The Mike Hosking Breakfast

John Key not only appeared on our show Friday, having put out a video reminding us all what is at stake this Saturday, he also appeared on a podcast suggesting Luxon has been the victim of a hit job by the left and the media. 

I think he is right. I would also suggest the media is the left, and the left is the media. 

But, and it's a big "but", it makes no difference. It is what it is, and to his credit, Luxon has not complained about his treatment, often using the line "it's like a farmer complaining about the weather". 

I do worry about John Key and his role. He left office ten years ago and he clearly is still the National Party's greatest asset. 

What's that say about the National Party?   

I thought about this last week when I watched Obama get rolled out as part of the midterms. He is as electric as he ever was. 

But you can equally ask the question, given Trump got to the White House also a decade ago, why hasn’t he been replaced by someone new and just as charismatic? 

Is it the times? Does the world not produce leaders anymore of any real consequence? 

A similar thing happens in Australia. They still roll John Howard out and he still carries more weight than you might want to admit in a party that has badly fallen by the wayside. 

Is it nostalgic? Is it not so much the character of the individual but the times themselves? They just happened to be at the top during those times so when we hear them, we are transported back to a better place. 

It's memory lane and we like it better than what we have now. 

And is what we have now the result of leaders who aren't up to much, or is it the march of the modern world? Whether it be social media and AI and humanoids, could any leader could make it any different? 

Howard is too far removed to be an issue for the current leader of the coalition and for Obama, he is still current because the Democrats don’t have a leader. Would Obama fade if Gavin Newsom officially ran? 

But does Key haunt Luxon just a little bit much? 

Has Luxon not shone because he never lived up to the Key reputation? 

Or is Key right, and no one could have survived the beating of the left and the media?     

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The stakes are high for Donald Trump and his Republican Party as American's head to the polls just before us next week, on Wednesday.  

The midterm elections will determine control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, shaping how much power Trump has to push through his agenda for the remainder of his presidency. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Trump's approval rating is at an all-time low, with the worst numbers for any president before a midterm. 

As a result, he says, the Democrats look to have a strong likelihood of taking control of the House. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 2nd of November, we dig into the AA report showing we've hit the lowest road toll in over a century. 

The Prime Minister and National Party leader Christopher Luxon joins Mike for two hours for his Leader's Breakfast, discussing what he's achieved, broken promises, and looking ahead to a new government. 

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National's Leader denies they're being too negative in their election campaign. 

Their campaign has focused on the potential outcome of a Labour-led coalition, with a particular focus on Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick and her desire to be Finance Minister. 

Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast his message is very simple: stick with a plan that's working. 

He says they're doing the right things, and the future looks incredibly bright, so don't put that at risk with a Labour coalition. 

"There's a risk. You've got four parties, you've got six leaders, and you got nine new taxes on the table and an $18 billion hole. I'm telling you what they will do is they will do exactly what they've done before – they will spend more, tax more, borrow more." 

"They are not the answer to the, to the problems that we've been dealing with." 

He says New Zealand is at a crossroads and they've worked too damn hard for the last three years to get it into this shape, so don't put it at risk.  

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Christopher Luxon is brushing off latest poll results that have them behind Labour on all but one of the key issues this election.  

The Ipsos Issues monitor ranks how much voters trust political parties to deliver on issues. Inflation was the leading concern and Labour the frontrunner, with 38% to National's 24%.  

Health, petrol prices, the economy, and unemployment round out the top five, with Labour on top of all four. 

The National Leader told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast polls say all sorts of things in any given week, and people should go look at the data. 

He says the economy is better under the National-led coalition than it was under Labour – same with inflation.  

"My job is to actually get under the hood, fix the fundamentals, make sure that they're actually done right and sorted because actually, it's not sexy stuff, it's not popular stuff, it's the stuff that actually does matter to make it work for the future." 

Luxon says they've seen growth in things like tourism, exports, and construction since their government came to power.  

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The Waitangi Tribunal is set to undergo some changes if the Coalition Government is re-elected. 

National Leader Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast the tribunal is a longstanding feature of New Zealand's Government, but the country needs to ask the question of what its role is. 

“[It] could be no role, could be evolved role, adjusted role," he said. 

He defended his government’s record on Māori and Treaty issues, saying it had sorted through things like disbanding the Māori Health Authority, ending co-governance of public services, and putting English into Government agency departments. 

Of the tribunal, Luxon said there is "certainly going to be a plan to change it in some form or another" if re-elected. 

"Whether it's gone could be an option," he said. 

Both ACT and NZ First want to disband the tribunal once all remaining historical Treaty claims are settled, but Luxon said the parties have not yet had a conversation with National over a plan. 

"I appreciate those parties may have their views about that, what we all agreed is that there's got to be a question about what the role is, actually to be questioning the role is something we're all committed around doing." 

"It could be that it gets disbanded, it could be that actually there's a different orientation or a different role for it, I don't know, but I want to look at that and go through that sensibly," he said. 

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Smarter technology is helping save lives on our roads, but dangerous driving behaviours remain a major concern. 

New Zealand recorded a record-low road toll in 2025, with 270 deaths – the lowest annual figure in more than a century. 

Chief Executive of fleet safety organisation Autosense, Charles Dawson told Mike Hosking they've set up thousands of cameras, which monitor when people fall asleep. 

He says they pick up 84 people falling asleep at the wheel every day, and the system can prevent a serious accident from happening. 

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National Party leader Christopher Luxon is reiterating his stance there's "no need" for strategic or split voting strategies. 

The strategy, promoted by some on the right, calls for voters to give their candidate vote to National and their party vote to ACT or NZ First to create an overhang and give the right bloc more seats to form a potential coalition. 

Division has emerged on the right over newspaper ads promoting the strategy, with revelations that ACT and New Zealand First approved them. 

It later emerged that the National Party filed a formal complaint with the Electoral Commission against the campaign. 

Asked about the campaign on the Mike Hosking Leaders Breakfast, Luxon said that in his option, people shouldn't complicate it. 

"If you like the National Party policies and you want them around the cabinet table rather than other people, and if you want a National-led government, vote for us." 

"I do think it's confusing, I think the messages are quite confusing for the public, it's unhelpful in a tight election," Luxon said. 

He told Hosking that at the end of the day, they have a really good policy programme, and a good team of ministers that has been built over the last three years. 

"Understand what you're doing." 

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Former Prime Minister Sir John Key is repeating a call not to engage in strategic voting, saying it's "not a smart idea" to split the vote. 

He told Mike Hosking the centre-right political party, the biggest party in the parliament, needs to have a strong core.  

"If you eat away at that and you say, 'okay, well, I'll give my party vote somewhere else', then then you put Labour right in the box seat to be the first party that can form a government." 

Sir John released a video earlier this morning urging people to vote and told Hosking he wasn't worried, but it was a very tight race. 

"If people don't vote, you know, I would worry that they would wake up on November the 8th and have buyer's remorse," he said. 

Sir John suggested voters were lethargic as the campaign had lacked "drama" compared to some elections he had been involved in. 

"People just go, 'oh, I'm bored with all this, I just won't vote'. But the consequences of a change of government are very, very significant." 

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At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. 

The campaign: 4/10 

When Chlöe and Winston agree it's bad, you've got to listen.  

Polls: 4/10 

There has to be some sort of reckoning around this stuff. The RNZ Reid Research poll was rogue, clearly, the spread is absurd and the methodology is ropey as all you-know-what. Who is actually paying for this nonsense?  

The Reserve Bank: 8/10 

What a move! What a vote, and the Governor might be the Government's best appointment of the past three years.  

Apple: 2/10 

How is it in 2026 we are still putting phones into the market, charging thousands, and they break upon opening?  

Christchurch stadium: 1/10 

It's the Apple question – why in 2026 are we still building stuff that doesn’t work the way it should?  

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So, the winner in week... what is it, five or six? 

The winner in week five of the election campaign was the polls. Not the pollsters. The polls. 

They were far from winners. The spread, the margin of error in some, is now so absurd they're writing articles about it. 

Ironically, I listened to an interview on Radio NZ as they tried to explain it. Small clue: they couldn't. They couldn't explain why their polls didn't bear any real resemblance to any of the other polls. 

There was a debate a number of years ago that polls should be banned a few weeks out from a vote. Given the variance in methodology these days, I reckon that's probably not a bad idea. 

But the polls I mean are the polling booths. 

I have voted. I voted on day one. And, as it turns out, a lot of people did. And that is a good sign. 

In part, it's a sign that a lot of us knew what we were voting for and had done for a while. In essence, the campaign makes zero difference. 

And the irony of course, is that once you can vote, and you do, the campaign is chasing ever-diminishing returns. 

And that is sort of what it feels like. This is a small-policy election. With the exception of the Greens, of course. But it's a rats-and-mice election. 

Labour have contained themselves, so they don't look radical. ACT are the personification of contained. NZ First do a bit of Māorification stuff and talk about trains. 

But given the state of the books, no one in their right mind has gone out with a cheque book and gone to town, for very obvious reasons. 

Except the Greens, of course, who will see none of their big-ticket policies ever see the light of day. 

Oh, and we aren't buying the BNZ. 

The most controversial policy, if feedback is anything to go by, has been Labour's rent-to-buy scheme. The state gives you money in your state house, then takes taxpayers' money and puts it aside and one day calls it a deposit so you can buy it. 

Meanwhile, someone in the same circumstances doesn't get a house, or a deposit, or anything. 

Cool policy. 

You didn't like it. 

So, good week for most. No one blew it. The gang fiasco faded. 

And I'm still picking Opportunity not to make it. 

One week to go. 

Thank the good Lord. 

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The short week has come to a close, which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to help Mike Hosking Wrap the Week that Was. 

They unpack how the election campaign has gone with just one more week until the big day and discuss the new programme the Ministry of Education is rolling out for gifted kids before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer. 

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Supercross is back in New Zealand for the first time since 2019. 

Auckland's North Harbour Stadium is hosting the second round of the AUSX Australian Championship this weekend, with 5,500 tonnes of dirt used to build the track. 

After winning both the American Supercross and Motocross 250 titles this year, Kiwi motocross star Cole Davies is competing in this weekend's event. 

He told Mike Hosking he's stoked his hard work has paid off this year. 

Davies says he's achieving the goals and dreams he's had since he was a little kid. 

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There are hopes a new approach to gifted education will help students reach their full potential. 

The Ministry of Education's rolling out a new national programme from January, aiming to better support their curriculum and social-emotional needs. 

A review of past support found approaches were inconsistent across the country. 

Gifted Education Researcher at Massey University, Professor Tracy Riley told Mike Hosking they're not yet sure what the ministry is planning on doing under the programme, but generally they try to enrich the curriculum and match it to where the kids are at. 

She says a lot of gifted kids spend a lot of time waiting – waiting for others to catch up, waiting for the next thing to happen. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of October, Sir John Key gives his thoughts on the second to last week of the election campaign. 

Kiwi motocross champ Cole Davies is excited to compete competitively in NZ for the first time since 2019. 

And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the campaign and gifted kids as they Wrap the Week, before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer! 

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Some solid earnings growth for Freightways, despite pressure from high fuel prices. 

The transport and logistics company's first-quarter revenue for the 2027 financial year rose 17.6% to $408.3 million, with net profit up 12% to $26 million.  

E-commerce volumes jumped 24%, while retail volumes fell 1% and health volumes dropped 3%. 

CEO Mark Troughear told Mike Hosking it reflects signs of growth in New Zealand's economy, and for the first time, we seem to be ahead of Australia. 

He says Australia has performed and performed for a very long time, but they're starting to see a bit of pessimism over there and a bit less spending. 

Troughear says New Zealand's in a pretty good place as long as we can get through the fuel piece. 

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New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Lancaster's preparing for difficult conversations with provincial unions and Super teams in the five major centres. 

Operations in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will be consolidated as part of a drive to reduce costs and increase efficiency by 2028. 

Lancaster has acknowledged the decisions will rankle. 

He told Mike Hosking change is always challenging, and it always creates a level of angst.  

Lancaster also rejects the perception they're taking the easy option, saying the changes will be below the surface in terms of how the competition is delivered, the entities that deliver them, and how they can put more focus on promoting and marketing. 

He told Hosking that's why they want to create a dedicated office to run Super Rugby, as opposed to it simply being a function that resides within NZ Rugby and Rugby Australia respectively.  

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An economist warns fixing the supermarket sector is much more complicated than breaking up the big players. 

The Institute of Economic Research says the move could increase competition but will also be expensive and inefficient for purchasing and distribution.  

It wants barriers addressed like limited wholesale access, purchasing advantages for current players, and trouble securing retail sites.  

Institute senior economist Susie McKenzie told Mike Hosking limited wholesale access is an unresolved barrier. 

She says we need to understand why existing reforms haven't made a difference and aren't giving better access. 

McKenzie told Hosking all our political parties are just suggesting different solutions to different problems. 

She says from the supermarket challenge is very complicated and there's no simple solution. 

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Gold medal for Kelly Eckhold at Westpac. 

He called it, or at least suggested the hold we saw from the Reserve Bank wasn't as "home run" as many might have predicted. 

This, in a dry, old world of monetary policy, is little short of a blockbuster. 

I guess you could argue the 4-3 vote is a good indication of the wider view. 

The economy is far from firing. It's far from needing to be contained. So why hike? 

Well, because we have inflation above the target. The Bank's job is to keep inflation within the target. Technically, they are failing in that job. 

The dollar fell, which, like all economic matters, is good and bad. Fantastic for exporters. No good for the importers, and we do a lot of importing, including things like petrol. 

The hold argument is also about the reality of what you are achieving by holding. 

Does oil drop? Do rates drop? No, they don't. 

Do you squeeze already pressured budgets? Yes, you do. 

Part of their argument, perhaps the most fascinating part, is that they don't see price pressure. The person in the middle is soaking up the increased cost and not passing it on to the customer. 

Food might be a good example. At 1.9%, it's well contained. 

Maybe there is a bit of that about the place. We have reached the point where the retailer would like to sell for more, but the buyer just won't have it. So it's either the current price or no sale. 

Of course, it ain't over. The RB will be back in December. Surely a move is on by then and you'd probably argue we might be looking at one next year. 

But how useful is the publishing of the vote, the names and how they voted? That's transparency and that's thanks to the new Government who, by the way, voted to hold. 

Side note; she appears, once again, to be a material improvement on her predecessor in her understanding of the economy. 

The politics? I don't think there are any. It saves the Government another round of explanations about recovery and war, but I think most thinking people get it anyway. 

But for the battler, the middle New Zealander, the person who just wanted a brief break in the onslaught on the way to better days, the RB surprised many and came to the party. 

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Andy Burnham's Government has released its first budget.  

UK Chancellor John Healey set out their latest tax and spending measures, saying it's a budget built on fiscal discipline, for the working people of Britain. 

Economic growth is forecast at 1.2% this year, and remains under 2% right up to 2031. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady agreed growth is anaemic, but told Mike Hosking the whole of Europe is having similar problems. 

He says the plan off the back of this budget seems to be getting people through winter. 

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Promising signs for small businesses, even in a shaky economy. 

A Xero Small Business Insights report shows sales rose 5.6% year-on-year in the September quarter. 

New Zealand out-performed all four other countries Xero tracks, with sales growth ahead of Australia, the UK, the US, and Canada. 

Xero Country Manager Bridget Snelling told Mike Hosking they'd like to see this momentum continuing into the next quarter, especially since we're heading into the busy festive period.  

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29th of October, Reserve Bank Governor Dr Anna Breman explains why they decided to hold the Official Cash Rate. 

We go to Israel as their "pivotal" election hangs in the balance, with the question now being who will blink first and join up with the Arab parties to get the majority. 

It's the so-called "minor party" leaders show this morning, so Chlöe Swarbrick, David Seymour, and Winston Peters joined to give the lay of the land. 

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Winston Peters says the 2026 election campaign is one of the worst he's ever seen. 

The New Zealand First Leader told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast people are sick and tired of it – the pettiness, the diversion, the misleading representation. 

He says if you ask people in the audience, as he did at public meeting in the Hutt Valley last night, if they're sick and tired of it, they all put their hands up. 

The party is also taking its campaign directly to the people, with Winston Peters arguing packed-out town halls are the best poll there is. 

NZ First's been drawing big crowds around the country in recent months, taking a different approach to many of its rivals. 

Peters told Hosking the mainstream media has dramatically changed, and claims it now takes sides politically in the worst way he's seen. 

He says there's only social media, or the old fashion way of meeting locals, to fight that. 

Peters expressed frustration New Zealand wasn’t an export “powerhouse”. Challenged on the relative success of New Zealand’s exports, Peters argued the country should be more successful and reinforced the need to double the value of exports in the next decade. 

