The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Prime Minister is hoping to refocus secondary schools on literacy and numeracy - like the Government's done with primary schools. 

A major announcement on the future of NCEA is expected in the coming moments. 

It's understood public consultation will be launched on proposed changes -- in which teachers and parents can give feedback.

Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the country needs an internationally competit...

Disappointment, at the lack of people putting their name forward for October's council elections.

Several people have been elected unopposed around the country.

They include three of Christchurch's 16 councillors, two of Auckland's 20 councillors, and five of Lower Hutt's 13 councillors.

Lower Hutt's outgoing mayor and the Vice President of Local Government New Zealand Campbell Barry says it's a less-than-ideal situation.

He says t...

A housing spokesperson warns homelessness is the worst it's been in several years. 

The Government is seeking urgent advice as communities report rises in rough sleeping across the nation. 

Auckland outreach providers alone reported a 90 percent spike in homelessness. 

Salvation Army Senior Policy Analyst Paul Barber says it could come from issues with both resourcing and delivery. 

He suggests a solution could ...

There was little this country could do to dodge the latest  tariff - this from a former trade minister

Donald Trump's raising tariffs on New Zealand goods to 15 percent, while keeping tariffs on Australian and British goods at 10-percent.

Tim Groser has dealt with the US extensively -- as our trade minister during the Barack Obama administration, and ambassador to the US during the first Trump administration.

He told Mike Hosk...

The direct line between Wellington and Washington will see material results on tackling crime in New Zealand.

The FBI has set up a Wellington based office - meaning it now has an office in each of the capitals of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

It will work on combating terrorism, organised crime, and foreign intelligence threats.

Assistant Police Commissioner Mike Pannett told Mike Hosking the FBI has specialist capabilities ...

We are being urged, again, to "break up with property". 

We are urged this way once every few years. 

It's based, not unreasonably, on the idea that we could take our money and make it work differently, if not more productively, than it does stuck in a house. 

The latest iteration comes from a bloke at Craigs Investment Partners, who suggests if you put $100 into a house, in 30 years it's worth $600. But if you had d...

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. 

August: 6/10 

Is it just me or is this year moving at pace? Where did seven months go? 

The recovery: 4/10 

Yes, by August the recovery was supposed to be here. The greens shoots were to have flourished, and stuff was supposed to be better. 

The payWave charge ban: 6/...

If a council gives a media outlet some numbers and the media outlet simply re-posts those numbers, is that reportage? Or propaganda? 

The headline was "more cyclists get on their bikes", which is true. But at no point in my reading of the cycleways of the nation's major cities, was any definitive analysis done as to whether the cost of the infrastructure to get people on their bikes was worth it. 

In Christchurch some pop...

Donald Trump's latest tariff deadline is rapidly approaching. 

The US President has reached 11 deals, and agreed to pause tariff increases for Mexico, ahead of his deadline of 4pm today. 

He's indicated he'll raise the baseline tariff faced by most countries, including New Zealand. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that at the same time, the trade wars are facing a critical court test within the Unit...

The opening of a standalone FBI office may be putting New Zealand in a bit of an awkward position.  

The bureau's establishing a permanent presence in Wellington, focusing on trans-national crime like terrorism money laundering, child exploitation, and foreign intelligence threats. 

FBI Director Kash Patel has also said it would counter China’s influence in the Pacific. 

Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Mike...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 1st of August, New Zealand has yet to receive an updated tariff rate from the US as the deadline looms. Trade Minister Todd McClay joined to discuss the situation.  

The FBI is setting up an office in Wellington – citing concern over China’s increasing influence in the Pacific.  

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk awkward interviews and paywave surcharges being dro...

An announcement on the future of NCEA is imminent and the whole system could be in for a shakeup.  

A Government briefing from June shows an over-reliance on internal assessments and suggests students are gaming the system to accumulate credits. 

It's also revealed NCEA doesn't support coherent pathways for students into the likes of trades or hospitality. 

Tertiary Union National Secretary Dr Sandra Grey told Mike H...

The Food Minister's backing the move to remove the labelling of genetically modified food, despite concerns. 

Andrew Hoggard's given the green light to rules meaning food produced using new breeding techniques, including gene editing, will not need to be labelled as genetically modified unless it contains new DNA. 

The change will see New Zealand mirror the genetic technology legislation in Australia. 

Group GE Free ...

The country's largest music festival, Electric Avenue, has been bought by Live Nation. 

The multinational entertainment company announced the acquisition of festival producer Team Event, which owns the two-day summer festival held in Christchurch's Hagley Park each February.  

Promoters Association President Layton Lillas told Mike Hosking that given the tough environment festivals are facing, this is good thing for New Z...

The number of people behind on payments in June fell slightly from May, but is largely unchanged compared to the same time last year. 

Latest Centrix data shows there were 478 thousand people in arrears, representing more than 12% of the credit-active population. 

Managing Director Keith McLaughlin says they'd normally expect the figure to fall further over winter - but people are being impacted by things outside their co...

New Zealand has yet to hear from the US ahead of Donald Trump's latest tariff deadline – 4pm today, New Zealand time. 

The White House says all countries will have heard from the US by that time. 

The US President has indicated he'll raise tariffs, including the 10% baseline tariff imposed on goods from New Zealand and most other countries. 

Trade Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking our Government is still waiting...

If you want to talk about doing stuff that matters, this week will produce one of the great ones. 

Repealing the oil and gas ban, as the Government are about to do, puts right an egregious wrong – possibly the most egregious wrong of the last Government. 

What gives this current Government a better than even chance of a second term is the fact the damage done to the economy was done by the very same people who are still i...

An instantly recognisable face and name, Jeremy Piven is hitting New Zealand shores for the first time.  

The actor and comedian is best known for the roles of Harry Selfridge and Ari Gold – the latter of which he won a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Emmys. 

But it’s not film or television that’s brought him here, instead Piven is bringing his stand-up comedy tour to the stage.  

Piven has been performing f...