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It's been a big weekend of music on Worth Farm in Somerset, England as the 2025 Glastonbury music festival was held. This week Nick and James dissect the highlights of the festival, argue about an audio-visual experience that is coming to Wellington this month, and listen to Liam Finn's latest album Hyperverse. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says New Zealand has not “escaped the aftershocks of world events” as new data shows hardship rising and more Kiwis struggling to pay the bills. Speaking to Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills about the state of the economy, Willis acknowledged it had been “a tough time”. “Things were starting to come along and then come April there were some reasonably significant announcements by the US President that sent ramifications through the world”, Willis said. Donald Trump's April “Liberation Day” announcement saw sweeping tariffs introduced for more than 125 countries, including 10% on imports coming from New Zealand. Willis said business confidence has been impacted as a result and growth forecasts have been downgraded.“Little old New Zealand, just recovering, has been really impacted by that.” She said in spite of the global uncertainty growth is still forecast to improve, but “we haven't escaped the aftershocks of global events”. Credit reporting agency Centrix released its June Credit Indicator today. It showed household arrears were levelling out while hardship and company liquidations were on the rise. Nearly 50,000 individual billpayers were in financial hardship, an increase of 300 from May, and 14% more than a year ago, Centrix said. An uptick in hardship began in November 2022, and today's figures “continues a steady upward trend”, Centrix managing director Keith McLaughlin said. “I don't deny those numbers, as you say, they're facts and I meet enough New Zealanders each week to know there are still a lot of people doing it tough”, Willis said. She said it comes at a time when New Zealand is at its “peak unemployment”. “When unemployment is higher, of course that is when you see people unable to pay their bills”, Willis said. On the increase in business liquidations, which Centrix recorded as being up 27% on last year's figures, Willis said that there would be a variety of reasons for that and disputed the Government was responsible. Asked by Mills if her government could have done more to assist struggling businesses, she said there were “certainly things we could have done which would have made it harder for them”. Willis pointed to moves like tax cuts, cutting red tape, and the investment boost policy, which she said are benefiting small businesses. Wellington's ‘disappointing chapter' Willis, a lifelong Wellingtonian, was asked about the state of the capital. She responded by criticising Wellington City Council for having had “its eye completely off the ball”. “It feels to me like a place that needs a fresh start”, she said. Willis believes the city still has “cool things” going for it like smart tenacious people, the native bush, and the city's hospitality scene, but said “man oh man have we mucked up” with regard to council decision-making. She said the council must be focused on keeping rates low. It comes after the council approved a 12% rates increase for the 2025/2026 year. “It seems to me that the council has not been focused on that mission and at the same time has been quite distracted by what I would say are interesting political debates.” She said the city has been in a “disappointing chapter”. Asked whether she is excited by any of those running in the upcoming local election, Willis said she does not endorse candidates but is looking for two things. The first was getting rates rises under control. “That means actually being prepared to stop doing some things, we've had to do that as a government”, Willis said.The second thing she was looking for in candidates was policy that is “genuinely pro-business”, citing Wellington's disproportionately high commercial rates. She also spoke on the Golden Mile project saying while she understands the vision, now is not the time.“I'm looking for councillors who are pledging to be disciplined about the way they spend ratepayer money”, Willis said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says New Zealand has not “escaped the aftershocks of world events” as new data shows hardship rising and more Kiwis struggling to pay the bills. Speaking to Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills about the state of the economy, Willis acknowledged it had been “a tough time”. “Things were starting to come along and then come April there were some reasonably significant announcements by the US President that sent ramifications through the world”, Willis said. Donald Trump's April “Liberation Day” announcement saw sweeping tariffs introduced for more than 125 countries, including 10% on imports coming from New Zealand. Willis said business confidence has been impacted as a result and growth forecasts have been downgraded.“Little old New Zealand, just recovering, has been really impacted by that.” She said in spite of the global uncertainty growth is still forecast to improve, but “we haven't escaped the aftershocks of global events”. Credit reporting agency Centrix released its June Credit Indicator today. It showed household arrears were levelling out while hardship and company liquidations were on the rise. Nearly 50,000 individual billpayers were in financial hardship, an increase of 300 from May, and 14% more than a year ago, Centrix said. An uptick in hardship began in November 2022, and today's figures “continues a steady upward trend”, Centrix managing director Keith McLaughlin said. “I don't deny those numbers, as you say, they're facts and I meet enough New Zealanders each week to know there are still a lot of people doing it tough”, Willis said. She said it comes at a time when New Zealand is at its “peak unemployment”. “When unemployment is higher, of course that is when you see people unable to pay their bills”, Willis said. On the increase in business liquidations, which Centrix recorded as being up 27% on last year's figures, Willis said that there would be a variety of reasons for that and disputed the Government was responsible. Asked by Mills if her government could have done more to assist struggling businesses, she said there were “certainly things we could have done which would have made it harder for them”. Willis pointed to moves like tax cuts, cutting red tape, and the investment boost policy, which she said are benefiting small businesses. Wellington's ‘disappointing chapter' Willis, a lifelong Wellingtonian, was asked about the state of the capital. She responded by criticising Wellington City Council for having had “its eye completely off the ball”. “It feels to me like a place that needs a fresh start”, she said. Willis believes the city still has “cool things” going for it like smart tenacious people, the native bush, and the city's hospitality scene, but said “man oh man have we mucked up” with regard to council decision-making. She said the council must be focused on keeping rates low. It comes after the council approved a 12% rates increase for the 2025/2026 year. “It seems to me that the council has not been focused on that mission and at the same time has been quite distracted by what I would say are interesting political debates.” She said the city has been in a “disappointing chapter”. Asked whether she is excited by any of those running in the upcoming local election, Willis said she does not endorse candidates but is looking for two things. The first was getting rates rises under control. “That means actually being prepared to stop doing some things, we've had to do that as a government”, Willis said.The second thing she was looking for in candidates was policy that is “genuinely pro-business”, citing Wellington's disproportionately high commercial rates. She also spoke on the Golden Mile project saying while she understands the vision, now is not the time.“I'm looking for councillors who are pledging to be disciplined about the way they spend ratepayer money”, Willis said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Action to attract crucial international investment. Invest New Zealand is up and running, a government organisation that'll work with global investors to create jobs, boost innovation, and lift productivity. It's been given $85 million over four years to cement itself. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges told Mike Hosking that our settings were suboptimal, and we're now getting better ones. He says that they're not world leading, but they are being made with impeccable timing, as they're being made as the world's increasingly turning to custard. Bridges says there's real enthusiasm for this in New Zealand, as new residents investing in businesses and startups will have a real flow on effect on the economy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister believes the Government would be better off with the part-privatisation of Interislander ferries. A Treasury paper presented to Cabinet by the Minister for Rail, Winston Peters, says the Government can consider private investment to reduce costs. David Seymour agrees with the idea and says the Government has been far too relaxed with capital. He told Mike Hosking the Government is not a good operator of commercial enterprises, and there's no shortage of evidence for that. Seymour says you have to balance the books, and at the moment the Government owns too many underperforming assets. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Records have been set in Spain and Portugal as extreme heat continues to roast Europe. Temperatures at or above 38C are expected through the week, rolling eastward to encompass France, Italy, and eventually portions of Eastern Europe. A record number of heat alerts are in place across France, with 16 regions on red alert, and 68 others on orange alert. Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking while heatwaves aren't uncommon in summer, there's never been temperatures this high, this early. She says Monday was the hottest June day in France ever, and it's only going to get worse by Tuesday lunchtime. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a dream couple of months for Ryan Fox. In May, the Kiwi golfer won the Myrtle Beach Classic, claiming his first PGA Tour win. From there he made the cut for the PGA Championship, won his second Tour event at the Canadian Open, before making the cut for the US Open. He'll soon be heading to the UK for the Scottish Open and Open Championship, taking a week's break ahead of the tournament. “It's been a crazy couple of months,” Fox told Mike Hosking. “Going from trying to figure out where we're gonna play gold, or where I was going to play golf next year, where we're going to live as a family, to, yeah, being on the PGA Tour for a few more years now, and having a couple of wins and playing my way into the big events.” He says he's still trying to come to terms with it all, but it's what he's always dreamed of doing. “It's pretty cool.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 1st of July, we've got a new police college opening in Auckland today – is it a case of build it and they will come? What is it about helicopters that gets us so exercised? Mike has some thoughts on Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray's helipad getting approval. We haven't caught up with Ryan Fox since his success on the PGA Tour, so we catch him before he jets off to the UK for the Open Championship. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new start up that could drastically reduce your power bill will soon be available in homes. Designed to replace the current switchboards, Basis Smart Panels aim to provide Kiwis with greater control over their electricity consumption. With over 7,500 orders already contracted, the company plans to install 50,000 panels in the next 24 months. Co-Founder Danny Purcell told Mike Hosking the panel provides full visibility as to how electricity is consumed in your house, which customers can use save money and make their homes safer. He says the panel pays for itself fairly quickly, and they expect the payback period to be around 15-18 months for the average customer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A charitable trust is commending tougher sentences for people throwing coward punches. The Government's new specific offence for striking a distracted victim could carry a sentence of life imprisonment if fatal. Walk Without Fear has been pushing for changes after MMA fighter Liufau Vake was killed by a single coward punch in 2021. Board Member Mike Angove told Mike Hosking the charges need to be in conjunction with education that starts at a school level. He says that no one argues against the lethality of attacking someone with a knife or a gun, but people are unaware that hitting someone who's unaware can result in permanent damage or a lethal outcome. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Positive signs when it comes to consumer arrears, but some businesses are still doing it tough. The latest Centrix data for June shows the number of people behind on payments is down on last year, for the fifth consecutive month in a row. At the same time company liquidations have risen 27% year-on-year. Chief Operating Officer Monika Lacey says that's partly due to increased enforcement, after a softer approach from credit providers during Covid. She says Inland Revenue is among those businesses which is now taking a normal approach again, and that's having an impact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief Auckland's new Police training centre will make recruitment more accessible. The new space on the Massey University campus includes multiple classrooms, along with gym and recreation areas. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking over the years some people have steered away from a career in Police because they couldn't go to Porirua for training. He says it's about creating more opportunities for those who might find Porirua for 20 weeks a challenge. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world of pressing problems one of the bigger, longer term ones is due a good looking at because if we don't, when we get there we will want to shoot ourselves. IRD has been looking at the cost of stuff and where that money comes from. The trouble, and this is not new, is we have more older people needing more money and fewer younger people to work to raise the money to pay the bills. This is more than Super. It's health. It's pretty much everything. Currently 16% of the population is over 65-years-old. By 2060 it will be a quarter. The IRD conclusion is that people will likely have to pay more tax. Really? Is that it? Well, no. Somewhere in the advice they mutter something like "we could always cut costs". Bingo! Give those people a prize. And why that idea is not top of the pile of ideas, I don't know. Because here is what I do know. Most of the money to pay for all this comes from you and me. Personal tax is over 50% of Government income, its 52%. Companies pay 17%. GST is 25%. A lot of GST is us as well. In fact our top tax rate is 39cents. Add GST on to that you are at 54%. Add the bits and pieces on top - the ACC, the road user charges - and top income earners will be parting with 56-57% of everything they earn. And the IRD advice is we will need more please. So how much more? And at what point does it become ruinous? At what point do the young, bright things move offshore? The ones of course that haven't already. So let's take stock. We are highly taxed. Remember at the other end we have no tax free component in income. We are a low wage economy. We have a massive savings issue with KiwiSaver at an average of $30,000-ish and a fiscal cliff in a bunch of years where the main idea is we will bleed you some more. Spot the red flag. So, what to do? And how urgently do we do it? Ideas please. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 30th of June, we've got some good retail crime changes coming to a store near you and the Government's Retail Crime Advisory Group spokesperson Sunny Kaushal is on the show. The Prime Minister has some questions to answer around Whanau Ora, Section 127b and NATO spending. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine talk Liam Lawson's best ever F1 result, the Warriors' loss and how the All Blacks will go in their first test against France. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is introducing new laws focused on protecting first responders and prison officers. Luxon told Mike Hosking that no ambulance driver, firefighter or police officer should face aggression and assault while trying to help people. Also in discussion is the new IKEA store, which has faced trouble during the planning phase. Luxon said that he has more concerns about the planning than IKEA do, and blames the struggles on ‘Māorification'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deadline for rental properties to meet the Healthy Homes deadline is less than 24 hours away, and some properties are still not up to scratch. Betta Group CEO Matt Mason told Mike Hosking that although many proactive landlords have made the required changes, some have left it to the last minute. He says audits will be carried out and fines will be issued in the coming months to help enforce these regulation changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's excitement over expected changes to the way authorities deal with retail crime. Newstalk ZB understands Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith will be confirming shoplifting policy changes this week, relating to Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group recommendations. Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking that the announcements are ones retailers across the country have been screaming out for. Kaushal says offenders believe police won't respond and the courts will let them go, so they're working to stop this sense of impunity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The One Roof Velocity house value index has revealed a drop in property value across the country. Major cities like Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton have all experienced drops. However, more rural areas such as Southland, Canterbury and Northland have all seen a rise. CEO of real estate at Velocity Helen O'Sullivan told Mike Hosking that although the prices have dropped, the real estate market is still healthy. She said ‘Volumes are a key indicator, and we're seeing those pick up' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're in a position where you can upgrade your seat for a long haul flight, there's still a debate to be had about which seat is better. Air New Zealand's Skycouch allows travellers the freedom to lie down on the plane - but how does it compare to the reclining seats in Premium Economy? BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton compared the two - and wrote a review on her blog here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills and host of the Front Page podcast, Chelsea Daniels, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! The Government's new sentencing reforms are set to kick in today - what do we make of these? Do we see these new changes making a difference? Lotto Powerball could be about to get a whole lot harder - is this outrageous? Would you bother getting a ticket now? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Famed Australian comedian and social media star Jimmy Rees has made a name for himself across a number of platforms - and he's taking his latest tour on the road. He's set to perform in New Zealand for the first time ever, as well as Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, and Canberra between October and December 2025. He says there's plenty in his act for people to laugh at on both sides of the Tasman - America, for instance. "I guess it's a bit nerve-wracking, you know? Australia's big, but we also have some very concentrated cities as well. The land mass is enormous." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. He's beloved by loads of readers, especially for his brilliant book I Know this Much is True. This new one is, to a large degree, informed by the years he spent teaching creative writing to incarcerated women in a Connecticut prison. It's the story of a man whose life is in a downward spiral. Corby Ledbetter is out of work and self medicating when he causes a devastating accident which upends both his entire life, and that of his family and sends him to prison. Isolated and fearful, he's desperate for a way back, and for redemption, which neither he nor his family might be prepared to give. Baddest Man by Mark Kriegel. Mike Tyson was boxing's youngest ever heavyweight champion, and this is the story of the first 22 years of his life. I'm no fan of the sport but I'm fascinated by boxers – years ago I read Tyson's autobiography, Undisputed Truth and loved it. This book gives his origin story – the author's written a terrific account of the forces which shaped Tyson and what made him into the extraordinary athlete he became – but also into the baddest man. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After making an impression on millions around the world - and making an appearance in Wellington in 2024, 'The Art of Banksy' exhibit is set to hit Auckland. Banksy is one of the world's most famous artists with a significant global following, but his identity remains unknown - despite exhibitions of his work selling out and attracting interest. Banksy didn't personally curate this exhibit, but producer and curator Michel Boersma says he's had dealings with the artists. "People have a view of Banksy as this sort of Robin Hood figure in general - we've done this in 90 cities around the world and in general, you get this whole Robin Hood kind of thing. We are dealing with collectors and collectors who buy art, often direct from Banksy - art that he's created to sell for his own lifestyle." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Muchamore is behind some of the best novels available to young readers. His CHERUB series is credited with shaking up young adult literature, with realistic language, unconventionally sophisticated themes, and portrayals of heroes that challenge tradition. His latest series tackles concepts like corruption, protection rackets, and late-stage capitalist failure, with a twist on the tale of Robin Hood. The ninth book in the series, Robin Hood: Fury, Fire and Frost, was released earlier this month. Muchamore told Jack Tame he's always been fascinated by the tale of Robin Hood – this very old story that has been passed on and reimagined over and over again. “It's this kind of legend that's been around for so long, and everyone gets to interpret it in their own way.” His version of the story is a more modern take, set in a contemporary world with a 12/13-year-old Robin Hood that's very similar to most modern children. That similarity can be something of a challenge though, as Muchamore explains that over his twenty years of writing for children, it's becoming a bit harder to stay in touch with kids. “You really do have to be humble and talk to kids, and listen to what they say.” “Kids are quite ruthless,” Muchamore explained. “They're always quite ruthless if you get something wrong or you use a phrase that isn't hip anymore or something like that.