The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Donald Trump's border chief is working on an eventual draw-down plan of immigration agents in Minneapolis.   The US President sent Tom Homan to the city after two protestors, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead by federal officials in Minneapolis.  He's told a news conference he wants to see common sense co-operation, which allows the number of ICE officers in the city to reduce.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking details for the wind-down plan are scarce, but it would involve having ICE agents seek more access in jails.  This would mean they’re rounding up criminals, instead of people on the streets or in front of home supply stores, he says.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of January, Trade Minister Todd McClay responds to Winston Peters’ comments on the Free Trade Agreement with India.   Liam Sceats joins the show to talk his wildcard entry into the 70th NZ Grand Prix this weekend.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week and talk Judith Collins and smashing rackets.    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.

The week has come to an end, so Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.  They discussed music and Bruce Springsteen's new song, Judith Collins, and smashing rackets.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most coveted crown in New Zealand motorsport is on the line this weekend.   Highlands is hosting the 70th edition of the NZ Grand Prix, which is running under the new NextGen NZ Championship banner  And the 2024 winner, 20-year-old Liam Sceats, has been handed a last-minute wildcard into the field.   The championship has been running for the last three weekends, but he told Mike Hosking he’s only jumping in for this one.   Sceats says it’s not going to be easy jumping in at this stage, but he’s spent two years in these cars and won in 2024 on this exact track, so he’s feeling confident.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief there may come a point when insurers’ goodwill runs out in areas most exposed to climate risk.  AA Insurance has told Buller District Council it’s temporarily stopped offering new home and landlord cover in Westport due to flood risk, though existing policies can still be renewed.  MinterEllisonRuddWatts insurance partner Andy Horne told Mike Hosking it’s unusual for an insurer to be this open.  He says the reality is insurers are increasingly making risk-based decisions about where they’ll offer cover.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National and Labour are joining forces in support of legislation to tackle modern slavery.  Their bipartisan backing means the Bill can be introduced in Parliament, bypassing the ballot system.  The proposed law would require large companies to report their measures to avoid slavery conditions in supply chains, and fine those not complying or acting to mislead.  National's Greg Fleming told Mike Hosking they’ve taken learnings from overseas, particularly Australia, and will be going with template forms and the like to ensure this does add value, rather than just cost.   He says a lot of responsible businesses are already looking into the working conditions in their supply lines, so this is just aimed at the recalcitrants.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister for Trade's attempting to put to bed concerns about our Free Trade Agreement with India, repeatedly voiced by the NZ First leader.  Winston Peters claims it will let tens of thousands more Indian migrants enter the country.   The Prime Minister has denied the assertion.   Todd McClay told Mike Hosking there are no rights around migration in the agreement – instead it allows skilled workers to come to New Zealand for a limit of three years.   He says trade deals are complicated and complex, but we do very well out of this deal.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy is still struggling to gain momentum.   Infometrics says a lot of the indicators suggest that economic recovery is looking unconvincing. Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says most have taken the possibility of further Official Cash Rate cuts off the table, and some are forecasting a hike. He told Mike Hosking that things are improving, but the problem for households in particular is that you’ve been told things are going to get better, but you still have all the cost of living pressures.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bit of 'rubber hitting the road' research on unsold real estate for you.  A real estate consultancy company looked at the amount of unsold stock when it came to apartments in Auckland.  There are a record number. 541 to be precise, which is 20% of everything that has been built in the past three years.  I love apartments, I live in one, I own them, I have owned them.  They are not everyone's cup of tea, but what I have learned over the years, like most things in life, there is always nuance to the story.  I bet you anything you want that the ones that aren't sold, aren't sold for very good reasons. They are crap.  An apartment is no different to a house. A good one will always sell, in a good market or bad. A bad one won't.  The trouble with research and stats is they deal with averages and they round things out.  The apartment market, sadly, has been driven in some respects by ideology.  The apartment would be part of the new, groovy Auckland where you stepped out of your trendy “town pad” onto your public transport, before taking your Lime scooter the final mile to the office.  Now, that's apart from the fact there is no public transport in a way that any first-world city would expect, and because the cost of building went through the roof your apartment, which of course was supposed to be affordable, it now isn't. Well, unless you want to live in 80 square metres, which very few do.  You will not have a car park, because cars are bad, except you like your car, but you've got nowhere to put it.  And that’s before we get to the quality of the build. Unbelievably we are still dealing with leaky buildings, almost as though we are determined not to learn a lesson.  Mix in the mad rush we saw for consents where you build a lot of stuff no one wants, and three years down the track all the good stock got snapped up and what's left is 541 boxes that might, if you're lucky, make a passable rental.  The lesson is do things properly. Give people what they want, not what you want them to have.  Location, size and quality. Get that right and it's hard to go wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29th of January, new data reveals how effective Labour’s Fees Free university scheme was.   National MP Judith Collins discusses her 24 years in Parliament and her decision to retire from politics.   Former rugby union and league great Brad Thorn discusses his success, what drives him, and his new book ‘Champions Do Extra’.   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.