believe kids will give away their parents’ or families’ private information on the web. More than half report their kids have done something on their devices without permission.  Systems engineer Dean Williams says it highlights a need for education.  He says we nee...

A transport leader says ideology is at play over the decision to not increase car capacity through a second Mount Vic tunnel. A new tunnel is coming to the capital, with the current one being transformed for just walkers and cyclists. Responses to written parliamentary questions estimate 6,000 pedestrians and cyclists will go through each day, compared to 55,000 drivers currently. Transporting New...

Councils are concerned they're not being heard during the development of the Three Waters Reforms. The Government's giving councils a $44 million cash injection to help with the costs of setting up the new system. Local Government Associate Minister Kieran McAnulty has met with 21 rural and provincial councils to understand their issues with the changes. He told Tim Dower under-resourcing wasn't t...

Fear Covid-19 antiviral medication could do more harm than good for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Access criteria has been extended for three drugs to include people aged 75 years and over, and those who have already been in intensive care because of the virus. However, some GPs fear the antivirals' formula could interact poorly with other medicines or patients with co-morbidities....

There's little doubt Annie Crummer is New Zealand music royalty. She, of course, made her name in the 80s with her work with Netherworld Dancing Toys, Herbs and her all-female group When the Cats Are Away. Crummer also had a brilliant solo career with her solo albums topping the charts and being a supporting act for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Ray Charles and Michael Jackson. Now she's on the...

A tough day for the Conservative Party. While the party is in the throes of a leadership contest, outgoing leader Boris Johnson has won another no-confidence vote. The opposition was calling for him to step down immediately, and a caretaker Prime Minister to come in. UK correspondent Rod Liddle told Tim Dower it would have been sensible for MPs to back Johnson over the summer. He says the oppositi...

It's part of the whole education process isn't it? You're probably living away from home for the first time and learning to live on a budget. But is it in our long-term interests for students to be literally on the bones of their backsides? Two-thirds of students who took part in a survey by the Greens and the student unions say they regularly don't have enough money to buy basics. More than half...