The Mike Hosking Breakfast

After more than two long years, international tourists are once again allowed into New Zealand. From this morning visitors from around 60 visa-waiver countries, like Australians already, can now travel here without isolation if they are vaccinated and do a pre-departure and arrival test for Covid-19. Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said thousands of passengers were expected to arrive on about 25 flig...

National says we shouldn't be changing our voting laws willy nilly.  A controversial Rotorua District Council Bill has been put on pause, after a report from the Attorney-General warned it breaches the Bill of Rights. Labour MP Tamati Coffey, who sponsored the local bill, now says the party won't back it in its current form. National justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking all New Ze...

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.   Ram Raids: 0/10   "The real frustration here is the Government refuse to accept responsibility that being soft of crime gets you into this sort of mess. And the cops refuse to tell the truth about resources and a legal system that doesn’t handle kids properly."   Grounded Kiwis...

The most common home loan these days is one that lasts for 30 years. Think about it, chances are it's longer than you have been alive, given many of them go to first home buyers. If you're later in life, it could be longer than you have left on Earth. That’s a lot of time owing a lot of money. 57 percent of mortgages this year so far are for 30 years. 66 percent of them in are Auckland, which shoo...

Rocket Lab will attempt a mid-air capture of one of its Electron rockets for the first time during its next mission tomorrow. As the first stage of the Electron falls back to Earth, a customised twin-engined Sikorsky S-92 helicopter will try to capture its parachute line with a hook as it falls at a speed of 10 metres a second. All going well, the mid-air snatch will place about 150 nautical miles...

New Zealand Rugby had its first profitable year since 2017, despite the challenges of Covid-19. The rugby governing body today announced a $5.5 million net profit for the 2021 financial year at its 130th annual general meeting, which highlighted rugby's recent challenges and future opportunities. NZR's positive financial result came despite the postponement of the 2021 women's Rugby World Cup, bor...

Covid is leaving a high level of truancy in its wake. Glen Innes School Principal Jono Hendricks says attendance at his school was 90 percent before Covid but was 70 percent last term. That's despite intense work to allay fears about safety in the classroom. He told Mike Hosking some parents are still concerned about whether school is safe for their young ones. Hendricks says others condone absent...

The growing underbelly of society is thought to be behind a rise in youth crime. Young people have been involved in a string of shopping mall break-ins between Bay of Plenty and Auckland. The latest, involved four children aged between seven and 12. Neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis told Mike Hosking there's a small group of hard core people who commit the crimes. “There’s normally a lack of par...

I admire the Grounded Kiwis and I am thrilled for their win in the High Court. But, and it’s a big but, what effect will this have? I note the previous win over vaccine mandates by the Police and Defence Force has led to nothing in the sense that Defence is continuing mandates. You'll remember a Māori authority took the Ministry of Health to court over access to information and won. But then the M...

Female football players in Italy will finally be able to turn professional next season after years of amateur-only status that limited their salaries. The Italian football Federation's executive board approved new regulations on Tuesday that open the way for a women's professional era starting July 1 — in time for the next Serie A season. "Today is a big day," federation president Gabriele Gravina...

One of Vladimir Putin's most vocal international critics says most Russians support him, because they don't know what's really going on. Financier Bill Browder was once the largest foreign portfolio investor in Russia. He's since become one of Putin's greatest enemies due to his human rights activism, and convinced the US to pass a law to punish Russian human rights abusers. Browder told Mike Hosk...

An intriguing race awaits to decide New Zealand's K1 500 berth at August's World Canoe Racing Championships. Aimee Fisher and Olympic champ Lisa Carrington have split their two trials and have a decider on Lake Karapiro at 10 tomorrow morning. Canoe Racing NZ boss Tom Ashley told Mike Hosking says all is in readiness. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra is happy to comply with government conditions on its capital rejig. The Dairy Industry Restructuring Act needs to be changed but the Government wants one more minister on the Milk Price Panel for more transparency. Fonterra would need to contract a financial institution for the farmer-only share trading market - and do independent analysis of the share price performance for farmer-owners....

