The Mike Hosking Breakfast

President Donald Trump is going after the oldest United States university in a push to reshape top institutions.   He's demanding Harvard University makes changes to hiring, admissions, and teaching practices to curb anti-Semitism on campus.    The institution says no Government should dictate how a private university operates.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Trump is reacting by freezing close to NZ$3.5 billion in federal funds.  He says the White House is calling for an end to the tax-exempt status for research operations.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have a good example as to why so many people don’t trust the media.  Like most things it's got complicated and a lot of it is fuelled by emotion.  So a simple survey, the likes of which was published by AUT over the weekend, can never come close to capturing exactly what the relationship between the industry and the punter really is.  But the US President had a medical over the weekend. It has been widely reported and in fact, I have read a number of the reports that states he is in pretty good shape.  The headline in the Sydney Morning Herald chose to frame it this way; "Overweight Trump has sun damage after 'frequent golf wins' medical report finds".  Now, you have several issues.  Firstly, the subject: a lot of what is reported about Trump is done with a slant and the slant is made more obvious by the fact that those who support Trump tend to be zealous and therefore will react to perceived misreporting more loudly than many others.  Secondly, the report does indeed say he is overweight. But it is not the main part of the report, or anywhere close to it, nor indeed is the sun damage. The sun damage is definitely there, but it's hardly a feature.  In fact, if the headline is supposed to convey the important parts of the medical report, it completely misses them. The important parts are that physically and cognitively he is in very good shape.  Why doesn’t the headline say that? What is the purpose of the headline, other than to mislead you or ridicule the President by presenting the report in the worst possible light?  That is trust, or lack of it.  That is a bad headline, a misleading headline, and a headline that shows us the newspaper has an agenda.  It's hardly the end of the world. It's not scandalous, it's not a lie, and there is worse to be found other days in other places.  But the paper is an esteemed rag with big readership and, I assume, a certain pride in their reporting.  In that lies the complexity. Take a lot of these sort of examples on any given day, from any given number of outlets and before you know it – lack of trust.  If like I did, you knew more than the headline alluded to, you very quickly concluded you couldn’t trust them for the full story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government has saved the troubled British Steel Company.   It will mean a steel mill in Scunthorpe will be saved after negotiations with its Chinese owners reportedly broke down. The bill gives the UK Business Secretary the control of the company and the right to use police powers if necessary to ensure workers are paid.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says the raw materials to keep the mill running have been paid for.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe is concerned about the flow on effects of Donald Trump’s tariffs.  With a 145% tariff on China, there are fears that instead of cheap products making their way to the US, they’ll be shipped to Europe, weaking local industries.  Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that although Trump cut the tariff on Europe, leaders are saying not to breathe a sigh of relief just yet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15th of April, Erica Stanford is looking to change and clarify the sex education curriculum at schools.  Billionaire Nick Mowbray tells us what it's like to deal with Trump's trade war with China.  Jeremy Piven of Entourage and Mr Selfridge fame pops in for a chat ahead of bringing his stand up to New Zealand.  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.

For fans of Jeremy Piven, he’s instantly recognisable in a couple of roles.  His portrayal of Ari Gold in Entourage propelled his career, winning Piven a Golden Globe and three consecutive Emmys, and he also starred in Mr Selfridge – the drama based on the life of Harry Selfridge.   Despite the more serious roles he’s played over the last few years, Piven has a knack for stand up comedy, which is bringing him across the ocean to our corner of the world.   He’s just finished up filming Past Lives in the UK, taking to the road to perform his standup.  “It’s my job right now just to kind of run around and get up on stage, and interact with people and have a great time, and make people laugh,” he told Hosking.  “Stand up comedy’s never been more popular, I think because of all the frustrations that we’re unpacking.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch's new stadium is slowly taking shape.   Construction of the $683 million Te Kaha stadium is on schedule and within budget – set to open in April next year.  Mayor Phil Mauger admits he's uncertain about parking but emphasises there will be public transport and foot traffic access.  Te Kaha Project Director Kent Summerfield told Mike Hosking the roof is well and truly on, and cladding is underway.  He says it's becoming a landmark in the city as it can be seen from quite a distance away.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zuru Toys co-founder Nick Mowbray speaks on the impacts of United States tariffs on China. He said businesses were “in a holding pattern” as they grappled with the uncertainty of changeable policy. US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on April 2. Kiwi billionaire Nick Mowbray says “it’s hard to say we’re not worried” about US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his administration’s “chaotic” policy decisions. “We’ll ship about $2 billion worth of goods to the US this year. So, at that run rate, that makes our tariffs worth about $3 billion at the moment.” Speaking from Los Angeles this morning (New Zealand time), the toy mogul said it was difficult to read the mood on the ground there. New Zealand businessman Nick Mowbray could not say he wasn't worried about the impact of tariffs. Photo / Alex Burton The co-founder of Zuru Toys told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast it was impossible to plan around the tariffs. He also said it would be “obviously impossible” to shift manufacturing of his products from China to the United States to skirt the 145% tariff rate. His business, along with retailers, were “in a holding pattern”. “It’s hard to say we’re not worried. Everything seems to change each day. We’re in a state of stopping everything at the moment because it’s impossible to plan,” said Mowbray. “We’re all hoping it doesn’t continue for very long, but the [US] administration is definitely very chaotic.” He believed it was possible the tariffs would ultimately be negotiated down. Trump announced huge tariffs on different countries on April 2. In a whiplash change of tune a week later, he said all targeted countries but China would face a 10% rate for 90 days. Photo /The New York Times The $3b worth of tariffs his company would have to pay would be passed on to consumers in significant price increases. Mowbray said he was in the US, at his office, trying to work through the impact of the tariffs. The US has become Zuru’s main export market, supplying the likes of Walmart, Target, Costco and Amazon. An escalating trade war ensued after the US imposed tariffs on China, seeing Beijing put in a retaliatory 125% rate on US imports. Trump announced huge tariffs on different countries on April 2. In a whiplash change of tune a week later, he said all targeted countries but China would face a 10% rate for 90 days. The trade war has created fears of an economic downturn as the dollar drops and investors part with US government bonds, normally considered a safe investment, Agence France-Presse reported. The impact on New Zealand remains uncertain. Kiwibank economists have outlined three possible scenarios for the country: Quick negotiations of tariff deals and little relative economic damage, longer dealmaking and prolonged economic insecurity, and the least likely scenario, recession. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Immigration Minister says they've seen a spike in immigration applications from wealthy American investors.  The Golden Visa system was re-jigged to attract those with a minimum of $5 million to invest in New Zealand's economy.  Applications so far amount to a minimum investment of $260 million, with Erica Stanford saying most are from North America.  Lane Neave immigration expert Mark Williams told Mike Hosking that's not surprising.  He says any country in the world facing economic uncertainty would be a source of immigration.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some advice for people who are having trouble with their Sky boxes this morning after a satellite switch.  The television network officially made the switch this morning, as it's D2 satellite is due to reach the end of its life in May.  All broadcast channels were off-air at the same time overnight.  Sky TV CEO Sophie Moloney told Mike Hosking there's any easy fix if boxes aren't working.  She says if they're not working properly, do a hard reboot and if that doesn't work, give them a call.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister wants to be the one taking the heat over sex education, not schools.  The new draft curriculum is out for the first round of public consultation before it's written up later this year.  It proposes children from Year Four learning about consent and gender stereotypes, while high schoolers learn about menstrual cycles and STIs.  Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking currently, it's up to principals to go out to their community and specify what's taught.  She says ERO reports found that to be very divisive, and sometimes schools and principles faced a lot of aggression from their communities over the content they taught.