Power companies are warning the road to fully renewable energy will be a bumpy one.  

The big four power companies will co-invest in an energy stockpile which will include 600-thousand tonnes of coal.  

Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says power companies have a commitment to renewables.  

He told Mike Hosking Mercury has invested a billion dollars into geothermal and wind power, but there needs to be a backup.  

Hamilton says when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining, there needs to be a more solid source of energy. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Power companies are warning the road to fully renewable energy will be a bumpy one. &nbsp;
The big four power companies will co-invest in an energy stockpile which will include 600-thousand tonnes of coal. &nbsp;
Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says power companies have a commitment to renewables. &nbsp;
He told Mike Hosking Mercury has invested a billion dollars into geothermal and wind power, but there needs to be a backup. &nbsp;
Hamilton says when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining, there needs to be a more solid source of energy.&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

Stew Hamilton: Mercury CEO on the Huntly Power Station deal, road to renewable energy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1c74df90-cc65-4f55-9dc1-b330014b3ea1/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 9th of March, we look at week two of the war and whether it's about to start hitting retail prices.

The Prime Minister joins and talks his eventful weekend after the bad poll, plus whether we are looking at repatriation flights in the Middle East.

Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the F1, Auckland FC, Rennie vs Joseph and the might Warriors!

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 Monday the 9th of March, we look at week two of the war and whether it's about to start hitting retail prices.
The Prime Minister joins and talks his eventful weekend after the bad poll, plus whether we are looking at repatriation flights in the Middle East.
Jason Pine and Andrew Saville talk the F1, Auckland FC, Rennie vs Joseph and the might Warriors!
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 09 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dca60f9d-e353-4206-a131-b407014c9263/transcript

Staying the course when things are tough is a skill. I think you either have it or you don’t.

Chris Luxon will not get rolled, but he may quit. That would be a mistake of epic proportions.

What would drive me, if I was him, would be rational thought.

1) This election is not about personality, it's about economic management. On that the Government are tracking well.

2) The internal polling within the National Party is fine. It does not reflect the Curia poll that the media made so much of.

The unfortunate thing about Friday's pre-hyped release is it came at the same time Luxon had had a bad week on the war.

That week by the way, was nowhere near as bad as some made it out to be. But the two events came together for a good week-end headline.

3) This would be the bit that would focus my mind - it's only Hipkins.

Seriously, you're only lining up Labour as an opponent. On the economy. The people who wrecked the place two and a bit years ago are asking the voter to come back and do a bit more of it. You don’t believe me? Read Thomas Coughlan's piece with Barbara Edmonds.

4) Even if you take the poll seriously, which you shouldn’t. There is a one seat shift, so it's within a margin of error.

5) The economy will save you. You campaigned on a turnaround and the turnaround is real.

Given we are voting on economics, the National leader is not a deal-breaker.

If you are voting on interest rates and jobs, does Chris Bishop or Erica Stanford really change your view of your lot?

They are good people and good talents, but they aren't game-changers and they won't get you a job any more than Luxon will.

6) Having done the hard yards, why quit now? The prize is just down the road and with a second term perceptions change.

7) The coalition as an operation is a success. Three parties have, and do, work well together. It's MMP in action.

The alternative? Hipkins talking about a minority Government, a Green Party and extremism and a Māori Party that will not be back in anywhere near the numbers they have now. It's not a combo.

This must all sit heavily with Luxon. How could it not?

But that is what leadership is about. That is what you chased and bought into.

If you think you will fail you will automatically be successful.

LISTEN ABOVE

Staying the course when things are tough is a skill. I think you either have it or you don’t.
Chris Luxon will not get rolled, but he may quit. That would be a mistake of epic proportions.
What would drive me, if I was him, would be rational thought.
1) This election is not about personality, it's about economic management. On that the Government are tracking well.
2) The internal polling within the National Party is fine. It does not reflect the Curia poll that the media made so much of.
The unfortunate thing about Friday's pre-hyped release is it came at the same time Luxon had had a bad week on the war.
That week by the way, was nowhere near as bad as some made it out to be. But the two events came together for a good week-end headline.
3) This would be the bit that would focus my mind - it's only Hipkins.
Seriously, you're only lining up Labour as an opponent. On the economy. The people who wrecked the place two and a bit years ago are asking the voter to come back and do a bit more of it. You don’t believe me? Read Thomas Coughlan's piece with Barbara Edmonds.
4) Even if you take the poll seriously, which you shouldn’t. There is a one seat shift, so it's within a margin of error.
5) The economy will save you. You campaigned on a turnaround and the turnaround is real.
Given we are voting on economics, the National leader is not a deal-breaker.
If you are voting on interest rates and jobs, does Chris Bishop or Erica Stanford really change your view of your lot?
They are good people and good talents, but they aren't game-changers and they won't get you a job any more than Luxon will.
6) Having done the hard yards, why quit now? The prize is just down the road and with a second term perceptions change.
7) The coalition as an operation is a success. Three parties have, and do, work well together. It's MMP in action.
The alternative? Hipkins talking about a minority Government, a Green Party and extremism and a Māori Party that will not be back in anywhere near the numbers they have now. It's not a combo.
This must all sit heavily with Luxon. How could it not?
But that is what leadership is about. That is what you chased and bought into.
If you think you will fail you will automatically be successful.
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: Luxon quitting would be an epic mistake

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4b106a96-73e7-462b-b929-b40701461d4c/transcript

A surge in enrolments has Auckland University's campus buzzing.

Total semester one enrolments have topped 47,000, up 8% from the same time last year.

Undergraduate numbers are driving much of the growth rising 10%, which is nearly three thousand more students.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Education Sarah Young told Mike Hosking that several factors are driving the increase.

She says more students go to university when unemployment is high, while they've put a lot of work into attracting international students.

LISTEN ABOVE

A surge in enrolments has Auckland University's campus buzzing.
Total semester one enrolments have topped 47,000, up 8% from the same time last year.
Undergraduate numbers are driving much of the growth rising 10%, which is nearly three thousand more students.
Deputy Vice Chancellor of Education Sarah Young told Mike Hosking that several factors are driving the increase.
She says more students go to university when unemployment is high, while they've put a lot of work into attracting international students.
LISTEN ABOVE

Sarah Young: Auckland University's Deputy Vice Chancellor of Education says enrolment numbers are surging

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a729318e-ff95-4cf5-b3e5-b40701432331/transcript

Stew Hamilton: Mercury CEO on the Huntly Power Station deal, road to renewable energy

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