Podcasts about Kiwibank

They say hope is the last thing to die. And thus it was yesterday when I heard Labour's first policy announcement in months. Give me a reason to vote for Labour – and they didn't. Chris Hipkins and Tangi Utikere announced a cap of some public transport fares —mostly for the cities, mostly for Auckland, where there's already a cap— that cuts off at a lower spending base. Not really the sort of bold and visionary policy you'd hope would come from a party that's been sitting around for years in Opposition, promising policy once the Budget's been released like it's going to be something quite seismic, revolutionary, changing the way we do things. A bit like the bold and visionary Labour of yore. That's what they came up with, starting with Michael Joseph Savage and moving through. Labour governments in the past have given us state housing, and the welfare state, and GST, and a shakeup of our economic policy, and a nuclear free New Zealand, and the Super Fund, and Kiwibank, although via Jim Anderton's Progressive Party. You would hardly say that this lot are the visionary Labour politicians of yesteryear. From them we get a lowered cap on public transport – after months, years, of being able to sit and develop policy, this is what they come up with. Labour's transport spokesperson was bigging it up, Tangi Utikere saying it will be a game changer for those who use public transport. “This is a real policy that will make a huge difference to households, commuters, shift workers, students, people who get from A to B every single day, every week. They're sitting around the kitchen table realising that their household bills are getting higher. This will provide absolute certainty for them when it comes to sorting their public transport.” Will it make a difference? I'm not sure how shift workers will benefit given the last bus in Auckland during the week finishes at 12:30am. Did Tangi even look at a bus timetable before he talked about how shift workers will find this absolutely a game changer? For some, I'm sure the extra 30 bucks will make a huge difference. I had a text yesterday that said, “it takes me three buses each way to get to and from work. As someone who's on a low income with a new baby, that extra $30 will go a long way. The current $50 cap does help with clear budgeting, but at $20 it feels like a godsend." So that's fantastic, but wouldn't it be better all round for the country, for people who are doing it tough right now, if we had targeted assistance? At the moment, Labour's spraying around universal policies, universal benefits, universal – although in the case of the public transport it's only universal if you happen to live in an area where there is public transport. As I say, it's mainly for the cities, mainly for Auckland. But the three GP visits for all... The taxes are going to be targeted, so why aren't the benefits? Why not give young Taylor who has to take three buses to work and has a young baby and is right at that stage of life where it's really grindy and in a particular stage in history where it's particularly, particularly grindy, why not give those young people a bit of extra assistance and not have young urban professionals who live close to public transport who don't need the cap putting it towards their end of week espresso martinis? Now I had an email from Dean who says, “my wife and I are both professionals who commute to the Auckland CBD. We have two sons, 22 and 23, one who lives at home. We'll be saving around $165 a week or close to $8,000 a year – that's simply going to pay for our next family holiday." They're just going to put the money, the public transport subsidy that taxpayers who don't live anywhere near a bus are helping to fund, towards a holiday and they don't even have the option of turning it down really. Once you hit that cap, that's it. Okay, so will it help you? Do you need the help? Would you like to see that help targeted more to those who need it rather than being universal? Would you like to see some visionary bold Labour policy? Hand up, yes I would. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view a merger by Heartland and TSB won't hand the big four banks a massive blow. Heartland Bank has struck a deal to buy TSB for $620 million, pending consultation and regulator approval. Massey University banking professor Claire Matthews says the combined bank will still be smaller than the big four, and Kiwibank. She says a lot of work's still needed to increase competition. "It's not necessarily going to open up a huge access to capital, which is what's really needed for them to grow, and to become truly competitive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a view a merger by Heartland and TSB won't hand the big four banks a massive blow. Heartland Bank has struck a deal to buy TSB for $620 million, pending consultation and regulator approval. Massey University banking professor Claire Matthews says the combined bank will still be smaller than the big four, and Kiwibank. She says a lot of work's still needed to increase competition. "It's not necessarily going to open up a huge access to capital, which is what's really needed for them to grow, and to become truly competitive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwibank's CEO is hoping the Reserve Bank will hold off on raising the Official Cash Rate tomorrow. Economists are expecting it to be held at 2.25%, with markets pricing in moves later in the year. It comes as the economy remains flat, with inflation, housing, global tensions, and weak spending all testing resilience. Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking the economy is way too weak to cope with an increase to the OCR, as the inflation is coming from things outside of the usual set of worries. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!With the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) landing this Wednesday, the economic data is sending an interesting signal. April's electronic card transactions were 1.3% month-on-month—with fuel spending down 2% despite rising prices. It's decent evidence that "demand destruction" is actively under way as households fundamentally shift their behaviour.This week, Nick Goodall and Kelvin Davidson preview the upcoming OCR decision and why Nick is sliding off the fence to join the Kiwibank camp, lowering the probability of a July rate hike to 40%. We also pull apart the latest Monthly Chart Pack data, which reveals a consecutive four-month drop in year-on-year sales volumes, forcing a major downward revision to our 2026 housing transaction forecasts.Sign up for news and insights or contact on LinkedIn, X @NickGoodall_CL or @KDavidson_CL and email ngoodall@cotality.com or kdavidson@cotality.comThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The hosts are not licensed Financial Advice Providers in New Zealand. All information is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

A couple of interesting property developments for you. 1. Half finished town houses in Christchurch. 2. Lack of demand for off the plan deals from developers. That last one came from a select committee hearing last week. The head of Kiwibank was suggesting there is a stark lack of appetite for off the plan stuff because of the risk you take on what the value will be when its done i.e are you underwater? And also the risk you take that the thing will never be finished. Which dovetails into the first observation which comes out of Christchurch, a city in which you would quite rightly ask; how is it possible things aren't booming in that part of the world? As always, the answer is in the detail. The Christchurch problem is around small townhouse-type builds close to the city, often with no garage. In other words, building for a world view that isn't that of the average New Zealander. Once again we are supposed to be like Amsterdam or New York. Except we aren't and will never be. Cars are important. You have seen it in Auckland as well with apartments with no parks. 'It's so cool, we're all on e-bikes". Except we aren't, so the cars are stacked on the streets outside, blocking trucks and generally proving theory isn't reality. Plans? Who would take the risk? Tell me what the market is going to be in two years - no one can! That's a real problem and does remind us a consent is not a house. But the key is our need and desire for housing hasn't really changed. Cheap builds will never thrive and builds with no garages will never have a demand. Rightly or wrongly the dream that has never really faded is a house. A detached house, maybe with a bit of lawn and most certainly a place for a car. The stats show it. First home buyers are in the market right now and standalone homes are what they want. They will borrow and bleed to do it. What the trendies want and what the real world is prepared to pay for it are, to some degree, at odds. And that is why the areas of the market that have trouble, have trouble, because theory and ideology doesn't have a deposit. The buyer does. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Finance Minister once forced to bail out BNZ says buying it back would be lunacy. New Zealand First is proposed re-nationalising the bank, buying it back from Australia's NAB and merging it with Kiwibank. Leader Winston Peters says bank profits should remain in New Zealand. But Ruth Richardson says the idea has no weight. "It makes New Zealand look like a tinpot country, where populist politicians feel free to nationalise private businesses. Why stop at banks? I mean, supermarkets like Woolworths are foreign-owned." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!The Q1 2026 Pain and Gain Report is officially live, revealing the clear signals of a buyer's market. While 88% of property resellers still walked away with a gross profit, the share of properties selling at a loss has ticked up to 12% - driven heavily by short hold periods and a challenging apartment sector.This week, Nick Goodall and Kelvin Davidson unpack the stark reality of the 4-year median hold period for loss-makers compared to the 10-year safety net for profitable sales. We also look at the April Selected Price Indexes data, discuss Nick's onstage debate with Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr regarding the necessity of a July OCR hike, and track the quiet turnaround in net migration figures.This week we discuss:Q1 Pain and Gain Report: Why gross profits have fallen from a peak of $440,000 down to a median of $285,000.The hold period reality: The mathematical proof that buying at the 2021 peak and selling in 2026 guarantees a tough result.Apartment vulnerability: Why 41% of apartments resold at a loss during the quarter.April price indexes: Understanding why domestic price segments are softening even as diesel and petrol spike.The July OCR debate: Nick outlines the demand destruction argument that suggests the RBNZ should hold fire.Migration & rents: Net migration climbs back to almost 25,000, adding steady structural demand to a highly volatile rental market.Investor anxiety: Anecdotal feedback from Auckland on interest deductibility and long-term cash flow fears.Sign up for news and insights or contact on LinkedIn, X @NickGoodall_CL or @KDavidson_CL and email ngoodall@cotality.com or kdavidson@cotality.comThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The hosts are not licensed Financial Advice Providers in New Zealand. All information is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

