The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Super Rugby Pacific is back this weekend as Season 30 kicks off.  Round one is full of derbies, as the Highlanders host the Crusaders tonight, then the Blues take on the Chiefs at Eden Park on Saturday.  Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley told Mike Hosking that there's a focus on improving the pace of play to maintain viewer interest. 'We want to see close matches, we want to see fast games, and we want to continue to see a reduction in static time.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland is hosting the second round of Sail GP for the season, with 13 teams racing at the Wynyard Point Race Stadium. Organisers have boosted capacity with a grandstand that is 30% larger than last year as demand continues to grow.  Sir Russell Coutts told Mike Hosking that, "the growth has been incredible, I think we've expanded our audience way beyond the avid sailing fan." The Black Foils will be looking to bounce back after a rough start to the campaign in Perth. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shared ambition for the Canterbury region - is expected to secure the region's long term success.  Business Canterbury, The Canterbury Mayoral Forum and the private sector have come together to form shared goals for the region. Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Mike Hosking that everyone agrees they need to invest in what makes the region unique - which is better infrastructure, housing, affordability and the environment.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is seeking an explanation from Oranga Tamariki.  This follows confirmation of the existence of a clause which allows for 'discretionary paid cultural leave', which is self-defined and not subject to managerial scrutiny.  Children's Minister Karen Chhour said that the clause was added prior to her becoming minister in 2023, and although she can't get rid of the contract, she intends to make her feelings known.  "I can't scrap signed contracts, but what I can do is make my concerns about this known." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manufacturing company Skellerup has posted a record first half net profit, up 20% to $28.9 million - and they've upgraded their full year earnings guidance. The tariff hit is now expected to be just $2.5million this year - about half of what they originally feared.  Chief Executive Graham Leaming told Mike Hosking that the company has made an effort in the US, and says the company's actions have helped prepare for the tariffs.  "We have a strong presence on the ground in the US. We've got 50 people over there, so we understand our customers well and we understand the market well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t blame Chris Hipkins and Co. for a moment, calling it a gas tax.  That’s politics when you are in Opposition, especially when you have no policies yourself.  What I despair about is yet another chapter of myopic nonsense around dumb words for cheap points.  The truth is comparatively simple and most of it is indisputable: we need more power supply than we have.  We need more reliable power supply than we have. We got caught dangerously short in the winter of 2024.  Labour, in turning off the gas, wrecked the industry and caused untold damage.  The Huntly coal deal is part of the solution.  An LNG importation facility is another part. We need a power supply tap because hydro, wind, and solar isn't it. Even if it's the bulk of supply, it's reliant on things we can't control.  So far so good, we all agree.  The cost of LNG is a billion-ish. Someone has to pay. The Government could pay by borrowing more but, wisely, they choose not to.  The industry could pay through a levy. That is what we have chosen.  Will they pass it on? Yes, why wouldn’t they?  Do you like that? No, why would you?  But at all times we come back to the basic issue: do you want heating in winter, every winter, like a first world country?  Do you want business to be able to operate at full capacity like a first world country?  So it isn't a tax. A tax is a forced payment by Government, that’s not what this is.  It's an increased power bill to eventually get a power bill that wouldn’t have been as high if we hadn't built a back stop for supply.  It's the cost of rectifying an embarrassing wrong. You might want to remember that when you vote.  Fixing broken stuff costs money. It's human to want others to pay for stuff but that’s not how life works.  If you want a spot price of $800 in the dead of winter, the highest price in the world, then doing nothing will work well.  We need more emphasis on the future, and on improvement, and less on the petty and the political point-scoring.  I wouldn’t have thought any of that is complicated.  You might not be thrilled, but it's not complicated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grammy winning country pop star Maren Morris has made her way to New Zealand as a headlining act.   