The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The time has nearly come for Jeffrey Archer to put down the pen. 

The prolific author and former member of Lords has sold over 350 million copies of his books, and has just wrapped up the William Warwick series with the release of the eighth book ‘End Game’. 

He has one more book left to write, which he’s aiming to finish by Christmas and release in September next year. 

But although this will be Archer’s final book,...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 9th of October, the Reserve Bank did what the market, and the Government, wanted and cut the OCR by 50 basis points. Is this the move Nicola Willis needs for growth? 

The CEO of the International Rugby Players’ Association Omar Hassanein talks the threat of R360. 

Author and former member of Lord's, Jeffrey Archer is back to talk the last book in the William War...

A landmark deal has been announced for sports sponsorship in New Zealand. 

Crypto company Swyftx has signed a new partnership with the Warriors, the first of a multimillion dollar spend across the sporting landscape. 

Crypto sponsorships are surging globally, up 20% over the past year to US$565 million. 

Warriors CEO Cameron George told Mike Hosking they were approached by Swyftx, who want to grow their hold in the N...

Could R360 take legal action against the eight unions who will deem any player that signs with the Saudi-backed league as ineligible for international rugby? 

New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, and Italy have joined forces against the competition, which is set to launch next year. 

While NZR has a policy to avoid selecting overseas-based players, other countries regularly pick from o...

Fears a proposed bylaw to combat freedom camping in the Queenstown Lakes District could be a headache for Kiwis. 

The new bylaw goes before councillors this week and proposes 15 designated freedom camping sites for the district following a surge in freedom campers. 

People freedom camping in other areas could face fines of at least $400.  

New Zealand Motor Caravan Association's James Imlach says there was consultati...

There's a push to make the wool industry the backbone of New Zealand again. 

A cross-sector alliance has been formed between four major organisations, aimed at driving economic growth and consolidating efforts. 

It wants the industry to deliver decent returns and remove existing duplications. 

Independent Chair John Monaghan told Mike Hosking the price of wool is substantially increasing right now. 

He says synt...

The Finance Minister says she's okay with a short spike in inflation. 

The Reserve Bank has slashed the cash rate 50-basis-points to 2.5% and is leaving the door open to further cuts. 

It expects inflation to reach or surpass 3% in the short term but believes the economy is weak enough to push inflation back down again next year. 

Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking we won't see another long-period of sustained much-high...

The biggest upshot of the latest OCR cut is likely to be the boost to consumer confidence. 

The Reserve Bank's slashed the cash rate by 50-basis-points to 2.5%. 

Major banks are responding by lowering floating and flexible rates after already lowering their fixed-term rates in recent days. 

ABC Business Sales Chief Executive Chris Small told Mike Hosking businesses will benefit more indirectly from increased consumer...

I would have thought the NZIER numbers yesterday sealed the deal for the Monetary Policy Committee and today's call.

The NZIER was the last substantive look at the economy, and what it shows is we have real trouble. Quite possibly recessionary trouble.

They think Q3 was certainly flat, if not in contraction. If it is contraction, you can add that to the Q2 contraction and that, once again, is a recession.

How many of these do we wa...

People are making tough choices at the supermarket to keep costs down. 

A new report reveals the average weekly spend per household is now $240 – an increase of only $2 from 2023. 

To cut costs, 31% of are buying less groceries, 48% are downgrading on brands, and 30% are looking for specials. 

Head of Sustainable Business Development at Rabobank, Blake Holgate told Mike Hosking the results are unsurprising, as wage i...

The Police Minister says officers don't have the laws they need to move protesters from MPs' homes. 

The Government introduced the legislation to ban protests outside homes in August, and it's now before a select committee.  

A 29-year-old man's turned himself in and been charged, accused of smashing a window at Foreign Minister Winston Peters' house earlier this week. 

Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking every ...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 8th of October, what is the Reserve Bank going to do today? Cut 25 basis points or 50? 

If I told you that on average we're only spending $2 more per week on groceries compared to 2023, would you believe me? 

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk the Government's benefit policy and protesting outside MPs’ homes on Politics Wednesday. 

Get the Mike Hosking ...

Students' attitudes towards truancy are said to be turning around. 

A new Education Review Office report has found six out of ten students attend regularly – back to pre-Covid levels, but still down on 2015. 

It also found 80% think education is important for their futures, and 75% think attending every day is important. 

Deputy Chief Executive Ruth Shinoda told Mike Hosking there's still more work to do. 

She s...

More than 300 people in Auckland have been ordered to re-sit their practical driving tests. 

It followed allegations VTNZ officers took money in return for giving passes. 

Five officers at VTNZ's Highbrook branch have been sacked and police have launched an investigation into potential fraud. 

The wrongdoing's alleged to have taken place over a few years. 

President of the Institute of Driver Educators Mark Revi...

Economists are split on how far the Reserve Bank will go with slashing the Official Cash Rate. 

The central bank will reveal its latest monetary policy decision this afternoon.  

There are strong expectations of a cut from three percent, but debate over its size.  

ANZ says a 25 basis point cut could be strategic at this point in the cycle, with the OCR near its bottom.  

But ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley tol...

The stars are aligning for the red meat sector with record returns and global demand.  

Rabobank's latest report suggests two-million underutilised dairy calves are born each year, at a time when beef prices are hitting record highs.  

It's calling for a coordinated effort across breeding, rearing, and value chains to add an alleged $1.2 billion to the economy. 

Meat Industry Association Chair Nathan Guy told Mike Ho...

Kiwi Chef Chelsea Winter is all about making a practical resource for Kiwi families, having written nearly ten cookbooks over the years. 

Her last few books have been focused on plant-based recipes, many of them dairy-free, egg-free, and refined sugar-free, but her 8th book, ‘Nourish’ is a return to the basics.  

“My books have always been created with the intention that they are to be used,” she told Mike Hosking. 

...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 7th of October, there are new measures from the Government to improve attendance rates, with dozens more schools signing up for support.  

Health NZ’s buying thousands of vapes —including flavoured products— for those trying to quit smoking, and Mike is incredulous.  

Chelsea Winter discusses her new cookbook and answers questions on that wellness retreat. 

...

A researcher says all she can do is laugh about the Government ordering more vapes for those wanting to quit smoking. 

Health New Zealand's been providing vape kits to smokers for almost a year as part of a pilot programme, initially ordering three thousand kits.  

Newstalk ZB has revealed it's ordering more, including flavours like cinnamon and blueberry.  

Auckland University researcher Kelly Burrowes told Mike Hos...