The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Shane Jones is fast becoming my favourite politician.  And he might have summed up the Government's issues with one on of his increasingly famous quips.  "The Ruth Richardson bare austerity approach is not delivering the economic growth we need."  He is right, isn't he? Classic liberal politics, trimming and cutting, is not the massive bomb we need under us.  As Chris Bishop ye...

Kaylee Bell has been busy since she last popped into the ZB studio.  The Kiwi country singer has released a new single, has a new album ‘Cowboy Up’ on the way and a five date tour coming later in the year, but she’s also become a mother.   Her son, only six months old, has already been around the world – Bell taking her family along as she performs in America, Australia, and around New Z...

Rising unemployment is expected to add to the case for a lower OCR.  Unemployment's hit a five-year high of 5.2% and is expected to rise further.  Economists now broadly expect the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate by another 25-basis-points to 3% in two weeks.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking further cuts now seem likely.  He says his team have been f...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, the unemployment number wasn’t as bad as predicted, but it could still go up from here – plus, the Government has announced a shift to Road User Charges.   We can't be too worried about the economy since we all seem to be overseas on holiday, and then a record number of us are making travel insurance claims for oversea...

Grocery prices will continue to hit Kiwi consumers and our economy hard.  A report by the Commerce Commission shows prices are increasing again this year after appearing to stabilise last year.  It's revealed we now pay the fifth highest grocery prices in the developed world.  Grocery Action Group Chair Sue Chetwin told Mike Hosking the competition in New Zealand isn’t particularly...

Kiwis are becoming a liability when travelling in Europe.   New data reveals 1Cover New Zealand has paid out more than $2.7 million in travel claims to customers travelling to Europe since May.  The biggest claim was more than $96 thousand.   Vincent George Travel Agents co-owner Rosann Connolly George told Mike Hosking with weather disruptions and uncertainty around the world, trav...

A tax expert says there is a concerning trend as businesses owe more and more to Inland Revenue.   Businesses owe more than $1.4 billion in unpaid GST and PAYE from the 2025 tax year.  Only $66 million of that is from businesses or individuals that are bankrupt or in liquidation.  Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker told Mike Hosking the construction sector alone owes about $1 billion...

The Finance Minister says anxiety about tariffs will be playing a part in slowing down New Zealand's economic recovery.  Unemployment's reached a five-year high of 5.2%.  Economists think it could rise even higher before it starts turning around.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking tariffs aren't great, but some people may have been more worried than they should be.  She says the...

The AA is onboard with the switch from petrol tax to electronic Road User Charges, but says there are a few issues to sort out.   The change is expected to come in by 2027.   Transport Policy Director Martin Glynn says it's likely there will be devices actually in vehicles to make the measurements.   He told Mike Hosking it will be easier to implement with modern cars.   LISTEN...

The stark reality of linear TV in New Zealand, if Irene Gardiner was right on yesterday's show, is fairly simple.  Here is how the calculation works: you make a product, you stick it on air, you get an audience, and you sell advertising based on that audience.  Some programs can never hope to get the sort of audience to pay for the cost of the show. Enter Government support or brand spon...

Former US President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary have received subpoenas from a congressional committee to testify about Jeffrey Epstein.  The Republican committee chair has also called eight others, including former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.  The committee's looking for more information about the deceased sex offender after the Trump administration decided against r...

It’s been a busy start to the week and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest topics thus far.  The Government is completely overhauling secondary school qualifications, aiming to completely replace NCEA over five years. Is this a sensible plan?  The criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles will be tightened as the Government for...

New Zealand’s wine industry is facing some troubles.   The industry is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in extra tariffs, Donald Trump imposing a 15% rate on New Zealand while many competing markets will continue to face only 10%.  Along with this, there is an oversupply issue and declining global demand, with nearly 100,000 tonnes of fruit remaining unharvested this season alone.&...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 6th of August, we look forward to the unemployment figures due today, and the Government pushing ahead with the foreshore and seabed law.   Mike looks at our wine industry and all the grapes going unharvested. Are the golden days of Sauvignon Blanc over?   Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell cover some of the major announcements...

Last year's recession is still being felt in the job market.  Stats NZ data —due out this morning— is expected to show unemployment reached a nine-year high of 5.3% in the June quarter.  The economy's been back in growth since the latter part of last year.  But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking the economy has lost about 40,000 jobs since the late 2023 peak.  Mo...

Triathlon New Zealand's claimed hosting rights for pinnacle events in Tauranga over the next three years.  A World Triathlon Cup will take place in the Bay of Plenty next year, before a top-level Championship Series race in 2027 and the Series' Grand Final in 2028.  Triathlon NZ chief executive Pete de Wet says they could see upwards of 3000 Kiwis racing across age groups and the all-com...

The minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Area Act says the Government would have passed the bill even if the Supreme Court had agreed with a lower court's ruling against it.   The Government will proceed with the bill which will tighten criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles.   Justice and Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking he thinks the...

Power companies are warning the road to fully renewable energy will be a bumpy one.   The big four power companies will co-invest in an energy stockpile which will include 600-thousand tonnes of coal.   Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says power companies have a commitment to renewables.   He told Mike Hosking Mercury has invested a billion dollars into geothermal and wind pow...

A digital education expert is cautious of blanket adoption of artificial intelligence for exam marking.   Education Minister Erica Stanford says AI is already partly used for marking and expects it could do almost all assessments by 2028.   It comes as the Government plans to scrap NCEA for an entirely new qualification.   Canterbury University Associate Professor Kathryn MacCallum...

The leader of the Reform UK Party has called for police to release more information about those charged with crimes.  Nigel Farage believes details such as immigration status should be made public, saying it’s not in contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who have allegedly committed serious crimes.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it comes a...

Several interesting bits out of the NCEA changes for me.  Firstly, the "New Zealand Certificate of Education” actually sounds like something, doesn’t it? The same way an “A” tells you something.  The New Zealand Certificate or Advanced Certificate of Education is a “thing” you can get your head around, as in do you have one, or do you not?  NCEA is an acronym.  Under the change...

Another Kiwi is plying their trade overseas, aiming to make it into top level racing.  Rianna O’Meara-Hunt grew up karting alongside the likes of Liam Lawson and Matt Payne, winning her titles before deciding to focus on endurance racing.   She was the first junior female to become an Australian State Karting Champion, the first female winner of the Rotax Max Challenge Rounds in NZ, and...

A glass half-full mindset for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after naming a group of six players as injury cover for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign.  Uncapped trio Kyle Preston, Leroy Carter, and Tevita Mafileo, along with Finlay Christie, George Bower, and Josh Lord comprise the back-up unit in the 42-strong wider squad.  Ahead of their tournament opener in Argentina n...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, we talk to the vocational sector and Education Minister Erica Stanford about the NCEA overhaul.  Should New Zealand On Air be using millions of our tax dollars to fund reality TV shows that aren't making money themselves?  Rianna O'Meara-Hunt is a Kiwi name to watch in racing, and talks to us about her big push to...

New NZ On Air funding announcements provide some hope in a tough time for Kiwi made TV shows.  Their latest non-fiction funding includes more than $1.3 million for Celebrity Treasure Island and $750 thousand for Country Calendar.  Screen Producer's Association President Irene Gardiner told Mike Hosking with so little ad revenue, it's a high pressured, intense time for NZ on Air.  Sh...