The Mike Hosking Breakfast

THREE KEY FACTS: Former Green MP Darleen Tana will remain as an independent MP “as long as this place allows me” The Greens say Tana misled the party during an inquiry into claims of migrant exploitation at her husband’s business The Green Party will now consider whether to use the waka-jumping law to try to expel her. The Green Party will consider this weekend whether to try to force former Green MP Darleen Tana out of Parliament after Tana rejected co-leader Chloe Swarbrick’s request to resign and confirmed she would stay in Parliament as an independent MP. Tana returned to Parliament on Tuesday and was declared an independent MP by Speaker Gerry Brownlee, later telling media she intended to stay on. “I’m here now and doing the mahi ... as long as this place allows me.” As she finished speaking to reporters, Tana said she needed to get back to the House because she was the “only person there and I don’t have anybody backing me up”. While the Green Party will decide at its annual conference this weekend whether to invoke the waka jumping law to kick Tana out of Parliament, Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have not ruled out taking Tana into their party if she wants it. Swarbrick – who had publicly urged Tana to resign as an MP after a report on alleged migrant exploitation at Tana’s husband’s business – said on Tuesday afternoon she had only heard through the media that Tana intended to stay on. “Our caucus and party will be taking next steps with this in mind and will have more to say in due course.” Earlier, Swarbrick had said the party would consider whether to use the waka-jumping law at its annual conference this weekend. If they did use the waka-jumping law, she said it would not be without sign-off from the wider party. Swarbrick said a number of party members had expressed frustration about the situation. She said the best option would have been for Tana to resign. Swarbrick said if the party was “in a situation where we have to explore other options, then we will have those sensitive conversations at our AGM this coming weekend”. “I can be pretty clear with you that there are a number of members across the country who have reached out to me, incredibly frustrated about the situations and about Darleen Tana’s unwillingness to take responsibility for what’s happened here.” Former Green list MP Darleen Tana speaking to media at Parliament in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer said they had not yet had any discussions with Tana about joining Te Pāti Māori. Asked if they would take Tana if she asked, Ngarewa-Packer said that was “a discussion that needs to still happen”. “We never leave Māori behind. We’ve always been open about that. It’s a treacherous place.” When spoken to by the Herald yesterday, Ngarewa-Packer said they had just seen Tana for the first time that day “and mihi to her because there was a camera in her face the whole time. We know what it’s like to be unwanted in that place so we acknowledged her in that place”. Tana is now seated right at the back of Parliament’s debating chamber – the area is dubbed “Siberia” – and her office has been moved out of the Greens’ wing to the Parliamentary Library. She was suspended in March after allegations of migrant exploitation involving her husband Christian Hoff-Nielsen’s bicycle company. NZ First leader Winston Peters said the Green Party was reluctant to use the waka-jumping law because it had originally got into Parliament by jumping ship from the Alliance to form the Greens, “so they are caught by their past”. He said there was no justification for an MP to remain in such circumstances, but noted Tana’s husband’s bike business was now in liquidation. He asked what was going on with the Greens’ selection processes: “You’ve got chaos going on here.” - by Claire Trevett and Julia Gabel, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A regional expressway for Northland is number one on the Government's infrastructure priority list. The Transport Minister's agreed to accelerate things — letting NZTA move at pace on the route between Auckland and Whangarei. Locals have been growing irritated following repetitive road closures, making access to Northland difficult. Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking recent weather events highlighted how the work's importance. “This is something we have been working on all year — this announcement — because we know how critically important getting a fix for the Brynderwyns is.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister will apologise for abuse in care later this year. A major report into the history of abuse in care and faith-based institutions is being tabled in Parliament today after six years of hearings. Recommendations will be made and New Zealand's history of abuse will be laid bare. Abuse in care survivor and advocate Ken Clearwater told Mike Hosking many people have not been believed. “You’re telling your truth and everyone’s calling you a liar, so this is an opportunity to validate what actually happened to these kids.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned after the agency came under harsh scrutiny for its failure to stop a would-be assassin from wounding former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Secret Service, which is responsible for the protection of current and former US presidents, faces a crisis after a gunman was able to fire on Trump from a roof overlooking the outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. “I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” Cheatle said in an email to staff on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. A screengrab shows Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump being rushed offstage after the shooting. Photo / Getty Images “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.” Cheatle faced bipartisan condemnation when she appeared before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee on Monday, declining to answer questions from frustrated lawmakers about the security plan for the rally and how law enforcement responded to the suspicious behaviour of the gunman. Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers called on her to resign. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, was grazed in the right ear and a rally attendee was killed in the gunfire. Law enforcement react after shots were fired at the rally of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo / Getty The gunman, identified as a 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper. Cheatle, who has led the agency since 2022, told lawmakers she took responsibility for the shooting and called it the largest failure by the Secret Service since then-President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. The Secret Service faces investigations from multiple congressional committees and the internal watchdog of the US Department of Homeland Security, its parent organisation, over its performance. US President Joe Biden, who has ended his re-election campaign, has also called for an independent review. Much of the criticism has focused on the failure to secure the roof of an industrial building where the gunman was perched about 140 metres from the stage where Trump was speaking. The rooftop was declared outside the Secret Service security perimeter for the event, a decision criticised by former agents and politicians. Cheatle held a top security role at PepsiCo when Biden named her Secret Service director in 2022. She previously served 27 years in the agency. Former US President Donald Trump was hit in his right ear in a shooting at his rally in the US state of Pennsylvania. Infographic / Getty Images She took over following a series of scandals involving the Secret Service that scarred the reputation of an elite and insular agency. Ten Secret Service agents lost their jobs after revelations they brought women, some of them prostitutes, back to their hotel rooms ahead of a trip to Colombia by then-President Barack Obama in 2012. The agency also faced allegations that it erased text messages from about the time of the January 6, 2021 riots on the US Capitol. Those messages were later sought by a congressional panel probing the riot. The US House of Representatives said on Tuesday it was forming a bipartisan task force to investigate the shooting of Trump. The panel, comprised of seven Republicans and six Democrats, will make recommendations for reforms to relevant government agencies and will have subpoena authority, according to a statement from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. At a hearing on Monday, the House Oversight Committee’s Republican chairman James Comer and top Democrat Jamie Raskin – normally bitterly divided on most issues – each called on Cheatle to resign. “The security failures that allowed an assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life are shocking,” Johnson said in a statement, adding the task force would move quickly to “make certain such failures never happen again”. He said House lawmakers will vote on a resolution this week to establish the force and its members.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 Olympic Games are set to begin. President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to the Olympic Village that France is “ready and we will be ready throughout the games”. Security has been ramped up in the lead up to the games, France Correspondent Catherine Field telling Mike Hosking that it’s difficult to get anywhere in the centre of Paris. She said that for the people living there, it’s a bit like being under lockdown, as they need a special pass just to get home. Hotels are also half-empty, tourists being pushed away by the intense security measures and the high accommodation costs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Media outlets around the world rolled out the predictable articles yesterday post the announcement, with the headline "Who is Kamala Harris?" They rolled out the same articles several years ago when she got picked as Vice President. Depending on whether those articles are applicable in America depends a bit on whether she can now go on and win. The Vice President isn't really a thing. They say it is, but Mike Pence was a good example before Kamala Harris that, really, it’s a figurehead job. Yes, you are one heartbeat away from the presidency, but no one honestly expects that to mean anything. Except in the Harris case, you remember, she was meant to be something. She was meant to be the replacement when Biden bailed, either at the end of the first term, or anointed her at the start of the second. She was the succession because Biden's job was to beat Trump, then retire. The reason it never came to pass was because Harris turned out to be a dud and the problem with that is the job she never got handed on merit, she now potentially gets handed by default. So the question is: can she run on a record that isn't Biden, given she is inextricably linked to the administration, or does she sink because of it? How much of Biden's lack of support was because he was old and befuddled? How much did Americans not see the good stuff in the economy because of Biden and maybe they can now see it under Harris? Is Harris so much better known than any of the other possibilities like Gavin Newson or Gretchen Whitmer, that she has too much of an inbuilt advantage to risk a real unknown? Plus, a very real question, even though many would argue it shouldn’t be. It's the Clinton question. Is America ready for a female president? Did Clinton lose because she was a woman, a Clinton, or because Trump was better? These are all live questions. The upside is the big money is starting to flow for Harris that wasn’t flowing for Biden. She knows how the White House works, and the others don’t. She might, might, be able to grow the Democrat turnout from those who would have stayed at home because Biden was too old to take seriously. Also, none of the others are so obviously better than her that you can't go past them. So you can make a case for Kamala. But make no mistake. This is now, and still, Trump's to lose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next three months of the US Election are likely to be more vicious than we've seen before. Republican strategist Amy Tarkanian says American politics is no longer just about views and issues. She says both campaigns will be setting their sights on the growing number of non-partisan independent voters. Tarkanian told Mike Hosking that in Nevada, where she's based, many voters have been feeling disenfranchised and unsure of where they stand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 23rd of July, the Health NZ board is so useless they're getting dumped for a commissioner. The Prime Minister is back and gets a grilling on putting a commissioner in to manage our health system, and what we're going to do about electricity volumes in this country. Long time friend of Joe Biden and former US Ambassador to New Zealand, Mark Gilbert tells us the next steps for the Democrats and how they go about trying to win this election now. 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.

The public's view of the impact of short-term rentals on the housing market could be about to change. New Infometrics data shows rental companies like Airbnb don't affect the housing market as much as population growth and interest rates. Short term rentals have often been singled out as contributing to housing and rental affordability challenges. Chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen says fundamentally the market suffers from a lack of supply. He says the influence of short-term rentals isn't as large as it's made out to be. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A historic presidential nomination looks to be in reach of Kamala Harris, who's rapidly gaining traction among Democratic supporters. The US Vice President's campaign has raised $81 million in the 24 hours since she announced her intentions to run as candidate. She's gained more than a thousand endorsements from Democratic delegates and is being backed by influential party figures, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Former US Ambassador to New Zealand Mark Gilbert told Mike Hosking that Harris has grown incredibly in her time as Vice President. He says she's travelled the world and met with scores of world leaders and he believes she's the right person to carry the torch forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saturday saw the All Blacks record a record win in San Diego. They were stateside over the weekend, facing off against Fiji and taking the win 47-5. Over 33 thousand people attended the match, NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson saying it was a “fantastic event”. He told Mike Hosking that Americans are very different in the way they approach sporting events, and they had stalls with long queues, a lot more music, a lot more people moving around their seats, and a lot more buzz and hum in the stadium. Robinson said that there’s definitely more work to do, and the plan isn’t fully fledged yet, but they packed a heap of stuff into the week and had a great event on the Friday night as well, so they’re pretty pleased. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is defending the time it's taken to step in and remove Health New Zealand's board. Health Minister Shane Reti yesterday appointed the board’s chair, Professor Lester Levy, as commissioner for a 12-month term. Only one board member was remaining after two others resigned and the rest chose not to serve another term. Replacing the board with a commissioner comes after the organisation over-spent at the rate of about $130 million a month. The Government had previously put a Crown Observer in before Christmas to monitor the organisation. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking he rejects any suggestion the Government has taken too long to intervene. He says the Government has been acting quickly and needed sufficient information before making the decision to replace the board with a commissioner. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised as to where the blame lies for issues within Health New Zealand. The board is being replaced with a commissioner as the agency was found to be overspending at the rate of around $130 million a month. Back office staff numbers have increased significantly in recent years. Former Health New Zealand Chair Rob Campbell told Mike Hosking there's a possibility the budget was never right from the start. He suspects the original budgeting appropriations were never adequate, and it's been impossible to manage. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More New Zealanders are applying to become members of Australia's army. It comes after Australia made changes to the way they recruit new members, with New Zealanders able to join since the start of July, with citizens of Britain, the US and Canada also able to apply from next year. Australian correspondent Steve Price says 166 New Zealanders have signed up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 22nd of July, Joe Biden stood down from re-election just as the show began. We had all the live reaction from both sides. We speak to new Tauranga mayor Mahe Drysdale and what happens next with the Cloudstrike debacle? Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join the Commentary Box and cover the All Blacks and all the motorsport over the weekend. 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.

The great dichotomy of local government is on display right now and seemingly no wants to address it: The turnout in Tauranga was pathetic. The latest example of us not giving a monkey’s is Tauranga. No democracy because the last lot were so hopeless they got replaced by commissioners, and yet when given the freedom to choose, the real winner was complacency. And yet the biggest issue in our economy at the moment and our battle with inflation is the local council. It is also insurance, but rates play an outsized role in why this non-tradeable inflation is stuck at 5.4 percent. Tradeable inflation is now virtually non-existent, but we still aren’t cutting interest rates, we still aren’t breathing life into the economy, we are still living through recessionary-type misery. Why? Because people like councils are handing out rate rises that if offered up by literally anyone else would never see the light of day because they would be out of business. So see the connection? They are outsmarting us. They know they can do whatever they like – 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent – in some cases in some areas you are talking about 100 percent – a doubling now. Do we like that? No we do not. We gnash our teeth and moan and whinge and complain and yet what they have worked out is they have little if anything to fear because no one will do anything about it. You want proof? Look at Tauranga. I mean look at any local body election turnout. It’s less than a half. Sometimes less than a third. We literally don’t care. It was almost tragic last week when once again the Finance Minister asked – pleaded – with councils to do their bit and contain their inflationary ways. Will they? Of course not. Why would they? They have us by the balls because we are lazy and complacent. The Government have done their bit on spending. We are doing our bit by bleeding councils. They claim a million different reasons for their actions. And to be fair some of it I have sympathy with. Underinvestment is a real issue. But what they have done is seize the moment, played on our weakness, jumped on the inflationary bandwagon and charged the bejesus out of us. And because we are slack – they win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine joined Mike Hosking to discuss the All Blacks’ 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego, Ardie Savea’s move to Moana Pasifika, the controversies surrounding Oscar Piastri’s maiden Formula 1 win in Hungary, the Warrior’s top 8 hopes after their 20-18 defeat to the Raiders and Hamish Kerr’s winning performance in London. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy manufacturers are on edge as a potentially catastrophic move looms. This week Food Ministers here and across the ditch are expected to discuss labelling of formula products. French multinational Danone believes the move could make 441 people jobless in New Zealand, with $1 billion of exports lost. Infant Nutrition Council chief executive Jonathan Chew joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor says the traffic management industry's taking advantage of New Zealand's safety rules. Wayne Brown's commissioned an independent EY report on temporary traffic management. It found road work contractors are incentivised to cause maximum disruption for more profit, and legislative change is needed to change the behaviour. Brown told Mike Hosking he's trying to change Auckland's approach, but there's so many rules and regulations in the way. He says the culture of over-safety is everywhere here and these particular industries are exploiting it to the maximum. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga's new mayor says his election campaign was built on collaboration. Champion Olympic rower Mahe Drysdale has an almost 6000 vote lead in the mayoral race, with just the specials left to count. Drysdale told Mike Hosking voters have seen the success he's had before politics. “I campaigned on working as a team with government, with the staff, with community to deliver for the city.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief it's not as simple as diversifying New Zealand's technology landscape to protect us from global IT outages. Friday's global outage - which impacted an estimated 8.5 million Microsoft machines - was triggered by an update from global cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Former Microsoft National Technology Officer Russell Craig told Mike Hosking there's no denying we are hugely reliant on big tech. “But they bring us a lot of benefits. Although it’s appealing to think if we had more smaller players, we’d have more diversity and less risk, but I don’t know whether that stacks up.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions in the Middle East are rising with Yemen and Israel exchanging fire. At least three people are dead, with dozens of others injured, following a fiery attack on a Yemeni port. The Israel Defence Force says it was a direct response to a Houthi drone attack, which killed one person in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Joe Biden is still scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming days, as Israel mounts retaliatory action against Houthi rebels in Yemen. International relations expert Geoffrey Miller told Mike Hosking Netanyahu will be biding his time. “There’s every chance that Donald Trump will be in the White House, and Donald Trump is very much going to be backing Israel to the hills on this.