Podcasts about finance minister nicola willis

The Finance Minister says a move to require wool carpets in state housing makes financial sense. Nicola Willis has announced a change to Kainga Ora's supplier agreement that will see it re-open its previously nylon-only carpet tender process. From the start of next month, all public entities will also be required to use woollen fibres where practical and appropriate. Willis told Mike Hosking officials have told her it makes sense for Kainga Ora to make this change. She says it's cost-neutral, and it performs well across a number of other dimensions. Nicola Willis says the Reserve Bank should never be exempt from cost-cutting across the public sector. Newly released documents show Adrian Orr's abrupt resignation as Governor came after he was denied the Budget allocation he was seeking. The Finance Minister says the central bank still has the funding it requires to do its statutory duties. She told Hosking the Reserve Bank can't operate as a "gilded palace" – it needs to be fiscally responsible, like all other government departments. Willis says any idea that the Reserve Bank doesn't need to abide by the same funding constraints as other Government agencies is wrong. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are fears Finance Minister Nicola Willis is opening a can of worms by potentially allowing young farmers to dip into their KiwiSavers to buy farms. She explained she was seeking advice from the IRD on the matter, which is yet to be considered by Cabinet. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny weighed in on the debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod: One week into the reign of South Korea's new president, we get an update on his progress; we hear the sad news that hosiery manufacturer Columbine is shutting up their factory in Gisborne; we talk about Ryan Fox's superb win at the Canadian Open and we ask Finance Minister Nicola Willis what's next for our supermarket duopoly. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

In this episode, Nick Stewart, our CEO and Financial Adviser, takes a deep dive into the 2025 Budget delivered by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.From proposed KiwiSaver changes to pay equity adjustments, the budget has sparked plenty of discussion—and concern. Nick unpacks the key elements, explores the challenges ahead and asks the big question: Is this truly a “Growth Budget,” a bold step forward, or just wishful thinking?Don't miss Nick's article featured in Hawke's Bay Today and the NZ Herald Online: Budget 2025: King Canute's Economic Delusion⏰ Important time-stamps(1:01) Introduction(02:05) Nick's economic insights were mentioned on NewsTalk ZB during a conversation between PM Christopher Luxon and Mike Hosking(02:51) Nick's take on the 2025 New Zealand Budget(04:46) Is this truly a “growth” budget?(7:13) Productivity for Tradies(8:45) Broader thoughts on productivity and efficiency(12:13) NZ Budget 2025: “Robbing Peter to pay Paul”?(15:24) Impacts of KiwiSaver changes(24:14) Cuts made to pay parity and other areas(28:51) Lessons from King Canute(30:48) Where can you find Stewart GroupThe Adviser Talk is available on all popular streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Nick Stewart is a Financial Adviser and CEO at Stewart Group, a Hawke's Bay and Wellington-based CEFEX-certified financial planning and advisory firm. Stewart Group provides personal fiduciary services, Wealth Management, Risk Insurance & KiwiSaver solutions. The information provided, or any opinions expressed in this show, are of a general nature only and should not be construed or relied on as a recommendation to invest in a financial product or class of financial products. You should seek financial advice specific to your circumstances from an Authorised Financial Adviser before making any financial decisions. A disclosure statement can be obtained free of charge by calling 0800 878 961 or visit our website, www.stewartgroup.co.nz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis may get her wish to see the latest move in the Avatar franchise premiere in the capital at the end of the year. That's due to a decade-old agreement between the producers of the Avatar franchise and the Government. It states at least one of the films produced here must hold a local premiere - if the studio wants to receive its rebate payment - worth about $60 million. Former Arts and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson says an event like this will be huge for Wellington. "If it means the red carpet can be rolled out in front of the embassy, that's fantastic." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod: Finance Minister Nicola Willis goes in to bat for her colleague Chris Bishop as the government takes a bat to road cones; Pam Corkery has all the news from across the ditch, including the latest from the mushroom murder trial and we hear from the whanau of Makareti Papakura and find out how she ended up being the first indigenous woman to study at Oxford University. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

The Finance Minister Nicola Willis says one in five taxpayer dollars is now going into the health system, with record investment in frontline services. But a leading health policy expert says based on this year's Budget, the public system is treading water or even sinking. Ruth Hill reports.

Infometrics' Principal Economist says the Government's not entirely ignoring the lack of budget funding allocated for lifting KiwiSaver employer contributions. The Greens say the Government hasn't accounted for the cost to public services, which could cost more than $700 hundred million. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that's being worked on - and will be in next year's Budget. Brad Olsen says the hole wasn't costed, but hasn't been forgotten. "There is a cost - it will have to be met, but it's not being directly disclosed in the Budget figures." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 26 May 2025, Superintendent Blair MacDonald explains why police are no longer going to attend shoplifting crimes where less than $500 was stolen unless there's good reason to. Health Minister Simeon Brown says prefab hospital buildings are the way to go to build a cheaper (and faster) hospital in Nelson. Finance Minister Nicola Willis reveals what's not written in her diary for Saturday - the day David Seymour takes over as Deputy Prime Minister. The Huddle debates why we're so obsessed with Nicola Willis' Budget outfit and whether it's appropriate we even talk about it. Plus, what happened when Heather asked ChatGPT if she looks hot? 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.

In today's episode, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has defended the government's budget decisions including changes to Kiwisaver, saying most workers will end up with larger retirement savings, new sanctions marking the next phase of the government's Traffic Light welfare system, mean beneficiaries who fail to meet their obligations can have half their benefits restricted to being spent on essentials-only for a month, President Donald Trump said he wants the "names and countries" of every international student enrolled at Harvard University, and Auckland FC's dream first season is over after they were knocked out in the A-League semi-finals by Melbourne Victory.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has defended the government's budget decisions including changes to Kiwisaver, saying most workers will end up with larger retirement savings. Willis spoke to Corin Dann.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks to Mike Hosking about the week's big issues after the budget announcement last week. Health New Zealand's aiming to perform more than 30-thousand elective surgeries by June 2026 by outsourcing more straightforward cases to private hospitals. Willis says getting doctors and specialists on longer term contracts will get more people the care they need sooner. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last week announced his intention to raise the retirement age. Willis says no discussions have taken place yet, but says the Government would need to be upfront with their plans. "At some point, a future government is either going to have to slap a lot more tax on people or it's going to have to front up to whether the settings can be tweaked a little bit," she says. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the budget dominated the news with Finance Minister Nicola Willis promising no frills after cutting new spending nearly in half. Max Rashbrooke is a senior research fellow in the School of Government at Victoria University, he has written extensively on inequality and talks to Susie.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hit go on commercial building developments, oil and gas exploration, dam builders and more. In a new investment boost programme, businesses can now deduct twenty percent off the cost of a new asset. There's no cap on how much the asset can cost. Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the new scheme. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis on the choices and trade-offs in yesterday's budget.

The government's halving its contribution to kiwisaver. Businesses will have to up theirs from 3 to 4 percent over time. They get a tax break in return. Theres an average $14 a fortnight increase to working for families, for low and middle income households. Changes to the pay equity law are saving the government 2.7 billion dollars a year. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Lisa Owen. 

The Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, has described the Budget as responsible, and what governments do to avoid austerity. Willis spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Morning Report that while the Budget is responsible, it has something for every New Zealander. RNZ's political editor Jo Moir and RNZ's business editor Gyles Beckford spoke to Corin Dann.

Did the government get it right? We dive into the biggest shake-ups to KiwiSaver since the scheme began—Finance Minister Nicola Willis' new 2025 Budget includes cuts to government contributions, new eligibility for teens, rising minimums, and a fresh set of trade-offs for your future retirement balance.Next Steps: If these KiwiSaver changes have you wondering whether your fund, provider, or contribution level is right for you - Lighthouse Financial can help. For more money tips follow us on:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 22 May 2025, Heather is live from Parliament for Budget 2025 and gets first up reaction from Labour Leader Chris Hipkins. She asks Finance Minister Nicola Willis whether she's gone far enough to get spending under control and why she is making changes to Kiwisaver. Plus, the Huddle debates the details in the Budget and whether it will get the economy humming. Former NRL star George Burgess defends the "Run It" event he was a part of, after the event led to two people with head injuries. And the South African High Commissioner to NZ gives his reaction to the extraordinary Cyril Ramaphosa-Donald Trump meeting. 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.

