The Mike Hosking Breakfast

US President Donald Trump has coined Wednesday as 'Liberation Day', when he will roll out tariffs promised to free the country from foreign goods.  The President says he will impose 25% tariffs on cars and car parts made outside of the United States.  Tesla's are one of the only cars made entirely in the US.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold joins the show to discuss Liberation Day, and the death of Richard Chamberlain.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US consumer confidence is feeling the economic and tariff uncertainty, as Lululemon shares fell 15%, and inflation expectations are picking up. It comes as Kiwi consumer confidence is still challenged according to a latest read.  Greg Smith of Devon Funds Management talks to Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Village Roadshow, no small player in the movie industry, this week filed for Chapter 11. They have been having some legal issues with another major studio. But they sighted along with that their other overriding  problem, the actors' strike. You remember that? It was more than actors, of course, it was the whole industry. Hollywood came to a stop for months as they argued over pay and conditions. Some of the pay and conditions were based around what was seen at the time as this frightening new development called AI that was potentially going to slash their work and income. They wanted protections. It was eventually settled but, and here is the really big question, at what cost? Hollywood has never come back and the movie industry has never been the same. Irony of ironies a lot of people lost their jobs. Not because of AI, but because they never recovered from the shuttering as a result of the strike. So given fewer movies were made, less income was generated, and the vicious cycle began. That was until someone like Village Roadshow could no longer go on, so they folded for Chapter 11. Chapter 11, if you don’t know is not the end. It can be the end, but initially it's about some protection to get some affairs in order and potentially get a rescuer. The lesson here is unionism. This is what this is. Hollywood, the film, and television industry is heavily unionised. It's one of those ideas that, once upon a time might have made a modicum of sense, but as the world and the workplace has changed and got increasingly sophisticated now presents as an old idea that does more harm than good. So they go on strike, the multi millionaire actors back them , food parcels are handed out, they pound the picket line, and they eventually cut a deal. Is that good? Not if you then go and lose your job, not if the studio then goes and files for Chapter 11. What's the point of that? What would you rather have? More money for fewer people? Or more people? Because that’s what unionism does. So, was the strike a win or a path to joblessness and business ruin? What do you reckon Village Roadshow would say?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.    Signalgate: 1/10  A good sign of how mad and dopey that lot are. A platform they shouldn't have been on, a denial that got blown out of the water, and an attack campaign that made them look pathetic.    The Warriors: 7/10  Not just two wins in a row, but two very good wins in a row - and a third on Sunday with the Tigers.    Liam Lawson: 2/10  Yes, it's sport and, yes, it's tough. But this is at the hard end of hard calls, that line between dream lived, and shattered.    Whangarei council: 1/10  They got hung up on fluoride, wasted any amount of time arguing about it, went to court with no money, and no budget, and lost and got pasted by the judge. Awesome work guys!    Lindsay McKenzie: 6/10  He's Wellington's Crown observer, who thinks the local body law should be changed so we get better qualified people to represent us. Give that man a medal.    Tamatha Paul: 2/10  Yes, the Greens are nuts. But Labour wants to run the country with them.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most uplifting part of the week for me in terms of news was the combination of Winston Peters and his very wise words over diet and work.  The statistics department released the numbers of those who are working beyond 65-years-old. In fact, not just 65, but 70, 80 and 90-years-old.  For Peters, what made the advice so useful is you can argue he has never been more relevant and effective.  Age is one thing, but performance is another.  If you take the politics out of it, he would be the match for anyone in the current political game. There would be few, if any, that would question his work ethic, the miles he is covering and the effort he is making in putting us back on the international map.  And he is doing it at almost 80-years-old.  The trouble with age is we still focus on the number. Say whatever you want about Trump but he is a good 78-years-old while Biden was a very poor 82-years-old.  In fact, I am surprised that 65-years-old is still a thing. It only gets attention because of superannuation. There is an official attachment to the age – you get money for a so-called lifetime of work, you can retire, you are old, so you get a gold card for a ferry ride, etc.  The really upbeat aspect of all this is that it wasn’t so long ago that age in work was an issue, but for negative reasons.  Older workers were let go, they had trouble getting new jobs and roles for women of a certain age in Hollywood became a thing.  It all seems to have been reversed.  Dare I suggest it has been helped by the reputation, whether real or imagined, that the so-called new generation aren't really as interested in work.  Covid ruined a lot of us. Work-life balance became a thing. Work from home became a thing. Quiet quitting became a thing.  As more and more younger people moaned and complained and slacked off, the diligence, consistency and institutional knowledge of the older worker increased in value.  Winston Peters' knowledge and experience in Parliament is to be seen any Question Time you want to look. He runs rings around most of them.  He has purpose. And as the Asian cultures in particular will tell you, age is but a number and purpose is everything. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back on the air, joining Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed the Liam Lawson situation and Bob Geldof – who Mike interviewed earlier this week.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand winemakers are continuing to make moves in the US.   Amid an uncertain market, we were the only nation in the top ten US wine suppliers to increase its volume last year.  Data suggests it’s the 16th year in a row New Zealand wine has reported growth.   Invivo Wine Founder Tim Lightbourne told Mike Hosking there’s big opportunities over in the States, with New Zealand wines being sold right around the country.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 28th of March, it’s official – Eden Park will be getting a revamp, and Auckland won't be getting a new stadium.  Kiwi’s trust in our public institutions is eroding over time – a survey revealing it’s at its lowest point since 2022.   Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss Bob Geldof with Mike as they Wrap the Week.  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.

Liam Lawson has had the keys taken off him at Red Bull and will complete the Formula 1 season with the franchise's Racing Bulls development team.  He lasted two Grands Prix before management decided to replace him with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda for his home event next weekend at Suzuka.   The switch confirms widespread speculation.  BBC Formula 1 correspondent Andrew Benson told Mike Hosking the line CEO Christian Horner is running about “duty of care” is them trying to dress the situation up as best they can.  He says getting rid of someone after two races isn’t duty of care by any stretch of the imagination, and instead, giving him a chance to try and perform better would be.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trust is eroding over time in our public institutions.   The Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer reveals 67% of New Zealanders express a sense of grievance with business, media, government and NGOs – surpassing the global average of 61%.   Many feel overlooked by those in power and disillusioned as a result  Acumen Chief Executive Adelle Keely says it's a wake-up call for those in charge.   She says for the past few years, businesses have been the most trusted institution - but this year for the first time, no institutions are trusted at all.  Keely told Mike Hosking it's a worldwide trend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.