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calm before the storm for Auckland's flood-risk communities as the council takes action.  It'll buy more than 1200 high risk homes by the end of the year, at a cost of $352 million.  A large chunk of the land will be retained for flood resilience and safer areas will be sold for development.  Auckland Council Policy and Planning Committee Chair Richard Hills told Mike Hosking it's going to be a long road.  He says people will find it hard seeing houses removed from the street they live on.  The Council has also acknowledged the time it's taken to take action on flood risk areas.  Hills says he hoped it would be a faster process.  He told Hosking homeowners could apply to be categorised for most of last year, and then needed individual assessments.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My ongoing advice to the Government is: don’t make big announcements on a Friday. I watched the Prime Minister from Waikato at the Ruakura Superhub. This is what the Government lives for. It's what they dream of. It's what they preach. The Superhub by the way is one of the great visions for this country. It services 45% of the population and 55% of GDP. It's part of what they call the "Golden Triangle" when it comes to business, servicing Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland. Anyway, at the press conference was a representative from the company with a trillion dollars in assets under management. I'm talking about the local tribe, Waikato-Tainui, with the Prime Minister. Tuku Morgan from the tribe, who in another life became famous for expensive taxpayer funded underwear, spoke eloquently about what the Superhub means, how big it is, how massive the vision is and how transformational it all could be. So, not just a miss for the Government in terms of coverage for exactly what this country needs, but also the chance for us to see a part of the so-called Māori economy we don’t often see. Waikato-Tainui are a wonderful success. The sadness for me is I don’t see them as Māori. I see them as a business, and a good one. Race should not be part of business because performance is the key to business, not race. But there is no denying their money came out of the Treaty settlement process and they have taken it and run with it. Not only don’t we get to see the successful side of the Māori economy, we don't ask often enough how it is you can have that much success and yet still have so much Māori deprivation? That’s the news we do hear a lot about - poverty, addiction, violence and bad health. It's all bad news. Why? If Māori can do well why are we so obsessed with why they aren't? And if there is a way out for those who need it, and Māori have provided the blueprint, why is it still an issue? Māori are held back, we are told. Are they? Why haven't Waikato-Tainui been held back? Or Ngai Tahu? If you listen to the Willie Jackson's of the world, he will tell you colonialism has ruined the Māori dream. I didn’t see that on Friday. Quite the opposite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 14th of April, the Government are proposing changes to the driver licensing system, including no test needed to go from your restricted to full license.   Has trust in the media bottomed out? New yearly report shows the drop in trust has slowed. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the rugby, Supercars and F1 over the weekend. And do we dare mention the Warriors? 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 Australian election campaigns were officially launched yesterday.  Many financial promises in the billions were made - the Greens leader promised free University fees, which would cost the country $45 billion a year.  Opposition leader promised a one off cost of living tax break that would cost the country $10 billion.  Australian Correspondent talks to Mike Hosking about the details of yesterday's launch.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he has been talking to Iwi leaders about how to better investment for the past 12 months.  It comes as one of the country's wealthiest iwi, Waikato-Tainui makes the biggest investment since Treaty settlement 30 years ago.  On Friday Waikato-Tainui announced a partnership with global investment firm Brookfield to develop an inland port in Waikato that services more than half of the country’s GDP. The port, Ruakura Superhub, is connect to the country's two largest commercial ports, Auckland and Tauranga.  The Prime Minister talks to Mike Hosking about Māori investment, the significant Sealord loss, reaction to Winston Peter's 'hysterical' claims, and more.  LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our annual trust in media report shows our trust has fallen by one percent, to 32 percent.  Forty-five percent of Kiwis say they trust their chosen news.  The report's co-author Greg Treadwell says we're no longer among leading countries.  "Our trust in news has been falling much faster than other countries, and now we're way down the bottom with countries like the UK and the US," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has backtracked on reciprocal tariffs set on China by removing them on electronics.   Twenty percent of Chinese business in the United States comes from electronics.  Tech Commentator Bill Bennett talks to Mike Hosking about the impact this will have.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes are coming to our drivers licensing system, with only one practical test in a bid to have more Kiwis on full licenses.  Transport minister Chris Bishop tells Mike Hosking a lot of people 'don't bother' graduating from a restricted to full license.  "There are a lot of people out there right now breaking the law, just driving on the restricted," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's good news for supermarkets: In the year to March, supermarket supply costs have risen by 2%.  However, a survey out this morning shows that one in four people are struggling financially and the cost of living remains the main issue for voters.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen talks to Mike Hosking about the survey.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro has been evacuated from his home after a suspected arson attack. The attack took place after the Jewish governor celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday, Passover.  He said he woke up in the middle of the night to authorities banging on the door of the home as a fire spread. US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking about the incident, tariffs, and the all female Blue Origin space flight.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration has announced it will exclude electronics like smartphones and laptops from his 125 percent reciprocal tariffs on China  It means American's may be spared a price hike on electronics that aren't usually made in the United States.  Processors and chips are included in the exemption.  Devon Funds Management's Greg Smith joins the show to discuss the decision.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keir Starmer is fast becoming a new political hero.  For a bloke who stumbled into office not on his brilliance or a nationwide passion for the Labour Party, but more because the Tories had spent 14 years slowly messing the place up, he turns out to be quite the operator.  He is reforming public health because it's fat and useless. He is trimming welfare because there are too many layabouts.  He has handled Trump as well as anyone, and better than most, both on tariffs and the war.  Now he has rejected that hackneyed old sop of a patriotic "Buy British" campaign in response to America's moves.  Canada hasn’t. They are flat out hating on America, and in some senses, it's working. Tourism is down in America as Canadians go elsewhere. But all the rest of it is anecdotal as they pull American booze off shelves in a massive huff.  So the idea was, like it was here a number of times over the years and like it is currently in Australia as part of their election campaign, you run the flag up a pole, get everyone fizzed up about their country and their heritage and their ability to make stuff and whittle and dig and toil and sweat and the punter, so enamoured with your skills and graft, buys the locally made brilliance.  And we all live happily ever after.  There is value in patriotism and pride in some local stories.  But even in Britain, where a lot of stuff was born or invented, the world has moved on and Starmer knows it.  People buy on either quality or price and sometimes a bit of both.  They don’t buy blindly, they don’t want crap and they won't support their own for the sake of it. If they did Temu would never have been invented.  This whole tariff thing will pass and this Starmer gets. Free trade will survive, if not thrive. Starmer gets it. President Xi gets it.  Good ideas don’t die with the arrival of an economic Neanderthal. They may be paused or dented, but they don’t die.  Land Rover thrives because, yes it's British, but also because it's good, as do Fortnum and Mason and Barbour wax jackets.  Buying local is isolationism. Most of us worked that out a long time ago.  This is no time to regress.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.    Donald Trump: 1/10  Complete and utter chaotic clown. You don’t treat the world economy like this.    Clowns: 2/10  In order: Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth, and Karoline Leavitt.    The IRD: 6/10  Collected close to a billion dollars in unpaid tax, simply by looking – quite a good concept!    Paul Goldsmith: 6/10  Is it ingenious or worrying when you're asking the Mike Hosking Breakfast for policy ideas?    Wool: 8/10  Wool deserves a break. In pure economic terms I'm not sure this is on the Government to spin the line, far less the yarn. But it's Winston's baby and he's 80-years-old today so, why not?    Andrew Little: 6/10  Is he the answer for Wellington, or a retired politician looking for work?    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it gall, is it cheek, or is it comedic?  The Waitangi Tribunal has been reviewed, and the review recommends it needs more people and more money.  It is strained, says the review. They are of course technically correct. It is strained because the Waitangi Tribunal is busy.  It is busy with “urgent”, and we use that word loosely, numbers of gripes and grievances around the general state and status of Māori, or more accurately, a small selection of Māori who have seen for years and decades now the Tribunal as an almost endless source of respite in their never-ending list of grievances.  This is a classic make-work programme.  Puff your chest out, inflate your sense of self-importance, busy yourself with a myriad of invented tasks and then in the review, guess what? You are overworked and under-resourced.  The Government is going to do something about all this and, unfortunately for people like me, they are not moving nearly fast enough.  As we have said a number of times, the Tribunal is well past its useful life.  The idea that it addressed historic wrongs has come and gone.  Deadlines should have been placed years ago on those wanting to argue their case, with expiry dates on applications and negotiations.  All Governments have failed miserably to this point on the discipline required in that area.  But now it's down to ongoing dabbling in matters of the day that carry no weight and have a growing amount of political agitation about them.  It's simply a jacked-up, grievance mechanism funded by the taxpayer to supply ammo to the gravy-trainers for an ongoing, if not neverending, list of woe.  It takes gall in a broke country with cutbacks all around you to then go and ask for yet more resource.  But then that’s the Tribunal isn't it? Political, wasteful, past its use-by-date and clearly arrogant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 11th of April, the Treaty Principles Bill is dead, so where does David Seymour go now?  And we need to look at how the US’ 145% tariffs on China will impact us.   Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby discuss whether Mike would be the perfect host of the Chase as four episodes are being filmed in New Zealand.   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.

