New Zealand Rugby is on shaky ground.

It made a loss of almost $9 million in 2023, the second loss making year in a row after 2022’s loss of $47 million.

NZR CEO Mark Robinson said that further work is needed to achieve a sustainable financial model, but he was positive about the organisation’s future.

He told Mike Hosking that the way things developed over the last 20-25 years means they’ve got a really high fixed cost base, and they’re working really hard with shareholders to try and alter that.

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New Zealand Rugby is on shaky ground. 
It made a loss of almost $9 million in 2023, the second loss making year in a row after 2022’s loss of $47 million. 
NZR CEO Mark Robinson said that further work is needed to achieve a sustainable financial model, but he was positive about the organisation’s future. 
He told Mike Hosking that the way things developed over the last 20-25 years means they’ve got a really high fixed cost base, and they’re working really hard with shareholders to try and alter that. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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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

Mark Robinson: NZ Rugby CEO on organisations $9 million financial loss in 2023

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 Northland transmission tower: 1/10

If you made it up, they wouldn’t believe you.



The ferry: 3/10

A bit more believable given the track record leading up, but it's still no less depressing.



The Warriors: 1/10

Almost as bad as taking too many nuts and bolts out.



Pharmac: 7/10

Because on balance, a naive promise that was broken got rectified in a pretty impressive way and a lot of people get the help they need because of it.



Julian Assange: 6/10

On balance it's probably fair. He's a crook, he's served jail time and he endangered a lot of people. The debate over that, or whether he is a hero, will never settle, but the case has.



Jetstar: 6/10

Good week. I'm not sure about Cairns. But more domestic choice is good.



The fast track poll: 6/10

Proof that a bit of common sense is actually what a chunk of New Zealanders want. Maybe the media can reflect more of that instead of seeking out the moaners all day long



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. 
 
The Northland transmission tower: 1/10 
If you made it up, they wouldn’t believe you. 
 
The ferry: 3/10 
A bit more believable given the track record leading up, but it's still no less depressing. 
 
The Warriors: 1/10 
Almost as bad as taking too many nuts and bolts out. 
 
Pharmac: 7/10 
Because on balance, a naive promise that was broken got rectified in a pretty impressive way and a lot of people get the help they need because of it. 
 
Julian Assange: 6/10 
On balance it's probably fair. He's a crook, he's served jail time and he endangered a lot of people. The debate over that, or whether he is a hero, will never settle, but the case has. 
 
Jetstar: 6/10 
Good week. I'm not sure about Cairns. But more domestic choice is good. 
 
The fast track poll: 6/10 
Proof that a bit of common sense is actually what a chunk of New Zealanders want. Maybe the media can reflect more of that instead of seeking out the moaners all day long 
 
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW

Mark the Week: It's been a good week for Jetstar

A little something from the perspective file.

Although things are dire and dour and straight up and down bad, in some areas they are not as bad as headlines would lead you to believe.

The best line of high drama I have read this week was around jobs. "It's like the Hunger Games", it said.

Is it? Really?

A lot of press has been given to those who have lost jobs of late.

The reason for this is because we haven't gone through a job loss scenario for a while in this country.

But if you've been around a while it isn't like the hunger games, or anywhere close to it.

The unemployment rate is currently 4.3%. It might be a little bit higher given some of our data is slow, but at worst it's thought it may get to 5% or a little bit over.

In a historic context, 5% is a little more than normal. What we are living through is moderately normal.

The same can be said about interest rates when it's in the 6's, maybe early 7's. Yes, it's a lot higher than what they have been, but in context it's not remotely unusual at all.

In these examples is the value of institutional knowledge.

Much of the coverage of job losses and the ensuing Hunger Games has been based around the public service, which brings in another interesting aspect of jobs and choices

I read the plight of a person recently laid off who was off to Australia because the work they did no longer desisted here. They were going to Melbourne where the Government puts more funding into the social work they do. Which is great, if that’s your calling. But choosing a job that's no niche that it no longer exists surely was a risky choice in the first place.

That's like the person whose story I also read who got laid off from the Auckland light rail project. Surely when they applied they knew that wasn’t long for this world?

Having lost a couple of jobs myself there is no question it sucks, especially if it comes as no fault of your own.

The job ads may be down and the applications may be up, but at no point is what we are going through any more arduous, difficult or unusual than we have been through many a time before, and indeed will go through again.

What I suspect has changed is resilience.

There isn't as much of it about these days and that’s why "normal" seems like the Hunger Games.      

A little something from the perspective file. 
Although things are dire and dour and straight up and down bad, in some areas they are not as bad as headlines would lead you to believe. 
The best line of high drama I have read this week was around jobs. "It's like the Hunger Games", it said. 
Is it? Really? 
A lot of press has been given to those who have lost jobs of late. 
The reason for this is because we haven't gone through a job loss scenario for a while in this country. 
But if you've been around a while it isn't like the hunger games, or anywhere close to it. 
The unemployment rate is currently 4.3%. It might be a little bit higher given some of our data is slow, but at worst it's thought it may get to 5% or a little bit over. 
In a historic context, 5% is a little more than normal. What we are living through is moderately normal. 
The same can be said about interest rates when it's in the 6's, maybe early 7's. Yes, it's a lot higher than what they have been, but in context it's not remotely unusual at all. 
In these examples is the value of institutional knowledge. 
Much of the coverage of job losses and the ensuing Hunger Games has been based around the public service, which brings in another interesting aspect of jobs and choices 
I read the plight of a person recently laid off who was off to Australia because the work they did no longer desisted here. They were going to Melbourne where the Government puts more funding into the social work they do. Which is great, if that’s your calling. But choosing a job that's no niche that it no longer exists surely was a risky choice in the first place. 
That's like the person whose story I also read who got laid off from the Auckland light rail project. Surely when they applied they knew that wasn’t long for this world? 
Having lost a couple of jobs myself there is no question it sucks, especially if it comes as no fault of your own. 
The job ads may be down and the applications may be up, but at no point is what we are going through any more arduous, difficult or unusual than we have been through many a time before, and indeed will go through again. 
What I suspect has changed is resilience. 
There isn't as much of it about these days and that’s why "normal" seems like the Hunger Games.

Mike’s Minute: A different perspective on job losses

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was.

They talked fitness regimes, tomorrow’s US Presidential debate, and Mike waxed poetic about fried bread.

LISTEN ABOVE

Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson joined Mike Hosking to Wrap the Week that was. 
They talked fitness regimes, tomorrow’s US Presidential debate, and Mike waxed poetic about fried bread. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark Robinson: NZ Rugby CEO on organisations $9 million financial loss in 2023

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