The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  New Zealand finally has a radio station that caters to Mike’s taste in music, with iHeartCountry NZ launching this morning.   Plus, Kate and Tim played a game of Mike’s invention for the chance to win a cash prize.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby has posted a $19.5 million loss for 2024.  Since NZR brought US fund manager Silver Lake on as an equity partner in June 2022, the national body has posted total accumulated losses of around $76 million over three years.  NZR is trumpeting record income of $285 million dollars against the loss.  CEO Mark Robinson told Mike Hosking that much of the deficit is as a result of investment, and putting all those aside, the deficit is just under $6 million over the last four years.   He says that they’re making choices to fund investment and growth for the future, and you can see some green shoots coming through.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand banks are being asked to pay up in the next few months.  Kiwibank, BNZ, Westpac, ANZ and ASB will need to repay around $9.2 billion in cheap Covid-era loans to the Reserve Bank.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that they have variety of options they can use to repay the money.  He says the banks knew when taking out these loans they’d have to pay them back eventually.  Olsen told Hosking that if they’re not ready to pay them back, they probably don’t qualify to be called bankers at this point.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's scraped the bottom of the barrel to find more money for the upcoming Budget.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's promising an extra $400 million for maintaining and upgrading assets, on top of the already projected $3.6 billion.  He says he wants to prioritise growing the economy.  Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Mike Hosking things are looking up after the investment summit earlier this year.  She says things are happening in the background, including creating a more positive investment environment.  McCormick says that while it's breadcrumbs, it's positive news.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Pope's experience around the globe has hoisted him above front-runners for the papacy.   69-year-old Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, is the first Pope to come from the United States.   While he was born in Chicago, he's also a naturalised Peruvian having lived there for about 20 years, and speaks English, Spanish, and Italian.  Newstalk ZB's Jo McKenna is at the Vatican and told Mike Hosking his history in Peru would've drawn support from South American cardinals.  She says he’s strongly pushing messages of connection, talking in his speech about peace and maintaining the message of Pope Francis of reaching out to all corners of the earth and creating an inclusive church.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's planning to increase ventilation requirements in new homes to address overheating in townhouses.  RNZ reports Auckland homeowners have complained of 30-degree temperatures overnight due to poorly ventilated buildings.  Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says changes are needed so people don't get cooked alive in their own house.  Property developer and investor David Whitburn told Mike Hosking the problem's driven by cost and design.  He says the building code has changed for insulation standards, while ventilation rules have stayed the same.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The looming impact of Donald Trump's tariffs on the film industry sparks a discussion on international trade missions. The New Zealand Film Commission is exploring partnerships in India, the UK, and France to attract more investment. Chief Executive Annie Murray highlights the rise in co-productions and the bustling business landscape. With Cannes on the horizon, they gear up for meetings to expand opportunities in the film sector.

Red meat exports are setting records.  The country's March export sales were $1.26 billion - a new high.  China's beef demand dropped 35% by volume and value compared to last March, due to their growing imports from South America.  Fed Farmers President Wayne Langford told Mike Hosking there's still room to expand.  He says there's work to do for farming marketing and trade teams to get deals across the line with Chinese red meat importers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An organised crime expert believes New Zealand's failure to curb criminal activity isn't due to a lack of trying.   A ministerial advisory group has released its second report criticising our response to modern crime and money laundering.   It shows the cash and assets seized by police is just 4.2% of the $1.6 billion in criminal profits each year.   Group Chair and top lawyer Steve Symon told Mike Hosking Police are doing an excellent job addressing the problem and just need more tools.   He says the number of seizures is fine by international standards, but not enough to properly disrupt operations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 8th of May, our unemployment numbers look to have peaked, and we have the latest report from the advisory group for organised crime.  Would you be happy if Mark Lundy moved into your neighbourhood? Should we know where a high-profile prisoner is reintegrating back into society?  Outgoing Air NZ CEO Greg Foran gives his first in-depth interview since announcing his resignation.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.