The Mike Hosking Breakfast

More than 70 countries have approached the White House for talks following Trump’s tariffs.   There's been no let up on China though – the US has promised to hit them with a 50% increase tomorrow.   That will take China's total tariff rate to 104%.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the world's biggest company,  Apple, has been dealt a massive blow.   He says its lost 20% of its market value in the past three days, and is pivoting production to India instead of China.  The White House has raised the idea of manufacturing in the US, but Arnold says it’s unlikely as it would costs thousands of dollars more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are agreeing on where they think today's Official Cash Rate will land.  They expect a 25 basis point cut to the OCR, down from 3.75%.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking there's a risk the Reserve Bank opts for a different strategy after the US tariff announcement.  She says if it were to be a surprise, a 50-point cut is more likely than a pause.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A touch of the ol' intellectual snobbery reared its head with news that the Defence Force dropped education criteria last year.  As a person who had no time for school and could not wait to get out into the world, I was, and still am, very grateful for the idea that you choose the person and not the piece of paper when it comes to work.  When I started, School Certificate and UE were what you needed to get into the media, or at least to have a crack.  These days you need a degree. I can assure you the quality of those graduates has not changed one iota as a result of several years of study.  The military is an awfully difficult place to recruit for, especially in a country like ours.  Just what is it you are offering? We don't do a lot; we don’t have a lot of equipment and we don’t fight wars. We keep peace and patrol.  So in a world where work-life balance and work from home and 4-day weeks are commonplace, average pay, Waiouru, and a lot of early rises aren't exactly calling cards.  So you simply now need three years of school. You don’t even need Level 1 NCEA.  Here is the thing – some people aren't into school. I know this because I was one of them.  Not all life choices, work choices, or skills are gained by passing Year 11 maths.  The military is as much about attitude and aptitude – it's a structured environment and it is designed for a specific type of person.  In places like America, they recruit people who may well struggle to get regular work. That is the way it is and it's a simple truth. They offer dental and medical in a country where you may not be able to afford it.  They offer a career and travel and opportunity in careers and trades you may not have even thought of.  Here you can be an auto technician, plumber or diver. They are the jobs on offer in the military with no skills. Could you do that in civilian life? No.  Being good with an engine does not mean you are good in class.  These are doors of opportunity  If the military through necessity can make it work, who are these outside snobs who still believe that exams and results are the sole key to employment? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s fair to say Bruce Hornsby is a bit of a legend in the music game.  Even a casual fan will know ‘The Way It Is’, the intro often considered the greatest piano intro of all time, and finding even more fame thanks to Tupac using it in ‘Changes’.  He began his career in the 80’s, and since then, some of the biggest and best have cited his influence, including the likes of Willie Nelson and Crosby, Stills and Nash.  Hornsby is showing no signs of slowing – releasing four albums so far in this decade alone.  Although he’s found great success in his career, Hornsby told Mike Hosking he was a pretty bad “popstar”.  “I was gonna do what I was gonna do whether it was successful or not,” he said.  “Always been a musician first, and I was a bit of a creatively restless soul.”   His music has become more experimental over the years, much to the chagrin, he says, of his long time fans.  “I’m just interested in evolving and pushing,” Hornsby told Hosking.  “So when, when I lose, hopefully when I lose a certain old time fan, that he just hates it, hopefully I garner some newer and most likely younger fans.”   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 8th of April, the Government has announced a major defence spend – the highest since WWII. Defence Minister Judith Collins and former Minister Ron Mark share their thoughts.    A New Zealand restaurant has is in the top three – worldwide.   Famed singer and pianist Bruce Hornsby has been on Mike's interview bucket list for decades, and he's finally on the show.  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.