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Houses are projected to be worth 20% less in 2030 due to inflation. For buyers, does that mean entering the property ladder is hopeless? How can they get the most value for their property? What renovations give the best bang-for-buck? Tim Beveridge is joined by Property Investment Advisor Ilse Wolfe... LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorde has described her fourth album as her rebirth. ‘Virgin' is her attempt to make a document that reflected her femininity, which she described as “raw, primal, innocent, elegant, openhearted, spiritual, masc”. It deals with themes of gender identity, body image, and mental health, a more introspective album than its predecessor ‘Solar Power'. Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to share her thoughts on the album. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas can force users of porn websites to verify their age The law was challenged right up to the Supreme Court as they claimed it violated the free-speech rules of the First Amendment. Their argument was that adult viewers might be worried their private information or viewing history could be exposed, which is a deterrent from accessing the material. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the law, saying it's working to protect children, and the government has the authority to do that. The Texas Governor, Ken Paxton, calls the widespread access among children to hardcore pornography a public health crisis. Texas is one of 24 states that have passed age verification laws for online porn, forcing Pornhub to close down in the state. Salesforce's CEO claims 30-50% of the internal work is now done by AI That's a staggering statistic from CEO Mark Benioff. Unsure how that's measured, but he says AI is being widely used at the company for software engineering and customer service. He says the tech has allowed the company to hire fewer humans. Microsoft and Alphabet have claimed similar stats saying AI is creating about 30% of the new code on some projects. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple in China by Patrick McGee After struggling to build its products on three continents, Apple was lured by China's seemingly inexhaustible supply of cheap labor. Soon it was sending thousands of engineers across the Pacific, training millions of workers, and spending hundreds of billions of dollars to create the world's most sophisticated supply chain. These capabilities enabled Apple to build the 21st century's most iconic products—in staggering volume and for enormous profit. Without explicitly intending to, Apple built an advanced electronics industry within China, only to discover that its massive investments in technology upgrades had inadvertently given Beijing a power that could be weaponized. In Apple in China, journalist Patrick McGee draws on more than two hundred interviews with former executives and engineers, supplementing their stories with unreported meetings held by Steve Jobs, emails between top executives, and internal memos regarding threats from Chinese competition. The book highlights the unknown characters who were instrumental in Apple's ascent and who tried to forge a different path, including the Mormon missionary who established the Apple Store in China; the “Gang of Eight” executives tasked with placating Beijing; and an idealistic veteran whose hopes of improving the lives of factory workers were crushed by both Cupertino's operational demands and Xi Jinping's war on civil society. Apple in China is the sometimes disturbing and always revelatory story of how an outspoken, proud company that once praised “rebels” and “troublemakers”—the company that encouraged us all to “Think Different”—devolved into passively cooperating with a belligerent regime that increasingly controls its fate. The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with successful fulfilling lives. A son they adore, a house on the beach, a safe, friendly and honest community in a picture-postcard town on the Ayrshire coast. Until one day Bonnie the lab comes in from the beach alone. Their son Rory has just gone - the only trace left is a single black Adidas slider. Their lives don't fall apart immediately - while there's still hope (and no body) they can dig deep and try to carry on. Rather it's a process of abrasion, a wearing away of that happiness and normality; a slow degradation, a gradual breakdown - until they'll never be the people they were before. This sort of tragedy impacts a whole town - does the community still feel the same after? What are folk saying about you? Who are your friends? Who can you trust? When the worst thing has happened and you've lost everything, you either go under or you rebuild, start again. What could be worse than your child disappearing? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parkinson's is one of the most common neurological conditions for those over the age of 60 - Michael J Fox very famously has early onset Parkinson's, and is now a champion for awareness of the disease. So what is Parkinson's? A degenerative disease of the nervous system causing movement problems. Affects 1:100 over the age of 60. Occasionally it's early onset like with Michael J Fox. Nerve cells in the brain break down, we lose a chemical messenger called dopamine. There's no simple test to diagnose, diagnosis comes from symptoms. How do you recognise it? It's often very slow to develop and initially can be difficult to diagnose. Everyone's journey with Parkinson's is different. It's common to notice tremors at rest, often on one side. You may notice it gets better when moving or doing something – it can fluctuate. Over time: Slow movements become difficult, stiff muscles, loss of balance. Can be associated with depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and lack of motivation. Loss of smell, difficulty with speech, fatigue, cramping muscles. What causes it? We don't know the cause. However, risk factors include age, family history, and it's more common in men. Other factors: Traumatic brain injuries, exposure to toxins, certain pesticides, and some illegal drugs. Can we treat it? It can't be cured and does tend to be progressive. However, there are a range of medications that can help: medication that either replaces dopamine, or stops the breakdown of dopamine in brain can alleviate symptoms. Lifestyle: exercise to improve muscle strength, preventing falls; not rushing, use of walking aids, massage. Occupational therapists to teach how to help with daily activities Support organisations such as Parkinson's New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dead Cow Gully Backyard Marathon in Queensland is not for the faint of heart. Billed as a race with no finish line, the Backyard Ultra format has no predefined length or time, but requires runners to complete a 6.7km loop every hour. Kevin Milne was following the race, and thinks it's a good thing he didn't manage to get his entry in on time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Don't downplay Quito as merely a stepping stone to the rainforest or the Galapagos. It is a superlative destination in its own right. The crowning jewel is Quito's 17th-century Old Town, a heaving historical quarter so impeccably preserved that it was the first city in the world to be accorded UNESCO World Heritage Status." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although it's convenient, cloud storage and email inboxes have a bigger carbon footprint than one might think. To combat this, Kate Hall has been unsubscribing, deleting, and cleaning up her digital clutter. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 28th June 2025, young adult author Robert Muchamore talks to Jack about his new series - Robin Hood: Fury, Fire and Frost - a twist on the classic Robin Hood tales. Jack reflects on the Venice extravaganza that is the Jeff Bezos wedding. Francesca Rudkin has two great movie recommendations if you're looking for something to do over the school holidays. And Estelle Clifford gives us her thoughts on the much-anticipated Lorde album, Virgin: "Raw, angsty, growing as an artist. 10/10" Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm quite happy to touch on this little trouble inside the house: what is a good spot to grow certain plants? Julie and I have been struggling to get a few Orchids growing inside. One of them is Phalaenopsis —the Moth Orchid— and another one is Oncidium, especially the “Kandy Dancer” I fell in love with when working in Sri Lanka. Both are a real pain to get going: tried a north-facing window, an eastern aspect, west, and nothing worked to get these plants growing, let alone flowering!! The Irony is that our daughter just chucked them in a south facing bay windowsill and simply couldn't stop them flowering! They get a few seconds of morning sun, are covered in steam (it's a kitchen bay window), and often get warm ovens heating the site. Guess what! We tried it too: south bay window in kitchen, etc, etc. Fertilised them with Orchid Food, spoke to them, read stories at night, etc, ect... NOTHING! Yes, we read the books and reduced the moisture regime, got solid fertiliser, liquid fertiliser, extra Potash, no potash, more Nitrogen, less Nitrogen, saw their root zones and decided that Phosphate might be the answer... NADA! Our south side bay window is filled with thriving plants, everything grows brilliantly here, except the bloody Orchids! We finally did get a little bit of hope from an Oncidium cutting (no comment on the origin of that cutting, by the way). Our next attempt: west window, afternoon sun every day, etc, etc. It's tiny, but it's alive! The point is that sometimes these things happen when you try to grow certain specimens, they don't always follow the suggestions in the book. The fertiliser regime is quite often hyped-up and the commonest method of killing your plants is by simply over-watering the plants and their roots. So… try some neglect. Water them when you realise you've forgotten to do so for months! And when your daughter asks, “what is fertiliser?” try not to get shitty, just learn from that and embrace another tactic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump Administration has hit out at reporters pushing back against their official line on Iran. US President Donald Trump continues to insist the strikes from the US obliterated Iran's nuclear sites – a stance Iran's Supreme Leader claims is exaggerated. Fox News' Pentagon Correspondent Jennifer Griffin questioned Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a press conference, asking if the White House was certain all the highly enriched uranium was inside the Fordow Mountain – the location hit by the US. US Correspondent Kirk Clyatt joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to break down the latest developments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, what's your number? What's the amount you think would be perfect to win in Lotto Powerball? The amount that allows you to pay off the mortgage, set the kids up, help family, and maybe fulfil a dream or two - but without it upending your life in a negative way? We've all got a fantasy number, right? I reckon $10 million would be perfect, but to be honest, I'd take anything the numbers give me. A couple of grand - cheers! Lotto NZ has a proposition to evolve the draw to ensure it continues to appeal to people. It's early stages and will need Government approval, but the idea is to see fewer regular wins and more of the exciting mega jackpots of $50 million. How do they do this? By adding another Powerball number. Currently to win Powerball, you need to get the 6 first division numbers, and the Powerball number. There are 10 balls in the Powerball draw and your chances of winning are 1 in 38 million. Add one extra Powerball and the odds would decrease to 1 in 42.2 million, meaning the jackpots rise to the crazy amounts which cause a frenzy of ticket sales. $50 million jackpots sound exciting. It's why so many people ignore the odds and queue up to buy a ticket in the hope of winning an unfathomable amount of money. So Lotto NZ are likely onto something here. But it will also make it harder to win. I've always felt uncomfortable when the number gets above the $20 million mark. Yes, it's wonderful to think of the good you could do, but I also start to think about things - like whether I would tell anyone? How could you keep it private? Would it impact my friendships? Relationships with family? How would it impact our children and how they chose to live their lives? Would it change priorities and values? Yes, you could say it's a waste of energy overthinking something which I can say with confidence is not going to happen. Even so, hearing about Powerball winners, and there have been 11 overnight millionaires this year, including two lucky punters who split $30 million from Saturday last week, does see me buying the occasional ticket. So knowing it's even harder to win and there will be fewer winners makes the lotto draw less appealing to me. For two simple reasons. I don't think anyone needs to win $50 million. And I'd much prefer more New Zealanders had the life changing experience of waking up on Sunday a heck of lot better off, rather than just a few waking up filthy rich. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Weekend Sport with Jason Pine Full Show Podcast for 28th June 2025, we talk referee abuse, starting with Mike Hester, NZR's Participation Development Manager, and grassroots ref Rob Harman. We also talk the new betting laws with TAB NZ CEO Nick Roberts and football with All Whites coach Darren Bazeley and Auckland City CEO Gordon Watson following their historic 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors. Get the Weekend Sport with Jason Pine Full Show Podcast every Saturday and Sunday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia and New Zealand are set to clash again later this year, this time on the football pitch. The All Whites will be playing the Socceroos in a two-match series for the Soccer Ashes trophy in September. Coach Darren Bazeley joined Piney to discuss the upcoming battle, as well as look ahead to next year's World Cup – an event the All Whites have qualified for. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SailGP will be making waves in Auckland again in 2026. After being omitted from the first announcement of venues for next season, the league has confirmed it will return to the City of Sails on the weekend of February 14-15 next year. The event will be the second of 12 on the calendar and is the last on the global foiling league's initial four-year agreement with New Zealand Major Events to host regattas in New Zealand. The league is now expected to go through a process to explore what is possible in terms of a long-term arrangement in Auckland. Alexandra Corry, SailGP Head of Event for New Zealand, joined Piney for a chat about the announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A call for New Zealand Rugby to protect referees more. The Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union has postponed fixtures this weekend after a referee was so seriously abused he had to be escorted to his car over safety fears. Last month, the union said in response to escalating abuse towards match officials – highlighted by a person threatening to stab a referee – that they would cancel all senior club games if behaviour didn't improve. Mike Hester, Participation Development Manager at NZ Rugby Union, joined Jason Pine to unpack the situation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karate Kid: Legends After moving to New York City with his mother, kung fu prodigy Li Fong struggles to let go of the past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition -- but his skills alone aren't enough. With help from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, he soon learns to merge two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown. F1: The Movie In the 1990s, Sonny Hayes was Formula 1's most promising driver until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, the owner of a struggling Formula 1 team convinces Sonny to return to racing and become the best in the world. Driving alongside the team's hotshot rookie, Sonny soon learns that the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light Thomas Cromwell navigates the Tudor court in the aftermath of the execution of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn. Based on the final book in Hilary Mantel's commanding trilogy (Neon). Smoke When an arson investigator begrudgingly teams up with a police