The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Mike's Minute: The most important thing the Govt has done this term 21.09.2026 1นาที

For all the opprobrium heaped on the National Party for their supermarket call, the old National was out yesterday finalising the India free trade deal.  Of all the things this Government has done in its first term, the FTA with India may well be the most important.  It will last forever, it will grow, and it will become an increasingly important part of our economic story.  It's been made more important because for years it couldn't be done, apparently.  It got knocked back so often that Governments kind of gave up. It became a bit too hard.  Maybe they got stuck on dairy. But when you're stuck the trick is to look around the issues, not get bogged down by them.  The downside of course is some couldn’t see the upside because of the racism i.e. they didn’t vote for it. But plenty did, which means New Zealand broadly is still middle of the road and interested in tapping into those markets globally that show the most promise.  India represents the latest example of what this country does: we make stuff, and sell it to the world, and we are not quantity, we are quality. The growing middle class is all about quality.  It's why our wine sales are still growing and Australia's aren't.    But for those who think India is a mistake, who is it you would rather trade with?  China is contentious, but we've got past that for over two decades and it's done nothing but provide work and income for so many of us.  We don’t, and won't, get a deal with the Americans. They're not free traders.  So population wise, who's left? Russia? They don’t have an economy.  Yes, there's the EU. But it’s a half billion person collective with all the baggage that goes with it. We have a deal, but I bet you anything you want, our EU deal won't grow like the India deal will.  India is the standout growth story for the next decade and beyond. For us not to be part of that would have been a crime.  To sign what we have is a down payment on a better future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria Sten and Greyston Holt: Stars of Reacher spinoff Neagley on the making of the show 21.09.2026 9นาที

The Reacherverse has expanded.  Neagley, a spinoff of the Reacher TV series, is cantered around the character of Frances Neagley, whose popularity in season one saw her written into the following seasons as well.   It has a darker tone than the original show, and stars Maria Sten and Greyston Holt as Neagley and Detective Hudson Riley.  The first season was released after the Reacher season four finale, and Sten says in a lot of ways, the show is everything she thought it would be.  "You never know how these things are going to unfold and whether it works, but I do feel that for a first season of a spin-off, I couldn't have asked for better," she told Mike Hosking.  "I'm really proud of the show."  Her co-star Grayston is also thrilled with how the show turned out, telling Hosking he was incredibly proud of everyone involved.  "I think it's such a dynamic show. I think people are going to fall in love with our characters, and it's just fantastic, fantastic television."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr John Cameron: Registered GP on the concern that adult ADHD is being over-diagnosed 21.09.2026 3นาที

Is adult ADHD being over-diagnosed?  A new survey of British doctors shows 7 in ten of the 829 GPs survey believed the disorder is over-diagnosed.  They estimate more than 80% of patients they refer for assessment end up with a diagnosis.  But a registered GP believes it's not the same in New Zealand.  Dr John Cameron told Mike Hosking that based on overseas statistics and criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, New Zealand is probably well under-diagnosing ADHD.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Show Podcast: 22 September 2026 21.09.2026 1ชม. 29นาที

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 22nd of September, new data shows just how many billions were spent on the now-scrapped Fees Free scheme.  Property investors respond to the massive call from Labour: they won't be changing landlord interest deductibility.  Maria Sten and Greyston Holt are the stars of the new Reacher spinoff 'Neagley', which is currently the number one trending show globally, so we had them on for a chat. 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.

Tony Alexander: Independent Economics Commentator on ANZ revising its OCR forecast, potential for interest rates to reach 4% 21.09.2026 5นาที

There's a belief we're underestimating how high interest rates will go.  ANZ has revised its forecast for the next six months, now predicting three hikes to the Official Cash Rate, bringing rates from 2.75% to 3.5%.  Independent Economics Commentator Tony Alexander told Mike Hosking they'll likely climb even higher, sitting somewhere between 4% and 4.5%.   He says the Reserve Bank predicts that the economic growth rate will accelerate, the unemployment rate will fall, and as a result, inflation will eventually fall from 4.1% to around 2%, which doesn't really add up.  Alexander says everyone, including people like him, always underestimate how high interest rates will go during the tightening phase of a monetary policy cycle.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Ball: NZ Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager on Labour deciding to keep landlord interest deductibility 21.09.2026 2นาที