Central Otago has once again caught the attention of world-renowned food critics.  In Food & Wine’s Global Tastemaker Awards, Queenstown’s Amisfield has been named the third best restaurant in the world.   It was recognised in the Top 15 International Restaurants category, with the judges saying it was a “beacon for wine enthusiasts worldwide who seek an unparalleled dining experience”.   Executive Chef Vaughan Mabee told Mike Hosking they’re always striving to improve and give their guests an amazing experience.  He says they try to show them the beauty and bounty of New Zealand and its differences through our food and wine. Mabee was also voted in the world's top 45 chefs – the sole Kiwi in the top hundred.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World of Wearable Arts is already preparing for this year's show.  Executive Creative Director Brian Burke has announced he's returning for another year to lead the show in six months.  The fashion competition features designers from more than 40 countries each year.  Burke told Mike Hosking it's his pleasure to be involved with the fashion design extravaganza.  He says he loves the ability to always deliver something new and fresh, but still maintain the same DNA.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's promising to spend big in areas of defence, including improving its fleet in the air, and on the land, and sea.  The long-awaited Defence Capability Plan was released yesterday afternoon, with $12 billion worth of public spending across four years – $9 billion of which is deemed new spending.  It includes plans to bring defence spending up to two percent of GDP, with procurement for maritime helicopters, vehicles, and a replacement plane fleet.  The Defence Minister is confident in the work done by Finance Minister Nicola Willis, reassuring they’re not spending money New Zealand does not have.   Judith Collins is also standing by changes making it easier to enter the armed forces.  Since last year most Defence Force roles now only require three years of high school to Year 11, instead of passing Level One credits.  More technical roles now only require a Level Two certificate.  Collins told Mike Hosking being smart academically is helpful but isn't the first port of call.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Defence Minister Ron Mark's toasting the coalition Government following a commitment to more defence spending.  It's pouring $12 billion over four years into defence – $9 billion of which is new spending.   It includes enhancing our strike capabilities, replacing the Boeing 757 fleet, and upgrading our javelin anti-tank missiles.  Mark told Mike Hosking it will be good for New Zealand's strategic partners.  He says it will provide security comfort for South Pacific Defence Ministers, Five Eyes, and NATO.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Minister says he's hunting for a solution to make sure victims of crime get their reparations.   Figures released under the Official Information Act show almost half of all court-ordered reparation payments are overdue – $105 million owed to victims.   Paul Goldsmith says there's scope for taking it out of people's benefits.   He told Mike Hosking while they don't want to send people to prison, there needs to be an incentive to pay.   Goldsmith says he's looking for an annoying and painful punishment that will make criminals pay up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is facing a trade war with China and a potential trade war with Europe.  Donald Trump's threatening to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to more than 100% in response to the retaliatory tariffs announced by China over the weekend.  The EU is still mulling over its response.  Paris Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking in the past few hours, the EU's revealed it offered the US a "zero-for-zero" tariff deal in February and never heard back.  She says the EU is still leaving that on the table but are now looking at some sort of retaliation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An increase in crackdowns has paid dividends for Inland Revenue.   It collected $600 million in extra taxes from 3,600 audits between July and December last year – 50% more audits than the same time period in 2023.   Half of the money came from fewer than 10 audits.   Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker told Mike Hosking it shows the investment at the last budget was worth it, New Zealand getting $11 for every dollar invested.   She says because of a previous slowdown in audits there's probably a lot of fruit to pick.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Treaty Principals Bill is on its way to the gallows as the select committee came back Friday and suggested it wasn’t getting its support. It was voted past first reading but it wont get past round two. What I learned out of it was several things. 1) This country is not up for much of a debate around complex or big ideas. We are myopic in our approach. We hate and we love and middle ground is irrelevant. There was a venom and aggressiveness to a lot of submissions. 2) From those who submitted that actually knew what they were talking about, as opposed to merely having an opinion, it very quickly became clear there is massive disagreement over interpretation. These were scholars and lawyers and historians, in other words, "experts". They couldn’t agree. That to me was the big clue. If the “learned” can't agree, surely that means we need something, legally speaking, to define what we are dealing with. There is a major case in Christchurch at the moment between Ngai Tahu and the Crown over water rights. It is in the court because there is nothing definitive in law as to what the Treaty does, and doesn’t, do. We seem to accept that Parliament is the ultimate court, yet on the Treaty we appear happy to litigate for decade after decade, have a tribunal that is wildly tainted and nothing like a proper court, and each and every time we dabble in this area you and I are picking up the tab. The other outworking of course is the ongoing grief and angst. This is a very divided nation. This is not a harmonious nation with an agreed legal stance around the Treaty. But putting it out to a vote the way Act wanted was a mistake It's too important for that. Pik N Mix democracy never works. The other thing I learned politically is it should never have seen the light of day if it wasn’t going all the way. This goes to the Chris Luxon negotiation skills. It should have been either dead before it started, or it got the full treatment. What we got was a half-baked, deeply divided mess that ended up achieving nothing. Even those who argue it started the debate are wrong. Because if it's floated for another day we won't carry on where we left off. We will have to start all over again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 7th of April, how will our share market react today after we dealt with the worldwide tariffs from the U.S?   The amount of rubbish we are buying from the likes of Temu appears to be stabilising.   Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the super rugby weekend and Liam Lawson's first race back at Racing Bulls. 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 is next month and the polls are showing Albanese's Labor out in front.  Opposition leader Peter Dutton is scrapping his scheme that meant Canberra civil servants couldn't work from home if he was elected, after it was criticised by Labor.  Anthony Albanese has said anyone with solar power will get $4000 towards the cost of a battery. But what's the catch?  Australian Correspondent Steve Price talks to Mike Hosking about everything that's happened in the lead up to the election.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stock market has seen the biggest daily fall since the Covid-19 period, as a result of Donald Trump's tariffs announced last week.  Beijing responded with its own retaliatory tariffs, which caused the S&P 500 to fall another 6%.  Craigs Investment Partners Director Mark Lister says it's a historic fall.  "It's pretty rare for things to fall as much as that in a two-day period."  Lister talks to Mike Hosking about where New Zealand sits in the aftermath.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon says he has no regrets about the Treaty Principles Bill. Parliament's Justice Committee has recommended the bill not proceed when it returns to the House, after public submissions were overwhelmingly opposed to it. The Prime Minister says it's time for the debate to end. He told Mike Hosking allowing the bill to proceed to committee stage, but refusing to support it any further, is the right approach. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shopping habits have shifted - cheap goods were up by 33% last year, which is more than double across 5 years.  Kiwibank says spending on websites like Temu and Shine have stabilised at a high level.  First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson says price is the biggest driver for people deciding where to spend their money.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public feedback means small dwellings can now be built without consent up to 70 square metres.  It was originally set at 60 square metres.  Housing Minister Chris Bishop says it adds extra optionality for people.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently retired Chair of the Parole Board, Sir Ron Young, is saying short sentences may be doing more harm than good.  "We can't do anything about the crime that someone's committed who's already in prison," he said. "We can try and do something about the crimes that they could commit by reducing reoffending, and that's putting huge effort into rehabilitation."  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States is reacting to Donald Trump's tariffs, with people turning out in their thousands to protest across the country.  The markets have been in 'meltdown' since US President Cannounced global tariffs.  Trump has returned to the White House after three days away, and tomorrow he will meet with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking about the fallout.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is reacting to the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump over the weekend.  The Dow is down 2,231 points and the biggest names in tech have been hit hard.  Apple is down 16% in two days.  Greg Smith of Devon Funds Management talks to Mike Hosking about the fallout.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here was a headline to mark the day: "We aren't ready, the next pandemic is coming."  In that line of paranoia is everything that was wrong with the five year anniversary, if that’s the right word, of our first lockdown for Covid.  As two commissions have, or continue, to wade through any number of submissions, it's all a waste of time.  There are those who are determined to forecast doom and, as such, would do exactly the same next time as they did five years ago.  I noted Ashley Bloomfield popped up for a chat. He told us the bird flu is a worry, and he should have listened more. What's that actually mean? Listen more?  Does it lead to anything? Of course not. It’s a sop.  The epidemiologists who flooded our living rooms would unquestionably be no different in Covid 2.0 than they were with the original.  In fact, if anything should have come out of 2020 and lockdown it should have been we don’t mark anniversaries. We shouldn’t be allowed to interview either Hipkins, Bloomfield, or Ardern about Covid ever again. Hearing them whine is bad for your health. It is triggering.  One Covid report is already out. It was a reflection, ironically, of the Covid response itself, limited in its scope. It was a stitch up designed to look like a report.  You’ve had a bit of a look at how we handled it. But the terms of reference were very much designed not to illicit anything too dramatic.  Part two is being driven by the new Government, aghast at part one's scandalous limitations. They're working away feverishly as we speak.  But it doesn’t matter what it says. Nothing will come of it.  As I've said from day one, luck is your pre-determining factor.  Get a government of competence and you stand a chance. Get some interlopers the way we did, and you're done for.  If I learned anything, it is that warnings about doom from the likes of Bloomfield mean little, or nothing.  If any Government here ever tries half the stuff they did again, from the pulpit of truth to vaccine mandates, to lockdowns for spurious reasons, the reaction would be vastly different.  And you don't need a commission of inquiry to figure that out. 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.    The Māori Party: 1/10  They get a '1' because they are legitimately there because of votes, and that’s democracy. As for the rest of the performance, they are a joke and an embarrassment to this country.    The Greens: 2/10  They get a '2' and not a '1' only because they get more support in the polls. But the prospect of Labour letting them round a Cabinet table? Book my ticket out.    Trump: 3/10  One better than the Greens because to counter tariffs of others is not free trade, but it is understandable. As for the rest, he's mental.    The Warriors: 7/10  Because three in a row is three in a row. And two more points this weekend, which on the Mike Hosking scoresheet, is four in a row.    The America's Cup: 4/10  I never thought it was going to held here so I wasn’t surprised, or disappointed. Although, in the spirit of being open for business, I would have liked to have seen a bit more enthusiasm from the Government. Pleading poverty is a poor man's game, not a go getter's.    The jobs report: 2/10  Saddest story of the week for me. To have over half the country regretting their career is a study in lack of planning, or lack of action, or lack of living life to the full.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The irony was not lost on me this week as two things job related happened.  The first was the survey that suggested over half of us regret our career choice.  That struck me as profoundly sad. Say whatever you want about work and work-life balance, but a lot of hours are spent in a lifetime grafting. Virtually everyone, at least at the start, has to work.  Everyone of course should work because it's good for you. But to have a lifetime of regret is to not have really lived at all, or at least not to your full potential.  Juxtaposing that was the surprise, to me anyway, that I had been here at Newstalk ZB for 25 years.  A smaller surprise was on the same day, April 1st, Morning Report at Radio New Zealand was marking 50 years. I spent a short stint at Morning Report in moderately, although ultimately, I think, successful circumstances.  Without word of a lie I have loved every day, of every week, of every month, of every year. Not just at Newstalk ZB, but the 44 years I have been in this game.  Of course I had bad days. I had bad employers, I had ropy times and I've been sacked twice by morons, but I've never regretted picking doing what I do.  Which is a small miracle, given I have never really been able to tell anyone with any clarity why I picked this game in the first place, other than it seemed appealing.  I had no mentors or people I knew in media. As a kid I listened to the radio and thought that sounds fun. As it turns out, I was right.  The other small saviour has been the fact that not only didn’t I regret it, it worked out moderately well in terms of gainful employment, because at no stage in the past four decades have I been able to conjure up an alternative.  I literally cannot think of anything else I would want to do.  I would like to think though, and this goes to the survey, that if it hadn't gone well or I did regret it, I would have done something about it.  Because life's big lesson is life is short. And if you aren't rolling with it, you are fighting it.  And that’s no fun and it wears you out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back once more to Wrap the Week with Mike Hosking.  They discussed going for a coffee run in the stormy weather, compulsory Shakespeare in schools, and Mike’s 25 years at Newstalk ZB.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on Japan this weekend as Liam Lawson races for the first time since his demotion from Red Bull Racing.  The Kiwi driver has lost his seat in the Formula 1 team two races into the season, being replaced with Yuki Tsunoda for the Japanese Grand Prix.   Former Williams Team Manager Peter Windsor told Mike Hosking the problem with motorsport and F1 today is that it's very data driven.  He says everything is done according to data and telemetry overlays from the driver in the other car, and there’s just too much information.   “Liam's a very natural racing driver, and he just needs to be allowed to get out there and race.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 4th of April, we get the reaction both from New Zealand and around the world to Trump’s “sweeping” tariffs.   A lot of eyes will be on F1 this weekend as Liam Lawson hops back behind the wheel of the Racing Bulls car, and former Williams team manager Peter Windsor offers his thoughts.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss 25 years of Mike on ZB and compulsory Shakespeare in school 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.

Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement is being described as a shockingly radical shift in policy.   The US President announced 10% tariffs on almost all goods entering the US, including from New Zealand.  Many countries face much higher tariffs, including China with a combined 54% levy.  Former US Department of Treasury Economist Brad Setser told Mike Hosking it’s a fundamental break in the US’ post-WWII international economic policy approach and is an enormous political and economic risk.  He believes the magnitude of the tariff increase does threaten to push the US into a recession.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister's confident two of the Government targets will improve this year.  Health New Zealand data shows child vaccinations, cancer treatment times, and ED stay lengths have improved, but wait times for elective treatments and first specialist assessments have lengthened.  Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the wait times are of particular concern.  He says the targets are in place to highlight these issues, and more money is being allocated to facilitate.   Brown told Hosking the elective boost aims to ease the situation by outsourcing electives to the private sector, and $50 million has been allocated to the boost.  The Health Minister also says problems at Gisborne and Nelson hospitals are being addressed.  Gisborne's facing critical staff shortages, while senior staff have spoken out with concerns about the level of care in Nelson.  Health New Zealand staff are now in Nelson, putting a plan together with local clinicians, while in Gisborne, jobs are being recruited for.  Brown says there are challenges at both hospitals, and solutions are on the way.  He says some unions are trying to make a lot of noise and is asking them to work with Health New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister is playing down New Zealand's chances of getting an exemption to Donald Trump's 10% tariffs.  The Trump administration says it's imposing the tariffs in response to our 20% tariff on US goods.  Todd McClay says our average tariff on US goods is actually less than 2%, and the 20% figure appears to be based on the trade balance between our countries last year.  He told Mike Hosking we may be able to correct their record, but we probably won't be able to change their minds.  McClay says even if New Zealand officials can make their case to the US counterparts, the minimum base rate for tariffs remains at 10%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Goff is standing by his comments about US President Donald Trump as he arrives back in New Zealand. The former High Commissioner to the UK was sacked from his role after questioning whether Trump understood history. Goff says Trump's treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prompted the question. He told Mike Hosking the comments weren't made flippantly. Goff says he thought about them seriously and wanted to know why the Trump administration was appeasing Russia. He also acknowledges his comments were risky, but didn’t expect to be fired for them. Goff says he thought the comments were close to the line, without crossing it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A housing development for you.  A housing development that once again shows how reality beats theory.  Housing is a New Zealand obsession. We love housing and we long to own housing.  It encroaches on immigration and whether too many people lead to higher prices.  It encroaches on politics and the expectation as to what Governments do about housing and the prices of said housing.  It involves social housing, emergency housing, KiwiSaver, incomes, the Reserve Bank, deposits and LVR's. It is all encompassing.  In theory, if you could make building cheaper, we would be keen, wouldn’t we? Yes, I hear you say.  So what happened to Clever Core?  Clever Core is Fletcher's prefab house building factory.  The factory is closing.  Why, I hear you ask? Because, to quote Fletchers, "it had not worked".  Demand was the issue because there wasn’t enough of it.  If you had conducted a survey and asked, "could prefab housing help the so-called housing crisis in this country?" you would have got an overwhelming yes.  Yet, did we follow our enthusiasm up with sales? Obviously not.  Resistance from the building industry is another phrase Fletchers used.  You see, as I have said many times, we are happy to moan about the cost of building, the cost of GIB, how cheap it is in Australia and how much a deck out back for the BBQ would be. But prefab? Oh, no thank you.  Essentially, we are hosing snobs. It's sort of like with coffee - we moan about $6 for a flat white but pay it anyway.  Not that there is anything wrong with that. If you want to pay anywhere between $10,000-35,000 per square metre that’s great.  But what Clever Core reveals is we don’t actually want to save. Often, we don’t actually want solutions.  What we want is what we have, and like, except at a better price. We want what we can't have.  What we can have, we don’t want.  Ask Fletchers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The view of a Chinese vessel in our waters highlights our complicated relationship with the country.  The visit has been approved by the New Zealand Government, as part of a NIWA research project.   Although its movements have been approved, Australia is not the biggest fan, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying he would prefer it wasn’t off Victoria’s coast.  NZ Contemporary China Research Centre Director Jason Young told Mike Hosking we have a complicated relationship.  He says that while New Zealand does have a very important trading relationship with China, some of their actions in the Pacific go against our interests.  Young says both Australia and New Zealand need to be able to manage those areas of difference, while maininting the positive aspects of the relationship.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new affordable housing solution has just been completed.  The Living House, designed by RTA Studio, takes just six weeks to build, costing only $333 thousand.   