Here's a question for you: if you really like Winston Peters' idea of buying back the BNZ - why? What problem do you think will be solved by buying it back? Do you think the banks are ripping you off because they're owned by Australians, and that if only one of them were owned by us again, they wouldn't? Take a look at the home loan rates Kiwibank is offering right now. They're basically the same as - if not higher than -those offered by the Australian-owned banks. Do you think this might improve competition? In that case, how does taking BNZ and Kiwibank and combining them into a single bank - leaving one fewer bank in the market - help competition? Do you think it will stop $1.5 billion in profit heading to Australia, making us richer? Sure, the logic stacks up at first glance. But first, we'd have to borrow huge amounts of money to buy the bank and pay significant interest on that debt. It could take 10 to 20 years before we start seeing those profits flow into New Zealand rather than going toward interest payments. And all of this comes at a time when two credit ratings agencies have warned that we can't keep increasing our debt without risking a downgrade next year - which would make all our borrowing more expensive. That's not even considering the fact that we can't be sure BNZ would generate the same level of profit under Government ownership as it does under private ownership. In fact, I would argue the opposite is more likely. Publicly owned assets often become less efficient - they can grow bloated, unproductive and undisciplined. That might explain why BNZ collapsed back in 1990 when it was publicly owned and hasn't repeated that since returning to private ownership. To me, this policy looks like a classic nostalgia play by Winston Peters - appealing to voters who believe life would be better if we could just go back to 1992. I suspect this will be the first policy dropped in any coalition negotiations. It's likely the first thing Winston Peters will let go of because it's simply too expensive, and he knows it. So don't get too attached to this policy. I just can't see it happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters announced in the weekend that NZ First would buy back the BNZ and merge it with Kiwibank, the PM called it "fanciful" and economists are saying it's "headline-grabbing" rather than a serious policyErica Stanford was on Q&A in the weekend answering questions about education, ti Tiriti, immigration and the Indian FTA. We'll review some of the conversation.Christopher Luxon joined best bug Mike Hosking this morning where they both talked about social cohesion which not asking the obvious question "Mr PM, what do you mean by social cohesion and what would a new migrant need to do to become part of the social cohesion?"We also have a number of smaller stories that we may get to including Chippy on Q&A, Ruby Love Smith exposing National's social media advertising and comments by Tania Waikato on Marae around the cancellation of the BSA++++++++++++++++++++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/

A former Finance Minister once forced to bail out BNZ says buying it back would be lunacy. New Zealand First is proposed re-nationalising the bank, buying it back from Australia's NAB and merging it with Kiwibank. Leader Winston Peters says bank profits should remain in New Zealand. But Ruth Richardson says the idea has no weight. "It makes New Zealand look like a tinpot country, where populist politicians feel free to nationalise private businesses. Why stop at banks? I mean, supermarkets like Woolworths are foreign-owned." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand First leader says they'll be telling the National Australia Bank we want our bank back - as he lays out plans for the Government to buy BNZ. The party will campaign on the purchase - after its sale in 1992 - and merging it with Kiwibank to create a National Bank of New Zealand. Winston Peters told Mike Hosking that the bank may not be for sale, but they'll make sure it is. He says he doubts the National Australia Bank would turn them down - so Kiwis won't be ripped off for much longer if NZ First gets back in. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwbanks own bosses believe the bank needs to grow if it wants go toe-to-toe with the big-four Australian banks. Minister, Simeon Brown has asked them to look at ways to do that; including a potential public listing. David Cunningham is the former chief executive of the Co-operative Bank and now runs mortgage brokerage company Squirrel. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

The pre-budget announcement for a paediatric palliative service, and the possible partial sell-off of Kiwibank.

Gary's Economics with Chloe Swarbrick talking about how house prices going up is the same as wages going down and figuring out the economists were wrong suggesting that people will start spending when interest rates went to zeroNciola Willis was challenged by Ryan Bridge to cut all the unimportant departments like 'pacific peoples' and 'women' and in response Willis wanted to make it very clear that Bridge's ideas, and people who think like him, will like the upcoming budget "very, very much" The Bish and Kieran McAnulty battles on Breakfast this morning talking about the alleged Kiwibank sale and the competition by the three government parties to be the ones who are the worst to immigrants. Talbot Mills also has released more polling that shows Winston's Preferred PM numbers closing in on Luxon and that the majority of NZers are concerned about the tobacco industry influence on the government.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Bit of buzz around Kiwibank as it potentially looks to have another crack at getting bigger, and by getting bigger, then becomes better able to take on the so-called "big four". This is business and it's politics. Asset sales are back on the agenda, especially for the National and ACT parties. NZ First, not so much. So it may well be one of those things that gets tossed around as an idea, but in the reality of an MMP environment, it goes nowhere. Making the Kiwibank story slightly unique is its role in the overall banking atmosphere of New Zealand and whether a bigger bank would solve any of the perceived competition problems we have. People we know are prepared to change banks. Last year when there was a free for all on cashbacks for borrowing, people were moving freely like the wind. So the idea that there isn't competition doesn't appear to be true. But I'm in a minority given everyone from the Commerce Commission to the Finance Minister argues otherwise. I also detect more broadly that asset sales are not, as a topic, as edgy as they once were. If you go back to the 80's and Labour under Douglas and Prebble, asset sales were dynamite and not all of them went well, which didn't help the pro-sales argument. But the cold hard-ish reality here, 40 years on, is there isn't a lot left to sell. Some chunks of power companies are worth serious money. We have an airline, a TV network, a radio network, some farms – it's all got a moderately piecemeal vibe to it. Kiwibank should be able to raise the sort of money it needs, and it should be allowed to grow. Is the counter to a partial sale that we like a small, restricted bank that hasn't been allowed to be all it could be just so we can say we are anti-asset sales? In Kiwibank's case you are holding back growth. In TVNZ's case it's about ideology, i.e. should the state run a TV station given the place isn't worth anything to sell? And in say the case of Genesis, it's about serious coin we could badly use elsewhere. If this idea goes anywhere this election year, you would hope we are less hung up on ideology and more attuned to the nuances of the debate than we have been in the past. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!The latest Cotality-Westpac First Home Buyer Report is out, and the data is a clear win for those entering the market. With a 27.5% market share, FHBs are near record levels, but the real story is what they are buying - 77% are securing standalone houses, up from just 70% a few years ago.This week, Nick Goodall and Kelvin Davidson dive into the devil in the detail of the Q1 labour market stats. Why did unemployment drop to 5.3% despite a loose labour market, and what does the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Report (FSR) tell us about the $100 million cashback war of late 2025?This week we discuss:FHB Report Q1: Why FHBs are getting more house for their money and why the average age has dropped to 35.81% LVRs: The Westpac data confirms that low-deposit lending is the engine room for first-time buyers right now.Labour Market Surprise: Analysing the 5.3% unemployment rate and why contained wage growth is actually good news for OCR timing.The FSR Breakdown: The RBNZ's take on sustainable house prices and the cost of the bank cashback wars.OCR Debate: Nick previews his Devil's Advocate session with Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr.Personal Wrap: A shout-out to Sky Sports' Jeff McTainsh and a victory for the Phoenix Women.Sign up for news and insights or contact on LinkedIn, X @NickGoodall_CL or @KDavidson_CL and email ngoodall@cotality.com or kdavidson@cotality.comThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The hosts are not licensed Financial Advice Providers in New Zealand. All information is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

