New Zealand aren’t the only ones suffering from healthcare struggles.  Italy released their 2025 draft Budget, and medical professionals in particular are unimpressed.  Nurses and doctors went on a nationwide strike, drawing 85% of support according to trade unions.  Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking that they’re saying not enough money has been allocated to healthcare, and they have insufficient resources to pay staff and keep the system functioning.  She says the system...

It's ironic that we mention the Commerce Commission yesterday and here we are today, indulging in a bit more of its madness.  Lines charges, the cost of getting power to your house, is going to get more expensive.  Your bill will rise for the next handful of years by up to $85. That’s over $1,000 a year.  Is your power better? No.  Do you get more power? No.  You just pay more. Why?  Because the Commerce Commission decided they are going to let Transpower and local lines companies...

A researcher believes international drug smugglers are flooding the New Zealand market, bringing prices down and availability up.  The New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey found cocaine use is increasing, with 48% of respondents reporting they've used it at some point in their life.  It finds meth's also dropping in price, with a gram becoming 36% cheaper over the past six years.  Massey University drug researcher Chris Wilkins says the majority of Australia's meth comes from Mexican cartels.  ...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 21st of November, the new Police Commissioner Richard Chambers reveals his plans for the next five years, and touches on the gang patch ban that came into effect overnight.  Just how much meth, cannabis and cocaine are we consuming? We look at the annual drug trend survey.  The Naked Chef Jamie Oliver hasn't done a New Zealand interview in eight years, so after the launch of his new cookbook, he joined Mike for a chat about his 25...

There's a view Netflix isn't paying enough attention to New Zealand's screen industry.  The movie and TV streaming corporation is setting up an office in Sydney to take care of Australia and New Zealand.  So far, the content and commissioning has been heavily based across the ditch.  Screen Production and Development Association President Irene Gardiner told Mike Hosking that some international productions have been shot in New Zealand, and they’ve bought the odd pre-existing show, when it...

Jamie Oliver has built a culinary empire.  He’s a household name in the kitchen, writing 23 cookbooks and selling over 46 million copies.  Oliver sprung into the spotlight 25 years ago with ‘The Naked Chef’, a BBC Two cooking show that ran for three series.   He landed the role after he appeared in the background of a BBC documentary about The River Cafe in Fulham, where he was working as a sous-chef at the time.   Oliver told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that he got lucky.  “It was never...

The Government's released a new child and youth strategy, with a focus on supporting children and their families in the first 2000 days.   It aims to lift 17,000 children out of material hardship by 2027.   2000 days is just over five years.  Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking the Government needs to focus its efforts – if they attempt too many things, they won't achieve anything.   She says this is a plan to work across government ministers' departments to...

The Transport Agency's spending is in the spotlight.  The Transport Minister's calling NZTA's costs “eye-watering” and excessive after revealing a near $800 million spend on traffic management over the past three years.  Simeon Brown says a new framework is coming to reduce costs.  Traffic Direct General Manager Dev Strause told Mike Hosking it will be made, but change doesn't happen overnight.  He says it takes a bit of fine tuning to be able to redevelop and retrain all the workers,...

Police have already acted on the new gang patch ban.  The Gangs Act 2024 came into effect at midnight last night, banning the public wear of gang patches and insignia.   New Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking that at three minutes past midnight, Hastings police stopped a vehicle displaying gang insignia, and they are now facing prosecution.  He told Hosking the person staff dealt with was respectful and followed the orders of police.  “I’m happy with how that went, and...

Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith says people who are convicted of sexual crimes getting name suppression is “a massive issue”.  “Particularly for the victims, they can’t talk about what’s happened to them and they can’t warn others," Goldsmith told Mike Hosking.  “We’ve decided you only get permanent name suppression if you’re a convicted sex offender if the victim agrees. And if the victim doesn’t agree? Well, tough luck, you’re not going to get it and you should own up to your crimes.  ...

An additional two charges have been laid against former Australian broadcaster Alan Jones.  The 83-year-old is now facing a total of 26 indecent assault charges, relating to nine alleged victims over the span of two-decades.  Jones was granted conditional bail, and has been scheduled to appear at Downing Centre local court in Sydney on the 18th of December.  Australian Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking that the complainants now include a prominent Olympian, a 17-year-old, and...

I think at times the Commerce Commission has an easy job in the sense it starts out life, in appearance anyway, as being on “our side. "Our” side being the people's side.  We need a hero, a protector to keep the big bad boys away from our lives and wallets.  Lately though, they look like they might have a large legal budget that someone has told them to spend or else they will lose it.  So out come the lawyers to take on Starlink over their claims about being able to text anywhere in the...

