Podcasts about finance minister nicola willis

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 24th of February, Finance Minister Nicola Willis explains why the Government has bought $200 million in Genesis shares. The EU Ambassador to NZ Lawrence Meredith speaks on the 4th anniversary of the Ukraine war and what it will take for it to end. Andy Wilman, the creator of Top Gear, Grand Tour, and Clarkson's Farm, joined to discuss the decades he's spent behind the scenes and what it's like to be the right hand man of his best friend, Jeremy Clarkson. 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.

Still no clarity about whether Wellington's second Mt Victoria Tunnel will begin construction this year. National promised to begin work on the tunnel this term, but Transport Minister Chris Bishop last week suggested that wasn't firm. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says geotechnical work is underway - but Cabinet hasn't decided when construction will start. "We're looking at all the Roads of National Significance to determine what order do we sequence these in, and how do we make sure that we fund them in the most appropriate way - and how does that sit alongside our really important obligation to be maintaining the roads?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has raised some concerns over the FTA with India, but Finance Minister Nicola Willis is pushing back. The opposition says they want the un-redacted advice about the deal and greater protection for migrant workers. Nicola Willis says there's strong aspirations in the agreement to promote investment. "What it's saying is - let's both agree to promote significant levels of investment in our respective countries, let's put some aspirational targets out there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has raised some concerns over the FTA with India, but Finance Minister Nicola Willis is pushing back. The opposition says they want the un-redacted advice about the deal and greater protection for migrant workers. Nicola Willis says there's strong aspirations in the agreement to promote investment. "What it's saying is - let's both agree to promote significant levels of investment in our respective countries, let's put some aspirational targets out there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neale, Liam and Kathryn discuss recent events in politics including Finance Minister Nicola Willis' announcement into an independent review of the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decisions made during the Covid-19 pandemic. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

For those of us with PCT, post Covid trauma, I've just given it a name and an acronym, the news that Nicola Willis is launching an inquiry into the actions of the Reserve Bank during Covid is going to bring back some bad memories, but I guess that's what National's relying on. During the pandemic, you'll recall the Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate to a record low and for the first time printed about $55 billion worth of digital money – $55 billion that was pumped into the economy to keep it afloat. Many other countries did that too. Most didn't do it to the same extent we did, but most countries, most Western economies did the same thing. But they, like we, found that there is a cost to free money. High inflation, massive increase in house prices, businesses struggling to pay the money back. Was the hangover worth it? That's what Finance Minister Nicola Willis wants to find out. “I think this is about the future. It's less for me about who was to blame and who we can tell was wrong. What it is about is saying, well, if you were doing it again, how would you prevent some of the overspending? How would you prevent some of the overuse of this money printing tool? How would you make sure you got it right? And so actually this is about the future and doing it better in the future. If we were to repeat the mistakes of Covid and just blindly ignore the lessons of history, I think that would be a major failure. “I fully acknowledge support for the economy was required. And so the question that we are asking is, well, the benefits that occurred because there was this money printing and this borrowing are known, but let's examine what the costs were and then do a weigh up of the benefits of the costs and ask ourselves, did we just maybe go a bit too far? And in future, how would we calibrate that better? And look, I think the idea that New Zealanders shouldn't have this information before the election is really wrong because actually it does have a bearing on the democratic process. It does have a bearing on the way that people position themselves for the future.” The timing is interesting. Reminding everyone of the Covid experience just before the election – who's that going to work for? You'd have to ask yourself. National promised during the last election campaign that they would order an independent review of the actions of the Reserve Bank and that review did not happen until now, and that's the start of the next election campaign. Willis says, oh come on, it's not about that. I was just really, really busy doing other stuff. I had a lot on my plate, I had a lot to deal with, which is true. I was updating the Reserve Bank's mandate to a sole focus on fighting inflation. I've had a lot on my plate. I'm only just getting round to it now. Still and all, I am not averse to an inquiry and I don't want it to be a witch hunt. And I think it would be really, really, really good to have a truly independent and dispassionate look at decisions made in the heat of the moment and weigh up whether you would make those same decisions next time. Obviously there'll be slightly different circumstances, but if people have to stay home and businesses have to shut down, how do you manage that? How do you manage that over the short term? How do you manage that over the long term? I would have really liked to have seen that happen with other decisions made during Covid, like having a long hard look at the way health and Covid health was prioritised over everything else. The decision makers at the time said the hospitals would have been overwhelmed and therefore all health would have suffered. You look now at the cancer waitlists and the deaths from people who weren't picked up while the hospitals were in shutdown mode and you say, okay, alright, so that happened, as a result this happened, was it worth it? I would love to see a dispassionate, cool, clear-headed look at the decisions that were made and bring into account everything that happened during that time and say was it worth it? I know we've had the Covid inquiries, but I don't really, I don't feel that we've had a clear, concise, dispassionate report. Yes, we would do this again. No, we wouldn't do that. Maybe we'd do this. I'd just like to see it set out a little bit more clearly, a blueprint, because what caused so much pain last time was the fudging and the decisions on the fly and not fully formed decisions. If you're able to get a really good analysis of the decisions made with a cost benefit factor weighed up, an emotional cost, personal cost, as well as the dollar figure, and if you broke it down to the Reserve Bank, to health, to employment, to housing, I think it would be really helpful for future generations to see, okay, they did that, let's not do that this time. It might look like a good idea, but ultimately the cost was just too great. When you look at the children and education and schooling, what was the cost there? It might have been worth it – that's what we might find. I might have to agree that for all my moaning and bitching and railing under the restrictions, they were the right decisions to make and I might have to accept that, but I don't really feel we've got a clear analysis of the decisions made and whether they were worth it. I mean, perhaps there has been and I just haven't been willing to hear them, but I can't recall seeing anything set out, laid out, simply, clearly, concisely, critically, and coolly. And that's what I'd really love to see. I bet there are some of you, probably in the South Island, who think, oh for God's sake, what a waste of bloody time. This again. And I don't blame you. I'd love to be in that position. I really would. So you might think it's a complete and utter waste of time. If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's rejecting an accusation it's using Covid as an election tactic. Nicola Willis announced an independent review this year of the monetary policy the Reserve Bank delivered during the pandemic. It'll be released just weeks before the election, and Labour's Chris Hipkins claims the Government's aiming to revive pandemic conspiracies. Willis told Mike Hosking she suspects it wouldn't have mattered what the timing is, the reaction would've been the same – their political opponents saying they shouldn't be asking these questions. But she says when the Reserve Bank did its own review, the results showed there hasn't been enough examination into their decisions. The Finance Minister is also insisting she's keeping an eye on the banking space as ASB reports higher margins. The bank saw modest growth in the second half of last year, reporting a net profit of $765 million. Its net interest margins ticked up six basis points to 2.35%. Willis says told Hosking more people are already looking for better banking deals, and she's working to improve competition. She says she's comparing our regime internationally, especially with the banks' Australian counterparts, and looking at whether we're getting our settings right. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced a surprise inquiry into the actions of the Reserve Bank during the Covid-19 pandemic with a stated purpose to identify any lessons that could be learned to improve the monetary policy response to future major events. Adrian Orr was the Reserve Bank governor from 2018 until his resignation last year. Former Reserve Bank governor Michael Reddell welcomes the inquiry but believes the actions of the Reserve Bank were not malicious. "It wasn't political, it wasn't intentioned to generate high inflation. It was just badly misreading the economy," he told Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs of fatigue - with another review of the country's Covid-19 response now in the works. Finance Minister Nicola Willis new inquiry looks at the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decisions - including printing 55 billion dollars. Findings are to be released just weeks before Election Day. Massey University business professor Claire Matthews says there's potentially some value in it - but the timing feels like an election ploy. She told Ryan Bridge we're also now six years past the start of Covid. Matthews says the Reserve Bank has also already done a review and taken lessons from it - so how much more are we going to learn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs of fatigue with another review of the country's Covid-19 response now in the works. Finance Minister Nicola Willis new inquiry looks at the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decisions, including printing $55 billion. Findings are to be released just weeks before Election Day. Massey University business professor Claire Matthews says there's potentially some value in it, but the timing feels like an election ploy. She told Ryan Bridge we're also now six years past the start of Covid. Matthews says the Reserve Bank has also already done a review and taken lessons from it, so how much more are we going to learn. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salvation Army is warning that families are starving and is calling on the Government to urgently increase food aid. Its latest State of the Nation paints are dire picture of worsening child poverty and unemployment, rising family violence and stubbornly high cost of living pressures.Foreign Minister Winston Peters' office set in motion an official Middle East visit within hours of heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker inviting him to watch a fight in Saudi Arabia, newly-released documents show.Finance Minister Nicola Willis has ordered a review into the Reserve Bank's pandemic-era monetary policy.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

The Government's announced an independent review of the fiscal response to the Covid pandemic. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it will look at any lessons the country could learn to improve its monetary policy response to future events. It will probe decisions by the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee and advice it received – including the decision to print $55 billion in digital money during the pandemic. Graeme, a caller on Kerre Woodham Mornings, decided to break down exactly how the concept of “printing money” works, what impact it has on the market, and the impact it had during Covid. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats New Zealand released the labour market statistics yesterday while I was on air talking to my caller Troy, and the numbers were not good. KW: The unemployment rate is 5.4% in the December quarter, up 5.3 in September. So we'll discuss that with Liam Dann in a minute. There we go. T: Interesting in an election year, that will be interesting for sure. Interesting in an election year for sure, Troy. For a government that campaigned on fixing the economy, getting people back into work, the figures are a cold hard dose of reality. An unemployment rate of 5.4%, total unemployed 165,000 – that's 5,000 extra people without a job since the last quarter. 16,000 without a job since this time last year. The underutilisation figures made for pretty grim reading too. Underutilisation includes the unemployed, the underemployed, part time workers who are wanting more hours – they might have been looking for a full-time job, all they can get is a part time, but they'll take it while they keep looking. And the potential labour force, people who want to work but aren't actively seeking it. I don't quite understand those people, do they just expect somebody to come knocking on their door saying, you're it, you're perfect. 150,000 and a car, come on in"? I don't know how they expect to find work, but there we go. The number of underutilised people rose by 2,000 over the quarter, by roughly 52,000 to 71,000 over the past year depending on all sorts of metrics. What it does end up with is a record high of 409,000 people. So there's a lot of people doing it tough. The Finance Minister Nicola Willis says, just hold your nerve, we'll come right. “We have been waiting for an economic recovery and there is some impatience, but all of the signs are there.” Yes. Well, are they? To be fair, look at the alternative. If you don't like what the Coalition Government is doing, have a look at Labour, Greens, and Te Pāti Māori and think, could they do better? But that's of cold comfort to the thousands of Kiwis that have had to relocate, they've had to pivot, they've had to reevaluate to get themselves into work, to get food on the table, the rent paid, to look after the kids. Another caller yesterday who had rung me previously told me he'd applied for more than 200 jobs. He's bought himself a business. Others have moved themselves and their families into different regions. The figures don't show the Kiwis who moved to different countries, nearly 73,000 to Australia – imagine how grim the stats would have been otherwise. Now there are some people really who could have expected to lose their jobs. If you were one of the many, many thousands of people who took a job with the public service in Wellington in the last six months of '23, come on. When you've got Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon both saying the public service needs to be cut, if you took a job then really you couldn't have expected to keep it. It would have been luck if you did. But for others, the slowing down of the economy has had a dramatic effect on them. The youth, because people hold onto their jobs longer, people don't take on trainees, they don't, can't afford to take a risk with a newbie or an apprentice. The business just can't sustain that. People 50 to 60, they might have been laid off. They've got many, you know, 10, 15, 20 years left in them. Try telling that to a prospective employer. Tough. So I would love to hear from those of you who have been looking for jobs, who have found jobs, who have pivoted, like my caller yesterday who after 200 rejections thought, “you know what? I'll do it myself," and bought himself a business. Those who've gone seeking a job in another part of the country. In Canterbury the figures are better than the national average. It's a tale as we've heard before of two economies. South Island's doing fine, North Island not so much. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th of February, Finance Minister Nicola Willis tries to put a spin on a headline unemployment number that doesn't help the Government in an election year. There's a sewage disaster in Wellington, so Mayor Andrew Little joined to discuss the situation. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss jobs, and Mike can't believe that money is now the gift of choice for a wedding on Wrapping the Week. 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.

The job market's remaining tougher, for longer, than many economists were expecting. Unemployment's reached a ten-year high of 5.4% in the December quarter, and the broader under-utilisation rate is close to a ten-year high as well, at 13%. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is trying to point out silver linings, saying the data also shows more jobs have been created, and hours worked are increasing. Frog Recruitment Manging Director Shannon Barlow told Kerre Woodham that it's a little early to get a clear read on the market, but there are positive signs already. She says there was a lift in permanent roles and businesses who were keen to hire in December, and January has been solid as well – notable since it's normally a dead month. Barlow says it gives the idea that business confidence is beginning to translate into real hiring and growth decisions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel better off than you did three years ago? With it being election year, that's the question politicians are going to be asking you. It's the question I'm asking you too in light of the latest unemployment numbers - which are the highest in more than a decade. That's the overall number. In Canterbury, things are a little bit better. The unemployment rate here is down and we've got 12,000 extra jobs. That was in the three months to December. Nevertheless, we can't deny that the better things are everywhere, then the better off we will all be. Not surprisingly, Finance Minister Nicola Willis is saying that employment growth is up. She says people are feeling more confident about the economy. Which is why the data released yesterday showed that, despite the overall unemployment rate increasing, there are more people out there looking for work because they're confident that there is actually work out there for them. My view on that is that, yes, there is work out there - but you have to do a lot more than just email your CV and a cover letter. In some cases, you have to physically knock on doors - just like the old days. But back to whether or not we actually feel any better off. For me, it's a mixed bag. But I suspect that's a stage-of-life thing. The kids have all grown up - so life is naturally less expensive on that front. No school camps and sports trips to pay for. I'm not buying clothes or shoes for kids who keep outgrowing them. So life is cheaper for me on that front. Nevertheless, every time I go through the check-out at the supermarket, I'm still blown away by how much it costs. Not to mention what it's like if you've still got the kids at home and you're doing the weekly shop to keep them fed and watered. Then, if you've got a home loan, there's the mortgage rates. They're still on the up and who knows what further increases might be on the cards with the Reserve Bank still fighting the inflation battle. As one of our listeners, Paul, points out: “Inflation is up, interest rates are up, unemployment is up and redundancies continue. Store closures continue too.” I'm guessing Paul's answer to my question is that he doesn't feel any better than he did three years ago. But what about you? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AA Insurance's decision to stop offering new home insurance policies in Westport due to flood risks has prompted discussion about the future of climate-based buyouts. There's been debate over whether the Government will fund buyouts for homeowners living in areas at risk for weather damage, with many experts ruling the move as unlikely. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says there's a Natural Hazards scheme in place for homeowners impacted by flooding or landslides - and it's important to ensure people have the right insurance measures in place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've always understood the theory behind mainstreaming. We're all different, we all have different abilities, different attitudes, and a classroom of individuals with diverse personalities and levels of learning prepares young people for the real world. You're not among your own kind once you leave school and enter the workplace, enter the community. Mainstreaming means that kids who are different physically, intellectually, socially, aren't siloed or separated or marginalised. They're part of the wider school community and if they need extra time or attention, well in an ideal classroom, the teacher gladly offers it and the other students make space, accepting that some people need more resources than others. That's the theory. In reality, for many families, mainstreaming is brutal for teachers, for students, both the normies and the diverse students, the families of the normies. It can work, but only if there are the resources and the goodwill to make it happen. In reality, overworked teachers simply do not have the time or indeed the training to be able to offer the sort of specialised education that children with diverse and complex needs need. Now the Government has announced funding for two new specialist schools, catering to children with high needs and disabilities. They are the first schools for such kids to be built in 50 years, which is how long the prevailing ideology of mainstreaming clearly has been going on. Education Minister Erica Stanford and Finance Minister Nicola Willis made the announcement yesterday at Queen Elizabeth College in Palmerston North. That college's campus will host one of the schools, which will open in Term 2 of 2027. The other will open next to Ngākōroa School in Drury in South Auckland in Term 1 of 2028. The announcement of the two special schools, together with the Autism New Zealand education hubs that opened in Term 3 of last year for neurodivergent secondary students struggling with traditional schooling, really will give some parents, some kids, some choices. The charter schools sponsored by Autism New Zealand are operating from campuses in Wellington and Auckland, 96 students to begin with, and utilises homeschooling, online learning and community-based learning as a way to transition students back into the classroom learning face-to-face. Autism NZ has accepted that there are many young people with autism for whom mainstreaming simply does not work. It doesn't work for them, it doesn't work for the other students, it doesn't work for the teachers. And so to get the best out of young people, they have created a curriculum that best suits them. It makes sense. Of course there are naysayers. Some education academics believe more money should be put into mainstream schools to cater for those with diverse needs rather than building special schools for them. But that won't work for every child. What do they say? If you've met one neurodiverse child... There are some children for whom mainstreaming absolutely works, but not every child is going to enjoy being a square peg trying to squeeze through a round hole. Some will, but surely the alternative education hubs that have opened and those that are being planned make sense for parents who recognise that their child's potential can only be realised with specialist teachers in a school that's built to accommodate complex needs. It's back to the future, and those who are not blinkered and blinded by ideology know that there are lessons to be learned from the past. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Nick Mills in the studio today to discuss the latest Infometrics report that suggests the economy will not recover convincingly this year. Willis shares what she thinks the economy will look like this year, and Nick asks about interest rates, OCR hikes and manage the banks power. They also talk about the tragedy of Mount Maunganui, and how politics should play out during disasters and why the government and council's have to do separate enquiries. Willis shares the feelings in the National Party after Judith Collins departure from politics and what is next for her many portfolios. And finally – the budget was announced for 28th May. What are the priorities? What can we expect? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hoping inflation can drop back into the Reserve Bank's target band off the back of the latest data. The annual inflation rate for 2025 was 3.1 percent, up from 3 percent for the year to September. Willis says the Government supports the Reserve Bank getting back to their target band of 1 to 3 percent. "It's inflation that's the broadest driver of the cost of living. At the same time, interest rate reductions have been really important to recovering our economy after a very difficult period, but it's always the case that as the economy recovers, you do expect that eventually interest rates do go up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hoping inflation can drop back into the Reserve Bank's target band off the back of the latest data. The annual inflation rate for 2025 was 3.1 percent, up from 3 percent for the year to September. Willis says the Government supports the Reserve Bank getting back to their target band of 1 to 3 percent. "It's inflation that's the broadest driver of the cost of living. At the same time, interest rate reductions have been really important to recovering our economy after a very difficult period, but it's always the case that as the economy recovers, you do expect that eventually interest rates do go up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​By Gareth VaughanGovernor Anna Breman has implied the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee will increase the Official Cash Rate (OCR) in the run-up to November's election if members believe this is what is required."We are statutory independent. We are an independent central bank, like you point out, and we will do what is best for the New Zealand economy and to reach our inflation target," Breman told interest.co.nz in a new episode of the Of Interest podcast.She was asked if the Reserve Bank believes increasing the OCR is necessary, she would be comfortable doing so in the run up to November's election.Breman was speaking on Friday, after the release of Statistics NZ's December quarter Consumers Price Index (CPI) showed annual inflation at 3.1%, above the Reserve Bank's 1% to 3% target range."We are carefully looking through all the data. It's clear that there are some items in there that typically are very volatile. They can change a lot between different quarters. But of course 3.1% is high and it means that inflation that's been hurting households for many years is still above where we want it to be, but the outlook is still favorable in terms of inflation going forward. So it's also important to stress that we will focus on getting inflation back in the target band and towards the midpoint of the target band," Breman said.The Reserve Bank reviews the OCR for the first time this year on February 18.In a note following the CPI release BNZ Head of Research Stephen Toplis said financial markets had almost fully priced in a first OCR increase for the Reserve Bank's September 2 Monetary Policy Statement. And BNZ's economists have brought forward their expectations for a first OCR hike to September 2 from February 2027."One thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the General Election on November 7. The Reserve Bank is operationally independent so it can broadly do what it wants when it wants, but central banks are not keen to become embroiled in election campaigns if it can be avoided," said Toplis."In our opinion, this means the 28 October Monetary Policy Review would be far from optimal for a first rate hike. Moreover, it's always easier to tell the full story with a complete Monetary Policy Statement when a hiking cycle, or cutting, begins."Breman said she doesn't comment directly on market pricing. The OCR is currently at 2.25%, having been reduced from 5.50% since July 2024.In the podcast audioBreman speaks further about inflation including the challenges facing households, whether she expects help from government with the inflation fight, limits to Reserve Bank monetary policy, her recent support of US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and the response from Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Finance Minister Nicola Willis, risks around the Fed becoming less independent when President Donald Trump appoints a new Chairman, what climate change means for the Reserve Bank, her thoughts on a potential central bank digital currency, and more.*You can find all episodes of the Of Interest podcast here.​

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 19 January 2026, the Prime Minister has given his State of the Nation speech but the business community is yet to be convinced. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges tells Ryan Bridge what was missing from the speech. A North Auckland community is calling for action after their rockpools have been stripped of sea life. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reveals why Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman didn't call her before signing a support letter for Fed chair Jerome Powell. On the Huddle, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani debate the State of the Nation speech - and why it was the pot plants that really caught Trish's attention. Plus, Ryan explains why he thinks Chris Luxon should call an early election. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has outlined her goals for the new year, as the Government prepares for the upcoming 2026 election. Willis is hoping Kiwi voters will see the benefits of re-electing a National-led Government so that they can feel rewarded for their hard work. She says the economy grew as a whole last year, and voters can hope to see more in 2026. "So we see more job creation, more opportunities for Kiwis to get ahead - that is what we want to see." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has outlined her goals for the new year, as the Government prepares for the upcoming 2026 election. Willis is hoping Kiwi voters will see the benefits of re-electing a National-led Government so that they can feel rewarded for their hard work. She says the economy grew as a whole last year, and voters can hope to see more in 2026. "So we see more job creation, more opportunities for Kiwis to get ahead - that is what we want to see." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to give his State of the Nation Address tomorrow and being an election year, it'll be an important one. The National Party will be trying to recover from their recent polling, while kiwis will be looking for some desperately needed economic recovery. Health may also be one to keep an ear out for, after Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she'll be looking to shake up funding in the next budget. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwibank has scrapped it's plans for partial privatisation after the Reserve Bank announced it's reduction of the amount of capital it requires banks to hold to protect their depositors in the event of a crisis. The bank had been talking to investors, seeking a $500 million capital raise after the Government gave it the green light to raise money to become more competitive. Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich talked to Andrew Dickens about the change and the future of the market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is pointing to a slower economy, lower tax take and higher debt costs, but maintains she can achieve surplus six months earlier than the Treasury forecast. 