Today's inflation numbers could represent calm before the storm. Annual inflation's likely to have fallen in the first quarter of this year after ending last year at 3.1%. BNZ is picking 3.1%, KiwiBank's is picking 3%, ASB and ANZ are picking 2.9%, and Westpac is picking 2.8%. ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge that the future trajectory is more important. He says the oil price outlook is highly uncertain, and how long energy prices hold up will really determine how long that inflation rate holds up as well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jarrod Kerr, Chief Economist at Kiwibank, has stepped into the centre of a widening divide. In a debate now marked by sharply differing views on the path of the Official Cash Rate, Kerr has labelled calls for near-term hikes 'reckless' - cutting through the profession's usual caution.At issue is more than timing. Some economists are signaling multiple rate increases this year, citing inflation risks from the Iran war and rising energy prices. Kerr takes a different view: this is a supply shock, not a demand surge - and tightening into it risks repeating past mistakes and damaging the economy.In this episode, Kerr sets out his case. Why does his outlook diverge from his peers? Are markets - and policymakers - misreading the inflation impulse? And how should the Reserve Bank of New Zealand respond as geopolitics and economics become more closely intertwined?Join hosts James Grigor and Stephan Clark for a conversation on New Zealand's economic outlook, geopolitics and what happens when consensus begins to fray with one of the country's most outspoken economists.

There's division among economists regarding how soon the Reserve Bank should start raising the Official Cash Rate. Many now expect the bank to bring forward OCR hikes, with ANZ forecasting three before the election. But Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr warns that could be reckless and counterproductive. He told Mike Hosking right now we're dealing with more temporary inflation due to higher diesel prices, which should hopefully fall back. Kerr says more persistent forms of inflation, like wage and rental inflation, are quite benign at the moment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of April 2025, tourism's roaring back now sitting at 92% of pre-covid levels, Mat Woods CEO of Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism, tells Ryan what we can do to keep tourism booming. David Seymour's pushing to turn New Zealand into a cannabis export powerhouse, Cannabis Clinic CEO Dr Waseem Alazaher tells Ryan if new changes will be a big help for exporting. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts on opposing views on OCR hikes from ANZ and Kiwibank. Plus, UK Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the IMF's predictions for the UK economy and a former Nato secretary general saying the UK's security is "in peril". Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are divided over how fast the Reserve Bank should raise the Official Cash Rate. ANZ has already picked three consecutive hikes in July, September, and October, while Westpac says it's becoming more of a possibility next month, but is more likely in September. On the hand, Kiwibank believes raising the rate multiple times before the election would be reckless. Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge there's a case for raising the OCR in May – a pre-emptive strike against inflation. He says that if they feel the need to go, they're better off going early as if they leave it later and let inflation get a bit embedded, they'll have to take the OCR higher to compensate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Rod Drury believes it's New Zealand's time to step up and make a big difference in the world. The Xero founder has been crowned the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. The judges noted in the ceremony last night his driving innovation, empowerment of Kiwi tech leaders, and his venture philanthropy. He's involved in multiple projects including pushing for expansion of renewable power and electrified transport. Drury told Mike Hosking the world is scary, and Kiwis need to stick together and use our values to contribute to the world. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac's chief economist is still holding out hope New Zealand will weather financial headwinds from the Iran war. Stats NZ's releasing data for the December quarter just before 11am. Westpac and ASB have forecast 0.4% quarterly growth, while BNZ and Kiwibank suggest 0.3% and ANZ 0.2%. Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge everyone's looking forward to the conflict's impacts, but he's optimistic. He says we have strong commodity prices and the exchange rate's helping us out, meaning we're better placed than we could have been. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Initiative Chair Roger Partridge joins Taxpayer Talk with Peter Williams to discuss a new report arguing New Zealand could unlock more than $24 billion for essential infrastructure by recycling mature Crown-owned commercial assets.Roger explains how redirecting capital tied up in government-owned companies such as Air New Zealand, Kiwibank and the mixed ownership electricity generators could help fund hospitals, schools, roads and water systems — without raising taxes or increasing public debt. Drawing on the successful New South Wales model, he outlines how a ring-fenced National Infrastructure Fund could convert government commercial holdings into the infrastructure New Zealand urgently needs.Support the show

