Full Show Podcast: 16 July 2026
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Newsmakers and the Personalities. The big names talk to Mike.
The Mike Hosking Breakfast with Defender Trophy. Epic Adventure. Greater Purpose. Newstalk ZB.
Morning and welcome. Today the bird flew and whether it means anything for most of us. We have new trade talks to tell you about today. Air New Zealand on time. Performance numbers are up. Roger Toove asks if Sheck is in for a chat after late. Joe McKenna's in Rome. Ender Brady does Great Britain just in time for the final whistle for England later on this morning. Welcome to the day seven past six. Beltway beat up of the week goes to the seemingly ongoing fascination over the missing paperwork in the Prime Minister's office when it came to a meeting between Z Energy and their concerns over Mike Smith's court case involving polluters and climate cost. Mike Smith called conspiracy, and you don't, sadly, need to do a lot more than that in this country to get half the media fizzing over a scandal for the ages.
The bit, if you've forgotten, that made it look troublesome was twofold. One, the Prime Minister's office didn't have said paperwork, hence it looked shady. And two, the government changed or is going through the process of changing the law in a way that, surprise, surprise, suits Z Energy. Now, accepting lost paperwork is not a good look, and the Prime Minister freely admitted it weeks ago. We finally hear this week from a bloke called Lindus Jones, who runs Z Energy. He produces the document they gave to the government. Here's the critical point. There's nothing in it. Nothing they haven't said publicly already. In other words, they were alarmed that blokes like Smith can fill court time with fishing expeditions and that singling out companies like Z or Fonterra is dangerous and ruinous to business and reputations.
Now they say that, funnily enough.
What is the missing paperwork controversy around Z Energy and the Prime Minister's office?
Because it's true. And that is why, funnily enough, the government acted to change the law. The government said, correctly, the government is the ultimate court, and when it comes to climate policy, the parliament is the place decisions are made. Now, they said that not because Z thinks that, or Fonterra thinks that, or you and I think that. But because it's true and it's right and they would have done it anyway. There is no skullduggery. There is no clandestine backroom nonsense. No one met in a dark alleyway. No government was dragged into making decisions they would not have already made. All that happened was a piece of paper got waylaid and Mike Smith stirred up a very gullible media looking for a bit of fizz and a bit of clickbait.
What's required of the media, if they're remotely interested in repairing their battered reputations, is the ability to see real news, the ability to differentiate between a story and BS, and to not be so keen to see things that aren't there. To all those in the gallery... whose lives have been changed or improved by this Labour government, and all across the country, who struggle to be seen or heard, you're the reason I came into politics. Momentarily, all political hostility was put aside. I know how much the Prime Minister has come to enjoy our exchanges.
In fact, in the King's speech last month, he told me that on difficult days, my input was always a ray of sunshine.
LAUGHTER
While we're in the British political realm, Farage and Reform have dreamed up a new security plan for all MPs after yet another death threat. Mr Farage says this is the first time the police have ever proactively acted on a social media post. I hope they're looking at the other three or four hundred, he said, similar posts from this year alone. State side, Trump's lack of control of the wall is on full display again this morning. All he's got left now are threats. We're going to hit them very hard tonight. We're going to hit them very hard tomorrow night.
We're going to hit them very hard the night after.
And then next week, it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. He's also, again, got ice trouble.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:35
2
What is the missing paperwork controversy around Z Energy and the Prime Minister's office?
1:35–9:59
3
How are global political stories — Starmer, Farage and Trump — shaping headlines this morning?
9:59–20:43
4
What do the June electronic card transaction and retail spending figures reveal about consumer activity?
20:43–30:14
5
How are house prices, sales volumes and migration trends affecting New Zealand's property market?
30:14–53:12
6
What is the FIT partnership and could it lead to new trade or investment outcomes?
53:12–1:29:57
Speakers
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