The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Last month saw Russian aircrafts “repeatedly and dangerously” intercept British surveillance aircrafts over the Black Sea. 

According to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, a Russian Su-35 fighter approached the Royal Airforce Plane, getting close enough to trigger its emergency systems and disable its autopilot. 

On another occasion, a Su-27 jet carried out six passes in front of the plane’s nose, at a distance of six meters. ...

Grant Baker is one of the country’s best success stories. 

The Kiwi serial entrepreneur has had his hand in a number of pies but is best known for two companies – 42 Below and Turners.  

It’s a career that’s spanned decades, and that’s before you get to his philanthropic efforts and work in co-founding the Gut Cancer Foundation in 2008. 

He’s unravelling his career in his new book ‘No Pit Stops: The Business Of Going...

A record season for kiwifruit company Zespri. 

It cracked $5.9 billion in global sales in its 2025/26 financial results, up from $5 billion the season before. 

The company also sold a record 248.1 million trays, with strong performances in Europe and North America. 

CEO Jason Te Brake told Mike Hosking that it’s a pretty uncertain world out there, so they just have to navigate some of those challenges and make sure t...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 21st of May, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop discusses our tangled web of regulators and Floyd du Plessis unpacks the arrests of 14 Corrections staff.  

We've heard throughout the war that people are turning to EVs, so Drive Electric’s Kirsten Corson joined to unpack their new State of the Nation report.  

Kiwi entrepreneur Grant Baker talks his decades of ...

A bid to change a political football as research finds housing targets aren't working.  

The New Zealand Initiative suggests councils should be judged on whether there's real and affordable choices – replacing traditional targets with price indicators. 

It also recommends an expert panel to make decisions rather than central Government. 

Research Fellow Benno Blaschke told Mike Hosking we need to get the politics out...

Electrifying the transport system will require strong bi-partisan action.  

The Drive Electric State of the Nation report has found globally, one in four new vehicle purchases are electric – up from one in five in 2024. 

Chair Kirsten Corson says strides are being made in public transport, with New Plymouth's bus fleet being 100% electric, and Auckland Transport having more than 300 electric buses.  

She told Mike Ho...

The Corrections union insists corrupt staffers are few and far between, and some are even forced to go down the wrong path. 

14 staff from Mt Eden and Auckland South Corrections facilities have been arrested. 

A dozen are charged with accepting bribes, and others with conspiring to supply a Class A drug —namely methamphetamine— to prisoners. 

Corrections Association President Floyd du Plessis told Mike Hosking it's n...

Chris Bishop says over-regulation is an economic nightmare for the country. 

A new report by the Ministry for Regulation maps out 267 regulators operating across the country, describing a complex system of overlapping agencies and rules. 

The Infrastructure and RMA Reform Minister told Mike Hosking there's far too much red tape. 

Bishop says we spend $1.3 billion annually alone on consenting costs for infrastructure,...

So let me get this right, just so we know where we’re at. 

The Labour Party —who, I'm assuming, still want to be taken seriously this election— have had a major issue up to this point. 

They have no policies. 

The one policy they do have is a new tax, and the money from that new tax will pay for all of us to go to the doctor three times. 

Even though a lot of us —to be frank, probably most of us— don’t actually ...

Donald Trump's warning further attacks on Iran are still possible, despite backing down this week.  

The US President called off the strikes after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.  

He says officials are still locked in negotiations with Iran, and he claims Democrats are trying to stop him.  

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking this is the sixth time Trump has been on the verge of initiat...

It’s been a busy start to the week, and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest political stories so far on Politics Wednesday. 

They discussed Labour’s Future Fund policy, which is light on the details, Winston Peters’ idea to buy back BNZ, and the Government’s cuts to and plans for the public service. 

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New Zealand is up against some quality competition in the first stage of the America’s Cup cycle.  

This weekend sees the Italian island of Sardina host the first preliminary regatta, with eight boats set to take to the water.  

Team NZ, Britian’s GB1, and Italian hosts Luna Rossa have sent both their main teams and a combined Women’s and Youth boat to compete, alongside crews from Switzerland’s Alinghi and French entry L...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20th of May, Finance Minister Nicola Willis unpacks the public service cuts and we hear from the head of Commonwealth Sport as Auckland hosts the Oceania National Olympic Committees’ General Assembly. 

Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton joins out of Sardinia as the America's Cup officially gets underway. 

And Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell discuss the lack of details i...

The Commonwealth Games are in the spotlight as Auckland hosts another major event this week. 

The Oceania National Olympic Committees’ General Assembly is underway at Eden Park. 

New IOC President Kirsty Coventry will be among the 200 delegates as the region builds towards the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. 

Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadlier told Mike Hosking they’re focused more on the short term than t...

New Zealand's seeing renewed growth in international education, with rising demand from both major and emerging markets. 

Education New Zealand data shows more than 92 thousand international students enrolled last year, up 11% on the year prior. 

China and India make up almost half of all enrolments. 

Acting Chief Executive Linda Sissons told Mike Hosking we’re sitting at around 80% of our pre-Covid numbers, but the ...

Another swathe of Government agency job cuts and public sector reform. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they want to return the public servant headcount to 1% of the population by mid-2029, culling about 8,700 jobs. 

Government agency operating budgets will again be reduced – 2% now, increasing over following years. 

Willis says they will also thin out the ministries, pointing to savings it'll bring. 

She sa...

Kiwis appear to be cutting back on discretionary spending as fuel prices bite. 

Data from Stats NZ shows retail electronic card purchases fell 1.3% last month, with Kiwis buying less or cheaper food and cutting back on their clothing budget. 

Non-retail spending on the likes of travel and health is down 4%. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking it makes sense, as these are more discretionar...

I'm 100% convinced this election is about the economy. 

Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war? 

Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers? 

If Labour promises more money, was the lesson of the last Labour Government not learned? Or do enough not care and will take the money and worry another day, if they worry at all? 

Polls will show the usual nonsens...

The UK Government is looking into a potential pitch for the north of England to host the Olympics in the 2040s. 

The assessment will examine the costs and socio-economic benefits, as well as the likelihood of bidding success. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking the move seems far-fetched, given the present political turmoil. 

He says that in its current state, he doesn't think England is capable of hosting...