The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Economic growth and recovery is expected to be front of mind as the Prime Minister prepares to address business leaders in Auckland today.  Christopher Luxon will share his State of the Nation speech, outlining what he sees as the country's challenges and priorities for the year ahead.  Tim Hurdle is a former National Party senior adviser and told Ryan Bridge it will be all about the economy.  He expects Luxon to outline what they've done so far and hopefully provide more certainty on their plan for the year ahead.  Political commentator Josie Pagani says the government needs to better articulate how we grow.  She says the Government doesn't want to spend more, doesn't have an industrial policy, and isn't keen on picking winners and interfering in the market, so it needs today to outline their theory of growth.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's scepticism over whether European countries would be willing to provide more security in Ukraine.  US President Donald Trump has warned of imposing high levels of sanctions, taxes and tariffs on Russia to try to force a ceasefire deal.  Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskky says any deal would need at least 200,000 peacekeepers on the border.  But Keir Giles —a Russian expert with international think tank Chatham House— told Ryan Bridge countries are worried about how much taking an interest in their own defence would cost them.  He says that's been one of the main concerns in Europe with Trump's re-election, and his promise he may not meet the US's NATO commitments when called upon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest inflation rate is giving confidence to cut interest rates.   Stats NZ figures show the inflation rate for the year to December hasn't changed, sticking at 2.2%, well within the Reserve Bank's target band.   Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich told Ryan Bridge their two-year mortgage rate is expected to come down half a percent over the next few months.   He says it'll vary by term, but he thinks we will see rates around 5%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no surprise from the Christchurch Mayor that construction is booming in Canterbury.  The region's councils consented about 6,500 homes in the year to November – a fifth of the country's new builds.  The number of consents in Christchurch was also triple Wellington's.  Phil Mauger told Ryan Bridge there's been a billion-dollars worth of new homes built in Christchurch – half being units, townhouses, or apartments.  He says they're aiming for 20-thousand more people in the central city.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a push for the Government to focus on increasing tourist numbers to maximise economic growth.  Nicola Willis —the minister now charged with driving the growth agenda— is considering visa changes to pull more tourists through the door.  She wants to see Chinese visitor numbers back to pre-Covid levels. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges wouldn't be drawn on whether increasing the international visitor levy last year was a good idea.  He told Ryan Bridge the sector has real issues, and if the Government's looking to get the economy back on track, visa issues are a start.  Bridges told Ryan Bridge incentivising airlines could be the answer.  He says there's nearly as many flights coming in from China as the US.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent UK health trend is growing in popularity for Kiwis.  Zebra striping means alternating between alcohol and a no or low-alcohol drink while socialising.  Independent consumer research found that 55% of Kiwi respondents said they've drunk low-alcohol beverages in the past year.  Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director Virginia Nicholls told Ryan Bridge the growth of these drinks is being driven by a trend of moderation.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 22nd of January, the latest inflation data is coming out today, so how will that shape us for 2025?  Marco Rubio's former chief of staff Matt Terrill gives his take on the first 24 hours of Donald Trump as well as Rubio being sworn in as the new Secretary of State.  Ginny Andersen flies solo on Politics Wednesday, discussing the cost of living, the latest political poll, and the Treaty Principles Bill submissions.   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.

Labour has eked ahead in the polls as the cost of living crisis bites.  The latest Taxpayers' Union Curia poll has Labour overtaking National, the latter falling to 29.6%, against Labour's four percentage point jump, to 30.9%.  Ginny Andersen told Ryan Bridge that it’s an indication the economy is biting.  She says that New Zealanders aren’t really getting what they voted for, and that’s coming through in the polls.   Health is the other big ticket issue impacting the polls, Andersen says, which is why Luxon is trying to head it off by putting Simeon Brown in charge of the portfolio.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dairy sector's upbeat heading into the new year.  Dairy prices are up 1.4% at the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, while Fonterra's still predicting farmgate milk prices to reach a record $10.50 midpoint this year.  New Zealand's milk production in 2024 was also the highest in five years.  Fonterra co-operative council chair, John Stevenson told Ryan Bridge it's looking really positive from an on-farm perspective.  He says supplementary feed supplies, silage, and crops have had a good start to summer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Cabinet's awaiting confirmation to drive home Donald Trump's vision for America.  Trump's four year presidential term has officially begun, and he's already signed scores of executive actions concerning immigration, diversity protections, and the environment.  The first of his Cabinet nominees, Marco Rubio has also been confirmed as Secretary of State.   Rubio's former chief of staff Matt Terrill told Ryan Bridge Rubio has his hands full with the complex foreign policy environment, but there's no one better equipped for the job.   He says Rubio's served on the Foreign Relations and Senate Intel committees, and he knows these world leaders and the issues facing the US and the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.