The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Well, welcome back Opportunity. I think I have that right. 

Opportunity is the former "The Opportunities Party". Now it's just "The Opportunity Party". 

It has a new leader and a new tax policy. They have been looking for a leader for ages and they even advertised. 

None of this is a good sign. 

Their biggest problem is the market is full – there is no room for another political party. 

There was no room 10...

International relations and geopolitics have become increasingly complex in the last few decades, many countries in the Pacific pulled between China and the United States – the two superpowers at odds with each other. 

But former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull believes the relationships with the two are equally important. 

“The relationship with the US is obviously the bedrock of our security relationship,” he...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of November, the Government is slashing emissions charges for bringing in new cars and launching a full review of the Clean Car Standard.

Uber drivers have had a major win in the Supreme Court with four drivers now ruled to be employees, not contractors.

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was in the country, so we took the time to catch up about his cal...

A Northland holiday park's scrapping its TVs to allow nature to take centre stage. 

Russell–Orongo Bay Holiday Park is one of the first holiday parks in New Zealand to go completely TV-free. 

It's encouraging guests to unplug from screens and reconnect with the natural world. 

Park Manager Shane Maddren told Mike Hosking they have plenty of activities to keep guests occupied. 

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Police say their new approach to mental health callouts is working.  

They're now in phase three out of four of the programme, meaning there's a higher threshold for officers to attend calls from mental health workers.  

Officers will also assess the appropriateness before responding to missing persons reports for those with mental health concerns.  

Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson told Mike Hosking there'...

Canterbury is paving the way for the country's first rubber road.  

Selwyn District Council is planning a rubber road surface trial at Glentunnel on State Highway 77 in January.  

Treadlite New Zealand is the only company providing the recycled rubber granules for use in pavements in the country.  

Chief Executive Brad Pierce told Mike Hosking this isn't new technology, it's just New Zealand catching up.  

He sa...

Geopolitics could be increasingly dictating the future of agriculture.  

A Rabobank report is warning tensions between the United States and China means agricultural exports are at risk of "becoming pawns on a geopolitical chessboard." 

It suggests 2026 could mark a new era of geopolitical influenced agriculture sector. 

Lincoln University Adjunct Professor of AgriScience Jacqueline Rowarth told Mike Hosking the more...

Changes to the Clean Car Standard has been partly caused by supply problems out of Japan.

The Government is slashing charges on importers who don't meet carbon targets by almost 80% and launching a full review.

It is expected to save about $264 million in costs to consumers and will keep imported cars cheaper.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking it's been tough getting EVs into the country.

He says importers are racki...

The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister says there's currently too much grey area about what defines a contractor, following the Supreme Court's Uber ruling. 

Four drivers are now legally employees, with the highest court rejecting Uber’s bid for the court to overturn a 2024 Court of Appeal ruling. 

The Government's seeking to clarify the distinction in law. 

Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking we need clear rule...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 17th of November, Trump has pulled back on some of his tariffs which is a $2 billion boon for NZ Inc. and makes Trade Minister Todd McClay's job slightly easier.

The Prime Minister talks the tariffs, Net Zero, polls and whether the Capital Gains Tax is something credible he'll be up against at next year's election.

Jason Pine, Andrew Saville and special guest Kate Hawke...

Big win for NZ Inc. and a lesson for everyone who doesn’t understand tariffs.

Donald Trump has cut tariffs on beef and the beneficiaries are largely New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

Brazil has had a 50% tariff so they will be thrilled.

We are at 15% and it's 10% for Australia. We may not benefit as much but given we are “balling”, as they say anyway, anything that gives us a chance to sell more has got to be welcome.

The latest f...

The All Blacks lost to England 33-19 - a defeat that ends their hopes of an unbeaten Grand Slam tour. 

The game at Twickenham saw the All Blacks start the match strong, but England's strong momentum in the second half, and a last minute try to rub salt in the wound, secured victory. 

The crushing defeat has raised questions around Scott Robertson's coaching of the team. 

Former All Black sir John Kirwan told Mike Hos...

Chris Luxon is standing firm on his opposition to a capital gains tax.

A New Zealand Herald-Kantar Poll shows New Zealanders are evenly split on Labour's proposal for a tax on gains on commercial and investment properties.

Opposition is strongest in Auckland, while support for the CGT is stronger in every other region.

The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking Labour's proposal is ultimately a bad idea, that will harm businesses and lea...

The Government is planning to increase fines for breaching the Fair Trading Act - from 600-thousand dollars to five-million.

It is announcing a swathe of changes to crack down on businesses and individuals breaking consumer laws. 

The cases could also be moved from the criminal court to the Civil Court to make prosecution easier. 

Consumer NZ Chief Executive Jon Duffy told Mike Hosking that it is one of the most consequen...

The Trade Minister's cautiously welcoming a rollback of US tariffs on food imports including New Zealand beef, offal and kiwifruit.

US President Donald Trump's signed an executive order reducing the tariffs.

The affected New Zealand products represent around 25 per cent of our exports to the United States, worth more than two billion dollars annually.

Trade Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking that it's still a very uncertain tim...

There are growing concerns around a possible duopoly forming in our primary health sector. 

General practice owners are calling out what they see as bloated bureaucracy, and are moving to form a breakaway nationwide Primary Health Organisation (PHO). 

GenPro chair Dr. Angus Chambers told Mike Hosking that doctors, 'see that we're heading towards the supermarket-like situation.'

He said that some PHOs are good, but they ar...

It’s a slightly odd message from Labour over the Māori Party as they try and work out how to deal with them. 

The truth is they will need them to form a government if they get their own numbers to a point of victory. 

There is no way the Greens and Labour alone will come close to crossing the line first. 

Small reiteration, in case you missed it a month or so back; none of this matters because the current Government ...

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. 

NZ Inc: 7/10 

A pretty good week. This Wednesday Auckland hotels will be at 100% and yesterday the visitor arrivals showed yet another upward movement. Slowly but surely, there is more and more that is positive to embrace. 

Winston: 6/10 

"We" and asset sales. You see how he oper...