The Mike Hosking Breakfast

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.    Education: 8/10  The maths trial results this week were a tangible example of the simple truth that if you concentrate on something and work hard, you will win.    The All Blacks: 6/10  They did better than the critics seem to suggest. Rugby has changed but the attitude on expectation and winning hasn’t. This isn't 1986.    Regional councils: 8/10  Bold call, good call. We will be better off for the call.    Ginny Andersen and steak: 6/10  Who had her down as a surreptitious food stealer?    Rachel Reeves: 2/10  Have a look at her work on taxes and ask yourself how far-removed Barbara Edmonds is - or isn't.    Surrender by Thursday: 4/10  Wasn't that yet another harebrained thought bubble by a bloke who looks increasingly unhinged, or tired, or old, or mad. Or possibly all of those things.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 28th of November, Judith Collins speaks on the public inquiry to be held into the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children.  Could we grow more coffee in New Zealand? And who knew we grew any sort of decent coffee here in the first place?  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk about the installation of Mike’s new TV and the legacy and impact of Simon Dallow as they Wrap the Week.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the simple question with seemingly no simple answer: why aren't more people excellent?  Naylor Love reported this week they are cracking the $1 billion revenue mark. They are an old company that has never cracked a billion.  Naylor Love are in construction. Construction is apparently having, or has had, a hell of a time of it.  So how is it a business in a tough sector can be so outstandingly successful?  They put it down to being good at complex projects. They do those well, the reputation grows, the word-of-mouth spreads and so it goes.  The other day I discovered a coffee roaster made by a company called Kaffelogic. Their machine is made in New Zealand.  The sadness is they are one of a handful left that produce appliances of any sort in New Zealand. The thing is their machine is world class because the bulk of professionals who enter roasting competitions use that machine.  So what that means is we can produce appliances, but don’t. Mostly that will be price related but like wine, or kiwifruit, or salmon, it seems there is nothing stopping us producing in small numbers if it is at the top end.  The same way there is nothing stopping Naylor Love booming in an industry that isn't booming.  The same way I can name you any number of restaurants and cafes that are doing very nicely, thank you, in a sector that is, according to press releases, in a world of trouble.  The same way, as we heard just this week, that despite all the job market downturns and tough times, at no time did it get any easier to find great talent.  No shortage of people. Just a shortage of excellence.  There seems to be a pattern here.  It seems a truism that no matter what you are surrounded by, no matter what the circumstances are, excellence will always shine and do well.  That if you are good, or dare we suggest excellent, at what you do, there is always a place for you not just to participate, but to succeed and even excel, while those around you flounder and complain and blame their lot.  Excellence is your ticket to wherever it is you want to go.  Don’t tell anyone. Heaven forbid it catches on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The week has come to an end, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to wrap it all up.   Mike ordered a new 85-inch TV and its installation has thrown the house into a bit of disarray. Kate’s been looking at the price of salmon, and they discuss the legacy and impact of Simon Dallow as he signs off as 6pm newsreader for the last time tonight.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shift in climate has opened the door to grow more coffee in the Far North.  Industry specialists have gathered near Kaikohe for the annual Coffee Producers Association conference.  New Zealand currently has about a dozen growers and more than seven thousand trees, with goals to scale-up production.  Association Chair Peter Sheppard told Mike Hosking we're in a zone where the climate has become warm enough to make the industry viable.  He says there’s huge potential in New Zealand, and they’re at the beginning of a really exciting journey.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mortgage advisor is joining the Finance Minister in urging banks to slash home loan rates.   Nicola Willis is asking them to pass on “as much as possible” in the wake of the Reserve Bank cutting the Official Cash Rate to 2.25%.  She says the banks have a stake in the economy, and passing the cuts on will make a significant difference.   Loan Market Mortgage Advisor Bruce Patten told Mike Hosking the banks are holding onto some really good margins at the moment.  He says he’d like to see them pass them on before Christmas – everyone needs it, so someone needs to make the move.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's move to shift e-scooter users from the sidewalk to bike lanes is being hailed as a win for common-sense.  ACC statistics for e-scooter injuries this year are close to surpassing $14 million.  There were also more than two thousand claims for e-scooter related injuries in the first half of this year.  Flamingo Scooters Co-Creator Jacksen Love told Mike Hosking it clears up confusion.  He says bike lanes are clearly a lot safer than the road and helps keep footpaths clear for pedestrians.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for the retail sector as sales increase across the country.  Stats NZ data shows the total volume of sales increased 1.9% in the September quarter, equalling more than $470 million.  