It's been a while since Lily Allen last released an album.

Her new album, No Shame, was initially started four years ago, but it's only being released next month.

 

For good reason though: over the last few years, she's been through a divorce, and had the terrifying experience of having a stalker break into her home.

However, she's back on track, and spoke with Mike Hosking about Twitter spats, getting the work-life balance right, and what her children make of her career. 

 

LISTEN TO LILY ALLEN TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

A discovery made by New Zealand scientists could spell the beginning of the end of allergies.

AgResearch scientists have worked out a method to safely knock out a major milk allergen by editing a cow's genome.

It could lead to a specialist cow milk product that's safe for infants to consume, despite their high rate of allergy.

But senior scientist Goetz Laible says the learnings from their study could be taken even further.

"We could use the technology to also address allergens in egg whites, nuts, and so on and so forth."

 

LISTEN TO GOETZ LAIBLE TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal is set to put extra pressure on our Government's bottom line.

The re-introduction of US sanctions is contributing to the rise in Brent crude prices.

Plummeting production from Venezuela and growing demand from emerging economies is also contributing to the price rise.

JMIS analyst Jason Watson told Mike Hosking the rise wasn't factored into last week's budget.

"This is going to pressure on the Government's growth forecast, but more important the tax take the Government needs to implement their spending plan."

Watson says petrol prices could rise much faster than people expect.

"The analysts are actually picking the doors going to go over $100, which could easily see petrol in New Zealand at $2.50, especially with the additional tax we're talking about."

LISTEN TO JASON WATSON TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

Waikato farmers will press the Prime Minister on the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak today.

Jacinda Ardern will visit John Haywood's farm in Te Awamutu, to discuss a variety of issues affecting the agricultural sector.

Haywood told Mike Hosking farmers are eager for answers.

"In regards to the likes of bovis, we just need to get some clarity on a few things going forward. In my personal opinion, I think maybe the horse has bolted."

The cattle disease was discovered in Waikato for the first time last week, when a Cambridge farm tested positive.

 

LISTEN TO JOHN HAYWOOD TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING

The best spectacle since the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Royal commentators are celebrating the success of the wedding of Harry and Meghan, after London turned on a rare fine day for the thousands who lined the streets of Windsor.

Author of Our Queen and royal commentator Robert Hardman told Mike Hosking it was the best event Britain's had since the summer of 2012 - with the London Olympics and Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

"It's great fun, but it was very emotional to, and I think a lot of people think that the monarchy is stuck in the past and it doesn't change, and then every now along comes somebody like this and shakes it all up."

Hardman believes the couple will have a very active role in the Commonwealth.

"I think it was a very telling signal that she got out of the car and there she was in this veil, which had every single emblem of every single commonwealth country woven into it. The last time anything like that happened was at the Queen's coronation in her coronation gown."

LISTEN TO ROBERT HARDMAN TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

The affordability of Kiwibuild homes has again been called into question.

The scheme will be limited to first home buyers and permanent residents, however buyers won't be income tested, meaning high earners won't be barred from buying.

Generation Homes chief executive Kevin Atkinson told Mike Hosking says the homes, costing up to $650,000, will still be out of reach for many.

"My view is that 650 isn't affordable. At the end of the day, your talking in Auckland 14 times income. That's just ridiculously high.

"New Zealand has had significantly declining home ownership anyway. So it's the middle class will be becoming the people who can't afford homes."

LISTEN TO KEVIN ATKINSON TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

BBC presenter and the host Dragons' Den, Evan Davis spoke to Mike Hosking about Brexit, Dragons’ Den, the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit, and his book.

LISTEN ABOVE AS EVAN DAVIS SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Every Friday Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby join Mike Hosking to discuss the week's best bits.

This week's highlights were: the Royal wedding, the balloon ban, and New Zealand's productivity.

LISTEN ABOVE AS TIM WILSON AND KATE HAWKESBY SPEAK WITH MIKE HOSKING

The people of Windsor tell Mike Hosking what they think about all the excitement ahead of the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF WINDSOR ABOVE

Grant Robertson is calling his Budget careful and building resistance to global shocks.

The Finance Minister's first financial plan for the country is forecasting a $3.1-billion surplus this year, moving to $7 billion by 2022.

Robertson says they've struck a balance between funding needs in major sectors, and keeping a rainy day fund to pay down debt or for any major changes.

He told Mike Hosking the global economic situation is looking good, with higher growth forecasted than in the recent past.

"Nobody can ignore the potential for geopolitical events to take over that and cause instability, it is the very reason why we run surpluses."

LISTEN ABOVE AS GRANT ROBERTSON SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING