Podcast appearances and mentions of christopher luxon

The Prime Minister has said there is tremendous unity amongst Pacific nations, as they get ready to sign a peace declaration and decide how to engage with development partners from outside the region. Christopher Luxon is in the Solomon Islands for this year's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, which has been dogged by debate over the host nation's decision to bar non-Pacific so-called "dialogue partners" like the US, UK and China. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen from Honiara.

It's another hit of the most insightful and sharp 30 minutes in political analysis. Tonight Wallace is joined by NZME'S Jonathan Milne, government relations consultant Holly Bennett and RNZ's Guyon Espiner. They discuss: first timer Orini Kaipara's victory over established Labour MP Peeni Henare in the Tamaki Makaurau by-election; former Labour MP Stuart Nash's appearance at the NZ First conference and his subsequent comments about women; former PM Geoffery Palmer's interview where he stated democracy is in a fragile position and "Pav-gate", the 44 thousand dollars spent to send Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese to the top of a mountain to eat pavlova.

The New Zealand First convention took place at the Distinction Hotel in Palmerston North over the weekend. And all these silver fern, pin-wearing NZ First faithful gathered, along with a few wannabes, like Stuart Nash, he spoke. Just a few formalities to go through and it looks like Stuart Nash will be a signed-up member of NZ First and one of their high-profile names going forward at the next election. I don't know how the coalition government decided who would go first in the Deputy Prime Minister's role. If they said how they did it, it's escaped me, I'm sorry. They might have tossed a coin. They might have played paper scissors rock. They might have put their names in a hat and Christopher Luxon drew out one. Might have been done on seniority - oldest and most experience goes first. You just know that Winston Peters, leader of NZ First, would have totally gamed the system to ensure he served first as Deputy Prime Minister because after a good stint of being Foreign Affairs Minister, which he still is and which he still works hard at, and a good stint of standing in for the Prime Minister when he was out of the country and fulfilling his obligations admirably, it free's him up now, now that David Seymour's in the role, to really get the campaigning underway for NZ First well before 2026 rolls around. To be fair, ACT are not far behind. David Seymour's State of the Nation speech at the beginning of the year was a rallying cry to the party faithful. But at NZ First's convention over the weekend, you heard speeches that sounded more like promises. Promises that would normally be made on the hustings. It wasn't a convention per se, it was more of a, "Let's get going, brothers. Let's start promising," the kind of glorious kind of promises that NZ First voters are looking for when it comes to political parties. Things like making KiwiSaver compulsory, contributions being raised to 10%, offsetting that raise with tax cuts. What's happened here is you've got thousands and thousands of people, hundreds of thousands have signed up, but they're not contributing. They're not saving. And so it's not as easy as some of the journalists thought, just to work out what's going on. But we're going to make it compulsory and we're going to ensure this is phased in at a level which you'll see comprehensively is followed overseas. We need to turn this into a super, super saving fund and a super investment fund at the same time, but not in the control of politicians. And when you talked about yesterday tax cuts, that's literally a tax cut for a person who's contributing to KiwiSaver, or is it a rebate or how would it work? That's a tax cut for the person contributing to Kiwi Saver and also for the employer. Right, so I would pay less tax if I'm contributing to Kiwi Saver. You still with us? Yes, I said exactly, yeah. I think there must have been a drop out on the line. That was Winston Peters talking to Mike Hosking this morning. There was more preaching to the converted. Winston Peters called for new migrants having to sign a Kiwi values document, incorporating respect for the flag, respect for democracy, one person, one vote, that sort of thing. I imagine it'd be much like the Australian values statement that migrants to Australia must sign. And Peters said the party was responsible for getting cabinet to agree to bring legislation to the House very shortly, making English an official language of New Zealand. As is generally the case with election campaign promises, there wasn't a great deal of specific detail. No costings from Peters on how much the Kiwi Saver policy would cost or how it would be implemented, other than to say the rise in contributions would be staggered, first 8% then 10%. But let him be perfectly clear, there is life in the old boy yet and he is determined to get himself and NZ First back into Parliament and back into government with even more sway than he had this time around. As far as Winston Peters is concerned, ‘25, as in 2025 is done and dusted. It is 2026, baby. NZ First is on the road, looking to win over voters who are unimpressed and underwhelmed by National and Labour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following on from my chat with MP Simon Court, I spoke to Dr Maria Armoudian, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, the director of the University's Sustainability Hub, and the co-director of the Ngā Ara Whatū Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society at the University, on the ACT Party's stance on the Paris Agreement. ACT's stance on the Paris Agreement has received substantial criticism. Despite NZ First also being in support for moving away from the Paris Agreement, National have been staunch on continuing with this framework, alongside the Opposition Parties. Greenpeace campaigner, Amanda Larsson, has referred to ACT Party Leader David Seymour's comments regarding the framework as “rage-baiting the extremist edge of the farming community to grab headlines” and that Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, “mustn't bite”. This comes as Luxon indicated last week changes to our methane targets. Methane makes up almost a third of global warming, and is over 80x more powerful than CO₂ in the short term. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Armoudian about this, starting with how important the Paris Agreement is, and what exactly the framework is.