detective, their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions (Apple TV+). Here We Go In this hilariously unfiltered portrait of family life, the Jessops are the subject of their son Sam's amateur documentary, as they go about their mundane but chaotic lives (TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love these little biscuits; they really brighten up even the most dreary day, and kids love making them so it's a good school holiday activity. I've added sesame seeds to mine for texture and taste and I recommend you do too, or use poppy seeds. Makes 15-18 Ingredients 100g butter, soft 2/3 cup (about 100g) icing sugar 1 cup plain flour 1 heaped tbsp cornflour 3 tbsps. sesame or poppy seeds (optional) Jam and/or marmalade Method Preheat oven to 170 C. Line a tray with baking paper. Beat butter and icing sugar until pale - I do this for about 5 minutes. Add flours and seeds (if using) and mix well. Roll mixture into balls and place on a tray, making a deep thumb indent into each one. Bake for 15 minutes then remove from oven. Spoon a teaspoon of jam or marmalade into the hollows and return to the oven for 8-10 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack. Why are these worth making? They're quick and easy to make and cook. Great way to use up marmalades or jams. The addition of seeds gives them great texture and flavour. Sensible for portion control – no giant cookies here! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes Canterbury's aerospace sector will continue going from strength to strength, with a permanent test flight space confirmed at Tawhaki. The National Aerospace centre, west of Banks Peninsula, can now hold tests without continual re-permits. Tāwhaki executive director John Holt told Heather du Plessis-Allan this helps remove red tape and paperwork, adding that it's difficult in the early construction stages, to find a safe aircraft testing place. The sector now aims to boost its economic value from 250 million in 2023, to one billion dollars a year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The week has come to an end and so Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are joining Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week once more. Tim is injured again, winding up on ACC after taking a tumble off the footpath, plus, Mike's made a new musical discovery. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Treaty Negotiations Minister admits people are losing patience on a Ngāpuhi settlement, but says they want it to last. New Zealand First is launching a Bill, proposing a one-and-done treaty settlement for the largest iwi, rather than multiple hapu settlements. Paul Goldsmith says that although he sympathises with the desire for a faster resolution, if you want an enduring settlement, you need people to be prepared to settle. He told Mike Hosking that the settlement has to have the support of around 200,000 to 300,000 people, which has been the challenge in the past. Goldsmith says that they have a good plan now, and they're making good progress on the work that's currently underway. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister is hitting back against claims she's trying to entrench co-governance into education. Hobson's Pledge is claiming that the Education and Training Amendment Bill No.2 includes a section, put there by Stanford, that will force every school board to reflect “local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori” in their policies, plans, and classroom teaching. Erica Stanford refutes these claims, saying that 127 was an already existing Treaty clause. She told Mike Hosking that section is not the only clause in the Education Act to reference the Treaty, which is why there needs to be a proper review into whether or not they need to be there. Standford says there are legitimate questions to be answered, which is why they're looking into the act, but she did not add them in herself. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 27th of June, it's accountability Friday! Paul Goldsmith, Tama Potaka, and Erica Stanford have questions to answer about scandals, non-scandals, and accusations. After the unfortunate passing of Takutai Tarsh Kemp, what is the process going forward in filling her seat? Tim and Katie talk Tim's latest injury and Mike's best musical discovery of the week as they Wrap the Week. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A vast change to what's been promised for Auckland City Rail Link's opening capacity. In 2022, it was reported 27 thousand peak passengers would be using the rail line from opening day next year. That's now gone down to 19 thousand passengers an hour at peak times. AT Public Transport Director Stacey van der Putten told Mike Hosking the 27 thousand figure merged a few different elements including design capacity, timetabling, and patronage. She points out that 19,000 is still a significant increase on current numbers, as it's still a 50% increase in patronage. Van der Putten told Hosking it will take some effort to rebuild confidence in the rail network after the prolonged disruption, but there's plenty of enthusiasm for the new line. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of interest is expected in the by-election to fill the seat left empty by the death of Takutai Tarsh Kemp. The 50-year-old Te Pāti Māori MP died yesterday. Otago University law expert Andrew Geddis told Mike Hosking the Tamaki Makaurau seat was won by just 42 votes in 2023 and will be very tightly contested again. The complicating factor this time is likely to be sympathy, he says, suspecting that Te Pāti Māori will likely run strongly on a kind of legacy argument. The by-election could clash with local body elections. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.