https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/rss NZME 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 Mon, 25 May 2026 18:52:53 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-becker-auckland-fc-ceo-on-winning-the-a-league/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-becker-auckland-fc-ceo-on-winning-the-a-league/ On Saturday night Auckland FC beat Sydney FC to become the A-League champions in their second ever season. AFC CEO Nick Becker joined Mike Hosking to chat about the win. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 24 May 2026 22:40:38 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-price-australia-correspondent-on-the-latest-news-poll-and-potential-new-teal-party/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-price-australia-correspondent-on-the-latest-news-poll-and-potential-new-teal-party/ Australia's teal independents could band together to form a new party, according David Pocock, with the aim to push back against the growing influence of One Nation. The talks are reportedly led by Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender. Australian correspondent Steve Price says the new party could be the end of the Liberal Party in Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 24 May 2026 21:51:56 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-25-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-25-may-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 22nd of May, is today finally the day we get a deal on Iran, plus raucous sideline sport parents have caused cancellations across the board in Waikato. The PM is in ahead of the Budget while also talking about Labour's leaked attack strategy. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the Auckland FC Championship win, Indycar and F1, the Warriors, surfing and some of the better Super Rugby of the season on the weekend.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 24 May 2026 21:11:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-chats-ahead-of-budget/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-chats-ahead-of-budget/ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking in studio this morning for their weekly chat. With the budget coming up this week they spoke about the pre-budget announcements so far, and what's yet to come.  Luxon said that more spending announcements will be revealed on Thursday, but the budget is strict.  "That's what we have to have, good fiscal financial discipline year in year out in order to get the ship, you know, the books back in order again." LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 24 May 2026 20:51:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-were-reliant-on-cars-and-we-need-to-stop-pretending-we-arent/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-were-reliant-on-cars-and-we-need-to-stop-pretending-we-arent/ A couple of interesting property developments for you. 1. Half finished town houses in Christchurch. 2. Lack of demand for off the plan deals from developers. That last one came from a select committee hearing last week. The head of Kiwibank was suggesting there is a stark lack of appetite for off the plan stuff because of the risk you take on what the value will be when its done i.e are you underwater? And also the risk you take that the thing will never be finished. Which dovetails into the first observation which comes out of Christchurch, a city in which you would quite rightly ask; how is it possible things aren't booming in that part of the world? As always, the answer is in the detail. The Christchurch problem is around small townhouse-type builds close to the city, often with no garage. In other words, building for a world view that isn't that of the average New Zealander. Once again we are supposed to be like Amsterdam or New York. Except we aren't and will never be. Cars are important. You have seen it in Auckland as well with apartments with no parks. 'It's so cool, we're all on e-bikes". Except we aren't, so the cars are stacked on the streets outside, blocking trucks and generally proving theory isn't reality. Plans? Who would take the risk? Tell me what the market is going to be in two years - no one can! That's a real problem and does remind us a consent is not a house. But the key is our need and desire for housing hasn’t really changed. Cheap builds will never thrive and builds with no garages will never have a demand. Rightly or wrongly the dream that has never really faded is a house. A detached house, maybe with a bit of lawn and most certainly a place for a car. The stats show it. First home buyers are in the market right now and standalone homes are what they want. They will borrow and bleed to do it. What the trendies want and what the real world is prepared to pay for it are, to some degree, at odds. And that is why the areas of the market that have trouble, have trouble, because theory and ideology doesn’t have a deposit. The buyer does.     LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 24 May 2026 20:25:59 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matthew-cooper-sport-waikato-ceo-slams-parents-after-sideline-abuse-leads-to-games-cancelled/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matthew-cooper-sport-waikato-ceo-slams-parents-after-sideline-abuse-leads-to-games-cancelled/ All Waikato junior league rugby games have been cancelled after fights and abuse from adults on the sidelines.  The Waikato Junior League Rugby Board said it would continue working with clubs to address the issues and ensure appropriate standards are upheld. Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper joined Mike Hosking to chat about the issues, calling the behaviour 'disgraceful'.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 24 May 2026 19:54:28 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-public-service-cut-is-to-be-admired/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-public-service-cut-is-to-be-admired/ Is the Nicola Willis public service announcement to be admired or condemned?  I think the former, on balance.  They should have done it properly two years ago and they didn’t, hence they probably should not be back here now, unless this was their Machiavellian plan all along.  Two public service haircuts a term. But assuming that wasn’t it, we go back to a lost opportunity that could be in the rear vision mirror by now.  What they talked was a big game. What they delivered was a surgical whimper.  