The Mike Hosking Breakfast

After two victories at home to start the season, the Warriors are heading across the ditch.  They’re facing off against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday – their first away game of the 2026 season.   Both teams are dealing with injuries, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Kurt Capewell missing from the Warriors side, and Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown from the Australian side.   Former Warriors Captain Monty Betham told Mike Hosking that the Knights are also entering the clash two for two, Ponga’s absence could be quite the blow, as they haven’t managed a win in the last ten matches he was missing.   He says that while it may be the Warriors’ first away game and there’s a few injury issues, but with the confidence from the last two weeks, they have a good chance of going three for three.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 20th of March, Finance Minister Nicola Willis explains what the Government is looking to do as fuel prices continue to rise.   New Zealander of the Year Sir Rod Drury joins us in studio after winning the 2026 award.  And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss some of this week’s guests on the show and the state of the world at the moment 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.

The week has come to an end which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.   They discussed cars, some of the guests that featured on the Breakfast show this week, and the unstable geopolitical environment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of running a farm is surging.  ANZ's latest Agri Insights report, which used data from more than four thousand farms over five years, found costs across the board were 27% higher than before Covid.  It was driven largely by increased labour and input costs, such as fertiliser.  Lincoln University’s Dr Jacqueline Rowarth told Mike Hosking that the farmers who buy retail and sell wholesale are the ones feeling the pinch.   She says there are some sectors who, although their land may have cost more in the beginning, are getting better returns per hectare, and the gap between the top farmers and the average ones has increased.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Rod Drury believes it's New Zealand's time to step up and make a big difference in the world.  The Xero founder has been crowned the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.  The judges noted in the ceremony last night his driving innovation, empowerment of Kiwi tech leaders, and his venture philanthropy.  He's involved in multiple projects including pushing for expansion of renewable power and electrified transport.  Drury told Mike Hosking the world is scary, and Kiwis need to stick together and use our values to contribute to the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Better Police visibility and increased community engagement are being credited for a drop in crime victimisation.  About 28% of Kiwis experienced crime last year – the lowest rate since the Victims of Crime survey began in 2018.  Numbers of people assaulted and robbed were down 33 thousand.  Assistant Commissioner Jeanette Park told Mike Hosking officers can feel the change on the ground.  She says teams have been using their initiative, talking to people, and the morale is high, which all drives results.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is looking into ‘doing something simple’ to get cash into Kiwis' wallets as fuel prices increase, refined oil proving a challenge.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking they need to balance the cost of living with the books.  “We need to be conscious of debt and borrowing.  “We need to look at working people in the low to middle income specifically and ask ‘what’s the way we could provide targeted relief’ without a blanket solution.”  Willis said cutting wider costs like fuel excise tax could drive inflation up.  “We are looking at doing something simple to get cash into bank accounts on time. Cash provides people flexibility.”  She said her desire is for no paperwork to be involved.  “I’m sorting advice from Treasury and IRD as we speak but I have a plan in front of me ready to go.”  Willis said the challenge now is getting refined oil, with government in conversation with fuel suppliers.  “We have shipment locked in for several weeks, but we are looking ahead to future challenges of how to actually source diesel, jet fuel and other things out of refineries.  “This could create a limitation in the future.”    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the Talbot Mills poll out yesterday blow wide open the overt and corrupt actions of the parts of the media that went to town last week, and the week before, on the Prime Minister?  Does the Talbot Mills poll out yesterday with National on 32% also build on evidence that they are not 28%, nor were they ever 28%, therefore there was never a need to go to town last week, and the week before, on the Prime Minister?  As we count the number of polls, and I have at least six, if not seven, that have National well into the 30's vs the one that has National at 28%, can we conclude the 28% was an outlier, should have been seen as one and, therefore, treated as such?  Given large swathes of the media didn’t treat it as such, we can very confidently say those parts of the media showed an unprofessional bias against the Government.  Can we also say that if the polls continue to show National in the 30's (and not the 20's) and polls continue to show as yesterday's does a hung Parliament (at worst) but more realistically, based on the Māori Party assumption, a re-elected Government, that rolling a leader of a party destined for a second term is not actually a realistic prospect, or anywhere close?    The less realistic it is the more absurd their agenda-driven, brain explosion looks.  Hipkins too was asked this week whether his leadership is safe. Safe from what? Furious ex-wives?  Is that the problem? The political media only have a grab bag of questions around the same theme – are you quitting? Are you safe? Is a coup brewing? Are you going home to consider your options?  The problem with so many of them being as inexperienced as they are, is they lack any form of institutional knowledge and, as such, haven't really seen proper political drama. A rogue poll and a rogue ex aren't it.  Mix that with the fact they are overtly biased against the Government and all you need is one ropy poll at 28% and it's Operation Epic Fury: Gallery style.  In a world where news cycles turn at an increasing rate of knots this crime, and it is a crime committed by those charged with political coverage, deserves ongoing attention simply because it's election year.  Yesterday's poll starts to expose very clearly that the Government has two oppositions – one made up of Labour, the Greens, and the Māori Party, and the other made up of a decent chunk of the media, some of whom are funded by the taxpayer.  If that doesn’t worry you in election year, nothing does.  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.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 19th of March, the GDP figure for the December quarter will be announced today – 12 days out from the end of Q1. While it might be positive, the conflict in the Middle East looms over it.   An exclusive chat with outgoing Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell, who talked about his next moves, the future of the dairy giant, and the rumours about NZR.  And British superstar Robbie Williams joined for a chat about music, performing, and his New Zealand tour.   Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.