Today Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell to recap the highs and lows of 2025 on the final Politics Wednesday for the year. 

They also discussed the retail crime numbers, the state of the Government’s books, the need for a social media ban, and the situation with Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Today Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Mark Mitchell to recap the highs and lows of 2025 on the final Politics Wednesday for the year.&nbsp;
They also discussed the retail crime numbers, the state of the Government’s books, the need for a social media ban, and the situation with Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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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

Pollies: Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen on retail crime, highs and lows of 2025, Government's books

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0fa059dd-1bd7-4c1d-bb08-b3b5014fd744/transcript

Nicola Willis told us she did not take the decision lightly, and well, she might have said that. 

She's lucky it's only cost $60 million. We still don’t know the terms, but we need to. 

This is Golden Bay Cement, and the Government has come to their rescue. 

Without this help, allegedly, they would have closed. 

There is only one supplier in the country – this in and of itself would seem to be an issue. They produce 60% of what we use. 

Is the other 40% cheaper? And what of the climate mitigation issues Fletchers speak of? Why do we worry about the 60% and not the other 40%? 

Why is climate so important in the cement business, and is climate worth worrying about if it means the closure of business and the loss of jobs? 

That is one of the questions of the age, especially given the Europeans over the weekend signalled their intentions to pull back on climate expectation for businesses for exactly the same reasons. 

Climate versus jobs? We quite like the work, thanks. 

Fletcher Building is the owner and a company with no shortage of drama around their reputation and activities, but not a business desperate, you wouldn't have thought, for $60 million. 

But, and here is the crunchy bit, they're a company that in straightened times is perfectly entitled to pull the pin on things that aren't working. 

So, a good business decision, or blackmail? 

Is the business run as they claim? In other words, it's not workable, or are they a bit useless? 

Britain is having the same conversation currently over a nationalised steelworks involving the Chinese and a water company that’s on its knees. 

The trouble is the specifics and the precedent. Every story is unique. 

Can a government write a cheque for one-offs? Maybe. 

Does it set a potential precedent? Yes. 

Should the Government be in cement? No. 

Should we be more resilient in the basics of things like building materials? Yes. We have just had that debate by cleaning out an old tank at Marsden. Resilience is important. 

So I don’t mind this as a one off. 

But is it a bad business or is it a business hampered by dumb rules around climate? And if it’s the latter, would a change of rules fix the problem better than a bailout cheque would? 

Nicola Willis told us she did not take the decision lightly, and well, she might have said that.&nbsp;
She's lucky it's only cost $60 million. We still don’t know the terms, but we need to.&nbsp;
This is Golden Bay Cement, and the Government has come to their rescue.&nbsp;
Without this help, allegedly, they would have closed.&nbsp;
There is only one supplier in the country – this in and of itself would seem to be an issue. They produce 60% of what we use.&nbsp;
Is the other 40% cheaper? And what of the climate mitigation issues Fletchers speak of? Why do we worry about the 60% and not the other 40%?&nbsp;
Why is climate so important in the cement business, and is climate worth worrying about if it means the closure of business and the loss of jobs?&nbsp;
That is one of the questions of the age, especially given the Europeans over the weekend signalled their intentions to pull back on climate expectation for businesses for exactly the same reasons.&nbsp;
Climate versus jobs? We quite like the work, thanks.&nbsp;
Fletcher Building is the owner and a company with no shortage of drama around their reputation and activities, but not a business desperate, you wouldn't have thought, for $60 million.&nbsp;
But, and here is the crunchy bit, they're a company that in straightened times is perfectly entitled to pull the pin on things that aren't working.&nbsp;
So, a good business decision, or blackmail?&nbsp;
Is the business run as they claim? In other words, it's not workable, or are they a bit useless?&nbsp;
Britain is having the same conversation currently over a nationalised steelworks involving the Chinese and a water company that’s on its knees.&nbsp;
The trouble is the specifics and the precedent. Every story is unique.&nbsp;
Can a government write a cheque for one-offs? Maybe.&nbsp;
Does it set a potential precedent? Yes.&nbsp;
Should the Government be in cement? No.&nbsp;
Should we be more resilient in the basics of things like building materials? Yes. We have just had that debate by cleaning out an old tank at Marsden. Resilience is important.&nbsp;
So I don’t mind this as a one off.&nbsp;
But is it a bad business or is it a business hampered by dumb rules around climate? And if it’s the latter, would a change of rules fix the problem better than a bailout cheque would?&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: So many questions around the Govt's cement bailout

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3d8de580-75d3-4310-9f2f-b48d0170d8ab/transcript

A new era of British politics has arrived at Downing Street with Andy Burnham vowing to put people before politics. 

The former Manchester Mayor and Labour cabinet minister has become Britain's fifth leader in four years, replacing Sir Keir Starmer. 

He wants to make politics more about problem-solving than point-scoring – taking power out of government and putting it into the hands of the people. 

UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking the Labour Party will have to present a united front now, as they have a short window in which to convince the public they can continue to govern. 

He says Burnham needs to find some quick wins to make the public believe what he’s telling them.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

A new era of British politics has arrived at Downing Street with Andy Burnham vowing to put people before politics.&nbsp;
The former Manchester Mayor and Labour cabinet minister has become Britain's fifth leader in four years, replacing Sir Keir Starmer.&nbsp;
He wants to make politics more about problem-solving than point-scoring – taking power out of government and putting it into the hands of the people.&nbsp;
UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking the Labour Party will have to present a united front now, as they have a short window in which to convince the public they can continue to govern.&nbsp;
He says Burnham needs to find some quick wins to make the public believe what he’s telling them. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Enda Brady: UK Correspondent on Andy Burnham becoming the new UK Prime Minister

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2283f9bc-c280-4b3c-9756-b48d016b654d/transcript

Weary from a sleepless night of celebrations, golfer Ryan Fox is still coming to grips with his Open Championship victory. 

Fox has joined Michael Campbell, Sir Bob Charles, and Dame Lydia Ko in winning a golf major, holding his nerve to win The Open at Royal Birkdale and pocketing $5.5 million. 

He has returned to his Florida base, having hauled both the Claret Jug and a replica across the Atlantic as carry-on luggage. 

Fox told Mike Hosking his life is going to change pretty significantly over the next few months, and he probably doesn’t yet comprehend all the things that will come with being a major champion.  

He says it’ll probably be a bit daunting, as he’ll be facing a lot more scrutiny on the course than he’s been able to get away with in the last few years.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Weary from a sleepless night of celebrations, golfer Ryan Fox is still coming to grips with his Open Championship victory.&nbsp;
Fox has joined Michael Campbell, Sir Bob Charles, and Dame Lydia Ko in winning a golf major, holding his nerve to win The Open at Royal Birkdale and pocketing $5.5 million.&nbsp;
He has returned to his Florida base, having hauled both the Claret Jug and a replica across the Atlantic as carry-on luggage.&nbsp;
Fox told Mike Hosking his life is going to change pretty significantly over the next few months, and he probably doesn’t yet comprehend all the things that will come with being a major champion. &nbsp;
He says it’ll probably be a bit daunting, as he’ll be facing a lot more scrutiny on the course than he’s been able to get away with in the last few years. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Ryan Fox: Kiwi golfer on his first major win at the Open at Royal Birkdale

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4eb55701-1a36-4dc9-ac15-b48d016695fe/transcript

Pollies: Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen on retail crime, highs and lows of 2025, Government's books

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