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden's dropping out of the US presidential race. It's the first time in decades a sitting US President has ended a re-election run. Biden's endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place – but the final decision around her nomination lies with the Democratic Party delegates. Biden's recent debate performance had sent shivers through the party. Multiple senior party members have come forward publicly in recent weeks to express a lack of confidence he could carry out another term. Now, many are praising his decision, and his administration's work. Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason told Mike Hosking it's been difficult to predict whether this would happen. “He has in part of the time really dug in, and part of the time showed a willingness to listen to what people were telling him.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden has pulled out of the election race, saying it was in the best interest of the Democrat party and the country for him to stand down as candidate. Democrats had been calling for him to stand aside, over increasing concerns for his health and ability to win the election race against Donald Trump. He made a series of gaffes in recent months that raised questions about his ability to hold the position for another term. Biden endorsed Kamala Harris as the next leader for the party. US President Joe Biden has ended his re-election campaign after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the party’s candidate. Biden, 81, in a post on X, said he will remain in his role as president and commander-in-chief until his term ends in January 2025 and will address the public this week. STORY CONTINUES AFTER BLOG STORY CONTINUES “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote. His initial statement had not included an endorsement of Harris but he followed up a few minutes later with a post including an expression of support. His move could clear the way for Harris, 59, to run at the top of the ticket. It was unclear whether other senior Democrats would challenge Harris for the party’s nomination – she was widely seen as the pick for many party officials – or whether the party itself would choose to open the field for nominations. Biden as of Saturday night had planned to stay in the 2024 presidential race, but told senior staff on Sunday afternoon that he was withdrawing, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. “Last night the message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “At around 1.45pm today: the president told his senior team that he had changed his mind.” Biden’s announcement follows a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to quit the race after his poor performance in a June 27 televised debate last month against Republican rival Trump, 78. Days later he raised fresh concerns in an interview, shrugging off Democrats’ worries and a widening gap in opinion polls, and saying he would be fine losing to Trump if he knew he’d “gave it my all”. His gaffes at a Nato summit – invoking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name when he meant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and calling Harris “Vice President Trump” – further stoked anxieties. Only four days before Sunday’s announcement, Biden was diagnosed with Covid-19 for a third time, forcing him to cut short a campaign trip to Las Vegas. More than one in 10 congressional Democrats had called publicly for him to quit the race. Biden’s historic move – the first sitting president to give up his party’s nomination for re-election since President Lyndon Johnson in March 1968 – leaves his replacement with less than four months to wage a campaign. Biden was the oldest US president ever elected when he beat Trump in 2020. During that campaign, Biden described himself as a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Some interpreted that to mean he would serve one term, a transitional figure who beat Trump and brought his party back to power. But he set his sights on a second term in the belief that he was the only Democrat who could beat Trump again amid questions about Harris’ experience and popularity. His team had hoped a strong performance at the June 27 debate would ease concerns over his age. But donors began to revolt and supporters of Harris began to coalesce around her. Top Democrats, including former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a long-time ally, told Biden he cannot win the election. Biden initially resisted pressure to step aside. He held damage-control calls and meetings with lawmakers and state governors, and sat for rare television interviews. But it was not enough. Polls showed Trump’s lead in key battleground states widening, and Democrats began to fear a wipe-out in the House and Senate. On July 17, California’s Representative Adam Schiff called on him to exit the race. Biden’s departure sets up a stark new contrast, between the Democrats’ presumptive new nominee Harris, a former prosecutor, and Trump who at 78 is two decades her senior and faces two outstanding criminal prosecutions related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election result. He is due to be sentenced in New York in September on a conviction for trying to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star. Earlier this year, facing little opposition, Biden easily won the Democratic Party’s primary race to pick its presidential candidate, despite voter concerns about his age. See omnystudio.

