Every Friday morning, Mike Hosking takes you through the big ticket items of the week and lets you know what he makes of it all. Here's a taste of what he reckons. Elton John.9/10."Sells out in seconds after 50 years in the game. And creates a riot over tickets, that's success.But is it people don't understand maths, when when it comes to ticke ...…

A political commentator says people outraged by National's new attack ad have fallen into a trap.The ad, which was released on social media, showed a young man and woman discussing the policy.The woman appears excited by KiwiBuild – but the man quickly points out that to achieve the 100,000 target, 33 new homes would need to be built every day. ...…

The high cost of living in Auckland is catching many foreign teachers by surprise.Greenmeadows Intermediate in Manurewa has taken on nine new foreign teachers from South Africa, Wales, Canada, the US and Australia.Principal Cathy Chalmers told Mike Hosking one teacher is staying at a hostel while he waits to find accommodation.She said the new ...…

The Government is defending their relationship with China.The coalition is under fire from Opposition over reports that our diplomatic relationship has soured, with a tourism expo being cancelled and Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern's invite to visit the cancel apparently revoked.Yesterday, Simon Bridges alleged that some ministers have been blocke ...…

Experts are gathering in Auckland to share promising new discoveries around vitamin C and its potential impact as a treatment for cancer, infection and immunity.Research Professor Margreet Vissers told Mike Hosking while things are looking promising, there are years of clinical trials ahead before a cure is found.She says down the track vitamin ...…

Unitec could benefit from an overhaul of the vocational education sector.The Auckland institution is the biggest in the country.Interim chief executive Merran Davis says it's well known they're struggling financially, and changes need to be significant.She says the Government's proposal certainly presents the ability to integrate on-job/off-job ...…

A health policy expert says the financial issues Counties Manukau DHB is facing are systemic across all district health boards.Its projected deficit is around $45-million.Health Minister David Clark has yet to sign off its annual plan and says the DHB is being closely monitored.Otago University Business School Dean, Robin Gauld told Mike Hoskin ...…

It was just another day at the office for chaser Shaun Wallace, aka "The Dark Destroyer", who narrowly beat Mike Hosking in a Chase-style quiz this morning on Newstalk ZB.The pair went head-to-head in two 60-second rounds.The first round, which focused on New Zealand-based questions, saw the pair tie with an impressive score of seven points eac ...…

The world's most notorious criminal mastermind will never be a free manA jury has found El Chapo guilty on a raft of criminal charges, after a 10-week federal trial in New York.He faces life in a high-security prison with no chance of parole.El Chapo appeared genuinely surprised when the verdict was read out, despite the avalanche of evidence a ...…

National MP Mark Mitchell has denied any plans of challenging Simon Bridges' as leader of the National Party.Mitchell was asked on his regular Wednesday morning slot on Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast.The National MP told Mike Hosking he has full faith in Simon Bridges.However, the Police Minister Stuart Nash seemed thrilled by the idea, s ...…

Fruit and vegetable growers are concerned over the cost of the upcoming minimum wage increase.The Government has committed to increasing the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2020 with the next increase of $1.20 in April this year.However, Export New Zealand says the next increase will force businesses with between 75 and 100 staff members, to com ...…

The Tertiary Education Union is welcoming Government intervention in polytechs saying it is "long overdue".Education Minister Chris Hipkins will be unveiling the Government's plans for significant reforms to our polytechnics and institutes of technology today.Tertiary Education Union national security Sharn Riggs told Mike Hosking intervention ...…

The NZTA is welcoming the results of a report into its regulatory standards. An independent inquiry was commissioned last year after concerns about unauthorised vehicle inspectors issuing warrants of fitness.The report found a failure to prioritise public safety was an example of wider systemic failures that have existed for some time.NZTA Boar ...…

The "unrelenting rise" of methamphetamine in New Zealand is one of the lowlights in the Salvation Army's latest State of the Nation Report."As a country this is becoming, possibly, a plague - certainly in some communities," said the report's author and policy analyst Alan Johnson."And we need to redouble our efforts to address both the people m ...…

One of the country's greatest cartoonist, Tom Scott joins Mike Hosking to discuss his famous Rob Muldoon and his two new play, the Daylight Atheist and Joan.

