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.    New Zealand: 7/10  We're the 3rd safest country in the world and about to outgrow Australia. How's that for openers?    Horticulture NZ: 7/10  Their plan is to double export returns within 10 years. That’s the sort of attitude that turns tides. More please.    Sean O'Loughlin: 8/10  My hero of the week. He took Auckland Transport to court and won. Brains - 1. Arrogance - nil.    Nicola vs Tory: 6/10  Who doesn’t love a bitch slap? And who doesn’t think Nicola has an excellent point?    Principals: 4/10  Or at least the ones who wrote to the Education Minister asking for her to stop her reforms. In that letter is so much that’s wrong with education – people overseeing failure and yet not wanting change.    Putin: 3/10  You forgot that, didn’t you? Where is the meeting? Where is the place? Where is the date? Did Trump get stiffed?    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I got a sense about something this week and it's not because it's about to be spring, although that will undoubtedly help.  I got a sense this week that the tide on the New Zealand story is turning.  The ongoing stats, like the size of the infrastructure pipeline, more money this year, more money and projects for years to come, the new visas, and the visas that are working better than we thought, money, jobs, and culture are on their way.  But the gold medal goes to the dawning realisation that we are about to outgrow and outperform Australia. Not just next year, but for a number of years.  The stats have been there – the Reserve Bank Governor in Australia reduced her GDP forecast and that number is below ours, which is about 2.5%, maybe more.  But put it together, as Westpac did, call it a report, lay it out for all to see and pennies drop.  Why it's so important is a lot of our plight is as much mental as it is physical.  Australia has a myriad of real issues, from housing, to debt, to transport, to race.  We do too, but they have never sunk like us.  Part of what is and has held us back this year is too many have decided we are stuffed, so they left.  But left for what? What is the psychology of moving countries? Pay? It can be, but not always and I'll tell you this for nothing, the pay gap does not bridge the house gap.  But do those leaving realise that, or they don’t care, or don’t even know?  Obviously what bogged it down this year was the "Survive to '25" thing. It started well in January but never took off. So were we sold a lemon? A false dawn?  What this report does, and it's not alone because there is plenty of material out there if you hunt for it, is quantify our reality. Between the law changes, the visas, the farmers, the currency, and all the fixes and reforms, it adds up to an irrefutable picture of change that is about to pay dividends.  The pieces seem to be fitting together. But the prize is they paint a better picture than our nearest neighbour, our greatest friends, our biggest opponent.  We are not just beating anyone. We are beating Australia.  When that comes to pass, watch the mood then. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minneapolis' Police Chief says they'll be working to make sure schools are protected following a shooting which killed two children.  Eighteen people were also injured when a gunman shot through church windows at Annunciation Catholic School, before turning a gun on himself.  The FBI's investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crimes targeting Catholics.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking a survey reveals that in the last year, there were at least 91 shootings on school grounds – almost two a week.  He says the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States is not illness or accidents, it’s gun violence.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Wilson is back from his holiday and ready to Wrap the Week alongside Kate Hawkesby and Mike Hosking.  They try to get Mike to have a more positive outlook as Tim recaps his travels and tries to fill the boots left behind by Sir John Key.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 29th of August, we're changing the alcohol laws, making it easier to hold both on and off licenses. Common sense or no real change?  Air New Zealand boss Greg Foran is in to talk their results and why we're seeing what we are when Qantas’ numbers are through the roof.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson try to make Mike more positive and talk about Tim’s return from holiday and having to fill the boots left behind by Sir John Key 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.

Kiwis have racked up more than a billion dollars in green loans for energy efficient items like EVs, solar panels, and heat pumps.  BNZ, ASB, and ANZ all lend up to $80 thousand on a 1% interest rate over three years.  Massey University Banking Expert Claire Matthews says these are small loans, meaning the banks are pumping them out, while not actually lending a huge amount.  She told Mike Hosking customers still have to go through the same process as loans with higher interest rates, and go through affordability checks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcohol reforms are seen as a step in the right direction by a hospo industry voice.  The Government's proposing to allow businesses a right of reply around licensing objections and is allowing wineries and breweries the ability to have both an off and on licence.  Hospitality NZ’s Head of Advocacy Sam MacKinnon told Mike Hosking there’s a range of measures in these reforms, and they all support hospitality.  He says they’re pleased overall with the direction of travel.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air Zealand's boss is predicting another challenging year ahead.  Our national carrier has seen profits plunge.  It's partly due to weak domestic demand and ongoing engine maintenance issues.  Chief Executive Greg Foran told Mike Hosking it's also facing unavoidable price hikes for things like landing charges, wages, and engineering materials.  He says they can't go down to Bunnings or Mitre 10 to buy a replacement toilet seat for a 787, although he wishes they could.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several factors are behind a flat-lining in investment from China. New research by the New Zealand China Council and NZIER has found Chinese investment grew steadily between 2014 and 2019, but has stalled since then. China now ranks as our 12th largest source of foreign investment. Council Chair John McKinnon told Mike Hosking there's a number of reasons why the investment has stalled. He says Covid, a slow down in the Chinese economy, and changes to the regulatory environment in both countries have contributed, and it's not worrying.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The initial construction of Transmission Gully is being described as a 'dog’s breakfast' as the chipseal and drainage systems prove unable to cope with demand.  Newstalk ZB revealed yesterday that NZTA is planning to re-surface and rebuild several kilometres of the road north of Porirua, likely meaning lane closures during the day and full closures at night.  Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking the road was rushed and opened without all consents being satisfied.  He says New Zealand is not that experienced in building big projects, as things keep getting switched on and switched off.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis was back yesterday for another "guns at dawn" with the supermarkets.  She had the results of the RFI, the Request for Information. The main takeaway was we are too tied up in red tape and we need to make it easier to do business.  Now we know this of course, because before the RFI she told us this, and she told us she was going to do something about it. She told us she was going to do something about it again yesterday.  Play another song Nicola.  Then the bad news: ALDI and Lidl, a couple of large supermarket players who she had been courting, didn’t even take part in the RFI. Why?  Because, as I have said for about two years, we are too small and the scandal Nicola insists exists, actually doesn’t. There is no scandal, they just can't be bothered with a country our size.  Costco did take part though. But Costco isn't Nicola's answer. Why?  Because Costco isn’t going nationwide, even though Nicola said they may, may, have one or two more stores in the coming years.  Then the worst bit of her greatest hits show, the finger wagging exercise, yet again, of threatening to break the industry up with regulation.  She is awaiting a report. When? She doesn’t have a date.  Who's doing the report? The same company that did the same report for Labour. It's good work if you can get it, aye?  So what did we actually end up with? A re-announcement of the fact we are hard to do business with. Fine, stop telling us and actually change the laws.  The second issue is major players couldn’t even be bothered taking part.  And the third point, the thing that may bring real change. Do remember, I think all this is nonsense but in Nicola's mind it's a scandal.  But the thing that can bring real change is no closer because we don't have the report and we don’t even know when we are getting the report.  Having got the report there is of course no reason to think such a major business-busting trigger by a so-called "business friendly" Government would even be pulled.  So, is your trolley any cheaper? Has Nicola or her Grocery Commissioner, another game-changing pile of nonsense she referenced, actually achieved anything?  Has a cent been saved? Has a law been changed? Has a new player arrived?  Or is this just like the banks? No smoking gun to be found?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Fashion Week is headed down south.  A bespoke version of the event is headed to Christchurch this Spring, a three-year partnership bringing Fashion Week to the South Island.  It’ll be held in November and feature designers from all across the country, but with a focus on Christchurch-based creatives.  NZFW Owner Feroz Ali told Mike Hosking it shouldn’t bleed any support from the Auckland event, with this being an entirely new event that will make NZ Fashion week financially stable and sustainable in the long term.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the country’s talented singer-songwriters is leaving our shores as she looks to crack the big leagues.  Georgia Lines has been on the scene since 2019, and a couple of EPs and a debut album later, she’s making the move to Nashville.  But not before a few final shows and one more EP - she's celebrating the release of The Guest House with a performance in Tauranga on August 29th, following it up the next day with a show in Auckland.  She’s heading stateside next month, finally moving over after having loved the idea for quite some time.  “I’ve spent a lot of time there,” Lines told Mike Hosking.  “I really love it. I love the bigness, I love, I feel like there’s this mentality, where everybody’s like ‘you can do it.’”  New Zealand is well-known for its Tall Poppy Syndrome, but in the States there’s no such thing, Lines explains.  “Every time I go there I’m reminded of like, oh, this is possible, the possibilities are endless,” she said.  “I can always grow and get better, and get bigger, and that’s an exciting thing for me.”  For more information on her live shows, click here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Otago hospitality precinct Ayrburn is forecast to be the most popular attraction in the region.  Winton Land owns the property near Arrowtown, which already has 10 restaurants and bars, while a screen hub, retirement village, and other amenities are in the works.  Owner Chris Meehan told Mike Hosking it was a risk to turn what was an empty paddock a few years ago into this venture.  He says they're aiming to be the thing everyone goes to in Queenstown, so projections of one million people to visit this year is a good sign.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 28th of August, Nicola Willis has her solution to the supermarket problem. Mike isn't convinced.  Mike’s offered the chance to fly to London and research a banking scam, however he’s not sure there is one.    Kiwi singer Georgia Lines is in for a song and a chat ahead of the release of her new EP and career move to Nashville.  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.

Nicola Willis says she's not bluffing with the idea of potentially breaking up the supermarket duopoly.   The Economic Growth Minister has introduced a fast track consenting process for supermarkets encouraging more players into the market.  She told Mike Hosking it’s a welcome mat for international players that makes it very clear in law and regulation that opening stores in New Zealand is easier than elsewhere.  Willis says this is a big issue for New Zealand, and she’s going the things that are sensible to help.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lower mortgage rates and income growth have helped improve housing affordability.  Cotality NZ’s new report finds the national value-to-income ratio reached its lowest point since mid-2019 in the June quarter, at 7.5%.   National property values also remain almost 17% below their post-covid peak.  Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Mike Hosking mortgage serviceability has seen a significant change, compared to its 2022 high of 57%.  He says it now takes around 44% of the median household income, so it's getting close to normal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s optimism over the future of professional development training for teachers.  A new report from the Education Review Office has found half of teachers don't know how to use what they've learned in their classroom.  It highlights training as one of the biggest drivers of success.  Deputy chief executive Ruth Shinoda told Mike Hosking new development for English in primary schools this year is doing the things shown to work.  She says three quarters of teachers are using what they learnt in that development every day.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for certainty from the supermarket sector as Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis weighs more action.   She's introduced fast track consenting to encourage new players into the market.  Willis says she's looking carefully at the idea of breaking up the duopoly.   Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking the future of their business needs clarity on what regulations will be put in place.   He says the individual owners are scratching their heads wondering what's going to happen.   Quin also believes the amount of competition already in the market may be higher than people realise.  He says 30% of the retail grocery market is third players in Auckland and 18% nationwide.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I would have thought the timing could not be more awkward.  If you broadly accept the current narrative that this Government is working awfully hard to get us out of the massive economic hole left to it by the previous Government, and if you accept that the previous Government was one of the worst in living memory, then just imagine where we would be if that hopeless lot of 2020-2023 had actually been rampaging across the countryside until last year because they had had a four-year term.  Surely it's that cold, present, still-throbbing reality that prevents a discussion on a four-year term going much further.  A lot of politicians seem to want one, and who can blame them? There is logic to what they argue.  In year one you arrive in your office, introduce yourself to everyone, put a few press releases out and start the spade work.  In year two you go for broke because year three is written off in campaign mode.  As Britain is discovering, five years is an awfully long time and until they changed the law about calling early elections, they got into a nasty habit of calling early elections because five years tended to exhaust them, and various calamities would present themselves with the only exit strategy being a vote.  So, if you're following the logic three years isn't enough and five is too long. So four years is goldilocks.    Or is it?  David Seymour is a fan of four years. He argued that most countries have longer terms and there are very few countries with three years.  There are also very few countries that balance their budgets or pay down their debt. That doesn’t make it good.  What is good is his admission that the gerrymandered shambles he offered up as a twist on an extended term with committees and numbers will never see the light of day.  It's taken us 25 years to get our head around MMP. The Seymour version of an extended term has a half-life of eight million years.  So, four or not? My gut says it will get to be a thing. Change is coming.  But here's a small warning: time isn't the issue. It's quality. Time doesn’t bring talent, or skill, or insight, or dedication, professionalism, or success. It just brings time.  The rest is what we should be way more concerned about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is escalating his threat to deploy the National Guard in Democrat-run cities.  He’s doing it under the guise of cracking down on crime, beginning with Washington DC. New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Chicago were among the cities singled out.  The US President called Chicago a “mess”, and derided its mayor, Brandon Johnson, as “grossly incompetent”.  The Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, is hitting back at Trump, saying it’s not about fighting crime but rather finding an excuse to deploy the military and intimidate his political rivals.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that in the past, the National Guard has been temporarily deployed by state governors only, not the federal government, so this is all new.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to discuss the biggest political stories of the week so far.  Should New Zealand swap to four year parliamentary terms? Would Kiwis support the move?  They also discuss the Tamaki Makaurau by-election and gangs in the wake of Peeni Henare saying he’d repeal the gang patch ban.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 27th of August, we have good economic news: a new Westpac report says our growth is set to outpace Australia over the next few years. Does that stop the brain drain?  