The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The head of the Defence Force says New Zealand's contribution to Ukraine is being appreciated. The Government is committing another $4.5 million towards non-lethal military aid. Ukrainians in New Zealand have criticised the Government for not providing more support, including lethal aid. But Air Marshal Kevin Short told Mike Hosking Ukraine and our western allies appreciate the professional suppor...

An electoral law expert says New Zealand's threshold for anonymous donations is still higher than many countries. The Government has announced tighter party donation rules, including a requirement that all donors above $5,000 be identified. This was previously $15,000, but expert Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking it varies around the world. He says it's somewhat high compared to countries like the...

As if the Government didn’t have enough credibility issues, the inevitable Mahuta investigation has begun against the backdrop of the Prime Minister saying she had her full confidence. There is something not right about the whole Mahuta thing. The Foreign Affairs appointment came so far out of left field it made the Poto Williams appointment look like a stroke of genius. A person who hates flying...

An interview for the history books. Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty has taken over Tim Shadbolt's world record for the longest live interview of all time. The Chief Labour whip told Mike Hosking doing the exercise was worth it. He says while it's quite a cool experience, it was primarily for raising money for the Rural Support Trust in which donations have totalled around $4000 so far. LISTEN ABOVE S...

The 2022 State of Origin series is going to a series decider in Brisbane. The Maroons are heading home for the series finale absolutely decimated after they were put to the sword by the Blues in a second half rampage in Perth on Sunday night. The Blues crossed for five second half tries to win 44-12 in a game that was riddled with controversy. Some Queensland commentators are still crying foul aft...

National Leader Christopher Luxon is making his position on abortion crystal clear. In the wake of the removal of a constitutional right to an abortion in the US, Luxon's pro-life stance has been brought into question. He's vowing there will be no revisiting of our laws under a future National Government. Luxon told Mike Hosking he has a personal pro-life view, but no politician's role is to force...

Two unions are calling for "fares-free" public transport in Auckland. A report from First Union and the Public Service Association says it would help alleviate pressure on families,  and help Auckland's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. First Union's Louisa Jones told Mike Hosking currently, Aucklanders pay a lot of money for petrol to join a daily grid lock which is unproductive. She says the...

A dangerous drug that kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S each year has reached our shores. Twelve people have been hospitalised after taking a powdered form of fentanyl in Wairarapa over 48 hours, following the drug being sold as methamphetamine or cocaine. Drug Detection Agency chief operating officer Glenn Dobson told Mike Hosking it's part of a much bigger picture involving organised...

A division in the United States over how long the angst and anger surrounding the removal of the constitutional right to an abortion will last. Termination law has been given back to the states which could mean bans in more than half of them. Washington Post political reporter Annie Linskey says Democrats believe the angst and anger will continue all the way up until the mid-term elections in Nove...

As I understand the metaverse it will eventually be a place where you live that’s so real you may not know where you are, here or the metaverse. At the moment, as I understand, the metaverse it's just a bunch of avatars, like avatars on games. In fact, the metaverse as I understand it right now just looks like a cheap game. Some are starting to take it seriously. A Minister from a Middle Eastern g...

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to wrap the week that was. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.   MIQ: 2/10 "The not appealing bit was the right thing to do, but the not apologising is this Government to a tee. Say you are right until you are not and never say sorry. It's kindness personified."   Polls: 7/10 "This week's Curia poll have National and ACT forming a government...

Fletcher Building says the plasterboard shortage should be sorted by October. Chief Executive Ross Taylor has spoken at an investor presentation about measures being taken to control and increase supply. That includes its allocation model and importing Australian board. He told Mike Hosking they've also reconfigured their plasterboard factory to lift production. Taylor says supply should be hittin...

What were perceived to be hollow threats from Rugby Australia about leaving Super Rugby Pacific may end up being more than that. Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan doubled down on his comments when pressed on criticism by experts in New Zealand, saying we are not good partners. The issue seems to step from the contract length of Super Rugby Pacific and how much broadcast revenue each rugby boar...

Fonterra's Farmgate Milk Price could surpass $10 this season, according to new ASB forecasts. If it comes to pass, it will be the first double-digit payout on record. ASB Wealth Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown told Mike Hosking weak supply growth, mixed with strong demand, and a weaker than expected New Zealand dollar augurs well for milk prices. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

A new report from the Human Rights Measurement Intiative has prompted the Chief Human Rights Commissioner to urge the Government to improve outcomes for some minority groups. The report shows Māori, disabled people, LGBTQ+ and low income earners are more likely than others, to experience violations of their rights. Human Rights Measures Initiative spokesperson Thalia Kehoe Rowden told Mike Hosking...

The second of the two major supermarket chains will set up a wholesale grocery service for rival retailers. It was one of the recommendations of the Commerce Commission report into the industry. Foodstuffs announced its plans yesterday with Woolworths announcing a similar move earlier this month. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking they've had a wholesale business...

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking for Pollies. On the agenda was the newly-appointed plasterboard taskforce, results from the Tauranga by-election and MIQ. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am trying to work out just where the FINA decision around trans athlete participation at elite level fits, as far as far-reaching decisions go. It would be right up there because the reaction has been extraordinary. Emily Seebohm, an Australian Olympic great, talked of the relief given her and so many of her colleagues have been afraid to speak out. A sport they have loved and dedicated their li...

Do you think you'd be able to be interviewed for more than 26 hours straight, even if you had the gift of the gab? That's exactly what Labour MP Kieran McAnulty is planning to do. Over Saturday and Sunday he will be interviewed by a Greytown local, attempting to break two records to raise money for the rural support trust. The records are longest broadcast interview, at 26 hours and 4 seconds set...

Taranaki DHB is aiming to get 80 percent of its staff vaccinated against the flu. Ministry of Health data shows nationwide only around 54 percent of DHB staff have had the jab. Taranaki is offering incentives such as going in the draw for a hotel stay and other prizes to engage with busy staff. Operations Centre Manager Cameron Grant-Fargie told Mike Hosking it's also about taking reasonable steps...

Supply chains could continue to be an issue, even as the world's biggest port re-opens today. Shanghai has been operating at a severely reduced capacity since March. Many shipments have either been cancelled, postponed or rerouted to other Chinese ports. Infometrics economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking supply chain issues could get worse as manufacturing sites reopen. He wonders if ports in Euro...

Several hopes for the Government's plasterboard taskforce. Building and Construction Minister Megan Woods has set up the group to troubleshoot supply shortages. Commercial construction company Naylor Love Chief Executive Rick Herd is one of the taskforce members. He told Mike Hosking hopefully the Government's assistance will educate the construction sector on what options are out there now - such...

A nationwide expansion of tackling our gang problem is much needed. Police say Operation Cobalt is being expanded, after having some success in Auckland. Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking our gang problem isn't just a metropolitan one. He says provincial New Zealand has in some ways seen a bigger growth of those gangs. Cahill says they gather in groups of 20 to 30 to inti...

A North Shore doctor says he is waking up at 4am worried about his patients after working gruelling 12-hour shifts seeing up to 62 patients a day. "I'm burnt out and I've already been in tears ... the whole health system is falling to bits," medical director at Northcare Accident & Emergency Peter Boot told the Herald. His comments come as hospitals across the country have been inundated with peop...