New Zealand is finally getting its own version of popular British television quiz show The Chase.  TVNZ has commissioned a four-episode special of The Chase New Zealand to be filmed in Sydney, Australia.  The Host has not yet been announced, and Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson pondered whether Mike would be a good fit as they Wrapped the Week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supercars driver Andre Heimgartner is getting behind plans for a Supercars round to take place in Christchurch.  Ruapuna Park's the likely candidate to join Taupo as the only New Zealand events on the calendar next year.  Heimgartner's very familiar with the proposed venue.  He told Mike Hosking it’s great for New Zealand motorsport.  He says they’ve been longing for this for a while, and it’s great that they’ve finally decided to give it to them – plus, it’s great for the South Island fans.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Markets have been losing many of yesterday's historic gains.  US markets climbed steeply after Donald Trump paused higher tariffs on most countries – locking them at 10%.  However, they plunged again after the White House confirmed tariffs on Chinese goods are now at 145%.  Business journalist Peter Lewis told Mike Hosking the up-and-down is likely to continue until investors have certainty about what's happening.  He says while there is a pause, the tariffs haven’t gone away altogether, and that will lead to a lot of volatility in the market.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chief Children's Commissioner says we're still dropping the ball in providing some of the basics for our young people.   The Government's Child and Youth Strategy report shows improvements in attendance, smoking, drinking, and offending rates.  However material hardship, immunisations, food insecurity, and avoidable hospitalisations have all worsened.   Claire Achmad told Mike Hosking she wants the Government to put a bigger focus on children.  She says around half of children live in benefit dependent households, which doesn't provide enough for children to thrive.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister's looking to set it in stone what a school's ultimate goal should be.  Erica Stanford's introducing a new Bill requiring boards to have attendance management plans.  It includes amending school board objectives to make educational achievement the ultimate goal.   Stanford told Mike Hosking she wants to make it clear.  She says under the previous government it became very convoluted and it took away from the previous goal of having students achieve.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act Leader David Seymour doesn't regret spearheading the Treaty Principles Bill.  The widely unpopular bill was voted down by all but its own MPs at its second reading yesterday.   MPs called it racist, divisive, ugly, grubby, and an assault on history and rights.   Seymour told Mike Hosking he's standing up for equal human rights.  He says the Crown has an obligation to uphold all people’s rights, including Māori, and we are all equal before the law.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am conflicted.  In the age of tariffs and free trade and making stuff that the world wants, how is it a Government can then argue that you have to buy wool?  If you are redecorating, or building, or refurbishing a major chunk of your consideration will be around cost.  Can wool outprice what might be your desire for the cheapest product going? No, it can't.  Can wool mount an argument that over time it pays its way? Possibly.  Then we come to the patriotic side. Should we support things that we are good at? I think yes.  If you are a regular, you will know no one loves wool more than me. I'd pay anything to support wool because I'm a natural fibre geek.  Polyester should be a crime and banned.  Funnily enough, I read a report yesterday about the return of fake fur. Fake fur is now so good you can't tell the difference, but it is made out of petrochemicals. So in banning the real thing to save the animals, we have simply set about trashing the Earth some more to quell the demand for fur that never went away.  The demand for cheap flooring is driven solely by price. Wool, for what it lacks in price, makes up for in vibe. It's amazing in both carpets and jerseys.  But is the Government picking winners or is the Government artificially backing one over another, and if they are in that business, where is the line?  Why is it okay to make you buy wool, but at the same time allow any number of new building products into the market to cheapen the price of building a house? Why aren't they making you buy GIB?  It's price one day and quality the next. There is an inconsistency in this.  The wool fan in me says go for it. Wool needs and deserves help. It's been badly treated and if this programme makes a difference, then we can all feel good about it.  But the purist in me says, for a free trader, we favour quality and wool is quality.  But the reason we don’t make a lot of stuff is because we can't make it at a price we want to buy it at, and that is smart, sensible business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Liam Lawson begins his new Formula One era with Racing Bulls, a new challenge has arisen if he’s to get back into Red Bull’s senior team for 2026.  The 23-year-old claimed 17th place in Formula One’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka over the weekend after a pit stop gamble did not reap the rewards they had hoped for.  He was bested by his teammate, Formula One rookie Isack Hadjar, who took home eighth place on his third outing for the squad, also beating out Lawson’s replacement Yuki Tsunoda.  Former Williams Team Manager Peter Windsor told Mike Hosking that we can expect to see a lot more of the old Lawson as the season continues, but whether he’ll be good enought to be Hadjar is another matter.  He says you have to be impressed with Hadjar – he was showing up a lot of very experienced racing drivers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 10th of April, Trump put a pause on tariffs, sending the stock markets through the roof, so we look at the resulting scramble.   The Government has said we must buy wool. Can they enforce this or is it anti-free trade?  Former Williams F1 team manager Peter Windsor gives us his thoughts ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.  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.

Rugby is mourning the passing of former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew.  Mayhew has passed away after heart complications, at the age of 70.  He served as the All Blacks doctor between 1988 and 2004 before moving to the Warriors for 15 years.  Former All Black Captain Sean Fitzpatrick told Mike Hosking Mayhew was very much part of the team, both on and off the field.   He says he was a lovely man, a confidant, very calm, and managed to bring humour to very tense situations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's turning up the heat on China but throwing a tariff lifeline to most others.  He's authorised a 90-day pause which will see tariffs dropped to 10% for many countries.   However, China's rate has been increased from 104% to 125%.  Eric Crampton —Chief Economist at New Zealand Initiative— told Mike Hosking it's a rapidly changing situation.  He says it’s really hard for any business to plan in this kind of environment – the chaos is just going to continue.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A climate professor says forestry isn't the answer to climate change.  It comes after Parliament's environment watchdog released a report proposing completely removing the ability of carbon polluters to rely on planting trees to meet their climate obligations, instead of cutting their emissions.   Victoria University Adjunct Professor of Climate Change Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking we need a more comprehensive approach to tackling climate change.  He says planting trees simply isn't good enough.  Macey says planting trees isn't a 'get out of jail free' card, but rather a suspended sentence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump says the changes to his tariff policy show he's flexible.   He's put a 90-day pause on additional tariffs and lowered tariffs on all countries to 10% – except China.   Instead, Trump hiked China's rate from 104% to 125%.   He's thanked Americans for bearing with him and promised better days are coming.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking things are uncertain, but their view is that we need to stay the course.  She says they can’t controll what happens elsewhere in the world, but they can control what they do here at home.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Science Minister says merging our two Government weather agencies will free up millions of dollars.  Incoming legislation will bring NIWA and MetService together before the end of the year.  Shane Reti says the merger will resolve the structural issue that's resulted in duplication and conflicting advice.  He told Mike Hosking they'll merge capabilities, assets and services, and streamline back-office functions.  Reti says they're projecting there'll be an extra $3 million a year as a result, which they'll drive back into weather forecasting.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief the Government's new building directive for wool will be followed.  From July, new builds worth more than $9 million and refurbishments costing over $100 thousand must use New Zealand wool where possible.   The directive orders state agencies to follow the directive where practical.  Wool Impact chief executive Andy Caughey told Mike Hosking it's not a rule, but strong advice.  He says in two to three years time, people will see how obvious the solution was and regret not using wool earlier.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken Langone started a small operation called Home Depot.  These days he is a billionaire and major donor to the Trump campaign and Republican Party.  He is, like all the rest of us looking on, incredulous, or furious, or in disbelief, or confused.  Yesterday for a very brief period, a rumour that appeared to come out of a very small 'X' account and somehow linked to CNBC, swept the market.  It said Trump was considering a 90-day pause on the tariffs. The market which had been continuing its downward trajectory, or “tanking” as some people called it, abruptly upped stick and reversed.  It surged by about 8%, which is a lot, until it turned out none of it was true. So it fell apart again.  