The Government insists it has a plan to turn the economy around. Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows the country is first forecast to be in the black by 2029-2030. The Finance Minister has admitted the country is borrowing money to pay the interest bill on the debt. Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis Allan that bill is about $9 billion a year. She says around 80% of borrowing over the next few years will be for capital assets like hospitals, schools, and roads. There may also be more cuts to the public service as they aim to get back down to surplus. Economic growth is expected to be just 1.7% next year, and Willis says there's still room for efficiency in the public service. She will be sending letters out to her cabinet colleagues to give them ideas on where they can make some savings. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 16 December 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis defends the state of the Government books, despite surplus being pushed out and debt growing more than previously predicted. The Bondi hero who tried to stop the two terrorists is fighting for his own health in hospital. Ryan Bridge speaks to a woman who has been by his bedside. A lawyer convicted of groping law students at a Russell McVeagh Christmas Party has been cleared to return to practicing law. Ryan asks the victims' lawyer Steph Dyhrberg how she feels about James Gardner-Hopkins getting a second chance. Auckland Council has listened and voted down a trial to move to fortnightly rubbish collections. Plus, the Huddle reacts to news that Ruth Richardson has officially pulled out of the big debate against Nicola Willis. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update is due to be unveiled to the nation tomorrow, and the Finance Ministers outlined her expectations. Experts have speculated a projected surplus will be pushed back from 2029 by another year, and Prime Minister Chris Luxon tempered expectations earlier today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says 'fiscal discipline' will see New Zealand's economy keep growing in the coming months. "Importantly, I also get to update the Treasury's economic forecasts and that's what shows the picture for more job creation, income growth into the future, and people doing better." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 15 December 2025, the ripple effects of the shocking Bondi terror attack are being felt far and wide. Ryan Bridge speaks to terrorism expert Dr Levi West, Holocaust Center chair Deborah Hart and Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett. The Reserve Bank Governor has swung into action to talk down financial markets, Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems happy. Avatar director James Cameron has warned this might be his last Avatar movie and is pitching for a better film rebate for local productions. Plus, after the Bondi attack the Huddle debates whether we have let antisemitism become acceptable. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a stunt, performative politics, a farce, a side show, a distraction from the HYEFU and quarterly GDP results being released this week… goodness me, the thought of a debate between our current Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, and a previous Finance Minister, Ruth Richardson, caused quite a stir this week, didn't it? Politics is, by its nature, a contest of ideas and values, so why are we afraid of a little debate? We see performative debate taking place in the House on a regular basis? Dare I say it - but with all the hype, maybe people will watch this one. I like that Finance Minister Nicola Willis isn't quietly counting down the days until the Christmas break to slink away and hope the fudge campaign, devised by the Taxpayers Union, will slowly slip from our minds after a bevy and BBQ or three. In his column in the NZ Herald this week, Mathew Hooton said that whoever advised Finance Minister Nicola Willis to challenge her predecessor Ruth Richardson, now the chair of the Taxpayers Union, to a debate should be sacked. I wonder whether Willis, an experienced debater, came up with the idea herself. Hooton has a point - it's potentially a lose-lose situation. Richardson is going to be cast as a member of the hard-nose right happy to inflict misery on people to achieve fiscal consolidation, and Willis could be a sitting duck depending on the HYEFU and quarterly GDP results released next week. But do we want politicians who are always thinking about themselves, take a strategic approach and craft their messaging to avoid transparency, or would you prefer a Finance Minister prepared to openly discuss one of the main issues concerning New Zealanders today - the state of the economy - with someone who is trying to undermine her? The NZ Herald's political editor, Thomas Coughlan, does an excellent job of explaining what's behind this situation in his article titled Ruth Richardson v Nicola Willis - the facts behind the argument. Essentially, after a financial crisis or shock it is accepted that Governments spend more to get through - and that the books end up in a bit of mess - but once the economy has ‘restarted' and we're on the other side of the shock, fiscal consolidation kicks in, and budgets tighten so the country is ready for the next financial shock. What is to be debated is whether the current coalition is moving fast enough when it comes to this fiscal consolidation. Will we be ready for the next financial shock? We know we have challenges ahead - with two of the known ones being our aging population's impact on our health system and the increased cost of superannuation. Do we increase taxes? Reduce spending and inflict the social costs of austerity? Or do we risk taking a slower approach to getting back on track, with less negative impact on our communities? As long as it's a civil one - it sounds like something worth debating. But it needs to be a debate which doesn't get personal, nasty or derogatory. One in which each debater expresses their values and the reasoning behind their approach, backs their thinking with evidence and outlays a long term vision for New Zealand. This is the kind of discourse we should be having. Let's get an independent economist to run it - and get on with it. If nothing else - it could be highly entertaining, something we could all do with at this point in the year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war of words continues between Finance Minister Nicola Willis and former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson. Richardson - the chair of the Taxpayers' Union - has been fronting a new campaign against Willis's fiscal decisions. The pair have agreed to debate each other, but are yet to agree on when or where. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says the pair have expressed interest in having the debate on Newstalk ZB, with Heather du Plessis-Allan overseeing it from the Breakfast slot. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 10 December 2025, the Supreme Court has delivered a huge win for family carers of disabled adult children - so where to from here? The Aussie social media ban is officially in play - so what happens when you take your kids on holiday there? In an extraordinary move, the NZ Cyber Agency is personally warning 26,000 Kiwis whose computers have been infected with malicious software. Plus, the Huddle debates why Finance Minister Nicola Willis is pushing for a debate against former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falls for the Greens and Te Pati Maori in the latest 1 News Verian Poll - which gives the coalition more than enough seats to govern. National is on 36 percent, up two - while Act is also up two to 10 percent, and New Zealand First steady on nine. In the left bloc, Labour was up three to 35, but the Greens dropped four to seven, and Te Pati Maori - after weeks of infighting - fell two points to one percent. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge they're focused on doing things to make sure people are better off, can get ahead, and have strong public services. She says it's positive to see that most people, if given the chance to vote tomorrow - would re-elect the current Government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As expected, the Reserve Bank cut the OCR to 2.25% last week - but an unexpected side effect has been a lack of effect. The Reserve Bank announced that this would be the end of cuts, sending the wholesale market into a panic and, therefore, seeing no change in interest rates. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "my message to the banks is always the same, which is pass on as much as you possibly can because it's good for the economy." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 24 November 2025, if you're building a new home or doing a biggish renovation you'll soon be forced to buy a building warranty in case of building faults. Building Minister Chris Penk talks to Heather about the details. Koura's Rupert Carlyon says employers should be stopped from decreasing salaries to accommodate higher Kiwisaver contribution rates. The eye-watering amount of food that gets thrown away every year - and the surprising worst offender. Finance Minister Nicola Willis hits back at suggestions that Prime Minister Chris Luxon might get rolled by one of his MPs. Plus, the Huddle debates why we're so fed up with Air New Zealand, its service and especially its prices! Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing speculation that National is looking to oust Chris Luxon as leader ahead of the election, but Finance Minister Nicola Willis is disputing these rumours. Reports have claimed National is looking to replace Luxon with Chris Bishop, but this is mostly speculation. Nicola Willis says the party has a Prime Minister who's delivering significant reforms - and making good on the promises National campaigned on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rail Minister Winston Peters said the budget for the new Cook Strait ferry project is less than half the cost of the previous Government's ill-fated mega ferry plan, even though the new ferries cost a bit more.The total project cost will be under 2 billion dollars. In making the big announcement in Wellington, he lost no opportunity to stick the boot into the iReX plan, which was scuppered by Finance Minister Nicola Willis in 2023.

