The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Praise for Christchurch police after wide-scale arrests of Comanchero gang members. Every patched member of the Christchurch chapter has been arrested as part of Operation Avon, with 21 arrests in total across Auckland and Christchurch. Millions of dollars of illicit drugs were seized. Police commissioner Andrew Coster told Mike Hosking they've invested a huge amount to counter the increase in gang crime in the last decade. He says police will keep focusing on going after their assets, as that's what hurts them the most. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can see how the rumblings around the future of Chris Hipkins as Labour Leader have started. They have added to their problems this week with the social media post from David Parker wittering on about his tax dream. The old Capital Gains Tax, get all those rich bastards lined up and raid their pockets. It's a sorry old state they find themselves in. The power crisis is a nadir of sorts. The cold hard reality of their policies has come home to roost for us and haunt them. You can argue the same around the economy, in general of course, and their Covid approach. Three recessions in two years. A record unmatched by anyone I can find is pretty damning for a government that spent six years basically wrecking the place. But the power is indisputable. We have no gas because we haven't looked for any because they closed it down. The lack of rain or wind isn't their fault, but the fragility of the system is. All the stuff they said would happen to close the gap hasn’t. The Onslow idea went nowhere. And the simple, irrefutable truth is as a result of a lack of supply is the price is up, some people can't pay it, and people are out of work. It's a series of very clear simple dots that can be laid directly at their doorstep. It goes to credibility, they have none. And now we have tax. If Labour go to the next election with a package of new taxes, like capital gains, they may as well not campaign. They will have a two-fold problem. One, the recent memory of their performance in government is still fresh in voters' minds. Two, a new idea being we will tax you some more for good measure. They will, of course, be facing a government that has cut taxes and may well, if they are lucky, have an economy with some real steam driving it. If Hipkins makes it that far, his vision will seem so weird, so out of touch, and so ideologically mad he will not only lose, but quite possibly badly. You can't hide your past; you can hope people forget, and time helps that. But if more tax is their calling card for 2026, it's game over before it's even started. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Italian investigation into the deadly sinking of the 'unsinkable' Bayesian superyacht could drag on a while. New Zealand-born captain James Cutfield is being investigated for possible manslaughter and negligent shipwreck charges. He's being advised by two Italian lawyers, and has so far exercised his right to silence. Italy correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking the investigation could take some time, particularly as the yacht needs to be brought to the surface. She says before they do that they'll have to secure fuel supplies to ensure there's no leakage, which could take several weeks. McKenna says it took 11 months for the captain of the Costa Concordia to be charged. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a new venture for Fonterra. The dairy giant has announced a $75 million expansion to its Studholme factory in South Canterbury. It will be a hub for high protein ingredients for sports nutrition and other medical products. CEO Miles Hurrell told Mike Hosking it's an opportunity for the company to expand its footprint in New Zealand, and in the competitive market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29th of August, the Darleen Tana saga has yet another chapter with legal action now underway. Mike gets all the details from University of Otago Law Professor, Andrew Geddis. Education Minister Erica Stanford reacts to the low pass rates on NCEA's numeracy and literacy tests - and promises action to lift achievement. Mike finds out about Fonterra's latest version to diversify its product range. Triple Paris Olympic medallist Ellesse Andrews pops into the studio to talk her success and what the future holds. And you might just be surprised on how much social media influencers earn. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While it was in Tokyo that Ellesse Andrews emerged onto the Olympic scene, it was in Paris that she established herself as the one to beat in world track cycling. Silver in the team sprint, gold in the keirin and topped off with a gold in the individual sprint it was historic Games for the 24-year-old as she became the first woman to complete the sprint/keirin Olympic double. Andrews’ three medals took New Zealand’s tally to 14 from 17 Olympiads; an impressive strike rate for a nation whose most-Googled Olympic statistic is the medals-per-capita table. The four-time Olympic medallist told Mike Hosking she feels New Zealand’s prowess in cycling comes from people up and down the country who are passionate about the sport, not just in its spiritual home of Cambridge. “I think with cycling in New Zealand it’s not just about Cambridge, it’s not about that hub it’s about the whole country and what cycling means to the whole country. “I have grown up in various different areas around New Zealand. Wanaka being one of them, [it’s] amazing for mountain biking, you know. So I would get on my mountain bike as a kid and I’d sprint [against] my parents and that was so much fun and that’s what made me excited. “Moving down to Invercargill where I tried track cycling, they have an absolute passion for cycling there. They love it and so the Southland programme really, really helped nurture me Canterbury the same, there’s just so many local legends in Canterbury that are just so passionate about what they do.” On Cambridge, Andrews said having a genuinely world class facility to train at gives the New Zealand team a real shot at competing with the best in the world, along with the buy-in from the local community. “Moving into Cambridge, where I moved when I was 16, [it’s a] similar thing, you know, we have that facility there - it’s world class. I have people who support me, sponsors, the facility, the community, everything there is just so special. “And so I think it’s the tight knit community and it’s the passion that’s within that community.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuning into the public's stance on infrastructure could stand politicians in good stead. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop's laid out his plans for the industry and announced a new National Infrastructure Agency. He invites more debate across Parliament over long term planning to ensure a system that lasts. Northern Infrastructure Forum Executive Director Barney Irvine told Mike Hosking the big political divisions over infrastructure don't reflect the public mood. He says there's a lot more consensus among the public over infrastructure, and most people just want the government of the day to get on and do stuff. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are further details on the Government's review of how Significant Natural Areas should be identified. The scope's been decided and will look at how SNAs are assessed and the way land is managed. A Bill was introduced in May that proposes to suspend requirements for councils to identify new SNAs and is expected to be in place by the end of the year. Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard told Mike Hosking that final decisions based off the review will be made in mid-next year. He hopes the SNAs only apply to where it's truly significant, and not just taking swathes of farmland. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns the international visitor levy could be raised too high. The Government's being warned $273 million dollars of visitor spending is on the line. Consultation is open on whether the $35 fee should be raised to $50, $70 or $100. Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO Rebecca Ingram told Mike Hosking visa fees have recently gone up, and they don't want to see tourists being scared off by additional costs. She says someone who requires a visa and the visitor levy would be paying $500 before entering New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says NCEA results are disappointing. More than half of the 55 thousand teens who attempted the new NCEA prerequisite tests failed their numeracy assessment. Reading had a pass rate of 59%, while 56% of the students passed writing. The Government's aiming for 80% of Year eight students to be at or above curriculum level by 2030. Education Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking this will take some time. She says there's a whole range of levers they're pulling to make sure primary school kids are learning structured maths and literacy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A law expert doubts former Green MP Darleen Tana will be successful in their legal action against their former party. They're trying to stop the Greens' meeting this weekend, where they intend to decide whether to invoke the Waka Jumping law. Tana's challenge against the party will be heard in the High Court in Auckland this morning. Otago University Law Professor Andrew Geddis told Mike Hosking he's never seen anything like it. He says the chances of the courts acting in their favour are practically zero. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was never five percent, it was always spit balling. Paul Goldsmith as Treaty Negotiations Minister is in a meeting with the seafood people, who are not happy about their lack of input into the government's foreshore plan to revert a court ruling back to the original intent of the law as passed in 2011. Goldsmith, it was reported, said customary title will drop to 5 percent. 1News fell over themselves breathlessly reporting this as some sort of scandal on Sunday. Come Monday in the Prime Minister's post-cabinet session, they try and get more detail. The Prime Minister quite clearly says the reason the government are doing what they are doing is because the court has overreached and what the government of the day intended has been distorted. An amendment of section 58 is how they are going to fix this. The original law was simple. If you can prove you have had uninterrupted access to foreshore since 1840 you got a case. If you can't, you haven't. Groups who didn’t like the law or the government went to court. The court being activist got overly involved and we've ended up where we have. All of the government, as the Prime Minster was at pains to tell the assembled press, wanted to do is make the law the law. Why? Because they are the government and that’s what governments do. As far as I'm aware as a consumer of news, that bit wasn’t reported yesterday by some media. I note both state-funded were still banging on about Goldsmith and his 5 percent comment. The point they are missing, and I suspect deliberately, is courts don’t make the law, governments do. If you want to mark Goldsmith down a bit, maybe he shouldn’t free wheel with numbers. Given if you apply some brain power to it, no one knows what the actual number by way of a percentage will be when it comes to access. But it wasn’t a scandal and it wasn’t a gotcha moment. It was a passing comment in a meeting about the intent of the government of the day and what they were doing to address what they see as an activist court that had distorted intent around an increasingly fractious subject. This would be another example of an activist media taking the side of an activist court and trying to drum up scandal around a government they don’t like on a law they like even less. And if you apply logic and follow it as I have, they're failing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ expects house prices to remain flat this year, then lift by seven percent over 2025. They don't think declines in mortgage rates will cause an immediate jump in the housing market. But they do expect it'll likely prevent a deeper correction. Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking that it’s a pretty average number when you take into account the price increases over the past few decades. He said forecasting 12 months in advance is always a tough ask, but when they factor in the changing fundamentals, such as lower mortgage rates, and match them up against things like the economy and the labour market, an upturn in house prices seems likely. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says the wheel of justice is turning too slowly following a major seizure of gang assets. After a 10 year investigation and court process, the Head Hunters gang is being ordered to forfeit $15 million in properties and assets. It's being marked as a major win for Police, but some are criticizing the length of time it's taken to happen. Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking the court's ruling sends a clear message to gangs, but could have happened quicker. Labour’s Ginny Andersen said that the recent legislative change that flips the onus onto the gang members to prove their acquisitions were legal makes it easier for Police to seize assets. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 28th of August, the calls are getting louder for a bipartisan agreement to allow long term oil and gas exploration. Mike speaks to a company who might well come back. The government is pushing the heat on airlines with new reporting requirements - Transport Minister Simeon Brown explains all the details with Mike. We get the inside scoop on the Oasis reunion from the journalist who originally broke the story. And we find out exactly why Beam's e-scooters have been ordered off Auckland's streets. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An energy sector leader is slamming the opposition's plans to bring back the oil and gas exploration ban. Labour suggests renewable energy options should take precedence. Meanwhile, the Government's aiming to reverse the ban, with Resources Minister Shane Jones says natural gas is critical to keeping the lights on. Echelon Resources Chief Executive Andrew Jeffries told Mike Hosking gas can provide a backup for us. He says it provides jobs, tax revenue, and security. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gallagher brothers aren't looking back in anger by announcing their UK rock band Oasis' first tour in over 15 years. Fourteen concerts are planned for the UK and Ireland in July and August next year. Oasis split in 2009 due to a feud between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The Times Executive Culture Editor, Jonathan Dean, told Mike Hosking the tour was all-but confirmed after Liam made a hint on X. He says it's been inevitable for a while as the warring brothers were bound to move on. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A psychologist is encouraging the public not to engage in online content like that recorded after a horror crash on Auckland's southern motorway. Police are slamming the livestreaming of the crash that killed three people at Ramarama on Monday. They say it was recorded before emergency services arrived and showed close-ups of the deceased in the van and injured laying on the road. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland told Mike Hosking an interest in death is clashing with social media pressures. He says it's a reminder to think twice when pulling out phones to record. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council says it was aware of dishonest behaviour from E-scooter company Beam before it was made public. Australian media exposed the company for deploying too many scooters in some cities and manipulating its data. The council's since accused the company of breaking its contract, and is referring the matter to the police. Auckland Council Licensing Manager Mervyn Chetty told Mike Hosking it was tipped off this month. He says it included internal comms from Beam, showing an intent to mislead the council. Options are being explored to restock scooters in the city, and Chetty says they hope to have the process completed soon. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The spotlight's on the aviation sector, with a raft of changes on the way. From next month, airports will face monthly performance reports and closer airfare monitoring. Transport Minister Simeon Brown's also ordered a review of the Civil Aviation Authority's proposed hikes to determine if they're proportionate and justified. He told Mike Hosking it's been tough for the aviation industry on the back of the pandemic, but it plays a critical role in our economy. Brown says every single part of the industry and Government needs to be doing their bit to ensure we're a competitive country to do business with, and to grow the sector. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Uber drivers have won their case in the Court of Appeal. It agrees with the Employment Court that Uber drivers should be employees, not contractors. Other courts in other countries have broadly come down on the same lines. But not in California. The other day, the court there agreed with the people. And the people had voted in a proposition that drivers should be contractors because that’s what drivers signed up to. So you can ask, is democracy right? Or is a court right? The court here said: the critical point is we think that while a driver is logged into the app, that driver has no opportunity to establish any business goodwill of their own. I guess that’s true, but it makes no sense. In a pure gig model, you get to choose. You choose to work, or you choose to not work. It's about flexibility. The moment you are an employee, yes you get leave, but you also lose some control. Despite what the court and the four drivers think, some people like flexibility and freedom. The court said drivers couldn’t bargain with Uber. That, of course, is correct. But that’s the whole point of a gig deal. It's predicated on the idea that if the deal is so bad no one will work for them. And the counter to the no bargain and all the other lack of overarching rules and regulations, is it’s a simple take it or leave it. If you find it too egregious, don’t take it. If you want a union, industrial action, pay agreements, time in lieu, and stop work meetings, be a teacher or nurse. The tricky part now, apart from the fact Uber will take it to the Supreme Court, which they should, is that the government are reviewing Workplace Relations, and given its driven by ACT, I suspect it will be looking to free things up a bit and this court case and its decision may well be a victim of what eventually gets passed as law. No, we don’t want seven-year-olds going down mines, hence we need protections. But it's not Victorian England, it's New Zealand 2024, and if you choose to be your own person, all power to you, and the courts can stay out of your life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A debate in the UK has arisen about whether teenagers should be able to travel without parental supervision. Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp is speaking out about feeling "sick" and "profoundly shocked", when social services contacted her about allowing her 15-year-old son to travel with a friend in Europe. Officials says the safety of children is their "absolute priority". UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking that Allsopp believes the complaint was made maliciously by someone who doesn’t like her. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alison Moyet rose to fame in the 80’s as one half of the synth-pop duo ‘Yazoo’, going solo just one year later as the duo disbanded. Her career has spanned four decades, 9 studio albums, two of which went to number one on the charts, and 23 million albums sold. She’s returning to New Zealand for the first time in eight years, bringing her upcoming album ‘Keys’ to Kiwi audiences. Moyet told Mike Hosking that singing live is her main focus, and so everything she does in terms of recording is to direct it towards the stage. She’s been making music and evolving as an artist for 40 years, and Moyet revealed that while there is still some anxiety when it comes to making new music and going on tour, she knows she has a group of steadfast supporters. “I’m really excited to be there for them,” Moyet told Hosking. Having performed for so many years, Moyet is aware that this won’t last forever. “Every time I go on tour, I’m very aware that it could be the last time that I do it,” she said. “So just the, the, the thought that I could come out there at least one more time and have a chance to perform is you know, it's obviously an exciting thing to be able to do.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 27th of August, will the government's plan to tackle the energy crisis make a difference? Mike asks the Prime Minister for his thoughts. We have more details on the next stage of the Royal Commission into our Covid-19 response. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden explains what exactly will be looked at. Mike has deep concerns over the implications over the Court of Appeal's Uber decision. One of the voices of the 80s, Alison Moyet joins the show to talk her new music and her tour coming to New Zealand next year. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French politics are still in a deadlock, with no permanent government in sight. President Emmanuel Macron's been holding talks with both the leftist New Popular Front and the far-right National Rally. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen says she'll block any potential left wing Prime Minister, despite the left securing more of the vote. France correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the caretaker government is somewhat liked, but that could just be the lingering buzz from the Paris Olympics. She says no one's really woken up to the fact that France needs a real government as a caretaker government is constitutionally restrained. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns that university funding is not keeping up with costs. A Tertiary Education Commission briefing paper suggests the financial books of Massey University and Wellington's Victoria University are deemed high risk. RNZ reports eight universities had forecast a combined deficit of $42 million. Universities New Zealand Executive Director Chris Whelan told Mike Hosking the Government controls about 70% of funding. He says they are making choices on expenditure, but it comes down to a conversation with Government. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister believes natural gas could be found if investors are encouraged to look for it. Cabinet has agreed to cut regulation, reverse a ban on oil and gas exploration, and review the electricity market's performance. Opposition to the proposal believes there isn't anything to be found. But Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that investors have just been avoiding New Zealand because of its anti-exploration attitude. He says a change to the settings will mean the companies have more confidence to invest in finding oil and gas. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taranaki Port says it could be ready to import Liquefied Natural Gas by 2027, if Government passes new regulations. Cabinet's agreed to end the ban stopping the imports in efforts to boost energy supply and ease power bills. It will also speed up overturning a ban on oil and gas exploration, and will review the electricity market's performance. The port's Chief Executive Simon Craddock told Mike Hosking that the infrastructure to import LNG could be ready in 18 months, But, he says, it would take longer for vessels to be in the same position. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's confirmed its terms of reference for the second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry. Phase Two will cover matters of public interest like the use of vaccines and lockdowns. It will assess whether a reasonable balance was struck between health goals and social disruption and the economic impact of decisions. It's appointed Grant Illingworth KC chair, and Judy Kavanagh and Anthony Hill commissioners. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking the three have experience across litigation, economics, and health. She says these broad skills are needed to look into the lessons we can learn for any future pandemic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ruling against Uber could hold ramifications for many other Kiwi businesses. The Court of Appeal has ruled four Uber drivers are employees, not contractors. Uber says it will appeal, and claims the move will increase uncertainty for workers who enjoy the flexibility of contract work. Employment expert Max Whitehead told Mike Hosking that 97% of Kiwi enterprises are small businesses and operate similar to Uber. He says there would be huge impacts on the country's economy, people, and work if the decision is carried in other appeals. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government are hoping to quickly move ahead with its Fast Track Bill - despite facing some speed-bumps. Cabinet will recommend changes to the proposed law, including switching who has the final say from Ministers to an independent panel. I comes after 27-thousand public submissions were made on the bill. However, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking he's confident the public want the bill, with hundreds already signing up for fast-track approval. He says energy, housing, and infrastructure issues are prevalent throughout the country, and must be addressed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brits have been queuing up ahead of the opening of former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson's pub. Hundreds of people queued for hours to be among the first customers at The Farmer's Dog in the Oxfordshire countryside. Holly James say told Mike Hosking her group camped outside the pub for nine hours, after driving from Leicester the night before. She says everyone in front of them in the queue were diners, meaning they got the first pint poured at the pub. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The warming climate's shifting our growing conditions - and lifting demand for tropical seedlings. Plant nursery Far North Tropicals has seen demand increase four fold every year, since it formed three years ago. Bananas, pawpaw and pineapples are among those being sent across the country - including to typically colder regions like Invercargill Nursery founder Aaron McCloy told Mike Hosking there's a lot of potential both for casual gardeners and commercial growers. He says people are noticing they have less or no frost where they used to have frost - which is ideal for growing tropical plants. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 26th of August, has the government backtracked on its fast track legislation? Mike speaks to AUT's John Tookey and puts that question to RMA Reform Minister, Chris Bishop. Could New Zealand become a hub to grow tropical fruit? Mike speaks to a grower who reckons pineapples and bananas could be our horticultural future. We get a review of Jeremy Clarkson's pub that opened over the weekend. On the Commentary Box, Andrew Saville and Guy Heveldt celebrate Lydia Ko - who won her third major at the Women's Open at St Andrews. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A harsher eligibility criteria and new obligations for emergency housing come into effect today. Now anyone staying for longer than a week, will have to make reasonable efforts to get other housing. Those caught not meeting responsibilities could face a 13 week stand down. Former welfare expert advisory group member Phil O'Reilly told Mike Hosking there's a delicate balance between people needing to be treated well in an emergency - but not milking the system. He says there's always going to be some losers out of that, and we can expect to hear some tragic stories. But he thinks the Government's on the right track by making sure emergency housing, is about emergency. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A construction expert worries changes to the Fast Track Bill will limit the number of significant projects. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announced Cabinet will recommend changes to the proposed law, to the Environment Select Committee. It includes switching who has the final say from Ministers to an independent panel. AUT Construction Expert John Tookey told Mike Hosking he hopes the panel approves projects other than just what politicians want. He says no government has been willing to do the right thing for the maximum number of people. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Banks: 6/10 Coming to the party. In Britain this week we have seen tangible life hit the housing market after one cut by the Bank of England. Could it happen here? The Prime Minister: 7/10 For giving the councils a reality check. They stand out as almost the sole survivors of the Covid “sting 'em where it hurts” brigade with their bizarre cost-plus-accounting view of life. Power: 1/10 This is a shambles. You've got the immediate problem and the long-term problem. Both are, and have been, avoidable. It looks third world. Kamala Harris: 8/10 The week of her life. Half a billion raised, the Obama's with the light show, and today is the acceptance of the nomination. And polls that show it's all on. Darleen Tana: 2/10 Everything that is wrong with representation at the highest level. If it's not councils wasting your money, it's tyre kickers wasting our time. The Warriors: 1/10 What might have been, what could have been, what should have been. Now we are left with the Bulldogs, a contest that means nothing, and a goodbye to a great bloke who deserves better. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History's in the making in Chicago as the US gears up for its first Asian American and Black female presidential nominee. Vice President Kamala Harris is hours out from formally accepting her nomination for the White House at the Democratic National Convention. She'll also deliver a hotly anticipated pitch to voters. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it’s been a spirited campaign week for the Dems. He said the question now is if Harris can stick the landing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we end the week can I proffer the idea that there is an intangible starting to bubble as a result of Adrian Orr's big move last week. As far as I can work out every bank has dropped some of their interest rates again. In fact, some have done it multiple times. They have done so, they say, because of the Reserve Bank and because of the wholesale rate. They also said something about being super cool guys who want to help us get head in life. Or words to that effect. They also gave the game away a bit by saying it's really competitive out there, and that’s the real story. Banks need to lend money and in a recession that’s a fairly hard trick to pull off. Might I once again suggest they look at their margin on lending and compare it to the margin their big brothers in Australia charge? And then ask themselves why it is that the number here is larger than the number there? Although to be fair, Antonia Watson from the ANZ put forward a pretty reasonable defence on that this week. But next time you're in, ask them for yourself and see if you find it convincing. Anyway, the good news is things are moving. Not much, but a bit. I am convinced, through data and a bit of anecdotal evidence, housing is moving too. Once again, not much, but a good spring will help. I know of a good number of campaigns ready and set to go in September. So what is this intangible? It's the vibe. The vibe is important and in this case, it's driven by a desire to see better days, the same way we talked ourselves into a funk these past couple of years. And why wouldn’t we? There was a lot to be in a funk about, and there still is. But human nature generally wants us to be happy, to have hope. So we look for indicators - the Reserve Bank and headlines like "light at the end of the tunnel", your mate that says, "what the hell, let's go out for dinner tonight" or "what the hell let's go away for the weekend any way". That's the vibe. It doesn’t take a lot, and no, it doesn’t happen overnight. It happens gradually. But we are herd-like. You see one, then another, then you want to be part of it. If you mark this day as the start, by early December remember this day and compare it to then. You'll be surprised at the transformation. Because I am convinced the transformation is underway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Games are afoot! More than 500 athletes from 35 countries are descending on Queenstown from today as the largest snow sports event in the southern hemisphere begins. It’s day one of the 2024 Winter Games, and CEO Marty Toomey told Mike Hosking that the event is worth somewhere in the realm of six to ten million dollars, depending on where you start the count. He said that many athletes coming in and train for a couple of weeks before and after the event, not just the 3-4 they’re competing, so there’s quite a long tail. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Airport is reporting an 87% increase in annual underlying profit as its post-Covid recovery continues. International traffic is at 91% of pre-Covid levels, with seats on North American routes are up 48%, and visitors from there are up 40-%. The airport now has 27 airlines flying non-stop between Auckland and 42 international destinations. CEO Carrie Hurihanganui told Mike Hosking that plenty of Airlines are still very positive about New Zealand as a destination and a place they want to expand to. She said there’s positive signs, but they are still seeing the impact of global supply chain issues. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking once more to Wrap the Week that was. They talked Mike’s ventures in wood and metalwork in school, the Repair Shop, and Tim regaled listeners with an expert piano performance. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown is on in earnest for Stacey Jones, with a date confirmed for his first fixture in charge of the Kiwis. He'll begin his tenure against the Kangaroos in Christchurch on October 27 to open the Pacific Nations Cup - they'll take on Tonga the following week in Auckland. The top two teams will contest a final in Sydney on November 10. Jones told Mike Hosking that Australia will be smarting after their last meeting. He said that their preparation is going to be top notch, and they’ll have to be on their guard there. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 23rd of August, Sir John Kirwan offers up an explanation as to why Leon McDonald left the All Blacks. Politics aside, the Democratic National Convention has been a huge spectacle and great for their base. And it looks like it's caused a tangible shift in the polls. As part of Wrapping the Week with Tim Wilson and Kate Hawkesby, Tim regales us with his expert performance on piano. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan says Leon MacDonald’s coaching future will have to be overseas after exiting as the All Blacks assistant coach yesterday. In a shock move, New Zealand Rugby announced MacDonald was stepping down from the role under All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson five tests into the season, and just a week out from their Rugby Championship test against South Africa. “It’s unbelievable...incredible courage I believe on behalf of both of them,” Kirwan told the Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB. “If it’s not working out because the status quo would be probably stay there, finish the season. But for them to move on this quicker, I think it’s the best thing for the team.” ‘Some people just can’t be assistants’ Kirwan said there were probably two main reasons for MacDonald to walk away from the role. “Probably a lack of philosophy around how they are attacking. Once you don’t agree on how they’re going to attack it’s pretty hard to mend,” he told Hosking. “And the second thing is, I think some people just can’t be assistants as well. Leon’s been a head coach now for a while, and so it’s hard to sometimes go back to being assistant. Regardless of the timing of his exit, MacDonald will now be highly sought after by any side in need of a coach. At Super Rugby level, MacDonald led the Blues in 69 games during his four-year tenure, for 45 wins, 23 defeats and a draw. The Herald understands MacDonald turned down an approach from Scotland in order to sign on with Robertson and the All Blacks. “I think he’d probably have to go offshore, now. There’s no jobs left in New Zealand,” Kirwan added. The All Blacks face the Springboks at Ellis Park next Sunday in their first meeting since the Rugby World Cup final. That is followed by a second test a week later in Cape Town. Kirwan said losing a coach midseason shouldn’t be a major disruption for the players. “I don’t think the players will be affected too much. I think they’ll just carry on. I don’t think he’s going to be replaced, so it’ll be one less voice. “He’s [Robertson’s] got enough people in there to fill the gap. I just think they’ll carry on.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Analysts question how long a spike in support for Kamala Harris will last. Today marks the final day of the Democratic National Convention, and when Harris is expected to accept her party's Presidential nomination. Meanwhile, US media reports independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr is planning to end his campaign this week and endorse Donald Trump. Democratic pollster Mark Mellman told Mike Hosking the convention will undoubtedly help Harris for now. But he says the country is still divided, and it will be a very close race. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A second lot of changes to the Resource Management Act has been announced. It follows the first, which will cut regulation for winter grazing, fresh water, and coal mining. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking his latest announcements are more about the act's underlying architecture. He says he's talking about quick wins around renewable energy, housing, and the way we deal with hazards and long-lived infrastructure. It includes making renewable electricity consents easier and demands council 30-year housing plans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A not unfair question to ask, as we return to the power crisis of 2024, is are we being told the full story? For the third time Tiwai has been asked to reduce power use. Methanex is allegedly in the throes of cutting another deal with the Government over gas. Winston has already announced they are closing. They are not alone. The Major Electricity Users' Group is asking us, all of us, to use less power. So just how bad is this? Who knows how bad it is, and are they not telling us? I read an article that involves one of the mill workers being laid off. He talks of the meeting where the boss is in tears, lots of people are in tears as, of a town of one thousand, 230 are losing their jobs. People text me and talk of hedging. It's not an unfair point but you can't hedge forever, and the major point is not the here and now. It's the fact the here and now is not a one off. Each and every winter Transpower tells us about cold mornings and supply issues. This is at the same time that whatever the power companies are investing in clearly doesn’t cover the gab. It also clearly doesn’t take into account EV's, data centres and A1. If an aluminium smelter can't do what it wants to and if a mill can't even open, we aren't really forging ahead to a new tomorrow with AI and data centres springing up all over the place. Methanex is now a company that sells gas, not produces methane. How many people are giving up how much to scrape through? If we scrape through, what then? Apart from the sigh of relief, what then? What's the plan? Is the investment as it stands providing us with a future-proofed level of power or not? Does anyone really know? I don’t blame the worker in the article, but he asked why the Government doesn’t bail the mill out, given Mercury supply the power and the Government has a stake in Mercury. When you're asking questions like that pretty much everything is broken. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are claims from America's Cup and Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton that taking the regatta to Barcelona has already paid off. It comes ahead of racing starting tonight, with the final preliminary regatta leading into the Louis Vuitton Cup starting late next week. The move to ditch Auckland for Spain was highly controversial, but Dalton told Mike Hosking they had a combined audience of 914 million for the 2021 regattas and already they're closing in on that with preliminaries. He says a couple of years ago people in the Catalan city might have thought the America's Cup was the Copa America football tournament, but not now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief jewellery store Silvermoon will shine bright again. Simon Thwaites has bought the business again after selling it in 2017, after the new owner put it into liquidation in March. He's now re-purchased the business with plans to open two physical stores in Christchurch - at Riverside Market this weekend, and The Hub, Hornby, in November. Thwaites told Mike Hosking it was a no brainer to launch a store at Riverside as it's become a focal point for tourists. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.