Erica Stanford has another new visa up for grabs to get entrepreneurs in and spending.  Mark Mitchell joins from Queenstown and Ginny Andersen joins from Fiji to discuss four year terms, burner phones, and the Tamaki Makaurau by-election.  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 new pitch has been made for a two-hour ferry link between the North and South Islands.  The ‘North South Express’ would see a new port built at Clifford Bay, near Blenheim, through a public-private partnership.  The plan proposes a multi-use terminal, with no speed restrictions, and boosted logistics productivity.  CB Port Limited Spokesperson Dr Stephen Grice told Mike Hosking they can have the port up and running by 2029 – potentially even earlier.   He says they’re bringing new engineering and capabilities to the project so the port with a floating wharf can be developed and designed overseas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s hope the horticulture sector will see a massive boost over the next decade.  A roadmap has been unveiled to double farmgate returns by 2035.   Actions aimed at increasing value include building consumer understanding, mapping domestic supply chain vulnerabilities, and establishing an online horticulture library.   HortNZ Chief Executive Kate Scott says they're in a strong position to succeed.   She told Mike Hosking the value of having a really broad and ambitious goal is it gives a sense of purpose to the sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's on track for stronger economic growth but it could take a while to flow through to house prices.  Westpac is forecasting New Zealand will outpace Australia's growth over the next few years.  But New Zealand will still face a higher unemployment rate and lower wage growth, and the recovery's likely to be felt in some regions much sooner than others.  Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking property will be the last sector to see a turnaround.  He says New Zealand saw property prices go up 40% during the boom, compared to a 30% rise in Australia.  Joyce says it’ll be an export-led recovery – something we haven't had for a while.  He says with an export-led recovery, Auckland feels it later than other regions, which is what we're seeing now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of people coming in on the Government's new Business Investor Visa could be limited.    It'll fast track residency for any foreign investors who put $2 million or more into a Kiwi business.  If a business is worth $2 million, the applicant will have to buy it, and they'll have to invest at least a quarter of its total value if it's worth more than that.  Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking she thinks around 100 of these visas will be granted in the first year.  She said this isn’t an Oprah-style “everyone gets a visa” situation.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view that new migrant tax rules will put us on par with other countries.  The Government's proposing a bill to stop migrants being taxed on estimated overseas income and instead, only what they actually earn.  Independent tax expert Geof Nightingale told Mike Hosking the current settings are a problem for high-value migrants, particularly now we have the Active Investor Plus scheme.   He says these people usually have a portfolio of shares of other things around the world but we tax them on an annual basis, no matter if they sell.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain is facing a financial crisis, with the country potentially heading towards a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  Economists are warning that they’re headed towards a 1970s-style debt crisis, with one saying the UK’s borrowing costs are higher than in Greece – which has the highest debt in the euro zone.  UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking that financially the UK is “screwed”, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in significant trouble.  He says there was a $120 billion black hole in the Government’s books last month, and an awful lot of wealthy people have left the country, concerned about high taxes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has the penny dropped?  There was no shortage of headlines and news coverage yesterday out of our interview with the Prime Minister on the Reserve Bank.  In a nutshell, Luxon suggested Christian Hawkesby blew it and should have/could have moved faster on the cash rate.  This is news, but not because the Prime Minister is right. We all know he is right.  But there is a convention whereby because the Reserve Bank is independent you don’t bag them, especially if you are a politician, far less the most influential politician.  But here is why Luxon was right and deserves recognition for what he said: there comes a time when you've got to say what you've got to say.  You can't dance around convention without becoming convention's victim.  There is too much of that. People who can't have a go at judges is another example.  By tiptoeing around the truth, we invite complacency and accountability becomes woefully lacking.  The cold, hard politics are at play as well. Christian Hawkesby and his gang of monetary committee wonks aren't up for re-election next year.  Believe me, if Luxon wanders the countryside telling us he wished the cash rate was lowered faster, he's not getting any sympathy.  The extreme of course is Trump, where you call for sackings and, occasionally, actually do some sacking. We don’t need to be that unhinged.  But it is unfairly restrictive for a government to cut spending, cut red tape, change rules and laws, trim jobs, cap councils, upend the RMA, and get the fast track going. Or in other words, work their butts off pulling every lever they can to fire the joint up.  But in the meantime, the old dump de dos on the terrace can't see a contraction when it smacks them in the face and they stall the economy through ineptitude.  