The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Polls are funny things at the best of times, and despite plenty of evidence that they can be as wrong as they can be right, we still seem fascinated, if not obsessed, by them. 

There are two races at the moment being heavily polled: Australia and Canada. Canada votes this Monday, Australia in a couple of weeks. 

Canada is more interesting, if for no other reason than the incumbents were losing by so far it wasn’t funny, b...

A groundbreaking new partnership for New Zealand Cricket, in an effort to keep the country's top players from joining other global T20 franchises. 

New Zealand Cricket have joined forces with the financial backers of a new franchise in North America's Major League Cricket - a competition that has a value of at least $200 million. 

The move could help keep leading players and coaches in the Black Caps set-up, instead of be...

The Government says it's reinstating confidence in the Emissions Trading Scheme. 

It comes as the Climate Commission's calls for carbon credits to stay the same price, to maintain stability. 

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking while some carbon credit auctions haven't taken off, things are improving on other years. 

He says the previous Government was getting too involved and causing volatility, bu...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 24th of April, David Seymour defends his controversial slash-and-burn changes to the Early Childhood Education sector.  

We also explore whether Donald Trump is preparing to retract his tariffs on China with insights from Doug Holtz-Eakin, a former economic adviser to Senator John McCain.  

Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby wrap the short week with a fun discussion o...

Telco companies and digital platforms need to step up to protect people from scams. 

That's the message from the New Zealand Banking Association as they roll out a new suite of their own protective measures. 

Chief Executive Roger Beaumont told Mike Hosking scammers prey on the vulnerable and cost New Zealanders billions every year. 

He says while it's not the Bank's problem, they're putting in safeguards to reduce t...

The heath sector's welcoming more money in the pockets of new graduates. 

The Government's expanded the existing scheme giving graduates bond payments to stay in the country. 

Payments are up to $50 thousand over a period of three to five years. 

Nurses' Society National Director David Willis told Mike Hosking it's needed. 

Willis says it's designed to get workforce into hard-to-reach areas. 

LISTEN ABOVE&n...

Rising hopes of easing tensions in the trade war between the US and China. 

Donald Trump's signalling a potential U-turn, saying the 145% tariffs on Chinese goods are "very high" and will "come down substantially". 

But the two countries are yet to hold any formal trade talks. 

Economist Doug Holtz-Eakin —a former adviser to John McCain— told Mike Hosking if Trump keeps waiting for Xi Jinping's call, he'll be waiting...

Regulation Minister David Seymour's accusing unions of 'fearmongering' about the review into early childhood education. 

Cabinet's agreed to adopt 15 recommendations from a Ministry of Regulation review that found a number of settings were outdated. 

Seymour says the unions made their mind up before the Government released its decision. 

He told Mike Hosking there are just too many regulators, with multiple Ministrie...

Thousands of people are descending on Rome ahead of Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday. 

It's already a busy time for the city, with Easter and other local public holidays falling this week. 

Newstalk ZB's Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking she's spoken to people who have waited in line for four hours to catch a glimpse of the Pope. 

She says the Vatican is considering keeping the doors open past midnight tonight because of...

I wish I had the Minister's positivity around teaching. 

As you will have heard, we are short of teachers. We aren’t training as many teachers as we used to, so increasingly, we’ll need to bring more of them into the country. 

The Minister suggested—optimistically, I think—that it's about more than just pay. It's about resources and support, which I’m sure is true. But the question remain, does it solve anything? 

Do...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23rd of April, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with Sir Keir Starmer, signing a new weapons deal. 

NZ First are occupying themselves with gender issues, trying to follow the UK Supreme Courts decision - we talk to Suzanne Levy from Speak up for Women about the bill. 

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Anderson discuss conscience votes and request a special shouto...

Key services are lagging behind in Canterbury's Selwyn district as it tries to cope with exponential population growth. 

Stats NZ data shows it remains the fastest growing district in the country, with 3200 new arrivals in the year to June. 

Rolleston and Lincoln experienced the biggest jumps, at 9.6% and 8.1% respectively. 

Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking Selwyn falls behind when it com...

The Catholic Church is at a crossroads as it prepares to vote for a new leader. 

Pope Francis died aged 88 on Easter Monday following a stroke and heart failure.  

His funeral will take place outside St Peter's Basilica on Saturday evening, and then Cardinals will be summoned to Rome to elect his successor.  

NPR Vatican correspondent Christopher White told Mike Hosking it's anyone's guess who the new pope will be.&n...

The International Monetary Fund is slashing its global growth forecasts due to impact of Donald Trump's tariffs, and expects the US to be hit particularly hard. 

US markets have been rallying, with the White House confirming it has 18 trade deal proposals on paper, is talking with 34 countries this week, and has a China deal in the works. 

But China's warning it will hit back at countries that make deals that go against i...

A former Foreign Minister says New Zealand's new weapons deal with the UK reflects a strong relationship. 

Christopher Luxon and Sir Keir Starmer have met in the UK overnight. 

They've announced a deal worth more than $60 million for New Zealand-made drones and discussed the war in Ukraine. 

Sir Don McKinnon told Mike Hosking it's another step in joint support for the war-torn country. 

He says New Zealand and t...

Differing opinions on New Zealand First's Members' bill regarding the definition of 'woman'. 

MP Jenny Marcroft is proposing legally defining a woman as being an adult human biological female. 

Rainbow Auckland co-chair Sibyl Mandow says it's a political move to be divisive, stir up hate, and generate a narrative to distract from more pressing issues. 

Mandow says the bill is trying to denounce the existence of trans...

The Transport Minister says there's a chance the new Northland Expressway project will have a budget blowout. 

The road will go from Warkworth, east of State Highway one, and over the Brynderwyn Hills to the east of the current route, then through Whangarei.  

It's expected to take around 15 years to complete and is one of New Zealand's most expensive infrastructure projects.  

Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Mi...