The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Are we in for a wool revival?  Industry leaders are meeting at a number of workshops next week, with the aim of driving up value.  Stats show strong wool now makes up just 1-2% of gross farm income, compared to nearly 65% in the 1980s.  Federated Farmers Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Mike Hosking there’s good collabroation happening between government, industry, and various initia...

Back by popular demand, Sir John Key is back alongside Kate Hawkesby and Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  This week the former Prime Minister is calling in from a super yacht in Croatia, discussing the Warriors, Father’s Day, and ChatGPT.  Plus, Kate tells a story about Lebanese food.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 22nd of August, the Air Force is getting planes and helicopters from the US , so we’re finally starting to get a respectable fleet.  All Blacks coach Scott Robertson takes a break from the wine and meat to tell us about the team’ prospects this weekend in their second clash against Argentina.  Kate Hawkesby and "some rando" John...

One change to the All Blacks run-on side for Sunday morning's Rugby Championship rematch against Argentina in Buenos Aires.  Simon Parker debuts at number eight, moving Ardie Savea to openside flanker with Du'Plessis Kirifi dropping out of the 23.  Wallace Sititi and Tamaiti Williams return from injuries for the first time this year via the bench.  Coach Scott Robertson told Mike Ho...

Investors may sit back and wait for further cuts to the Official Cash Rate as first home buyers surge into the housing market.  The Cotality Monthly Housing Chart shows first home buyers account for 27% of market activity in July – the highest proportion in 20 years.  The Reserve Bank this week cut the OCR another 25-basis points to 3%.  Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin D...

A $2.7 billion defence spend could help to boost recruitment to the forces.  The Government's investing in new aircrafts, including two new Airbus A321 planes, in a lease-to-buy plan.  Five Seahawk helicopters are also being bought.  Air Force Chief Darryn Webb told Mike Hosking this will be appealing to potential new recruits.  He says morale lifts when they have new equipment...

A call for an overhaul of the Clean Slate Act.   Last week tutor Timothy Fisher was sentenced to four years and five months in prison for sexual abuse charges.  He had historical indecency convictions but was able to pass multiple police vets and become registered as a teacher.  Despite receiving a red stamp warning from police, the council renewed his practising certificate after r...

The Police Commissioner is supporting an Interpol base in the Pacific, and says many pacific nations are also on board.   Interpol has pitched the idea to police representatives from 22 Pacific Island nations at a conference in Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands.   Richard Chambers says 13 of the countries are already members of Interpol.   He told Mike Hosking it would be a big help t...

There are two key things for me that came out of the Reserve Bank commentary.  The press conference post the announcement should be a must watch for us all – the insight is invaluable.   On one hand, the genius three who turned up —Karen, Paul, and Christian— tell us that what they have done will flow through.  In other words, don't panic. "It will come through". I'll come back to t...

Will the latest cut to the Official Cash Rate provide some much-needed stimulus to the business sector?  The central bank's cut the OCR 25 basis points to 3% and is signalling more are possible.  It's recognised unemployment is high, and businesses aren't producing as much as they could.  Prospa Managing Director Adrienne Begbie told Mike Hosking that while some people were hoping f...

The White House is claiming plans are well underway for a meeting between Russia's President Vladimir Putin's and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.  US President Donald Trump met with Zelenskyy and several foreign leaders earlier in the week, following his meeting with Putin in Alaska.  Trump says he hopes Putin will move forward on ending the war in Ukraine but admits the Kremlin...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 21st of August, New Zealand’s intelligence service warns that terrorist attacks are a realistic possibility in their latest threat assessment report.  Acting Reserve Bank Governor Christian Hawkesby defends the latest cut to the OCR and explains their logic in holding in Q2.   Former US Correspondent Nick Bryant gives his thoug...