Following on from my chat with MP Simon Court, I spoke to Dr Maria Armoudian, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, the director of the University's Sustainability Hub, and the co-director of the Ngā Ara Whatū Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society at the University, on the ACT Party's stance on the Paris Agreement. ACT's stance on the Paris Agreement has received substantial criticism. Despite NZ First also being in support for moving away from the Paris Agreement, National have been staunch on continuing with this framework, alongside the Opposition Parties. Greenpeace campaigner, Amanda Larsson, has referred to ACT Party Leader David Seymour's comments regarding the framework as “rage-baiting the extremist edge of the farming community to grab headlines” and that Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, “mustn't bite”. This comes as Luxon indicated last week changes to our methane targets. Methane makes up almost a third of global warming, and is over 80x more powerful than CO₂ in the short term. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Armoudian about this, starting with how important the Paris Agreement is, and what exactly the framework is.

The Prime Minister ponders the Act Party’s new position on the Paris Agreement. David Seymour is effectively siding with Winston Peters. How much heat/friction is this going to cause for the Coalition? We also discuss the latest Roy Morgan Poll, the Amazon deal and relaxing foreign investment. Are New Zealand farms next on the chopping block?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Richard Allen, Amber Carpenter, Emma Higgins, and Mark Townsend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Party Leader David Seymour has set the cat among the pigeons, or the Huntaway among the cattle, by calling for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a pact that's part of the UN's framework convention on climate change, which started in 1992 with the Rio Earth Summit. The main goal of the Paris Agreement is to keep long-term global temperatures from warming 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, and if not that, then well below 2 degrees Celsius by slashing planet-warming emissions from coal, oil, and gas. It's not working, the numbers are still too high, but who knows what they would have been had the Paris Agreement not been in place. It works as a binding but voluntary programme for the member countries. Every five years, countries are required to submit a goal or a plan for what it will do about heat-trapping emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases. And these goals are supposed to get more ambitious every five years – you're supposed to improve on what you did last time. The countries themselves decide what's in those goals, and there is no punishment for countries who miss the goals. Despite this, despite the fact that there are no teeth and no punitive measures if you don't meet the self-imposed targets, ACT says that the Paris Agreement needs to change, or New Zealand needs to leave. David Seymour says it demands targets that are disconnected from science and blind to New Zealand's realities. Net zero targets have been set without regard for the real cost to firms, farms, and families, they say, so they want New Zealand out, like the US. “At the moment, we face being punished for being a methane-heavy economy. I think it's about time that we, perhaps along with like-minded nations, I'm thinking South American nations like Uruguay that have a lot of livestock, also a lot of Southeast Asian nations which produce a lot of rice, which it turns out actually produces a lot of methane – we should be going to Paris saying, "hang on a minute', instead of our government officials making representations to the public that pay them on behalf of these global institutions, maybe they should actually be going on our behalf overseas to say, ‘you guys need to give a fair deal to methane-heavy economies,' because methane's a very different gas. It has a much different effect on climate because it breaks down over time, and therefore that scientific reality needs to be recognised.” So that was David Seymour talking to Heather du Plessis-Allan last night. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's not going to happen; we're not going to leave. It would only hurt and punish and damage our farmers. He says our competitor countries would like nothing more than to see New Zealand products off the shelves, and he added that, having worked in multinationals, the companies would just move to another supplier, a more public-friendly, a more agreeable, a more green-friendly supplier. He does have a point. Well, both men have points, really. David Seymour is quite right in that methane is a different sort of a gas, that New Zealand does it the best in the world. New Zealand produces food better than anybody else in terms of accounting for climate change targets and goals. But Christopher Luxon has a point too, because green and social accounting is part of global financial reporting. We're seeing it right down to the smallest business in New Zealand. Your bank wants to see you committing to various environmental targets, goals, achievements. If you don't, the money comes at a higher rate. And it's the same for them. Their masters, their overlords, want to see that the banks themselves have required their clients to commit to environmental goals. It's absolutely entwined within the way the world does business. I don't know how you can separate one from the other. It would be very easy for New Zealand to be made an example of, far harder for the US because it is a global powerhouse. Notwithstanding Modi, Xi, and Putin all getting together to try and form another cabal or block of power, but the US is too powerful to punish. Were we to say, "You know what, we're out," it would be very, very easy for us to be made an example of. We're small, quite loud, there would be some people around the world who would have heard of us, so if we're made an example of, it would only hurt us. Nobody else would care. Furthermore, Christopher Luxon says that New Zealand has taken farming out of the ETS, the Emissions Trading Scheme, and promises there'll be an announcement on methane targets in the very, very near future. So where do you stand on this one? As I'm aware, farming as an industry and farming as a science is constantly working to improve efficiencies in the way they do things. Our scientists and our ag researchers are working overtime to try and bring down any harmful gases caused in the manufacture of food. Farmers are implementing all sorts of measures, and if they don't, they're off the books. They are no longer clients of places like Fonterra. So you have to meet really high standards before you can consider yourself a farmer in the modern age. I would have thought farming as an industry understood the global realities, given that they are a major global player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour and National appear to be aligned on the Paris Climate Agreement. Yesterday ACT called for New Zealand to leave unless the terms of the deal change, but the Prime Minister said no. Labour's Chris Hipkins echoed Christopher Luxon, telling John MacDonald leaving the deal would cause more harm than good. He says it would be a disaster for us – walking away from those commitments would mean people overseas would stop buying our products. Hipkins says our largest export industries rely on New Zealand's clean, green reputation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Amazon data centres have come online in Auckland today, with the tech giant inviting prime minister Christopher Luxon to speak at its big event. But much of the detail is secret, including where the centres are, the specific jobs they'll create and exactly how much power they need. Political reporter Russell Palmer has more.

You might remember, those of you who were listening around about a month ago when the Prime Minister was in the studio, taking your calls. Steve rang in and gave the PM a bit of ginger over the economy. He said, "I know you're between a rock and a hard place, Prime Minister, with the economy. Not really any more levers you can pull to do much, and you guys are just treading water. It's a PR machine to gloss over while you pray that somehow the economy's going to pick up." He said to the Prime Minister, "There's one lever you have yet to pull, and I think you know that for the short-term sugar that will bring something into this economy, that's a foreign buyers' ban. If that comes off, you know that will bring a bit of money in, and that will have a proper, tangible effect rather than just being all talk, talk." But of course, that's not going to happen with Winston. CL: On foreign buyers, that is a conversation that Winston and I are having, so watch this space. Let's see whether we can make some progress through that one. KW: Interesting. How will you get him to change his mind? What bauble are you able to offer? CL: No, no, no. I think actually both of us recognise that if people are going to come to this country and make an investment and partner with a New Zealand company, you know, think about a technology person in San Francisco wanting to come out here. They don't want to rent a house in Auckland. They want to be able to buy a house, and you think about what's happening in places like Tara Iti up the road from Auckland. You've got massive investment, 140 Americans here building, you know, $20 million plus homes, all that sort of stuff. So there has to be a way through that. So, you know, watch this space. It might be a bit more positive than Steve thinks. And what do you know? That was on the 7th of August. We watched the space, and on the 1st of September, the announcement came. Foreigners spending $5 million on approved investments in exchange for residency visas will be able to buy homes. But not just any old tat. They will only be able to buy homes that are $5 million plus. The Prime Minister said the changes aim to attract rich immigrants who find the thought of having a home in New Zealand attractive, without opening the market to widespread foreign property ownership. And he's right. I mean, there are some Kiwis looking at the $5 million plus homes, but it's not me. Is it you, Helen? No. No, she's not in the market for a $5 million home. Young Olivia, who's just joined us, no. No, she has yet to buy her first home, so it won't be in the $5 million plus category. It is not the majority of us, I would venture to suggest. And apparently, offshore buyers have responded immediately. High-end real estate agents say the word has gone out that New Zealand is welcoming people back into the country – but then you become a high-end real estate agent by talking up the market, don't you? So, you know, but you take them at their word. The word goes out from the Prime Minister that if you want to come to New Zealand and you want residency, guess what? You can buy a house, which makes sense. But it's got to be $5 mil plus, which for some people is what they would spend on a bach. You know, these kinds of high-end investors, it's the sort of money you'd spend on a bach in New Zealand. The Labour-New Zealand First coalition banned most foreign buyers in 2017 out of a belief they were contributing to skyrocketing house prices. The New Zealand First of that coalition is now the New Zealand First of this coalition that has reversed that ban. But Winston Peters is adamant that the ban actually remains. He says, "We have ensured that there are tight restrictions on eligibility and on what these current residence visa holders can purchase," including that existing restrictions, excluding the sale of rural farm and sensitive land, will still apply, as well as ensuring we don't get a repeat of the Canadian experience where there is a constant recycling of the same investment funds. The visa holders will be restricted to only one home, either purchasing an existing home or building a new one, with the value of that home being a minimum of $5 million. This will exclude over 99% of New Zealand homes on the market, protecting the vast majority from sale to foreigners and will not affect the wider housing market for Kiwis. He says that New Zealand First supporters understand that this is not a U-turn, that the ban remains – except it doesn't. The ban remains except for those who are buying houses over $5 million. So, shall we call it a clarification, Winston? Not a ban per se, just a clarification. Is he right? If you are dyed-in-the-wool anti-immigration, and you swallow a dead rat, as Winston has done, by accepting migrants who can afford to drop $5 million in investment money and $5 million on a new pad? Are those migrants okay? The ban in general remains, but for a very few people in the rarefied position of having $10 million to spend, then they are welcome, the welcome mat is there for them. So, the only thing that really does make me wonder is what Christopher Luxon and possibly David Seymour had to give Winston Peters to get this over the line? That experienced old horse trader doesn't give it up for nothing. You know, you want it, you pay for it. So, I want to know what the cost was to get that, let's not say U-turn, let's not say reversal, let's say clarification. And I also want to know what New Zealand First voters think. I know you love him, you'd follow him over the trenches. There's no man like Winston. He's probably up there next to Michael Joseph Savage on the wall, the framed print with some plastic roses in a vase underneath, gathering dust. But do you understand that he has made this decision for the right reasons? To me, it makes sense. I'm sure there will be some cashed-up Kiwis who are a little brassed off that their dream home may now go up in price by half a million dollars more because you've got foreign buyers bidding on the same property. But I'm not going to cry in my cornies over them. There's not going to be that many affected. So, I get where they're coming from, I just want to know how much it cost National and Act to get New Zealand First agreement because you don't get something for nothing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Ryan Ward and Melanie Nelson have published an investigative piece on the foreign influence on the RSB and extensive lobbying by Bryce Wilkinson. Ryan and Melanie join us LIVE tonight at 9pm to go over what they have discovered.- Read the piece here https://melanienelson.substack.com/p/new-zealand-epstein-files-regulatory-standards-bill Winston Peters responds to the government changes to foreign home buyers getting very annoyed because they can only purchase 1% of the market.Christopher Luxon announces, and seems to take credit for, Amazon bringing 1,000 jobs and $7.5 billion into our economy...even though it was set up and initiated by Labour. Labour is "embarrassed for him"=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

