The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Jimmy Carr is well known for a couple of things, his controversial comedy and distinctive laugh chief among them.

And he’s bringing both to Kiwi audiences early next year, travelling right across the country, stopping in 13 different cities. 

He’s got a prolific career in standup, as well as being a household name in UK television, not only hosting an array of panel shows, but a regular guest on many of the rest. 

Carr ha...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 12th of June, it's good news Thursday as we see good news for wool, good news for our food and fibre exports, and good news for our elective surgery waitlist. 

You won't believe how many people are leaving Auckland and the North Island to head to Christchurch and the South Island.  

Award-winning comedian Jimmy Carr is heading this way, but before that he's on t...

Christchurch is acting as a magnet for thousands of Kiwis making the move down South. 

The latest Stats NZ census data shows 85,000 people moved to the South Island between 2018 and 2023. 

Around half of those have gone to the Canterbury region. 

ChristchurchNZ Chief Executive Ali Adams told Mike Hosking the Garden City's versatility is being recognized. 

She says people are realizing you can have a brilliant ca...

Health New Zealand is outsourcing more elective operations to private facilities to ease strain on the system.  

The agency aims to deliver more than 10,500 additional elective procedures by the end of June, by partnering with private hospitals to expand surgical capacity. 

The target is within reach with more than 8,600 procedures complete since March.    

Christchurch colorectal and general surgeon Chris Wakem...

Todd McClay says surging value and supply is behind the rise in food and fibre export revenue. 

The latest forecasts project export earnings of $59.9 billion for the year ending later this month.  

It's now on track to reach $65.7 billion by 2029. 

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking we're seeing sectors like Horticulture raise exports by 20%. 

He says for the first time ever we saw Z...

Italy’s squeezed middle class could be getting a breather. 

Tax cuts are at the top of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s agenda, as she says the middle class is the backbone of the Italian production system. 

She says they want to make the system fairer.  

Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking she’s reduced the tax rate from around 26% to 24% so far.  

She says they’re likely going to need to do a lot m...

The Finance Minister says a move to require wool carpets in state housing makes financial sense. 

Nicola Willis has announced a change to Kainga Ora's supplier agreement that will see it re-open its previously nylon-only carpet tender process. 

From the start of next month, all public entities will also be required to use woollen fibres where practical and appropriate. 

Willis told Mike Hosking officials have told he...

Unrest is spreading in the US over immigrant deportations. 

Donald Trump is sending hundreds of US Marines and has ordered 2000 more National Guard troops to go to LA's immigration protests. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom's called the US President's orders deranged and has filed a lawsuit. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking of the 2000 National Guard troops deployed, only 315 were mission assigned,...

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...