Yes, it is always sad to lose jobs and restructure and cut. But few outside the Wellington bubble would argue with the fact that the growth engine of public service work was absurd and 65,000 is a city, not a workforce.  To make it worse, they got the same headlines and noise and pushback over a couple of thousand cuts as they would have ten times that.  So we are back for another crack, driven by necessity.  That’s the bit to be admired.  Laying lots of people off in election year is not really a vote-getter  Mind you it's safe, I think, to say most of the public service aren't conservatives so the vote loss, you'd guess, will be minimal.  It’s a horrible thing working in an environment where your future is part of the political wind. I faced it at TVNZ and Radio NZ. Whoever woke up on what side of the bed had some effect on what you were paid and whether you were hanging around for a while.  It's no way to have a job.  And in that sense, you can blame the Labour Government for stacking the place with well-paid work. And yet as you applied, if you thought about it, surely it couldn’t last, and it hasn’t.  As the unions bleat, this is not about the public service and its value. They do a lot of good things and a lot of vital things.  There are a lot of very capable, if not talented, people in the mix. But it’s the extra, the excess and the fat that needs the trimming.  This is fiscally desperate to a degree – an operating allowance of $2.1 billion and savings from anywhere and everywhere.  You can't accuse the Government of priming the pumps. The pumps don’t work because "the vandals took the handles", if you know your Bob Dylan.  The point is slashing spending and killing jobs is not your traditional electioneering. That's to be admired.    Fri, 22 May 2026 21:34:27 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-this-has-been-chris-hipkins-worst-week-of-the-year/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-this-has-been-chris-hipkins-worst-week-of-the-year/ 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.    Tourism: 7/10  This has been a good vibe week. TRENZ had them coming from everywhere, the sentiment is good, and the numbers are excellent.    Kiwifruit: 9/10  This story is starting to outshine dairy. Not in numbers, but in terms of growth. At almost $6 billion and booming, this is mana from vines. Add it to dairy and we are laughing.    Chris Hipkins: 2/10  This has been, far and away, his worst week of the year. Mystery policy detail and the arrogance to say we aren't interested in detail anyway. He is National's election year dream come true.    Trump: 4/10  We still don’t have a deal, but we do have a slush fund. He looks increasingly tawdry. But he's just as influential – just ask Thomas Massie.    Newstalk ZB: 8/10  Guess who’s popular? Ratings day yesterday was party day – the audience is up, and on some shows, up a lot. We thank you and appreciate you, as always, from the bottom of our hearts.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW  Thu, 21 May 2026 23:24:58 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-aussie-labor-have-shown-nz-labour-what-not-to-do/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-aussie-labor-have-shown-nz-labour-what-not-to-do/ Another lesson for our Labour Party if they want to ponder it.  Australia’s Labor have blown their Budget.  It's hard to overstate the anger and pushback on their tax changes made now well over a week ago.  Budgets and their news cycle tend to come and go.  This was different. It was billed as generational. It was seen as transformational and it was seen as Albanese having to spend a decent chunk of political capital, given his tax treatment was based on a lie.  He said in the election campaign of last year that he would not touch tax. 12 months on, he went back on his word.  The twist being the blowback came, and it hasn’t stopped coming, and somewhere in the past few days the concern, followed fairly quickly by panic, started to set in at Government level.  The anger has not been driven by rich, white, old coalition blokes whose myriad of investments would end up being taxed more.  It's been driven by young Australians who buy shares to save for retirement. Young Australians who start businesses to set up a decent life for themselves and their families. People the Labor Government never saw coming.  What it shows, and it's an encouraging sign and one I suspect is as relevant here as it is there, is that a decent chunk of our population are not the moaners you hear on the news. They're not the NGO's bleating about their lot.  They're not the success haters that dominate the news cycle. Rather, they're middle-of-the-road Kiwis and Australians who are quite keen on working hard and getting ahead in life.  All they have ever asked for is, to use the vernacular, is "a fair suck of the sav".  You don’t tax success and that’s what Albanese has had a crack at.  Why take a risk in starting a business if all there is at the end of it is Jim Chalmers and his tax department looking to extract ever larger amounts of your hard earned?  That’s what Labour wants to do here. It's always about more tax. It's never about more success, or larger growth, or bigger pie.  Got an issue? Short of dough? Tax someone.  Well, middle Australia isn't interested and they have been out in force showing it.  Maybe Albanese knew that. Maybe that’s why he lied to get into power so he could do what he's done.  If that's true then Hipkins is in real trouble, because he hasn’t lied. He's told you it's coming.  And if we are like Australia, it's not going to go down well.  Thu, 21 May 2026 23:05:09 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-zb-ratings-kate-being-banned-from-amazon-parenting-advice/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-zb-ratings-kate-being-banned-from-amazon-parenting-advice/ Another week has come to an end, so Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed ZB’s latest ratings, some parenting advice, and Kate being banned from making an Amazon account.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 22:38:46 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-backlash-to-donald-trumps-18b-anti-weaponisation-slush-fund/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-backlash-to-donald-trumps-18b-anti-weaponisation-slush-fund/ The backlash to Donald Trump’s ‘anti-weaponisation’ slush fund continues.  Earlier this week the Justice Department announced the creation of a $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by previous administrations.  