Ram raid attacks have left a path of destruction across Auckland over the last two weeks. Multiple targets have been hit and shopowners now face the reality that they could be next. What's more is that the attacks are becoming more brazen, shifting from dairies to department stores and malls, which often offer the criminals more lucrative hauls. Herald senior writer Jane Phare said that the mostly...

Young people are going to need help to get out and about again. The Graeme Dingle Foundation has found a number of 14 to 24 year-olds are disengaging from their peers, education and society. Many school students are in their rooms socialising online, leaving caregivers isolated and struggling to re-engage them. The Foundation's research manager, Julie Moore, told Mike Hosking this has been a world...

Australia continues to be steps ahead of New Zealand when it comes to cancer treatment. The Cancer Control Agency's found 20 gaps made up of 18 individual medicines which are funded across the Tasman, but not here. Since the analysis was done, two have been funded by Pharmac. Cancer Control Agency Chief Executive Diana Sarfati told Mike Hosking the overall issue goes past just medicines. She says...

Relief from advocates a High Court ruling has found the MIQ lottery system was unfair. The decision also ruled the narrow criteria for an emergency voucher infringed on New Zealanders' rights to enter the country. The challenge was put forward by Grounded Kiwis, which represented New Zealanders stuck overseas. Their lawyer Paul Radich says told Mike Hosking they accepted from the outset that some...

So, yet another red flag for you to be cognisant of. If the co-governance scandal isn't bad enough, if He Puapua isn't bad enough, if the mess the economy is currently in due to absurd spending and the resulting inflation isn't bad enough, get your head around what David Parker has been up to. He gave a speech yesterday about the inequity of the tax system. This comes off the back of him and his m...

A call for political accountability, over the recent spate of ram raids and violent crime. The latest dramatic early morning ram raid in Auckland's Ormiston shopping centre is the latest in a string of similar attacks. It also follows a recent spike in reported gun crime in the city. National Police Spokesman Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking the Government needs to take responsibility. “I lay the r...

Virgin Voyages has announced its newest ship Resilient Lady will be homeported in Melbourne. Richard Branson's freshly chartered cruise company has set course for Australia and New Zealand with its unique brand of 'adults only' cruising. The most anticipated venture into cruising for the last decade, the company couldn't have chosen a worse time to debut. The Flagship Scarlet Lady launched in 2021...

A claim theft has got worse under this Government. Yesterday's dramatic ram raid of Ormiston shopping centre is just the latest in Auckland. Three stolen cars were used to smash into the mall and cleaning and security staff were put in danger as the cars sped around crashing into shops. Lejose Fashion House owner Christine Davis says her Newmarket store was broken into twice last week in a matter...

Do you feel your lunch break is getting shorter and shorter, if you even get one? A UK study has found the average worker’s lunch break has gone from an hour, to 29 minutes. And a third of them still respond to work calls and messages within that time. Jarrod Haar, Professor of Human Resource Management at AUT joined Mike Hosking to discuss whether a similar trend is developing in New Zealand. LIS...

A tight labour market means farm managers are having to pay their workers more to retain them. A survey by Rabobank and Federated Farmers shows farm workers’ wages went up 14 percent over the last two years. Todd Charteris, Rabobank chief executive joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief the Government may be preparing the groundwork for a capital gains tax - if elected for another term. Revenue Minister, David Parker, has launched the Tax Principles Bill, which will likely include things like fairness and effectiveness. He says Labour's committed to not passing any new taxes this term, but is coy on what tax policy the party will run at next year's election. PWC ta...

The Act Party won't be jumping on board a Parliamentary tour of Europe. Speaker Trevor Mallard and National's Judith Collins are leading a delegation of MPs to Europe, in an effort to help smooth the path for New Zealand's trade deal with the European Union. MPs will leave after Budget Day - May 19. Act Leader David Seymour told Mike Hosking it's a waste of taxpayers' money, with no rationale behi...