There’s a view the Government's restoring the balance between university and vocational pathways. 

The Budget doubles Trades Academy places from 10,000 to 20,000 over four years, giving more secondary students access to training while at school. 

Employers and Manufacturers' Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking it’s a full-circle moment – recognising how vital trades are in a tech-driven economy. 

He says AI can't build houses, and so many young people are coming into the workforce not ready. 

McDonald says the new Industry Skills Boards will help direct training to where demand is, as part of their role is to work with businesses and polytechs to ensure current and future gaps are filled. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There’s a view the Government's restoring the balance between university and vocational pathways.&nbsp;
The Budget doubles Trades Academy places from 10,000 to 20,000 over four years, giving more secondary students access to training while at school.&nbsp;
Employers and Manufacturers' Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking it’s a full-circle moment – recognising how vital trades are in a tech-driven economy.&nbsp;
He says AI can't build houses, and so many young people are coming into the workforce not ready.&nbsp;
McDonald says the new Industry Skills Boards will help direct training to where demand is, as part of their role is to work with businesses and polytechs to ensure current and future gaps are filled.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Alan McDonald: Employers and Manufacturers' Association Head of Advocacy on the focus on trades in Budget 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5f86b96d-91f2-4326-8bfd-b4580158731c/transcript

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. 

 

GDP: 9/10 

The Infometrics Q2 read is the final nail in the misery merchants' coffin – the turnaround is real. 

 

Chris Hipkins: 4/10 

Between the streaming bill he didn’t know he had and the Prime Minister interviews he didn’t listen to, does this look like a guy who is razor sharp and ready to rumble in an election campaign? 

 

Ginny Andersen ruling out all taxes: 7/10 

Big call and had to have made Chlöe choke on her oats. 

 

The ceasefire: 2/10 

Is that Trump's worst hour yet? Think of all the things he said versus all the things that didn’t happen. It's almost as though he makes it up or doesn’t have a clue what's going on. 

 

Liam Lawson: 9/10 

Oh, the irony of hand injuries and Zandvoort. Can we really rule a podium out? 

 

LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW 

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.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
GDP: 9/10&nbsp;
The Infometrics Q2 read is the final nail in the misery merchants' coffin – the turnaround is real.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Chris Hipkins: 4/10&nbsp;
Between the streaming bill he didn’t know he had and the Prime Minister interviews he didn’t listen to, does this look like a guy who is razor sharp and ready to rumble in an election campaign?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-on-labour-ruling-out-tax-policies-from-other-parties-election-campaigning/">Ginny Andersen ruling out all taxes: 7/10</a>&nbsp;
Big call and had to have made Chlöe choke on her oats.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The ceasefire: 2/10&nbsp;
Is that Trump's worst hour yet? Think of all the things he said versus all the things that didn’t happen. It's almost as though he makes it up or doesn’t have a clue what's going on.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-medland-formula-1-journalist-on-red-bull-promoting-liam-lawson-as-injury-cover-for-the-dutch-grand-prix/">Liam Lawson: 9/10</a>&nbsp;
Oh, the irony of hand injuries and Zandvoort. Can we really rule a podium out?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW&nbsp;

Mark the Week: Was the ceasefire expiring Trump's worst hour yet?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/712c9f70-4c33-4777-aa7a-b4ac017a6b3a/transcript

Simeon Brown has written a letter. 

It's this sort of thing, I think, that frustrates a lot of potential and actual National Party voters. 

There is an argument to be made, and power prices is one of them, where you can say that National talked a big game, but I don’t see any real results. 

The letter is to the Electricity Authority (EA). They oversee the power market and whether everyone is playing by the rules. 

Simeon wants them to check on the forward pricing for power, which is down, and why it is we aren't seeing our prices tumble. 

We have already covered this so Simeon is a bit slow out of the box. Renewables are in play, it's rained a lot so there's plenty of resource and the cost of making power is going down. Large commercial users are already seeing prices drop. 

In our houses though? Not so much. 

As always there are a myriad of excuses, some of which will be legit and some of which will be polished up for PR spin. 

But we're at the stage of electricity reform where our patience for the so-called "dividends of the renewable age" are not really appearing as were promised. 

Obviously, Simeon wants an answer because he also wants your vote. 

But ask yourself – why does he need to write to the EA? If their job is to oversee this stuff either there is nothing to see, and therefore they are doing their job, or they are useless and need sacking. 

My guess is their rules of engagement mean the system is actually working, so the rules of engagement are the problem, and/or the gentailer problem, which has been jawboned to death, is really an issue holding back better competition hence lower prices. 

Either way writing a letter is not delivering and this is from a party that has jawboned supermarkets, petrol stations, electricity companies and banks. 

And for what real, in-my-back-pocket result? 

Simeon Brown has written a letter.&nbsp;
It's this sort of thing, I think, that frustrates a lot of potential and actual National Party voters.&nbsp;
There is an argument to be made, and power prices is one of them, where you can say that National talked a big game, but I don’t see any real results.&nbsp;
The letter is to the Electricity Authority (EA). They oversee the power market and whether everyone is playing by the rules.&nbsp;
Simeon wants them to check on the forward pricing for power, which is down, and why it is we aren't seeing our prices tumble.&nbsp;
We have already covered this so Simeon is a bit slow out of the box. Renewables are in play, it's rained a lot so there's plenty of resource and the cost of making power is going down. Large commercial users are already seeing prices drop.&nbsp;
In our houses though? Not so much.&nbsp;
As always there are a myriad of excuses, some of which will be legit and some of which will be polished up for PR spin.&nbsp;
But we're at the stage of electricity reform where our patience for the so-called "dividends of the renewable age" are not really appearing as were promised.&nbsp;
Obviously, Simeon wants an answer because he also wants your vote.&nbsp;
But ask yourself – why does he need to write to the EA? If their job is to oversee this stuff either there is nothing to see, and therefore they are doing their job, or they are useless and need sacking.&nbsp;
My guess is their rules of engagement mean the system is actually working, so the rules of engagement are the problem, and/or the gentailer problem, which has been jawboned to death, is really an issue holding back better competition hence lower prices.&nbsp;
Either way writing a letter is not delivering and this is from a party that has jawboned supermarkets, petrol stations, electricity companies and banks.&nbsp;
And for what real, in-my-back-pocket result?&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Where is the action on electricity prices?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3cf483e2-78a4-4597-b312-b4ac0178441c/transcript

Donald Trump is continuing to lose support in the polls. 

A new poll from the American Research Group found that only 30% of those questioned approve of the way Trump is handling things – 69% disapproving of his handling of the economy. 

There are big concerns even among Republicans, with 29% disapproving of the way the President is handling his job. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it comes as the US national debt hit $40 trillion, with a third of that accumulating during Trump's terms. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Donald Trump is continuing to lose support in the polls.&nbsp;
A new poll from the American Research Group found that only 30% of those questioned approve of the way Trump is handling things – 69% disapproving of his handling of the economy.&nbsp;
There are big concerns even among Republicans, with 29% disapproving of the way the President is handling his job.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking it comes as the US national debt hit $40 trillion, with a third of that accumulating during Trump's terms.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on Trump's latest poll results, national debt hitting $40 trillion

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e27c03bf-5fd4-44c1-baee-b4ac0174018b/transcript

Alan McDonald: Employers and Manufacturers' Association Head of Advocacy on the focus on trades in Budget 2026

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