National’s Mark Mitchell and Labour’s Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to dig into some of the biggest political stories of the week thus far.

Labour's Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor thinks Wellington’s Queens Wharf is a great place for a swim, would they risk it?

Also on the agenda was the Ministry of Education’s viral TikTok, and the ever-continuing problem that is our power supply as two North Island mills close their doors. 

LISTEN ABOVE

National’s Mark Mitchell and Labour’s Ginny Andersen are back with Mike Hosking to dig into some of the biggest political stories of the week thus far. 
Labour's Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor thinks Wellington’s Queens Wharf is a great place for a swim, would they risk it? 
Also on the agenda was the Ministry of Education’s viral TikTok, and the ever-continuing problem that is our power supply as two North Island mills close their doors.  
LISTEN ABOVE

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

Pollies: Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell on Winstone closing two mills, Greg O'Connor's swim in Queen's Wharf, Social media ban

It's only when you read the full detail in the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll that you start to get a feel for where the Government currently sits.

Firstly, the poll is for corporate clients and reportage is usually limited to a few basic numbers, i.e. National up or down a point and added together that means “x” number of seats in the house.

The full report has the gold and everyone in corporate New Zealand will be seeing that this current Government is on somewhat of a roll.

Here is the really worrying thing for the opposition parties; these numbers are produced at a time the economy is still rubbish and it's entirely possible we are still in a recession.

So, the things for Labour, especially, to worry about:

1. The coalition have 67 seats, which is an easy majority.

2. Every single issue, bar one, they are more trusted on. In areas like the economy and spending, the Government wins by a mile, so much that the gap is embarrassing. The only area Labour claim victory is poverty and even then it's by a single point.

3. The right way/wrong way tracker has turned in spectacular fashion since the election. Many argue this is the true indication of Government support. If you get the country going right, you're in every time.

4. The Labour leader's popularity has tanked. The favourable/unfavourable numbers have cratered. Chris Hipkins isn't liked, isn't backed and is, as they say in America, under water.

Now, fair is fair, it's just a poll, not an election

But get some steam into the economy, get a growing level of confidence as the Reserve Bank cuts rates and people start to spend and feel good again, get some real growth into proceedings and it's at that point any Government of the day starts to feel like they are re-electable.

We have seen this past week the seeds, the shoots of progress; the crime stats, the increasingly determined action around the Treaty, the reportage of schools talking of a change of culture after a phone ban. These are small, but tangible, wins.

If by the end of next year the economy is back, and the rest of the tangibles are falling into place, an opposition will have very little left in which to enter election year with.

And Chris Hipkins won't just be under water, he will be out of a job.

It's only when you read the full detail in the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll that you start to get a feel for where the Government currently sits. 
Firstly, the poll is for corporate clients and reportage is usually limited to a few basic numbers, i.e. National up or down a point and added together that means “x” number of seats in the house. 
The full report has the gold and everyone in corporate New Zealand will be seeing that this current Government is on somewhat of a roll. 
Here is the really worrying thing for the opposition parties; these numbers are produced at a time the economy is still rubbish and it's entirely possible we are still in a recession. 
So, the things for Labour, especially, to worry about: 
1. The coalition have 67 seats, which is an easy majority. 
2. Every single issue, bar one, they are more trusted on. In areas like the economy and spending, the Government wins by a mile, so much that the gap is embarrassing. The only area Labour claim victory is poverty and even then it's by a single point. 
3. The right way/wrong way tracker has turned in spectacular fashion since the election. Many argue this is the true indication of Government support. If you get the country going right, you're in every time. 
4. The Labour leader's popularity has tanked. The favourable/unfavourable numbers have cratered. Chris Hipkins isn't liked, isn't backed and is, as they say in America, under water. 
Now, fair is fair, it's just a poll, not an election 
But get some steam into the economy, get a growing level of confidence as the Reserve Bank cuts rates and people start to spend and feel good again, get some real growth into proceedings and it's at that point any Government of the day starts to feel like they are re-electable. 
We have seen this past week the seeds, the shoots of progress; the crime stats, the increasingly determined action around the Treaty, the reportage of schools talking of a change of culture after a phone ban. These are small, but tangible, wins. 
If by the end of next year the economy is back, and the rest of the tangibles are falling into place, an opposition will have very little left in which to enter election year with. 
And Chris Hipkins won't just be under water, he will be out of a job.

Mike's Minute: The beginning of the end for Hipkins

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has pleaded not guilty to a list of sex trafficking charges.

The 54-year-old was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents yesterday, following a year in which his career was derailed by several lawsuits accusing him of physical and sexual abuse.

New York Attorney Damien Williams alleges Combs created and ran a "criminal enterprise” through his business empire.

He says he ran sex performances, which he called 'freak offs', for days at a time.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that prosecutors are opposing bail for Combs, but his lawyers have submitted a note to the judge saying that he’s never evaded, avoided, eluded, or run from a challenge in his life. 

He said they’re offering an extensive bail package has been offered, including a $50 million bond, the passports of his daughters and mother, the equity of his home and his mother’s place in Florida, and home detention with GPS monitoring. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has pleaded not guilty to a list of sex trafficking charges. 
The 54-year-old was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents yesterday, following a year in which his career was derailed by several lawsuits accusing him of physical and sexual abuse. 
New York Attorney Damien Williams alleges Combs created and ran a "criminal enterprise” through his business empire. 
He says he ran sex performances, which he called 'freak offs', for days at a time. 
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that prosecutors are opposing bail for Combs, but his lawyers have submitted a note to the judge saying that he’s never evaded, avoided, eluded, or run from a challenge in his life.  
He said they’re offering an extensive bail package has been offered, including a $50 million bond, the passports of his daughters and mother, the equity of his home and his mother’s place in Florida, and home detention with GPS monitoring.  
LISTEN ABOVE

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking charges and bail package

Justice is set to be served to nearly every member of the Comancheros motorcycle gang, but that won't be the end of New Zealand's drug trade. 

A three year police operation has resulted in 137 charges being laid. 

Canterbury University sociology professor Jarrod Gilbert says it's decimated the Comancheros, and sends a message that any high profile organised crime group has a large target on their back. 

But he says we can't expect this to significantly disrupt drug trade long term - as supply will just move to meet demand and the void will be filled.

LISTEN ABOVE

Justice is set to be served to nearly every member of the Comancheros motorcycle gang, but that won't be the end of New Zealand's drug trade.  
A three year police operation has resulted in 137 charges being laid.  
Canterbury University sociology professor Jarrod Gilbert says it's decimated the Comancheros, and sends a message that any high profile organised crime group has a large target on their back.  
But he says we can't expect this to significantly disrupt drug trade long term - as supply will just move to meet demand and the void will be filled. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Pollies: Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell on Winstone closing two mills, Greg O'Connor's swim in Queen's Wharf, Social media ban

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