The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Government's changing New Zealand's approach to EV infrastructure. Grants will now turn into interest-free loans -$69-million worth for the private sector to build chargers throughout the country. The target is 10 thousand in the next five years. ChargeNet Board Member Stephen England-Hall talks to Mike Hosking about the scheme. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 28th of April, how did Hawkes Bay's gang conflict warrant pan out?   The Prime Minister speaks to us out of Dubai as he wings his way home about Gallipoli, the Pope's funeral and his time with Keir Starmer. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the Warriors in the top 4 and Auckland FC winning the Premier's Plate. 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.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says incomplete or wrong information from the IRD is to blame for shortfalls in the Government's FamilyBoost scheme.  The tax rebate of up to $75 per week was initially touted as a $249-million-a-year handout to help with covering childcare costs.  Only 1.2% of eligible families received a full subsidy.  Christopher Luxon talks to Luxon about the shortfall, his experience at the Pope's funeral and time commemorating Anzac Day.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following Pope Francis' death last week, the process begins in electing a new head of the Catholic Church.  The conclave will begin early next month.  Vatican Correspondent Edward Pentin talks to Mike Hosking about what we can expect.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC went into yesterday's game against Perth Glory knowing they had won the Premier's plate.  The win comes for finishing top of the round.  The team went on to beat Perth Glory 1-0.  Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker talks to Mike Hosking about the achievement.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hawkes Bay has seen three shootings in 48 hours as gang conflicts heat up.  A gang conflict warrant has been invoked 26 times since Thursday, leading to eight arrests. Police Minister Mark Mitchell talks to Mike Hosking about the conflict.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the Pope's funeral to discuss next steps in Russia-Ukraine peace effort.  Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that this week Trump will decide whether to continue the process.  It comes as Trump said in a post to truth social last week, "Vladimir, STOP!" after Russia carried out the deadliest attack in months on Ukraine.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold talks to Mike Hosking about the meeting and what the polls are saying after Trump's first 100 days in office.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stance may be softening in the trade war between China and the United States.  Last week US President Trump said the initial 145 percent tariffs wouldn't actually be that high.  China appears to now be mulling their imposed tariffs.  Greg Smiths of Devon Funs Management talks to Mike Hosking about the developments, the trade war's impact on the US economy and the good news for US tech stocks.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.     Meteorological paranoia: 2/10   Between the MetService and the media, you would have thought Noah and his large ship were going to be needed, and yet...    Teachers: 6/10  God bless them, but it’s hardly a surprise when you see a drop in numbers, is it? Would you be a teacher?    Easter rules: 3/10   I'm not sure what’s worse, the shambles they’ve become, or the annual tedious debate about changing them… even though we never change them.    Hegseth: 4/10  Looks increasingly like a doofus, and I’m not sure he wasn’t a doofus to start with.    Canada: 7/10   Best election going right now – early voting at records, massive swing in the polls… could be one to remember.    Exports: 8/10  Good news story of the week. In March, this country hit it out of the park – that’s what we need more of.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polls are funny things at the best of times, and despite plenty of evidence that they can be as wrong as they can be right, we still seem fascinated, if not obsessed, by them.  There are two races at the moment being heavily polled: Australia and Canada. Canada votes this Monday, Australia in a couple of weeks.  Canada is more interesting, if for no other reason than the incumbents were losing by so far it wasn’t funny, but are now leading.  The PM quit and the new bloke, Carney —who once ran the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England— is now chasing the top job.  On the surface, that change of leadership might have played a part in voters' minds – Trudeau was past his used-by date in a Jacinda Ardern “loved then hated” kind of way. More likely, south of the border, Trump got elected, tariffs became an issue, and Carney looks like the person who can better stand up to America.  Polling out yesterday says the Conservatives are closing as people refocus on local issues like housing and cost of living, but the gap is still 12 points. Which is an amazing swing given the gap was 20 points the other way until tariffs stole the headlines.  Meantime, in Australia it’s gone from a race where the incumbent would be lucky to survive, far less thrive. Where a hung parliament was probable, requiring any number of accommodations with Greens and Teals and Independents, given a minority was the best Albanese could hope for, to what increasingly looks like an easy romp home with a majority.  Marginal seat polling out yesterday shows Labor with a 3.5% swing in the past week. Another poll had 45% of voters saying they didn’t like Dutton’s personality, therefore wouldn’t vote for him.  Competence, cost of living, that apparently doesn’t count. You look at him, you don’t like him, he’s toast.  It hardly seems a sophisticated way to decide the future of your nation, but then that’s democracy, isn’t it?  One argument says Albo should win —first term governments don’t lose— haven’t since the 30s.  But Canada, if the polls are right, that would be a victory from the ashes. What happens in another country is so profound: the party that was getting thrashed has their fortunes completely reversed. That’s one for the history books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.