After starting at just 15 years old, her 20 year career has seen her break boundaries, win numerous awards, and producing multiplatinum and gold certified music.   Morris is a few shows into her ‘Dreamsicle’ tour, having performed in Australia and Auckland, with one more show in Christchurch before she hops over to the States.   She told Mike Hosking headlining her own tour has been incredible.   “We’ve only done a handful of shows, but the crowds are so energetic, and they’re also a listening crowd,” Morris explained.  “They really want to hear the stories behind the songs and how they were written ... it’s a great balance of like, y’know, they want to hear the backstories, but they’re also having fun and dancing.”  “It’s a perfect crowd.”  Morris’ career started early, but that doesn’t mean her success came early as well, which she says made the transition easier to handle.   “Nothing of my career has happened overnight, or has been like, too quick to digest.”  “The saying in Nashville is that it’s a ten-year town, so it takes ten years for most of the successful people to even have a song or album that resonates,” Morris told Hosking.   “I think there’s obviously with any big success, there is a dose of timing and luck, all of those things.”  “You just have to keep going and keep your eye on the target because it is ever moving.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs of growing positivity from New Zealand's small and medium sized businesses.   A new report from MYOB reveals that 33% of SMEs polled have more work or sales lined up for the first quarter than usual, and a further 40% say they have the amount they’d normally expect.  The green shoots are showing up in sectors that have struggled of late, including manufacturers, retail, and construction.  ABC Business Sales CEO Chris Small told Mike Hosking the vibe is incredibly positive, especially in comparison to the last two years.  He says that this time last year they had high volumes of business owners saying their earnings were down and they weren’t going to take their business to market, but now those business owners are reporting strong previous quarters.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 12th of February, the Government has announced an independent review into the monetary policy during Covid – practical or political during an election year?  The All Whites have secured a game against England just before the World Cup – their highest-profile game in decades.  And country-pop singer Maren Morris is in the country and joined for a chat about her career, from starting a 15-years-old to winning a Grammy.  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 All Whites have locked in a fixture with fourth-ranked England in Florida as part of their World Cup football preparations.  The match will be held on June 7, New Zealand time, at an as yet unconfirmed venue.  New Zealand Football boss Andrew Pragnell told Mike Hosking they've earned the fixture.  He says every team is looking for fixes ahead of those critical world cup games, but over the last few years the All Whites have been attracting stronger and stronger opposition from around the world.  It's the highest ranked opponent the All Whites have secured in 17 years, and the first time they've played England since 1991.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's rejecting an accusation it's using Covid as an election tactic.   Nicola Willis announced an independent review this year of the monetary policy the Reserve Bank delivered during the pandemic.  It'll be released just weeks before the election, and Labour's Chris Hipkins claims the Government's aiming to revive pandemic conspiracies.  Willis told Mike Hosking she suspects it wouldn’t have mattered what the timing is, the reaction would’ve been the same – their political opponents saying they shouldn’t be asking these questions.   But she says when the Reserve Bank did its own review, the results showed there hasn’t been enough examination into their decisions.   The Finance Minister is also insisting she's keeping an eye on the banking space as ASB reports higher margins.   The bank saw modest growth in the second half of last year, reporting a net profit of $765 million.   Its net interest margins ticked up six basis points to 2.35%.   Willis says told Hosking more people are already looking for better banking deals, and she's working to improve competition.   She says she's comparing our regime internationally, especially with the banks' Australian counterparts, and looking at whether we're getting our settings right.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An argument for dropping beer excise tax here so businesses stay afloat.   Australia's Government is stopping further tax increases landing on beer poured in venues from kegs.  Meanwhile, excise tax continues to rise automatically in New Zealand every year.  