New Zealand-based comedian Tim Batt is back with his new show.

He's performed live all around the world and has just recently come back from Australia.

In amongst it all he's had time to carry on with New Zealand's most successful comedy podcast and launch his own podcast network.

His new show is called 'Is Climate Change Funny Yet?' and Tim Batt joined Mike Hosking.

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Being more than 300km offshore, on what was supposed to be a boat trip across to Fiji, things completely turned around when boatie Phil Dent's crewmate fell sick.

Dent had to perform emergency surgery without any prior experience and only the help of a surgeon on the phone to guide him through it.

Phil Dent joined Mike Hosking to explain the situation.

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Concerns over early childhood education centre closures aren't going away.

In just two years, 285 early learning centres across New Zealand have shut down.

And between July 2022 until today, 91 centres have shut down, that is less than 10 months.

Chief executive of Early Childhood NZ Kathy Wolfe joined Mike Hosking to discuss.

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As much as shoppers enjoy shopping online, having a physical retail presence is becoming an advantage for many retailers - as omnichannel shopping makes a boom.

Online stores play a key role in the decision making process which then leads to shoppers making a physical in store purchase.

Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford joined Mike Hosking to discuss.

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Building supply prices will now be monitored by the Government - along with land covenants across the country being reviewed.

This all comes in response to the findings from the Commerce Commission's study into building supplies, which was undertaken in December.

Chairperson of the Combined Building Supplies Co-operative Carl Taylor joined Mike Hosking.

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Hopes the biggest needs won't be forgotten, in today's "bread and butter budget".

Bailey Gair from Civil Contractors New Zealand says the budget needs to address the country's $210 billion infrastructure deficit.

"We've also got flood and cyclone rebuild as well as a historical underinvestment in maintenance."

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Poverty and the cost of living in New Zealand have been much discussed in recent times and there are hopes the Government will address these issues in today's Budget.

Brooke Pao Stanley from Auckland Action Against Poverty says the budget meets the essential needs of every New Zealander.

"Liveable incomes for people on benefits, student allowances and wages, fit for purpose state housing."

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Hopes the biggest needs won't be forgotten, in today's "bread and butter budget".

Dr Kate Allen from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine told Mike Hosking the Government needs to be doing more to get people in and out of hospital sooner.

"We want to see significant investment that leads to more staff, especially mental health and considerably more residential aged care beds across the country."

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Chris Hipkins' travel plans are up in the air, after Joe Biden cancelled what was to be a history-making trip to the Pacific.

Plans have been in the works for the US-Pacific summit, set down for Monday, in Papua New Guinea - with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins set to jet off to Port Moresby this weekend.

But the US President has pulled out of the meeting, with debt ceiling negotiations continuing in Washington, and congressional leaders speaking to Biden overnight.

Australia correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking the cancellation could be hugely significant.

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People may be finally sick of taking meetings on Zoom as in-person meetings appear to be the leading reason for corporate travel.

Travel demand in both business and leisure across the globe is expected to be at 85.5 per cent of 2019 levels and in the first quarter of this year and there was a 27 per cent rise in online adoption of domestic booking trends.

Corporate traveller and FCM General Manager Keeley Alton joined Mike Hosking to discuss.

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