The Mike Hosking Breakfast

It's no surprise that Nicola Willis has pushed out surplus by another year. 

That now makes it three years in two years, as in she has delayed surplus by three years in just the space of the two years she’s been at the Finance Minister’s desk. 

Had she kept her pledge, the one she made about tidying up this country’s books when asking for our votes in 2023, we would be seeing a surplus next year. 

Now it’s 2029 at th...

The son of Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner is being held on suspicion of the murder of his parents.   

Police say 32-year-old Nick Reiner's been booked for murder after Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home.  

They say he's a suspect in the case and is being held on a US$4 million bail. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Reiner and his ...

Today Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell to recap the highs and lows of 2025 on the final Politics Wednesday for the year. 

They also discussed the retail crime numbers, the state of the Government’s books, the need for a social media ban, and the situation with Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson. 

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A momentous day for New Zealand motorsport. 

The Sir Colin Giltrap Raceway, a world-class karting facility in Auckland, is officially opening. 

The track builds on the country’s heritage and pathway to the world stage. 

It will be opened by Indycar champion Scott Dixon, who told Heather du Plessis-Allan it’s going to be huge, especially for the young talent in this country. 

He says that we pack a big punch for ...

A possible win for the General Practice Owners Association, as they take on the so-called healthcare duopoly and cost pressures. 

Their proposal for a breakaway Primary Health Organisation is gaining traction, with 116 GP practices, covering 833,000 enrolled patients, showing interest. 

If approved by Health New Zealand, it would become the country’s largest PHO, representing around 16% of total enrolments.  

General...

Questions over whether the postal voting system is working after a South Auckland local body election was overturned. 

Judge Richard McIlraith ruled irregularities altered the outcome of the Papatoetoe vote for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. 

The case involved stolen voting papers and fraudulent use, and a new election must be held by April 9. 

Former Deputy Chair Vi Hausia told Heather du Plessis-Allan this was d...

The Government insists it has a plan to turn the economy around. 

Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows the country is first forecast to be in the black by 2029-2030. 

The Finance Minister has admitted the country is borrowing money to pay the interest bill on the debt. 

Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis Allan that bill is about $9 billion a year. 

She says around 80% of borrowing over the ne...

Critics aren't convinced the Government's new mega-Ministry will work.  

It's merging the environment, housing and urban development, and transport ministries into a new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.  

Right-wing think tank NZ Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich says it will still report to the same number of ministers. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan having it fully operational ...

This business of Australia tightening up its gun laws feels like it runs the risk of distracting from the bigger problems over there. 

I don’t think guns were the problem on Sunday. Australia already has some of the tightest gun laws in the world. 

This is a race relations problem. 

This attack was predictable. There was no shortage of warnings. 

Jewish businesses have been set alight in recent years, synagogues...

Tom Sainsbury is back in our ears, and he’ll soon be on our screens too. 

Season three of the Kiwi comedian’s one-man murder mystery series has just released, but it’s actually season one that’s about to make the headlines. 

The first season of his ‘Small Town Scandal’ podcast has been turned into an eight episode TV series, releasing in February next year. 

It’s the biggest project Sainsbury’s done to date, but he r...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 16th of December, how is Australia responding to the Bondi Beach terror attack, and what questions are being asked of the national intelligence network?  

Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce previews the HYEFU numbers and explains why it may not be the worst thing if the surplus is pushed out another year. 

Kiwi comedian Tom Sainsbu...

Splore's announced it'll come to an end next year after hopes of a Government lifeline fell through. 

Next year's instalment of the annual boutique music and arts festival at Auckland's Tapapakanga Regional Park will be the last due to low ticket sales in recent years. 

Long-time owner John Minty says they weren't considered for the Government's $70 million Major Events Fund. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that wh...

Sydney's terror attack is raising questions about intelligence shortcomings and where security systems could be beefed up.  

A 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son allegedly shot dozens of people celebrating the Jewish holiday Hanukkah at Bondi on Sunday evening. 

The younger man had been investigated by the country's security agency before and wasn't considered a threat. 

A senior lecturer of terrorism and radica...

There’s a view that New Zealand's still a while away from being a 'rockstar' economy. 

Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update documents are coming out early this afternoon, carrying key economic metrics.

Treasury's also releasing a Budget Policy Statement outlining priorities for upcoming spending.

Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Heather du Plessis-Allan it was a pretty average year for the economy, and next year looks...

Students are still battling to find consistent work leading into the summer break. 

Fifty thousand people applied for work through Student Job Search in November – the highest number this year. 

Chief Executive of Student Job Search Louise Saviker told Heather du Plessis-Allan while there are more jobs being listed, these are largely one-off or casual roles. 

She says this means students need even more jobs. 

LI...

The Bondi Beach massacre has propelled the Australian Government to overhaul its already-tough gun laws.  

Sixteen people died and dozens were injured when two shooters opened fire on a Jewish gathering on Sunday night in what's been labelled a terror attack.  

Now 26 victims remain in hospital, with six fighting for life.  

A 24-year-old suspect is also in hospital under police watch while his 50-year-old father, wh...

New data shows the service sector has now dipped in activity for six months in a row. 

The most recent PSI recorded performance at its lowest since May, at 46.9.  

For growth, it needs to sit at 50 or above. 

ABC Business Sales CEO Chris Small told Heather du Plessis-Allan the results were a surprise. 

He says the data had suggested the low point would be during Winter. 

The sector is blaming the weak econo...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 15th of December with Heather du Plessis-Allan, we go to Australia to discuss the latest with the antisemitic Bondi terror attack.

The Prime Minister drops in for the final time this year and tells us of his contact with Australia PM Anthony Albanese over the Bondi attack and whether this debate between Willis and Richardson is harmful to the Government.

Jason Pine and ...

If you weren’t already feeling confident about 2026, I've got two reasons you should.
 
At least two major retail banks see signs of an economic recovery and we have a new Reserve Bank Governor.
 
No pressure on Anna Breman, but she hasn’t arrived a day too soon given that the old lot were still managing to stuff things up until literally the last chance they had, with Christian Hawkesby saying the wrong thing...