The Prime Minister has revealed tech-giant Amazon is investing $7.5 billion into New Zealand. Speaking exclusively to Newstalk ZB, Christopher Luxon says Amazon Web Services is scheduled to be announcing the investment. He told Mike Hosking it will create up to a thousand jobs, and make an $11 billion boost to GDP. Luxon says it's probably the largest ever publicly announced technology investment in New Zealand by an international tech firm. Speaking of international investors, the Prime Minister wants foreign investors to feel comfortable here so they invest more. New rules mean Active Investor Plus visa holders can now buy or build one home in New Zealand if it's worth at least $5 million. They'll still need to invest another $5 million separately, as part of the visa's criteria. Luxon told Hosking everything will fall into place for these investors once they have a house here. He says it's not just about the first $5-10 million they're spending, it's what comes after that when they start seeing more investment opportunities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 2nd of September, the Prime Minister and Winston Peters joined to discuss the new investment changes allowing foreigners to buy a home. Is our government too big? Do we have too many ministers? A report says yes, and we should drop dozens of roles to be like Singapore or Ireland. Kiwi chef Ben Bayly has exciting news for Wellington and for fans of his show 'The New Zealand Food Story'. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon doesn't think the Reserve Bank's reputation has suffered any long-term damage. Neil Quigley resigned as chair of the central bank on Friday night, after Nicola Willis raised concerns over its handling of Adrian Orr's resignation earlier this year. Willis has revealed to Newstalk ZB, she would have asked Quigley to resign, if he hadn't resigned of his own accord. The Prime Minister says Quigley has made the right decision. He doesn't think the current situation is a mess, but it would have been a shambles if it had carried out much longer. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister ponders the positive effects Fonterra’s $3.2 billion capital return sugar hit could have for the rural economy. Plus, whether he overstepped the mark by chewing the ear of the Reserve Bank? We also ask what an acceptable economic growth rate is, and whether Todd McClay wasted his time talking tariffs in Washington. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Jane Smith, Stefan Vogel, and Rick Ladd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new visa to attract businesspeople to New Zealand has been established by the Government, and really, it's only a matter of days, perhaps weeks, before a loosening on restrictions for foreigners being able to purchase residential property here is announced. Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister, when he was last in-studio with me, said we'll be announcing that shortly. I said you'll never get that past Winston Peters, but he said watch this space. So, he's been dropping very heavy hints for some time now that the restrictions on foreigners being able to buy property here were about to be lifted. In the meantime, the Government's announced the Business Investor Visa, and that will give foreign businesspeople investing $2 million into an existing business here a fast track to residency in New Zealand. A $1 million investment comes with a three-year work to residency pathway. It also comes with conditions, as Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking this morning. “This is more about people who have got business experience of running businesses –we will check that. Investing in a business, that they have to be here at least 184 days a year, be a tax resident, and actively run the business. They have to be able to speak English, there's an age limit. Whereas the Active Investor Plus is more about their capital and their business connections and they only have to spend a week a year here in order to get their residence – so very, very different. We're not talking huge numbers. This is not like an Oprah-style everyone gets a visa as I think you mentioned this morning, we're thinking probably in the first year between sort of 100 and 150 potentially.” So there are conditions associated with this particular visa such as requiring applicants to speak English, and that's something that I know concerned a number of you when we were talking about schools and the changes to the curriculum in education. When we've had discussions about that, a number of you have been really concerned about the number of young kids arriving here who don't speak English and the challenges that puts on a classroom, and more specifically, a teacher. So hopefully they are policing that English language criteria quite strictly. There are also conditions to meet alongside of health, character, and business experience, and certain businesses are excluded, such as adult entertainment, convenience stores, and fast-food outlets. Now I know that a number of people are dead against having more people coming into the country. You've told me that, and you've certainly sent me plenty of text messages about having more people coming into the country. We haven't got enough houses for the existing people. We've got wait lists up the wazoo. It's just going to put more pressure on our health system. It's going to drive house prices up. I think we have seen that the biggest driver of house prices was locking people inside their own country, lowering interest rates, and allowing speculation to boom. That did more damage to the housing and the property market than any migrant businessperson could ever do. So, we're building more houses, we're opening up pathways for consent so that even more houses can be built. To clear up the waiting lists, we do need to bring in doctors, nurses. We didn't have enough at the time. We didn't have enough workers at the time, and even in a time of high unemployment, businesses still aren't finding the people that they need to make their businesses more productive. I'm for it. I mean $1 million, as we heard yesterday when we were talking about how much you need to retire, $1 million to become a Kiwi doesn't sound like a lot of money, does it? Especially when you open it up to the global market. But if there are conditions there, it they're required to live in New Zealand for much of the year, to pay their taxes to be working in the business, to be growing the business, if certain businesses are excluded so that we steer people into productive businesses, surely it can only be good for New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new visa to attract businesspeople to New Zealand has been established by the Government, and really, it's only a matter of days, perhaps weeks, before a loosening on restrictions for foreigners being able to purchase residential property here is announced. Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister, when he was last in-studio with me, said we'll be announcing that shortly. I said you'll never get that past Winston Peters, but he said watch this space. So, he's been dropping very heavy hints for some time now that the restrictions on foreigners being able to buy property here were about to be lifted. In the meantime, the Government's announced the Business Investor Visa, and that will give foreign businesspeople investing $2 million into an existing business here a fast track to residency in New Zealand. A $1 million investment comes with a three-year work to residency pathway. It also comes with conditions, as Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking this morning. “This is more about people who have got business experience of running businesses –we will check that. Investing in a business, that they have to be here at least 184 days a year, be a tax resident, and actively run the business. They have to be able to speak English, there's an age limit. Whereas the Active Investor Plus is more about their capital and their business connections and they only have to spend a week a year here in order to get their residence – so very, very different. We're not talking huge numbers. This is not like an Oprah-style everyone gets a visa as I think you mentioned this morning, we're thinking probably in the first year between sort of 100 and 150 potentially.” So there are conditions associated with this particular visa such as requiring applicants to speak English, and that's something that I know concerned a number of you when we were talking about schools and the changes to the curriculum in education. When we've had discussions about that, a number of you have been really concerned about the number of young kids arriving here who don't speak English and the challenges that puts on a classroom, and more specifically, a teacher. So hopefully they are policing that English language criteria quite strictly. There are also conditions to meet alongside of health, character, and business experience, and certain businesses are excluded, such as adult entertainment, convenience stores, and fast-food outlets. Now I know that a number of people are dead against having more people coming into the country. You've told me that, and you've certainly sent me plenty of text messages about having more people coming into the country. We haven't got enough houses for the existing people. We've got wait lists up the wazoo. It's just going to put more pressure on our health system. It's going to drive house prices up. I think we have seen that the biggest driver of house prices was locking people inside their own country, lowering interest rates, and allowing speculation to boom. That did more damage to the housing and the property market than any migrant businessperson could ever do. So, we're building more houses, we're opening up pathways for consent so that even more houses can be built. To clear up the waiting lists, we do need to bring in doctors, nurses. We didn't have enough at the time. We didn't have enough workers at the time, and even in a time of high unemployment, businesses still aren't finding the people that they need to make their businesses more productive. I'm for it. I mean $1 million, as we heard yesterday when we were talking about how much you need to retire, $1 million to become a Kiwi doesn't sound like a lot of money, does it? Especially when you open it up to the global market. But if there are conditions there, it they're required to live in New Zealand for much of the year, to pay their taxes to be working in the business, to be growing the business, if certain businesses are excluded so that we steer people into productive businesses, surely it can only be good for New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has the penny dropped? There was no shortage of headlines and news coverage yesterday out of our interview with the Prime Minister on the Reserve Bank. In a nutshell, Luxon suggested Christian Hawkesby blew it and should have/could have moved faster on the cash rate. This is news, but not because the Prime Minister is right. We all know he is right. But there is a convention whereby because the Reserve Bank is independent you don't bag them, especially if you are a politician, far less the most influential politician. But here is why Luxon was right and deserves recognition for what he said: there comes a time when you've got to say what you've got to say. You can't dance around convention without becoming convention's victim. There is too much of that. People who can't have a go at judges is another example. By tiptoeing around the truth, we invite complacency and accountability becomes woefully lacking. The cold, hard politics are at play as well. Christian Hawkesby and his gang of monetary committee wonks aren't up for re-election next year. Believe me, if Luxon wanders the countryside telling us he wished the cash rate was lowered faster, he's not getting any sympathy. The extreme of course is Trump, where you call for sackings and, occasionally, actually do some sacking. We don't need to be that unhinged. But it is unfairly restrictive for a government to cut spending, cut red tape, change rules and laws, trim jobs, cap councils, upend the RMA, and get the fast track going. Or in other words, work their butts off pulling every lever they can to fire the joint up. But in the meantime, the old dump de dos on the terrace can't see a contraction when it smacks them in the face and they stall the economy through ineptitude. Also, quite apart from anything, we like strong leadership. We like people telling it like it is. If Luxon has had a weakness it might just be he has been a bit corporate, a bit beige, a bit polite and a bit nice. Hopefully yesterday was the start of something new and more strident and with it a few more people are held to open, public account. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ Herald got exclusive access to a survey of senior police where they have raised issues that new recruits are "barely" or "not at all equipped" of policies to make an arrest or lay charges. This raises the question is this government more focused on getting 500 new police officers rather than having those police officers be quality and qualified.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hits out at Israel over Gaza famine to which Netanyahu responds. This will not, however, hasten the 'Palestinian statehood' decision from our government.Henry Blakeman is a 13-year-old student from Orewa College with a passion for politics. He recently appeared on Dom Harvey's podcast and put some questions to the Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour, one of which has now set the gold standard for word salad which we'll break down tonight. Sean 'Karen' Plunket released a video this morning where he cries over non-access to Christopher Luxon. He has a written a letter to the PM demanding an answer as to why he hasn't been on the Platform citing that perhaps someone in the PM's "woke millennial members of your media team" might be running interference stopping the invites from getting through. It's bot hilarious and incredibly telling how entitled Karen thinks he is.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

