The Caretaker Children's Minister is adamant youth bootcamps are worth it. 

A briefing obtained by Newstalk ZB shows no participants in the second pilot have gone on to re-offend, after seven out of ten in the first iteration allegedly did. 

However, Oranga Tamariki is looking at a less intensive programme in future after staff complaints of fatigue. 

Karen Chhour told Mike Hosking the bootcamps represent a last chance for these young people. 

She says for far too long, they've been sent to youth justice facilities as a holding pen for corrections. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

The Caretaker Children's Minister is adamant youth bootcamps are worth it.&nbsp;
A briefing obtained by Newstalk ZB shows no participants in the second pilot have gone on to re-offend, after seven out of ten in the first iteration allegedly did.&nbsp;
However, Oranga Tamariki is looking at a less intensive programme in future after staff complaints of fatigue.&nbsp;
Karen Chhour told Mike Hosking the bootcamps represent a last chance for these young people.&nbsp;
She says for far too long, they've been sent to youth justice facilities as a holding pen for corrections.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

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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

Karen Chhour: Caretaker Children's Minister on the outcome of the second youth offender bootcamp pilot

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9793b815-7f14-4ff7-b06f-b4fe013e9ce2/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 12th of November, a good look at our economy, but house prices are having a tough ol' time.

A sad day for retail in this country as David Jones officially shuts up shop.

All Black legend Dan Carter joins Mike Hosking to talk fitness, business and cologne!

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 Thursday the 12th of November, a good look at our economy, but house prices are having a tough ol' time.
A sad day for retail in this country as David Jones officially shuts up shop.
All Black legend Dan Carter joins Mike Hosking to talk fitness, business and cologne!
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 12 November 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/da02f802-e7fb-445b-be3f-b4ff014cee7f/transcript

A totally pointless debate is raging online at the moment as to who voted for Opportunity and whether that vote was skewed left or right.

And based on that, whether they should pick, if they get a chance, a left or right combo.

Obviously as we sit here there is no choice because even if they went left, the left still don’t have the numbers.

But that hasn’t stopped the angsty getting all riled up online.

So here is the theory; Opportunity did best in areas of the country where the left does well, namely Wellington and particularly Wellington Bays and Wellington North. Those two electorates gave Opportunity their biggest support.

Now for a start, and here is the critical flaw, just because you live in those electorates it doesn't mean you are a leftie. Until you ask every Opportunity voter what their political leaning is you are guessing. But that’s how we fill our time apparently.

The next problem - once you have assumed, as they have, that because the biggest support came in left-leaning areas, that means the party must go with Labour.

That then means you didn’t listen to a word the party actually said, which is they are centrist and want to work with whoever.

This is why their marketing is clever. Once Winston Peters aligned himself with National that left the true middle open. Opportunity are merely filling a gap in the market and to fill that gap they must be realistically seen as centrist.

The fact allegedly they are not is either a marketing fail on their part or too much second guessing by the voters.

And if it is the latter two things then happen:

1) The party is letting their supporters down,

2) The voters failed to get the message and/or ignored the message and second guessed the party as to what they were.

This is the trouble with middle parties, as Winston fond out in 2017 when he picked Jacinda. He has been trying to recover reputationally ever since.

A true centrist party has to realistically be able to go either way, which is probably why they should go right this time, because if they can do that and survive they stand a better chance in the long term.

To my eye they are quite obviously left and if they go left that merely confirms what a lot of us clearly think, and at that point their marketing advantage is blown. In 2029 they are competing with Labour and the Greens, not the wider market.

If they don’t play this well they will end up like the other minor players Alliance, United and the Maori Party, who come but then vanish.

LISTEN ABOVE

A totally pointless debate is raging online at the moment as to who voted for Opportunity and whether that vote was skewed left or right.
And based on that, whether they should pick, if they get a chance, a left or right combo.
Obviously as we sit here there is no choice because even if they went left, the left still don’t have the numbers.
But that hasn’t stopped the angsty getting all riled up online.
So here is the theory; Opportunity did best in areas of the country where the left does well, namely Wellington and particularly Wellington Bays and Wellington North. Those two electorates gave Opportunity their biggest support.
Now for a start, and here is the critical flaw, just because you live in those electorates it doesn't mean you are a leftie. Until you ask every Opportunity voter what their political leaning is you are guessing. But that’s how we fill our time apparently.
The next problem - once you have assumed, as they have, that because the biggest support came in left-leaning areas, that means the party must go with Labour.
That then means you didn’t listen to a word the party actually said, which is they are centrist and want to work with whoever.
This is why their marketing is clever. Once Winston Peters aligned himself with National that left the true middle open. Opportunity are merely filling a gap in the market and to fill that gap they must be realistically seen as centrist.
The fact allegedly they are not is either a marketing fail on their part or too much second guessing by the voters.
And if it is the latter two things then happen:
1) The party is letting their supporters down,
2) The voters failed to get the message and/or ignored the message and second guessed the party as to what they were.
This is the trouble with middle parties, as Winston fond out in 2017 when he picked Jacinda. He has been trying to recover reputationally ever since.
A true centrist party has to realistically be able to go either way, which is probably why they should go right this time, because if they can do that and survive they stand a better chance in the long term.
To my eye they are quite obviously left and if they go left that merely confirms what a lot of us clearly think, and at that point their marketing advantage is blown. In 2029 they are competing with Labour and the Greens, not the wider market.
If they don’t play this well they will end up like the other minor players Alliance, United and the Maori Party, who come but then vanish.
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: Opportunity's decision could make or break the party

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0268a096-98f4-4ab2-a96b-b4ff014b3ca0/transcript

Auckland Council denies its move to make rubbish bins smaller is aimed at forcing people to use their food scraps bin.

Councillors have voted, by a narrow majority, to reduce the default bin size from 120-litres to 80-litres.

The Post reports a council evaluation report on the food scraps bins work has been kept private, but its use by households is well below forecast levels.

Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves told Mike Hosking the change in default bin size changes nothing for households who already have bins.

LISTEN ABOVE

Auckland Council denies its move to make rubbish bins smaller is aimed at forcing people to use their food scraps bin.
Councillors have voted, by a narrow majority, to reduce the default bin size from 120-litres to 80-litres.
The Post reports a council evaluation report on the food scraps bins work has been kept private, but its use by households is well below forecast levels.
Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves told Mike Hosking the change in default bin size changes nothing for households who already have bins.
LISTEN ABOVE

Justine Haves: Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions discusses proposal to shrink bin sizes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b9e700b5-0d12-42e7-874d-b4ff01497391/transcript

Karen Chhour: Caretaker Children's Minister on the outcome of the second youth offender bootcamp pilot

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