The Mike Hosking Breakfast

We're being told the potential for New Zealand's 'blue economy' to take off will depend on the Resource Management Act.  A new Westpac report says the marine economy could grow to $14 billion in 10 years by switching to more sustainable practices.   Aquaculture New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Hooper told Mike Hosking aquaculture was recognised for the part it could play, but has yet to flourish due to RMA restrictions.  He hopes the fast-track approval processes shortened time frames, certainties, and more nuanced approach could be the circuit breaker to unleash new opportunities.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education Minister Erica Stanford has said David Seymour overstepped the mark in his role as associate with his crackdown on teacher-only days last year.  The Minister said Seymour did not run the announcement past her before making it. Seymour disputes the overstep.  "We've got a set of rules which are very clear, and we work very well together, but of course there's always people who try and beat these things up," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 17th of February, we've got a new tourism campaign to target Australia and was David Seymour told off by Erica Stanford over teacher only days? What would you pay for a pint? Is $16 too much, like a venue in Christchurch is charging. Andrew Saville and Mike talk some record breaking success for individual sports over the weekend and whether the first weekend of Super Rugby had any hype.  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.

More polls are in for the upcoming Australian election.  A poll in The Australian says the swing to the coalition would be about 3% if an election was held next weekend.  If realised, Peter Dutton would have eight seats, where he needs 16.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price says all polls are indicating to a repeat of the Albanese government.  "I think, that Anthony Albanese is going to hang on by his fingernails and form a minority government," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's tourism industry is encouraging Aussies to cross the ditch in a new campaign called 'Everyone Must Go.' How is the government working with Tourism New Zealand to make the campaign a success?  Why haven't Australians been travelling here?  Tourism New Zealand boss René de Monchy answers these questions and more with Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the proper size of a pint?  It's always up for debate, and one Christchurch pub owner Nick Inkster is backing his charge of $16 per pint.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study has shown teachers, nurses, social workers and midwifes are badly hit financially while on unpaid university placements.  The study says it can take eight years for a nurse to have higher cumulative earnings than someone who worked for minimum wage at the same time.  Senior lecturer in maths and statistics at the University of Canterbury Leighton Watson joins the show.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe is rattled after confirmation they will be left out of Russia-Ukraine peace talks.  French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency summit in response that will take place tomorrow.  And US Vice President JD Vance has made a blistering speech in Munich, telling European leaders their biggest threat was not China or Russia, but came "from within."  Poland's TVP world chief political correspondent Aaron Dahmen talks to Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of skilled workers are packing up and leaving the country due to delays in infrastructure projects. Engineering New Zealand boss Richard Templer said the numbers aren't an exaggeration.  "In addition to the engineers, there's also the construction workforce. These are the people who, you know, build the roads, the hospitals, the schools, everything like that," he said.  What's the plan to solve the problem?  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investors are flocking to Airbnb in droves, with stock up 14% - the biggest one day move on record.  Hermes is also celebrating. The luxury brand's fourth quarter sales are up 18%, exceeding estimates.  Meanwhile, Kiwi's remain plagued with the cost of living: Food prices were up 1.9% last month, the highest rise since July 2022.  Greg Smith of Devon Funds Management joins the show to discuss these leaps.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and Russia will meet in Saudi Arabia over the coming days to discuss peace talks around the war in Ukraine.  United States officials have said Europe will be excluded from discussions.  