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 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:43:00 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-i-can-help-steve-abel/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-i-can-help-steve-abel/ I can help Steve Abel.  Steve is the Green's agriculture bloke and he wants an urgent inquiry into the Wattie’s and Heinz mess in Hawkes Bay.  He is wasting his time. Not because he shouldn’t be concerned, because he should. We should all be concerned.  But the answers he seeks are already readily available.  He asks about four main things: the regulatory environment, energy costs, foreign owner indifference, and anti-competitive behaviour from the supermarkets.  The website Newsroom wrote a solid piece about all this several weeks ago in which it was broadly concluded the troubles in Hawke’s Bay have been coming for a decade, so some late, breaking alarmism via yet another committee addresses nothing.  Costs in this country are too high. I refer you to Paul Conway's speech last week to a bunch of financial operators. We are unproductive and have been for years.  Supermarkets have indeed played a part. The home brand scenario damaged the more premium brands and Wattie's etc have suffered because of it.  Now, is that anti-competitive? Or offering more competition? Does the punter want choice and price range? I would have thought yes.  On the energy costs, Wattie's and Heinz have both spoken to this. Our energy costs are ruinous. Gas, or lack of it, has killed a lot of manufacturing. The Greens might like to ask themselves why they got obsessed with solar panels and banned gas before there were enough solar panels to cover the energy gaps.  The old regulatory environment is an interesting one. Labour and Nicola Willis have jawboned rules and regulations and watchdogs and Commerce Commission investigations, but to what avail? Nothing has changed, which either means there is nothing to change, or they are useless.  Foreign owner indifference, I would suggest, that sounds a bit xenophobic. Yes, I know what he means – could a massive player in Detroit cut ties without losing sleep in little old New Zealand? Sure.  But no one who invests and runs businesses does so with indifference.  Between the dumping, the cheap stuff consumers prefer, the size of our market, and the ruinous cost of energy, it's all there as a combustible recipe to blow up a lot of business models.  Peas in a bag and peaches in a tin are the victims. The inquiry is not needed.  Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:37:25 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-kieran-mcanulty-is-bringing-the-modern-world-to-easter/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-kieran-mcanulty-is-bringing-the-modern-world-to-easter/ 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.    Pakistan: 6/10  Mystery of the week. Did they host talks? Were there any talks? What's the talks v BS ratio?    Oil: 7/10  Specifically, the Government's handling. Tickets, swaps, deals, and unsolicited offers –  this looks and feels like it's in the hands of adults.    Labour and India: 3/10  This is why we can be grateful they are not in office for the war. They do little but stall and carp. The day you are against free trade you are basically not a New Zealander.    Booze: 7/10  Nice one Kieran, as the kid from the Wairarapa brings the modern world to Easter.    Allbirds: 3/10  It’s a sad story of a dream that was destined for a troubled end. Shoes are about fashion, not feels, and style, not vibes. Only a very small percentage of people are ever prepared to look rude while saving the planet.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:15:56 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-could-this-be-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-war/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-could-this-be-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-war/ It’s a bit early given it's a short week, but at four and a half-ish weeks into Operation Epic Fury, there's a reason to be depressed and a reason to be hopeful.  To the bad news first.  This hasn’t been a great week for the Americans. They have been left with talks that may or may not be happening and a lot of rhetoric that sounds like last week's rhetoric – "we've won", "there is nothing left", and "we could leave anytime".  Except, the missiles that fall on Israel seem to indicate that for a place that have been bombed to flatness, they keep finding things to fire and that’s before you got to the hacking of Kash Patel's phone, which was just plain embarrassing.  Trump's demeanour didn’t help either. A winner doesn’t whine and man has he whined a lot this week, to the point it appears he will end the war, as predicted, but has worked up a narrative that allows him to avoid the small issue of the Strait of Hormuz.  Which is of course why he is whining. He's cocked it up.  One way or another, the fact that they didn’t see the Gulf states being hit and didn’t see a waterway being used as ransom will go down in US military history as yet another interventionist cock-up.  The new timeline is a bit of a worry. 2-3 weeks fits in with the 4-6 timeline, roughly. The trouble though, if you follow Trump, is that he uses the "2-3 weeks" line a lot, on a lot of different things that, as it turns out, don’t take 2-3 weeks – almost as though he makes it up as he goes along.  Also not great is Netanyahu, who claimed they were a bit over halfway as far as targets go, which is not 2-3 weeks, given it's been almost five.  But to the good news – the Iranian President has said they will stop if they get a guarantee they are not attacked again. And this is part of the exit strategy.  A bit of back and forward, nuclear material cleared, regime largely gone, some sort of rebuild, money sorted, and it's kind of got a Gaza 2.0 vibe about it.  And then of course 2pm this afternoon is the address to the world. "An important update". Does that have the makings of the end? Let's see.  But the driving forces are the driving forces that have been at play all along – petrol in America costs too much, the cost of living is up, hiring is down, recession fears are up and the midterms are coming.  As we said last week, Trump might be mad but on the political survival front self-interest is a finely honed skill of his.  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:55:44 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-talk-75-hard-baileys-allbirds/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-talk-75-hard-baileys-allbirds/ Easter is cutting this week short, so Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking today to Wrap the Week that Was.   They discussed 75 Hard, the collapse of Allbirds, and what Kate’s been drinking recently.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:48:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-don-keeps-getting-it-wrong/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-don-keeps-getting-it-wrong/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Thursday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Perhaps He Should Quit While He's Behind?/Mark the Week/Reshuffled for the Long Weekend/Things That Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time/Why We Choose to Go to the Moon Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:33:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/damien-oconnor-labours-trade-spokesperson-on-labours-hesitance-to-support-the-india-free-trade-agreement/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/damien-oconnor-labours-trade-spokesperson-on-labours-hesitance-to-support-the-india-free-trade-agreement/ Questions around Indian students and family of visa holders are still roadblocks to Labour supporting a trade deal with India.   New Zealand First's left its coalition partners in the lurch, rendering them dependent on Labour to ratify the agreement.  But leader Chris Hipkins says there's a mismatch between how the deal's been presented and what the text actually contains.  Damien O’Connor, the party’s Trade Spokesperson, told Mike Hosking trade agreements don’t typically include guaranteed work permits, but this one does.  He says that Winston Peters stirred up concerns the deal will result in New Zealand being flooded with migrants, and while that’s not the reality, they had to ask questions about the provisions and safeguards for that.   O’Connor says they don’t want thousands of students and workers coming into New Zealand and being exploited.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:27:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-02-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-02-april-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2nd of April, former US Navy Senior Chief Malcolm Nance delves into Operation Epic Fury so far.   Damien O'Connor outlines Labour's specific issues with the India Free Trade Agreement and gives his thoughts on if they'll get over the line.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk 75 Hard, Kate drinking Baileys, and the collapse of Allbirds as they Wrap the short Week.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:10:31 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rob-penney-crusaders-coach-on-the-final-game-at-apollo-projects-stadium/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rob-penney-crusaders-coach-on-the-final-game-at-apollo-projects-stadium/ An end of an era for the Crusaders as they say farewell tonight in their final Super Rugby game at Apollo Projects Stadium.  The venue was constructed as a temporary solution after Lancaster Park was destroyed in the 2011 earthquakes, housing the Cantabrian side and their fans for 14 seasons.  Coach Rob Penney hopes they can give it the send off it deserves before they make the move across town to the new One New Zealand Stadium.  He told Mike Hosking emotionally, Apollo Projects means a lot to the community, but the facility has well outgrown its usefulness.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:08:23 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sam-mackinnon-hospitality-nz-head-of-advocacy-on-parliament-passing-a-bill-to-loosen-holiday-alcohol-sale-restrictions/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/sam-mackinnon-hospitality-nz-head-of-advocacy-on-parliament-passing-a-bill-to-loosen-holiday-alcohol-sale-restrictions/ Bars and pubs are waving goodbye to tricky holiday alcohol restrictions, with a bill to loosen them passing its final reading last night.  Labour MP Kieran McAnulty's bill will let hospitality venues sell alcohol across Easter, Anzac Day morning, and Christmas Day without having to serve a meal.  It's set to get Royal Assent today, in time for the long weekend.  Hospitality New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy Sam MacKinnon told Mike Hosking it’s a material change that improves customer experience.  He says it may only seem like it impacts a couple of days across the year, but for the hospitality operators, it makes a big difference.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:48:43 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/malcolm-nance-former-us-navy-senior-chief-analyses-the-us-war-on-iran/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/malcolm-nance-former-us-navy-senior-chief-analyses-the-us-war-on-iran/ A scathing indictment of the US.  The war on Iran has entered a second month as the US and Israel continue to bomb Iran, and Iran fires back at Gulf states.   US President Donald Trump's claiming Iran's leaders have asked for a ceasefire, which Iran's foreign ministry is calling false and baseless.   Intelligence and foreign policy analyst and former US Navy Senior Chief Malcolm Nance told Mike Hosking this administration has no regard for history.   He says whatever America learned over the last 40 years has been thrown out the window when they planned this operation.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:35:50 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tim-costley-national-mp-on-the-probe-into-fire-and-emergencys-fleet-issues/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tim-costley-national-mp-on-the-probe-into-fire-and-emergencys-fleet-issues/ A win for striking firefighters, with confirmation of an inquiry into the national fleet.  Parliament’s Governance and Administration Select Committee has launched the probe with hopes of increasing the number of fit-for-purpose fire trucks.  Deputy Chair and National MP Tim Costley told Newstalk ZB he has some serious questions for Fire and Emergency New Zealand.  He told Mike Hosking that he's been going around in circles with Fire and Emergency’s leadership, who have been giving contradictory and incorrect reports on how many of trucks are in use.  Costley says either the Board has been receiving incorrect answers from team leadership, they haven’t been asking questions at all, or they’ve received honest answers but haven’t passed them on – regardless of the reason, he has questions.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:19:28 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nikku-madhusudhan-university-of-cambridge-professor-of-astrophysics-and-exoplanetary-science-on-the-artemis-ii-mission-to-the-moon/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nikku-madhusudhan-university-of-cambridge-professor-of-astrophysics-and-exoplanetary-science-on-the-artemis-ii-mission-to-the-moon/ There are hopes a successful launch to the Moon today will lay the groundwork for future Mars missions.  Artemis II's launch window begins at around midday New Zealand time, taking those on board further into space than ever.  The 10-day manned mission around the moon is the first in more than 50 years.  Astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan told Mike Hosking we will learn a lot from it.  He says it's a three-day trip to the Moon, so it's a lot easier to test equipment and technology needed to go to Mars.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:52:22 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-govts-housing-vision-a-school-project-gone-wrong/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-govts-housing-vision-a-school-project-gone-wrong/ The Auckland housing number and the Government's housing vision now looks like a school project gone wrong.  Chris Bishop, by anyone's standards, is a competent, if not excellent, political operator but he appears to have come unstuck on Auckland housing.  His two million homes got the sort of reaction anyone with anything to do with Auckland might have expected, so after a lot of gnashing and expletives it got readjusted to 1.6 million and now, if you can believe it, it's 1.4 million.  