On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, the unemployment number wasn’t as bad as predicted, but it could still go up from here – plus, the Government has announced a shift to Road User Charges.  

We can't be too worried about the economy since we all seem to be overseas on holiday, and then a record number of us are making travel insurance claims for overseas injuries.

It's been too long since we caught up with Kiwi country singer Kaylee Bell, so she's in to play us her new single and talk the upcoming album and 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 5th of August, the unemployment number wasn’t as bad as predicted, but it could still go up from here – plus, the Government has announced a shift to <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/martin-glynn-transport-policy-director-on-the-government-switching-from-a-petrol-tax-to-road-user-charges/">Road User Charges.</a> &nbsp;
We can't be too worried about the economy since we all seem to be overseas on holiday, and then a record number of us are making <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rosann-connolly-george-vincent-george-travel-agents-co-owner-on-kiwis-making-a-record-number-of-insurance-claims-in-europe/">travel insurance claims for overseas injuries.</a>
It's been too long since we caught up with Kiwi country singer Kaylee Bell, so she's in to play us her new single and talk the upcoming album and 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;

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

Full Show Podcast: 07 August 2025 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f1a23573-ba84-4923-b886-b331015ca93b/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. 

 

Trump's week: 2/10 

Outside the usual madness came the NATO soldier Afghanistan insult and a dead man in Minneapolis, followed by the usual flannel about domestic terrorists. This time the backlash was real, forceful, and might well stick. 

 

The rugby union: 4/10 

Too many rules around the coach. It's a classic case of overthinking it – just go get the best. 

 

NZ Post: 6/10 

Yes, we would all like a post shop in the lounge, but it's not real so at least good on them for telling it like it is and defending a tough, but realistic, decision. 

 

Fees Free: 2/10 

Data that shows why the polls are where they are. Very few are keen on a repeat of that level of fiscal carnage. 

 

Judith Collins: 8/10 

Not just time (24 years) but a workload and a legacy. You don’t get 18 portfolios without leaving an imprint. 

 

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;
Trump's week: 2/10&nbsp;
Outside the usual madness came the NATO soldier Afghanistan insult and a dead man in Minneapolis, followed by the usual flannel about domestic terrorists. This time the backlash was real, forceful, and might well stick.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/steve-lancaster-nz-rugby-interim-ceo-on-the-search-for-a-new-all-blacks-coach/">The rugby union: 4/10</a>&nbsp;
Too many rules around the coach. It's a classic case of overthinking it – just go get the best.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
NZ Post: 6/10&nbsp;
Yes, we would all like a post shop in the lounge, but it's not real so at least good on them for telling it like it is and defending a tough, but realistic, decision.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-whelan-universities-nz-ceo-on-the-fees-free-scheme-failing-to-reach-disadvantaged-students/">Fees Free: 2/10</a>&nbsp;
Data that shows why the polls are where they are. Very few are keen on a repeat of that level of fiscal carnage.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/judith-collins-senior-national-mp-on-her-resignation-from-politics-after-24-years/">Judith Collins: 8/10</a>&nbsp;
Not just time (24 years) but a workload and a legacy. You don’t get 18 portfolios without leaving an imprint.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW&nbsp;

Mark the Week: NZR is overthinking the All Blacks coach

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b41b02ed-37c7-46d7-bc6d-b3e1015ad57d/transcript

We end the week with a reality check. 

I was a bit underwhelmed by the Government's response to the last couple of week's weather events. 

$2 million is not a lot of money, which in a way is good because it indicates the damage isn't that bad. 

The damage is that bad. It's just the big stuff, the roads and bridges and infrastructure, is being paid for out of contingency budgets in various Government's departments. 

Fine. But as I asked, and got no real answer to, is that the plan, is it? 

Build it, watch it get destroyed, patch it up, watch it get destroyed and patch it up? It's not my favoured plan. 

I asked Penk, Mitchell, and Luxon what the big picture is. There is one, they reassure us. Not sure of a timeframe, which is political speak for "it's on the never-never". 

Yet in the Post from AA Insurance to the Buller District Mayor is the news they will be suspending cover for the region. No new business in the postcode of 7825, Westport, Carters Beach, and Cape Foulwind. 

This is where this goes. Just how many letters from how many insurance companies do you want before the big calls need to be made? 

Matata should have been the red flag and that started 20 years ago. Already Wellington, for other reasons, has insurance issues. 

The Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales has been dealing with it for years. Even if you can get cover, it's at least $50,000 a year. 

There are, rightly or wrongly, sadly or not, chunks of the country that look problematic. Ignoring them or relying on an ever-increasing contingency budget is not going to make them any less so. 

The Government.is always the last port of call in crisis. The taxpayer will always be the one asked to provide the accommodation and bridge and food when the climate tips life upside down. 

Federated Farmers said it's not acceptable to have State Highway 2 to Waioweka cut off. Correct, it isn't. 

But the Government's answers are more band aids. AA Insurance's answer is no more cover. 

One of them is missing the point. One of them is showing you how this unfolds.     

We end the week with a reality check.&nbsp;
I was a bit underwhelmed by the Government's response to the last couple of week's weather events.&nbsp;
$2 million is not a lot of money, which in a way is good because it indicates the damage isn't that bad.&nbsp;
The damage is that bad. It's just the big stuff, the roads and bridges and infrastructure, is being paid for out of contingency budgets in various Government's departments.&nbsp;
Fine. But as I asked, and got no real answer to, is that the plan, is it?&nbsp;
Build it, watch it get destroyed, patch it up, watch it get destroyed and patch it up? It's not my favoured plan.&nbsp;
I asked Penk, Mitchell, and Luxon what the big picture is. There is one, they reassure us. Not sure of a timeframe, which is political speak for "it's on the never-never".&nbsp;
Yet in the Post from AA Insurance to the Buller District Mayor is the news they will be suspending cover for the region. No new business in the postcode of 7825, Westport, Carters Beach, and Cape Foulwind.&nbsp;
This is where this goes. Just how many letters from how many insurance companies do you want before the big calls need to be made?&nbsp;
Matata should have been the red flag and that started 20 years ago. Already Wellington, for other reasons, has insurance issues.&nbsp;
The Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales has been dealing with it for years. Even if you can get cover, it's at least $50,000 a year.&nbsp;
There are, rightly or wrongly, sadly or not, chunks of the country that look problematic. Ignoring them or relying on an ever-increasing contingency budget is not going to make them any less so.&nbsp;
The Government.is always the last port of call in crisis. The taxpayer will always be the one asked to provide the accommodation and bridge and food when the climate tips life upside down.&nbsp;
Federated Farmers said it's not acceptable to have State Highway 2 to Waioweka cut off. Correct, it isn't.&nbsp;
But the Government's answers are more band aids. AA Insurance's answer is no more cover.&nbsp;
One of them is missing the point. One of them is showing you how this unfolds. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: A reality check for the Government on climate hit areas

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/57f4a18d-e85a-480f-8a86-b3e101569ea7/transcript

Donald Trump's border chief is working on an eventual draw-down plan of immigration agents in Minneapolis.  

The US President sent Tom Homan to the city after two protestors, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead by federal officials in Minneapolis. 

He's told a news conference he wants to see common sense co-operation, which allows the number of ICE officers in the city to reduce. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking details for the wind-down plan are scarce, but it would involve having ICE agents seek more access in jails. 

This would mean they’re rounding up criminals, instead of people on the streets or in front of home supply stores, he says. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Donald Trump's border chief is working on an eventual draw-down plan of immigration agents in Minneapolis. &nbsp;
The US President sent Tom Homan to the city after two protestors, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead by federal officials in Minneapolis.&nbsp;
He's told a news conference he wants to see common sense co-operation, which allows the number of ICE officers in the city to reduce.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking details for the wind-down plan are scarce, but it would involve having ICE agents seek more access in jails.&nbsp;
This would mean they’re rounding up criminals, instead of people on the streets or in front of home supply stores, he says.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on Tom Homan's first comments around Minneapolis, plan to wind-down ICE's presence in the city

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f0a9ec19-1f82-430a-a541-b3e10154487f/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 07 August 2025

In 1 playlist(s)

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips