The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Unreliable weather forecasts could become a thing of the past.  Earth Sciences NZ has unveiled a new supercomputer called Cascade, which uses AI to predict the weather patterns.  It can now make a five-day forecast as reliable as a two-day one.  Chris Brandolino, Principal Scientist at NIWA, told Mike Hosking this supercomputer is about three times more powerful than its predecessor...

Changes to the rules around leave will be revealed today.  The Government is announcing their overhaul of the 2003 Holidays Act, which includes annual, sick, and bereavement leave regulations.  Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking hourly accrual of leave is expected to come in.  He says this will simplify processes and take the sting out of the b...

A much-needed boost to rural schools' infrastructure, which has been neglected for many years.  The Education Minister's unveiled a $413 million package to get maintenance and improvement jobs at schools underway sooner.  More than half is for improvements on all isolated, rural, or small schools.  Rural Schools Leadership Association President Andrew King told Mike Hosking it will...

Economic difficulties across the ditch appear to echo the struggles felt in many New Zealand households.   The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered a brutal reality check to the nation on the cost of living, as it expects the situation to worsen.    It warns prices will never return to pre-pandemic levels.   Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking it's t...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 22nd of September, we know where $100m is going for our hospitals. But is it a band-aid, or substantial money for infrastructure? The Prime Minister answers whether he's feeling embattled, is fast track really fast track and when we're getting news about reform in the electricity sector and the new Reserve Bank governor. Jason Pine and...

When Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson are raging against their President, you know a line has been crossed. Cruz said the FCC threat from Brendan Carr was straight out of Goodfellas and it's got mafia written all over it. It's important not to forget we have the confluence of several stories here in the Jimmy Kimmel scrap; 1) The absurdity of defending free speech while closing it down. The First Amend...

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: The AFL semi finals draw 100,000 fans to each game. Liam Lawson finished 5th in Baku to secure his best ever finish in F1. And what should the Black Ferns take away from their defeat in the Rugy World Cup semi finals? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustrations are growing around the fast-track process in Taranaki, which has grounded to a halt due to bureaucracy.  215 parties are now having their say in the ‘VTM’ seabed mining project.  Resource Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking that the discourse around the project is responsible for hindering its progress.   ‘We're dealing with a substantial reduction in earnings, not o...

Cabinet expects to make a final decision later this week, on whether New Zealand will formally recognise a Palestinian state. Australia, the UK and Canada have all formally announced their recognition of Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned their moves, saying a Palestinian state would be a "huge reward to terrorism" and "will not happen". Chris Luxon told Mike Hoskin...

Thousands have gathered in Arizona for the memorial service of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Among those in attendance is a number of Republican politicians and high-profile names including The President, Vice President and Elon Musk. US Correspondent Richard Arnold says that the rise of political discourse around free speech has grown alongside the grieving. 'Seen by most as completely abho...

Demand is outstripping supply when it comes to luxury accommodation. New Zealand agents say they're turning away half of high-net-worth travellers due to a shortage of properties. Some are fielding up to 50 requests a week. Co-founder of Stay Luxe Accommodation, Greg Owen told Mike Hosking that there's a real shortage in Auckland, so hotels are being used instead. He says they're looking to stay i...

A rural doctor says the government's hospital investment is still not enough. Health Minister Simeon Brown's announced a $100million boost for 21 local projects, aimed at improving clinical spaces and support services. General Practice Aotearoa chair Dr Buzz Burrell told Mike Hosking that the investment will be only for touch ups. He says there will only be $5million per project over two years, it...

If only nostalgia paid the bills.  But when it comes to peaches, it doesn’t.  Wattie's is out. Pams do a good line of imported stuff, and those who buy peaches in tins like it cheap.  A lot of us like cheap.  Cheap has never been more appealing in a cost of living crisis. If I was in the business of patriotic purchases, I would close my door and go home.  It does work to a...

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.    Farmer confidence: 8/10   In an economic world of woe, it's good to see a decent chunk of people doing well and enjoying it.    GDP: 2/10   Sort of the turgid, rank, icing on the rotten economic cake. How does a Reserve Bank not see a contraction...

Was this the final nail in the Adrian Orr coffin?  Can we add Christian Hawkesby and the entire monetary policy committee? After all, it's easy to blame a governor, but it’s a committee that votes on what to do with the cash rate.  After the famed Q2 finished (remember April, May and June), we come to the next committee decision in July. Orr is gone, Hawkesby is up, and they have just wi...

It’s Friday so Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  Mike decided to end the week with another pop quiz – this time on things that were covered on the programme this morning. Kate was not enthused.   Plus the school holidays are coming up, so they had to touch on everyone’s plans.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of September, Sir John Key has some advice for Finance Minister Nicola Willis , who has some tough questions to answer after that Q2 GDP result.  The Government is flying the flag for the wool industry in China .  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson take a pop quiz and discuss school holidays plans as they Wrap the Week.  Get...

We’re in the business end of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but a former Black Ferns captain is warning against getting cocky.  The Black Ferns have made light work of Spain, Japan, Ireland, and South Africa, leading them to the semi-finals.  Saturday morning will see them face off against the World No 2 team – Canada.   Former Captain Dr Farah Palmer told Mike Hosking that although i...

The axing of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show has sparked debate around freedom of speech.  Kimmel has been pulled off air indefinitely by ABC over his comments relating to the Charlie Kirk killing.  The late-night host suggested Kirk, who was shot at a Utah University last week, was killed by a pro-Trump Republican.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking reactions are sha...

Negotiations between senior doctors and the Government have broken down.   They've rejected a $160 million offer and are set to strike for 48 hours next week.   The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists had put a proposal which would have cost about $300 million.   Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking doctors are playing catch up.   She says doctors haven't h...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a new Reserve Bank Governor will be announced “very shortly” as she comes under growing pressure to tackle New Zealand’s economic woes. Economists are calling on the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate more aggressively after yesterday’s shock GDP result. New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.9% in the June quarter, a reduction well over ma...

The Associate Agriculture Minister believes wool is making a comeback and New Zealand could double its exports over the next decade.  Mark Patterson is in China for the country's largest wool conference, where he'll meet with industry representatives, wool growers, and processors.  It's our largest trading partner for wool, with $176 million of $446 million in total exports heading there...

Sir John Key says the Reserve Bank deserves much of the blame for the latest sharp drop in GDP.  Our economy's contracted 0.9% in the June quarter.  The Government says international turmoil and uncertainty over tariffs have driven the fall, which was much larger than expected.  Key told Mike Hosking the OCR was also a major factor.  He says two months ago he was criticised for...

Having argued the other week for compulsory KiwiSaver, it was sort of ironic, but probably lucky, that several reports came out post the comments that wanted the same thing.  Then enter Winston who wants it as well, and will pay for it, apparently with tax cuts.  Of course the tax cuts are completely unaffordable, but it doesn’t make the compulsion a bad idea.  I personally am not f...

The US President's been treated to a day of processions, gifts and flypasts in his second state visit to the UK.  Donald Trump's attending a state banquet at Windsor Castle, hosted by King Charles, with about 150 other guests.  The King is cherishing the close ties between American and British people, saying the ocean may divide the two countries, but they're the 'closest of kin.' ...