On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of February, Eden Park boss Nick Sautner got his wish and we can finally use Eden Park as a proper stadium - plus the worst kept secret, State of Origin is indeed coming to NZ.

The Prime Minister responds to his coalition partner's ideas of getting rid of the Maori seats and dropping some MP's from Parliament, plus these cultural leave entitlements in the public sector.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville cover off the chaos of the SailGP, the beginning of Super Rugby and F1 testing.

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

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of February, Eden Park boss Nick Sautner got his wish and we can finally use Eden Park as a proper stadium - plus the worst kept secret, State of Origin is indeed coming to NZ.
The Prime Minister responds to his coalition partner's ideas of getting rid of the Maori seats and dropping some MP's from Parliament, plus these cultural leave entitlements in the public sector.
Jason Pine and Andrew Saville cover off the chaos of the SailGP, the beginning of Super Rugby and F1 testing.
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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: 16 February 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d997e433-583a-4faa-9190-b3f2014c8dce/transcript

I am increasingly impressed by Iain Rennie, who is the Treasury boss.

He seems to say a bunch of interesting and insightful stuff.

Last year he warned about our growth rate, our debt and our inability to grow our way out of our troubles. He advocated for asset sales.

This past week he was at the Waikato University Economic Forum where he talked about our problem of exporting our best and brightest.

Ironically the latest migration stats came out at the same time.

The worst might be behind us. Our net migration gain is still small, but the stampede out of the door by New Zealanders has petered out.

At Waikato Rennie talked about how it is unique to this country that we export so many young people. His suggestion is the frontier companies aren't good enough and they don’t adapt or adopt or invest fast enough compared to other countries.

The gap between the frontier companies and lagging firms isn't as big as it should be. In other words the rock stars don’t actually rock that much and if you are skilled and bright and determined, offshore seems the place to be.

He also talked of confidence and that, to me, is what's missing in this country.

Of our four kids who are actually working two are offshore. One other could be, but for now, isn't.

We will never be a London or New York. But the fizz we had half a dozen years ago is gone. Immigrants have replaced our kids.

We have been dumbed-down. Our brightest haven't been replaced with America's brightest or Europe's brightest, but from countries like India and the Phillippines. We are exporting scientists and doctors and bringing in nurses and baristas.  

Immigration is awesome. I love immigration. But not if it's not of our choosing. We are being forced into it.

The good news is this happened comparatively fast. Not long ago our net gain was over 100,000 people a year. We brought them in and the good ones didn’t leave.

We can recapture all of that, but a mindset shift is needed.

We need to want to be better. I'm not sure enough of us are of that mindset, hence Rennie's concern.    

LISTEN ABOVE

I am increasingly impressed by Iain Rennie, who is the Treasury boss.
He seems to say a bunch of interesting and insightful stuff.
Last year he warned about our growth rate, our debt and our inability to grow our way out of our troubles. He advocated for asset sales.
This past week he was at the Waikato University Economic Forum where he talked about our problem of exporting our best and brightest.
Ironically the latest migration stats came out at the same time.
The worst might be behind us. Our net migration gain is still small, but the stampede out of the door by New Zealanders has petered out.
At Waikato Rennie talked about how it is unique to this country that we export so many young people. His suggestion is the frontier companies aren't good enough and they don’t adapt or adopt or invest fast enough compared to other countries.
The gap between the frontier companies and lagging firms isn't as big as it should be. In other words the rock stars don’t actually rock that much and if you are skilled and bright and determined, offshore seems the place to be.
He also talked of confidence and that, to me, is what's missing in this country.
Of our four kids who are actually working two are offshore. One other could be, but for now, isn't.
We will never be a London or New York. But the fizz we had half a dozen years ago is gone. Immigrants have replaced our kids.
We have been dumbed-down. Our brightest haven't been replaced with America's brightest or Europe's brightest, but from countries like India and the Phillippines. We are exporting scientists and doctors and bringing in nurses and baristas. &nbsp;
Immigration is awesome. I love immigration. But not if it's not of our choosing. We are being forced into it.
The good news is this happened comparatively fast. Not long ago our net gain was over 100,000 people a year. We brought them in and the good ones didn’t leave.
We can recapture all of that, but a mindset shift is needed.
We need to want to be better. I'm not sure enough of us are of that mindset, hence Rennie's concern. &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: A mindset shift is needed to recapture our brightest

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/85f7af09-ae35-4d19-8706-b3f201497c2e/transcript

The Black Foils suffered a nasty end to their home race this weekend.

Their F50 Catamaran crashed into the French team, leaving Kiwi grinder Louis Sinclair with two broken legs.

Race organisers then shifted to a split-fleet format for the remaining races over safety concerns. 

AUT Sailing Professor Mark Orams told Mike Hosking that it's time for SailGP to 'crank up' the safety measures. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Black Foils suffered a nasty end to their home race this weekend.
Their F50 Catamaran crashed into the French team, leaving Kiwi grinder Louis Sinclair with two broken legs.
Race organisers then shifted to a split-fleet format for the remaining races over safety concerns.&nbsp;
AUT Sailing Professor Mark Orams told Mike Hosking that it's time for SailGP to 'crank up' the safety measures.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark Orams: AUT Sailing Professor discusses dramatic crash between Black Foils and French sailing team

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3a63f835-0071-4e25-bcf2-b3f201471a64/transcript

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports.

On the table today: The second State of Origin game is coming to Eden Park, how many Kiwis are going to go see the Aussies play?

The guys review the Super Rugby from the weekend,

and a number of F1 drivers are unhappy with the rule changes, are we in for a slow season?

LISTEN ABOVE

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville join Mike Hosking this morning to discuss the weekend's sports.
On the table today: The second State of Origin game is coming to Eden Park, how many Kiwis are going to go see the Aussies play?
The guys review the Super Rugby from the weekend,
and a number of F1 drivers are unhappy with the rule changes, are we in for a slow season?
LISTEN ABOVE

Commentary Box: Andrew Saville and Jason Pine discuss State of Origin, Super Rugby and F1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bd074d68-e30a-4537-a7d7-b3f20142d7dd/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 16 February 2026

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