Thousands of Police issued 'formal warnings' have been scrapped after findings that 63% were issued unlawfully. 

'Formal warnings' are used as alternatives to prosecutions where the offence is deemed unworthy of going through the courts. 

Last week, Police told all staff that compulsory training will be rolled out and an updated policy for formal warnings would be issued by the end of the year.

Defence lawyer John Munroe joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about how this happened, and what it means. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Thousands of Police issued 'formal warnings' have been scrapped after findings that 63% were issued unlawfully.&nbsp;
'Formal warnings' are used as alternatives to prosecutions where the offence is deemed unworthy of going through the courts.&nbsp;
Last week, Police told all staff that compulsory training will be rolled out and an updated policy for formal warnings would be issued by the end of the year.
Defence lawyer John Munroe joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about how this happened, and what it means.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

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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

John Munro: Thousands of formal warnings scrapped due to unlawful issuance

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/93ff39e1-2bfe-4444-b9f2-b3ac0160891f/transcript

So tomorrow's the big day, isn't it? And it is, I think, not an overstatement to say that the eyes of the world, well, at least politicians around the world, are going to be on Australia and whether the social media ban will actually work.

And that is still a live question, isn't it? We're less than 24 hours from the thing taking effect and none of us can totally say for sure that we know it's going to work. 

For two reasons: one, it's the internet, so there's always a workaround out there. And two, it involves kids, and if there's a workaround, kids will find the workaround.

I'm going to call it for you now: it's not going to work, if your definition of working is that 100% of children under 16 get kicked off and stay off until they're 16.  

But I think it is possible that it is going to work if your definition is a little bit more flexible, which is that most kids get kicked off and stay off because their parents force them to do it. And I think that is the key thing here, like it always is, parents getting involved.  

Talking about whether it works or not, actually I think kind of misses the point here, which is that this gives parents something that they haven't had yet, which is permission to keep their kids off social media. Because what parents have been finding is it's very hard to keep 14 year old Susie off social media, off Facebook, off Instagram, off TikTok, off Snapchat, because all Susie's friends are on it. And if Susie's not on it, then she becomes the weird kid, and nobody wants their kid to be the weird kid, right? So you relent and you let Susie on it.  

This has the potential to flip all of that pressure around. Now everyone's off. Now the kid that's on it, little Johnny's on it, Susie comes home and says, oh Johnny's on TikTok, can I go on TikTok? You go, no, Johnny's a naughty kid from a family that has no rules, no boundaries, no discipline. Susie, you've got boundaries and discipline your parents care about, you stay off. It gives permission for the parents to be able to do that kind of thing.  

And if you're a parent, you know peer pressure is massive, isn't it? Especially in the teenage years. The Aussie government's doing its bit by bringing us to this point. The tech companies are being dragged into doing their bit and ultimately this will live or die in Australia based on whether Australian parents do their bit and actually step up to the plate and parent properly. 

So tomorrow's the big day, isn't it? And it is, I think, not an overstatement to say that the eyes of the world, well, at least politicians around the world, are going to be on Australia and whether the social media ban will actually work.
And that is still a live question, isn't it? We're less than 24 hours from the thing taking effect and none of us can totally say for sure that we know it's going to work.&nbsp;
For two reasons: one, it's the internet, so there's always a workaround out there. And two, it involves kids, and if there's a workaround, kids will find the workaround.
I'm going to call it for you now: it's not going to work, if your definition of working is that 100% of children under 16 get kicked off and stay off until they're 16. &nbsp;
But I think it is possible that it is going to work if your definition is a little bit more flexible, which is that most kids get kicked off and stay off because their parents force them to do it. And I think that is the key thing here, like it always is, parents getting involved. &nbsp;
Talking about whether it works or not, actually I think kind of misses the point here, which is that this gives parents something that they haven't had yet, which is permission to keep their kids off social media. Because what parents have been finding is it's very hard to keep 14 year old Susie off social media, off Facebook, off Instagram, off TikTok, off Snapchat, because all Susie's friends are on it. And if Susie's not on it, then she becomes the weird kid, and nobody wants their kid to be the weird kid, right? So you relent and you let Susie on it. &nbsp;
This has the potential to flip all of that pressure around. Now everyone's off. Now the kid that's on it, little Johnny's on it, Susie comes home and says, oh Johnny's on TikTok, can I go on TikTok? You go, no, Johnny's a naughty kid from a family that has no rules, no boundaries, no discipline. Susie, you've got boundaries and discipline your parents care about, you stay off. It gives permission for the parents to be able to do that kind of thing. &nbsp;
And if you're a parent, you know peer pressure is massive, isn't it? Especially in the teenage years. The Aussie government's doing its bit by bringing us to this point. The tech companies are being dragged into doing their bit and ultimately this will live or die in Australia based on whether Australian parents do their bit and actually step up to the plate and parent properly.&nbsp;

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Will Australia's social media ban actually work?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9942cae9-b564-497f-bc03-b3ad015cbc8b/transcript

The Working Class Man is back. 

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark album, For The Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes is bringing his most famous songs to our shores early next year. 

The most successful artist in Australian chart history has long loved New Zealand because we showed his band, Cold Chisel, love right from the very beginning. 

Cold Chisel headlined a Summer Concert Tour earlier this year, but 2026’s tour will be a solo venture for Barnes, as he plays the iconic album from start to finish, with a few additions from his chart-topping catalogue. 

“It was such a, a record that was so pivotal in my life and career,” Barnes told Heather du Plessis-Allan.  

“The songs on this record changed my life forever.”  

LISTEN ABOVE  

The Working Class Man is back.&nbsp;
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark album, For The Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes is bringing his most famous songs to our shores early next year.&nbsp;
The most successful artist in Australian chart history has long loved New Zealand because we showed his band, Cold Chisel, love right from the very beginning.&nbsp;
Cold Chisel headlined a Summer Concert Tour earlier this year, but 2026’s tour will be a solo venture for Barnes, as he plays the iconic album from start to finish, with a few additions from his chart-topping catalogue.&nbsp;
“It was such a, a record that was so pivotal in my life and career,” Barnes told Heather du Plessis-Allan. &nbsp;
“The songs on this record changed my life forever.” &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Jimmy Barnes: Australian Singer on 40 year of 'For The Working Class Man', upcoming tour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bb82e41b-33af-4a8f-89ea-b3ad015b0aaa/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 9th of December, what will the RMA reform, set to be announced this afternoon, look like? And why are Chinese warships shadowing our Naval vessels?  

Investor Malcolm Gillies has bought Wellington Rugby's 50% stake in the Hurricanes as he looks to turn the franchise around and stop them leaking money. 

Aussie singer Jimmy Barnes joined for a chat about visiting New Zealand on his next tour, and Working Class Man turning 40.  

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 with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 9th of December, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/alan-pollard-civil-contractors-nz-ceo-on-the-government-announcing-changes-to-consenting-in-their-rma-reform/">what will the RMA reform</a>, set to be announced this afternoon, look like? And why are <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/robert-patman-otago-university-international-relations-professor-on-the-nz-navy-ship-being-shadowed-by-chinese-warships/">Chinese warships shadowing our Naval vessels?</a> &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/malcolm-gillies-hurricanes-new-board-chair-on-purchasing-a-50-stake-in-the-club/">Investor Malcolm Gillies</a> has bought Wellington Rugby's 50% stake in the Hurricanes as he looks to turn the franchise around and stop them leaking money.&nbsp;
Aussie singer Jimmy Barnes joined for a chat about visiting New Zealand on his next tour, and Working Class Man turning 40. &nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 09 December 2025 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/187f7d39-3cbc-4c5b-9f85-b3ad014c9090/transcript

John Munro: Thousands of formal warnings scrapped due to unlawful issuance

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