Asked for his proudest moments of the last term, Peters referred to retaining provincial investment, getting rid of “woke legislation” and increasing New Zealand’s respect on the world stage through his efforts as Foreign Affairs Minister. 

On another round of potential negotiations with National and ACT, Peters expected they would progress more smoothly than in 2023 as the two party leaders had experience in Cabinet. 

He reinforced the party’s policies designed to retain workers and businesses in New Zealand as opposed to losing them to Australia, noting his proposal to cut the corporate tax rate for small businesses would see a “galvanising of business”. 

Peters again declared the Waitangi Tribunal would be scrapped within three months of the next government forming, which he believed was supported by a “significant proportion of the coalition” despite National being of the view that the tribunal had a role to play. 

He emphasised the need for National supporters to split their vote by voting for a National candidate but giving their party vote to NZ First or ACT, saying that approach would make it more likely the coalition could be re-elected. 

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Israel's future governance is still up in the air, with parties on all sides falling short of the required 61 seats.  

With most votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu's holding a narrow lead over rival Gadi Eisenkot, with 53 seats to 48. 

The Arab parties have surged to a record 19.  

ABC News Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran told Mike Hosking we could see parties from either bloc break away to form a coalition.  

He says there's already speculation of Netanyahu trying to form a unity government with Eisenkot, who's campaigned for most of the year for him to go. 

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ACT Leader David Seymour is cautiously confident the coalition could have speedier post-election negotiations this year, compared to 2023.  

National, ACT, and New Zealand First took 40-days to strike a deal after the last election.  

Both the Leaders of National and Labour have promised to try to finish negotiations by Christmas, but no firm promises have been made.  

Seymour told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast he can't speak for his colleagues in NZ First or National, but they have experience on side this time.  

He says himself and the other party leaders all know each other and have worked together. 

Seymour acknowledged compromise is necessary but says their proposal to remove tax from KiwiSaver is an important aspect of their policy platform. 

He also made it clear though that proposals by potential partners for compulsory KiwiSaver are a "non-starter". 

He didn’t express regret when asked about the level of reform the Government had been unable to progress, again pointing to the need for compromise. 

When asked if this morning’s RNZ Reid Research poll putting National below 25% was an outlier, Seymour didn’t provide a direct answer although noted Reid Research in 2023 had National lower than what it ended up on election night. 

Seymour argued ACT had “come of age as a party”, lauding the efforts of his ministers in Government. 

He believed ACT candidate James Christmas would win the Tamaki seat and likened National’s current candidate to Simon O’Connor, who lost the long-time National seat to Brooke van Velden in 2023. 

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The Reserve Bank is keeping a close eye on several factors as it weighs up whether to hike the Official Cash Rate before Christmas. 

The Monetary Policy Committee voted, four votes to three, to hold the cash rate yesterday. 

The shock decision has had an immediate impact on exchange rates, with the already weak Kiwi dollar seeing its biggest drop against the Aussie in almost a decade. 

Governor Anna Breman told Mike Hosking they're monitoring both weak household consumption here at home and uncertainty abroad. 

She says the geopolitical tensions are high, fuel prices are volatile, many countries have high debt levels, France is facing widespread protests, and there are risks from the AI investment boom. 

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Greens Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick believes any dip in the polls as a result of the party’s association with gangs would have already been seen, but argues voters are more interested on other issues. 

Two polls this week show the Green Party holding its 14-16% vote share of recent months. The polling period of both polls captured in its final days the saga concerning last week’s resignation of Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni for campaigning at a gang event, which came after MPs from Te Pāti Māori and the Greens did the same. 

Swarbrick told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast she would have expected any impact to have been seen in polls this week, and believes voters were more interested in issues such as the cost of living. 

Asked about Labour leader Chris Hipkins ruling out many Green Party tax reform policies and ruling out giving the party some ministerial positions, Swarbrick insisted the relationship between the two parties was good and “collaborative”, noting she and co-leader Marama Davidson had regular conversations. 

However, she acknowledged the declining “direction of travel” for the two major parties, which she believed made the rule-in, rule-out conventions nonsensical. 

Swarbrick didn’t provide a clear answer when questioned on what her party might be able to secure in coalition negotiations regarding tax reform. Labour has promised no new taxes aside from its capital gains tax, whereas the Greens have proposed extensive tax reform, headlined by a wealth tax. While she encouraged people to vote for what they wanted, Swarbrick said, “of course we’re going to compromise". 

Swarbrick appeared confident her party would retain the three electorate seats it won in 2023, but also felt it likely the Greens would win Te Tai Tokerau and Christchurch Central, which was a long-time Labour seat. 

On Opportunity, Swarbrick wasn’t sure how much of the Greens vote had been lost to Qiulae Wong, saying the party’s support seem to be “flowing in from everywhere”, reiterating how Opportunity could support the current governing parties and how it wasn’t a guaranteed vote to change the Government. 

She observed that voters were “exhausted” and sick of the “tit-for-tat nonsense”. 

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The figures keep defying the reality. 

68,000 votes were cast on Monday. 

That day was a problem according to the conspiracy theorists who suggested that not only had enrolling closed early, but the opening day of voting was a public holiday and for some reason voting on a day off may prove to be some sort of issue. 

At 68,000, that is more than in 2023. So what does that mean? Nothing. 

But you could suggest it's an early turnout, which means a bigger turnout by the time this is over. A bigger turnout would be welcome because we should all be interested in democracy and, more importantly, actually participating in democracy. 

It's one thing to enrol, and here is the real story that the conspiracy theorists might like to spend more energy on: enrolment is not as important as turnout. 

Being on a roll isn't as important as actually voting. 

Last time only 77% turned out. That’s not great. You need to well and truly crack 80% for a good day at the office. 

The conspiracy folk need to be careful because when this washes out, they run the risk of looking like nutters. 

Trevor Mallard mouthing off on social media about his hall being closed, then banging on about voter suppression, had 'tin hat' written all over it, not to mention his inability to google a polling place that was open. 

My guess, if you want one, is an early flourish of voting indicates my long-held suspicion that this is one of your more predictable elections. 

This is a bloc election. The bloc that runs the place deserves three more years, or not. 

There are not actually a lot of game-changing policies. There is a lot of small policy designed to get daily clicks from the media. 

I'm convinced the vast majority of us know who we are voting for and have known for some time, so day one was a chance to tick a box and get on with life. 

My great hope is it continues, turn out is high, the Mallard's and tin hatters get back to their Telegram feeds and if the left lose, they don’t use it as an excuse. 

Because that would be what a sore loser would do. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 28th of October, we look at what the Reserve Bank is likely to do with the OCR today and how it might affect an election campaign. 

The Prime Minister pops in after the long weekend to talk early voting numbers, alleged voter suppression, and what the polls are saying. 

And on Politics Wednesday, Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk their electorates, the Fire and Emergency CEO's resignation and the confusion around whether Rakesh Naidoo is under investigation or not. 

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It's Politics Wednesday, which means Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest stories of the week thus far. 

With the election just under two weeks away, they discussed how things are faring in their electorates and the ongoing drama around voter registrations. 

They also touched on the situation around Rakesh Naidoo and the resignation of Fire and Emergency's CEO. 

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The Reserve Bank could have its hands full over the next few months, with inflation still stuck at elevated levels.  

Economists are predicting the Monetary Policy Committee will lift the official cash rate by 25 basis points at 2pm today.  

This would take it to 3%.  

ASB's Kim Mundy told Mike Hosking we could see further hikes in December and February. 

She says the Reserve Bank needs to get settings back to neutral levels sooner rather than later, because we're seeing signs that inflation's starting to stir. 

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Amidst an already bad time for airlines, an analyst says Air New Zealand faces a unique set of challenges. 

Forsyth Barr expects the airline to lose $338 million before tax this financial year. 

Its passenger revenue is up 12% year-on-year, but fuel is costing it about $6.8 million a day. 

Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley told Mike Hosking engine issues is one challenge, with another being sales. 

He says Kiwis make up half of their sales, and we've been in and out of recession for the last three years. 

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Some say it's too hot, others too cold – a challenge for the operator of Christchurch's new covered stadium. 

Some areas of One NZ Stadium reached 32 degrees during Sunday's Rugby League matches and Monday's NPC final. 

Daytime fixtures could be scrapped in future to help players and fans cope with the heat. 

Venues Otautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare told Mike Hosking the stadium bowl is also retaining heat on colder days, with a 4.5 degree temperature variation around the venue on Monday. 

