The Mike Hosking Breakfast

So, the great rates upset has begun to unfold. 

Auckland this week got its long-awaited council valuations. 

Why people get excited about them, I have no idea. 

It's a rough guesstimate by a council. It takes into account the broadest of criteria, but people seem to live and die by them. 

The upset of course has come from the fact that the value of a lot of properties has dropped, while the rates bill is going u...

A new rideshare option is skidding into the New Zealand market.  

Bolt, hailing from Europe, is promising better deals for both drivers and customers, while challenging the duopoly that currently dominates.  

They’re first launching in Auckland, aiming to bring a breath of fresh air to the market. 

General Manager Adam Muirson told Mike Hosking that for the last couple of years, the competition has been stagnant at b...

It’s unlikely New Zealand will be in for a repeat of last year’s power shortage. 

Our winter stocks are in better shape thanks to improved lake levels, extra gas supplies, and an enlarged coal stockpile has added security to the system.  

And although customers are still battling high energy prices, a major government review is expected in the coming weeks. 

Meridian CEO Mike Roan told Mike Hosking that they’re deep ...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 11th of June, we've got a new mental health report that shows the $1.9 billion spent has seemingly been wasted, and we talk all things energy with Meridian.   

Fieldays begins today and is sure to be successful, considering how well the rural sector has been doing of late.  

Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk the new stalking laws, the regulatory standa...

The select committee process has proven useful in substantially strengthening anti-stalking laws. 

Originally proposals on making it an offence had a maximum penalty of five years in prison, capturing three specified acts within one-year.  

But it'll now be triggered after two acts within two years. 

Labour's Police spokesperson Ginny Anderson told Mike Hosking it's an example of why the process is an important part ...

Fieldays kicks off at Mystery Creek today. 

The rural sector’s somewhat bullish from its record profits across dairy and red meat, and pundits are expecting farmers to be “speaking with their wallets”. 

Big crowds are expected, with many looking to take advantage of the new tax rebate on the big ticket items. 

CEO of National Fieldays Richard Lindroos told Mike Hosking it’s the largest agribusiness event in the south...

Experts say specialist addiction and mental health services need rapid improvement.  

New research from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has found three New Zealanders die every week due to accidental and preventable drug overdose, with fatalities up 88% from 2016 to 2023. 

At the same time, despite growing demands, fewer people are seeking specialist help. 

Commission CEO Karen Orsborn told Mike Hosking th...

New Zealand's $47.2 billion franchise sector is being celebrated. 

Today marks the first World Franchise Day. 

The model first took shape in New Zealand in the 1970s – with now almost 550 franchised brands including in accommodation, hospitality, education, childcare and retail. 

Franchise Association Chair Brad Jones told Mike Hosking they’ve had some great growth in the sector over the last few years.  

He say...

Assurance stronger anti-stalking laws are the right move to protect victims. 

Originally proposals on making it an offence had a maximum penalty of five years in prison, capturing three specified acts within one-year.  

But following the Select Committee process it'll now be triggered after two acts within two years. 

Chief Victims' Adviser to the Government Ruth Money told Mike Hosking the change allows greater prev...

We got the press release recently from the Restaurant Association where they said there were flat sales, cost pressures and regional divergence was the theme.

I have changed my mind a bit on hospitality.

More broadly, I wonder whether there are too many vested interests in this country who get in the way of real progress.

The hospitality story has been a long, arduous and well told one.

We hear hospitality is shot, hospitality is a...

The problem with committing to things that may well come back to haunt you, is down the track, at some point, the mistake starts to hit you in the face a bit and some hard decisions are required. 

My sense of it is we have become too reliant on pine trees to meet the Paris climate target. 

The sheep farmers have worked that out as the protests around land conversion have once again been reignited, with posters put up by t...

Warriors legend Shaun Johnson will be back on our screens – this time, without a rugby ball in hand. 

He’s supercharging his fledgling media career, fronting a new weekly TV show dedicated to the analysis of rugby league. 

Johnson signed a new deal with Sky TV for ‘League Lounge’, which launches Wednesday, and will broadcast on Sky and Sky Sport Now, with delayed release on Sky Open and YouTube.  

He told Mike Hoskin...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10th of June, it's good news Tuesday, so we have good news on our teaching numbers, business sales, and tourism. 

But there’s bad news regarding corruption – we are way too complacent, and a new report suggests organised crime is corrupting our officials at a lot of different levels. 

Warriors legend Shaun Johnson has a new midweek league show coming out, so we t...

Now is the time to sell your business. 

According to ABC Business Sales, the number of buyers enquiring about purchases is up 30%. 

Demand is currently outstripping supply, as new listings are down 10% on last year. 

CEO Chris Small told Mike Hosking much of the interest is led by migrants, and hospitality, services, and construction are the three sectors people are primarily looking to buy in. 

LISTEN ABOVE&nbs...

Solar energy company Lodestone is expanding to the South Island. 

It's constructing a solar farm in Canterbury's Clandeboye, with first generation expected next year. 

It will generate 43 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually, similar to the company's sites in the Upper North Island. 

Managing Director Gary Holden told Mike Hosking there are six more consented sites in their portfolio. 

He says they'r...

Outgoing New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson believes he's leaving the game in a better place than he found it. 

He's confirmed he will leave the job at the end of the year, bringing to an end a six-year tenure that started just before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Robinson says he's proud of what's been achieved during a turbulent period. 

He told Mike Hosking that the next six months are critical for their role both dom...

A tick of approval for the Government's new tourism funding boost, aiming to generate an extra $300 million in spending. 

Minister Louise Upston's announced a $13.5 million injection into Tourism New Zealand, targeting markets in Australia, the US and China. 

It's hoping to bring an extra 72 thousand visitors over coming years.  

Tourism Holdings CEO Grant Webster told Mike Hosking it'll provide recovery from the pos...

New Zealand's heading down a precarious road of corruption, with organised crime networks targeting our institutions and borders.  

An independent advisory panel on Transnational Crime says we need to take urgent action.  

It says police officers, immigration officials, and private sector employees are facilitating corruption.  

Group chair Steve Symon told Mike Hosking they talked to senior officials in enforcement ...

The Education Minister says several factors are at play in making teaching an increasingly attractive career option. 

New figures released to Newstalk ZB show the teaching workforce increased 2.5% last year – the largest annual increase since records began back in 2009. 

First-time enrolments in teaching courses are also up, 6.3%. 

Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking the Government's doing several things to attract and ...