The Mike Hosking Breakfast

The funny thing about Christopher Luxon ruling out the Opportunity Party was I already thought he had.
Or if they hadn't, I assumed they would, so yesterday as I watched came as no surprise.
What possible connection is there between a centre-right coalition that extends out to the NZ First nationalism, to the ACT libertarianism, and the National low tax, classic centrist view of the world, and a party that hasn’t even got the 5% and wants to hand out money to everyone, whether they need it or want it or not?
The Opportunity Party is the darling of the media who are showing either another form of bias previously reserved for Labour and the Greens, or an unhealthy obsession, driven perhaps by boredom and the light relief of a new game in town.
Either way the fact is they have had an astonishing amount of coverage for a group that isn't in Parliament, nor have they produced a poll that gets them there.
In other words, we dabble with unusual amounts of energy in mindless speculation.
Also playing into the party's hands is this absurd idea, although clever from a marketing point of view, that they remain open to talk to anyone interested.
The fact that that isn't realistic doesn’t seem to occur to anyone currently knee-deep in their obsession.
My broad rule of thumb when dealing with anyone showing signs of life post an election is at least three credible polls that have them above, and preferably significantly above, the threshold, which in our system is 5%.
They have no candidate that credibly looks to win a seat so the 5% is their sole route in. And as we have said, there isn't a single poll that has them in that position.
So we are, as was pointed out by the Prime Minister, yet again dabbing in a seemingly never-ending pool of speculation and guess work.
Labour could well work with them because they are desperate to replace the Māori Party and because they like taxing people, which also dovetails in with the Green's view of the world.
This is bad news for Opportunity, who still want you to believe they are centrist when they are no such thing.
There isn't a centre right party in the world who has ever spruiked universal incomes.
So they aren't on 5% and they aren't centrist or anywhere close.
So the Government ruling them out is obvious. It's not a surprise, or a shock, or news.
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The appointment of Andy Burnham as UK Prime Minister seems to be having a positive effect on his party.
For the first time in over a year, Labour has overtaken Reform UK in a voter intention poll – Labour rising to 28% while Reform dropped to sit on 24%.
UK Correspondent Enda Brady told Mike Hosking it’s still very early days for Burnham, but clearly having a more dynamic leader and a better communicator is having a huge impact.
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Rugby league is on a roll – due in no small part to the efforts of Peter V’Landys.
Since joining the Australian Rugby League Commission in 2018 and taking up the role of ARLC and NRL Chairman in 2019, he’s got quite the list of achievements.
V’Landys was behind the Las Vegas expansion, the plan to expand the number of teams involved, and most recently, the $5.3 billion broadcast deal.
NRL’s audience has also doubled over the last five years, thanks to the fan-focused changes they made to the game.
“Unfortunately, in a lot of sports they’re very insular, they live in a cocoon and take all the advice off the participants, and the players, and the coaches, etc,” V’Landys told Mike Hosking.
“We wanted to make sure that we accommodated the needs of the fan,” he explained.
And what fans needed, V’Landys says, was less predictable play, the ball in play for longer, and more entertainment.
“And that's exactly what we did.”
“In New Zealand, there’s been substantial growth – a lot of that’s to do, of course, with the Wahs and how good they’re going, but also the fact is the game is a lot more entertaining.”
Speaking of the Warriors, despite Australia’s typical aversion to seeing New Zealand win at anything, V’Landys says they would like to see the Warriors claim the NRL title.
“They deserve it,” he told Hosking.
“They’ve worked really hard to be where they’re at.”
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On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 28th of July, the first report on our national water infrastructure doesn’t paint a pretty picture, and the Government is considering extending the fuel subsidy amid unstable prices.
Did you know councils around the country have an art collection worth $1.1 billion? And about two thirds of it isn't even on display?
NRL boss Peter V'Landys discusses running the most successful sports competition on this side of the world, and what the future holds for the NRL.
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Rotorua's mayor believes councils are racking up hefty insurance bills looking after artwork in storage.
A Taxpayers' Union report finds councils across the country are sitting on $1.12 billion worth of art.
It finds more than 71 thousand art pieces are owned by local government, with only 33% of the works on public display.
Mayor Tania Tapsell told Mike Hosking having it in storage is money on a balance sheet that could be invested elsewhere.
She says the cost of insurance alone would be enough to deliver the hydro slides she wants for her community.
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