How will this end?  US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE. 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 New Zealand economy: 6/10  Real signs of life this week. Apples and pears crash through a billion dollars, red meat had big gains outside China, Westpac are forecasting more growth later this year, and real estate is showing signs of turning around. And JB Hi-Fi's profit is through the roof.    The golden visa: 7/10  It's not a panacea but it's a good, solid, tangible start that has been begging to be triggered.    Donald Trump: 8/10  Yes, there is carnage and mayhem and fury and noise but, on balance, it's spectacular watching. And talk about getting stuff done.    Fluoride: 2/10  Stupidest debate of the week. Councils are already snowed under with work, cost, and incompetence. They can't take on a ministry, without a leg to stand on legally, and waste everyone's time huffing and puffing.    McDonald's in Wanaka: 2/10  Second stupidest debate of the week. We either want jobs and growth and tax paid, or we don’t.    The Super Bowl: 8/10  A record audience after a record season. That is how you run a sport.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who knew helping charities was so hard?  Or to put it another way, who knew charities were doing so well?  We have had a clean up and clean out. We are shifting and shuffling and de-cluttering.  This happens a bit at our house – I married a person who loves stuff, until they don’t. It hasn’t applied to me yet, but it applies to a lot of other stuff.  Tables and chairs and clothes are in the current pile. So rather than dump them we ring people.  We ring hospice - they are full.  We ring SPCA - they are full.  We ring Salvation Army - they are full.  We ring Red Cross - no reply. No answer phone, no nothing.  We ring Habitat for Humanity - no reply. No answer phone, no nothing. How can I give you stuff if you can't answer the phone?  We ring City Mission - they are full.  You literally cannot give stuff away.  If all these people are full, they seemingly can't give it away either. If they can't give it away, could that mean that demand is down? Does no one want a table or a set of dining chairs? Is the country not really in the dire state they keep telling us it is?  We did have the problem a while back where some charities started to get picky on things like clothes because people would dump tat and, essentially, rubbish.  But in our pile, clothing wise, there is a Kenzo sweatshirt. Who doesn’t want a Kenzo sweatshirt?  We did think we could save it for the kids. Someone, some time, is going to need a flat full of stuff.  Half our old stuff is in fact scattered around various flats. But storage is money and who the hell knows when, or if, your kids are going to need a set of glasses or a side table.  So we thought the most use right here, right now are the army of those in genuine need.  But it seems there is no army because everyone is full.  So to the dump it is. Is that a waste?  Or is it good news that the so-called "need" is nothing like they make it out to be? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump says talks to end Ukraine's war will start immediately, although the US is indicating it won't regain all its territory.  A prisoner exchange is also likely.  The US President's spoken with Russia's Vladimir Putin, calling the phone call "lengthy and productive".  Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says it's "unrealistic" to think Ukraine will get all its territory back.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that while Ukraine's President is not directly saying they’re being sidelined by Trump in the negotiations, he’s saying it’s “not pleasant” the US President called Putin first.   Zelenskyy is also saying that Ukraine will not accept any peace effort without the Ukrainians’ direct involvement.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking once more to Wrap the Week that was.  They shared their plans for Valentine's Day, discussed the outrageous bids on items in the Barry Humphries auction, and the kids getting pies for lunch as the school lunch providers scramble to get on top of logistics.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 14th of February, former Australian PM Scott Morrison is in the country to promote economic growth, so we get some tips from a man whose country outstripped our own economic production.  School lunches have been in the media a lot this week, so we talk to the provider to see what's going wrong and if it can be fixed.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson share their Valentine's Day plans while Wrapping 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.

