So, bye bye James Shaw; Valedictory Day today.  He is in the interesting position of having left behind something potentially quite substantive.  The Net Zero laws, we will be neutral by 2050. But then that’s the problem isn't it? My bet is we wont.  So, what's your legacy when the big bit you left behind turns into dust?  Could be wrong of course, but as 2050 gets ever closer, the goal doesn’t. In fact, we are moving in completely the wrong direction.  It's an idea and a series of...

The Australian Prime Minister is copping some flack after speaking at a domestic violence rally on Sunday.  He was caught on camera asking the organiser whether she wanted him to speak or not, saying “I am the Prime Minister” before taking the microphone.  He then proceeded to tell the crowd that he’d initially been asked not to speak, which the organiser said was a “flat-out lie”.  Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that he’d suggest the Prime Minister was under immense...

Unemployment is expected to be up today, and it's thought to be just the beginning.   Stats NZ will release the numbers for the first three months of the year around 10:45 this morning.   The rate for the final quarter of last year was 4%.  ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking that the labour market tends to lag behind.  He said that what we’re seeing now is the last bit of a residual strength, but there are signs it will be weakening from here.  LISTEN ABOVE    See...

New data reveals where Kiwis can pay off their mortgage the fastest.   The latest OneRoof-Valocity House Value Index found 46 areas across the country where a mortgage could be paid off in less than a decade.  That's assuming a buyer was intending to pay a thousand dollars a week on their mortgage, on a two-year fixed interest rate of 6.75%.  OneRoof Editor Owen Vaughan told Mike Hosking that it’s good for first home buyers as it shows where they can buy and where they can be mortgage...

Another kiwi startup has broken into the US market.  Alcohol-free brand AF is launching its products in US retail stores Target and Walmart from today.  Founder Lisa King told Mike Hosking that they’ve been in the US market for 12 months and have gone from being in 400 stores nationwide to over 2100 stores.  She said their success comes from being alcohol-free, as they were one of the first brands to launch in that category in the US.  LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1st of May the Remuneration Authority’s Geoff Summers joined, the group behind whether MPs get a pay rise and how much it should be.  Should judges be getting paid by the taxpayer for limo rides, free airfares and their spouses to travel with them around the country? A barrister thinks it makes sense.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined Politics Wednesday to discuss MPs pay, the National Party reshuffle, and James Shaw on...

It’s Politics Wednesday so Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to discuss this week’s biggest political stories.  They discussed the recently announced pay rise MPs are receiving, the National Party reshuffle, and James Shaw’s final day in Parliament.  LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The benefits of the Christchurch Call are being debated in the wake of allegations that it's silencing member organisations.  Jacinda Ardern established the global alliance in 2019 to combat online extremism in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks.  But Newstalk ZB has revealed a member organisation of the Advisory Network has quit, claiming it was pressured not to release a report suggesting India isn't honouring its commitments.  Tech commentator Peter Griffin told Mike Hosking...

A barrister's defending generous work perks for judges.  Those in the profession are entitled to thousands of kilometres of free air travel for them and their partners.  Crown limos are available for free, alongside top-ups to phone and internet payments.  Wellington barrister Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking that in the profession, having your spouse go with you makes sense.  He suggests judges based in Wellington, Auckland, or Christchurch would have to uproot their lives for a trial in...

We could be seeing the end of the pay freeze for MPs.  The Remuneration Authority's set to increase most MP salaries 10.5% over three years.  The first rise of 2.8% will be backdated to the election.   This is the first pay rise since 2017 when Labour overruled the increase due to the cost of living.   Remuneration Authority Chair Geoff Summers told Mike Hosking that salary increases are determined by looking at what's paid elsewhere.   Summers says the 2.8% pay rise was a result, not a...

Despite grand speeches from Ukraine’s allies and NATO, pledged aid is not arriving.  Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday and found a lack of ammunition and air defence despite the promises made.  France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that this failure to deliver is being exploited by the Russian forces.  She said that in the last few hours the Commander in Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has said that his troops have had to...

I read an article yesterday about how we need to play in dirt more.  It's good for your health, that’s why you should “ground” yourself. Get your feet in the earth every day, it's good for your health.  That’s why we love growing our own veggies. 1. They’re fresh and good for your health, 2. your hands are in the dirt.  And 3. increasingly it is assessed that it’s the grains and greens that is the best thing you can do for your gut, and your gut is pretty much the key to everything.  It's...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 30th of April, Housing Minister Chris Bishop discussed the first phase of getting families out of emergency housing while the Prime Minister dug into the poor poll result.  Pharmac CEO Sarah Fitt, in her first series of interviews since the scandal last year, talks the new money for Pharmac.  Comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld was back on the show after eight years to discuss his new movie and bringing his standup show to New...

The Black Caps squad for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean has been named.  This selection will make it Tim Southee’s seventh T20 World Cup, and he told Mike Hosking that he’s certainly not bored yet.  He said that he’s very fortunate to be living a childhood dream and still loving every moment.   While there’s a fair few unknown teams in the upcoming tournament, Southee said they have a great squad to cover the conditions and flexibility in the ways they want to play.  He’s sure that...

One of the most iconic names in comedy, Jerry Seinfeld is no stranger to audiences.  He’s been performing since the late 1970’s, creating and starring in the semi-fictionalised sitcom of his own life —Seinfeld— which became the most watched sitcom in American television by its third season.  Seinfeld is returning to New Zealand, bringing his comedy tour to kiwi stages, and while for most tours are sporadic the comedian revealed that he’s always on the road.  “I’m always touring,” he told...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is attributing last night’s poor poll result which showed coalition parties losing support to the “challenging time” Kiwis are facing.  National, Act and NZ First have collectively dropped five percentage points according to the 1News Verian poll. Based on the poll, the left bloc would be able to form a government and NZ First would be out of Parliament.  The poll had National at 36 per cent, down two points from the last poll in February. Labour jumped to...

Children living in emergency housing motels are set to be pushed up the priority list.  From today the Ministry of Social Development will focus on families with dependent children who've been in emergency housing for longer than 12 weeks.  They'll be moved to the top of the social housing waitlist.  Housing Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking that the situation the government has inherited is a mess.  He says families weren't a priority and there was no structure from moving them...

Pharmac's record funding-boost will address the fiscal cliff it faces.  An additional $1.7 billion spread over four-years has been ear-marked for the drug-buying agency in the upcoming Budget.  Chief Executive Sarah Fitt told Mike Hosking that the extra cash covers time-limited funding for some treatments, which ends this year.  She says the fiscal hole was always known, as the funds outlined in Budget 2022 only went through to Budget 2024.  LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Labour's Disability spokesperson says funding was laid out for the Ministry of Disabled People until 2027.   It's under review after abruptly announcing funding changes that ultimately resulted in Minister Penny Simmonds' demotion.   A briefing is now suggesting multiple problems, dating back to its formation under the previous government.  Priyanca Radhakrishnan told Mike Hosking that it had been looking at fixing the issues it inherited from the Ministry of Health.  She says in the...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 29th of April, we look at the cost of implementing the Government's health targets in hospitals.  It's the first day of term two, which means cellphones are officially banned. Education Minister Erica Stanford tells us how it's gone so far as most schools have already implemented the new rule.    Guy and Sav cover Scott McLaughlin's Indycar win this morning, as well as Super Rugby - and they attempt to talk about the Wellington...

Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt joined Mike Hosking to discuss the first ANZAC NRL match in Auckland since 2015, a high-quality weekend for Super Rugby, the Black Caps four run win over Pakistan in the fourth T20 cricket international and the weekend's motorsport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian research has found middle managers are the ones suffering heightened levels of burnout, largely due to premature promotions. In the survey, 73 percent of middle managers reported burnout.  AUT Professor of Human Resource Management tells Mike Hosking juggle pressure from both sides of the chain.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Term two begins today, kicking the ban on cellphones in schools into effect.  National announced the policy before the election in order to “help students focus and improve their academic outcomes”. The ban mandates schools ensure students don’t use or access a phone during class time, lunchtime and breaks.   Education Minister Erica Stanford tells Mike Hosking the policy has been overwhelmingly welcomed.   When it comes to those pushing back against the policy, Stanford is “happy to be...

Fuel prices continue to rise. Unleaded 91 petrol has increased by 26 cents per litre this year, so far.  Bagrie Economics Founder Cameron Bagrie tells Mike Hosking the three major factors of supply, demand, and geopolitics all contribute to the higher prices.  War in the Middle East and drone attacks on Russian refineries raises concerns about fuel supplies.  New Zealand prices are still away from their highest point of $3.16 per litre in July 2022.  LISTEN ABOVE  See...