The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Sports minister Grant Robertson has eased fears that the move to a red light alert level could impact the women's ODI Cricket World Cup later in the year. New Zealand is set to host the event in March and April, which will see countries come from around the world to compete for the top title in the sport. With the country moving to the red light setting at 11.59pm on Sunday after confirmation of O...

A wildfire near California's scenic Highway 1, which winds along the Pacific coastline, prompted evacuation orders in Monterey County on Friday night. The Colorado Fire was sparked in Palo Colorado Canyon in the Big Sur region, according to the county's office of emergency services. A portion of Highway 1 was closed in both directions, the Department of Transportation said in a tweet Saturday. The...

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed the back-to-school plans for students, parents and teachers. A key plank of the plan will be the use of rapid antigen tests for students and staff, to be taken twice a week, the premier told reporters in Sydney on Sunday. Up to six million tests are being sent to 3000 public, Catholic and independent schools across NSW ahead of the start of term. Once the...

Sick of lugging your golf bag around the course? Taranaki businessman and avid golfer Simon Moore believes he's created a viable 11-in-1 golf club. It can be used from anything as a driver, iron, putter, etc. Simon Moore joined Tim Dower from Florida. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists wants the Government to declare a health workforce emergency. It comes amid concerns the Omicron outbreak could further impact an already under-pressure health system. The union estimates the country needs 1500 more hospital specialists, 1400 GPs and 12,000 nurses to match Australia per capita. Executive director Sarah Dalton told Tim Dower even befo...

Employers are being told to be creative in filling the staff absences expected because of Omicron. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says there will inevitably be some disruption to supply chains. Auckland University supply chain expert David Robb told Tim Dower the first issue will be staffing because up to a quarter of our workforce could be off. He says businesses should ask staff to do a bit mo...

Omicron's arrival in the Nelson region is sending shudders through the local business community. The country has been plunged into Red after a Motueka family of nine tested positive for the variant. An Air New Zealand crew member also has it and may have been infectious on five flights. Nelson Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Ali Boswijk told Tim Dower larger businesses have been putting in dua...

The Covid-19 Response Minister expects daily Omicron case numbers could potentially reach the tens of thousands. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is calling for the Government to declare a health workforce emergency amid concerns an Omicron outbreak will exacerbate existing pressure. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Tim Dower while the Omicron hospitalisation rate is lo...

We're about to get a glimpse of what the next four years of SailGP races will look like on this side of the year.    The second last leg in the mini America's Cup boats is in Sydney with racing beginning today.   And of course, it comes as just a few weeks ago a deal was signed to have yearly legs in New Zealand, starting at the beginning of 2023.   SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts joined Mike Yardle...

It’s full steam ahead with the spendathon. Overall, government spending next year is forecast to be over $59 billion higher than four years ago.  Next year’s total spend of $128 billion equates to thirty five percent of the economy.   Its staggering.  The scale of spending is one thing. There’s also the matter of quality spending. Bang for buck and whether the desired outcomes are actually deliver...

It's been a long time between drinks for Joseph Parker but the Kiwi heavyweight steps back into the ring this weekend.   Parker has a rematch against Derek Chisora in Manchester on Sunday morning.   He won a split decision match the first time around back in May, but was dealing with new coach Andy Lee who had only been in his camp for five weeks.   Joseph Parker joined Mike Yardley to preview the...

v says Omicron is a cause for concern but not panic.   New Zealand detected its first Omicron case yesterday, a case that travelled from Germany via Dubai and is now in MIQ in Christchurch.  Everyone on the same flight and people who stayed on the same MIQ floor are being treated as close contacts.   The Deputy Prime Minister told Mike Yardley MIQ has been set up to deal with transmissible variant...

The Government and telcos are joining forces to battle the latest text scam.  The Flubot scam started in September, and continues to send out about 400,000 messages daily.   People receive a text about a missed call or parcel delivery with a legitimate looking link that actually sends you to malware.   Nadia Yousef is the incident response manager with CERT NZ, the Government’s cyber security watc...

Dr Ashley Bloomfield says we should expect more Covid Omicron cases arriving here.  New Zealand has its first case of the new variant, in MIQ in Christchurch.  Everyone on the same flight, and people who stayed on the same MIQ floor are being treated as close contacts.   The Director-General of Health told Mike Yardley it was only a matter of time, given the virus is spreading across the globe.  “...

Another big step for Christchurch's recovery is complete today.   The new $450 million convention centre, Te Pae, is officially open this morning.   It has an auditorium, a huge exhibition space, a dining area and 24 different meeting rooms.   Otakaro Limited chief executive John Bridgman joined Mike Yardley.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading light in our international tourism industry remarked to me the other day, Mike, our industry has officially sunk into a state of depression. I alluded to this yesterday, with the Air New Zealand chief.  Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has sunk the industry’s morale by signalling that they shouldn’t expect significant numbers of overseas visitors to starting returning to our shores for anoth...

One baking influencer says it may be time to kill the Christmas cake.   Dane McGregor, who runs the Baker Gatherer Instagram page and website, says while he likes a Christmas cake, they aren't popular with young people.   He told Mike Yardley there are problems with the classic staple.  “It can be time consuming, it’s not really a contemporary flavour and people these days are looking for those mo...

David Walliams got his first taste of international fame with Little Britain back in 2003.  He's gone on to be mainstay on British television, and has become a best-selling children's author.  Walliams books have been translated into 53 different languages, turned into films, and has sold millions of copies.   Now, his latest children's book, Gangsta Granny Strikes Again, is out now.   David Walli...

The ordinary people who saved lives during the Christchurch mosque attacks are still reliving that day.  In a special honours list, two people have been awarded the New Zealand Cross, four have received the Bravery Decoration and four the Bravery Medal.  The awards are a way to recognise the actions of those who saved or attempted to save the life of others, while putting their own life at risk. ...

Tourism Fiji says if the booking numbers continue to come through, then tourism in the Pacific island nation is well on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry again.  Tourism Fiji has confirmed 75,000 bookings for hotels and resorts until the end of next month.  Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said there had been a "massive increase" in hits on the Tourism Fiji website since "These numbers refl...

The GDP number for the third quarter  is released today, with most economists predicting a drop of at least 3 percent.   It comes on the back of the big numbers from the half yearly economic and fiscal update.  Almost a $21 billion deficit but a return to surplus in 2023-24, inflation peaking at 5.6% next year, wage growth less at 4.6%, unemployment dropping further still but house prices up 10%. ...

The Health Minister is pleading for patience when it comes to hospital funding.   Hospitals will receive more than half a billion dollars in extra funding from the Government.  This will add 75 standard inpatient beds and convert 355 beds into isolation or negative pressure environments.   Andrew Little says hospitals have been looking at their infrastructure and identifying which areas could be c...

Taxpayers are expected to pay down the track for a large jump in Government spending.  The Government's giving itself an operating allowance of $6 billion in next year's Budget, possibly the highest in history.   Former National Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, told Mike Yardley the books are improving because inflation is going up, which is bringing in more tax for the Government.  “Kiwis are gett...

By any measure, today, Big Wednesday marks a milestone. The great escape begins. The great domestic reopening roars into life.  I happened to covering for Hosking on what, at the time, felt like a momentous day in the Covid age. April nineteen. Remember that?  It was the day, two-way quarantine-free Trans-Tasman travel finally lifted off. The air of relief was immense. A welcome dose of normality...

Transmission Gully, the new $1.25 billion motorway out of Wellington, will not be open by Christmas.  Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency confirmed in a statement this morning the builder has run out of time to complete safety, quality assurance, and consent tasks for the road to open in time for the holidays.  Mark Mitchell and Michael Wood joined Mike Hosking to discuss the week's politics news. See...