The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Wellington Phoenix are desperate to land a high-profile scalp when they confront Wrexham in the Capital on Saturday. 

The Nix are keen to bury last year's disappointing 11th place in the A-League. 

Crowds are expected to comfortably surpass 20 thousand. 

Phoenix General Manager David Dome told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Sydney beat them 2-1 last weekend, and he knows for a fact that their academy is better tha...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 18th of July, new stats reveal that Jobseeker numbers are still rising – Social Development Minister Louise Upston explains the situation. 

Some big sporting events are happening this weekend, with the All Blacks’ third and final test against France and the Wellington Phoenix’s clash against Wrexham.  

Trish Sherson and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week that was, talking a...

The recent wild weather in Nelson-Tasman could push up the price of our produce.  

Growers faced weeks of heavy rain and flooding that's damaged infrastructure, affected harvests, and disrupted supply chains.  

There are concerns about saturated soils meaning growers can’t plant new crops, affecting vegetables like broccoli, lettuces, and spinach.  

Vegetables NZ Chair John Murphy told Heather du Plessis-Allan the ma...

Scott Robertson can no longer be accused of being timid with his All Blacks team selections. 

Ten changes were made to the starting XV for Saturday's third and final test against France in Hamilton. 

Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea and Rieko Ioane are the only players remaining from the last run-on side. 

Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby Elliott Smith told Heather du Plessis-Allan that oppo...

A breakthrough in New Zealand's long-running trade dispute with Canada is expected to benefit our dairy sector, to the tune of about $157 million a year. 

Canada's agreed to meet its obligations under the CPTPP trade deal to provide New Zealand greater access to Canada's dairy market. 

It had previously refused to accept a dispute settlement panel's ruling in New Zealand's favour. 

Export NZ Executive Director Josh T...

The Social Development Minister says more jobs are coming to address the number of people on the benefit rising. 

Ministry of Social Development statistics show almost eight thousand more people were receiving a main benefit in June compared to March.  

As well, close to 81 thousand beneficiaries have moved into work in the last financial year. 

Louise Upston told Heather du Plessis Allan the Budget included multiple...

The former Work and Income boss says the Government getting 81 thousand people off the benefit is a big achievement, despite the overall number going up. 

Ministry of Social Development statistics show almost eight thousand more people were receiving a main benefit in June compared to March.  

It follows the coalition putting new requirements and sanctions in place for beneficiaries.  

Christine Rankin told Heather d...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Erica Stanford is this Government's MVP.   

Once again, she is taking an inexplicably stupid thing in schools, ditching it, and going back to common sense. 

This is something close to my heart at the moment because I have to make a decision in the next six months or so about which school we send our son to. 

But I’ve basically already made the decision, and it will be ...

After more than ten years in the musical game, Lachie Hayes has released his sophomore album. 

The Kiwi musician hails from the deepest of the deep south, blending rural blues, alt-folk-country, and soul rock to deliver a new wave of alt-country music. 

‘Subsatellite’ is an eleven-track album, produced by prolific musician and producer Delaney Davidson, filled with the colourful stories of ordinary people.   

He...

Could Roger Tuivasa-Sheck make another code switch in 2027? 

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Warriors great is a target of the proposed Rugby360 competition for when he comes off contract after next season. 

The newspaper estimates the value of the offer at over one million dollars per season – double what Tuivasa-Sheck is currently earning with the Warriors. 

Former Kiwis Captain Richie Barnett told Heather du...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 17th of July, Erica Stanford continues rolling back bad education policies – this time we're getting rid of open classrooms. 

The National Library is looking at getting rid of tens of thousands of copies of books, including religious texts, as they prioritise New Zealand books and authors. 

Kiwi singer Lachie Hayes has a new album, so the Catlins-based music...

It's believed new RMA planning systems will relieve at least 50% of unnecessary work from councils.  

The Government is putting a halt on council planning work before the new RMA planning system comes into force. 

It's also moving to force councils to focus on core services and may move to cap future rates increases. 

RMA Advisory Group Chair Janette Campbell told Heather du Plessis Allan councils will still remain v...

A belief the cost of propping up retail crime advisors is money well spent – and that's from a key member of the advisory group.  

It's been revealed $500 thousand has been spent on the Retail Ministerial Advisory Group in the 102 days to June 30.

Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Heather du Plessis-Allan the group's coming in under budget, and money is required for their proposals.  

He says retail crime is costing $2.8 bil...

Electricity companies could face further rules if the latest measures to drive down prices don't work. 

The Electricity Authority's moving to require power companies to charge less for power during off-peak periods and pay more for solar and battery power during peak periods. 

But it hasn't stated how much lower off-peak prices actually need to be. 

Commerce Commission Chair John Small —a member of the authority's En...

The Internal Affairs Minister's being criticised for allowing improper destruction of religious texts from the National Library.  

The Government plans to shred around half a million books which include the Bible, the Qur'an, and the Torah, to save on storage costs. 

Massey University Professor Emeritus of Religion Peter Lineham told Heather de Plessis-Allan religious texts should be offered to the relevant communities.&n...

Many principals are welcoming the Government's decision to scrap open plan classrooms as a no-brainer. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford says all new builds will have more traditional layouts, reversing the decision from John Key's government. 

Christchurch's Shirley Boys' High School's paid $800 thousand to transform its open plan classrooms to single cells. 

Headmaster Tim Grocott told Heather du Plessis Allan the...

I’m as interested as anyone on this mystery about whether David Seymour is in trouble over the letter he sent to the UN. 

Whether the media reporting is right that the Prime Minister gave Seymour a telling off, or whether David was right that it was just a nice chat, or whether the media reporting is right that Winston is cross with David for sending the letter, or whether David’s right that Winston is fine and is basically go...