The Mike Hosking Breakfast

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.    The 5% first home buyers policy: 8/10  Small house deposits for first-timers is the policy of the week. In fact, it's the policy of the campaign so far. It's easy, practical, and solves an issue important to voters.    Michelin: 7/10  Possibly the...

Is this the week the tide turned for the Labour Party and their chances of Government slipped away?  It's indisputably true to say it hasn’t been their week, or even a good week.  Some of the stuff that’s been bubbling for a while came to a, sort-of, head.  The lack of policy, the waiting for this magical PREFU, which allegedly contains Lord-knows-what by way of fiscal revelation, t...

Friday has arrived, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  Donald Trump has offered every American adult $5000 if Republicans win the midterms in November – what would it cost to swing someone's vote?  They also discussed whether there's such a thing as being too young to have a bucket list, and how despite the tough economy, there...

There's confidence there'll be no issues when Auckland's long awaited City Rail Link opens this weekend.  The $5.5 billion project opens on Sunday, with twin three-kilometre tunnels, two new underground stations, and an entirely new timetable for Aucklanders.  It'll also see three new main services: the East West, South City, and Onehunga West lines.  KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 11th of September, Social Development Minister Louise Upston fronts up on the MSD screw-up that affected thousands of people.  Andrew Webster details how the Warriors are going to beat the Dolphins this week as the NRL Playoffs begin.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss what we could bribe Kiwis with to vote, whether 19 and 20-...

Warriors coach Andrew Webster is stoked to have another difference maker available for tomorrow's NRL league preliminary final.   The team have completed their best regular season ever, securing a club record 18 wins and 728 points.  They're now facing the Dolphins at home on Saturday in front of a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium.   Versatile forward Jackson Ford's made a full recovery fr...

Renewables have hit a record high, but the Associate Energy Minister says New Zealand still can't quit coal and gas.  A new MBIE report shows renewables supplied 92% of electricity in the June quarter, with record geothermal generation and solar up 56%.  Wholesale electricity prices also fell 66% compared with the same quarter last year.  Shane Jones told Mike Hosking New Zealand ne...

The Social Development Minister's apologising it took so long for the Government to figure out thousands of benefits had been accidentally cut.  Around 30 thousand benefit and winter energy payments were stopped after an error caused by legislation rushed through Parliament under urgency last year.   Minister Louise Upston doesn't accept the legislation was rushed.  A review reveals...

As big of a fan as I am of good news, something wasn’t right in the latest PISA report.  Like all reports, you can look at stats in any number of ways.  For example, if you want to feel good about yourself have a look at the Australian results. They're not good.  So for a bit of Trans-Tasman rivalry, their numbers will give you no end of good vibes.  The socio-economic gap the...

Sir Peter Beck is one of the country's greatest ongoing success stories.  The self-taught engineer turned his love of rockets into a multibillion dollar space company, and Rocket Lab is now the third largest launcher of payloads to orbit.  He's competing directly with the likes of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX, managing to hold his own against the billionaires, and can b...

LIV Golf, the breakaway tour that spent billions of dollars luring top players away from the PGA, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States.  Launched in 2022, free-spending LIV caused shock waves and bitter divisions in the golf world, before losing the backing of its deep-pocketed Saudi investors earlier this year, prompting a scramble to stay afloat.  The organisation h...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 10th of September, the Ministry for Regulation has released its review of the hospo sector , which should make it easier to do business and help thousands.  All Blacks winger Jordie Barrett details how they'll tie up the South Africa series in Baltimore this weekend.  Sir Peter Beck explores the extraordinary rise of Rocket La...

After a “whirlwind” last few days, All Blacks veteran Jordie Barrett says the side are back in test mode as they prepare to bookend Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with a victory in Baltimore on Sunday. Both sides are coming off a 20-hour flight from Johannesburg to Washington following Sunday’s third test, which shortens the preparation window for the final clash of the series in the US. “It’s st...

ASB's anticipating the upswing in the housing market will be steadier than in the past.  Its latest housing outlook predicts a more measured, household income-led recovery, rather than previous borrowing-led booms.   Chief economist Mark Smith expects national house prices to remain around 15% below the peaks of late 2021, which are unlikely to return until late 2029.  He told Mike...

There are hopes a hospitality Action Plan will dish up more coherent regulation. Ministers are now deciding what recommendations to keep from the Ministry for Regulation's completed review. It highlights areas hindering food and drink operators, including alcohol licensing, high fees, and too many regulators. Hospitality New Zealand CEO Kristy Phillips told Mike Hosking current rules are inconsist...

There's a view Canterbury's economic growth can't all be put down to the earthquakes.  The Herald's Project Canterbury report, out today, looks at the businesses, civic leaders, infrastructure providers, and investors driving the region's growth.  ChristchurchNZ CEO Ali Adams told Mike Hosking the region has natural advantages helping fuel growth in sectors like aerospace and dark sky to...

Tourism New Zealand's shifting gears with a new campaign, with a specific group in mind.  It's launched its new Don't be a Stranger campaign, targeting Kiwis' friends and relatives across the UK, Canada, and Australia.   This cohort spent a total of $2.6 billion visiting this country in the year to June.   Tourism New Zealand's Brodie McLeish told Mike Hosking they're trying to find...

Here is a stereotype we have to break, especially given the solution is now available.  There was a young woman in her 20s, in the beauty industry, training as a nurse and will go into the private sector. She has a plan and good on her.  As part of this particular conversation though, she says she can never see herself owning a house.  Of our five kids, one or possibly two, I suspec...

Mushroom killer Erin Patterson is receiving weight loss drug Ozempic in prison – at the expense of the Australian taxpayer.   She's serving three life sentences for murdering her husband's parents and an elderly aunt with a poisonous mushroom laced beef wellington.   Corrections authorities say it's intended to reduce her risk of developing type two diabetes, which is associated with rap...

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen dig into some of the biggest stories of the week thus far.  They discussed National's plan to widen access to 5% first home deposits, the Green Party's plan to break up the supermarket duopoly, carbon credit auctions, and the latest education results.  LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Average Kiwis aren't the only ones shopping locally, McDonald's is too.  The fast food giant spent more than $580 million on New Zealand produced ingredients last year, with around 90% of the ingredients it uses here being locally sourced.  This includes 17 million kilograms of Canterbury potatoes, 10.5 million eggs, and more than 6,400 tonnes of beef.   McDonald's NZ Head of Impact...

The Warriors have officially sold-out Mt Smart Stadium.  Saturday's qualifying final against the Dolphins sold out within minutes of general tickets going on sale – around 25,000 fans set to pack the stadium.  CEO Cameron George told Mike Hosking the Dolphins are a good side, but they've trained well and the boys are up for it.  He says there is no easy game and they've had tight ga...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9th of September, our good PISA numbers have Education Minister Erica Stanford happy.   The Squash World Championships are coming to New Zealand in 2028, and our champ Paul Coll couldn't be more excited.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk carbon auctions, first home buyers' policy, and Labour Party election costings on Po...

Greymouth's Paul Coll wants all the home court advantage he can get for the 2028 Squash World Championships.  It's being held at Auckland's International Convention Centre in February, running concurrently with the inaugural World Club Championships.   The world number two is already adapting his schedule for the event, which will lead into the sport's Olympic debut in Los Angeles later...

The latest forecast from BusinessNZ shows New Zealand's economy's regained momentum. It's predicting solid economic growth out to 2028, citing the fact business confidence is holding up, the Performance of Manufacturing and Services Indexes are back in black, tourism's growing, and credit activity's increased.  Chief Economist John Pask says performance is improving across the board.   H...