The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A New Zealand navy ship's been shadowed by seven Chinese warships in East Asian waters.   HMNZS Aotearoa was carrying out surveillance and deterrence activities last month to enforce the UN's sanctions against North Korea.    The Defence Force has confirmed the warships kept a safe distance throughout.  Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Heath...

Contractors want one thing from the Government’s RMA overhaul: a simpler system.  Ministers are today announcing significant changes to consenting as part of a shake-up to the Resource Management Act.  It's expected to cut the need for consents in 46% of cases that currently need them.  Civil Contractors NZ CEO Alan Pollard told Heather du Plessis-Allan RMA is the biggest barrier to...

Australian Correspondent Steve Price joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about a recent poll showing 70% of Australian parents are in support of this weeks social media ban. But, only 35% are confident that the platforms will effectively block children. And, Sports Minister Anika Wells is in more hot water after charging taxpayers more than $4000 in flights so her husband could join her at thr...

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will not confirm whether the video footage of a strike on a Venezuelan boat will be released. Critics have called the strike a war crime.  President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the replacement of long-time ally and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. And, self driving car company Waymo has recalled software after its cars repeatedly...

Thousands of Police issued 'formal warnings' have been scrapped after findings that 63% were issued unlawfully.  'Formal warnings' are used as alternatives to prosecutions where the offence is deemed unworthy of going through the courts.  Last week, Police told all staff that compulsory training will be rolled out and an updated policy for formal warnings would be issued by the end of th...

Another major shake up is coming to the streaming sphere as Netflix agrees to acquire Warner Bros Studios. The $125B acquisition includes HBO Max - giving them the rights to shows like Game of Thrones, Succession, and Euphoria.  Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has said theatrical releases will become more limited, as Netflix sees them as not 'consumer friendly'. Wall Street Journal media and ente...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 5th of December with Heather du Plessis-Allan, Mark Mitchell responds to Andrew Coster's allegations and the police are having to do away with thousands of formal warnings because officers haven't followed protocol. Prime Minister Chris Luxon responds to Coster's allegations and the taxpayers expected campaign against the Government. A...

Signs of a brighter economy in the year to come.    ASB's forecasting annual growth of more than two-and a half percent in 2026.   It points to an accelerated housing market, more resilient exports, and a renewed willingness to spend.   Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Heather du Plessis-Allan we can expect inflation to soften further,  with the Reserve Bank seeing more s...

Police Minister Mark Mitchell's doubling down on his version of the McSkimming saga timeline - calling recent claims "absolute utter nonsense." Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster's come out over the weekend claiming Mitchell - and Chris Hipkins - knew about the McSkimming affair, years earlier than they're letting on.  However Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan he was only told on N...

It's the definition of madness. And stupidity.  How many times do you have to do the same dumb thing with no result, thus proving your system doesn’t work, before you admit your system doesn’t work and give up?  The last of the carbon auctions was held this week. You know where this story is going.  I first got interested in this a couple of years ago when it struck me that this auc...

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.      Consumers: 7/10  Confidence at a 6-month high.    School lunches: 3/10 This is the stupidest story of the week. Four days it lasted – we've become myopic. We fixate on triviality. It’s got a small village idiot vibe to it, don’t you reckon? &nbs...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 5th of December, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike to wrap the year before he takes off on holiday.  They also exchanged gifts , and both of them were hugely impressed with each other's loot.  And for the final time of the year, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrapped the Week , talking about the gift exchange and Mike's...

The New Zealand retail experience, as summed up by a frustrated Katherine Hawkesby as of yesterday.  She visited half a dozen shops - one was decent and the rest were useless.  They were useless for a variety of reasons, but the common theme was service, or lack of it.  How is it continually possible that we have a sector crying out for support and yet so unable to offer something w...

The US Defence Secretary seems to be in hot water.  A Department of Defence report concluded that Pete Hegseth put military personnel at risk when he shared information of a planned airstrike over Signal.  The incident came to light when a journalist for the Atlantic was accidently added to the chat in which sensitive details of the strike on Houthi fighters in Yemen back in March. &nbsp...

For the final time this year, Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed the gift exchange that happened earlier on the show and Mike’s reaction to the Prime Minister's interesting gift.  Plus, they got into the price of postage, shopping, and good service.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Retirement Commissioner's unfazed at the prospect of a potential retirement village price rise.  The Government's announced changes to the Retirement Villages Act 2003, aiming to ease the experience of elderly people and their families.   Changes include ensuring money is paid back within a year after a resident leaves.  Commissioner Jane Wrightson told Mike Hosking it’s been a...

The Education Minister's pleased to see secondary school teachers vote yes for their new collective agreement.   PPTA members have accepted the Government's offer, which includes a 4.6% pay increase over two years and a million dollar a year fund for professional development.   Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking it's a good resolution and she's happy for teachers.   She says...

‘Tis the season for the annual swapping of gifts between the Prime Minister and broadcaster Mike Hosking.  For Prime Minister Christopher Luxon the festive season has begun with meal tray tables bearing the longtime broadcaster’s face, after the pair exchanged gifts in a Christmas tradition that dates back several years.  As for Hosking, he’ll leave the Newstalk ZB studio today with a be...

The Australian social media ban has started.  Well, sort of. It came in on Monday but begins officially on the 10th of December.  The worrying thing is one of the big proponents of the idea said she believed with all her heart that "we were saving a generation".  That is not true. Saving them from what? Themselves?  Theory vs reality is very powerfully at play in this move. We...

‘Song Sung Blue’, a story of hope amidst a tragic love story.  Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as Mike and Claire Sardina, aka Lightning and Thunder, a duo Neil Diamond tribute act that got major attention in Milwaukee.  The film is based off a documentary about the couple with the same name, that was released in 2008.   Before working together on this project, Jackman and Hudson...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 4th December, Sir Brian Roche discusses Andrew Coster’s resignation from his new role over the McSkimming scandal.  We've got a new ski deal with China that’s set to bring in high value tourists.  Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson talk Oscar buzz on their new movie ‘Song Sung Blue’, how easy their kiss was, and what Neil Diamond gav...

A welcome boost to New Zealand's premium meat sector, with strong growth expected this season.  Headwaters Farmers —who produce Lumina Lamb— are forecasting returns of $23.50 per lamb, up 60% on last year.  It also reports successful expansion into the Middle East.  Headwaters and Lumina Chief Executive Steve Brown told Mike Hosking these markets attract premium pricing.  He sa...

A new partnership deal in the ski industry aims to tap into the booming Chinese market.  NZSki and Sunac-BonSki have signed on, giving New Zealand direct access to 13.5 million active skiers in China.  NZSki CEO Paul Anderson told Mike Hosking while the New Zealanders and Australians make up the bulk of skiers, they’ve seen an increasing number of Chinese visitors to ski areas – particul...

A view the Government has to get a handle on debt, with forecasts showing the economy's now finally recovering.  BusinessNZ's Planning Forecast projects the GDP will grow at just under 3% per year to 2027.  But it warns that an ageing population's set to drive superannuation and healthcare costs to unsustainable levels, consuming all income tax revenue by the late 2040s.  Chief Econ...

There's a view that Government funding for major events is a smart investment.  The first round of events in its $70 million package has been unveiled, including the first ever concert at Christchurch's One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha next May.  Other events include Linkin Park in Auckland and the Ultra Music Festival in Wellington.  Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill told Mike...