The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Grant Robertson says the Government is doing what it can to help beneficiaries. The Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister told Tim Dower that's why it's targeted low and middle income people with its April 1 package. He says people are still getting the benefit of that, with increased income support payments. Robertson says the Government also continues to provide Covid support in the area of...

Unions are demanding for robust and enforceable health and safety national standards for our port workers. It comes after 26 year old port worker Atiroa Tauiti died on Tuesday while working on a docked container ship. Three maritime unions have written a joint letter to Workplace Relations Minister Michael Wood to try and get action on this. Iain MacLeod, Merchant Service Guild National Vice Presi...

Grant Robertson is being urged to help people as inflation bites. Inflation's risen to a 30-year high of 6.9 percent, there are predictions it will continue to go up. Beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton says beneficiaries are cutting back on food, and says it will be a shock when fuel and public transport prices and go back to normal. She told Tim Dower she wants the Finance Minister to extend those...

There is some hope on the horizon for our wine growers. This year’s grape harvest looks to be in far better shape than what 2021 gave them. Last year’s harvest was 20 percent smaller than usual, due to poor weather and having to navigate through Covid.  Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Myrtle rust has been found on the Chatham Islands. This disease impacts plants including iconic New Zealand species like pohutukawa. In March, a member of the public brought a diseased plant  from the north end of the main island to the Department of Conservation - which has been confirmed as myrtle rust. Beyond Myrtle Rust programme researcher Peter de Lange believes the discovery has a silver li...

The Foreign Affairs Minister isn't hiding her extreme disappointment with the Solomon Islands, over its new security pact with China. China says it's given the deal a final sign-off. Nanaia Mahuta says New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific community respect the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands, and their right to make their own foreign policy decisions. But she told Tim Dower we have a long-ter...

Christchurch Airport says it's achieved its goal of becoming beyond carbon neutral - and now it's entered into being climate positive. The airport is considered a global leader in getting airports and aviation to a lower carbon future. Nick Flack, General Manager of Planning and Sustainability at Christchurch Airport joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

The chain that owns PaknSave, Four Square and New World says it's doing everything to help customers in the face of high inflation. Many economists are predicting the Consumer Price Index will be more than seven percent, when it's released this morning. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Tim Dower the company is trying to help customers find value. He says pricing's being simp...

This morning's inflation rate will be historically high -- but economists are divided on how high inflation will be, and how long it will last. Stats NZ will release its latest Consumer Price Index data just before 11am. ANZ Economist Finn Robinson told Tim Dower the annual inflation rate will be well above seven percent - by far the highest in a generation. “Covid is causing international inflati...

Jacinda Ardern has arrived in Japan for the second leg of her Asian trade tour. She's meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this afternoon. Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls told Tim Dower today's events are likely to be more exciting than those in Singapore. He says as well as meeting with Kishida, Ardern will attend a range of business and promotional events in Tokyo, including th...

Grant Robertson says we need to look at the full context to understand the Government's decision about ending MIQ, not just one piece of advice. A memo shows Ashley Bloomfield and Caroline McElnay agreed in November last year MIQ was no longer justified for most returnees. The Acting Prime Minister says that was peer reviewed and a careful transition was advised. He told Tim Dower just over a week...

Our billion dollar collision repair industry could lose 15 percent of its revenue this year. Demand for parts and repairs are down 31 percent on pre-Covid levels, due to less people using their cars while working from home and the rising cost of petrol. Neil Pritchard, from the Collision Repair Association joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims continue to arise in the second week of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation case. Depp has testified in the $50 million trial against ex-wife Heard. Depp's "private addiction doctor" alleged a chunk of his finger was discovered after a violent altercation with Heard. Heard says it was a "three day hostage situation" in which Depp attacked her. Celebrity divorce lawyer Chris Melcher t...

It may end up unlikely that we'll need to get a Covid-19 vaccine each year. Immunisation experts say we now know that six months after most of us were boosted, immunity is still looking good. This comes as officials decide whether to start offering a fourth dose to our most vulnerable. Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

Global events are weighing down global dairy prices. Overall prices are down 3.6 percent at the latest Global Dairy Trade auction overnight. The all-important whole milk powder price is down 4.4 percent - while the price of skim milk is down 4.2 percent. JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Tim Dower supply is up, and several factors are pulling demand down. “Russia-Ukraine conflict, we’ve had...

Increased calls for a national inquiry into health and safety at New Zealand's ports, after another worker death. A person died yesterday morning at Ports of Auckland, after falling from a height while working on a ship. It's the fourth death involving the port since 2017. The Maritime Union of New Zealand wants a national inquiry into health and safety at our ports. Union organiser Shane Te Pou a...

Inflation could spiral even higher. Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr admits to being caught on the back foot by supply chain woes, and the war in Ukraine. The man who used to hold his job through the 90s, Don Brash, says Orr has a major inflation issue on his plate. He told Tim Dower if the inflation number tomorrow is seven percent or above, it will be the highest since 1988. Brash says the risk...

Joelle King has had an assertive win over England's Sarah-Jane Perry to claim victory at the Manchester Open this morning and gain extra confidence against one of her main rivals for the Commonwealth Games title. King, the 2019 tournament winner started the match in good form, finding her targets with accuracy and stretching Perry into all four corners of the court. King took the opening game 11-8...

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett has been hit with a four week suspension following his red card in last Friday's defeat to the Blues. Barrett was shown a red card in the 46th minute the Super Rugby Pacific clash after making clear contact with his shoulder to the jaw of Alex Hodgman. In other suspensions, Highlanders lock Josh Dickson has been dismissed for three weeks after getting red-carded for...

The Government is looking into whether it'll change the law to make it possible to send would-be terrorists back to their home countries. Immigration minister Kris Faafoi says policy discussions have advanced in the wake of the Lynn Mall attack in September last year, and they're looking at how other countries manage it. The Māori Authority completely back changing the law and chairperson Matthew...

The hospitality sector is starting to get back on its feet following a busy weekend under Orange. The chief executive of Wellington's hospitality group Kupura, Jamie Williams, told Tim Dower the Friday trading saw a massive decline as people couldn't work out if they were allowed out or not. But he says the weekend went well and there's a sense of positivity in the air. Williams says people are ov...

Wellington businesses that petitioned against new cycle and bus lanes are disappointed the plan's going ahead. Work starts today on a safer bike route and better bus lanes between Newtown and the CBD. It will also see carparks axed in the area. A petition against the plan were presented to Wellington City Council last Thursday, but hasn't stopped the project from going ahead. Newtown General Groce...

Concerns are being raised about the implications of less experienced workforces worldwide. 70 per cent of those who left work in the US during the pandemic were older than 55. In the UK the employment rate of over 50's has fallen dramatically. In contrast, New Zealand still has an aging workforce and there are those who feel we could be using this to our advantage. Sarah White, from Tribe Recruitm...

A humid evening greeted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as she touched down in Singapore to start her first overseas trip in more than two years. Ardern and a 12-strong trade and business delegation are spending this week in Singapore and Japan, where several agreements to boost food exports and develop sustainable energy are expected to be announced. The main message is that New Zealand, having bee...

Is there something to be studied here?  A Dunedin bar called Woof did a couple of interesting things. They decided to keep vaccine passes. Why? I have no idea. Sure, you want to avoid getting Covid, but whether a person is vaccinated or not has less and less to do with whether they have Covid. And whether a person is vaccinated given most of us are now doesn’t seem to matter anymore.  But it's the...