The real issue of course is the number. All the numbers are huge, so they freak people out.  Not helping is the fact Bishop is not from Auckland, he is from the Hutt. Which doesn’t mean he can't make decisions on Auckland, it just means he doesn’t seem to know what rarks Auckland up, and the obvious suggestion is made that maybe that’s because he is from Wellington.  Making it worse is the Government has a Minister for Auckland, but he seems to be nowhere to be seen and one wonders whether he was in Bishop's ear at any point suggesting bandying around large numbers and causing confusion about high-rises in suburbia wasn’t the smartest thing he could have done.  It's not helpful either for the Government, given it's election year. Like it or not, elections are won and lost in the country's biggest city and economic engine room.  Also about to land is a report on volcanic view shafts, another of Auckland's special features Bishop doesn’t seem to get.  We can delve into it another day, but in a sign Bishop is all about bottom lines and not the real world, the report suggests there is $4 billion worth of lost productivity because of these view shafts, which is $2500 per household. The inference being if we just got on and built stuff, even if they are high-rises smack bang in the middle of your Rangitoto view, we would be off to the races economically.  I can tell Chris even before the report is released that this will go down worse than his original two million homes idea.  In really simple terms, if the National Party, and by default the Government, want to piss a large number of Aucklanders off, let Bishop loose on the place and we'll catch up for a drink at the Opposition benches.  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:55:31 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-on-the-auckland-housing-intensification-plan-india-free-trade-agreement-alcohol-trading-laws/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-on-the-auckland-housing-intensification-plan-india-free-trade-agreement-alcohol-trading-laws/ Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest stories of the week thus far.   They discussed the Government watering down the Auckland housing intensification plan again, Labour’s concerns with the India Free Trade Agreement, and the bill going before Parliament today that could revamp holiday alcohol trading laws.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:50:18 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-the-india-free-trade-agreement-and-labours-concerns/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-the-india-free-trade-agreement-and-labours-concerns/ The Trade Minister doesn’t see anything material in Labour’s concerns over the India Free Trade Agreement.   New Zealand First's shunned the deal, leaving its coalition partners reliant on Labour to ratify it.   But Leader Chris Hipkins says his party's support can't be taken for granted, and he's concerned there's a mismatch between descriptions of the deal, and its contents.  Todd McClay told Mike Hosking they’re going to do this in good faith – a formal meeting has been set for tomorrow so they can go through the details and the advice, but it's rather straightforward.  But he says Labour needs to make a decision soon.   He says it’s important that Parliament as a whole gets to scrutinise the deal instead of having individual parties closing the door.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:29:35 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-demand-supply-wars-etc/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-demand-supply-wars-etc/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Oh, and it Applies to Diesel Too/Why Is Auckland So Intense?/Dude, Where's My Frozens?/Fun Time to Fly/Bad Ban Better Than No Ban Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:20:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-01-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-01-april-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1st of April, criminal defence lawyer Nigel Hampton KC discusses the quashing of David Tamihere’s double murder convictions.   Trade Minister Todd McClay has returned from Cameroon to answer Labour's new queries about the India Free Trade Agreement as Mike asks whether it's still on or not.  And on Politics Wednesday, Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk National's housing mess and the bill that should pass today allowing bars to operate normally on Easter and Anzac. Plus, wait until you hear about the April Fool's joke that got Mike.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:10:26 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/graeme-muller-tech-new-zealand-ceo-on-the-call-for-bipartisan-government-support-for-the-technology-sector/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/graeme-muller-tech-new-zealand-ceo-on-the-call-for-bipartisan-government-support-for-the-technology-sector/ A new report highlights a need for bipartisan support for New Zealand’s tech sector.  It’s currently our fastest growing sector, outstripping meat, wine, and wood combined, and has the potential to hit $30 billion a year within a decade.   They've sent a manifesto to MPs, warning that a lack of cohesive policies may stifle the sector’s growth.   Tech NZ CEO Graeme Muller told Mike Hosking some things need to be put in place to allow a digital economy to really fly, and only a government is able to do some of it.   He says like infrastructure, technology has multi-year investments, so both or all parties need to get on board and understand how important it is.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:03:49 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-iran-war-trump-reportedly-willing-to-end-the-war-even-if-the-strait-of-hormuz-remains-largely-closed/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-iran-war-trump-reportedly-willing-to-end-the-war-even-if-the-strait-of-hormuz-remains-largely-closed/ Several Trump aides have reportedly told the Wall Street Journal the US President is privately suggesting he’s willing to end the war in Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut down.  Petrol prices in the USA are at a four-year high with warnings they will go significantly higher, and “people are feeling it”, US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking.  Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's water and energy infrastructure if a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is not done soon, while the Gulf states are urging him to press on with the US military operation, Arnold said.  Those states warn if Iran gets to control the flow of oil, there will soon be ripple effects in many other areas including spiralling food and transport costs, Arnold said.  But a ground war would be risky, and a “huge liability” for Donald Trump, whose favourability numbers have hit a historic low of 33% in the latest opinion poll.  Trump posted to Truth Social overnight telling other countries they should reopen the Strait of Hormuz themselves, saying “Go get your own oil”. That sentiment was echoed in a briefing from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the US used the international waterway “dramatically less than most”.  “The world ought to pay attention and be prepared to stand up. President Trump's been willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world,” Hegseth said.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:34:06 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/hamish-firth-mt-hobson-group-director-on-the-second-revision-to-the-auckland-housing-intensification-plan/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/hamish-firth-mt-hobson-group-director-on-the-second-revision-to-the-auckland-housing-intensification-plan/ An urban planning specialist believes Auckland's density plan is far too important to meddle with.  The Government again revised the super-city's plan yesterday to reduce minimum housing capacity to 1.4 million.  It's the second revision within weeks from the original two million after continued push-back in some suburbs.   Mt Hobson Group's Hamish Firth told Mike Hosking the plan needs to be done by and for Aucklanders.  He says it's been wrongly directed from the start, as it was lunacy to mandate two-million houses.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:30:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/anna-powles-massey-university-associate-professor-in-the-centre-for-defence-and-security-studies-on-the-meeting-between-winston-peters-and-cook-islands-prime-minister-mark-brown/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/anna-powles-massey-university-associate-professor-in-the-centre-for-defence-and-security-studies-on-the-meeting-between-winston-peters-and-cook-islands-prime-minister-mark-brown/ A Pacific security expert says the Foreign Minister's visit to the Cook Islands today follows hard work to repair relations.  Winston Peters is meeting Prime Minister Mark Brown again, the two having met in Auckland last month.  Peters paused almost $30 million in support last year after Brown signed a strategic partnership with China without consulting New Zealand.  Massey University's Anna Powles told Mike Hosking relations have been a priority for the Cooks in recent months.  She says Elizabeth Wright-Koteka was appointed head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the explicit goal of mending diplomatic ties with New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:13:57 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nigel-hampton-kc-criminal-defence-lawyer-on-david-tamiheres-double-murder-convictions-being-quashed/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nigel-hampton-kc-criminal-defence-lawyer-on-david-tamiheres-double-murder-convictions-being-quashed/ A criminal defence lawyer believes the quashing of David Tamihere's convictions unveils major errors.  The Supreme Court's scrapped his double murder convictions for killing two Swedish tourists in the 80s.  He served two decades before being released on parole in 2010 and made multiple attempts to clear his name.  The last saw the Court of Appeal confirming a miscarriage of justice took place, but it upheld the convictions.    Nigel Hampton KC told Mike Hosking many fundamental things were wrong with the trial going back over 30 years, from a lying jailhouse witness to other shaky evidence.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:05:20 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-nz-look-like-the-adults-in-the-room-re-our-fuel-response/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-nz-look-like-the-adults-in-the-room-re-our-fuel-response/ From our "don’t waste a crisis" file, is it possible this Government's handling thus far of oil events might well see them rewarded with an increased level of support as the election draws closer?  The initial reaction when the war broke out and oil went up was twofold.  1) Around the economy, the rebound, the resurgence we had seen may well be, yet again, off.  2) That the poor Government worked their butts off, trimmed the Budget, changed the laws, got rid of the mess, and at last were seeing the fruits of the labour.  Then bang – Operation Epic Fury.  The next question so far unanswered here is, will the Government of the day take the political heat because the cost of living is up, even though it is none of their fault?  The partial answer comes from Australia in their polling and that answer is 'no'. The war and its associated economic outworkings fall entirely on America.  Polling in America shows the same thing. This is on Trump.  As I said last week, New Zealand v Australia in terms of messaging, organisation, reaction, and action is not even a contest. Australia is a hot mess of confusion, claim and counterclaim, and a growing bitch session between state and Canberra.  Here, it would seem close to faultless.  For those upset over the lack of free money, you might not agree with it, but you can't blame the messaging or say it hasn’t been explained.  Yesterday's LNG explanation from the Prime Minister that it either stacks up or it doesn’t is what we desperately need more of. Not ideology, not feels, not obsessions; just stats, numbers and facts. Does it work, or does it not?  The oil numbers yesterday seem reassuringly well organised. We are clearly hustling and so far, it's clearly working.  There's messaging about what it isn't, i.e. this isn't Covid, this isn't about sourdough, or animals in windows. This isn't about hugs and kindness and all the other BS.  It's about adults, and organisation, and getting stuff done as best you can in an environment that is largely beyond your control and in a country that is at the end of a very long supply chain at the bottom of the world.  Although we wouldn’t wish any of this on our worst enemy, it's so far so good from what looks like a seriously competent Government and one that might get some support simply because when it hit the fan they were up for it and not making it up. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:03:20 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matt-lambert-kiwi-michelin-star-chef-on-his-return-to-the-new-zealand-hospitality-scene-the-arrival-of-michelin-stars/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matt-lambert-kiwi-michelin-star-chef-on-his-return-to-the-new-zealand-hospitality-scene-the-arrival-of-michelin-stars/ Auspicious timing with one of New Zealand’s best chefs returning to our shores as excitement around Michelin Stars continues to build.   One of only two Kiwi chefs whose restaurant earned a star, Matt Lambert held one between 2013 and 2020 with his New York restaurant ‘The Musket Room’.   He’s now decided to return to New Zealand with a new culinary venture, ‘Return’, a restaurant described by Lambert as ‘The Musket Room 2.0’.   Having experience with the guide, Lambert believes the arrival of Michelin Stars in New Zealand will be amazing for the country’s tourism and dining scene.  “It basically tells the rest of the world we have restaurants as good as the rest of the world,” Lambert told Mike Hosking.  “A lot of people travel through Europe, and they’ll just use the guide verbatim to go to all the restaurants they go to ... now, if they’re coming here, it opens the door for a lot of restaurants.”  Earning a Michelin Star was a long held goal for Lambert, and it was one of the reasons he moved to New York in the first place.  “The goal was to get a star within three years,” he told Hosking.  “It was one of the most special things I’ve done in my career, because I’d had that sort of vision for a very long time, and having the opportunity to be able to achieve a goal like that, [it] was a special moment.”   