The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A view Australia's recent military alliance with Papua New Guinea could be the springboard for a wider 'Pacific Eyes' alliance. Australian think-tank Lowy Institute's proposing an intelligence sharing agreement between us, Australia, PNG and Fiji to counter China's influence in the region. It claims it'd also help tackle trans-national crime and climate-related disasters. Former Defence Minister W...

The Public Services Commissioner Sir Brian Roche is keeping focused on the push for a deal with the thousands of health, education, and public sector strikers.  Thousands downed tools across the country yesterday, taking to the streets demanding better pay and working conditions.  Roche told Mike Hosking he wasn't moved by yesterday's scenes, adding they saw what was expected and people...

New Zealand's economy could look to benefit from Fonterra’s proposed sale. The proposed sale of Anchor and Mainland brands to French company Lactalis could unlock around 4.5 billion in additional spending. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says they estimate around 60 percent of shareholding farms could receive at least 200-thousand dollars. He says the likely pay out would happen in the first half...

Ah the lament. Poor, old RNZ's obituary of the climate-related disclosures (CRD) makes you weep. "New Zealand guts climate policy it bragged about to the world". That's their headline. What's misleading about the headline is the Government who “gutted” it isn't the Government who bragged about it. As for the gutting and the world leading - "world leading" in what sense? We were simply the first to...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 23rd of October, deputy Prime Minister David Seymour takes questions on the mega strike today. The European Union Ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith talks a new business summit to explore more FTA options with the EU. New Air NZ CEO Nikhil Ravishankar gives his first interview as CEO and details how he will handle the top jo...

In the North Island, Red Wind Warnings are in place for Wellington and southern Wairarapa. There are extensive public transport and flight cancellations. Air New Zealand says it's already cancelled almost 100 flights today. CEO Nikhil Ravishankar says told Mike Hosking that it will only operate flights if it's safe to do so. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's playing host to a landmark business summit between New Zealand and the European Union. Minister of Trade and Investment Todd McClay will meet with senior European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and 400 top business and political leaders. It's the first high-level business summit between New Zealand and the EU. EU Ambassador to New Zealand, Lawrence Meredith says there are plenty of meaty i...

The Government has released a new energy plan.  The 'Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan' aims to fire up the bioenergy sector. The strategy claims would energy could replace 40% of fossil-fuelled process heat by 2050, displacing 300,000 tonnes of coal at Huntly.  Executive officer of bioenergy association Brian Cox told Mike Hosking that 'what the government did yesterday is a little s...

Zespri have won a legal battle on the intellectual property front.  They won a legal battle in Chinese courts against two defendants involved in the unauthorised production, sale, and marketing of their 'GOLD3' Kiwifruit. Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake told Mike Hosking that China are getting better at protecting intellectual property rights.  'It really does show that China is starting to mo...

The final farewell for former Prime Minister takes place today.  His funeral is being held at his local Catholic parish in Kapiti today at 11am, and thousands are expected to attend. Bolger served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, and passed away last week aged 90.  Sir Don McKinnon served as Deputy Prime Minister to Bolger, and joined Mike Hosking to pay tribute to Bolger and his leg...

The Deputy Prime Minister says health and education unions need to be realistic about their pay demands. Tens of thousands of workers across health and education are walking off the job today today in their fight for better pay and conditions. It could be the largest strike action in the country in a generation, but a number of events are expected to be affected by the weather. David Seymour told...

Our default to futility worries me. It's the same sort of thing as the "No Kings" march over the weekend in America. What actually is the point of waving placards, or in the "burn the bill" case, lighting fires on beaches? The bill they want to burn is the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment bill. The amendment part is the bit where it is being returned to what it was a few years back. It got messed...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday the 22nd of October, the foreshore and seabed law change has passed and the Government has smashed their youth offending target four years early - completing two things they said they'd do. The debate is back about whether you should be leaving your KiwiSaver alone until retirement or getting it out for a house deposit. Mark Mitchell an...

The number of complaints going to the Office of the Ombudsman is soaring to record heights. Its annual report finds more than eight thousand Official information complaints - a 30 percent increase. The office also received 278 protected disclosures under the whistleblower law - up 26 percent. Chief Ombudsman John Allen told Mike Hosking OIAs are an attractive option for people trying to raise issu...

A new report reveals the importance of contributing to Kiwisaver after buying a first home.  The Retirement Expenditure Guidelines from Massey University and Fin-Ed Centre suggests Kiwisaver is great for funding retirement - if utilised correctly. It finds a modest retirement goal can be reached by age 65 even after withdrawing funds for a first-home at 35.  But report author Associate P...

Knowledge of tougher consequences is thought to be keeping more young people away from crime.  The Government has achieved its goal of a 15% reduction in serious and persistent youth offenders - four years early.  Children's Minister Karen Chhour says it's partially down to young people believing they can't avoid accountability for their actions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

The Treaty Negotiations Minister's standing by amendments to foreshore and seabed legislation, which has passed its third reading.  The aim of the Government's Marine and Coastal Areas Act amendments was to restore the legislation to its original intent. But it's been criticised for making it harder for Māori to gain customary marine titles. Treaty Negotiations Minister and Justice Minister P...

Alliance has reached a $270million deal with Dawn Meats.  2,600 farmer-shareholders voted 87% in favour of selling 65% of the company arm to the Irish-backed company.  The new investment is expected to strengthen Alliance’s balance sheet, pay down debt and enable greater capital growth.   Spokesperson for Alliance shareholders Jeff Grant told Mike Hosking that ‘The company was force...

Praise for the Government's loosening of climate reporting rules. It's proposing to lift the climate reporting threshold for listed companies worth 60 million dollars to one billion. The changes would also see directors no longer have personal responsibility if their company breaks climate reporting rules. NZX Sustainability Manager Simon Beattie told Mike Hosking that they're common sense changes...

It seems the labour party has not learned a thing about running a country. Their first policy for next years vote is out, so congrats on that. The first cab off the rank is a wealth fund. The idea is not necessarily a bad one. You take money from dividends and distribute it out about the place to create jobs. The obvious questions though …were not answered. How much does it cost? …don't know. What...

Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 21 October. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Armageddon Expo is taking place this weekend in Auckland.   Several actors such as Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and John Boyega will be attending the convention, along with voice actor Alan Tudyk.   Alan Tudyk told Mike Hosking that his knack for voice acting came from a play, where he played 20 different characters.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

New Zealand's first sports school will open next year, in a partnership with Wellington Phoenix. The New Zealand Performance Academy in Upper Hutt will operate as a charter school for serious aspiring sportspeople. The academy will initially offer elite football training alongside the Wellington Phoenix Academy, as well as rugby training. Other sports will be added over time. The school will teach...

The country's second-largest electricity gentailer says rising electricity prices are the result of rising lines charges. Inflation's now back up at three-percent. The single biggest driver is electricity prices - which have increased 11.3 percent in the past year. Contact Energy Chief Executive Mike Fuge says electricity firms are having to pass on the fixed lines charges that cover the cost of i...

Experts now say it's unlikely the jewels, most recently stolen from the Louvre will ever be seen again. The thieves rode a basket lift up the museum's facade, forced a window and fled with France's Crown and Napoleonic jewels - in just seven minutes.  The museum had just opened on Sunday - local time. Newstalk ZB's Paris correspondent Catherine Field says it's already been 24 hours, and autho...