The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Luxon - 1, media - 0. After no small effort on the media's part to drum up a crisis on a bad poll, there's two important points and we can put this whole nonsense to bed. 1) Luxon doesn't have a coup brewing. Despite all the detractors' best efforts, there is no one counting numbers. The nearest they have managed to get is Chris Bishop, who was more interested in being in India over the weekend than lining up a new job for the new week. Also, we don't vote for Prime Ministers. They are not presidents. We vote for parties and policies and results. If you like National you don't not vote National because the leader isn't to your taste. 2) The revelation from the Curia poll, that on one hand they tried to tell you how unpopular Luxon was with a net negative rating of -19. It turns out Bishop is about as bad on -14. Erica Stanford is -16. Everyone is underwater. Chuck in Winston, Seymour, and Hipkins, you'll see no one is in positive territory and that tells you a couple of things as well. We live in an era where likeability is irrelevant because we hate everyone. Post-Covid we have never got over the funk, so as much as you want to bang on about Luxon not connecting, according to the numbers, no one connects. It's all over the world. Trump is underwater, Starmer is underwater, Albanese is underwater and Macron is underwater. Chris Minns who runs New South Wales is popular currently because of his handling of Bondi. Apart from that pick a politician because we hate them all. In the likeability numbers, the likes of which we see in the TV1 poll, if Hipkins was 50% and Luxon was 20% then that's an issue. But they aren't. They both have been stuck at about 20% forever and all the others are below that. That's why none of this matters. In the past the polls have shown an answer, a suitor, a name that drives a bit of fizz. We have no such names. Now, you can debate the merits or otherwise of great leaders with great personalities, or lack of them. But we are where we are and none of the current lot will go down as Churchill's, to paraphrase Trump. And Churchill, by the way, for a lot of the time wasn't popular either. So let's see this nonsense for what it is: we are voting on the economy, not show-men. There is no coup, this is but one poll. Mountain versus molehill. A waste of time. Let's all try and do a lot better. There is too much at stake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK and France are sending more defence assets to the Middle East as the conflict's death toll ticks over 1700. Iran has appointed the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, signalling a defiance to the US and Israel. Many of the deaths so far have occurred within Iran and Lebanon, with Israel ramping up its strikes. French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will deploy 10 warships and an aircraft carrier to nearby waters as a defensive measure. France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking that Macron is saying what most other European leaders are saying – they are there to protect their interests, assets, and citizens. She says they're defending their assets and allies in the area, but they're not getting involved in the wider conflict. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our best up and coming country music talents is being recognised across the ditch. Zac Griffith is a self-taught musician from Tapawera, near Nelson, and his rise started at the Gold Guitar Awards, which he won in 2023 at the age of 18. He joined Kaylee Bell on tour last year, and got a co-sign from Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson. Griffith told Mike Hosking that Bell has been a big influence and cheerleader for him. “She really has boosted my confidence, especially with taking me on that tour that she did last year,” he explained. “It's, you know, getting the praise from people that you look up to – people that are doing what you want to be doing.” Griffith had won a handful of country music awards before taking home the Gold Guitar, but it was that award that reinforced his path in music. “Winning that really was, was a testament to me, and was, yeah the thing that made me go, okay, I must be doing alright.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10th of March, we look at the share market and what will happen to prices at the pump after oil prices spiked. Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses the potential for the Government to scrap the fuel tax next year, plus inflation pressures from the war. And Kiwi country up-and-comer Zac Griffith performs his new single and details his self-taught rise in the country scene. 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 research suggests daily multivitamins could slow biological ageing. A clinical trial in the US found slower changes in the DNA based epigenetic clocks of older adults who take multivitamins. It suggests that simple nutritional interventions could potentially influence the body's ageing process. Professor at Massey University's Centre for Public Health Research and Nutrition, Lisa Te Morenga told Mike Hosking it's not a magic pill. She says the effects so far are quite tiny, and there's no evidence yet that multivitamins actually help you live longer, it's just changing things they believe are associated with living longer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is actively monitoring the impact international fuel prices are having on the price we're being asked to pay at the pump. Crude oil prices have topped US$100 a barrel for the first time in three years, and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents in the weekend. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that they're conscious that the price at the pump impacts not only most New Zealanders, but also freight costs and other costs across the economy. But she says they need to understand what the bigger picture looks like before they overreact, as any money they throw at the problem is money they will need to borrow. “We need to be prudent about New Zealand's fiscal position.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mussel farmers are warning that plans to discharge partially treated sewage into the ocean to deal with Christchurch's Bromley stink, could wipe out aqua culture. The City Council's planning to dump 30% of partially treated wastewater into the ocean to ease pressure on the poorly operating treatment plant. Two thousand tonnes of green lipped mussels come from eight Aroma New Zealand farms in Banks Peninsula annually. Company director Ben Winters told Mike Hosking chlorine and sewage don't need to go to sea. He warns if plans go ahead, it could be a national disaster. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More people have been filling up at petrol stations as prices climb. The Waitomo Group says there's been a 15-20% increase in demand in the past week. Chief Executive Simon Parham says pump prices have gone up from about 10 to 20 cents a litre. He told Mike Hosking it's because they buy their product on a weekly basis. Parham says with short sharp shocks it's very hard to avoid price increases. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some positive signs from international markets overnight. American and European markets tumbled on Friday due to ongoing concerns about the Middle East conflict. Asia-Pacific markets followed suit yesterday, with the NZX 50 dropping 3.1%. Craigs Investment Partners Investment Director Mark Lister told Mike Hosking trading overnight has been more subdued. He says oil prices got up to about $120 a barrel and are now back in the 90s, and the US, UK, and Europe markets are down again, but only slightly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 9th of March, we look at week two of the war and whether it's about to start hitting retail prices. The Prime Minister joins and talks his eventful weekend after the bad poll, plus whether we are looking at repatriation flights in the Middle East. Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the F1, Auckland FC, Rennie vs Joseph and the might Warriors! 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.

Staying the course when things are tough is a skill. I think you either have it or you don't. Chris Luxon will not get rolled, but he may quit. That would be a mistake of epic proportions. What would drive me, if I was him, would be rational thought. 1) This election is not about personality, it's about economic management. On that the Government are tracking well. 2) The internal polling within the National Party is fine. It does not reflect the Curia poll that the media made so much of. The unfortunate thing about Friday's pre-hyped release is it came at the same time Luxon had had a bad week on the war. That week by the way, was nowhere near as bad as some made it out to be. But the two events came together for a good week-end headline. 3) This would be the bit that would focus my mind - it's only Hipkins. Seriously, you're only lining up Labour as an opponent. On the economy. The people who wrecked the place two and a bit years ago are asking the voter to come back and do a bit more of it. You don't believe me? Read Thomas Coughlan's piece with Barbara Edmonds. 4) Even if you take the poll seriously, which you shouldn't. There is a one seat shift, so it's within a margin of error. 5) The economy will save you. You campaigned on a turnaround and the turnaround is real. Given we are voting on economics, the National leader is not a deal-breaker. If you are voting on interest rates and jobs, does Chris Bishop or Erica Stanford really change your view of your lot? They are good people and good talents, but they aren't game-changers and they won't get you a job any more than Luxon will. 6) Having done the hard yards, why quit now? The prize is just down the road and with a second term perceptions change. 7) The coalition as an operation is a success. Three parties have, and do, work well together. It's MMP in action. The alternative? Hipkins talking about a minority Government, a Green Party and extremism and a Māori Party that will not be back in anywhere near the numbers they have now. It's not a combo. This must all sit heavily with Luxon. How could it not? But that is what leadership is about. That is what you chased and bought into. If you think you will fail you will automatically be successful. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A surge in enrolments has Auckland University's campus buzzing. Total semester one enrolments have topped 47,000, up 8% from the same time last year. Undergraduate numbers are driving much of the growth rising 10%, which is nearly three thousand more students. Deputy Vice Chancellor of Education Sarah Young told Mike Hosking that several factors are driving the increase. She says more students go to university when unemployment is high, while they've put a lot of work into attracting international students. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been another assurance from Chris Luxon that he isn't going anywhere. A Taxpayers' Union Curia poll shows National on just 28.4%, behind Labour on 34.4%. This has sparked speculation about Luxon's future as leader. On Friday, Luxon says told Newstalk ZB he wasn't considering his position. Today, Luxon told Mike Hosking that hasn't changed at all over the weekend. He says the only future he's been considering is the future of New Zealand's kids and grandkids, and how the Government to set the country up for better success. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many Fonterra dairy farmers are planning to invest their upcoming capital return back into their farms. The dairy co-op's been given the green light by regulators to sell its consumer brands to France dairy giant Lactalis for $4.22 billion. Farmers will get back two-dollars a share, possibly by the middle of next month. Fonterra Co-operative Council Chair John Stevenson told Mike Hosking that farmers will be trying to make the most of the money they receive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conflict in Iran won't just affect petrol. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says prices in her domain haven't increased yet, but they will soon. She says it's been forecast that the conflict could add half a percent to inflation. Young told Mike Hosking that it will affect everything that needs to be delivered, whether they be by road, sea or air. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of barrels remain stuck behind the blocked the Strait of Hormuz. The price of crude oil has increased 35% since last week. Generate Investment Specialist Greg Smith told Mike Hosking that only a few ships are being getting through. He says Chinese ships are getting through as Iran still needs them for revenue. The Commerce Commission says international conflicts will affect prices but it expects retailers to keep prices competitive. It says it will call out any behaviour which impacts New Zealanders' ability to get a fair price. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The primary teachers' union is doing my head in. This country needs fewer people like them and more people wanting to get on with it, get ahead, dream big, be bold, work harder and generally look at life in a more upbeat way. The latest problem for the union is they want facilitated bargaining. I bet they do. Unlike just about everyone else union based who has signed a deal, the primary teachers lot think they are so special and so different that the fact they can't reach a deal like everyone else must be someone else's fault. My line, and it's always been this way, is have a structure, a couple of cracks, a bit of back and forward, a best and final offer and then if you can't agree go to compulsory arbitration. Not facilitated. Make it compulsory. You argue your case, the decision is made and that's the end of that. These cases we have seen of late all go on for literally months, and all end up literally the same. In the recent cases everyone has got about 2% this year and 2% next. That is not a result that required that amount of angst and anger and walk outs and placards and TV news stories with moaning unionists talking about unfairness and shortages. What the unions have never quite gripped is social licence. The broad idea of unions representing the most vulnerable of workers is not a bad one. But like so many of these things, it's turned into an industry where hundreds of people on large salaries rely on division and upset to have a job. Happy workers do not make happy unionists and teachers especially are not vulnerable. Cleaners are vulnerable. Teachers are largely on six figure salaries. On a bang for buck basis unions don't pull their weight. They are not worth it. Stalling is not a productive tactic, and placards are last centuries technique. Compulsory arbitration – I dare them to give it a go. It's short, it's sharp, it ticks a box and we can all move on. But why would you want to solve an issue quickly when your very existence relies on the opposite? 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 war: 6/10 As much as you want to give a war a number, this is not World War III, it is not going to last four years. It most likely won't last four weeks. Helen Clark: 2/10 Everything that is wrong with ideological jibber-jabber. From Hipkins to Starmer to Clark, their theory is less relevant in this modern chaotic world than ever. Dairy: 9/10 Honestly, is it now close to being ridiculous? Five auctions from five. The protein surge is real and we are making bank. Bill “I saw nothing” Clinton: 4/10 Overshadowed by his wife who looks as feisty as ever and, all things considered, came out of it pretty well – almost as though they were called as a political stunt. Dave Rennie: 7/10 Got there at last. How low-key was that? Is it possible we just aren't as invested as we once were in All Black rugby? LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where are we at with the war? Ambrose Evans-Pritchard makes a very compelling case that this thing is over in four weeks because that's about when the petrol reserves in America get drained. The Strait is closed, no LNG is getting through, Trump cannot tolerate $100 a barrel and so he will capitulate. China can hold out. The Iranians, if they have kept a bunch of attack drones back, can hold out too, then go for some fuel sites in Arab states. You see his theory? It's not to be dismissed. But that's not the only scenario. Bluster aside, and there is plenty of that from the White House, it does seem, as far as these things go, to be going well. The navy is gone, commercial planes are slowly flying again, Israel seems devastatingly effective in Lebanon, and the Kurds are in place with CIA-supplied weaponry, ready to jump the border. Whether the people rise up, when that happens, I have no idea, which could lead you to believe that what we end up with is not a complete transition but more a half-baked mess with vacuums and disorder. But a country that looks radically different to what it looked like a year ago, and with a decimated ability to be a nuclear threat, could be sold by Trump as a win. Of course, the people could rise, alongside the Kurds, storm the barracks, get the Shah's son ensconced and it's what, loosely, you would call a complete victory, which would be historic if you've followed the story of American interventionism. The cold, hard truth though is Trump in election year cannot afford to lose. So as make-shift and spontaneous as this may appear to some, he is not an idiot and never underestimate his passion for self-preservation. It's why, by the way, for those who worry, Russia and China are nowhere to be seen for their Iranian friends. Self-interest is the greatest weapon and motivator of all. If this works though, as in the Iranian regime we have known with its killing and evil is wiped off the face of the Earth, then everyone from Macron to Starmer to Clark to Hipkins will be working hard to explain why sitting around for decades gasbagging about how unacceptable it is and yet achieving nothing, is somehow a more effective strategy than actually taking the problem and solving it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has told a US news outlet he wants to be involved in picking Iran's next leader. He's told Axios that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son is a lightweight and unacceptable to him. Meanwhile, the death toll in Iran has risen to 1200, multiple Gulf countries are continuing to intercept missiles, and in Azerbaijan, an airport and a school were hit by Iranian drones. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that Iran is firing fewer drones and missiles as the US and Israeli forces expand their control of the air and sea. He says the Pentagon says they're finding and destroying Iran's mobile missile launchers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems you really can't beat locally grown produce. Recent numbers show farmers' markets around the country now support over a thousand food producers – attracting more than 50 thousand shoppers every week. Tony Cato, owner of Pirongia Mountain Vegetables, told Mike Hosking that the industry's been doing nothing but growing. They've been in the markets for nearly twenty years, he says, and especially after Covid they've seen an increase in customers wanting to know exactly where their food comes from. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 6th of March, will New Zealand pull the trigger on a youth social media ban at the select committee's recommendation? Could New Zealand become a powerhouse when it comes to medicinal cannabis? David Seymour thinks so. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson go down memory lane as they Wrap the Week. Well, Mike and Tim do anyway. 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.

Friday has come once more, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was. They discussed the Warriors' upcoming clash against the Roosters, those stuck in the Middle East, and took a trip down memory lane. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new initiative to tackle the ballooning Jobseeker numbers. The Ministry of Social Development is pairing with the Chambers of Commerce to form ChamberWorks, in hopes of plugging a gap in the market. Data from December shows over 223 thousand people on the benefit, and the programme intends to connect employers with pre-screened, work-ready candidates. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking many unemployed people are fairly recently out of work, are highly skilled and experienced, and absolutely ready to get back into the workforce. He says the connections the Chambers of Commerce have puts them in a good position to be the glue between MSD and businesses seeking good employees. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer spending has increased in February, signalling a positive recovery within the retail sector. Worldline NZ's payments network shows spending reached more than $3.6 billion, up 2.2% on February last year. The Auckland and Northland regions saw a lift of 2.8% year on year – the most growth the area has seen in a single month in nearly two years. Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking consumer confidence is continuing to grow. He says December saw a 4.9% in retail trade, so it's all pointing in the same direction. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has explained what we're missing out on by not investing in the medicinal cannabis industry. The ACT Leader's looking at further improvements to speed up processing for exports of the plant, which he believes could one day rival the wine industry. He's open to improving regulation domestically as well. David Seymour told Mike Hosking they want to simplify the process it takes to get a licence. He says regardless of what people might think of the plant, there's a market for it, it's worth several hundred million dollars to the economy, and creates jobs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City of Sails is set to be humming this weekend. Auckland's hosting a plethora of events, as the Warriors take on the Roosters today, the Blues face the Crusaders tomorrow, and Round the Bays kicks off Sunday. The city's newest golf tournament will also run across the weekend. New Zealand Events Association General Manager Elaine Linnell told Mike Hosking they'll be able to see and feel the financial impact of the weekend after the fact. She says with events like this, hotels are full, restaurants are booked – it's busy, and it flows through every part of the city. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence a Parliamentary inquiry into online safety is on the right track. A Select Committee endorses a social media ban for under 16s and calls for an online regulator and tougher controls on harmful apps and algorithms. National's lead MP on the committee, Carl Bates, says some recommendations mirror moves overseas, while others are unique to New Zealand. He told Mike Hosking transparency around algorithms hasn't been done elsewhere. Bates says the committee recommends the Government explore it before putting any measures in place. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it 1-1? The Prime Minister dug himself a hole over Iran. Barbara Edmonds dug herself a hole in the NZ Herald. As far as holes go, I regard the Luxon hole as slightly less problematic, given the war is not in our direct purview and there is nothing we can do about it. But it does display the ongoing issue the Prime Minister appears to have with many New Zealanders: he doesn't look like he is confident and he doesn't tell it like it is. In a world where people who tell it like it is generally succeed, he is still playing 'Mr Nice Guy' and getting trapped by a media pack who love the smell of blood. Edmonds is a real worry. She too, is nice. So nice, she told us quite openly getting a surplus isn't happening anytime soon and she doesn't have a clue how to pay for the most expensive promise they have made – restoring pay equity. You can argue around the dual mandate for the Reserve Bank but that's wonk's territory. Dollars and cents are real and it's our back pocket that is affected. A sad outworking of MMP is we have an increasing number of inexperienced players in the game of running the joint. Luxon knows business, which ties into the economy, which is why things are starting to turn for us. This Government has done a decent job on it. He is an amateur on foreign policy. You only had to listen to Winston Peters yesterday on this show to know that people who have been there, done that, have seen the world change therefore, can explain it. And Winston doesn't take crap from juniors, which is what too much of the Press Gallery is made up of. The nuance and sophistication of reporting is largely gone and replaced by clickbaiters and Luxon, being too nice a guy and too inexperienced in certain areas, walks right into it. Barbara on the other hand is entitled to her views. But this is why Labour won't win the election. She has clearly learned nothing from watching Grant Robertson butcher the place and because that was only three years ago the memories of the voters are still sharp. So in a guns at dawn, Luxon wins because foreign policy jibber-jabber isn't as serious as economic sabotage and incompetence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says it's special relationship with the US is not dead. US President Donald Trump yesterday described the UK's war effort as disappointing and Starmer was 'no Winston Churchill'. US and Israeli forces have bombed more than 2000 targets and killed close to 800 people in Iran since first launching attacks on Saturday. UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it's difficult for Starmer because this is the one area where he was successful in treading the line between keeping Trump on side and staying sane, and that's now gone. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of March, our exports are booming but at the same time, the risk of an extremist attack on NZ soil is rising, NZSIS is warning. NZ Rugby Chair David Kirk pops into studio after Dave Rennie was named as the new All Blacks coach. Warriors Coach Andrew Webster explains why it's our year as we kick off our NRL season against the Roosters Friday night. 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.

A warning an attack similar to the Bondi Beach shooting could feasibly happen on New Zealand soil. The Government's intelligence agencies have told a Parliamentary Select Committee the attack helped to feed extremist views. Fifteen people were fatally shot in the December attack on a Jewish celebration in Australia's Sydney, with others wounded. NZSIS Director-General Andrew Hampton says anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are diseases. He told Mike Hosking they're seeing increased polarisation in society across the board – lots of ‘us and them' narratives and people with a sense of grievance. Hampton says those people look online for others who may share that view, and the risk is that grievance can move to viewing violence as the answer pretty quickly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cautious optimism from Warriors league coach Andrew Webster that his side can make another NRL leap this year. They start their campaign tomorrow against the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart without co-captain Mitch Barnett and halfback Luke Metcalf, as both are returning from knee injuries. Webster told Mike Hosking that last year's opening match serves as a reminder of over evaluating a pre-season. He says they're comfortable where they are, but until you get punched in the face round one, you don't really know where you're at. The Warriors finished sixth last year, exiting in the first round of the finals to Penrith. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's economic recovery could be put at risk by disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Westpac modelling shows if it was to stay closed for a month, it would put inflation over 4% and knock half a percent off GDP. Senior Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking we're much more vulnerable than Australia when it comes to energy. He says we only have a few weeks of key petroleum products sitting in the tanks, and after that we're relying on boats turning up to meet our needs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner is bewildered as pay talks with primary teachers drag on. Their union —the NZEI— has turned to the Employment Relations Authority after three days of talks failed to resolve disputes over cost-of-living increases and recognition for major curriculum changes. The union's rejected three offers, with teachers missing out on around $50 extra per week since January. Sir Brian Roche told Mike Hosking it's disappointing teachers don't know the details of each offer. He says the last time teachers were asked was in December, and he doesn't know what the percentage of the vote was. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's exports are booming, driven by rising global demand for food. New trade figures show exports surged to $29.2 billion dollars in the December quarter – up $2.2 billion on a year earlier. Two-way trade also leapt to just over $61 billion. Business NZ CEO Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking the country produces enough food to feed around 50 million people. She says these products need to be sold for the highest value possible, which is what we're seeing for meat. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After weeks of deliberation, the new All Blacks head coach has been named. Dave Rennie is succeeding Scott Robertson in the role, beating out the other top contender, Jamie Joseph. Rennie's first test at the helm will be in the July series against France, Italy, and Ireland, but his assistants have still yet to be named. NZ Rugby Chair David Kirk told Mike Hosking that the panel spent hours discussing the merits of the two candidates, and were very rigorous and analytical in discussing their strengths and relative weaknesses. He says they concluded quite firmly and certainly unanimously that Rennie was the person they wanted to appoint. WATCH ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you ever want an example of why Chris Hipkins is not going to be the next Prime Minister, watch Question Time yesterday. He has made a twofold mistake. Mistake number one is being a Labour MP obsessed with esoteric, wonky subjects like United Nations treaties and charters. The second mistake is being obsessed with making a global issue all about New Zealand, when in reality we have nothing to do with it. The Prime Minister has kind of got trapped by it as well. The reality is the attack on Iran will affect us all, whether through petrol prices or possibly some inflationary issues and our ability to travel to Europe through Dubai. Outside of that it is not our war, we did not start it, we are not participating in it, and we are a world away from it. The Prime Minister and the Government can answer questions, as far as anyone can answer questions, on what it might mean for our economy, or our travel, or our petrol bill. But what they can't do, and yet are being asked to do, is explain why the Americans did what they did and how that may or may not tie into the United Nations and various charters. Luxon got bogged down in the legalities of it on Monday and walked back some of his comments about all actions to eliminate a regime being good actions. But then Hipkins started banging on about the UN as though New Zealand is the boss of the UN, New Zealand was exclusively given details of the material the United States acted on and has insight that no other country has as to whether there is a so-called "imminent threat". Labour, Hipkins, and the media do this every time. They try and place New Zealand, a tiny, insignificant country at the bottom of the world, into the centre of all global action as though we somehow affect it, can change it, explain it, participate in it or stop it. Esoteric international law is of little interest to most of us on a daily basis. Arguing over United Nation's charters is the stuff of chardonnay and Thorndon and people far removed from regular New Zealander's lives and thought patterns. It's a dumb game trying to trap a government into saying random stuff in the hope they get a headline, or an apology, or a scalp. This has nothing to do with us. Like the weather, it will affect us, but we don't drive it, influence it, or even know a lot about it. Also, for what it's worth, by arguing the way Labour does they are hopelessly out of step with your average New Zealander who I suspect, if you asked the simple question "is getting rid of the crazies in Iran a good idea", the answer would be yes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump says "just about everything" in Iran has "been knocked out". He's spoken from the White House alongside the German Chancellor who is visiting. New strikes have been targeting Iranian leadership after claims the first wave killed 48 of its highest ranking officials, including the Supreme Leader. Trump says Iran now has no navy, air force, or air detection. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Trump has yet to make a formal statement to the American people, or the rest of the world, about what's happening. But, he says, the US President continues to indicate this could go on for weeks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's reset just got a lot more urgent. Things could deteriorate faster for the airline amid instability in the Middle East. Morningstar Research is now forecasting a $125 million pre-tax loss this year following a $59 million loss in the first half of the year. Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley told Mike Hosking there's little disagreement that the second half of the year will be similar or worse, the concerning aspect is how bad it could be. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen delve into the situation in the Middle East - what are the next steps for Kiwis stuck there? And Ginny explains Labour's firm stance on the illegality of the US and Israel's actions in Iran. Plus, they discuss the Government's books and Labour's pledge to restore the pay equity scheme. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 4th of March, the tourism sector is a major force, with spending and jobs both rising. Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters speaks on meeting Javier Milei in Argentina and his thoughts on the situation in Iran and criticism from Helen Clark and Phil Goff. Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk about Kiwis stuck in the Middle East and balancing the books 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.