The Mike Hosking Breakfast

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. Labour's campaign: 6/10 The gangs hurt them, but Hipkins was short, sharp, on message, and by-and-large didn’t put himself in danger. National's campaign: 6/10 Spent too much energy pretending Chlöe is a Finance Minister and trying to scare people. When you have a record, defend it. NZ First's campaign: 5/10 Too negative, relied too heavily on town halls in a 'I haven't got any new ideas' sort of way. The leader looked old and Michael Laws didn’t help. The Green's campaign: 5/10 Chlöe was better than Marama, who's understanding of yields and bond rates should worry us all. Not enough environment and too much envy of success, but the message was clear, even if you didn’t like it, and the polls have helped. ACT's campaign: 8/10 Easily the best of the lot. Disciplined, simple, clear, busy, used social well, restrained, almost adult, stayed away from the dirt, and Paul Henry was the stroke of…

Fun fact time – it turns out we really aren't into elections all that much. The average turnout since 1982 has been 78%. Last election it was 78%. To me, that is not a great result, given over 90% of us had enrolled. Why do we make so much of the enrolment process when we know the chances of those people turning out is next to zero? And what happens to all those people who do enrol but don't vote? It's not like they don't have the time, a place, or an opportunity. Early voting has become a thing. Once upon a time it was a sign, normally, of a rush, an energy to oust an incumbent. Nowadays it's about making it easy, and you do it while you're shopping. They say this year voting is well ahead of last time. What does that mean? Nothing. Because the real test will be how many ultimately turn out at all. And if the number is as per usual, my bet is all bets are off. Why? Because the polls that show it's a tight race may not apply, because many of the people who answered a poll might not vote. "Telling" and…

The week has come to an end, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was. Campaigning is coming to a close tonight as the Election has finally arrived. With the polls closing tomorrow night, what are their predictions? And the complaints about the pens providing in the polling booths continue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The balance of power in the US has shifted in the wake of the Midterm elections. The Democrats have won 54 Senate seats to the Republican's 44, and have 240 House of Representative seats, against 147. It means they'll control both in the new year. US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it's a whole new map, as so many historical shifts have taken place. He says since the 1960s, Republicans have relied on a 'Southern Strategy', appealing to white conservatives in what once was the Deep South, and after civil rights reforms, they based their strategy around Texas. Arnold says that strategy is gone now, with James Talarico winning the seat – the first Democrat in the seat since 1988. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are back in action this weekend, taking on Scotland in the Nations Championship. It's been a long sixteen weeks since their last test, and there's been no shortage of drama – notably, a brutal series in which the Springboks handed the visiting All Blacks a heavy defeat. Now they're back on the test stage with plenty to prove. Newstalk ZB's Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Mike Hosking it has been a tough week for the All Blacks, what with the passing of their head of security, but he gets the sense they're pretty dialled in for this game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 6th of November, the Electoral Commission explains how long it'll take to count the vote and responds to the criticism of the big orange pens. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers exclusively talks the allegations against him and the investigation clearing his name. And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson give their predictions for Election Night as they Wrap the Week. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Department store chain David Jones Group has been placed into voluntary administration and receivership after months of turmoil. The collapse follows failed discussions between the 188 year old company and its landlord Scentre Group, which operates Westfield malls here and across the ditch. David Jones has one branch in New Zealand in Auckland's Newmarket. RX Group Founder and Retail Strategy Expert Juanita Neville-Te Rito told Mike Hosking some of the stores are still performing very well – $2 billion worth of sales still go through David Jones. She it's about having more relevant stores in the right place at the right time, and a long time ago they just expanded too far. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says she's very pleased "challenging" negotiations with Hato Hone St John have been finalised this week, as she faces questions around the timing of a major funding announcement. On Thursday, the Government announced the ambulance service would get an extra $258 million over four years, paying for more than 220 additional staff including ambulance officers and call handlers, as well as technology upgrades. Asked how the timing of that announcement dovetailed with election rules, the NZ First MP told Mike Hosking Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora's negotiations with St John had taken many months, and she was pleased they had gotten over the line. Wellington Free Ambulance was also close to an agreement, she said. Costello's office has previously said she was only notified about the Health NZ decision on November 2nd. Costello is standing in her home electorate of Port Waikato, which is a "very strong National seat", she told Hosking. "I'm running a two-tick campaign, but…

Australian educators are hoping to stamp out racism with new reforms to its civics curriculum. From next year, high schoolers will learn the 'evils of antisemitism and horror of the holocaust' in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. Ministers are also considering making civics and citizenship lessons mandatory in years nine and ten. Sydney University Political Education Professor Murray Print told Mike Hosking the new curriculum aims to develop student's awareness, concern, and understanding of the world. He says the topics have always been taught but weren't high profile enough, and now the curriculum will have more substantial, upfront and purposeful information. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is keen to move on following the clearing of his name. The Independent Police Conduct Authority had looked into concerns raised about Chambers during its initial investigation into a former partner's alleging stalking, digital surveillance, and sexual assault complaints. It's found no evidence to support claims on all fronts. Speaking for the first time on the matter, Chambers told Mike Hosking it's important that due process was allowed to take its course, but the things that were alleged never happened. He says he's a human being, father and husband, with a big job to get on with, and he's keen to move on. Chambers says the outcome was no surprise but he's very grateful for all the support he's received. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials expect to have a preliminary election result tomorrow night, but we could be waiting a while before we know the shape of the next government. Voting places around the country will close tomorrow at 7pm. Latest polling —released this morning by The Post and Freshwater Strategy— shows Opportunity is still in the kingmaker position, but is polling only just above the 5% threshold. Electoral Commission Chief Executive Karl Le Quesne told Mike Hosking "preliminary results" will be published late tomorrow night, probably after 11pm. He says people need to remember those will only be preliminary results, and they still need to do processing and integrity checks afterwards. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you believed the heat in the debate, letting the police move people on was some sort of dystopian incursion by an overlord destined for revolt and rampage on our streets. The Labour Party still argues the Government made homelessness illegal, which of course they did not. At the very start of the scrap was the basic idea that too many people were having their day ruined by too many other people who seemed to think they could behave any way they wanted with no consequences. Lying in a shop doorway was okay because you were "homeless". Turns out virtually none of it was true. The law has arrived. The Police are enacting it and by all accounts, guess what? It is nothing like the scandal the apologists made it out to be. The Wellington City Mission, among others, is deeply appreciative of how the Police are handling matters. This is the gang patch debate all over again. It's the end of the world until it isn't. Turns out most of your troublemakers are just that: drug-addled, booze-addled, or both. But not…

One of the latest young country music stars is headed for our shores. 25-year-old Max McNown has had a meteoric rise, having got his break only a couple of years ago. He left his home of Oregon at 21 to move to California, and at the time, becoming a musician was barely a pipe dream. "I wasn't planning on pursuing music at all," he told Hosking. "I always kind of wanted to be a singer ... but yeah, it was just kind of a dream in the back of my mind that I never thought I'd chase." But a friend encouraged him to give performing a try, and one thing led to another. Over the following years, he signed a record deal, released an EP and a couple of albums, and moved to Nashville – the home of country music. "The community, it feels like people really do want to lift each other up – especially in the songwriting and production company," he explained. "When I came here, it just felt like Nashville fit – I fit in Nashville." "It felt like people were super kind and welcoming, and it just felt like my place, and so…

