The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Fresh allegations have emerged linking former UK-US Ambassador Lord Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein.  Newly released files suggest Mandelson shared internal government information with the convicted sex offender.  The revelations follow the release of photographs showing Mandelson in his underwear.  Mandelson was sacked as the ambassador last year and is now stepping down from the UK L...

Finances can be a bit of a struggle.   Costs are constantly rising, and in an era of auto-payments and forgotten subscriptions, it can sometimes be difficult to keep on top of everything, or even know that you’re getting the best deal.  9News Finance Editor Chris Kohler is becoming increasingly popular on social media for incorporating dry wit into usually boring economic news and has wr...

New entrants are needing more help than ever.   Primary schools are reporting record levels of children arriving without basic skills such as talking, eating and toileting.  Data from the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association shows 92% of schools report new entrants don’t know the letters in their own name.  Director of New Shoots Children's Centre Kelly Seaburg told Mike Hosking...

Current liquor licensing rules are overzealous, according to Nelson's Mayor.  Nick Smith says it felt odd that he was unable to buy a bottle of wine at the Ready to Roll concert on Sunday, at Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson.  Patrons were only able to buy it in cups.  Nelson Mayor Nick Smith told Mike Hosking the licensing authority would make the organisers of the event agree to strict...

Meta's Global Head of Safety is calling a social media ban a bit of a fool's errand.  More than five million social media accounts have been deactivated or restricted in Australia since its world-first ban for under 16s took effect in December.  Our Government's been mulling its own ban, with a parliamentary select committee investigating the issue.  Meta's Global Head of Safety Ant...

Many Kiwis re-fixed their mortgage last year and will be re-fixing their mortgage again this year too.  Four in five borrowers have re-fixed in the past year – a 13-year high.  And more than two-thirds of fixed rate loans are due to come up for renewal this year.  Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking most people have been opting for one-year or 18-month terms, ins...

The Government's keeping a closer eye on kids' achievement across primary and intermediate school.  It's announced nationally consistent assessments and reporting will be rolled out this year for reading, writing, and math.  Reports are also planned to give advice to parents on how they can help out at home.  Education Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking the reports will be fi...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 2nd of February, as of today GP's can now diagnose people with ADHD. We speak to a man who has worked on this for over 10 years. The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking to talk Winston and his immigration issues, the Board of Peace and our critical minerals talk with the U.S. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk Sam Ruthe, the Australian O...

Things have got worse for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - as fresh Epstein files show how deeply he was involved with Jeffery Epstein.  Photos of Andrew crouched on all fours and touching an unidentified woman have been released.  The British Prime Minister's suggested Andrew go to the U.S.senate to explain himself.  Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Mike Hosking that Keir St...

Teenager Sam Ruthe has broken Sir John Walker's 1982 New Zealand mile record. He clocked a time of 3:48.88, which is the fastest indoor mile ran by a high school student.  He told Mike Hosking that consistency is key when it comes to running, and he's confident that he can get close to his record-breaking time again.  'I try and always feel the same going to a race, I reckon if it was se...

Chris Luxon says the Government had major "up front" concerns about joining Donald Trump's Board of Peace. New Zealand has joined other western countries in declining an invitation. The Prime Minister says the one-billion-US-dollars required to join the Board of Peace would be better spent on schools, roads and hospitals. He told Mike Hosking that it will be better for Middle Eastern countries to...

It's expected those with ADHD will have an easier time getting treatment with changes to prescribing law.  GPs and nurse practitioners no longer need specialist involvement to start treatment for the disorder.  ADHD New Zealand spokesperson Darrin Bull says current wait times are forcing people to go private.  He told Mike Hosking that the changes are being handled carefully with th...

Tower has become the 5th major player to drop these multi-party discount deals, for both new and renewing customers. The company says it's shifting focus to 'personalised pricing.'  However, Consumer NZ Investigative Team Lead Rebecca Styles told Mike Hosking that this is more likely to be a reaction to recent penalties that the company received for not charging customers the correct amount.&...

Forget Greenland – in our own backyard we have growing action in the Pacific between America and China.  This is not breaking news, but the US is trying to renew its strategic compact ties with places like Palau and the Marshall Islands, and testimony in front of the House Committee on Natural Resources suggests China is waging a sustained influence campaign aimed at weakening democratic inst...

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.    Trump's week: 2/10  Outside the usual madness came the NATO soldier Afghanistan insult and a dead man in Minneapolis, followed by the usual flannel about domestic terrorists. This time the backlash was real, forceful, and might well stick.    The rugby...

We end the week with a reality check.  I was a bit underwhelmed by the Government's response to the last couple of week's weather events.  $2 million is not a lot of money, which in a way is good because it indicates the damage isn't that bad.  The damage is that bad. It's just the big stuff, the roads and bridges and infrastructure, is being paid for out of contingency budgets in v...

Donald Trump's border chief is working on an eventual draw-down plan of immigration agents in Minneapolis.   The US President sent Tom Homan to the city after two protestors, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead by federal officials in Minneapolis.  He's told a news conference he wants to see common sense co-operation, which allows the number of ICE officers in the city to reduce.&...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of January, Trade Minister Todd McClay responds to Winston Peters’ comments on the Free Trade Agreement with India.   Liam Sceats joins the show to talk his wildcard entry into the 70th NZ Grand Prix this weekend.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week and talk Judith Collins and smashing rackets.    Get the M...

The week has come to an end, so Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed music and Bruce Springsteen's new song, Judith Collins, and smashing rackets.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most coveted crown in New Zealand motorsport is on the line this weekend.   Highlands is hosting the 70th edition of the NZ Grand Prix, which is running under the new NextGen NZ Championship banner  And the 2024 winner, 20-year-old Liam Sceats, has been handed a last-minute wildcard into the field.   The championship has been running for the last three weekends, but he told Mike...

There’s a belief there may come a point when insurers’ goodwill runs out in areas most exposed to climate risk.  AA Insurance has told Buller District Council it’s temporarily stopped offering new home and landlord cover in Westport due to flood risk, though existing policies can still be renewed.  MinterEllisonRuddWatts insurance partner Andy Horne told Mike Hosking it’s unusual for an...

National and Labour are joining forces in support of legislation to tackle modern slavery.  Their bipartisan backing means the Bill can be introduced in Parliament, bypassing the ballot system.  The proposed law would require large companies to report their measures to avoid slavery conditions in supply chains, and fine those not complying or acting to mislead.  National's Greg Flem...

The Minister for Trade's attempting to put to bed concerns about our Free Trade Agreement with India, repeatedly voiced by the NZ First leader.  Winston Peters claims it will let tens of thousands more Indian migrants enter the country.   The Prime Minister has denied the assertion.   Todd McClay told Mike Hosking there are no rights around migration in the agreement – instead it al...

The economy is still struggling to gain momentum.   Infometrics says a lot of the indicators suggest that economic recovery is looking unconvincing. Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says most have taken the possibility of further Official Cash Rate cuts off the table, and some are forecasting a hike. He told Mike Hosking that things are improving, but the problem for households in particular i...

Bit of 'rubber hitting the road' research on unsold real estate for you.  A real estate consultancy company looked at the amount of unsold stock when it came to apartments in Auckland.  There are a record number. 541 to be precise, which is 20% of everything that has been built in the past three years.  I love apartments, I live in one, I own them, I have owned them.  They are...