The Mike Hosking Breakfast

National   is claiming bias from   the   Government's transport fund. Councils can apply for a   slice of the $350-million dollar Transport Choices Fund,   for   sustainable projects, such   as   public transit and cycleways. Opposition Transport Spokesperson Simeon Brown alleges   it's mostly going to Councils   represented by Labour politicians. He says   Auckland's funding will primarily benefi...

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strawberries could be available all year-round. Backed through a government pilot project based in Foxton, strawberries will be grown using a controlled environment growing system. The Government are partnering with 26 Seasons to find cost-effective methods for growing strawberries out of season, costing more than $920,000 over two years. 26 Seasons CEO Grant Leach joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOV...

International visitors have been spending up large in New Zealand. The latest International Visitor Survey shows in the three months to the end of September, overseas visitors spent more than $1 billion. The survey shows holidaymakers spent $479 million,  while visitors here to see friends or relatives spent nearly $300 million. The regions benefited as well, with the Tourism Electronic Card Trans...

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is investigating the ransomware attack on information technology company Mercury IT. It's potentially compromising sensitive data for clients including Business NZ, the Nurses Organisation and the Ministry of Justice. AUT computer expert Kenneth Johnson told Mike Hosking data is being compiled throughout the world about the motivation of these attacks, who is...

There's no prizes for going harder than we need to on interest rates. KiwiBank says the Reserve Bank is at risk of going too far. The central bank lifted the Official Cash Rate by 75 basis points last month, while Australia's Reserve Bank lifted theirs by 25 basis points yesterday. Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking the Reserve Bank should watch and see the impact coming through of the...

I am glad the RNZ/TVNZ merger is getting the noise it deserves. The trouble with mass reform under ideological Governments is certain things attract headlines and a lot of stuff doesn’t. The Fair Pay Agreements, I think, deserved more noise than they got, given the chaos they are going to cause around the economy. And the merger is another such matter than was always going to struggle against scan...

It's the impossible inquiry isn't it? Do we want a Royal Commission into Covid? Of course we do. Are there aspects we found to be wanting, if not completely cocked up? Of course there were. But are they going to look at them in the sort of detail we want or need? Is the Government really going to learn anything? Remember it won’t be 'this Government' and in that is the crux of all of this. Would a...

A new Kiwi startup wants employers to put their parental leave policies on its new register. Crayon is creating a database of verified parental leave policies for parents to easily access. Employees traditionally have to be at the same employer for 12 months or more to be eligible for full parental leave benefits Founder Stephanie Pow says the goal is to create transparency. She says it's not abou...

The man tasked with heading the Royal Commission of Inquiry into our Covid response says they'll be doing their best to deliver an independent report. It kicks off February and will look at vaccine mandates, border closures, quarantine and community care - among other matters. A report is due mid-2024. Australian-based epidemiologist Tony Blakely will chair it, alongside former National party mini...

National is on track to form a coalition government with ACT at next year’s election. A 1News Kantar poll shows National's support up one percent to 38 percent - and Act up two points to 11 percent. Meanwhile, Labour has slid a point to 33 percent - while the Green Party is holding steady on nine percent. Act Leader David Seymour says he believes Labour is out of touch with what the public want. H...

A business leader doubts the Royal Commission of Inquiry into our Covid response has the right scope. It kicks off February and will look at vaccine mandates, border closures, quarantine and community care. A report is due mid-2024. Australian-based epidemiologist Tony Blakely will chair it, alongside former National party minister Hekia Parata and former Treasury secretary John Whitehead. Busines...

When James Michael Grimes fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, he said the sheer will to live, along with strength from God, kept him alive as he miraculously swam for what he believes was more than 15 hours. Grimes, 28, who described himself as an "average guy" who likes hunting, fishing and being outdoors, was rescued late on Thanksgiving Day and told CNN he is "bles...

Former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has confirmed that she was advised on Friday that her former staffer Brittany Higgins intends to file a compensation claim — that could climb as high as $3 million. News.com.au revealed over the weekend that Ms Higgins’ legal team had entered negotiations over a bombshell multimillion-dollar personal injury claim. It’s believed the claim includes $2.5 million...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the latest action from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Shane van Gisbergen's coronation, James McDonald becoming top jockey in the world, and Tyson Fury's victory over Deontay Wilder. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making it big in the US market is what every Kiwi-founded company dreams of — but for Monday Hair Care it has become their reality. The Kiwi company has just renewed its contract to sell its hair care products in Costco USA. After an initial three-month trial from its start in January, Monday became the number one hair care brand in Costco USA. Monday Hair Care co-founder Jaimee Lupton joined Mike...

What is it we are supposed to make of the revelation that the Prime Minister, having told us she didn’t know about her party's attempt to entrench aspects of the Three Waters law, turned out to be in the very meeting where it was discussed? A couple of simple questions. Firstly, where is the media on this? The story had scant coverage - why is that? Is it not a story? Can the media who ignored it,...

Belief a shortage of capacity across the entire bus and coach sector will impact tourism. The Bus and Coach Association says there are shortages of coaches, operators, and drivers. Association Chief Executive Ben McFadgen says tourism operators are struggling to keep up with such high demand from the return of overseas travel. He told Mike Hosking it's time for the Government to intervene. “Despit...

Tech giants could be forced to the bargaining table to pay for local news content. The Government is drawing up legislation to make companies like Google and Meta pay local news producers for their content. They're encouraged to strike their own voluntary deals, as NZME - owner of Newstalk ZB and the Herald - already has. If no agreement is found, the Government will set bargaining terms. Technolo...

The Government is backing its decision to fund 46 councils with $350 million in public transport upgrades. The package covers almost 400 new or upgraded bus stops, nearly 250 kilometres of cycleways and some 120 school improvements. Transport Minister Michael Wood says the projects will help meet future needs caused by population growth and climate change. He told Mike Hosking the upgrades are ess...

House prices have fallen by an average of $90,000 in parts of New Zealand after a turbulent year in the property market. That meant homeowners who bought at the height of the property boom in late 2021 could find themselves with mortgages larger than the value of their home, especially in Auckland and Wellington. But there were also some positives: the fall in prices was allowing more first-home b...

Pharmac says it's pleased to be ready to consult on a drug the cystic fibrosis community's been after for a long time. A provisional agreement's been made between Pharmac and Vertex to fund the drug Trikafta for those with the condition aged six and over. The drug buying agency estimated it could give those people up to 27 more years of full health when compared with supportive care. Pharmac Opera...

The Reserve Bank's Governor of Australia Philip Lowe reminded me of Eugenie Sage this week. Or maybe it was the other way round? Either way, it’s about power and influence. The Sage defence of the cluster that has been this astonishing attempt to upend democracy in this country with the entrenchment debacle is all the evidence you need to know that not all people in power, should be. Her rationale...

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 Police: 7/10 The adjustment to pursuits is a reminder that under Andrew Coster they’ve got it wrong and they’ve got it wrong because of Government direction.   Fog cannons: 2/10 An astonishingly blatant failure to address real harm. They're not even here until next year. It...

The Government has a challenge in front of it over what to do about the plight of the Ruapehu ski fields. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts is in voluntary administration, carrying debt of $45 million.  The Government isn't throwing anymore lifelines, leaving the business that runs the Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields staring down the barrel of liquidation. The company's demise would cost taxpayers up to $100 mi...