Brewers Association executive director Dylan Firth told Mike Hosking fewer people are going to the pub because the tax is driving up the cost of a pint.  He says if hospitality businesses have their own keg rate, venues wouldn't have to push their margins as much to stay open, and people won't lose those socialised spaces.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's ability to cope in the current geopolitical landscape is set to be the hot topic at the Economics Forum this week.   Leading economists, business leaders, and public sector officials are gathering at Waikato University's Management School to talk economic priorities, challenges, and opportunities.   Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking they'll discuss the benefits of MMP and the influence of big players like the US.   He says they'll explore how the modern political world encourages nations to think tribally, and how social media is influencing people to think this way.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Government inquiry into the Reserve Bank's decisions through the Covid era could have come far sooner.    The bank printed $55 billion worth of digital money, costing taxpayers more than $10 billion.   The review's findings will be released just weeks before the election – a move that's cast speculation of an underlying political motive by the Finance Minister.   Former Reserve Bank senior staffer Geof Mortlock told Mike Hosking the Government's taken too long to get on with it. He says he's been advocating for it, including to Nicola Willis, for at least two years, so it's well overdue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Origin Air and Westport part of a wider regional issue in rural New Zealand?  Origin's Westport to Wellington flight is in jeopardy. It's not the first small airline in the first small town to face this trouble.  In fact, as a result of this trouble, the Government set up the Regional Infrastructure Fund for essential air services.  I suppose the key is the word "essential" – is Westport to Wellington essential?  The fund, it is suggested, is going to turn the airline down. Why? I don’t know.  So we seem to have a rock-and-a-hard place scenario.  Is life on the Coast about Hokitika? You can fly from there so is that good enough?  Add the insurance issue on the Coast in and how many hurdles does a region need before it becomes a bit hard? Before you essentially just need a lot of Government support to keep the lights on?  Of course it's the cold, hard reality of a small country with a small population that has decided, rightly or wrongly, to spread themselves out all over the place.  Numbers matter. Planes need to be full, businesses need demand. The equation has to make sense.  How much air connectivity is the right amount?  What about freight vs people? What about product to market that requires speed, not the volume of a train or truck?  How far should you have to drive? Hokitika is not far away. In fact, it could be quicker to go from Westport to Hokitika than it is from the North of Auckland to the South of Auckland where the airport is.  We do, once again rightly or wrongly, expect a lot in small town New Zealand. We love the quiet of the country and rural New Zealand, just with all the first-world services and conveniences, if you wouldn’t mind.  It's also true to say that small towns all over the world have the same issues. Places like Australia with its size, even more so than us.  But if you don’t have an air link and you don’t have insurance and you can't find a GP and the dentist is in the city on the other side of the alps, you get to a tipping point where it all starts to become a bit hard.  Is the Coast, or parts of it, in danger of that very scenario? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political tensions are flaring over the fate of the Government’s retail crime advisory group.  The Government's scrapping its Ministerial Advisory Group several months early after three members resigned last month, leaving just two.  Labour's Ginny Anderson told Mike Hosking it's been a disaster since day one with zero outcomes, lead by the group chair Sunny Kaushal.   She says he was a political appointment that backfired.  But National’s Mark Mitchell says they wanted to make sure New Zealand’s small and medium businesses had a strong voice, which Kaushal has been.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 11th of February, Trade Minister Todd McClay puts to bed once and for all what rights Indian students will have as part of the FTA.  Zoi Sadowski-Synnott discusses the success New Zealand is having at this year’s Winter Olympics, and her Big Air silver medal.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk the success, or not, of the Retail Advisory Group, the LNG facility and whether it's a fee or levy, and the latest in the House 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.