It costs $253,000 less than the Government’s average Kainga Ora build, and Architect Rich Naish told Mike Hosking they got frustrated by the failure of successive governments to build truly affordable housing.   He says they’ve designed it to be scalable, optimising it down to the cheapest and simplest build so it can be repeated by individuals or organisations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 3rd of April, the final report into a $627 million mental health programme has been released. Has it hit its targets?  Private school enrolments are booming – is the disparagement of our public school system to blame?  Kiwi caddie Steve Williams has a new book about his 12 years on the bag for Tiger Woods, so we need to talk to him about his success and regrets.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been about 14 years since Kiwi Steve Williams last caddied for the great Tiger Woods.  But to coincide with the 2025 Masters and the 20th anniversary of Woods’ iconic shot on the 16th hole at Augusta – Williams is releasing a new book.  ‘Together We Roared: Alongside Tiger for His Epic Twelve-Year, Thirteen-Majors Run’ is filled with behind the scenes moments, delivering the definitive account of one of the most successful golfer-caddie partnerships in the sport’s history.   Williams told Mike Hosking he found the process of writing the book to be like a memory – a great way to rewind and relive the journey of the time he spent caring for Woods.   He says that during the partnership, there was little time to celebrate Woods’ successes, as every moment was focused on the next championship.  “That pursuit of trying to chase down Jack [Nicklaus]’s record of 18 major championships sort of became an obsession,” he said.  “The book actually has, has been a real good thing for me – to be able to actually sit down and take a look at what he achieved.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says Donald Trump's 'liberation day' could better be described as 'watch your wallet day'.   The US President will be announcing his next round of tariffs in about half an hour.   Dartmouth College Economics Professor Douglas Irwin say tariffs could be across the board or set specifically to each country.   He told Mike Hosking a blanket option would create a lot of economic pain.   Irwin says that includes fruit, clothes, shoes, and other manufactured goods.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief a surge in Kiwi parents making significant sacrifices to afford sending children to private schools won't last.    In some instances, private school enrolments are closed until 2027, families are being asked to submit videos of their home life, and entrance tests are being made tougher.  Independent Schools of New Zealand chief executive Guy Pascoe told Mike Hosking around 4% of New Zealand students are enrolled at private education.   He says parents are making huge financial sacrifice to make it happen, and there's concern there'll be a point when parents simply can't afford it anymore.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $664 million mental health programme seems to have challenges to address to help it reach its targets.  The Access and Choice Programme received the five-year funding in Labour's 2019 'Wellbeing' Budget.   It's aiming to support 325 thousand people per year, but during 2023-24 saw just over 207 thousand.   Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission chief executive Karen Orsborn told Mike Hosking awareness is an issue.  She says people don't always know where to go, and it's also about how GPs make it easier for patients to seek the support.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's crackdown on cowboy builders is seen as a step in the right direction.   Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says there'll be more transparency about suspended builders, stronger discipline, and an improved complaints process.   Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma told Mike Hosking the current disciplinary system doesn't provide enough of a deterrent as it's very slow, lacks transparency, and many consumers don't even know it exists.   He says this will try to improve the system to a level where they can not only address the small instances of bad performance, but also provide more transparency to homeowners.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two special elections in the US are racking up quite the price tag.   Voters are heading to the polls in two special elections in Florida and Wisconsin.  Florida's holding special elections for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's congressional seats, and both seats are critical races for Republicans, given their slim majority in the House.  The battleground state of Wisconsin is also voting on a new judge for the state's top court.  It's become the most expensive judicial contest in US history, with more than $90 million being spent on campaigning, including $21 million by Elon Musk.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Musk has been accused of trying to buy the election.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump tariffs are looming over Australia.  Washington is expected to announce new tariffs on its trading partners tomorrow, and opinions are divided on whether Australia will get pinged.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that they shouldn’t get hit too badly as there’s currently a $17.9 billion trade surplus with the United States.  He says there could be a couple of flow on effects that could impact Australia, such as China flooding their market with cheaper products, or buying less of their minerals as they won’t selling as much to the US.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As exercised as some have been this week about social media, the Greens and their behaviour, the bigger issue is not the Greens, but Labour and all who might support them into Government.  As much as we may froth and hyperventilate about any given issue of the day or small firestorm, who runs the country and how is what we all ultimately should be focused on.  We will not be going back to a single large party ever again, for two reasons.  One is because Covid is not repeating and, even if it did, I doubt we would panic again electorally the way we did.  