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 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:11:26 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-look-at-australia-for-the-supermarket-experience/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-look-at-australia-for-the-supermarket-experience/ If you are one of those exercised about supermarkets and whether they are scandal merchants, then you must follow the current court case in Australia.  It’s the second of its type.  The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is dealing with Woolworths, having previously dealt with Coles. The Coles' case decision is reserved as they wait for this week's Woolworths case.  The charge, basically, is they up the price of something before they cut the price and claim it's on sale. The lawyers called it a "subtle magic".    They are using a basket of goods that involves Tim Tams.  The reason I mention this, and you should follow it, is for the simple fact that Australia is not short of supermarkets or supermarket competition. There are the 'Big 3", which is our two plus Aldi, and in total they have ten.   The point being, if you asked your average Australian "do they get a good deal and is there enough competition", they would say no.  The same way they say 'no' here.  Are you ripped off? 'Yes' would be the answer from both sides of the Tasman.  And in that is the conundrum. What you feel might well be different to what is real.  Especially around money and price are powerful things and often what you want to see is what you will see.  Part of it I'm sure is the dynamic nature of supermarkets and the literally thousands of products, and therefore tens of thousands of prices, they deal with every day.  Different brands, different sizes, different specials, different deals, one off's vs regular prices, specials vs promotional prices, where in the isle it's placed, what sort of supplier deal is struck, what the cost of transport was, how many you bought etc, etc.  It presumably goes on forever.  Which is not to say anything other than when it has that many moving parts, telling me it's cheaper to buy baked beans in Sydney or Geneva doesn’t explain how this all works.  Let's see how the courts work through it and what, if anything, comes from it.  But in Australia there's lots of choice and lots of competition. Allegedly there's everything the supermarket critic here could want.  And yet they're still in court.  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:55:33 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-his-new-book-one-last-question-prime-minister/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-his-new-book-one-last-question-prime-minister/ Barry Soper is a staple of New Zealand’s political landscape.  After joining the Parliamentary Press Gallery in 1980, he’s spent nearly five decades as a political reporter, questioning the country’s leaders.  And now he’s diving into the details, revealing some of the untold stories of the twelve Prime Ministers that have spanned his career in ‘One Last Question, Prime Minister’.   While some things have changed throughout Soper’s time, something that hasn’t is politicians’ perception of the Press Gallery.  “Being in the Press Gallery, you’re always labelled ... every time the Press Gallery does a story, they’re labelled as hunting in a pack, and going off on tangents that are inexplicable,” he told Mike Hosking.  “I think the only thing that’s really changed from the time I was in the Press Gallery, started there in 1980, to today is the age of the journalists that are there.”   In Soper’s time, the demographic skewed older and more male – the gallery seen as a ‘creme de la creme’ job that political reports aspired to.  “Now it’s transposed, there are more women than men and they’re young, generally younger.”   But although the journalists reporting the stories change, the stories they report can echo the past.  “There are so many stories around Parliament, as you can imagine, all politicians talk, and the latest is a good example of when you get onto a good story,” Soper explained.  “I’ve been involved in so many stories when it relates to people being rolled in politics,” he told Hosking – Bill English springing to mind.  “I’d done the numbers and knew his time was up,” Soper said, which was something he’d revealed in an interview with one of Hosking's processors, Paul Holmes.   “Holmes said to me at the end of the interview, he said, “Baz, is this man a dead man walking?” and I said, “Holmesy, more like a twitching corpse.””   English of course, was not well pleased with Soper’s analysis, calling him up after the interview to tell him he had the numbers.  “And I said, “No you haven’t Bill, you’ll see. See you by lunchtime.” And of course he was gone.”   Twelve Prime Ministers have come and gone over the course of his career so far, but Soper has his top six, and funnily enough, Bill English doesn’t make the cut.   From Muldoon to Luxon, Soper delves into the details of New Zealand’s Prime Ministers in ‘One Last Question, Prime Minister’, releasing on the 28th of April.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:41:37 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jo-mckenna-italy-correspondent-on-the-attacks-on-prime-minister-giorgia-meloni-by-a-russian-tv-presenter/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jo-mckenna-italy-correspondent-on-the-attacks-on-prime-minister-giorgia-meloni-by-a-russian-tv-presenter/ Tensions between Italy and Russia are riding high.  Italy has summoned the Russian ambassador in Rome after Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian television presenter, insulted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on air.  According to Italian media, Solovyov said Meloni was, among other things, “a disgrace to the human race” and a “certified idiot”.  He went on to call her “fascist scum who betrayed her electors.”  Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking it’s uncertain whether this was sparked by Meloni’s shaky relationship with US President Donald Trump, her support for Ukraine, or if it was personal for Solovyov, who apparently has a few luxury villas on Lake Como that are now subject to EU sanctions.    LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:44:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-put-up-or-shut-up/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-put-up-or-shut-up/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Thursday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) How to Tank Your Reputation In 5 Easy Steps/Why Would You Vote for That?/Conversion Compensation/Eying Iranian Autos Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:17:56 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-23-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-23-april-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23rd of April, Trade Minister Todd McClay is off to India to sign the Free Trade Agreement, while Immigration Minister Erica Stanford discusses the success of the Active Investor Plus visa.   After saying yes to an interview and demanding the right of reply, National MP Joseph Mooney pulled out of his interview this morning – Mike has a bit to say on that!  After decades and decades in the politics game, our own Barry Soper has written a book on his career and the 12 Prime Ministers he has dealt with.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:08:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-the-india-free-trade-agreement-moving-ahead-nz-firsts-comments/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-the-india-free-trade-agreement-moving-ahead-nz-firsts-comments/ The Trade Minister's shrugging off comments by Winston Peters and says it's time to seal the deal.  The New Zealand First leader strongly opposes the Free Trade Agreement with India, which the Government is signing in New Delhi next week despite not having the numbers to pass it into law.  He fears it'll lead to rising immigration, which the National Party rejects.  Trade Minister Todd McClay told Mike Hosking there's no problem asking questions, but the Government needs to move on and get the deal in place.  He says the legal scrub's been done and it's being put in Parliament, as National wants it in force as soon as possible.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:56:17 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/erica-stanford-immigration-minister-on-the-economic-impact-of-the-golden-visa-shane-jones-comments-on-the-india-fta/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/erica-stanford-immigration-minister-on-the-economic-impact-of-the-golden-visa-shane-jones-comments-on-the-india-fta/ The revamped Golden Visa is providing a major boost to the economy. The Active Investor Plus visa's brought in $1.5 billion, with another $2.4 billion in the pipeline.  More than 600 applications have been lodged since last April, from nearly 2,000 people.  Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking she's thrilled with those numbers.  She says the impact for individual businesses is huge, both in capital and skills from these people.  Stanford is also condemning New Zealand First’s remarks on the India Free Trade Agreement as racist and divisive.  Shane Jones warned of a “butter chicken tsunami” of Indian migrants coming to New Zealand.  The Immigration Minister told Hosking New Zealand First is selective in its rhetoric on immigration, noting its silence on the visa despite recognising its economic value.  She says the comments were distasteful and designed to bring out the worst.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:41:11 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/john-howard-nz-initiative-fellow-and-retired-major-general-on-the-need-for-a-overhaul-of-new-zealands-defence-system/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/john-howard-nz-initiative-fellow-and-retired-major-general-on-the-need-for-a-overhaul-of-new-zealands-defence-system/ There are concerns we're moving too slow to shore up New Zealand's security.  A New Zealand Initiative report warns the Government's $12 billion defence plan risks being absorbed into a system too slow and fragmented to deliver for our security.  It recommends six areas of action, including an independent 90-day review of defence policy settings reporting to Cabinet.  New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow and Retired Major General John Howard told Mike Hosking we need to think quite differently about national security and defence.  He says we have combat capability, but were now in a very different contested environment and we should be making better use of intelligence capabilities and systems, including open-source intelligence and AI.   LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:23:41 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/geoff-cooper-infrastructure-commission-ceo-on-the-commission-taking-over-monitoring-major-projects/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/geoff-cooper-infrastructure-commission-ceo-on-the-commission-taking-over-monitoring-major-projects/ The Infrastructure Commission says a move to give it greater oversight over major projects will lead to more consistent decision-making.  The Government's announced the commission will now analyse all major infrastructure proposals, instead of the Treasury.  It says the current system lets bad projects gain momentum until it's too late and wastes money.  Commission Chief Executive Geoff Cooper told Mike Hosking this is a natural step.  He says for the past six years, the Commission has been asked for a lot of advice on projects anyway.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:08:28 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-did-luxon-just-have-a-leadership-defining-moment/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-did-luxon-just-have-a-leadership-defining-moment/ It's quite possible the Prime Minister might look back on yesterday's caucus meeting as a moment that defined his leadership.  He read the riot act, they had a vote, and he won.  He was always going to win, but in making his statement afterwards he hopefully, once and for all, sent a message to the media that the sort of drama they live for is over.  He should have done this sooner of course. He is 100% right when he says most of us have no interest in the minutiae and gossip that envelops the beltway.  This is a country with a myriad of issues facing us and every moment you spend on frippery is a moment wasted on real problems.  Yes, you can blame Uffindell and Bishop and his mates for talking and leaking. But in totality when you look at what led to yesterday —five idiots and a bloke from the Hutt who sort of fancied himself— what a mountain out of a mole hill.  In a caucus of 50-ish, a handful of nobodies got a bit spooked and caused too much damage, but got aided by the media who don’t like the Government and certainly don't like Luxon so leapt into it with alacrity.  Luxon deserves a lot better. No, he is not one of this nation's greats. But mind you they said that about John Howard for many years, until they realised they were wrong.  But what Luxon is, is a hard-working, successful operator, managing a three-way deal to run a country, mired in debt, in a world at war and when we are not at war, finding any number of problems to provide no end of challenges, for a small country at the bottom of the planet.  You can't fault his ambition, and you can't fault his work ethic. If you don’t like National, fine, don’t vote for them.  But the point is he is in it, and always has been, for the right reasons and that is to be respected.  The bit that would have got me was upon arrival he tidied his party up. The leaking and backstabbing was stopped and his reward was the gormless and self-absorbed fools then went and let him down.  They should be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves.  But hopefully Luxon emerges from this stronger. Every now and then you see a flash of it, like Monday post-Cabinet when he spoke with passion about immigration. Yesterday was the same but about gossip and wasting time.  He needs to be himself more. He doesn’t like the beltway and who can blame him?  Hopefully yesterday he put a line in that sand.    Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:16:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/joanna-pidgeon-pidgeon-judd-law-director-on-the-cross-lease-court-ruling-that-impacts-veto-powers-for-developments/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/joanna-pidgeon-pidgeon-judd-law-director-on-the-cross-lease-court-ruling-that-impacts-veto-powers-for-developments/ Cross-lease owners are being warned a Court of Appeal ruling may curb current veto powers.  A decision made last week could make it harder for a neighbour of a cross-lease property to withhold consent to proposed alterations.  It shifts the old power balance, with 215,000 cross-leases owned nationwide.   Pidgeon Judd Law Director Joanna Pidgeon told Mike Hosking changes can't be vetoed by neighbours unless deemed reasonable.  She says parties need to reflect on what both people want and what a reasonable person would decide.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:01:37 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-on-the-india-fta-shane-jones-butter-chicken-comment-national-leadership-saga/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-on-the-india-fta-shane-jones-butter-chicken-comment-national-leadership-saga/ Politicians are unimpressed with Shane Jones’ suggestion the India Free Trade Agreement would lead to a "butter chicken tsunami" of Indian migrants coming to New Zealand.  Christopher Luxon says the New Zealand First deputy leader's comments were "alarmist" and "scaremongering".  Labour's Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking the Prime Minister should go further and call the comments out as racist.  National's Mark Mitchell says Jones does have a unique way of communicating, but he should clearly choose his words more carefully.  He told Hosking Jones got this one wrong, and needs to be more careful in the future.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:36:12 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-latest-in-the-middle-east-trumps-mixed-messaging/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-latest-in-the-middle-east-trumps-mixed-messaging/ Donald Trump says Iran either needs to agree to negotiate or prepare for bombing to begin again.  Iran still hasn't decided whether to take part in the next round of peace talks with the US in Pakistan and says it will only start negotiations when the US is ready to end its port blockade.  The US President has told CNBC he's prepared to relaunch military action if the talks don't proceed.  US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking we rarely see war and peace negotiations play out in public this way, and it’s chaotic.  He says there are mixed messages coming from Trump and some Iranians are suggesting some of his statements are causing delays.   Trump has since extended the ceasefire deal, hours before it was due to expire, and it will remain in place until Iran submits a proposal for discussion.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:26:38 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re_wrap-ooooh-were-in-trouble-now/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re_wrap-ooooh-were-in-trouble-now/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Wednesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Leakers, Plotters and Scheming/Where the Gold from the Visas Is Actually Going/F1 Is In Danger of Becoming Really Stupid Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:10:34 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-22-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-22-april-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 22nd of April, the inflation rate for Q1 has held steady at 3.1%. Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses what that means going forward, and touches on the National Party leadership vote.   Gilbert Enoka has returned as the All Blacks’ mental skills coach under Dave Rennie and joined Mike to discuss his appointment.   And Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss the India Free Trade Agreement, Shane Jones’ ‘butter chicken tsunami’ comment, and the National Party leadership saga 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, 21 Apr 2026 21:08:17 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gilbert-enoka-all-blacks-mental-skills-coach-on-his-return-to-the-team-under-dave-rennie/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gilbert-enoka-all-blacks-mental-skills-coach-on-his-return-to-the-team-under-dave-rennie/ Coach Dave Rennie is bringing back two former All Blacks staffers as he completes his management group for his first season in charge.  Dr James McGarvey returns to the side as the team doctor, replacing Martin Swan.  Gilbert Enoka also returns to the side as leadership and mental performance coach, replacing Dr Ceri Evans.  Enoka told Mike Hosking that Rennie has been slow and deliberate in putting together his management team, and it’s put them in a good position to roll up their sleeves and get to work.   He says he had a reasonably clear mind in terms of what he wanted, and how that will take shape in the environment will pan out in due course.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:03:31 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-wills-nurses-society-national-director-on-the-record-high-number-of-people-enrolled-in-health-courses/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-wills-nurses-society-national-director-on-the-record-high-number-of-people-enrolled-in-health-courses/ More Kiwis are signing up for nursing courses but there are concerns job opportunities aren't keeping up.  Latest Ministry of Education data shows almost 18 thousand people were enrolled in nursing courses last year.  About 34 thousand are studying other health courses.  Nurses Society National Director David Wills told Mike Hosking the country is facing a health funding bottleneck, which has been making it very difficult for graduates to get roles in the past 18 months.  He says Health New Zealand's trying to employ as many as possible and is subsidising the private sector to take on new graduates.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:45:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bruce-bernacchi-tax-partner-at-dentons-on-inland-revenue-contacting-crypto-investors-over-unpaid-tax/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bruce-bernacchi-tax-partner-at-dentons-on-inland-revenue-contacting-crypto-investors-over-unpaid-tax/ Inland Revenue is reminding crypto-investors of their tax obligations.   The agency says it has identified 355 thousand unique crypto-asset users in New Zealand conducting some 57 million transactions.  It says any profit from selling, trading, or exchanging the assets is taxable as income.  Tax Partner at Dentons, Bruce Bernacchi told Mike Hosking there’s quite a lot of misunderstandings about crypto out there.  He says people who aren’t regular share traders don’t pay capital gains when they buy and sell things like shares, but that’s very different than crypto, which is generally seen as being taxable.   LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:24:50 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-the-inflation-rate-remaining-unchanged-at-31-the-luxon-leadership-saga/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-the-inflation-rate-remaining-unchanged-at-31-the-luxon-leadership-saga/ The Finance Minister is concerned about an expected spike in inflation.  The inflation rate has remained unchanged at 3.1% in the March quarter, despite forecasts of a drop.  ASB economists now expect it to approach 4.5% this quarter, remain above 4% until the end of the year, and remain above 3% until at least the middle of next year.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking there's no doubt inflation will rise this quarter.  She’s also refusing to name the five disgruntled National MPs that Christopher Luxon says are behind party leaks to the media.  Luxon's passed a vote of confidence at yesterday's lengthy caucus meeting, but MPs aren't revealing details of the vote, including how many of them supported Luxon.  Newstalk ZB understands the disgruntled MPs are Joseph Mooney, Andrew Bayley, Sam Uffindell, Barbara Kuriger, and Tim van de Molen.  Willis told Hosking she won’t throw colleagues under the bus without evidence.  She says each of the five have said they haven't leaked to the media and support a unified caucus.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:08:59 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-issue-the-govt-promised-to-address/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-issue-the-govt-promised-to-address/ You’ll be aware of the Far North Council and their unelected Māori voting plan.  It is of course a scandal, but more importantly it is part of the overall de-Māorification of the economy this current Government, in one form or another, promised to address.  The fact this stuff is still going on proves they are failing.  ACT’s Todd Stevenson the other day wrote to Public Service Minister Judith Collins asking about Māori names in government departments. She said there was a war on, and we had better things to do. Fair point? Or convenient excuse?  The simple truth is what they promised and what has happened are two different things.  Enter ACT, who are now promising to ban the Far North type of behaviour. Is that a double promise? Didn't you already say you would do that?   Here is the problem with it:   1) ACT aren’t running the Government; they are merely part of it. Unless they make it a bottom line, which they won’t, it may or may not see the light of day after the election.   2) Given their well-promoted stance on race-based policy, going into another election having had the opportunity to fix it already, you have a credibility problem.  And 3) My sense of this as a broad-based issue is it isn't what it once might have been.  Personally, I find Māorification problematic. To give someone rules, or money, or decisions of names, or a job based on race is simply irrefutably wrong.  But the fervour with which that was argued a couple of years ago doesn’t appear to be quite as white hot.   Yes, there is a very vocal group who seem to have made it their raison d'être, but they are small and many of them are rabid, which makes the appeal of the overall argument to the broader populace less enticing.  You might also argue that against this wall of determination was an even bigger wall of determination, i.e. those who believe in it, think it's good, who have held the line and carried on.  And can I suggest that at this point, and the Far North Council are your gold star example, it is they who are the more successful of the two camps. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:46:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rod-liddle-uk-correspondent-on-sir-keir-starmer-being-unaware-peter-mandelson-failed-security-vetting-before-he-was-appointed-us-ambassador/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rod-liddle-uk-correspondent-on-sir-keir-starmer-being-unaware-peter-mandelson-failed-security-vetting-before-he-was-appointed-us-ambassador/ Britain's Prime Minister is accusing officials of withholding information from him before he appointed Peter Mandelson US ambassador.  Sir Keir Starmer sacked Mandelson in September last year over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.  Starmer says officials deliberately didn't tell him Mandelson has failed security vetting, and he wouldn't have cleared Mandelson to the role if he'd known.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking neither the arguments of the Government nor those of then-Foreign Office boss Sir Olly Robbins make sense.   He says the situation is catastrophic.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:29:02 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/karl-urban-kiwi-actor-on-the-final-season-of-the-boys-the-changes-in-the-media-landscape/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/karl-urban-kiwi-actor-on-the-final-season-of-the-boys-the-changes-in-the-media-landscape/ There’s no doubt ‘The Boys’ is one of the biggest shows on television at the moment.  It’s in its fifth and final season and has been one of Amazon’s biggest hits – season 4 drawing in 55 million viewers.  The satirical superhero show is helmed by two well-known Kiwis, Antony Starr, who plays Homelander, and Karl Urban, who plays Billy Butcher.  Urban is actually in the midst of one of the busiest stretches of his career, playing not only Butcher, but starring in ‘The Bluff’ and the upcoming Mortal Kombat II.   “This year has just been one nonstop sequence of hopping on planes and travelling around the world, talking about all these shows,” he told Mike Hosking.  “It’s a good spot to be in.”  The media landscape has changed tremendously over the span of Urban’s career, and while there are some downsides, there are also some “real positives”.   “I mean, the advent of streaming, for example, has allowed us to tell stories in a tone that you never would have been able to tell on television, or even in movies for that fact, before,” he explained.  “On one hand there’s been this amazing expansion in possibilities, but then also, you know, there’s also a certain contraction going on ... but at the moment I’m in a great position, and just really enjoying playing these characters and delivering something fun to the audience.”   The arrival of streaming has also allowed projects like ‘The Boys’ to gain global recognition and reach a wide audience, something that wasn’t possible in the past.  “In the old days it used to be a very, sort of finite number of networks globally, and they had a sort of, a certain audience,” Urban said.   “[The Boys is] a global phenomenon. I’ve never experienced anything like it,”  “You know, the fan base is so supportive of this show, and it’s really incredible to get to the end of this sort of nine-year journey, and to be going out on top.”   But all things must come to an end, and for Urban, it’s bittersweet.  “It’s been a hell of a ride,” he said.  “I’m really gonna miss it, but I’m also very grateful that we have the opportunity to tell the story that we want to tell and go out at the point that we want to go out.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:08:59 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nikhil-ravishankar-air-new-zealand-ceo-on-the-airlines-response-to-the-middle-east-conflict-rising-fare-prices/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nikhil-ravishankar-air-new-zealand-ceo-on-the-airlines-response-to-the-middle-east-conflict-rising-fare-prices/ A fuel squeeze is driving higher airfares and stronger demand for Air New Zealand, particularly on international routes.  Long-haul fares have jumped 25% over the past year, trans-Tasman 20%, and domestic flights 10%.  Jet fuel stocks have climbed to 51.4 days, according to the latest figures.  Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking long-haul is 'a double-edged sword' – costly in fuel but buoyed by rising demand, with New Zealand being one of the safer passages available.  He says that's why they're being careful about how much long haul flying they consolidate.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:23:35 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-naming-names/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-naming-names/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) On the Record, Apparently/A Weird Fight to Pick/More Maorification/It Wasn't a Complete Failure Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:22:33 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-21-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-21-april-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 21st of April, BNZ’s Chief Economist looks ahead to the inflation data set to be released this morning, and Air NZ CEO Nikhil Ravishankar discusses the latest on jet fuel stocks and price increases.   Buckle up – Mike names the five National MPs seemingly behind the discontent within the party.  Kiwi actor Karl Urban discusses the final season of The Boys and expresses his love for Mike watching the Warriors.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:08:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-king-rural-schools-leadership-association-president-on-the-government-fuel-relief-package-for-rural-schools/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-king-rural-schools-leadership-association-president-on-the-government-fuel-relief-package-for-rural-schools/ Rural schools are welcoming extra support from the Government to deal with rising fuel costs.  Small schools will receive one-off additional funding, and 70 schools will receive a one-off grant to speed up the replacement of diesel boilers.   Mileage support for rural relief teachers is also being doubled.  Rural Schools Leadership Association president Andrew King told Mike Hosking it's been hard for country schools to soak up these extra costs.   He says having that extra money means they won't have to think about where to pool money from.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:54:23 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mike-jones-bnz-chief-economist-on-the-cpi-data-for-q1-releasing-today-amidst-the-middle-east-crisis/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mike-jones-bnz-chief-economist-on-the-cpi-data-for-q1-releasing-today-amidst-the-middle-east-crisis/ Today's inflation numbers won't reflect the full impact of the war in the Middle East.  The first quarter of this year's expected to show a dip in annual inflation after 2025 ended with a rate of 3.1%.   Bank economists are predicting an inflation rate between 2.8 and 3.1%.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking despite not showing the current picture, there will still be some interest in today’s numbers – particularly the core inflation figures.  He says that if they ease, it’ll give the Reserve Bank a bit more rope to look through some of the shock, and if they strengthen, it’ll probably excite those calling for earlier rate increases.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:43:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bryce-davies-ami-state-and-nzi-climate-spokesperson-on-weather-based-claims-spiking-256/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bryce-davies-ami-state-and-nzi-climate-spokesperson-on-weather-based-claims-spiking-256/ Insurance companies are getting very specific when assessing which properties are exposed to risks like flooding, an insurance expert says, but there’s a limit.  An intense storm like the one that hit some Wellington suburbs yesterday could have happened anywhere, making the risk much harder to pin down to individual properties, Bryce Davies —climate spokesperson for AMI, State, and NZI— told Mike Hosking.  If people didn’t address the risks to their properties from flooding and wind damage it would “absolutely” have an impact on their insurance premiums, he said.  Insurers would also be increasingly focused on perils like landslips in the coming years.  But Davies said AMI, State, and NZI weren’t making blanket decisions to pull insurance from some areas.  “We’re here to insure people…that’s our business and so we’re focused on making sure that we can do that.”  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:24:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/glenn-dobson-drug-detection-agency-ceo-on-the-rise-in-workplace-opioid-detections/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/glenn-dobson-drug-detection-agency-ceo-on-the-rise-in-workplace-opioid-detections/ Opioid detections in workplaces are rising sharply.  Workplace testing firm the Drug Detection Agency says detections of opioids like morphine and fentanyl has increased by more than a third in the past year.  In Taranaki, it's recording almost five times as many opioids as the previous year.  Chief Executive Glenn Dobson told Mike Hosking the stats will vary in comparison to wastewater, but they’re certainly a reflection of a subset of society. He says anecdotally, they’re hearing a softening attitude around some drug taking.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:10:04 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mike-casey-rewiring-aotearoa-ceo-says-shift-away-from-fossil-fuel-doesnt-have-to-happen-all-at-once/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mike-casey-rewiring-aotearoa-ceo-says-shift-away-from-fossil-fuel-doesnt-have-to-happen-all-at-once/ The idea of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, including the Green Party's new electrification plan, is often met with criticism that not everything can be switched over, but Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, says that isn't the immediate goal.  "My focus is mainly on households at the moment, which is basically gas in the households and also electric vehicles, putting solar on the roof and batteries in the garage. We've got to start somewhere," Casey told Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:12:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-price-australia-correspondent-chats-pauline-hansons-unprecedented-stardom/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-price-australia-correspondent-chats-pauline-hansons-unprecedented-stardom/ Far-right politician Pauline Hanson's party One Nation has seen an unexpected surge in popularity ahead of this year's election, and Hanson's stardom has skyrocketed as a result.  Australia correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking about his encounter with her at a local football club. "She walked in and got a standing ovation from people, and then a queue formed to her right of mainly young people I would say. And they all wanted a selfie, they all wanted to have a picture taken with Pauline Hanson." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:03:18 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-enough-is-enough/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-enough-is-enough/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) This Is an Election, Not a Barbecue/More Not Talking About Polls/So Good, We're Criticising Wins Now Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:16:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-20-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-20-april-2026/ Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 20 April. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:08:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-nationals-internal-stirrers-need-to-quieten-down/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-nationals-internal-stirrers-need-to-quieten-down/ You know exactly how today is going to go. The Prime Minister does the media rounds this morning. There will be no shortage of cortisol spiked journalists hanging off every word, double dissecting every pause and utterance—many of them desperate to write something disparaging about a man they’ve already decided they dislike. I wouldn’t be Luxon for quids. He’s been dealt a shit hand. Worse than the media, though, are the stirrers inside his own party. The selfishness and bare knuckle self preservation on display is disgraceful. You buy into a deal in life and you stick to it. You join a company, take a job, make a promise—whatever it is. In an MP’s case, you’re part of a three year deal. During that time you are honest, transparent, hardworking, loyal, and dedicated. Clearly—and history backs this up—National has a recurring issue here. Right now, we have a few people who appear willing to put themselves and their own survival ahead of the collective. As I said on Friday, nothing is coming of this. Luxon isn’t quitting. There is no coup. They don’t have the numbers—and they don’t have the stomach for it. Here’s the truly absurd part of their foolishness: even if there were a major problem (and there isn’t), there is no obvious answer. National’s strength is that it has depth. There’s real talent and a solid group of capable operators—Willis, Bishop, Stanford, Mitchell, Brown, Penk, McClay. They’re good at their jobs. But no one among them is some mythical tide turner. This isn’t a Little to Ardern moment, it's a Shipley to Bolger or Lange to Palmer moment. History tells us that when parties panic, they almost always regret it. There is, in fact, nothing fundamentally wrong with Luxon. No, he isn’t John Key—and he’s not Gandhi either—but he is competent, effective, and successfully leads a workable three party collaboration.National sitting around the low 30s is not evidence of failure. It’s the natural outcome of governing with three solid parties. The era of easy 40% peaks is over. That reality shouldn’t be played out publicly through destabilising nonsense by people who can’t accept it. Peters and Seymour should be just as concerned. They’re surrounded by amateur political operators within National who are perfectly capable of dragging all of them back into opposition. So yes, we’ll ask the questions. But in an increasingly troubled world, isn’t it painfully small town New Zealand to be bogged down in village level idiocy—driven by self serving nobodies whose vision extends no more than two centimetres in front of their noses—rather than focusing on genuinely important issues of global consequence and how we navigate our way through them? LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:04:31 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/randy-manner-former-us-army-major-general-on-iran-opening-and-closing-strait-of-hormuz-over-blockades/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/randy-manner-former-us-army-major-general-on-iran-opening-and-closing-strait-of-hormuz-over-blockades/ After briefly re-opening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran closed it again after the US did not meet demands to unblock Iranian ports. Former US Army Major General told Mike Hosking, "unfortunately, I have to say that the Iranians have assessed the situation probably the most accurate, which is there's inconsistency on the American position, and we just don't know where this is going." LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:55:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/winston-peters-nz-first-leader-says-they-will-campaign-on-breaking-up-supermarket-duopoly/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/winston-peters-nz-first-leader-says-they-will-campaign-on-breaking-up-supermarket-duopoly/ Yesterday New Zealand First announced a campaign policy to break up New Zealand's supermarket duopoly. Woolworths and Foodstuffs currently control over 80 percent of the grocery market. NZ First leader Winston Peters told Mike Hosking he isn't pursuing this now because, "the National Party is not for it, the ACT Party is not for it. I mean, they've got their policies which are to stagger on with the Commerce Commission that's not working." LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:22:36 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-goldsmith-justice-minister-on-government-repealing-references-to-the-principles-of-the-treaty-of-waitangi-within-laws/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-goldsmith-justice-minister-on-government-repealing-references-to-the-principles-of-the-treaty-of-waitangi-within-laws/ The Government has quietly agreed to repeal a number of references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi within laws, and amending others. Despite ongoing conversations since February, no one from within the Government had spoken publicly about the move or made any announcement. The Ministry of Justice said this would ensure “better outcomes and more consistent decision-making”. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith spoke to Mike Hosking about the decision.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:49:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-addresses-leadership-speculation/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-addresses-leadership-speculation/ The Prime Minister's rubbishing the latest poll - showing the left bloc in a position to win the election. The 1 News Verian Poll has the left on 66 seats to the right bloc's 58 - assuming Te Pāti Māori keeps its six seats. Our newsroom understands multiple MPs are believed to be unhappy with Luxon’s performance and want his leadership discussed. Christopher Luxon has been rejecting talk of a challenge to his leadership - and says [told Mike Hosking] he doesn't buy the results of this latest poll. He says he simply doesn't believe Kiwis want Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, when New Zealand needs strong economic management and a stable coalition government. LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:35:12 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-key-player-in-this-war/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-the-key-player-in-this-war/ A bloke called Roman Gofman could be the key to all this.  Gofman is the incoming Director of Mossad.  If you believe the story about the war, Netanyahu got the intel that the heavyweights in Iran would all be in the same room on that fateful Saturday. So, if there was ever a time to strike this was it.  Netanyahu convinced Trump.  Netanyahu was advised by Gofman, who also believed that if you hit them hard they would fall over, and quickly, and regime change would be complete.  They were all wrong and badly so. That’s why in the initial video Trump told the people of Iran the country would be theirs to take.  It clearly isn't.  You can ask the question, I guess, if Gofman was that wrong on Iran, is he still the bloke to run Mossad?  If they didn’t see the regime not falling over, they also didn’t see the Strait of Hormuz becoming the cluster it has.  The IMF report yesterday laid bare just how globally significant this excursion has become and how much pressure goes back onto the shoulders of Trump, who will singularly be held responsible for a global recession if a deal isn't cut.  Talks look promising and I'm convinced a deal will be done. What sort of deal? Who knows.  Israel, who really should be held as responsible as Trump but won't be, will hold direct talks with Lebanon.  In positive news it seems the country is trying to disassociate themselves from Hezbollah. That may well become a thing, which if you dovetail the Iran/America deal, and that involves no more sponsorship of proxies, could it be that globally Hezbollah are toast along with the Houthis and maybe even Hamas?  Scott Bessent, who appears from the more normal part of the White House, was rolled out yesterday to remind us of the big picture. This war, the talks, the IMF report and the mess is but a moment in time that will vanish if Iran gets stripped of the ability to blow the planet up.  Which brings us back to the original question and intent: was getting nuclear out of Iran a good idea and would it be worth it?  I still think as a theory, yes, and a lot of the world would agree.  But that hasn’t happened yet and the brains that’s started it —Gofman, Netanyahu, and Trump— don't have the same international standing as they did six weeks ago.  Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:22:52 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-the-aitken-case-was-a-storm-in-a-bone-china-northern-club-teacup/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mark-the-week-the-aitken-case-was-a-storm-in-a-bone-china-northern-club-teacup/ 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.     The war: 6/10  Mark my words, this is closer to the end than many think. Round two of talks, a squeeze on the Strait – the Iranians are about to capitulate.      Moana Pasifika: 4/10  In a competition already lacking sparkle, this can't have helped. And also, perhaps a lesson in starting something for the right reasons, not ideological ones.      The Crusaders' horses: 3/10  That's a 30-year legacy we will miss.      Ema Aitken: 7/10  Pleased she wasn’t booted, but nor should she have been. What a storm in a bone china, Northern Club teacup.      The BSA: 7/10  Can't wait to see the back of them. Good luck and good night.      LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:22:34 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-is-the-boss-responsible-for-a-death-in-a-major-company/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/opinion/mikes-minute-is-the-boss-responsible-for-a-death-in-a-major-company/ Not a lot of coverage has been given to the failed appeal by Tony Gibson.  He was the head of the Port of Auckland, a worker died and he was charged under health and safety and found guilty.  It was the Health and Safety at Work Act of 2015, and he was the first person of a large operation to be charged and found guilty under it.  This in no way takes away from the tragedy and seriousness of the accident.  But the question for us all though, is can you reasonably hold a single person responsible in a company where so many people, if you were looking to cast a wide net, potentially could also be responsible?  And if you can, what sort of chilling effect does that have around the running of large companies in which you can potentially be held to account for Lord knows what?  The court found he had overall responsibility, which in theory is not unfair. It’s the buck-stops-at-the-top argument.  But what about the board? What is the point in having management and managerial responsibility if it all eventually gets sheeted back up top?  In a business where safety is a key aspect of operation, you presumably have people and groups, or committees, that operate procedures and rules.  What level, if any, of responsibility do they hold, or share?  Can one person really be held to account for the singular accident, on one day, in one incident, in a company of hundreds, or potentially thousands?  And if you answer 'yes', as the court seems to have, then how does a CEO change the way they approach the running of that business?  Are they risk averse? Do they take longer to make decisions? Does progress get slowed as we guess, second guess, then guess one more time just in case?  Do you overspend or invest in areas "just in case"? How much sleep do you lose doing all this?  If the rules around being on a board are increasingly arduous, and they are, is making life as a CEO harder, productive?  Or is finding a single person culpable for any event in the workplace an easy out, of a complex problem allowing everyone else to wash their hands?  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:14:40 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/murray-olds-australia-correspondent-on-the-oil-refinery-fire-the-imf-report-defence-spending/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/murray-olds-australia-correspondent-on-the-oil-refinery-fire-the-imf-report-defence-spending/ A major fire at one of Australia's two remaining oil refineries isn't expected to have much effect on national prices.   The fire at Viva Energy's Geelong facility will hinder its ability to make petrol, but it can still produce diesel and jet fuel.  It's one of only two sites in Australia and produces 10% of the country's fuel.  Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking the fire underlines the perilous nature of the country’s fuel supplies, as they have very limited refining capacity.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:10:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-chris-bishop-and-the-national-coup-circuses-pet-sitting/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/wrapping-the-week-with-kate-hawkesby-and-tim-wilson-chris-bishop-and-the-national-coup-circuses-pet-sitting/ It’s Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike to Wrap the Week that Was.  They discussed the rumours of a coup in the National Party and Chris Bishop’s performance on the show this morning.  Also on the agenda was circuses, pet sitting, and this weekend’s maiden Supercars event in Christchurch.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:53:00 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-goulter-nurses-organisation-ceo-on-over-7000-reports-of-violence-against-healthcare-staff-being-logged-last-year/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-goulter-nurses-organisation-ceo-on-over-7000-reports-of-violence-against-healthcare-staff-being-logged-last-year/ The Nurses Organisation says violence in emergency departments will worsen if systemic issues aren't addressed.  Figures released under the Official Information Act show more than 7,500 reports of violence against healthcare staff were logged last year, matching the year before, but up significantly on 2023.  Just over 1000 reports came from emergency departments.  Organisation Chief Executive Paul Goulter told Mike Hosking it comes down to understaffing and people waiting too long to get treated, and it often escalates from there.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:45:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-17-april-2026/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/full-show-podcast-17-april-2026/ On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 17th of April, it's coup Friday! Chris Bishop was on to talk WOFs but after rumours of a National Party leadership challenge, the Minister had some tough questions to answer.   Boris Johnson's former economic advisor Gerard Lyons discusses the IMF report and whether the world is heading into a global recession.  Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the potential coup, circuses, and Fabergé eggs 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, 16 Apr 2026 21:19:43 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-a-new-poit-record/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/the-re-wrap/the-re-wrap-a-new-poit-record/ THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Friday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) So That Just Happened/It's the Lucid Trump Who Scares Me Most/Mark the Week Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:15:05 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mark-wederall-canterbury-car-club-general-manager-on-this-weekends-supercars-event-in-ruapuna/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mark-wederall-canterbury-car-club-general-manager-on-this-weekends-supercars-event-in-ruapuna/ All systems are go at Ruapuna ahead of the maiden South Island Supercars event.  The programme has a fourth race added after a postponement due to weather last week in Taupo.  More than 20,000 attendees are expected each day.  Canterbury Car Club GM Mark Wederall told Mike Hosking in comparison their biggest event, the Skope Classic, gets about seven to eight thousand across the entire weekend.   He says the buzz has gone beyond the car lovers – everyone in town is talking about the Supercars event.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:14:12 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gerard-lyons-former-chief-economic-advisor-to-boris-johnson-on-the-imfs-warnings-about-the-iran-wars-impact-on-the-global-economy-the-impact-on-the-uk/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gerard-lyons-former-chief-economic-advisor-to-boris-johnson-on-the-imfs-warnings-about-the-iran-wars-impact-on-the-global-economy-the-impact-on-the-uk/ The world could pay a high price for the US launching war on Iran.   Global shipping's in turmoil as Donald Trump's naval blockade increases uncertainty, although he's hinting peace talks could resume.  The International Monetary Fund's warning a prolonged conflict could tilt the global economy towards recession.  Former Chief Economic Advisor to Boris Johnson, Gerard Lyons told Mike Hosking that from an economic perspective, there are no easy wins for the UK.  He says it’s likely that growth will be low, inflation will rise, and unfortunately unemployment, which currently sits around 5.4%, could head even higher.   LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:55:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-ceasefire-between-israel-and-lebanon-trump-claims-iran-agreed-to-hand-over-enriched-uranium/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-arnold-us-correspondent-on-the-ceasefire-between-israel-and-lebanon-trump-claims-iran-agreed-to-hand-over-enriched-uranium/ Removal of Iran’s enriched uranium will be a “very, very complex assignment” that would take many months – and that’s if Iran has actually agreed to its removal.  US President Donald Trump told reporters this morning that Iran had agreed to give up its enriched uranium, but that had raised plenty of questions, US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking.  The 444.9kg of uranium, enriched up to 60% purity, was left over after US and Israeli airstrikes last March, despite Trump’s claim at the time that Iran’s nuclear stocks were totally obliterated, Arnold pointed out.  “Has Iran really agreed to this? We're yet to hear from, you know, the Iranians. No deal until, and unless, there's a deal.”  A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had also been announced, but Trump was “covering all bases” by sending another 10,000 US troops to the Middle East, Arnold said.  One political science expert —Professor Robert Pape of the University of Chicago— had put the chances of renewed US military action at about 70%.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:31:55 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gordon-robison-middle-east-journalist-on-the-ceasefire-agreement-between-israel-and-lebanon/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gordon-robison-middle-east-journalist-on-the-ceasefire-agreement-between-israel-and-lebanon/ There’s a sense of scepticism around a new Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.   Donald Trump's declaring victory after announcing the two countries and militant group Hezbollah will pause fighting for ten days.   But Israel's refusing to move its thousands of troops out of southern Lebanon.   Middle East journalist Gordon Robison told Mike Hosking it's too soon to say how this ceasefire will go.   He says the Middle East has a long, fraught history, with agreements between Israel and Lebanon having proven unstable before.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:12:07 Z