Today on Politics Wednesday, National’s Mark Mitchell and Labour’s Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to break down the biggest stories of the week thus far. 

They discussed the latest education results, and whether political debates in their current form are still worth it, or if they’re just a waste of time. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Today on Politics Wednesday, National’s Mark Mitchell and Labour’s Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to break down the biggest stories of the week thus far.&nbsp;
They discussed the latest education results, and whether political debates in their current form are still worth it, or if they’re just a waste of time.&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 education, political debates

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1a16e5b9-ef24-4f76-ba52-b4e20153e9de/transcript

What are the rules of engagement in this election campaign? 

Prominence was given by media for a good chunk of yesterday to Kieran McAnulty's crack at Christopher Luxon and how Kiwi families were $6000 worse off under National. 

Now for a start, it isn't National, it’s the Government, and the Government is three parties. 

So McAnulty got his headline. If you don’t read past a headline, you never discover what a crock it all is. Should media give away such easy coverage, should any claim be able to be a headline no matter how absurd? 

$120 a week, Kieran goes on, swallowed up by higher prices. Higher prices for what? 

Food, petrol, power, rates, healthcare, and getting kids to school. 

Let's dissect this: food is not the Government's policy. They don’t regulate food, peripherally, and we have had the debate. They may, or may not have a bunch of settings around market participation, the Commerce Commission may or may not look at mergers and competition generally, but governments do not price food. 

Petrol? Petrol is oil, oil is the war – surely we know that. 

Power? The government does not set the power price. Ironically you could blame Labour for cancelling oil and gas exploration, which put pressure on the spot price, but the government does not control power, nor rates – councils control rates. Councils are a separate thing. Surely we know that too? 

Healthcare? What's that mean? The GP? It makes no sense. Public health is free – it doesn’t carry a cost. Insurance?  

That’s private, the government doesn’t control that either. Getting kids to school? Once again doesn’t make sense – the petrol? Can you blame things twice? Uniforms? The government doesn’t set a price – schools run uniforms. 

It’s a lesson in a couple of things:  

1) How much Labour wants you to believe governments directly control things when they don’t  

2) How easy it is to create a headline with BS 

Does anyone check this stuff? Push back, ask questions, or is this campaign literally a free for all where you make stuff up until you're called out. 

If you are ever called out – which in McAnulty's case was not until now. 

What are the rules of engagement in this election campaign?&nbsp;
Prominence was given by media for a good chunk of yesterday to Kieran McAnulty's crack at Christopher Luxon and how Kiwi families were $6000 worse off under National.&nbsp;
Now for a start, it isn't National, it’s the Government, and the Government is three parties.&nbsp;
So McAnulty got his headline. If you don’t read past a headline, you never discover what a crock it all is. Should media give away such easy coverage, should any claim be able to be a headline no matter how absurd?&nbsp;
$120 a week, Kieran goes on, swallowed up by higher prices. Higher prices for what?&nbsp;
Food, petrol, power, rates, healthcare, and getting kids to school.&nbsp;
Let's dissect this: food is not the Government's policy. They don’t regulate food, peripherally, and we have had the debate. They may, or may not have a bunch of settings around market participation, the Commerce Commission may or may not look at mergers and competition generally, but governments do not price food.&nbsp;
Petrol? Petrol is oil, oil is the war – surely we know that.&nbsp;
Power? The government does not set the power price. Ironically you could blame Labour for cancelling oil and gas exploration, which put pressure on the spot price, but the government does not control power, nor rates – councils control rates. Councils are a separate thing. Surely we know that too?&nbsp;
Healthcare? What's that mean? The GP? It makes no sense. Public health is free – it doesn’t carry a cost. Insurance? &nbsp;
That’s private, the government doesn’t control that either. Getting kids to school? Once again doesn’t make sense – the petrol? Can you blame things twice? Uniforms? The government doesn’t set a price – schools run uniforms.&nbsp;
It’s a lesson in a couple of things: &nbsp;
1) How much Labour wants you to believe governments directly control things when they don’t &nbsp;
2) How easy it is to create a headline with BS&nbsp;
Does anyone check this stuff? Push back, ask questions, or is this campaign literally a free for all where you make stuff up until you're called out.&nbsp;
If you are ever called out – which in McAnulty's case was not until now.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: The rules of engagement need to be clearer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fbaf1fbf-4cdd-4007-bbec-b4e2016d9251/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14th of October, we watched the multi-party debate so you didn't have to and have condensed it all into a handy three-minute package. 

Air New Zealand are on to talk about their punctuality, fuel, and ending the codeshare with Qantas. 

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen debate all things education and whether debates in their standard form are still worth it, or are a waste of time 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 14th of October, we watched the multi-party debate so you didn't have to and have condensed it all into a handy three-minute package.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/kate-boyer-air-new-zealand-chief-operations-officer-on-the-airline-ranking-third-in-asia-pacific-for-punctuality/">Air New Zealand</a> are on to talk about their punctuality, fuel, and ending the codeshare with Qantas.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-nationals-mark-mitchell-and-labours-ginny-andersen-talk-education-political-debates/">Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen</a> debate all things education and whether debates in their standard form are still worth it, or are a waste of time 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: 14 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/426dcb4b-058a-4659-bee0-b4e2014cf31d/transcript

Our economy seems to be faring better than our neighbour across the Tasman. 

The International Monetary Fund has issued a stark outlook for the Australian economy, as it’s dealing with some of the worst inflation in the developed world. 

It’s forecasting GDP growth of just 1.6% next year, and the biggest rise in unemployment among developed economies – going from 4.4% to 4.7%.  

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking in growth terms, particularly compared to Australia, we look great. 

She says we’re growing out of a hole, with 2.6% growth coming off a weak period, compared to their 2.1% off the back of a quite strong period of growth. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Our economy seems to be faring better than our neighbour across the Tasman.&nbsp;
The International Monetary Fund has issued a stark outlook for the Australian economy, as it’s dealing with some of the worst inflation in the developed world.&nbsp;
It’s forecasting GDP growth of just 1.6% next year, and the biggest rise in unemployment among developed economies – going from 4.4% to 4.7%. &nbsp;
ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking in growth terms, particularly compared to Australia, we look great.&nbsp;
She says we’re growing out of a hole, with 2.6% growth coming off a weak period, compared to their 2.1% off the back of a quite strong period of growth.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Sharon Zollner: ANZ Chief Economist on the IMF's warnings about Australia's economy and inflation, comparison with New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3e63090e-4b50-4cfc-a177-b4e2014c89c8/transcript

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen talk education, political debates

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