The Government is being urged to make healthy national food supply a priority.  Growers can currently only farm vegetables with consent from regional authorities and want changes as part of resource management reform.  Horticulture NZ says without urgent change to this, the country risks losing a significant portion of its homegrown food supply by 2030.  Vegetables NZ Chair John Murphy told Mike Hosking that growers in key areas such as Horowhenua face the real prospect of overzealous local authority officials pulling up the driveway and telling them not to grow there anymore.   He says the burden of regulation is massive here.  “You heard the Prime Minister talk about barnacles on the boat slowing us down earlier in the week ... this isn’t a barnacle on the boat slowing us down, this is a hole in the boat.”   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those who provide school lunches are taking a cheat-day today to get on top of food production, following widespread criticism of late deliveries.  An admission from the Government's new school lunch provider that giving pies and Pita Pit to students wasn't part of the plan.  Compass Group, which was awarded the contract for the new cheaper school lunch programme, has faced criticism for the issues with the roll out.  It will today depart from the agreed menu in an effort to get on top of production.  Paul Harvey from the School Lunch Collective told Mike Hosking there are things they haven't got right, but they're determined to improve.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is sharing his advice on how to deal with an imminent tariff announcement from Donald Trump.  The US President has teased another round of sweeping reciprocal tariffs following the announcement of steel and aluminium tariffs earlier this week.  Morrison told Mike Hosking governments just need to make their case, as Mexico, Canada, and Australia did.  He says the current Australian government secured the same exemptions he did last time, and Trump will hear a good argument.   Morrison celebrated New Years with the President at his Mar-a-Lago property.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's confident it can bring an end to New Zealand's grocery duopoly.  It's laying out plans to challenge the incumbents, Foodstuffs and Woolworths, and remove regulations discouraging competition.  It wants to pave the way for a new player to enter the supermarket sector.  Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking there has been competition in the past.  She says the country let the supermarkets merge together and turn into two mega entities.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like most things in life, there is nuance and subtlety that is lost along the way.  David Seymour is of a personality that undoubtedly gets up the noses of some. He might even bother the Prime Minister periodically.  But his Land Rover Escapade is not a sackable offence. Neither is his letter written, not as a minister, for Polkinghorne a sackable offence. Even if you want to combine them and throw in the Treaty Principals Bill because he's agitated people with it, he is still not in sackable territory, nor indeed anywhere close.  Here is the simple truth about MMP: why do we still report it like FPP and they're all in the same party?  Could the Prime Minister sack David Seymour from Cabinet? I guess, but then what would happen? The end of the Government.   Is he going to do that? No, he is not.  When companies take over other companies there is often a clean out of talent. When a new CEO arrives the same thing often applies. The business of running a country in an MMP environment is unique. You don’t merge or take over, you coalesce.  You are individual entities who agree on a series of ideas and a level of cooperation. It won't go perfectly. It might not even go swimmingly, because at no stage did you ever merge into one. You always remained, in this case, as three.  When Chris Hipkins calls yet again for a sacking —and surely we are bored witless with that tactic— he tells us that not since the 80's and Lange and Prebble have we seen in-fighting like this.   He is of course wrong. He forgets Peters and Shipley, and Peters and Bolger, and Anderton and Clark, and Kopu and Shipley, and the NZ First Tight Five. He forgets a vast swathe of our local and recent history and, not just that, he forgets Prebble and Lange were in the same party. Seymour and Luxon are not.  In many respects we are lucky with this current line up. In a small country coalition choice is limited. In Spain and Germany where they have recently stretched the bounds of credibility in forming deals, they have collapsed.   This deal won't collapse. The majority of the time there is cordiality, respect, and productivity. But reportage doesn’t appear to feature those aspects.  The great frustration I have with the Hipkins approach and the coverage of this frippery is that this is a time of tremendous importance on serious matters.   This country is a mess, and it is in desperate need of addressing. The side show game increasingly looks from another age and also childish.  If Seymour, Peters, or Luxon is on the phone to the Governor General to dissolve arrangements then come back to me.   But stunts and a bit of personality back and forward is a day at the office, not a lead story and certainly not a crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LIV Golf seems to be growing with every event.  Upon it’s arrival, the tour was rather controversial due to its financial backing from Saudi Arabia, but its popularity is continuing to grow.  Professional golfer Ben Campbell joined the league in 2024 as a reserve player, but is making his official debut this year as a member of Bubba Watson’s squad.  Campbell told Mike Hosking that it’s definitely getting bigger and bigger compared to previous years.  “Even from last year,” he said.  “The crowds have got bigger just the, the whole following had got a lot bigger.”   “And LIV just producing such a good product – they're getting better and better and better at every event, which is exciting.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A soft landing for the red meat industry after a tough 2024.  Meat Industry Association data reveals there was an overall 3% decline in last year's red meat exports, which reached around $10 billion.  Total sheepmeat exports fell 3% in both volume and value.  Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva says it ended on a positive note with December's exports rising by 17%, reaching more than one billion dollars.  She told Mike Hosking they’re focused on putting one foot in front of the other for 2025 and making sure they continue what they do best: producing and exporting fabulous products to the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A reminder landlords aren't privy to the personal information of their tenants.   Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says many renters feel the need during the busy rental season to disclose more about themselves to secure a flat.   He says it can be tempting for landlords to collect this information when considering applications.  Webster says there's also been issues in the past of landlords black-listing tenants and sharing their information when they've had issues.  But he told Mike Hosking there are processes to protect landlord's property through bond arrangements in rental agreements and the Tenancy Tribunal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th of February, there’s potential reforms for both the fisheries and media sector – will either make an impact?  Can you still buy KFC and rent a house? The Privacy Commissioner has new rules for what landlords can and can't look through bank accounts for.  Kiwi golfer Ben Campbell has got a full-time gig with LIV Golf, and he joined to explain how it’s currently running and whether the stigma still exists.  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.

