On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of October, Sir John Key gives his thoughts on the second to last week of the election campaign. 

Kiwi motocross champ Cole Davies is excited to compete competitively in NZ for the first time since 2019. 

And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the campaign and gifted kids as they Wrap the Week, before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer! 

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 Friday 30th of October, Sir John Key gives his thoughts on the second to last week of the election campaign.&nbsp;
Kiwi motocross champ Cole Davies is excited to compete competitively in NZ for the first time since 2019.&nbsp;
And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the campaign and gifted kids as they Wrap the Week, before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer!&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: 30 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7b69da24-c1f9-40d4-8d10-b4f2014cfbd2/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. 

  

The campaign: 4/10 

When Chlöe and Winston agree it's bad, you've got to listen.  

  

Polls: 4/10 

There has to be some sort of reckoning around this stuff. The RNZ Reid Research poll was rogue, clearly, the spread is absurd and the methodology is ropey as all you-know-what. Who is actually paying for this nonsense?  

  

The Reserve Bank: 8/10 

What a move! What a vote, and the Governor might be the Government's best appointment of the past three years.  

  

Apple: 2/10 

How is it in 2026 we are still putting phones into the market, charging thousands, and they break upon opening?  

  

Christchurch stadium: 1/10 

It's the Apple question – why in 2026 are we still building stuff that doesn’t work the way it should?  

  

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;&nbsp;
The campaign: 4/10&nbsp;
When Chlöe and Winston agree it's bad, you've got to listen. &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Polls: 4/10&nbsp;
There has to be some sort of reckoning around this stuff. The RNZ Reid Research poll was rogue, clearly, the spread is absurd and the methodology is ropey as all you-know-what. Who is actually paying for this nonsense? &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Reserve Bank: 8/10&nbsp;
What a move! What a vote, and the Governor might be the Government's best appointment of the past three years. &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Apple: 2/10&nbsp;
How is it in 2026 we are still putting phones into the market, charging thousands, and they break upon opening? &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Christchurch stadium: 1/10&nbsp;
It's the Apple question – why in 2026 are we still building stuff that doesn’t work the way it should? &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW&nbsp;

Mark the Week: What a move from the Reserve Bank

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b757905b-7af6-4a1f-a085-b4f2016798f4/transcript

So, the winner in week... what is it, five or six? 

The winner in week five of the election campaign was the polls. Not the pollsters. The polls. 

They were far from winners. The spread, the margin of error in some, is now so absurd they're writing articles about it. 

Ironically, I listened to an interview on Radio NZ as they tried to explain it. Small clue: they couldn't. They couldn't explain why their polls didn't bear any real resemblance to any of the other polls. 

There was a debate a number of years ago that polls should be banned a few weeks out from a vote. Given the variance in methodology these days, I reckon that's probably not a bad idea. 

But the polls I mean are the polling booths. 

I have voted. I voted on day one. And, as it turns out, a lot of people did. And that is a good sign. 

In part, it's a sign that a lot of us knew what we were voting for and had done for a while. In essence, the campaign makes zero difference. 

And the irony of course, is that once you can vote, and you do, the campaign is chasing ever-diminishing returns. 

And that is sort of what it feels like. This is a small-policy election. With the exception of the Greens, of course. But it's a rats-and-mice election. 

Labour have contained themselves, so they don't look radical. ACT are the personification of contained. NZ First do a bit of Māorification stuff and talk about trains. 

But given the state of the books, no one in their right mind has gone out with a cheque book and gone to town, for very obvious reasons. 

Except the Greens, of course, who will see none of their big-ticket policies ever see the light of day. 

Oh, and we aren't buying the BNZ. 

The most controversial policy, if feedback is anything to go by, has been Labour's rent-to-buy scheme. The state gives you money in your state house, then takes taxpayers' money and puts it aside and one day calls it a deposit so you can buy it. 

Meanwhile, someone in the same circumstances doesn't get a house, or a deposit, or anything. 

Cool policy. 

You didn't like it. 

So, good week for most. No one blew it. The gang fiasco faded. 

And I'm still picking Opportunity not to make it. 

One week to go. 

Thank the good Lord. 

So, the winner in week... what is it, five or six?&nbsp;
The winner in week five of the election campaign was the polls. Not the pollsters. The polls.&nbsp;
They were far from winners. The spread, the margin of error in some, is now so absurd they're writing articles about it.&nbsp;
Ironically, I listened to an interview on Radio NZ as they tried to explain it. Small clue: they couldn't. They couldn't explain why their polls didn't bear any real resemblance to any of the other polls.&nbsp;
There was a debate a number of years ago that polls should be banned a few weeks out from a vote. Given the variance in methodology these days, I reckon that's probably not a bad idea.&nbsp;
But the polls I mean are the polling booths.&nbsp;
I have voted. I voted on day one. And, as it turns out, a lot of people did. And that is a good sign.&nbsp;
In part, it's a sign that a lot of us knew what we were voting for and had done for a while. In essence, the campaign makes zero difference.&nbsp;
And the irony of course, is that once you can vote, and you do, the campaign is chasing ever-diminishing returns.&nbsp;
And that is sort of what it feels like. This is a small-policy election. With the exception of the Greens, of course. But it's a rats-and-mice election.&nbsp;
Labour have contained themselves, so they don't look radical. ACT are the personification of contained. NZ First do a bit of Māorification stuff and talk about trains.&nbsp;
But given the state of the books, no one in their right mind has gone out with a cheque book and gone to town, for very obvious reasons.&nbsp;
Except the Greens, of course, who will see none of their big-ticket policies ever see the light of day.&nbsp;
Oh, and we aren't buying the BNZ.&nbsp;
The most controversial policy, if feedback is anything to go by, has been Labour's rent-to-buy scheme. The state gives you money in your state house, then takes taxpayers' money and puts it aside and one day calls it a deposit so you can buy it.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, someone in the same circumstances doesn't get a house, or a deposit, or anything.&nbsp;
Cool policy.&nbsp;
You didn't like it.&nbsp;
So, good week for most. No one blew it. The gang fiasco faded.&nbsp;
And I'm still picking Opportunity not to make it.&nbsp;
One week to go.&nbsp;
Thank the good Lord.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: One week to go, and the winner is...

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/400c7d52-ba73-475b-b501-b4f2016615de/transcript

The short week has come to a close, which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to help Mike Hosking Wrap the Week that Was. 

They unpack how the election campaign has gone with just one more week until the big day and discuss the new programme the Ministry of Education is rolling out for gifted kids before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The short week has come to a close, which means it's time for Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson to help Mike Hosking Wrap the Week that Was.&nbsp;
They unpack how the election campaign has gone with just one more week until the big day and discuss the new programme the Ministry of Education is rolling out for gifted kids before Mike starts telling slanderous lies about his producer.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Wrapping the Week with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson: Election campaign, voting, gifted kid programme

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cf7a763c-4db7-4feb-aa7b-b4f20162d4b4/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 30 October 2026

In 1 playlist(s)

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips