The Mike Hosking Breakfast

I have at least partially changed my mind on charging tourists. The idea that you can wander around our conservation estate for free is, of course, nuts. Like the various charges that we have placed on tourists, whether it be at the border, or potentially in a hotel with a bed tax, the simple truth is if we got our act together in terms of marketing and seat capacity to the country, people would be happy to pay them. Why? Because everyone pays for everything all over the world and if post-Covid travel has taught us anything, it's that you can basically rob a tourist blind and they are still happy to pay. That's before you get to the bit where our dollar is so pathetic that most people coming here can't believe what they get on the exchange rate. But as part of the conservation announcement over last weekend what we also got was New Zealand's other great problem – the negative reaction. As much as we love our open spaces and clean air and national parks you have never seen a group of people more determined not to have anyone touch them. God forbid we should open the place up to a bit more business. We have seen it for years in the RMA and groups like Forest & Bird, who must have spent millions on lawyers in the environment court looking not to change anything. The Quiet Sky group at Waiheke and various other locations are determined never to see a chopper polluting their environment ever again. There is this default position whereby we are happy to be left alone, we don't like interlopers, intruders or *ick* tourists. And we certainly don't want them tramping over our stuff, far less *ick* landing a helicopter and then tramping over our stuff. We don't like cruise ships either so we have made them ruinously expensive to park here. So, they don't. Yay, a win for the greenies. What we do like though is lots more pay, lots more hospital beds, much better education, lots of welfare and generous dollops of free stuff, all paid for by the money tree in Wellington. The fact tourism, the conservation estate, ships and rich Americans in E130's pay for a lot of it doesn't seem to have registered. 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. Sheds: 8/10 The new garden shed rules are what good governance should be about – simple and common sense. How hard can it be? Local body elections: 4/10 Nominations close and, once again, a whole bunch of races are not being run because we don't have enough candidates. 15% tariffs: 1/10 Biggest blow of the week in an economy that needs it like a hole in the head. Coal: 7/10 Good cooperation with the gentailers, some cold, hard reality at last, and a good kick in the pants for the idiots who closed the oil and gas. Downtown Auckland: 3/10 Wake up call of the week from the real estate bloke who said we look more like Suva than Sydney. Ouch. Jobs: 4/10 Because the simple truth is this aint over. There is more where that came from in a year that was supposed to be showing real signs of recovery. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I said earlier this week that the Government will be re-elected next year because, all things being equal, history tends to show you get two terms. Plus, the Opposition remain the same people who stuffed the place a year and a half ago and the pain of that, the closeness of that, is still real for too many of us. Unless of course they rejuvenate the party or say sorry – none of which is going to happen. This was all backed up by Treasury who, in one of their latest papers which is well worth reading, basically says the Government overspent. They were told not to overspend. And whatever spending they were doing should've been targeted and directly linked to Covid. None of that advice was followed. They sprayed money at a rate that equated to $66billion, or 20% of GDP, and when the worst was over they kept spraying. And here we are a couple of years later bogged down in their economic incompetence. The politics of it all is in full swing as Labour tried to blame the current Government for the mess. What's making that argument slightly complicated is the ongoing criticism, which is justifiable if you ask me, that for all the announcements and noise, this is a timid Government that really had licence to go for broke and they have largely chickened out. They have dabbled and poked and prodded and done some decent, common sense stuff. In just the past few weeks we've had changes to building products, garden sheds, speed limits, RUC's and NCEA. There is no shortage of bits and pieces but it's not transformational, hence the slow progress and the opening for Labour to have a crack. Labour are praying you forget all this is on them. But it is and the Treasury paper very clearly says so. They told Grant Robertson to tighten it up, to be disciplined, but socialists with majorities and egos are not for turning and so the ruinous money party was on. Writing about it doesn't fix it. But it is proof positive that this lot inherited one of the most ill-disciplined, ill-advised, arrogant, bungling, fiscal messes of the modern age and if you don't believe the National Party, believe Treasury. Labour don't have a leg to stand on. And the same people who did that to us are still there wanting you to forget and give them another crack in a years time. That is why they will not win. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Friday, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was. They discussed Mike's potential career in reality TV, car troubles, and AI in language learning apps. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are just holding onto their position in the top four. Saturday will see them face off against the Bulldogs – a must win match after their last two losses. But the question remains, with the spotty performances from the New Zealand team, will they be able to defeat a top four side? Former Warriors Captain Monty Betham told Mike Hosking the Warriors have yet to lose three matches in a row this year, and experts believe that pattern will hold true. He says both teams will be looking to bounce back in this clash, vying for a higher position in the top four. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An exception to normal procedure at the Crusaders in bringing Richie Mo'unga back to the Super Rugby franchise. The 56-test All Black has signed an 18-month contract to return in July after three seasons playing in Japan. Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge says they're stoked Mo'unga is returning to his home franchise. He told Mike Hosking this type of contract is probably the way of the future – athletes gaining experience elsewhere before returning to the game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 8th of August, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins to talk about the huge number of kids leaving school without a single qualification. In sporting news – Richie Mo'unga is coming back so there's cause for celebrations for Canterbury and All Blacks fans. And we look at a massive make-or-break weekend for the Warriors to see whether they are serious contenders this year. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week and talk about whether Mike is going to feature on reality TV in the very near future. 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 prospects of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may be crumbling faster than they've formed. The Kremlin says the US President and his Russian counterpart have agreed to meet in the "coming days". But the New York Post is quoting Trump's officials, saying this is not the case. Foreign Policy Analyst Jimmy Rushton told Mike Hosking Putin is burning through astonishing amounts of manpower for relatively little strategic progress. He says Putin thinks he can outlast the West, but Ukraine would rather fight than accept poor peace terms. Rushton says many people have taken what Moscow's selling and run with it, and it shows desperation from the Kremlin for it to pretend it is ready for peace. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view we're an international outlier with our labelling regulations. The standards are under review from the Ministry for Regulation in its latest attack on red tape. Minister David Seymour says the labelling codes seem overly restrictive. He says for example, Chemist Warehouse has someone employed full time to check labels. BusinessNZ CEO Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking it's an issue for overseas companies having to deal with regulations here that are nowhere else. She says if you buy a bottle of French or Spanish wine, it'll have an ugly white sticker on it – that's because of rules that only apply here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The effects of Donald Trump's tariff hikes are already being felt in the US and around the world. The US President's updated trade policy is now in effect for more than 90 trading partners. New Zealand goods are grappling with a 15% tariff at the American border. US Correspondent Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking the income will pay for Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy at the cost of consumers. He says prices for almost anything Americans get as an imported product will rise. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says the Government did the best it could in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Treasury's latest report calculates the total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic at $66 billion. The Government ignored official advice at the time to ease spending. New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Mike Hosking it is hard to fault anyone up until late 2020. He says, afterwards, the Government failed to come up with solutions outside lockdowns and wage subsidies. Treasury is now suggesting the Government establish an independent fiscal institution for better scrutiny. Crampton says Treasury isn't in a position where it can effectively challenge the Finance Minister's decisions. He says the public currently can't rely on Treasury for clear warnings when things are going wrong, which is needed for democratic accountability. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister says he'd sack Willow Jean-Prime for declining numerous Government requests for collaboration on NCEA reform. Documents show Labour's education spokesperson declined an advisor's meeting and didn't answer a text and multiple emails from Education Minister Erica Stanford regarding planned changes to NCEA. David Seymour told Mike Hosking if he were Labour's leader, he would drop her because there are better people for the job. He says he wouldn't know what to do because she may be the best option that Labour has. Seymour says we need alternative schooling options to keep students in schools, with more than ten and a half thousand students leaving school last year with no educational qualifications. Ministry of Education data reveals 16% didn't achieve NCEA Level 1 or above – 6% more than in 2017. He told Hosking the education system has become less appealing because children don't believe they're missing something valuable. There's also ethnic disparity, with 28% of Māori school leavers having achieved no qualifications, compared to 19% of Pacific leavers and 14% of Pākehā leavers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Jones is fast becoming my favourite politician. And he might have summed up the Government's issues with one on of his increasingly famous quips. "The Ruth Richardson bare austerity approach is not delivering the economic growth we need." He is right, isn't he? Classic liberal politics, trimming and cutting, is not the massive bomb we need under us. As Chris Bishop yesterday was offering more detail on RUC rates and a move away from petrol taxes, all of which is fine, Shane and his mate Winston were wandering around Marsden Point and talking of making it a special economic zone. It'd have tax treatment and incentives to get people to invest and do things. Marsden has got land and a port, it's close to shipping lanes, etc. Ireland has made these things famous. They cut a deal on rates, or tax, bring 'em in, stoke 'em up and watch the growth explode. Image might be a problem. Shane and Winston both come from, well, Marsden, so it's a bit nepotistic. But the idea is sound. Shane has also this week announced a massive upheaval of fishing, the biggest in decades. So it's the big stuff that we may need because the regular size stuff hasn't provided the heft we hoped for. Yes, yes, yes, they inherited a mess, we get that, but the results are what count. As ACT changed the laws around garden sheds and Nicola talks about supermarkets, it might just be ideas beyond our normal comprehension are what are actually called for. The irony of the Jones' idea is it's not part of the coalition deal. I could ask, why not? Is the Ruth Richardson line an acceptance that what they thought would work, hasn't? Another irony – I'm not sure how Shane and Winston can wander around Marsden blue-skying their way out of recession, when it's them that's holding up the foreigners from buying a house after they have invested tens of millions into the country. But credit where credit is due, Jones seems to have taken on the mantle of the arse kicker. He is where a lot of us are at. This is not a bad Government, far from it. It's perhaps just a timid Government. And with October 26 and a ballot box getting closer, maybe we need to shift it up a gear. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kaylee Bell has been busy since she last popped into the ZB studio. The Kiwi country singer has released a new single, has a new album ‘Cowboy Up' on the way and a five date tour coming later in the year, but she's also become a mother. Her son, only six months old, has already been around the world – Bell taking her family along as she performs in America, Australia, and around New Zealand. “He's definitely just getting chucked in and taken for the ride,” she told Mike Hosking. Motherhood wasn't necessarily something Bell had on her agenda, revealing that it's not something she thought she'd get the chance to do. “But it's just so nice,” she said. “I love that I get to go and, you know, play a show and I walk off the stage and he's there now, or I get to come home to him at the end of the day.” “In this industry, it's so nice to have something so grounding.” Pregnancy is not an easy experience but Bell's schedule remained packed, the singer working right up until 34 weeks, at which point she could no longer fly. “I cut a record here in New Zealand,” she explained to Hosking. “And then I had James at the end of January, and we were back on stage after six weeks for CMC Rocks in Australia.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising unemployment is expected to add to the case for a lower OCR. Unemployment's hit a five-year high of 5.2% and is expected to rise further. Economists now broadly expect the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate by another 25-basis-points to 3% in two weeks. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking further cuts now seem likely. He says his team have been forecasting a neutral rate of 2.75% for years, but there's a chance the OCR could get to 2.5 percent in the current cycle. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, the unemployment number wasn't as bad as predicted, but it could still go up from here – plus, the Government has announced a shift to Road User Charges. We can't be too worried about the economy since we all seem to be overseas on holiday, and then a record number of us are making travel insurance claims for overseas injuries. It's been too long since we caught up with Kiwi country singer Kaylee Bell, so she's in to play us her new single and talk the upcoming album and tour. 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.

Grocery prices will continue to hit Kiwi consumers and our economy hard. A report by the Commerce Commission shows prices are increasing again this year after appearing to stabilise last year. It's revealed we now pay the fifth highest grocery prices in the developed world. Grocery Action Group Chair Sue Chetwin told Mike Hosking the competition in New Zealand isn't particularly healthy. She says that unless the two major supermarkets know that they're going to face proper regulation or something big will happen to them, they can continue to charge high prices. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are becoming a liability when travelling in Europe. New data reveals 1Cover New Zealand has paid out more than $2.7 million in travel claims to customers travelling to Europe since May. The biggest claim was more than $96 thousand. Vincent George Travel Agents co-owner Rosann Connolly George told Mike Hosking with weather disruptions and uncertainty around the world, travel insurance is crucial. She says the demographic heading to Europe is the middle age to older group, so claims stack up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert says there is a concerning trend as businesses owe more and more to Inland Revenue. Businesses owe more than $1.4 billion in unpaid GST and PAYE from the 2025 tax year. Only $66 million of that is from businesses or individuals that are bankrupt or in liquidation. Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker told Mike Hosking the construction sector alone owes about $1 billion. She says it is difficult to say how it stacks up against other industries. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says anxiety about tariffs will be playing a part in slowing down New Zealand's economic recovery. Unemployment's reached a five-year high of 5.2%. Economists think it could rise even higher before it starts turning around. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking tariffs aren't great, but some people may have been more worried than they should be. She says the tariffs will have affected confidence and investment intentions, but it's important to remember that New Zealand is doing okay compared to the rest of the world. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AA is onboard with the switch from petrol tax to electronic Road User Charges, but says there are a few issues to sort out. The change is expected to come in by 2027. Transport Policy Director Martin Glynn says it's likely there will be devices actually in vehicles to make the measurements. He told Mike Hosking it will be easier to implement with modern cars. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stark reality of linear TV in New Zealand, if Irene Gardiner was right on yesterday's show, is fairly simple. Here is how the calculation works: you make a product, you stick it on air, you get an audience, and you sell advertising based on that audience. Some programs can never hope to get the sort of audience to pay for the cost of the show. Enter Government support or brand sponsorship – in other words, a financial support mechanism to make a show that would not have otherwise been made. I made a show called ‘Sunday' years back. It was on TV3 on the weekend off peak. It didn't rate very well, but it was never going to, but it rated fairly well for what it was, which was a niche program talking about the arts. It was made with NZ On Air money. Now, does Treasure Island attract more viewers than that? Yes. So if you are going to toss money at something why not that? You get more bang for buck. But the money tree hasn't got more money, so someone loses. Maybe it's an arts program. The really scary thing is the calculation around peak time i.e. prime time. This show makes money and quite a lot of it. Newstalk ZB is profitable. TVNZ and TV3 are not. So what about pay-per-view? SkyTV is profitable, but they have sport. What does TV3 or TVNZ have that you would pay for? Would you pay to watch Treasure Island? Of course you wouldn't. So prime time linear TV is not profitable because the advertising dollars have vanished to Google and TikTok and Meta. That is not changing and that's the problem, because all that's left is the taxpayer. The big question is to what extent should the taxpayer fund your evening's entertainment? And when I say you, I mean those who are left watching the TV as opposed to YouTube or Netflix. If linear TV can't make a buck at 7.30pm on a Wednesday, how long before the lights get switched off? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary have received subpoenas from a congressional committee to testify about Jeffrey Epstein. The Republican committee chair has also called eight others, including former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. The committee's looking for more information about the deceased sex offender after the Trump administration decided against releasing further files. US Correspondent Charles Feldman told Mike Hosking we're unlikely to see any great revelations come from this. He says it doesn't seem like there's anything that will come out about Epstein that hasn't already been leaked over the past few years – but that hasn't stopped either the Republicans or Democrats from pursuing the files. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a busy start to the week and Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest topics thus far. The Government is completely overhauling secondary school qualifications, aiming to completely replace NCEA over five years. Is this a sensible plan? The criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles will be tightened as the Government forges ahead with the changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act – is pushing forward the right decision? And the National Party President has made some bold claims at the party conference – does she have a point? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's wine industry is facing some troubles. The industry is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in extra tariffs, Donald Trump imposing a 15% rate on New Zealand while many competing markets will continue to face only 10%. Along with this, there is an oversupply issue and declining global demand, with nearly 100,000 tonnes of fruit remaining unharvested this season alone. Winegrowers NZ's Charlotte Read told Mike Hosking that despite the challenging times, there is a very strong demand for New Zealand wines, which will continue to be sought after around the world. She says they have no long term reason for concern. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 6th of August, we look forward to the unemployment figures due today, and the Government pushing ahead with the foreshore and seabed law. Mike looks at our wine industry and all the grapes going unharvested. Are the golden days of Sauvignon Blanc over? Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell cover some of the major announcements of the week on Politics Wednesday. 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.

Last year's recession is still being felt in the job market. Stats NZ data —due out this morning— is expected to show unemployment reached a nine-year high of 5.3% in the June quarter. The economy's been back in growth since the latter part of last year. But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking the economy has lost about 40,000 jobs since the late 2023 peak. More full-time roles have been lost than part time, he explained, and the labour market is getting that much weaker. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Triathlon New Zealand's claimed hosting rights for pinnacle events in Tauranga over the next three years. A World Triathlon Cup will take place in the Bay of Plenty next year, before a top-level Championship Series race in 2027 and the Series' Grand Final in 2028. Triathlon NZ chief executive Pete de Wet says they could see upwards of 3000 Kiwis racing across age groups and the all-comers race in 2028. He told Mike Hosking there's a big interest in the sport from an age group perspective, and it's great for the athletes to be able to compete at home instead of having to chump on a plane. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Area Act says the Government would have passed the bill even if the Supreme Court had agreed with a lower court's ruling against it. The Government will proceed with the bill which will tighten criteria for Māori claiming Customary Marine Titles. Justice and Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking he thinks the settings will be right after the legislation's passed. He says they want Māori to be able to apply for the titles but there has to be a high bar. Goldsmith says they want to move on this quickly, and he's hoping to have the legislation introduced in October. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Power companies are warning the road to fully renewable energy will be a bumpy one. The big four power companies will co-invest in an energy stockpile which will include 600-thousand tonnes of coal. Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says power companies have a commitment to renewables. He told Mike Hosking Mercury has invested a billion dollars into geothermal and wind power, but there needs to be a backup. Hamilton says when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining, there needs to be a more solid source of energy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A digital education expert is cautious of blanket adoption of artificial intelligence for exam marking. Education Minister Erica Stanford says AI is already partly used for marking and expects it could do almost all assessments by 2028. It comes as the Government plans to scrap NCEA for an entirely new qualification. Canterbury University Associate Professor Kathryn MacCallum told Mike Hosking AI comes with its own complexities. She says it will solve one problem, but won't address how it affects education overall. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The leader of the Reform UK Party has called for police to release more information about those charged with crimes. Nigel Farage believes details such as immigration status should be made public, saying it's not in contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who have allegedly committed serious crimes. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it comes after the arrest of two men in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several interesting bits out of the NCEA changes for me. Firstly, the "New Zealand Certificate of Education” actually sounds like something, doesn't it? The same way an “A” tells you something. The New Zealand Certificate or Advanced Certificate of Education is a “thing” you can get your head around, as in do you have one, or do you not? NCEA is an acronym. Under the changes you need to pass things. How wonderfully old-fashioned. If you don't pass you don't advance, therefore when you do pass it actually counts. It means something and you have achieved something. Having watched NCEA in action with five kids, it has been shocking. Virtually anyone could get it and that was, and is, never a good thing. Under the new regime you take five subjects, and you need to pass four. There's nothing too complicated about that. The compulsion around maths and language I am, in a way, sad about. Choice is good and freedom is good, if you know what you are doing. If you're aiming somewhere specific a tailored approach is vastly more appealing. But in a mass system you are vulnerable to chancers and the weakest links, and they were always going to take the joke subjects, the easy gets. And as such, wreck any reputation you might have hoped for around your qualification. The vocational aspect is years overdue. Gateway and versions like it sort of touched on the trades and specific careers or jobs. But this fascination, if not obsession, we seemed to have had with university has been ruinous for too many. Being a tradie is actually to be admired. It is not second place. The snobbishness around a university degree has got so absurd, you've ended up with any number of bewildered teenagers chasing arts degrees and Bachelors of Communication for no discernible reason other than that's what they thought they should do. I'm dreadfully sad though for the thousands of kids who have been messed around with NCEA. What's its value? What weight does a generation of kids place on a thing that's been binned? For some they got locked down in Covid and given a crap qualification, thanks for coming. But onwards and upwards. It's a little bit back to the future. But along with the mad open classrooms, isn't it fascinating how forward the old days appear now to be? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Kiwi is plying their trade overseas, aiming to make it into top level racing. Rianna O'Meara-Hunt grew up karting alongside the likes of Liam Lawson and Matt Payne, winning her titles before deciding to focus on endurance racing. She was the first junior female to become an Australian State Karting Champion, the first female winner of the Rotax Max Challenge Rounds in NZ, and has won the NZ Super Kart Grand Prix multiple times. After competing for Aston Martin in GT4 and racing in their academy, O'Meara-Hunt has set her sights on the F1 Academy. She told Mike Hosking she backs her ability to get into the academy, and is really looking forward to being able to prove her adaptability and skill on the track. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A glass half-full mindset for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after naming a group of six players as injury cover for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign. Uncapped trio Kyle Preston, Leroy Carter, and Tevita Mafileo, along with Finlay Christie, George Bower, and Josh Lord comprise the back-up unit in the 42-strong wider squad. Ahead of their tournament opener in Argentina next weekend, Robertson says injuries are a reality of the game. He told Mike Hosking you never know how things will play out – you could get two or three years with a player, and then two or three injuries in a row. Robertson says that when you get a double break in one position, it provides an opportunity for a less experienced player. He says that you always want your best players, but sometimes it doesn't happen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, we talk to the vocational sector and Education Minister Erica Stanford about the NCEA overhaul. Should New Zealand On Air be using millions of our tax dollars to fund reality TV shows that aren't making money themselves? Rianna O'Meara-Hunt is a Kiwi name to watch in racing, and talks to us about her big push to get into the F1 Academy. 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.

New NZ On Air funding announcements provide some hope in a tough time for Kiwi made TV shows. Their latest non-fiction funding includes more than $1.3 million for Celebrity Treasure Island and $750 thousand for Country Calendar. Screen Producer's Association President Irene Gardiner told Mike Hosking with so little ad revenue, it's a high pressured, intense time for NZ on Air. She says the New Zealand version of Treasure Island is thought of as one of the best in the world and is selling, so if we get more international sales, NZ On Air contributions can reduce. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says balance of choice is a priority under its new qualification system. The Government is proposing to throw out NCEA for two certificates in Years 12 and 13. Level 1 will be replaced with a foundation test in numeracy and literacy. Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking that after Year 11, students are free to choose the subjects which engage them. She says the key difference will be when students study English, math, or physics, it will be against a world-leading benchmarked curriculum, and children in Invercargill will be learning the exact same thing as those in Auckland. The Education Minister's also looking at trimming down the variety of subjects available to students. Stanford told Hosking they're taking a look at the number of subjects and the amount of students taking each one. But she still wants the option for children to take classes which excite them, like dance and drama. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland house prices have held firm through a busy July. Real estate agency Barfoot & Thompson's revealed it sold 957 properties across the Auckland region last month – its highest July total in four years. More than 46% of sales sat at more than a million dollars and new listings rose more than 14%. Managing Director Peter Thompson says the market's holding steady and is ready to take-off when interest rates come down further. He told Mike Hosking things are starting to move again with more first-time home buyers entering the market and more activity from developers as a result of the fast track legislation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Excitement from the trades sector for a better pipeline for high school students. The Government is looking to phase out NCEA over five years – replaced with a foundation test in Year 11 and certificates in Years 12 and 13. It also wants to improve vocational pathways for students entering the workforce. Motor Trade Association Advocacy Head James McDowall told Mike Hosking NCEA is an absolute mess. He says it isn't effective when students only pick up occasional credits in vocational pathways. McDowall also says NCEA has far too much flexibility – saying credits for changing a car's oil doesn't give someone the experience to be an automotive engineer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's disappointment Canterbury communities weren't consulted on a proposal to shut down rural Police stations. Police are looking to reduce personnel, disestablishing some rural roles in favour of larger 24/7 hubs based in Rolleston and Rangiora. Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green told Mike Hosking the community's heard about it via the media. She says their Police live in their area and know their people, and if you lose that in a rural community it has a huge impact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 4th of August, could we have done anything to ensure we got 10% instead of a 15% tariff hit? The Prime Minister joins Mike in studio to talk humanity, tariffs and when we are getting the NCEA announcement. Andrew Kelleher and Jason Pine talk everything from a dismal Warriors team to a good Wallabies side to a good Liam Lawson race. 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.