Tourism New Zealand is feeling positive about tourist spending this summer following the release of the latest travel figures from Stats NZ. 

The September 2023 quarter saw an increase in travel exports to $2.48 billion up from $1.65 billion this time last year.

Chief Executive René de Monchy says this is the first summer, post COVID, where travel from significant markets like China is possible.

He says last summer, which is our peak season, was not yet a fully open summer.

De Monchy says we're already seeing a strong return out of places like Australia and North America.

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Tourism New Zealand is feeling positive about tourist spending this summer following the release of the latest travel figures from Stats NZ.  
The September 2023 quarter saw an increase in travel exports to $2.48 billion up from $1.65 billion this time last year. 
Chief Executive René de Monchy says this is the first summer, post COVID, where travel from significant markets like China is possible. 
He says last summer, which is our peak season, was not yet a fully open summer. 
De Monchy says we're already seeing a strong return out of places like Australia and North America. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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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

René de Monchy: Tourism NZ CEO on the latest travel figures from Stats NZ

Is it 1-1? 

The Prime Minister dug himself a hole over Iran. 

Barbara Edmonds dug herself a hole in the NZ Herald. 

As far as holes go, I regard the Luxon hole as slightly less problematic, given the war is not in our direct purview and there is nothing we can do about it. 

But it does display the ongoing issue the Prime Minister appears to have with many New Zealanders: he doesn’t look like he is confident and he doesn’t tell it like it is. 

In a world where people who tell it like it is generally succeed, he is still playing 'Mr Nice Guy' and getting trapped by a media pack who love the smell of blood. 

Edmonds is a real worry. She too, is nice. So nice, she told us quite openly getting a surplus isn't happening anytime soon and she doesn’t have a clue how to pay for the most expensive promise they have made – restoring pay equity. 

You can argue around the dual mandate for the Reserve Bank but that’s wonk's territory. Dollars and cents are real and it's our back pocket that is affected. 

A sad outworking of MMP is we have an increasing number of inexperienced players in the game of running the joint. 

Luxon knows business, which ties into the economy, which is why things are starting to turn for us. This Government has done a decent job on it. 

He is an amateur on foreign policy. You only had to listen to Winston Peters yesterday on this show to know that people who have been there, done that, have seen the world change therefore, can explain it. 

And Winston doesn’t take crap from juniors, which is what too much of the Press Gallery is made up of. The nuance and sophistication of reporting is largely gone and replaced by clickbaiters and Luxon, being too nice a guy and too inexperienced in certain areas, walks right into it. 

Barbara on the other hand is entitled to her views. But this is why Labour won't win the election. She has clearly learned nothing from watching Grant Robertson butcher the place and because that was only three years ago the memories of the voters are still sharp. 

So in a guns at dawn, Luxon wins because foreign policy jibber-jabber isn't as serious as economic sabotage and incompetence. 

Is it 1-1?&nbsp;
The Prime Minister dug himself a hole over Iran.&nbsp;
Barbara Edmonds dug herself a hole in the NZ Herald.&nbsp;
As far as holes go, I regard the Luxon hole as slightly less problematic, given the war is not in our direct purview and there is nothing we can do about it.&nbsp;
But it does display the ongoing issue the Prime Minister appears to have with many New Zealanders: he doesn’t look like he is confident and he doesn’t tell it like it is.&nbsp;
In a world where people who tell it like it is generally succeed, he is still playing 'Mr Nice Guy' and getting trapped by a media pack who love the smell of blood.&nbsp;
Edmonds is a real worry. She too, is nice. So nice, she told us quite openly getting a surplus isn't happening anytime soon and she doesn’t have a clue how to pay for the most expensive promise they have made – restoring pay equity.&nbsp;
You can argue around the dual mandate for the Reserve Bank but that’s wonk's territory. Dollars and cents are real and it's our back pocket that is affected.&nbsp;
A sad outworking of MMP is we have an increasing number of inexperienced players in the game of running the joint.&nbsp;
Luxon knows business, which ties into the economy, which is why things are starting to turn for us. This Government has done a decent job on it.&nbsp;
He is an amateur on foreign policy. You only had to listen to Winston Peters yesterday on this show to know that people who have been there, done that, have seen the world change therefore, can explain it.&nbsp;
And Winston doesn’t take crap from juniors, which is what too much of the Press Gallery is made up of. The nuance and sophistication of reporting is largely gone and replaced by clickbaiters and Luxon, being too nice a guy and too inexperienced in certain areas, walks right into it.&nbsp;
Barbara on the other hand is entitled to her views. But this is why Labour won't win the election. She has clearly learned nothing from watching Grant Robertson butcher the place and because that was only three years ago the memories of the voters are still sharp.&nbsp;
So in a guns at dawn, Luxon wins because foreign policy jibber-jabber isn't as serious as economic sabotage and incompetence.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Christopher Luxon vs Barbara Edmonds

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5656c9b1-1cad-4587-8f12-b403016bbfc2/transcript

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says it's special relationship with the US is not dead.  

US President Donald Trump yesterday described the UK's war effort as disappointing and Starmer was 'no Winston Churchill'. 

US and Israeli forces have bombed more than 2000 targets and killed close to 800 people in Iran since first launching attacks on Saturday. 

UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it’s difficult for Starmer because this is the one area where he was successful in treading the line between keeping Trump on side and staying sane, and that’s now gone. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says it's special relationship with the US is not dead. &nbsp;
US President Donald Trump yesterday described the UK's war effort as disappointing and Starmer was 'no Winston Churchill'.&nbsp;
US and Israeli forces have bombed more than 2000 targets and killed close to 800 people in Iran since first launching attacks on Saturday.&nbsp;
UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it’s difficult for Starmer because this is the one area where he was successful in treading the line between keeping Trump on side and staying sane, and that’s now gone.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Rod Liddle: UK Correspondent on the UK's response to the Iran conflict, Trump's rebuke

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4e3b8d55-b4e8-42e5-8062-b403015df6c6/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of March, our exports are booming but at the same time, the risk of an extremist attack on NZ soil is rising, NZSIS is warning. 

NZ Rugby Chair David Kirk pops into studio after Dave Rennie was named as the new All Blacks coach. 

Warriors Coach Andrew Webster explains why it's our year as we kick off our NRL season against the Roosters Friday night. 

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 Thursday 5th of March, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/katherine-rich-business-nz-ceo-on-exports-rising-to-299-billion-in-the-december-quarter/">our exports are booming</a> but at the same time, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-hampton-nzsis-director-general-on-the-agencys-view-that-a-terror-attack-like-the-bondi-beach-shooting-could-happen-in-nz/">risk of an extremist attack on NZ soil is rising, NZSIS is warning</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/david-kirk-nz-rugby-chair-on-the-appointment-of-dave-rennie-as-all-blacks-head-coach/">NZ Rugby Chair David Kirk</a> pops into studio after Dave Rennie was named as the new All Blacks coach.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/andrew-webster-warriors-coach-ahead-of-their-first-match-of-the-nrl-season/">Warriors Coach Andrew Webster</a> explains why it's our year as we kick off our NRL season against the Roosters Friday night.&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: 05 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ef893de7-8a6e-4397-8aae-b403014c8ec9/transcript

René de Monchy: Tourism NZ CEO on the latest travel figures from Stats NZ

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