She says it's the variation which is the issue, with some complaining it was too cold at the weekend. 

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National's Christopher Luxon says it's great to see so many people already showing up to vote.  

Nearly 70 thousand people cast their ballots on day one of advance voting.  

That's slightly more than the same time at the last election.  

Luxon told Mike Hosking he's hoping that's a sign people are going to give his government another crack.  

He says people understand it's been a difficult three years, but that his plan just needs more time as it's starting to work.  

When it comes to the economy, the Prime Minister's blaming the conflict in the Middle East for headline inflation remaining stubbornly high.  

Economists are predicting the Reserve Bank's will lift the OCR by 25 basis points this afternoon, taking it to 3%.  

Inflation's running at 3.7%, outside the target band of 1–3%.  

Luxon told Hosking the war's pushed up oil prices around the world, and how you respond to it matters – you can't just get the money hose and spray cash around. 

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The Wellington City Missioner says Labour's rent-to-own scheme could help more people own a home. 

The party wants $100 of Kainga Ora tenants' weekly rent put towards a home deposit. 

Labour would also expand eligibility for 5% home deposits by increasing the income threshold to $300,000. 

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge told Mike Hosking this could help make people's dreams of owning a home a reality. 

He says the issue for a lot of people isn't the amount of repayment whether it's rent or a mortgage, it's getting a deposit. 

Edridge told Hosking these types of schemes have worked in the past. 

He says his parents along with many other built their homes by capitalising their family benefit. 

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What do they say about the truth always coming out? 

By Friday morning Kerrin Leoni was gone. 

She lied and she got caught with the photo and the video. Not only didn’t it pass the pub test, it didn’t pass the truth test. 

Campaigns almost always have things in them you never saw coming. For Labour it was a combination of dishonesty and their past. 

Law and order was not part of the vote of 2026, until it was. 

It was very much a part of 2023 because Labour was perceived to have failed abysmally on the subject. 

Law and order was, if not the number one issue, certainly in the top three and a major part of the law-and-order story was the perceived weakness Labour had around gangs. 

They ruled the streets, they paraded the patches, they sold the drugs and they abused the women. 

Labour opposed the new Government's gang patch ban, until they didn’t. 

Labour has been hoisted by their own petard.   

This started as a Greens/Māori Party mess that infected a third party. The initial issue was reputational. 

Could Labour be seen to be alongside a couple of radical operators in the gang space? An embattled Chris Hipkins did his best by saying none of their people would hold justice/police, or law-type portfolios. 

Then he said funding gangs was wrong. Then when asked why his party had funded the Mongrel Mob, he said it was a mistake and, in doing so, threw his former leader under the bus. 

It was a miserable ten days and a story that he couldn’t shake. But then it got worse, disastrously worse, after one of his own turned out not only to hang with gangs and campaign with gangs, but then when sprung, lied. 

The only thing he can do now is hope this fades, which it will. But what won't fade is the simple truth that all three parties in the left bloc now, in some way, shape or form, associate with the gang culture, like and support the gang culture, or are not averse to funding the gang culture. 

All three share the same broad ideology towards gangs. 

Given that it makes them so far removed from middle New Zealand, it's fatal. Other issues could be forgiven or looked past, but gangs are in a league of their own. 

Criminality and dishonesty might have been the singular event that caught all three. 

And blew it for all three. 

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Subsidising access to GLP-1s through Pharmac would be a “win-win” for New Zealand, according to an Auckland University medical professor. 

New research has found more than 80% of healthcare spending in New Zealand goes into treating chronic and long-term conditions. 

A huge percentage of those conditions were tied to obesity, Professor of Molecular Medicine and Pathology Peter Shepherd told Mike Hosking. 

“We’ve now got these wonderful medications to reduce weight, and they’re showing massive effects long-term in terms of improved outcomes for heart disease, for Alzheimer’s, for diabetes…we need to start proactively funding some of these solutions.” 

Some 30-40,000 Kiwis were already paying for the medicines themselves. 

“But if we funded it more widely, it'll benefit not just those people who are suffering, but also the rest of us by reducing healthcare bills.” 

Illegal versions of the drugs cost around $100-$200 per month, and Shepherd predicted official medications would cost a similar amount once patents ended. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 27th of October, it's the first of our special Leaders Breakfast shows for the election. 

Today it's two hours with Labour Leader Chris Hipkins, discussing everything from Kerrin Leoni to education, health, tax, and coalition partners. 

And ACT has released their manifesto, which talks about money for health and even more cuts that they say didn't go far enough this term. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Chris Hipkins has confirmed the Finance portfolio's off the table for any potential coalition partners, as well as Police and Justice for Greens and Te Pāti Māori MPs. 

The Labour leader says everything else is up for discussion after the election.  

Hipkins told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast he wouldn't agree to increasing the size of Cabinet beyond the 20 Ministers it has now.   

He says he wouldn't want a Cabinet that's disproportionate towards the smaller parties. 

The Labour Leader is also spelling out the differences between his current lineup of potential ministers and his last government. 

Senior members of the party include Kieran McAnulty, Barbara Edmonds, and Ayesha Verrall. 

Hipkins told Hosking there's only about half a dozen in his party who were ministers when they became government in 2017. 

He says most weren't ministers until the very end of the last Labour Government. 

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Chris Hipkins says he has no regret over his level of involvement with the Covid inquiry.  

The Labour leader was criticised for not appearing at the public hearing when the Royal Commission was gathering evidence.  

Hipkins told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast he answered every question thrown at him.   

He also says the reviews of the Reserve Bank’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic were “largely fair”. 

An independent review of the bank’s response found that stimulus was kept in place for too long as the economy recovered, contributing to the wave of inflation that shook the economy after the pandemic. 

Hipkins says the reviews were in line with reviews of other central banks’ responses to the pandemic, but you could argue they got that a bit wrong. 
 
On an education note, the Labour Leader isn't budging on his vow to scrap charter schools, if elected. 

The Labour Leader has pledged to transition the existing ones into the public education system. 

Hipkins told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast they're being funded at, on a per student basis, a much higher rate, and if you look at the overhead costs, in some cases they're leaving themselves and potentially the kids quite exposed. 

He says he has plenty of examples of charter schools going wrong, including a school that was going to close in the middle of the school term because its property lease expired. 

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Labour Leader Chris Hipkins admits his party wasn't totally ready to govern in 2017. 

National won the largest share of the result in that election, but New Zealand First chose to go into government with Jacinda Ardern's Labour instead. 

Hipkins told Mike Hosking on the Leader's Breakfast because of the nature of the election, they weren't as ready as they could've been. 

He says he went home on election night thinking they'd be in Opposition, not expecting the coalition negotiations to go the way they did. 

But he says the party is tangibly different now, as they're much more focused in what they're promising in this election. 

Hipkins says one of the biggest criticism of the previous Labour Government was that they were trying to do too many things and thus weren't delivering them well.  

He told Hosking this election they're only promising things he knows he and the system can deliver on. 

The Labour Leader says they're more pragmatic than they used to be. 

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An offer by the French Government to students has fallen short of demands as mass protests continue. 

More than 1300 people have been arrested over the weekend as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets. 

Police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in a number of cities including Paris, while barricades were set alight in Marseille. 

Europe Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking student leaders met with the Prime Minister today. 

She says they were offered concessions including classroom sizes and more vocational training, which wasn't seen as good enough. 

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Labour Leader Chris Hipkins is certain their campaign hasn't been impacted by the controversy surrounding MPs visiting gang members. 

Former Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni resigned on Friday after fallout from her campaigning at a whanau event, attended by gang members. 

Hipkins told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast that having family members in gangs was not the main issue, her engagement was.  

He says we have to be able to say there is a pathway out from a gang upbringing, and Leoni could have been that role model. 

But Hipkins thinks Kiwis can see that he acted decisively when it came to dealing with the situation, saying he was more decisive on the issue than the National Party had been on equivalent issues. 

He says he sets high standards, and if people don't meet them, there are consequences. 

The Labour Leader has admitted he's frustrated the party can no longer contest all seven Māori electorate seats. 

Leoni is staying in the race, standing as an independent, but Hipkins says he doesn't think she'll win, even though she's still got Labour beside her on the ballot box. 

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At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. 

Justin Bieber: 8/10 

With 200 million followers, what he posted about us is worth its weight ten times over in gold, and is a very good reminder of what a special place we have here that's too often taken for granted. 

