The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Tony Brown has admitted to frustrations around the vacant All Blacks coaching role.  The former first-five has confirmed he intends to honour his contract as an assistant with South Africa, rather than make himself available for inclusion in any New Zealand group.  Brown was a part of Jamie Joseph's pitch for the job in 2023, which lost out to Scott Robertson.  Brown revealed to Mik...

Economists say New Zealand’s outlook is improving, but we're not in recovery mode just yet.   SEEK NZ's latest Employment Report shows job ads dipped 0.3%, with weaker demand in retail, technology, and hospitality.  Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking he's cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.   He says things are looking positive, but we're not in a r...

Fonterra has new plans to expand.  It’s bringing its organics business to the South Island, inviting farmers to join, with certification and processing targeted for 2028.  Around 100 farms are already involved in the North Island programme as global demand continues to grow – driven by the US, China, and Europe.   Fonterra Co-operative Council Chair John Stevenson told Mike Hosking...

Cryptic answers from Donald Trump around what his next steps will be to achieve his goal of buying Greenland.   World leaders are meeting in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and using the platform to unite against Trump's tariff threats.   The US President has spoken at a stand up for almost two hours, talking about his claimed achievements on the first anniversary of him taking...

We are standing by for the election date today.  It’s not what it was, kind of like budgets. The suspense, the scuttlebutt, the guessing game – it’s all gone.  You might remember Albanese, not having learned our lesson, got himself into dreadful trouble last year and failed to forecast a date.  So they guessed, and guessed, and second guessed, and then the flooding and storms came,...

Another Kiwi success story.   Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand.  They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway.  CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and payin...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 21st of January, we hear some more good economic news with the services sector in growth for the first time in nearly two years.  Mike finds out what the inquiry into the Tom Phillips case will look into and likely achieve.  There are record numbers of New Zealanders with bachelor's degrees, but Universities New Zealand's Chri...

Dietary fibre could soon receive a long-overdue promotion.  Otago University researchers want it recognised internationally as an essential nutrient, as it's proven to lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  But New Zealanders average just 20 grams a day – below World Health Organisation guidelines.  Professor of Medicine and Human Nutrition, Sir Jim Mann told Mike Hos...

Fletcher Building's sale of its construction arm is being welcomed. It will sell to French construction firm Vinci for just over $315 million. The Combined Building Supplies Cooperative says it will create more competition, and expects a boom for the sector. Chief Executive Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking that global companies have worked in New Zealand before. He says examples of that include Te Ka...

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is skipping today's National Party caucus retreat in Christchurch to deal with the unfolding weather situation in the upper North Island.  Watches and warnings are in place for several parts of the country.  Heavy rain is now battering Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula causing flooding in many places and completely cutting off Whitianga fr...

It's thought New Zealand is lagging behind international trends in university education.  Ministry of Education data shows 39% of adults aged 25 to 64 hold a bachelor’s degree or above in 2024 – up from 17% 20 years ago.  Universities NZ Chief Executive Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking compared with 65% in Canada and 54% in the UK and Australia, we’re trailing.  He says the New Zealan...

A lawyer says documentary evidence will be considered in the inquiry of Tom Phillips' disappearance.   Him and his children were missing for four years when the saga ended with a shootout in September, killing the fugitive.   An inquiry into how agencies handled the case will begin hearing evidence today.   Lawyer and former police officer Matthew Hague told Mike Hosking he doesn't...

There are hopes our services sector is finally starting to turn a corner.  The latest BNZ – Business NZ Performance of Services Index shows the sector's growing after almost two years of contraction.  The sector accounts for more than two thirds of businesses, employing almost three quarters of Kiwis.  Business NZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking while this isn't a t...

Of all the nutty stuff Trump is up to, the most egregious is the DOJ-Jerome Powell investigation.  Powell —I have not one shadow of doubt— makes, along with his board members, decisions based on traditional economic or monetary thinking.  Trump does not.  Of course you can debate, as we have in this country, whether a governor or chair of a central bank is doing the right thing or a...

Conservative MPs are continuing to jump ship to Reform UK.  Andrew Rosindell is the second MP to defect in the span of a week, following on from Robert Jenrick, who was sacked as shadow justice secretary last week.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it’s unlikely to stop until Reform starts showing signs of sagging in the polls.  He says there has been some resistance w...

Europe is split on how to handle Donald Trump's escalating attempts to take control of Greenland.   The US President's said he will impose tariffs on eight European countries unless he can buy the Danish territory.   Newstalk ZB's Paris Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the bull is in the china shop, and leaders can't agree on next steps.   She says for example, the Ge...

People can’t get enough of Sail GP.  There was an average of 18 million dedicated broadcast views per event in 2025, with both social media and the events themselves continuing to grow.   Black Foils co-CEO Blair Tuke told Mike Hosking the model’s proven itself.   Tuke attributes the sport’s growth to the fact that it’s a race that hasn’t been seen before, and it was built for the f...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday the 20th of January, Education Minister Erica Stanford downplays the number of teacher vacancies at our schools.  Mike finds out more about the new oil and gas exploration being proposed for some parts of the country.  Outgoing Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson talks the Prime Minister's comment the superannuation age will...

A couple of green shoots beginning to emerge in the energy sector.   US owned oil and gas company JETEX has applied for a permit to extract coal seam gas near Huntly, and Australia-based EnZed Energy has lodged an application for an offshore petroleum permit in Taranaki.   Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Mike Hosking this is what the restart of an industry looks like.&nb...

A timeline of sorts for the new $15 million ASB Classic roof in Auckland.   2027 is the “dream date”, with a more realistic timeline being before the 2028 tournament begins.   Tennis Auckland CEO Rohan West told Mike Hosking the consenting and planning phase takes a while and the construction is logistically challenging.  He says the ASB Classic starts its temporary build in the fir...

The Retirement Commissioner is asking for a careful and considered approach for changing the retirement age. During his State of the Nation speech yesterday, the Prime Minister said increasing the retirement age was inevitable. Christopher Luxon says as life expectancy rises, the pension age of 65 is too low. Jane Wrightson told Mike Hosking it's good it is now on the political agenda, so the peop...

Some relief is being felt by Auckland's local boards as the Government looks to back-track on its housing requirements.   The Government has mandated intensification plans for the city to open the door to two million potential homes over the next 30 years.  But Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says feedback clearly shows change is needed.  Orākei Local Board Planning Portfolio Lead...

The Education Minister's unfazed by a rise in sector vacancies, saying these aren't the right figures to be looking at.   Around 450 teaching and principal roles remain vacant – 12% more than this time last year.  Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking most of these aren't full time.   She says it doesn't mean there are 450 classrooms without teachers, and she expects a higher va...

Questions over why our largest bank has hiked its floating home loan rate.  ANZ's lifted its rate 10 basis points to 5.79%.  It says the move, which brings ANZ in line with most other banks, reflects changing global and local conditions.  But Squirrel Mortgage Brokers Chief Executive David Cunningham told Mike Hosking it's raising interest rates because it can.  He says its flo...

I don’t think there’s a scriptwriter in Hollywood who could out-dramatize real life right now. It seems the show is back just in time for a year of… who knows what. Venezuela - was it illegal? Probably. But the key question is: who is going to do anything about it? And if you protest, you look like you’re backing a dictator and a thug. Greenland? I think a deal where NATO boosts resources should h...