The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Episod

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  Mark the Week: Supermarkets have become the obsession of the campaign 24.09.2026 2min

  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.    Tax deductibility: 8/10  Most likely the best thing Labour will do this campaign. It's either desperation or the realisation of common sense. Either way we are better off for it.    India: 8/10  Most likely the most impactful thing this Government has done in its first term. It's not just an FTA, but one with the biggest growth engine in the world. We can't lose.    Supermarkets: 4/10  It's become the obsession of the campaign. Only ACT are left as the option if you see this for what it is, which is not a thing. If you think it’s a thing, the queue for your vote is now a long one.    Rugby: 4/10  It's quite a thing to double your earnings and still not make ends meet. And given yesterday, they don’t look the lot to tackle the hard stuff.    The Warriors: 6/10  The season was awesome, the playoffs were awful. Maybe next year.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Mike's Minute: Council amalgamation – something else this Govt didn't deliver 24.09.2026 1min

  Andrew Little had a good crack at the Government over council amalgamation.  He got interrupted by an alarm but made his point and his disappointment is well-founded.  My major criticism of this Government is they said a lot of stuff they simply didn’t deliver on.  Someone like Luxon would argue it's aspirational and it's better to fall short trying hard than not try at all.  Little is rightly ropeable about council amalgamation being delayed until after the election. If the Government flips of course, it will never happen at all.  Maybe, given the submissions made by various councils against the plan, that was what they wanted all along: stall until it's possibly too late.  "Unleashed chaos" was a good line he used. But then it was a good policy.  We are hopelessly over-counselled in this country and too many of them are run by a collection of knobs. They're well-meaning I'm sure, but complacency and mediocrity litter the council landscape.  The fewer of them the better.  Some got on with it and formed groups. Some kind of had a crack and some outright refused and you knew they were holding out until the bitter end.  But like all top-down restructuring, it causes time, energy, and money to be spent on things that, as it turns out, might be off, which is an irony given wastage was one of the reasons the idea was being proffered in the first place.  I like Little. He walks a fairly decent line between being a Labour wonk and a council representative, but also a guy with vast experience who plays the game and is professional with it.  So when he says this is poor form he means it, and I believe him, and he is right.  From 500 police that didn’t happen, to the reviews that never got to Cabinet, to the LNG deal that’s run out of time, to council amalgamation that wasted a lot of hours, this Government wasn't quite as sharp at delivery as they might have led you to believe when they showed you the tin.  It won't switch any votes. But you would want to hope for a slicker, more well-oiled machine after November 7th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the meeting between Trump and Xi, return of the White House press pool 24.09.2026 5min

  Donald Trump's welcoming Xi Jinping stateside as the US-China trade truce extends into next year.  The two Presidents are meeting face-to-face for a second time this year, with minimal gains for their Beijing summit in May.   But White House Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's already revealed some progress, with an agreement easing tariffs now expiring in January instead of November.  However, US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it's unclear whether the talks will bring any breakthroughs on key issues such as Taiwan or AI.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Wrapping the Week with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson: Critiquing Mike, school holidays, ageing 24.09.2026 10min

  Friday has come, which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to join Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  This week, they took the phrase 'week in review' a little more literally, critiquing Mike's on air performance.   They also discussed school holidays, ageing, and clothes steamers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Full Show Podcast: 25 September 2026 24.09.2026 1j 28min

  On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 25th of September, Chris Bishop is facing criticism for delaying the decision on council amalgamation until after the election, despite a tight deadline for proposals.  We speak to newish Fonterra CEO Richard Allen on the co-op's incredible result and if there's more where that came from.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson rip into Mike critiquing his week on air as they Wrap the Week that Was.  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.
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  Chris Medland: Formula 1 Journalist on Liam Lawson's return to Racing Bulls, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 24.09.2026 3min

