

The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Newstalk ZB
Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 16, 2025 • 12min
Mark the Week: Will the ceasefire last?
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. Matt Payne: 9/10 Highlight of the week. Didn’t just win but won one of the best. Dreams coming true at 280km/h doesn’t get any better than that. The ceasefire: 8/10 The rest is yet to unfold but Tuesday was a win for a lot of people. Gail Parata: 8/10 My hero of the week. Standing on principal and speaking out is increasingly rare these days. Good on her. The BSA: 2/10 Interventionist, sticky beak, trying it on, full of their own self importance - pick a term. The cold, hard truth is very few in broadcasting give a monkeys, given their irrelevancy. Brian Tamaki: 8/10 Got turned down on closing the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Good. The bridge is for transport, not politics. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2025 • 1h 30min
Full Show Podcast: 17 October 2025
On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 17th of October, the online censorship mess is back involving the Mowbrays and false allegations. Just how do you deal with it when social media goes feral? England cricket coach Brendon McCullum joins Mike to talk his time with the team ahead of their series against the Black Caps - before the big Ashes tour next month. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson wrap the week, discuss Brendon McCullum's alleged dislike of Mike and Kate has a bone to pick with her husband too! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2025 • 2min
Mike's Minute: How miserable it is if you can't celebrate good news
Dr Hosking would diagnose a kind of "funk" as a result of observations this week. There's been two very clear examples these past few days of good news, of uplifting events and of indisputable progress. Yet for too many it was not a reason to acknowledge, or accept, or congratulate, but rather moan a bit more or find a reason as to why it can't be so. The most obvious was the ceasefire and hostage-come-prisoner swap. As I said, peace in the Middle East is only ever temporary, but the bit we witnessed Tuesday is an indisputable win and, for now, there was much and is much to be celebrated. Yet the main character, the U.S president, for some was not to be thanked or recognised. The Green Party here went as far to suggest we actively don’t acknowledge him. They argued the tireless ground operators i.e them and the people who wore the scarves and held the press conferences, were somehow more responsible. So there's a mix there of complete delusion and lack of grace. There were no shortage of obsessives who contacted me raging about the Palestinian treatment and supposedly pro-Israeli coverage. Even a ceasefire, for some, is a reason to pick holes above celebration and/or relief. Then we could to education. There's been very clear, specific and indisputable progress in phonics, as well as English and maths in our primary schools. We changed it up and it works. But, no. There's been a lot of push back on that too. "It's only a small sample so how do we know for sure", they say. A number of interviews on this station with unions, principals and teachers being about as reluctant as you can get, possibly acknowledge we might be onto something. But let's see, let me dial up the scepticism just a bit. Heaven forbid you catch me being enthusiastic. The hospitality sector had record income. "Oh but Mike that’s not profit. What about the bills?" Yes, yes, yes, I get it. But I will tell you this for nothing - when the good news arrives, if you can't see it, or worse, don’t want to see it, you are destined for a life and existence of misery, woe and myopia. Has the nations funk set in? Has dour replaced rugby as the national past time? Good grace is not that hard. Sometimes the news is good. Sometimes the outlook is better. Sometimes the future is bright. Give it a go. It won't kill you. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2025 • 10min
Brendon McCullum: English cricket head coach and former Black cap on upcoming T20 match at Hagley Oval
The Black Caps are headed to Hagley Oval to take on England in the first of 3 T20 games. Former Black Cap and current Head Coach of England Brendon McCullum told Mike Hosking that he is happy with his new career in the UK, but is excited to be home for the game. "So yeah, very privileged to be in the position I'm in, especially not being out of playing too long to pick up this job and and get to work with these guys, It's been a real pleasure." LISTEN HERE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2025 • 3min
Gareth Kiernan: Infometrics Chief Forecaster warns of risk to rise in inflation
There are fears that inflation could come back into the picture as the OCR falls. Infometrics expects the OCR to fall to 2.25% next month - it's 2.5% at the moment. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says they expect to see growth hit 2.3% annual growth in 2027. He says alongside stoking inflation, it could create other problems. Kiernan says it risks stretching capacity in the construction and infrastructure sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2025 • 4min
Nikki Chamberlain: Auckland University Senior law lecturer discusses calls for change to name suppression
Issues around potential defamatory claims on social media are in the spotlight - after false accusations against a Kiwi richlister. Mat Mowbray's been incorrectly named on Tiktok as the member of a wealthy family convicted of having child abuse material. The real person convicted has permanent name suppression. Auckland University Senior Law Lecturer Nikki Chamberlain says false rumours on social media are a real problem. She told Mike Hosking platforms do have time to respond to complaints. Chamberlain says the horse has already bolted to some extent, because it's been up for a period and shared by various people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 2025 • 3min
Simon Watts: Climate change minister discusses newly announced climate adaptation plan
The government has announced a climate adaptation plan to help handle floods, cyclones, and other natural disasters. Councils will now have to draw up 30-year plans, and a national flood map is due in 2027. Climate change minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking that the current system lacks a coordinated approach to respond to natural hazards. “We don't have good data to make decisions, we don't have clear roles and responsibilities...we don't have a clear framework to deal with that reality.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 2025 • 2min
Mike's Minute: Sometimes it's not all about the money
In one of life’s small ironies as the teachers spend another week immersed in industrial action, I got an email yesterday from a bloke who was taught by my mother in the ’90s. My mum was a teacher. I’m pretty sure she never went on strike. I certainly don’t remember a picket line, a placard, or days at home when I was a kid. In fact, even as a student, I don’t remember having a day off school because of strikes. I do remember a lot of kids in the class — one of today’s great complaints — wasn’t an issue then. Or if it was, we still got on with it. I also remember we didn’t have a lot at home. Given teachers didn’t get paid all that much — didn’t then, sort of don’t now — but you have to say, many a teacher these days is earning a six-figure salary. So we’ve reached a point where at least some are pretty well rewarded. Anyway, the email. Out of the blue, he writes and tells me he was taught by my mum, who had inspired him into teaching — which is where he is now. He’s back in the old hometown for a week or so and was hoping to catch up with Mum so he could buy her a coffee and thank her for her inspiration. And that, to me, is the essence of teaching. You were in it for the right reasons, and as a result, you were passionate about what you did. And because of that passion, it rubbed off on some of those around you. It’s not a bad thing, don’t you think — to think back 30-odd years and remember why you’re doing what you do, and pin it, in part, down to a single person or motivation. And then, having done that, reach out and want to in some way pay it back. How many teachers today do it for the right reasons — are genuinely passionate and want others to carry the torch? How many know the pay is never great, but that’s not why you do it? How many on the picket line, out of the classroom today, will get an email in 30 years’ time thanking them for their hard work and wanting to acknowledge the influence? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 2025 • 13min
Good Charlotte: Madden brothers join Mike Hosking to discuss upcoming album release and the band’s return to NZ
The rock band Good Charlotte has announced a tour down under ahead of the release of their new album. After five albums, the band split up in 2011 but decided they weren’t done – coming back after four years and dropping more albums, including one this year in August called Motel du Cap. Joel and Benji Madden told Mike Hosking that they didn’t know how the record would turn out, and didn’t have any set plans to release it. ‘We were like, let's just make the record and then we'll see what we got. And then we'll figure out what we should do with it.’ LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 31min
Full Show Podcast: 16 October 2025
Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 16 October. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.