Last night saw the first leaders’ debate between Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Chris Luxon.

Most seem to agree that it was a lacklustre affair, with Luxon perhaps winning by a hair. 

Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that in the past, audiences would see politicians under pressure when it came to live debates.

She said that since every press conference is now streamed live on social media, the pressure is off, and the debates just become a competition of talking points. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Last night saw the first leaders’ debate between Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Chris Luxon. 
Most seem to agree that it was a lacklustre affair, with Luxon perhaps winning by a hair.  
Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that in the past, audiences would see politicians under pressure when it came to live debates. 
She said that since every press conference is now streamed live on social media, the pressure is off, and the debates just become a competition of talking points.  
LISTEN ABOVE

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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

Brigitte Morten: Political Commentator on the first leaders' debate

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.



Flybuys: 3/10

Out as of the end of the year, leaving the country so spend those points.



The Budget: 6/10

It’s the usual in the sense it's never enough and those who didn’t want to like it, didn’t. But they did a lot with not a lot and the messaging, if you are of a right mind, painted a picture of some actual hope.



The Māori Party: 1/10 

They too are part of the aforementioned stench of the times. They're negativity mixed with arrogance, from the Parliament hijacking to the hijacking of the roads. In what way are we better off for any of that?



The Warriors: 8/10 

Two on the bounce, both against good sides and both achieved with second stringers. Johnson is back next time out, and we get two easy points this weekend.



The Trump trial: 7/10

I'm calling a hung jury after five days. What's yours?



Todd Stephenson: 4/10 

Pub test failure. He should have flicked the shares before it became a thing.



Air New Zealand: 6/10 

The 4th best airline in the world.



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. 
 
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/juanita-neville-te-rito-retail-and-marketing-expert-on-flybuys-closing-down-at-the-end-of-2024/">Flybuys: 3/10</a> 
Out as of the end of the year, leaving the country so spend those points. 
 
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-the-tax-cuts-cancer-funding-surplus-of-budget-2024/">The Budget: 6/10</a> 
It’s the usual in the sense it's never enough and those who didn’t want to like it, didn’t. But they did a lot with not a lot and the messaging, if you are of a right mind, painted a picture of some actual hope. 
 
The Māori Party: 1/10 
They too are part of the aforementioned stench of the times. They're negativity mixed with arrogance, from the Parliament hijacking to the hijacking of the roads. In what way are we better off for any of that? 
 
The Warriors: 8/10 
Two on the bounce, both against good sides and both achieved with second stringers. Johnson is back next time out, and we get two easy points this weekend. 
 
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/world/donald-trump-trial-live-updates-trump-guilty-of-all-34-charges-in-hush-money-trial/">The Trump trial: 7/10</a> 
I'm calling a hung jury after five days. What's yours? 
 
Todd Stephenson: 4/10 
Pub test failure. He should have flicked the shares before it became a thing. 
 
Air New Zealand: 6/10 
The 4th best airline in the world. 
 
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW

Mark the Week: The Budget painted a picture of some actual hope

Shayne Burke survived explosions and gunfire in the Iraq war, and has now survived an attack from a grizzly bear.

The 35-year-old man from Wyoming, USA, was on his honeymoon when he stumbled across a mother grizzly and her cubs in the Grand Tetons National Park.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that grizzlies are very protective of their cubs, and within an instant Shayne was fighting for his life.

He said that while he was carrying bear spray, he didn’t have time to use it and it was only upon the bear biting down on the can by accident that they fled.

LISTEN ABOVE

Shayne Burke survived explosions and gunfire in the Iraq war, and has now survived an attack from a grizzly bear. 
The 35-year-old man from Wyoming, USA, was on his honeymoon when he stumbled across a mother grizzly and her cubs in the Grand Tetons National Park. 
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that grizzlies are very protective of their cubs, and within an instant Shayne was fighting for his life. 
He said that while he was carrying bear spray, he didn’t have time to use it and it was only upon the bear biting down on the can by accident that they fled. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on Shayne Burke surviving a grizzly bear attack

It seems to have been a miserable week.

We all seem miserable this week.

The boss, who I complained to this week about a bunch of stuff, gaslit me by telling me it’s the time of year everyone gets a bit edgy.

Smith & Caughey's told us they were done. That was profound that a multi-generational company that has survived wars can't survive downtown Auckland in 2024.

Flybuys announced yesterday they are leaving the country. They join the tens of thousands of Kiwis that have already left the country. We have broken immigration records for leaving the country.

A survey suggested 90% of us would look to leave our job if the work from home rules got changed.

Let's be honest, working from home is about slackness. It's about taking the piss and skiving off. Or would the boss tell me that’s the time of year talking?

There was a survey out of the U.S saying workers are less satisfied with their jobs this year in virtually every single area of it. It's gone up for ten years in a row but this year it's down.

The Budget didn’t help. Although the Government are working hard, a lot of this country is broken. It is profoundly broken.

- Teachers who never passed exams are teaching kids, who fail their own

- Students are on rent strike

- There are protests on motorways and Parliament proceedings are being hijacked

-The bloke from the NZ Herald who took 1 hour 50 mins to drive 500m because everyone panicked, because as a country we obsess about weather and the MetService has taken to telling us how to live and when to leave the house and when to take shelter. Small tip - you take shelter in a tornado, not when it rains and a southerly comes in and everyone panics.

The census told us of the thousands who have left the centre of Auckland. The census also told us how the census, yet again, wasn’t done properly because the computer was stuffed.

A lot of medical people went on strike, yet again. Rugby had a massive scrap that has left a lot of people fuming and the sport no better off.

Auckland Council put forward the two options for a national stadium. Why? We aren't building either.

More people got laid off. Consultants did OK though as Government departments hired them to help lay people off.

Adrian Orr made it harder to buy a house with his debt-to-income ratios.

Katie said to me "how's it feel living in changing times?" She's convinced this is a moment in history. She also wants to move.

But it might just be the time of year.

It seems to have been a miserable week. 
We all seem miserable this week. 
The boss, who I complained to this week about a bunch of stuff, gaslit me by telling me it’s the time of year everyone gets a bit edgy. 
Smith &amp; Caughey's told us they were done. That was profound that a multi-generational company that has survived wars can't survive downtown Auckland in 2024. 
Flybuys announced yesterday they are leaving the country. They join the tens of thousands of Kiwis that have already left the country. We have broken immigration records for leaving the country. 
A survey suggested 90% of us would look to leave our job if the work from home rules got changed. 
Let's be honest, working from home is about slackness. It's about taking the piss and skiving off. Or would the boss tell me that’s the time of year talking? 
There was a survey out of the U.S saying workers are less satisfied with their jobs this year in virtually every single area of it. It's gone up for ten years in a row but this year it's down. 
The Budget didn’t help. Although the Government are working hard, a lot of this country is broken. It is profoundly broken. 
- Teachers who never passed exams are teaching kids, who fail their own 
- Students are on rent strike 
- There are protests on motorways and Parliament proceedings are being hijacked 
-The bloke from the NZ Herald who took 1 hour 50 mins to drive 500m because everyone panicked, because as a country we obsess about weather and the MetService has taken to telling us how to live and when to leave the house and when to take shelter. Small tip - you take shelter in a tornado, not when it rains and a southerly comes in and everyone panics. 
The census told us of the thousands who have left the centre of Auckland. The census also told us how the census, yet again, wasn’t done properly because the computer was stuffed. 
A lot of medical people went on strike, yet again. Rugby had a massive scrap that has left a lot of people fuming and the sport no better off. 
Auckland Council put forward the two options for a national stadium. Why? We aren't building either. 
More people got laid off. Consultants did OK though as Government departments hired them to help lay people off. 
Adrian Orr made it harder to buy a house with his debt-to-income ratios. 
Katie said to me "how's it feel living in changing times?" She's convinced this is a moment in history. She also wants to move. 
But it might just be the time of year.

Brigitte Morten: Political Commentator on the first leaders' debate

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