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of November, we look at the extraordinary midterms flip that has decimated the Republican majority in the House and Senate. For the last time before the election, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins joined to give his final pitch. The latest talent coming out of Nashville, and originally Oregon, Max McNown details his country music rise to stardom. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats in the US have taken complete control of Congress, winning majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The US midterm elections have seen seven Senate seats flip, along with 27 House seats. Strong Republican seats like Texas, Kansas and South Carolina went Democrat for the first time in decades. Democratic Strategist and former Chief of Staff to Senator Kristen Gillibrand, Joi Chaney told Mike Hosking they knew they we going to win, but the size of the win shocked people. She says exit polls show the economy was a big issue for voters, but so was the racism, bigotry, and ugliness from the Republican Party. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Leader believes it was necessary for them to tighten up their campaign and promises leading into this year's election. Chris Hipkins told Mike Hosking people have had a guts full of politicians making big sweeping promises with soaring political rhetoric and then disappointing on the other side. "I'm determined not to do that." "I want voters to know that the promises that I'm making are promises I will keep, and that I'm not just spouting what I need to spout in order to get elected." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Finance Spokesperson is optimistic that despite the unemployment rate rising, another term in government would see things right. Stats NZ data released yesterday saw the rate rise from 5.6% to 5.7% in the September quarter. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking our Official Cash Rate is much healthier than Australia's, who are dealing with an 18 year high. "Inflation is under better control and growth is returning; we're doing what we can." She said high oil prices and an election had created uncertainty for businesses to employ workers. "There's a possible increase to taxes, a lot more borrowing and higher inflation and higher interest rates…" "We [National] will be able to find work; we have incentives in the welfare system to nudge them along and good training programmes in place. "I'm also optimistic all of these fast-tracked projects will provide opportunities up and down regions not just in maim cities and the South Island." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former critic of the move-on orders says rough sleepers should be removed from the new legislation. Police now have the power to order rough-sleepers, beggars, or those acting in a disorderly manner to move on from a public place. 29 people were moved on in the first 10 days for disorderly behaviour, but only four were homeless. Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge told Mike Hosking the orders were originally designed to limit the number of arrests. He says it was a good thing before politicians decided to put rough sleeping and begging into the mix, failing to make the critical distinction between behaviour and circumstances. But Edridge says so far officers have applied the law in the way it was intended and haven't moved anyone on for rough sleeping or begging. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Midterms of 2026. Quite possibly, if I can sound almost unpatriotic, they're more interesting as an exercise in democracy than our own election. It would seem a foregone conclusion that the Republicans, read Trump, will lose the House. It is less certain what will happen in the Senate. If it goes really wrong and both flip, stand by for any number of inquiries and impeachments. Stand by for retribution writ large. Stand by for two solid years of unmitigated mudslinging and lawyers. What Trump says is true: incumbents always lose something in the midterms. There is always pushback. It's also worth noting that before he started the war he talked of reversing that trend, of winning big. But his singular decision to go after Iran has sunk his presidency. In fact, an insightful piece I read the other day suggested the markets, specifically oil, should adjust to a permanent, unending standoff in the Hormuz Strait and the Middle East. In other words, this is the future. Some of the races, especially…

