There's a hope US President Donald Trump's attention isn't drawn to the Cook Islands-China saga. 

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will travel to Beijing in the coming days, where he's expected to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership. 

He says it's about expanding economic opportunities. 

MFAT says it would have expected to be fully consulted on such a deal but wasn't.  

Auckland University international relations expert Stephen Hoadley told Mike Hosking Trump's been taking a hard line with China. 

He says Trump will want his allies to do the same, so New Zealand allowing one of its realm countries to slide into China’s orbit could reflect badly on New Zealand. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There's a hope US President Donald Trump's attention isn't drawn to the Cook Islands-China saga.&nbsp;
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will travel to Beijing in the coming days, where he's expected to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership.&nbsp;
He says it's about expanding economic opportunities.&nbsp;
MFAT says it would have expected to be fully consulted on such a deal but wasn't. &nbsp;
Auckland University international relations expert Stephen Hoadley told Mike Hosking Trump's been taking a hard line with China.&nbsp;
He says Trump will want his allies to do the same, so New Zealand allowing one of its realm countries to slide into China’s orbit could reflect badly on New Zealand.&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

Stephen Hoadley: Auckland University international relations expert on the Cook Islands-China deal, Donald Trump

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5f9517f6-9eba-42a7-b5eb-b27c01375150/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of December, we cover off the better-than-expected Q3 GDP number, which is signalling some hope for next year. 

Jennie Wyllie has resigned as the CEO of Netball NZ, but does it need to go further than that? 

And for the final time for the year Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson joined Heather to Wrap the Week and discuss their Christmas plans. 

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 with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of December, we cover off the <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/richard-prebble-former-associate-finance-minister-on-the-gdp-path-of-the-economy/">better-than-expected Q3 GDP number,</a> which is signalling some hope for next year.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/kruze-tangira-former-mens-netball-skipper-and-commentator-on-the-resignation-of-jennie-wyllie-as-netball-nz-ceo/">Jennie Wyllie has resigned as the CEO of Netball NZ</a>, but does it need to go further than that?&nbsp;
And for the final time for the year Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson joined Heather to Wrap the Week and discuss their Christmas plans.&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: 19 December 2025 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3caabb0b-9ba8-4e98-b3ba-b3b7014c92c2/transcript

It’s that time of the year where we pick our politician of the year. 

For me, it's the same person as last year. 

Political commentators, myself included at times, have an unfortunate tendency to sometimes choose politicians because they’re good at playing the political game. 

And if you’re into that, you might pick Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for collecting her Time magazine award. 

Or Chris Hipkins for resurrecting his party’s fortunes from a horror 2023 election result. 

Or Labour’s Arena Williams for giving good speeches, or Shane Jones for getting attention. 

But at a time when we all acknowledge our country is in a bit of a polycrisis, slipping further behind the pack, I think the most important measure is not whether a politician is good at politics, it's whether a politician is making a difference. 

And no other politician is making as big a difference as quickly, in an area as important, as Erica Stanford. 

Already kids are learning more than they have been for years. The results from her phonics changes a couple of months ago were so dramatic a staff member in her office burst into tears. 

She’s doing this despite increased resistance from teachers' unions. 

Parents are raving and teachers themselves are noticing the difference. 

Nothing is more important than our kids and educating them properly. 

And on the politics, she can play politics as well as anyone. You watch closely as her opponents learn that lesson. 

Just ask Willow-Jean Prime. 

So, Erica Stanford it is. 

Because nothing beats having a good idea, being brave enough to execute it and helping to turn this country around. 

It’s that time of the year where we pick our politician of the year.&nbsp;
For me, it's the same person as last year.&nbsp;
Political commentators, myself included at times, have an unfortunate tendency to sometimes choose politicians because they’re good at playing the political game.&nbsp;
And if you’re into that, you might pick Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for collecting her Time magazine award.&nbsp;
Or Chris Hipkins for resurrecting his party’s fortunes from a horror 2023 election result.&nbsp;
Or Labour’s Arena Williams for giving good speeches, or Shane Jones for getting attention.&nbsp;
But at a time when we all acknowledge our country is in a bit of a polycrisis, slipping further behind the pack, I think the most important measure is not whether a politician is good at politics, it's whether a politician is making a difference.&nbsp;
And no other politician is making as big a difference as quickly, in an area as important, as Erica Stanford.&nbsp;
Already kids are learning more than they have been for years. The results from her phonics changes a couple of months ago were so dramatic a staff member in her office burst into tears.&nbsp;
She’s doing this despite increased resistance from teachers' unions.&nbsp;
Parents are raving and teachers themselves are noticing the difference.&nbsp;
Nothing is more important than our kids and educating them properly.&nbsp;
And on the politics, she can play politics as well as anyone. You watch closely as her opponents learn that lesson.&nbsp;
Just ask Willow-Jean Prime.&nbsp;
So, Erica Stanford it is.&nbsp;
Because nothing beats having a good idea, being brave enough to execute it and helping to turn this country around.&nbsp;

Heather du Plessis-Allan: This is my politician of the year

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4fd42e28-6ff6-4a03-ab2c-b3b70156b2dc/transcript

For the final time this year, Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week that Was.

They discussed the Vanity Fair photoshoot of the Trump Administration, festive clothing, and their plans for the Christmas holidays. 

LISTEN ABOVE

For the final time this year, Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week that Was.
They discussed the Vanity Fair photoshoot of the Trump Administration, festive clothing, and their plans for the Christmas holidays.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Wrapping the Week with Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson: Christmas plans, Vanity Fair photoshoot, holidays

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4be08be3-710f-446f-80cb-b3b70154e92f/transcript

Stephen Hoadley: Auckland University international relations expert on the Cook Islands-China deal, Donald Trump

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