The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Claims continue to arise in the second week of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation case. Depp has testified in the $50 million trial against ex-wife Heard. Depp's "private addiction doctor" alleged a chunk of his finger was discovered after a violent altercation with Heard. Heard says it was a "three day hostage situation" in which Depp attacked her. Celebrity divorce lawyer Chris Melcher t...

It may end up unlikely that we'll need to get a Covid-19 vaccine each year. Immunisation experts say we now know that six months after most of us were boosted, immunity is still looking good. This comes as officials decide whether to start offering a fourth dose to our most vulnerable. Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

Global events are weighing down global dairy prices. Overall prices are down 3.6 percent at the latest Global Dairy Trade auction overnight. The all-important whole milk powder price is down 4.4 percent - while the price of skim milk is down 4.2 percent. JMI Wealth Director Andrew Kelleher told Tim Dower supply is up, and several factors are pulling demand down. “Russia-Ukraine conflict, we’ve had...

Increased calls for a national inquiry into health and safety at New Zealand's ports, after another worker death. A person died yesterday morning at Ports of Auckland, after falling from a height while working on a ship. It's the fourth death involving the port since 2017. The Maritime Union of New Zealand wants a national inquiry into health and safety at our ports. Union organiser Shane Te Pou a...

Inflation could spiral even higher. Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr admits to being caught on the back foot by supply chain woes, and the war in Ukraine. The man who used to hold his job through the 90s, Don Brash, says Orr has a major inflation issue on his plate. He told Tim Dower if the inflation number tomorrow is seven percent or above, it will be the highest since 1988. Brash says the risk...

Joelle King has had an assertive win over England's Sarah-Jane Perry to claim victory at the Manchester Open this morning and gain extra confidence against one of her main rivals for the Commonwealth Games title. King, the 2019 tournament winner started the match in good form, finding her targets with accuracy and stretching Perry into all four corners of the court. King took the opening game 11-8...

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett has been hit with a four week suspension following his red card in last Friday's defeat to the Blues. Barrett was shown a red card in the 46th minute the Super Rugby Pacific clash after making clear contact with his shoulder to the jaw of Alex Hodgman. In other suspensions, Highlanders lock Josh Dickson has been dismissed for three weeks after getting red-carded for...

The Government is looking into whether it'll change the law to make it possible to send would-be terrorists back to their home countries. Immigration minister Kris Faafoi says policy discussions have advanced in the wake of the Lynn Mall attack in September last year, and they're looking at how other countries manage it. The Māori Authority completely back changing the law and chairperson Matthew...

The hospitality sector is starting to get back on its feet following a busy weekend under Orange. The chief executive of Wellington's hospitality group Kupura, Jamie Williams, told Tim Dower the Friday trading saw a massive decline as people couldn't work out if they were allowed out or not. But he says the weekend went well and there's a sense of positivity in the air. Williams says people are ov...

Wellington businesses that petitioned against new cycle and bus lanes are disappointed the plan's going ahead. Work starts today on a safer bike route and better bus lanes between Newtown and the CBD. It will also see carparks axed in the area. A petition against the plan were presented to Wellington City Council last Thursday, but hasn't stopped the project from going ahead. Newtown General Groce...

Concerns are being raised about the implications of less experienced workforces worldwide. 70 per cent of those who left work in the US during the pandemic were older than 55. In the UK the employment rate of over 50's has fallen dramatically. In contrast, New Zealand still has an aging workforce and there are those who feel we could be using this to our advantage. Sarah White, from Tribe Recruitm...

A humid evening greeted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as she touched down in Singapore to start her first overseas trip in more than two years. Ardern and a 12-strong trade and business delegation are spending this week in Singapore and Japan, where several agreements to boost food exports and develop sustainable energy are expected to be announced. The main message is that New Zealand, having bee...

Is there something to be studied here?  A Dunedin bar called Woof did a couple of interesting things. They decided to keep vaccine passes. Why? I have no idea. Sure, you want to avoid getting Covid, but whether a person is vaccinated or not has less and less to do with whether they have Covid. And whether a person is vaccinated given most of us are now doesn’t seem to matter anymore.  But it's the...

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 Move to Orange: 8/10  "At last, a little more normality."     More Foreign Workers Being Allowed In: 6/10  "Not exactly the solution but a sign of light and common sense.  From forestry, to dairy, to the ski slopes we have at last recognised that you actually need people...

The new F1 Race Director has come in looking to stamp his mark - but he's picked some interesting places to try and do that.   Earlier in the week it was reiterated that drivers aren't allowed to wear jewellery or body piercings - a rule immediately defied by Lewis Hamilton who said he'd have to get his ears chopped off to remove his earrings.   Now it's come out that there's a stoush about driver...

This morning's move to Orange means an end to gathering limits for major indoor events like netball games.  Central Pulse Chief Executive Fran Scholey told Mike Hosking while demand for tickets is high, some fans will still be a bit hesitant.  “We’ll have that fear I think sometimes with people and we’ll also have the factor of they don’t have that income at the moment because of the cost of livin...

New Zealand is entering its first day in the new, more relaxed orange traffic light setting of the pandemic response.  The orange mode abolishes capacity limits and seating rules at restaurants and other venues, but face masks must still be used on public transport and in retail.  Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins yesterday said positive signs including a fall in new case numbers meant it w...

The supermarket duopoly is copping blame for the highest food price rise in more than a decade.    Latest figures show food prices jumped 7.6 percent in a year - with fruit and veggie prices rising 18 percent.    The Consumer Affairs Minister says it highlights the grocery sector's role in driving up prices.   Night 'n Day General Manager Matthew Lane told Mike Hosking it's hard for smaller player...

Surprise from some economists at the size of the Official Cash Rate rise.  The Reserve Bank has lifted the rate by half a percent, to 1.5 percent.  NZIER principal economist, Christina Leung, says she thought there was a 50/50 chance of the rise being 50 basis points.  But she told Mike Hosking the central bank is balancing a lot of different factors.  Leung says there's a surge in inflation press...

A big change in the wind for Air New Zealand.  A move to Orange has meant from today domestic travellers will no longer have to be vaccinated or show a negative test to be able to fly.   From May, the same rules will apply to international travellers.   Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran told Mike Hosking it's a step in the right direction for simplifying travel for customers.  He says they're seeing...

The Anthony Albanese gaff over employment and the cash rate, in some respects, is why we end up the way we do.  Adrian Orr today increases our cash rate yet again. He started doing that before just about anyone else in the world. He was in that position because he and his mate Grant Robertson went nuts with the printer.  We are today, yet again, paying the price for an astonishing amount of fiscal...

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

If you're a frequent sufferer of headaches and migraines then you aren't alone.  New research has found that 52 percent of the global population are affected by headaches each year while 14 percent of those people suffer from migraines.   More women suffer from them than men, especially migraines, and women are more likely to suffer more of them per month as well.   Dr Rosamund Hill is a neurologi...

After years of inaction, or things going in the opposite direction, the Government's first statutory annual report for the child and youth wellbeing strategy apparently says there has been a 25 percent reduction in kids 14 and under living in homes where foods runs out.  There's also apparently been a 30 percent reduction in children aged 17 and under who live in low-income households after housin...

All eyes will be on whether the reserve bank lifts the OCR by 25 or 50 points.   Chief economist at ANZ Sharon Zollner joined Mike Hosking with her predicition.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.