The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The Electricity Authority is being accused of tinkering around the edges instead of solving the real issues with the electricity market.    The authority will introduce a set of new rules from October 30th which will force power companies to tell customers if they're on the best plan they provide.   Power company Electric Kiwi's Chief Executive Huia Burt told Mike Hosking that won't be enough for most.  She supports customers having more information but says they will need to compare plans from different providers to get the best deal.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I watched a woman from one of the unions explain how much work had been done to settle their claim.  The allied health workers have signed off their deal. That’s 12,000 physios, social workers, etc. There was more work to do, she said.  I bet there is. Unions are dreadful things and they're full of people who are full of hate and misery.  The health workers got about 2.5% this year and a bit over 2% next year.  The principals got something similar and the secondary teachers got the same thing. The primary teachers are holdouts, but that’s over the Treaty. Money wise they appear to have been offered what everyone else has.  In other words, all the angst and upset, hot air, back and forward, the strike, the stop-works and the waving of placards on picket lines has resulted in, pretty much, the same for everyone – two point something percent this year and a bit less next year.  Months and months and months' worth of aggro for the same result.  What is the point in that?  At all times the state had no money. We are in debt. When you have a collective that covers thousands, the offer will always be affected by the scale of the outcome.  Sir Brian Roche would appear to be the unsung hero, quietly and patiently beavering away with a bunch of myopic ideologues who believe that threats and withdrawals of labour is a good way to do business.  If one of them had got 8%, if one of them had been able to point to a material gain by their seemingly never-ending barrage of industrial action, they may have had a point.  But they can't. In a nutshell, they got pretty much what they got offered.  The state were never looking to rip anyone off. Good people and good order is a valuable asset in the public service. But in a country with no money you can't magic up riches.  So all that union apparatus for what? All those fees for what? All those days off for what?  2% this year and 2% next year for everyone. How much time, energy and noise could have been saved if the approach was less adversarial and more adult? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is increasing its nuclear arsenal for the first time in decades.   It will also significantly intensify nuclear weapons cooperation with eight European allies, French President Emmanuel Macron announced.  He says the “period of geopolitical upheaval” means France, the EU’s only nuclear power, must strengthen its deterrent in the face of multiple threats.  France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that in the past, France maintained a policy of “strict sufficiency” for its nuclear warheads, but that policy has been removed.  She says they’re not sure how many warheads will be in the supply, as the details have been light.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Kiwi success story from the world of wine.   Marlborough’s Wairau River 2025 Sauvignon Blanc has made the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection for 2026 – chosen by top sommeliers from 17 countries across six continents.   It’s the only Australasian wine to make the list.   Rose Family Estate CEO Lindsay Parkinson told Mike Hosking this award is all about balance, and some sommeliers have very specific requirements, so they’re chuffed to meet those.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 3rd of March, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State looks at the US’ next steps in the Middle East, and we take a look at the impact it may have on NZ trade.   A New Zealand wine company is the only Australasian brand named in the World’s Best Sommelier Selection for 2026.  And Liam Lawson joins the show ahead of the first race of the season this weekend and his second full season in Formula 1.    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.

Donald Trump says the US had projected a four-to-five-week operation in Iran but could go much longer.   Some of Iran's retaliatory strikes have been targeted at key energy infrastructure in the region, including an oil refinery and natural gas plant.   The Iranian Red Crescent says at least 555 people have been killed in attacks on the nation.  Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under the Obama Administration, Joel Rubin told Mike Hosking that while Trump had a plan for the first days of the strike, there’s not much of a plan beyond that.   He says there’s aspirational goals, such as the people of Iran rising up, but Trump hasn’t explained exactly how that will be implemented.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LISTEN ABOVE OR IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND - LISTEN BELOW Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson is not having “fun” in his new car, but is excited to see what the new Formula One season brings.  Melbourne hosts the first Grand Prix of the year this weekend, and the Kiwi driver had some productive practice sessions ahead of his second full season in the competition but is still getting to grips with his car.  Speaking on Mike Hosking Breakfast, Lawson said his new car is not “super fun” to drive yet.  “In some ways the car moves around quite a bit more and it depends on how you look at it - that can be more enjoyable.  “But obviously we’re trying to extract every bit of lap time out of the car and in some ways it feels like you can’t attack as much as you could in the past when you had a lot more downforce.”  The cars have become smaller and lighter in an attempt to enable improved racing.  Racing Bulls' 2026 Formula One car in pre-season testing. Photo / AFP  “They do feel a little bit smaller,” Lawson said, “a little bit more playful to drive.  “But I think the main reason for that is just because we have a significant amount of aero taken off the car.  “When you have a car that’s extremely high downforce, it’s designed to push through the air in a straight line. As soon as you start sliding the car, you lose a lot of that downforce because you start to hit the air on an angle with your yaw and it basically upsets the car massively.”  The Kiwi driver said his team was surprised at how good the power units have been, but felt engine reliability is going to play a big factor with some teams struggling at the start of the season.  Liam Lawson for Racing Bulls in Formula One's pre-season testing. Photo / Red Bull  When asked about his own chances, Lawson felt he had learned a lot from last year and felt it was important he was able to “survive” it.  “I’m grateful to have done that and feel a lot better going into this year, but just because of new cars and new regulations it sort of throws a whole new thing in there that is quite unknown.”  Despite the issues with the cars, Lawson said he was looking forward to the new season starting.  “On a personal level, I feel very comfortable and excited for the season, but, in a lot of ways obviously with these new cars, there’s a lot of unknowns.”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The impact of the Middle East conflict on our trade is still unclear.  Thousands of Kiwi containers are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, with more than $3 billion worth of goods headed for the Gulf each year.  Trade and Associate Foreign Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand would only look to alternative markets if the conflict drags on.  He told Mike Hosking it's interesting US stock markets haven’t reacted significantly, which shows they've likely factored something like this in.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government believes its traffic welfare system is increasing people's chances of getting a job.  The system was introduced in August 2024 and uses traffic light colours to help beneficiaries stay on track with their obligations.  An evaluation has found nearly 99% of Ministry of Social Development clients are fulfilling their obligations, and the number of sanctions issued has dropped 10.6%.  Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking 83 thousand people have left the benefit into work.  She says people are more clear of the expectations, and the consequences if they aren't filled.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Promising signs when it comes to consumer arrears.  The latest Centrix data shows the number of people behind on their payments in January was 491 thousand.  That was up 20 thousand from December, largely expected due to seasonal trends.  But Chief Operating Officer Monika Lacey told Mike Hosking that despite the seasonal increase, arrears are still down on last year by almost 1%.  She says overall, Kiwis are managing their money quite well.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.