Positive news for kiwifruit growers with expectations of strong returns this season.   Zespri's forecasting record returns on a per-hectare basis —and improvements per-tray— for all but two categories.   SunGold and Sweet Green remain within the indicative ranges from June.  Chief executive Jason Te Brake says sales are tracking well across our key markets.  He told Mike Hoskin...

A plan's been laid out for potential dental reforms to address New Zealanders’ poor oral health.  New Zealand Dental Association data shows one in three Kiwis have untreated tooth decay.  Its policy roadmap for the next five years includes expanding community water fluoridation, introducing a sugary drink levy, and including oral care into our universal health coverage.   Dental Pol...

The Reserve Bank Governor is defending not going harder with cuts to the Official Cash Rate.  The cash rate has been cut 25 basis points to 3%.  But it's signalling more cuts than it was before, and has revealed two of the six Monetary Policy Committee members actually wanted a bigger cut.  Christian Hawkesby told Mike Hosking he stands by the central bank's decisions.  He says...

New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service is reiterating the public's role in the fight against threats.  The organisation is keeping our threat level at low, meaning attacks are realistically possible.   SIS Director-General Andrew Hampton told Mike Hosking they're worried about young people radicalising online, geo-strategic shifts, and espionage.    He says key to their re...

Can I ask a question about parents?  I watched Erica Stanford do a press conference yesterday at a school in Wellington while launching the writing action plan.  While I was watching that I was reading a story about Nicola Willis, who it was suggested by people in London might be the next Prime Minister.  She had gone to the New Zealand Society on her trip last week. She stood there...

There’s trouble brewing in Nelson over a council bylaw banning advertising flags outside shops.   The bylaw was adopted in November of 2024, limiting retailers to a single sandwich board display, which must be placed against the curb.  'Coffee on Queen’ has been threatened with a $500 fine and forced to remove their flag, which co-owner Matt Redwood says attracts $200-$300 in revenue fro...

Today on Politics Wednesday, the Covid Inquiry is still at the top of mind for many.  Chris Hipkins, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall have declined to publicly answer questions for the Royal Commission's second Covid Inquiry.  Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell delved into the situation, as well as touching on Trevor Mallard’s ousting from the ro...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20th of August, the Reserve Bank has a call to make today – they're expected to cut the OCR by 25 points, but what comes next?  Trade Minister Todd McClay joins us out of Saudi Arabia before his flight to the US in which he’ll continue to try lower our tariff rate.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss the Covid Inquiry a...

The Trade Minister says his trip to the US is all about ensuring our trade tariffs don't shift around too much.   Todd McClay says the 15% duty on New Zealand goods isn't likely to be removed, as Donald Trump is imposing them on all countries that have a trade surplus with the US.   He'll be passing on the message that tariffs harm New Zealand.   McClay told Mike Hosking he'll also...

The Blues are poised to head across town to Mt Smart for two Super Rugby games next year.  They're reportedly still planning to play most of their games at their usual Eden Park base, but are looking closely across town.  Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner told Mike Hosking that having the right event in the right venue is important.  He says the Blues negotiations probably highlight the ne...

There are tentative signs of recovery, as a troubled construction sector looks to turn the corner.  A new report shows the sector generated $94 billion in revenue in the year to March, down slightly from $99 billion the year prior.  Despite this, the report shows residential consents have levelled off, government infrastructure projects are restarting, and falling interest rates are supp...

A lack of surprise from the Education Minister over poor writing achievement in schools.  New data shows only a quarter of Year 8 students achieved their curriculum writing level last year.   The Government's launching a new digital tool for students sitting below the standard and introducing more professional development in literacy.   Education Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Ho...

A senior economist says he'd like to see a series of OCR cuts.  The Reserve Bank will announce its decision at 2pm today.   Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr is expecting to see a 25 basis point cut.   He told Mike Hosking after a cut today, he'd like to see two more to get the OCR to 2.5%.   Kerr says that sort of stimulation is what we need to pull us out of recession.&nbs...