Podcast
The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Hosted by Newstalk ZB · EN
Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.
Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.
The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.
The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.
Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.
The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.
The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.
508episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Heather du Plessis-Allan: Are we a bit harsh on Gen Z?
4d ago00:02:14Tap to summarizeUnusually for me, I feel like I should come to the defence of Gen Z. These are the kids aged 14-29. We complain a lot about them, about how soft they are, how they lack resilience, and what a bunch of complainers they are. The latest to join in this week was Michelle Obama, who said they aren’t developing the resilience they need because of a culture of instant gratification. And then told them they need bad bosses and boring jobs if they want to be successful. Now, Michelle Obama is right. We’ve all had to pass through the boring jobs. For me it was the drive through at McDonalds in Bombay. We’ve all had to be paid poorly – $32,000 a year is what I started on. We’ve all had to have the awful boss, or bosses. Gen Z is only experiencing what we all did, and like we also did, they have unrealistic expectations about how awesome and fantastic life is going to be as soon as they get their first paycheck. And sure, some of them do have a lack of resilience. That’s what happens when your parents are Gen Xers and millennials who helicopter parented you and gentle parented you and you never learned how to feel properly sad or uncomfortable. But they are also, I think, better at setting boundaries than any of us before. And some of that is what we’re seeing and calling "complaining" and "a lack of resilience". We put up with demands to do extra work, unpaid. They know that’s a rort. We went to parties and get-togethers we didn’t want to just because we thought we had to. They say no. We allowed our bosses to give us zero pay rises while inflation shot up. They know that’s basically a pay cut. I think it’s two sides of the same coin. And again, we probably have gentle parenting to thank for teaching them to use their words and set boundaries in a way that most of us never learned. So next time we hear criticism of Gen Z, and trust me they’re annoying so it will happen, it might pay to ask; is this a lack of resilience, a lack of toughness, or is it just that they know how to say no? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Wrapping the Week: Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson talk Radio and Podcast Awards, Gen Z, Gerry Brownlee
4d ago00:10:49Tap to summarizeMike Hosking and Kate Hawkesby are off on holiday, so Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to Wrap the Week that Was. They discussed last night's Radio and Podcast Awards (and the afterparty), Gen Z, and whether Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee is "too grouchy". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Jack Mesley: Super Rugby Pacific CEO on the playoffs starting this weekend
4d ago00:05:27Tap to summarizeThe Super Rugby Pacific playoffs have arrived. Christchurch is a sellout, with tickets going in twenty minutes for the Crusaders v Blues clash at One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha. Four Kiwi sides make up the top six —the Hurricanes, the Blues, Crusaders, and Chiefs— with officials deciding to stick with the controversial “lucky loser” format. Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley told Heather du Plessis-Allan that while some might see the outcome of the finals as predictable, he doesn’t think that’s the case. He says last year saw the 6th placed Blues knock off the 1st placed Chiefs in the qualifying final, and they went within a whisker of beating the Crusaders in the semi-final, so he’s not sure it’s quite as done and dusted as some people might be commenting. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Full Show Podcast: 05 June 2026
4d ago01:29:57Tap to summarizeOn the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast with Heather du Plessis-Allan for Friday 5th of June, Former US Army Major General Randy Manner dives into the supposed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley joined for a chat ahead of playoffs kicking off tonight. And Tim Wilson and Kerre Woodham discuss the NZ Radio and Podcast Awards, kids ruining couches in cafes, and whether you’d live in a house with your parents as they Wrap the Week. 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.