Two is given when Labour was left to their own devices, they literally destroyed the place, most of us, for good or bad, have come to the conclusion that a mix of parties under this MMP system we seem to have voted for an accepted is here to stay.  So National need at least one player, probably two, and the same applies to Labour.  For now, National seem to have got lucky and/or well organised. Whether you support it or not, broadly speaking National, Act, and NZ First get along fine.  The media try to stir bits of trouble around minor matters periodically and we are yet to see a full-blown campaign post a first term, where the gloves are off a bit and a few punches might get thrown. But overall, things are cordial and well managed.  Labour on the other hand need certainly the Greens and possibly the Māori Party. Both are increasingly ropey.  Both are increasingly belligerent, both are increasingly fringe and both are an electoral nightmare for a so-called mainstream, left-wing party.  The Greens of James Shaw, Rod Donald, and Jeanette Fitzsimons are long gone.  The Māori Party of Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia are long gone  Both the current Greens and the Māori Party are anti-establishment disruptors who revel in a type of anarchy, almost as though they are outside the system. All of that is fine if you like that and want to vote for it.  But it is completely incompatible to running a country, even for a Labour Party that has become increasingly left-leaning and socialist.  If you don’t need, or want, to be in power, and I don’t think half the Greens or the Māori Party actually do, you can say what you want.  But Labour do want power, and their problem is they are going to end up having to answer for an increasingly unhinged rabble or at least try to dress it up as something they can handle.  That’s their problem. I don’t think they have the wherewithal to even come close to pulling that trick off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 2nd of April, New Zealand has abandoned its bid to host the America’s Cup after the Government denied funding.  NZ Rugby have sorted out their advertising stoush with Ineos, and we seem to have done alright out of it. So where to next for the All Blacks brand and company?  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell have a spirited discussion about the Greens, the Māori Party and the ferry deal on Politics Wednesday.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new test for Parliament's processes.  Te Pāti Māori MPs are refusing to appear before a Privileges Committee hearing about last year's haka in the House, after being told they can't appear together with their lawyer.  Labour MP Peeni Henare appeared before the committee last month, with the committee finding his conduct was disorderly but didn't amount to contempt.  He apologised for leaving his seat to perform a haka, but stands by performing it, saying he'd do it again  Fellow Labour MP Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  She says Labour believes in taking part in the Privileges Committee process, but this is an issue for Te Pāti Māori and Parliament to navigate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petro-chemical conglomerate Ineos have dug deep into their pockets to resolve financial differences with New Zealand Rugby over kit sponsorship.  A settlement has been reached after NZR lodged an injunction at the High Court in Wellington – the figure reportedly in excess of $21 million.  Ineos get to terminate the deal after three years, and NZR can now attempt to secure a new sponsor.  Halo Sport Managing Director Simon Porter told Mike Hosking NZR now has some prized assets to sell, and have some time to ensure they get a good deal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voters are heading to the polls in two special elections in Florida and Wisconsin.  Florida's holding special elections for Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's congressional seats and both seats are critical races for Republicans, given their slim majority in the House.  The battleground state of Wisconsin is also voting on a new judge for the state's top court.  It's become the most expensive judicial contest in US history, with more than $90 million being spent on campaigning, including $21 million by Elon Musk.  Republican Strategist Matt Terrill told Mike Hosking while the Republicans are confident they’ll win Florida, a different race is unfolding in Wisconsin.  He says the outcome will send a signal as to where the pulse of the country is – if the Trump-backed candidate wins, it signals the strength of his mandate, but if the Democratic candidate wins, they’ll have a point to rally behind.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central and local government are being challenged to work together to attract major events.   The bid for Auckland to host the next America's Cup in 2027 has been abandoned after central government refused to put money up for it.   Major Events Group Founding Director Chris Simpson says New Zealand could host great events if the investment is there.   He told Mike Hosking it's something that needs strong collaboration.   Simpson says the events can't go ahead if cities are keen but the Government's not.  He says New Zealand isn't going to be able to pull in huge amounts of money like the Middle East, and we can't just rely on good will.   Simpson says we have a track record of holding great events but that just doesn't cut it anymore.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Privileges Committee will meet with or without Te Pati Māori.  The party's refusing to front up for alleged threatening behaviour towards David Seymour during last year's Haka in the House.  Co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi —along with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke— have all been separately summoned.  They say they haven't been allowed to appear together, at a time their lawyer can attend.  Constitutional Law Expert Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking the committee will meet regardless.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.