The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The view of a Chinese vessel in our waters highlights our complicated relationship with the country. 

The visit has been approved by the New Zealand Government, as part of a NIWA research project.  

Although its movements have been approved, Australia is not the biggest fan, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying he would prefer it wasn’t off Victoria’s coast. 

NZ Contemporary China Research Centre Director Jaso...

A new affordable housing solution has just been completed. 

The Living House, designed by RTA Studio, takes just six weeks to build, costing only $333 thousand.  

It costs $253,000 less than the Government’s average Kainga Ora build, and Architect Rich Naish told Mike Hosking they got frustrated by the failure of successive governments to build truly affordable housing.  

He says they’ve designed it to be scalable, o...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 3rd of April, the final report into a $627 million mental health programme has been released. Has it hit its targets? 

Private school enrolments are booming – is the disparagement of our public school system to blame? 

Kiwi caddie Steve Williams has a new book about his 12 years on the bag for Tiger Woods, so we need to talk to him about his success and regrets....

It’s been about 14 years since Kiwi Steve Williams last caddied for the great Tiger Woods. 

But to coincide with the 2025 Masters and the 20th anniversary of Woods’ iconic shot on the 16th hole at Augusta – Williams is releasing a new book. 

‘Together We Roared: Alongside Tiger for His Epic Twelve-Year, Thirteen-Majors Run’ is filled with behind the scenes moments, delivering the definitive account of one of the most succ...

An economist says Donald Trump's 'liberation day' could better be described as 'watch your wallet day'.  

The US President will be announcing his next round of tariffs in about half an hour.  

Dartmouth College Economics Professor Douglas Irwin say tariffs could be across the board or set specifically to each country.  

He told Mike Hosking a blanket option would create a lot of economic pain.  

Irwin says that ...

There’s a belief a surge in Kiwi parents making significant sacrifices to afford sending children to private schools won't last.   

In some instances, private school enrolments are closed until 2027, families are being asked to submit videos of their home life, and entrance tests are being made tougher. 

Independent Schools of New Zealand chief executive Guy Pascoe told Mike Hosking around 4% of New Zealand students ...

A $664 million mental health programme seems to have challenges to address to help it reach its targets. 

The Access and Choice Programme received the five-year funding in Labour's 2019 'Wellbeing' Budget.  

It's aiming to support 325 thousand people per year, but during 2023-24 saw just over 207 thousand.  

Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission chief executive Karen Orsborn told Mike Hosking awareness is an issue.&...

The Government's crackdown on cowboy builders is seen as a step in the right direction.  

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says there'll be more transparency about suspended builders, stronger discipline, and an improved complaints process.  

Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma told Mike Hosking the current disciplinary system doesn't provide enough of a deterrent as it's very slow, lacks transparency, and many ...

Two special elections in the US are racking up quite the price tag.  

Voters are heading to the polls in two special elections in Florida and Wisconsin. 

Florida's holding special elections for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's congressional seats, and both seats are critical races for Republicans, given their slim majority in the House. 

The battleground state of Wisconsin is also voting on a new judge for the state's top...

Trump tariffs are looming over Australia. 

Washington is expected to announce new tariffs on its trading partners tomorrow, and opinions are divided on whether Australia will get pinged. 

Australian Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that they shouldn’t get hit too badly as there’s currently a $17.9 billion trade surplus with the United States. 

He says there could be a couple of flow on effects that could i...

As exercised as some have been this week about social media, the Greens and their behaviour, the bigger issue is not the Greens, but Labour and all who might support them into Government. 

As much as we may froth and hyperventilate about any given issue of the day or small firestorm, who runs the country and how is what we all ultimately should be focused on. 

We will not be going back to a single large party ever again, ...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 2nd of April, New Zealand has abandoned its bid to host the America’s Cup after the Government denied funding. 

NZ Rugby have sorted out their advertising stoush with Ineos, and we seem to have done alright out of it. So where to next for the All Blacks brand and company? 

Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell have a spirited discussion about the Greens, the Māori P...

A new test for Parliament's processes. 

Te Pāti Māori MPs are refusing to appear before a Privileges Committee hearing about last year's haka in the House, after being told they can't appear together with their lawyer. 

Labour MP Peeni Henare appeared before the committee last month, with the committee finding his conduct was disorderly but didn't amount to contempt. 

He apologised for leaving his seat to perform a h...

Petro-chemical conglomerate Ineos have dug deep into their pockets to resolve financial differences with New Zealand Rugby over kit sponsorship. 

A settlement has been reached after NZR lodged an injunction at the High Court in Wellington – the figure reportedly in excess of $21 million. 

Ineos get to terminate the deal after three years, and NZR can now attempt to secure a new sponsor. 

Halo Sport Managing Director ...

Voters are heading to the polls in two special elections in Florida and Wisconsin. 

Florida's holding special elections for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's congressional seats and both seats are critical races for Republicans, given their slim majority in the House. 

The battleground state of Wisconsin is also voting on a new judge for the state's top court. 

It's become the most expensive judicial contest in US history,...

Central and local government are being challenged to work together to attract major events.  

The bid for Auckland to host the next America's Cup in 2027 has been abandoned after central government refused to put money up for it.  

Major Events Group Founding Director Chris Simpson says New Zealand could host great events if the investment is there.  

He told Mike Hosking it's something that needs strong collaboratio...

The Privileges Committee will meet with or without Te Pati Māori. 

The party's refusing to front up for alleged threatening behaviour towards David Seymour during last year's Haka in the House. 

Co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi —along with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke— have all been separately summoned. 

They say they haven't been allowed to appear together, at a time their lawyer can attend. 

Co...

An opinion new health and safety regulatory reforms is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. 

The Government's change makes clear landowners won’t be responsible if people are injured on their property, while doing recreational activities. 

Fault will lie with the organisations running them. 

It used the prosecution of the company that grants access to White Island after it erupted as one reason for the change....

I sort of hinted at this the other day when the monitor for the Wellington City Council put out his second report. 

My question was, given there was leaking and dysfunction and the punter was at their wits end, what now for Wellington? 

Do we just get more reports? 

Well, lo and behold, another Wellington operation has their own monitor in the form of the Commerce Commission who have been brought in to oversee the me...