The Government is delaying hiking the levy most home owners pay via their private insurers to fund the Natural Hazards Commission until 2027. The $552 levy was supposed to go up by between $207 and $311, but reports claim ministers are still considering their options, with Finance Minister Nicola Willis saying she didn't want to make a 'hurried decision'. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New polling data has revealed less Kiwis have faith the current Government can turn the economy around ahead of the upcoming election. A New Zealand Herald-Kantar poll has found voters are evenly split on Labour's proposed capital gains tax and about 45 percent of respondents in an IPSOS survey scored the Luxon-led Government below 3 out of 10. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it's clear a significant number of people are still opposed to the capital gains tax and the Government has plenty of time to expose the negative impacts. "There's also a big, undecided group in the middle and those are the people that we will be speaking to between now and the election." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 17 November 2025, Transport Minister Chris Bishop explains why the Government is moving to make importing dirty cars cheaper. The Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers are employees, Anita Rosentreter from the Workers First Union speaks about the implications for drivers. Finance Minister Nicola Willis gives a very strong hint about next year's election date, and reveals when she found out that Andrew Coster was part of an IPCA investigation into disgraced Jevon McSkimming. MBIE's Ian Caplin explains what parents need to know about the magic sand asbestos warning. Plus, the Huddle debates polls that show Kiwis support for Labour's CGT and why the Government is rating so poorly in the latest Ipsos survey. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's being urged to take urgent and decisive action on our banking sector. Ministers have accepted most of the recommendations of a select committee inquiry into the industry, including directing the Reserve Bank to focus on more competition. But banking expert Andrew Body says Nicola Willis needs to go further. He told Mike Hosking the Minister should be seeking law changes and a harmonisation of Australian and New Zealand banking rules. Body says the Minister should be ringing Treasury Secretary Ian Rennie, asking for a proposal for legislative change by 8am Monday. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has indicated trade talks with India are progressing well - and speculation claims both nations could have a trade deal by next year. Trade Minister Todd McClay has been hosting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Auckland for a fifth round of talks on a trade deal. Finance Minister Nicola Willis won't disclose too much, but she says good progress is being made. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 10 November 2025, the Maori Party has expelled two of its own MPs in the latest episode of the party's implosion. Former leader Te Ururoa Flavell speculates where this will go next. ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson defends the company's huge $2.5 billion profit - a 21% rise! Cook Islands opposition leader Tina Browne reacts to news that New Zealand has suspended $30 million dollars in funding over its diplomatic spat with the Cooks. Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks bank profits and asset sales. The Huddle debates the future of the Maori Party and the Cooks. Plus, how producer Antz found out he was owed $400 dollars ... and you might be too! Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is no longer soley focued on attracting Blockbuster films like the Lord of the Rings and Avatar to these shores, it's now hoping to give the industry a boost by offering incentives to smaller productions, too. Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today it's expanding eligibility for the International Screen Production Rebate scheme to allow smaller budget productions and digital effects only projects to benefit from the rebate. One actor says the changes couldn't comes soon enough. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 3 November 2025, Dame Noeline Taurua has raised more questions than answers after her round of interviews. Employment expert Max Whitehead says it's clear Netball NZ has not acted appropriately in the saga. 120 police officers are under investigation for falsifying 30,000 breath tests. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers explains how this happened. Media commentator Duncan Greive reacts to news that Simon Dallow will step down after 19 years at the 6pm newsreader desk. Finance Minister Nicola Willis on Andrew Bayly and Westpac's 13% profit rise. Plus, the Huddle debates new research that has quantified the amount of unpaid labour we do in a day. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 28 October 2025, Labour has confirmed its worst case secret: a Capital Gains Tax will be brought in if Labour wins the next election. Heather asks Chris Hipkins about all the ins and outs of the new policy. Netball NZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie says it wasn't a mistake to stand Dame Noeline Taurua down - but can't say what changes will be made when Taurua returns as coach. Teaching kids consent will be mandatory for schools soon, but sex education therapist Jo Robertson says we could go further. Finance Minister Nicola Willis encourages Air NZ's new boss to tidy his own house first before asking the Government for money. Plus, on the Huddle, Josie Pagani tries to convince Heather and Trish Sherson of the need for a CGT. Good luck Josie! Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The resignation of the Reserve Bank chair Neil Quigley was announced by Finance Minister Nicola Willis last night as happening with "immediate effect". It came after months of close scrutiny over his handling of Adrian Orr's resignation as Governor. Quigley described Orr's resignation, in early March, as a "personal decision" but a series of revelations followed that cast doubt on that. Minister Willis declined to be interviewed on Saturday Morning but in a pre-recorded interview to RNZ last night she said "Mr Quigley chose to tend his resignation. If he had not offered his resignation, I would have asked him for it." RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford has the latest.