The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Federated Farmers have quite rightly raised what you would loosely call "the alarm" around a rush of new deals between councils and local Māori. 

The rush is on because of the Government's new Natural Environment and Planning bills. 

They were released late last year, saying you can't do local Māori deals under it. It's passed its first reading and is sitting at committee level and due back soon. 

Like rust, councils...

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. 

ACT: 8/10 

A lot has yet to unfold but the Paul Henry move, so far, looks like a stroke of political genius. 

NZ Inc: 7/10 

An encouraging week with manufacturing, services, and confidence all up. Slowly but surely. 

The World Cup: 8/10 

There isn't an economically associated stor...

Like so many debates in this country, another one has restarted, this time around Superannuation. 

Some economists have taken to their calculators and looked at who earns what in retirement. 

9% of over 65s are earning more than $100k a year. 

3.6% are earning more than $150k a year. 

A smidge over 2% are earning more than $180k a year. 

Now that’s almost 15% earning at least a six-figure salary, whic...

US President Donald Trump is set to make a nation-wide address today, and elections and voting machines are on the agenda.  

The primetime speech is expected to reveal information from newly declassified intelligence on investigations into US elections, and what the White House says are voting machine vulnerabilities.  

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says that people will find details of the address "shockin...

After eight years, Kiwi music icon Gin Wigmore has released a new album. 

‘Beautiful Mess’ is her fourth studio album, and has been described as her most personal record yet – drawing on her experiences with love, divorce, motherhood, and rebuilding her life. 

It’s an exciting day for Wigmore, with the full album dropping earlier this morning. 

“It’s like giving birth but way less ...

Assistant coach Neil Barnes is assuring the All Blacks' pride in their record at Eden Park is intact, with Ireland in town to challenge it tomorrow night. 

The 52-test unbeaten run at the Auckland stadium has reached its 32nd year, and the team will be intending to keep it rolling in their third Nations Championship clash. 

Barnes told Mike Hosking there's a lot of history between the All Blacks and Ireland, but it’...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 17th of July, Social Development Minister Louise Upston discusses the new benefit numbers, and there’s good news —potentially— about power prices.  

All Blacks Assistant Coach Neil Barnes discusses the team’s plan to defend the Fortress against Ireland this weekend. 

And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss Paul Henry going into politics, K...

Lower power bills are on the way for commercial customers, but a longer wait's in store for the average household.  

Meridian Energy says 2027 forward wholesale prices have fallen more than 35% since April. 

Chief Executive Mike Roan says it'll fall 15% over the same period for 2028 and 2029 as renewable energy's built.  

But Major Electricity Users' Group Executive Director Karen Boyes told Mike Hosking homes won't ...

Restrictions on innovation are being seen as a form of self-sabotage.  

ACT wants to introduce innovation trials – letting government ministers pause existing regulations if they block tests of new technology.  

Leader David Seymour told innovators the country punches above its weight when we back ourselves, but someone needs to build the framework to make it happen.  

New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Dr ...

The country's economic recovery may be coming. 

New Infometrics forecasts show annual economic growth is set to reach a four-year high of 2.7% mid-next year. 

They show the chances of yearly inflation continuing above 2% by then have dropped. 

Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan told Mike Hosking that as long as fuel prices stay at manageable levels, they expect to see positive indicators return over the next six to twel...

The Social Development Minister believes the latest Jobseeker numbers prove employers are keen to take on people on benefits. 

Latest MSD data shows a 1.9% increase year-on-year in people receiving the main benefit at the end of June. 

12.8% of the working-age population is drawing on the main benefit – up from 12.6% a year ago. 

Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking 86,000 people also moved off the benefit....

The beltway beat-up of the week goes to the seemingly ongoing fascination over the missing paperwork and the Prime Minister's office when it came to a meeting between Z Energy and their concerns over Mike Smith's court case involving polluters and climate cost. 

Mike Smith called "conspiracy" and you don’t, sadly, need to do a lot more than that to get half the media fizzing over a scandal for the ages. 

The bit, if...

Sir Keir Starmer has delivered his final goodbye to Parliament as British Prime Minister. 

Speaking during an emotional final Question time, Starmer declared it the end of his political journey.  

He announced his resignation last month after mounting pressure from within his Labour government. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking that Andy Burnham, Starmer’s replacement, will need to hit the ground r...

Kiwis are spending around 300 hours in their car every year, according to a new survey. 

The study, carried out by Autotrader in the UK, ranked 15 countries based on how much time motorists spent behind the wheel over the span of a year. 

New Zealand ranked seventh, with the average Kiwi spending just under six hours in their car each week. 

AA Transport Policy Director Martin Glynn told Mike Hosking the survey&rsquo...

National says Labour must take a clear stance on rates caps, with the Government planning to introduce legislation before the election. 

Labour's Chris Hipkins has told Newstalk ZB his party's yet to decide on a position. 

He says the policy is "good retail politics" but adds councils will need ways to fund core services. 

Local Government Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking they want to make sure that when they i...

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is in high spirits despite a less than optimal end to his final season with the Warriors. 

The 32-year-old suffered an ACL injury in the opening minutes of the away game against the St George Illawarra Dragons in May, taking him out of the season. 

But instead of sitting on the sidelines, he’s teamed up with Sky to be their expert analysis for the rest of the season, and his first home game in th...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 16th of July, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard provides an update after the H5N1 bird flu strain was found on our shores. 

Air NZ’s Kate Boyer discusses their latest numbers around take-off and landing amidst cancellations for fog and weather. 

And Roger Tuivasa-Sheck talks of his move into the media following his injury, the rest of the Warriors’...

Class A drug use is soaring in New Zealand. 

The Drug Detection Agency's latest workplace testing results show amphetamines are increasingly showing up, making up 32.7% of positive results nationwide – rising to 44% in Southland. 

The use of cocaine specifically is also increasing, with positive tests up 68.5% year on year and a 375.8% increase in Canterbury. 

Chief Executive Glenn Dobson told Mike Hosking that...