No unicorns, no rainbows, no BS, but not austerity - this is how Finance Minister Nicola Willis has described her second budget to be revealed this afternoon.  Independent economist Cameron Bagrie on how the numbers might add up.

It's Budget day and the Finance Minister Nicola Willis says there will be no lolly scramble and no BS. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

Billions in spending has already been announced, and more to come for today's budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hours away from unveiling her second budget, and is promising no frills or excess. The Government's been slowly teasing figures, including a $600 million infrastructure investment into the country's rail network. Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Mike Hosking they're trying to make some progress. She says it's good to see they're continuing to build on the fundamentals. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise today's budget will deliver real growth for the economy. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hours away from unveiling her 'No BS Budget', claiming there'll be no frills or excess. The Government's been slowly teasing figures, concentrating on balancing the books through cuts and reprioritisation in spending. Business NZ CEO Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking the government knows its role in business recovery. She says they're the first government in a long time that's methodically looked through what can be done to make things easier. It's also been teasing changes to the KiwiSaver scheme, with more to be revealed. It's expected to increase KiwiSaver's default contribution rate from the current 3% as well as means-testing its own annual contribution, up to $521 dollars. Rich told Hosking they'll be keeping a close eye on things. She says it depends on how it's phased in over time, so businesses can factor it into wage negotiations and salaries. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2025 is set to be revealed to the nation tomorrow - and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has promised it will be a “No BS Budget” with “some surprises”. Willis will take a step towards unwinding the expansion of Government that accompanied (and followed) the pandemic - while growing the economy. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny outlines some questions she hopes to see resolved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's less than two days to go until Budget Day 2025, and experts are outlining their predictions. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hinted this won't be a 'lolly scramble' and plenty of cuts will have to take place. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains further, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the Government was forecast to make its first withdrawal from the NZ Super Fund in 2028, five years earlier than expected. Professor of Finance at Auckland University of Technology Aaron Gilbert spoke to Emile Donovan to explain what this means for your Kiwisaver.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 19 May 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis speaks to Heather ahead of Budget Day later this week. Is she worried the debate about the suspension of Maori Party MPs will overshadow her big week? US Correspondent Jonathan Kearsley has details about former President Joe Biden's terminal cancer diagnosis. Butter has got so expensive that people are buying boxes of cheap butter from Costco. Former Costco boss Patrick Noone explains why butter at Costco is half as expensive as elsewhere. Plus, the Huddle debates whether a Mt Eden homeowner should be made to rip out his new aluminium windows because they're not compliant with heritage rules. 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.

Just yesterday Finance Minister Nicola Willis pledged $577 million dollars to support film and TV production. That will boost funding of the rebate scheme to just over $9 billion. 

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 16 May 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis tells Heather why she's begrudgingly signed off on an almost 600 million dollar subsidy for film productions. Woolworths boss Pieter de Wet has hit back at the Government, saying its the cost of GST that's making New Zealand's groceries more expensive than in Australia. Auckland FC Coach Steve Corica speaks to Heather ahead of tomorrow's playoffs game against Melbourne. Plus, the Sports Huddle talks Ryan Fox' big win this week and is First XV rugby better than Super Rugby? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has talked up how changes to KiwiSaver, due to be announced at the Budget, will boost members' balances. She's offered up some hints - but it's unlikely the Government will help by opening up its wallet. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny speculates further ahead of Budget day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly a quarter of the money spent on National's FamilyBoost policy has been poured into administration costs, and not into the back pockets of families. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says changes to KiwiSaver will be revealed at next week's Budget. The NZ Super Fund will cover only 20% of future Superannuation costs, with withdrawals starting in 2028. The fund will continue growing despite withdrawals, but Superannuation costs are expected to reach $29 billion annually. There will be changes to KiwiSaver announced at next week's Budget, with the Super Fund only expected to cover – at best – 20% of the cost of Superannuation in the future, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Willis wouldn't say what the changes would be, but they would be “positive”, she told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning. The minister has previously not ruled out changes – including means-testing – to the $521 given to KiwiSaver members who contribute at least twice that amount each year. “[Changes will be positive] because I want to see people's KiwiSaver balances grow. KiwiSaver has become particularly important for those saving to buy their first home – we had more than 40,000 people use KiwiSaver to do that in the past year," she told Hosking. “And it's become an increasingly important supplement for people's retirement income.” Willis announced yesterday that the Government was forecast to make its first withdrawal from the NZ Super Fund in 2028, five years earlier than forecast at last year's Budget. Superannuation costs are expected to reach $29 billion a year in a few years, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Photo / 123rf The fund was set up in 2001 to subsidise the future cost of Superannuation, easing the burden on taxpayers. The date of the withdrawal – forecast to total $32m in 2028 – isn't at the Government's discretion and is written into the Fund's governing legislation. The first withdrawal would be followed by some “bouncing around between withdrawals and contributions”, but from 2031 onwards, withdrawals were expected every year, Willis said yesterday. Despite withdrawals, the Super Fund won't shrink in the short-term. It will continue growing for some time as withdrawals will be smaller than the overall growth in the fund, the Herald reported yesterday. Treasury's forecasts, which were based on a complicated formula relating to how much is in the fund, GDP, taxpayer numbers and other factors, confirmed help was needed to pay for superannuation, Willis told Hosking this morning. “We've all talked for several years about at a certain point, the cost of superannuation will get very high, and then we'll need the Super Fund to help. We're now at that point.” Asked how much of the cost of superannuation the fund would cover “in its golden moments”, Willis told Hosking: “In its golden moments it's only going to be about 20% of the total cost”. “There's no getting away from the fact that superannuation is very expensive … just in the next few years, it's going to leap up to $29 billion a year, because there are a lot of people over the age of 65 and superannuation is pegged to the after-tax average wage, so that number keeps going up. “That's the commitment that we have as a country, is to fund that entitlement, and we then need to pay for it. And there are fewer taxpayers, of course, in the future to help pay for it.” -Cherie Howie LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14th of May, Finance Minister Nicola Willis is on after announcing the first Super Fund withdrawal will come years earlier than expected. The Government is planning on investing $140 million into improving school attendance – Associate Education Minister David Seymour elaborates. Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell discuss Jevon McSkimming, missing the new 500 police targets, and pay equity on Politics Wednesday. 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.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 12 May 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis responds to a Stuff journalist who called her the c-word and accused her of doing "girl maths". Act and National are squabbling in public again - this time over the proposed ban of social media for under 16s. Heather asks David Seymour whether he would ever support a ban if it was technically possible. NZ Open boss Michael Glading responds to Ryan Fox' huge PGA Tour win. Plus, the Huddle responds to Andrea Vance's c-word column. 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.

A listener asks: will the Government change its KiwiSaver contributions - and if so, how should it do it? Finance Minister Nicola Willis is not ruling out changes to the Kiwisaver subsidy. Should the Government even do this? And if they do, what does it mean for you and I?Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A listener asks: will the Government change its KiwiSaver contributions - and if so, how should it do it? Finance Minister Nicola Willis is not ruling out changes to the Kiwisaver subsidy. Should the Government even do this? And if they do what does it mean for you and I?

The Finance Minister admits many Kiwis aren't getting as much work as they'd like to be. Unemployment has remained unchanged at 5.1% in the March quarter, despite most economists predicting a rise. However, 21% of employed people are now working part time. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking the ongoing rise in the under-utilisation rate is a concern. She says it's clear that some people are going into part time work rather than full time work, and aren't working as many hours as they'd like to be. Willis says she'd like to see those numbers improving. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this quick bite: Leighton Roberts sits down with NZ Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Where are the inspiring local success stories and why don't we hear much about innovative Kiwi businesses? Plus - the government's fiscal strategy, current debt levels and the path to budget balance and why New Zealand's size might be its advantage. This clip is taken from our previous episode '' For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch If there are any companies, sectors, or topics you'd like to see on Shared Lunch, flick us an email at sharedlunch@sharesies.co.nz to let us know.Investing involves risk. This episode is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand.Information provided is general advice only and current at the time and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the product disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents, including a Target Market Determination for Sharesies, can be found on our website at https://sharesies.com.au/disclosures. If you require financial advice, you should seek advice from a qualified financial advisor. The views expressed by individuals are their own and Sharesies does not endorse any of the guests or the views they hold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the government announced plans to cut the operating allowance in this year's budget by $1.1 billion, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hinted at changes to KiwiSaver.

In a speech on Tuesday, the Finance Minister revealed the operating allowance - that is the new money the government's got to spend is basically being halved, from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion dollars. Nicola Willis spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has flagged a billion-dollar cut in new spending in the upcoming Budget, saying New Zealand's debt levels are too high. Sense Partners economist Shamubeel Eaqub spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

There will be further cuts to Government agency spending, to be diverted into priority areas. Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed a $1.3 billion operating allowance – plummeting from the $2.4 billion estimate. Willis says they've reviewed funding line-by-line. National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking they have to cut spending as the reality is the country went from $58 billion of debt in 2017 to $175 billion in 2024. He says we went from paying $3.6 billion in interest a year to $8.9 billion, and we cannot afford that. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Finance Minister says cutbacks to public spending need to be seen in context. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed a drastic cut to the operating allowance in next month's Budget, from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion. There will be no new funding for most Government departments, with the focus being on priority areas and paying off debt. Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking there's still scope to reduce spending. He says Government spending has doubled in the past eight years while inflation has only gone up about 30% in the same time. Joyce is also saying there's growing public appetite for more public sector restraint. The Government's ruling out giving most departments any additional funding in the next Budget, but Joyce says reaching that target will depend a lot on the international economy. However, he told Hosking there are still lots of changes that can be made to bring down government spending. Joyce says making those changes requires a bit of work and requires ministers having a good political radar and knowing what can't be cut. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's plan to reduce the operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion is the smallest amount of new spending in a decade. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has decided to make departments metabolise their own spending in order to get books back into surplus. New Zealand Herald Political Editor Thomas Coughlan talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the ‘big' decision, KiwiSaver subsidies and Tory Whanau dropping out of the Wellington race. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is set to half its operating allowance, through a $1b cut in the upcoming budget. It means a small number of government departments will receiveadditional funding this year. Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the cut. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charities have been spared from tax changes in this year's Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has been proposing revisions to tax rules that could see charities taxed on their business activities. But she says there are still complex issues that need to be worked through before any rules are updated. Tax expert Geof Nightingale told Mike Hosking it's likely too hard. He says there's been several goes at this over the last 20 years, with not enough tax revenue being the main problem. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, the Reserve Bank's operating budget for the coming year has been slashed by about 25 per cent - we speak to Finance Minister Nicola Willis; the Commerce Commision has found KiwiRail misled customers about when they were eligible to receive compensation when their Interislander ferries broke down; an Oxfordshire man has set a new world record after Morris dancing for more than 11 hours straight and Kerry-Anne Walsh brings all the news from across the ditch.

The Reserve Bank's operating budget for the coming year has been slashed by about 25 per cent. In a statement released yesterday, RBNZ board chair Neil Quigley said the organisation will need to look closely at capital and operational expenditure, as well as spend on personnel. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Corin Dann.

On Monday, more than two billion dollars was shaved off the New Zealand share market. Finance Minister Nicola Willis signalled while New Zealand's economy is strong, we won't be immune. One of the companies hit hard by the market slump is Seeka Kiwifruit Industries, it's share price dropped 11 percent. Chief Executive Michael Franks spoke to Lisa Owen.