The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Government may be excluding exotic plantings from the carbon credit system.   Forestry Minister Stuart Nash has released a discussion document which would take exotic plantings like the radiata pine off the Emissions Trading Scheme.   He's cited a need for safeguards against risks such as pests, fire, and damaged habitats for native species.   But the Forest Owners Association says all these r...

You probably don't know the name Michael Schur, but you'll definitely know his work.   He's an American comedy writer and was a key figure in writing for many of the classics, including the American version of The Office and Saturday Night Live.   Schur has gone on to create massive shows, like Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place.   Now, he has a book titled How to be Perfe...

It's only taken three and a half years, but the Sleepyhead Estate development at Ohinewai has finally been given the green light.  The Environment Court had been looking into a number of issues, but they've since said these have all been resolved and everything can now move forward.   Which is great news considering the development is expected to help the Waikato economy to the tune of $8.5 billio...

The dramatic fall of rugby league great Manu Vatuvei ended in court yesterday.   Vatuvei was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for importing methamphetamine as part of his involvement in an ‘unsophisticated’ drug ring.   Now the question of support for former athletes has popped up - because Vatuvei's lawyer said it was difficult for Manu to go from being in a structured environm...

Pharmacists say they're not out to rip people off when it comes to Rapid Antigen Tests.  A Consumer New Zealand survey found the price varies from $6.40 to $19 dollars a test.  In Australia, it's illegal to sell them for more than a 20 percent mark-up.  Pharmacy Guild chief executive, Andrew Gaudin, told Mike Hosking competition laws mean it's up to independent retailers where they set their price...

Ukrainians continue to flee in the wake of Russia's invasion.  The United Nations says more than 800,000 people have now fled the country.  Word Vision spokesperson Daniel Wordsworth is at the border with Romania.  He told Mike Hosking they're seeing about 400 people crossing every hour.  “Romania in the last week or so, about 105,000 people have crossed. So you know about 10,000 a day, 15,000 a d...

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says the way his officers dismantled the protest around Wellington yesterday was world-leading.  “I’m incredibly proud of our people and what they did. You won’t see a more professional, restrained, courageous resolution of a situation like that anywhere in the world, it was exceptional.”  Eighty-seven people have been arrested, further arrests are possible, and s...

Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to review the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biden delivers his all-important State of the Union address today.   It will be prime time in the states at 9pm, so 3pm our time this afternoon.   It's already changed multiple times and will, to no one's surprise, heavily feature the Russian war rather than look to relaunch his administration's agenda during a difficult period.   Washington Post national political correspondent and anchor of the...

The Kiwi summer of cricket is over - and it's fair to say this one won't be remembered fondly.   A test series loss to India, a drawn test series against Bangladesh and the same with South Africa after we missed out on a historic series win against the Proteas with yesterday's defeat.  Just months after winning the World Test Championship, has our golden era of cricket already come to an end? 17 t...

Health officials are being accused of not properly engaging with the lab workforce when it comes to testing capacity.   Dr Ashley Bloomfield has apologised after overestimating the number of Covid tests that labs could process during the Omicron outbreak.   It's led to delays of tens of thousands of swabs, with some having to be sent to Queensland.  Institute of Medical Laboratory Science Presiden...

A long Russian convoy continues to head towards the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.  It comes as a strike on a television building in the capital has killed at least five people, and taken several TV stations off air.  Ukraine correspondent Neil Hauer says told Mike Hosking it seems the convoy is having major logistical issues.  “At 40km, it’s not a convoy so much as a traffic jam. Especially at zero d...

Chris Hipkins is vowing to get to the bottom of the Covid-19 testing debacle.   It comes after Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield apologised for overestimating the testing capacity of our labs.   It meant tens of thousands of swabs were left unprocessed for more than five days, with some even being sent to Queensland.   The Covid-19 Response Minister told Mike Hosking he'll be looking...

The protesters at Parliament are being given a choice - leave by your own volition or leave by force.  Police from around the country have descended on the area for a pre-planned operation.  Newstalk ZB's Jack Crossland says he can see more than a hundred police officers, and they mean business.  Newstalk ZB's Nick James says protesters are retreating, reluctantly.  “Police have essentially pushed...

Hospital, community and outpatient services could be postponed for 24 hours if a planned strike by Allied Health workers goes ahead.  District Health Boards have asked the Employment Court to stop Friday’s strike, in which around 10-thousand PSA members are expected to participate.  The boards argue facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority is already set down for Monday and Tuesday.  H...

You might not recognise the name Sandy Mill - but you've probably heard her voice in plenty of songs.   For years she was based in Europe and was a backup singer and studio voice for hire for years.  In fact, she's appeared on albums by Boy George, Basement Jaxx, Neil Finn and Don McGlashan.   She's trying to go solo - and released her debut EP in 2018.   Mills is back with new music and joined Mi...

Sir John Kirwan's foundation has launched a new initiative to teach kids the basics of mental health.  Mitey supports primary schools in delivering an evidence-based approach to teaching resilience - and has already helped more than 12,000 Kiwi kids.  Kirwan says the initiative aims to give students critical mental health tools and knowledge.  “And I think once you can identify an emotion and unde...

An expert on Vladimir Putin says the Russian leader is risking his political future with his ongoing attack on Ukraine.  Switzerland has broken from its long-running tradition of neutrality, to join other western countries in imposing devastating sanctions on Russia.  It comes as Kiev and other Ukrainian cities come under continued attack.  New Haven University's Matthew Schmidt told Mike Hosking...

Shocking new figures reveal 40 percent of vehicles failed their warrant on first inspection last year.  Motor Trade Association Sector Manager Graeme Swan says it shows a poor level of car maintenance in New Zealand.  “Being a mechanical beast they need that maintenance to ensure their safety.”  He's hoping for a greater emphasis on vehicle maintenance in the new 'Road to Zero' campaign from Waka...

The Tourism Minister says he's working hard to rebuild brand New Zealand.   He says he should be able to make an announcement about the fate of overseas travellers from Australia and non-visa waiver countries in March .   Vaccinated Kiwis living around the world are able to return from Saturday with no isolation, those in Australia can head home isolation-free from Thursday.   Stuart Nash told Mik...

Hopes the hotel industry can shake the MIQ stigma.   From Thursday, vaccinated New Zealanders in Australia will be able to return home without isolating.   Kiwis from the rest of the world can come from Saturday under the same rules.   Sudima Hotels Chief Operating Officer Les Morgan told Mike Hosking while demand will be slow to return, hotels are raring to go.  “Hotels will be safe to occupy, th...

Damien O'Connor says securing a free trade deal with the UK was no easy feat.   The Trade Minister's signed the agreement in London with his British counterpart.  The United Kingdom's agreed to phase out all tariffs on New Zealand exports, saving Kiwi exporters about $37 million a year.   It also includes new duty-free quota access for beef, sheep meat, butter, and cheese products - with all quota...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to talk Scott McLaughlin, the Black Caps' clash with South Africa, sanctions on Russia from the sporting world and Super Rugby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dire weather emergency drenching Australia’s east coast is moving even further south as heavy rains and floods threaten NSW, as residents of Lismore are evacuated over fears it could be hit with the worst flooding in more than a century. Thousands of residents in the northeastern NSW city began evacuating on Monday morning as a number of severe weather and major flood warnings were put in plac...

Is junk mail still a thing? It’s mainly email these days, with specials and sales, etc. How many of us still pull a pamphlet out of the letterbox and then having pulled that pamphlet out and actually read it? Marketing Association CEO John Miles joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.