The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Warriors are just holding onto their position in the top four. 

Saturday will see them face off against the Bulldogs – a must win match after their last two losses. 

But the question remains, with the spotty performances from the New Zealand team, will they be able to defeat a top four side? 

Former Warriors Captain Monty Betham told Mike Hosking the Warriors have yet to lose three matches in a row this year, and...

An exception to normal procedure at the Crusaders in bringing Richie Mo'unga back to the Super Rugby franchise.

The 56-test All Black has signed an 18-month contract to return in July after three seasons playing in Japan. 

Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge says they're stoked Mo'unga is returning to his home franchise. 

He told Mike Hosking this type of contract is probably the way of the future – athletes gaining experienc...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 8th of August, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins to talk about the huge number of kids leaving school without a single qualification. 

In sporting news – Richie Mo'unga is coming back so there's cause for celebrations for Canterbury and All Blacks fans. And we look at a massive make-or-break weekend for the Warriors to see whether they are serious contenders th...

The prospects of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may be crumbling faster than they've formed.  

The Kremlin says the US President and his Russian counterpart have agreed to meet in the "coming days".  

But the New York Post is quoting Trump's officials, saying this is not the case.  

Foreign Policy Analyst Jimmy Rushton told Mike Hosking Putin is burning through astonishing amounts of manpower for r...

There’s a view we're an international outlier with our labelling regulations. 

The standards are under review from the Ministry for Regulation in its latest attack on red tape. 

Minister David Seymour says the labelling codes seem overly restrictive. 

He says for example, Chemist Warehouse has someone employed full time to check labels. 

BusinessNZ CEO Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking it's an issue for overseas ...

The effects of Donald Trump's tariff hikes are already being felt in the US and around the world.  

The US President's updated trade policy is now in effect for more than 90 trading partners.  

New Zealand goods are grappling with a 15% tariff at the American border.  

US Correspondent Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking the income will pay for Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy at the cost of consumers.  

He says p...

An economist says the Government did the best it could in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The Treasury's latest report calculates the total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic at $66 billion.  

The Government ignored official advice at the time to ease spending.  

New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking it is hard to fault anyone up until late 2020.  

He says, afterwards, th...

The Deputy Prime Minister says he'd sack Willow Jean-Prime for declining numerous Government requests for collaboration on NCEA reform. 

Documents show Labour's education spokesperson declined an advisor's meeting and didn't answer a text and multiple emails from Education Minister Erica Stanford regarding planned changes to NCEA. 

David Seymour told Mike Hosking if he were Labour's leader, he would drop her because there...

Shane Jones is fast becoming my favourite politician. 

And he might have summed up the Government's issues with one on of his increasingly famous quips. 

"The Ruth Richardson bare austerity approach is not delivering the economic growth we need." 

He is right, isn't he? Classic liberal politics, trimming and cutting, is not the massive bomb we need under us. 

As Chris Bishop yesterday was offering more detail on...

Kaylee Bell has been busy since she last popped into the ZB studio. 

The Kiwi country singer has released a new single, has a new album ‘Cowboy Up’ on the way and a five date tour coming later in the year, but she’s also become a mother.  

Her son, only six months old, has already been around the world – Bell taking her family along as she performs in America, Australia, and around New Zealand. 

“He’s definitely just...

Rising unemployment is expected to add to the case for a lower OCR. 

Unemployment's hit a five-year high of 5.2% and is expected to rise further. 

Economists now broadly expect the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate by another 25-basis-points to 3% in two weeks. 

BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking further cuts now seem likely. 

He says his team have been forecasting a neutral rate of 2.75% ...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, the unemployment number wasn’t as bad as predicted, but it could still go up from here – plus, the Government has announced a shift to Road User Charges.  

We can't be too worried about the economy since we all seem to be overseas on holiday, and then a record number of us are making travel insurance claims for overseas injuries.

It's been too long sinc...

Grocery prices will continue to hit Kiwi consumers and our economy hard. 

A report by the Commerce Commission shows prices are increasing again this year after appearing to stabilise last year. 

It's revealed we now pay the fifth highest grocery prices in the developed world. 

Grocery Action Group Chair Sue Chetwin told Mike Hosking the competition in New Zealand isn’t particularly healthy. 

She says that unless...

Kiwis are becoming a liability when travelling in Europe.  

New data reveals 1Cover New Zealand has paid out more than $2.7 million in travel claims to customers travelling to Europe since May. 

The biggest claim was more than $96 thousand.  

Vincent George Travel Agents co-owner Rosann Connolly George told Mike Hosking with weather disruptions and uncertainty around the world, travel insurance is crucial. 

She ...

A tax expert says there is a concerning trend as businesses owe more and more to Inland Revenue.  

Businesses owe more than $1.4 billion in unpaid GST and PAYE from the 2025 tax year. 

Only $66 million of that is from businesses or individuals that are bankrupt or in liquidation. 

Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker told Mike Hosking the construction sector alone owes about $1 billion.  

She says it is difficult t...

The Finance Minister says anxiety about tariffs will be playing a part in slowing down New Zealand's economic recovery. 

Unemployment's reached a five-year high of 5.2%. 

Economists think it could rise even higher before it starts turning around. 

Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking tariffs aren't great, but some people may have been more worried than they should be. 

She says the tariffs will have affected confiden...

The AA is onboard with the switch from petrol tax to electronic Road User Charges, but says there are a few issues to sort out.  

The change is expected to come in by 2027.  

Transport Policy Director Martin Glynn says it's likely there will be devices actually in vehicles to make the measurements.  

He told Mike Hosking it will be easier to implement with modern cars.  

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The stark reality of linear TV in New Zealand, if Irene Gardiner was right on yesterday's show, is fairly simple. 

Here is how the calculation works: you make a product, you stick it on air, you get an audience, and you sell advertising based on that audience. 

Some programs can never hope to get the sort of audience to pay for the cost of the show. Enter Government support or brand sponsorship – in other words, a financi...

Former US President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary have received subpoenas from a congressional committee to testify about Jeffrey Epstein. 

The Republican committee chair has also called eight others, including former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. 

The committee's looking for more information about the deceased sex offender after the Trump administration decided against releasing further files. 

US Co...