  Filling in for Isack Hadjar may have opened the door for Liam Lawson.  Lawson is back with the Racing Bulls for this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Hadjar's been cleared to return from his wrist injury.  The Kiwi racer banked 14 championship points during his run in the Red Bull seat.  F1 journalist Chris Medland told Mike Hosking it gave Lawson the opportunity to show he could perform at a similar level, and if he'd been in that car all year, he would've also done a good job.   He says it's probably an opportunity he didn't expect to get, and the team wouldn't have given him in any other scenario, but it's strengthened his reputation.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  David Faulkner: Property Brokers General Manager of Property Management on improving rental affordability 24.09.2026 3min

  Rising incomes and a flattening rental market are becoming a relief for tenant's wallets.   Fresh data from Property Brokers has identified the share of income going towards rent has fallen from 44% to 40% in the year to June.  It also found the national weekly rent has stagnated, moving from $636 last year to $635 now.   Property Brokers General Manager of Property Management David Faulkner told Mike Hosking the last time rents plateaued was in the late 90s and early 2000s.   He says we're three years into a similar period, where rents plateau for about six years.  Faulkner also says rents in the regions have started to catch up – there's now very little difference between provincial New Zealand and the major centres.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Samantha Gray: Natural Health Product Government Affairs Director on the possible changes to dietary supplement export regulations 24.09.2026 3min

  Dietary supplement exporters are welcoming a possible change to outdated rules.   The Government's proposing to ease export and labelling rules, which the industry says could unlock an extra $500 million in exports each year.  It's being hailed as a gamechanger for an industry already worth $2.3 billion each year.  Natural Health Product Government Affairs Director Samantha Gray told Mike Hosking it will free up exporters from decades of red tape.   She says we have an anomaly in our regulations where exports have to comply with New Zealand standards, which are circa 1985 and completely outdated.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Richard Allen: Fonterra CEO on the co-op reporting a profit of $2.6 billion 24.09.2026 6min

  Fonterra's boss is extremely proud of the dairy co-op's latest results.  It delivered a $2.6 billion full-year profit, with total revenue hitting $27 billion.  It's confirmed a final Farmgate Milk Price payout for farmers of $9.69 – down from last year's record-high $10.16.  This year's total dividends come to 73 cents per share, including 16 cents paid out earlier from the sale of Fonterra's consumer arm.  Chief Executive Richard Allen told Mike Hosking they've overcome major challenges including weather events and geopolitical instability.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Chris Bishop: RMA Reform Minister and National's Housing Spokesperson on council amalgamation plans, Labour's latest election pledge 24.09.2026 5min

  RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says amalgamation plans have become a tougher picture than initially planned.  Some local mayors are frustrated with what they call a waste of time and money after being pressured to submit amalgamation proposals, under a tight deadline last month.  Cabinet's now said it won't make decisions on the proposals until next year after more analysis and development.  Bishop told Mike Hosking the Government's run out of runway ahead of election.  He says of the 18 plans, some were really good, while others were too complicated.  Speaking of the election, National is also questioning where Labour will get the money to fund its latest pledge.  The party's promising to fund new state homes, school and hospital upgrades, as well as housing subsidies and operating costs.  Leader Chris Hipkins says the $4 billion would come from the Government's capital allowance.   But Bishop told Hosking they live in a fiscal fantasy land.  He says the money has to come from somewhere, whether that's borrowing or future tax revenue.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Mike's Minute: The critical meeting for NZ Rugby today 23.09.2026 2min

  So we've got rugby getting together for what they are calling a "critical summit".  They don’t make money, they haven't made money for years, and they're forecast to lose even more money in the future.  Three starters for ten are lined up:  1) Expand Super Rugby with two new teams.  2) Continue Super Rugby and NPC but merge Super Rugby into the unions.  3) Replace both with a new 8-10 team competition.  The glass half-full part of this is the fact that revenue in the past decade has doubled. The problem is the costs.  So the revenue versus expenditure aspect of this seems fairly easy to address.  Can you make more money? Most likely not, so you trim your cloth to meet your income.  That of course comes with sacrifice and some wailing and gnashing, but in general terms business that has seen income increase but still isn't making money tends to be a bit loose at the checkout.  This all goes in part of course to what they see as their core reason for being.  Are they in fact a business? Are they more a collective designed to grow and see the game prosper? Is their guiding force to make money, or simply kind of break even and spread what they have about the place?  It is indisputably a sad state of affairs that our national game can't make money. But they are hardly the first to face the fiscal test.  Private money is an obvious answer. Some brutal decision making around what is nice to have versus what pays the way are obvious starting points.  The collective nature of the place strikes me as a problem. There are too many unions, too much provincialism, too much old boy nonsense and, dare I suggest, a bit much wokery.  What I know is the world is full of very successful sports and sports teams. I see a sea of clubs with growing fortunes, I see crowds, I see ticket prices, I see betting and I see so many aspects of sport actually not just growing but booming.  We have to produce one sport that actually does well.  Not all our sports can be on their knees.  And if rugby can't turn a dollar, what can? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Jenny Mitchell: Kiwi country musician on moving to Melbourne, touring with Kacey Chambers, new music 23.09.2026 8min

  Kiwi country musician Jenny Mitchell's success continues to grow.  In the last few years, she's moved to Australia, released an album, and has both awards and Australian Golden Guitar nominations under her belt.  She's also toured with Kasey Chambers and opened for the Lumineers, and is now set to release some brand new music.  Mitchell moved to Melbourne a year and a half ago, prompted by a "completely life-changing, incredible experience".  "I had the opportunity to tour with [Chambers], who is just an absolute icon," she told Mike Hosking.  "She took me around Australia on tour ... so just before that tour started, my partner Toby and I moved to Melbourne, and yeah, we're loving it."  "I think there's a lot of music here," she told Hosking.  "Not only is it great for me to play, but there's so many venues within walking distance of where we live that I can go and watch music and get inspired."  But how did Mitchell go from living in New Zealand to touring with a country music star like Kacey Chambers?   "A couple of years ago, I played a show of my own, a tiny little show, and there were two people there who came in, I knew they hadn't been to a gig before, and they sang just about every word to my songs," Mitchell explained.  "I had no idea that they are actually really great friends of Kasey's. They're not musical, but they love music and so they sent her my music."  And so one thing led to another, and soon enough Mitchell was being asked to join Chambers' tour.  "Completely changed my life."   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Jonathan D. Cohen: American Institute for Boys and Men Gambling Policy Lead on the rise of prediction markets and sports betting 23.09.2026 6min

  The business of sports betting and prediction markets is continuing to grow.  LeBron James is the latest major name to land a deal in the industry, signing a $15 million a year endorsement deal with Polymarket - nearly four times his NBA salary this season.   But the fast growth of the sector and ability to bet on anything is sparking some concerns.  American Institute for Boys and Men Gambling Policy Lead Jonathan D. Cohen argues that prediction markets may be more dangerous than traditional gambling platforms in some respects, as they blur the line between gambling and investing in some countries.  He told Mike Hosking a 19-year-old who's starting to build wealth could easily delude themselves into thinking it's a wise financial decision, and that's really dangerous for the long-term financial well-being of young people.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Full Show Podcast: 24 September 2026 23.09.2026 1j 28min

  On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 24th of September, is the LNG import terminal deal still going ahead? And have the Police and Health NZ figured out the right time target for mental health handovers?  The rise of sports betting and prediction markets on anything from politics to the next James Bond is booming – is some sort of regulation needed or is this just the evolution of gambling?  And Kiwi country singer Jenny Mitchell debuts brand new music exclusively 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.
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  Anishka Jelicich: New Zealand Winegrowers CEO on wine exports exceeding $2 billion in the year to June 23.09.2026 3min

  Wine drinkers across the globe are continuing to reach for Kiwi made bottles.  Our wine exports reached over $2 billion, with export volume increasing to over 306 million litres, in the 12 months to June.  Overall sales have increased 8% and represent the industry’s second-highest June year total on record.  New Zealand Winegrowers Chief Executive Anishka Jelicich told Mike Hosking in a difficult market, Kiwis are winning.  She says we are making fresher, lighter styles, rather than heaver ones some competitor countries are making.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB's Lead Rugby Commentator on the NZ Rugby Summit looking at how to cut outgoing costs 23.09.2026 2min

  The future of Super Rugby and the NPC are on the table today as New Zealand Rugby holds a critical summit.  The organisation needs to save $20 million a year, and options include merging teams or scrapping both competitions in favour of a new eight to ten team format.   Newstalk ZB's Lead Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking the issue for NZR is not revenue, as they're making enough money, they just need to trim some of the outgoing costs.  He says they've developed professional game over the last thirty years, but they haven't taken away any elements or reshaped the game.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Karla Bergquist: Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Director on the reduction of Police patient handover times to 30 minutes 23.09.2026 2min

  Health New Zealand's confident the new target time for Police handing mental health patients over to ED is about right.   The agencies had initially aimed to cut the handover time from an hour to 15 minutes as part of its phased response change plan.  That's now been revised to 30 minutes.  Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Director Karla Bergquist told Mike Hosking staff have been clear 15 minutes isn't enough time, and half an hour is more achievable.   She says there will be places where it's not realistic to even meet that target, but there's flexibility built in for that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Shane Jones: Associate Energy Minister on the LNG import terminal decision being put on hold due to the upcoming election 23.09.2026 4min

  The Government's run out of time to complete the procurement process for a billion-dollar LNG import terminal.  Energy Minister Simeon Brown had intended to sign a contract with a supplier before the end of the year out of two possible candidates, but no deal's been confirmed. New Zealand First and ACT haven't voiced support for this timing. But Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the Coalition agrees gas should be the energy buffer. However, he says Father Time has snatched the opportunity away, because for the next six weeks people need to concentrate on the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Wattie Watson: Professional Firefighters' Union National Secretary on the policy announcements to reset, review Fire and Emergency NZ 23.09.2026 3min

  Firefighters are welcoming policy from across the political spectrum, but insists action is needed now.  National's made an election promise to do away with the Fire and Emergency board and make it directly accountable to the Emergency Management Minister.  On the other side, Labour’s promising an independent review of the organisation's funding and operations.  Professional Firefighters' Union National Secretary Wattie Watson told Mike Hosking proper management is still desperately needed.  She says leaders are running rampant, there's no confidence in them, and no trust they're giving proper information.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Mike's Minute: The BSA legislation should have been delivered sooner 22.09.2026 2min

  If I was generous, I would let him off, given he has got more portfolios than anyone.  But Paul Goldsmith has delivered to Parliament the bit of legislation that will finally finish off the Broadcasting Standards Authority.  He did it with a flourish of slightly embarrassing bonhomie.  He saw its delivery as being the delivery of a promise, the promise being we would get legislation in the house before the election.  Technically he is correct. More realistically it means nothing, given Parliament is finished today and the legislation goes nowhere.  Under a different set of circumstances, at a different time, in a different election campaign, this sort of thing might have mattered.  The same way the Waitangi Tribunal review, that will go nowhere, would have mattered. Or the MAPAS medical school review, that will go nowhere, would have mattered.  Saying stuff and delivering on it should matter and this Government's weakness has been talking up big games all over town and not quite getting them across the line.  In reality though, it won't matter because in the grand scheme of things these issues are not a play for the majority of voters this time around.  This time around it's merely about the hole the Government has been digging us out of.  Did they do enough? Is the Labour damage repaired enough for you to believe that the current collective should be allowed to carry on?  That is the beginning, middle, and end of it.  Whether we have a BSA will not shift one vote, not even mine, and I'm one of the more exercised on the issue.  The same way they changed the law on earthquake prone buildings, the removal of the BSA won't change the world. But the world will make more sense without it.  It was irrelevant, wasteful and didn’t change a thing. No one was better because of it and all it did was eat up hours and dollars of broadcasters' time, filing reports from bored agitators who wanted to cause trouble.  If Goldsmith had been more efficient and actually done it properly, it would have been a nice, term one parting gift.  As it stands, it's at least something to look forward to next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.