The services sector continues to contract. 

The latest Services Index rose 2.7 points to 48.9 – with anything below 50 signalling contraction. 

New orders was the only category in expansion, sitting at 51.2, while employment remained negative for the 29th consecutive month.  

BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking the figures are the result of the fuel situation due to the conflict in the Middle East.  

It’s a shame, she says, as we started the year in quite positive territory.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

The services sector continues to contract.&nbsp;
The latest Services Index rose 2.7 points to 48.9 – with anything below 50 signalling contraction.&nbsp;
New orders was the only category in expansion, sitting at 51.2, while employment remained negative for the 29th consecutive month. &nbsp;
BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Mike Hosking the figures are the result of the fuel situation due to the conflict in the Middle East. &nbsp;
It’s a shame, she says, as we started the year in quite positive territory. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

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.

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,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Catherine Beard: BusinessNZ Advocacy Director on the services sector continuing to contract in April

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5a4ba092-1558-4948-8618-b44e0151f920/transcript

I'm 100% convinced this election is about the economy. 

Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war? 

Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers? 

If Labour promises more money, was the lesson of the last Labour Government not learned? Or do enough not care and will take the money and worry another day, if they worry at all? 

Polls will show the usual nonsense around health and education and crime. These are just headline thoughts people drum up when a pollster asks a question. 

It's the same question and same answer, forever. 

But potentially, if there's an issue outside the economy this time it's immigration. Mainly because it's been used successfully before to stir the pot. 

The trouble this time is immigration, in terms of facts, isn't a thing. 

When 130,000 newbies arrive, sure, there is a debate. But when it's 24,000 it's no longer an issue. 

The brain drain is basically over. Sadly, those that were leaving have largely gone and those that have replaced them are here. 

Now, if you don’t like the cultural make up of New Zealand that’s fine, but the election will contain no polices that will change the current make-up. 

No one is booting anyone in any numbers out of this country. 

A lot of the immigration noise is a political ploy picked up from offshore where immigration is a real touch point. But that is illegal immigration; boat people, gangs on beaches, etc. 

We don’t have that. Never have, never will. 

Our system is points based – you get points for skills. You can argue around the edges on what those skills are and you can argue around the edges over what countries those skills come from. 

You can also argue, with Auckland being the best example, that the cultural landscape has materially changed. I see it, you can't miss it. 

Personally, I like it and, sure, not everyone does, but no politician is going to change what we already have. 

And that’s the trouble with this election – if immigration is an issue, and if it's divisive, that’s a ploy. 

If we were being overrun, fine, have the debate. But we aren't. In fact, it’s the opposite. 

As long as employers still can't find talent, and that’s real, where do the workers come from and why would you vote not to solve that problem?     

I'm 100% convinced this election is about the economy.&nbsp;
Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war?&nbsp;
Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers?&nbsp;
If Labour promises more money, was the lesson of the last Labour Government not learned? Or do enough not care and will take the money and worry another day, if they worry at all?&nbsp;
Polls will show the usual nonsense around health and education and crime. These are just headline thoughts people drum up when a pollster asks a question.&nbsp;
It's the same question and same answer, forever.&nbsp;
But potentially, if there's an issue outside the economy this time it's immigration. Mainly because it's been used successfully before to stir the pot.&nbsp;
The trouble this time is immigration, in terms of facts, isn't a thing.&nbsp;
When 130,000 newbies arrive, sure, there is a debate. But when it's 24,000 it's no longer an issue.&nbsp;
The brain drain is basically over. Sadly, those that were leaving have largely gone and those that have replaced them are here.&nbsp;
Now, if you don’t like the cultural make up of New Zealand that’s fine, but the election will contain no polices that will change the current make-up.&nbsp;
No one is booting anyone in any numbers out of this country.&nbsp;
A lot of the immigration noise is a political ploy picked up from offshore where immigration is a real touch point. But that is illegal immigration; boat people, gangs on beaches, etc.&nbsp;
We don’t have that. Never have, never will.&nbsp;
Our system is points based – you get points for skills. You can argue around the edges on what those skills are and you can argue around the edges over what countries those skills come from.&nbsp;
You can also argue, with Auckland being the best example, that the cultural landscape has materially changed. I see it, you can't miss it.&nbsp;
Personally, I like it and, sure, not everyone does, but no politician is going to change what we already have.&nbsp;
And that’s the trouble with this election – if immigration is an issue, and if it's divisive, that’s a ploy.&nbsp;
If we were being overrun, fine, have the debate. But we aren't. In fact, it’s the opposite.&nbsp;
As long as employers still can't find talent, and that’s real, where do the workers come from and why would you vote not to solve that problem? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Here's what the 2026 Election is about

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1e1af748-0a27-4389-88c1-b44e017df015/transcript

The UK Government is looking into a potential pitch for the north of England to host the Olympics in the 2040s. 

The assessment will examine the costs and socio-economic benefits, as well as the likelihood of bidding success. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking the move seems far-fetched, given the present political turmoil. 

He says that in its current state, he doesn't think England is capable of hosting Eurovision, let alone the Olympic Games.  

London has hosted the Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The UK Government is looking into a potential pitch for the north of England to host the Olympics in the 2040s.&nbsp;
The assessment will examine the costs and socio-economic benefits, as well as the likelihood of bidding success.&nbsp;
UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking the move seems far-fetched, given the present political turmoil.&nbsp;
He says that in its current state, he doesn't think England is capable of hosting Eurovision, let alone the Olympic Games. &nbsp;
London has hosted the Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Enda Brady: UK Correspondent on the UK Government investigating a pitch to host the Olympics in the North of England

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/90f53496-c66c-446c-93f1-b44e01741732/transcript

Jack Ryan is returning to our screens.  

After four successful seasons, the modern adaptation of Tom Clancy’s political action thriller novels is heading to the big screen for ‘Jack Ryan: Ghost War’.  

American actor Michael Kelly is among the cast, reprising his role as Mike November for the high-stakes, action-packed story.  

The film heavily utilised practical effects and on-location filming – even closing down the centre of London to film an intense car chase sequence. 

“This whole thing, from the series to the movie, it’s all been a pinch me moment,” Kelly told Mike Hosking. 

“But certainly when you’re standing on that ground that’s hundreds and hundreds of years old, and knowing the feet that have walked across it and just all of it, all of the history that’s there and knowing that you get to shut it down and go play make-believe for a couple of days.” 

“It’s a pinch me without a doubt.” 

Tom Clancy published his first Jack Ryan novel in 1984, and as proof of the series longevity, it’s continued long after his death in 2013, with 30 new novels and a host of adaptations being released.

“Tom Clancy created this world that exists in this, y’know, there’s always geopolitical madness, right?” Kelly told Hosking.  

“Tom Clancy was writing around the Cold War times, but you can take that world and put it in any timeline, I think ... Jack Ryan is so well established that I think it could go on for, y’know, not with us, but it could go on forever and ever.” 

There’s a three-year gap between the conclusion of the TV show and the release of the film, and for Kelly, returning to the Ryanverse was a thrill.  

“When I found out we got, we we’re getting to come back and make a movie, I was, y’know, John [Krasinski] was like, hey man you wanna make a movie? I was like, yeah, I wanna make a movie. Let's go.” 

“I was truly over the moon, thrilled at the thought of coming back and especially playing this character that I just, I love him so much, man, he’s so much fun to play.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Jack Ryan is returning to our screens. &nbsp;
After four successful seasons, the modern adaptation of Tom Clancy’s political action thriller novels is heading to the big screen for ‘Jack Ryan: Ghost War’. &nbsp;
American actor Michael Kelly is among the cast, reprising his role as Mike November for the high-stakes, action-packed story. &nbsp;
The film heavily utilised practical effects and on-location filming – even closing down the centre of London to film an intense car chase sequence.&nbsp;
“This whole thing, from the series to the movie, it’s all been a pinch me moment,” Kelly told Mike Hosking.&nbsp;
“But certainly when you’re standing on that ground that’s hundreds and hundreds of years old, and knowing the feet that have walked across it and just all of it, all of the history that’s there and knowing that you get to shut it down and go play make-believe for a couple of days.”&nbsp;
“It’s a pinch me without a doubt.”&nbsp;
Tom Clancy published his first Jack Ryan novel in 1984, and as proof of the series longevity, it’s continued long after his death in 2013, with 30 new novels and a host of adaptations being released.
“Tom Clancy created this world that exists in this, y’know, there’s always geopolitical madness, right?” Kelly told Hosking. &nbsp;
“Tom Clancy was writing around the Cold War times, but you can take that world and put it in any timeline, I think ... Jack Ryan is so well established that I think it could go on for, y’know, not with us, but it could go on forever and ever.”&nbsp;
There’s a three-year gap between the conclusion of the TV show and the release of the film, and for Kelly, returning to the Ryanverse was a thrill. &nbsp;
“When I found out we got, we we’re getting to come back and make a movie, I was, y’know, John [Krasinski] was like, hey man you wanna make a movie? I was like, yeah, I wanna make a movie. Let's go.”&nbsp;
“I was truly over the moon, thrilled at the thought of coming back and especially playing this character that I just, I love him so much, man, he’s so much fun to play.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Michael Kelly: American Actor on returning to Jack Ryan for the Ghost War film, the longevity of the franchise

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/06f93606-49f7-4e65-9dfd-b44e0171ccf6/transcript

Catherine Beard: BusinessNZ Advocacy Director on the services sector continuing to contract in April

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