Australia's unemployment rate rose over 4% as the country added more than 43,000 full-time jobs Economists had previously expected 20,000 roles but the job-market is significantly tighter than thought to be. Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking the cost of living is biting harder too. He says more people are looking for extra work and wish to work longer hours, but explains that could cause some problems next month when the Reserve Bank contemplates new cash rates and interest rates LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Democrats may be too late to choose a new Presidential candidate. President Biden has not given a clear sign of considering quitting the race, but those around him are beginning to lose confidence in his chances for a re-election. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking campaign funds have dropped drastically, and Biden's polls are slipping terribly. He says Biden's recent public appearances have cast further doubt amongst voters, as he shows clear lapses in memory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are set to play their next match at a bit of an unexpected location. San Diego is set to get a taste of Tier 1 international rugby with this weekend’s match between Fiji and the All Blacks. Normally a home fixture would be played in New Zealand, but NZR CEO Mark Robinson has been upfront about the commercial opportunities provided by taking the game stateside. Former NZ Rugby Union player and Kansas City Blues Coach James Patterson told Mike Hosking that in the States, the love of rugby is more regional. He said that anyone who loves the game knows it's on, but with the high volume of sports America has on offer, rugby falls pretty far down the list. Patterson said there’s a shift happening with the introduction of professional rugby, and people seeing that there is a career in the sport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the week comes to a close, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to wrap the week that was. They discussed the latest in the US Presidential Race, the cost of GPs, and whereabouts Mike fits on the spectrum as his mind moves 100 miles a minute. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s concerns Donald Trump's change of tune since his assassination attempt may not last long. Trump will formally accept the Republication nomination about 2pm today, the first time he's spoken since surviving the attack. FSN correspondent Simon Marks says since the Republican National Convention started this week, they've been suggesting it's time for American voters to rethink their definition of the party. He told Mike Hosking Trump's been strongly campaigning for unity but wonders whether this is a real change of behaviour, or if it's a one-night wonder. LISTEN ABOVE See 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. The shooting: 7/10 Because it's changed the race, possibly changed the world, put a spotlight on America and focused in on all that is wrong and right about the place. Donald Trump: 9/10 Survived a shooting, may or may not have involved God and got another court case delayed while getting his party's nomination. So a pretty good week then. Joe Biden: 3/10 This time last week he held a press conference to reassure everyone, except he ended up doing the opposite, then went and got Covid while his party panics and passes open letters around the place. Arbitrators: 7/10 Say whatever you want about the police pay decision, but it’s a hell of a lot better than a year's worth of back and forward going nowhere, isn't it? The King and Queen: 4/10 Not coming. Booo. Our motor racers: 8/10 Liam Lawson in RB20 testing, Scott McLaughlin winning in Indy and the first time on an oval, plus Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy looking to win the Formula E title this weekend. That's a lot of talent in a big world from a small country. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This has been the week the world changed. Like it or not, America affects us all and the President affects America. The Republican Party has nominated Donald Trump as their man and this afternoon our time he will accept. If you want to zoom out just a bit, the party is run these days by Lara, his daughter-in-law. "Make America Great Again" has been officially adopted by the party as its slogan and all the people within the party who swore he was trouble lined up this week to praise him. It’s the Donald Trump party and say whatever you want about him and his politics, but what he has managed to do is little short of miraculous. He is a force of nature. After Saturday, he will most likely win the election and create more history. God has played a role this week and whether you believe or not, something extraordinary has happened. Not only did he survive a shooting, the courts have turned as well. Florida is off until after the election, Georgia is delayed until after the election and the Supreme Court kind of agrees with him on immunity. Even New York and the sentencing, which really has nothing to do with his presidential life, is delayed. You can't write this stuff. Then in a turn of events you also can't write, we have a week where the conspiracy theorists went literally more mental than they already were. Biden says he might step aside if a medical issue prevented him from running, and then promptly goes and gets Covid, which, you guessed it, will lead to him having complications, which will lead to speculation, which will lead to him pulling out. And, and, and surely, it's at this point Michelle Obama joins in and saves the day. Oh also, the kid who shot Trump had no profile, no background, he's a plant that was paid off. As I say, you can't write this stuff. And yet, at least some of it is real and some of it will drive the world who-knows-where over the next handful of years Oh, and JD Vance, to cap it off, is a poor kid who wrote a book, got it made into a movie, went into business and became Vice President, potentially. He lived the American dream. Can you make a movie about the movie? It’s a mix between Shakespearian mystery and high farce. A complex drama and a circus act. It's so good you can't take your eyes off it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of July, the number of people on benefits just keep going up to record levels, despite the sanctions coming down from this Government. All eyes will be back on Trump and the Republican National Convention ahead of his speech about unity. Our man on the ground in Milwaukee is back to give us his insight. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson try and figure out whereabouts on the spectrum Mike fits while Wrapping the Week. 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.