Sealord says the current Fisheries Act regulations are no longer fit for purpose.   Consultation's open on changes to the Act to allow catch limits to be more readily altered and let camera-fitted boats dump unwanted catch at sea.  If agreed on, the public would no longer be able to access fishing boat surveillance camera footage through official information requests.  Chief Executive Doug Paulin told Mike Hosking there's no longer so much need for such strict oversight.   He says they now have digital reporting, vessel locators going to MPI daily, and cameras on many of the fishing boats.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wānaka's business community doesn't appear to have been fazed by the now unlikely prospect of McDonalds setting up shop in town.   The fast-food giant has had its resource application to open in the town declined after 90% of submissions opposed the idea.   Wānaka Business Chamber Chair Jo Learmonth told Mike Hosking there was a variety of opinions in their community survey.   But she says most indicated they don't see it impacting their business, or the business economy.  McDonalds has two weeks to appeal the decision.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce says the council needs to financially compensate businesses affected by the Golden Mile works.  Construction on the Kent and Cambridge intersection with Courtenay Place will begin in April, as part of the project to revitalise the city's tired night-life stretch.  Mayor Tory Whanau previously floated a business support package, but officials yesterday said that was no longer an option.  Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Mike Hosking that while the works need to be done, support for operators is a must.  He says it's not good enough to put businesses and livelihoods in peril and not offer any protection.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mapped-out shake-up of television and screen production legislation is garnering overwhelming support.   The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has laid out five proposals to combat declining viewership and ad revenue in light of the global shift to streaming.   Merging the Film Commission with NZ on Air and requiring offshore platforms to invest in more local content are among the suggestions.   South Pacific Pictures Managing Director Andrew Szusterman told Mike Hosking the recommendations are on the money.   He says there's been consultation with the industry and the proposals being put forward are pretty good.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are contradictory statements from Donald Trump, who says there will be no exceptions to the steel and aluminium tariffs, but seems open to treating Australia differently.   The US President's signed off on 25% tariffs for all steel and aluminium imports, but yesterday Australia's Prime Minister spoke to Trump, who assured him he'd consider exempting Australia.   Trump says Anthony Albanese is a very fine man, and luckily for Australia, it buys a lot of US planes.   He says Australia is one of the only countries which has a surplus with the US, which he'll give great consideration to.  Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking the ball is firmly in the US’ court.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a sport that is hardly sizzling in a sports world that is sizzling, the pain for New Zealand Rugby has clearly just got a whole lot worse.  INEOS had a six year deal worth apparently $48 million. That’s $8 million a year.  They have walked three years early and as a result are being sued by NZR. I don’t blame them.  Sir Jim Ratcliffe is an interesting bloke.  He is involved in English football through Manchester United and with Mercedes F1. He was involved in the America's Cup with Ben Ainslie, but has subsequently fallen out.  I quite liked his cars. He wanted to keep making the old Land Rover Defender when they upgraded it a couple of years ago. He offered to buy the designs, Land Rover said no, so he invented his own a thing called the Grenadier, which although is no Land Rover, is not a bad looking thing to run up a paddock.  I suppose you could ask whether Ratcliffe is even aware of any of this. But my guess is yes, given his prominence at the football and at the sailing.  Has NZR, in INEOS' eyes, done something wrong? Have they not delivered on some KPIs? Is there a counter case here?  In what court is this to be heard? How much time will it take and what will it cost?  Is it a World Trade Organisation type-thing, whereby it's often not really worth the hassle because nothing tangible comes of it?  Is it simply one of those contracts where as much as you might want to put down on paper, people and actions count for more and if you don’t want to do business then basically that’s the end of that?  The union are the biggest losers and i feel sorry for them. No one at INEOS, I suspect, gives a monkeys. INEOS are global, from F1 to EPL. The All Blacks, although big in rugby, aren't huge globally and the hole left is more pressing for a sport than a petrol chemical company.  Ratcliffe looks shabby if the union case is correct and he has simply bailed.  But I doubt he is losing sleep. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new device is expected to save Australia’s wine producers hundreds of millions of dollars a year.  Researchers in Melbourne have developed a smoke sensor can determine whether grapes are still salvageable after being exposed to smoke and fire.   Wine Industry Smoke Detectors track smoke events like bushfires and burn offs around vineyards and advise winegrowers as to whether it’s likely to taint their grapes.   LA Trobe University Researcher Ian Porter told Mike Hosking all they want is for growers to avoid the emotional and financial stress from smoke events.  He says that in 2020, they lost $500 million worth of grapes, and they could have saved a lot if they’d had this technology.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has been making headlines recently, with Labour Leader Chris Hipkins even saying he should be removed as a minister for his behaviour.   The ACT Leader has been criticised after he drove a Land Rover up the steps of Parliament in a fundraising effort before being stopped by security. He has since apologised to the Speaker for his actions.   Seymour's also under fire for writing a letter of support for Philip Polkinghorne after the eye surgeon expressed concern around how Police were treating him.  He was later charged, and then found not guilty, of murdering his wife.  Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to delve into the topic and discuss the other major political news from the week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 12th of February, Kainga Ora have finally decided enough is enough when it comes to unpaid rent, and are making a move to recoup the losses.  How much trouble is NZ Rugby in money wise after starting legal proceedings against their main sponsor Ineos for a seeming breach of contract?  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk whether David Seymour should be sacked 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.

The Salvation Army's raising the alarm as living standards deteriorate across New Zealand.  Its state of the nation report's out, revealing one in four children also report they often or sometimes go without food.  It finds we have around 400 thousand needing welfare support, the highest number in decades.  Author Paul Barber told Mike Hosking the measurements are being taken to see both what’s improving and to be realistic about what’s getting worse.  He says they’ve seen a fantastic increase in the number of social housing available for those who need it, but they’ve also seen a disturbing rise in people living in the streets as emergency housing supports ended.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ineos has described New Zealand Rugby's legal action as unfortunate, as the two parties clash over a strained sponsorship agreement.  Ineos failed to pay their first 2025 instalment of an $8 million a year deal, which NZR see as confirmation they've exited the arrangement early.  The Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned petrochemical company claims they tried to negotiate a solution before legal action hit the table.  Local player agent Simon Porter told Mike Hosking the parties will have had extensive discussions already.  He says this would have been a last resort, and NZR would have been trying really hard to get Ineos across the line first.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says Kainga Ora still needs to be reasonable amid a crackdown on rent arrears.  The Associate Housing Minister says Kainga Ora's owed $16 million in unpaid rent.  Currently around 10% are behind on their rent.  The agency says those willing to enter a repayment plan have their debts reduced, but those unwilling could have their tenancy ended.  Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka told Mike Hosking those who need support will be helped, but those refusing to pay will face action.  Potaka says under the previous government, things got a little bit too loose with not enough being done to reclaim unpaid rent.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising gold prices could have miners flocking to the West Coast.  The regional council has told Local Democracy Reporting it's bracing for an influx of miners new to the industry, and its environmental rules.  Resource Management Chair Brett Cummings —who's a gold miner— warns the council’s consent workload will likely intensify.  Development West Coast Chief Executive Heath Milne told Mike Hosking the demand is real.  He says the value of gold at the Federation mine has jumped from $2.5 billion to $3.6 billion.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The highly contentious battle over fluoridated water could be picking up steam again, despite many being over it.   New Zealand First's new Member's Bill seeks to repeal the laws from 2021 giving the Director-General of Health central decision making authority.  