Nigel Owens is arguably the best ref in world rugby - and he is truly known for his one liners, wit and humour on the field.

He's in New Zealand to referee the second Bledisloe test in Dunedin on Saturday night.

But while he's here, Owens is officiating an under-15 game at Auckland's St Peters college this afternoon.

Nigel Owens speaks with Mike Hosking.

LISTEN TO THEIR FULL CHAT ABOVE

For one last time - outgoing Labour MP Annette King joins Finance Minister Steven Joyce on the Mike Hosking Breakfast for their weekly politics chat.

LISTEN TO THEIR FULL CHAT ABOVE

US President Donald Trump says he will ramp up the US military operation in Afghanistan.

He announced his plan in a prime-time address to troops at Fort Myer in Virginia.

Former National Security Assistant to Senator John McCain and Afghanistan strategist Anthony Cordesman speaks with Mike Hosking.

SEE ALSO: US can't afford quick withdrawal from Afghanistan - Trump

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The republic debate's started up again in New Zealand.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern has raised the prospect of ditching the monarchy, saying she's disappointed the conversation wasn't had at the same time as the flag debate.

Republic NZ's Lewis Holden told Mike Hosking polls indicate up to half the population backs the move.

"The actual changes themselves aren't very complicated because we effectively have a full head of state in the governor general, so it's really about making that position our head of state."

But Monarchy NZ's Josh Chandulal-Mackay said a new president would need to be elected.

"So in an election they need to appeal to the electorate for the support and actually create this huge amount of division that I don't think needs to be a part of what the head of state represents which is the entire country."

LISTEN ABOVE AS LEWIS HOLDEN AND JOSH CHANDULAL_MACKAY SPEAK WITH MIKE HOSKING

The leader of Australia's Labor Party is refusing to prove he's not a dual citizen.

Papers owned by the company News Limited have approached every member of the Senate, asking them to show with documentation they're entitled to be in Parliament.

Australia Correspondent Steve Price told Mike Hosking a number of MPs ave refused.

"The most high profile of all of this is Bill Shorten whose dad was a POM. Bill Shorten has also refused to give documentation and says he's not going to do it so it just gets worse."

So far the citizenship scandal has seen three MPs resign, and the High Court is investigating the eligibility of another five.

Price said the citizenship saga is getting worse by the day.

"They've gone particularly to those whose parents are born overseas. Twenty of them have refused to give them that documentation."

LISTEN ABOVE AS STEVE PRICE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Questions over Labour's plans to consider a capital gains tax.

Jacinda Ardern says the party would instigate a working party to look at such a tax, and whether it was worth introducing.

Former Reserve Bank economist and blogger Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking a capital gains tax won't fix the issue with the housing market.

"One of the problems with it is that you get all the revenue in when the economy is doing really well when you don't needs lots more revenue and then when house prices fall and you get into a recession, the revenue dries up. So it actually complicates the governments own fiscal management."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MICHAEL REDDELL SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Kiwi modeling superstar Rachel Hunter speaks with Mike Hosking about season two of her show, Tour of Beauty. 

The show premieres on TVNZ 1 on Wednesday, August 23.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE

One transport expert said spending billions of dollars on improving major highways isn't justified.

It comes after National announced its $10.5 billion plan to improve ten routes around the country.

Transport analyst Matt Lowrie told Mike Hosking people are going to use them, but it's also a case of diminishing return.

"Some of the projects that have been announced by the government...they would have 5000 vehicles a day travelling on them so that's hardly an justification for spending hundreds or millions or billions of dollars."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MATT LOWRIE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

A local government expert said there'll always be stark differences between councils' financial accounts.

The Taxpayers Association's put together a report showing Western Bay of Plenty residents are forking over almost double the residential rates of people living under the Mackenzie District Council.

It also shows Auckland and Waitomo District councils' debt is three times higher than the national average.

Massey University's Dr Andy Asquith told Mike Hosking the findings aren't as extreme as they sound.

"Each local authority is unique and very distinct with its own needs and wants and they set their own policies and their own objectives, so you've can't compare that with that."

He said it's missing crucial context.

"Where these numbers are being used and being buried round, it's like comparing cosmonauts and onions."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DR ANDY ASQUITH SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

More allegations against our Defence Force.

A documentary by Stuff Circuit claims the official explanation into the 2012 raid of Baghak where two New Zealand soldiers were killed is wrong.

We know there was friendly fire between our soldiers and the Afghan army, but now the claim is we shot first.

And further back in 2004 in Uruzgan province, we know that Willie Apiata earned his Victoria cross by carrying his injured commander 70 metres through a firefight to safety.

But now we have allegations the day after that battle, the SAS went back to area and terrorised villagers.

So what do we make of these claims? Intelligence and defence analyst Paul Buchanan joins Mike Hosking.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE