The Mike Hosking Breakfast

It is turning out to be a horror 2020 election for the National Party, who continue to trail Labour by a substantial amount.
National is slipping far behind in tonight's polling at 27 per cent, compared to around 50 per cent for Labour at the mid-way point of vote counting.
Finance Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking and Barry Soper they were hoping for better results.
"We haven't helped ourselves by making a few mistakes and with a bit of disunity at times, and the voters punished that very vigorously."
Meanwhile the Green Party continue to bathe in a strong election night.
The party are sitting around 7.8 per cent, only slightly behind Act.
Meanwhile Labour's Jo Luxon leads the race in the Rangitata electorate, ahead of National's Megan Hands.
Ms Luxon says they are "really excited" by the results.
"It's been an amazing campaign, I've had the most amazing team... I've worked damn hard over the last three years.
"It's a really good feel here tonight."


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National MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop has fallen behind Labour's Ginny Andersen, and admits his night is riddled with nerves.
"At one point in the last campaign I was down by 2,000 and I ended up wining it by 2,000... so bit of a nervous one last time I think it will be the same this time.
"Doable, but look it's going to be a nervous night and I'm pretty nervous."
Bishop says Judith Collins had taken on the party's leadership in "trying circumstances" but had run a good campaign.
He said tonight was not the time to start a debate on the future of the party.
"There will be plenty of time for discussion on that."
National remain on around 26 per cent with labour sitting comfortable in the early 50's, with just under 40 per cent of votes counted.

Sitting National Rodney MP Mark Mitchell looks set to retain his seat, but said he was hugely disappointed by what the polls were saying.
Mitchell told NZME there was no way he had "anticipated" what was coming through in the vote count. He said he felt for the party's "volunteers and supporters" who had given their all for the party.
"You can't argue there is not a swing, but people just do not want a swing."
He said losing up to 20 MPs was "devastating . . . it is going to be very tough"
He said National would focus on turning things around.
"I don't think you can blame Judith for this".
He said there had been "major disruption" in the party due to a series of leadership changes. Those issues were never gotten on top of.
Listen above as Matt King and Act's Nicole McKee also join Mike Hosking and Barry Soper








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There is little activity going on at the National Party headquarters at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
National is currently sitting around 26 per cent, trailing Labour by some distance who are sitting roughly at 51 per cent, with just over 30 per cent of votes counted.
Newstalk ZB political reporter Aaron Dahmen describes the environment as mellow.
"We weren't expecting a party, but this is a subdued affair. There's nothing sweet about this in fact the sweetest thing about this is probably the macaroons with the National Party logos that are out in the cafeteria."
Meanwhile, a political commentator is calling National's election campaign a disaster.
Former Labour Chief of Staff Neale Jones is predicting the National Party's downfall.
He says the party had a budget that did not add up, and were caught planting supporters in the crowd on the campaign trail.
Neale Jones  says Labour looked like they had the pandemic under control while National looked like a shambles - and nobody wants to hand a crisis over to a shambles.

Potential new Auckland Central MP, the Green Party's Chloe Swarbrick told Mike Hosking he was thrilled, but it was "early days still".
Swarbrick said the Green Party had "thrown everything" at a local campaign.
She said it was "exciting times we are in the race" with about 60 per cent of the vote still to be counted.
She put the current result "down to campaigning, and campaigning works". That included doorknocking right throughout the Auckland Central electorate.
"We are stoked. But again, still early days," Swarbrick said.
She said tonight's result could be "historic" for the Green Party.
When asked if she thought the Green Party would be invited to join a coalition with Labour even if Labour had a clear majority, she said that would be "an interesting one". She said it was "far too early" to elaborate further.
Listen above as Labour's Grant Robertson and Stuart Nash join Mike Hosking and Barry Soper as well


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Despite not even half of votes counted for the 2020 election, Labour are looking strong with the possibility of being able to govern alone.
As it stands the main party in the current coalition Government are ranging around 50 per cent, with National way down on roughly 26.
Senior Labour MP David Parker told Mike Hosking and Barry Soper he is thrilled with how election night was playing out to date.
He said he was keeping a close eye on some of the "electorate battles", including Nelson which could be won be turning Labour.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Herald reporter David Fisher is at New Zealand First's function in Russell, and says the sun may possibly go down on the party tonight.
"The celebration for New Zealand first was planned to happen on the deck of the Duke of Marlborough, [but] there haven't been too many cheers coming from that deck tonight."


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The early votes counted suggest the Labour Party could govern alone, and National are heading for a huge defeat this election.
As it stands Labour are hovering around 50 per cent, while the Opposition are sitting around 26.
The greens and Act are not far off, at roughly 8 and 7 per cent respectively.
National deputy leader and campaign manager Gerry Brownlee told Mike Hosking and Barry Soper it was a campaign hampered by Covid.
"You've got got take some responsibility I suppose but I think Judith ran an incredible campaign. Overwhelmingly it was the response to the Covid lockdown and the great position that New Zealand ended up in that was at play here."
Mr Brownlee adds they are not conceding this election just yet, 
National president Peter Goodfellow agrees with his deputy leader, saying this has been a Covid campaign.
"It's very hard to get any cut through, and certainly our whole ground game has been really affected over the last couple of months."
Mr Goodfellow adds it is unlikely they win from here.


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Votes are beginning to flood in for the 2020 election, and early signs are showing the Labour Party could govern alone.
Should they need help, Labour are set to turn to the Greens who are sitting strong in third behind the two major parties.
One of those in National are struggling for numbers, and could be set for an early defeat.
Act sit fourth, not far off what the Greens have garnered so far. Leader David Seymour told Mike Hosking and Barry Soper they as a party are very happy with the numbers.
"It must be about 15 times more votes than last time... also very grateful to my neighbours in the Epsom electorate who have put their trust in me again."
Act's entry into Government would be via a coalition with National. Mr Seymour concedes they are clearly second best right now.
"Overall I think it's a pity because I don't think our current policy settings, even our approach to Covid and our fiscal track are sustainable, but it appears we're going to have to be holding them accountable from the opposition benches rather than changing those settings.
"That's democracy, we respect the outcome of course."
Meanwhile Labour deputy leader Kelvin Davis isn't reading into the early numbers, which suggest his party can govern alone.
Mr Davis says there is still a way to go yet, but it's a sign of their good work.
"I think everybody's after a stable, strong Government and that's what Jacinda Ardern has provided, but we won't count our chickens before they hatch.

A less than auspicious showing at National's election headquarters in Auckland’s Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at this early stage of the night.
Early voting results have National well behind, with nearly less than half of Labour's support. 
Political reporter Aaron Dahmen is there, and he told Mike Hosking that the atmosphere is sombre so far. 
"There's not many people here to witness these results. You can hear a pin drop." 
LISTEN ABOVE

The biggest race of the Supercars calendar is upon us and this year it is doubling as a blockbuster season-finale of a COVID-hit campaign.
The championship has already been decided after DJR/Team Penske star Scott McLaughlin sealed a title three-peat in the last race at The Bend in South Australia.





But, for many, a Bathurst crown remains an equal – if not greater prize – and it’s all on the line at Mount Panorama.


Here’s everything you need to know about this year‘s Great Race.


BATHURST 1000
Mount Panorama
October 15-18
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Practice 4 (Co-drivers only) – 10.35am-11.35am
Practice 5 (All drivers) – 2pm-3pm
Qualifying – 6.05pm-6.45pm
SATURDAY
Practice 6 (Co-drivers only) – 11.45am-12.45am
Practice 7 (All drivers) – 3.30pm-4.30pm
Top-10 Shootout – 7.05pm-7.50pm
SUNDAY
Warm up – 10.40am-11am
Race 31 – Bathurst 1000 – 1.30pm
THE RACE
Laps: 161
The track: 6.213km
Average speed: 178km/h
Top speed: 300km/h





THE 2020 GRID
— Bryce Fullwood/Kurt Kostecki (Walkinshaw Andretti United/ Holden Commodore ZB)
— Chaz Mostert. Warren Luff (Walkinshaw Andretti United/ Holden Commodore ZB)
— Macaulay Jones/Tim Blanchard (Brad Jones Racing/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Jack Smith/Jack Perkins (Brad Jones Racing/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Nick Percat/Thomas Randle (Brad Jones Racing/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Todd Hazelwood/Jordan Boys (Brad Jones Racing/ Holden Commodore ZB)
— Lee Holdsworth/Michael Caruso (Tickford Racing/ Ford Mustang GT)
— Cameron Waters/Will Davison (Tickford Racing/ Ford Mustang GT)
— James Courtney/Broc Feeney (Tickford Racing/Ford Mustang GT)
— Jack Le Brocq/James Moffat (Tickford Racing/Ford Mustang GT)
— Andre Heimgartner/ Dylan O’Keeffe (Kelly Racing/ Ford Mustang GT)
— Rick Kelly/Dale Wood (Kelly Racing/Ford Mustang GT)
— David Reynolds/Will Brown (Erebus Motorsport/ Holden Commodore ZB)
— Anton De Pasquale/Brodie Kostecki (Erebus Motorsport/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Fabian Coulthard/Tony D’Alberto (DJR Team Penske/Ford Mustang GT)
— Scott McLaughlin/Tim Slade (DJR Team Penske/Ford Mustang GT)
— Mark Winterbottom/James Golding (Team 18/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Scott Pye/ Dean Fiore (Team 18/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Alex Davison/Jonathon Webb (Team Sydney/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Chris Pither/Steve Owen (Team Sydney/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Zane Goddard/Jake Kostecki (Matt Stone Racing/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Garry Jacobson/ David Russell (Matt Stone Racing/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander (Triple Eight Race Engineering/Holden Commodore ZB)
— Jamie Whincup/Craig Lowndes (Triple Eight Race Engineering/Holden Commodore ZB)





LAST YEAR'S RESULTS
1. Scott McLaughlin/Alexandre Premat (DJR/Team Penske)
2. Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander (Red Bull Holden Racing Team)
3. James Courtney/Jack Perkins (Walkinshaw Andretti United)
LAP RECORDS
Qualifying lap record: Chaz Mostert, 2019, 2min 03.7897sec
Race lap record: Chaz Mostert, 2019, 2min 04.7602sec
MOST BATHURST WINS
1. Peter Brock 9
2. Jim Richards, Craig Lowndes 7
3. Larry Perkins, Mark Skaife 6
4. Steven Richards 5
5. Allan Moffat, Greg Murphy, Jamie Whincup 4
MOST BATHURST POLES
1. Peter Brock 6
2. Mark Skaife 5
3. Allan Moffat 4
4. Ian Geoghegan, Kevin Bartlett, Dick Johnson, Glenn Seton, Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander, Mark Winterbottom, Greg Murphy, Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds
- News.com.au