It would also mandate binding local council referendums.  Dental Association Policy Director Robin Whyman told Mike Hosking the legislation already went through the whole select committee process where the public was consulted.   He says there was a weighing up of the pros and cons so it's not fair to say there hasn't been any input from the public, and at some point we have to stop discussing it.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A must read for a reality check is the ABC, as in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and their exploration of the New Zealand vs Australian economy.  Normally the ABC, like a lot of public broadcasters, tease you with a headline and end up concluding nothing so they can claim to be balanced.  Not so in this case. Gareth Hutchens is your author, and the headline is "Inflation has fallen in NZ and Aus - but which is faring better?"  It's always instructive to read specific comparisons, look at the wider picture, and crunch the numbers, and this piece does that.  Boy does it do that.  It starts with a clue - "New Zealand's economy is in recession. Australia's economy is not in recession."  He then involves the Reserve Bank. Our cash rate peaked at 5.5% while Australia's peaked at 4.35%.  In unemployment, New Zealand's got to 5.1% and is probably still climbing. Australia's is under 4%.  New Zealand's labour force hasn’t grown in the past 12 months. Australia's labour force has been consistently growing for the past 12 months.  In the past three years Australia's economy hasn’t recorded a single quarter of negative growth.  New Zealand's economy has three quarters of zero growth and three quarters of negative growth. We've just experienced six consecutive months of negative growth.  When it comes to the Reserve Bank the article points out the respective RB's pursued different approaches to employment, as regards their approach to inflation.  The approach, according to the Australian Reserve Bank, was to preserve as many of the jobs that have been created in recent years as they could.  Here's the last line in the article; "and thousands of Kiwis have revealed which strategy they prefer by buying a plane ticket to Australia".  I think most of us could have guessed all of this.  But put it in words, with stats and graphs and lay it bare and a more depressing, debilitating, deflating and anger-inducing set of numbers would be hard to find.  And those of us left have, and are, living through it.  Talk about stark. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rowing officials have banned allowing what are effectively year 14 students —once referenced as "eighth-formers"— from competing at the premier annual Maadi Cup regatta after decades of angst.  The practice would sometimes see pupils spend more time grunting away in skiffs than studying in the classroom during the opening term of the year.  New Zealand School Sport boss Mike Summerell told Mike Hosking a resolution was found.  He says it came down to the idea of what’s fair.   Summerell says that their rules have always been that if you’re at school, you should be able to reap the benefits of everything that comes with school.  However, he says, while they believe sport is an incredibly important part of school, it’s not part of the education curriculum, and that allows sports to set rules that allow for a level playing field.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 11th of February, we have economic growth winging our way, so will that turn the economy around?  The Prime Minister is on to talk his dropping poll numbers, economic growth, and whether there's a riff between him and David Seymour.  Famed comedian Ben Elton is coming back to the country for a new show - so will Mike be the butt of more of his jokes? He joined the show for a quick chat.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Elton is a staple of the comedy scene.  He’s known as a pioneer for British comedy and the Godfather of Standup, though it’s his work on Blackadder and The Young Ones that he’s most well known for.  Elton’s been in the industry for four decades, last visiting New Zealand’s shores back in 2021 for his Ben Elton Live Tour.   The comedian is winging his way back this year, bringing his Authentic Stupidity Tour to Kiwi audiences, exploring the emergence of AI and the “idiocy” of the human race.  Elton told Mike Hosking that much of what he performs on stage is unpacking his bewilderment with the changes the new generations bring.  “I don’t really feel much different than how I ever did,” he said.  “We all feel 21 inside, our characters are largely formed by the time we’re in our twenties, and that’s who we remain. Meanwhile, the world passes on.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's power in the polls looks to be shifting.  Both the Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll and the 1News-Verian poll show the left bloc has the numbers to form a government if an election was held today.  Both also have Christopher Luxon losing support in the preferred Prime Minister stakes.  