The Mike Hosking Breakfast

In the US, multiple states are shifting immigrants around to different locations.  Florida and Texas in particular, are redirecting immigrants sent their way to Washington D.C and Martha's Vineyard. US correspondent Richard Arnold has more to explain here today. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A very real indicator of just how badly the lack of staff is affecting the aged care sector. Staff at aged care facilities are legally required to notify the Director General of Health when there is a situation that could put residents at risk. It's called a section 31 form. In 2020 there were 260 submissions and in 2021 there were 851. We are only in September and already this year there have bee...

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 Monarchy: 9/10 "What we have seen this week could not have been done any more spectacularly. Or, in fact, done by anyone other than the British. It's been fitting and amazing."   King Charles and the Pens: 2/10 "You can't hide from that sort of reaction and behaviour. As mu...

The good news for me this week around the relinquishing of the Covid rules, was not so much the masks, lights, or mandates, but the case numbers. We will no longer publish the case numbers daily. Like all the other changes we have been ruinously slow to move on with life. But the numbers were possibly the most insidious of the factors at play without us perhaps even realising. The Prime Minister's...

China is keeping Russia at arms length. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping  have met in Uzbekistan in their first face to face meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine. In public comments Putin told Xi he ''understands'' his "questions and concerns" about the war. Cecile Shea from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs told Mike Hosking Xi can't be seen supporting the invasi...

The biggest ever art auction is happening this weekend.  We're talking about the BNZ Art Collection, which features works from some of our best known artists including Rita Angus, Gordon Walters and Colin McCahon whose piece 'O let us weep' could fetch as much as $2 million. The proceeds of the auction will go towards a philanthropic foundation designed to help organisations create better a better...

The Wallabies are seeking a "please explain" from World Rugby, after a late refereeing call more than likely denied them a 1-nil lead in the Bledisloe Cup series. The hosts recovered to lead 37-34 after trailing 31-13, but first-five Bernard Foley was issued a short-arm penalty for time-wasting. The All Blacks won the scrum then Jordie Barrett scored out wide for a 39-37 win. Former All Black Stev...

Exactly how long big businesses are taking to pay their bills could soon become public. Small Business Minister Stuart Nash wants to introduce legislation to create the disclosure regime by the end of the year and aims to have it up and running by 2024. It would apply to any business that makes more than $33 million a year. Canterbury Employers' Chamber chief executive Leeann Watson told Mike Hosk...

Grant Robertson is defending the Government's multi-million dollar spend-up on Three Waters consultants. Newstalk ZB can reveal in the last financial year, $16 million has been paid to contractors working on the reforms. National is questioning the bill, in particular the $15,000 spent on creating a job description for the yet-to-be named Chief Executive for the new Water Entity. The Finance Minis...

It is moderately encouraging we have two mutterings from the Government this week so far on the potential for a Covid inquiry. Grant Robertson told us Monday on this show it was closer, and the Prime Minister is taking advice on what it should look like. The reluctance to this point is fairly obvious. It's going to be ugly, and they know it. Government's call inquiries for a couple of reasons. One...

Mel Parsons is quickly becoming a mainstay of Kiwi music. The folk/country artist burst onto the scene back in 2009 - and has released four studio albums since then. And she's enjoyed plenty of success including winning Best Folk Artist at the 2020 New Zealand Music Awards. Now - she's back with her fifth studio album, S low Burn which is out tomorrow. And of course, we've got the obligatory tour....

New evidence from think tank Koi Tu has found at least 15 percent of Kiwi women are affected by mental distress during the perinatal period. That number rises to 33 percent for Maori, Asian, and Pacific women. Koi Tu Director Sir Peter Gluckman told Mike Hosking the research shows the consequences of a stressed mother for both them and their babies are serious. He says unless we identify stress ea...

An unprecedented queue for an unprecedented moment in history. Thousands of people are lining up to see Her Majesty's coffin, which is now lying in state at Westminster Hall, after being transported from Buckingham Palace in a silent procession. The queue has got a bit shorter as night starts to set in, but it still stretches for kilometres. The Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers told Mike Ho...

Confidence our GDP will grow, but disagreement about by how much. Economists from multiple banks are predicting around a 1 percent growth for the second quarter Westpac acting Chief economist Michael Gordon says he's more confident with a 1.6 percent prediction. He told Mike Hosking there's good reason to feel bullish. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secondary principals say we need to be more competitive if we're going to address teacher shortages. The Government has announced $24 million in funding for recruitment initiatives. It's hoped to attract one thousand more teachers into the profession, mostly from overseas. Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault told Mike Hosking we have to make sure our onboarding of people...

A potential solution has been raised for some of our labour shortage problems - but NZ businesses are reluctant. We know that 20 percent of all roles can now be done remotely, especially in the likes of the IT sector. And of those overseas there's a good chunk who would be keen to work for a New Zealand-based business. Problem is, businesses here don't want to hire from overseas, even if they are...

Newcastle utility Caitlin Moran has been banned by the NRL following an investigation by the integrity unit after an offensive social media post referencing the Queen's death. Moran, a former Jillaroos representative and Indigenous All Star, has since been forced to delete the Instagram post, which featured a picture of Queen Elizabeth II. "Todays a good fkn day, uncle Luke announces his tour, and...

Right, panic over, democracy wins. Philip Arps is not going to be on the school board in my old hood of Linwood in Christchurch. Hopefully for all those getting exercised about the fringe players in the upcoming local bodies can sit back a bit and realise democracy, by and large, works. Not perfectly, and not to our satisfaction a lot of the time, but it’s a hell of a lot better than most of the a...

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

Christchurch councillors have given what they describe as the proverbial finger to the Government over housing intensification plans. They've voted against the Government's directive for new standards which would allow up to three homes of three storeys each on most sections in the city. The issue they now have, while sending a strong message, is the Government can bowl through with it anyway by a...

Smaller councils are fearing the loss of big employers under the Three Waters reform. Longstanding discount deals to allow big industries to discharge into council wastewater networks will be ended by the Government's reform programme. About 50 percent of Timaru's water use is commercial. Mayor Nigel Bowen told Mike Hosking there are concerns about the harm the local economy will face if it loses...

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa says it's an honour to be attending Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. She'll be part of the delegation attending Monday's event. The famed soprano told Mike Hosking the new King and Princess Royal have been doing a fantastic job. She says it's amazing they can take over while in the grip of such grief. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s terrible record when it comes to diagnosing prostate cancer is causing those who receive the diagnosis to lose hundreds of millions in earnings. Research between the NZIER and Prostate Cancer Foundation found that on average, men who get a late diagnosis lose out on about $12,000 over four years. While it might not seem like a huge amount, when you realise that almost 60 percent of c...

Rising supplier costs are being blamed for food prices. Annual food prices have shot up to the highest rate in 13 years. Stats New Zealand data shows food cost 8.3 percent more this August than the last. Tomatoes NZ Chair Barry O'Neill told Mike Hosking there are some local structural issues in the industry. “One being the heating costs have got so high that a number of growers can’t afford to hea...

We will eventually get to the old republic debate. Australia has already started their debate; I note the Prime Minister there has said there will be no vote this term, which I think is wise. Firstly, because we have enough on our plate at the moment without putting things to the vote. Perhaps we could get past Covid, the cost-of-living crisis, and the war? And a republic debate is one for the gen...