The Mike Hosking Breakfast

More Aussies are hopping over the ditch following a tourism campaign.   Since the 'Everyone Must Go' campaign, almost eight thousand extra Australian visitors have come to New Zealand.   It's estimated those tourists spent about $22 million.   Tourism Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking there's plenty more room for growth.  She says about four million Australians are consi...

What do you reckon happened at the big butter meeting?  Willis and Hurrell. Nicola and Miles.  Is it a meeting that took on a hopeless amount of hype, or was it a sign that at times this Government, and Willis in particular, say stuff that makes them look like they are on to it when perhaps they're not?  The reality is these two meet regularly. Fonterra plays an outsized roll in our...

The fallout over the Epstein files appears to have ground Capitol Hill to a halt.   CNN reports Speaker Mike Johnson closed proceedings for August recess a day earlier than planned, ahead of votes around the release of the files.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Johnson says the whole issue should be allowed to cool down, saying they’ve been ‘clear and transparent...

Halfway through the week, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to discuss the biggest political stories thus far.  Labour MP Camilla Bellich’s member’s bill, the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill, has passed its second reading. But why do we want to talk about salaries?   Nicola Willis has met with Fonterra over the cost of butt...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23rd of July, red meat continues to go gangbusters , but we could be doing better, and the industry has some warnings.  Lester Levy is moving from the Health NZ Commissioner to the new board chair , and gives us an exclusive on what he has, and hasn't, achieved.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss pay transparency, the b...

Retailers across the country are surprisingly optimistic in the face of ongoing economic challenges.  The latest Retail NZ report reveals nearly 70% of retailers are confident their business will survive the next year, up from 57% for the same period last year.  This comes despite 62% of retailers failing to meet sales targets for the same period.   Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young told...

Don’t expect lower levies as a result of ACC’s “accounting change”.  The Government has approved a change that reduces the amount of money the insurer would need to pay out in claims by $7 billion.  It would see the risk margin reduced from 12.7% to zero, shaving down the outstanding claims liability, which is used to calculate how much it may have to pay out in the years to come.  ...

Health New Zealand is moving into its next chapter after a year under a commissioner.  The board's making a return today, with outgoing commissioner Lester Levy taking up the role as chairman for the next 12 months.   Levy told Mike Hosking that although the agency's reached a turning point, the challenge isn't over.   He says they need to involve clinicians and those on the ground...

Sky TV's purchase of TV3 could lead to a change in sports viewing, but not for a while.   Sky New Zealand Chief Executive Sophie Moloney says for the next 12 months programming on TV3 will stay largely the same.    She says she expects TVNZ to put up a good fight for free-to-air rights for different sports, including rugby.   Moloney told Mike Hosking they'd also like to try to...

The red meat sector remains positive despite significant trade barriers.   The Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb New Zealand have revealed non-tariff trade barriers are costing the industry an estimated $1.5 billion every year.  MIA Chair Nathan Guy told Mike Hosking they've lost an estimated billion dollars of stock in the last three years.   He says it's unfortunate but th...

It’s the sort of theoretical nonsense you would expect from a bunch of wonks like the Labour Party, but blow me down if National hasn't clambered on board as well.  Camilla Belich has a Member’s bill. Member's bills don’t normally get to where hers has, given if they did, the party would have already run with the idea.  But her Employee Remuneration Disclosure Amendment Bill has passed i...

People are becoming increasingly more interested in living longer.  Health, wellness, dieting, and fitness are more and more prominent on social media, and health monitoring technology are becoming increasingly popular.  Cardiologist Dr Eric Topol has been researching longevity for decades, and is considered to be one of the top five voices on the subject.  He’s just released his la...

Construction will begin this year on a new medical school at Waikato University.   The Government's chipping in $83 million, alongside $150 million from the University and philanthropic investors.  It'll have a strong focus on primary care and rural health and offer a graduate-entry programme.  Health Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking they’ve gone through a rigorous process to...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 22nd of July, a new medical school in Waikato has finally been greenlit – the Waikato University Vice Chancellor and Health Minister discuss the course .  Netball New Zealand is changing the eligibility rules to allow players to play in Australia for the domestic season and still represent the Silver Ferns.  Longevity expert Dr...

Netball New Zealand's updated the eligibility criteria for the Silver Ferns.  Overseas-based players can now be considered for national selection through a formal exemption process.  The updated criteria will be implemented ahead of the upcoming international season, allowing Grace Nweke to be available if she applies.  Board chair Matt Whineray told Mike Hosking they had to balance...

Another cut to the Official Cash Rate next month is looking a lot more likely.  Latest Stats NZ figures show annual inflation has reached 2.7% in the year to June – up from 2.5% in the year to March.  But core inflation is tracking much lower, and domestically driven non-tradeable inflation is at a four-year low.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking that it’s a green li...

An update in the Government's plans to ban Greyhound racing, with the industry's lead organisation fronting in court next month.   Racing Minister Winston Peters says they're considering laws to get the TAB to help pay to re-home ex-racing dogs.   Greyhound Racing NZ CEO says there’s all this talk about rehoming, but no question or consideration of support for their people and compensati...

There’s optimism the new medical school will ensure a future influx of GP specialists.   Waikato University's newly announced medical school will begin construction this year, opening the doors to 120 trainees in 2028.   It will focus on primary and rural care.   Vice Chancellor Neil Quigley told Mike Hosking students could choose not to specialise in rural health or become a GP, bu...

Questions are being raised as to why taxpayer money backs trains but not planes, as more regional flight routes are axed.   Operator Sounds Air is dropping its Blenheim to Christchurch and Christchurch to Wanaka services from September, with 10 jobs lost.  Despite good passenger numbers, the decision is driven by unsustainable costs, so it is having to sell part of its fleet.  CEO A...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 21st of July, we get our inflation number and it isn't expected to be good. Could it be outside the RB's band? And what will the Government do? Is Queenstown at risk of becoming the next Barcelona due to it's growth and tourism? Locals don't want it, but can anything be done? Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the All Blacks, Mike's pr...

Queenstown's underlying infrastructure is unable to keep up with the rapidly growing tourism and population numbers. The town's infrastructure can't cope with international arrivals 28% higher than in 2019, and the population has doubled every 17 years in the last four decades.   Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust Chief Executive Julie Scott says they're a smaller community who needs a...

Christopher Luxon is staying upbeat about New Zealand's trading relationship with the US. Donald Trump's threatening to raise tariffs against key trading partners if they don't reach trade deals before the end of the month. New Zealand goods currently face the base tariff rate of ten-percent. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking discussions with US officials have been positive so far. He says New...

There is a growing belief that NCEA should be abolished and replaced all together.   The Government is signalling that big changes could be on the cards - including the potential to ditch NCEA level one entirely.   Auckland Grammar Headmaster Tim O'Connor told Mike Hosking that there should be a simple examination-based system, to give benchmarking across the country.  He says NZQA...

Rising inflation is hitting low-income households hard, but is expected to spark hikes to the OCR.  New data -- due out from Stats NZ this morning -- is expected to show inflation has risen to between 2.6 and 2.9 percent in the year to June.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says households are facing rising energy and food prices.  She says inflation could surpass three percent i...

A suggestion has been put forward for more policy tweaks so infrastructure projects can be delivered in the long term. $6billion of infrastructure will get off the ground between now and late December.   Northern Infrastructure Forum Executive Director Barney Irvine says that will be followed by major roading and prison projects starting next year.   He told Mike Hosking that alongside i...