The growth was driven by motor vehicles and electronic goods, which saw the biggest boost this quarter.  Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking the start of a new Government year may play a role in the rising numbers.  She says leases may expire and people may need new vehicles, which happens in the third quarter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's assurance an inquiry into the Tom Phillips saga is important for the public, but also his children.  Phillips was on the run with his kids for nearly four years, ending only when he died in September in a Police shootout.  An inquiry's been confirmed to look at whether Government agencies took all practicable steps for the children's safety and welfare.  Attorney-General Judith Collins told Mike Hosking we want to get this done so the children can better understand what unfolded.  She says once they grow up it'd be helpful for them to know that some people tried very hard to for them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More details are emerging around the background of the Afghan national who allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC.  Both soldiers remain critically injured after yesterday's shooting, while the suspect's in custody.  The FBI says the shooter had worked with the CIA in Afghanistan and had immigrated to the US in 2021.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the suspect was reportedly troubled by his work with a CIA paramilitary force in Afghanistan.  Arnold says the group was also accused of civilian killings.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I tell you what I like about all the educators whinging away over the curriculum redo and the Treaty treatment: they are at least standing their ground. They are having their say and that is no bad thing.  It struck me yesterday when I read Roger Gray's speech, Roger Gray of Auckland Port. When he talked of “No Zealand”, of the naysayers, of the cruise people in Miami and their view of NZ not wanting a cruise industry. Of Jacinda Ardern calling them Petrie dishes.   Where were the Roger Grays when she was actually in charge and wrecking the place?  The educators are bold enough to tell the current government they don’t like what's going on, but where was the business community when their companies were being shafted?  In the prizes for gonads and backbone, the educators win hands down.  Not that they are right of course, and in that is the gargantuan irony. The educators complain about rules and change and yet are irrefutably on the wrong side of history, given the education outcomes produced in this country.  And yet business was nowhere to be seen or heard, despite the fact we all knew the country was being strangled by power freaks, and they would eventually be proved right.  But as much as I defend an educator's right to speak up, there is something deeply insidious about the way educators, particularly unions, operate.  The list, the signatories of principals who have signed this protest to the Education Minister over the curriculum change is driven by, the Education Minister told us, unions.  And it’s a standover tactic. It’s an intimidatory play. You are bullied and harried and cajoled into signing, hence she claims, you then ring her up and tell her you signed reluctantly.  That sadly, says something about a principal that acts out of fear – sort of like businesses hating the decisions but saying nothing.  Fear is no way to live, but for some I get it: life is short, who needs the grief?  But if that is the mentality in education, if that is the modus operandi of unions, what sort of world are our kids entering into? What sort of brain washing, whether overt or subliminal, do our kids get subjected to?   The Minster, in telling us all this on Tuesday, said it is disgusting – anyone want to disagree? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the country’s most famous singer-songwriters is back with an entirely new album.  It’s a new chapter for Bic Runga, who’s sixth studio album, ‘Red Sunset’, is releasing in February next year, with a tour following in March.  It’s her first album in 15 years to feature all-original material.  “It’s a bit of a reinvention,” Runga told Mike Hosking.  “That’s never easy to do, but it’s either reinvent or just repeat yourself, so, y’know, I really kind of wanted to try something else.”  The album was recorded in an Airbnb in Paris earlier this year, where Runga and her family were holidaying.   “We rented a house with a piano, and really knocked the record out.”  “I wanted it to have some of that vibe and just remembering my life before, y’know, the kids and stuff,” she told Hosking.  “It was just sort of a nostalgic trip, I suppose.”   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of November, Kiwibank’s CEO and the Reserve Bank Governor unpack the Official Cash Rate cut to 2.25%.  A class action lawsuit is being filed against Transpower and Omexom over the massive power failure following the pylon disaster – are Northland businesses interested?   Kiwi singer Bic Runga is releasing her first fully original album since 2011, so she joined for a chat about ‘Red Sunset’ and her new tour.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The intentional killing of women and girls is now its own crime in Italy.   Lawmakers unanimously backed a bill making femicide a specific crime punishable by life imprisonment.   Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the measure a tool to "defend the freedom and dignity of every woman".  Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking it looks very much like a symbolic gesture.  She says she’s not sure how you would prove the murder of someone is related to their gender, as opposed to some other factor.