A lawyer says documentary evidence will be considered in the inquiry of Tom Phillips' disappearance.  

Him and his children were missing for four years when the saga ended with a shootout in September, killing the fugitive.  

An inquiry into how agencies handled the case will begin hearing evidence today.  

Lawyer and former police officer Matthew Hague told Mike Hosking he doesn't think there is obvious fault on the part of the police.  

He says there will be things they could've done better, but it was a very complex situation. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A lawyer says documentary evidence will be considered in the inquiry of Tom Phillips' disappearance. &nbsp;
Him and his children were missing for four years when the saga ended with a shootout in September, killing the fugitive. &nbsp;
An inquiry into how agencies handled the case will begin hearing evidence today. &nbsp;
Lawyer and former police officer Matthew Hague told Mike Hosking he doesn't think there is obvious fault on the part of the police. &nbsp;
He says there will be things they could've done better, but it was a very complex situation.&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

Matthew Hague: Lawyer and former police officer on the Inquiry into Tom Phillips' disappearance

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9310c444-cba3-4817-a634-b3d8013aa088/transcript

We are standing by for the election date today. 

It’s not what it was, kind of like budgets. The suspense, the scuttlebutt, the guessing game – it’s all gone. 

You might remember Albanese, not having learned our lesson, got himself into dreadful trouble last year and failed to forecast a date. 

So they guessed, and guessed, and second guessed, and then the flooding and storms came, so it delayed what was supposed to be an announcement. But that’s what you get when you’re a power freak and you think holding the cards counts for something. 

John Key put all that to bed some years back. Return from holiday, announce the date in the latter part of the year, and basically get on with life. 

Short of a government falling apart, elections should be scheduled at the end of a three-year term. 

Also today, apparently some policy —and perhaps this business of housing— is to be dealt with. Specifically, the thinking is the Auckland issue needs to be sorted. 

Elections, rightly or wrongly, are won and lost in Auckland, and the Government’s two million house housing plan is one of those ideas that no one quite gets and freaks people out. 

When we had councillor Maurice Williamson on last year, he suggested we ask Minister Chris Bishop just where the two million figure came from, because he couldn’t work it out. 

What we do know is the council were forced into agreeing to it. If they didn’t, the “three houses, three storeys on a regular plot” plan was a goer, and no one liked that either. 

And that sadly is the trouble with housing and big cities. No shortage of moaners and issues but a big shortage of solutions and agreement around them. 

What I do know from personal experience is that having uncertainty in the market —which is what we have— kills enthusiasm and demand. 

“What’s going up next door?” you ask the agent. The agent doesn’t know. No one knows. Could be nothing. Could be an 11-storey headache in suburbia.  

Who is buying a house next to that nightmare? And that is what the Bishop plan has created, and that hopefully is what gets fixed. 

And fast. 

We are standing by for the election date today.&nbsp;
It’s not what it was, kind of like budgets. The suspense, the scuttlebutt, the guessing game – it’s all gone.&nbsp;
You might remember Albanese, not having learned our lesson, got himself into dreadful trouble last year and failed to forecast a date.&nbsp;
So they guessed, and guessed, and second guessed, and then the flooding and storms came, so it delayed what was supposed to be an announcement. But that’s what you get when you’re a power freak and you think holding the cards counts for something.&nbsp;
John Key put all that to bed some years back. Return from holiday, announce the date in the latter part of the year, and basically get on with life.&nbsp;
Short of a government falling apart, elections should be scheduled at the end of a three-year term.&nbsp;
Also today, apparently some policy —and perhaps this business of housing— is to be dealt with. Specifically, the thinking is the Auckland issue needs to be sorted.&nbsp;
Elections, rightly or wrongly, are won and lost in Auckland, and the Government’s two million house housing plan is one of those ideas that no one quite gets and freaks people out.&nbsp;
When we had councillor Maurice Williamson on last year, he suggested we ask Minister Chris Bishop just where the two million figure came from, because he couldn’t work it out.&nbsp;
What we do know is the council were forced into agreeing to it. If they didn’t, the “three houses, three storeys on a regular plot” plan was a goer, and no one liked that either.&nbsp;
And that sadly is the trouble with housing and big cities. No shortage of moaners and issues but a big shortage of solutions and agreement around them.&nbsp;
What I do know from personal experience is that having uncertainty in the market —which is what we have— kills enthusiasm and demand.&nbsp;
“What’s going up next door?” you ask the agent. The agent doesn’t know. No one knows. Could be nothing. Could be an 11-storey headache in suburbia. &nbsp;
Who is buying a house next to that nightmare? And that is what the Bishop plan has created, and that hopefully is what gets fixed.&nbsp;
And fast.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Election issues are already popping up

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3e1fd9cd-eb03-4e77-b929-b3d80154e2b8/transcript

Another Kiwi success story.  

Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand. 

They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway. 

CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and paying for it.  

She says people are still looking for good, healthy food that is good to feed their families, and so Pic’s continues to grow.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Another Kiwi success story. &nbsp;
Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand.&nbsp;
They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway.&nbsp;
CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and paying for it. &nbsp;
She says people are still looking for good, healthy food that is good to feed their families, and so Pic’s continues to grow. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Aimee McCammon: Pic's Peanut Butter CEO on the company reaching 41% market share in NZ

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e7e37261-0ee2-4209-8d05-b3d80152985b/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 21st of January, we hear some more good economic news with the services sector in growth for the first time in nearly two years. 

Mike finds out what the inquiry into the Tom Phillips case will look into and likely achieve. 

There are record numbers of New Zealanders with bachelor's degrees, but Universities New Zealand's Chris Whelan tells Mike the numbers compare poorly internationally. 

We have the first Politics Wednesday for 2026 and we get early election predictions from Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen. 

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 Wednesday 21st of January, we hear some more good economic news with the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/katherine-rich-business-nz-ceo-on-the-growth-in-the-services-sector-for-the-first-time-in-two-years/">services sector in growth</a> for the first time in nearly two years.&nbsp;
Mike finds out what the inquiry into the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/matthew-hague-lawyer-and-former-police-officer-on-the-inquiry-into-tom-phillips-disappearance/">Tom Phillips case</a> will look into and likely achieve.&nbsp;
There are record numbers of New Zealanders with bachelor's degrees, but <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-whelan-universities-nz-ceo-on-the-number-of-new-zealanders-with-university-degrees/">Universities New Zealand's Chris Whelan</a> tells Mike the numbers compare poorly internationally.&nbsp;
We have the first <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-talk-severe-weather-caucus-retreats-housing-intensification/">Politics Wednesday for 2026</a> and we get early election predictions from Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen.&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: 21 January 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2fefa439-6abd-4a00-b253-b3d8014c8c4b/transcript

Matthew Hague: Lawyer and former police officer on the Inquiry into Tom Phillips' disappearance

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