Some of those eager to tap into the fund are convicted January 6th rioters, who stormed the capital after a rally with Donald Trump, as well as prominent election deniers.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking a number of Republicans are opposing the fund, such as Senator Thom Tillis, who says it’s “stupid on stilts”.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 22:32:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jono-ben-and-megan-crash-the-mike-hosking-breakfast/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jono-ben-and-megan-crash-the-mike-hosking-breakfast/ The Mike Hosking v Hits Breakfast Saga came to a head this morning when Jono, Ben, and Megan crashed the show, invading the ZB studio.   But it seems things aren’t over yet, as they managed to extract an agreement from Mike to come down and teach them a thing or two about radio.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 22:09:09 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wayne-odonnell-hawke-s-bay-confederation-of-billiard-sports-president-on-the-increased-prize-pool-at-the-hawkes-bay-open/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wayne-odonnell-hawke-s-bay-confederation-of-billiard-sports-president-on-the-increased-prize-pool-at-the-hawkes-bay-open/ More money is on the table as Hawke’s Bay aims to regrow Snooker in the region.  The Hawke’s Bay Open, taking place this September, has announced a winning prize of at least $2500.  It’s being seen as a sign of growth in the sport and an attempt to attract newcomers to the table.   Hawke’s Bay Confederation of Billiard Sports President Wayne O’Donnell told Mike Hosking prize money helps quite a bit in establishing the competition in the market.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 21:54:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-becker-auckland-fc-ceo-on-this-weekends-a-league-grand-final-against-sydney-fc/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-becker-auckland-fc-ceo-on-this-weekends-a-league-grand-final-against-sydney-fc/ A history-making weekend.   Auckland FC is hosting the A-League Grand Final, facing off against Sydney FC at a sold out Mt Smart Stadium.  A later kick-off time has been locked in to suit the Aussie audience —8:10pm— as Auckland looks to make history in just their second season.  CEO Nick Becker told Mike Hosking the later start time won’t impact the team’s performance – you could put it on at any time and the boys will be up for it.  He says the chance to play in front of a home ground is going to drive them forward.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 21:26:32 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-22-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-22-may-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 22nd of May, the Government is shaking up social housing, and our exports are, once again, going gangbusters.  It’s a massive weekend for Auckland FC as they host the Grand Final of the A-League at Mt Smart Stadium.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk Kate's banned Amazon account, parental advice, and ZB’s ratings 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, 21 May 2026 21:11:55 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nathan-guy-special-agricultural-trade-envoy-on-exports-reaching-86-billion-in-april-with-meat-leading-the-way/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nathan-guy-special-agricultural-trade-envoy-on-exports-reaching-86-billion-in-april-with-meat-leading-the-way/ Beef exports are booming, up 12% annually.  The latest Stats NZ figures show exports for April hit $8.6 billion, with meat leading the way – worth $1.3 billion.  The US remains our top beef market, taking more than a quarter of our produce, representing a 54% increase.   Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Nathan Guy told Mike Hosking US herd numbers are at a 70-year low.  He says despite tariff uncertainty, the market's in great shape, given the US eats about three burgers per head each week.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 21:02:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-hunter-turners-automotive-ceo-on-the-companys-record-net-profit-of-over-63-million/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-hunter-turners-automotive-ceo-on-the-companys-record-net-profit-of-over-63-million/ The Iran war may be denting demand for Turners, but the company's still outperforming previous years thanks to its popular Tina ads.  Turners Automotive has reported a record normalised net profit of more than $63 million for the year to March – up 16%.  Chief executive Todd Hunter told Mike Hosking strong growth in finance and insurance means they're well ahead, despite the war slowing things.  He says the customer experience is built on trust, and selling used cars is something that doesn't normally operate on that foundation.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 20:38:55 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-seymour-associate-health-minister-on-pharmacs-proposal-to-increase-funding-for-free-flu-vaccines/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-seymour-associate-health-minister-on-pharmacs-proposal-to-increase-funding-for-free-flu-vaccines/ The Associate Health Minister's praising a proposal to offer free flu jabs to more people.  Pharmac's looking at providing the jabs to an extra 260 thousand children between six months and five-years-old from next year.  It's also proposing introducing two new brands for over 65s.   David Seymour told Mike Hosking some young people still die every year from influenza, and as every parent knows, they also spread it around the household.   He says the cost-benefit of this stacks up, and it's a great thing for Pharmac to be looking into.   Consultation opens mid-June.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 20:20:51 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/murray-edridge-wellington-city-mission-ceo-on-the-governments-social-housing-reform/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/murray-edridge-wellington-city-mission-ceo-on-the-governments-social-housing-reform/ There’s some confidence the Government's struck the right balance with its social housing overhaul.  This year's Budget includes hiking the amount social housing tenants have to pay from 25% of their income to 30%.  