There's a belief tax cuts to heated tobacco products will make a big difference for smokers. Customs Minister Casey Castello has faced criticism for cutting the excise tax by 50%. There are concerns over the lack of evidence to support the product and its possible appeal for young nonsmokers. Action for Smokefree 2025 Director Ben Youdan told Mike Hosking it's an effective cessation tool. He says for smokers who can't get into vaping, the tax cut will make this option very appealing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Social Development Minister's admitting the number of beneficiaries may keep growing this year. The number on the benefit's reached a new record for the June quarter, with 11.9% of working-aged people receiving it. This is despite a more than 50% rise in benefit sanctions in the last year. Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking Treasury expects Jobseeker numbers to peak around the end of the year. She says they've set an ambitious target to reduce the number of people on Jobseeker by 50 thousand within six years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data suggests demand for owning a small business is booming. ABC Business Sales reveals store ownership sales in the last three months were nearly 40% higher compared to the same period last year. It's also received more than 20 thousand enquiries from potential business owners in the last 12 months, ending June. Managing Director Chris Small told Mike Hosking an influx of new immigrants is a large proportion of the new business owners. He says the majority are coming from the Philippines, India, and China, and it seems they're keen to work for themselves. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for a review of the funding model used for General Practice, amid more price hikes for patients. Health New Zealand is forging ahead with a 4% increase to core General Practice funding. General Practice Chair Bryan Betty is adamant the sector needs an increase more like 7.7%. He told Mike Hosking the reality is some practices are unviable. Betty says we've seen that problem across the country, and it's happening every year now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italy has placed 12 cities under the most severe heat warning as southern Europe records temperatures over 40 degrees, with the worst still to come. Civil protection services reported 18 calls for help on Monday to douse wildfires that raged in several southern regions. Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking the country oddly faces worsening drought in the South, and heavy storms up North. She says the feverish conditions have caused rising tension towards tourists. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought traditional weddings are falling out of favour as growing numbers of couples opt to elope. Those in the sector have noticed a rising demand for packages in the last six months, as more soon-to-weds choose to tie the knot alone, or with few guests. New Zealand Dream Weddings owner Donna Dohi believes it's reflective of a changing society. She says church weddings are becoming a rarity for her business, with the majority of people choosing an 'adventure wedding' at one of our scenic hotspots. Dohi says couples are looking to focus on themselves and keep their special day stress-free. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The executive summary changes little if anything. Firstly, it's not the full report. We paid for the full report. The full report is about being transparent. The Greens can't claim transparency and honesty when they play dumb games like the ones they are. Secondly, it sort of doesn’t matter. It says what it is claimed it says, so in that sense it's not really the story anymore. The original story was whether Darleen Tana was not what she claimed to be. The report has answered that. Seeing the written evidence doesn't change the crime, even though Tana disputes bits of it. Sadly, her foray into the public light this week on the TV has not served her remotely well. As far as I could hear, she babbled and blustered and made literally no sense whatsoever, leaving me with the impression she must be a nightmare to deal with at the best of times... God knows what it’s like to buy a bike off her Anyway, that isn't the point either. The point is she is an interloper who may well have the brass neck to try it on and turn up to Parliament next week and tough it out. Which is the real story, what do the Greens do? And given the answer to this point is nothing, they are the real criminals. Pleading and asking her to quit hasn’t worked, isn't working, probably won't work. But is it a tactic that gets them out of actually doing anything. Is this, for both parties, a cake and eat it scenario? Tana hangs in there until we all get bored, so she's on the pigs back for the rest of the term, accountable to no one. The Greens huff and puff, do nothing hoping we also forget, but if and when we don’t, they can huff and puff some more, saying exasperatedly we asked her to resign but she wouldn’t. The waka laws of course solve it, but they are so hoisted by their myopic thinking on it they don't want to embarrass themselves any further even though it’s the right thing to do. They are also not off the hook on candidate selection. Having a one stop are you a nutter, will you embarrass us clause is not enough to safeguard yourself, as we have seen time and time again with this lot. They actually have to dig and ask a few questions. So if Tana’s skin is thick enough, she collects the money, passes go and laughs at us. And the Greens, well surely if this is them at their most decisive, Chloe’s dream of overtaking Labour is about as well thought through as their candidate selection process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The light at the end of the economic tunnel could be drawing nearer. Inflation has dipped to a 3-year low, with the Consumer Price Index rising only 0.4% in the June quarter. Banks are taking this as a positive sign, with ANZ and Westpac both cutting mortgage rates within the last week. Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking that a rate cut could be expected soon. He said that the Reserve Bank will be wary of going too soon and unleashing animal spirits in the housing market, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of that at the moment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 18th of July, there was a bigger than expected drop in inflation, so what does that mean for interest rates and your mortgage? Steven Joyce back on the show. Have I got the best car bargain for you! And what it says about the EV market. The brilliant Amy Shark, Australian singer and Australian Idol host, joins the show ahead of her new album and to play her new single "Two Friends". 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.