A former Trade Minister says China has clearly put New Zealand on notice over their treatment of Huawei. Jacinda Ardern's trip to our single biggest trading partner is yet to be given a date - despite the invite being extended last year.However, Philip Burdon, a former National government trade minister and recently chairman of the Asia New Zea ...…

Former National Party leader Don Brash says there is not a lot Simon Bridges can do about Judith Collins beating him in the polls. The latest Newshub Reid Research Poll shows National has dropped to 41.6 per cent, while Labour is up to 47.5 per cent. In more bad news for National, only five per cent prefer Bridges as Prime Minister, compared to ...…

Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand's relationship with China is not at risk despite facing some "challenges".The Prime Minister made the comments on her regular Tuesday morning slot on Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast.The comments follow Newstalk ZB political editor, Barry Soper saying New Zealand's relationship with China has pl ...…

This morning's junior doctors' strike has sparked concern for patient care, with a spokesperson for resident doctors saying it will have an impact on wait time. Today marks the third strike by resident doctors, with a fourth already planned for the end of the month.DHB spokesperson for resident doctors, Dr. Peter Bramley told Mike Hosking the s ...…

The Provincial Growth Fund is in hot water over the number of jobs it has created.The project aims to create 10,000 jobs but so far has only created 54.This was despite Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones telling Parliament late last year that 9000 had been created.However, the majority of the jobs are expected to come from just ...…

An online petition is pushing for a firefighter fighting the Nelson blaze to be spared deportation.The petition 'Stop the Deportation of Steve Webster from NZ' was set up on Change.org yesterday by friend and former volunteer firefighter Ken Mahon.Steve and Gail Webster moved to Nelson from the United Kingdom in 2012 with their two teenage daug ...…

KEY POINTS:2500 to 3000 people have been evacuatedThe fire is 2300 hectares and has a perimeter of 25km170 homes were on standby to evacuate overnightIt's day seven of the devastating forest fires south of Nelson, and for the around 3000 people forced to leave their homes because of the danger posed by the 2300 hectare fire, it's yet another da ...…

The proposed 'blue-green' party has launched a crowdfunding website in the hopes of gauging public interest and attracting financial members ahead of the election year.Vernon Tava's Sustainable New Zealand party is pitched as an environmental party that - unlike the Greens - is willing to work with National.The party need at least 500 members i ...…

Tim Wilson says he is recovering well after having surgery for his knee, which he shattered into eight pieces in a scooter accident.The Weekend Collective host took to social media yesterday, to say he'd "kneecapped" himself and was taking Tramadol for pain relief, after breaking his patella, or knee cap, in the incident.He underwent surgery ye ...…

A Tasman farmer has lost the majority of his breeding stock to a bush fire which has been devastating the region fore a number of days. The Nelson region is still in the grips of the fire, which grew overnight to cover a total area of 2000 hectares. Steve German told Mike Hosking his livestock were caught directly in the fire's path."I had all ...…

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has weighed in on the capital gains tax debate after it was labelled an "accident waiting to happen" by the New Zealand and Australian accountants.They want the Government to delay introducing legislation for any capital gains tax until after next year's election, saying doing so before then would be too rushed. ...…

Police Minister Stuart Nash has shed some light on the confrontation at the parliamentary gym last week.Trevor Mallard said security was called to quell the confrontation between Nash and another gym-goer.Stuart Nash told Mike Hosking an argument over equipment was the cause of the dispute."I was working out on a particular machine and a guy ca ...…

New Zealanders are flocking back into teaching with the shortage making them more confident of getting a job. Universities report a surprising increase in new teacher trainees, although the picture is patchy with jumps of 10 per cent at Otago and 15 per cent at Massey but broadly stable numbers at the other five teacher-training universities.Nu ...…

KEY POINTS:235 homes evacuated, residents can't return for up to three daysFire has spread to 1900 hectares at two sites near NelsonPM Jacinda Ardern flies into today to survey damageFirefighters have been working to contain the devastating blaze in the Tasman district which has burnt 1900 hectares of land, destroyed homes and killed livestock. ...…

A Waikato company has been given a new licence to import and research dried cannabis flower.This latest milestone for Cannasouth follows the announcement it intends to list its shares on the NZX- the first medicinal cannabis company in the country to do so.Mark Lucas told Mike Hosking the new licence will speed up research programmes to refine ...…

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has defended the increase of job seeker benefits as industries desperately try and fill 19,000 job vacancies which are currently available.Asked by Mike Hosking why there has been an increase of 11,000 more people claiming the job seeker benefit, the Prime Minister believed there were other factors in play, and was ...…

A New Zealander has died in a backcountry skiing trip in the Italian Alps.They were among four people killed by an avalanche near the resort town of Courmayeur.The group was reported missing yesterday.Europe correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking their bodies were found overnight."This is an area which has had a lot of snow and avalanc ...…

There are concerns early melanomas are being missed on people with large coverage tattoos.Skin cancer diagnostician Clare Gunn says research shows 36 percent of adults under the age of 30 now have tattoos.She says ink makes it harder to detect melanomas early and solid black sleeves and backs quadruple the time it takes to do a skin check. Gunn ...…

The government has put forward a large chunk of money to help drive Maori growth.It has announced $100 million towards supporting Maori land owners.A further $27 million has also been earmarked to strengthen Kaipara's transport infrastructure and horticulture sector.The funding announcement will enable Maori to access the capital required to pr ...…

LISTEN ABOVE AS US CORRESPONDENT NICK BRYANT SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKINGPresident Donald Trump is the latest chief executive to deliver a State of the Union address at a time of turmoil.But others may have had it even worse. Abraham Lincoln delivered a written report during the Civil War, Richard Nixon spoke while embroiled in the Watergate scandal ...…

Nearly but not quite for a New Zealand animation company.Flux Animation was tasked by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to make a Super Bowl ad for Ram Trucks.While missing out on a TV spot, it has gained more than six million views online.Flux Animation executive producer Joshua Forsman told Mike Hosking they based the ad on the LA Rams and says they ...…

A tourism experts says slowing visitor numbers to the country shouldn't be taken out of context.Air New Zealand has slashed its earnings forecast after slower domestic travel over summerDestination Queenstown CEO Graham Budd told Mike Hosking the likes of China, the USA, Japan and the UK are all at different points when it comes to visitor numb ...…

Health Minister David Clark is acknowledging the health system has made cancer patients' lives more difficult.Yesterday David Clark attended the biggest cancer care conference in decades, where he assured the Government is working hard to improve cancer control. He told Mike Hosking the cost, excruciating pain and uncertainty in the current sys ...…

Department of Conservation officials are perplexed as to why two little blue penguins were torn from their nest by a trio of poachers.Two men and a woman were seen using a crowbar to hook the penguins out of their burrow in Napier's Perfume Point last week, while a woman held a torch for them.Two of the penguins were wrapped in towels and taken ...…

Minister of Workplace Relations Iain Lees-Galloway says the Government is in the process of considering the Fair Pay agreement recommendations.The Government's fair pay working group has delivered 46 recommendations to the Government which it says will help see the end of the "race to the bottom" when it comes to wages.The group, led by former ...…

The introduction of a new international rugby competition has been met with mixed reaction.British newspaper The Times has reported that a World Rugby Nations Championship would see the sport's 12 leading countries play each other once throughout the year ahead of a playoff seriesThe Times reported that World Rugby is looking to start the new c ...…

With the battle lines being drawn over tax, two experts joined the Mike Hosking breakfast to discuss National's new tax plan and the Government's new capital gains tax. Yesterday, National announced that, if elected in 2020, they would adjust tax thresholds every threes, in line with inflation.National Party leader Simon Bridges said that would ...…

The owners of a restaurant in St Heliers which had a turnover of $1.6 million last year and employs 26 staff have been denied residency because the business does not add significant benefit to New Zealand, according to immigration officials.La Vista owners Nataliya Shchetkova and her husband Alex Derecha fear their family will now be forced to ...…

Fencing firms around the country are crying out for workers.The firms say they offer good money and rewarding work, but they can't find anyone who can fill their jobs.The requirements of the role were that people were fit, reliable, had transport to get to work and the ability to learn and work with others.Fencing workers start out on about $18 ...…

The Police Minister says new security measures at Parliament are not a sign of any MPs being under threat.Speaker Trevor Mallard has stepped up security, including restricting access to the National Party's offices on the ground floor of Parliament House.Currently the National Party controls who can access its offices on the second and third fl ...…

New Zealand faces an increasingly difficult decision on whether to allow Huawei technology in Spark's 5G network.The government's spy agency blocked Spark's bid last year to use Huawei equipment in the 5G rollout due to national security concernsStrategic analyst Paul Buchanan told Mike Hosking the New Zealand government will eventually have to ...…

The horse racing industry is considering closing a number of venues in a move it says is necessary to reduce rising costs.New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is proposing to close 21 venues by 2030 - leaving them with just 27.However, they say it has nothing to do with the Messara Review last year which suggested the reduction.Thoroughbred Racing c ...…

Grant Robertson says a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK is still a long way off.Robertson and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed trade with their British counterparts last week in what he described as constructive meetings.The Finance Minister told Mike Hosking Britain isn't yet in a position to negotiate, but that doesn’t mean an agreem ...…

Former KiwiBuild boss Stephen Barclay says the complaints against him which led to an employment dispute were shocking and came "completely out of the blue".Yesterday, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Chief Executive Andrew Crisp revealed that Stephen Barclay resigned amid an employment investigation that revealed complaints from emplo ...…

The Government is being urged to increase the amount of money it gives prisoners when they are released - if it wants them to stay out of jail.The head of an advisory group on justice reforms said a payment of just $350 was setting prisoners up to fail, and many of them couldn't even access it.The group wants to double the payment as well as pr ...…