The Mike Hosking Breakfast

It’s been 25 years of Westlife. 

The globally renowned Irish boyband formed in 1998, splitting up in 2012 before reuniting once more in 2018. 

They have over three billion streams, 36 number one albums worldwide, and have sold 55 million records and more than six million concert tickets. 

And now they’re coming to New Zealand as part of their 25th Anniversary World Tour – performing on our shores for the first time i...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 12th of May, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is creating her own political party, so what does that mean for Labour, Te Pāti Māori, and the left bloc?  

The Bank of Mum and Dad has apparently never been more important, nor as expected, among first-home buyers. 

And Shane Filan of Westlife talks 25 years of the boy band and coming to NZ next year as part of their world tour....

New Zealand Rugby League's chief executive-elect is eager to embrace the sport's pinnacle events when she takes charge in July. 

Andrea Nelson steps into the role ahead of the men's and women's World Cups in October and November across New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, and November's wheelchair tournament in Wollongong. 

She’s replacing Greg Peters, who stepped down after eight years in the role. 

Nelson ...

Almost half of first-home buyers in New Zealand expect help from the Bank of Mum and Dad, according to a new report. 

OneChoice's Kiwi Housing Trends survey of more than 500 Kiwis found that 48% needed financial assistance from family to get onto the property ladder. 

But of those who did receive support from their parents, 70% said they were worried about the pressure it placed on them. 

Opes Partners’ Ed McKnight t...

China could soon overtake Japan as our largest source of car imports. 

A new report from the Motor Trade Association shows sales of new Chinese models is doubling each year. 

That's due in part to more sales of electric vehicles, which are forecast to make up half of all new light vehicle registrations by 2035. 

MTA CEO Lee Marshall told Mike Hosking as long as price talks, it’ll start to influence where cars are com...

Te Tai Tokerau is shaping up to be an electorate to watch this election. 

MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is splitting from Te Pāti Māori to form her own party after months of ructions between her and the party's leaders. 

She'll run in her electorate under a party of the same name.  

Former Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell told Mike Hosking she could win the seat as she has a foothold in an electorate already. 

...

Shane Jones says while Kiwis may be concerned about fuel prices, they don't need to worry about fuel supply. 

The Government's updated its fuel response plan, so fuel is only restricted under phase four. 

At that phase, emergency services, health services, schools and courts would get uncapped priority access, while others would need to limit their fuel use. 

The Associate Energy Minster told Mike Hosking that at thi...

A growing number of British Labour MPs are calling for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, but no one is formally challenging his leadership. 

More than 65 MPs are publicly calling for him to resign or set out a timetable for departure. 

Four have quit as ministerial aides. 

But Kings College Professor of European Politics Anand Menon told Mike Hosking no one knows who will be the Prime Minister when this is over. 

He s...

Latest figures show at least 144 kiwi Police left for Australia in the past year, but Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is not concerned. 

He told Mike Hosking that we have 'some of the best police officers in the world' and therefore it's no surprise other countries try to poach from us. 

Chambers also maintains that our Police numbers are in a good place.

"I mean, there's a tremendous amount to be proud of is that we...

It's hard to believe that superannuation is still a “thing”.

The OECD report told us we need to bump the age.

Nicola Willis told us Friday we have to do something. The Prime Minister then goes on Newstalk ZB and tells us they will campaign, again, on bumping up the age.

We should not be here.

In 1982 when I started work at the age of 16 it was very clearly in my mind that I had to sort my future financially, given the debate at the...

One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, had a historic win in the Farrar by-election in the weekend. 

The victorious One Nation candidate, David Farley, said "people just want change, it's as simple as that."

At a victory party Hanson addressed supporters saying, "we're coming after those other seats".

Australian correspondent Steve Price joined Mike Hosking to chat about the result. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 11th of May, are we worried about the amount of cops leaving to Australia? Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says we simply can't keep up with their pay.

The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking to talk fees free getting scrapped, superannuation and golden visa events.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk Auckland FC, the Phoenix women through to the final and Mike and Sa...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking in studio to discuss two major policy changes announced last week - abolishing fees free study, and raising the age of superannuation. 

Luxon said that although the changes may not be 'politically popular' they are important, and other party's aren't brave enough to agree. 

"I think they're being quite dishonest in terms of not facing up to the challenge that we've got ...

Independent Economist and Property Commentator Tony Alexander regularly surveys real estate agents. 

His latest survey found that 44% feel prices are falling in the area, 51% see fewer people that open homes, and 50% are seeing fewer investors.

Alexander contributes this to a number of reasons including global conflict and job instability, but first-home buyers are remaining strong. 

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In an investigation of all New Zealand private schools the NZ Herald found that more colleges than ever are charging $30,000-plus in tuition fees with an average 4.2% tuition rise this year, the smallest increase in three years.

Independent Schools of New Zealand CEO Guy Pascoe told Mike Hosking the jump in fees can be attributed to rising cost of living, but that hasn't impacted tuition numbers.

"We still see pretty strong demand ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine was nearing an end on the first day of a United States-brokered ceasefire, despite mutual accusations of violations.

Editor of New Voice of Ukraine Euan McDonald told Mike Hosking, "Putin makes these statements occasionally but, what we haven't seen really, is any major change in the situation.

"So there's not really any evidence that the war could be coming to an end. In fac...

The latest cab off the rank in things Australia is doing that we suggested we might, is some sort of deal with tech around local news. 

Australia led off the batting with the social media ban that has been picked up and run with all over the world. 

It doesn't necessarily work, but people in various jurisdictions feel good enough about it and it may well be that enough people are affected for it to be judged some sort of ...

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 Warriors: 7/10 

There is a roll-on here, a real consistency, and two more easy points this weekend.   

Food scrap bins: 2/10 

They're not used, they're made of plastic, they blow all over the neighbourhood. The 40% shows a bad idea is a bad idea, whether it's on the whit...

Why now Sean? 

I had Covid vibes when I read Sean Sweeney's thinking about the CRL. 

It was Covid vibes because during that period I cannot tell you how many people I know and regularly dealt with, whether it was people in the media or people from business, who said one thing about the Government and their handling of lockdowns and the economy in private, and something completely different in public. 

So Sean, having...