Podcasts about Hosking

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

00:00 Intro — Round 12 TLT & Origin fallout 02:56 NSW Blues squad breakdown & selection controversy 07:40 Queensland Maroons squad — who got snubbed? 15:20 News: HIAs, suspensions & injuries (Herbert, Latrell, Burns) 20:30 Raiders vs Fins — Tarpony, Hosking & Hawesboro deep dive 29:25 Bulldogs vs Storm — Sewer, Galvin & trade chat 34:10 Dragons vs Warriors — Val Holmes debate & TMM trade risk 43:35 Manly vs Titans — Ruby Garrick, Pascoe & centre wing crisis 49:05 Cowboys vs Rabbitohs — Sutton, Duncan & Forfeiter watch 57:00 Q&A, trade tips & show wrapThe first major bye is officially here and TLT hasn't thrown us too many surprises. In saying that, Laurie Daley and Billy Slater did when they announced the State of Origin squads less than 48 hours ago - We discuss the elite schedules of the Raiders and Dolphins. How many do you need? We talk through the potential fallout of the origin squads, bye planning and TLT for Round 12.This episode is part of The Seven Tackle Set, the NRL SuperCoach podcast from SuperCoach Insight.Check out our other shows from 2026: • NRL Supercoach | Seven Tackle Set Podcast PatreonIf you want the full experience and actual weekly edges, our Patreon is where everything lives. Exclusive podcasts and articles, weekly team reveals and trades, subscriber Q&A, consensus position rankings, premium Discord access, and direct 1-1 access to the hosts. Sign up here - / join Join the number 1 stats provider for SuperCoach, Fantasy and Draftstars at rugbyleaguefantasypro.com. With SuperCoach changing the scoring, and making it impossible to see who averages what, RLFP is the best resource out there to get any scoring stat you need.USE CODE: INSIGHT26 for 10% off.https://www.rugbyleaguefantasypro.comJoin our FREE discord here: / discord Get your FREE consult with Ryan from Astute Newstead: https://tally.so/r/n005AQFind our socials, sponsors, all our shows, join our community and become a subscriber here: https://linktr.ee/InsightFantasySports Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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.

Winston Peters again has gazumped the government by releasing early the cancellation of the fees free. Labour spokesperson for Tertiary Education Shannan Halbert joins us tonight to discuss what this change means for young New Zealanders.Christopher Luxon was live in Newstalk ZB this morning talking about National's proposed changes to the retirement age. While with Hosking, Luxon also talked about the cancellation of the fees free scheme as well.Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has officially quit Te Pati Maori and started her own party to take on this year's election. What does this mean for the left, the left bloc, TPM and more?++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

The announcement on the cancellation of the BSA has been picked over for the last 24 hours so we thoughts we'd bring a friend of the show, who also happens to be a media academic, on tonight to chat over the cancellation of the BSA, why and where to from hereMike Hosking glazed PM Christopher Luxon this morning where they both agreed that the only reason the PM had poor polling on managing the economy was because people just "wanted free money". There is also a gross little policy coming out of ACT at the moment where migrants will need to take a "citizen test". The idea is not gross because people will learn a bit more about NZ, it's gross because when Brooke van Velden says the test will be on " what it means to be a New Zealander" which of course may be very different to an ACT party, compared to say a human...or the Green Party.Kieran McAnulty and theBISH were on Breakfast this morning talking about Shane Jones speaking the quiet part out loud about what the government thinks of homeless people and that "clearing our roads and streets of vagrants is somehow worsening those people". ++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

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.

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.

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.

Air New Zealand's cutting another set of flights on top of its already stretched network. On top of cancellations across May and June announced last month, the airline's now axing further flights across July, citing rising jet fuel costs. It says this will impact around 2% of passengers travelling nationwide. Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking when you break down this number regionally, it could be up to 20% of seats being cut in some places. She says it'll be broader than just Nelson and Tauranga and will be a case of piecing all the cuts together. Moore told Hosking it's hurting a bit more over here as the network had been shrinking already. She says most countries have been growing their networks while ours has been declining, so it's cuts on top of cuts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi music icon is firmly rooted back on our shores, with new music on the way. Gin Wigmore returned to New Zealand's shores in late 2024 after years spent living in Los Angeles, California. Last time she spoke with Mike Hosking she was in Palm Springs, moving to LA when she was pregnant with her second child and running a hotel out of Santa Monica. But after a while, she realised she wasn't content with her life and her marriage, separating from her husband, moving back to New Zealand, and opening a deli in Auckland's Kingsland. “I felt like I needed, I missed New Zealand, I missed my roots,” Wigmore said. “I missed having my kids grow up in this environment ... there's something about the freedom of that sort of childhood that was getting less, it was getting harder to do in Los Angeles.” Although she's currently in the midst of her divorce, Wigmore says she still has a good relationship with her ex. “We were just kids when we met and we couldn't, couldn't evolve together,” she told Hosking. “And we're two lead singers – I mean it was sort of destined to f***ing fail in some fiery emotional explosion, and so, y'know, we kind of, we called it.” It's been eight years since Wigmore released an album, but even amid all her other ventures, music is still deeply important to her. “Music's amazing in that it always catches me in my worst moments,” she explained. “Sometimes I've likened it to a really toxic boyfriend —kind of like this player that I'm seeing— and then sometimes it's just this really steady go-to that always catches me in my worst, hardest moments.” And that second sentiment is what her upcoming album, ‘Beautiful Mess', channels – filled with all the highlights and lowlights of Wigmore's life. “Together it's like a whole complete world of what my life... a snapshot of my world for the last five years or so.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says work to modernise aviation rules is already off the ground. Its major sector overhaul is promising to update pilot training and safety rules, cut red tape, and ease drone use on farms. Associate Transport Minister James Meager told Mike Hosking there are 23 projects to get into, with three already started. He says they're taking 20 years' worth of work and fast-tracking it to get it done in two. Meager told Hosking an aviation council paper last year showed training organisations could adapt existing programs to reduce pilot training times, and if they can change the rules to make that happen for every provider, they will. Updating the drone rules will also require more focus, he says, to ensure that people, particularly farmers, don't get strangled in red tape. “With the cost of spraying, plant fertilizer and fuel these days it would be good for them to have dome technology and tools to be able to do that effectively, increase their productivity, and get their stuff out to the rest of the world.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says New Zealand's free trade agreement with India should be in effect by the end of the year. The deal's been signed in New Delhi overnight. It's due to be tabled in Parliament today, have its first reading in May, and then go through select committee and public consultation before its final reading, possibly in late September. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that having the deal already signed is positive. He says there is a clause in the deal in which India will match clauses in any further deals that are more favourable than ours. Luxon also defended cancelling his weekly appearance on TVNZ's Breakfast, saying he's “pretty accessible” when compared to other leaders around the world. The Prime Minister's team ditched the regular interview with Tova O'Brien last week, saying Kiwis now consume media on many different platforms – however he'll still appear on a case-by-case basis. He denied that meant he was “chicken or running for the hills”, in Hosking's words. Luxon says that he reset how he wanted to engage with the media, and it was no different than what former Prime Ministers such as Jim Bolger, John Key, and Jacinda Arden had done. But he also referred to a “second issue” – referring to National Party whip Stuart Smith's reported run-in with TVNZ reporters last week. He said they respect the role of the media but highlighted the need for standards and rules in Parliament. “We've had an issue with TVNZ around that, and we've made that clear to TVNZ management.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Soper is a staple of New Zealand's political landscape. After joining the Parliamentary Press Gallery in 1980, he's spent nearly five decades as a political reporter, questioning the country's leaders. And now he's diving into the details, revealing some of the untold stories of the twelve Prime Ministers that have spanned his career in ‘One Last Question, Prime Minister'. While some things have changed throughout Soper's time, something that hasn't is politicians' perception of the Press Gallery. “Being in the Press Gallery, you're always labelled ... every time the Press Gallery does a story, they're labelled as hunting in a pack, and going off on tangents that are inexplicable,” he told Mike Hosking. “I think the only thing that's really changed from the time I was in the Press Gallery, started there in 1980, to today is the age of the journalists that are there.” In Soper's time, the demographic skewed older and more male – the gallery seen as a ‘creme de la creme' job that political reports aspired to. “Now it's transposed, there are more women than men and they're young, generally younger.” But although the journalists reporting the stories change, the stories they report can echo the past. “There are so many stories around Parliament, as you can imagine, all politicians talk, and the latest is a good example of when you get onto a good story,” Soper explained. “I've been involved in so many stories when it relates to people being rolled in politics,” he told Hosking – Bill English springing to mind. “I'd done the numbers and knew his time was up,” Soper said, which was something he'd revealed in an interview with one of Hosking's processors, Paul Holmes. “Holmes said to me at the end of the interview, he said, “Baz, is this man a dead man walking?” and I said, “Holmesy, more like a twitching corpse.”” English of course, was not well pleased with Soper's analysis, calling him up after the interview to tell him he had the numbers. “And I said, “No you haven't Bill, you'll see. See you by lunchtime.” And of course he was gone.” Twelve Prime Ministers have come and gone over the course of his career so far, but Soper has his top six, and funnily enough, Bill English doesn't make the cut. From Muldoon to Luxon, Soper delves into the details of New Zealand's Prime Ministers in ‘One Last Question, Prime Minister', releasing on the 28th of April. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Brett Hosking, joined Ross and Russ.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is concerned about an expected spike in inflation. The inflation rate has remained unchanged at 3.1% in the March quarter, despite forecasts of a drop. ASB economists now expect it to approach 4.5% this quarter, remain above 4% until the end of the year, and remain above 3% until at least the middle of next year. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking there's no doubt inflation will rise this quarter. She's also refusing to name the five disgruntled National MPs that Christopher Luxon says are behind party leaks to the media. Luxon's passed a vote of confidence at yesterday's lengthy caucus meeting, but MPs aren't revealing details of the vote, including how many of them supported Luxon. Newstalk ZB understands the disgruntled MPs are Joseph Mooney, Andrew Bayley, Sam Uffindell, Barbara Kuriger, and Tim van de Molen. Willis told Hosking she won't throw colleagues under the bus without evidence. She says each of the five have said they haven't leaked to the media and support a unified caucus. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's astonishment at the Pope standing up for himself against Donald Trump. The US President accused Pope Leo of being terrible for foreign policy on Monday after the pontiff's criticism of the war on Iran and immigration crackdowns. Italy correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking the Pope's reaction was quite incredible. She thought he'd avoid the matter, but confronted it head on instead, showing he has no fear of Trump. But the fallout from the rift between the US President and the Pope is growing, as one of Trump's closest allies speaks out. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says she disagrees with his comments, meanwhile, Trump says Meloni lacks courage, in light of her failure to join the US attacks on Iran. McKenna told Hosking it's fair to say the honeymoon stage is over, but this could be a gift for Meloni, as her voters generally don't like her relationship with Trump. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While many may not have heard of ‘Viva la Dirt League', their kids probably have. Self-described as a ‘bunch of nerds who play games and make comedy sketches about games,' they're a YouTube sketch comedy group and independent production company based in New Zealand. But what was once a channel that made a couple of hundred dollars a month has grown into a multi-million dollar business, with millions of subscribers, billions of views, and their own streaming platform. It was founded by Alan Morrison and Adam King in 2011, with Rowan Bettjeman joining a couple years later. Like many, the content they produce has changed throughout the years – beginning with parodies before pivoting into shortform comedy when it became unprofitable. “We pivoted pretty hard into comedy sketches quite early,” Morrison told Mike Hosking. “Like two or three years in. We literally found there was a tech store called Playtech that allowed us to film there after hours,” he said. “And we just filmed in the store and got like, one sketch out every couple of weeks.” For some success comes fast and hard, but for others like Viva la Dirt League, it takes a bit longer. “It's been a slow burn across out entire lifespan,” King told Hosking. “There were the odd sketch here and there, we've had a few, what you'd call ‘viral successes.'” But it wasn't until they committed to a consistent schedule that they really started to take off. “When we were committed to doing three videos a week, the algorithm was like, okay, these guys are reliable and started to present us,” Morrison explained. But consistency isn't the only factor in the group's success. “Part of our success and the success of people online is people don't necessarily want you to just make the exact same thing over and over,” King said. “They want to see your creativity, and often the videos that do best are the ones that we've thrown our heart and soul into that might be a little bit different.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's urging Kiwis to "keep calm and carry on" amid rising anxiety about fuel prices and the conflict in the Middle East. Latest official figures show overall fuel supplies remain stable. New Zealand has almost 62 days of petrol, more than 51 of diesel, and more than 50 days' worth of jet fuel, either in the country or on the way. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking there's currently no need for fuel restrictions. With no supply disruptions, he's urging people to carry on in as normal as way as possible. He rejected the idea of whipping people into a frenzy over the fuel crisis to gain political capital, telling Hosking that “It's not Covid – it's not life and death”. The Government was focused on keeping people informed, providing targeted support, and putting in “some prudent thinking ahead in case there is a risk to any supply down the road”, he said. Asked if New Zealand was hustling, like Australia, to get fuel shipments from different sources, Luxon pointed out Australia had started with lower fuel stocks in the country and did not have the regulatory frameworks New Zealand had already in place. The Government was talking to fuel importers every day, often several times a day, and all were saying they had no risk to future orders. “They're finding sources of oil from other places…some of it's coming from Canada, some of it will be coming from Peru, Chile, Suriname, West Africa, other places as well.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auspicious timing with one of New Zealand's best chefs returning to our shores as excitement around Michelin Stars continues to build. One of only two Kiwi chefs whose restaurant earned a star, Matt Lambert held one between 2013 and 2020 with his New York restaurant ‘The Musket Room'. He's now decided to return to New Zealand with a new culinary venture, ‘Return', a restaurant described by Lambert as ‘The Musket Room 2.0'. Having experience with the guide, Lambert believes the arrival of Michelin Stars in New Zealand will be amazing for the country's tourism and dining scene. “It basically tells the rest of the world we have restaurants as good as the rest of the world,” Lambert told Mike Hosking. “A lot of people travel through Europe, and they'll just use the guide verbatim to go to all the restaurants they go to ... now, if they're coming here, it opens the door for a lot of restaurants.” Earning a Michelin Star was a long held goal for Lambert, and it was one of the reasons he moved to New York in the first place. “The goal was to get a star within three years,” he told Hosking. “It was one of the most special things I've done in my career, because I'd had that sort of vision for a very long time, and having the opportunity to be able to achieve a goal like that, [it] was a special moment.” Despite all the doom and gloom that seems to surround the sector, Lambert doesn't believe things are as bad as they seem. “I love the hospo scene – I think it's vibrant, I think it's great ... there's a lot happening and it's all pretty good.” And while some might look at the economy and the conflict over in the Middle East and decide to hold off on opening a new establishment, Lambert has no such qualms. “What am I gonna wait for, do you know what I mean?” “I'm aware of all the negative things that are kind of happening, but y'know, this is a place of celebration, a place to come and feel good,” he told Hosking. “I feel, maybe now more than ever, that's what we need.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's fuel suppliers will be “substantially punished” legally and financially if they don't live up to their word in supplying fuel, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. Those international companies had asked for the current just-in-time supply model, and “rightly or wrongly I took them at their word”, Jones told Mike Hosking. “I said, okay, you guys know how to keep New Zealand afloat, but the political downside is that the national security question always remains with the Government, not just the commercial companies.” There was no suggestion of any problem with supply, he said. But the issue was even if the Government were to underwrite additional fuel imports —as Australia plans to do— there was not currently space to store added fuel volumes. “We could have a ship bobbing off the coast of Marsden Point for a while, then someone's got to pay for that ship to sit there and do nothing while we draw down.” He repeatedly blamed the closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery for leaving New Zealand with inadequate storage. Jones said he had been warned that refineries in Singapore, Malaysia and Korea were set up specifically to deal with oil from the Middle East. While they would be seeking oil from other regions, they would need work before they could process that oil. He also revealed more details about the unsolicited proposals the Government is receiving to increase New Zealand's offshore fuel supplies. Jones says both the Government and MBIE officials have received approaches from either New Zealanders, people already known to them, or people who have lived in New Zealand. But Jones he told Hosking the offers they're making don't last long, with ships usually being snapped up within 72 hours. He says many Kiwis don't appreciate how serious the situation is in Asia. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Years of waiting are nearly over for Christchurch, with the city's new stadium on the brink of opening. Ministers and city leaders will attend this morning's official launch of One NZ Stadium ahead of its first major event – Super Rugby's Super Round on Anzac weekend. Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare told Mike Hosking residents have put up with a compromised stadium for years. She says the focus is now on locking in top-tier events and securing long-term partnerships. Harvie-Teare told Hosking they're lucky to already have partnerships with the Crusaders as well as the Warriors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenni Smith is entering a brand-new era with the release of her long-awaited debut album. The Kiwi pop country musician has been a part of the New Zealand country music scene since she was 12 – her first single, ‘T-Shirt' hitting #3 on the official NZ Singles Chart. Since then, she's taken home the Songwriter of the Year Award at the 2018 NZ Country Music Awards and had a couple more charting singles, including her most recent, ‘Mirror', which currently sits at #1. “They tagged me on Instagram, and it just blew my mind,” Smith told Mike Hosking. ‘Mirror' is the first single of her debut album ‘Girl Next Door, a collection of diary-style songs three years in the making. “I've been working on it for three years, so exciting is like, a lesser word for it,” While there are artists out there who create rapidly, making and recording artists in very short periods of time, Smith told Hosking her timeframe didn't come from overthinking, but rather from necessity. “I'm an independent artist,” she said. “So I have to find the time to record, but also fund it myself.” Smith has been honing her craft over the years, graduating a few years ago with a degree in songwriting from the University of Auckland. “I definitely learned a lot in my time studying songwriting,” “I think it made me think a little more in depth about what I'm writing – it arguably made my songwriting process slower, because I go back and tweak things multiple times, but I think it paid off.” ‘Girl Next Door' is releasing tomorrow, and as part of the launch, Smith will be performing some intimate shows in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is confident she hasn't jumped the gun with her fuel relief package. The Government's unveiled a temporary $50 weekly tax credit for about 143 thousand eligible lower-income families with children. It will continue for a year, or until the price of 91 drops below $3 a litre for four weeks in a row. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking she has to prepare for a range of scenarios. She says the conflict could be prolonged, and the supply chain disruption that's causing prices to rise could continue for some time. Willis says she's focusing on securing supply rather than providing support for businesses facing rising fuel prices. When it comes to helping businesses, the Government is changing fuel rules so importers can bring in fuel refined to Australian standards. She told Hosking it's essential the transport, manufacturing and agriculture sectors have enough fuel to keep going. Willis says it would be wrong to artificially push down the price of diesel when —if the worst-case scenario plays out— we could be having to preserve our diesel supply. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes aligning with Australian fuel standards could allow us to work together in an Anzac-type arrangement for fuel supply. The Government's changing the standards aiming to make it easier for importers to source fuel. Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says they're currently drawing the line at higher-sulphur fuels until officials know if it'll damage new European emissions-compliant engines here. He told Mike Hosking Australasia is at the end of the railway track, so we should work together. He says our Prime Ministers have been talking so we can act robustly together to secure supply if needed. Jones told Hosking the Government's signed off on all the specifications which can be harmonised. He says the specifications are down to different temperatures between our countries, with fuel designed for Queensland not as useful in Twizel. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British pop legend Robbie Williams is coming to entertain New Zealand this November. The artist behind Angels, Rock DJ, and Let Me Entertain You has confirmed two New Zealand shows for his BRITPOP world tour, opening at Eden Park on November 24. He'll follow it up at the new Christchurch Te Kaha Stadium on the 28th, becoming the first international artist to perform there. BRITPOP is the 16th album of Williams' solo career and its success saw him surpass the Beatles, becoming the artist with the most number one albums in UK chart history. “I've had 16 number one albums, which feels mind-bendingly incredible,” he told Mike Hosking. “But because I'd had 15 number ones, you know, I think there was an exhale that there was a 16th number one, and I think the panic and the worry was, what if it isn't, what if I don't get to experience that again?” “I suppose the intoxication is not in the experiencing 16 number ones, it's the exhale at not being number two.” Williams has been performing since 1990, first as a member of Take That, and then launching his solo career in 1996, and despite his awards and success, there's something pushing him onwards. “The hole is unfillable, but still I persevere,” he told Hosking. “I'm not quite sure 100% of what it is that I'm running from and what it is that needs to be, you know this hole that needs to be filled, but what I am enjoying now is the journey.” Speaking of the journey, Williams is heading back on the road later this year for the BRITPOP tour, and he takes the responsibility of performing “incredibly seriously”. “Every show is the most important show – the next show is always the most important show.” “I don't wanna let me down and I don't wanna let my audience down.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has emphasised there's a range of scenarios for inflation amidst the global oil crisis – not just the worst-case scenario of 3.7% outlined yesterday. “We don't know what's going to happen with factors that are outside of our control,” she told Mike Hosking. “We don't know how long the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed. We don't know whether Asian refineries will be able to access alternative supplies of oil in sufficient quantities, and we don't know whether importers will be able to access alternative supplies of refined products. So we're preparing for all of those scenarios.” The Government remained "hopeful" there was enough cover, refineries could keep producing enough fuel and importers could bring in the quantities New Zealand needed. Treasury would be the first to acknowledge their forecasts were “guessing games”, but "we have to plan for what could be around the corner so that if bad things happen, we're ready". Hosking pointed out other countries were taking action to relieve mounting costs, including heating oil relief in the UK overnight. But Willis said the UK and Europe's energy and electricity prices were much more affected by events in the Middle East than New Zealand, which relies largely on hydro and renewables. Our Government is closely monitoring the international response to the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump is calling on several allies to send warships and other support to secure the strait. Japan and Australia say they currently have no plans to send naval ships and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer say neither will Britain be drawn into a wider war. But Willis told Mike Hosking there will be much to play out in the days ahead. She says they do want to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened, and it will be up to all countries to decide whether and what role they plan. "We haven't been asked to participate in any particular efforts in the Strait.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An electric vehicle provider saw an uptake in electric and hybrid car sales over the weekend as fuel prices continue to soar. BYD General Manager Warren Wilmot told Mike Hosking the number of fully electric and hybrid BYD cars bought on Saturday quadrupled their usual sale. “We sold 80 on Saturday as opposed to the usual 20 to 25 we sell on a Saturday. “Our Australian friends did even better they sold 902.” Wilmot told Hosking a lot of people had already done their research and were sitting on the fence about whether to buy one, and that they “took the opportunity now.” “Higher fuel prices aren't great for anyone; you know the cost will go up for us too for shipment and other things.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of March, Finance Minister Nicola Willis breaks down the fuel situation and its impact on our economy. Another big win has brought Wētā FX's Oscar count to eight – Matt Aitken joined Hosking to chat about the win. The man in charge of the century-old Stihl company, Dr Nikolas Stihl, is in the country, and joined to discuss one of the greatest business stories in the world. 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.

One of our favourite tool shops is now a century old. 2026 marks 100 years for the tool company Stihl, which has been in New Zealand for over 40 years. It's been family-run since its inception – founded by Andreas Stihl in 1926 and passed on to his son, Hans Peter Stihl, before his grandson Dr Nikolas Stihl took the reins. He's the Chair of the Advisory Board and Supervisory Board and told Mike Hosking that remaining a family-run model has been better for them in the long run. “Family-run businesses, they simply can take strategic decisions better than publicly owned companies,” Stihl says. “We don't report to any boards outside of the family ... we are independent, and in the long run, at least for us, that has been a lot better.” With a turnover of €5.5 billion, equivalent to nearly $11 billion, 20 thousand employees, and manufacturing in eight countries around the world, Stihl is still continuing to grow. “We keep on growing,” Stihl told Hosking. “We've grown last year, and that wasn't easy because of the world economy, but we did.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking for their weekly catch up to chat fuel security, his visit to the Pacific, and Trump's calls for aid in the Strait of Hormuz. Luxon told Hosking he is 'confident' in New Zealand's fuel imports as most of our supply comes from South Korea and Singapore. "We've got very good cover and stocks," he said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unprecedented jet fuel prices are set to cause extensive Air New Zealand flight cancellations, affecting tens of thousands of people. The airline expects to consolidate 1,100 flights over the next six to eight weeks – impacting about 44 thousand passengers. It expects to start notifying affected customers from today. Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking at this stage, they're planning to cut frequencies, rather than entire routes. He says they're in daily —if not hourly— contact with their fuel suppliers and working with the Government on a coordinated response. They've already had to raise fares to help cover the rising costs, but Ravishankar told Hosking every airline is dealing with similar issues. He says the airlines have the same or similar playbook for dealing with fuel price shocks like this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former Covid Response Minister admits some pandemic decisions were mishandled. The second phase of the Covid inquiry has found New Zealand's overall response was effective, but the Government went too far with some restrictions and moved too slowly in some areas. It's recommending new pandemic legislation before future outbreaks and stronger financial reporting. Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking he recognises his mistakes, in hindsight. He says he'd would've made decisions about the Auckland lockdown and the roll-out of RAT testing differently. But he's defending their Covid spending, saying the inquiry raises questions about what was included as ‘Covid spending'. Hipkins told Hosking that the category was too broad, and could've been broken down. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand is fighting with one hand tied behind its back facing local costs its international competitors avoid. The national airline's announced a $40 million half-year loss. The new Chief Executive says airlines are a cyclical business, and New Zealand is disproportionately exposed to local inflation. Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking some of the other airlines making more money are the ones that have recently gone through a downturn. He says it's partly nature of the business, but there are also things we're exposed to locally that some of our competitors aren't. They've also been struggling with aircraft being grounded due to global engine issues, a slower than expected recovery, and rising costs. Ravishankar told Hosking he took on a business grappling with a post-Covid rebuild. He says up until now, they've been playing not to lose, but now they're building a business that can play to win. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's hoping to send economic growth sky-high, announcing a 24/7 alternative runway for commercial airlines. It's approved funding for Ohakea Air Force base, near Palmerston North, to run round-the-clock air traffic control so planes can divert there if needed. Associate Transport Minister James Meager says this opens up an easier option for long-haul flights that may run low on fuel. He told Mike Hosking Qatar Airways downgraded its services to New Zealand last year because of how much fuel its planes had to carry. Meager also says they're hoping regional airlines can refinance their debt and make some upgrades as loans are dished out. Golden Bay Air will receive a government loan of around $1.1 million from a $30 million package. Fund administrator, Kanoa, says it's working to fully allocate the rest of the funds quickly, processing loan applications from other airlines. Meager told Hosking loans will be low-interest and paying them back will be a priority. He says if these airlines can't make it work, they've got to find a way to ensure the country has reliable regional connectivity in the long run. 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

Grammy winning country pop star Maren Morris has made her way to New Zealand as a headlining act. After starting at just 15 years old, her 20 year career has seen her break boundaries, win numerous awards, and producing multiplatinum and gold certified music. Morris is a few shows into her ‘Dreamsicle' tour, having performed in Australia and Auckland, with one more show in Christchurch before she hops over to the States. She told Mike Hosking headlining her own tour has been incredible. “We've only done a handful of shows, but the crowds are so energetic, and they're also a listening crowd,” Morris explained. “They really want to hear the stories behind the songs and how they were written ... it's a great balance of like, y'know, they want to hear the backstories, but they're also having fun and dancing.” “It's a perfect crowd.” Morris' career started early, but that doesn't mean her success came early as well, which she says made the transition easier to handle. “Nothing of my career has happened overnight, or has been like, too quick to digest.” “The saying in Nashville is that it's a ten-year town, so it takes ten years for most of the successful people to even have a song or album that resonates,” Morris told Hosking. “I think there's obviously with any big success, there is a dose of timing and luck, all of those things.” “You just have to keep going and keep your eye on the target because it is ever moving.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.