A Kiwi startup is launching a world first beverage, designed to reduce plastic pollution created by other drink companies.  Incrediballs is the world’s first plastic-free, effervescent drink tablet, which dissolves in water to create a flavoured drink.  Created by Ethique founder and former CEO Brianne West, it hopes to offer an alternative to single-use plastic.  She told Mike Hosking it's a game changer as normal effervescent tablets are fundamentally unstable and must be sealed in plastic or metal.  She says scientists have been working on stabilising these elements.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Things are continuing to flourish in Queenstown.  The mid-scale ‘Holiday Inn Express & Suites’, which boasts 277 rooms in the City Centre, is being refurbished to become ‘voco Queenstown’ – part of IHG’s premium portfolio.  The move targets high-end tourism, with the hotel running at around 90% occupancy for nine months of the year.   Hotel Council Aotearoa Strategic Director James Doolan told Mike Hosking that it’s normal to think about renovating and repositioning every seven to ten years, but upgrading to the next level is an encouraging sign.   He says central government’s increased investment in event attraction and destination marketing has allowed private businesses to invest in their assets.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Winter Olympics team is halfway towards a goal of returning the country's biggest medal haul at a Games.  Luca Harrington has leaped from 11th to claim bronze with his final run in the freeski slopestyle at the Milan-Cortina.  The 21-year-old joins Zoi Sadowski-Synnott who bagged silver in the snowboard big air and has her preferred slopestyle event to come.  Alpine skier Alice Robinson and freeski halfpipe world champion Fin Melville Ives are also yet to compete.  Sadowski-Synnott told Mike Hosking it’s definitely the best Winter Olympics team they’ve had yet, and she’s so inspired by all her teammates.  She says they’re feeding off each other’s energies, and she gets inspired watching everyone else reach and achieve their goals.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing instability remains a major barrier for many in the Salvation Army's State of the Nation report.  The key findings show child poverty and material hardship are rising, cost of living remains high, and unemployment's increased.  It's found unaffordable rents and rising homelessness are disrupting education, employment, and wellbeing.  Salvation Army Analyst Paul Barber told Mike Hosking 25% of people's incomes in rent is considered affordable, but this isn't the case for many.  He says some people are paying up to 40% of their incomes on rent.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Retail Crime Group chair is brushing off criticism from former members. The Government's scrapping its retail crime Ministerial Advisory Group early after three members resigned, leaving just two members out of five. Retail NZ boss and former member Carolyn Young said her relationship with chair Sunny Kaushal made the role untenable and as a politician, he's focused on making headlines. But Kaushal told Mike Hosking he's not upset how things went down with Young because he's focused on the victims. He says he won't respond to her public comments because he wants to get the job done and not focus on egos. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade Minister Todd McClay's recognised he could have been clearer about aspects of his India trade deal.   He's in battles with Foreign Minister Winston Peters about the agreement's text, which hasn't been released.   Peters has criticised student visas being uncapped but McClay says over-arching immigration settings can still change.   He told Mike Hosking the deal's being legally verified, and India's asked us to withhold its release.   McClay says India's negotiating with the EU and US and are sensitive about what they've given us, so we can only talk about things widely when India agrees.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KiwiSaver is a newsmaker.  It's making news of late because of the so-called "hardship withdrawals".  Bad news is an easy headline.  What is covered less is the bulk of the KiwiSaver story i.e. lots of people are in it, the returns are growing and, for most people, it is a half decent way to save on a long-term basis.  But also in the latest quarterly statements (this is for the December quarter) is a fun fact that those who like to fixate on competition could do with looking at.  KiwiSaver and those who run the various funds is not a lot different to banking, or supermarkets, or airlines, or telcos, or power companies.  In other words, if you want to, you can ask some questions around competition.  Like the last Government, this Government has been fixated with competition, or lack of it. They have investigated it, jawboned it, threatened it, and sometimes introduced rules and laws to change it.  Yet punters choice rarely gets given the weighting it should.  In KiwiSaver there are about 25 providers and yet five have the bulk of our money. Why?  Is there a lack of competition? Clearly not. In fact, three of the top five are the banks. Oh, the irony!  We hate the banks, the banks rip us off, the banks are to be treated with the utmost suspicion, if only we had more competition with banks. In KiwiSaver we do and yet we can't flock to the banks fast enough with our life savings.  The lesson I think, if any of us want to learn it, around power companies and banks and insurance is basically we are lazy. Moaning is easier than doing something about our problem.  The laziness is never better exemplified in KiwiSaver than with the ridiculous number of default accounts i.e. people who can't even be bothered picking a fund.  There are 25 providers and five of them have 65% of the business, which is $90 billion of the $145 billion under stewardship.  Are we exercised? Are we worried? Do we even realise?  Don’t look now, but they actually do a good job as well. $5 billion was added in the past quarter.  Unless you're in Bitcoin, and more fool you, over the past decade if you were in the right fund you’ve been getting about 9% a year, every year, for 10 years.  That almost sounds like a model that works. It could be the competition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France has launched its biggest military drill since the Cold War.  12,500 troops, 25 ships, and 140 aircrafts have been mobilised in the three-month Orion 26 exercise, which is intended to prepare for the growing threat from Russia.  The drill will ramp up in April, as it will be placed under NATO command and include NATO forces.   France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the reason it’s such high intensity is because there’s never been a confluence of threats at this level before, according to the French military.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a rallying cry to staff and is insisting he won't step down.    Downing Street communications chief Tim Allan has quit saying he wanted to make way for a new team.   It was after Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney's quit, taking responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.   Starmer addressed staff at his office, saying they must prove politics is a force for good.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking Starmer’s been a disaster, but he hasn’t left before, and he’s not going to leave now.   He says he’s aided by the fact that the next election is three years away, so he can always say things will improve greatly over that time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10th of February, Energy Minister Simon Watts provides some more details regarding a new LNG import facility.   Are we worried enough about the peach “dumping” from China? And does it extend beyond peaches?  Forensic science specialist Tom Coyle discusses his 37 years in the job and working some of New Zealand’s top cases.  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.

From true crime to Sherlock Holmes to CSI, people all around the world have a fascination with crime, mystery, and forensics.   And Thomas Coyle has been up close with the field for decades.   He started his career as a fingerprint examiner at Scotland Yard when he was a teenager, before moving to New Zealand decades later, setting himself up as one of our most prominent forensic experts and crime scene investigators.   It led to him being named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2024, and he now runs his own forensic business and teaches students from as early as year 2.   Coyle’s 37-year career is detailed in his new book, ‘The Dead Speak: My Life in Forensics’.  He told Mike Hosking there’s a lot of information in the book, but he hopes it’s honest, raw, and gives a ‘real insight’ into what forensic science is about at crime scenes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s confidence a new gas importing facility will deliver benefits that outweigh the costs.  The Government’s confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year.  It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household.  Energy Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking that Huntly Power Station only covers 50% of the energy problem, and while they have gas generation capacity out there, they don’t have the fuel to run it during dry years.   He says it’s why they need that certainty of volume and certainty of supply.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are being urged to buy local tinned fruit as imports from overseas flood the market.   New Zealand’s peach industry took a significant hit last year, when Heinz Wattie’s told multiple peach growers it would no longer need their fruit.  It's because many consumers are choosing imported fruit instead after China dumped hundreds of thousands of canned peaches into the market at a much lower cost.  Hawkes Bay's Yummy Fruit Company general manager Paul Paynter told Mike Hosking there's a difference in quality.  He says if people buy a can of Watties and a can of the Chinese brand, the taste is night and day.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proposed multi-million dollar liquefied natural gas import facility is winning support from electricity companies.   The terminal will be housed in Taranaki, with the Government aiming to have a "build" contract locked down mid-year.  It expects it will save each household about $50 a year once up and running – from late next year at the earliest.   Contact Energy's Mike Fuge told Mike Hosking it removes the drama of the system.  He says when suppliers and gas users can't get gas, everyone gets very uptight, and this brings a rationality to the market, so we aren't worrying about tomorrow.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions marks surround whether benefits from Crown Regional Holdings investments have been assessed properly.   More than half of their $433 million loan book is now considered at risk of —or currently in— default.  Most of the portfolio covers the Provincial Growth Fund and the current Regional Infrastructure Fund.   Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking we've got to keep demanding accountability from these investments.  He says we need to better understand why these investment decisions have been made.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 9th of February, David Seymour on a huge amount of unqualified ECE sector teachers and if we're worried about it. The Prime Minister is on to talk unemployment, fast tracking and when we will announce a State of Origin game in New Zealand. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the Superbowl, the Winter Olympics and the Davis Cup and it's disappearance from mainstream sporting events. 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.

As promised on this morning's show, here's Andrew Saville in his signature new look!See 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: The T20 World Cup, does everybody have a team these days? Are they worth the Black Caps' time? The guys discuss what Winter Olympic sport they'd take a crack at, and the Super Bowl - a sporting occasion or a marketing occasion?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister remains hopeful for a fall in unemployment this year. Unemployment's reached a 10 year high of 5.4% - with Auckland's unemployment rate rising again to 6.4%. Job numbers have increased, but that's been offset by more people joining or re-joining the labour market. Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that the economy's rebounding, and that should flow through to the job market soon. He says there's always a lag effect - with unemployment being the last economic indicator to turn around. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour wants to reassure parents things have improved - despite new data showing growing workforce challenges in early childhood education. Nearly 34,000 teaching staff were employed last year, but just over two-thirds were qualified. Almost 10,000 staff had no formal qualifications - nearly double the number in 2011. Associate Education Minister David Seymour told Mike Hosking that parents should know the number of teachers with formal qualifications has increased. He says in actual fact the situation hasn't changed much in five years and has improved since they've been in Government.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A defence lawyer says our jury system's fundamental - despite there being scope for improvement.  Open Justice can reveal potential jurors were paid more than seven million dollars in fees and expenses in 2024 - up from 5.69 million two years prior.  The Ministry of Justice can't say how many of these people were selected for a jury. Barrister John Munro told Mike Hosking that there's always going to be some slippage.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fears a decision around mining could affect New Zealand's reputation on the world stage.  Trans-Tasman Resources' proposal to mine 50 million tonnes of seabed a year for 30 years in South Taranaki has been declined in a draft fast-track decision.  The panel found there would be credible risks of harm to Maui dolphins, little penguins and fairy prion birds.  Minerals Council Chief Executive Josie Vidal told Mike Hosking that it does New Zealand no favours.  She says it comes at a time when we're trying to convince the US that we can be part of a global supply chain for minerals.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US correspondent Richard Arnold caught up with Andrew Dickens to chat about the biggest news in America.  Microsoft founder Bill Gates is facing backlash following a number of mentions in the most recent Epstein file release. Among the release was an email allegedly written by Epstein about Gates which claimed he hid a sexually transmitted disease from his wife after contact with “Russian girls”. Meanwhile, a search is underway in Arizona for the mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since January. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following this weeks wastewater spill in Wellington Gillian Blythe, Water NZ CEO, has emphasised the need for a reform of water infrastructure and oversight.  "I think what's really critical is that we need to have regulatory oversight and we need to be able to highlight what it is that the the type of non-compliance is," she told Andrew Dickens.  "Sometimes those non-compliances can be at the lower end, whether a report was filed at the right time, whether a sample was taken in the right time period, but some of them will be at the more complex end, and we need to make sure that we are focusing on that information." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins joined Andrew Dickens to chat about Waitangi Day hecklers, co-governance, and equal opportunity.  He also spoke about moving back towards using te reo for official titles, something the National coalition has moved away from. "There's nothing to be scared of by embracing te reo Māori and having, Māori names for government departments," Hipkins said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brenton Harrison Tarrant was jailed for life in August 2020, with no possibility of parole, after he plead guilty to the murder of 51 people and wounding 40 in the Christchurch terror attack. Tarrant is now, five years later, attempting to overturn his conviction with claims he was not in a rational state when he plead guilty.  Criminal defence lawyer Steve Cullen spoke to Andrew Dickens about the appeal saying, "It's a very difficult situation for all, but we have to let the wheels of justice grind on and let it be dealt with properly so that hopefully, whatever the outcome is, we'll get finality and closure this time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New START treaty, signed by the United States and Russia in 2010, was a nuclear arms reduction treaty which has now expired. US President Donald Trump has now called for a brand new nuclear treaty, prompting fears of a new global arms race. International Law Professor Al Gillespie told Andrew Dickens, "Mr. Trump is the one who let it void, he was saying, well, it's not fair that only America has these restraints in Russia. "He wanted other countries like China to also have restraints, but China wasn't interested." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Winter Olympics are set to kick off in Milano Cortina, Italy this weekend with the opening ceremony taking place on Saturday February 7 at 7.30am NZT.  New Zealand team Chef de Mission Marty Toomey joined Andrew Dickens to chat about how the team is settling in, and the high hopes for this year.  "I think from a New Zealand team perspective, there's no doubt that this team is made up of athletes that are stronger across the board than we have been previously," Toomey said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the economic news in New Zealand and around the world.  They discussed European interest rates, the global dairy trade, and the US job market and dollar. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, were heckled during Waitangi speeches with conflicts surrounding treaty principles interpretations remaining the primary contention point.  Although, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says that, despite the evident tension, progress is being made. "We attended the National Iwi Chairs from a couple of days ago on Wednesday, and there's a real constructive and positive vibe, and appetite to do things together," he told Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVESee 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.    The economy: 7/10 Overall, a good news week, but a reminder that until we get the jobs right we ain’t properly right.    Foster and Hansen: 9/10  The wackiest story of the week by a mile. Could it be real? Could it be fantasy? Are the union completely mad, or completely brilliant?    Epstein: 3/10  It needs to lead somewhere tangible. Having a lot of emails and photos of underwear and sleaze and tawdriness is not a crime, it's just yuck. Where is the crime?    Brian Tamaki: 7/10  An application for a bridge too far. No more protests, no more closures, no more madness. We thank you Brian. You broke the camel's back.    Melania: 7/10  An interesting insight into our times. It's an example of how the camps are the camps, and the gap has never been wider. It was rubbished, ridiculed and written off and, yet, for a documentary it did excellent business. Everything is political and very little has any nuance. It's sad.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could have been a coordinated knife to the Government's heart.  On the day the unemployment rate went up, the Warehouse offered a real world example of the problem by announcing another 270 jobs would be added to the pile as they look to save and outsource and generally reorganise themselves.  The irony, well lost in the throng of those who look to use the headline for political gain, was the fact the number of people employed is up. It's up by 15,000.  But the headline is the headline and 5.4% is not 5.3%, or 5.2%.  So it makes Gareth Kiernan at Infometrics more right that any Government member had hoped.  5.4% is deja vu. It's February of 2025 all over again. There's a lot to be pleased about but the big prize, the tail at the end of the economic dog being jobs, did not come to the party.  And that old chestnut of Auckland is back to haunt us as well. They've got the highest jobless rates to be found in big cities with close to 6%. Wellington and Hamilton are close to 6% too. If the cities don’t fire, the country doesn’t fire.  It will of course. The vibe in Auckland is palpable in a variety of different areas. Positivity is well and truly back, but it takes time.  And in election year time is of the essence.  Luxon's pitch so far this year is the right one. But talking about recovery is one thing, you've got to actually feel it.  The real trouble in these numbers is not the headline.  1) It's those who need more work. Why? The cost of living. There is a big uptick of women back in the workforce. Ask yourself why.  2) The young people aged 15-24 is over 16%. It's always high but this is too high. Anyone with offspring in this age group knows the struggle. Our youngest has work but she hustled.  3) Australia. Say what you want about the price of a house and the inflation rate, and they are real issues and Australia is in trouble overall this year, but apples and apples, jobs to jobs, they kill us.  This is not a stat for nuance and subtlety. You can't pick out some vague highlights like a region, or a sector, or an industry and try and milk it.  Unemployment got worse. Full stop.  With all the rest of it in place and looking so much better there is a recovery on and it will come right.  But right here, right now, this week, the jobs stat for a government relying on economic credibility took a right hook and will be dazed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Jeffrey Epstein files release is developing into a political scandal in the UK, with MPs voting to release papers relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.  He's being investigated over allegations he shared internal government information with the convicted sex offender.   UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's confirmed he knew Mandelson had ties with Epstein, but claims Mandelson lied about the extent of their relationship.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking there’s no explanation Starmer could give for the appointment, the only thing he can do is apologise.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.