Dairy auction: 9/10 

Not just up, but up a chunk. Could actually move the farmgate price. Just when you think it's all brilliant, it gets more brilliant. 

Our NZ Super Fund: 8/10 

Another 14%+ return, but over the longer period it's consistently good and one of the best of its type in the world. That's what New Zealand is capable of. 

Gangs: 1/10 

The Māori Party, the Greens and, by association, Labour still couldn’t shake it this week. Could have been the turning point. 

Liam Lawson: 8/10 

If sources are right, he'll be confirmed this weekend for 2027, and is proof that if you work and deliver then all things are possible. 

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So a good week for National and, by association, for the Government in general. 

There has been a shift with two weeks to go. The gang drama might just have put a nail in Labour's chances of government. 

Their polling is now in trouble. Their gap to National is now a problem. 

Thomas Coughlan's piece yesterday talking of the issues they have found with lack of enrolment in South Auckland seems to have induced an amount of panic within the party. 

Not a lot has gone right for them this week. 

As far as I can see, it's the combo for the Government. All three players are campaigning well. 

ACT are still my medal winners for the week. They remained disciplined, on message and haven't put a foot wrong. On each debate their leader, if he doesn’t win, is consistent and clear. 

Winston, although not as disciplined, turns up enough when it counts to remind you he is still a force. 

Luxon's week seems to have been about good news. He hung out with farmers and kids in areas where they are fairly blue. He may or may not have won the debate, but none of the debates have damaged him in any way, shape or form. 

The poll movement, even if he doesn’t admit it, will have given him a spring and, probably most importantly, the poll that had twice as many of us thinking the economy will be better next year than think it will be worse is the sort of news an incumbent can't buy. 

It may be that their line that as we get closer more people get engaged and the more engaged they are, the more they sit with the Government, is right. 

This week might have been the week it settled in toward the coalition. 

The others look ropey. The Greens in their debate didn’t mention the environment once, Chlöe came on Newstalk ZB and sounded like a councillor created by AI and the Māori Party through Oriini Kaipara looked as separatist as ever. 

One group looked like adults while the other looked messy. 

And the Opportunity Party? The polls show a trend. The air is leaving the balloon. It's touch-and-go. 

I still say they won't make it. 

Labour must be praying they do. 

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Ahead of the long weekend, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was. 

They discussed the latest from the election campaigning, the aforementioned long weekend for Labour Day, and what makes a business successful. 

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Auckland Airport is forecasting a flat year ahead following its annual meeting. 

It maintained its underlying earnings forecast of between $290 million and $330 million for the 2027 financial year. 

It's despite positive signs for international travel, including a 35% boost in Argentinian visitors thanks to a new China-South America flight route. 

CEO Carrie Hurihanganui told Mike Hosking the positive growth in the international space is offset by the continued demand challenges in the domestic environment.  

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A Formula 1 journalist believes it would take a perfect storm for Kimi Antonelli to secure his first Championship win. 

The 20 year old Mercedes racer holds a 102 point lead over teammate George Russell heading into this weekend's US Grand Prix in Austin. 

If he successful, he'd become the sport's youngest World Champion. 

Chris Medland told Mike Hosking even if Antonelli does win the race, he'd need Russell to finish no higher than ninth, and Lewis Hamilton to finish no higher than fifth to secure the title. 

He says the racer needs a lot of things to go his way, so it's more likely to happen next weekend in Mexico, or the week after in Brazil.  

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 23rd of October, ACT wants a charter school in every major town and Airbnb is changing some of its rules. 

Nicola Willis discusses the inflation number and how it might affect an election campaign. 

And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the election, long weekends, and what makes a business successful as they Wrap the Week that Was. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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ACT wants charter schools in every major town. 

The Party's pledging if elected to lift enrolments to 10,000 by 2029 and increase conversions from state schools. 

The current 20 schools have about 2000 students. 

Leader David Seymour told Mike Hosking when it comes to demand for the schools, they've been overwhelmed. 

He says that each time they do a round, there will be 60 or 70 applicants who have prepared submissions, have their community on board, have novel ideas, and have people ready to go. 

"This is an idea whose time has come." 

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Airbnb guests may soon be spared the cleaning chores that come with some stays. 

The platform's updated its rules for hosts, saying any checkout tasks must be reasonable and shouldn't require significant time or effort. 

That includes tasks typically done by a cleaner, such as washing dishes, stripping beds or taking out rubbish. 

Airbnb Superhost Ambassador Julie Wilson told Mike Hosking it's about simplifying rules and rephrasing some tasks as requests. 

She says some listings read like War and Peace, and no one wants to end their holiday with a working bee. 

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National and Labour are offering quite different solutions to persistently high inflation. 

Headline inflation's eased back to 3.7%, but some economists say it could reach as high as 4.7% by the end of the year. 

Labour's Barbara Edmonds says freezing the fuel tax would address the single biggest factor – surging fuel prices.  

But National's Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking National would address the other two major factors – rates and electricity. 

She says they will push ahead with rates caps and continue consenting new energy projects. 

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Inflation appears to have become more embedded in the economy. 

Latest Stats NZ figures show the annual inflation rate's eased to 3.7%, down from 4.1% three months ago. 

The quarterly inflation rate's eased to 0.7%, but domestically-driven non-tradable inflation has risen due to the annual increase in council rates. 

Business NZ Chief Economist John Pask told Mike Hosking price rises are becoming more widespread. 

He says the Reserve Bank will be concerned to see inflation is no longer just about fuel and is becoming more generalised. 

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We now have a poll in all seven of the Māori seats, which gives us a chance to at least make some sort of observation. 

It's more than fair to suggest these polls are even ropier than the major polls, which have been all over the place at the best of times. 

They are smaller, have greater margins of error, and involve a group that at first blush doesn’t automatically represent the demography of the area polled. It has a "whoever answered the phone" vibe about it. 

Be that as it may, they give us really the only insight into what might happen. 

And what might happen is important because you could see multiple things: 

1) The exit of a party from Parliament, 

2) An overhang that shapes the next Government, 

3) A party that once dominated the Māori landscape reduced through their own implosion to an insignificant rump. 

In seven polls we seem to have Labour well ahead in a couple, the Māori Party well ahead in a couple, and three that are too close to call. In one of the “too close to calls”, a Green candidate leads, which could be history.   

The most obvious outworking is if this doesn’t go well for the Māori Party, there may be no real overhang. For example, if they only win two seats and get about 2% of the party vote there will be no overhang, as opposed to getting 2% of the party vote and winning five seats. 

The risk Labour took was twofold: 

1) Winning seats that would make no difference to their overall result given the party vote will drive final numbers, 

2) In doing so wrecking the prospects of a fellow coalition member. 

And I suppose you could also argue: 

3) Damaging their reputation as a once proud dominator of the Māori seats. 

The same recipe applies to the Greens. If they won one then good on them, but it would make no difference in the House. So really the only net gain recipient in any of this is the Māori Party, who have put it all on the line by campaigning for the seat alone. 

If it goes badly, and winning only two out of seven would be bad, they of course have no one to blame but themselves. They imploded through hubris. 

At that point, if anyone wants to learn, the collapse of various versions of a Māori Party would then be getting to be quite the story. But maybe that’s for November 8th. 

For now, the polls show it could make all the difference on the night. Or none at all. 

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Praise for Liam Lawson from one of Formula 1's most charismatic characters. 

Guenther Steiner is a former Team Principal for Haas, as well as the Former Managing Director and Technical Operations Director for what became Red Bull Racing. 

"When [Lawson] came in in the beginning ... he was very good straightaway, and then obviously he was moved to the big team, but, and then I wouldn't even say he struggled," Steiner told Mike Hosking. 

"He wasn't given a chance in my opinion," 

"I think nobody deserves anything, you have to work for it, and he worked for it, and he was successful." 

"So that's why he should be there."  

Steiner is on our shores this December for his live stage show, 'No Team Orders'. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 22nd of October, we preview today's inflation rate, which will likely be either good or okay news for the Government. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins goes through the debate fact check with Mike and discusses how the Māori seats will affect their prospects. 

Former F1 team manager for Haas, Guenther Steiner is on his way to country in December and joined us to give us the lowdown of what his show will involve. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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The sold-out sign is up for New Zealand's opening two T20 cricket matches against India in Christchurch, but that doesn't necessarily mean a home crowd given the local support for the visitors. 

The sides last met in March's World Cup final at Ahmedabad, won by India. 

Black Caps coach Rob Walter has outlined the series priorities for the five T20s, five ODIs, and two tests. 

