The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Act hasn't made it's ‘radical’ public service reform a bottom line, for potential post-election negotiations.  It wants to cut government departments from 41 down to no more than 30.  The number of ministers would be reduced from 28 to 20, with all of them sitting around the cabinet table. Act leader David Seymour was asked by Mike Hosking whether it's a non-negotiable. He says it's easy...

Auckland's Eden Park CEO says new event rules will align us better with global venues - as the stadium's granted more concerts and a State of Origin match  The Government's announced new settings, lifting the number of concerts allowed each year to 32 - 12 large and 20 medium-sized - without the need for resource consent.  Night-time sport will also be allowed on any day, as long as game...

Greg Foran is back where I suspect he belongs, and likes. The former Air New Zealand boss, if you have missed it, is off to Kroger, which is America's second biggest grocer behind Walmart. I have never met a New Zealander who has worked in America that belongs in America more. It was evident from the first time I met him that he was American. You can spot them in their shirts and ties. They are co...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 13th of February, is there a water tax in the RMA bill? Chris Bishop responds to some angry farmers.   Karen Chhour answers questions about why there is Maori leave entitlements at Oranga Tamariki and whether it is more widespread than one Government department. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson on concert reviews, adult kids back at t...

March 6th is your day. This is the date that the changes to foreign buyers of expensive houses comes into play. This date, in a way, is like the LNG announcement. The idea of foreign buyers for houses isn't new. It's been part of the Government's plan ever since the Government became the Government. The LNG idea got floated in the winter of 2024, not long after the Government became the Government...

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. LNG: 7/10 An example of the times. A decent idea to help solve a genuine issue and yet too many miss the point and bitch about tax vs levy vs fee. Greg Foran: 7/10 Back where he belongs. There is a book there. What he thought it might be and what it was, is several chapters worth...

Super Rugby Pacific is back this weekend as Season 30 kicks off.  Round one is full of derbies, as the Highlanders host the Crusaders tonight, then the Blues take on the Chiefs at Eden Park on Saturday.  Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley told Mike Hosking that there's a focus on improving the pace of play to maintain viewer interest. 'We want to see close matches, we want to see fast g...

Auckland is hosting the second round of Sail GP for the season, with 13 teams racing at the Wynyard Point Race Stadium. Organisers have boosted capacity with a grandstand that is 30% larger than last year as demand continues to grow.  Sir Russell Coutts told Mike Hosking that, "the growth has been incredible, I think we've expanded our audience way beyond the avid sailing fan." The Black Foil...

A shared ambition for the Canterbury region - is expected to secure the region's long term success.  Business Canterbury, The Canterbury Mayoral Forum and the private sector have come together to form shared goals for the region. Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Mike Hosking that everyone agrees they need to invest in what makes the region unique - which is better infras...

The Government is seeking an explanation from Oranga Tamariki.  This follows confirmation of the existence of a clause which allows for 'discretionary paid cultural leave', which is self-defined and not subject to managerial scrutiny.  Children's Minister Karen Chhour said that the clause was added prior to her becoming minister in 2023, and although she can't get rid of the contract, sh...

Manufacturing company Skellerup has posted a record first half net profit, up 20% to $28.9 million - and they've upgraded their full year earnings guidance. The tariff hit is now expected to be just $2.5million this year - about half of what they originally feared.  Chief Executive Graham Leaming told Mike Hosking that the company has made an effort in the US, and says the company's actions h...

I don’t blame Chris Hipkins and Co. for a moment, calling it a gas tax.  That’s politics when you are in Opposition, especially when you have no policies yourself.  What I despair about is yet another chapter of myopic nonsense around dumb words for cheap points.  The truth is comparatively simple and most of it is indisputable: we need more power supply than we have.  We need...

Grammy winning country pop star Maren Morris has made her way to New Zealand as a headlining act.   After starting at just 15 years old, her 20 year career has seen her break boundaries, win numerous awards, and producing multiplatinum and gold certified music.   Morris is a few shows into her ‘Dreamsicle’ tour, having performed in Australia and Auckland, with one more show in Christchur...

