The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Finance Minister is describing the latest GDP figure as solid.  New Zealand's Gross Domestic Product rose three percent in the December 2021 quarter, following a 3.6 percent drop in the September quarter.  The increase was below bank economists' predictions.  Grant Robertson told Mike Hosking it's still a good result.  He says the past few times we've rebounded from difficult periods with rest...

Do you feel it's like a jigsaw puzzle? Every time you think you are getting somewhere, the next piece is missing.  The borders will be open. Not a moment too soon and a lot later than they could have been or should have been. But, oh the irony, Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash was via zoom given he is a household contact.  And yet his announcement told anyone from offshore they can land with their...

Zach Braff is comfortably one of America's most successful comedic acts.   He, of course, became a household name around the world for his lead role in Scrubs.   Since he's gone on to star in plenty of movies - and has also made his mark as a film director.   Now - he's starring in the latest remake of Cheaper by the Dozen - which is coming to Disney+ this week.    Zach Braff joined Mike Hosking f...

CD's are following the vinyls on the way back up the popularity charts.   In the US, CD sales rose last year for the first time in 17 years.   They are seeing a shift in the UK as well - not to the same level - but the decline in sales is dropping considerably.   Roger Marbeck of Marbecks Records joined Mike Hosking to discuss what this might mean.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

The Nurses Society says Auckland hospital staff are under an extreme burden - as Covid ravages staffing numbers.  Nurses, midwives and other support staff at the three DHBs are being offered a $500 bonus for every night shift they work - to try to combat the shortages.  Director David Wills told Mike Hosking the added money shows how desperate the DHBs are for staff.  He says while it's not busine...

Hospitals are under increasing pressure from the Omicron outbreak.  Another 24 Covid deaths were confirmed yesterday, including 16 previously unreported deaths from the past three weeks.  The high number of deaths is due to reporting changes at the Ministry of Health.   There are now 971 people in hospital with the virus, mostly in the Auckland region.  Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield...

Air New Zealand's glad it will soon be able to welcome Australians and travellers from the rest of the world.  Vaccinated Aussies can come here from April 13 while those in other countries with relevant visas, can visit from May 2.  Air New Zealand chief executive, Greg Foran, told Mike Hosking flights to and from Australia made up 15 to 20 percent of its business pre-Covid.  “To get the Tasman ba...

Russia is expanding its attacks on Ukraine.  Russian forces have bombed a theatre in Mariupol, killed people queuing for food in Chernihiv, and shelled homes in the capital Kyiv.   Ukraine and Russia are continuing peace talks, on the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU while staying out of NATO.  But Newshub's Lisette Reymer is in Odesa and told Mike Hosking the ongoing attacks on civilians are...

A $50 million fund for South Island tourism operators goes live today, but won't help all businesses.  It comes ahead of the return of Australian tourists from April 13, and other travellers from May 2.  Grants of $10,000 - $50,000 dollars will be given to businesses that've had a 50 percent drop in revenue.  Franz Josef Wildlife Centre director, Richard Benton, told Mike Hosking late April is the...

We have the first group of athletes named for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.   Six lawn bowls para-athletes and seven weightlifters have been named.   Amongst those, unsurprisingly, is 2018 Commonwealth weightlifting gold medal winner David Liti who joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Simon Bridges is keeping details about his next move close to his chest.  The former National leader is quitting politics and will leave Parliament in the next few weeks.  He's set to explore commercial and possibly media opportunities.  He told Mike Hosking while Tauranga is a wonderful place, it's a small pond.  “That does mean looking around casting my net around. I will be clear though, I’ve g...

The door is ajar for a new, or returning, personality to hold the seat of Tauranga.  National's Simon Bridges has announced he's quitting politics and will leave Parliament in the next few weeks.  Tauranga Chamber of Commerce's Chief Executive Matt Cowley told Mike Hosking it seems the city tends to like mavericks, with Winston Peters, Bob Clarkson and Bridges all having held the seat.  “We like p...

There are concerns around a surge in people struggling with long covid.   The term is used to describe cases of people who have symptoms that continue,  or develop,  more than 12 weeks after getting the virus.    An expert advisory group is being set up to provide GPs with advice on how to help people who suffer from the prolonged illness.    This includes advice around a rehabilitation framework....

The ski industry's overjoyed tourists will be able to return to this country sooner than expected.  Newstalk ZB newsroom understands fully vaccinated Australians will be able to arrive from April 12, without self-isolating.  Visitors from other countries New Zealand has visa waiver arrangements with, like the United Kingdom, will be able to come in the following weeks.  NZ Ski chief executive Paul...

There’s hope enough has been done to help Ukrainian New Zealanders bring their relatives to safety.  A special two-year visa is opening for grandparents, parents, siblings and their children of Ukrainian-born New Zealand residents and citizens.  It's hoped to help 4000 Ukrainians flee Russia's illegal war, but they need to be sponsored for the duration of their visa   Ukrainian Kiwi Victoriya Pash...

Happy Birthday to us. Newstalk ZB is 35 today.  It came out of the 1ZB, 2ZB etc network, a group of stations owned by the state, and a set of stations that was a sort of all things to all people sort of model.  The realisation was that the radio market was changing, FM was here, licences were sold, and a myriad of different operators were entering the field. There was choice everywhere, and as a r...

The Government has a two-fold problem messing with petrol.  One, it sets a precedent. And a dangerous one, given you won't really notice it seeing as petrol is so fluid in price. Savings can be eaten up in a day.  If, and when, the day comes and oil drops, suddenly you don’t see savings because you already banked them. It’s the lesson in false economics. There is no free lunch, someone somewhere i...

Time to catch up with another one of our Kiwi artists who's still making waves.   We last caught up with Jamie McDell in 2018 - just after she made the trip to Nashville and recorded an album that received great reviews.   Since then she's relocated to Toronto, spent more time in Nashville and has another album for us.  It's her fourth studio album - and is simply titled Jamie McDell.   Jamie join...

Stewart Island is losing all it's pensioners.   A lot of the time on Stewart Island you're in a lifestyle block or a big family home, so when age catches up to us those homes become impractical.   However, there isn't any low maintenance housing for seniors on the island - Bruce Ford is trying to fix that.   He's the Stewart Island Seniors’ Cottage Trust chair and he joined Mike Hosking.  LISTEN A...

The Government is set to keep a close eye on the fuel price situation after temporarily trimming the tax take.  It's cut fuel excise duties and road user charges by 25 cents a litre for three months.  Prices for 91 in Auckland this morning range from $2.64 to $3.26.  Energy Minister Megan Woods says they'll be monitoring what's happening.  She told Mike Hosking there'll be more details in the comi...

China has a decision to make when it comes to Russia.   US officials say Russia has asked China for military assistance.   Johns Hopkins University international relations expert Sergey Radchenko told Mike Hosking China has to decide if it backs Russia outright - which would create serious implications for them.  “In this case their reliability as a partner will be doubted by the Russians.”  LISTE...

The fears of a new measles outbreak have health authorities ramping up calls for people to get vaccinated.    This includes Southern DHB that’s urging kiwis to get their measles, mumps and rubella vaccines as the borders open up.    National Immunisation Advisory Centre Director Nikki Turner told Mike Hosking take-up of many non-Covid related vaccines has reduced lately.    “Communities just need...

The fuel companies appear to be playing ball.  Fuel excise duties and road user charges have been cut by 25 cents a litre each for three months.  Prices appear to have fallen as a result  Gull New Zealand Manager Dave Bodger says [told Mike Hosking] the move is a game changer.  He says when they have monthly discounts of up to 20 cents a litre off, they get queues out the door.  “25, it’s actually...

Your unruly property in central Christchurch could be about to be slapped with a huge new rates bill.   After a number of complaints about unsightly or overgrown sections, the council is proposing to charge landowners four times their regular rates if land is not being used or developed.  However, it would also work the other way - rewarding those who kept their section tidy with a rates reduction...