Also, quite apart from anything, we like strong leadership. We like people telling it like it is.  If Luxon has had a weakness it might just be he has been a bit corporate, a bit beige, a bit polite and a bit nice.  Hopefully yesterday was the start of something new and more strident and with it a few more people are held to open, public account. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new use for “ugly” fruit, with two Kiwi dads turning a hobby into a business.  Fruit Cru makes use of seconds, the ugly fruit from local orchards that doesn’t make it to export, turning it into organic wine.   Since starting in 2021, they now produce about 10,000 bottles each year, and have signed a deal with Foodstuffs to stock their beverages in five supermarkets in the Wellington region.  Co-founder Cosmo Hawke told Mike Hosking there’s a shortage of fruit for traditional wine, but at the same time things like cherries, apples, and feijoas were going unpicked.  He says as far as they can tell, they’re the only ones making a beverage in this way, and it could only be done in New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motorsport fans are getting a look inside the career of one of the more recognisable names in Supercars.  After 21 years, last year saw Mark Winterbottom retire from full time driving.   His career included a championship win in 2015 in his infamous Ford at the height of the Ford v Holden rivalry, a Bathurst win, and 39 wins overall.  Although he may have retired from full time driving, Winterbottom has signed on to be a mentor and co-driver for Tickford Driving – partnering with Cam Waters.  He’s also taken the time to write a memoir, ‘Frosty - The incredible true story of the boy from Blacktown who became a Bathurst king’.  Winterbottom comes from a working class background and his introduction to the world of motorsport came at a young age.  “I sort of started motorsport at eight years old,” he told Mike Hosking.  “And at 44 now, I love it more than I ever have.”  “I’ve always thought of it as a privilege to race cars, but when you have that taken away from you, or your time stops, I think you appreciate it even more.”   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 26th of August, the Reserve Bank is opening consultation on banks’ capital requirements – Chair Neil Quigley discusses the situation.   TVNZ will be introducing a paid event pass for the first time ever after securing the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Mark 'Frosty' Winterbottom has a new memoir out about his time as a full time Supercars driver, so we had to catch up with him.  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.

TVNZ will be charging its viewers for content for the first time after securing the rights to broadcast next year's Fifa World Cup.  Viewers will be able to stream 104 football games over the tournament's 39 days, including replays and highlights, if an event pass is purchased.  All of New Zealand's games will be free-to-air, alongside a handful of others.  TVNZ CEO Jodi O'Donnell told Mike Hosking data was collected on how many people are actually prepared to pay for additional sport.  She says the number of people that watched the Euros tournament with TVNZ gave them confidence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank says it wasn't dragged kicking and screaming to a review of capital rules.  It's put out two proposals aimed at loosening capital requirements.   Board Chair Neil Quigley says they were reviews that the bank has been looking at for a while.   He told Mike Hosking if they were loosened, it wouldn't cause too much of a shakeup, and it probably won't have a big effect on pricing.   Meanwhile, Quigley says the decision about a full-time replacement for Adrian Orr is weeks away.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tertiary sector's not losing sleep over grade inflation at universities.  A New Zealand Initiative report's found the proportion of A-grades has increased from 22% to 35% since 2006, but academic improvement can't explain it.  Universities NZ CEO Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking it's not clear what's causing the change, but the report only considers four factors.  He says none include the changes in how teaching is done, the use of online technologies, and the increasing number of postgraduate students.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Self-employed Kiwis are prioritising their businesses rather than thinking about retirement.  A report by the Retirement Commission and accounting firm Hnry shows just 44% of self-employed people actively contribute to KiwiSaver.  This is compared to 78% of employees.  The report also reveals 41% of self-employed workers don't get any government KiwiSaver contribution.   Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson told Mike Hosking they're having to make trade-offs.  She says employees get contributions from their employers, but self-employed people are having to pay themselves.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Port inefficiencies could undermine New Zealand's goals to double export earnings.   The Cargo Owners Council says there's been a 30% drop in productivity since 2019.   Chair Brent Falvey says there needs to be a comprehensive reset of our ports and a strategy for the whole supply chain.   He told Mike Hosking we just aren't keeping up with rest of the world.   Falvey says New Zealand is in the bottom 20% for port efficiency.   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: The All Blacks suffered a defeat at the hands of Los Pumas in Argentina, is the criticism they're receiving justified?  TVNZ is set to broadcast the NPC through the year, hopefully bringing attention to the local games. And the Warriors defeated the Titans in Queensland to secure an important victory in the NRL. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 25 August. 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.

The Prime Minister could follow Australia's lead in an attempt to boost overseas stays through major events. A new report shows strong demand for hotels in the likes of Queenstown, but occupancy's down for Auckland and Wellington. Big names in the tourism sector, like Sudima Hotels believe more events equals more hotel rooms booked.  Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that he's been looking at a model that Australia's Victoria once used. He says they had major events every quarter and micro-events every week, which is something to think about. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"MP's struggle to identify silver bullet solutions". That was the headline Friday as Jenee Tibshraeny detailed a years worth of work by the Finance and Expenditure Committee that has come up with zip. Oh they have made recommendations, don’t get me wrong. Imagine what it would look like if they had been toiling away for a year and came up with a blank piece of paper. But without telling you I told you so... I told you so. Here is the difference between us and them. They entered this particular exercise with an ideological or conspiratorial bent. The opposition and their ideas involve public ownership, Māori banking theories and all sorts of psychobabble that has nothing to do with competition. The Government has the Nicola Willis idea that this is all a scam, the banks are crooks and they are ripping us off. I have argued there is no scam, there is plenty of competition and I have become increasingly convinced the issue really lies in the Reserve Bank and their desire for retail banks to hold gargantuan amounts of money in reserve "just in case". Labour buys into this thinking, which is why they appointed Adrian Orr, who introduced the rules in the first place. The evidence is all around us. Is there choice? Do people swap banks a lot? Do banks openly compete for customers? Can you do deals through brokers, or directly? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Would more banks help? Probably, but there is nothing stopping them opening. So, the committee has no silver bullet. Do you know why? Because there isn't one. Because guess what - the system isn't broken. No, it's not perfect. It's what happens with limited markets and small populations. As I have said to Nicola Willis all along, if you've got an answer, do it. Pull the trigger, show us your trick and wave your wand. But one year of searching tells you one thing. If you look at things with an open mind, you wouldn’t have gone down the rabbit hole. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Los Pumas completed a historic victory over the All-Blacks on Sunday, defeating them 29-23 to secure their first victory over the All-Blacks on home soil since 1976.   It is also the fifth defeat under the leadership of Scott Robertson.  Former All-Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry told Mike Hosking that although the loss in Argentina is tough, it’ll give the team more motivation as they prepare to face South Africa.  ‘it really galvanises them, and really focuses them, and I think that's what they require.’  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sentences could only get tougher for drivers who kill under the influence, as a 20-year-old's been sent to prison.  Alexander Lucas Kerr has been sentenced to 27 months in prison, after a crash killed one of his friends and left the other in a wheelchair.  He was found with cannabis in his system when he crashed his car in a semi-rural part of Havelock North in January.  Criminal defence lawyer John Munro says Kerr doesn't qualify for home detention, despite heavy discounts to his sentence.  He says if the starting point remains the same in a year, discounts could be capped at 40-percent.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are acknowledging they're not perfect, as it's revealed junior officers are 'barely equipped' with the basics.  A survey of training officers has found two thirds are concerned about probationary constables’ understanding of police responsibilities when holding suspects in custody.  Assistant Police Commissioner Tusha Penny says transparent graduate tracking is important to the organisation, so there will be more of it. She says a review is underway, and there will be some changes to the curriculum early next year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian-owned Drifter Hotel-Hostels is planning to open new branches in Auckland and Wellington, expanding on their current foothold in Christchurch.  $22million has been invested into the project so far.  Hotel Council Strategic Director James Doolan told Mike Hosking that we need to work on getting even more international travellers back.  He says more capacity's needed if we want bars, shops and restaurants to be pumping.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the teachers head back to school, like all the other strikes, nothing got achieved.  It never does.  For a strike to work you need to scare people, you need to bring a place to a standstill.  Cook Strait ferries and the bus and train services were unavailable for weeks on end at a time. That’s what works. But those days are gone, thank the good Lord.  These days it’s a day here, a day there.  