The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The use of air conditioning is becoming a concern in parts of Europe as a searing heatwave continues to grip much of the continent.  Italy, the UK, and Spain are among nations sweltering in extreme heat, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees in some regions.  Severe red heat alerts have been issued for most of France and parts of Italy as temperatures break historical records. ...

Tourists are spending up large as a visa waiver trial yields results.   Chinese and Pacific travellers have injected around $215 million into the economy over the last six months after visa changes eased access to New Zealand.  These tourists can skip applying for a visitor visa if they already hold an Australian one, as part of a 12-month trial launched in November.  Rotorua Mayor...

A former Heart of the City board member says the organisation's lost its focus.  Six of the Auckland city-centre business association's seven voting members have quit after months of turmoil which saw its chief executive temporarily stood down.   Its board says the organisation isn't compliant with its own constitution and recommends Auckland Council withhold funding and consider an audi...

The Workplace Relations Minister says changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act are on track, despite mixed signals from New Zealand First.  Leader Winston Peters says he’s obliged to vote for the bill under the coalition agreement but is vowing to get rid of it next term.   He told protesters yesterday —including families of Pike River victims— he wishes he didn't have to vote for th...

Let me ask you this: if fast-track is the answer, then why do we still have the Port of Tauranga problems?  Surely I don’t need to go through the fine detail of what is one of this country's most embarrassing modern travesties.  It's a story in which a successful business wants to expand so they can be more successful, and yet can't because the court process is never-ending.  The la...

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest stories of the week thus far.  They discussed the Greens’ tax plan, the truth around the alleged selling off of conservation land, and Chris Bishop’s yoga classes.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A think-tank is calling on ACC to make rehabilitation its priority ahead of paperwork.   The Accident Compensation Corporation's claims pool stopped growing in April after once increasing 15% annually.   A New Zealand Initiative report says there's evidence to suggest it could be achieving this by cutting back on rehabilitation outcomes.   Executive Director Oliver Hartwich told Mik...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 24th of June, Five Eyes is warning that the threat AI poses to security could arrive in a matter of months.   Just wait until you hear the latest stats around ACC and whether we are actually being rehabbed or not.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk the Greens’ tax plans, the truth around the alleged conservation land sell-...

Questions have been raised over how a single fibre cable, chewed through by rats, was enough to shut down an entire Christchurch secondary school.  Hillmorton High School has reopened today after asking students to learn from home for two days because of the damage.  The school lost WiFi, phone lines, CCTV, and access to the student management system.  Secondary Principals' Council...

The Health Minister says it's a complex task to unclog the issue of ED wait times.  Progress is being made on the Government's health targets, with all five areas improving year on year in the March quarter.   However some progress is incremental, with EDs seeing a 0.2% rise to 74.4% of patients being admitted, discharged, or transferred within six hours.   Simeon Brown told Mike Ho...

A bleak attitude towards the employment market could be creeping close to the new normal.  A Westpac-McDermott Miller survey for the June quarter shows confidence fell to an all-time low across both public and private sector employees.   A net 60% of respondents believe it's hard to find a job – up from 46% last quarter.  The Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald t...

There’s a suggestion Donald Trump's out of character treatment of new AI models shows how great the security threat is.  Five Eyes agencies have issued a warning for business and government leaders that Artificial Intelligence could overwhelm defences within months, not years.  The rare call to action comes after the Trump administration ordered AI giant Anthropic to suspend use of its m...

Other banks are expected to follow suit as ANZ drops its mortgage rates from today.  Its standard one-year fixed home loan rate's dropping by 14 basis points to 5.25%, while the two and three-year rates will be cut by 20 basis points.  The move comes after Westpac cut its longer-term home loan rates last week.  Loan Market CEO Bruce Patten told Mike Hosking banks are all a bit quiet...

So, how to handle the avalanche of ideas that are starting to tumble our way even though we are still five months away from the election?  The nuances of MMP mean the vast majority of what is promoted on the campaign trail will never see the light of day.  This is a great advantage to small parties and those in Opposition.  The simple thing to do is hear it all, debate it all, and w...

What will be the legacy of Sir Keir Starmer? Will he have one?  He's already stepped down as leader of the British Labour Party and says a successor will be in place by Parliament's return in September at the latest.    It comes after more than 90 Labour MPs called for the Prime Minister to resign after the party's poor results in recent polls.  UK Correspondent Enda Brady told...

Coach Andrew Webster is pleased with the Warriors NRL season to date.  They’re sitting second on the table more than halfway into the season, following their win over the Cowboys at a sold-out One NZ Stadium.  Webster told Mike Hosking that they’re very ambitious, and while they have fallen short on a few occasions, they’ve made improvements compared to where they were this time last yea...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 23rd of June, Sir Keir Starmer has officially announced his resignation as the UK Prime Minister, with a transition of power expected by September.  The All Blacks’ new captain Ardie Savea talks about stepping into the role and expectations for the upcoming series.  Warriors Coach Andrew Webster finds his team at second on the l...

People are shopping for fruit and veggies over meat as more start weight loss drugs.  A report from fresh produce group United Fresh has identified a shift in grocery patterns, with more opting for fresh produce rather than processed foods.   Berries, avocados, and kiwifruit have had the biggest growth in value.  President Jerry Prendergast told Mike Hosking they're not bad things f...

Health officials are warning a heatwave across Europe is a danger to life as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius.   France's Health Department has issued a red danger alert, advising people to take extreme caution outside.   Two children —aged two and four— have been found dead in a sweltering car in France.   France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the tempera...

New All Black captain Ardie Savea denies he's worse off from having skipped Super Rugby to play a season in Japan.  Savea returns to lead the national side for the upcoming Nations Championship tests after returning from Kobe in Japan.  He told Mike Hosking that there’s a perception that Japan isn’t that great of a team, but they have world class coaches and players mixed in with local p...

A snap election in the UK could be on the cards if newly elected MP Andy Burnham proves to be Labour's lifeline.  UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced his plans to resign as Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour Party.  It makes way for Burnham, who has now returned to Parliament as MP for Makerfield, and is considered a shoo-in to replace Starmer.  UK Political Co...

A fresh push for a nationwide bed tax has been launched by Regional Tourism New Zealand.   Its proposal would see a small, user-pays tax for stays at hotels and Airbnbs, with the money going toward events and tourism infrastructure.   The plan has the backing of several mayors including those of Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown.   Regional Tourism New Zealand Chair Andrew Wilson Mik...

More small and medium businesses are looking to trim the fat after years of constant pressure.  MyHR data shows in the first three months of the year, the hospitality industry recorded 191% more restructures than in the previous quarter.  Financial and insurance sectors had their highest levels of restructuring in two years.  MyHR spokesperson Sylvie Thrush Marsh told Mike Hosking b...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 22nd of June, the Government has revealed their compulsory KiwiSaver plans and Mike isn't sure he wants the Government getting even more involved in it. The Prime Minister speaks on the new policy and the argy-bargy between National and the coalition partners. Jason Pine in Vancouver and Andrew Saville talk the All Whites chances again...

The most uplifting part of the news weekend (apart from the Warriors) was the Stuff story quoting the head of an Australian investment firm confirming what is clearly already underway. Which is either New Zealanders returning to New Zealand, or Australians seeing our country as a better option than theirs. What's particularly uplifting, according to Ed Carlson who runs TrueBridge Capital, is the p...