The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Education Ministry data shows three and a half thousand kids have been missing from the education system for more than a year since 2022. 

Lead Principal of the Manurewa Attendance Service Cathy Chalmers told Heather du Plessis-Allan having to find these kids is part of the problem. 

She says a multi-agency approach is needed, as there are normally other issues that contribute to disenrollment or low attendance. 

The...

A law expert says the court system can be fixed by understanding facts - not mandatory sentences. 

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith hasn't ruled out the policy which would see a minimum standard set for various crimes. 

Judges currently have discretion to give discounts based on aggravating or mitigating circumstances. 

Former High Court judge Sir Ron Young says New Zealand has a lot of people in prison as it is. ...

The second phase of the Covid Inquiry starts today, with vaccine mandates proving to be a hot topic.  

The hearings will be held in Auckland, available to watch online and will be chaired by KC Grant Illingworth.  

Phase two is focused on aspects of the Covid response like vaccine mandates, the approval process and vaccine safety. 

Illingworth told Heather du Plessis Allan that there are 31-thousand submissions, with...

There appears to be a feeling we don't like the fact that banks make money. 

Inland Revenue's digging into the tax settings being applied to banks at the Government's request - as it seeks to ensure they're paying their fair share.  

But Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told Heather du Plessis-Allen she believes it's motivated by a general bad attitude towards banks.  

She claims the Government's look...

What we need is an "are we sure we know what we are doing before we rush into this" catalogue or guide. 

The EV story might turn out to be one of the world's, and certainly the transportation industry's, biggest headaches as company after company admit they leapt in way too quick to electric, bought into all the Government-led madness on climate and invested, God-knows how much to transfer to a mode of movement the world wasn’...

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. 

July 1st: 7/10 

A lot of cool stuff started, including higher speed limits on roads where higher speed limits make sense and increase efficiency. 

Helipads: 8/10 

Amazing for so many reasons; well-known rich people, a ridiculous number of submissions, a massive waste of energy an...

Republicans are celebrating after US President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" bill crossed the line. 

Trump is expected to sign his sweeping domestic policy bill tomorrow as he celebrates the Fourth of July at the White House. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson claims everything was a disaster under the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris administration. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking there was a lot of drama t...

There was a survey out last week that broadly supported the Government’s moves around KiwiSaver, as in the 3% and 3% going to 4% and 4%. 

But they wanted the Government to do something about the cut in contribution from the state. 

Small hint – if you rely on the Government for any consistency around long term projects, forget it. 

From the very beginning of KiwiSaver, the Government were always going to be the weak ...

Central Otago's iconic Cardrona Hotel is up for sale through private negotiation. 

The 162-year-old building sits between Wanaka and Queenstown. 

It's on the market for the first time in more than a decade. 

Co-owner Cade Thornton told Mike Hosking they'll be selling privately, with no real estate agents involved. 

He says there's been expressions of interest throughout their ownership, from overseas parties and...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 4th of July, we cap off a week of crime announcements with some new trespass laws. 

Codie Taylor joins the show ahead of the first All Blacks test of the year against France. 

Tim and Katie give some programming advice and debate whether Mike would be any good as a police recruit wing patron as they Wrap the Week. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Pod...

The first All Blacks test of 2025 is upon us. 

Saturday night will see a new team tackle an understrength French side in Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. 

There were plenty of surprises in the team announcement, with four debutants in the 23 and some unexpected faces in the reserve line up. 

Codie Taylor is playing hooker, and told Mike Hosking that although the French side is understrength, they have to respect and a...

The Government says it’s letting shop owners take back control. 

It's proposing legislation to double maximum trespassing fines and allow trespassing people for three years, from multiple sites. 

Hospitality NZ’s Steve Armitage told Mike Hosking the law’s been outdated for some time. 

He says that when it was introduced back in 1980, a $1000 fine was much more material than it is 45 years later – according to the Wor...

There’s a clever new marketing ploy from a Wanaka fashion designer. 

‘The Precious Collaborative’ are selling $10,000 coats in order to subsidise New Zealand wool products in their store. 

The profits of the coats are able to discount a once $700 item to under $200 – the aim to put quality NZ wool items within the average person’s reach. 

Founder Claire O’Connell told Mike Hosking that by purchasing the coat, people ...

Talks about a major update to a 15 year old agreement between Taupō’s council and the region's largest landowners have sparked controversy.  

The 2009 Joint Management Agreement between the district council and Ngāti Tūwharetoa is being workshopped, and a draft agreement has been presented to the public. 

Critics argue that no public mandate has been issued, and that ‘Treaty principles’ are embedding ‘co-governance’ direc...

Support for the Government's move to change rigid insulation standards. 

It's expected building code insulation requirements will be relaxed by year's end in a bid to cut construction costs. 

The Government's called the changes "common sense", with building costs rising more than 40% since 2019. 

Building Industry Federation CEO Julien Leys told Mike Hosking the current 'one size fits all' approach isn't working.&nbs...