One of our most thought-provoking conversations this year. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr on why New Zealand struggles to think long term — and how smarter investment could shape the next few decades. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own. The customers shown in this episode are Sharesies investors, and their stories are actual experiences they’ve had - their stories are not advice, or a recommendation or opinion to invest or to use Sharesies in the manner they have. They’re compensated for their time to record their story.See 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.

Kiwibank says it's on with a 2.4% GDP increase for 2026. But the bank has joined the chorus blaming the Reserve Bank for messing up the communications leading to increased fixed-term rates at the major retail banks. Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the economy is slowly stabilising, and because of that interest rates don't need to be as low. "When you turn the corner, interest rates don't need to be as low." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you weren't already feeling confident about 2026, I've got two reasons you should. At least two major retail banks see signs of an economic recovery and we have a new Reserve Bank Governor. No pressure on Anna Breman, but she hasn't arrived a day too soon given that the old lot were still managing to stuff things up until literally the last chance they had, with Christian Hawkesby saying the wrong thing and sending wholesale market rates, and therefore fixed term interest rates, up by 30 basis points. To be fair to him, he was only the fill in. And if we're honest with ourselves it's more hope than certainty that the Swedish import will be any better than Hawkesby or Adrian Orr. But then again you could argue it really would be hard to be worse given the last four years. But we're here for the good news. The good news is that Anna Breman arriving as the new broom coincides with ASB, and now Kiwibank, all saying it's on. They're seeing signs of a recovery for 2026. Kiwibank's call arguably matters more than the others because they've been the gloomiest. They were calling for more rate cuts than the Reserve Bank was prepared for. They were warning it was more grim out there than the Wellington bankers realised. They were right. So here's hoping they are right again when they say sales are already up, and when sales go up, everything else follows. House prices are up 2-3% next year. The economy is growing 2.4% and then it's 3% the next year. I don't know about you but that combo - a new person in charge of the central bank and growing consensus that the recovery is now on - is probably the best Christmas present i could wish for. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery. Kiwibank's latest bi-annual report forecasts a 2.4 percent growth for 2026, with boosted household confidence, an improved property sector, and a stabilising labour market. The review cites low interest rates as the leading drivers of growth. Economist Sabrina Delgado says there's a broad base for recovery, which comes as relief after 2025. "We did expect a recovery to sort of start taking place in 2025 this time last year - it took some hits and had some delays and it's just now that we're starting to see the signs of recovery taking foot." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Friday no longer means one day of sales, now the deals stretch across much of November. Kiwibank senior economist Mary Jo Varga spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A view more New Zealanders are adapting to get on the property ladder to overcome economic woes. Kiwibank's Annual State of Home Ownership Index finds 57% of non-owners feel locked out of the market, improving by 6%. It notes 60% still find the cost of living the biggest obstacle to owning a house. Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking more people are open to exploring different pathways to ownership. For example, he says, people are exploring co-owning, getting together with their parents and grandparents to try buy a house. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't bank on any further cuts to the Official Cash Rate. The Reserve Bank's dropped the cash rate 25 basis points to 2.25%. It expects to see inflation ease and the economy recover. Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich told Mike Hosking this could very well be the bottom of the current OCR cycle. He says there's lots of talk about green shoots in the economy, although much of this has been in farming. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of November, Kiwibank's CEO and the Reserve Bank Governor unpack the Official Cash Rate cut to 2.25%. A class action lawsuit is being filed against Transpower and Omexom over the massive power failure following the pylon disaster – are Northland businesses interested? Kiwi singer Bic Runga is releasing her first fully original album since 2011, so she joined for a chat about ‘Red Sunset' and her new tour. 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 Reserve Bank's set to slash the Official Cash rate today but the big question is whether today's cut will be the last. The final OCR decision of the year is set down for 2pm. Most economists expect the cash rate to be cut 25 basis points – from 2.5% to 2.25%. Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr told Mike Hosking the main message seems to be that we're getting pretty close to the bottom. He says interest rates are at stimulatory levels and they're looking to see if that will entice some investment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle of the bank BS is back. BNZ, who announced their profit last week, talked of the strong competition out there. But I note their margin went up, up, 6 points to 2.43%. So if there is so much competition, how come the margin is up? Then came the claim from the Reserve Bank among others that the big banks are being tardy when it comes to passing on the Reserve Bank cuts to us punters. Smaller banks are sharper. SBS claims they have hoovered up almost 6000 new customers as changing banks has become easier. Remember SBS last week put out their 3.99% money, limited to certain people, but a market leader nevertheless. Now tied into all of this is the retail bank's long held argument that the margin is higher because they need the cushion, because the Reserve Bank makes them store away too much money for troubled times. But, those rules are changing and changing in the retail bank's favour. In other words; less money required therefore, in theory, it should mean smaller margins. You can also put in there the simple truth that has always been in play - there is nothing stopping us shopping around. We have a good number of retail banks and they do do deals. I know because I've done deals. Some banks will shave decent margins to get your business. The trouble is a lot of us are too lazy to try and moaning is easier than hustling. So who is right? Are the retail banks tardy? Is it a major issue? Is Nicola Willis right when she says things, and by "things" we mean rules, need to change? I of course have long argued that Willis is too much hype and it's not all that bad. But I'm increasingly moving towards accepting I'm wrong. As the Reserve Bank points out as wholesale rates drop the margins have risen, and on latest numbers, keep rising. Maybe, God forbid, Adrian Orr was right when he used to come on this programme and lambaste the banks for making too many excuses. What I do know is the conditions are increasingly right, either through wholesale rates or the changes to reserve rules, for us to see the margins fall and for the cuts to be passed through in full, and faster. And the longer that takes to happen the more we need to see the big banks as a problem and bad actors in the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief from some economists that inflation's peaked, and it's all downhill from here. It reached 3 percent in the year to September - up from 2.2 percent the year before. Kiwibank says the third quarter is traditionally tough, and conditions are likely to improve as the year ends. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr says he's satisfied domestic prices will now ease. "We think inflation, this time next year, will be running at about 1.7, 1.8 percent. So job done for the Reserve Bank." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 20 October 2025, inflation is up three percent - driven by large increases to electricity and rates bills. Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr says this shouldn't stop the Reserve Bank from cutting the OCR further. Labour's Chris Hipkins explains his party's first new policy in two years - the NZ Future Fund. The scandals keep coming. Prince Andrew has promised he won't use his royal titles but should the UK Government go further and completely take them off him? Wellington Phoenix boss David Dome explains why his club is supporting New Zealand's first sports school. Also - Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop on the cost of speeding ticket and ANZ boss Antonia Watson on having the rug pulled from under her by the Government. Plus, the Huddle debates Labour's Future fund and whether we really need a new giant blueberry. 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.

Today's 50 basis point OCR cut could go some way to getting our economy growing again. The Reserve Bank's slashed the cash rate to 2.5 percent. ANZ has lowered its floating and flexible rates, on top of all major banks already lowering fixed term offerings. Kiwibank chief economist, Jarrod Kerr, says he's been calling for a 2.5 percent cash rate for two years. "We knew it needed to go below neutral, which is three, and we needed to get some stimulus into the economy to really ignite the recovery." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 8 October 2025, the Reserve Bank has pulled out the big guns and cut the official cash rate by 50 basis points today. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr speaks to Heather. Former National Party staffer Ben Thomas says National polling in the 20s is not good news for Chris Luxon. NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson explains why rugby unions across the world don't want players playing for a new rival league backed by Saudi Arabia. New Zealand's best big airport is .... Queenstown Airport! Heather is surprised? She speaks with Queenstown Airport Chief Operating Officer Todd Grace. Plus the Huddle debates that poll and Tory Whanau's final speech as Wellington mayor - surprising? 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.

