The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Netball New Zealand's updated the eligibility criteria for the Silver Ferns.  Overseas-based players can now be considered for national selection through a formal exemption process.  The updated criteria will be implemented ahead of the upcoming international season, allowing Grace Nweke to be available if she applies.  Board chair Matt Whineray told Mike Hosking they had to balance everyone’s interests – players' aspirations and development, the strength of the domestic competition, and the needs of the high-performance system and Silver Ferns.  He says they’re pleased to have a process in place now to balance the different needs and to understand how everything fits together.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another cut to the Official Cash Rate next month is looking a lot more likely.  Latest Stats NZ figures show annual inflation has reached 2.7% in the year to June – up from 2.5% in the year to March.  But core inflation is tracking much lower, and domestically driven non-tradeable inflation is at a four-year low.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking that it’s a green light for the Reserve Bank.  He says the chance of not only reaching 3% in annual inflation, but also getting stuck above 3% has reduced, so the bank can probably feel more comfortably in cutting rates.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An update in the Government's plans to ban Greyhound racing, with the industry's lead organisation fronting in court next month.   Racing Minister Winston Peters says they're considering laws to get the TAB to help pay to re-home ex-racing dogs.   Greyhound Racing NZ CEO says there’s all this talk about rehoming, but no question or consideration of support for their people and compensation for them.  He says they have people who have invested thousands into upgrading their facilities.  GRNZ is heading to court in hopes to overturn the ban, stating they have plans to improve the injury rates of racing dogs.  Rennell told Mike Hosking they had an independent monitor who had been assessing their performance with injuries and had deemed it acceptable, and in many ways leading the racing industry in New Zealand.  He says that they believe the process that has been adopted and the decision itself is manifestly wrong.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s optimism the new medical school will ensure a future influx of GP specialists.   Waikato University's newly announced medical school will begin construction this year, opening the doors to 120 trainees in 2028.   It will focus on primary and rural care.   Vice Chancellor Neil Quigley told Mike Hosking students could choose not to specialise in rural health or become a GP, but there are ways of addressing this.   He says Australian institutions use selection mechanisms which, if implemented, create a markedly different workforce.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised as to why taxpayer money backs trains but not planes, as more regional flight routes are axed.   Operator Sounds Air is dropping its Blenheim to Christchurch and Christchurch to Wanaka services from September, with 10 jobs lost.  Despite good passenger numbers, the decision is driven by unsustainable costs, so it is having to sell part of its fleet.  CEO Andrew Crawford told Mike Hosking the money spent on the train from Hamilton to Auckland would cover regional aviation in a heartbeat.   He says the Government's happy to put money into trains, roads, and ferries but nothing towards regional connectivity.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 21st of July, we get our inflation number and it isn't expected to be good. Could it be outside the RB's band? And what will the Government do? Is Queenstown at risk of becoming the next Barcelona due to it's growth and tourism? Locals don't want it, but can anything be done? Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk the All Blacks, Mike's predictions for the remaining All Blacks games - and what Andrew had to eat at FMG Stadium. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown's underlying infrastructure is unable to keep up with the rapidly growing tourism and population numbers. The town's infrastructure can't cope with international arrivals 28% higher than in 2019, and the population has doubled every 17 years in the last four decades.   Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust Chief Executive Julie Scott says they're a smaller community who needs a lot of infrastructure they can't afford.   She says they need the tools to enable them to have an equitable share in how infrastructure is paid for.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is staying upbeat about New Zealand's trading relationship with the US. Donald Trump's threatening to raise tariffs against key trading partners if they don't reach trade deals before the end of the month. New Zealand goods currently face the base tariff rate of ten-percent. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking discussions with US officials have been positive so far. He says New Zealand is currently no worse off than any other country, and there's a sense that the US has "bigger fish to fry". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a growing belief that NCEA should be abolished and replaced all together.   The Government is signalling that big changes could be on the cards - including the potential to ditch NCEA level one entirely.   Auckland Grammar Headmaster Tim O'Connor told Mike Hosking that there should be a simple examination-based system, to give benchmarking across the country.  He says NZQA would mark everything, so every student knows where they stand.  LISTEN HERE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising inflation is hitting low-income households hard, but is expected to spark hikes to the OCR.  New data -- due out from Stats NZ this morning -- is expected to show inflation has risen to between 2.6 and 2.9 percent in the year to June.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says households are facing rising energy and food prices.  She says inflation could surpass three percent in the year to September, but the Reserve Bank isn't likely to change course.  LISTEN HERE     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.