/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/rss ¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ For all the top interviews, the Mike Hosking Breakfast brings you the stories that set the day's news agenda. Mike asks newsmakers the hard questions, hear Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:18:37 Z en /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-gail-parata-my-hero-of-the-week/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-gail-parata-my-hero-of-the-week/ Most stories need a hero, and Gail Parata might fit the role in this netball mess.  Or is it now a scandal?  Gail Parata has resigned as a national netball selector and in doing so has gone out guns blazing and, because of that, has given the rest of us a decent insight into what a shambles the Dame Noeline Taurua story really is.  This thing is now weeks old since she got stood down.  The story and the incidents go back, apparently, to a camp in summer.  Taurua's treatment, writes Parata on social media, sends a chilling message to every coach in the country.  The coaching profession's voice has been sidelined. Even the most successful, world class coaches are now dispensable.  The very essence of coaching, relationships, trust and lived experience no longer seems to hold weight with those making decisions.  She's on a roll at this point, God bless her. Who, she asks, would step into a role now knowing that one complaint, one misinterpretation or one moment taken out of context could end your career?  The value of this, quite apart from the fact it’s the first time as far as I know we have heard from a so called third party, is that the so-called "third party" seems to infer what we all suspect.  This thing got blown out of all proportion. This thing, whatever it is, seems to involve some sort of upset, moaning, whining, fragile, ego-related overreaction to an event at the camp.  In other words, some players got huffy over Noeline's approach.  So the big question for Netball NZ is just how many casualties do you want? You have star players publicly calling you out and wanting their coach back, you’ve got lawyers in six minute blocks, and now a selector who clearly feels someone has to break the silence and flush a few truths out.  The damage is to Noeline, to the sport, to the selection panel and to coaches generally because the questions raised by Parata are all excellent and, like all the other questions in this stinking mess, require some answers.    Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:46:11 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-ongoing-work-on-the-peace-plan-in-gaza/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-ongoing-work-on-the-peace-plan-in-gaza/ A few hiccups in the journey towards peace in the Middle East.   Hamas has released the 20 living Israeli hostages and almost 2000 Palestinians have been returned by Israel.  Leaders including Donald Trump have signed the US-brokered peace deal at a summit in Egypt.  However, US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking, despite Trump claiming the war is over, he had no input on how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian standoff over rebuilding Gaza.  He says the peace proposal lacks detail in key areas and its implementation remains tenuous.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:32:25 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-mark-mitchell-and-ginny-andersen-talk-parliamentary-standards-te-pati-m%C4%81ori/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-mark-mitchell-and-ginny-andersen-talk-parliamentary-standards-te-pati-m%C4%81ori/ Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into the biggest political stories of the week so far.   Slipping parliamentary standards are back at the forefront, with Speaker Gerry Brownlee planning to crack down on behaviour after yet another incident.   And Te Pati Māori is seemingly melting down from the inside, with allegations regarding a former party vice-president and budget blowouts.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:50:38 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-house-rules/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-house-rules/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Licensed to Gavel/Why Are We Still Caring About Netball?/That About Wraps it Up for Privacy/EV Myths Busted/Hegseth Be Cray-Cray Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:19:15 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/saira-boyle-aotearoa-infinite-academy-founding-principle-on-nzs-first-fully-online-charter-school/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/saira-boyle-aotearoa-infinite-academy-founding-principle-on-nzs-first-fully-online-charter-school/ There's hopes a new online school will help students struggling in a traditional classroom.  Aotearoa Infinite Academy will open in January as the country's first fully online charter school.   Founding Principal Saira Boyle says the timing is right for such learning.  She told Mike Hosking they have access to high quality teachers across the country, and they’re going to make sure processes and systems are in place so that students are excited to approach and engage in learning.   Boyle says that since the announcement was made yesterday, a substantial number of people have inquired.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:11:53 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-15-october-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-15-october-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 15th of October, there’s a new yearly report on the hospitality sector, who have earned record high revenue. So are times better than what’s being reported?  Former Silver Ferns selector Gail Parata explains why she resigned from her role and her disappointment with Netball NZ for the way they’ve handled the Dame Noeline Taurua saga.   Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss Te Pati Maori’s budget issues and parliamentary standards on Politics Wednesday.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:10:27 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/marisa-bidois-restaurant-association-ceo-on-the-hospitality-sectors-record-high-revenue-but-low-profit-margins/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/marisa-bidois-restaurant-association-ceo-on-the-hospitality-sectors-record-high-revenue-but-low-profit-margins/ Revenue in the hospitality sector's reached a new record high, but many operators are seeing profit margins reach a new record low.  Restaurant Association data shows sales have risen 1.4% in the past year.  Tourism regions like Nelson and Queenstown-Lakes are seeing strong growth but central Auckland and Wellington are still doing it tough.  Association Chief Executive Marisa Bidois told Mike Hosking tourism is continuing to drive much of the growth.  She says CBDs are struggling, as foot traffic hasn't got back to pre-Covid levels yet.  Bidois says any rise in revenue is being eroded by rising costs.  She says food costs are up 4.6%, wages continue to climb, and insurance and rent have gone up as well.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:51:13 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/lucy-naylor-auckland-primary-principals-association-president-on-students-reportedly-performing-better-in-english-and-maths/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/lucy-naylor-auckland-primary-principals-association-president-on-students-reportedly-performing-better-in-english-and-maths/ Promising signs of improvement across the primary education sector.   The Education Review Office has found teachers are seeing more engaged students, and three-quarters of parents report progress since the start of the year.  It follows new data showing more new entrants exceeding phonics expectations.  President of Auckland Primary Principals' Association Lucy Naylor told Mike Hosking they're also noticing changes in the engagement and attention of children.   She says although the curriculum is still new, these are good signs.  Naylor told Hosking the new English and maths curriculum is like a springboard for the next round of subject improvements.   She says the slower roll out in other areas has been useful for teachers, so they can focus on core subjects first and feel prepared for more changes to come.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:36:14 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gail-parata-former-silver-ferns-selector-on-the-treatment-of-dame-noeline-taurua-by-netball-nz/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gail-parata-former-silver-ferns-selector-on-the-treatment-of-dame-noeline-taurua-by-netball-nz/ Former Silver Ferns selector Gail Parata has rebuked a lack of due process by Netball New Zealand in standing down coach Dame Noeline Taurua and assistant Debbie Fuller.  The pair have been sidelined after allegations of an unsafe high performance environment, which remain unresolved.  The issues are understood to date back to a Silver Ferns camp in January.  Parata resigned as selector last month in a show of support for Taurua, and she told Mike Hosking no formal complaint was lodged.  She says there’s about 31 people in the Silver Ferns environment, including management and other athletes, and they only spoke to five Silver Ferns and two Junior Silver Ferns.  “Why did they not speak to everyone? That’s really, really disappointing.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:22:43 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-carter-former-speaker-of-the-house-on-gerry-brownlee-cracking-down-on-behaviour-in-parliament/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-carter-former-speaker-of-the-house-on-gerry-brownlee-cracking-down-on-behaviour-in-parliament/ A former Speaker of the House is confident attempts to tighten parliamentary standards will be successful. Current speaker Gerry Brownlee's cracking down on behaviour following what he sees as multiple disruptive incidents. The latest saw Te Pati Māori MP Oriini Kaipara's maiden speech go well over time. David Carter told Mike Hosking Brownlee will definitely get the majority support from Parliament to do this. Carter says Brownlee just needs to show the will to enforce stricter standards. LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:13:53 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-cunningham-squirrel-mortgages-ceo-on-the-reserve-bank-easing-loan-to-value-ratio-restrictions/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-cunningham-squirrel-mortgages-ceo-on-the-reserve-bank-easing-loan-to-value-ratio-restrictions/ The Reserve Bank's continuing to change its approach to preventing risky lending.  It's further easing loan-to-value-ratio restrictions, allowing banks to lend more money to low-deposit borrowers.  It follows the roll-out of debt-to-income restrictions last year, restricting how much banks can lend to people who already have a lot of debt relative to their income.  Squirrel Mortgages Chief Executive David Cunningham told Mike Hosking LVRs had been imperfect on their own.  He says when property prices went up, it allowed banks to lend more, pushing up property prices further, with borrowers' incomes not factored in.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:50:58 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-taxpayer-cant-be-the-only-provider-for-tv-news/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-taxpayer-cant-be-the-only-provider-for-tv-news/ There is some angst in some media circles at the moment over funding for Māori TV news.  A couple of programmes are facing some sort of cut, or cancellation, or realignment because of changes in the way money is handed out from the Māori funding agency.  This is not new. Media in this country post-Covid has gone through a fairly major overhaul with many a casualty and a pile of significant change.  The reality for media that is funded by the state is you are beholden to the purveyor of the purse string.  Under the Labour Government, the amount of money handed out to media was ridiculous. The trouble with that sort of largesse is it can never last.  Fill your boots while you can, because as sure as night follows day, reality, or reckoning, will come.  In terms of Māori news programmes, here is the part that eludes me: how is it, as we have seen this past week, that all we ever get when funding gets adjusted is a complaint-athon?  All we hear is people bemoaning their lot and fearing change.  Here is the solution: if these programmes are of value, as they claim they are, what is stopping, and what has ever stopped them, from going to the commercial sector to get advertising or sponsorship support?  Why is the Government i.e. the taxpayer, the only source of income?  If the Māori news programmes are so valuable, then where is the Māori economy?  I have read any number of times that the Māori economy is booming. There are any number of success stories in the Māori economy. It is a growth sector, and it is, by some reports, booming.  Investment has led to expansion, reinvestment and riches - where are they? Why aren't they advertising or sponsoring these Māori products? Can they not see the synergies?  How is it the connection has not been made? Business is always looking for advertising or marketing outlets.  Why are the makers, producers and hosts of these programmes not looking to the commercial sector for an ongoing and stable level of support?  Why is the taxpayer the sole provider of their paychecks?  If you have a product worth its salt and if you are what you claim (relevant, popular and good at what you do) then there is always an answer.   Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:07:12 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/catherine-field-france-correspondent-on-the-european-unions-response-to-the-gaza-peace-deal/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/catherine-field-france-correspondent-on-the-european-unions-response-to-the-gaza-peace-deal/ A complicated road could lie ahead for Gaza despite world leaders declaring peace in the Middle East. Donald Trump's signed a ceasefire agreement at a summit in Egypt along with the heads of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. It follows a prisoner and hostage swap between Israel and Hamas. The EU has effectively been sidelined, France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking, and is looking at how they can help the Palestinian Authority get back some credibility and clamp down on corruption. They’re also continuing what they have been doing, she says, which is providing financial support to Palestine and the West Bank. LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:02:18 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tim-lightbourne-invivo-co-founder-on-nz-wine-hitting-a-10-year-record-shipment-to-the-uk/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tim-lightbourne-invivo-co-founder-on-nz-wine-hitting-a-10-year-record-shipment-to-the-uk/ The UK can’t seem to get enough of New Zealand wine.  Latest data shows Sauvignon Blanc shipments hit a 10 year high – with 13.2 million bottles sent over summer.  Exports are up 21% year on year, New Zealand now commanding around half of the $2.5 billion UK Sauvignon Blanc market, valued at NZ$1.37 billion.  Invivo Co-founder Tim Lightbourne told Mike Hosking there’s been a shift in the UK away from heavy reds, with Sauv becoming the go to over things like Malbec, Shiraz, and Merlot.  Plus, New Zealand wines are a premium to the category, he says, selling for about 17% more than the average bottle.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:49:58 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/riley-james-nz-snooker-player-on-winning-the-national-snooker-championships-at-age-16/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/riley-james-nz-snooker-player-on-winning-the-national-snooker-championships-at-age-16/ The country's youngest national snooker champion expects to turn professional in a couple of years.  16-year-old Riley James took out the title at the 2025 NZ National Snooker Championships over the weekend.  He told Mike Hosking that going into the tournament, he thought his changes were high.  “I always knew if I was in the right headspace, I play some of the best snooker in the country.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:39:55 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matt-payne-kiwi-motorsport-driver-on-his-bathurst-1000-win/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matt-payne-kiwi-motorsport-driver-on-his-bathurst-1000-win/ Matt Payne has become King of the Mountain in a wet weather shemozzle at the Bathurst 1000.  He has joined the high-octane New Zealand pantheon of Jim and Steven Richards, Greg Murphy, Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin.  The 23-year-old and his co-driver Garth Tander climbed from 18th to take the title in minimal visibility, sneaking into the lead for the first time when James Golding and Cooper Murray collided with a couple of laps remaining.  Golding crossed the line first but was handed a five-second penalty for the incident.  Payne told Mike Hosking being in the cockpit was pretty hard work.  “There was a couple of times where, where all I was thinking was just actually trying to stay on the road.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:22:00 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-so-hes-actually-done-it/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-so-hes-actually-done-it/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) ...For Nowl/More Dumb Numbers to Ignore/Why Brains Drain/Fund Your Own Telly/Coffee Machine Dependency Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:17:02 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-14-october-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-14-october-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 14th of October, we are seeing real progress, huge progress, in our kids’ learning with the release of the results of structured literacy.  We've got winners across the board – Sauv Blanc in the UK is hitting record marks and 16-year-old Riley James made history as the youngest ever winner of the NZ Snooker Champs.  Speaking of winners, Kiwi Supercars driver and Bathurst champ Matt Payne basks in the glory and going into the history books.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:10:26 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/grant-webster-tourism-holdings-ceo-on-visitor-arrivals-nearly-matching-pre-covid-numbers/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/grant-webster-tourism-holdings-ceo-on-visitor-arrivals-nearly-matching-pre-covid-numbers/ The tourism industry is feeling bullish with business heading back towards being on track post-Covid.   Visitor arrivals reached 92% of pre-pandemic numbers for August – up on July's 87%.   