Yes, we get you are not happy. Yes, you might deserve a better deal.  But your day off with your one minute of placard waving on the TV news that isn't watched the way it used to be anyway, doesn’t really shift the dial.  I think also the country has changed in the past few decades. Although unionism had a bit of a spike under six years of Labour, the Employment Contracts Act of the early 90's largely broke the unions for good.  Not literally, but when people got a choice, they chose to back themselves.  I wish those who are unionists could see the freedom and potential of non-union opportunity.  Not all jobs can be individualised, but most can, and teaching is one of them.  We all know good teachers, great teachers, and ordinary teachers, the same way we know good waiters, and restaurants, and doctors, and accountants, and retail outlets.  In a nation of small businesses, it tells us we back ourselves. We revel in the idea that we, and our skills and determination, can make a decent living.  The fact the rote response to merit-based pay for teachers goes something like "how would you judge on exam results?" shows how little they understand their individuality and ability to make a difference.  It's like that Radio NZ report last week where most of them thought they were in a sunset industry, when in fact the exact opposite is true.  It's Stockholm Syndrome. Your captors, the unions, have told you this is the only way. It isn't and never has been.  I have argued this for years and have got nowhere, but that doesn’t make it a bad argument.  What I know, like hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders know, is that being your own boss and your own person is a winning formula, if you want to win.  I know, like hundreds of thousands of other New Zealanders, that I love my job and my lot.  I don’t see the same fizz from teachers. Why do you reckon that is?   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.    Alaska: 6/10  As an event it didn’t look like a lot. But Europe came to Washington and, apparently, a meeting is on. The lights aren't out yet.    Trevor Mallard: 8/10  Move of the week from Winston Peters. It took a while, but I still haven't found anyone who disagrees.    The Reserve Bank: 2/10  They missed the contraction, and they paused as the country was going backwards. Now we need two more cuts. They got us into trouble but can't get us out? Look up the word "useless" in the dictionary.    Helen Mirren: 7/10  James Bond "has to be a guy". You wouldn’t have had to say that once. Nowadays it makes headlines.    TOP: 4/10  As novel as it is to advertise for a leader, the fact you don’t have one probably sums up the prospects for next year - which are none.    Balls: 7/10  The balls at the US Open are made of New Zealand wool. My favourite fun fact of the week.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the "never the twain shall meet" moments that came out of Covid was working from home.  Here we are, five years on, and the battle has not only not died, it's intensified.  The big gab fest this week in Canberra had the unions asking for a four-day week.  Victoria, run by communists, has already stated they will put it into law, even though they can't.  Now the obligatory poll shows, guess what, huge numbers of people want the right in law to work from home.  On the other side of the equation is the poor old businesses who are pulling their hair out.  In places like the UK and America it's got a bit ugly with mandates and threats over returning to the office, or else you're out.  The coalition in Australia in the recent campaign ran on a policy of banning work from home for public servants. It went down like a cup of cold sick and was, among other things like nuclear, seen as the reason they lost so badly.  That’s the trouble with democracy, isn't it? What if the people are wrong? What if the collective doesn’t get it and doesn’t care?  You could run a poll that says, "would you like the Government to pay for a family-sized chocolate bar and a French martini every Friday?” You'd get a good number.  What we want and what makes sense don’t always align.  "But I save time in the commute". Yes, you do and that’s good. Because you have to remember not all ideas are 100% bad or good, right or wrong.  But on the whole working from home does not suit the employer as much as the employee.  Are there exceptions? Of course. But exceptions are not the debate. The debate is the law, and the law applies to everyone.  Making it worse is the people who make the laws are given their jobs by the people who do the polls. So, do you suck up to them and give them what they want, or do you do the right thing?  Especially when, in this case, the right thing may not be the popular thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we in for a wool revival?  Industry leaders are meeting at a number of workshops next week, with the aim of driving up value.  Stats show strong wool now makes up just 1-2% of gross farm income, compared to nearly 65% in the 1980s.  Federated Farmers Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Mike Hosking there’s good collabroation happening between government, industry, and various initiatives to drive up value.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.