The Prime Minister could follow Australia's lead in an attempt to boost overseas stays through major events. A new report shows strong demand for hotels in the likes of Queenstown, but occupancy's down for Auckland and Wellington. Big names in the tourism sector, like Sudima Hotels believe more events equals more hotel rooms booked. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that he's been looking at a model that Australia's Victoria once used. He says they had major events every quarter and micro-events every week, which is something to think about. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Stephen Fleming, Christopher Luxon, Michael Every, and Graeme Williams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This podcast description was blatantly written by AI... Join Clint, Meg, and Dan, with Ash London for a fun-filled episode of The Edge Breakfast Podcast! They launch into discussions about childhood crushes, featuring famous moments like Cameron Diaz in 'The Mask' and Megan Fox in 'Transformers.' Ash tries her best to join the Warriors bandwagon with some hard-hitting sports quizzes, and Dan reveals juicy details about an awkward encounter involving an elevator and music artist Ruel. Special guest Christopher Luxon joins to talk politics and the rising cost of groceries. Prepare for laughs, heart-to-hearts, and a mix of everything you love about the show! 00:00 Welcome to the Clint, Megan, Dan Podcast02:05 Throwback Song Debate06:16 Zoo Adventures and Animal Antics09:10 Dentist Training and Medical Mishaps16:00 Adoption News and Celebrity Gossip25:02 Sexual Awakenings and Movie Memories39:31 Bandwagon Warriors Fans and Ash's Challenge43:18 Michelle's Terminal Cancer Journey49:46 Dan's New Cash Contest and Christopher Luxon Interview01:04:03 Debate: Who Sits in the Front Seat?01:16:47 Pranking Lily with Ruel