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank Governor is leaving the job tomorrow with no major regrets about the pace of OCR cuts.  The cash rate's dropped 25 basis points to 2.25%.  Forward-projections suggest this will be the end of the current cycle of OCR cuts, with inflation expected to ease and the economy expected to recover in the new year.  Governor Christian Hawkesby told Mike Hosking they've been responding to circumstances.  He says they've been dealing with a stall in economic recovery while focusing on their mandate of controlling inflation.  Hawkesby says it's hard to say exactly why New Zealand's recovery has stalled more than other countries, telling Hosking there isn't one clear reason for the downturn this year.  He says it's a bit of a puzzle, with tariffs and cautiousness both playing a role, and that's why last month's cut was needed to kickstart the economy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A public policy think tank is pushing the Government to take advantage of social impact bonds. The model means the Government only pays providers when they achieve results for a particular problem.   It had previously been used for the Genesis Youth Trust, which reduced youth reoffending by 30%.   Maxim Institute Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour told Mike Hosking the beauty of social impact bonds is that it allows highly flexible and customisable interventions.  He says you can target the people who are most vulnerable, not just the easy options.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion most Northland businesses are ready to move on rather than seek compensation over widespread power outages.  In June last year, an inexperienced worker removed nuts from three of a pylon's legs causing it to fall over cutting power to almost the entire region.  The opt-out class action against Transpower and its lines maintenance contractor is being backed by Australian financing firm Omni Bridgeway.   North Chamber Chief Executive Leah McKerrow told Mike Hosking local businesses are ready to move on, if it's been learnt from.  She says businesses would rather see investment in energy resilience and roading rather than try to take on a government-owned entity.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't bank on any further cuts to the Official Cash Rate.  The Reserve Bank's dropped the cash rate 25 basis points to 2.25%.  It expects to see inflation ease and the economy recover.  Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking this could very well be the bottom of the current OCR cycle.  He says there's lots of talk about green shoots in the economy, although much of this has been in farming.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the Reserve Bank outing this week.  One last hurrah for the year. It has a certain anticlimax about it, doesn't it?  It's probably going to be 25 basis points. 25 points is priced in by just about everyone.  There is a chance it's zero. Next to no one says 50 basis points.  Infometrics last week had the Q3 GDP number at 0.9% and I'm told the Q2 number is going to be revised up, which means if you add all that to the Q1 number then we've actually had a pretty decent year.  "What? Are you mad? How can you say that?", I hear you say. Well, don’t shoot the messenger.  These are either facts, or expert predictions. Either way they are to the right side of the equation. The point being is that's the sort of thing the Reserve Bank looks at.  Is inflation in its box? Well, it’s a smidge high, given it’s 3%, so right at the top end, but technically still within the 0-3% range.  If we cut further, they will ask, do we risk driving that number a bit higher through increased bullishness and spending? Quite possibly.  Now I'm not personally arguing for a hold. But if you want to toss a few ideas about the place, that isn't a bad one. A case can be made for holding, for saying inflation is there or thereabouts and that the economy has got no shortage of green shoots, and 2026 looks okay so our job is done.  The psychological advantage, no matter what they do, is not to be underestimated either. "If this is it, it's as good as it gets. It's as low as they go".  Then a lot of people will make decisions around money and mortgages, and a lot of people have been holding. They've been in the waiting place and, as Dr. Seuss said, "the waiting place is no place for you".  In a funny way it might also shake us out of our funk. We are disproportionately miserable, not because of reality, but because it's been so bad and we need a kick up the backside to get on with it.  Maybe Christian Hawkesby, in his farewell flourish, offers not just the 25 basis points but a bit of uplifting hyperbole as he steps out the door.  They have cut six times this year. We could end 2025 at 2.25%. It started at 4.25%. Shows you what a mess we have dealt with.  But I get the sense the page has turned. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine and the US are signalling they're nearing a proposal to end the war as Russia maintains its uncompromising position.  Ukrainian and US officials have negotiated details of a proposed 28-point peace plan in Switzerland.  A US official's told reporters Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal, but there were still some minor details to be sorted out.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it appears several key issues have still been set aside, including the new territorial boundaries, the size of an ongoing Ukrainian military, and the proposed ban on NATO troops inside Ukraine.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday the 26th of November, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop explains why they want to scrap regional councils.   Estonia has the highest education results in Europe, and now their Education Minister is in New Zealand to check out how our reforms are panning out.