He told Mike Hosking the test matches are part of the World Test Championships, so they're very important, while the T20s are part of the World Cup finals, so they'd like to get an edge on them in their own conditions. 

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There is a positive picture to be found within the Mood of the Boardroom, says EMA's Head of Advocacy and Strategy. 

Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that the underlying numbers are becoming more visible, which is beginning to give the business sector "a bit more confidence in a longer-term recovery". 

Manufacturing has been a quiet achiever while the residential construction sector is picking up, McDonald said. 

"The numbers for tourism have finally gone back to pre-Covid levels, so that's also a good story." 

However, hiring intentions within the boardroom were "still fairly flat", which was indicative of the caution surrounding the country's economic recovery, he said. 

"A lot of places have cut staff, or haven't cut, but haven't replaced. So they're running fairly lean anyway." 

Asked for a word to summarise the mood, McDonald said: "Cautiously optimistic on the back of some pretty sound numbers." 

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Italy's cracking down on violent protests, deploying 500 troops to Milan following widespread unrest. 

The Government's also introduced a new offence for violent demonstrators, carrying up to five years in prison. 

Protestors have looted shops, set fires, and attacked police over rising living costs and high rents. 

Europe correspondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking protesters claim the violence was justified because the Government isn't taking care of people. 

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The Reserve Bank will be looking under the hood of inflation numbers today as it weighs up interest rate hikes. 

Stats NZ is releasing its latest inflation data at 10.45 this morning. 

The central bank forecasts the numbers would fall to 3.9%, down from 4.1% last quarter. 

Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking if the Reserve Bank sees core inflation rising, they'll be more inclined towards further OCR hikes. 

He says the indicators they've seen is that firms aren't trying to raise prices as the demand environment is constraining them. 

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Chris Hipkins is standing firm that move-on orders criminalise homelessness. 

The Bill allowing Police to move on beggars, rough sleepers, or people acting disorderly from a public place take effect this Sunday. 

If they refuse or return within 24 hours of being moved on, they can be penalised with up to three months’ jail or a $2,000 fine. 

Stuff's fact check of Tuesday's leaders debate found National's Christopher Luxon was right saying it's not criminalising homelessness. 

Labour's Leader Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking it's a debatable point. 

He says it's not saying someone is criminal being homeless, but it's saying they can be treated like a criminal. 

Hipkins also responded to the ratings he was given by New Zealand's CEOs and business leaders at today's Mood of the Boardroom. 

Out of five, he was 2.7 for integrity and 2.5 for trustworthiness, which he told Hosking didn't 'particularly' bother him.  

He says CEOs are not his target audience, as he's more interested in the mood of the smoko room than the mood of the boardroom. 

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Surely it's only one more day before Chris Hipkins gets to, just maybe, put the gangs in the rear-view mirror. 

In his new found assessment that handing millions to the Mongrel Mob when last in government was "a mistake", he reveals the real issue he faces this election campaign; 

Time. 

The gap between what he did and what he now promises to do is too short. That is roughly why most governments get two terms. 

Generally, governments lose elections, Oppositions don’t win them. 

The reason they lose them is we are sick of the incumbents and that feeling generally lasts longer than three years. 

For Hipkins, and for that matter Sepuloni, Andersen, Verrall, Tinetti, Edmonds, and Co, to be back so soon after an historically implosive burst of Labour-style ideology was always going to be a test of the punter's resolve. 

Which is why I have been moderately critical of this Government's lack of focus on that period in which we were literally sold down a fiscal river through sheer incompetence. 

It has rectified itself this past week with the gangs because the gangs are a visceral reminder of who these people really are. You could add MIQ, lockdowns, free money and the Māorification obsession. The list is enormous, but the gangs have refocused us on the worst of Labour. 

So with gangs back front and centre, the question had to be asked about the free millions for the Mongrel Mob, Chris. This is the $2.75 million for alleged meth rehab. 

And Hipkins, having done the best he could in the distancing department from the Greens, if not the Māori Party, could do nothing more than throw Ardern under the bus and say it was a mistake. 

Which indeed it was. It was an egregious one, but one nevertheless that shows basically who they are. 

Saying something when he wants your vote is easy. Some might suggest he will say anything. 

But the record speaks for itself and given they have not changed, have not apologised and have not recognised the damage whether in justice, crime, the economy, education or any number of social issues, they remain who they always were; 

A failed Government hoping three years on you’ve forgotten it all. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 21st of October, we discuss the record high number of arrests and charges for retail crime, plus we wrap the final leader's debate. 

Speaker Gerry Brownlee talks rising threats on MPs following the attack on Helen Haines in Australia. 

And on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk MP security and campaigning with just two and a half weeks to go. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Today on Politics Wednesday, National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen discuss the latest from the election campaign.  

Plus, they discuss the rising number of threats towards MPs and the attack on an Australian politician. 

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A world-first facility opening in Christchurch could bring cutting-edge cancer treatment closer to home for Kiwi patients. 

BioOra will manufacture CAR-T therapies at the central site, using patients' own genetically modified cells to fight cancer. 

It could eventually treat 150 patients a year, reducing the need for overseas treatment, which can cost more than a million dollars. 

Chief Executive John Robson told Mike Hosking the facility has sophisticated set of laboratories. 

He says there's six in total, with four of them being 'super clean rooms,' where staff will be genetically modifying cells for patients. 

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Our gaming sector is continuing to flourish, and one game developer believes there's no reason it can't keep growing with investment. 

New Zealand First wants to lift funding for the Centre of Digital Excellence by 2028 and to improve the studio rebate. 

That includes increasing the claimable amount from $3 million to $10 million. 

RocketWerkz Games Chief Operating Officer Stephen Knightly told Mike Hosking it's closing the gap that Australia continues to have over our industry.  

He says Australia is fighting for tech jobs and creative jobs and believes New Zealand's naive if it doesn't fight back. 

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The Speaker of the House says there was no choice but to act as threats against MPs see a massive increase. 

RNZ reports the Parliament Security Information, Risk and Advisory Service deployed 81 times after handling 216 requests for advice or support between September 28 and October 18. 

Parliamentary Service says its security offering has grown and it's working closely with Police. 

Speaker Gerry Brownlee told Mike Hosking there's been a particular increase in threats towards women. 

He says the nature of threats have also changed from being a bit of personal abuse about appearance to serious threats of physical violence. 

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The Police Association is highlighting that retail crime is falling amidst rising related charges. 

Annual Ministry of Justice data to June shows record-high finalised charges for theft from a retail premises at over 21,000 – more than triple that of four years ago.  

Convictions also reached nearly 18,000, also more than tripling over the same period. 

Police Association President Steve Watt told Mike Hosking it goes to show the hard work Police are putting in. 

He says as convictions have risen, they're seeing decreases in the number of instances of retail crime. 

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The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's being described as incapable of delivering the Government's objectives.  

An annual report shows 40% of MBIE's major capital projects failed to meet time, budget, or scope targets, including the $50 million Biometric Capability update. 

Regulation Minister David Seymour told Mike Hosking a line in the report says the ministry has discharged its responsibilities.  

He says the reason the ministry's become such a confection of different objectives and projects is the fact it answers to 23 different ministers. 

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Only good thing about Oriini Kaipara and her gang video, which spent the better part of the day front and centre, starting with us yesterday morning as we played you the cringe-inducing audio, to be followed by the rest of the media, was that Oriini is from the Māori Party, not the Greens.  

If it had been Marama, it would have been well and truly over. Not that Marama wouldn't agree with her any, it's just we don't have the video.  

There she is for all to see, geeing them up, offering help and mana, seemingly some concern they haven't got some state houses as well.  

Now this isn't an issue for the Māori Party given who they are. This may well, within their circles, be a grist of the mill, if not good news.  

What makes this really, really bad is 1, it's still new several days after the original event, and 2, Labour are the real victims here.  

If a video appears, and it has a Green MP in it, then Labour will have no choice but to cut them off completely with the very obvious consequences.  

As it stands, Labour must be praying this goes away. Labour must be praying the Nats and ACT don't start a fairly hefty campaign on law and order and remind us all —as if we need reminding— that under Labour, aided and abetted by the Greens, law and order in this country fell apart in spectacular fashion and that one of the indisputable wins of this Coalition Government is its success in making our streets overtly safer again.  

At play for Labour is the doubt in voters' minds. This is the real cancer here as to what they get. What do you get with Labour? There's the question.  

What do you get with Labour? The Greens now look damaged given their gang association. But then the Māori Party always needed to be part of the mix. Don't forget that. This is a three-party deal. Always has been.  

Trouble now is parties two and three look dangerous. And party three in particular look to be dabbling into the world of illegality as they look to quote unquote "restore the mana of gangs".  

We were all there when the gangs ruled the streets, ignored the law, took over the highways on their way to the funerals, paraded their patches and generally rigged hell. Two-thirds of the left bloc want to bring that back.  

Labour must be watching on and dying quietly inside.  

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Crimson Education is continuing to expand. 

Founded by Jamie Beaton, the company began as an elite university admissions consultancy, and has expanded into tutoring, schools, and is now moving into the charter school space. 

They've also received backing from the board of Kip McGrath to take over the company, adding it to their network. 

"What we're seeing is kids' math and English is actually going backwards in most of the Western world," Beaton told Mike Hosking. 

"So we see it as a great opportunity to support kids who really have these critical gaps." 

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The Dairy Companies Association has laid out its priorities for the next government. 

The five points include biosecurity, bipartisan infrastructure and energy, streamlined food regulation, and food and nutrition policy based on science and clear labelling.  

It also calls for an ambitious trade agenda, saying 43% of global dairy consumption remains outside of our FTA coverage.  

Chair Guy Roper told Mike Hosking demand for our high value product is growing.  

He says they want new trade agreements advanced in places like Bangladesh and Nigeria, where dairy is in favour. 

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Canterbury University students have built a robot that could smash both the human and robotic world records for solving a Rubik’s Cube. 

Four engineering students spent about a year developing the robot that can solve a 4x4 Rubik’s Cube in under 10 seconds. 

They’re now awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records. 

Student Maz Cameron told Mike Hosking it took a full year of hard work, so it was really exciting to have it culminate in that record attempt with so many people there to support it. 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 20th of October, we look at Kainga Ora's savings with Chris Bishop and get a review of our Super Fund's performance. 

Special Trade Envoy Nathan Guy discusses the benefits of our India FTA as it officially comes into force. 

Crimson Education CEO and founder Jamie Beaton talks the future of his incredible company after acquiring Kip McGrath. 

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Security and safety concerns are ramping up for politicians right across Australia. 

MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a car in regional Victoria. 

She was struck while loading her car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, north-east of Melbourne. 

Our Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says violence has absolutely no place in politics. 

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Mike Hosking threats are piling in against politicians right across the spectrum. 

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Local Police have announced a curfew in parts of central Paris following violent protests across France.  

In Nice a curfew has been put in place specifically for young people, with restrictions also in force in northern cities, including Lille. 

It comes as widespread looting takes place across the country, with burnt out cars and shattered glass lining streets and more than two thousand businesses thought to be impacted. 

Newstalk ZB's Catherine Field told Mike Hosking there are questions as to how police have been caught so off guard, and why they weren't monitoring social media. 

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Both major parties are backing tougher rules on children's social media use, with questions now turning to how they'll be enforced. 

Labour's promising an under-16 social media ban will go before a select committee within 100 days if elected, while National introduced its own bill to Parliament in August. 

Makes Sense campaign co-founder Holly Brooker told Mike Hosking the focus now needs to be on how our small country can hold tech giants to account. 

She says international collaboration with like-minded countries is pivotal. 

Brooker says countries like the UK and Australia have formalised an agreement and now share research with each other. 

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There's enthusiasm from the agriculture sector about the India Free Trade Agreement coming into effect today. 

It unlocks access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers, with 57% of exports to the world's most populous nation now tariff-free. 

The number of tariff-free exports would rise to 82% over time, with the next round of cuts due from next year. 

Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Nathan Guy told Mike Hosking we can provide for both the half of the Indian population who eat meat and the half who are vegetarian. 

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New Zealand's Superannuation Fund has been outperforming expectations. 

The 25-year-old Super Fund is now worth $94.35 billion, excluding tax, including $9.3 billion earned in the past reporting year. 

Super Fund Co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin says it's widely regarded as the best-performing sovereign wealth fund in the world over the past 20 years. 

He told Mike Hosking that opens up opportunities. 

Goodwin says it gives them the ability to have partnerships and conversations they wouldn't normally have access to, given the size of the fund. 

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The Housing Minister says he's proud of Kainga Ora for surpassing its savings target. 

The housing agency's latest annual report shows operating costs were reduced by $191 million – well above the $27 million goal. 

Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking the biggest change is debt, which is now $9.5 billion lower than the $29 billion forecast.  

He says reducing the cost of building these houses has helped, assuring that while they're not flash, they're still warm and dry.  

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Listen to the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday 19 October.
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One of Opportunity's polices is to stop you from using your KiwiSaver for first home purchases. 

The big question around that policy is - did you know that? 

Everyone, and I mean everyone, I have talked to that is even contemplating supporting Opportunity can't name a single one of their policies out side of land tax and universal incomes, which ironically, although they were the ideas that got them to prominence, didn’t actually make the so-called "bottom line" reveal. 

The main reason so far I have heard for Opportunity support is "something new". 

It's as simple as that. They are something new, like trainers in a different colour. You're a bit bored with the status quo so new should be good. 

I could go on for hours about how triggering that is for me. But back to the KiwiSaver. 

What else do they want? You don’t have a clue. 

Oh and while I'm at it, can you name anyone standing for them outside the leader? Have you seen anyone outside the leader at all? Is she the spokesperson for literally everything and does it worry you at all? 

If they get 5% that is six MP's. Who are the other five and what if they end up in Cabinet? A similar scenario happened with NZ First years ago. The "tight 5" is what they called them and it was Tuku and co and Hugo Boss undies.   

Ask someone older if you don’t know what I'm talking about. 

If you think Katie Zacharia is a joke, isn't it worse to vote for people you literally have never heard of, far less checked their ability to, oh I don’t know, run a country? 

KiwiSaver is a lifeline for first home buyers. It facilitates a dream for most of us to own our own piece of New Zealand. 

Opportunity don’t want that for you. They will ban it. What's that tell you about their ideology? 

I don’t mind who you vote for. But what I want for all of us is to vote with intelligence and hopefully some insight that came out of us researching what we are voting for. 

How much of what Opportunity are, you wouldn’t have a clue about, and therefore if it works out for them, we end up with a mass dose of buyer's regret. 

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Christopher Luxon isn't worried that removing the right to silence in exceptional cases would clash with the Bill of Rights Act.

Under the policy, people who witness a child's murder could face up to 10 years in prison, if they don't reveal to Police who was responsible. 

Luxon told Mike Hosking he expects law groups will warn it's a bill of rights issue.

He says the same thing happened with the gang patch ban and other things like alcohol testing.

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Kiwi company Leaft Foods has made Time Magazine's top 300 inventions of 2026 for its protein drink made from lucerne leaves. 

The company developed a way to extract the protein Rubisco commercially, and demand is already outstripping supply. 

Ross Milne CEO of Leaft Foods told Mike Hosking the accomplishment had taken six years of work and investment. 

He says the company figured out how to extract the protein first and is now leading in the field. 

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A criminal defence lawyer warns a new National policy is tackling a very vexed area of law. 

The party is campaigning on removing the right to remain silent when a child under 12 is killed.  

The party suggests this is an exceptional circumstance that justifies breaching the Bill of Rights Act. 

Barrister John Munro told Mike Hosking there is likely a low number of cases where someone hasn't been convicted, because someone maintained their right to silence. 

He says there's probably the same number of cases where people with low IQ or under duress are being told to say things, when they don't want to. 

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The ACT party is promising to commit an extra $400 million over four years to boost GP numbers and appointments, with 35% of GPs intending to retire within five years. 

The party claims a $100 million annual boost could help increase patient numbers by at least 6%. 

Doctor Angus Chambers Chair of GenPro told Mike Hosking the investment could provide more capacity in the system for appointments and doctors. 

He says the doctor shortage will continue to be an issue due to mass retirement, a competition for workers amongst the hospital system, and the lure of Australia. 

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At least one person has been killed in an attack on oil facilities and data centres in Russia's St Petersburg. 

It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Moscow has targeted his country's energy sector 76 times since Donald Trump declared an energy ceasefire last week. 

Russia's defence ministry says it's shot down more than a thousand Ukrainian drones over the weekend. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking Zelenskyy has defied the US leader with the biggest attack yet on Russia's second biggest city. 

He says Trump claims both sides had agreed to a ceasefire, but Russia had also been increasing strikes on Ukrainian power networks. 