Finance Minister Nicola Willis all but invoked the old adage ‘the beatings will continue until morale improves', when commenting on the state of the economy yesterday. In a stand up with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after the Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points to 3%, she blamed the sluggish economy on doomsayers from the opposition benches who were talking the economy down, and all but instructed Kiwi households to be more jolly. “I'm always conscious that households listen to merchants of misery everyday, most of whom sit on the opposition benches, who like to be doomsayers and talk down the New Zealand economy. I think it's been a really tough time for Kiwi families, there's absolutely no denying that, but we kind of have a choice – do we talk ourselves into an ongoing funk? Or do we look ahead and recognise that things will get better?” “People need to feel it, and I fully appreciate that. You know, some parts of New Zealand are feeling it, and other parts are not.” So that was Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon. All well and good, but on the same day she told us to pull up our socks and perk up, Fletcher Building announced a $419 million loss. Kitchen Things, a premium appliance store that goes back to 1986, announced it was closing 12 stores (there is a Kitchen Things in Hamilton that's trading by itself and doing very well and would appreciate the support) and they asked ASB to appoint receivers. And Carter Holt Harvey is proposing to close its Nelson sawmill with the loss of 142 jobs. Willis and the rest of her government are exasperated and frustrated that things have not got better faster. When you're elected on your promise to turn things around, voters, not unreasonably, expect to see results. And yes, it was always going to be a big job, but they said they were up to the task, that they could do it. I don't think it is the opposition benches being doomsayers. They've done their damage. They're not saying much of anything at all. Labour knows all it has to do is stay schtum – the moment it opens its mouth and gets into trouble. So all they're doing is watching the Government trying to put its shoulder behind the big, sluggish beast that is the economy, and they're shoving it, and they're pushing it, and you've got the Finance Minister out the front dangling her carrots saying come on, up you get New Zealand economy, let's get cracking. And it's hibernating. It's in hibernation and it's not moving. And that must be very frustrating. There's a very good piece by Danyl McLauchlan in the New Zealand Listener, where he says at the moment the Coalition Government really only has itself to blame. I put that same question to Christopher Luxon when he was in. You're just waiting for the economic cycle. You're not doing anything magical or brilliant or wonderful. Yes, I like what you're doing with education very much. I like what you're doing with law and order very much. But when it comes to the economy, so far all I can see is that you're waiting for the natural cycle. There's not a lot going on. The Reserve Bank is confident lower interest rates will eventually help that inert, sluggish economy get off the front porch and start moving. It's identified numerous reasons why the cuts it's delivered in a year haven't spurred as much growth as some expected. That said, the Chief Economist Paul Conway said yesterday it's not our job to grow the economy. We're here for price stability. He said if you want to get growth going in the long run, it's about improving productivity in the economy. Monetary policy is not the instrument for that. We're about controlling demand to keep inflation low and stable. Don't look at us, he was basically saying, there is only so much that we can do. And sure, by lowering interest rates, by lowering the cash rate, thereby allowing banks to lower mortgage interest rates, that will leave some people who are coming up to setting mortgages with a bit more money in their pockets. It will allow some people to borrow money a bit more easily. But what is it going to take? I think people are a bit shell shocked after the past four years. And it is an economy of two halves – some people are doing really, really, really well, and good on them. But others, their pay packet arrives in their account and whoosh out it goes. You think you're getting ahead and then in comes the rates bill, or the insurance bill, or school fees, or what have you, and there is no extra for households to be jolly on. Others who might have got their noses ahead and have seen business start to pick up don't want to go through that again, so they're stockpiling like sensible squirrels. There was a lovely woman who rang in a couple of days ago and she was in painting and decorating. She said, I love people having money. I love people who've earned a lot of money, and have worked hard, and been lucky, or however they've got their money, because they spend it with us. And without them spending, we don't have a company. I don't have a business. That's right. You've got to have that extra money so that the money-go-round can continue. And right now, people either don't have that money, or if they do, they're a bit nervous about spending it. I would love to hear from you if you are in business, if you are a member of a Kiwi household, where are you at? Are you in a funk? I don't think I'm being talked down by the opposition. That's not how I feel. They're not ruining my buzz, they're not dragging me down. I just need to get ahead of the rates and the insurance. The mortgage rates have come down a bit, so that's good. I think 2026 will be okay, but that won't be any thanks to the Government or what it's done to be perfectly honest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Michael Every, Andrew Murray, and Dr Jacqueline Rowarth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM ponders this afternoon’s OCR announcement, whether even strong economic growth can get the Govt’s finances back on track, Winston kicking Mallard to touch, Nicola’s power play and dad dancing!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Auckland won't be getting a bed tax this parliamentary term, despite a renewed call from the city's mayor. Last week Wayne Brown again called for a bed night levy, saying it wouldn't cost the Government anything. He claimed they were cheeky for not putting one in and believed they would eventually cave. Chris Luxon told Mike Hosking that now is not the time to be putting in another tax. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's another hit of the most insightful and sharp 30 minutes in political analysis. Tonight Wallace is joined by RNZ's executive producer of podcasts Tim Watkin, communications specialist Jaqui Van Der Kaay, and former Labour MP Stuart Nash. The panel begins with the Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick's bold statements in the House and whether she deserved to barred for the week. Then, they unpack the latest moves from Donald Trump to bring in the before they take a look at two new political polls and what they mean for Christopher Luxon.

