The Mike Hosking Breakfast

I don’t love the idea of the LNG terminal. Never have, probably never will.  But I’m fast coming around to the idea that there is no solution to our energy problem that we’re going to love.  Our electricity system—our wider energy situation—is so broken now that whatever we do to try to fix it is going to have to be so drastic or expensive, it’s going to hurt.  For the LNG terminal,...

Nasa has named the astronauts who'll blast off in the next Artemis mission, with a view to eventually returning humans to the Moon.  The crew of four will launch on the Orion spacecraft next year from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  Originally a crewed Moon landing, Artemis III will instead fly in low Earth orbit and test special manoeuvres and dock with prototype lunar landers. &n...

More and more Kiwis are choosing to order in instead of eating out.  Uber Eats is booming – its revenue growing 23% last year to $367.3 million.  The service now reaches more than 84% of the country, covering 178 locations.  Celebrity chef and health advocate Simon Gault told Heather du Plessis-Allan it’s about convenience, and people are time poor.  He says it’s a bit like get...

There’s fresh criticism of Labour's selection process, while the party itself continues to brush off concerns.   Police are reviewing whether new Labour candidate Rakesh Naidoo shared any sensitive information with the party while deciding whether to stand.  His bid for Parliament was announced on Monday after two months of discussions with Labour, but he only informed his manager last w...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast with Heather du Plessis-Allan for Wednesday the 9th of June, we hear from an expert why the Government's proposed LNG terminal shouldn't go ahead . We go to Waikato to celebrate the opening of Fieldays for 2026 .  Heather dives into the changing perceptions New Zealanders have towards Asia.  And on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginn...

Global instability is reshaping our relationships with major powers and pushing us closer to Asian countries.   The Asia New Zealand Foundation's new survey of members finds Japan is viewed as our most trusted partner in the region, followed by Singapore.   The US is now seen as a bigger threat than China – with trust in both about the same.   Asia New Zealand Foundation CEO Suzanna...

The Greens are calling for a beefed-up Privacy Commissioner to tackle major breaches.  The party's campaigning on plans for the Commissioner to apply for penalties of up to $500 thousand for breaches by individuals, and $10 million for corporations.  Any penalty would have to go before the courts.  Greens Co-Leader Marama Davidson says the Manage My Health hack showed the need to cl...

It’s all go at Hamilton's Mystery Creek, with Fieldays kicking off today.  About 100 thousand people are expected to flock through the gates over the next four days to view the latest agriculture tech and innovation.  There are more than 1000 exhibitors and delegations travelling from key markets, including Europe, Latin America, and China.  National Fieldays Society CEO Richard Lin...

LNG is being thrown back into the mix, and an energy coalition is urging leaders not to forget about renewables.  The Government's pressing on with plans to build an LNG import facility in Taranaki and dumping a proposed power bill levy to pay for it.  It also plans to enforce stronger dry year supply requirements and penalties for gentailers.  Smart Energy Alliance spokesperson And...

A move allowing click and collect prescriptions is being dubbed a sensible call.   The Government's looking at introducing e-lockers for medication pick-ups, via Associate Health Minister Casey Costello's Medical Products Bill.   Ministry of Health officials say it would benefit those who struggle to get to pharmacies during opening hours.  Mangawhai Pharmacy Director Lanny Wong tol...

Now, I can’t imagine Labour’s woken up feeling awesome this morning about how that reset is going. What do you think?  This is a reset – you do realise that. After months of saying nothing, having no new policy and generating headlines for Ayesha Verrall singing weird songs about ducks, they started this week with a classic reset move.  They got themselves a story in the Herald on Monday...

Tony Brown is set trade the bottle green and gold of the Springboks for the much more familiar black of home.  The current South Africa attack coach has signed on as an All Blacks assistant coach for the two years after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.  The All Blacks will still face Brown as South Africa's current attack coach during the Greatest Rivalry tour this year, and in a likely World C...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast with Heather du Plessis-Allan for Tuesday 9th of June, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins defends the process behind the appointment of Rakesh Naidoo to the party's list.  Heather also challenges Hipkins on the generous superannuation scheme for MPs.  Former Highlander Joey Wheeler talks what Tony Brown will bring to the All Blacks when he joins a...

New research paints a gloomier picture for business leaders.   The latest 2degrees Shaping Business Report suggests optimism about post-pandemic recovery has fallen away.   It says leaders are now shifting from recovery mode to simply playing the hand they've got.  Chief Business Officer Andrew Fairgray told Heather du Plessis-Allan people were looking for a return to normalcy in th...

A foreign policy analyst says Iran coming to Hezbollah's aid could have been a symbolic gesture, to help break something loose in negotiations.  Iran fired missiles into Israel in retaliation for Israeli forces striking Beirut, which then responded in turn by blowing up Iranian targets.   Donald Trump appealed to both sides to pause the shooting, but the threat of further violence remain...

There's debate over the future of the country's nearly 2000 remaining phone booths.   Spark's planning to use the aging payphones for free calling, wifi, phone charging, and for digital advertising.   But Auckland Council wants a share of the return due to the booths being on public footpaths.   Spark Chief Brand Officer Leela Ashford told Heather du Plessis-Allan there are lots of...

Doubts a senior police officer gave his employer enough notice about plans to run for the Labour Party.  Commissioner Richard Chambers says he only learned of Rakesh Naidoo's candidacy on Sunday afternoon, and his position is now untenable.  Labour says Naidoo told a supervisor of his intentions last Thursday and followed all appropriate steps.  But political commentator Grant Dunca...

The Labour Leader is disappointed by how things are playing out for the senior police officer who’s chosen to run for Parliament.  Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo —the Police’s national partnerships manager— has been revealed as the 13th ranked candidate on Labour’s list.  Commissioner Richard Chambers says he only learned of Naidoo’s candidacy on Sunday afternoon, and his position is now u...

An uptick in cheap aluminium extrusion imports could be hurting local manufacturers.  The Government's looking into global safeguards after imports of products, like those made here, surged 30% in the first four months of the year compared to last year.   Aluminium Extruders Association chief executive Nick Collins told Heather du Plessis-Allan the US and the EU have tariffs in place. &n...

The Government has quietly set aside $1 billion from next year's Budget but is refusing to say where it'll go. It amounts to 22 million dollars in 2027/28, before ramping up over a four-year period. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this is not a common occurance. "That is just a little bit of an odd approach," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

Currently a record number of Kiwis are donating plasma, but it is still not enough. More than 25,000 people donated last year, but another 4000 are needed just to meet demand. NZ Blood Service CEO Sam Cliffe joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the importance of plasma donations.  "Plasma is one of those amazing things that can be made into 11 life-saving products, and we manufacture it...

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice what a contrast it was watching Christopher Luxon cracking jokes with Anthony Albanese, compared to what it was like when Jacinda Ardern visited Australia? For all her kindness and communication when she was Prime Minister, she would use those trips to Australia to give then–Prime Minister Scott Morrison a tongue-lashing—usually over the 501 deportees, whic...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 8th of June with Heather du Plessis-Allan, we get to the bottom of the "secret spending" from the Budget. The Prime Minister reckons it's not all that exciting. Christopher Luxon also talks his Australia trip and whether the government is going to go further in stopping unelected members voting on local councils. Heather also finds out...

US President Donald Trump stormed out of an interview with Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet The Press after he was challenged about his claims of election fraud in the California primaries saying the journalist must be “crooked or stupid” as he became visibly frustrated by her questions. Democratic candidate for Maine, Graham Platner, is facing more allegations of violence against women and a tattoo o...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about his Australia trip. Lat week, after it was announced four New Zealand MPs would be banned from China for a year, Australia commented condemning China's decision. Luxon responded saying it was not a matter for Australia to be involved in, but today he stated he was 'appreciative' of the support anyway.  A focus of t...