Labour's u-turn on interest deductibility is being seen as a huge relief for both landlords and renters.  The party's confirmed they won't make changes to current rules, which were changed by the Coalition to allow 100% of interest to be claimed on landlords' tax bills.    Hipkins said yesterday it doesn't need changing back because under Labour, landlords would pay a Capital Gains Tax.  NZ Property Investors Federation's Matt Ball told Mike Hosking the announcement came out of left field, but it is good news.  He says reducing the deductible would be a straight hit to the bottom line, and the consequences are passed straight through to the tenant.   Ball says every renter should breathe a sigh of relief – they're now more secure in their home, rents won't skyrocket, and landlords can now get on and invest in and improve their property.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Lauchlan: JLL New Zealand Managing Director on New Zealand ranking among the world's most transparent property markets 21.09.2026 4นาที

New Zealand's earned a silver medal for commercial real estate market transparency in the Asia Pacific, coming behind only Australia.  We also ranked seventh out of 88 countries overall in the 14th JLL Global Index. JLL New Zealand Managing Director Todd Lauchlan says we're doing well for our size. He told Mike Hosking it comes down to information, our legal systems in place, and deal efficiencies. Lauchlan says it ultimately means you can buy and sell with confidence and reduces the risk of going into a market that's less transparent. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penny Simmonds: Tertiary Education Minister criticises Fees Free scheme as new briefing reveals it cost over $2 billion 21.09.2026 2นาที

The Tertiary Minister says the Fees Free scheme allowed students to take advantage.  A briefing to Penny Simmonds shows the first-year subsidy covered more than two billion dollars in fees for more than 300,000 students from 2018 to 2025.  But Simmonds told Mike Hosking it didn't meaningfully lift participation or provide a good enough return, and encouraged some bad behaviours.    She says she saw kids opt not to enrol in their carpentry course and instead spend a year on the booze at university on Labour.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richie Barnett: Former Kiwis captain talks the Warriors semi-final loss to the Knights 20.09.2026 3นาที

The Warriors 2026 season is over - after a 12-10 semi final loss to the Newcastle Knights at Eden Park.  Coach Andrew Webster's admits he's frustrated that his side couldn't turn regular season momentum into play-off glory. He's also raised flags about many of the contentious referee decisions - including a loose carry from Greg Marzhew that was eventually called a penalty on Te Maire Martin for a strip.  Former Kiwis Captain Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking there's no doubt the big calls went against the Warriors.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commentary Box: Andrew Saville and Jason Pine discuss the Warriors finals exit, NZ Rugby's financial woes 20.09.2026 11นาที

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to review all the big sporting events of the weekend, including the Warriors semi-final loss to the Newcastle Knights, the Breakers opening win of the ANBL season and NZ Rugby's financial issues.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Show Podcast: 21 September 2026 20.09.2026 1ชม. 28นาที

Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 21 September. 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.

Mike's Minute: Are politicians trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist? 20.09.2026 2นาที

Oh the irony. In the same week we got all that hot air about supermarkets and co-operative bust-ups, we got the food price index out of the stats department. And as much as you may like to deny it, argue about it, or ignore it, these are statistics. They are not reckons, or supermarket isle chatter, or lazy street-side vox pops for the TV. Food went up 1.9% annually, which if you remember the previous annualised number being 1.9%, means it's flat. Month on month it's flat and annually it's up 1.9%. In other words it's not an issue and certainly not the issue the complainers and activists and politicians make it out to be. There is a very clear differentiation between what we would like to pay, or what we perceive to be acceptable, and what is really going on. Fruit and vegetables went down. They went backwards, as in they are cheaper. The biggest increase which added to the overall figure was restaurant and takeaway meals, an easily avoided cost if cost is your main food gripe. At the pricey end was meat, poultry and fish, which went up a bit over 3%. By the way rent, as in houses, was flat for the year. In other words there's no cost of living issue there. Yes it's a separate category, but nevertheless it's another reminder that not everything is up and up a lot and therefore worth getting angsty about. If you really want to get wound up, guess what power prices did? They went down. The point of all this is reality is not always what you think it is, or would like it to be. The food story has become a soap opera and that’s why we got the nonsense from the politicians last week, captured by the consultants who poll people and say thing like "do you think food is too expensive?". Of course the answer is yes. "Are you paying too much?" Answer - yes. The next step is meeting over the campaign. Then the next step is we're breaking up supermarkets and we're banning price gouging, even though it's not real and most likely won't happen. More importantly it won't actually solve anything because the facts show there was nothing to solve. What drove it was mood, driven by perception, and you can rarely fix perception. Especially if you don’t want it fixed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent talks potential escalation from US in the Middle East 20.09.2026 5นาที

The United States is warning that hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis could “escalate rapidly” after a dramatic missile strike.  US President Donald Trump cut short a weekend at Camp David to return y to the White House over the weekend.  The White House gave no explanation for the early return, but US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking there's fears the US might get involved in the conflict.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon: Prime Minister talks National's supermarket policy, police targets and the public sector 20.09.2026 12นาที

Chris Luxon insists National's controversial grocery policy is in line with the party's principles. National has joined New Zealand First, in campaigning for a break-up of the two Foodstuffs co-ops - something almost 500 owner-operators have criticised in an open letter this morning. Labour wants to separate the supermarket chains from their wholesale arms, while the Greens want to establish a state-owned grocery chain.  Luxon told Mike Hosking National is the party of enterprise, but it's also the party of competition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Quin: Foodstuffs Managing Director on food prices, being the target of most political parties 20.09.2026 4นาที

Foodstuffs says all the election promises aimed at knocking the supermarket giants down a peg - won't change food prices.  National and New Zealand First want to break up the co-op - something almost 500 owner-operators have criticised in an open letter.  Labour's eyeing up a wholesale-retail split, while the Greens want to start a state-owned grocery chain.  Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking these measures all seem to be trying to target profits and the retail dollar.  He says they feel like complicated things to do inside the smallest thing of what makes up food prices.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erica Stanford: National Education Spokesperson on proposed screen rules for Early Childhood Education Centres 20.09.2026 4นาที

Parents are being told by National's education spokesperson, they should understand screen time isn't best practice for young kids. If re-elected, the party would end screen and individual-device use in early childhood centres and tightly limit it for kids in Years 1 to 3. It would also introduce a School Start Check before children begin primary school.  Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking there's a need for clear and consistent restrictions on device use across the country. She says handwriting, using paper, and having interactions are so much more important than using screens.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

100 Years of ZB: Mike Hosking and Heather du Plessis-Allan talk the strength of ZB today - and what will make it strong in the future 19.09.2026 23นาที

In the final episode of the 100 Years of ZB Podcast, Mike Hosking sits down for an extended interview with Newstalk ZB's Drive host, Heather du Plessis-Allan. The pair talk about their first impressions of the station and what makes it so strong in the current radio market. They also discuss what the future may hold and what will keep Newstalk ZB at the front of the pack.  100 Years of ZB - Celebrating a century of New Zealand's conversation. Archival audio from the collections at Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.   New episodes every Sunday on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts - powered by Newstalk ZB.  LISTEN ABOVE OR BELOW IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike's Minute: Leadership and proportionality speak to credibility 18.09.2026 2นาที