The PM ponders Winston's response to the proposed sale of 65% of the Alliance Group to Irish-based Dawn Meats. Plus, we discuss high-vis vests, urgent economic action to protect exports, capital gains tax, wealth tax, and being the most unpopular PM since Jim Bolger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Pete Turner, Kate Acland, and Tracy Brown.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show… - national slumps in the latest poll is Christopher Luxon's time up He promised to take the axe to the cost of living crisis … it hasn't worked - And acting royalty Cliff Curtis joins me alongside former banker Chris Smith in showing us how you can buy  a house with a one percent deposit... It's a new way of thinking. Website: https://www.rova.nz/home/podcasts/duncan-garner---editor-in-chief Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast  TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Luxon says he and Anthony Albanese are on the same page about standardising regulations on both sides of the Tasman. The New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers have wrapped up an annual catch-up in Queenstown. Luxon told Mike Hosking that they've also asked big business CEOs from both countires, to identify where things could be standardised more. He says Australia's states can have lots of differences in regulations, and they're keen to see where that can be standardised. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese and Christopher Luxon pledge cooperation on trade, defence and Gaza at annual talks; The UN meeting to discuss Israel's plan to take over Gaza City; And in the AFL, Gold Coast defeat Carlton to win by 19 points.

Christopher Luxon took a short and sharp mindset into the National Party conference on the weekend and with good reason: there is much getting back on track still to be done. He arrived in Christchurch amid a blur of bleak headlines, focused mostly on an economic mood epitomised by butter, netball crowds, abrupt Trump tariffs, unemployment numbers, and so on. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire assess the state of play. But first: a trio who did school cert in fifth form look at the overhaul of NCEA and electoral reforms that would deny the vote to “deadbeats”, aka those who seek to enrol within a dozen days of the election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our foreign minister was a no show for the Cooks Islands celebrations, the Prime Minister has been in Papua New Guinea to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties there. Christopher Luxon spoke to parliament today, before getting a live mortar firing demonstration this afternoon. But it all comes against the backdrop of China's growing influence in the Pacific region. Political Reporter Russell Palmer has been travelling with the Prime Minister and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sarah Perriam-Lampp and Peter Dunne . To begin: the NCEA annoucnment from the government sees Erica Stanford and Christopher Luxon proposing to abolish and replace NCEA. They also discuss the government's plans to revise the Conservation Act which includes charging international visitors $20-40 dollars to access four popular sites - Cathedral Cove, the Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound and Aoraki Mount Cook.

Brigitte Morten and Sue Moroney talk NCEA changes, the weekend's National Party Conference and Christopher Luxon urging New Zealand to say "yes." Plus health and safety rules shake up.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

"Say yes" to more - was the message from the Prime Minister at his address to National party members in Christchurch. The party gathered on Saturday for its annual conference, in which Christopher Luxon put an economic stake in the ground ahead of next year's election. Corin Dann has more.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has told the National party's annual conference over the weekend that the country needs to "say yes" more, and can't rely on hope. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The National party gathered on Saturday for its annual conference, with Christopher Luxon putting an economic stake in the ground ahead of next year's election. RNZ's Acting Political Editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Prime Minister is hoping to refocus secondary schools on literacy and numeracy - like the Government's done with primary schools. A major announcement on the future of NCEA is expected in the coming moments. It's understood public consultation will be launched on proposed changes -- in which teachers and parents can give feedback. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the country needs an internationally competitive education system. He says students can get through the current system without proficiency in the basics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full interview: Senior minister Chris Bishop discusses the job losses currently being seen in the construction sector, and answers questions on whether his government's policies on infrastructure are a contributing cause. . Q+A also asks him about recent data on homelessness and rough sleeping, with Bishop indicating an openness to possible “tweaks” in policies that homelessness advocates argue have led to an increase in people sleeping on the street. . And as the newly appointed campaign chair, Bishop discusses whether Christopher Luxon's low preferred Prime Minister ratings are a cause for concern, and defends the government's decision to limit election enrolment to the day before advance voting begins.

We ask the Prime Minister about farmer confidence and waving PayWave surcharges. He also talks about his frosty reception at netball’s ANZ Premiership grand final on Sunday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamish McKay talks to Christopher Luxon, Mike McIntyre, Todd Charteris, and Richard Loe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Kathryn Graham and Tim Wilson. Starting off, the Panel hears from one of the first jewllers to work with Michael Hill in his first store in Whangarei. They also talk to Jules, a pensioner who is living in her car for the first time after being made homeless and they discuss how Christopher Luxon was booed at a netball game: is it ever OK to boo a politician?

More uncertainty this week for Kiwi businesses exporting into the US. Donald Trump has agreed to a new trade deal with the EU this morning, which includes a 15% tariff on EU imports to the US. Trump's also indicated he'll raise the baseline tariff all countries face, from 10-percent to 15-percent. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking New Zealand hasn't been advised of an increase. He says they've agreed with the US to look at things again at the end of the year, but they don't want New Zealand to be any worse off than anyone else. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost-of-living politics reared its head again at Parliament, with MPs exchanging blows over soaring butter prices. Labour accused the coalition of lacking a plan, a claim immediately thrown back at it by a fired-up Christopher Luxon. All this came as Nicola Willis prepares to meet with the global dairy giant Fonterra to hear its take on dairy costs. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Christopher Luxon is staying upbeat about New Zealand's trading relationship with the US. Donald Trump's threatening to raise tariffs against key trading partners if they don't reach trade deals before the end of the month. New Zealand goods currently face the base tariff rate of ten-percent. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking discussions with US officials have been positive so far. He says New Zealand is currently no worse off than any other country, and there's a sense that the US has "bigger fish to fry". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LDV Mahi Monday Research time! Who from your birthyear is the MVP? Who takes the crown as the most valuable player from the year that you were born??... Also on todays show, we were fortunate to sit down with the 42nd and current Prime Minister of Aotearoa, Christopher Luxon to talk less politics and more for the people!... Knock Knock... It's Live Show Tickets! Don't forget that they are live and waiting to find their new home! Hit that link below to stay caught up with anything and everything TMS. www.facebook.com/groups/3394787437503676/ Shop our TMS Merch here fam! : youknowclothing.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=tms Thank you to the team at Chemist Warehouse for helping us keep the lights on, here at The Morning Shift... www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices