The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Perhaps the biggest problem with the military-style academy and the ensuing pilot report is not the number of people who re-offended.  Hell, I thought they all would.  But rather it was the fact it was, in the minds of too many, predetermined.  Those who called them boot camps are in the invidious position of bagging the idea but not having a solution, which is an awfully easy position to be in.  Labour and the Greens hate the idea of this sort of thing. It's unkind, it doesn’t involve sitting around talking about your feelings a lot, it's not forgiving and it doesn’t recognise trauma and your past.  That’s why crime got as hopelessly out of control as it did in the past handful of years.  Their policy was to have fewer people in prison, a lot of judges offering massive discounts, and just an overarching view that, short of the super serious stuff, a bit of smash-and-grab, or biffo, was somewhere between teenage high jinks and loutish behaviour that a good telling off might address.  In the meantime, back in the real world, we were completely sick and tired of the Toyota Yaris in the shop windows and layabouts wandering out of Woolworths with legs of lamb and a slab of beer, having not paid.  So, back to military academies. Ten of the worst were given a few months with rigorous oversight, hopefully to be let back out and wrapped up with the support of some expert guidance and, fingers crossed, a life changing experience.  In many respects the Government were on a hiding to nothing when you take ten of the worst. What have they got to lose? The fact two didn’t re-offend, I would have thought is little short of a miracle.  Those that did offend, by the way this wasn't widely reported, offended at a lesser level and do not forget the trial is ongoing. The guidance and wraparound mentorship is still in action.  There is hope.  Criticism around the cost is fair enough. But like most problems, when its been allowed to get progressively worse, whether it’s a car, or a paint job, or a kid on the skids, the bill goes up.  This most likely won't be a miracle. But it might be a dent. It might, for some, actually work.  It might be better than what we have done, which is little to nothing.  But you would need an open mind to come to that conclusion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown's benefiting from another influx of winter tourists.  Local operator Skyline has seen a 33% increase in international visitors to its luge, and a 21% rise in visitors to its gondolas.  Other operators are also reporting a similar increase.  Chief Operating Officer Danny Luke told Mike Hosking tourism is booming again.  He says the winter’s been vibrant and they’re seeing real growth at the moment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 12th of August, New Zealand is considering recognising a Palestinian state. Does it matter? Will it change the war? Former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff weighs in.   Christchurch has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 Super Round – NZR boss Mark Robinson discusses the decision.  Country music star Lainey Wilson is on her way to New Zealand for the first time next year, and chatted exclusively with Mike.  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.

From living in a trailer outside a recording studio to selling out 80 thousand capacity stadiums, Lainey Wilson has made it big.  For over a decade she’s been one of the biggest country music stars to come out of Nashville, with nine Country Music Association Awards under her belt, as well a Grammy.  Her career started in 2014 with the release of a self titled album, but it was with the release of her second album ‘Tougher’ in 2016 that kickstarted her career properly.   Since then, her success has only grown, and now she’s headed to New Zealand for the first time in 2026.  Despite Wilson’s current stardom, she had a rough start to her career.   The trailer she lived in had a lot of issues, from flooding and rotting floors to running out of propane and having to sleep in coats to stay warm.  “I was willing to put up with whatever I had to put up with to be able to do it,” Wilson told Mike Hosking.  “It didn’t even cross my mind that it was actually hard in the moment.”  Finding success in the music industry isn’t easy, but Wilson was determined, with a “weird sense of peace” in her heart, knowing that this is what she was supposed to do.  “I knew at nine years old that I was going to be in Nashville and that I was going to tell stories,” she said.  “So it was important for me to like, listen to that feeling and see it through.”  However, despite that gut feeling, she had no idea “telling stories” would look lead to nearly 30 awards, eight number 1 hits, and over 2.1 billion streams.  “It looks even better than I could have ever imagined.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials are committing to just the one year of Super Round in Christchurch – for now.  Christchurch's new stadium will play host to five Super Rugby games over Anzac weekend 2026.  Super Round took a year out of the schedule this year after the Melbourne Rebels exited the competition.  NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson told Mike Hosking it has always been on the radar to give back to a region that loves its rugby and has been a massive supporter of the game at many levels.  He says they’re not ruling out the possibility of Christchurch hosting more rounds in the future.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it worth trying to grow rice in New Zealand?  As our appetite for the staple crop increases, ecologist Yuki Fukada has pointed out the complete lack of commercial rice production in the country.  We’re currently importing $95 million worth of rice from overseas – about 85,000 tons.   Lincoln University’s Dr Jacqueline Rowarth told Mike Hosking Fukada is looking at it in terms of volume, but she thinks we should be looking at value instead.  Rice is a $2 a kilo crop, Rowarth says, and if we can grow something of a higher value we should stick with that instead of replacing it with rice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cinderella and Mickey Mouse are packing their bags and heading offshore as Disney Cruise Line confirms its exit from New Zealand.  The company operated its Disney Wonder ship across the Tasman since 2024 but will relocate to another part of the world from 2026.  Cruise Association Chief Executive Jacqui Lloyd told Mike Hosking the fees imposed on ships is playing a big role.  She says the costs imposed on ships in New Zealand and Australia is expensive.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view businesses have been taken by surprise by surging gas prices.  Energy management company Optima and Business NZ's joint survey reveals gas prices have risen by more than 100% on average in the past five years.  Nearly half report it's led to them reducing operations, increased prices, or cutting staff.  Business NZ Energy Council Executive Director Tina Schirr told Mike Hosking they didn't know how quickly supply would dwindle.  She says they knew there'd be moderate reduction over the next few years, but didn't think it'd be this steep over the last two years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A critical decision lies before New Zealand on whether to recognise Palestinian statehood.  Australia's pledged to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, following suit with countries like France, Canada, and the UK.  Our Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed we will reach a formal decision next month. Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff told Mike Hosking the move would send a message to Israel its action is unacceptable, and would affirm the Palestinian people's rights to a homeland.   He says it supports a two state solution, which New Zealand backs and which Israel itself agreed to more than 30 years ago.  Goff says it's a measure we should take, but it won't resolve the appalling things happening to the Palestinian people.   He says New Zealand should be doing more to back up its words with action, as we tend to talk-the-talk without having the guts to do anything about it.   LISTEN ABOVE 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: Richie Mo'unga, why don't they bring him straight into the All Blacks? Is NZR tripping over it's own rules again? The Blackcaps thrashed Zimbabwe resulting in their largest test victory ever - 359 runs! And Shane Van Giserbergen is set for a contract extension, but are the details a bit too vague? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 11th of August, we've got more work visas to help out with seasonal work - but an immigration advisor says some of the rules around these ones could be a game changer. The Prime Minister is fresh off a visit with Anthony Albanese and joins Mike in studio as he asks if anything came out of it. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine console Mike on the Commentary Box after the Warriors loss and they discuss the life of Peter Lester.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t know Elisha Milmine and I wish her nothing but the best. But as it turns out, she is your new councillor in the Kahuranaki ward for the Hastings District Council. She was standing against one person, that person withdrew, so she wins by default. She has no experience. She put her hand up, was the only one standing so, congratulations, the job's yours. What a stupid system. This story is far from unique. Plenty of elections aren't even held because no one stands, or people who may or may not be any good don’t get opponents so they win by default. So, here is an idea. Accepting we are fantastically over-governed and clearly there are nowhere near the number of people interested in filling the jobs, how about we run a system whereby you have a minimum number of candidates, like a quorum? If you don’t get that number then the vote is off. The people, if there are any, don’t contest and either the seat is vacant for a term and/or a commissioner or overseer is appointed, like they have done in Tauranga and other places when the council falls apart. In other words, you bring in an experienced expert. Having a vacant space might lead to more interest next time, or the realisation that there are too many seats. Having an expert or commissioner might lead to a realisation that amateur hour is no way to run a city, town or district. We don’t hand out regular jobs by default. Why on Earth do we do it at the highest level of civic leadership? The scenario is so desperate we literally take anyone. That’s not smart when you're running a raffle, far less a population. And yet here we are with any number of councils mired in debt and handing out cost-plus-accounting rate rises because they don't have a clue how to run anything properly. If someone from Mars came down to review the way we do this they would fall over laughing at our stupidity. So, it’s a contest, it’s a quorum, or we do some appointing of some actual talent. Tell me it isn't a bad idea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two new seasonal visas have been unveiled, allowing the likes of rural contractors or chairlift operators to return for up to three years or stay for up to seven months. It follows the unemployment rate reaching a five-year high of 5.2-percent.  Malcolm Pacific Immigration Director David Cooper told Mike Hosking it's hard to get New Zealanders into domestic seasonal work. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon says he and Anthony Albanese are on the same page about standardising regulations on both sides of the Tasman.  The New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers have wrapped up an annual catch-up in Queenstown.  Luxon told Mike Hosking that they've also asked big business CEOs from both countires, to identify where things could be standardised more.  He says Australia's states can have lots of differences in regulations, and they're keen to see where that can be standardised.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra police officers are being called to Northland to contend with a squeeze on resources from rising violent crime.   In the past three months, 90 officers from across the country have been brought in to work five-week shifts.   Northland District Commander Superintendent Matt Shroj says the region saw four homicides in quick succession, which was the tipping point.   He told Mike Hosking that the district's been in a much better place with this extra support - but these are busy people, and they have their own areas to get back to.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belgian company Parkwind is exploring plans to build a large scale offshore wind farm in South Taranaki.  Parkwind Country Manager Peter Spencer says that Europe and Australia have already put these systems into place. 'The Europeans are the masters of it. The Australians are doing very well.' He said these offshore wind farms could be up and running in the next decade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have at least partially changed my mind on charging tourists.  The idea that you can wander around our conservation estate for free is, of course, nuts.  Like the various charges that we have placed on tourists, whether it be at the border, or potentially in a hotel with a bed tax, the simple truth is if we got our act together in terms of marketing and seat capacity to the country, people would be happy to pay them.  Why? Because everyone pays for everything all over the world and if post-Covid travel has taught us anything, it's that you can basically rob a tourist blind and they are still happy to pay.  That’s before you get to the bit where our dollar is so pathetic that most people coming here can't believe what they get on the exchange rate.  But as part of the conservation announcement over last weekend what we also got was New Zealand's other great problem – the negative reaction.  As much as we love our open spaces and clean air and national parks you have never seen a group of people more determined not to have anyone touch them.  God forbid we should open the place up to a bit more business. We have seen it for years in the RMA and groups like Forest & Bird, who must have spent millions on lawyers in the environment court looking not to change anything.  The Quiet Sky group at Waiheke and various other locations are determined never to see a chopper polluting their environment ever again.  There is this default position whereby we are happy to be left alone, we don’t like interlopers, intruders or *ick* tourists. And we certainly don't want them tramping over our stuff, far less *ick* landing a helicopter and then tramping over our stuff.  We don't like cruise ships either so we have made them ruinously expensive to park here. So, they don’t.  Yay, a win for the greenies.  What we do like though is lots more pay, lots more hospital beds, much better education, lots of welfare and generous dollops of free stuff, all paid for by the money tree in Wellington.  The fact tourism, the conservation estate, ships and rich Americans in E130's pay for a lot of it doesn’t seem to have registered. 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.    Sheds: 8/10  The new garden shed rules are what good governance should be about – simple and common sense. How hard can it be?    Local body elections: 4/10  Nominations close and, once again, a whole bunch of races are not being run because we don’t have enough candidates.    15% tariffs: 1/10  Biggest blow of the week in an economy that needs it like a hole in the head.    Coal: 7/10  Good cooperation with the gentailers, some cold, hard reality at last, and a good kick in the pants for the idiots who closed the oil and gas.    Downtown Auckland: 3/10  Wake up call of the week from the real estate bloke who said we look more like Suva than Sydney. Ouch.    Jobs: 4/10  Because the simple truth is this aint over. There is more where that came from in a year that was supposed to be showing real signs of recovery.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I said earlier this week that the Government will be re-elected next year because, all things being equal, history tends to show you get two terms.  Plus, the Opposition remain the same people who stuffed the place a year and a half ago and the pain of that, the closeness of that, is still real for too many of us.  Unless of course they rejuvenate the party or say sorry – none of which is going to happen.  This was all backed up by Treasury who, in one of their latest papers which is well worth reading, basically says the Government overspent. They were told not to overspend.  And whatever spending they were doing should've been targeted and directly linked to Covid. None of that advice was followed.  They sprayed money at a rate that equated to $66billion, or 20% of GDP, and when the worst was over they kept spraying.  And here we are a couple of years later bogged down in their economic incompetence.  The politics of it all is in full swing as Labour tried to blame the current Government for the mess. What's making that argument slightly complicated is the ongoing criticism, which is justifiable if you ask me, that for all the announcements and noise, this is a timid Government that really had licence to go for broke and they have largely chickened out.  They have dabbled and poked and prodded and done some decent, common sense stuff. In just the past few weeks we've had changes to building products, garden sheds, speed limits, RUC's and NCEA.  There is no shortage of bits and pieces but it's not transformational, hence the slow progress and the opening for Labour to have a crack.  Labour are praying you forget all this is on them. But it is and the Treasury paper very clearly says so.  They told Grant Robertson to tighten it up, to be disciplined, but socialists with majorities and egos are not for turning and so the ruinous money party was on.  Writing about it doesn't fix it. But it is proof positive that this lot inherited one of the most ill-disciplined, ill-advised, arrogant, bungling, fiscal messes of the modern age and if you don’t believe the National Party, believe Treasury.  Labour don’t have a leg to stand on.  And the same people who did that to us are still there wanting you to forget and give them another crack in a years time.  That is why they will not win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed Mike’s potential career in reality TV, car troubles, and AI in language learning apps.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 experts believe that pattern will hold true.  He says both teams will be looking to bounce back in this clash, vying for a higher position in the top four.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 experience elsewhere before returning to the game.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 this year.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week and talk about whether Mike is going to feature on reality TV in the very near future.  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 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 relatively little strategic progress.    He says Putin thinks he can outlast the West, but Ukraine would rather fight than accept poor peace terms.  Rushton says many people have taken what Moscow's selling and run with it, and it shows desperation from the Kremlin for it to pretend it is ready for peace.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 companies having to deal with regulations here that are nowhere else.  She says if you buy a bottle of French or Spanish wine, it'll have an ugly white sticker on it – that's because of rules that only apply here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 prices for almost anything Americans get as an imported product will rise.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, the Government failed to come up with solutions outside lockdowns and wage subsidies.   Treasury is now suggesting the Government establish an independent fiscal institution for better scrutiny.   Crampton says Treasury isn't in a position where it can effectively challenge the Finance Minister's decisions.   He says the public currently can't rely on Treasury for clear warnings when things are going wrong, which is needed for democratic accountability.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 are better people for the job.   He says he wouldn't know what to do because she may be the best option that Labour has.   Seymour says we need alternative schooling options to keep students in schools, with more than ten and a half thousand students leaving school last year with no educational qualifications.  Ministry of Education data reveals 16% didn't achieve NCEA Level 1 or above – 6% more than in 2017.  He told Hosking the education system has become less appealing because children don't believe they're missing something valuable.   There's also ethnic disparity, with 28% of Māori school leavers having achieved no qualifications, compared to 19% of Pacific leavers and 14% of Pākehā leavers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 RUC rates and a move away from petrol taxes, all of which is fine, Shane and his mate Winston were wandering around Marsden Point and talking of making it a special economic zone.  It'd have tax treatment and incentives to get people to invest and do things. Marsden has got land and a port, it's close to shipping lanes, etc.  Ireland has made these things famous. They cut a deal on rates, or tax, bring 'em in, stoke 'em up and watch the growth explode.  Image might be a problem. Shane and Winston both come from, well, Marsden, so it’s a bit nepotistic. But the idea is sound.  Shane has also this week announced a massive upheaval of fishing, the biggest in decades. So it’s the big stuff that we may need because the regular size stuff hasn’t provided the heft we hoped for.  Yes, yes, yes, they inherited a mess, we get that, but the results are what count.  As ACT changed the laws around garden sheds and Nicola talks about supermarkets, it might just be ideas beyond our normal comprehension are what are actually called for.  The irony of the Jones' idea is it's not part of the coalition deal. I could ask, why not?  Is the Ruth Richardson line an acceptance that what they thought would work, hasn’t?  Another irony – I'm not sure how Shane and Winston can wander around Marsden blue-skying their way out of recession, when it's them that’s holding up the foreigners from buying a house after they have invested tens of millions into the country.  But credit where credit is due, Jones seems to have taken on the mantle of the arse kicker. He is where a lot of us are at.  This is not a bad Government, far from it.  It's perhaps just a timid Government. And with October 26 and a ballot box getting closer, maybe we need to shift it up a gear. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 getting chucked in and taken for the ride,” she told Mike Hosking.  Motherhood wasn’t necessarily something Bell had on her agenda, revealing that it’s not something she thought she’d get the chance to do.  “But it’s just so nice,” she said.  “I love that I get to go and, you know, play a show and I walk off the stage and he’s there now, or I get to come home to him at the end of the day.”  “In this industry, it’s so nice to have something so grounding.”  Pregnancy is not an easy experience but Bell’s schedule remained packed, the singer working right up until 34 weeks, at which point she could no longer fly.  “I cut a record here in New Zealand,” she explained to Hosking.  “And then I had James at the end of January, and we were back on stage after six weeks for CMC Rocks in Australia.”   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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% for years, but there's a chance the OCR could get to 2.5 percent in the current cycle.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 since we caught up with Kiwi country singer Kaylee Bell, so she's in to play us her new single and talk the upcoming album and 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.

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 the two major supermarkets know that they’re going to face proper regulation or something big will happen to them, they can continue to charge high prices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 says the demographic heading to Europe is the middle age to older group, so claims stack up.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to say how it stacks up against other industries.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 confidence and investment intentions, but it's important to remember that New Zealand is doing okay compared to the rest of the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 financial support mechanism to make a show that would not have otherwise been made.  I made a show called ‘Sunday’ years back. It was on TV3 on the weekend off peak. It didn’t rate very well, but it was never going to, but it rated fairly well for what it was, which was a niche program talking about the arts.  It was made with NZ On Air money.  Now, does Treasure Island attract more viewers than that? Yes.  So if you are going to toss money at something why not that? You get more bang for buck.  But the money tree hasn’t got more money, so someone loses. Maybe it's an arts program.  The really scary thing is the calculation around peak time i.e. prime time.  This show makes money and quite a lot of it. Newstalk ZB is profitable. TVNZ and TV3 are not.  So what about pay-per-view? SkyTV is profitable, but they have sport.  What does TV3 or TVNZ have that you would pay for? Would you pay to watch Treasure Island? Of course you wouldn’t.  So prime time linear TV is not profitable because the advertising dollars have vanished to Google and TikTok and Meta.  That is not changing and that’s the problem, because all that's left is the taxpayer.  The big question is to what extent should the taxpayer fund your evening's entertainment? And when I say you, I mean those who are left watching the TV as opposed to YouTube or Netflix.  If linear TV can't make a buck at 7.30pm on a Wednesday, how long before the lights get switched off? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Correspondent Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking we’re unlikely to see any great revelations come from this.  He says it doesn’t seem like there’s anything that will come out about Epstein that hasn’t already been leaked over the past few years – but that hasn’t stopped either the Republicans or Democrats from pursuing the files.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a busy start to the week and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest topics thus far.  The Government is completely overhauling secondary school qualifications, aiming to completely replace NCEA over five years. Is this a sensible plan?  The criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles will be tightened as the Government forges ahead with the changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act – is pushing forward the right decision?  And the National Party President has made some bold claims at the party conference – does she have a point?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s wine industry is facing some troubles.   The industry is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in extra tariffs, Donald Trump imposing a 15% rate on New Zealand while many competing markets will continue to face only 10%.  Along with this, there is an oversupply issue and declining global demand, with nearly 100,000 tonnes of fruit remaining unharvested this season alone.  Winegrowers NZ’s Charlotte Read told Mike Hosking that despite the challenging times, there is a very strong demand for New Zealand wines, which will continue to be sought after around the world.  She says they have no long term reason for concern.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 6th of August, we look forward to the unemployment figures due today, and the Government pushing ahead with the foreshore and seabed law.   Mike looks at our wine industry and all the grapes going unharvested. Are the golden days of Sauvignon Blanc over?   Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell cover some of the major announcements of the week 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.

Last year's recession is still being felt in the job market.  Stats NZ data —due out this morning— is expected to show unemployment reached a nine-year high of 5.3% in the June quarter.  The economy's been back in growth since the latter part of last year.  But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking the economy has lost about 40,000 jobs since the late 2023 peak.  More full-time roles have been lost than part time, he explained, and the labour market is getting that much weaker.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Triathlon New Zealand's claimed hosting rights for pinnacle events in Tauranga over the next three years.  A World Triathlon Cup will take place in the Bay of Plenty next year, before a top-level Championship Series race in 2027 and the Series' Grand Final in 2028.  Triathlon NZ chief executive Pete de Wet says they could see upwards of 3000 Kiwis racing across age groups and the all-comers race in 2028.  He told Mike Hosking there’s a big interest in the sport from an age group perspective, and it’s great for the athletes to be able to compete at home instead of having to chump on a plane.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Area Act says the Government would have passed the bill even if the Supreme Court had agreed with a lower court's ruling against it.   The Government will proceed with the bill which will tighten criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles.   Justice and Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking he thinks the settings will be right after the legislation's passed.   He says they want Māori to be able to apply for the titles but there has to be a high bar.  Goldsmith says they want to move on this quickly, and he’s hoping to have the legislation introduced in October.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Power companies are warning the road to fully renewable energy will be a bumpy one.   The big four power companies will co-invest in an energy stockpile which will include 600-thousand tonnes of coal.   Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says power companies have a commitment to renewables.   He told Mike Hosking Mercury has invested a billion dollars into geothermal and wind power, but there needs to be a backup.   Hamilton says when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining, there needs to be a more solid source of energy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A digital education expert is cautious of blanket adoption of artificial intelligence for exam marking.   Education Minister Erica Stanford says AI is already partly used for marking and expects it could do almost all assessments by 2028.   It comes as the Government plans to scrap NCEA for an entirely new qualification.   Canterbury University Associate Professor Kathryn MacCallum told Mike Hosking AI comes with its own complexities. She says it will solve one problem, but won't address how it affects education overall.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The leader of the Reform UK Party has called for police to release more information about those charged with crimes.  Nigel Farage believes details such as immigration status should be made public, saying it’s not in contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who have allegedly committed serious crimes.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it comes after the arrest of two men in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several interesting bits out of the NCEA changes for me.  Firstly, the "New Zealand Certificate of Education” actually sounds like something, doesn’t it? The same way an “A” tells you something.  The New Zealand Certificate or Advanced Certificate of Education is a “thing” you can get your head around, as in do you have one, or do you not?  NCEA is an acronym.  Under the changes you need to pass things. How wonderfully old-fashioned.  If you don’t pass you don’t advance, therefore when you do pass it actually counts. It means something and you have achieved something.  Having watched NCEA in action with five kids, it has been shocking. Virtually anyone could get it and that was, and is, never a good thing.  Under the new regime you take five subjects, and you need to pass four. There's nothing too complicated about that.  The compulsion around maths and language I am, in a way, sad about.  Choice is good and freedom is good, if you know what you are doing. If you're aiming somewhere specific a tailored approach is vastly more appealing.  But in a mass system you are vulnerable to chancers and the weakest links, and they were always going to take the joke subjects, the easy gets. And as such, wreck any reputation you might have hoped for around your qualification.  The vocational aspect is years overdue. Gateway and versions like it sort of touched on the trades and specific careers or jobs. But this fascination, if not obsession, we seemed to have had with university has been ruinous for too many.  Being a tradie is actually to be admired. It is not second place. The snobbishness around a university degree has got so absurd, you’ve ended up with any number of bewildered teenagers chasing arts degrees and Bachelors of Communication for no discernible reason other than that’s what they thought they should do.  I'm dreadfully sad though for the thousands of kids who have been messed around with NCEA. What's its value? What weight does a generation of kids place on a thing that’s been binned?  For some they got locked down in Covid and given a crap qualification, thanks for coming.  But onwards and upwards. It's a little bit back to the future.  But along with the mad open classrooms, isn't it fascinating how forward the old days appear now to be? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Kiwi is plying their trade overseas, aiming to make it into top level racing.  Rianna O’Meara-Hunt grew up karting alongside the likes of Liam Lawson and Matt Payne, winning her titles before deciding to focus on endurance racing.   She was the first junior female to become an Australian State Karting Champion, the first female winner of the Rotax Max Challenge Rounds in NZ, and has won the NZ Super Kart Grand Prix multiple times.  After competing for Aston Martin in GT4 and racing in their academy, O’Meara-Hunt has set her sights on the F1 Academy.  She told Mike Hosking she backs her ability to get into the academy, and is really looking forward to being able to prove her adaptability and skill on the track.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.