Signs of growing positivity from New Zealand's small and medium sized businesses.   A new report from MYOB reveals that 33% of SMEs polled have more work or sales lined up for the first quarter than usual, and a further 40% say they have the amount they’d normally expect.  The green shoots are showing up in sectors that have struggled of late, including manufacturers, retail, and constru...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 12th of February, the Government has announced an independent review into the monetary policy during Covid – practical or political during an election year?  The All Whites have secured a game against England just before the World Cup – their highest-profile game in decades.  And country-pop singer Maren Morris is in the countr...

The All Whites have locked in a fixture with fourth-ranked England in Florida as part of their World Cup football preparations.  The match will be held on June 7, New Zealand time, at an as yet unconfirmed venue.  New Zealand Football boss Andrew Pragnell told Mike Hosking they've earned the fixture.  He says every team is looking for fixes ahead of those critical world cup games, b...

The Finance Minister's rejecting an accusation it's using Covid as an election tactic.   Nicola Willis announced an independent review this year of the monetary policy the Reserve Bank delivered during the pandemic.  It'll be released just weeks before the election, and Labour's Chris Hipkins claims the Government's aiming to revive pandemic conspiracies.  Willis told Mike Hosking s...

An argument for dropping beer excise tax here so businesses stay afloat.   Australia's Government is stopping further tax increases landing on beer poured in venues from kegs.  Meanwhile, excise tax continues to rise automatically in New Zealand every year.  Brewers Association executive director Dylan Firth told Mike Hosking fewer people are going to the pub because the tax is driv...

New Zealand's ability to cope in the current geopolitical landscape is set to be the hot topic at the Economics Forum this week.   Leading economists, business leaders, and public sector officials are gathering at Waikato University's Management School to talk economic priorities, challenges, and opportunities.   Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking they'll discuss the...

A Government inquiry into the Reserve Bank's decisions through the Covid era could have come far sooner.    The bank printed $55 billion worth of digital money, costing taxpayers more than $10 billion.   The review's findings will be released just weeks before the election – a move that's cast speculation of an underlying political motive by the Finance Minister.   Former Reser...

Is Origin Air and Westport part of a wider regional issue in rural New Zealand?  Origin's Westport to Wellington flight is in jeopardy. It's not the first small airline in the first small town to face this trouble.  In fact, as a result of this trouble, the Government set up the Regional Infrastructure Fund for essential air services.  I suppose the key is the word "essential" – is...

Political tensions are flaring over the fate of the Government’s retail crime advisory group.  The Government's scrapping its Ministerial Advisory Group several months early after three members resigned last month, leaving just two.  Labour's Ginny Anderson told Mike Hosking it's been a disaster since day one with zero outcomes, lead by the group chair Sunny Kaushal.   She says he w...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 11th of February, Trade Minister Todd McClay puts to bed once and for all what rights Indian students will have as part of the FTA.  Zoi Sadowski-Synnott discusses the success New Zealand is having at this year’s Winter Olympics, and her Big Air silver medal.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk the success, or not, of the...

A Kiwi startup is launching a world first beverage, designed to reduce plastic pollution created by other drink companies.  Incrediballs is the world’s first plastic-free, effervescent drink tablet, which dissolves in water to create a flavoured drink.  Created by Ethique founder and former CEO Brianne West, it hopes to offer an alternative to single-use plastic.  She told Mike Hosk...

Things are continuing to flourish in Queenstown.  The mid-scale ‘Holiday Inn Express & Suites’, which boasts 277 rooms in the City Centre, is being refurbished to become ‘voco Queenstown’ – part of IHG’s premium portfolio.  The move targets high-end tourism, with the hotel running at around 90% occupancy for nine months of the year.   Hotel Council Aotearoa Strategic Director Ja...