Despite all the doom and gloom that seems to surround the sector, Lambert doesn’t believe things are as bad as they seem.  “I love the hospo scene – I think it’s vibrant, I think it’s great ... there’s a lot happening and it’s all pretty good.”  And while some might look at the economy and the conflict over in the Middle East and decide to hold off on opening a new establishment, Lambert has no such qualms.  “What am I gonna wait for, do you know what I mean?”  “I'm aware of all the negative things that are kind of happening, but y’know, this is a place of celebration, a place to come and feel good,” he told Hosking.  “I feel, maybe now more than ever, that’s what we need.”   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:44:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-31-march-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-31-march-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 31st of March, new economic forecasts have been released amid the uncertainty of the war.  Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour responds to Labour’s hesitance towards the India Free Trade Agreement and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones offers reassurances around the country’s fuel and diesel supply.   Michelin Star winning Kiwi chef Matt Lambert is opening a fresh venture in what most would describe as a tough environment, so what does he see in our sector that others don't?  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:10:28 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-tuffley-asb-senior-economist-on-the-revised-economic-outcome-forecasts-impact-of-middle-east-conflict/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nick-tuffley-asb-senior-economist-on-the-revised-economic-outcome-forecasts-impact-of-middle-east-conflict/ With so much uncertainty in the Middle East, people should focus on preparing for different scenarios that could affect their businesses, ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says.  ASB’s revised outlook forecasts inflation to climb further this year and GDP growth contracting for the second quarter thanks to higher fuel prices hitting consumers.  Tuffley told Mike Hosking that Q2 was when the peak impacts of the oil shock would ripple through and affect people’s spending power.  The ASB forecast —of GDP growth at 1.3% and inflation at 4%— was “not the end of the world” but would delay New Zealand’s economic recovery, he said.  Inflation had hit 5% before, when oil prices were high before the financial crisis. That level of inflation was still possible this year, but the Reserve Bank had time to wait, given New Zealand’s economy wasn’t overheating.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:07:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/catherine-field-europe-correspondent-on-the-attempted-bomb-planting-outside-the-bank-of-america-in-paris/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/catherine-field-europe-correspondent-on-the-attempted-bomb-planting-outside-the-bank-of-america-in-paris/ French intelligence services believe an attempt to plant a bomb outside the Bank of America in Paris is linked to a pro-Iran group, Europe correspondent Catherine Field says.  Police in Paris foiled the bombing and arrested the suspect – a 17-year-old immigrant who said he had been recruited via Snapchat for €600 (NZ$1202).  Field told Mike Hosking the attempt bore the hallmarks of previous Iran-linked attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands as well as an arson attack on four Jewish–run ambulances in London.  “That is what's got the intelligence services and the anti-terrorism police here particularly concerned,” she said.  “It's possibly a group they've not heard about before and they're using social media in a way that they've seen before, that's very difficult to monitor.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:54:30 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bryan-betty-general-practice-nz-chair-on-increased-levels-of-kidney-disease-lack-of-funding-for-treatment/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bryan-betty-general-practice-nz-chair-on-increased-levels-of-kidney-disease-lack-of-funding-for-treatment/ There are concerns poor planning has contributed to the tsunami of demand on kidney disease treatment.  Hospitals across New Zealand are struggling to keep up with life-saving dialysis treatment.  Health New Zealand told 1News there's been a lack of funding in some parts of the country.  General Practice NZ Chair Bryan Betty told Mike Hosking this problem was predicted 15 years ago, but no one planned ahead.  He says it's driven primarily by a surge in diabetes, and if it’s not addressed it will undermine the health system going forward.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:46:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-got-fuel/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-got-fuel/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) These Are Not the Sourdough Times of the Past Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:45:06 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/shane-jones-associate-energy-minister-on-fuel-stocks-supply-offers-inadequate-storage/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/shane-jones-associate-energy-minister-on-fuel-stocks-supply-offers-inadequate-storage/ New Zealand’s fuel suppliers will be “substantially punished” legally and financially if they don’t live up to their word in supplying fuel, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.  Those international companies had asked for the current just-in-time supply model, and “rightly or wrongly I took them at their word”, Jones told Mike Hosking.  “I said, okay, you guys know how to keep New Zealand afloat, but the political downside is that the national security question always remains with the Government, not just the commercial companies.”  There was no suggestion of any problem with supply, he said. But the issue was even if the Government were to underwrite additional fuel imports —as Australia plans to do— there was not currently space to store added fuel volumes.  “We could have a ship bobbing off the coast of Marsden Point for a while, then someone's got to pay for that ship to sit there and do nothing while we draw down.”  He repeatedly blamed the closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery for leaving New Zealand with inadequate storage.  Jones said he had been warned that refineries in Singapore, Malaysia and Korea were set up specifically to deal with oil from the Middle East. While they would be seeking oil from other regions, they would need work before they could process that oil.  He also revealed more details about the unsolicited proposals the Government is receiving to increase New Zealand's offshore fuel supplies.  Jones says both the Government and MBIE officials have received approaches from either New Zealanders, people already known to them, or people who have lived in New Zealand.  But Jones he told Hosking the offers they're making don't last long, with ships usually being snapped up within 72 hours.  He says many Kiwis don't appreciate how serious the situation is in Asia.