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Foodstuffs has reported that its comparable grocery basket prices are only up 1.6% in the year to September, compared to a higher national food inflation of 2.4%.

The low grocery prices have come despite a difficult period of increased fuel prices, a weakened New Zealand dollar, and the annual inflation rate sitting at 4.1%

Foodstuffs New Zealand managing director Chris Quinn told Mike Hosking that Foodstuffs stores were pushing to get value on the shelf. 

He says while it is not a historically low number, compared to the last six years a rate below two was very good.

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From the White House, Katie Zacharia was a disaster. 

This perhaps wouldn’t matter so much if the President wasn’t about to get caned in the midterms. 

It might not matter so much if the job wasn’t so important. It might not matter so much if all the others had been as disastrous as Ms Zacharia. 

"Zachbot" is what one outlet called her. 

Outside of letting the world know the Greek grifter had been sacked, she said nothing, knew nothing and left. 

It's hard, and not hard, to see why she got the job. It's not hard because she is female and you could describe her as "pretty". 

That of course under normal circumstances is not something we should be dabbling in, but these aren't normal circumstances and the Trump job machine produces an overtly disproportionate number of quite pretty woman in public rolls. 

But it is hard, if you discount the looks bit, to see why a Scott Jennings didn’t get it. 

Jennings is a CNN regular for the Republican side of the equation. He has worked with both Bushes and with Mitt Romney. He is experienced, he is bright and he is very articulate. If they were skills you were after and you had a “skill off" between Jennings and Zacharia, Scott is your man. 

If you insist on looks, Katie Miller and Monica Crowley were in the running and Alina Habba, his lawyer, would have been if she hadn't bailed early. 

The trouble with newbies is they're compared to the others, and the others included everyone from Kayleigh McEnany to Karoline Leavitt, to Sean Spicer. 

Spicer was useless. Anthony Scaramucci, who technically wasn’t the Press Secretary but the Communications Director, was good but short lived because he got a case of the guilts. Read his book, it's good. 

Sarah Huckabee Sanders was so good she went on to be a governor, although the lineage might have helped. 

But the point is, as much as you might want to make fun of this job and the Trump White House, the truth is Leavitt was amazing. Forget politics – in her job, in selling the message and knowing her stuff, she was world class, if not in a class of her own. McEnany wasn’t far behind. 

Trump has picked some brilliant operators. Unless Zacharia was having a meltdown, or Jennings was offered the job but turned it down, Trump will be losing the midterms and a press secretary by the end of November. 

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At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. 

The campaign: 6/10 

Was this the week that we got debated out? One too many or two too many? And can you believe there are at least two more still to come? 

Gangs: 1/10 

May turn out to be, if not a defining moment, certainly a moment some could look back on with regret. New Zealanders hate gangs and their criminal violence. Labour needed it like a hole in the head. 

Diesel: 2/10 

As in the deal between Trump and Putin. It's about 10 days worth of domestic demand in America. Nothing Trump touches right now looks anything close to slick. 

The All Blacks: 9/10 

As fast, fiery, and complete a performance as you would ever be lucky enough to see. 

Tourists: 8/10 

Stats this week confirm we are officially back from Covid. Way too slow to get there, but the growth is real and it's on. 

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Is it too far-fetched to ask two things: 

1) Whether the campaign turned dramatically against Labour yesterday. 

2) If within a 24-hour period, whatever chance they might have thought they had is now blown to smithereens. 

The Greens want to fund gangs. They are unapologetic about hanging with gangs and they fail to accept the simple premise that this puts them so far outside what you would loosely call "mainstream New Zealand". It will most likely see whatever voters there are wavering between National and Labour scarper back to National. 

Then if that wasn’t bad enough, David Seymour of all people decides he can live with the Opportunity Party better than he can live with being in Opposition. 

Is it too big a stretch to ask whether this is not some unbelievable self-implosion by the Greens? Almost a self-sabotage attempt? Or is it more likely a group carried away by their perceived polling success that they can say and do anything they like and to hell with the consequences? 

It's certainly an insight into the dynamics of the Greens. As normal as Chlöe Swarbrick might like to paint them, she looked lost, bewildered, and unable to respond in a way a normal leader would i.e. pull some of the madness into line, reject some allegations, cancel some perceptions, and stamp down some rampant madness. 

She looked bereft of leadership skill. 

Can we ask whether Seymour is the key to the Luxon turnaround re: Opportunity? If David can, maybe Luxon can too. 

Put the two events of a singular day together and the election is over. 

The math was always easier for the incumbents anyway; National on 30%, NZ First and ACT on 10% each, that's 50%. Add Opportunity and it's over an hour after the polls close. 

Obviously, there are three weeks left. But in a spectacularly boring campaign, where the debates sent you to sleep and Groundhog Day had set in early, out of nowhere came an event that might well have turned the whole thing on its head. 

Gangs in New Zealand are abhorrent. We hate them and we hate what they do. The Greens and the Māori Party want to hang with them, give them our money and rub them in your face. 

It's Hipkins' worst nightmare. 

His two partners, who are already fringe, are going full rogue on a subject that defies left and right. No one backs gangs. There isn't a single vote in them. 

October 15th might just be the day Labour kissed it all goodbye. 

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The US President has backed down from plans to livestream the first US military execution in 65 years. 

The execution of Nidal Hasan is still going ahead in December, but Donald Trump now says many well-meaning people would rather not watch him die. 

The army psychiatrist killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009 and has been in a wheelchair since being shot during the incident.   

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking a former US Army Commander called the idea demeaning and says it would've brought the US into the dark ages. 

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The week has come to an end, which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to help Mike Hosking Wrap the Week that Was.  

They discussed cancelled credit cards and wayward subscription services, and dug into the third week of the election campaign. Is the country over it already? 

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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 16th of October, Health Minister Simeon Brown responds to the reports of delays in cancer treatments at Starship Hospital. 

We get the latest on our fuel prices from Z Energy, and Will Jordan tells us how the All Blacks plan to smash the Wallabies again. 

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss the election campaign and whether the country is over it with three weeks left as they Wrap the Week.  

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Standards over silverware is the messaging from All Blacks camp in Sydney this weekend. 

Fullback Will Jordan says Tana Umaga has led the conversation of not letting their expectations slip despite already sealing away the Bledisloe Cup. 

Jordan says they're heading into their second test against the Wallabies with the same determination. 

He told Mike Hosking there isn't a cup on the line, but the All Blacks legacy always is, so every test is an important one. 

"We'll certainly treat it with full respect on Saturday." 

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There's proof the economy is in a slow recovery mode, even if it can't be felt.  

Infometrics' latest economic forecast shows economic growth —recently measured at 1.7% per annum by Stats NZ— is expected to stay above 1.5% until mid-next year. 

It's predicted to accelerate to 2.2% by the end of 2027.  

Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan told Mike Hosking while there has been a level of sectorial and regional discrepancy, they've started to see more lines across the economy point in the right direction. 

He says manufacturing, residential and civil construction, and tourism activity are lifting as well, so it's not simply a farm driven exercise.  

Kiernan says it's still a bit patchy and fuel prices are having an impact, but they're not expecting the economy to start going backwards. 

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An independent grocery chain says many of the polices they're seeing this election won't help third players. 

Paddock to Pantry —which currently has two South Auckland stores and a website— has announced plans to open 20 more stores over the next five years. 

Business Manager John Kennerley says plans to break up the supermarket duopoly won't actually help independents expand. 

Instead, he told Mike Hosking, having access to low-interest loans and cheaper capital would allow them to grow faster. 

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Falling crude oil prices aren't translating to cheaper petrol at the pump. 

Dubai crude has dropped from about $210 a barrel in September to $192 currently. 

But MBIE data shows retail petrol prices have climbed from $3.15 to more than $3.50 at the same time. 

Z Energy Chief Executive Lindis Jones told Mike Hosking the biggest change has been the cost of refining crude oil and shipping fuel around the world. 

He says the global supply chains are still working, but they're more complex and expensive than before the Middle East conflict. 

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There's a cautiously optimistic outlook on the construction sector. 

The EBOSS 2026 Builder and Architect Sentiment report —based on a survey of thousands of builders, architects, and designers— shows the sector pipeline is slowly filling.  

Data finds there's around seven months forward work, with project starts jumping from -21 to +8. 

Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Mike Hosking it paints a picture of the economy turning. 

He says builders on the ground are seeing a slight uptick in their positivity and in their inquiries in the future. 

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