It turns out fanciful and quite possibly nutty and dangerous thinking isn't limited to the Greens and Government-run supermarkets.  Dame Angela Eagle, who is Environment Secretary in the UK, has announced the need for people to take the burgeoning El Niño so seriously that we need to start stocking up on food.  This is a conflation of several things that affect a lot of us all over the world these days; new and developing weather.  Patterns we haven't quite got a read on, given we have never really dealt with them, a growing amount of generalised alarmism and, of course, very poor leadership through a chronic and growing lack of genuine talent.  El Niño this summer, or their winter, may or may not be a thing. We simply don’t know.  Last report I read suggested that New Zealand may well do quite well, given prices for what we grow will most likely rise.  In other words, it may flood in South America, be dry out in Australia, but we could be fine.  But sadly the modern age has seen the astonishing rise of fear and alarmism. How many years has the phrase "before it's too late" been used when it comes to climate change?  Just last week they rolled it out again as regards the 1.5 degrees they got fixated with a couple of decades back.  "The point of no return" is an Antonio Guterres go to line.  What we know for sure are volcanoes are worse for climate than we are and wars cause more crop damage than weather.  But asking people to stock up seems a new low. Stock up with what? Canned beetroot?  And to what extent are you stocking up, and for how long? Have you seen the size of the average British kitchen?  By panicking before anything has happened, if and when nothing does happen, how is that going to go for your messaging and credibility if and when anything actually does happen and you actually need people to take you seriously?  Vaccines and our attitude towards them were materially changed because of Covid. It's why America has measles and international targets are now routinely missed with kids.  Leadership and proportionality go hand-in-hand.  Scaring the horses, overreacting, panicking, getting captured by ideology - they all lead to trouble.  My approach to summer is going to be very similar to last year. If I lived my life reacting to the environment secretary, alarmists or the NZ Herald's Harbour Bridge closure alerts, I'd be a nervous wreck with no cupboard space left.  And who needs that? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark the Week: Youth wages is the policy of the week 17.09.2026 2นาที

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.    Trump: 1/10  I reckon it's been his worst week yet. The polls have tanked, the House flip is on, SCOTUS rejected him on mail-ins, the Fed rejected him on interest rates, more Republicans than ever swapped sides to vote against the war, and his name is not on the Kennedy Centre.    Youth wages: 7/10  Policy of the week. It's easy to bag if you're a union, but it actually makes sense and actually solves a problem.    AI: 6/10  Because the debate got real intense, and earnest, and fast. But, small clue, we aren't getting wiped out. So if you panicked you should have focused more on Sydney Sweeney.    Supermarkets: 1/10  The biggest amount of combined idiocy I have seen in a campaign in years. Shallow as a puddle.    The Warriors: 9/10  Glass half-full – if we had won last week we wouldn’t have this weekend, and who doesn’t want this weekend?    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike's Minute: What a week of angst it's been 17.09.2026 2นาที

How about our week of angst?  Take your pick, because there were hot takes galore.  Sydney Sweeney was the funniest. The ad agency that dreamed up that campaign must be lining up for a bonus.  Because the airtime it got in the end outweighed any actual cost by about 10:1. It went white hot viral as millions raged about boobs and sexuality and insulting female athletes.  All of which it did of course, but that was the point. Did no one work out that was the point? Get Sweeney partially naked, say "sports, sports, sports" a lot and queue the fury.  The ol' sexuality card is the oldest trick in the book and we're still falling for it.  Hyrox was just plain weird. An unfortunate scenario mid routine and the whole rule book is changed out based on the outrage.  The woman concerned didn’t seem overly worried, having appeared on social media seemingly making light of it.  Then you've got Harry and Meghan. I blame the media, mainly the British. But their school upheaval went viral globally and it turned out the security issue for the kids was a bit of traffic.  It's once again a reminder that these two are the worst sort of attention-seeking grifters and I now genuinely feel sorry for the kids. Their Mum and Dad are buffoons but given they don’t know any better and their attention obsession is seemingly incurable, maybe it’s the media's job to step back and simply ignore them.  It seems incredible that Lady Gaga, a vastly bigger name than both of them put together, can vanish, give birth and truck a reasonably, well-developed child around and no one knows about it, or sees any of it, unless she decides to let that happen.  But the biggest and saddest of them all was Macklemore and the fellow travelling try-hards who decided to abandon their friendship with Ed Sheeran by dropping him in it after they, like so many of their lot, felt unable to keep their politics to themselves.  Sheeran is famously apolitical. It’s a smart move that served Dolly Parton well and yet the musicians, some of whom you would never have heard of if it wasn't for Sheeran's kindness and desire to promote new talent, left him with possibly no American tour after Macklemore got dropped and the rest quit in a fit of pique.  Is it too much to ask to park the self-importance for a half hour opening act and just play?  Oh, and to maybe be a decent person for the bloke who's giving you your break?  So much outrage, so many causes, so much self-importance.  Lucky the world is such a benign place and we have nothing big to worry about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.