On the Mike Hosking Breakfast with Heather du Plessis-Allan Full Show Podcast for Friday 19th of December, we cover off the better-than-expected Q3 GDP number, which is signalling some hope for next year.

Jennie Wyllie has resigned as the CEO of Netball NZ, but does it need to go further than that?

And for the final time for the year Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson joined Heather to Wrap the Week and discuss their Christmas plans.

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It’s that time of the year where we pick our politician of the year.

For me, it's the same person as last year.

Political commentators, myself included at times, have an unfortunate tendency to sometimes choose politicians because they’re good at playing the political game.

And if you’re into that, you might pick Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for collecting her Time magazine award.

Or Chris Hipkins for resurrecting his party’s fortunes from a horror 2023 election result.

Or Labour’s Arena Williams for giving good speeches, or Shane Jones for getting attention.

But at a time when we all acknowledge our country is in a bit of a polycrisis, slipping further behind the pack, I think the most important measure is not whether a politician is good at politics, it's whether a politician is making a difference.

And no other politician is making as big a difference as quickly, in an area as important, as Erica Stanford.

Already kids are learning more than they have been for years. The results from her phonics changes a couple of months ago were so dramatic a staff member in her office burst into tears.

She’s doing this despite increased resistance from teachers' unions.

Parents are raving and teachers themselves are noticing the difference.

Nothing is more important than our kids and educating them properly.

And on the politics, she can play politics as well as anyone. You watch closely as her opponents learn that lesson.

Just ask Willow-Jean Prime.

So, Erica Stanford it is.

Because nothing beats having a good idea, being brave enough to execute it and helping to turn this country around.

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For the final time this year, Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week that Was.

They discussed the Vanity Fair photoshoot of the Trump Administration, festive clothing, and their plans for the Christmas holidays.

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The Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail service could come off the tracks if it becomes too expensive for rate payers.

Waikato Regional Council is writing to the NZTA board to ask for a one-year extension of the service, through to 2027.

They want to test full integration with Auckland’s City Rail Link, which opens next year.

Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher told Heather du Plessis-Allan 60% funding through the Land Transport Fund will be vital to keep it going.

He says if it drops back to 51%, they want the review of the trial to go ahead at NZTA's April meeting, and that could be the death nail for Te Huia.

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The resignation of Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie had to happen.

That's the view of former New Zealand men's netball skipper and commentator Kruze Tangira.

Tangira told Heather du Plessis-Allan he believes the drama around the standing down then reinstatement of head coach Dame Noeline Taurua has plagued the year.

He says it started all the way back in January at the Sydney training camp, and it’s taken until December for there to be a real resolution.

It was unfortunate that Taurua had to lose her job and have her name tarnished in the process, Tangira told du Plessis-Allan, but change needed to happen in order to rebuild the reputation of netball within New Zealand.

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A push for the Government to use its powers to begin dismantling Gloriavale.

The Secretary for Education has cancelled the Christian sect school’s licence, forcing it closed from January.

The call comes just a week after former leader Howard Temple was sentenced to more than two years in prison for sex offending.

Leavers' Trust Founder Liz Gregory told Heather du Plessis-Allan she’s now urging the Government to go further, starting with de-registering the community’s charity.

She expects that to be the next step and anticipates it could be shut down before Christmas.

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A view school violence is changing, with fewer mass fights, but far more frequent outbursts.

New data shows 12,300 students were disciplined for physical assault this year – up 49% on 2019.

Most incidents involved students attacking other students.

Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Heather du Plessis-Allan increasing neurodiversity in classrooms is likely one factor.

He says devices are also a problem, with social media trends often sparking more organised assaults.

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A prediction that 2026 will be a very good year for the economy.

GDP grew 1.1% in the September quarter.

Former Associate Finance Minister Richard Prebble even suspects we could see a turnaround in unemployment, which has ticked up since 2022.

He says Stats NZ data is always backwards looking.

Prebble told Heather du Plessis-Allan job ads are on the up and Seek numbers up 7%.

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