As one article suggested, that was an off-ramp for the President. In other words, had the rumour been true and Trump decided it could all be a mistake, the markets would have forgiven him, put it all behind them and we would be on our merry way.  But back to Ken. Ken said "I don’t understand the goddamn formula". In that, he is not alone.  Many of the billionaires who backed Trump don't understand the formula. They also didn’t back the idea that Trump would trash the place and yet more of them, mainly headed by the bloke who runs BlackRock, think the US economy is already in recession.  If it is in recession Howard Lutnick will need to be rolled out to explain how that happened, given according to Lutnick, it wasn’t possible.  So once again we ask the simple question – if the brightest people in the room don’t understand the "goddamn formula", if Trump's closest allies and supporters don’t get it, who does?  Or worse, is it possible no one does? Is this thing a runaway train?  If it's not a runaway train, is it possible that yet another Trump backer is right when he suggests America is now a global laughing stock? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should you look into building a house?  CoreLogic’s latest Construction Cost Index suggests that outside of Covid, the price to build is the lowest it’s been since 2012.  Costs are rising at one of the slowest rates on record, with only 0.9% over the last year.  Generation Homes CEO Craig Hopkins told Mike Hosking the sectors’ greatest competition is the pre-existing market, with around 33,000 houses currently up for sale.  However, he says, as far as building a house, now is the perfect time to do so.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans may have noticed a more enjoyable Super Rugby product this season.  Static time has been cut by 73 seconds, and an average of 61 points are being scored per game – the highest ever.  Viewing numbers and game attendance have also increased.  CEO Jack Mesley told Mike Hosking the growth’s happening on both sides of the ditch, with Australia leading the charge this season.  He says their focus is to string seasons of growth back-to-back so that they’re moving in the right direction, and that’s certainly happening.  Mesley says the unexpected results are fuelling some of the interest.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9th of April, will the tariffs affect our OCR announcement this afternoon?      A new report on organised crime shows we are in shambles, it's getting worse, not better, and we are losing the fight.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk Andrew Little’s potential run for Wellington mayor, David Parker’s resignation, and organised crime 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.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come out on top in the first debate of the election.   Of the 100 undecided voters polled after the debate, 44 chose Albanese, 35 chose his opponent Peter Dutton, and 21 were undecided.   Australian correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking a personal tragedy struck Dutton shortly before it started.   He says Dutton received news his father had had a heart attack an hour before the debate started.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ginny Anderson says former party leader Andrew Little would make a great mayor.  Newstalk ZB yesterday revealed Little is actively considering running for the Wellington Mayoralty after previously ruling it out.  Little says the city needs a change, and he's been approached by many to run.  Andersen told Mike Hosking he'd improve the council  She says Little's level headed, and would be a safe pair of hands which the city desperately needs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Methamphetamine use skyrocketed to its highest level last year as New Zealand struggles to keep pace.  A ministerial advisory group on organised crime has released it's first report since being established in February.   It says police and customs do their best, but the reality is the country is losing the fight.  Advisory group chair Steve Symon told Mike Hosking there are high spikes in rural areas across the country.  He says that this is evidence against the theory that gangs are dumping meth in the water to avoid police raids.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International students are returning to New Zealand campuses, with numbers reaching pre-Covid levels.  Education New Zealand says the students contribute billions to the economy annually.  Universities New Zealand CEO Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking it's a welcome financial boost.  He says as well as bringing life back to the campus, they also help keep our institutions afloat financially.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police will continue with their plan to pull back from mental health callouts, but they're going about it more slowly. From Monday, 4 of the 12 police districts will move into the second phase, which involves 60-minute ED handovers.   They will now be staggered across districts, instead of all at once.   The Mental Health Foundation has been critical of the pull back.   Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking police need to draw a strong line in the sand to ensure people are taken care of by the right people.   He says that shouldn't involve police sitting in emergency departments for six hours.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.