The Mike Hosking Breakfast

New passport rules for Brits living in New Zealand are causing some angst.   Dual nationals will now be required to have a UK passport to enter their home country and can no longer rely on an electronic travel authorisation.   Managing Director and Immigration Lawyer at Queen City Law, Marcus Beveridge, told Mike Hosking the UK Government is pulling their socks up on security.  He s...

A new report's found New Zealand could reduce peak electricity demand by as much as a quarter by moving to off peak hours.   The analysis by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority found $3 billion could be saved without changing how people live and work.   Chief Executive Marcos Pelenur told Mike Hosking it's done using new technology that anyone can use, including industry. &n...

The Justice Minister's dismissing suggestions there's an issue within the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime amid resignations.  Three of the five members have resigned in recent weeks including Michael Bell, Lindsay Rowles, and Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young.   Young says her relationship with its chairman Sunny Kaushal became untenable.  Kaushal's refu...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 26th of January, we get the latest from Tauranga mayor Mahe Drysdale on the slip and the review. Should retail stores be changing their hours to better serve customers? Andrew Saville and Jason Pine cover Sam Ruthe, Wayne Smith and why the All Blacks are playing a game in Baltimore. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast ever...

The dream continues for a teen running sensation, Sam Ruth. He became the fastest ever 16-year-old to run the mile following this weekend's Cook's Classic.  He stopped the clock at 3:53.83, but he was beaten by fellow runner Sam Tanner, who is 25. Father Ben Ruthe told Andrew Dickens that, "we just want to keep giving him the opportunity to do what he loves." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/l...

Some renters across the country feel they're still being unfairly rejected for owning pets, despite recent legislation changes. New rules came into force in December, making it easier for renters with pets,  by requiring reasonable grounds for refusal if landlords don't want animals on their properties. Some renters fear nothing has changed, and enforcement of the rules is needed. Aspire Prop...

Global tourist hotspots like Barcelona and New York are banning or restricting the use of short term accommodation, like AirBnB to try to free up housing. Now , Sydney is looking into it.  Queenstown is also interested - with a third of homes empty every night due to short term rentals.  Opes Partners Resident Economist Ed McKnight told Andrew Dickins that it makes sense for Sydney but n...

Tauranga's Mayor says they're hopeful recovery work can resume today,  after Thursday's slip at Mount Maunganui. Six people remain unaccounted for and are presumed dead. Recovery work was paused yesterday after a crack was found on the maunga, making the site unsafe. Tauranga City Council has ordered an independent review into the slip - and what happened leading up to it. Mahe Drysdale says...

Queenstown's seeing a surge in ultra wealthy overseas buyers looking to purchase houses. A luxury real estate agent is reporting a 600 percent increase in overseas enquiries for properties across the lakes district. There's increased interest from former Soviet bloc countries, suggesting buyers are trying to get away from the conflict in Europe. Oliver Road Luxury Real Estate Founder and Managing...

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: 6/10   An infuriating mix of effective and insane. It's rare for a single person to dominate news everyday all week, but there you go.    Iceland: 2/10  Was Iceland his Biden moment and no one called it out? Can you threaten to invade a pla...

ACC is in crisis.  I'm not sure if that’s news to you or not.  They are sinking in a sea of debt. They are forecast in four short years to be in the hole to the tune of $26 billion.  Now there are side issues like court cases, which make decisions that envelop the organisation into a fiscal level of responsibility they can't calculate, and in that I feel sorry for them.  But th...

Greenland's been kept in the dark over discussions between Donald Trump and NATO about its future.  The US President claims he’s laid the groundwork for a potential deal involving the Arctic island, while also backing down on proposed tariffs on NATO countries.  Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen says nothing can proceed without Greenland’s clear support.  US Corresponde...

Friday has come and Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back for the first time this year to Wrap the Week that was. They discussed ACC and Kate’s pickleball injury, marriage and anniversaries, and Tim’s gift.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 23rd of January, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell provides an update on the slip in Mount Maunganui and the recovery efforts.  ACC has a plan to turn around its multibillion-dollar debt , and it seems to be bearing fruit.   Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back to Wrap the Week for the very first time in 2026.   G...

The tourism rebound continues.   New figures from Stats NZ show 3.48 million arrivals in the year to November – up 214 thousand on last year, and the highest level since March 2020.  November alone saw 347,600 visitors, with arrivals from the US, Asia, Europe, and China all up.   Tourism Holdings Ltd CEO Grant Webster told Mike Hosking there’s more to come.  He says January and...

The forestry sector is set to pay less, more efficiently.   The Government is proposing further cost reductions on carbon credits, Forestry Minister Todd McClay saying they’re lowering payments from forest owners to $10.25 per hectare.  It's the second reduction since the coalition took office, and proposals would see costs go down from $14.90 a hectare.  Forest Owners Association C...

The Reserve Bank isn't expected to change its course, despite inflation remaining higher for longer.  Stats NZ is providing its latest CPI update at 10.45am.  Economists expect the inflation rate to remain about 3% – the very upper end of the Reserve Bank's target range.  That's higher than forecast, reflecting a higher-than-expected rise in travel costs.  ASB Senior Economist...

ACC believes it's already seeing results from a new plan to dig itself out of a fiscal hole.  The plan's been released after a critical report that found its deficit would balloon to $26 billion by 2030.   It focuses on getting people back to work more quickly and significantly increasing the number of clients who have their own case manager as a single point of contact. ACC Chief Execut...

McDonald’s finally has the green light to build its golden arches in Wanaka, more than two years after first floating the idea.  The fast-food giant’s secured consent for a new restaurant in the town’s Three Parks commercial area.  It's almost a year after an earlier proposal was knocked back amid widespread public opposition.  Queenstown Lakes Deputy Mayor Quentin Smith told Mike H...

Destruction and tragedy have come in the wake of slips caused by record rainfall in the upper North Island.  Police have confirmed two bodies have been found following an early morning landslide on Pāpāmoa's Welcome Bay Road.  As well, a man is still missing after being swept away by the Mahurangi River north of Warkworth on Wednesday.  Hundreds of homes remain without power and the...

A nod to Dunedin.  The place of my birth and a bunch of fairly happy years in the early part of my radio career.  We were back last month for the graduation of a daughter, now plying her trade in the medical profession.  Everything about it was awesome. It is what every city in this country should aspire to.  Christchurch has, rightly, got a lot of headlines for doing things we...

There’s an appetite for live comedy in New Zealand at the moment.   Major international players such as Jimmy Carr and Matt Rife have had their success, and now attention is shifting to local acts.  And Jeremy Corbett is a big part of that – headlining the upcoming ‘Weekend Laughs’ comedy showcase, is the star act for a show in Matakana next month, and is the host of our longest running...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 22nd of January, we go to Davos to react to Trump's speech on Greenland at the World Economic Forum.  We get the word from Tony Brown as to whether he is still interested in the All Blacks coaching job, and if he'd leave his South Africa contract early for it.  Comedian Jeremy Corbett talks the 18th season of 7 Days and headlin...

Despite record hydro inflows, the average Kiwi is unlikely to see any savings on their energy bills.   Inflows into the lakes hit 123% of the historical average in December – marking the second highest July-December period on record.  Generation volumes are also up 13% on the same time last year, pushing wholesale prices down.   Meridian Energy CEO Mike Roan told Mike Hosking the co...

Donald Trump may have turned down the heat by pledging no force will be used to take over Greenland, but he remains determined to control it.  The US President told a large audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos he wants immediate negotiations for acquiring the Danish territory – at one point calling it 'our territory.'  Nine News Europe correspondent Mimi Becker told Mike Hosking...