The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Following this weeks wastewater spill in Wellington Gillian Blythe, Water NZ CEO, has emphasised the need for a reform of water infrastructure and oversight. 

"I think what's really critical is that we need to have regulatory oversight and we need to be able to highlight what it is that the the type of non-compliance is," she told Andrew Dickens. 

"Sometimes those non-compliances can be at the lower end, whether a report ...

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins joined Andrew Dickens to chat about Waitangi Day hecklers, co-governance, and equal opportunity. 

He also spoke about moving back towards using te reo for official titles, something the National coalition has moved away from.

"There's nothing to be scared of by embracing te reo Māori and having, Māori names for government departments," Hipkins said.

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Brenton Harrison Tarrant was jailed for life in August 2020, with no possibility of parole, after he plead guilty to the murder of 51 people and wounding 40 in the Christchurch terror attack.

Tarrant is now, five years later, attempting to overturn his conviction with claims he was not in a rational state when he plead guilty. 

Criminal defence lawyer Steve Cullen spoke to Andrew Dickens about the appeal saying, "It's a very d...

The New START treaty, signed by the United States and Russia in 2010, was a nuclear arms reduction treaty which has now expired.

US President Donald Trump has now called for a brand new nuclear treaty, prompting fears of a new global arms race.

International Law Professor Al Gillespie told Andrew Dickens, "Mr. Trump is the one who let it void, he was saying, well, it's not fair that only America has these restraints in Russia.

"He ...

The Winter Olympics are set to kick off in Milano Cortina, Italy this weekend with the opening ceremony taking place on Saturday February 7 at 7.30am NZT. 

New Zealand team Chef de Mission Marty Toomey joined Andrew Dickens to chat about how the team is settling in, and the high hopes for this year. 

"I think from a New Zealand team perspective, there's no doubt that this team is made up of athletes that are stronger acro...

A number of politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, were heckled during Waitangi speeches with conflicts surrounding treaty principles interpretations remaining the primary contention point. 

Although, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says that, despite the evident tension, progress is being made.

"We attended the National Iwi Chairs from a couple of days ago on We...

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 economy: 7/10

Overall, a good news week, but a reminder that until we get the jobs right we ain’t properly right. 

Foster and Hansen: 9/10 

The wackiest story of the week by a mile. Could it be real? Could it be fantasy? Are the union completely mad, or completely brilliant? 

It could have been a coordinated knife to the Government's heart. 

On the day the unemployment rate went up, the Warehouse offered a real world example of the problem by announcing another 270 jobs would be added to the pile as they look to save and outsource and generally reorganise themselves. 

The irony, well lost in the throng of those who look to use the headline for political gain, was the fact the number of people ...

The latest Jeffrey Epstein files release is developing into a political scandal in the UK, with MPs voting to release papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. 

He's being investigated over allegations he shared internal government information with the convicted sex offender.  

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's confirmed he knew Mandelson had ties with Epstein, but claims Mandelson lied about th...

With Waitangi this weekend, the week is coming to a close a little earlier than usual. So Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the (short) Week that Was. 

They discussed jobs and unemployment, and with Producer Sam is jetting off to a wedding right after the show, Mike was shocked at what has become the go-to gift for the newly married. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of February, Finance Minister Nicola Willis tries to put a spin on a headline unemployment number that doesn't help the Government in an election year. 

There’s a sewage disaster in Wellington, so Mayor Andrew Little joined to discuss the situation.  

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss jobs, and Mike can't believe that money is now the gift of choice for a...

A decent haul from Mike Hosking’s cherry tree. 

Last year he was gifted a tree to ‘adopt’ by the team at Electric Cherries – who run everything without the use of fossil fuels. 

The ‘Mike Hosking Tree’ has now been harvested and six kilos of cherries are ready to be eaten.  

Founder Mike Casey told Mike Hosking that it’s been a pretty rough season down in Central Otago, with a lot of wind, rain, and a lot of damaged ...

There’s cautious optimism New Zealand could achieve the country's largest medal haul at a Winter Olympics. 

17 athletes, all in various snowboard and ski disciplines, will compete at the Milan-Cortina Games starting this weekend. 

Chef de Mission Marty Toomey told Mike Hosking that recent form points towards a new frontier of success. 

He says the Snow Sports NZ crew have come off an X Games with six medals, and New ...

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says critical damage to the city's wastewater treatment plant couldn't come at a worse time. 

Heavy rain flooded the building's lower floors causing sewage to leak into Tarakena Bay, writing off equipment and forcing the plant to shut down. 

Wellington Water says it could take months to fix and urges people to stay off beaches along the south coast, and avoid collecting seafood. 

He tol...

There are hopes things will gradually turn a corner for Canterbury milk processing firm Synlait. 

It's revealed it expects to report a $77 to $82 million half-year loss, due to the ongoing impact of previous "manufacturing challenges” at its Dunsandel plant. 

Ashburton-based supplier Willy Leferink says suppliers are worried, but they have supply contracts to honour, and what really matters is that they continue to get pa...

The Economic Growth Minister says things are picking up in some regions sooner than others. 

Unemployment's hit a ten-year high nationally, reaching 5.7% in Bay of Plenty, 5.8% in Wellington, 5.9% in Waikato, and 6.4% in Auckland. 

But it's fallen to 3.7% in Canterbury and just 2.3% in Otago. 

Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking employment is rising in many sectors, but it's not even around the country. 

She says Ca...

Is it a bombshell? 

A moment too weird to properly comprehend and, because of that, is that why it isn't real? And if it's not real then it's not worth speculating on. 

And yet here I am speculating. 

The NZ Rugby Union has approached Steve Hansen and Ian Foster and asked them to apply for the coach's job. 

Is that the most absurd, bizarre, nutty, unbelievable, possibly stupid thing you have ever heard around ru...

Donald Trump has called for the Republican Party to nationalise elections.  

He made the statement during his appearance on the podcast of former deputy FBI director Dan Bongino, saying the Party should seek to take over voting in at least 15 places. 

Elections are primarily run by state law, with voting administrated by local officials across the United States.  

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking tha...