Curia pollster David Farrar told Mike Hosking people heard the bad economic news in December and are now unsure if the country will get out of it.  He interprets the poll as people not abandoning the Government out of anger, but rather waiting to see what happens next.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon admits the Government has work to do following its latest slide in the polls.  Both the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll and the 1News-Verian poll show the left bloc would have the seats to form a government.  Chris Hipkins is also gaining ground on Luxon in the preferred prime minister rankings.  The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking the results are a sign of how Kiwis are feeling.  He says people are facing a tough economic time, and they want the Government to resolve that situation for them.   Luxon's also rejecting Labour's calls for David Seymour to be removed from Cabinet.  Chris Hipkins is calling for the Act Leader to be removed as a minister after he drove a car up the steps of Parliament at a fundraiser without the Speaker's approval.  Seymour's also come under fire for writing to Police, advocating for Philip Polkinghorne, who went on to be charged, then found not guilty of his wife's murder.  Luxon told Hosking he's responsible for all ministers in the Cabinet and their conduct, and he's very conscious of that.  He says Seymour's letter to Police wasn't a breach of the Cabinet manual, as it happened before Seymour was a minister or in government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World leaders, tech bosses, and AI moguls have clashed at a Paris summit.  The city's hosting the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with French president Emmanuel Macron saying he wants to do better at leading in the field, but better governance and protections are needed.  Paris correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking talk of interfering with the largely unregulated social media sector has ruffled feathers, especially with US Vice President JD Vance.  Vance says the US is angry over what he calls “restrictive censorship”.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot could be riding on the Government's upcoming global investment summit.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's hoping to tease out more foreign financial investment in New Zealand's projects and industries at the two-day event in March   But Simplicity Chief Executive Sam Stubbs says he's concerned Luxon will spend more time focused on offshore money than domestic money.  He told Mike Hosking getting a dollar from overseas is a lot harder than getting a domestic dollar in the door.   Stubbs says we'll need to be providing a lot of incentives, something we've typically steered clear of in the past, and you can't just set up an expo tent, sprinkle it with a few All Blacks and expect foreigners to invest in New Zealand - it's a competitive business.  He says it's all very well to focus on the offshore money, but he thinks the size of the prize is much bigger domestically.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Resource Minister is pushing back on criticism of his party's bill, which aims to stop 'woke', environmentally informed bank service withdrawals.   A Massey University banking expert says the bill doesn't account for the commercial risks of lending to groups such as mining companies.   Resource Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking banks have to assess credit worthiness, but the current situation is problematic.   He asks when it became the banks’ job to ascertain the emissions problem of each cow, and how often businesses should be shut down by these luxury beliefs.  Jones says Massey University banking experts are disciples of woke-ism.  NZ First has faith they have the backing to support their bill if it gets pulled from the biscuit tin.  Jones says they have the support in two ways.  Firstly, through his ability to gut the energy settings for New Zealand's power sector, and secondly through his belief Labour has realised they went too far when it comes to climate hysteria.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melbourne suburbs Werribee and Prahran have seen the Liberal party secure a major election victory, as the Green concede.  Traditionally Labor 'heartland', Werribee has been an uninterrupted seat since 1979.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price joins the show to discuss what this means for a coalition, whether or not Peter Dutton can win the election, and why these developments may push the election date out.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Change is coming to the Auckland-Hamilton train, Te Huia, which will no longer stop at Papakura.  The train will instead call into Pukekohe, in a move to improve efficiency for North Waikato residents.  Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange talks to Mike Hosking about the change.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.