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen cover off Michael Wood, regional councils, Greg O'Connor and Craig Rennie on Politics Wednesday.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Politics Wednesday Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen delve into the proposal to scrap regional councils, replacing them with boards made up of local Mayors.  They also cover off Labour's seat selections, with MP Greg O’Connor missing out on the selection for a new seat, and former Labour MP Michael Wood's move to re-enter politics.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of cases of amputation and vision loss could be prevented thanks to diabetes monitoring technology.  Continuous Glucose Monitors, or CGMs, have been funded for Type 1 diabetes since last October.  New data from CGM producer Dexcom finds lifetime use of the devices could prevent up to 70 thousand diabetes-related complications and save the country $50 thousand a day.  Diabetes New Zealand Chief Executive Heather Verry told Mike Hosking funding should be expanded to all diabetes patients.  She says Pharmac is only funding for Type 1, and at $200 a month, these devices are unaffordable for everyone else.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

European nations are eyeing New Zealand’s education overhaul as a model for their own reforms.  Education Minister Erica Stanford's implemented new curriculums, scrapped NCEA, increased learning support funding and put a sharper focus on teaching the basics this year.  Estonia’s Education Minister Kristina Kallas is here meeting Stanford, and says her country and others are considering similar changes after drops in achievement.  She told Mike Hosking New Zealand's direction is the right one.  Kallas says basic skills are needed to develop critical and analytical thinking.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's set to slash the Official Cash rate today but the big question is whether today's cut will be the last.  The final OCR decision of the year is set down for 2pm.  Most economists expect the cash rate to be cut 25 basis points – from 2.5% to 2.25%.  Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr told Mike Hosking the main message seems to be that we’re getting pretty close to the bottom.  He says interest rates are at stimulatory levels and they’re looking to see if that will entice some investment.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red tape continues to tie up New Zealand's agriculture and horticultural sectors.  Animal and Plant Health NZ's annual survey finds nearly half its members feel regulatory performance has worsened, despite recommendations put forward by the Ministry for Regulation earlier this year.  Chief executive Liz Shackleton told Mike Hosking despite reassurance from regulators, the day-to-day process is not getting easier.  She says farmers and growers face a raft of challenges and don't have the right tools for the job.  She says it's a real handbrake on economic growth, and we're missing out on better environmental outcomes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says regional councils add layers of confusion, as he looks to scrap them.  Consultation's open on the proposal which would see the councils abolished and replaced with boards made up of local Mayors.  Boards would be required to put plans in place around re-organising services and infrastructure, which will be checked over and ticked off for financial sustainability.  Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking there's enormous levels of complexity which people don't understand.  He says in Wellington for example, the regional council runs the buses, but the city councils decide the road closures and where the bus stops are.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular listeners will be aware of my ongoing angst over banks and whether or not they are legit players in our marketplace.  The Reserve Bank this week, in one final stab this year, will most likely cut the cash rate, again, which will leave it at 2.25%.  The Co-operative Bank last week claimed they are the only ones who have fully passed on the cash rate cuts so far.  In fact, as of the current cash rate at 2.5%, they have cut their floating rate to 3.1% against the cash rate fall of 3%.  Now on the surface, if their claim is correct, that would back up the broad-based argument that retail banks are creaming it, and things need to be done about it.  Certainly, the banks margins remain high and as of a couple of weeks ago those who reported, reported their margins expanding.  Now the counter to all that is the Co-operative Bank themselves. If what they say is correct, good on them. But what does that prove?  It proves there is competition. It proves that the market is dynamic and it proves that if you see their claim and think to yourself "hold on, how come I don’t have a deal that good?" you can in fact, and have always been able to, change banks.  So in offering the insight inferring a lack of competitive behaviour, do they not to a degree shoot themselves in the foot?  Further, I think it's fair to suggest that in reference to the floating rate not many people, generally, are on the floating rate. And even if you have a few at the moment waiting to lock up when a final cut comes, the overarching theme of New Zealand lending is one of fixed rates.  So perhaps a better example would be what the competition is like around the part of the market that is most used and therefore most competitive.  So you can see my dilemma, my ongoing issue. I can find you examples of banks behaving if not badly, at least suspiciously, thus giving weight to those who argue oligopolies.  But I can find examples of good, clean, open competition where deals are to be done.  So once again there's the simple question with seemingly no solid answer.  