The Mike Hosking Breakfast

There are concerns overseas opioid abuse trends are taking hold here.   The Drug Detection Agency's data for the three months to September finds opioids showed up in 18% of positive tests.  It warns opioid detections are stabilising at this high level, while some regions like Gisborne recorded a sharp increase of 41%.  CEO Glenn Dobson told Mike Hosking the test results are a good o...

A weak construction industry's done nothing to help low completion rates among apprenticeships.  Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds says more than half of apprentices in training are dropping out.  She's seeking extra funding so new industry bodies can investigate the number of dropouts.  Building and Construction ITO Director Greg Durkin told Mike Hosking there's been a s...

This is how we end up in trouble. Things are said that aren't challenged.  Here's the headline: "NZ will be dumping ground for high emission cars".  That was a claim from an EV lobby group. I wonder why they would say that?  Chris Hipkins said, or was allowed to say, that we had one of the highest uptakes of EVs in the world and the Government stopped it.  Now, let's deal with...

The UK Government's confirmed plans for a major overhaul of the country's immigration system to stem the flow of illegal immigration.  Asylum seekers will need to wait at least 20 years for permanent residency and won't be guaranteed financial support.  Failed asylum seekers and their families may face deportation to countries like Syria.  The UK Government claims the country's immi...

Well, welcome back Opportunity. I think I have that right.  Opportunity is the former "The Opportunities Party". Now it's just "The Opportunity Party".  It has a new leader and a new tax policy. They have been looking for a leader for ages and they even advertised.  None of this is a good sign.  Their biggest problem is the market is full – there is no room for another politica...

International relations and geopolitics have become increasingly complex in the last few decades, many countries in the Pacific pulled between China and the United States – the two superpowers at odds with each other.  But former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull believes the relationships with the two are equally important.  “The relationship with the US is obviously the bedroc...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of November, the Government is slashing emissions charges for bringing in new cars and launching a full review of the Clean Car Standard. Uber drivers have had a major win in the Supreme Court with four drivers now ruled to be employees, not contractors. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was in the country, so we took...

A Northland holiday park's scrapping its TVs to allow nature to take centre stage.  Russell–Orongo Bay Holiday Park is one of the first holiday parks in New Zealand to go completely TV-free.  It's encouraging guests to unplug from screens and reconnect with the natural world.  Park Manager Shane Maddren told Mike Hosking they have plenty of activities to keep guests occupied. ...

Police say their new approach to mental health callouts is working.   They're now in phase three out of four of the programme, meaning there's a higher threshold for officers to attend calls from mental health workers.   Officers will also assess the appropriateness before responding to missing persons reports for those with mental health concerns.   Police Assistant Commissioner Mi...

Canterbury is paving the way for the country's first rubber road.   Selwyn District Council is planning a rubber road surface trial at Glentunnel on State Highway 77 in January.   Treadlite New Zealand is the only company providing the recycled rubber granules for use in pavements in the country.   Chief Executive Brad Pierce told Mike Hosking this isn't new technology, it's just Ne...

Geopolitics could be increasingly dictating the future of agriculture.   A Rabobank report is warning tensions between the United States and China means agricultural exports are at risk of "becoming pawns on a geopolitical chessboard."  It suggests 2026 could mark a new era of geopolitical influenced agriculture sector.  Lincoln University Adjunct Professor of AgriScience Jacqueline...

Changes to the Clean Car Standard has been partly caused by supply problems out of Japan. The Government is slashing charges on importers who don't meet carbon targets by almost 80% and launching a full review. It is expected to save about $264 million in costs to consumers and will keep imported cars cheaper. Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking it's been tough getting EVs into the c...

The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister says there's currently too much grey area about what defines a contractor, following the Supreme Court's Uber ruling.  Four drivers are now legally employees, with the highest court rejecting Uber’s bid for the court to overturn a 2024 Court of Appeal ruling.  The Government's seeking to clarify the distinction in law.  Brooke van Velden t...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 17th of November, Trump has pulled back on some of his tariffs which is a $2 billion boon for NZ Inc. and makes Trade Minister Todd McClay's job slightly easier. The Prime Minister talks the tariffs, Net Zero, polls and whether the Capital Gains Tax is something credible he'll be up against at next year's election. Jason Pine, Andrew S...

Big win for NZ Inc. and a lesson for everyone who doesn’t understand tariffs. Donald Trump has cut tariffs on beef and the beneficiaries are largely New Zealand, Australia and Brazil. Brazil has had a 50% tariff so they will be thrilled. We are at 15% and it's 10% for Australia. We may not benefit as much but given we are “balling”, as they say anyway, anything that gives us a chance to sell more...

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: The All Blacks lost to England at Twickenham - is it time to question Scott Robertson's leadership?  And Kate Hawkesby joins the show to recount some of Mike and Andrew's history playing tennis together.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks lost to England 33-19 - a defeat that ends their hopes of an unbeaten Grand Slam tour.  The game at Twickenham saw the All Blacks start the match strong, but England's strong momentum in the second half, and a last minute try to rub salt in the wound, secured victory.  The crushing defeat has raised questions around Scott Robertson's coaching of the team.  Former All...

Chris Luxon is standing firm on his opposition to a capital gains tax. A New Zealand Herald-Kantar Poll shows New Zealanders are evenly split on Labour's proposal for a tax on gains on commercial and investment properties. Opposition is strongest in Auckland, while support for the CGT is stronger in every other region. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking Labour's proposal is ultimately a bad idea...

The Government is planning to increase fines for breaching the Fair Trading Act - from 600-thousand dollars to five-million. It is announcing a swathe of changes to crack down on businesses and individuals breaking consumer laws.  The cases could also be moved from the criminal court to the Civil Court to make prosecution easier.  Consumer NZ Chief Executive Jon Duffy told Mike Hosking t...

The Trade Minister's cautiously welcoming a rollback of US tariffs on food imports including New Zealand beef, offal and kiwifruit. US President Donald Trump's signed an executive order reducing the tariffs. The affected New Zealand products represent around 25 per cent of our exports to the United States, worth more than two billion dollars annually. Trade Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking t...

There are growing concerns around a possible duopoly forming in our primary health sector.  General practice owners are calling out what they see as bloated bureaucracy, and are moving to form a breakaway nationwide Primary Health Organisation (PHO).  GenPro chair Dr. Angus Chambers told Mike Hosking that doctors, 'see that we're heading towards the supermarket-like situation.' He said t...

It’s a slightly odd message from Labour over the Māori Party as they try and work out how to deal with them.  The truth is they will need them to form a government if they get their own numbers to a point of victory.  There is no way the Greens and Labour alone will come close to crossing the line first.  Small reiteration, in case you missed it a month or so back; none of this matt...

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.    NZ Inc: 7/10  A pretty good week. This Wednesday Auckland hotels will be at 100% and yesterday the visitor arrivals showed yet another upward movement. Slowly but surely, there is more and more that is positive to embrace.    Winston: 6/10  "We" a...

Once again we find ourselves in the midst of an excellent economic week.  It's excellent, if you wish to see it that way.  100% of hotels will be full this coming Wednesday in Auckland. Broadly speaking, you can't get a room.  Auckland hasn’t been full in years.  Along with the broad-based cruise season and the warmer summer travel period, we have a large conference and a major...

Kiwi ingenuity at its finest coming out of the University of Canterbury.  A group of engineering students believe they’ve set a New Zealand human-powered land speed record.   Their three-wheeler, named Mako, hit 82.6km/h – entirely by pedal power.   The record is expected to be confirmed by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association within a month.   Associate Professo...