The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Our largest company has been seeing profits surge, despite a period of contraction in the economy as a whole.  Fonterra's confirmed a 13% rise in annual operating profit.  Its final farmgate milk payout to farmers has reached a new record high of $10.16 and its cash return to shareholders is up 30.6%.  Fonterra Chair Peter McBride told Mike Hosking we need dairy to do well for the c...

The Government says its changes to the court system are making a real difference.   It has released figures showing civil cases in the District Court have dropped 20% in the year to July to over 10,200.   The Disputes Tribunal cleared 900 more cases over the same period.   Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee told Mike Hosking there are fewer cases coming to civil court.   A...

The Reserve Bank Governor appointment is not to be underestimated.  We have never had a foreigner. Well, we have (the first was British) but that was in 1934 and that’s the sort of thing you would have expected given colonialism.  Obviously, the fact she is female should not be a thing. I think we have seen plenty of examples that essentially woman can, and do, do anything and the more w...

Ryan Fox has had an excellent run this year.  He’s back in New Zealand off the back of a season that includes two PGA Tour wins and a Guinness World Record.   The end of the year also brings with it the return of the increasingly popular ‘Chasing the Fox’ event, which is now into his fourth year.  Despite his major success this year, not much has changed in regards to Fox’s mentalit...

Gaming continues its upward trajectory.  New stats show that in Wellington alone, jobs in the sector grew 12.8% over the last year.  New Zealand now brings in $170 million more in revenue than Australia does.  NZ Game Development Sector Rebate Programme Director Chantelle Cole told Mike Hosking the $170 million figure is just from the rebate recipients, so they’re expecting the numb...

Former All Black Steve Devine is hailing the launch of a new portable brain scanner that's set to revolutionise concussion diagnosis for rugby players in New Zealand.  The Nurocheck headset will be able to detect head injuries in just two minutes without the need for baseline testing.  Devine has suffered a number of head knocks in his playing career and says the device is especially ben...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 25th of September, a Swedish economist delves into the credentials of our incoming Reserve Bank Governor .  Pharmac is funding new medicines who should help our patients and hospitals – David Seymour discusses .  Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox is in studio to reflect on the year and talk about the upcoming Chasing the Fox event.  Ge...

Auckland Council is moving to allocate up to two million new homes in the coming decades.  The council's Policy and Planning Committee voted 18-5 to pass the plan, which will see more housing near transport hubs and less in natural hazard zones.   Councillor Maurice Williamson has compared it as a choice between a firing squad and lethal injection.  He told Mike Hosking he’s a fan o...

David Seymour believes a refresh of Pharmac's operations is benefiting New Zealanders.  Its latest funding proposal includes five new medicines for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, eye conditions, and lung cancer.  The Associate Health Minister says a board and leadership change has worked well, and the next step is ensuring strong budget bids.  Seymour told Mike Hosking that inst...

Police say recent cannabis busts show how widely cultivated the drug is.  Over the course of a month Operation Beryl busted 120 properties across Auckland, seizing 11-thousand illicit plants, estimated to be worth more than $58 million.  More than ten tonnes of cannabis from Vietnamese organised crime groups have been destroyed.  Detective Inspector Callum McNeill told Mike Hosking...

Our next Reserve Bank Governor is being commended for her track record in Sweden.  Dr Anna Breman —the First Deputy-Governor of Sweden’s central bank— will lead our central bank from December.  Swedish economist Selva Baziki says the Swedish economy is similar to New Zealand's.  And she told Mike Hosking Breman and her colleagues successfully reined in inflation without too much eco...

Here's some things we can do to help the economy through jobs.  Firstly, compulsory arbitration. I'm sick and tired of teachers and nurses and doctors striking.  The current strike this week by doctors, they claim, has been a result of more than a year of negotiation.  Surely at some point —and Health NZ have finally pulled the trigger— it becomes apparent that two sides aren't goin...

The US Secret Service has dismantled a massive network of electronic devices that could have been used to disable New York City’s cellphone network, officials say.  Investigators found devices in vacant properties within 55km of the UN General Assembly meeting that’s taking place in Manhattan this week.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that allegedly foreign governments...

It’s been a busy start to the week, and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to delve into the political happenings so far.  The Government has announced two new residency pathways for skilled migrants, which Winston Peters has raised concerns about. Is he right to be concerned?  The Herald’s annual Mood of the Boardroom survey has been released – how is the Govern...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 24th of September, the promised Holiday Act changes have been announced. Who knew you accrued sick leave whilst on ACC or even if you only work an hour a week?  The annual Mood of the Boardroom survey has been released and a majority of the Government has not been rated favourably – Nicola Willis responds.   And on Politics We...

Business leaders aren’t sugarcoating their messages for the Government.   The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago.  Only a third of respondents back the Government's current growth agenda.  Forsyth Barr Managing Director Neil Paviour-Smith told Mike Hosking concerns are being expressed ab...

Pickleball is taking the world by storm.  Originating in the United States, it’s now one of the fastest growing sports globally – the biggest growth being among 18-35 year olds.  The NZ Pickleball Open is taking place this weekend, with 443 players registered for the event.   NZ Pickleball Association Chair Ange Brady told Mike Hosking the growth is super exciting.  Gone are th...

There's a belief there's more that needs to be done to smooth immigration processes in New Zealand.  The Government's revealed two new pathways for skilled migrants to secure Kiwi residency.   One is for skilled work experience and another for trades and technicians.  Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking there's a lot more announcements to come, but they're often he...

Nicola Willis admits the economy isn't where the Government would like it to be.  The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago.  Only a third of respondents back the Government's current growth agenda.  The Finance Minister told Mike Hosking they're hearing the call for harder, faster action,...

There are still grey areas in the Government's proposed leave legislation.  The Government's announced a new system to replace the 2003 Holidays Act.  Coffee Club Director Brad Jacobs told Mike Hosking while some parts still need clarity, the proposal appears to solve many issues.  He says as long as he's been in New Zealand, the Act has caused problems, and he's concerned by the lo...

The Salvation Army says more than a quarter of kids are struggling for food.  They talk of food security. According to the 'Sallies' it's bad and it's getting worse.  Are they telling us over a quarter of kids, 27% of kids to be precise, can't get food?  The definition they use is the United Nations one: "people having access to safe and nutritious food towards a healthy life".&nbsp...

France has formally recognised the state of Palestine, joining the likes of the UK, Canada, and Australia.   President Emanuel Macron has made the announcement at the UN General Assembly, where the US and Israel are absent.    France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that they know this won’t change much, but it could eventually be part of a pathway to a two-state solu...

An update from another of New Zealand’s talented musicians – Harper Finn.  Finn is finally releasing his debut album, ‘Silo Park’ coming out at the end of next month.  The album is a journey through change, isolation, and discovery, set against the dual backdrops of his homes in New Zealand and New York, recorded in the Woodstock region upstate.   He moved to the US in 2022, which w...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday the 23rd of September, the money tree from the Government continues to provide , this time for school infrastructure.  Genesis Energy has struck a deal to provide more coal for Huntly to keep the lights on.  Kiwi singer Harper Finn is in for a chat and to give us an exclusive sneak peak of his new single 'Satellite' ahead of the...

There’s an expectation coal will become more popular as gas supply diminishes.  Genesis Energy's signed a two-year agreement with BT Mining to supply 240 thousand tonnes of local coal to Huntly Power Station amidst electricity shortages.  It's expected to boost the local economy and reduce reliance on Indonesian exports.  CEO Malcolm Johns told Mike Hosking they've bought all the lo...