The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Queenstown bubble for Super Rugby has popped.   All the New Zealand teams and Moana Pasifika were supposed to be in Queenstown for at least the first three rounds, however multiple cases of Omicron within the Moana Pasifika team and at least 15 isolating has swiftly changed things.   It means the Chiefs will head home today while the other teams will leave after this weekend's games.   Player...

Much of the world is waiting for Vladimir Putin's next move.   Western nations are slapping sanctions on Russia, after Moscow approved treaties with two separatist regions in Ukraine's east, and sent troops to the area.   Russia's Foreign Ministry is also pulling its diplomatic staff from Ukraine, saying it's to protect their lives and safety.   Ukrainian journalist Iryna Matviyishyn told Mike Hos...

Police are playing down any talk of deploying the Defence Force to deal with the protests outside Parliament.  Officers are focusing on containing and gradually shrinking the protest site.  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says hundreds of the Police's 10,000 staff have had to be diverted from other duties to deal with the situation.  But he told Mike Hosking there are no plans to request Defence...

The question for those who supported Te Huia and still do, is just what is it you expect to happen to turn around the atrocious figures as laid bare in the Chamber of Commerce report into the train's so far disastrous start?    The one change is that the train gets a bit closer to Auckland itself than it originally did. That just leads to the question, why didn’t you do that from the start?  Or wh...

The Reserve Bank's being told to be more proactive when it comes to the Official Cash Rate.  It's expected to lift the rate this afternoon in a bid to combat runaway inflation.  The OCR's currently 0.75 percent and commentators think it will go up by a quarter or half a percent.  Infometrics senior economist, Brad Olsen, told Mike Hosking the Reserve Bank should put the rate up by half a percent t...

David Baddiel is one of Britain's most well-known comedians.   He first rose to fame with Frank Sinner with their iconic football hit "Three Lions" in 1992 - you might remember it was reprised during England's European Championship run last year.  Since then - he's been mainstay on stage, screen and radio.   And now he's back with a couple of books  - first being Jews Don't Count.  His latest kid'...

They say there’s nothing like the golden oldies.   The legend that is Sir Paul McCartney has been revealed as a headline act at this year's Glastonbury festival.   And he'll have just turned 80 when it comes time to perform at said festival.  It also comes after he has toured the United States at the ripe old age of 79.   How is it these legendary artists can keep doing what they're doing?  Honora...

The Finance Minister is defending the comparison period for the Government's new business support package. From Monday, some will be eligible for up to $24,000 over six weeks.   They have to prove a 40 percent drop in revenue over seven consecutive days within the six weeks before phase two of the Omicron response, compared to after.   Grant Robertson told Mike Hosking they've always done the paym...

The Transport Minister says Covid-19 disruptions have affected the Hamilton to Auckland train service.   A report for the Waikato Chamber of Commerce found including the subsidy, it costs more than driving.   It also found on the assumption of one person per vehicle, the carbon emissions are higher per person taking the train.   Transport Minister Michael Wood told Mike Hosking it needs time for p...

Auckland University politics researcher Lara Greaves says the country isn't as divided as it might seem right now.  She told Mike Hosking the long-term trend suggests we aren't becoming any more polarised.  “We’re not really seeing that pulling apart, we’re not seeing that effect of polarisation that you’re seeing in other countries and quite a few studies have looked at this now and compared this...

Authors of a paper on drinks policies are calling for water only in primary and intermediate schools.   The paper published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health found despite almost 20 years of Government policies, kids are still exposed to sugary drinks   Porirua's Glenview School has a water-only policy and many schools have water-only recommendations.  Deputy Principal Les...

Restaurants aren't completely sold on the new support dished up by the Government.   From Monday, a six-week payment will be available for Omicron-hit businesses that can prove a 40 percent revenue drop.   Auckland Restaurant Association president Krishna Botica told Mike Hosking it's unclear how much help that will actually provide businesses that are struggling to survive.  “The jury is out, we’...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to talk Nico Porteous, the Winter Olympics, the Black Caps' trouncing of South Africa, the NRL preseason, Moana Pasifika, and the Denver Broncos sale. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Russia's "playbook" for an invasion of Ukraine is moving forward, though he said there still is a chance for diplomacy to avert a war. "As we've described it, everything leading up to the actual invasion appears to be taking place," Blinken said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. Ukraine's defense ministry reported more than 100 ceasefire vi...