Tourism Holdings Chief Executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking it's the time of year and the success of tourism campaigns working their magic.  He says growing air capacity and visas being sorted are other momentum points that mean the next 12 months are looking positive.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:52:52 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-spoonley-massey-university-sociologist-on-net-migration-falling-to-10-600-for-august/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-spoonley-massey-university-sociologist-on-net-migration-falling-to-10-600-for-august/ An expert believes there's still a number of Kiwis returning to New Zealand, despite a falling net migration rate.  It's fallen to 10,600 for the year to August 2025.  Overall, Stats NZ figures show migrant arrivals dropped 16% to more than 138 thousand, while departures increased 13% to just under 128 thousand.  Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking it's still a major net loss, but Kiwis are coming back, even from Australia.  He says there's always been Kiwis leaving and returning on the traditional OE.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:25:18 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-linde-cbs-radio-correspondent-on-the-hostage-release-and-signing-of-a-peace-deal-between-israel-and-hamas/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-linde-cbs-radio-correspondent-on-the-hostage-release-and-signing-of-a-peace-deal-between-israel-and-hamas/ The components of a Gaza ceasefire agreement seem to be falling into place.   The heads of the US, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar have signed off the deal at a summit of world leaders in Egypt.  Hamas has released 20 living Israeli hostages and four of the 28 deceased in exchange for Israel freeing about two thousand Palestinians.   CBS Radio's Steve Linde told Mike Hosking the fact the Trump administration's so firmly behind this deal is significant.   He says for the first time, there's a hopeful feeling in the air, but the Middle East is a very volatile place and anything can spark it off again.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:04:31 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/erica-stanford-education-minister-on-the-results-of-structured-literacy-in-primary-schools/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/erica-stanford-education-minister-on-the-results-of-structured-literacy-in-primary-schools/ The Education Minister's confident successful primary school literacy results aren't just low hanging fruit. Results from the new phonics literacy programme show 58% of students are at or above expectations after 20 weeks. More than 40% of students exceeded expectations in Term 3 – more than double the first term. Erica Stanford says they're tracking where they hoped. But she told Mike Hosking this couldn't be achieved by just anyone and required a government who was prepared to follow the science. LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:51:03 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-performance-is-key/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-performance-is-key/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Whatever You're Indicating/How Not to Get a Job/Flickers, Glimmers and Tinges/Ring Vector Today/What a Race Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:20:04 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-13-october-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-13-october-2025/ Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 13 October. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:11:00 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-governments-kpi-list-highlights-their-issues/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-governments-kpi-list-highlights-their-issues/ I have read the latest KPI's for the Government. This is the things they are going to do before the end of the year. "Drag this dump out of the quagmire" would have been my number one, but theirs is introducing new planning legislation to replace the RMA. Which is no bad thing. But introducing stuff isn't the same as ticking stuff off, is it?   And in this list, which is 33 "things" long, is part of this Government's image issue. You most likely won't have read or seen the 33 because it’s a good example of the news cycle, or our attention span, or a bit of both. Remember when they first came out? There was mass coverage. A Government with a "to do" list was novel. It showed things you could see and come back later to and check whether it had actually happened. It was very business like. You may also remember that, mainly, they get done. This Government has roughly achieved what it set out to do so as an exercise in discipline it deserves some sort of recognition. But here's the problem - a cheaper power bill and an annual surplus might have been more use. So as several quarters and lists have passed we appear, and by that I mean mainly the media, to have lost interest. As far as I can tell the latest list is virtually nowhere to be seen, and I do quite a bit of looking. Further, it starts to look like a list, and this is the problem, that has stuff in it that is a mix of indecipherable, non-specific, and/or part of a sort of ongoing, broad-based thought bubble. Here's a good example - number 3 is "pass legislation to allow granny flats to be built without a consent". That's perfect; it's simple, clear and ticks the box. But what about number 15? "Begin the hospitality sector review". Is forecasting the start of a look at something, a thing? Number 20: "Take cabinet policy decision on options to provide more tools to address antisocial behaviour". Take a decision? For tools? For behaviour? Come on, that’s stacking a list. That’s whiteboards and blue skies and boring meetings. We have an economic shambles on our hands and your hot, fourth quarter take is some tools for behaviour? Maybe one of the KPI's in the first quarter could have been "lets not make bollocks up for future lists so they look like we ran out of stuff to do". LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:07:10 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/commentary-box-andrew-saville-and-jason-pine-review-the-weekend-at-bathurst-canterburys-chance-in-the-npc-and-tiger-woods-latest-surgery/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/commentary-box-andrew-saville-and-jason-pine-review-the-weekend-at-bathurst-canterburys-chance-in-the-npc-and-tiger-woods-latest-surgery/ Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports. On the table today: The weekend of supercars at Bathurst has concluded in a thrilling wet race that came down to the wire. Canterbury look set to win the NPC, can they be stopped? And Tiger Woods undergoes another back surgery, is it time to hang up the clubs? LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 12 Oct 2025 19:41:50 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-comments-on-low-voter-turnout-in-local-elections/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-comments-on-low-voter-turnout-in-local-elections/ Turnout in the weekend's local elections has fallen even further this time around. By the end of Friday, less than 33-percent of Kiwis had cast their vote. Local Government New Zealand President Sam Broughton - who was unseated as Selwyn Mayor - says we should be aiming for much higher turnout. He says general elections get double the turnout and we should expect the same for local elections. Prime Minster Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking both candidates and voters alike are to blame. He says candidates have to be compelling and set out a clear vision, but the public also can't complain if they don't vote. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 12 Oct 2025 19:22:45 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sam-broughton-former-selwyn-mayor-says-increased-rates-cost-him-the-election/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sam-broughton-former-selwyn-mayor-says-increased-rates-cost-him-the-election/ Outgoing three term Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton says rates increases played a part in his job loss.  Former Councillor Lydia Gliddon has taken the top spot in the country's fastest growing district, unseating the incumbent. She unseated the current Local Government NZ President by more than 13,000 - he was seeking a fourth term. Broughton believes Selwyn's larger than average rates increases contributed to voting behaviour.  He says although it took a personal toll, raising rates was the right thing to do, so the region could invest in long-term infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 12 Oct 2025 19:12:02 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wayne-langford-federated-farmers-president-says-lower-methane-targets-are-scientific-not-idealistic/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wayne-langford-federated-farmers-president-says-lower-methane-targets-are-scientific-not-idealistic/ Assurance for farmers with the latest methane target update.  The Government's set the 2050 targets to 14 to 24-percent below 2017 levels - which is 24 to 47-percent lower than the previous.  Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford told Mike Hosking they'd been advocating for lower, but this at least gives farmers a clear direction of travel.  He says the numbers are scientific rather than idealistic, which is good for farmers.  Langford says it's measurable, and they're on track to achieve it. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 12 Oct 2025 19:02:10 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/megan-main-acc-chief-executive-discusses-latest-annual-report-showing-a-15billion-deficit/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/megan-main-acc-chief-executive-discusses-latest-annual-report-showing-a-15billion-deficit/ The annual report by ACC revealed a $1.5billion deficit, taking the total debt up to $13.8billion.  ACC Chief Executive Megan Main told Mike Hosking that the numbers are improving, but it's a 'big ship to turn around.'  She said that the costs for services from providers have risen more than inflation, hindering ACC's ability to provide rehabilitation for those who need it.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 12 Oct 2025 18:44:02 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-bad-side-of-the-tariffs-are-coming-home-to-roost/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-bad-side-of-the-tariffs-are-coming-home-to-roost/ So soybean farmers, like a lot of American farmers, are having a very tough time of it.  Soybean farmers particularly so because most of their product goes to China. So far this season, China has bought no beans.  A lot of countries, when they can, are doing business with other countries and avoiding the American tariff regime.  China in particular is caught up in an ongoing shambles around trade generally, so China has gone to Argentina for their soybeans.  This has left the people of Minnesota, where most of the beans are grown, with a problem.  If you remember when Trump announced the tariffs, the tariffs had no downside, apart from a little pain at the start. His words: "a little pain".  I'm assuming losing your biggest soybean customer is the "little pain" bit.  Anyway, the White House’s response to this is a massive bail out. Farmers all over America from beans, to wheat, to corn are going to get money because they can't sell their products.  In a country like New Zealand, none of this will come as any surprise given we have been basically tariff free for years and we do business on the very simple basis that it costs what it costs to make something and you sell it to willing buyers for what the market can bear.  Need I introduce the butter story at this point?  The problem in some cases is if the tariff or barrier is too high into a market you look for other markets. This is happening a lot in food.  By the way, it's also reported Trump is looking at some kind of major carve out around car production as well, given there is no car that is truly American made and they told him this at the start.  So the tariffs arrived, the prices went up, and the demand went down.  I'm assuming even Trump can see that a farmer who grows something that he once sold to the world to make a living but now can't because he has been priced out of the market, does not a good economic story make.  And when said farmer then has to earn an income from the Government, not the market, something about the Trump tariff plan doesn't seem to be working.  But then there was no shortage of people pointing that out earlier this year.  Fri, 10 Oct 2025 21:26:55 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-hipkins-is-a-hypocrite/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-hipkins-is-a-hypocrite/ At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.    Attention seekers: 1/10  What a dreadful week as we gave far too much energy to narcissists who masquerade as people with causes, both at sea and on land.    Noeline: 2/10  Still nothing. How badly handled can a badly handled scandal be handled?    Winston Peters: 7/10  In between cleaning up the glass on his dog, his Pacific reset speech was a reminder of what a considered and sensible Foreign Minister he is.    Chlöe Swarbrick: 1/10  The party under her leadership really has become farcical. If Palestine was a national park, it might make sense.    Chris Hipkins: 3/10  Telling us how appalling it was that Winston's house got smashed but then didn’t vote for the new protest law. H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.T.E.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 22:03:26 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-gives-an-update-on-the-gaza-peace-deal/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-gives-an-update-on-the-gaza-peace-deal/ US President Donald Trump's confident the momentum will continue beyond the first phase of a Gaza peace plan.   The Israeli Government's voting this morning on whether to implement the terms agreed with Hamas yesterday.   It would see hostages released early next week and Israeli troops withdraw to agreed lines.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the remaining hostages are believed to be held by splinter groups, so getting them all together will be challenging.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 21:59:19 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mike-s-minute-winston-peters-isnt-wrong-just-late/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mike-s-minute-winston-peters-isnt-wrong-just-late/ I argued it because I thought it was the right thing to do.  Winston Peters entered the Fonterra brands sale debate yesterday, I suspect because he thinks there are points to be scored.  Not because he is wrong, because he isn't, but if you really cared about the sale that Fonterra has been involved with for some period of time, you might have stumped up a bit earlier.  In a way it's none of our business, neither mine nor Peters’. We aren't farmers and we don’t have a vote.  The people who do have a vote are in that process as we speak.  My guess is it will romp home and each farmer on average will be several hundred thousand dollars better off.  But there is also, as it's always been, the Fonterra social licence. Although the average punter doesn’t own them, or have a say, they are so big that their role in the New Zealand economy is outsized to the point that what they do has national implications.  I have always argued that their argument for sale is wrong.  There is, and never has been, any reason they can't and don’t run their brands successfully. They say it's not their core business.  Isn't it?  Milk turns into cheese and ice cream. Cheese and ice cream are the brands they are selling.  The French company, also in the same business as Fonterra, doesn’t seem to see it that way either, otherwise they wouldn’t be stumping up over $4 billion for it.  There is an agreement, and this is Peters' main point, that the new owner uses Fonterra products. But, says Peters, how long for, and when the clock stops, which it will, our milk will be in just another in a long line of milk jugs.  Peters tosses in a bit of conspiracy about Fonterra executives and bonuses. But that’s the politics of it all.  But then that’s always been the Peters way, hasn’t it?  At its core he makes sense. He values New Zealand and New Zealand products, so his view is consistent. But then there is always a little conspiratorial spice for the headlines.  If this sale was to be debated properly, far less halted, he needed to be front and centre ages ago.  So overall, the Peters' foray – good point, just too late.      Thu, 09 Oct 2025 21:15:52 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-dolly-parton-art-purchases-drivers-tests/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-dolly-parton-art-purchases-drivers-tests/ It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.   They discussed Dolly Parton’s not-dead announcement, the art Mike and Kate bought over the weekend, and whether or not they could pass a practical drivers test nowadays.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 21:09:39 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-radisch-former-kiwi-supercars-driver-ahead-of-bathurst-1000-this-weekend/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-radisch-former-kiwi-supercars-driver-ahead-of-bathurst-1000-this-weekend/ The Bathurst 1000 returns this weekend.  The first practice has seen New Zealanders Ryan Wood, Matt Payne, and Andre Heimgartner sit first, fourth and eighth respectively.  Brodie Kostecki is the current champion, looking to obtain back-to-back victories.  Former Supercars driver Paul Radisch told Mike Hosking at the end of the day, everything just comes down to luck.  He says that even if you’re leading the race and make all the right preparations, someone else could still claim the win.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:52:14 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/judith-collins-public-service-minister-on-the-reduction-in-contractor-and-consultant-spending/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/judith-collins-public-service-minister-on-the-reduction-in-contractor-and-consultant-spending/ The Public Service Minister believes cuts within the sector aren't the slash and burn they're made out to be.  The Government has reduced its contractor and consultant spending across the public service by more than half its target.  It says spending has fallen $915 million, compared to its goal of $400 million, and frontline roles in the public service have also increased.  Judith Collins told Mike Hosking redundancy costs from job cuts also need to be seen in the context of overall savings.  She says some agencies immediately got rid of some jobs because they realised they were coping without them.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:22:40 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-deal/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-deal/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Friday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) ...or No Deal?/Mark the Week/What Does This Say to You? Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:15:48 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-10-october-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-10-october-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 10th of October, the first stage of a peace deal in the Middle East is in progress. Whether it holds is the next question.  We announce the winner of our brilliant trip to Melbourne – you won't want to miss her reaction!  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk about the art bought over the weekend and whether or not they'd pass their driving test these days 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  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:10:33 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tony-mitchell-residential-property-managers-association-chair-on-the-incoming-meth-contamination-laws/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tony-mitchell-residential-property-managers-association-chair-on-the-incoming-meth-contamination-laws/ It's thought there are fundamental issues with the new methamphetamine contamination laws.  Properties with meth residue exceeding 15 micrograms per 100-square centimetres will be considered contaminated and require treatment.   Landlords and tenants will be able to quickly end tenancies with excessive levels.  Residential Property Managers Association Chair Tony Mitchell told Mike Hosking it's great to have clarity, but it's out of step with the rest of the world.    He says we shouldn't be accepting any meth in properties, and we now don't have the ability to enforce a zero-tolerance policy.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:55:05 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/warren-forster-acc-lawyer-and-researcher-on-the-insurers-deficit/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/warren-forster-acc-lawyer-and-researcher-on-the-insurers-deficit/ An ACC lawyer says there's a simple answer to the insurer's deficit problem.   The Scheme's recorded a net deficit of $1.5 billion, blowing the total out to $13.8 billion.  ACC lawyer and researcher Warren Forster told Mike Hosking tackling this issue requires looking at it over a generation.  He says they need to be careful about value for the money they collect and stop changing how they calculate the amount needed.   Forster says ACC did really well with its return on investment this year.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:22:36 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/haggi-matar-israeli-journalist-on-the-israeli-response-to-the-gaza-peace-plan/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/haggi-matar-israeli-journalist-on-the-israeli-response-to-the-gaza-peace-plan/ The next phase of the Gaza peace talks could test Benjamin Netanyahu's loyalty.   His Government's voting today on approving the first phase of a ceasefire plan, agreed with Hamas.   It involves Israeli troops retreating to agreed lines, a cessation of fighting, and the release of hostages.   Israeli journalist Haggi Matar told Mike Hosking the Israeli Prime Minister has effectively promised his base he'll continue the war and eradicate Hamas.   He says it's pretty certain that's not what Qatar and the Trump administration are after, so hopefully they will continue to press both sides to agree.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:58:26 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-tory-whanau-is-the-poster-child-for-ineptitude/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-tory-whanau-is-the-poster-child-for-ineptitude/ The Wellington mayor went out, not really in a blaze of glory yesterday, but more a fireball of misery and bitchiness.  Tory Whanau is probably the local body poster child for ineptitude. She's given her bye-bye speech.  She was a shambles. She may still be back, as she is standing in the Māori ward.  She seems like a person who if she wasn’t in local politics, might have trouble finding work.  She admitted, after it was too late, that she really should have done her homework before chasing the big mayoral job.  She won because too many people stood for mayor and split the vote, so by the time you deal with the appalling turnout and split the vote several times over, you need not a lot of support to get a job you weren't even qualified for any way.  But that’s local body politics, isn't it, at least at national level. Whether list or electorate, a group of experienced operators give you the once over.  Locally literally anyone can have a go and that, if you haven't worked it out yet, is a problem.  It wasn’t all her fault of course. A mayor is not a president and is but one vote. But a mayor's job shouldn’t be a "funsies" party trick because you are bored or unemployable.  There were the personal issues. That is another problem in the lack of vetting. Some people are basically just a shambles and she is clearly one of those.  That's not a crime, we all have issues. It's just advisable not to have them on display while you are trying to run things like a city.  The city is pretty much a reflection of her leadership – a mess.  Infrastructurally it's an embarrassment; level one water restriction when we are barely out of autumn, a devastated CBD and angst, fury and backstabbing having been a feature of decision making. That particular trait aired yet again in her farewell speech.  We seem to be in an era where quality in so many parts of life has gone by the wayside.  Tory Whanau is certainly an example of that. She came, she cocked it up, she flailed and flapped about like we were her psychologists as she aired her many and varied problems, then poof! She's off! Until she wasn’t.  They, sadly, rarely are.  But honestly, in a city of Kitts, Fowler, Belich (maybe even Wilde and Prendergast), ol' Tory is hardly one for the record books.  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 21:33:49 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jeffrey-archer-author-and-former-member-of-lords-on-the-final-william-warwick-book-writing-his-final-novel/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jeffrey-archer-author-and-former-member-of-lords-on-the-final-william-warwick-book-writing-his-final-novel/ The time has nearly come for Jeffrey Archer to put down the pen.  The prolific author and former member of Lords has sold over 350 million copies of his books, and has just wrapped up the William Warwick series with the release of the eighth book ‘End Game’.  He has one more book left to write, which he’s aiming to finish by Christmas and release in September next year.  But although this will be Archer’s final book, he’s not stepping back from writing altogether, telling Mike Hosking that he still plans on writing short stories and perhaps a screenplay.  “This book is, frankly, bigger than ‘Kane and Abel’ as a story,” he said.  “I’ve got to see if I’ve been able to write it, and frankly, I won’t want to follow it.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 21:27:51 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/cameron-george-warriors-ceo-on-the-sponsorship-deal-with-crypto-company-swyftx/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/cameron-george-warriors-ceo-on-the-sponsorship-deal-with-crypto-company-swyftx/ A landmark deal has been announced for sports sponsorship in New Zealand.  Crypto company Swyftx has signed a new partnership with the Warriors, the first of a multimillion dollar spend across the sporting landscape.  Crypto sponsorships are surging globally, up 20% over the past year to US$565 million.  Warriors CEO Cameron George told Mike Hosking they were approached by Swyftx, who want to grow their hold in the New Zealand market.  He says both parties believe there is a lot of credibility in their growth and opportunity, and the Warriors are there to help them get there.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:46:23 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-some-people-werent-meant-to-live-in-the-real-world/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-some-people-werent-meant-to-live-in-the-real-world/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Thursday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Failing Up/Why Tariffs Are Stupid/AI Apocalypse Cancelled/Good Things Take Time/Dolly Is Doomed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:18:12 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-09-october-2025/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-09-october-2025/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 9th of October, the Reserve Bank did what the market, and the Government, wanted and cut the OCR by 50 basis points. Is this the move Nicola Willis needs for growth?  The CEO of the International Rugby Players’ Association Omar Hassanein talks the threat of R360.  Author and former member of Lord's, Jeffrey Archer is back to talk the last book in the William Warwick series and second last novel he will ever write.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:10:27 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/omar-hassanein-international-rugby-players-association-ceo-on-players-signing-with-r360-being-ineligible-for-international-rugby/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/omar-hassanein-international-rugby-players-association-ceo-on-players-signing-with-r360-being-ineligible-for-international-rugby/ Could R360 take legal action against the eight unions who will deem any player that signs with the Saudi-backed league as ineligible for international rugby?  New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, and Italy have joined forces against the competition, which is set to launch next year.  While NZR has a policy to avoid selecting overseas-based players, other countries regularly pick from outside their domestic competitions.  International Rugby Players' Association boss Omar Hassanein told Mike Hosking this precedent is likely to be explored by R360's lawyers.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:08:56 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/james-imlach-nz-motor-caravan-association-property-and-policy-national-manager-on-the-proposed-freedom-camping-bylaw-in-the-queenstown-lakes-district/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/james-imlach-nz-motor-caravan-association-property-and-policy-national-manager-on-the-proposed-freedom-camping-bylaw-in-the-queenstown-lakes-district/ Fears a proposed bylaw to combat freedom camping in the Queenstown Lakes District could be a headache for Kiwis.  The new bylaw goes before councillors this week and proposes 15 designated freedom camping sites for the district following a surge in freedom campers.  People freedom camping in other areas could face fines of at least $400.   New Zealand Motor Caravan Association's James Imlach says there was consultation from the council, but it wasn’t done well enough to get a plan that both protects the community and allows law-abiding people to camp in the district without causing harm.  He told Mike Hosking it seems to have been a bit of a token gesture, as the proposed bylaw is very similar to what they’ve been trying to push for a number of years, and it seems like the council’s just trying to find a new way to get the same outcome.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:46:38 Z /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/john-monaghan-wool-alliance-independent-chair-on-the-push-to-strengthen-the-wool-industry-in-new-zealand/ /on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/john-monaghan-wool-alliance-independent-chair-on-the-push-to-strengthen-the-wool-industry-in-new-zealand/ There's a push to make the wool industry the backbone of New Zealand again.  A cross-sector alliance has been formed between four major organisations, aimed at driving economic growth and consolidating efforts.  It wants the industry to deliver decent returns and remove existing duplications.  Independent Chair John Monaghan told Mike Hosking the price of wool is substantially increasing right now.  He says synthetics have been the biggest opposition to wool, but thinks the time is right for the natural product.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:34:35 Z