Mike's Minute: Are there winners from the Iran deal?

So, we got there. We have a deal. Iran is over – back to normality.

Like most wars, you can spin it any way you want.

In this case, the part relief plays is not to be underestimated.

Bob Edlin: ZB apology and musings about Mike....

ZB apology and musings about Mike – could he be jailed for protecting sources he does not have?

The Post reported a few days ago:

Newstalk ZB has apologised to a National MP accused on live radio of leaking to the media against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Mike's Minute: My thoughts on the Budget

I asked for the surplus to arrive sooner than previously forecast and, as though she was listening this time yesterday, the first words out of Nicola Willis' mouth were it will be a year ahead of schedule.

You can't ask for more than that.

Mike's Minute: We are finally utilising the whole country

I'm immeasurably uplifted by some Trade Me data.

Could it be we are finally getting the message on rural or provincial New Zealand?

Job data increasingly shows we're looking to the regions for work.

Mike's Minute: Moana Pasifika showed the market was right

Let this be a lesson to all those who argue against the simple truism that the market, most of the time, tends to be right.

Moana Pasifika are in liquidation, the vote was held and the story ends here.

The trouble is the taxpayer footed a lot of the bill and the money is gone, flushed down an ideological toilet.

Mike's Minute: Not everything is a conspiracy

Some are working pretty hard currently to buy into the Mike Smith storyline that the big end of town has the Government's ear over climate change.

Mike Smith is the activist, the agitator, the chainsaw man, the "smack the America's Cup" bloke.

So, you know, a life of angst and upset.

Mike's Minute: We're reliant on cars and we need to stop pretending we aren't

A couple of interesting property developments for you.

1. Half finished town houses in Christchurch.

2. Lack of demand for off the plan deals from developers.

Mike's Minute: The public service cut is to be admired

Is the Nicola Willis public service announcement to be admired or condemned?

I think the former, on balance.

They should have done it properly two years ago and they didn’t, hence they probably should not be back here now, unless this was their Machiavellian plan all along.

Mike's Minute: Aussie Labor have shown NZ Labour what not to do

Another lesson for our Labour Party if they want to ponder it.

Australia’s Labor have blown their Budget.

It's hard to overstate the anger and pushback on their tax changes made now well over a week ago.

Mike's Minute: So yes, Chris Hipkins does think you're stupid

I asked yesterday whether Chris Hipkins thought we were stupid.

And as luck would have it, he answered our question – yes, he does.

First you have the Future Fund, a cornerstone policy, revelation that they aren't telling us who's money goes in and what sort of job creation they are expecting because they got bogged down in the Treaty issues, so we will need to wait until after the election.

Mike's Minute: Labour's lack of detail show they've learned nothing

So let me get this right, just so we know where we’re at.

The Labour Party —who, I'm assuming, still want to be taken seriously this election— have had a major issue up to this point.

They have no policies.

Mike's Minute: Here's what the 2026 Election is about

I'm 100% convinced this election is about the economy.

Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war?

Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers?

Mike's Minute: Do the unions have anything positive to say about education?

Can anyone tell me why literally everything that is ever done in the education space is rejected, hated and railed against by the unions?

Have the education unions ever not asked for more money, more resources or more non-contact time, while at the same time telling you everything in the classroom is crap?

Mike's Minute: Fees Free was a mistake - let's not repeat it

I have learned a lot about kids and university, having had two attend and graduate and one still immersed in the experience.

Here are the takeouts.

Mike's Minute: Chris Hipkins is deluded

Is Chris Hipkins missing a gene?

Does he have a self-destructive predilection? Or is he just a pillock by nature?

He rolls into Auckland to tell the nation's biggest city and engine room in election year that she's all good and everyone has moved on from the lockdowns. His lockdowns.

Mike's Minute: Reality vs ideology re: asset sales

Bit of buzz around Kiwibank as it potentially looks to have another crack at getting bigger, and by getting bigger, then becomes better able to take on the so-called "big four".

This is business and it's politics.

Asset sales are back on the agenda, especially for the National and ACT parties.

Mike's Minute: Has the Māori Party been a success?

So given the original Māori Party was formed in 2004, would we call it a success?

A party for Māori. What have they achieved?

Have they done more damage than good? Do we differentiate between Māori and "Māori". By that I mean Māori who aren't as angsty as some and are perfectly happy on the general roll.

Mike's Minute: Is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?

I wonder if it's time to ask the question – is Chlöe Swarbrick a bit useless?

In the Herald's vast poll churn that produces the chances of the current Government being re-elected at about 88%, is the real revelation that the Greens have been going backwards since the last election?

The trouble appears twofold;

Mike's Minute: The superannuation debate has become boring

It's hard to believe that superannuation is still a “thing”.

The OECD report told us we need to bump the age.

Nicola Willis told us Friday we have to do something. The Prime Minister then goes on Newstalk ZB and tells us they will campaign, again, on bumping up the age.

We should not be here.

Mike's Minute: Should we tax big tech for our news?

The latest cab off the rank in things Australia is doing that we suggested we might, is some sort of deal with tech around local news.

Australia led off the batting with the social media ban that has been picked up and run with all over the world.