Moana Pasifika boss Debbie Sorensen claims the franchise are a victim of an increasingly difficult economic climate. 

They're set to disband after the Super Rugby season unless another backer is found. 

Sorensen —who is also chief executive of the Pasifika Medical Group which owns the franchise— is withdrawing financial support. 

She told Mike Hosking it's a compounding problem – people don’t have the income to buy memberships or travel to games due to the petrol problem. 

Sorensen's added that Super Rugby is under threat from league's NRL, which she describes as an "aggressive sophisticated machine." 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Moana Pasifika boss Debbie Sorensen claims the franchise are a victim of an increasingly difficult economic climate.&nbsp;
They're set to disband after the Super Rugby season unless another backer is found.&nbsp;
Sorensen —who is also chief executive of the Pasifika Medical Group which owns the franchise— is withdrawing financial support.&nbsp;
She told Mike Hosking it's a compounding problem – people don’t have the income to buy memberships or travel to games due to the petrol problem.&nbsp;
Sorensen's added that Super Rugby is under threat from league's NRL, which she describes as an "aggressive sophisticated machine."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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, 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

Debbie Sorensen: Moana Pasifika CEO on the league exiting Super Rugby at the end of the season

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/aa00ef6b-41a4-4bef-a959-b42d015f2559/transcript

I wonder if it's time to ask the question – is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless? 

In the Herald's vast poll churn that produces the chances of the current Government being re-elected at about 88%, is the real revelation that the Greens have been going backwards since the last election? 

The trouble appears twofold; 

1) The falls have been slow. Almost so small and slow you most probably didn’t notice them. 

2) Chlöe is a media favourite, so no one is really scrutinising her as to whether she's any good. 

Now, yes, Marama Davidson is a leader as well and I suppose you can blame her as much as you can Chlöe. But to my eye and mind it's Chlöe who is the head leader, despite their best PC intentions to spread the load, or blame. 

She is also not in Government, so you tend to get, if not a free ride, certainly an easier one. 

Now obviously I'm not a Green voter so none of this personally matters to me. But I'm all about continual improvement and the Greens are not on a path of any such thing. 

Under Swarbrick they have drifted. They have not grown. They are not the environmental party they once were under Fitzsimons or Donald. They are essentially angry socialists who campaign for the homeless and downtrodden. 

They are virtue signallers. 

She came to prominence because she was young. She was possibly seen as the future. 

To give her her dues, she has run a good ground game in Auckland Central and won her electorate and that may be her strength – a good local MP. 

Because she is not a good leader. 

If the Greens are to excel, they need to be better managed. Obviously, the Tana, Doyle, Kerekere, and Ghahraman shambles adds to the sense the place is a mess. 

But it's all unfolded under Swarbrick. The good news is if they want to recognise it, they can fix it. 

Certainly if this had all played out as part of a coalition you would have thought she would have been ejected a long time back. 

Saving her partially of course is the lack of talent behind her. Do you honestly see Genter or Menendez-March as saviours, or yet more of the same ill-disciplined verbal rabble? 

When you pare it back, look at the noise versus the outcomes and include the inescapable numbers, she has failed as a leader. 

So is she a bit useless? Yes. 

I wonder if it's time to ask the question – is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?&nbsp;
In the Herald's vast poll churn that produces the chances of the current Government being re-elected at about 88%, is the real revelation that the Greens have been going backwards since the last election?&nbsp;
The trouble appears twofold;&nbsp;
1) The falls have been slow. Almost so small and slow you most probably didn’t notice them.&nbsp;
2) Chlöe is a media favourite, so no one is really scrutinising her as to whether she's any good.&nbsp;
Now, yes, Marama Davidson is a leader as well and I suppose you can blame her as much as you can Chlöe. But to my eye and mind it's Chlöe who is the head leader, despite their best PC intentions to spread the load, or blame.&nbsp;
She is also not in Government, so you tend to get, if not a free ride, certainly an easier one.&nbsp;
Now obviously I'm not a Green voter so none of this personally matters to me. But I'm all about continual improvement and the Greens are not on a path of any such thing.&nbsp;
Under Swarbrick they have drifted. They have not grown. They are not the environmental party they once were under Fitzsimons or Donald. They are essentially angry socialists who campaign for the homeless and downtrodden.&nbsp;
They are virtue signallers.&nbsp;
She came to prominence because she was young. She was possibly seen as the future.&nbsp;
To give her her dues, she has run a good ground game in Auckland Central and won her electorate and that may be her strength – a good local MP.&nbsp;
Because she is not a good leader.&nbsp;
If the Greens are to excel, they need to be better managed. Obviously, the Tana, Doyle, Kerekere, and Ghahraman shambles adds to the sense the place is a mess.&nbsp;
But it's all unfolded under Swarbrick. The good news is if they want to recognise it, they can fix it.&nbsp;
Certainly if this had all played out as part of a coalition you would have thought she would have been ejected a long time back.&nbsp;
Saving her partially of course is the lack of talent behind her. Do you honestly see Genter or Menendez-March as saviours, or yet more of the same ill-disciplined verbal rabble?&nbsp;
When you pare it back, look at the noise versus the outcomes and include the inescapable numbers, she has failed as a leader.&nbsp;
So is she a bit useless? Yes.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5cda5362-76ec-45c8-be53-b4470170dd17/transcript

It’s been 25 years of Westlife. 

The globally renowned Irish boyband formed in 1998, splitting up in 2012 before reuniting once more in 2018. 

They have over three billion streams, 36 number one albums worldwide, and have sold 55 million records and more than six million concert tickets. 

And now they’re coming to New Zealand as part of their 25th Anniversary World Tour – performing on our shores for the first time in 20 years. 

“This tour is shaping up to be the biggest tour we’ve ever done,” lead singer Shane Filan told Mike Hosking.   

LISTEN ABOVE 

It’s been 25 years of Westlife.&nbsp;
The globally renowned Irish boyband formed in 1998, splitting up in 2012 before reuniting once more in 2018.&nbsp;
They have over three billion streams, 36 number one albums worldwide, and have sold 55 million records and more than six million concert tickets.&nbsp;
And now they’re coming to New Zealand as part of their 25th Anniversary World Tour – performing on our shores for the first time in 20 years.&nbsp;
“This tour is shaping up to be the biggest tour we’ve ever done,” lead singer Shane Filan told Mike Hosking. &nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Shane Filan: Westlife Lead Singer on the 25th anniversary of Westlife, NZ tour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5d4f6172-2552-47a6-a64f-b447016e1d9c/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 12th of May, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is creating her own political party, so what does that mean for Labour, Te Pāti Māori, and the left bloc?  

The Bank of Mum and Dad has apparently never been more important, nor as expected, among first-home buyers. 

And Shane Filan of Westlife talks 25 years of the boy band and coming to NZ next year as part of their world tour. 

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

LISTEN ABOVE 

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 12th of May, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/te-ururoa-flavell-former-te-p%C4%81ti-m%C4%81ori-co-leader-on-mariameno-kapa-kingi-forming-her-own-political-party-to-contest-the-election/">Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is creating her own political party</a>, so what does that mean for Labour, Te Pāti Māori, and the left bloc? &nbsp;
The Bank of Mum and Dad has apparently never been more important, nor as expected, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/ed-mcknight-economist-at-opes-partners-on-the-number-of-first-home-buyers-turning-to-their-parents-for-financial-assistance/">among first-home buyers.</a>&nbsp;
And Shane Filan of Westlife talks 25 years of the boy band and coming to NZ next year as part of their world tour.&nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 12 May 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/67027ea6-f93b-429a-9fb6-b447015d651a/transcript

Debbie Sorensen: Moana Pasifika CEO on the league exiting Super Rugby at the end of the season

In 1 playlist(s)

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips