The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29th of January, new data reveals how effective Labour’s Fees Free university scheme was .   National MP Judith Collins discusses her 24 years in Parliament and her decision to retire from politics.   Former rugby union and league great Brad Thorn discusses his success, what drives him, and his new book ‘Champions Do Extra’. &n...

Growing outrage in Italy after it was announced ICE agents would be in attendance at the Winter Olympics next month.  The US Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that they will serve a security role, supporting the US diplomatic security service at the Games.  Current and former politicians within Italy are urging Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to block the agents’ presence in th...

A once in a generation player, Brad Thorn has achieved great things on the field.  He’s arguably the greatest code swapper rugby league and union have ever seen, winning the World Cup with the All Blacks, Crusaders titles, NRL titles, and he represented the Kangaroos and played in State of Origin.   Thorn’s had an immense amount of success across his 30-year career, and he’s detailed the...

A new domestic exchange programme will soon let students swap cities as easily as they swap courses.  Otago, AUT and Victoria University of Wellington have launched Uni Exchange Aotearoa, giving second-year undergraduates the chance to study at another university for a semester.  The scheme offers students a taste of travel without the challenges of going overseas.  Victoria Univers...

Economists are expecting the Official Cash Rate to rise sooner rather than later, flattening forecasts for the property market.  Cotality's latest report shows almost three quarters of local respondents expect house prices to rise this year.   Meanwhile, ANZ's slashed its house price inflation forecast for 2026 from 5% to 2%.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking the...

St John is dealing with its biggest ever workload.   National ambulance data shows there's been a 30% increase in 111 calls for ambulances over the past five years and a 17% jump in attended incidents.  They fielded over 700 thousand calls last year, and attended more than 550 thousand incidents.   Health Commentator Ian Powell told Mike Hosking ambulance services are mirroring the...

Judith Collins is leaving politics on a high note.  The former National leader and senior MP is stepping back from politics after 24 years, taking up a new role mid-year as Law Commission President.  Since Collins was first elected in 2002, she's held 18 ministerial roles, and is currently the Minister for Defence, Public Service, Space, Digitising Government, and the GCSB and NZSIS, and...

It's thought the fees-free university scheme was theory vs reality.   New data suggests the previous Labour Government policy failed to reach the students it meant to.  Of the 26 thousand students who went straight from Year 13 into study in its final year, just 1.3% came from the most disadvantaged schools – around 230 students.  Universities NZ Chief Executive Chris Whelan told Mi...

There are reasons to ignore political polls this year.  And some reasons not to.  1) There have been two polls since the election was called, the RNZ-Reid Research one yesterday and the Taxpayers-Curia poll last week. Both tell you the Government, as it stands, will be re-elected, so there's a consistency to them.  2) Both tell the same story, and both don’t. Labour is on 35%-ish in...

Scorching heatwave conditions continue to grip much of Australia's southeast, keeping authorities on high alert as fire conditions grow increasingly unpredictable.  Temperatures soared across parts of Victoria and South Australia yesterday, breaking nearly a dozen local heat records and nearing 50C.  And the scorching temperatures are set to continue, with forecasts from the Bureau of Me...

US President Donald Trump says his administration is reviewing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis nurse by immigration agents.  Alex Pretti was fatally shot while protesting against the immigration crackdown in the city this weekend, three weeks after mother Renee Good met the same fate.   The facts around the incident including whether he was wielding a gun have been hotly contested, s...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 28th of January, the Government is set to adjust the Auckland housing plan – Chris Bishop gives a few details.   The Broadcasting Standards Authority is calling for a change in the laws around media broadcasting in this country.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk MPs leaving, the Mount Maunganui tragedy, and whether they p...

Landslide experts say it was a matter of when, not if, the slope overlooking the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park failed.  Speculation has swirled online about the slip, where the recovery of the six people missing could still take weeks.   Canterbury University's Tom Robinson says the slip was going to happen regardless if trees had been removed from the mountain.  Emergency...

A Kiwi company's been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to design a futuristic helicopter drone programme.  SYOS Aerospace is among seven companies shortlisted for Project NYX to design 'wingman' drones to accompany British Army Apache Attack helicopters.  CEO Sam Vye says it's great recognition of a young New Zealand company leading the way in un-crewed vehicles.  He told Mike...

The Broadcasting Standards Authority says the current laws it operates under are obsolete.   A Parliamentary paper on the BSA's annual review notes the watchdog's definition of a broadcaster is 35 years old.  The authority says it's been asking for legislation reform for about 15 years, as media companies produce more online content.   BSA Chief Executive Stacey Wood told Mike Hoski...

The Emergency Management Associate Minister says it's vital we understand exactly what went wrong leading up to the Mount Maunganui landslide.  The Government led inquiry will investigate the events surrounding Thursday's deadly slip, where recovery of the six people missing could still take weeks.   Meanwhile, it's dishing out $2.4 million to help storm-hit communities.  Chris Penk...

The Privacy Commissioner's pushing for strong incentives against cyber criminals in the Manage My Health data breach.  Michael Webster's unveiled the initial Terms of Reference for his inquiry into the data breach affecting 127 thousand users that came to light early this month.   The first phase will focus on the scale of the breach, its impacts, and Manage My Health's responsibilities...

The Government is confirming it is making changes to Auckland's housing intensification plan.  It has been considering watering down controversial planning rules allowing two million homes to be built over the coming decades.   Chris Bishop says that target is nothing more than a modelling number on a spread sheet, but he will be changing it over the coming month.   He told Mike Hos...

A possible sign of the economic recovery with Michael Hill's New Zealand operation reporting its first positive result in more than two years.  In the six months to December the jeweller made $62 million worth of sales, increasing by 2.4%.  First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson says jewellery's a good sign of discretionary spending and consumer confidence.  He told Mi...

Another country is looking to ban social media for children: France.  The French Parliament is due to vote on a bill that would block social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok for those under the age of 15.   Another clause would also ban the use of mobile phones in senior schools.  France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the bill is on a fast-tra...

Kudos to Phillip Mills.  He of the gym empire and, as it turns out, this election year's star turn in the donation department.  His money for the Opportunity Party is the first large declared donation.  I like it for a couple of reasons. Business owners and leaders too often display a fear when it comes to views and support and commentary.  I learned it sadly during Covid. The...

It’s been a summer to remember for L.A.B.   Last year they announced a run of three outdoor concerts over the summer, with one in Tauranga, one over the ditch in the Gold Coast, and the final one in Auckland.  The first two shows saw rave reviews, and this weekend will see L.A.B return to Auckland for the first time in four years, performing alongside Stan Walker.  Four years is qui...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 27th of January, we take a look at what’s happening with the Government’s retail crime advisory group after three of its five members resigned.   The Prime Minister is on after Auckland Anniversary to discuss the response to the severe weather damage, Winston Peters’ comments on WHO, and when electioneering will begin.   And L.A...

New Zealand Rugby interim boss Steve Lancaster has clarified the organisation's position on the appointment of a replacement for former coach Scott Robertson with less than two years until the World Cup. The successful candidate must be a New Zealander with international experience in a head role. Lancaster says that with only two years until the World Cup, they simply don’t have time for someone...

The Prime Minister says today's the day the Government's preparing a support package the areas severely damaged by recent weather.   Recovery efforts are in their sixth day at Mount Maunganui, where six people are still missing in the aftermath of a large landslide.   Local states of emergency remain in place for the Tairawhiti regions, Whangarei, Thames Coromandel and Hauraki Districts,...