Who is right? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Counter-proposals to the US-peace plan for Russia's invasion of Ukraine are emerging as European, US, and Ukrainian officials hash out discussions in Switzerland.  Russia's backing the 28-point plan that'd include Ukraine ceding territory and ditching efforts to join NATO.  European leaders have criticised the plan, which is widely considered favourable to Russia.  France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that now that Europe is footing most of the bill for Ukraine, it actually has a stronger voice in the negotiations.   She says they’re telling everyone to calm down and return to the drawing board, as everyone knows Russia won’t agree to the adjusted 19 point plan.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 25th of November, the Government is introducing mandatory building warranties, and we have news on the job numbers from Seek.   Covid Inquiry Chair Grant Illingworth KC attempts to explain why there’s been multiple high-profile resignations from the Commission, and whether the inquiry is still on track.   And we reveal that up-and-coming Kiwi motorsport driver Tom Bewley has recieved the Porsche scholarship and will be competing in next year’s Carrera Cup.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One young Kiwi racer is living his dream.   18-year-old Tom Bewley competed for the first time in the Porsche GT3 Sprint Challenge Series in Australia, finishing third with four season wins and a couple of lap records.  As a result, he’s won the Porsche scholarship to take the next step and will compete in the Carrera Cup next year.  “It was an up and down year, definitely,” Bewley told Mike Hosking.  “My goal going into the year was just to learn how to drive that style of car because it was something completely different to what I’ve been used to.”  “I feel like I did that pretty quick, but just some rough patches during the season kind of cost me those championship points,” he said.  “Overall, I think I was pretty happy with the season.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are now spending a reported $1.8 billion a year on their pets.  Insurance, food, grooming, and daycare make up the bulk of the spending, with luxuries and niche businesses playing a part as well.   Dog Zen founder and animal behaviourist Mark Vette told Mike Hosking over time the relationship between pets and their owners has become more like that of a surrogate parent-child relationship, which drives people to spend more.   But he says there’s definitely been a push for those who have the money to spend it on “wants” instead of “needs”.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of Phase Two of New Zealand's Covid Inquiry says turnover is 'perfectly natural' as it loses two of its high-ranking officials.  Executive Director Andrew Sweet is stepping down just months before the second phase is due to end in February.  His predecessor, Helen Potiki, similarly lasted five months before walking away.  Inquiry Chair Grant Illingworth KC told Mike Hosking nobody has been dissatisfied with their experience in the inquiry.  He says two people have been offered very good jobs and are leaving for that reason.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fears the Government's new construction requirements will unintentionally create a monopoly. The Government's announced mandatory warranties for new homes three storeys or less, and all renos worth at least $100,000.  Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says it's intended to protect homeowners from cowboys.   Combined Building Supplies Chief Executive Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking there's been difficulty in the past to get insurers on board.  He says there is work to change this, because there is much need for more competition in this space.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The job market remains in a tough spot despite modest improvements.   The latest Seek NZ Employment Report finds job ad volumes have risen 1% for the fourth consecutive month and 7% year-on-year.  The growth is seen across most regions and industries.  Country manager Rob Clark says we're heading in the right direction.  He told Mike Hosking that hospitality and tourism is important over the summer, but they’ve also seen some good progress in other industries, such as IT and construction.  IT is now up 15% year-on-year, he says, and construction is up almost 30% now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s confidence the Social Investment Fund is assisting organisations that will effectively help at-risk youth.  It's allocating $50 million into programmes for children with parents in prison, those who’ve grown up in care, and under-13s suspended from school.  Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking they're taking a different approach to previous governments, which spent billions of dollars with no results.  She says they're using data, measuring outcomes, and holding organisations accountable – adding the fund will be scaled up, if it works.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 24th of November, National have their first 2026 election policy of increased Kiwi contributions. Is it a bottom line? And what do their coalition partners think of it? Prime Minister Chris Luxon says whether the coup rumours are real and what to do to boost our dollar. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the All Blacks final game of the season, Liam and the F1 and Mike's workout routine. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The overarching view of the British Covid inquiry is that lockdown did not need to happen. Their inquiry is different to our two For a start, the key players turned up. Boris Johnson and co got grilled. Ardern and Hipkins and co never did because they refused. It still seems to me an astonishing act of arrogance that the same people who made such profound decisions on our lives refused to participate in a public way at the official look into the way they acted. It's a version of moral bankruptcy. Also, it's different in Britain in that it was adversarial. It's a mistake, I think, that we didn’t take their approach. Also, it appears our inquiry, part two at least, has issues with a number of resignations. So who knows how our's pans out. It's due first thing next year. But although the British report says much, it's inescapable that a major observation is if the British Government had got its act together faster, if it had been more coordinated - lock downs were not necessary. Just think about that for a moment and apply it here. Lockdowns here started pretty much the same day they did in britain; March of 2020. If the British hadn't got their act together and were locking down in March, then surely it can be argued the same applies to us. Obviously their lockdowns were nowhere near as hard as ours, and that’s another mass failing on the control freaks like Ardern and Hipkins. But just think about how Covid would have been, and our view of that period, if a lockdown had not been a part of the experience. Masks, rules, contact tracing, vaccines and respiratory hygiene could have stopped the need for lockdowns. That's the British conclusion. That’s a pretty profound finding. It's profound for mental health and the economy. Think of the ensuing years-long damage that came out of the lockdowns, especially the Auckland ones that lasted months on end. Jobs lost, lives lost, recession after recession for something that, quite possibly, we didn’t need to do. I can't see how, if they can conclude it in Britain, you can't conclude it here? Same virus, same approach, same outcome and same mistakes. It is a failing of historic proportions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: Auckland FC were not at their best as they struggled to a draw against Brisbane Roar. The All Blacks have ended their northern tour on a positive after defeating Wales, but failed to secure their 'grand slam tour'. And both McLaren's were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the title race heats up.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch has been added to the list of cities hosting games for next year's Rugby League World Cup.  The city joins Australia and Papua New Guinea as hosts for the event, and although the addition is a surprise for fans, it has been in the works for a while.  New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters told Mike Hosking that, 'it's been on the cards for a little while now, obviously, with the opening of Te Kaha down there.' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says he is confident that he will lead National in next year's general election.  A hit in the polls raised questions about his leadership last week, and rumours spread that he would be replaced come next election.  The Prime Minister has denied these rumours. He told Mike Hosking that, 'It's quite hard to take this seriously because I've read all of this before the whole 4 years I've been in politics.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for shoppers to choose smaller businesses this black Friday, and holiday season. Data from accounting service - Xero -  reveals shifting just 10% of consumer spending from big to small retailers, could bring $11billion into independent businesses. That excludes spending like utilities, and transport. Xero Country Manager Bridget Snelling says consumers must consider shopping locally for the benefits. She says shopping locally improves our economy as small businesses make up 97 percent of all business nationwide. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise to increase Kiwisaver rates is being described as a fundamentally good move - even if there's more to do.  National says it will lift default contributions to six percent by 2032 - matching Australia's 12-percent superannuation rate.  Employer contributions would increase by half a percent each year - but not until 2029. Milford Asset Management's KiwiSaver Head Murray Harris told Mike Hosking that although he backs the idea, 'we need to see what the long-term strategic plan for KiwiSaver is.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push for NZTA to be given the same powers as Police - to impound unsafe trucks. The trucking industry wants tougher rules, after an Auckland operator was jailed for manslaughter last year. Ashik Ali kept his truck on the road despite it being banned, and its failed brakes caused it to roll away and fatally hit a road worker last year. National Road Carriers Association chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Mike Hosking that most operators maintain their vehicles. He says there's a handful that blatantly ignore the rules, and they're the ones the system doesn't currently identify. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a growing idea in economic circles in America that young people might never own anything.  It's based on the recent news that a new car average price cracked $50,000 for the first time.  It was added to by Trump's idea that we have 50-year mortgages.  In the US, 30 years is pretty standard, and they have the fixed interest rate that lasts decades.  Here it's completely different.  But all of it is based on the thinking that more and more people can't afford stuff and, if they can, they will need to borrow basically forever to do it.  The wisest piece of advice I ever got was when i was about 18. I was in the bank trying to sort a mortgage and we were tossing numbers about and the bloke behind the counter swung his computer screen around to face me.  