Transcribe →Mark Harris: NZ Sotheby's International Realty Managing Director on the rising interest in multi-generational living
4d ago00:04:09Tap to summarizeMore people are interested in living with family – even at the top end of the property market. Housing Survey data shows about one in 10 people want, or plan to, live with multiple generations in their next home. Sotheby’s International Realty says wealthy buyers, like Active Investor Plus visa holders, often look for properties to accommodate this. Managing Director Mark Harris told Heather du Plessis-Allan the areas they’re seeing this in currently are places Queenstown, Wanaka, and the Bay of Islands, and while some are buying holiday homes, there is a longer term element as well. He says there’s definitely a view towards intergenerational wealth protection, with people pooling resources and looking at New Zealand from a long-term point of view. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Steve Evans: Fletcher Living CEO on the launch of a solar-powered no bill housing model
4d ago00:02:55Tap to summarizeThere are hopes a new solar-powered housing model could save homeowners thousands of dollars a year in power bills. Fletcher Living is launching a solar-home pilot at its Greenstead development in Lincoln. Octopus Energy will manage the household's energy use, offsetting the cost of any electricity, with no bills promised for the first five years. Chief Executive Steve Evans told Heather du Plessis-Allan solar actually has a lifespan of about 25 years. He says some customers don't want to be tied to a provider for longer than five years, and they believe this pilot will expand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Carl Taylor: Combined Building Supplies Co-Op CEO on construction activity falling to a ten year low
4d ago00:03:11Tap to summarizeNew data shows how unstable the construction sector is right now, with building activity dropping to a 10-year low. Infometrics says building activity fell 3.5% in the March quarter. The value of non-residential work in the South Island rose more than 8% as Wellington and Auckland recorded significant drops. Combined Building Supplies Co-Op CEO Carl Taylor told Heather du Plessis-Allan consents can tell them what may happen in the future – but only if people spend money. He says it's tough out there, particularly in Auckland, but Canterbury seems insulated from issues. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Randy Manner: Former US Army Major General on Hezbollah rejecting the terms of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
4d ago00:03:20Tap to summarizeA US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is already on the rocks. Hezbollah is rejecting terms, calling them "futile" and "humiliating". The armed militant group says the proposal is tantamount to surrender as Israeli strikes continue in southern Lebanon. The comments come after Israel and Lebanon announced a renewal of their fragile deal. Former US Army Major General Randy Manner told Heather du Plessis-Allan ceasefires haven't been holding, but even an attempt needs Hezbollah's backing. He says any two-way agreement that doesn't include the powerful third party isn't worth the paper it's printed on. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Erica Stanford: Education Minister on overseas teachers making up about 12.5% of the workforce
4d ago00:02:54Tap to summarizeThe number of foreign teachers hired to fill gaps is at a record high. Ministry of Education data shows of a workforce of about 78 thousand, almost 10 thousand come from abroad. That means 12.5% of the workforce is trained overseas, rising to 13.3% among full-time teachers. Education Minister Erica Standard told Heather du Plessis-Allan schools often recruit international teachers themselves. She says they've been using overseas teachers for many years, often as a stopgap until domestic numbers increase. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Heather du Plessis-Allan: The Opportunity Party could be the dark horse of the election
5d ago00:02:03Tap to summarizeI'm not one to get excited at election time about the outside chance that small parties like Opportunity make it into Parliament. But I reckon this year is different. If Opportunity plays this right, they might just do it. Yesterday’s Roy Morgan poll had them at 6%. Now, I don’t know how much stock I put in that poll because it was very volatile. National went up 5% and Labour went down 7.5%. Swings that big have got to be questioned because they don’t seem credible. But this is now a trend for Opportunity. They are now close to, or over, 5% in multiple polls and knocking off 5% is the one thing they must do. It's the biggest hurdle for a new party. Voters don’t want to vote for a party if they think it’s not going to make it in. It’s a weird part of our voter psyche that makes no sense. But never mind – it might not matter for Opportunity if they can keep polling this high. I reckon they are benefiting from the same thing NZ First is at the moment: frustration. Like with Pauline Hanson, Nigel Farage, and Donald Trump, voters are so frustrated by regular politicians ignoring them and their concerns for decades. That's why they want to blow things up, break up the supermarket duopoly, break up the gentailers, buy back the BNZ, and stop the immigration. For voters on the right, NZ First is their "blow it up" party. For voters on the left, it’s Opportunity. They’re the party for voters frustrated by Labour never being brave enough to do anything bold and for voters frustrated by the Greens being too weird. Opportunity is a radical left-wing party with a land tax and a universal basic income, fronted by a nice lady from Auckland. If they can play this right, if that polling holds up, 2026 might just, to coin a phrase on this show, be their year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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