More signs of recovery in the construction sector. Stats NZ data shows more than 41,000 new homes were consented annually to September – up 18%. Standalone home consents rose 20% to the highest level in four years. Townhouse consents are up 18%, and they're up 11% for retirement village units, but down 11% for apartments. Combined Building Supplies Co-op CEO Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking they're seeing a shift in the market – just because we can fit six townhouses on a section, doesn't mean we have to. He says a lot of the builders he talks to are starting to pivot their businesses as they're realising they can't actually sell those townhouses – especially if they don't have garaging or car parking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 4th of November, our dairy industry's hit a record high for production, and we look ahead to the unemployment figures coming out this morning. We ask Pete Seat, the former White House spokesman for George W. Bush, to give his verdict on the Midterms. And on Politics Wednesday, Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen give their thoughts on the election campaign one last time ahead of Saturday night. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most economists expect the latest unemployment figures to show the labour market has finally turned a corner. Stats NZ is releasing its latest quarterly data at 10.45am. Westpac is picking a fall from 5.6% to 5.5% for Q3 – the first drop in five years. Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking we've seen the strongest quarter of employment growth since the start of 2023, and that combined with slower population growth adds up to a falling unemployment rate. He says our economic growth is still unbalanced, but there's enough that we should see falls in the unemployment rate throughout the next year and a half. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Congress is up for grabs in today's midterm elections, with Democrats eyeing up a potential double victory. If secured, the party would be better placed to scrutinise President Donald Trump and block his plans. Polling predicts the Democrats have the House of Representatives in hand, but the Senate could be a tighter race. Former White House Spokesperson for George W Bush, Pete Seat told Mike Hosking he expects the Senate will come down to one seat, but some think it could be split down the middle. He says if that happens, it will have a fascinating impact on JD Vance's potential presidential campaign, because he'd have the tie-breaking vote as Vice President. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is supporting New Zealand's Police Commissioner being cleared of any wrongdoing. The police watchdog has cleared Commissioner Richard Chambers of wrongdoing after concerns were raised by an anonymous complainant. The IPCA found all accusations lacked evidence. National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking he had backed Chambers from the start. "We just believed him and at the end of the day, it's been extremely tough on him and his wife and daughters. "There's unequivocal evidence now." Mitchell agreed the facts behind the accusation should not be made public. "Those are sensitive issues and the public should maintain that we have a very good internal investigations unit. "These things have to be looked into and taken seriously, I saw the complaints, I backed him, the Prime Minister backed him." Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said despite the outcome, an investigation was warranted. "It's important that victims of crime need to be able to report crime and it be…

Cheap Chinese imports are continuing to cause problems for our aluminium industry. Hollow extrusion imports are now up 192%, while reported values are down 31%. Commerce Minister Cameron Bewer has declined to introduce safeguards for the industry, instead telling it to file a new application and go down the anti-dumping route. McKechnie Aluminium Solutions Ltd's Dave Slomp told Mike Hosking the reason they were advised not to go down that route in the first place is because it can be quite hard to prove. New construction has fallen around 70% in China since 2021, and they'd have to prove it's being sold in New Zealand for a lower price than in China. He says proving it to be dumping might be extraordinarily difficult, and they'd also have to get the details on what it's being sold for from Chinese manufacturers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our dairy industry is continuing to reach new heights. Prices have risen another 3% at this morning's Global Dairy Trade auction, with whole milk powder up 5.9% and skim milk powder up 3.1%. The sector's also produced more than two billion kilograms of milksolids during a single season for the first time. Dairy NZ Chief Executive Campbell Parker told Mike Hosking it's despite farmers costs still rising. He says farmers are doing more with less and drive good productivity through good decision making. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trouble for Netball NZ is they claim to have a plan. The reality, of course, is we may or may not ever know what happened to the previous plan – the Williams-Mowbray plan. That plan looked set to go. Most of us didn't have a clue what was in it, nor do we care. But we know the names Mowbray and Williams. We know they have lots of money. We probably knew they were in it for the right reasons. We also knew Netball NZ is a mess, and the sport is in dire straits. So at that point, we most likely concluded there was a bit of hope. Until there wasn't, which was Friday's news. What didn't help on Friday was the seeming surprise from Williams, who apparently didn't see anything coming. Then on Friday night I watched netballers crying, as well they might. Personally, I would have cried before that, and for all I know some have. Because as an elite player I would have buggered off months back, probably when they shafted Noeline, who by anyone's measure is the G.O.A.T. The way she was treated defied belief. Anyway,…

Michael Douglas has had an incredibly storied and illustrious Hollywood career. The son of the legendary Kirk Douglas, Michael more than established his own credentials over the course of six decades. He's got two Academy Awards under his belt, as well as Golden Globes and over half a dozen other awards and honours for both acting and producing. Douglas has plenty of stories to tell, and he's decided to do just that, releasing an autobiography called 'One Helluva Ride'. He told Mike Hosking that by all means, things have worked out. "Obviously one of the reasons why I wrote the book was I looked at my father and I, and between the two of us, we have quite a legacy ... I think 125 movies and 80 years in the business." "And then for me, you know, to have a kind of dual career as a successful producer, as well as an actor, yeah, it's been great." Although in the grand scheme of things, Douglas' life has worked out well, he told Hosking he does write in the book to be careful what you wish for. "Sometimes in my…