The Beijing Winter Olympics was the most successful ever for New Zealand by quite some margin. Nico Porteous rounded it off by getting gold in the men’s halfpipe in freestyle skiing over the weekend. His score of 93 in the first run was all he needed to secure the gold. Nico Porteous joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the day the world — and especially tourism operators and airlines around Australia — have been waiting almost two years for. ‘Fortress Australia’ has finally reopened international borders from Monday to vaccinated tourists without quarantine requirements for the first time since 9pm on Friday March 20, 2020. While the federal government has gradually reopened to select visa holders, internat...

Schools are continuing to deal with staffing issues as Covid-19 cases emerge. Last Thursday, there were 177 education facilities in Auckland dealing with active Covid-19 cases. Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault told Mike Hosking Rapid Antigen testing would probably help get staff back to school quicker. “In Auckland at the moment, if you get your test on a Monday morni...

A National MP has shown why you should always shoot for the stars. Elon Musk's Starlight satellite internet is starting up in Tonga shortly and will help restore communications after last month's eruption and tsunami. He donated 50 satellite terminals after Dr Shane Reti sent a letter to Musk to see if Starlink could help. Reti told Mike Hosking the worst he could've said was no. “All those naysay...

A great deal of work will be undertaken to ensure Rapid Antigen Tests are used correctly. RATs will become available at Auckland testing sites from this morning. Those who meet the requirements will be offered one, in order to relieve pressure on PCR testing. Northern Region Health Coordination Centre Operations Director Matt Hannant told Mike Hosking a lot will be done to ensure RATs are used acc...

The Waikato Chamber of Commerce is concerned the Hamilton to Auckland train service is financially and environmentally worse than driving. A report for the chamber shows per trip driving costs $48 compared to $294 on Te Huia which includes the $12 fare and a $282 subsidy. Based on the assumption of one person per vehicle, carbon emissions are 20kg per person driving and 31.5kg per person on the tr...

A vaccine expert says the justifications used for mandates now don't apply as much.  Act leader David Seymour wants to see a move away from mandates, claiming the only thing they're currently good for, is creating division. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical advisor Peter McIntyre told Mike Hosking they were brought in to protect the health system and to reduce transmission of the virus. “Both o...

Time now to mark the week, the little piece of news and current events that’s almost as popular as tomatoes at under $6 a kilo.     The protest: 2/10  “There are no winners.”     The police and their handling of the protest: 2/10  “Too slow, too soft.”     The politicians handling of it: 2/10  “Pretending they were all mad as snakes and rabble - how did that go for you?”     Trevor Mallard's role:...

Acclaimed Kiwi author Christine Leunens has had her new novel snapped up by Hollywood.   Christine's earlier book, Caging Skies, was made into the movie Jojo Rabbit by Taika Waititi in 2019.   Her latest is called In Amber's Wake, it's set in New Zealand during the 1980s era of the Rainbow Warrior and Springbok Rugby Tour.  It's set to be filmed in New Zealand.  Christine joined Mike Hosking.  LIS...

A former Defence Minister says the Government needs to think twice before bringing in the military to deal with the protest at Parliament.  Police have requested support from the Defence Force to tow illegally parked vehicles.  It comes amid fears the protest could continue for several months.  Former National MP Jonathan Coleman told Mike Hosking bringing in New Zealand troops to deal with New Ze...

After months of debate, an agreement hass been reached between Silver Lake, New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association.   Us private equity giant Silver Lake will invest $200 million in exchange for a stake of up to 8.58 percent.   It still needs the green light from the Māori Rugby Board and provincial unions.  North Harbour chairman Gerard van Tilborg joined Mike Hosking to...