Seasons are changing when it comes to secondary school sports.  In just over a year’s time, basketball is set to become the most popular sport, with participation jumping 61% since 2000.  However, there’s now concerns that New Zealand is 500 courts short to support the growing popularity.   School Sport NZ CEO Mike Summerell told Mike Hosking that while schools have great facilities they can only cater for the smaller games, and national competitions are maxing the current facilities...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20th of September, MPs want to change the standing orders in Parliament so that rules are followed and punishments are properly handed out. What can actually be changed?  The Prime Minister is back from APEC and joins the show for a chat the day after 42,000 people marched onto Parliament grounds.  Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss when it is and isn't appropriate to protest and break the rules in Parliament on Politics...

There have been a wide range of responses to Te Pāti Māori’s haka in the House last week.   Speaker Gerry Brownlee has confirmed he’s received complaints, and both David Seymour and Shane Jones have asked him to consider changes.  National's Mark Mitchell says he doesn't know of any rule change that could rein in Te Pāti Māori.  He told Mike Hosking that he doesn’t think they care about any sanctions that will be applied in Parliament.  “They just think that they can do what they like.”  ...

There's hopes New Zealand's efforts to stop smoking don't go up in smoke.   The latest New Zealand Health Survey shows daily smoking rates have remained steady over the past year.   They were just under 7%, which is down from 13% five years ago.   Auckland University health economist Paula Lorgelly told Mike Hosking we might be tripping at the finish line.  She says we're seeing more steady drops which could have continued if New Zealand had passed legislation the previous government...

The Prime Minister says there needs to be rules in Parliament to ensure there's debate about difficult issues, without it degenerating into chaos.   Speaker Gerry Brownlee's confirmed he's received complaints about Te Pati Māori's haka in the House last week. David Seymour and Shane Jones have both asked him to consider changes.   Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking there has to be respect for rules.  “You’ve got to be able to have proper conversations in a Parliament without it just...

Shane Jones says Parliament's standards are slipping.   The New Zealand First MP and David Seymour have both asked Speaker Gerry Brownlee to consider changes in light of Te Pati Māori's haka in the House last week.   Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke was 'named', suspended for a day, and had her pay docked for a day.   Jones told Mike Hosking the penalties have historically worked, but we live in a world of Tik Tok now.  He says we live in a world where, as a consequence of Jacinda Ardern and...

Questions are being raised as to whether Aotearoa should take a page from the United States' book when it comes to our roads.  Concrete New Zealand-commissioned research shows road maintenance costs using the material are up to 62% lower than asphalt.  It also shows that, on average, concrete roads are 17% cheaper over 40 years.  Chief Executive, Rob Gaimster told Mike Hosking America has a good model, with half of their roads concrete.  He says New Zealand has a pothole crisis and is...

The good news about the arrival of the protest is that after today, it's over.  This has been one of the more misrepresented activities in recent years.  It's hard to know what it is actually about, or whether those taking part even know what it's about.  Is it about the Treaty Principles Bill? Is it about a general attitude towards the Government and their Māori policies? Is it a PR stunt for the Māori Party?  And perhaps most importantly of all - what does it achieve?  The answer, of...

Wellington business owners are expecting a peaceful protest.  The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti march has arrived in Wellington and will soon march to Parliament, protesting ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill.  Up to 30,000 people are expected to join the protest, disrupting traffic in the city.  Business Central Chief Executive Simon Arcus expects a "low impact" day.  But he told Mike Hosking there is some anxiety, particularly for businesses in the area around Parliament and the Wellington Railway...

Rhys Darby is returning to his roots.  In the last decade, Kiwis have gotten more used to seeing the comedian on the big screen than on the stage, but that’s about to change.  Darby has announced his first comedy tour in more than a decade, returning to Kiwi stages next year with ‘The Legend Returns’.  He told Mike Hosking that he can’t wait to hit the stage again.  “I had the most fun, like in the last six months, getting ready for the show,” Darby said.  “I’m still working on material,...

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 19th of November, the hīkoi has finally hit the capital. Police District Commander Corrie Parnell joined to discuss the numbers they're expecting and their preparations.  Mark Mitchell has officially avoided having to resign after the crime numbers went down in his first year as Police Minister. He gave an insight into what to expect for the next two years of the term.  Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby has announced his first comedy tour...

The Police Minister says it’s important for police to be politically neutral.  There have been reports on social media of police officers helping to paint signs for today’s hīkoi.  Up to 30,000 people are expected to join the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti marching on Parliament in opposition to ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill.  Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking he’s aware of the reports, and has discussed the matter with the Police Commissioner.  He says that in order to maintain public confidence, it’s...