The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Economists say New Zealand’s outlook is improving, but we're not in recovery mode just yet.   SEEK NZ's latest Employment Report shows job ads dipped 0.3%, with weaker demand in retail, technology, and hospitality.  Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking he's cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.   He says things are looking positive, but we're not in a roaring recovery just yet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra has new plans to expand.  It’s bringing its organics business to the South Island, inviting farmers to join, with certification and processing targeted for 2028.  Around 100 farms are already involved in the North Island programme as global demand continues to grow – driven by the US, China, and Europe.   Fonterra Co-operative Council Chair John Stevenson told Mike Hosking the key will be for Fonterra to grow at a rate where the demand doesn’t get swamped.  But, he says, it’s a really good news story for their farmers down south.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cryptic answers from Donald Trump around what his next steps will be to achieve his goal of buying Greenland.   World leaders are meeting in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and using the platform to unite against Trump's tariff threats.   The US President has spoken at a stand up for almost two hours, talking about his claimed achievements on the first anniversary of him taking office.   To questions about how far he'll go to acquire Greenland, he's responded with 'you'll find out'.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking some of his latest statements have directly linked his failure to get a Nobel Peace Prize to his demand for Greenland.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are standing by for the election date today.  It’s not what it was, kind of like budgets. The suspense, the scuttlebutt, the guessing game – it’s all gone.  You might remember Albanese, not having learned our lesson, got himself into dreadful trouble last year and failed to forecast a date.  So they guessed, and guessed, and second guessed, and then the flooding and storms came, so it delayed what was supposed to be an announcement. But that’s what you get when you’re a power freak and you think holding the cards counts for something.  John Key put all that to bed some years back. Return from holiday, announce the date in the latter part of the year, and basically get on with life.  Short of a government falling apart, elections should be scheduled at the end of a three-year term.  Also today, apparently some policy —and perhaps this business of housing— is to be dealt with. Specifically, the thinking is the Auckland issue needs to be sorted.  Elections, rightly or wrongly, are won and lost in Auckland, and the Government’s two million house housing plan is one of those ideas that no one quite gets and freaks people out.  When we had councillor Maurice Williamson on last year, he suggested we ask Minister Chris Bishop just where the two million figure came from, because he couldn’t work it out.  What we do know is the council were forced into agreeing to it. If they didn’t, the “three houses, three storeys on a regular plot” plan was a goer, and no one liked that either.  And that sadly is the trouble with housing and big cities. No shortage of moaners and issues but a big shortage of solutions and agreement around them.  What I do know from personal experience is that having uncertainty in the market —which is what we have— kills enthusiasm and demand.  “What’s going up next door?” you ask the agent. The agent doesn’t know. No one knows. Could be nothing. Could be an 11-storey headache in suburbia.   Who is buying a house next to that nightmare? And that is what the Bishop plan has created, and that hopefully is what gets fixed.  And fast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Kiwi success story.   Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand.  They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway.  CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and paying for it.   She says people are still looking for good, healthy food that is good to feed their families, and so Pic’s continues to grow.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 21st of January, we hear some more good economic news with the services sector in growth for the first time in nearly two years.  Mike finds out what the inquiry into the Tom Phillips case will look into and likely achieve.  There are record numbers of New Zealanders with bachelor's degrees, but Universities New Zealand's Chris Whelan tells Mike the numbers compare poorly internationally.  We have the first Politics Wednesday for 2026 and we get early election predictions from Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen.  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.

Dietary fibre could soon receive a long-overdue promotion.  Otago University researchers want it recognised internationally as an essential nutrient, as it's proven to lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  But New Zealanders average just 20 grams a day – below World Health Organisation guidelines.  Professor of Medicine and Human Nutrition, Sir Jim Mann told Mike Hosking that classifying it as an essential nutrient changes the emphasis it’s given in nutritional recommendations.  He says it would encourage people that sell and prepare food to increase the amount of dietary fibre in their products. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher Building's sale of its construction arm is being welcomed. It will sell to French construction firm Vinci for just over $315 million. The Combined Building Supplies Cooperative says it will create more competition, and expects a boom for the sector. Chief Executive Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking that global companies have worked in New Zealand before. He says examples of that include Te Kaha Stadium and the Metro Pools in Christchurch. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is skipping today's National Party caucus retreat in Christchurch to deal with the unfolding weather situation in the upper North Island.  Watches and warnings are in place for several parts of the country.  Heavy rain is now battering Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula causing flooding in many places and completely cutting off Whitianga from both the north and the south.  Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking he'll be based in Auckland, so he can travel to where he needs to go.  He says he and the Prime Minister have agreed it's best if he stays there, as most of the severe weather is expected to hit the North Island's eastern seaboard.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought New Zealand is lagging behind international trends in university education.  Ministry of Education data shows 39% of adults aged 25 to 64 hold a bachelor’s degree or above in 2024 – up from 17% 20 years ago.  Universities NZ Chief Executive Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking compared with 65% in Canada and 54% in the UK and Australia, we’re trailing.  He says the New Zealand economy hasn't developed perhaps as quickly as others, but almost two-thirds of jobs now require at least two years of post-school training.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.