Episodes
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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.
Donald Trump: 8/10
Yes, there's some madness and puffery and stuff you know will never happen, but he has a lot of energy and “buy in”. This will be a dramatic and, I think on balance, successful four years.
Our economy: 2/10
While we distract ourselves with frippery over Mexican barbs and asset sales that aren't happening, listen to the Reserve Bank or HSBC or any financial commentator of note. We are in deep, deep trouble, with no growth and growing debt. It never ends well.
Charter schools: 7/10
One of the good news stories of the week. Not only did more schools apply than they had money for, but more pupils applied to those schools than they had desks for.
Jobs: 6/10
Another good news story. We grew jobs at the end of last year, not by much, but we didn’t go backwards.
Speed limits: 6/10
This week is a start but really, does it have to be this hard and slow for the rest?
Sail GP: 7/10
One of the highlights of the holidays. That thing is slick, it's well run, and it makes New Zealand look great. Coutts is awesome.
Winston Peters: 4/10
The race thing I thought he had moved on from. He looks better than that these days, until he doesn’t.
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Proving life is what you make it, I walked into a local restaurant over the holidays.
It's Italian and very good, and they have a new owner.
Who was this person, I inquired?
He came from hospitality, had worked in the city, but he and a mate had decided to, as he put it, take a punt. "It's better to be an owner than work for someone," he said.
I immediately admired him.
The restaurant had been put up for sale because it wasn’t making any money.
That's a familiar story in hospitality and yet I can tell you why this place hadn't made any money.
It was because it was only open five days a week. For dinner. For limited hours.
The first thing our new owner did was open seven days a week and open for lunches.
He even opened on Christmas day and did 20 covers on short notice.
By the time we left town he was more than happy with how things were humming.
So, is hospitality in trouble, or are there too many owners who don’t want to do the work?
Over the holidays I noticed too many people who weren't open, or weren't open long enough, then the cafes that close at 4pm and when you walk in at 3.40pm they say "sorry, the kitchen is closed".
Sorry, the sign on the door says, we are having a well-earned break. "Back on the 3rd of January", or the 6th of January or whenever. This was in tourist country and, let's be honest, I thought all of New Zealand was supposed to be tourist country.
So how much pain is real and how much of life is made harder simply by not trying hard enough?
Is David Seymour right? There are two camps these days - the change makers and the ones who sort of open, but not really, then wonder why things are a bit slow.
Our mate at the restaurant, my bet is, will make a good go of it because he is invested and he is determined and he did a couple of simple things the others could have done but didn’t, so they had to bail.
Winners and losers. Most of it is about choice.
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Episodes manquant?
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 31st of January, we have years of backlogged primary industry health products in need of approval – David Seymour responds to the situation.
A leaked letter has revealed that BNZ is dropping a fuel company from their bank and closing their accounts, Todd McClay digs into the situation.
The Wrapping the Week A-team is back with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson, who sneak in an appearance before the end of January.
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The wool sector's prepared for price challenges as Kainga Ora backtracks on a previous ban.
The social housing agency will allow wool carpet providers the chance to tender for supply for carpet and underlay in its homes.
It's used synthetic carpet for the last decade.
Bremworth CEO Greg Smith says the industry can win on durability.
He told Mike Hosking their suppliers have seen wool business double in three years, and if they can get the price right, the sector will win more.
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Officials say there are no survivors from the Potomac River plane crash.
An American Airlines flight and US Military helicopter collided mid-air near Reagan Washington National Airport last night.
The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, while the army helicopter was carrying three people.
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that the situation was preventable.
He says American Airlines’ CEO Robert Isom appears to be blaming the military crew for being in the wrong place, while President Trump is blaming diversity and the Biden Administration for the circumstances.
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The Associate Education Minister believes the coverage of the new school lunches are blowing things out of proportion.
David Seymour told Mike Hosking that the media are taking the worst of the reviews and comments about the lunches to make it seem “terrible”.
“I read in the Herald this morning about a restaurant critic they had saying it was not the worst meal that I have ever had, it actually had a lot of vegetables in it.”
