The Mike Hosking Breakfast

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. Christchurch: 9/10 The stadium, the opening, the spend, the party, and the vibe. That is what all of New Zealand should be. The Washington Hilton: 1/10 Between yet more violence and yet more conspiracy from all sides, too much of America is irreparably sick. King Charles: 8/10 By any standards or count, a tour de force. Solid, statesman-like, witty, clever and brilliantly executed. It is soft power, awesome diplomacy, brilliant engagement, all wrapped up in a flash royal bow. Winston vs the National Party: 4/10 I get it's election year. I get National are bleeding support to NZ First. But if they're not careful someone is going to say one thing or do one thing a bit edgier than they might have been expected, and it will all hit the fan. The diesel deal: 8/10 Another reminder than when Peters isn't stirring, the Coalition has actually handled the real issues pretty damn well. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can thank the new Reserve Bank Governor for ending the week on a high note. New charter details were announced yesterday. Charters and Reserve Banks were once as dry as old dust but these days I think we have a new understanding of the importance of their role. Out of Covid and economic shambles has come more talk than ever about cash rates and inflation and debt and wasteful expenditure. The main change for me is the Monetary Policy votes will be made public, and not a moment too soon. They are already starting to hold press conferences after each decision. Some decisions are statements, some are reviews and, as such, carry different amounts of detail and information. But the idea that they front after each decision shouldn't be new. It should have always happened. Just what was it about the thinking at the lower end of the terrace in the capital that had them believing that simply putting out a statement was plenty. Why wouldn’t they want questions? Why wouldn’t they want to be held to account? Given everything is streamed these days you can watch it all. There's no need for a journalist to cut and paste a few so-called highlights to skew the narrative. Free and open and complete accountability should be welcomed, and this is overdue. But as for the vote, the same thinking applies. If you hold the power of a committee member and if you get a say in a mechanism as important as the country's cash rate, once again, what's your argument for remaining quiet? To keep it a secret? If the vote is 5-1, who is the one and why? What's wrong with an explanation? For example, there were four dissenting votes yesterday at the Fed. Let's hear about it. Knowledge is power and the fact we are only at this place in 2026 is a crime of sorts. A condescending attitude where they clearly thought we didn’t need to know. So far new Governor Dr Anna Breman has introduced pressers, changed the charter and promised to at least partially look through the immediate inflationary impact of the war. So far, so impressive. I like the cut of her gib. Orr vs Breman? No contest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Formula 1 is back in business this weekend. The Miami Grand Prix follows a month-long break due to the conflict in the Middle East – both the Bahrain and Saudi races getting shelved. Tweaks to the controversial new regulations and car upgrades will also be in play at the race. Motorsport Expert Bob McMurray told Mike Hosking Miami is pivotal for the very future of Formula 1. He says that if everything works well, they’ll continue quite happily, but if things continue as they have in previous Grands Prix, the organisation has a real problem as they can’t keep tweaking these regulations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Friday which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back to Wrap the Week that Was. They indulged Mike’s desire to build a fountain in his “lake” and delved into work drinking cultures, school colour runs, and their weekend plans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC’s playoff fate has been signed. The side is looking to avoid second-season syndrome after a record-breaking entry into the A-League. It comes down to a do-or-die elimination final against reigning champions Melbourne City, kicking off Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium. CEO Nick Becker told Mike Hosking they have good form against the Australian team, but he doesn’t want to jinx anything. He says it’s been a tougher season than the last, but these sorts of things build resilience within a side, and the players are in the right mindset. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 1st of May, Marcus Beveridge discusses some interesting immigration stats as our visa rejection rate falls to a post-Covid low. David Seymour provides some context around the school lunch situation and for all the news articles, there's been a minuscule number of issues compared to the millions of lunches delivered. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson indulge Mike's want of a fountain in his lake, and discuss drinking cultures at work 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.

Major changes are set to make future Official Cash Rate decisions far more transparent. The RBNZ's Monetary Policy Committee will release details of who voted which way to the public if they're unable to come to consensus. Committee members are also encouraged to speak openly about monetary policy. Former Reserve Bank Special Advisor Geof Mortlock told Mike Hosking that he and other economists have been advising Treasury and the Minister to move in this direction for some time. He says it’ll strengthen the accountability and transparency of the Committee. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s praise for the 'tight ship' Immigration New Zealand's running. Data released to Newstalk ZB reveals just over 65 thousand visa applications were turned down in 2025, plunging from more than 83 thousand in 2024. The rejection rate last year sat at around 6.3% – while the two years before both sat at 7.3%. Queen City Law Managing Director Marcus Beveridge told Mike Hosking Immigration New Zealand's making efficient decisions to keep the bad guys out. He says they've had computer and personnel issues in the past, but it now seems they've got things humming pretty well. There’s also little surprise at the countries making up rejections – India made up almost a third of them, followed by China and Pakistan. Beveridge told Hosking India’s seen similar numbers for years, as it’s always been considered a high-risk country, but Fiji often sees quite a bad rejection rate as well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's cutting another set of flights on top of its already stretched network. On top of cancellations across May and June announced last month, the airline's now axing further flights across July, citing rising jet fuel costs. It says this will impact around 2% of passengers travelling nationwide. Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking when you break down this number regionally, it could be up to 20% of seats being cut in some places. She says it'll be broader than just Nelson and Tauranga and will be a case of piecing all the cuts together. Moore told Hosking it's hurting a bit more over here as the network had been shrinking already. She says most countries have been growing their networks while ours has been declining, so it's cuts on top of cuts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Associate Education Minister's defending the school lunches programme despite dozens of early safety complaints. There were 21 food safety probes into the lunches from May 2024 to mid-November 2025. Some investigations came after reports of metal wire, fragments, or glass were discovered in food. David Seymour told Mike Hosking it's 21 lunches out of around 13 million. He says the issues are from when Government overtook Labour's scheme or the first term of their new scheme, which faced some teething issues. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It probably wasn’t a surprise to learn the parents being prosecuted over their kids not going to school didn’t turn up to court. So the reason the justice wheel turns so slowly is partially because of those sorts of folks. I doubt any court action will achieve a lot in this specific case. But then you can argue it probably wasn’t supposed to. Governments prosecuting parents over non-school attendances is a sad, but good, policy at the same time. Sad because we got to this point. Good because what it will achieve is a chilling effect for those who may not get to court but could have. The reason they didn’t was because of the test cases we hear of this week. Like the school phone ban not everyone follows it. It's not bulletproof, but it is effective. Chilling effects are not to be underestimated. The light system in Jobseeker is another good example. When there are no consequences for not looking for work, it's amazing how many are happy to take the invitation not to do anything. Offer them a bit of stick and all of a sudden, the number of people who fail and reach red and get a benefit cut becomes negligible. Once again, what a tragedy that there seem so many who are happy enough to waste a life. But the lowest common denominator is in fact quite common, given how many frequent it. It's doubly sad of course when it comes to kids and school. It's not their fault the parents are wasters and you run the risk the habits are contagious, and the kid carries the wastage on for another generation. So no, the initial prosecution will involve the worst of the reprobates and, no, it most likely won't make a jot of difference. But enough people will see it and hear of it, it will be around the school grounds, word will spread, and with that for some anyway, what might have been will be avoided. It may well be that if a handful of kids get to go to school properly, it might eventually benefit us all. It takes a tough Government to take their people to court over something as fundamental as education. Certainly, previous ones haven't been interested and that is why, in part, we have ended up where we are. But, potentially, it's also at a point where tough love could pay off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi music icon is firmly rooted back on our shores, with new music on the way. Gin Wigmore returned to New Zealand’s shores in late 2024 after years spent living in Los Angeles, California. Last time she spoke with Mike Hosking she was in Palm Springs, moving to LA when she was pregnant with her second child and running a hotel out of Santa Monica. But after a while, she realised she wasn’t content with her life and her marriage, separating from her husband, moving back to New Zealand, and opening a deli in Auckland’s Kingsland. “I felt like I needed, I missed New Zealand, I missed my roots,” Wigmore said. “I missed having my kids grow up in this environment ... there’s something about the freedom of that sort of childhood that was getting less, it was getting harder to do in Los Angeles.” Although she’s currently in the midst of her divorce, Wigmore says she still has a good relationship with her ex. “We were just kids when we met and we couldn’t, couldn’t evolve together,” she told Hosking. “And we’re two lead singers – I mean it was sort of destined to f***ing fail in some fiery emotional explosion, and so, y’know, we kind of, we called it.” It’s been eight years since Wigmore released an album, but even amid all her other ventures, music is still deeply important to her. “Music’s amazing in that it always catches me in my worst moments,” she explained. “Sometimes I’ve likened it to a really toxic boyfriend —kind of like this player that I’m seeing— and then sometimes it’s just this really steady go-to that always catches me in my worst, hardest moments.” And that second sentiment is what her upcoming album, ‘Beautiful Mess’, channels – filled with all the highlights and lowlights of Wigmore’s life. “Together it’s like a whole complete world of what my life... a snapshot of my world for the last five years or so.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our wine industry continues to find success on the global stage. Marlborough’s Spy Valley achieved a clean sweep at the London Wine Competition, claiming seven golds for the seven wines they entered. It’s one of the industry’s most influential events, and on top of their golds, they were also named New Zealand’s Winery of the Year. Owner and Managing Director Amanda Johnson told Mike Hosking they aim to make really good quality wine at different price points, so it was a delight for their hardworking team to be rewarded across all the skews. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 30th of April, Dr Rober Breunig takes a look at Australia’s surging inflation whilst Finance Minister Nicola Willis compares their experience to ours. The Cancer Society has released their election manifesto, calling for more investment in skin cancer prevention. Kiwi singer Gin Wigmore is back to living in New Zealand – she's opened a deli and is releasing some new music. It's been over a decade since she was last in the Breakfast studio, so she stopped by for a chat – and to talk her dating life! 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.

Australia’s cost of living has jumped yet again. Headline inflation jumped 1.1% in the March quarter, while the Consumer Price Index rose to 4.6% in the year to March, up from 3.7%. Surging oil prices have largely driven the jump, with petrol prices increasing by 32.8%, lifting transport costs by 9.2%. The Reserve Bank of Australia will be making an announcement regarding the Official Cash Rate on the 5th of May. Dr Rober Breunig, Director of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the Australian National University, told Mike Hosking that while inflation has risen, they’re not seeing much impact in terms of economic growth and unemployment – the latter holding steady. He says the Reserve Bank will be concerned about inflation expectations getting out of control – if people expect high inflation to persist and start asking for wage increases, prices may be increased in anticipation, and it all snowballs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidence for small business owners, with sales continuing to grow. New Xero small business data shows business sales rose 3.9% in the March quarter – March alone rising 5.5%. ABC Business Sales Managing Director Chris Small told Mike Hosking it's been a tough 12 months, with many weaker businesses weeded out, leaving high quality small businesses in the market. He says data doesn't reflect the current climate, given two out of three months were not impacted by the war in Iran. Small says volume of transactions were up 10% and dollars invested in small business were up 16% – all with a positive mindset until March kicked in. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cancer Society's asking political parties to stop tinkering around the edges and unite to more strongly fight the disease. It's joined with the Government to each commit another $1 million towards the Sun Smart skin cancer prevention programme. But the Society is also calling for more cervical and lung cancer screening, and to bring down the bowel cancer screening age. Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Mike Hosking skin cancer prevention has been underinvested in for decades, despite being the country’s biggest killer. She says there’s no doubt we’ve made a bit of progress in the last few years, but it’s not enough to respond to the large number of cancer diagnoses New Zealand is currently facing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says New Zealand's inflation situation is very different to Australia's. Across the ditch, the rate's surged from 3.7% in February to 4.6% in March. Our headline rate was unchanged at 3.1% in the March quarter, but economists expect it to approach 4.5% for June. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking Australia was experiencing higher inflation before the fuel crisis, in part due to government spending. She says she wants to be diplomatic, but the Australian Government is stimulating the economy more through its higher spending. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The greatest sadness of the India Free Trade Deal, for me to this point, is that the rhetoric has not paid due respect to where free trade basically began. New Zealand. We are the pioneers. Well, the modern pioneers. The concept goes back to the mid 1800's where Britain and Europe had various deals. The GATT agreements of the 1940's made significant progress but the deal with Australia in the 80's put it well and truly on our radar and, along with Roger Douglas, Mike Moore made a name, if not fame, with the desire to do cross border business free from the impediment of tariffs. For a while free trade deals had their time in the sun. They got, I thought, a bit watered down with block deals. The CPTPP is your classic example and even our EU deal is widely accepted as being inferior to proper one-on-one deals like China or now India, because when you get 27 nations together there is bound to be a bunch of protectionists in there. India is also worth respecting because it's India and it's been a prize for many, many years. It’s the last truly large country and, not just that, but a truly large country actually going places. If this country has an international calling card, it's trade. We box above our weight, we do business on quality, we buy and sell on a fair price and not a jacked-up protected price. Within all deals you will find critics or clauses that aren't perfect. It's free trade, not perfect trade, and even a free trade deal technically can, and does, host tariffs. But the intent, and indeed the outworking of them all, is that the business between two countries is better, freer and bigger than it was before signing. NZ First are on the wrong side of this and the irony cannot be lost that its leader is a foreign minister who spends his time globally looking to engage and encourage engagement between countries. Nothing encourages engagement more than doing business. Labour said it's not the deal they would have done. Isn't it? What is the deal they did when they were in power? That’s right, there wasn’t one. Successive Governments have failed to cross the line. This, without a shadow of a doubt, in 20 years will be like China; big, bold, successful and constantly upgraded. We will all see it eventually. But in the ensuing years since we were free trade evangelists, we've become increasingly myopic, if not racist. Free trade is what we are good at. We should celebrate what we are good at more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The big power companies are officially on notice, with electricity prices under scrutiny. Household bills are climbing an average 8% this year – the same as last year. But profits for the big four gentailers spiked 42% in the six months to December. Electricity Retailers and Generators Association Chief Executive Bridget Abernethy told Mike Hosking the reliable and modern power delivery Kiwis expect comes at a cost. She says a range of factors are occurring together, requiring an increase in spending. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.