The savings will be redirected into support for private renters.  Wellington City Mission Chief Executive Murray Edridge told Mike Hosking the increase is not a huge amount.  He says while it may hurt some people, it'll help those in the private rental market struggling with the lack of accommodation subsidies.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 May 2026 20:12:12 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-so-yes-chris-hipkins-does-think-youre-stupid/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-so-yes-chris-hipkins-does-think-youre-stupid/ I asked yesterday whether Chris Hipkins thought we were stupid.  And as luck would have it, he answered our question – yes, he does.  First you have the Future Fund, a cornerstone policy, revelation that they aren't telling us who's money goes in and what sort of job creation they are expecting because they got bogged down in the Treaty issues, so we will need to wait until after the election.  That's a massive problem given they only have one policy and that policy looks to be a huge waste of our money.  Policy number two is a secret. But according to Chris, who appears to literally be melting in front of our eyes as the election year blowtorch gets pointed his way, he says on our behalf we "don't really care about the detail".  That’s what he said. Did he ask you? He didn’t ask me. But he seems confident to suggest we don't really care about the detail.  The breathtaking thing about that is I think he actually believes it.  I think he has shown a side of the limousine left. They genuinely think we are a bit thick, that they are intellectually superior, and the complicated stuff really should be left to those who know what they're doing or think they know what they're doing.  Can you name me any other party that takes their cornerstone policy and tells you that you don’t need to know the detail? And further, to go on to suggest you're not really interested anyway.  This would be bad enough if these guys hadn't been running the place for a while. But they ran the place three years ago and that very same "you're dumb, we know what we're doing" sunk them.  Hipkins in Auckland last week says everyone is over lockdown except the Newstalk ZB audience.  Hipkins this week says no one is interested in policy detail.  So one policy on tax, one policy that’s secret, and two observations that show the guy is literally either having a breakdown, or he is setting out to destroy his party in real time.  If you're remotely connected to Labour and want to help, get to him fast and hose him down.  Because he is the Government's greatest gift.  Wed, 20 May 2026 23:21:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rod-liddle-uk-correspondent-on-the-russian-jets-intercepting-uk-surveillance-planes-over-the-black-sea/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rod-liddle-uk-correspondent-on-the-russian-jets-intercepting-uk-surveillance-planes-over-the-black-sea/ Last month saw Russian aircrafts “repeatedly and dangerously” intercept British surveillance aircrafts over the Black Sea.  According to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, a Russian Su-35 fighter approached the Royal Airforce Plane, getting close enough to trigger its emergency systems and disable its autopilot.  On another occasion, a Su-27 jet carried out six passes in front of the plane’s nose, at a distance of six meters.   UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking that Russia has become increasingly cheeky over the last four or five years.  He says that things are ratcheting up every so often, and even if it’s only by half an inch, it’s something the UK should worry about.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 23:12:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/grant-baker-nz-businessman-and-entrepreneur-on-his-decades-of-success-and-failures-new-book-no-pit-stops-the-business-of-going-all-in/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/grant-baker-nz-businessman-and-entrepreneur-on-his-decades-of-success-and-failures-new-book-no-pit-stops-the-business-of-going-all-in/ Grant Baker is one of the country’s best success stories.  The Kiwi serial entrepreneur has had his hand in a number of pies but is best known for two companies – 42 Below and Turners.   It’s a career that’s spanned decades, and that’s before you get to his philanthropic efforts and work in co-founding the Gut Cancer Foundation in 2008.  He’s unravelling his career in his new book ‘No Pit Stops: The Business Of Going All In’, sharing stories of successes, setbacks, and lessons he’s learned.   While Baker has always had a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, it wasn’t until he was in his thirties that things really kicked off.  “My wife and I invested in property and those sorts of things, y’know, traditional Kiwi way, but we never got much traction,” he told Mike Hosking   Baker's true journey began with an offer from Eric Watson to join him in building a “$100 million company” in the Blue Star Group.  “When he laid out the opportunity, I just thought, well I’ve got to do something, I was in my mid-thirties at the time and thought if I don’t pull the trigger now, I never will.”   And the rest, as they say, is history.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 22:31:34 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jason-te-brake-zespri-ceo-on-their-record-59-billion-in-global-sales-for-the-202526-season/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jason-te-brake-zespri-ceo-on-their-record-59-billion-in-global-sales-for-the-202526-season/ A record season for kiwifruit company Zespri.  It cracked $5.9 billion in global sales in its 2025/26 financial results, up from $5 billion the season before.  The company also sold a record 248.1 million trays, with strong performances in Europe and North America.  CEO Jason Te Brake told Mike Hosking that it’s a pretty uncertain world out there, so they just have to navigate some of those challenges and make sure they deliver well.  He says they see some really positive tailwinds and more global demand for the product, so they’re pretty optimistic about the future.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 21:35:27 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-21-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-21-may-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 21st of May, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop discusses our tangled web of regulators and Floyd du Plessis unpacks the arrests of 14 Corrections staff.   We've heard throughout the war that people are turning to EVs, so Drive Electric’s Kirsten Corson joined to unpack their new State of the Nation report.   Kiwi entrepreneur Grant Baker talks his decades of success, and some failures, while speaking about his new book ‘No Pit Stops: The Business Of Going All In’.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 21:11:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/benno-blaschke-nz-initiative-research-fellow-on-the-suggestion-to-replace-housing-targets-with-price-indicators-remove-politics-from-housing/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/benno-blaschke-nz-initiative-research-fellow-on-the-suggestion-to-replace-housing-targets-with-price-indicators-remove-politics-from-housing/ A bid to change a political football as research finds housing targets aren't working.   The New Zealand Initiative suggests councils should be judged on whether there's real and affordable choices – replacing traditional targets with price indicators.  It also recommends an expert panel to make decisions rather than central Government.  Research Fellow Benno Blaschke told Mike Hosking we need to get the politics out of it, like we do in other areas.  He says the Finance Minister doesn't set interest rates, the Reserve Bank does, as it's independent and has the technical skill required.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 21:05:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/kirsten-corson-drive-electric-chair-on-the-state-of-the-nation-report-push-to-further-electrify-the-transport-system/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/kirsten-corson-drive-electric-chair-on-the-state-of-the-nation-report-push-to-further-electrify-the-transport-system/ Electrifying the transport system will require strong bi-partisan action.   The Drive Electric State of the Nation report has found globally, one in four new vehicle purchases are electric – up from one in five in 2024.  Chair Kirsten Corson says strides are being made in public transport, with New Plymouth's bus fleet being 100% electric, and Auckland Transport having more than 300 electric buses.   She told Mike Hosking it’s not an environmental decision anymore – it's an economic one.  In the past three years they’ve seen the percentage of new vehicle sales that are electric increasing in countries like Ethiopia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Turkey, Corson says, as from an economic perspective, they no longer want to import fossil fuels.   LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 20 May 2026 20:45:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/floyd-du-plessis-corrections-association-president-on-the-14-corrections-staff-arrested-for-accepting-bribes-and-conspiring-to-supply-drugs/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/floyd-du-plessis-corrections-association-president-on-the-14-corrections-staff-arrested-for-accepting-bribes-and-conspiring-to-supply-drugs/ The Corrections union insists corrupt staffers are few and far between, and some are even forced to go down the wrong path.  14 staff from Mt Eden and Auckland South Corrections facilities have been arrested.  A dozen are charged with accepting bribes, and others with conspiring to supply a Class A drug —namely methamphetamine— to prisoners.  Corrections Association President Floyd du Plessis told Mike Hosking it's not the norm, but in the past, some staff have been coerced by people who monitor their behaviour and learn about their personal lives.  He says in the past, staff have even had people turn up at their house and intimidate them, and have succumbed to that pressure.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 20:29:42 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-bishop-infrastructure-and-rma-reform-minister-on-the-report-revealing-the-267-regulators-operating-in-new-zealand/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-bishop-infrastructure-and-rma-reform-minister-on-the-report-revealing-the-267-regulators-operating-in-new-zealand/ Chris Bishop says over-regulation is an economic nightmare for the country.  A new report by the Ministry for Regulation maps out 267 regulators operating across the country, describing a complex system of overlapping agencies and rules.  The Infrastructure and RMA Reform Minister told Mike Hosking there's far too much red tape.  Bishop says we spend $1.3 billion annually alone on consenting costs for infrastructure, which is the entire cost of the Transmission Gully project.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 May 2026 20:17:11 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-labours-lack-of-detail-show-theyve-learned-nothing/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-labours-lack-of-detail-show-theyve-learned-nothing/ So let me get this right, just so we know where we’re at.  The Labour Party —who, I'm assuming, still want to be taken seriously this election— have had a major issue up to this point.  They have no policies.  The one policy they do have is a new tax, and the money from that new tax will pay for all of us to go to the doctor three times.  Even though a lot of us —to be frank, probably most of us— don’t actually need the state to pay for a doctor’s visit.  Their other policy we sort of knew about was the Future Fund.  It would contain SOEs, whose dividends would go into it to create jobs and grow the economy.  Update on the Future Fund: we aren’t going to know about that until after the election. The good news is they’re not winning the election, so it sort of doesn’t matter.  But they will make it even harder to have a crack at winning the election now, given voters sort of want to know what stuff costs, especially large stuff.  Further trouble is that the hold-up is they need advice on "Treaty obligations".  That’s right, bogged down yet again in matters Māori.  Originally, they told us the SOEs involved were commercially sensitive, now it’s Treaty troubles.  Previously, Chris Hipkins said this fund would create jobs. Yesterday, Barbara Edmonds didn’t know how many because that would depend on what the fund invested in, which SOEs were in the fund, and what advice they got around Treaty obligations.  So no job stats, no cost stats, no real detail on who’s in and who isn’t on what they call one of their cornerstone policies.  So no policies, until there is a policy. But it’s sort of a secret policy that, if you vote for us, we’ll tell you about after the election.  Small question at this point: do they honestly believe we are that stupid? That this is any sort of way to conduct an election campaign? That this is any sort of excuse this close to an election?  Are they smarter than we think and this is basically their white flag, because they don’t want to be in Government anyway?  Part of what haunts them from last time is their inability to actually do anything apart from spray money.  They talk. They don’t do.  Three years on they have clearly learned nothing.  Tue, 19 May 2026 22:38:46 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-donald-trump-pulling-back-from-striking-iran-ongoing-negotiations/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-donald-trump-pulling-back-from-striking-iran-ongoing-negotiations/ Donald Trump's warning further attacks on Iran are still possible, despite backing down this week.   The US President called off the strikes after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.   He says officials are still locked in negotiations with Iran, and he claims Democrats are trying to stop him.   US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking this is the sixth time Trump has been on the verge of initiating military strikes and has pulled back.  He says it comes amid word Iran’s Foreign Minister met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister and they claim there’s diplomatic progress.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 22:33:52 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-discuss-labours-future-fund-winston-peters-idea-for-bnz-and-public-service-cuts/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-discuss-labours-future-fund-winston-peters-idea-for-bnz-and-public-service-cuts/ It’s been a busy start to the week, and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest political stories so far on Politics Wednesday.  They discussed Labour’s Future Fund policy, which is light on the details, Winston Peters’ idea to buy back BNZ, and the Government’s cuts to and plans for the public service.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 22:07:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/grant-dalton-team-new-zealand-ceo-on-the-preliminary-americas-cup-regatta-in-sardina/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/grant-dalton-team-new-zealand-ceo-on-the-preliminary-americas-cup-regatta-in-sardina/ New Zealand is up against some quality competition in the first stage of the America’s Cup cycle.   This weekend sees the Italian island of Sardina host the first preliminary regatta, with eight boats set to take to the water.   Team NZ, Britian’s GB1, and Italian hosts Luna Rossa have sent both their main teams and a combined Women’s and Youth boat to compete, alongside crews from Switzerland’s Alinghi and French entry La Roche-Posay Racing.   Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton told Mike Hosking that it’s difficult to tell at this stage, but Luna Rossa is likely to be a force to be reckoned with.  He says the other teams are quite light, but the Italian team has the most milage in the water at the moment and plenty of talent.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 21:51:44 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/katie-sadlier-commonwealth-sport-ceo-on-auckland-hosting-the-oceania-national-olympic-committees-general-assembly/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/katie-sadlier-commonwealth-sport-ceo-on-auckland-hosting-the-oceania-national-olympic-committees-general-assembly/ The Commonwealth Games are in the spotlight as Auckland hosts another major event this week.  The Oceania National Olympic Committees’ General Assembly is underway at Eden Park.  New IOC President Kirsty Coventry will be among the 200 delegates as the region builds towards the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.  Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadlier told Mike Hosking they’re focused more on the short term than the long term at the moment, with the Glasgow Commonwealth Games beginning in 64 days.  For them, she says, it’s very much about helping people through the last minute preparations and ensuring people maximise the opportunity presented by the Glasgow Games.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 21:15:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-20-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-20-may-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20th of May, Finance Minister Nicola Willis unpacks the public service cuts and we hear from the head of Commonwealth Sport as Auckland hosts the Oceania National Olympic Committees’ General Assembly.  Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton joins out of Sardinia as the America's Cup officially gets underway.  And Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell discuss the lack of details in Labour's Future Fund and Winston Peters' idea for BNZ 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, 19 May 2026 21:11:49 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/linda-sissons-education-nz-acting-ceo-on-the-growing-number-of-international-students-enrolled-in-new-zealand/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/linda-sissons-education-nz-acting-ceo-on-the-growing-number-of-international-students-enrolled-in-new-zealand/ New Zealand's seeing renewed growth in international education, with rising demand from both major and emerging markets.  Education New Zealand data shows more than 92 thousand international students enrolled last year, up 11% on the year prior.  China and India make up almost half of all enrolments.  Acting Chief Executive Linda Sissons told Mike Hosking we’re sitting at around 80% of our pre-Covid numbers, but the difference between then and now is the focus on value as well as volume.   She says we’re on track for both, as in the past year we've exceeded their target of export earnings and are sitting just below the target for enrolments.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 20:33:58 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-the-public-service-reform-experimenting-with-ai-to-streamline-tasks/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-the-public-service-reform-experimenting-with-ai-to-streamline-tasks/ Another swathe of Government agency job cuts and public sector reform.