Today on Politics Wednesday Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest stories of the week thus far. 

ACT has announced Paul Henry as a candidate in this year’s election – do they have any advice for the former broadcaster? 

And the Opportunity Party’s popularity has been growing – do they have a shot at making it into government this year? 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Today on Politics Wednesday Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to delve into some of the biggest stories of the week thus far.&nbsp;
ACT has announced Paul Henry as a candidate in this year’s election – do they have any advice for the former broadcaster?&nbsp;
And the Opportunity Party’s popularity has been growing – do they have a shot at making it into government this year?&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

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen discuss Paul Henry standing for ACT, The Opportunity Party

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/06c6540e-cfb0-4667-821c-b487016d8e45/transcript

Paul Henry and I go back a long way. Decades in fact. 

He used to read news on a show of mine. I can't say I saw politics in his future, but then I can't say I could have ruled it out either. 

And why not him? He's retired, he could be bored, or he could be driven to make a contribution, if hanging out in Wellington is a contribution you want to make. 

He is good fun, he is bright, and he is worldly. 

But I don’t think he will fit well into the “system”. He is a free spirit, and those sorts of people don’t tend to operate well in teams with instruction. 

He spoke passionately about his country. It could be age, but I feel exactly the same way. I don’t have to live here, I chose to because I love this place. 

He is in the same sort of position, so why not try to lend a hand? 

He spoke singularly about our debt and he is indisputably right. He could have stolen the lines and concern from me. 

Maybe all blokes of 60-ish age worry about our debt and our country. Maybe it's because we are old enough to remember better days and see no reason why we can't re-engineer the place to be like it once was. 

But politics is about more than debt. 

The other issue is if you're going to Wellington to save the country you really need to be in a position of power and National has more power than ACT. So this is clearly also a philosophical or ideological decision – he likes the cut of their libertarian gib. 

In terms of performance the place will be better for him. He's fun and quick. 

He might want to watch the line between serious and clown, entertaining and nutty, professional and self-indulgent. 

The big gamechanger for him will be accountability. Once they vote for you, once they pay for you, they own you and, boy, they let you know it. 

But I like people who don’t have to do stuff, doing stuff. They are generally there for the right reasons. 

David Seymour told me it's just the shot in the arm they need right now. 

I think he's right. 

Paul Henry and I go back a long way. Decades in fact.&nbsp;
He used to read news on a show of mine. I can't say I saw politics in his future, but then I can't say I could have ruled it out either.&nbsp;
And why not him? He's retired, he could be bored, or he could be driven to make a contribution, if hanging out in Wellington is a contribution you want to make.&nbsp;
He is good fun, he is bright, and he is worldly.&nbsp;
But I don’t think he will fit well into the “system”. He is a free spirit, and those sorts of people don’t tend to operate well in teams with instruction.&nbsp;
He spoke passionately about his country. It could be age, but I feel exactly the same way. I don’t have to live here, I chose to because I love this place.&nbsp;
He is in the same sort of position, so why not try to lend a hand?&nbsp;
He spoke singularly about our debt and he is indisputably right. He could have stolen the lines and concern from me.&nbsp;
Maybe all blokes of 60-ish age worry about our debt and our country. Maybe it's because we are old enough to remember better days and see no reason why we can't re-engineer the place to be like it once was.&nbsp;
But politics is about more than debt.&nbsp;
The other issue is if you're going to Wellington to save the country you really need to be in a position of power and National has more power than ACT. So this is clearly also a philosophical or ideological decision – he likes the cut of their libertarian gib.&nbsp;
In terms of performance the place will be better for him. He's fun and quick.&nbsp;
He might want to watch the line between serious and clown, entertaining and nutty, professional and self-indulgent.&nbsp;
The big gamechanger for him will be accountability. Once they vote for you, once they pay for you, they own you and, boy, they let you know it.&nbsp;
But I like people who don’t have to do stuff, doing stuff. They are generally there for the right reasons.&nbsp;
David Seymour told me it's just the shot in the arm they need right now.&nbsp;
I think he's right.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Why I like Paul Henry in politics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/33d2502b-2673-4faa-8ca4-b487017a26b1/transcript

US ships are preparing to block Iran's ports as both sides continue to trade strikes. 

Donald Trump's abandoned his earlier threat of a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it will be replaced by trade deals with Gulf states. 

The global oil price benchmark Brent Crude is hovering around US$85 – one of its highest points in a month. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that only ten ships went through the Strait yesterday – the lowest level in over a month. 

He says that before the way, the number would be around 130 ships a day. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

US ships are preparing to block Iran's ports as both sides continue to trade strikes.&nbsp;
Donald Trump's abandoned his earlier threat of a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it will be replaced by trade deals with Gulf states.&nbsp;
The global oil price benchmark Brent Crude is hovering around US$85 – one of its highest points in a month.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that only ten ships went through the Strait yesterday – the lowest level in over a month.&nbsp;
He says that before the way, the number would be around 130 ships a day.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the latest from the US-Iran war, US plans to resume blockade in the Hormuz Strait

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/497cf916-d79d-40a3-9b8b-b48701772f70/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 15th of July, have global fuel worries spiked —again— amid the latest flip-flopping from the US? 

Paul Henry is the highest-profile name to announce his political run —joining ACT— so Mike puts an old friend through his paces. 

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss the celeb power in politics and the Opportunity Party’s chances on Politics Wednesday. 

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 15th of July, have <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/gerard-lyons-former-chief-advisor-to-boris-johnson-on-the-volatile-oil-prices-and-impacts-of-the-resumed-conflict-in-the-middle-east/">global fuel worries spiked</a> —again— amid the latest flip-flopping from the US?&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-henry-former-broadcaster-on-his-decision-to-stand-for-act-in-the-2026-election/">Paul Henry</a> is the highest-profile name to announce his political run —joining ACT— so Mike puts an old friend through his paces.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-discuss-paul-henry-standing-for-act-the-opportunity-party/">Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen</a> discuss the celeb power in politics and the Opportunity Party’s chances on Politics Wednesday.&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: 15 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/59153be2-0d94-40ce-a5af-b487015d62d4/transcript

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen discuss Paul Henry standing for ACT, The Opportunity Party

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