The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Latest numbers from the Electoral Commission as of the weekend show 63.4% of 18-24-year-old voters are enrolled.  It's a shockingly low number.  It's lower than previous elections. This is bad news for democracy and especially bad news for the Greens.  There's no excuse for this.  You can't blame the Electoral Commission. You can't blame the media either. They have fallen over...

New England test cricket coach Stephen Fleming has already laid down a challenge to their Australian rivals ahead of next year's home Ashes series.  The former New Zealand captain told Mike Hosking that he hasn't been given any KPIs per se, but the Ashes aren't too far away, and he learned pretty quickly that that's the be-all, end-all.   He says the timing is really good as he can see a...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 13th of October, NZ Initiative's Bryce Wilkinson joined us to crunch all the data from all the parties' fiscal plans.  Nicola Willis pours over the National Party's numbers.  Black Caps legend Stephen Fleming joins the show to talk about his new job with England, his brief visit to NZ, and look ahead to the Black Clash in Januar...

There's confidence Christchurch's covered stadium won't leave attendees hot under the collar this summer.  Temperatures inside parts of One NZ Stadium hit 31 degrees during Sunday's NPC quarter-final and Farah Palmer Cup final, despite outdoor temperatures in the low 20s.  Venues Otautahi say cooling systems weren't at full capacity.  Chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare told Mike...

New research suggests people aren't waiting around for the election to make big financial decisions.   ASB analysis of the last 20 years of elections shows spending and investment don't tend to slow down just before elections or speed up right after them.   Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking while there are some differences due to things like the Global Financial Crisis and Co...

National claims it has a credible path for paying down the country's debt.   The party plans to keep the Budget operating allowance at $2.4 billion —matching Labour's— and return to surplus in two years.   It would cut foreign aid and welfare spending to fund its election commitments, with $7.5 billion left over.   Tax cuts are off the table until New Zealand's in the black.  F...

A business think tank says there's not much different in National's fiscal plan from its budgets of the past couple of years.   The party wants to keep the operating allowance at $2.4 billion, with all commitments funded and $7.5 billion left over.   It suggests tax relief won't be on the table until debt's paid down.   New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson told Mike...

The Teaching Council's promising change after repeatedly failing to act on warnings about a convicted sex offender  A KC inquiry has found the council had multiple chances to cancel Timothy Fisher’s licence, but he went on to work at dozens of schools after admitting an indecent act in sight of children in 2015.  Teaching Council Chair Patrick Walsh was appointed in July after two other...

Hss Paddock to Pantry just confirmed what most of us who think the whole “blow up the super market” game is stupid …were in fact right? The most open display of pandering to the lowest common denominator I have seen in years is virtually every party promising to take you to the promised isle of cheap food, and the only one left with common sense and an adult approach is ACT, who see this for what...

Over the weekend, One Nation's Pauline Hanson got some digs in at the Coalition, but said she'd work with them if it means removing Labour.  Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Hanson urged voters to ditch the Coalition and voiced opposition with the Liberal Party's policies.  Australian correspondent Steve Price says she also called Opposition leader Angus Taylor a...

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to review all the big sporting events of the weekend, including the All Blacks' victory over Australia at Eden Park, the memorable moments of Bathurst 1000 and more! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Startup Week is set to begin for another year, and it's set to draw some extra attention to the tech sector. The event runs from October 12-16, and it features 45 events across Auckland's city centre.  Auckland Council General Manager of Economic Development Pam Ford says these startups will be creating more jobs and helping find solutions for global issues. "We're just trying to bui...

President Donald Trump recently took to social media to claim that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an energy ceasefire - without giving further details. The announcement seems to have come as a surprise to Ukraine, with leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he supports a deal, but wants clear details from US dialogue with Russia. US correspondent Kate Fisher says there's been no word from Moscow abo...

ACT Leader David Seymour suspects it'll be events that'll drive a lift in the Super age, rather than a particular party. His party and National are both campaigning on gradually raising the super age to 67. Labour and New Zealand First are both campaigning to keep it at 65. Seymour says the change has to happen.  "It may be that as bond rates head over 5 percent, the pressure on Government bu...

Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 12 October. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view it's become clear both Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have been gearing up for another offensive.  The Houthi group in Yemen have taken responsibility for targeted attacks, including yesterday's deadly strike on Riyadh Airport that killed 13. Hundred of flights have been cancelled after a further attack caused a fire in the terminal's passenger hall.  The Economist's Middle East cor...

It's thought young people need to master basic life skills,  before making decisions about their futures. National wants to require students to stay in school until they complete Year 11, unless an exemption applies. Currently, students can leave once they turn 16. Blue Light Ventures Chief Executive Brendon Crompton told Mike Hosking the move would help ensure young people have the maths, re...

Chris Luxon says National's continuing to take the same fiscal approach, as it did under Sir John Key and Sir Bill English. National's fiscal plan - due out today - would involve a return to surplus a year later, than under Act's plan released yesterday. Luxon told Mike Hosking National is continuing to be gradual and disciplined He says the right will always call for harder, faster austerity, and...

When I spoke to Jeffrey Archer last year, he didn’t look anything other than what he has always looked like – vibrant, well, and full of good vigour.  So his death is a shock.  He looked like a very good 86-year-old. Or 85-year-old, as he was when I talked to him. I also talked to him a couple of years earlier when we were in London for the coronation.  We got on well. He was one of...

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 campaign: 7/10  It feels real at last. The first debate, the volley of policy, the rolling coverage; a country engaged in democracy is a very fine thing.    The first leader's debate: 5/10  These things no longer work. They produce little, if...

Trademark law is in the spotlight with a couple of key cases making the news.   British Car Manufacturer McLaren has applied to trademark the Auckland suburbs of Remuera and Muriwai – potentially for their first SUV.   And NZ Rugby has taken legal action to stop Papua New Guinea's new NRL franchise from using the 'Chiefs' name.  Intellectual Property Lawyer Rick Shera told Mike Hosk...

The former Venezuelan President and his wife are facing new charges from the US for conspiracy to commit torture.   Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores, originally facing weapon and drug charges, now face allegations of human rights abuses.  The pair have been in a New York prison since January after US forces seized them from their Caracas home.   US Correspondent Nick Harper told Mike...

Week two of this campaign of 2026 – is it close? They say so.  But then one poll had Labour at 23%, and another poll had them at 29%. That's how bad polling has become, so who would know?  It might be as simple as what happens with the Opportunity Party – if they're in, the Government is out. If they aren't, the Government are back.  Or it could be one of those "hold your nose" vote...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 9th of October, National are campaigning on random drug tests for beneficiaries – Louise Upston explains the details.   All Blacks' first five Damian McKenzie talks us through how the team plans to beat the Aussies this weekend at Eden Park.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson give their thoughts on week two of the campaign as they...

Friday has arrived, which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to join Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  And the week in question was the second week of the election campaign – how do they think things are going?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.