On it were the numbers I would be paying – what I was borrowing, what the interest rate was and what the monthly bill would be.  And the killer was the bit that showed just how much in interest I would ultimately give the bank over the period of that debt.  Needless to say, it was more than the debt itself. Compound interest is either your friend if you're saving and you're enemy if you're in debt.  That pretty much changed my view on debt. But a 50-year mortgage is clearly designed to lull you into the idea that things are affordable. Just don’t worry about ever paying it off.  It's probably why they are putting mortgages into the school curriculum in Britain.  If every kid came out with just a basic idea of the way things work in the real world, we may solve ourselves a lot of long-term issues and a lot of personal heartache.  And that is before we get to the fact that a lot of this country's so-called prosperity is a perception and the perception is created by the idea that you have more money simply because someone told you your house was worth more.  Or, if you are in the market, Nvidia for no particularly specific reason just added another nine zeros to their market cap.  If more people understood debt, both its option, pitfalls, upsides and problems, we would see the idea of a 50-year mortgage for what it is.  But basically, the state of the world, both at personal and national level, is the way it is because we don’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.    Uber: 3/10  The Supreme Court may have read the law, which means the law needs changing, because what the four drivers wanted and won is not what the gig economy is all about.    Ferries: 6/10  Two ships, a big saving, and an improvement on what we have. Job done.    Tory Whanau: 2/10  She's moving to Melbourne. See? Not every loss is a loss.    The All Blacks: 3/10  Oh, how different this week could have been. Wales seems like such a lowlight.    Opportunity: 6/10  As in the political party. I admire their pluck and determination and staying power, I'm just not convinced there is 5% there to be had.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would we be asking the questions of Police Commissioner Richard Chambers if we hadn't been dealing with McSkimming and Coster and Co.?  From my dealings with Chambers, he is exactly the sort of person who the Police need leading them.  He is one of those appointments that when it's made, you get it, unlike the Coster appointment.  When it was made you saw Ardern's fingerprints all over it and history shows how that all worked out.  From all Chambers' actions so far, he not only had to right the direction of the Police broadly, but tidy up a god-awful mess that, if you believe headlines, has shaken the public's faith in the entire force.  I don’t actually believe that for a moment. Police, at 15,000 strong, are not rotten, the same way the bad apple in a corporate doesn’t mean the whole business stinks.  But as a result of the mess, Chambers felt it necessary to share the speeding ticket news. He was going 112km/h, which as far as I know was actually 111km/h. Not that that excuses it, it just keeps getting misreported.  Then he's down Oriental Parade with Kash Patel having a dip while there is a tsunami warning. He thought it was lifted, but it wasn’t.  He rang the appropriate people and said sorry and then he was in front of the Parliamentary Select Committee having his minister, Mark Mitchell, heap praise on him, as well he might.  The point being, are we microanalysing people in public life?  And if we are, is it useful?  And if it isn't, which I doubt it is, do we put people off going for top jobs in the public service?  Can you be a decent operator and completely incident free? Are any of us completely incident free? Is 111km/h even a thing?  Mea culpa – I go 111km/h every weekend in the country, probably more. A lot of people do.  Do I take tsunami warnings seriously? Not really.  Do I take atmospheric rivers seriously? Not really.  New Zealand overreacts to most things, driven by the digital media who live for clicks.  So there you go. I doubt I'll make Police Commissioner.  What I also know is I can't be bothered with the myopic gawking over matters of little or no importance.  Chambers is clearly a more patient man than I am. But as I say, he seems the real deal and the man for the job.  How about we let him get on with it and give the nonsense a rest? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Formula 1 is touching down in Vegas amid the bright lights of Sin City.  Lando Norris is currently in the lead, holding a 24-point buffer over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.  And Liam Lawson is preparing to roll the Formula 1 dice, unlikely to learn of his future before the season ends.    F1 Journalist Mick Akers told Mike Hosking the event is tracking towards selling out, with an announcement likely to come ahead of the race kicking off this weekend.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Friday once again which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was. They discussed the cost of living in the United States, the media, and Winston Peters' latest announcement about the Regulatory Standards Act. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turners Automotive seems to be continuing to defy the odds, both with the economy and the second-hand market.  They’ve posted a record $21.9 million profit, up 13% for the six months to September.   The company is on track for a full year result of around $600 million, before tax.  CEO Todd Hunter told Mike Hosking the used car market is resilient and with their strong place in it, there’s plenty of opportunities for them.  He says the business has performed exceptionally well for more than a decade now, but they still feel like there’s a significant trajectory ahead.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.