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

They discussed political ‘cash for access’ fundraising events and the Government’s newly-announced fuel relief package for lower and middle income working families. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Today on Politics Wednesday, Mike Hosking was joined by Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen to delve into the biggest stories of the week thus far.&nbsp;
They discussed political ‘cash for access’ fundraising events and the Government’s newly-announced fuel relief package for lower and middle income working families.&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 on political cash for access fundraisers, the Government's fuel relief package

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/44140e68-84e5-4441-8d6d-b4170151d3d2/transcript

How many ways can you slice the petrol handout? 

Many. 

The Government is to be commended on restraint, and I hope that message of restraint has sunk into the New Zealanders who think we have money on trees and debt is never to be paid back. 

And for those who think Hipkins, Robertson, and Ardern were economic geniuses, Fitch have provided the wake-up call.  

The bill on interest alone for our debt is heading towards $10 billion a year. We have no room to move. 

We commend them too on the $370 million coming out of the operating Budget. In other words, no new borrowing. 

But its downhill from there I'm afraid. 

$50 a week for a year, or until 91 octane is at $3 or less for four weeks. 

In that random mechanism is the weakness of not only government, but relying on government. 

What's targeted about $50 for certain people based on the fuel price? How many of those people getting $50 drive an EV and their fuel bill is unaffected? 

How many don't use much fuel anyway, no matter what the cost? What about the city dwellers who walk a lot? 

I drive 12km a day, so 60km a week. If I do 10L per hundred, that's six litres. That's $35-45 a week for fuel. 

I'm winning. The Government is giving me free money that pays for my fuel bill. That's nuts. 

The people affected by fuel are the people who travel the distance. It has nothing to do with income. It's miles, but a government can't hand out money in that way. 

So how targeted is this actually? Yes, low incomes are affected in greater percentage terms when prices rise, but only if the price is a major for you. Petrol might be more expensive, but it's only a burden if you use a lot of petrol. 

Money is going to people who we have no idea whether they actually need it, because the mechanism that drives the support is all wrong. 

But what are they to do? 

The truth is this is the best of a series of bad options. Cap the fuel tax? A lot of people argue that. Sure, then millionaires get Ferrari's full of gas cheaper. 

It is the weakness of having a populous who has come to rely on government too heavily. 

Itches are scratched for political ends, not economic solutions. 

This looks more like a dartboard gesture than an actual economic solution. 

How many ways can you slice the petrol handout?&nbsp;
Many.&nbsp;
The Government is to be commended on restraint, and I hope that message of restraint has sunk into the New Zealanders who think we have money on trees and debt is never to be paid back.&nbsp;
And for those who think Hipkins, Robertson, and Ardern were economic geniuses, Fitch have provided the wake-up call. &nbsp;
The bill on interest alone for our debt is heading towards $10 billion a year. We have no room to move.&nbsp;
We commend them too on the $370 million coming out of the operating Budget. In other words, no new borrowing.&nbsp;
But its downhill from there I'm afraid.&nbsp;
$50 a week for a year, or until 91 octane is at $3 or less for four weeks.&nbsp;
In that random mechanism is the weakness of not only government, but relying on government.&nbsp;
What's targeted about $50 for certain people based on the fuel price? How many of those people getting $50 drive an EV and their fuel bill is unaffected?&nbsp;
How many don't use much fuel anyway, no matter what the cost? What about the city dwellers who walk a lot?&nbsp;
I drive 12km a day, so 60km a week. If I do 10L per hundred, that's six litres. That's $35-45 a week for fuel.&nbsp;
I'm winning. The Government is giving me free money that pays for my fuel bill. That's nuts.&nbsp;
The people affected by fuel are the people who travel the distance. It has nothing to do with income. It's miles, but a government can't hand out money in that way.&nbsp;
So how targeted is this actually? Yes, low incomes are affected in greater percentage terms when prices rise, but only if the price is a major for you. Petrol might be more expensive, but it's only a burden if you use a lot of petrol.&nbsp;
Money is going to people who we have no idea whether they actually need it, because the mechanism that drives the support is all wrong.&nbsp;
But what are they to do?&nbsp;
The truth is this is the best of a series of bad options. Cap the fuel tax? A lot of people argue that. Sure, then millionaires get Ferrari's full of gas cheaper.&nbsp;
It is the weakness of having a populous who has come to rely on government too heavily.&nbsp;
Itches are scratched for political ends, not economic solutions.&nbsp;
This looks more like a dartboard gesture than an actual economic solution.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: A gesture, or an actual economic solution?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b01a5e61-5b20-4560-975d-b41701594b74/transcript

Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran are already underway and Iranian officials are very keen to make a deal. 

Pakistan's offering to hold talks and Iranian officials have told CBS its mediators are involved in a potential precursor to discussions. 

The US President delayed the Strait of Hormuz reopening deadline after what he says were positive talks with Iran. 

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that while multiple countries are offering to host peace talks, there is currently no confirmation anyone from Iran would be attending. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran are already underway and Iranian officials are very keen to make a deal.&nbsp;
Pakistan's offering to hold talks and Iranian officials have told CBS its mediators are involved in a potential precursor to discussions.&nbsp;
The US President delayed the Strait of Hormuz reopening deadline after what he says were positive talks with Iran.&nbsp;
US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking that while multiple countries are offering to host peace talks, there is currently no confirmation anyone from Iran would be attending.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Richard Arnold: US Correspondent discusses the latest from the conflict between the US and Iran

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c81961c0-bde0-4e04-bcb2-b41701578ddc/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25th of March, Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses the new fuel relief package and new All Black's assistant coach Neil Barnes explains his mentality heading into the role.  

Big changes are coming to Lotto that will make winning the big prize harder, but we’ll see more people winning some of the minor prizes. 

Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk cash for access events and the fuel package 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 25th of March, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-the-governments-relief-package-for-lower-to-middle-income-working-families-as-fuel-prices-continue-rising/">Finance Minister Nicola Willis</a> discusses the new fuel relief package and <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/neil-barnes-all-blacks-assistant-coach-on-his-new-position-the-team-going-forward/">new All Black's assistant coach Neil Barnes</a> explains his mentality heading into the role. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jason-delamore-lotto-ceo-on-the-changes-to-powerball-and-the-jackpots/">Big changes are coming to Lotto</a> that will make winning the big prize harder, but we’ll see more people winning some of the minor prizes.&nbsp;
Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk cash for access events and the fuel package 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: 25 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fdd614fb-dbb8-4548-8414-b417014c8f35/transcript

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on political cash for access fundraisers, the Government's fuel relief package

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