The Mike Hosking Breakfast

From living in a trailer outside a recording studio to selling out 80 thousand capacity stadiums, Lainey Wilson has made it big.  For over a decade she’s been one of the biggest country music stars to come out of Nashville, with nine Country Music Association Awards under her belt, as well a Grammy.  Her career started in 2014 with the release of a self titled album, but it was with the...

Officials are committing to just the one year of Super Round in Christchurch – for now.  Christchurch's new stadium will play host to five Super Rugby games over Anzac weekend 2026.  Super Round took a year out of the schedule this year after the Melbourne Rebels exited the competition.  NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson told Mike Hosking it has always been on the radar to give back to a r...

Is it worth trying to grow rice in New Zealand?  As our appetite for the staple crop increases, ecologist Yuki Fukada has pointed out the complete lack of commercial rice production in the country.  We’re currently importing $95 million worth of rice from overseas – about 85,000 tons.   Lincoln University’s Dr Jacqueline Rowarth told Mike Hosking Fukada is looking at it in terms of...

Cinderella and Mickey Mouse are packing their bags and heading offshore as Disney Cruise Line confirms its exit from New Zealand.  The company operated its Disney Wonder ship across the Tasman since 2024 but will relocate to another part of the world from 2026.  Cruise Association Chief Executive Jacqui Lloyd told Mike Hosking the fees imposed on ships is playing a big role.  She sa...

There's a view businesses have been taken by surprise by surging gas prices.  Energy management company Optima and Business NZ's joint survey reveals gas prices have risen by more than 100% on average in the past five years.  Nearly half report it's led to them reducing operations, increased prices, or cutting staff.  Business NZ Energy Council Executive Director Tina Schirr told Mi...

A critical decision lies before New Zealand on whether to recognise Palestinian statehood.  Australia's pledged to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, following suit with countries like France, Canada, and the UK.  Our Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed we will reach a formal decision next month. Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff told Mike Hosking the...

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: Richie Mo'unga, why don't they bring him straight into the All Blacks? Is NZR tripping over it's own rules again? The Blackcaps thrashed Zimbabwe resulting in their largest test victory ever - 359 runs! And Shane Van Giserbergen is set for a contract extension, but are the details a bi...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 11th of August, we've got more work visas to help out with seasonal work - but an immigration advisor says some of the rules around these ones could be a game changer. The Prime Minister is fresh off a visit with Anthony Albanese and joins Mike in studio as he asks if anything came out of it. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine console Mike...

I don’t know Elisha Milmine and I wish her nothing but the best. But as it turns out, she is your new councillor in the Kahuranaki ward for the Hastings District Council. She was standing against one person, that person withdrew, so she wins by default. She has no experience. She put her hand up, was the only one standing so, congratulations, the job's yours. What a stupid system. This story is fa...

Two new seasonal visas have been unveiled, allowing the likes of rural contractors or chairlift operators to return for up to three years or stay for up to seven months. It follows the unemployment rate reaching a five-year high of 5.2-percent.  Malcolm Pacific Immigration Director David Cooper told Mike Hosking it's hard to get New Zealanders into domestic seasonal work. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

Christopher Luxon says he and Anthony Albanese are on the same page about standardising regulations on both sides of the Tasman.  The New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers have wrapped up an annual catch-up in Queenstown.  Luxon told Mike Hosking that they've also asked big business CEOs from both countires, to identify where things could be standardised more.  He says Australi...

Extra police officers are being called to Northland to contend with a squeeze on resources from rising violent crime.   In the past three months, 90 officers from across the country have been brought in to work five-week shifts.   Northland District Commander Superintendent Matt Shroj says the region saw four homicides in quick succession, which was the tipping point.   He told Mike...

Belgian company Parkwind is exploring plans to build a large scale offshore wind farm in South Taranaki.  Parkwind Country Manager Peter Spencer says that Europe and Australia have already put these systems into place. 'The Europeans are the masters of it. The Australians are doing very well.' He said these offshore wind farms could be up and running in the next decade. LISTEN ABOVE See omnys...

I have at least partially changed my mind on charging tourists.  The idea that you can wander around our conservation estate for free is, of course, nuts.  Like the various charges that we have placed on tourists, whether it be at the border, or potentially in a hotel with a bed tax, the simple truth is if we got our act together in terms of marketing and seat capacity to the country, pe...

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.    Sheds: 8/10  The new garden shed rules are what good governance should be about – simple and common sense. How hard can it be?    Local body elections: 4/10  Nominations close and, once again, a whole bunch of races are not being run because we do...

I said earlier this week that the Government will be re-elected next year because, all things being equal, history tends to show you get two terms.  Plus, the Opposition remain the same people who stuffed the place a year and a half ago and the pain of that, the closeness of that, is still real for too many of us.  Unless of course they rejuvenate the party or say sorry – none of which i...

It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed Mike’s potential career in reality TV, car troubles, and AI in language learning apps.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are just holding onto their position in the top four.  Saturday will see them face off against the Bulldogs – a must win match after their last two losses.  But the question remains, with the spotty performances from the New Zealand team, will they be able to defeat a top four side?  Former Warriors Captain Monty Betham told Mike Hosking the Warriors have yet to lose th...

An exception to normal procedure at the Crusaders in bringing Richie Mo'unga back to the Super Rugby franchise. The 56-test All Black has signed an 18-month contract to return in July after three seasons playing in Japan.  Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge says they're stoked Mo'unga is returning to his home franchise.  He told Mike Hosking this type of contract is probably the way of the...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 8th of August, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins to talk about the huge number of kids leaving school without a single qualification.  In sporting news – Richie Mo'unga is coming back so there's cause for celebrations for Canterbury and All Blacks fans. And we look at a massive make-or-break weekend for the Warriors to see whe...

The prospects of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may be crumbling faster than they've formed.   The Kremlin says the US President and his Russian counterpart have agreed to meet in the "coming days".   But the New York Post is quoting Trump's officials, saying this is not the case.   Foreign Policy Analyst Jimmy Rushton told Mike Hosking Putin is burning through as...

There’s a view we're an international outlier with our labelling regulations.  The standards are under review from the Ministry for Regulation in its latest attack on red tape.  Minister David Seymour says the labelling codes seem overly restrictive.  He says for example, Chemist Warehouse has someone employed full time to check labels.  BusinessNZ CEO Katherine Rich told Mike...

The effects of Donald Trump's tariff hikes are already being felt in the US and around the world.   The US President's updated trade policy is now in effect for more than 90 trading partners.   New Zealand goods are grappling with a 15% tariff at the American border.   US Correspondent Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking the income will pay for Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy at the...

An economist says the Government did the best it could in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.   The Treasury's latest report calculates the total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic at $66 billion.   The Government ignored official advice at the time to ease spending.   New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking it is hard to fault anyone up until late 2...

The Deputy Prime Minister says he'd sack Willow Jean-Prime for declining numerous Government requests for collaboration on NCEA reform.  Documents show Labour's education spokesperson declined an advisor's meeting and didn't answer a text and multiple emails from Education Minister Erica Stanford regarding planned changes to NCEA.  David Seymour told Mike Hosking if he were Labour's lead...