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:29:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/alan-mcdonald-employers-and-manufacturers-association-head-of-advocacy-and-strategy-on-the-effect-of-the-middle-east-conflict-on-the-labour-market/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/alan-mcdonald-employers-and-manufacturers-association-head-of-advocacy-and-strategy-on-the-effect-of-the-middle-east-conflict-on-the-labour-market/ Economic headwinds coming out of the Middle East could set back the labour market. The number of filled jobs across the country lifted 0.3% from January to February. But where public safety, healthcare, and education hiring improved in the past year, construction and manufacturing jobs slumped. Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking we're yet to see the impacts of this war on business confidence and hiring intentions. He says they're keeping a watchful eye on what happens with fuel supply and prices which could lead to difficult decisions, if it continues. LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:13:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-seymour-deputy-prime-minister-on-labours-hesitance-to-support-the-india-free-trade-agreement/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-seymour-deputy-prime-minister-on-labours-hesitance-to-support-the-india-free-trade-agreement/ Labour's support for an India Free Trade Agreement remains tentative as it digs through the details.   Leader Chris Hipkins has written to Trade Minister Todd McClay concerned the deal's contents don't line up with the version he's presented.   Hipkins is warning it would be recklessly irresponsible for McClay to sign onto it without majority backing across Parliament.   But Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour told Mike Hosking Labour needs to look at the broader benefits to exporters.   He says the Government has a sea of red ink stretching out for decades looking at Treasury's accounts.   Seymour says Labour needs to man up and put the best interests of the country at heart.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:01:34 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-electric-regret/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-electric-regret/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Nothing Costs More Than Keeping Up with Tech/Wartime Pricing/Wartime Timing/Hipkins' Little Lie/Christchurch Even Better Than it Thinks it Is Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:18:36 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-30-march-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-30-march-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 30th of March, apparently red tape could be getting in the way of solving our fuel issues so Simon Parham from Waitomo magic wand's it for us. The Prime Minister is in to talk our fuel situation, help for those who need it and opening the Christchurch stadium. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk Tiger Woods' arrest, the F1 and the Warriors first loss. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:10:32 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-how-awesome-is-christchurch/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-how-awesome-is-christchurch/ Christchurch is so awesome. I told the room that on Friday. It was a fun hour with a bunch of Christchurch businesses and a panel of local experts and, basically, we just chatted about what an amazing story Christchurch is. It's not perfect and a few issues remain. I note on the same day I was there Winston Peters was there promising money for the cathedral, which as I drove through the square is a shame beyond shame that it remains in the state it's in. Just a few blocks down, also on the same day, was the Prime Minister opening the stadium. That's Christchurch - so forward thinking and successful, and yet, bits remain that remind you that if you want to be bogged down in drama and angst you will be left behind. Anyway, interesting part of our discussion, which by the way was at the Town Hall which remains to my mind one of the great architectural triumphs of modern New Zealand artistry, was when I asked the room about the war. I said give me a number around angst. We settled on six or seven out of ten. The angst is real. As much as the day was filled with the joy of the stadium, and as much as Canterbury as a region is booming, no matter how good life is there is nothing like the prospect of running out of diesel to send shivers up a collective spine. By the way Canterbury is a good study in the art of remembering your blessings. They told me traffic is bad - it isn't. They told me they need more positivity and they need some spending decisions. Do they? I mean everyone probably does. But from a person who flew in from another city, outside looking in, it's easy to simply enjoy your success so much and to become possibly even complacent in your “up-beatness”. Yes, there is always more to do. But my word, if I was the Government I would look at handing out day passes to Christchurch for everyone who wants a blueprint on what the future looks like. For every town, suburb or city that is stuck in some sort of infrastructural quagmire, spend time in Christchurch. Drive it, look at it, soak it up and talk to a few locals. Yes, they want more. But that’s what happens when you're on a roll. Cheap-ish housing, good education, decent weather, access to city and country, open spaces, international air connections, new facilities everywhere you look and you're already in the South Island. Christchurch is what New Zealand can be. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:47:57 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-comments-on-progress-of-proposed-lng-terminal-in-taranaki/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-comments-on-progress-of-proposed-lng-terminal-in-taranaki/ Chris Luxon says the Government's proposed LNG important terminal in Taranaki will only proceed if it makes commercial sense. A procurement process was announced last month, with the Government due to make a decision on whether to proceed around the middle of the year. Newstalk ZB understands multiple ministers privately admit high gas prices might lead Cabinet to walk away from the project. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking that the Government will seriously consider the options put on the table. He says he genuinely wants to make sure the business case is right - and if there's a good business case they'll do it, and if there isn't, they won't. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:18:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/patrick-drumm-mount-albert-grammar-headmaster-says-phone-ban-in-schools-is-a-successful-initiative/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/patrick-drumm-mount-albert-grammar-headmaster-says-phone-ban-in-schools-is-a-successful-initiative/ The Education Review Office has said schools need to get tougher on enforcing phone bans.  Research found that only 50% of students are following the rules, a number it says is not good enough.  Mount Albert Grammar Headmaster Patrick Drumm told Mike Hosking that the study needs to be unpacked further, as it's likely that students are using their phones outside of lessons instead of in a learning environment.  