He told the principals complaining that they had to fork out school money for pizza yesterday to “take a step back”.
“This is a government with a $7 billion deficit, we spent $130 million on this programme while actually providing more meals for kids this year.
“We are doing something new, it is only day five, day four in some places. So we gotta get a bit of a reality check.”
Seymour argued that if there were to be a survey of the lunches 75% of students are still getting from their parents there would be “mixed reviews” as well.
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A primary sector advocacy group says a review of new plant and animal products is critically important for New Zealand farmers.
A backlog of more than 100 applications are awaiting approval, and it could take up to four years to clear the queue.
Now, a dozen primary sector businesses and groups are calling for swift action to clear the backlog.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand Chief Executive Liz Shackleton told Mike Hosking the Government has one chance to get it right.
She says it's a chance for the Prime Minister to put his growth agenda into action.
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The Trade Minister believes New Zealand exporters will do well during the Donald Trump presidency.
The US has now overtaken Australia as the second largest destination for our exports.
Our Government remains in the dark about whether New Zealand will get caught up in Donald Trump's tariff plan.
But Todd McClay told Mike Hosking trade to the US rose under the last Trump term and should again this time around.
McClay says while there is uncertainty about what Trump may or may not do around tariffs, he predicts Kiwi exporters will do very well during this Trump term.
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There is little in life more nauseating than a sycophant.
These are people who do not what they believe is right, but bend to the whim, flavour, or mood of the day.
The corporate world is full of it.
The tech giants have been badly exposed as they decide fact checking is for losers now that big Don is running the place.
The battle is being fought locally as well. There is word New Zealand First are looking at a members bill to make banks do business properly.
Currently, and this is also a major debate in Australia, banks have taken the stance that there are some businesses that they don’t like. Those dabbling in fossil fuels is one of them.
They have made getting money hard work. They have not done this because there isn't profit or because these businesses default. They have done this because fossil fuels are out, and climate change is in.
The coalition in Australia, who at this stage are odds on to become the Government midyear, are going hard because fossil fuels are of greater importance to them than they are here.
But the role of the banks, once again, is being called into question.
In this country the Government is gunning for them over margins and competition. The last thing they need is another fight over their right, or predilection, for doing business with some people and not others.
As the former chair of our biggest bank John Key quite rightly pointed out on this programme a number of times said, banks have a very large social licence. They are a backbone of an economy. It is not their job to play politics, or trend setter to the groovy mood of the day.
Fossil fuels remain vital for keeping the lights on. You might not like that but it's true.
If it changes, that's brilliant. Right now it isn't, or hasn’t been, enough.
Morals are personal choices, not business ones, and certainly not in businesses with the influence banks have.
The thought that a Government might have legislate to make a business behave itself shows you how badly these places are reading the mood.
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A reminder to concert-goers to prepare for cancellations and date changes.
Canadian rapper Drake is the latest artist to push out his New Zealand shows by two weeks, a month out from the original dates.
It follows the cancellations of Juicy Fest, the Timeless Tour, and Paradise Rock festival.
Consumer NZ senior investigative journalist Chris Schulz told Mike Hosking paying $10 dollars for insurance on a ticket can be worthwhile
He says it's a good idea for shows a year away, as a lot can happen in that time.
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It’s shaping up to be a massive year for Kiwi IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong.
He’s joined up with Meyer Shank Racing, joining Felix Rosenqvist in the team's lineup – competing on all the oval, road, and street races.
Armstrong comes from a background of F4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, and told Mike Hosking that over the years he feels like he’s grown better at working with his team.
“There’s 350 people that we work closely with, and making sure that we communicate properly and explain our thoughts of how we want the car to be developed without, y’know... involving your ego too much.”
“So, being very self-critical and honest about what we can do better from a team perspective, and communicating properly. I think that’s probably the thing I’ve improved in the most.”
In IndyCar, you’re often racing at speeds averaging about 240 miles an hour, a speed that’s hard for the human brain to keep up with.
“You need to keep your eyes 200 meters further ahead than what you’re used to,” Armstrong told Hosking.
“If you sort of look where you normally look, you’re already past that point.”
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 30th of January, it only took a year and a new minister, but the speed limits are going back up. Transport Minister Chris Bishop joined the show to discuss the change.
NZ First MP Shane Jones talks about standing up to the "woke" banks, and his comments in the House to Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March.
And, Kiwi Indycar driver Marcus Armstrong talks his new season with his new team.
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Sales teams are still bracing for some tough months ahead, according to consultancy firm Indicator's latest survey of sales team leaders.
Only 39% of respondents say they’re achieving growth – the lowest seen since the survey began in 2008.
Indicator CEO Mike Stokes told Mike Hosking four in five don't think we're out of the woods yet.
He says most say we'll recover in the second half of the year at the earliest, while some think we won't recover until next year.
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Canterbury has been pinpointed as a prime apple growing location by a grower looking to expand.
Turners and Growers is opening up its commercial apple growing endeavours to the region, committing to 125 hectares thanks to an agreement with the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.
Chief Operating Officer Shane Kingston says they believe it's important to adapt and build resilience by growing varieties in different climates.
He told Mike Hosking Canterbury has excellent opportunities with its flat land, fertile soil, and reliable water sources.
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The Resources Minister is hitting out at banks for punishing "god-fearing regional businesses".
New Zealand First's Shane Jones has told The Australian newspaper banks are imposing "woke-riddled" costs on a productive sector, by reducing services to fossil fuel businesses.
Jones told Mike Hosking he has every right to fight this, despite banks struggling with things like margins and the commerce commission at the moment.
He says the fossil fuel businesses are doing nothing wrong, what they're doing is offending executives' luxury beliefs.
Jones says the coal industry is an “honest, legitimate industry”, and people will back electricity before they back chilliness.
Winston Peters and Shane Jones aren't backing down over their comments about foreign-born Green MPs.
Peters has told the MPs they have ideas "foreign to the country", and they should show some gratitude for the country.
Jones referenced U.S. President Donald Trump in his jeers, yelling, “Trump! Trump! Send the Mexicans home!”
Peters says MPs should go somewhere else if they're too soft for robust Parliamentary debates.
Jones told Hosking "it's a Mexican stand-off".
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Otago University's urging the government to raise the cap on how many students can study medicine.
It comes amid a GP shortage across the country.
Medical School Acting Dean Tim Wilkinson told Mike Hosking they're keen to train more GPs, but Government imposed enrolment limits are in the way.
He says the shortage goes beyond GPs and impacts many disciplines.
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The Transport Minister says the Government's more focused on drunk and drugged drivers than speed limits.
The Government has reversed the first of 38 speed limit reductions across the country's State Highways.
The rest are due to come into force before July, while another 49 sections of road are open for public consultation.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking his goal is to address what he claims is the number one killer on New Zealand roads: drugs and alcohol.
He says the country is being brought into line with other jurisdictions with roadside drug testing and increased breath testing.
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A prominent former gangland figure was killed.
Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim was shot multiple times in an alleged ambush in Melbourne.
Police believe a white Porsche SUV seen leaving the carpark immediately after the shooting was involved, the car later found burnt.
Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that there’s been a number of attempts on his life over the years.
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A Chinese AI start-up's emerging as a threat to US tech companies and has sent their stocks in to a tailspin.
DeepSeek has revealed an artificial intelligence model similar to services like ChatGPT, but built for a tiny fraction of their cost.
It claims to have spent just $5.6 million on development compared to the billions ploughed into the tech by US counterparts.
Craigs Investments Partners Director Mark Lister told Mike Hosking that if DeepSeek’s model is everything it claims to be, they’ll be able to run on less powerful chips.
He says that the share prices for companies like NVIDIA had a huge amount of growth baked in on the assumption that everyone will need incredibly grunty chips to work, and DeepSeek’s claims bring that assumption into question.
Lister says that it means the share price is potentially a little overcooked.
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