Her last two albums going number one in Australia, Amy Shark is set to release her latest work. She burst onto the global music scene in 2019, winning eight ARIA awards, and performed or written songs with Travis Barker, Ed Sheeran, Keith Urban, and Coldplay. ‘Sunday Sadness’ is due out in August, with an Australasian tour following behind in October. Shark is 38 years old, and finding success later on in the game has ensured she doesn’t take it for granted. She told Mike Hosking that she revels in her success, maybe more than others who maybe had a bit more luck and success early on. “Everything's really exciting for me still because like, you know, I didn’t get signed till I was like 30,” Shark said. “I feel like I’ve done so much, like, I really went hard the second I got signed." Getting signed allowed Shark to create music she loves. “I still love making music,” she told Hosking. “It doesn’t feel like a job.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electric Kiwi is shutting its doors to new customers, blaming soaring wholesale energy prices. The power retailer says prices have increased by nearly 50% in the past six months, and it has now reached a point where every new customer would lose it money. It says the big four gentailers —Mercury, Contact, Meridian and Genesis— all made over $2 billion in record profits last year. Electric Kiwi CEO Luke Blincoe told Mike Hosking the Electricity Authority and Commerce Commission have allowed market failure to happen under its watch. He says we rely on the market to deliver an essential service efficiently and that's not happening with the current distortions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's Chief Executive claims Auckland Airport's planned high charges for airlines is just a symptom of a larger issue. A Commerce Commission draft investigation has found the targeted returns from airlines, are in excess of what's reasonable. Air New Zealand warns travellers would bear much of that cost at a time where Consumer NZ finds the airline's fares have soared up to 300% in the last five years. Greg Foran told Mike Hosking the investigation is a good start but it's time something changed. He says the regulation isn't set at the right level and globally airlines are also finding the same issue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a view more local councils will agree with the Wellington region’s suggestion more time's needed for water reform. A bill is before select committee and further legislation is expected later this year. Ten councils from the lower North Island have written a joint submission on the proposal, asking the committee to consider extending proposed timeframes. Advisory Oversight Committee Chair Dame Kerry Prendergast signed it, and told Mike Hosking the Government suggests councils have to put together plans for 10 years. She says it's too much for communities to afford. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More savings on the horizon as prep begins for Budget 2025. This year's Budget came into effect just this month, but Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has confirmed the Government has already started work on the next. Seymour says $3 billion a year is needed just to stand still. He told Mike Hosking the Government doesn't know what other surprises will come along. He says, for example, New Zealand's allies want us to spend more on defence, and he personally agrees we should. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's anticipation inflation will fall once again. Economists are expecting another drop in the Consumer Price Index for the June quarter. The annual rate dipped to four percent in the year to March, a vast improvement on the precarious peak of 7.3% seen in the year to June 2022. Westpac's Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking he's picking a headline inflation rate of 3.5%. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tributes continue for Norm Hewitt. The Former All Black, Māori All Black, and Hurricane was fighting with Motor Neurone Disease before passing at the age of 55. For most of his international career, Hewitt was head-to-head with Sean Fitzpatrick for the No. 2 jersey. Fitzpatrick told Mike Hosking he has a massive respect for Hewitt, and the reason he got the best out of him is because Hewitt was hugely competitive. He said he has a huge admiration for what he did, saying that he had some difficult times and to be able to turn that around and give back was huge. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tenacious D's remaining Australasian shows have been cancelled. After being presented a birthday cake and asked to make a wish, band member Kyle Gass said "don't miss Trump next time". He's since apologised on social media and fellow band-mate Jack Black says he was blindsided by the comment. Australian correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking Jack Black laughed at the comment. He said that the sooner Black and his mate Gass get out of the country, the better they’ll all be. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Paris Olympics are just nine days away. As of this morning, the New Zealand team has been finalised, with 195 athletes covering 23 sports. Chef de Mission for the Kiwi contingent Nigel Avery is on the ground in Paris, settling into the athletes’ village and preparing for the arrival of the team. He told Mike Hosking that when it comes to the River Seine, the weather is the main problem. Avery said that when it rains the runoff causes problems, but the next ten days are forecast to be dry. If all else fails and the Seine is too dangerous to swim in, the triathlon will simply become a duathlon. “At the end of the day though, it is what it is.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.