He said that it's been a 'successful initiative' so far, but says it's an ongoing process to reduce numbers further.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:59:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/simon-parham-waitomo-group-ceo-comments-on-diesel-reaching-the-same-price-as-91-petrol/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/simon-parham-waitomo-group-ceo-comments-on-diesel-reaching-the-same-price-as-91-petrol/ A surge in prices at the pump is seeing demand for fuel soften - among those with capacity to limit use. As of March 22nd, there were about 49 days of petrol and 46 days of diesel either in the country or on the water.  Another stock update is expected today.  Waitomo Group Chief Executive, Simon Parham, says there's certainly been less demand from a retail point of view, which was expected after the panic buying early on.  He told Mike Hosking that the commercial side is still holding up - but they're hurting because there isn't any relief, and diesel is the same price as 91 now, which is tough.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:41:37 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/josie-vidal-minerals-council-chief-executive-discusses-partys-new-mining-policy/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/josie-vidal-minerals-council-chief-executive-discusses-partys-new-mining-policy/ The latest New Zealand First policy will see 50% of the royalties from mines returned to the region where the mine's located. Under the policy, the role of government agencies would also be limited.  Minerals Council Chief Executive Josie Vidal told Mike Hosking that it's great to be recognised as the industry that keeps New Zealand going.  She says the world is finding out you can't live on rainbows alone - and fossil fuels are needed. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:20:09 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-heres-the-problem-with-the-reserve-bank-economists/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-heres-the-problem-with-the-reserve-bank-economists/ The problem with people like Paul Conway, who is the Chief Economist at the Reserve Bank, is they “know” some stuff.  They sound good in a speech, but their record exposes them badly.  Paul gave a speech this week to the National Financial Advisers conference.  He talked about how expensive this country is, and he talked about our lack of productivity. If the speech had been a school project, he would probably have got a good mark.  You couldn’t argue with what he said.  We aren't very efficient. Things like construction cost more here than anywhere in the OECD. We were once okay at productivity, but we aren't anymore and our real ability to buy stuff is going backwards.  He noted before 2020 our purchasing power was growing faster than the OECD's. Now ask yourself a question – what happened in 2020 and post 2020? Covid of course.  Covid was no one's fault (well, possibly the Chinese). But the response was the key and, in that response, as is well documented, we blew it. We blew it sky high and ended up with inflation north of 7%, some of which was over seen by Mr Conway and his mate Adrian Orr at the Reserve Bank.  Paul argues inflation is critical given the cash rate helps anchor prices. Does it?  He cites the prices that make us the most expensive place in the world: rates, power, and insurance. Did the cash rate do anything for those? No.  Other prices he cited, like butter and lamb, are also expensive and expensive for obvious and well documented reasons. And, ironically, expensive for good reason for NZ Inc.  Part of the issue is market size. It's why Walmart is successful. It has a population base of over 300 million. We don’t.  Supply of goods is cheaper per unit when you buy millions of them. We don’t.  The productivity question has been bounced around for years and never really been solved. Many people don’t even agree what productivity is.  Is it a robot replacing a human? Is it building a road faster? Is it inventing a thing that changes the world?  Part of the reason the Reserve Bank blew Covid so badly is they write speeches like Conway's.  They live in Wellington in small rooms theorising. The moment you give them a bit of real world, look what they do with it.  Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:55:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-this-could-be-a-tipping-point-for-evs/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-this-could-be-a-tipping-point-for-evs/ 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.    Donald Trump: 3/10  Possibly a worse week than last week. His airports are jammed, he’s desperate for a war off-ramp, he lost another seat to the Democrats, mortgages are up, recession risk is up, and he can't jawbone oil anymore because no one believes him.    $50: 6/10  It gets a decent mark because of its restraint and fiscal realism and perhaps, at last, we finally have a government that realises spraying money we don’t have is a path to ruin.    EVs: 8/10  It's still way too early, but first data this week shows this could be a tipping point. The market has moved. Is it permanent?    Lotto: 5/10  I have no idea whether more balls are more fun, but I occasionally see a queue at the dairy on jackpot weekend, so a decent chunk of the country is still into it.    The Warriors: 9/10 The best start ever. Ever! Decades in the competition and we have never been better than this.    LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:23:58 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-week-four-of-the-war-and-what-weve-learnt/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-week-four-of-the-war-and-what-weve-learnt/ I think we have a couple of emerging themes as we come to the end of week four of Operation Epic Fury.  If you follow Australia as closely as I do, you will, like me, have been filled with a sense of pride or surprise that we are out doing them in adultness.  Yes, unions here and media have pedalled the usual BS on more money for every man and their dog, let's work from home, let's panic about days left of petrol etc. But believe me – in Australia it's been worse.  They have lost their you-know-what.  They are at each other. It's not helped by their state system and that tension between state and federal and the confusion over who is doing what, and when, and whether it's any good.  Stations have run dry, not because they don’t have fuel, but because they don’t know how to drive a truck up the road.  Rural has been going at city, punter has been going at petrol operator, the Coalition and One Nation have been going at Labour. It's been a free for all bitchathon, driven by an underlying panic.  Another realisation – despite the fact a few hundred people have bought a BYD, it has become stunningly clear just how far off a renewable future we are.  Buy all the EVs you want and cycle until you are blue in the face. The cold, hard truth is that solar and batteries do not, nor I suspect will they ever in our lifetime, run a country.  Diesel runs a country. You put oil in tractors and trucks and in factories. We can be grateful our power is mostly renewable and that means we are better off than most of the world, including Australia.  But the cold, hard truth is a small bit of water carrying only 20% of the overall supply can cripple a planet, or it will if this thing isn't over shortly.  We have of course been here before. Oil has been an issue in the 70's and early 2000's.  Did we change because of it? No.  Did we say we should, or would? Probably. But we didn’t.  And you know why? Because we can't. Until the combine harvester runs on wind and the plane takes off using batteries and every factory, farmer and person who produces anything we wear, or eat, or live with does it differently, oil is it.  The whole renewables argument has been blown sky high. The world has never used, nor needed, more fossil fuels.  Four weeks of a scrap in one country has laid theory vs reality bare.  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:15:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-latest-from-the-middle-east-conflict-whether-peace-talks-are-actually-happening/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-latest-from-the-middle-east-conflict-whether-peace-talks-are-actually-happening/ The US President says it’s up to Iranian leaders to convince him to halt the war, or they'll be Iran's "worst nightmare."  Attacks on Israel, Iran, and Lebanon continue, with the Israeli military stating it's killed an Iranian navy chief overseeing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.  The US claims it's presented a 15-point plan to Iran and negotiations are taking place –which Tehran has denied.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Iran has publicly stated that there are no negotiations but say any ceasefire would require reparations.  He says the war and diplomacy are once again at an impasse.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:04:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-flight-delays-and-viable-alternatives-to-driving/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-flight-delays-and-viable-alternatives-to-driving/ It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed the rising fuel prices and which alternatives to driving are actually viable, flight delays, and the Cabinet paper revealing Chris Hipkins received advice about the potential risks of a second Covid vaccine for teenagers, despite him saying otherwise.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:54:18 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/taylor-campbell-sunday-drive-director-on-this-weekends-beach-hop-live-car-auction-in-whangamat%C4%81/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/taylor-campbell-sunday-drive-director-on-this-weekends-beach-hop-live-car-auction-in-whangamat%C4%81/ Whangamatā is the hot spot for car enthusiasts this weekend.   More than $4 million worth of classic and performance cars are going under the hammer, closing the main drag.  Around 120,000 people will be in town for Sunday Drive’s Beach Hop live car auction, and global bidders are watching on.   Sunday Drive Director Taylor Campbell told Mike Hosking the recent weather hasn’t dampened spirits too much – the streets are packed with cool cars.   He says that bidder registrations for this auction are higher than they’ve ever seen, and they have a pretty remarkable catalogue.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:43:55 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tohu-harris-former-warriors-captain-on-the-warriors-winning-streak-to-start-the-season-tonights-clash-against-the-tigers/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/tohu-harris-former-warriors-captain-on-the-warriors-winning-streak-to-start-the-season-tonights-clash-against-the-tigers/ The Warriors are back home after adding another tally to their scoreboard.  They emerged victorious from their clash against the Newcastle Knights, which followed on from their wins over the Roosters and Raiders.  Tonight will see them face off against the Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium, with Luke Metcalf returning to the side after an injury.  Former captain Tohu Harris told Mike Hosking it’s been good to see how happy the players are and how that relates to their performance.   He says they’ve got some great senior players leading the way, and a raft of younger guys who got some valuable experience last year and are getting better and better.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:22:58 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-pants-on-fire/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-pants-on-fire/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Friday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) If it Lies Like a Duck/More Reasons Not to Move to Australia/Weird Name for a Boat/Mark the Week Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:17:52 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-27-march-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-27-march-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 27th of March, Health Minister Simeon Brown offers reassurances around possible shortages of key medical supplies as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.  A mega cruise terminal is set to open in Auckland next year – Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray delves into the details.  And the Warriors are on a hot streak, unbeaten heading into tonight’s clash against the Tigers. Former captain Tohu Harris joined to discuss the team’s run.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:10:26 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-whelan-universities-nz-ceo-on-the-growth-in-university-enrolment-outstripping-funding-projections/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-whelan-universities-nz-ceo-on-the-growth-in-university-enrolment-outstripping-funding-projections/ Strong growth in university enrolment numbers is bringing challenges for the tertiary sector.  Seven of our eight universities are up on last year in some form, with Auckland recording its biggest-ever Semester One intake.  Universities New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Whelan says the growth is in line with their forecasts, but it’s unfortunately above where Government projections had been and where funding is.  He told Mike Hosking two thirds of all jobs in the economy now require you to have at least two years of post-school education.  Whelan says higher education needs funding, so that people are able to get the necessary qualifications, and the skills and knowledge that comes with them.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:07:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/caroline-harvie-teare-venues-%C5%8Dtautahi-ceo-on-the-opening-of-one-nz-stadium-plans-for-the-future/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/caroline-harvie-teare-venues-%C5%8Dtautahi-ceo-on-the-opening-of-one-nz-stadium-plans-for-the-future/ Years of waiting are nearly over for Christchurch, with the city’s new stadium on the brink of opening.  Ministers and city leaders will attend this morning’s official launch of One NZ Stadium ahead of its first major event – Super Rugby’s Super Round on Anzac weekend.  Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare told Mike Hosking residents have put up with a compromised stadium for years.  She says the focus is now on locking in top-tier events and securing long-term partnerships.  Harvie-Teare told Hosking they're lucky to already have partnerships with the Crusaders as well as the Warriors.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:50:33 Z