The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Omicron's arrival in the Nelson region is sending shudders through the local business community. The country has been plunged into Red after a Motueka family of nine tested positive for the variant. An Air New Zealand crew member also has it and may have been infectious on five flights. Nelson Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Ali Boswijk told Tim Dower larger businesses have been putting in dua...

The Covid-19 Response Minister expects daily Omicron case numbers could potentially reach the tens of thousands. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is calling for the Government to declare a health workforce emergency amid concerns an Omicron outbreak will exacerbate existing pressure. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Tim Dower while the Omicron hospitalisation rate is lo...

We're about to get a glimpse of what the next four years of SailGP races will look like on this side of the year.    The second last leg in the mini America's Cup boats is in Sydney with racing beginning today.   And of course, it comes as just a few weeks ago a deal was signed to have yearly legs in New Zealand, starting at the beginning of 2023.   SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts joined Mike Yardle...

It’s full steam ahead with the spendathon. Overall, government spending next year is forecast to be over $59 billion higher than four years ago.  Next year’s total spend of $128 billion equates to thirty five percent of the economy.   Its staggering.  The scale of spending is one thing. There’s also the matter of quality spending. Bang for buck and whether the desired outcomes are actually deliver...

It's been a long time between drinks for Joseph Parker but the Kiwi heavyweight steps back into the ring this weekend.   Parker has a rematch against Derek Chisora in Manchester on Sunday morning.   He won a split decision match the first time around back in May, but was dealing with new coach Andy Lee who had only been in his camp for five weeks.   Joseph Parker joined Mike Yardley to preview the...

v says Omicron is a cause for concern but not panic.   New Zealand detected its first Omicron case yesterday, a case that travelled from Germany via Dubai and is now in MIQ in Christchurch.  Everyone on the same flight and people who stayed on the same MIQ floor are being treated as close contacts.   The Deputy Prime Minister told Mike Yardley MIQ has been set up to deal with transmissible variant...

The Government and telcos are joining forces to battle the latest text scam.  The Flubot scam started in September, and continues to send out about 400,000 messages daily.   People receive a text about a missed call or parcel delivery with a legitimate looking link that actually sends you to malware.   Nadia Yousef is the incident response manager with CERT NZ, the Government’s cyber security watc...

Dr Ashley Bloomfield says we should expect more Covid Omicron cases arriving here.  New Zealand has its first case of the new variant, in MIQ in Christchurch.  Everyone on the same flight, and people who stayed on the same MIQ floor are being treated as close contacts.   The Director-General of Health told Mike Yardley it was only a matter of time, given the virus is spreading across the globe.  “...

Another big step for Christchurch's recovery is complete today.   The new $450 million convention centre, Te Pae, is officially open this morning.   It has an auditorium, a huge exhibition space, a dining area and 24 different meeting rooms.   Otakaro Limited chief executive John Bridgman joined Mike Yardley.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading light in our international tourism industry remarked to me the other day, Mike, our industry has officially sunk into a state of depression. I alluded to this yesterday, with the Air New Zealand chief.  Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has sunk the industry’s morale by signalling that they shouldn’t expect significant numbers of overseas visitors to starting returning to our shores for anoth...

One baking influencer says it may be time to kill the Christmas cake.   Dane McGregor, who runs the Baker Gatherer Instagram page and website, says while he likes a Christmas cake, they aren't popular with young people.   He told Mike Yardley there are problems with the classic staple.  “It can be time consuming, it’s not really a contemporary flavour and people these days are looking for those mo...

David Walliams got his first taste of international fame with Little Britain back in 2003.  He's gone on to be mainstay on British television, and has become a best-selling children's author.  Walliams books have been translated into 53 different languages, turned into films, and has sold millions of copies.   Now, his latest children's book, Gangsta Granny Strikes Again, is out now.   David Walli...

The ordinary people who saved lives during the Christchurch mosque attacks are still reliving that day.  In a special honours list, two people have been awarded the New Zealand Cross, four have received the Bravery Decoration and four the Bravery Medal.  The awards are a way to recognise the actions of those who saved or attempted to save the life of others, while putting their own life at risk. ...

Tourism Fiji says if the booking numbers continue to come through, then tourism in the Pacific island nation is well on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry again.  Tourism Fiji has confirmed 75,000 bookings for hotels and resorts until the end of next month.  Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said there had been a "massive increase" in hits on the Tourism Fiji website since "These numbers refl...

The GDP number for the third quarter  is released today, with most economists predicting a drop of at least 3 percent.   It comes on the back of the big numbers from the half yearly economic and fiscal update.  Almost a $21 billion deficit but a return to surplus in 2023-24, inflation peaking at 5.6% next year, wage growth less at 4.6%, unemployment dropping further still but house prices up 10%. ...

The Health Minister is pleading for patience when it comes to hospital funding.   Hospitals will receive more than half a billion dollars in extra funding from the Government.  This will add 75 standard inpatient beds and convert 355 beds into isolation or negative pressure environments.   Andrew Little says hospitals have been looking at their infrastructure and identifying which areas could be c...

Taxpayers are expected to pay down the track for a large jump in Government spending.  The Government's giving itself an operating allowance of $6 billion in next year's Budget, possibly the highest in history.   Former National Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, told Mike Yardley the books are improving because inflation is going up, which is bringing in more tax for the Government.  “Kiwis are gett...

By any measure, today, Big Wednesday marks a milestone. The great escape begins. The great domestic reopening roars into life.  I happened to covering for Hosking on what, at the time, felt like a momentous day in the Covid age. April nineteen. Remember that?  It was the day, two-way quarantine-free Trans-Tasman travel finally lifted off. The air of relief was immense. A welcome dose of normality...

Transmission Gully, the new $1.25 billion motorway out of Wellington, will not be open by Christmas.  Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency confirmed in a statement this morning the builder has run out of time to complete safety, quality assurance, and consent tasks for the road to open in time for the holidays.  Mark Mitchell and Michael Wood joined Mike Hosking to discuss the week's politics news. See...

The creator of a famous water slide in Ōhope aims to make it bigger and safer this year.   Last year, Sam Oliver created a monster 125 metre slide on farm land in the eastern Bay of Plenty town, becoming a star attraction.   This year the slide will be even longer stretching to 140 metres.   Sam Oliver told Mike Yardley creating the slide was a dream come true.  “Growing up in Ōhope we’ve always h...

The Ministry for Social Development is taking the criticism of its social housing policies on the chin.   Auditor-General John Ryan's inquiry says the ministry didn't do market comparisons to make sure they were getting a good price for private rentals, they used as emergency housing.   It also found they had no way of determining whether houses were safe, warm and dry.   Social Development Minist...

David Seymour says Act's more concerned about the Government's popularity, than National's.  The latest political poll - the first taken since Chris Luxon became leader of the National Party - shows an immediate lift for the party.   It's up 6.4 points, back over 30 percent support.  That support comes mostly at the expense of Act, which is down 5.3 points to just over 10 percent support.  But Dav...

The fight over Three Waters is far from over.   Today, a newly formed and growing group of 23 councils called Communities 4 Local Democracy will take their concerns to Parliament.   They will present their alternative ideas to parliament so that $60 billion worth of assets aren't taken off them.   Waimakariri mayor and co-organiser of the protest Dan Gordon joined Mike Yardley.  LISTEN ABIOVE See...