Podcasts about Hosking

A clear message from the Justice Minister – if you don't pay your court fines, you could be walking home. Every bailiff in the country is out today scanning parked cars' number plates as part of a wider programme clamping down on people overdue on fines and reparations. Between July last year and last Friday, more than 400 vehicles have been seized and nearly 700 cars have been clamped, bringing in more than $4.2 million. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking we've been too soft on this in the past. He's told officials to harden up, as we've let people away with not paying or repaying one dollar a week. Goldsmith admits there is an element of PR, telling Hosking they want to get the message out that you have to pay your fines, so the money can be spent helping victims. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's being labelled as stuck in the 90's when it comes to bank payments. A Reserve Bank report has found our system is reliable for many users but is falling behind global standards. It says consumers could benefit from new smartphone payment methods including instant payments, request to pay, and QR codes. Banking Reform Coalition Convenor Kent Duston told Mike Hosking it already works this way in more than 120 countries. He says if you go out for dinner and split the bill, the money will appear in a person's account instantly. Duston told Hosking banks have been paying shareholders large dividends instead of reinvesting in systems, describing the tech we use as scrap metal with blinking lights. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's confidence a proposed shake-up of our aged care system will fix the gaps. A Ministerial Advisory Group's made 40 recommendations, including more in-home care, a workforce strategy, and a national pathway for people needing support. It warns that without action the cost of care will almost double within a decade, and some areas could run out of beds. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello told Mike Hosking we don't have a care system, just fragmented parts of one. She says it's difficult to navigate the current system and the changes need to have people's health at the forefront. Costello told Hosking the recommendations are bold, and previously solutions have been missing from discussions, so she's pleased with the group's work. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's alternative to a bed tax is being welcomed by tourism leaders. The party's promising one dollar be given to local councils for each guest night in their area, funded through GST and levies already paid by tourists. It's estimated the dividend would give councils more than $40 million annually. Hotel Council Aotearoa strategic director James Doolan told Mike Hosking ACT is the first party to acknowledge the fundamental problem operators are facing. He says a huge amount of tax is collected from tourists and not enough of it goes back to local communities. Doolan told Hosking $5 billion in tourism GST is collected each year, and while ACT has acknowledged the problem, there are some questions about mechanisms and quantum. He says the number for Auckland alone should be about $40 million. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Cheyne unpacks the common mistakes people make in hearing the voice of God. If you're hungry to experience God's voice everyday then this is for you.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro: Round Two With Shane09:00 — "You Just Don't Question the Lord"15:00 — Spiritual Jiu-Jitsu: The Danger of "God Told Me"22:30 — "Come See a Man Who Told Me Everything I Ever Did"31:45 — "This Is Jesus, Not Witchcraft"36:50 — "We're Signed, Sealed and Dated — It's Yours"46:50 — "Follow the Thought, Don't Filter It"Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

Time's ticking for National to rebuild itself as a united front after putting Christopher Luxon's leadership to the test a second time. The Prime Minister survived a confidence vote launched by Chris Penk - at yesterday's three hour caucus meeting in Wellington. He's now dumped Penk from his ministerial portfolios and the former Defence Minister has announced he'll quit politics in November. Political Commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking Luxon should be commended for surviving the challenge, but a third one would be a stretch too far. He says this has to be the end of it through to the election, and all the sentiments about the party being “100% united” have to be demonstrated if National's to come through this unscathed. Dunne was sceptical of the idea that Penk had launched the challenge to put himself forward for the job, saying he felt it was "a bit far-fetched", and that Penk was more likely testing the waters for others, namely Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford. "I don't think he necessarily was actively working with Bishop and Stanford, although he was clearly touting their cases," Dunne told Hosking. "[Luxon] can't really run a credible government without those two, so they have to be there, they have to be [kept] in senior roles, and they have to be seen to be treated as senior ministers." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is facing one of its strangest by-elections in modern history. Tomorrow will see Clacton constituents vote for their MP – Nigel Farage attempting to defend the seat he stood down from last month. The race is currently between the Reform UK Leader and satirical candidate Count Binface, with polls putting Farage around 70% and Binface around 30%. UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking those results in of themselves are embarrassing. He says Farage fancies himself as the next Prime Minister, but spent the last few weeks campaigning against a bin. There's also the concern that since he has two parliamentary standards investigations coming his way, Farage may have to resign again, forcing yet another by-election. Brady told Hosking a by-election costs around £250,000, and the country is already on its knees financially. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Prime Minister fed up with his coalition partners? Christopher Luxon told Kerre Woodham yesterday he's open to another vote on MMP, if re-elected. The system allows more representation in Parliament for smaller parties and was upheld in a 2011 referendum. Political commentator and former Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking Luxon's clearly frustrated. Dunne says he thought he'd be leading a strong National government, supported by others, instead of the three-way coalition he signed up for. Luxon's also being described as having loose lips. Dunne told Hosking he's let a lot of comments slip recently appearing to just blurt things out and mop up afterwards – including abruptly ruling out working with the Opportunity Party. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graham Hosking, Senior AI Solutions Engineer at Microsoft, breaks down Agent 365, Microsoft's approach to observing, governing, and securing AI agents across multi-platform environments.• How Agent 365 builds on existing Entra, Defender, and Purview capabilities to provide full visibility over AI agents• Live demo of a fully autonomous LangChain agent automatically flagged for risky behaviour by Defender• How third-party agents from Amazon, Google, Databricks, and Salesforce can be brought into a central registry• The Agent 365 SDK and how partners like Adobe, Atlassian, and Lovable are already baking in observability• Shadow IT monitoring for local AI agents via Defender for Endpoint• MCP tools and plugin management for controlling end-user access• Licensing breakdown: end-user based, one seat lights everything up, and the E5 to E7 step-up path• Bonus demo of Morgan, a fully autonomous digital CFO with voice and avatar interaction built on LangChainThanks to Crestron, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud

A huge weekend ahead for one of the country's best up and coming boxers. David Nyika is set to face off against Australian Floyd Mason in the IBF cruiserweight world title eliminator. It's rank five versus rank six, and the winner will become the number one challenger for the title. Nyika told Hosking this is the best-prepared he's been for any fight he's done, having had 15 weeks' notice and a 12 week camp to train. “I've been fully immersed and I haven't taken any shortcuts.” The winner of the clash will go on to fight British boxer Viddal Riley, who has already won his eliminator, and Nyika is eager to win both bouts. “I'm aiming to get that title and then go on to becoming undisputed cruiserweight world champion.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farming is powering strong small business sales growth. A Xero Small Business Insights report reveals an 8.6% year on year increase in sales in the June quarter. Agriculture saw a 16.3% increase, construction climbed 11%, and manufacturing rose 8.6% during the same time period. Country Manager Bridget Snelling told Mike Hosking it is a bit of a two-speed recovery, with retail only growing by 6.4%. She says there's some ongoing uncertainty around fuel costs and geopolitical events which will continue to influence small businesses when it comes to hiring and investment decisions. Plus, Snelling told Hosking, consumers are still going to be a bit circumspect with their discretionary spend heading towards the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's just under 100 days until the US midterms arrive. Broadly, the Democrats have an edge in the polls, but both the House and the Senate are tight – the Republicans holding a narrow majority. There are a few key factors that are likely to play a role in the election's outcome – Donald Trump's war in the Middle East, his unpredictability, and the business with the Supreme Court. Expert in US politics, Nick Bryant told Mike Hosking the economic disruption caused by Trump's war with Iran is so politically problematic. “One of the key things about this war, Mike, is that Trump cannot warp reality,” Bryant explained. “He cannot get even his most ardent supporters to ignore the evidence of their own eyes and the evidence of their own wallets.” A Washington Post-Ipsos poll shows waning support for Trump, with his overall approval rating sitting at 37%. The way he's handling the economy and Iran are viewed even more negatively, with only 33% saying they approve of his economic stewardship, and 29% approving of his handling of Iran. "Even amongst Republicans, it's terrible,” Bryant told Hosking. “Just 19% of Republicans have told CNN in the latest poll that they are enthusiastic about the rest of his second term.” “That's just one in five Republicans.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farming is powering strong small business sales growth. A Xero Small Business Insights report reveals an 8.6% year on year increase in sales in the June quarter. Agriculture saw a 16.3% increase, construction climbed 11%, and manufacturing rose 8.6% during the same time period. Country Manager Bridget Snelling told Mike Hosking it is a bit of a two-speed recovery, with retail only growing by 6.4%. She says there's some ongoing uncertainty around fuel costs and geopolitical events which will continue to influence small businesses when it comes to hiring and investment decisions. Plus, Snelling told Hosking, consumers are still going to be a bit circumspect with their discretionary spend heading towards the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby league is on a roll – due in no small part to the efforts of Peter V'Landys. Since joining the Australian Rugby League Commission in 2018 and taking up the role of ARLC and NRL Chairman in 2019, he's got quite the list of achievements. V'Landys was behind the Las Vegas expansion, the plan to expand the number of teams involved, and most recently, the $5.3 billion broadcast deal. NRL's audience has also doubled over the last five years, thanks to the fan-focused changes they made to the game. “Unfortunately, in a lot of sports they're very insular, they live in a cocoon and take all the advice off the participants, and the players, and the coaches, etc,” V'Landys told Mike Hosking. “We wanted to make sure that we accommodated the needs of the fan,” he explained. And what fans needed, V'Landys says, was less predictable play, the ball in play for longer, and more entertainment. “And that's exactly what we did.” “In New Zealand, there's been substantial growth – a lot of that's to do, of course, with the Wahs and how good they're going, but also the fact is the game is a lot more entertaining.” Speaking of the Warriors, despite Australia's typical aversion to seeing New Zealand win at anything, V'Landys says they would like to see the Warriors claim the NRL title. “They deserve it,” he told Hosking. “They've worked really hard to be where they're at.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's unclear what regulation would be helpful as AI's become increasingly powerful. Open AI says one of their servers has hacked into a competitor's server – without a human asking it to. Serious concerns are now being raised about how quickly the systems are being created and implemented. Auckland University Professor of Computer Science Michael Witbrock told Mike Hosking it's been clear these systems are getting good at cyber security analysis. He says in this case the system was asked to solve a cyber security problem - it just did more hacking than was expected. Witbrock told Hosking while there are plenty of people following their own interests, it isn't in the interests of AI companies overall to deliberately hack each other or to have these vulnerabilities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour says the Government's scrapping of iwi-council partnerships will likely cause more friction. The newest Resource Management Act reforms aim to throw out any existing deals between councils and iwi, and prevent more from being signed. The Government argues these agreements have become out-of-scope – giving unelected officials a position at the decision-making table. Labour MP Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that wasn't the case, and they encouraged on-the-ground collaboration. She says the Government's change will lead to more division and litigation from iwi, calling it a waste of time and money. National's Mark Mitchell says the replacement bills originally would've allowed existing agreements to carry over while stopping new ones, but since the bills were introduced, they became aware of a rapid increase in new agreements between councils and iwi. He told Hosking this is about stopping scope creep and restoring trust in local government. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Burnham's arrival at Number 10 Downing St is being seen as a big shift for Britain. The former Manchester Mayor and Labour cabinet minister has become the UK's seventh Prime Minister in a decade. He's replaced Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned after a collapse in public support. UK political commentator Adam Boulton told Mike Hosking Burnham's cabinet appointments so far bring a very different face to the British Government. He says that's largely due to the fact Burnham's a confident communicator compared to Starmer, who often appeared robotic. Burnham's pick for Chancellor has also come as a surprise, with former Defence Secretary John Healey chosen for the role. Boulton told Hosking what's surprising is that Healy resigned recently over wanting more defence spending, so the question is whether he'll live up to what he was demanding at the time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The heartbreak just keeps coming for the Canberra Raiders. After a tough season, superstar forward Hudson Young has suffered a devastating, season-ending Achilles injury. Teammate Zac Hosking opened up about the massive blow and how the club will stay positive and continue to focus on the job ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's unveiling of Paul Henry triggered a media frenzy - and claims the shock jock might shirk the work it takes to make it in politics. Also: how Sam Neill's shock death stopped the news & Stuff's new digital bid to hook local news readers. Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:1:19 Sam Neill's death shocked the media, but his depth and range were duly honoured.13:46 The stage-managed Paul Henry announcement prompted a full-on media frenzy, followed by scepticism about his commitment.25:48 Hosking misses the mark on political poll.27:47 Stuff rejigs Neighbourly to push back at platforms.30:00 Stuff's masthead chief Joanna Norris on the NeighbourlyNews.co.nz planFollow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's thought a small dip in international visitors is nothing to worry about. International arrivals fell 1.8% between April and May, but remain 6.7% higher than a year ago. Australia and China continue to be New Zealand's biggest visitor markets, despite fewer arrivals from the UK and the United States. Tourism Holdings Limited chief executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking tourism was growing well before Covid, and we're back on that growth path. He says you can't cut your way to prosperity, so we've got to continue on this path. Christchurch is also outpacing Auckland in overseas visitor growth thanks to growing flight capacity, with Christchurch Airport recording a 22% increase, well ahead of Auckland's 0.7%. Webster told Hosking dispersal of visitors is good for economic spread – Christchurch's effort to increase capacity has flowed through, but there's no doubt Auckland will continue to grow too over the next 12 months. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is mourning Sir Sam Neill – a Kiwi icon who's career spanned more than five decades. The 78-year-old died suddenly in a Sydney hospital after revealing earlier this year he was cancer-free. Neill has more than 150 acting credits to his name, including Jurassic Park, The Piano, and Peaky Blinders. Award-winning actor and director Sir Ian Mune told Mike Hosking their friendship goes back more than 50 years. He says Neill hated being seen to act, and that was part of the appeal – whenever someone went to see his films, they knew they were getting the truth. Mune told Hosking that Neill had a wicked sense of humour and never cracked a smile, so you had to really pay attention to know if he was insulting you, complimenting you, or just making a joke. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A question of if election campaigning has started too early. Political parties have begun to roll out their policies in advance of November's general election – but are people in engaging with them? Labour's Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking there's not a deep analysis of issues – the average person on the street doesn't know the policies from any parties. She says it's not related to the parties themselves, people are just more concerned with the cost of living and getting by than they are with the policies being announced. National's Mark Mitchell agreed with the sentiment, saying that most people haven't shifted into the election mindset yet. He told Hosking that once we get into the regulated period, hoardings go up, flyers go out, and door knocking begins, then people start to get focused and engaged with it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two powerhouse actresses are leading one of Prime Video's next big TV shows. ‘Ride or Die' is an action comedy about a couple of best friends who have to go on the run after one of them is revealed to be an international assassination. It stars Hannah Waddingham, of ‘Ted Lasso' fame, and Octavia Spencer, Academy Award winner for ‘The Help', as Judith Burton and Debbie Claybourne. Though this is the first project the two have worked on together, Spencer says the way they fell into a rhythm was seamless. “We were the only two people thought of for our roles, and then we both are active producers,” she told Hosking. “We are vested in this from different vantage points, so it was easy.” Waddingham agreed, telling Hosking they didn't have to think about that bit at all. “There was no kind of work required to find the chemistry – it was just there in spades.” Waddingham was approached directly for the role by Spencer and the show's creator Tessa Coates, Spencer saying they knew she was going to be as committed as she was. “There's nothing about that role that no one thought that Hannah would not be able to do." “I mean, it's a role of a lifetime, and my character is a role of my career,” Spencer told Hosking. “And we both are playing characters that we've never, they're complete departures from anything that we've done. Unsurprisingly, ‘Ride or Die' is filled with action sequences and stunt work – none of which, Waddingham says, is CGI. “I've got the bruises to prove it.” “If I was going to get on board with this woman [Spencer] and with Tessa Coates, with this glorious piece of work, I wasn't going to be the weak link.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Defence Minister says it's clear we have to voice our opposition to China testing a nuclear-capable missile in the South Pacific. It launched the long-range ballistic test missile yesterday, just hours after warning New Zealand of its plans. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says it's a move inconsistent with peace in the region. Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp told Mike Hosking it was in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, which we helped create. He says other nations test missiles, but none in this nuclear free zone. It's also his view that it's likely a coincidence that China tested the missile the same day Australia and Fiji signed a security alliance. Australia and Fiji signed a landmark alliance pledging mutual defence and left the door open to other Pacific nations joining the pact. Mapp told Hosking he doesn't think the test had much to do with the agreement – it takes a bit of time to set up a missile test, and isn't something which can be done in 24 hours. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Apples and Pears says trading with India is about getting money back in the pockets of growers. Sign off on the Free Trade Agreement is still making its way through Parliament, but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says exporters are already laying the groundwork. India's grown from being our seventh largest market for apples, to the fourth – and the number of Indian tourists is also up. Apples and Pears CEO Danielle Adsett told Mike Hosking it's important to start allocating some quota towards the Indian market. She says exports have increased in anticipation of the agreement, and the industry is excited for the season ahead. Adsett told Hosking the agreement's potential is untold, but growth should continue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of meticulous planning, we're just one night away from the start of the Dave Rennie All Blacks era. He'll start his tenure at the helm in Christchurch tomorrow night against France as part of the Nations Championship. Rennie's already made his mark as a selector, handing Ruben Love a maiden start at first five. He told Mike Hosking he's really excited for the match – he understands the responsibility that goes with the job, but says you have to embrace it. The coach has also dismissed the notion that France are lacking some of their top talent ahead of tomorrow's test in Christchurch. A handful of big names including halfback Antoine Dupont and fullback Thomas Ramos aren't available, having played in the Top 14 club final last week for Toulouse. The French side are largely made up of Bordeaux players, who won the European Championship this season. Rennie told Hosking there is no lack of talent on the team – it doesn't matter who they turn up with, they'll be very good. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are long-term benefits for an early childhood programme pushing oral language skills before school. The Government's widening access to ENRICH to a further 450 centres – with practical tools to increase toddler-teacher communication. Education Minister Erica Stanford says the Dunedin trial was a success and has the backing of three decades of evidence. She told Mike Hosking this particular programme is really easy to implement and the professional development is straightforward. The Education Minister is also stressing that there must be societal change around the way young people use social media. Australia is pushing ahead with tougher penalties for tech companies after evidence that county's ban has had little effect. Last month the UK Prime Minister also announced it will pursue an under-16s ban on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Stanford told Hosking a ban here won't be a silver bullet straight away. She says the Government's watching Australia's implementation to make sure New Zealand's approach is more effective. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister believes all signs are pointing to economic growth this year. The International Monetary Fund's recommending the country continue to hike taxes and make spending cuts. It predicts the economy will grow by 2% throughout this year, rising to 2.7% next year. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking the IMF's quite optimistic about our growth this year, and she believes the economy's ready to bounce back. She says they see it starting to recover after a difficult few months, and all of the bank economists agree. The IMF's also broadly happy with the Government's targeted response to the oil price shock. It believes the annual inflation rate will peak at 4% within the next few months thanks to high oil prices, before dropping back. Willis told Hosking inflation would've been a huge problem if the Government unfurled the money hose like a lot of people wanted. She says there was a lot of talk about cutting petrol tax, and giving people extra cash in their back pocket. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I would like to thank Stuff for reporting on what might well be one of the final times my name is associated with the Broadcasting Standards Authority. It encapsulated everything that is wrong with the BSA. This was the headline on Friday; "Complaint over Hosking's 'cocked it up' Covid remarks fails". A person moans to the BSA, the BSA rejects the moan, they publish the result and then a website looking for clicks whacks a photo of me up and sticks the headline next to it. What a waste of time. This time it was from a Martin Garrood. He got exercised about my review of Phase Two of the Covid Inquiry. He claimed I misrepresented what the report said. He also moaned about balance, or lack of it. This is BSA nonsense 101. Most of the people who waste our time on this sort of thing don't understand the rules of engagement. The rules of engagement are not about whether you like it, or me, or not. It's whether I'm allowed to have an opinion and, guess what, I am. Hence the complaint was rejected. They pointed out it's an opinion. People expect an opinion from the likes of me. No one expects both sides of a complex story in a two minute segment, therefore the whole balance argument fell away as well. There was also a bit around fairness, which also fell over based on the idea politicians face extra scrutiny because they are publicly accountable. Anyway, all of this is coming to an end, thank the good Lord. It's people like ol' Martin that have kept them in business. People who don't like opinion that doesn't suit them and want someone to do something about it are, in a way, narks. Broadcasting rules need to be about fact or legality, defamation or egregious behaviour. Serious stuff. Stuff that can ruin a life or reputation. Having a spray at a useless Government over Covid is not any of those things. Yet we have endured a mechanism that is paid for by all of us for the agitated few to whinge their hearts out. So if this was it thank goodness, and let the record show that on Hosking vs the whiners, Hosking won about 97% of the time. Free speech generally rules as it should. There you go Martin. Moan about that. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 113 - A revelation with George Hosking that every parent needs to hear because it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

Borderline is looking like the next big thing. The Kiwi pop band was formed in Auckland, and is made up of childhood friends Ben Glanfield, Jackson Boswell, Matthew McFadden, and Max Harries. Momentum has been building since the released of their debut single, ‘Spinning', in 2023, but the pace has really picked up in the last year or so. Last year saw them become the first Kiwi act to sign with global powerhouse Empire, tour in North America, and open for Teddy Swims, and then this year they took home the People's Choice Award at the Aotearoa Music Awards. And now they're set to drop their debut album, the self-titled ‘Borderline'. “We've always set out to be good,” Boswell, the drummer and backing vocalist for the band, told Mike Hosking. “We always kind of wanted to do this as our career and for the rest of our lives and to be the biggest band in the world, and we've kind of just been working towards that every day.” “I think there was no other option for us. Whatever we ended up doing when we grew up ... it was going to be around music,” Glanfield, the lead singer and guitarist, told Hosking. “We put all our eggs in one basket because it's the only basket we wanted the eggs in.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a suggestion Donald Trump's out of character treatment of new AI models shows how great the security threat is. Five Eyes agencies have issued a warning for business and government leaders that Artificial Intelligence could overwhelm defences within months, not years. The rare call to action comes after the Trump administration ordered AI giant Anthropic to suspend use of its most advanced models by foreign nationals. University of Buckingham Emeritus Professor Anthony Glees told Mike Hosking normally the President is very keen to export US tech. He says he's not doing it this time because this AI could bring all kinds of institutions close to collapse. Glees told Hosking software is being developed to find any defence vulnerabilities, and says once breached, rogue actors can wreak havoc on infrastructure, business and health services. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's talk about Ardie Savea's interview on Mike Hosking's show. I think we can all agree that it was awful, as the texts pointed out immediately. It was pretty flat and miserable, which was strange because this was Savea's first big media outing the day after being announced as All Blacks captain - to the biggest audience in the country. You'd think that if there was ever an occasion to sound a little excited, engaging and bring your A-game, that would have been it. Especially when you're the captain - and not just employed to play rugby. You're now also employed to win over (or at least retain) the fans, for a game that's under significant pressure from all the other, arguably more entertaining options out there: rugby league, basketball, Netflix - you name it. Whatever it is that your eyeballs are glued to instead of rugby union, he should be trying to win you over. Now, to be fair to Savea, this isn't exclusively an Ardie Savea problem. He is a little bit like that - his interviews generally sit on the less engaging end of the spectrum. But this is a much wider issue. This is a rugby union problem, where it has become acceptable - and maybe even desirable - for players to be monosyllabic, dull and emotionless. Why? I suspect it's to avoid saying anything controversial, headline-grabbing or even mildly titillating. But the sport, and its New Zealand headquarters, need to rethink this strategy. They need to go back and listen to the text feedback from that interview and ask themselves: is that really the response they want their newly appointed captain to generate the day after the announcement? Because we should be talking about what an inspirational figure Ardie Savea is. Instead, we're talking about how poor his first interview to hundreds of thousands of listeners was. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis hopes her Budget will convince voters to re-elect the Government in November. It includes significant investment in infrastructure and health. It also shows a return to surplus in the 2028/29 financial year – a year sooner than previously forecast. The forecast uses the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC. Willis told Mike Hosking her message is simple. She says the Opposition would borrow and spend more, which would put the country's future at risk. The Finance Minister is also defending the new 1% levy on banks, insurers, and other financial market participants, which would be used to regulate the sector. Willis yesterday directed banks not to pass on the cost of the levy to their customers, saying they're the most profitable companies in the country and do very well for themselves. Asked by Hosking why she didn't increase tax on high-earning individuals like himself using the same logic, Willis said she didn't want him “flying off overseas”. She says that the idea that taxing high-earners more and they'll be more inclined to invest in New Zealand doesn't make sense, but when it comes to banks, it's a tiny, tiny levy relative to their bottom line. The move brings New Zealand into line with other countries like Australia and the UK, Willis says. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High hopes for today's Budget from health, infrastructure, education, and business leaders. College of GPs President Luke Bradford told Mike Hosking he's looking for some reallocation of health spending. He says we currently invest 6% of vote health in primary healthcare, compared to the OECD average of 14%. On the infrastructure side of things, Infrastructure NZ's Nick Leggett told Hosking he wants investment in new projects and maintenance of existing ones. He says we have to build some resilience into them so they don't fail earlier, because that just ends up costing more money. Secondary Principals' Council Chair Steve McCracken told Mike Hosking he has three things on his wishlist. He'd like to see an increase in operational funding for schools, a significant injection into senior secondary curriculum areas to support the implementation of the new qualification, and increasing vocational training places and support for those on that path. And finally, Business New Zealand Chief Executive Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking she's focused on economic indicators. She says they're going to be looking to see when the country returns to surplus and how the new expenditure contributes to economic growth. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch-based singer-songwriter Lee Martin is yet another example of the incredible talent produced in New Zealand. She's a highly acclaimed musician, both here and around the world, with multiple awards, millions of streams, and sold-out performances under her belt. And soon Martin will be releasing her fourth album, Marlene, coming out mid-July. “I think this is probably my best work yet,” she told Mike Hosking. “I was listening to some of my old songs last night, and I'm like, there's a massive change and a massive shift – so yeah, I am very proud of it.” The shift is not only sonic, but stems from a change in Martin's own mindset when it comes to the creation of her art. “I think I'm being a little bit more true to my own sound,” she explained. “I'm less shaped by producers or external factors – I'm kind of just doing what I really want to do.” In the past, Martin admits to chasing approval when it comes to her sound. “I was so, you know, desperate for, I don't know, some kind of success.” But as she's grown both as a person and an artist, she's stopped caring quite so much about if others think she's going down the right path. “I just want to put out my music, and I just want it to be what it is,” she told Hosking. “I don't want to just shape and form towards, you know, to what other people are expecting.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Former Finance Minister expects this year's Budget to invest in health, education, and defence – with cuts elsewhere. Budget 2026 is being unveiled tomorrow, opening up the Government's books and detailing when a return to surplus is possible. Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking re-prioritisation is the story of the week, and he's backing further cost-savings in the public sector. The Government aims to cut around 8,700 jobs in the public service by mid-2029, with savings set to be re-invested. Joyce told Hosking we've had an increase in public servants since 2017, but outcomes aren't significantly better. He says many believe it has just increased the churn, and number of meetings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball New Zealand officially has a new CEO. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited deputy chairwoman Jennah Wootten has been appointed to the role, taking over from interim CEO Jane Patteron in August. Her appointment follows a troubled year for Netball NZ, including the resignation of former CEO Jennie Wyllie, the situation surrounding Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, and their struggles to find a new broadcast deal for the ANZ Premiership. Wootten has plenty of experience in both the business and leadership side of things, and she told Mike Hosking they'll be helpful in ensuring the sport and the organisation can reach its full potential. She says there will be a focus on ensuring the grassroots game is thriving, and that the elite competition is doing incredible things, but a big focus for her coming into the role will be the commercial pressures. And one of those pressures is broadcasting, with the current ANZ Premiership deal set to end at the end of this year. Wootten told Hosking the Board and team at Netball NZ are working really hard to find a solution, but things aren't yet at a place where they can be shared publicly. “We want to make sure that we have got as many eyeballs on the sport as possible, because that helps all of us into the future.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Jones says many businesses won't survive without help moving away from natural gas. The Government's setting money aside in Thursday's Budget to back loans for firms transitioning to other forms of energy. The Associate Energy Minister told Mike Hosking many industries reliant on natural gas have been seeing their energy costs surge. He says unless the Crown steps in, many face dire options and will fail. Recipients can transition to any other type – not necessarily renewable energy. Jones told Hosking it's up to each business what they use. He says some may go towards LPG, some to electricity if local lines company can cope, and some to coal. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We continue our feud with Hosking! Ben stops the Prime Minister before his weekly segment on The Mike Hosking Show and showed him our Herald ad asking Mike to come on The Hits Breakfast. The PM brought it up on Mike’s show… and Mike was MAD! Will we get him on our show? Join the Itty Bitty Hitty Committee HERE!Instagram: @THEHITSBREAKFASTFacebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & MeganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been beefing with Hosking all week after he compared us to the worst team on the NRL ladder. So we decided it was time to go upstairs and confront him LIVE on air... Join the Itty Bitty Hitty Committee HERE!Instagram: @THEHITSBREAKFASTFacebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & MeganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s show: Is Megan addicted to Japanese nasal spray? We’ve reached the emotional moment when your child no longer wants to hold your hand Calling in backup from Hosking’s wife to broker peace + she gives us insight into what he is like on air Megan’s run club enthusiasm fades after just one attempt. Did Jono see a blind man on an electric scooter? Instagram: @THEHITSBREAKFASTFacebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & MeganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erica Stanford insists her curriculum reform adds sunlight and accountability to the sector. In a pre-Budget announcement, the Education Minister has announced $131 million to help improve students' reading, writing, and maths. It'll also include more professional development for teachers and school leaders in those areas. Stanford told Mike Hosking New Zealand's been in a black hole for some time. She says students aren't proficient in basic timetables, facts, or reading until they get to high school, and are struggling. She says we've been in the grip of a liberal education experiment that states assessing young people is bad for their mental health – which is ridiculous. Also in the announcement was a pledge to give schools more maths and literacy resources, and 36 extra maths intervention teachers. Stanford told Hosking more teachers are added every Budget, and she'd fund more if she could. She says they'll take small groups struggling with maths out of classes to get them where they need to be, and it's never been done before. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Ryan is returning to our screens. After four successful seasons, the modern adaptation of Tom Clancy's political action thriller novels is heading to the big screen for ‘Jack Ryan: Ghost War'. American actor Michael Kelly is among the cast, reprising his role as Mike November for the high-stakes, action-packed story. The film heavily utilised practical effects and on-location filming – even closing down the centre of London to film an intense car chase sequence. “This whole thing, from the series to the movie, it's all been a pinch me moment,” Kelly told Mike Hosking. “But certainly when you're standing on that ground that's hundreds and hundreds of years old, and knowing the feet that have walked across it and just all of it, all of the history that's there and knowing that you get to shut it down and go play make-believe for a couple of days.” “It's a pinch me without a doubt.” Tom Clancy published his first Jack Ryan novel in 1984, and as proof of the series longevity, it's continued long after his death in 2013, with 30 new novels and a host of adaptations being released. “Tom Clancy created this world that exists in this, y'know, there's always geopolitical madness, right?” Kelly told Hosking. “Tom Clancy was writing around the Cold War times, but you can take that world and put it in any timeline, I think ... Jack Ryan is so well established that I think it could go on for, y'know, not with us, but it could go on forever and ever.” There's a three-year gap between the conclusion of the TV show and the release of the film, and for Kelly, returning to the Ryanverse was a thrill. “When I found out we got, we we're getting to come back and make a movie, I was, y'know, John [Krasinski] was like, hey man you wanna make a movie? I was like, yeah, I wanna make a movie. Let's go.” “I was truly over the moon, thrilled at the thought of coming back and especially playing this character that I just, I love him so much, man, he's so much fun to play.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major roll out of the Government's new curriculum's been delayed for some subjects following months of pressure from the education sector. The new curriculum for science and social sciences will be phased in across two years, beginning at the start of 2027. The new health and physical education, the arts, technology, and languages curriculum will also begin to be rolled out in 2029. Education Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking science and social sciences are just as important as maths and literacy. She says the reason Social Sciences have been prioritised is that it's so knowledge rich, which is so important for young people. Stanford told Hosking students can't afford to go back to the old curriculum. She says parents are stopping her in the street and say they're noticing a difference – achievement is improving and results are turning around. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says we have serious work to do on our infrastructure compared to Singapore. He's returned from the country this week, where a deal was formally signed to ensure trade keeps flowing during disruptions – securing fuel for New Zealand and food for Singapore. This comes as the former boss of Auckland's City Rail Link claims the project could have cost 50% less – ballooning to an estimated 5.5 billion dollars. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking he agrees with this. He says that we spend money on infrastructure but have a very poor return on it, and we need to get much better and more strategic about our planning. And when it comes to the Government's plans for a citizenship test, the Prime Minister says he could take it or leave it. It's planning to test applicants from late next year, requiring they pass 15 out of 20 multi-choice questions – including questions on New Zealand's laws and political system. Luxon told Hosking it's pretty similar to what the UK and Australia have been doing for years. He says it's probably not a bad thing that new Kiwis are aware of pretty basic stuff around things like women's rights and freedom of speech. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans eagerly awaiting the release of Mel Parsons' new album will be able to experience it live, the Kiwi singer taking it on tour. Earlier this morning she announced a seven-date tour for her upcoming album ‘Castle Hill', named for the remote Southern Alps town in which it was recorded. The album is due out in August, but half a dozen singles have already been released, including Post High Slide, Brick By Brick', and her latest release, ‘Grain by Grain'. “It's just kind of the way that people are releasing these days,” Parsons told Mike Hosking. “With the way, y'know, the way that Spotify and the streaming side of things works, is that you just sort of start teasing them out ... that's the way we've done it for this record.” And to celebrate the official release, Parsons is bringing 'Castle Hill' to life on stage with a full live band, performing in Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, and Palmerston North. Parsons is no stranger to touring and is frequently on the road. “On the one hand, it's my job, but also I, genuinely it's my favourite part of the whole thing,” she told Hosking. “I don't think it's being in front of people, but I think it's, it's what that opportunity gives you – being on stage is this very, very special chance to just connect with people.” “I'm not particularly woo-woo Mike, but it's a bit of an energy, kind of, transfer, y'know like, what you give out, it comes around,” Parsons said. “It's a very, very special, unique feeling, performing live.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Miami Grand Prix officially having run its course, it's time to assess the changes to the controversial Formula 1 regulations. Tweaks were made following backlash from the drivers, with the electric batteries impacting their ability to race effectively. Former Team Manager at Williams and former GM at Ferrari, Peter Windsor told Mike Hosking quite a few people spoke out against the new regulations when they were first implemented. “I think there was a lot wrong with them, but I think in Miami, we are 75% towards addressing most of the issues.” However, there are still flaws, and Windsor believes they're still keeping great drivers from doing as much with the car as they used to going into reasonably fast corners. “We're not seeing the best of a Charles Leclerc or a Max Verstappen yet, but we're getting there.” But he doesn't believe F1 will be able to iron out the flaws with the current regulations entirely, which is why people seem to be turning towards V8 engines for 2030. “I think the general feeling is that we went too far,” Windsor told Hosking. “We can make it work reasonably well, pretty well certainly by year two, probably year three, but it's still not where Formula 1 really wants to be.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour joined Mike Hosking as acting Prime Minister while Christopher Luxon is in Singapore. They discussed the big topics coming into this week including the war in Iran and the USA's call for support, and ACT's new immigration policy. On the potential of NZ involvement in Iran Seymour told Hosking, "We're not going into a conflict zone, but if there was genuine, cross-partisan support for us to join a coalition of like-minded nations to ensure that trades on the seas can continue, that is in New Zealand's interest. "We're a trading nation. We need freedom of navigation." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Hosking is executive director of the administrative and customer support practice at talent solutions and business consulting firm, Robert Half.In this episode of The Leader Assistant Podcast, Robert talks about how assistants can earn a seat at the table. He also shares tips for interviewing, breaking through the AI wall when applying for jobs, weighing job offers, and more.Show notes -> leaderassistant.com/364--It's the last day of the offsite and it was exactly what the team needed. The CEO pulls you aside to say, “Thank you. This was next level.”Your secret? You used Offsite. They handled the venues, negotiations, and logistics – so you could focus on shaping the experience.Sound too good to be true? It's actually within reach. (And it can even save you money.)See how at leaderassistant.com/offsite. --Are you ready to level up? Enroll in The Leader Assistant Academy at leaderassistant.com/academy to embrace the Leader Assistant frameworks used by thousands of assistants.More from The Leader Assistant... Book, Audiobook, and Workbook -> leaderassistantbook.com The Leader Assistant Academy -> leaderassistantbook.com/academy Premium Membership -> leaderassistant.com/membership Events -> leaderassistantlive.com Free Community -> leaderassistant.com/community