There will be further cuts to Government agency spending, to be diverted into priority areas. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed a $1.3 billion operating allowance – plummeting from the $2.4 billion estimate. 

Willis says they've reviewed funding line-by-line. 

National’s Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking they have to cut spending as the reality is the country went from $58 billion of debt in 2017 to $175 billion in 2024. 

He says we went from paying $3.6 billion in interest a year to $8.9 billion, and we cannot afford that. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There will be further cuts to Government agency spending, to be diverted into priority areas.&nbsp;
Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed a $1.3 billion operating allowance – plummeting from the $2.4 billion estimate.&nbsp;
Willis says they've reviewed funding line-by-line.&nbsp;
National’s Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking they have to cut spending as the reality is the country went from $58 billion of debt in 2017 to $175 billion in 2024.&nbsp;
He says we went from paying $3.6 billion in interest a year to $8.9 billion, and we cannot afford that.&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 talk crime, the 2025 Budget

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9c383113-6b41-4f82-8751-b2ce016347d2/transcript

I have been surprised, and not surprised, by two aspects of the Opportunity Party. 

1) I'm not surprised by the media's fascination, 

2) I am surprised at the amount of angst shown by people increasingly alarmed at the prospect they may be heading for Parliament and some sort of influence. 

The media, and especially digital media, sadly require these days astonishing amounts of content for the constant churn appetite that they, ironically, have created and so a shiny new political party was always going to get plenty of attention. 

But I have never seen the angst this party has created among those who write, text, and talk to me. Small parties have come and gone; Social Credit, Values, the Alliance Party, various forms of the Māori Party, United – they've all had a burst of sunlight. 

United got the worm and flew for a while but even in its original guise as TOP, they never came close to the noise the Opportunity Party creates at the moment. 

Here is the good news —unless you are an actual fan of theirs— they will get a level of exposure that will ultimately see them combust. 

Even Helen Clark on social media yesterday called it fantasy dressed as policy. 

The leader of the party appeared on Q&A and got roasted. 

Every time she fronts, as articulate as Ms Wong may be, a new chink in the Opportunity armour is exposed. The latest is this mad board overruling elected MPs. 

Now, far from being frightening, this is all good stuff. This is democracy in action. There is nothing to be fearful of here. 

Knowledge is always power and in this case the knowledge is what leads to Opportunity most likely not getting across the 5%. 

This country is not up for upheaval. We don’t want, or vote for, upheaval. 

We vote for variations of what we get sick of, hence bits of National morph into NZ First or ACT, and bits of Labour turn into the Greens, or Alliance, or United. 

Opportunity is a lab experiment, hence the media interest and alarmism. 

They are not serious people. Helen Clark sees it, I see it, Luxon saw it when he ruled them out. 

By November 7th enough of the rest will see it as well. 

So relax. As you were. 

I have been surprised, and not surprised, by two aspects of the Opportunity Party.&nbsp;
1) I'm not surprised by the media's fascination,&nbsp;
2) I am surprised at the amount of angst shown by people increasingly alarmed at the prospect they may be heading for Parliament and some sort of influence.&nbsp;
The media, and especially digital media, sadly require these days astonishing amounts of content for the constant churn appetite that they, ironically, have created and so a shiny new political party was always going to get plenty of attention.&nbsp;
But I have never seen the angst this party has created among those who write, text, and talk to me. Small parties have come and gone; Social Credit, Values, the Alliance Party, various forms of the Māori Party, United – they've all had a burst of sunlight.&nbsp;
United got the worm and flew for a while but even in its original guise as TOP, they never came close to the noise the Opportunity Party creates at the moment.&nbsp;
Here is the good news —unless you are an actual fan of theirs— they will get a level of exposure that will ultimately see them combust.&nbsp;
Even Helen Clark on social media yesterday called it fantasy dressed as policy.&nbsp;
The leader of the party appeared on Q&amp;A and got roasted.&nbsp;
Every time she fronts, as articulate as Ms Wong may be, a new chink in the Opportunity armour is exposed. The latest is this mad board overruling elected MPs.&nbsp;
Now, far from being frightening, this is all good stuff. This is democracy in action. There is nothing to be fearful of here.&nbsp;
Knowledge is always power and in this case the knowledge is what leads to Opportunity most likely not getting across the 5%.&nbsp;
This country is not up for upheaval. We don’t want, or vote for, upheaval.&nbsp;
We vote for variations of what we get sick of, hence bits of National morph into NZ First or ACT, and bits of Labour turn into the Greens, or Alliance, or United.&nbsp;
Opportunity is a lab experiment, hence the media interest and alarmism.&nbsp;
They are not serious people. Helen Clark sees it, I see it, Luxon saw it when he ruled them out.&nbsp;
By November 7th enough of the rest will see it as well.&nbsp;
So relax. As you were.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Why all the angst around the Opportunity Party?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a4b687d0-d81e-4670-8ea5-b4a901747edc/transcript

Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is on a different sort of tour than he’s used to. 

He’s written a book, ‘Home Again’, that explores his 37 year career with a band that helped define New Zealand rock music. 

It’s filled with personal stories both from Toogood’s childhood and the years Shihad spent on the road – touring and performing around the world. 

While he’s not necessarily one to look backwards, Toogood found writing the book to be a cathartic experience.  

“I didn’t realise it, I mean it sounds preposterous, I didn’t realise how much my whole life was revolved around music,” he told Mike Hosking. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is on a different sort of tour than he’s used to.&nbsp;
He’s written a book, ‘Home Again’, that explores his 37 year career with a band that helped define New Zealand rock music.&nbsp;
It’s filled with personal stories both from Toogood’s childhood and the years Shihad spent on the road – touring and performing around the world.&nbsp;
While he’s not necessarily one to look backwards, Toogood found writing the book to be a cathartic experience. &nbsp;
“I didn’t realise it, I mean it sounds preposterous, I didn’t realise how much my whole life was revolved around music,” he told Mike Hosking.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Jon Toogood: Former Shihad frontman on his life, music career, and new book 'Home Again'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9a98bdb3-86c0-4fb2-9517-b4a9016af67a/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of August, Stats NZ data shows our inflation is continuing to cool, and there’s finally some good news for the Port of Tauranga. 

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has announced yet another report on a second Auckland Harbour crossing. 

Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is back on the show to chat about his new book about his time changing the rock landscape in this country. 

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 Tuesday 18th of August, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/mark-smith-asb-senior-economist-on-the-data-showing-inflation-is-cooling-as-fuel-prices-drop/">Stats NZ data</a> shows our inflation is continuing to cool, and there’s finally some good news for the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/leonard-sampson-port-of-tauranga-ceo-on-receiving-conditional-fast-track-approval-for-the-stella-passage-development/">Port of Tauranga</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-bishop-transport-minister-on-the-government-continuing-to-explore-options-for-a-second-waitemata-harbour-crossing-in-auckland/">Transport Minister Chris Bishop</a> has announced yet another report on a second Auckland Harbour crossing.&nbsp;
Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is back on the show to chat about his new book about his time changing the rock landscape in this country.&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: 18 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/40a8aac4-f5b1-4857-91a2-b4a9015d72a7/transcript

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen talk crime, the 2025 Budget

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