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they want to return the public servant headcount to 1% of the population by mid-2029, culling about 8,700 jobs.  Government agency operating budgets will again be reduced – 2% now, increasing over following years.  Willis says they will also thin out the ministries, pointing to savings it'll bring.  She says they expect to hire more nurses, Police officers, and others in critical frontline roles.  Willis says AI is “incredible” at slashing the amount of time needed for mundane tasks, revealing her staff used it to write a report on public service reform.  She told Mike Hosking the Government was streamlining agencies and embedding AI and digitisation, and asking the public service to "get out of the 80s".  She was experimenting with AI in her own office.  “Instead of one of my analysts spending half a day coming up with a document, they said to AI, ‘Have a look at public service reform around the world, tell us who's done what, what seems to have worked well, what hasn't’.  “And 10 minutes later, you've got a beautiful document with some guidance and some advice.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 20:12:57 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-brunsdon-infometrics-principal-economist-on-retail-spending-falling-by-160-million-in-april/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-brunsdon-infometrics-principal-economist-on-retail-spending-falling-by-160-million-in-april/ Kiwis appear to be cutting back on discretionary spending as fuel prices bite.  Data from Stats NZ shows retail electronic card purchases fell 1.3% last month, with Kiwis buying less or cheaper food and cutting back on their clothing budget.  Non-retail spending on the likes of travel and health is down 4%.  Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking it makes sense, as these are more discretionary purchases.  He says people are bound to spend less on holidays, or even at the dentist, if they're trying to make up the dollars to fill the tank.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 May 2026 20:01:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-heres-what-the-2026-election-is-about/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-heres-what-the-2026-election-is-about/ 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?      Mon, 18 May 2026 23:10:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-the-uk-government-investigating-a-pitch-to-host-the-olympics-in-the-north-of-england/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-on-the-uk-government-investigating-a-pitch-to-host-the-olympics-in-the-north-of-england/ 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  Mon, 18 May 2026 22:34:31 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/michael-kelly-american-actor-on-returning-to-jack-ryan-for-the-ghost-war-film-the-longevity-of-the-franchise/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/michael-kelly-american-actor-on-returning-to-jack-ryan-for-the-ghost-war-film-the-longevity-of-the-franchise/ 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  Mon, 18 May 2026 22:26:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-19-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-19-may-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 19th of May, Education Minister Erica Stanford unpacks the $131 million education funding and Touch NZ CEO Joe Sprangers explains their new partnership with NZ Rugby.  Immigration is turning into an election issue so we talk to sociologist Paul Spoonley as our population goes above 5.3 million and the gap between our birth and death rates narrow.  Michael Kelly of House of Cards and Jack Ryan fame is on to talk the new Jack Ryan movie Ghost War.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 May 2026 21:11:49 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-spoonley-massey-university-sociologist-on-nzs-population-increasing-by-08-as-the-gap-between-birth-and-death-rates-narrow/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-spoonley-massey-university-sociologist-on-nzs-population-increasing-by-08-as-the-gap-between-birth-and-death-rates-narrow/ The gap between the number of births and deaths is narrowing.  Latest Stats NZ data shows there was about 15 hundred fewer births in the year ending in March, and 170 more deaths.  The fertility rate has dropped from 1.58 births per woman to 1.53 and the infant mortality rate is also down.   Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking at some point the number of births will equal the number of deaths.  He says that's never happened before, except for during one-off events like the Black Death in Europe.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 May 2026 21:04:22 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/erica-stanford-education-minister-on-the-131-million-investment-in-maths-reading-and-writing-education/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/erica-stanford-education-minister-on-the-131-million-investment-in-maths-reading-and-writing-education/ Erica Stanford insists her curriculum reform adds sunlight and accountability to the sector.   In a pre-Budget announcement, the Education Minister has announced $131 million to help improve students' reading, writing, and maths.  It'll also include more professional development for teachers and school leaders in those areas.  Stanford told Mike Hosking New Zealand's been in a black hole for some time.  She says students aren't proficient in basic timetables, facts, or reading until they get to high school, and are struggling.  She says we've been in the grip of a liberal education experiment that states assessing young people is bad for their mental health – which is ridiculous.  Also in the announcement was a pledge to give schools more maths and literacy resources, and 36 extra maths intervention teachers.   Stanford told Hosking more teachers are added every Budget, and she'd fund more if she could.  She says they'll take small groups struggling with maths out of classes to get them where they need to be, and it's never been done before.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 May 2026 20:44:20 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/catherine-beard-businessnz-advocacy-director-on-the-services-sector-continuing-to-contract-in-april/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/catherine-beard-businessnz-advocacy-director-on-the-services-sector-continuing-to-contract-in-april/ 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  Mon, 18 May 2026 20:30:04 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rebecca-ingram-tourism-industry-aotearoa-ceo-on-the-trenz-tourism-business-event-running-this-week-in-auckland/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rebecca-ingram-tourism-industry-aotearoa-ceo-on-the-trenz-tourism-business-event-running-this-week-in-auckland/ It's tourism's time to shine this week as TRENZ hits Auckland.  The country's largest tourism business event runs from today to Thursday at the International Convention Centre.  More than 12 hundred delegates will attend from key markets like the US and China, and it’s projected to inject more than $3 million into Auckland's economy.  Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO Rebecca Ingram told Mike Hosking 16 thousand business meetings will take place.  She says the benefits are multi-layered as some will boost this summer, but most of it will be focused on the two after that.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 May 2026 20:04:56 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sarah-dalton-association-of-salaried-medical-experts-executive-director-on-the-number-of-specialist-referrals-being-declined/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sarah-dalton-association-of-salaried-medical-experts-executive-director-on-the-number-of-specialist-referrals-being-declined/ The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists believes fewer people are receiving care than we're being told.   Its new report —which looks at seven districts between 2023 and 2025— shows about 20% of GP specialist referrals are being declined.   Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking it's down to staff shortages across the public and private sectors.  She says it shows Health New Zealand isn't managing unmet need, and criticises the fact our targets-focused system doesn't provide targets for the workforce.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 May 2026 19:52:23 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-18-may-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-18-may-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 18th of May, Winston Peters tries to speak his bank buying idea into being. The Prime Minister responds to Winston Peters wanting to buy BNZ. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville cover Auckland FC, the Warriors win (and also loss) and the surfing in Raglan. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 17 May 2026 21:11:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-do-the-unions-have-anything-positive-to-say-about-education/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-do-the-unions-have-anything-positive-to-say-about-education/ Can anyone tell me why literally everything that is ever done in the education space is rejected, hated and railed against by the unions? Have the education unions ever not asked for more money, more resources or more non-contact time, while at the same time telling you everything in the classroom is crap? The NCEA changes confirmed over the weekend, to most parent's eyes, will make perfect sense. Anyone who has had kids through these past few calamitous years knows full well the old NCEA has been an abject failure. The indisputable outworkings are; 1) We have a swath of kids leaving school too early without any real qualifications to their name. We then wonder why their unemployment rate is so high. 2) Of those who do leave, too many have a potpourri of random eclectic passes that may or may not mean anything in the real world. On paper having hundreds of choices and vague terms like 'merit' or 'achieved' probably looked like it could make sense. But it relied on parents and kids having the wherewithal and interest to navigate their way through a system that in reality allowed you to take the piss for an easy pass. With 'A' to 'E' you know where you're at. Being able to actually read and write remains as important today as it ever has and a few basics like science and maths are critical for life, as well as job prospects. But no, this won't suit students according to the unions. Is it the students they are worried about, or themselves? The more accountable you make the system the more questions that get asked about the quality of the teaching and what's unfolding in the classrooms. Unions hate that. All that accountability is deeply unsettling and of course only ever cured by wanting more money. Between the old NCEA and Covid there is a generation of our kids that have been robbed and, quite possibly, detrimentally affected for life. They have been let down shockingly. If the unions wanted to make up for any of that, some enthusiasm and a vastly more productive approach to change and improvement would go a long way to restoring their increasingly tattered reputations. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 17 May 2026 20:54:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/combox-andrew-saville-and-jason-pine-discuss-the-weekends-sports/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/combox-andrew-saville-and-jason-pine-discuss-the-weekends-sports/ Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join Mike Hosking to review the weekends' sports.  The Warriors defeated the Broncos in Brisbane, is this finally our year?  And Auckland FC have defeated Adelaide to progress to the A League Grand Final, where they'll face Sydney FC on home turf.  LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 17 May 2026 20:35:17 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-luxon-prime-minister-addresses-spat-between-labour-and-nz-first-leader/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-luxon-prime-minister-addresses-spat-between-labour-and-nz-first-leader/ Chris Luxon is firing back at Winston Peters over his latest comments about immigration. The New Zealand First Leader has been accusing his Coalition partners National and Act of being too slow on immigration. The Prime Minister and National Leader says he feels like there's a bit of anti-immigration cos-playing going on, whereby some politicians pretend to be Donald Trump, Nigel Farage or Marine Le Pen. He told Mike Hosking that the remarks by Peters are an example of that. Luxon says New Zealand doesn't have uncontrolled immigration, while the US has 13 to 14 million illegal immigrants. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 17 May 2026 20:20:30 Z