The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Donald Trump says the US had projected a four-to-five-week operation in Iran but could go much longer.   Some of Iran's retaliatory strikes have been targeted at key energy infrastructure in the region, including an oil refinery and natural gas plant.   The Iranian Red Crescent says at least 555 people have been killed in attacks on the nation.  Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of...

LISTEN ABOVE OR IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND - LISTEN BELOW Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson is not having “fun” in his new car, but is excited to see what the new Formula One season brings.  Melbourne hosts the first Grand Prix of the year this weekend, and the Kiwi driver had some productive practice sessions ahead of his second full season in the competition but is still getting to grips w...

The impact of the Middle East conflict on our trade is still unclear.  Thousands of Kiwi containers are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, with more than $3 billion worth of goods headed for the Gulf each year.  Trade and Associate Foreign Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand would only look to alternative markets if the conflict drags on.  He told Mike Hosking it's interesting US stoc...

The Government believes its traffic welfare system is increasing people's chances of getting a job.  The system was introduced in August 2024 and uses traffic light colours to help beneficiaries stay on track with their obligations.  An evaluation has found nearly 99% of Ministry of Social Development clients are fulfilling their obligations, and the number of sanctions issued has droppe...

Promising signs when it comes to consumer arrears.  The latest Centrix data shows the number of people behind on their payments in January was 491 thousand.  That was up 20 thousand from December, largely expected due to seasonal trends.  But Chief Operating Officer Monika Lacey told Mike Hosking that despite the seasonal increase, arrears are still down on last year by almost 1%.&n...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 2nd of March, we get the latest on the war in Iran plus what it could mean for petrol prices back here in NZ. The Prime Minister is in and gives his thoughts on the legalities of the strike, airport charges the highest in the world at Auckland and the Air NZ result. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the NZ Open, the first race of the...

To the so-called poverty issue. The report actually uses the word "hardship". Kids in hardship, roughly, is flat. About 14% of kids allegedly live in some form of hardship. Hardship is often replaced with the word poverty. They are different things and, also, the measure of hardship is open to real inquiry. The stats department interviewed 18,000 families and "hardship" is a house that goes withou...

The Government has been helping to fund events such as the NZ Open for a while, but should they be contributing to an already successful competition?  NZ Open Tournament Director Michael Glading says that the Government gets a return on it's investment, and that the NZ Golf Open is one of their top earners.  'Certainly right up there in terms of return for dollar spent, and the money tha...

The Prime Minister says New Zealand has never supported the Iranian regime.  Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that it's a regime which has brutally repressed it's own people, killed tens of thousands, and sponsored terrorism around the world.  He also said that the missile strikes were 'independent attacks' from the US and Israel, and that New Zealand was not informed of the attacks b...

The US/Israeli missile strikes against Iran have caused uncertainty around oil prices.  20% of the world's crude oil travels through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has threatened to close and it has already heavily restricted access to the region.  AA Principal Policy Adviser Terry Collins told Mike Hosking that prices hinge on the ability to move oil through the Strait, but that won't...

Iran may be overstating its military capabilities in the wake of US and Israeli attacks.  Coordinated strikes have killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and multiple senior officials, resulting in Iran launching counter strikes across the Middle East.  Iran officials say almost 150 people have been killed from a strike on a girls school.  The Iranian President has appe...

Farmers say new KiwiSaver rules are a win for rural staff looking to buy property. Farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence personnel can now use KiwiSaver to buy their first home, or even a farm, due to the Government lifting a long-standing restriction. Previously, these workers were blocked because their jobs required living in employer-provided housing. Federated Farmers' Dairy Chair K...

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.    New Zealand: 8/10   It really has been quite the week. From the dairy to the spending, the turnaround, without question, is real. The confidence is up and the roll could be close to being on.    Kiwifruit: 9/10  The forecast and plan released this...

There is no doubt that Air New Zealand has issues.  In a week of company reports, the vast majority contained good news. Air New Zealand was a glaring exception.  A national airline losing money in an industry that is booming doesn’t make sense.  They have engine issues – that is real and it's not over.  They have eight grounded planes and planes that don’t fly don’t make money...

Progress towards a nuclear deal between the US and Iran remains murky with all-out war still a potential outcome.   A third round of indirect talks has just concluded in Geneva, with further discussions to take place in Vienna next week.   The pressure's on Iran, with the US deploying its biggest military build-up to the Middle East in decades.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 27th of February, there’s a material drop in the number of victims of violent crime – Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith discusses.   Air NZ CEO Nikhil Ravishankar discusses their half-year financial loss in a world of airlines making huge profits.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk speeding tickets by the kids and Sam's final b...

It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back on the air with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed children and speeding tickets, and the final bill from Producer Sam’s dinner at Cibo.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch turns up the volume today as Electric Avenue gets underway.  45 thousand punters are expected to attend each day of the Hagley Park event, with a further two thousand working on site.  Last year's festival produced $10.5 million in visitor spending.  Managing Director Callam Mitchell told Mike Hosking about 45% of their attendees travel from outside of Christchurch, so...

More New Zealanders are putting their faith back into the housing market.   ASB's latest survey shows confidence has lifted sharply this quarter, with respondents who expect house prices to rise over the next year jumping from 17% to 30%.  Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says it's a buyer's market and advises caution when it comes to banking on strengthening house prices.  But he told...

Air New Zealand is fighting with one hand tied behind its back facing local costs its international competitors avoid.  The national airline's announced a $40 million half-year loss.  The new Chief Executive says airlines are a cyclical business, and New Zealand is disproportionately exposed to local inflation.   Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking some of the other airlines making...

The Justice Minister says reducing the remaining number of crime victims will continue to be hard work.   Data from the latest Crime and Victims Survey shows there were 49 thousand fewer victims of violent crime in the year to last October, compared to the two previous years.  It's reduced to 136 thousand.   Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking that number is still too high.   He s...

There was a huge reaction to yesterday's Politics Wednesday segment on homelessness and move-on orders.  Labour argues homelessness is up dramatically and there is nowhere for these people to go.  New numbers released today show that simply, in Auckland anyway, is not true.  Advocates working in the area tell us numbers are down 29%.  Part of that drop is due to Government fund...

After almost six months, IndyCar is returning this weekend.  Scott Dixon, Marcus Amstrong, and Scott McLaughlin are all lining up on the streets of St Petersburg for the first race – the same streets where McLaughlin got pole last year.   However, McLaughlin has admitted that 2025 was a frustrating year, as he finished 10th in the Championship with three podiums.   He told Mike Hosk...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 26th of February, the dairy sector is experiencing record high milk production and exports .   Kiwi Alex Kendall is CEO of Wayve , a self-driving tech firm that just secured $1.5 billion to support the commercial rollout of their tech.   Kiwi Indycar driver Scott McLaughlin lays out his prospects ahead of the first race of the...

Someday soon your Uber could arrive with no one in the driver’s seat, and a Kiwi’s tech is behind the shift.  UK self-driving company Wayve, spearheaded by Alex Kendall, has secured $1.5 billion in capital to support to the commercial roll out of their ‘Robotaxis’.   The funding round also includes backing from Mercedes, Nissan, Microsoft and Nvidia, while local VC Icehouse Ventures is c...