The Mike Hosking Breakfast

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, the unemployment number wasn’t as bad as predicted, but it could still go up from here – plus, the Government has announced a shift to Road User Charges.   We can't be too worried about the economy since we all seem to be overseas on holiday, and then a record number of us are making travel insurance claims for overseas injuries. It's been too long since we caught up with Kiwi country singer Kaylee Bell, so she's in to play us her new single and talk the upcoming album and tour.  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.

Grocery prices will continue to hit Kiwi consumers and our economy hard.  A report by the Commerce Commission shows prices are increasing again this year after appearing to stabilise last year.  It's revealed we now pay the fifth highest grocery prices in the developed world.  Grocery Action Group Chair Sue Chetwin told Mike Hosking the competition in New Zealand isn’t particularly healthy.  She says that unless the two major supermarkets know that they’re going to face proper regulation or something big will happen to them, they can continue to charge high prices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are becoming a liability when travelling in Europe.   New data reveals 1Cover New Zealand has paid out more than $2.7 million in travel claims to customers travelling to Europe since May.  The biggest claim was more than $96 thousand.   Vincent George Travel Agents co-owner Rosann Connolly George told Mike Hosking with weather disruptions and uncertainty around the world, travel insurance is crucial.  She says the demographic heading to Europe is the middle age to older group, so claims stack up.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert says there is a concerning trend as businesses owe more and more to Inland Revenue.   Businesses owe more than $1.4 billion in unpaid GST and PAYE from the 2025 tax year.  Only $66 million of that is from businesses or individuals that are bankrupt or in liquidation.  Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker told Mike Hosking the construction sector alone owes about $1 billion.   She says it is difficult to say how it stacks up against other industries.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says anxiety about tariffs will be playing a part in slowing down New Zealand's economic recovery.  Unemployment's reached a five-year high of 5.2%.  Economists think it could rise even higher before it starts turning around.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking tariffs aren't great, but some people may have been more worried than they should be.  She says the tariffs will have affected confidence and investment intentions, but it's important to remember that New Zealand is doing okay compared to the rest of the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AA is onboard with the switch from petrol tax to electronic Road User Charges, but says there are a few issues to sort out.   The change is expected to come in by 2027.   Transport Policy Director Martin Glynn says it's likely there will be devices actually in vehicles to make the measurements.   He told Mike Hosking it will be easier to implement with modern cars.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stark reality of linear TV in New Zealand, if Irene Gardiner was right on yesterday's show, is fairly simple.  Here is how the calculation works: you make a product, you stick it on air, you get an audience, and you sell advertising based on that audience.  Some programs can never hope to get the sort of audience to pay for the cost of the show. Enter Government support or brand sponsorship – in other words, a financial support mechanism to make a show that would not have otherwise been made.  I made a show called ‘Sunday’ years back. It was on TV3 on the weekend off peak. It didn’t rate very well, but it was never going to, but it rated fairly well for what it was, which was a niche program talking about the arts.  It was made with NZ On Air money.  Now, does Treasure Island attract more viewers than that? Yes.  So if you are going to toss money at something why not that? You get more bang for buck.  But the money tree hasn’t got more money, so someone loses. Maybe it's an arts program.  The really scary thing is the calculation around peak time i.e. prime time.  This show makes money and quite a lot of it. Newstalk ZB is profitable. TVNZ and TV3 are not.  So what about pay-per-view? SkyTV is profitable, but they have sport.  What does TV3 or TVNZ have that you would pay for? Would you pay to watch Treasure Island? Of course you wouldn’t.  So prime time linear TV is not profitable because the advertising dollars have vanished to Google and TikTok and Meta.  That is not changing and that’s the problem, because all that's left is the taxpayer.  The big question is to what extent should the taxpayer fund your evening's entertainment? And when I say you, I mean those who are left watching the TV as opposed to YouTube or Netflix.  If linear TV can't make a buck at 7.30pm on a Wednesday, how long before the lights get switched off? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary have received subpoenas from a congressional committee to testify about Jeffrey Epstein.  The Republican committee chair has also called eight others, including former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.  The committee's looking for more information about the deceased sex offender after the Trump administration decided against releasing further files.  US Correspondent Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking we’re unlikely to see any great revelations come from this.  He says it doesn’t seem like there’s anything that will come out about Epstein that hasn’t already been leaked over the past few years – but that hasn’t stopped either the Republicans or Democrats from pursuing the files.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a busy start to the week and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest topics thus far.  The Government is completely overhauling secondary school qualifications, aiming to completely replace NCEA over five years. Is this a sensible plan?  The criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles will be tightened as the Government forges ahead with the changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act – is pushing forward the right decision?  And the National Party President has made some bold claims at the party conference – does she have a point?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s wine industry is facing some troubles.   The industry is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in extra tariffs, Donald Trump imposing a 15% rate on New Zealand while many competing markets will continue to face only 10%.  Along with this, there is an oversupply issue and declining global demand, with nearly 100,000 tonnes of fruit remaining unharvested this season alone.  Winegrowers NZ’s Charlotte Read told Mike Hosking that despite the challenging times, there is a very strong demand for New Zealand wines, which will continue to be sought after around the world.  She says they have no long term reason for concern.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.