The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Chris Luxon says banks need to be passing on their OCR cuts to customers - and customers should be switching banks if they don't. Mortgage rates have been falling significantly, following recent OCR cuts. But the Reserve Bank says the banks still have room to move, to be cutting the rates further. The Prime Minister says [told Mike Hosking] banks should be competing for customers, and customers sh...

The Local Government Minister is pleased to see councils joining forces under the new water infrastructure model. The Department of Internal Affairs expects councils to spend nearly 48-billion dollars on Local Water Done Well over the next decade. The reforms could create more than 40 water entities, with some councils joining multi-council-controlled organisations. Simon Watts told Mike Hosking t...

Repeatedly low wheat prices are driving more farmers to turn to dairy. The Canterbury Regional Council says up to 25-thousand more dairy cows could be added to the region this year - with 32 new farms given the green light. Federated Farmers' confidence survey in July found 81 percent of dairy farmers surveyed were making a profit, compared to just 40 percent of arable. National Dairy Chair Karl D...

If you follow the carbon market, and you should, it is yet another lesson in the abject failure that almost certainly results in gerrymandering markets.  Four times a year you bid for credits (offsets) to counter your polluting habits.  You do this because we signed up to Paris and made a bunch of promises we were never going to be able to keep.  By selling credits the Government ha...

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.    Education: 8/10   The maths trial results this week were a tangible example of the simple truth that if you concentrate on something and work hard, you will win.    The All Blacks: 6/10   They did better than the critics seem to suggest. Rugby has...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 28th of November, Judith Collins speaks on the public inquiry to be held into the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children.  Could we grow more coffee in New Zealand? And who knew we grew any sort of decent coffee here in the first place?  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk about the installation of Mike’s new TV and the leg...

It’s the simple question with seemingly no simple answer: why aren't more people excellent?  Naylor Love reported this week they are cracking the $1 billion revenue mark. They are an old company that has never cracked a billion.  Naylor Love are in construction. Construction is apparently having, or has had, a hell of a time of it.  So how is it a business in a tough sector can be s...

The week has come to an end, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to wrap it all up.   Mike ordered a new 85-inch TV and its installation has thrown the house into a bit of disarray. Kate’s been looking at the price of salmon, and they discuss the legacy and impact of Simon Dallow as he signs off as 6pm newsreader for the last time tonight.  LISTEN ABOVE&nb...

A shift in climate has opened the door to grow more coffee in the Far North.  Industry specialists have gathered near Kaikohe for the annual Coffee Producers Association conference.  New Zealand currently has about a dozen growers and more than seven thousand trees, with goals to scale-up production.  Association Chair Peter Sheppard told Mike Hosking we're in a zone where the clima...

A mortgage advisor is joining the Finance Minister in urging banks to slash home loan rates.   Nicola Willis is asking them to pass on “as much as possible” in the wake of the Reserve Bank cutting the Official Cash Rate to 2.25%.  She says the banks have a stake in the economy, and passing the cuts on will make a significant difference.   Loan Market Mortgage Advisor Bruce Patten to...

The Government's move to shift e-scooter users from the sidewalk to bike lanes is being hailed as a win for common-sense.  ACC statistics for e-scooter injuries this year are close to surpassing $14 million.  There were also more than two thousand claims for e-scooter related injuries in the first half of this year.  Flamingo Scooters Co-Creator Jacksen Love told Mike Hosking it cle...

Good news for the retail sector as sales increase across the country.  Stats NZ data shows the total volume of sales increased 1.9% in the September quarter, equalling more than $470 million.  The growth was driven by motor vehicles and electronic goods, which saw the biggest boost this quarter.  Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking the start of a new Government year may pl...

There's assurance an inquiry into the Tom Phillips saga is important for the public, but also his children.  Phillips was on the run with his kids for nearly four years, ending only when he died in September in a Police shootout.  An inquiry's been confirmed to look at whether Government agencies took all practicable steps for the children's safety and welfare.  Attorney-General Jud...

More details are emerging around the background of the Afghan national who allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC.  Both soldiers remain critically injured after yesterday's shooting, while the suspect's in custody.  The FBI says the shooter had worked with the CIA in Afghanistan and had immigrated to the US in 2021.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Ho...

I tell you what I like about all the educators whinging away over the curriculum redo and the Treaty treatment: they are at least standing their ground. They are having their say and that is no bad thing.  It struck me yesterday when I read Roger Gray's speech, Roger Gray of Auckland Port. When he talked of “No Zealand”, of the naysayers, of the cruise people in Miami and their view of NZ not...

One of the country’s most famous singer-songwriters is back with an entirely new album.  It’s a new chapter for Bic Runga, who’s sixth studio album, ‘Red Sunset’, is releasing in February next year, with a tour following in March.  It’s her first album in 15 years to feature all-original material.  “It’s a bit of a reinvention,” Runga told Mike Hosking.  “That’s never easy to d...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of November, Kiwibank’s CEO and the Reserve Bank Governor unpack the Official Cash Rate cut to 2.25%.  A class action lawsuit is being filed against Transpower and Omexom over the massive power failure following the pylon disaster – are Northland businesses interested?   Kiwi singer Bic Runga is releasing her first fully o...

The intentional killing of women and girls is now its own crime in Italy.   Lawmakers unanimously backed a bill making femicide a specific crime punishable by life imprisonment.   Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the measure a tool to "defend the freedom and dignity of every woman".  Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking it looks very much like a symbolic gesture.&nbs...

The Reserve Bank Governor is leaving the job tomorrow with no major regrets about the pace of OCR cuts.  The cash rate's dropped 25 basis points to 2.25%.  Forward-projections suggest this will be the end of the current cycle of OCR cuts, with inflation expected to ease and the economy expected to recover in the new year.  Governor Christian Hawkesby told Mike Hosking they've been r...

A public policy think tank is pushing the Government to take advantage of social impact bonds. The model means the Government only pays providers when they achieve results for a particular problem.   It had previously been used for the Genesis Youth Trust, which reduced youth reoffending by 30%.   Maxim Institute Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour told Mike Hosking the beauty of social impact...

A suggestion most Northland businesses are ready to move on rather than seek compensation over widespread power outages.  In June last year, an inexperienced worker removed nuts from three of a pylon's legs causing it to fall over cutting power to almost the entire region.  The opt-out class action against Transpower and its lines maintenance contractor is being backed by Australian fina...

Don't bank on any further cuts to the Official Cash Rate.  The Reserve Bank's dropped the cash rate 25 basis points to 2.25%.  It expects to see inflation ease and the economy recover.  Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking this could very well be the bottom of the current OCR cycle.  He says there's lots of talk about green shoots in the economy, although...

It's the Reserve Bank outing this week.  One last hurrah for the year. It has a certain anticlimax about it, doesn't it?  It's probably going to be 25 basis points. 25 points is priced in by just about everyone.  There is a chance it's zero. Next to no one says 50 basis points.  Infometrics last week had the Q3 GDP number at 0.9% and I'm told the Q2 number is going to be revise...

Ukraine and the US are signalling they're nearing a proposal to end the war as Russia maintains its uncompromising position.  Ukrainian and US officials have negotiated details of a proposed 28-point peace plan in Switzerland.  A US official's told reporters Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal, but there were still some minor details to be sorted out.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday the 26th of November, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop explains why they want to scrap regional councils.   Estonia has the highest education results in Europe, and now their Education Minister is in New Zealand to check out how our reforms are panning out.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen cover off Michael Wood, regional co...