The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Documents from the Ministry of Health raise concerns over the state of mental health services for children. They detail how funding for child mental health services isn't keeping up with demand, with the number of young people taken to ED because of a mental health incident rising by 177 per cent in the past 10 years. Health Minister Andrew Little told Mike Hosking mental health services for child...

Don't expect fuel prices to come down anytime soon. The country has hit a record high when it comes to the cost of importing petrol. Importers paid $1.59 per litre for 91, and $1.62 for 95 in the week to May 20th - 90 cents higher than the same week last year. Z Energy Chief Executive Mike Bennetts told Mike Hosking there are three key drivers, including tight supply. “The world’s economy is recov...

The Herald focus team did what we should all be doing. They worked out exactly how much you can save at a supermarket if you want to. Complaining about the price of things is easy. And when the two major players got into the game of making a contribution towards savings and price cuts, most people viewed it through a very cynical eye. But what I have been trying to argue is that although there is...

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 Reserve Bank and the OCR: 3/10 "Rate rises for as far as the eye can see. If that doesn’t tell you how bad it is, nothing does."   Government's Ram Raid Announcement: 6/10 "At last some help yesterday for the embattled, beleaguered retailer. A few jail terms might not go am...

If you're an employer and offer flexible working options, you're opening up the talent pool by 45 percent. Frog Recruitment has released their 2022 Employment and Salary Trend report - and it's still all about the flexibility. The other big benefits that employees are after is career development, and then bonuses. Frog Recruitment’s Managing Director, Shannon Barlow joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABO...

New research reveals Auckland's traffic woes are getting worse. The latest  AA report shows when the city wasn't in lockdown in the middle of last year,  typical morning travel times were worse than the three years before the pandemic. AA Senior Policy Advisor Sarah Geard told Mike Hosking the results were surprising. She says given Auckland's population declined slightly last year they thought th...

The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial is coming to the end of its sixth week. Depp is suing his ex-wife over an opinion piece, where she describes herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. He denies he ever struck Heard and says she was the abuser in the relationship. Celebrity divorce lawyer Christopher Melcher told Mike Hosking despite all the evidence, it's uncertain wh...

Auckland's biggest supplier of sand for concrete is still fighting to mine a beach north of the city. Earlier this month, McCallum Brothers was declined resource consent by Auckland Council for offshore sand extraction at Pakiri Beach, due to concerns for the likes of marine and bird life. They have now lodged an appeal to the Environment Court, claiming the environment will be worse off, if they...

Disagreement between National and the construction industry, over the pressures facing the industry. The recent liquidation of Tauranga's Oceanside Homes and Wellington's Armstrong Downes has exposed the pressures the multi-billion dollar industry is under. National MP Andrew Bayly told Mike Hosking the issues could tip the economy into recession. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Dairy owners say $6 million to stop ram raids is too little too late. The funding, announced by Police Minister Poto Williams, will come out of the Proceeds of Crime Fund to help vulnerable businesses bolster their protection. It will help pay for bollards and other security measures to prevent offenders breaking into and robbing stores. Sunny Kaushal from the Dairy Owners' Association told Mike H...

The great tragedy, or sadness, for me out of the Nanaia Mahuta revelation is that we are being let down so badly by hopeless people. Forget politics and your personal view of the world, surely what you want in the leadership of your country is enquiring minds, experience, and institutional knowledge. You want people, who even though you may not agree with, at least you can see what they are trying...

Star Wars has turned out to be one of the largest and most successful franchises in media history, but few of us will ever know what it is like to be a part of it. Moses Ingram made her name a couple of years ago starring alongside Anya Taylor Joy in The Queen's Gambit. That role earned her an Emmy nomination. Now, she's playing a starring role in Disney Plus' new expansion in the Star Wars univer...

An investigative report released Wednesday blamed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior leaders for allowing boozy government parties that broke the U.K.'s COVID-19 lockdown rules, and while Johnson said he took "full responsibility" for the breaches, he insisted he would not resign. Revelations that Johnson and his staff repeatedly flouted restrictions they imposed on Britain in 2...

The reality dating show Love Island will dress contestants in second hand clothes from e-Bay. The show has attracted criticism in the past for having clothing sponsors like Missguided, and I Saw It First, companies known for their fast-fashion. Personal stylist Caitlin Taylor joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Central Bank has raised the Official Cash Rate to 2 percent in a bid to drive down our 31-year-high inflation. Its forecasts of how high the OCR might rise have also jumped significantly, peaking at 3.9 percent in June next year. Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's being forced to take sides in the growing divide between the US and China. Jacinda Ardern has been meeting with several top US lawmakers this morning, including Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat Chuck Schumer. Discussions have mostly focused on gun control and trade, rather than China. But Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls told Mike Hosking Ardern's visit to the US at this time,...

Fears China's latest plan for a security pact with the Pacific is designed to give them more influence in the area. China has sent a draft to 10 Pacific countries, outlining a plan for policing, security and data communications cooperation. It comes ahead of a meeting Foreign Minister Wang Yi is hosting in Fiji next week. Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman told Mike Hosk...

The Government's expected to announce funding for security measures that protect businesses from ramraids. Parnell Business Association's Cheryl Adamson told Mike Hosking any form of support is welcome. She says businesses have been crying out for ram raid security funding for 18 months, and hopes they'll be given cash for things like security grills, bollards, glass and barriers. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Zespri's global revenue has topped $4 billion for the first time despite a challenging season, the company says. The kiwifruit marketer credited a record crop, investment in brand-led demand creation and its industry's ability to respond and leverage its scale for the record financial result in 2021/22. In a statement, the Mount Maunganui-based company said its global operating revenue of $4.47 bi...

It's coming home to roost a bit, isn't it? What we have learned this week, whether it be the construction company now in Britain looking to fill the jobs here that pay over $100,000, the university students that haven't come back despite the door being open, the manufacturers who told us the job queue is non-existent because reputation is an issue, or the apple orchards that have left over $100 mi...

National says it would have liked to see Auckland gang members arrested this morning. There was a spate of shootings across the city overnight, in Ōtara, Papatoetoe, Flat Bush, Papakura, Te Atatū, Mount Albert and Henderson. National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking search warrants should have been executed this morning. “When we talk about seven isolated shootings, you’re talking about dozens of...

A world-first remote-operated digger is entering Christ Church Cathedral today. It will undertake a clean-up, clearing out the debris, masonry and significant biohazard inside the nave.  Project Director Keith Paterson told Mike Hosking the machine is being controlled by a driver standing in an operations centre outside the cathedral. He says the operator is looking at a lot of screens , and he's...

An independent quality review of the national breast screening programme is underway. It's been commissioned by Interim Health New Zealand, and will whether the nationwide service continues to deliver strong and equitable outcomes. Chief Executive Margie Apa says it will have a strong focus on ensuring the needs of women, and particularly Māori women are being met. The review's focus will be on th...

Traffic management costs are raining on popular parades. Whau Local Board Member Jessica Rose says the thousands of dollars Auckland Transport charges could lead to the cancellation of Anzac Day and Santa parades. She told Mike Hosking she wants the costs justified. Rose says the issue is being raised at a board meeting - and she wants to know if they can be reduced in the future. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Prepare for interest rates to keep rising. The Reserve Bank is expected to raise the Official Cash Rate by another 50 basis points today, to counter rising inflation. That would take the OCR from 1.5 to 2.0 per cent -it's highest point in six years. Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr told Mike Hosking the central bank is likely to continue with 25 basis point rises until the OCR hits three perce...