Protests continue to spread across Europe. Saturday saw unrest and police clashes in France, Germany, Portugal, and Albania, with protest camps also being cleared in Portugal. Shops have been looted, tear gas fired, and firebombs thrown as thousands of young people take to the streets. Newstalk ZB's Catherine Field live in Paris told Mike Hosking more protests are planned across France and Germany this week. She says it's Generation Z complaining about the high cost of living, cuts to public spending, and the lowering of education standards. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spotlight on the rising costs of raising a young child. The latest report by Crayon —a support group working to reduce financial stress for parents— states the first five years of a child's life alone can cost parents almost $180,000. It's often nearly a third of parents' take home pay, and childcare alone often costs around $20,000 a year, per child. Founder Stephanie Pow told Mike Hosking with the current policy settings, there are very real costs and trade offs that parents have to deal with, but it doesn't have to be that way. She says our parental leave system is in the bottom quartile for primary carers, we have no paid partners leave, and some of the least affordable childcare in the world. But, Pow says, other countries have successfully tackled this issue and seen the benefits of it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 3rd of November, it's good-news-Tuesday with good numbers around retail, EVs, international students, and payment arrears. Netball NZ CEO Jennah Wootten attempts to explain what's next after turning down the Williams-Mowbray deal to privatise the league. Legendary actor and producer Michael Douglas joins the show to talk his memoir 'One Helluva Ride'. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retailers are feeling more optimistic about the year ahead, with confidence reaching a two-year high. Retail NZ's latest Retail Radar report finds 73% are confident their business will survive the next 12 months. A similar number expect to meet or exceed their sale targets in the final three months of the year. Chief executive Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking the year has been a bit up and down, largely impacted by the pesky fuel prices. She says if we could get those under control, there's the sense the economy might move in the right direction for both consumers and businesses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball New Zealand believe the long-term interests of the sport have been protected by pulling the plug on the domestic league advocated by Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams. The proponents of a new privatised competition were blindsided by the NNZ Board's decision to end negotiations. But Chief Executive Jennah Wootten told Mike Hosking there was extensive dialogue and meetings about the range of issues that made negotiations challenging, and both parties were clear about what those challenges were. She says by the end, they'd flexed in a number of areas they felt were appropriate, but there were some fundamental differences in their views that they didn't feel were in the long term interests of the sport. Going forward, Wootten says they're working very closely with netball zones and teams, and they're all united in what they need to be doing for 2027 and beyond. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High marks for New Zealand from international students. Education NZ's latest Experience Survey finds 90% rate their overall experience positively, up from 87% last year, and the highest since the survey began in 2019. At least 93% rate their teachers and tutors as supportive and respectful. Chief Executive David Downs told Mike Hosking our international education is probably the best of any country in the world in terms of what we can offer students. He says they like the education definitely but they also like living in New Zealand, and really importantly, they feel a sense of safety and welcome here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soaring fuel prices aren't the only thing driving demand for electric vehicles. Motor Trade Association data reveals Plug-in Hybrids and Battery Electric Vehicles together reached 3,317 registrations last month, up 174% on a year ago. EVs also made up 22.7% of new light vehicles, against 8.9% the previous October. EV City owner Dave Boot told Mike Hosking the surge in interest goes beyond rising petrol costs. He says availability is also a major factor, with more than 30 new Chinese EV models entering the market in the past year. Boot also says the figures don't yet reflect the full scale of demand, as sales surged in March, but many of those vehicles hadn't even been built then, taking up to six months to arrive and be registered. He says that means the latest registration figures are still catching up with demand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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…

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVE…

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…

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…

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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…

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." LISTEN ABOVE See…

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? LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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…

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.