On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of August, Stats NZ data shows our inflation is continuing to cool, and there’s finally some good news for the Port of Tauranga. 

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has announced yet another report on a second Auckland Harbour crossing. 

Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is back on the show to chat about his new book about his time changing the rock landscape in this country. 

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 18th of August, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mark-smith-asb-senior-economist-on-the-data-showing-inflation-is-cooling-as-fuel-prices-drop/">Stats NZ data</a> shows our inflation is continuing to cool, and there’s finally some good news for the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/leonard-sampson-port-of-tauranga-ceo-on-receiving-conditional-fast-track-approval-for-the-stella-passage-development/">Port of Tauranga</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-bishop-transport-minister-on-the-government-continuing-to-explore-options-for-a-second-waitemata-harbour-crossing-in-auckland/">Transport Minister Chris Bishop</a> has announced yet another report on a second Auckland Harbour crossing.&nbsp;
Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is back on the show to chat about his new book about his time changing the rock landscape in this country.&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: 18 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/40a8aac4-f5b1-4857-91a2-b4a9015d72a7/transcript

Is this the week the tide turned for the Labour Party and their chances of Government slipped away? 

It's indisputably true to say it hasn’t been their week, or even a good week. 

Some of the stuff that’s been bubbling for a while came to a, sort-of, head. 

The lack of policy, the waiting for this magical PREFU, which allegedly contains Lord-knows-what by way of fiscal revelation, that will somehow make billions upon billions of dollars in promises make some sort of sense. 

Are people who could vote Labour tired of waiting? Uninspired by the lack of vigour? Or just realising that the economy is coming back and the recovery is real, so some of the angst that drove them away from the Government is now melting? 

Are Labour not radical enough, so the Greens get a look in? 

Are people scared of the Greens and even more scared of the Māori Party, so the realisation has dawned on them that Labour can't do deals with mad people, so maybe the Government aren't that bad after all? 

Does the first meeting of the campaign for their leader, which involved 100 people and a cat, display the lack of enthusiasm, not just from Labour, but from their supporters who are channelling the lacklustre approach of their party? 

It's important to remember that of all the polling so far this year, the vast majority have never actually had Labour winning the election. But it did have them in front of National, which has given the media enough to feed on. 

But even that, in the past two polls, has slipped away and what was once the 'Luxon nightmare' is now the 'Hipkins drama'. "Is he the right guy?" 

Or is the ghost of 2023 back? As more people focus on their vote and what's happening around them, do the memories of the lockdowns, the fiscal failures, the kids not at school and the crime waves remind them that Hipkins, Sepuloni, Jan Tinetti, Ayesha Verral, et al are the same people? They haven't changed and the party hasn’t changed. 

Do the memories of the endless working groups come flooding back? And does the laziness of that period look a lot like the laziness of this period of minimal policy, of lack of vigour, of a lackadaisical Government bagging sound bite obsession? Does it remind us these guys work office hours and are out of original thought? 

It ain't over. But man, they look flat. 

And Hipkins looks flatter than most. 

Is this the week the tide turned for the Labour Party and their chances of Government slipped away?&nbsp;
It's indisputably true to say it hasn’t been their week, or even a good week.&nbsp;
Some of the stuff that’s been bubbling for a while came to a, sort-of, head.&nbsp;
The lack of policy, the waiting for this magical PREFU, which allegedly contains Lord-knows-what by way of fiscal revelation, that will somehow make billions upon billions of dollars in promises make some sort of sense.&nbsp;
Are people who could vote Labour tired of waiting? Uninspired by the lack of vigour? Or just realising that the economy is coming back and the recovery is real, so some of the angst that drove them away from the Government is now melting?&nbsp;
Are Labour not radical enough, so the Greens get a look in?&nbsp;
Are people scared of the Greens and even more scared of the Māori Party, so the realisation has dawned on them that Labour can't do deals with mad people, so maybe the Government aren't that bad after all?&nbsp;
Does the first meeting of the campaign for their leader, which involved 100 people and a cat, display the lack of enthusiasm, not just from Labour, but from their supporters who are channelling the lacklustre approach of their party?&nbsp;
It's important to remember that of all the polling so far this year, the vast majority have never actually had Labour winning the election. But it did have them in front of National, which has given the media enough to feed on.&nbsp;
But even that, in the past two polls, has slipped away and what was once the 'Luxon nightmare' is now the 'Hipkins drama'. "Is he the right guy?"&nbsp;
Or is the ghost of 2023 back? As more people focus on their vote and what's happening around them, do the memories of the lockdowns, the fiscal failures, the kids not at school and the crime waves remind them that Hipkins, Sepuloni, Jan Tinetti, Ayesha Verral, et al are the same people? They haven't changed and the party hasn’t changed.&nbsp;
Do the memories of the endless working groups come flooding back? And does the laziness of that period look a lot like the laziness of this period of minimal policy, of lack of vigour, of a lackadaisical Government bagging sound bite obsession? Does it remind us these guys work office hours and are out of original thought?&nbsp;
It ain't over. But man, they look flat.&nbsp;
And Hipkins looks flatter than most.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: It hasn't been a good week for Labour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8bd93812-a770-4fd1-88ef-b4c10168462f/transcript

Friday has arrived, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was. 

Donald Trump has offered every American adult $5000 if Republicans win the midterms in November – what would it cost to swing someone's vote? 

They also discussed whether there's such a thing as being too young to have a bucket list, and how despite the tough economy, there seems to be no shortage of money for things people want to do. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Friday has arrived, which means Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back with Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that Was.&nbsp;
Donald Trump has offered every American adult $5000 if Republicans win the midterms in November – what would it cost to swing someone's vote?&nbsp;
They also discussed whether there's such a thing as being too young to have a bucket list, and how despite the tough economy, there seems to be no shortage of money for things people want to do.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Wrapping the Week with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson: Voting bribes, bucket lists, and fun money

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/61250b4c-6f9d-4ac8-bc96-b4c101666567/transcript

There's confidence there'll be no issues when Auckland's long awaited City Rail Link opens this weekend. 

The $5.5 billion project opens on Sunday, with twin three-kilometre tunnels, two new underground stations, and an entirely new timetable for Aucklanders. 

It'll also see three new main services: the East West, South City, and Onehunga West lines. 

KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy told Mike Hosking they've done significant testing and run the trains over the last few months, and have had international experts look at the project as well. 

He says of any large infrastructure project he's been involved in, this would be one of the best in terms of a readiness plan before it goes live. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

There's confidence there'll be no issues when Auckland's long awaited City Rail Link opens this weekend.&nbsp;
The $5.5 billion project opens on Sunday, with twin three-kilometre tunnels, two new underground stations, and an entirely new timetable for Aucklanders.&nbsp;
It'll also see three new main services: the East West, South City, and Onehunga West lines.&nbsp;
KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy told Mike Hosking they've done significant testing and run the trains over the last few months, and have had international experts look at the project as well.&nbsp;
He says of any large infrastructure project he's been involved in, this would be one of the best in terms of a readiness plan before it goes live.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Peter Reidy: KiwiRail CEO ahead of the opening of Auckland's City Rail Link this weekend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d3b9b138-d255-4023-9807-b4c1016352cf/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 18 August 2026

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