On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of February, Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge explains why power bills are still high while their profits rise 44%. 

Hamish Kerr pops in after winning the Supreme Award at the Halbergs last night. 

And former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong discusses her new show with Kiwi chef Vaughan Mabee.   

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 17th of February, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mike-fuge-contact-energy-ceo-on-the-company-reporting-a-44-rise-in-net-profit/">Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge</a> explains why power bills are still high while their profits rise 44%.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/hamish-kerr-kiwi-high-jumper-on-winning-the-supreme-award-at-the-2026-halberg-awards/">Hamish Kerr</a> pops in after winning the Supreme Award at the Halbergs last night.&nbsp;
And former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong discusses her new show with Kiwi chef Vaughan Mabee. &nbsp;&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: 17 February 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/93828562-8381-4b3f-a291-b3f3014c8e4c/transcript

My summation of what we have heard so far in the Judge Aitken case. The “Did I yell at and interrupt and disrupt Winston?" case. 

Aitken was on the stand, so to speak, yesterday, remembering none of this is criminal. 

In fact, I would describe it as outrageously political. 

Judge Aitken shouldn’t be here. No one should. It’s a storm in a judicial teacup. 

Should she have had a pop at Winston at the Northern Club? Of course not. 

The incident, much disputed in terms of angst, animosity, and volume, shows the judge in a poor light. 

It was none of her business and you don't go around running commentary on other people's evenings. 

Then again you don’t go dobbing interlopers in to the Attorney General, which is what has happened, and next thing you know you have a legal circus where a person's career is potentially about to be blown up. 

Also disturbing for me as the casual observer, is the Chief District Court Judge's role in the apology by Judge Aitken. He involved two media advisors and amended Aitken's wording so it wouldn’t offend New Zealand First. 

At all times the Chief Judge seemed to be obsessed with not offending political parties. His overt weakness worries me, not to mention Judge Aitken's inability to have her voice heard. She's not 13-years-old, she's a judge. 

My sense of where we are at is we will never get to know the full story because the versions vary. Therefore, the panel doing the deciding won't come to a definitive conclusion, therefore whatever they put before Paul Goldsmith will go nowhere. 

So maybe what we are seeing currently is the actual punishment. In other words, a judge, her reputation, her drinking habits, her words all being dissected, is the punishment. It is the humiliation. 

Overall the insight in the legal fraternity, not forgetting the good judge's celebratory doctor partner and the KC on video, does not come off reputationally well. 

If you wanted to think of them broadly as a bunch of champagne-swilling, self-serving snobs, they haven't done a lot to dissuade us. 

But then New Zealand First look like a petty, point score-y, loser group of narks, who don’t mind wrecking peoples lives. 

The hearing continues. 

My summation of what we have heard so far in the Judge Aitken case. The “Did I yell at and interrupt and disrupt Winston?" case.&nbsp;
Aitken was on the stand, so to speak, yesterday, remembering none of this is criminal.&nbsp;
In fact, I would describe it as outrageously political.&nbsp;
Judge Aitken shouldn’t be here. No one should. It’s a storm in a judicial teacup.&nbsp;
Should she have had a pop at Winston at the Northern Club? Of course not.&nbsp;
The incident, much disputed in terms of angst, animosity, and volume, shows the judge in a poor light.&nbsp;
It was none of her business and you don't go around running commentary on other people's evenings.&nbsp;
Then again you don’t go dobbing interlopers in to the Attorney General, which is what has happened, and next thing you know you have a legal circus where a person's career is potentially about to be blown up.&nbsp;
Also disturbing for me as the casual observer, is the Chief District Court Judge's role in the apology by Judge Aitken. He involved two media advisors and amended Aitken's wording so it wouldn’t offend New Zealand First.&nbsp;
At all times the Chief Judge seemed to be obsessed with not offending political parties. His overt weakness worries me, not to mention Judge Aitken's inability to have her voice heard. She's not 13-years-old, she's a judge.&nbsp;
My sense of where we are at is we will never get to know the full story because the versions vary. Therefore, the panel doing the deciding won't come to a definitive conclusion, therefore whatever they put before Paul Goldsmith will go nowhere.&nbsp;
So maybe what we are seeing currently is the actual punishment. In other words, a judge, her reputation, her drinking habits, her words all being dissected, is the punishment. It is the humiliation.&nbsp;
Overall the insight in the legal fraternity, not forgetting the good judge's celebratory doctor partner and the KC on video, does not come off reputationally well.&nbsp;
If you wanted to think of them broadly as a bunch of champagne-swilling, self-serving snobs, they haven't done a lot to dissuade us.&nbsp;
But then New Zealand First look like a petty, point score-y, loser group of narks, who don’t mind wrecking peoples lives.&nbsp;
The hearing continues.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: This court case is outrageously political

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f1eb460d-8464-495b-9484-b3f30163eacf/transcript

Kiwis love their cooking shows. 

Once you get past ‘The Chase’, the likes of MasterChef Australia is consistently within the top watched shows, both on TV and online.  

Recognisable from her four seasons on MasterChef Australia, Melissa Leong has moved on to host Dessert Masters, and is now fronting a new Kiwi cooking show. 

She’s partnered up with Aimsfield Head Chef Vaughan Mabee for ‘Taste of Art’, a show that pits ten Kiwi chefs against one another, aiming to create visually stunning food.  

Leong told Mike Hosking the reason food and cooking related shows tend to do well is because of the element of human connection. 

“You know, the stories that food allow us to tell about culture, about time and place and connection, all of these things are just so very enduringly human,” she said.  

"We are always going to find that compelling.”  

She says there’s something there for everyone, whether it’s a show like MasterChef that heroes the humble, homegrown cooks and recipes, or something like ‘Taste of Art’, which showcases imagination and incredible possibilities.  

“There’s something in it for everyone ... being able to share a little bit, a little part of who they are in the form of food.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Kiwis love their cooking shows.&nbsp;
Once you get past ‘The Chase’, the likes of MasterChef Australia is consistently within the top watched shows, both on TV and online. &nbsp;
Recognisable from her four seasons on MasterChef Australia, Melissa Leong has moved on to host Dessert Masters, and is now fronting a new Kiwi cooking show.&nbsp;
She’s partnered up with Aimsfield Head Chef Vaughan Mabee for ‘Taste of Art’, a show that pits ten Kiwi chefs against one another, aiming to create visually stunning food. &nbsp;
Leong told Mike Hosking the reason food and cooking related shows tend to do well is because of the element of human connection.&nbsp;
“You know, the stories that food allow us to tell about culture, about time and place and connection, all of these things are just so very enduringly human,” she said. &nbsp;
"We are always going to find that compelling.” &nbsp;
She says there’s something there for everyone, whether it’s a show like MasterChef that heroes the humble, homegrown cooks and recipes, or something like ‘Taste of Art’, which showcases imagination and incredible possibilities. &nbsp;
“There’s something in it for everyone ... being able to share a little bit, a little part of who they are in the form of food.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Melissa Leong: Australian TV host, food critic, and writer on people's love of cooking shows, 'Taste of Art'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4ef6e301-dff5-4727-a5b3-b3f3015db040/transcript

Intermittent fasting may not be the magic bullet for weight loss it appeared to be.  

Researchers analysed 22 global trials and found no clear advantage over standard dietary advice. 

Weight loss was broadly similar to traditional dieting, and there was no strong evidence of extra metabolic benefits. 

Body Torque Gym Founder Alex Flint told Mike Hosking intermittent fasting is just a really good method for portion control, but it has a much better marketing department.  

He says if you can stick to it, it’s a fantastic tool, but it’s not superior to regular calorie control methods and eating patterns.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Intermittent fasting may not be the magic bullet for weight loss it appeared to be. &nbsp;
Researchers analysed 22 global trials and found no clear advantage over standard dietary advice.&nbsp;
Weight loss was broadly similar to traditional dieting, and there was no strong evidence of extra metabolic benefits.&nbsp;
Body Torque Gym Founder Alex Flint told Mike Hosking intermittent fasting is just a really good method for portion control, but it has a much better marketing department. &nbsp;
He says if you can stick to it, it’s a fantastic tool, but it’s not superior to regular calorie control methods and eating patterns. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Alex Flint: Body Torque Gym Founder on the review finding intermittent fasting is no more effective than typical weight loss diets

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8b2db518-0b82-4e4c-a09e-b3f30154cd6c/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 17 February 2026

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