Episodes
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Elon Muskâs time in the US Government has come to an end.
He's posted on his platform, X, saying the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency âor DOGEâ will only strengthen over time.
A White House official has confirmed Musk's departure.
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking thereâs been mixed reviews about his work.
Musk was only able to find $9 billion in savings, despite his pledges to cut at least $2 trillion, which tech journalist Kara Swisher says means his efforts were a failure.
She says he did a lot more showmanship than he did work.
On the other hand, Trump aide Stephen Miller says what DOGE has done is âamong the most valuable services ever rendered to Governmentâ.
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I cannot recommend a piece of reading enough in the Listener, and reproduced elsewhere, on a longitudinal study that now spans 35 years and 12 elections.
It's gripping.
A couple thousand people each election are given dozens of questions.
Its weakness is some of the questions are vague enough to throw up responses around things like health care and public services. We like them and we want more, no surprises there. But how much more? What if the money is wasted?
We donât get to know that stuff.
The David Lange Government of 1984 blew it big time, went way too far and upset too many people. I remember it well.
We love strong leaders. We are more socially conservative than you might think.
The electoral system doesn't represent what we actually want, or like. We like the death penalty, yet we've never had it.
There are two highlights for me: Labour's moves around MÄori and introducing Treaty of Waitangi principles into some legislation.
The majority of us, decades ago, didnât want it. We donât have the 2023 results yet, but I bet you nothing has changed.
Which I would have thought would lead you to ask, why hasnât it been fixed?
It's a bad idea that's been allowed to fester and cause ongoing angst and upset for decades.
Secondly, there are signs of increasing dissatisfaction, concern and unhappiness. The authors say it's not like the 90's.
I remember the 90's. It was Ruth Richardson and Jenny Shipley. It was welfare reform, the mother of all Budgets, the burning of effigies on Parliament grounds. You can see the edginess these days with similar discourse and protest.
But it's suggested political polarisation has declined over the past decade.
Really? Do you believe that?
I donât. I donât think we have ever been more divided and never been more stark in our views of the country and the world.
Social media, distrust, fake news, polarising views and stands â I have no idea how they've concluded this. Read it and see if you disagree.
But on most stuff, we haven't changed. The times change, the circumstances change but, broadly, we donât.
I'm not sure if thatâs good or bad.
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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.
Fonterra: 9/10
It is literally raining money. Record farmgate, record profits, and the milk price starting at $10 for next year. Go buy a ute.
Port of Auckland: 2/10
Everything thatâs wrong with New Zealand â putting prices up because you can.
Auckland FC: 7/10
Falling when they did took the shine off, but up until then there was a lot of shine to enjoy.
Trump: 4/10
He looks ropier by the day. The meme dinner, the court blocking the tariffs, the ceasefires that haven't happened. It looks rambling, ill-disciplined, and insane. Oh, and thatâs before you get to Harvard.
Coffee: 4/10
$10 a cup and Al Brown is selling filter. It's not right.
Radio NZ: 4/10
All that money for all those listeners to wander off to places like the Mike Hosking Breakfast. What's worse value â public radio you donât want or a Waiuku crossing you can't afford?
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Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.
They discussed the average age of first home buyers, Hailey Bieber and her make up company, and how Producer Samâs puppy has been behaving this week.
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of May, David Seymour is pulling the trigger, and parents will now be prosecuted for not sending their kids to school.
We've got new data on flight cancellations and delays after the endless texts saying services are rubbish now. Turns out, it's nowhere near as bad as you think.
Tim and Katie Wrap the Week and talk about the average age of a first home buyer, age, Hailey Bieber, and how good, or bad, producer Sam's new puppy has been this week.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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A new face is coming to New Zealandâs coins.
An image of King Charles has officially been approved to feature on the 10 cent coin from 2027.
2024 will be stamped on the currency â the year the Reserve Bank ordered them.
A koruru image will remain on the reverse side, as it has since 1967.
Ian Woolford, Director of Money and Cash at the Reserve Bank, told Mike Hosking itâs taken so long as they already have quite a big inventory of coins and bank notes.
He says 10 cent coins are the ones they need to stock up on, which is why theyâre the first cab off the rank.
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Federated Farmers is welcoming proposed changes to the Resource Management Act.
The Government's released three discussion documents proposing amending 12 current national directions and four new ones.
They include changes to freshwater management, regulation of farming practices and revising mine consent processes.
Mark Hooper, their RMA Spokesperson, told Mike Hosking that while the guidelines are complex and thereâs a lot to wade through, the intent here is very much to get a simpler and better outcome.
The rewritten Resource Management Act isnât expected to come until next year, so he says the intent of this release is to hopefully provide a bit more guidance and certainty for local authorities, so they can get on with their planning.
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The average first home buyer is getting older.
A Cotality-Westpac report has found the average age of first home buyers has increased to 36 nationwide.
It's 37 in Auckland, 36 in Wellington, and 35 in Christchurch â all figures are two or three years higher than average in 2019.
Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Mike Hosking thereâs a range of reasons behind it.
He says the affordability measures arenât much different than they were in 2019, so while affordability is an influence, lifestyle and career choices are definitely having an impact.
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Just 60% of Air New Zealand's trans-Tasman flights jetted off on time last month.
A report by the Ministry of Transport shows aviation performance for April.
It reveals 82% of the airline's domestic flights were on time, taking off within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.
Air New Zealand's highest cancellation rate was on its Rotorua to Auckland route, with just 52 of 65 scheduled flights flown.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager told Mike Hosking these figures aren't acceptable, but will be helpful.
He says it will help them focus on the regions that are suffering from poor performance.
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Auckland Airport's investing nearly $150 million into a major domestic airfield upgrade.
It's part of works to help enable future growth in regional flights across the country.
Car parks next to the domestic terminal will be shifted to make way for four new aircraft parking stands dedicated to regional services.
Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking it's an important move for Auckland Airport, in terms of growth.
She says 40% of regional flights go to and from Auckland, so the rest of the network relies on them to increase capacity.
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Parents could be forced to pay thousands of dollars if they repeatedly refuse to ensure their children attend school.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour's announced the change as part of a firmer approach the Government's taking on school attendance.
Seymour told Mike Hosking schools will alert the ministry to possible prosecution cases and ultimately decide whether to take the parents to court.
He says they could be fined up to $300 initially, but for repeat offenders, it could be $3,000.
Parents of students who are absent because of health conditions, or who are genuinely engaged with the school, won't be prosecuted.
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There are still many questions regarding the man who drove his car into a crowd in Liverpool.
Fans of Liverpool Football Club had flooded the city's streets to celebrate its Premier League title win.
Nearly 80 people were injured, and a 53-year-old local was arrested for attempted murder.
UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking one theory is that it was an accident.
He said the driver may have simply followed the ambulance and upon finding themselves surrounded by screaming people, didnât know what to do.
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I am here to help the ol' Chipster.
The Chipster, aka Chris Hipkins, was in the building this week. I said hello to him.
He asked me when I was dropping the blacklist I have on him appearing on this show.
I said he had appeared once already this year and that was plenty. We both laughed.
What I like about him is that he doesnât seem to take any of this personally.
He knows I think he's hopeless and he knows I think he wrecked the country. But he is playing the long game and he knows I know he will be back next year in the election campaign and, if he wins, he will be back as a regular.
Which brings me to the help.
In Australia this week their Labor Government approved the extension of a massive gas project â Woodside are Australia's largest gas producer.
Before the word came from the Government, the company had launched a fairly vigorous, and as it turns out, effective campaign reminding us all that if you want to look at Spain the other day, and indeed various parts of Europe that have been spending increasing periods of time in the dark, you will find they became obsessed with renewables and that obsessions led to blackouts.
Continuity and consistency of supply, Woodside argued, is just as important as where you get your energy.
Anyway, Labor gave them the tick. Yes, the conservationists are upset, but aren't they always?
The point for Hipkins is this: this is a Labour Government that did this. A Labour Government that romped home in an election just the other day. A Labour Government with a gargantuan majority.
Why? Because it's what you'd call here a Labour Government of old. It's a centrist Labour Government.
It's not a woke, handwringing, ideologically obsessed Labour Government of, say, 2020-2023.
Blair Hawke and David Lange are your Labour Governments of success.
Hipkins is your Labour Government of failure.
Albanese has clearly learned the lessons of history and worked them nicely to his favour. Yes, he can be centre left, but the lights will always be on.
Last time the Chipster was in charge we stopped looking for gas altogether and, as far as I know, he wouldn't start looking again.
Thatâs the sort of thinking that leads to blackouts and an electorate that doesnât see you as viable.
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29th of May, the Reserve Bank made the decision to cut the OCR by 25 basis points, but did we get any sort of clear direction for the future? Acting Governor Christian Hawkesby is on the show.
The Prime Minister has recovered from his illness and is on the program to give his reaction to the OCR announcement and the public service leaks.
We love Tami Nielson, so when she has a new NZ tour to announce, a new single, a new album coming soon, and multiple NZ Music Awards nominations, we had to get her on for a chat.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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One of the most significant country music figures to emerge from New Zealand, Tami Neilson continues to grow on the world stage.
Later this year sheâll be touring around the US with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, as well as a string of European dates â but unlike some other stars, sheâs not leaving New Zealand out.
Neilson is returning to our stages this October for her âNeon Cowgirlâ tour â performing five shows across the country.
Sheâll be performing songs from her new album of the same name, which releases in July.
Although it's common for artists to labour over their work, often taking years to complete and release albums, Neilson told Mike Hosking that comparatively, she works quite quickly.
âFrom the time Iâm kind of laying down the music to when it comes out, itâs usually a year,â she said.
âI usually write my albums and then track them within a week, so most of my albums are live off the floor.â
The recordings listeners hear are full takes performed live by Neilson and her band, which she says adds a realness to the songs.
âI think in this age of, you know, impending AI, the more we can lean into our humanity, you hope that comes through in the music and connects with other human hearts.â
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The effects of centralising New Zealand's polytechs continue to be felt.
New data shows there were about 75 thousand international students in the country last year, down from 125 thousand in 2016.
Tertiary's seen the biggest drop, halving in that timeframe.
Tertiary Education Union's national secretary Sandra Grey told Mike Hosking polytechs had major reform after Covid, which disrupted courses and staff.
She says that confuses students looking to study, who will then consider options elsewhere.
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Don't bank on further cuts to the Official Cash Rate.
The Reserve Bank's dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 3.25%, and is now forecasting it could reach a low of 2.9% by the end of the year.
But Governor Christian Hawkesby says further cuts aren't guaranteed.
He told Mike Hosking they're taking things one step at a time, as they wait to see how global developments affect the economy and inflation.
Hawkesby says the OCR is now close to "neutral" and the Reserve Bank's next move won't be pre-programmed, it will depend on how things unfold.
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A new plan is being touted as a way to fast track shaking up the grocery sector.
The New Zealand Initiative is proposing allowing new entrants to enter the market, rather than forcing any break-up of the existing supermarket companies.
It outlines the need for fast track plans for rezoning, consenting, overseas investment clearance, and a more neutral stance from the government.
Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking a new entrant should get a head start.
He says within five years the government would find out whether planning barriers are what's held companies back.
Foodstuffs and Woolworths are both members of the New Zealand Initiative.
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Christopher Luxon remains hopeful the latest cut in the OCR isn't the last.
The Reserve Bank's dropped the Official Cash Rate 25 basis points to 3.25%, and is now forecasting it will reach a low of 2.9 percent in December.
But the Monetary Policy Committee wasn't able to reach a unanimous decision to cut the cash rate.
The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking Acting Governor Christian Hawkesby is dealing with a period of global uncertainty.
He says there's a huge amount of volatility that Hawkesby is navigating, but the economy is turning a corner.
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To give you an insight into just how hard Christian Hawkesby's job is today, have a look at what the shadow board says.
The NZIER has a monetary policy shadow board. Itâs a bunch of economists and their view as to what should be happening.
Some say drop by 25 basis points, one says 50, and some say donât do anything.
How do you deal with that?
These are experts. They know what they are doing. Or do they?
So no matter what Christian does some of them are going to go "what on Earth was he thinking?"
Think about the difference between 50 basis points and nothing.
50 basis points is a lot. 50 means things aren't good, and we need to fire the place up a bit.
If we don't move it means things are just where we want them.
Are they where we want them? No, is my answer. But then I'm not an economist.
Most of them say things like "boy this is tricky". My word is "uncertainty" â the watch word of the day.
It's through this murky mix of "who the hell knows what's going on" that Christian has to wade and produce something that will see us head into a half decent Christmas.
Of course thatâs part of the mess we are in. There is a lot of water to go under our beleaguered bridge before Christmas, and a number of decisions from the Reserve Bank, along of course with the much-dissected commentary.
What does 25, or 50 basis points, or nothing, mean? What's old Christian thinking?
I'll tell you this for nothing â a big part of this equation is mood. Itâs the same with the Budget last week and the depreciation measures.
You have to want to get amongst it. You have to take your mortgage rate cut and do something with it. You have to want to buy your tractor, or ute, and depreciate it by 20%.
If you are in a funk and you're not spending, then depreciating 20% of zero is nothing and no one gains.
Christian, or Nicola for that matter, can't do it all. At some point we have to believe. We have to have our arm twisted. We have to see a bit of light.
The most powerful factor in any economy is us, and mood.
At some point a switch has to go off, a decision has to be made, and we need to look forward to better days.
Let's hope today is a part of that story.
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