Why are so many Kiwi packing up for Australia? Kiwibank economist Jarrod Kerr says it’s not just better wages—it’s savings, infrastructure, and an economy that’s simply outpacing ours. From compulsory super to big bold projects, Jarrod compares what Aussie gets right and NZ could improve on. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's economic report card is out. Wholesale interest rates dropped 25 basis points to 3%, but inflation us expected to rise to 3% in September and hit its 2% sweet spot until mid next year. Unemployment is also expected to grow, according to reserve bank forcasts the unemployment rate won't get below 5% until December 2026. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr spoke to Lisa Owen.

A senior economist says he'd like to see a series of OCR cuts. The Reserve Bank will announce its decision at 2pm today. Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr is expecting to see a 25 basis point cut. He told Mike Hosking after a cut today, he'd like to see two more to get the OCR to 2.5%. Kerr says that sort of stimulation is what we need to pull us out of recession. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment is at a nine year high, of 5.2%. But Kiwibank believes the topline figure doesn't paint the full picture of how bad things really are. In the past year 16,000 more people have joined the snaking queue of people looking for work, bringing the total number to 158,000. Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado spoke to Lisa Owen.

Andrew is the CEO of the NZGBC and in this episode we hear about the work they do as well as find out more about his life story.  I learned a lot about the way that homes are measured through the Homestar rating and the important work that the New Zealand Green Building Council - and its 700 members - are doing in this area.   NZGBC Website is here  Andrew also shared this Real-world success stories: Explore how other developers are leveraging Homestar to deliver high-performance homes: Homestar Case Studies    Design support: The Homestar Design Guide offers practical strategies for achieving certification, including moisture control, thermal envelope design, and energy efficiency. The financial upsides of energy efficiency healthy homes A recent Infometrics report shows that homes built to 6 Homestar can save homeowners over $62,000 - $99,000 in electricity and mortgage interest. These savings are driven by lower energy bills and access to discounted mortgage that ANZ's Healthy Home Loan provides. Developers or builders can save hundreds of thousands of dollars. The following banks provide significantly lower interest development finance for Homestar homes; ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank and Westpac  The Circle: Careers With Impact book is here https://theseeds.nz/articles/the-circle-careers-with-impact/  For more episodes visit www.theseeds.nz   

There's a belief it's going to be a long journey to get Kiwibank into the ring with the big leagues. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced the bank's parent company is being allowed to raise $500 million from investors to help it compete with the four major banks. Simplicity founder Sam Stubbs says Kiwibank will need more capital over time. He told Mike Hosking if the country has five banks making profits, at least one will re-invest in KiwiSaver. Stubbs says it'll bring pricing pressures into the market, which there's very little of right now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report out this morning from Kiwibank shows a widening gap between the North and South Islands. 

It's decision day for the Reserve Bank with the latest Official Cash Rate announcement due early Wednesday afternoon. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New Zealand was one of the first economies where the central bank hiked interest rates. Being first, I wonder if that means other countries watch us to see how sensitive economies are to monetary policy? Read moreSpecial thank you to Mary Jo Vergara - senior economist at Kiwibank.Book in a free 15-min phone call with Darcy Ungaro (financial adviser).Sign up to the fortnightly newsletter!Thank You Provincia: Whether you're looking to invest, or you have a commercial property that needs better management - they the true one-stop shop for wholesale industrial investors. Check out Provincia.co.nz for more.Affiliate Links!The Bitcoin Adviser: Plan for intergenerational digital wealth. Hatch: For US markets.Sharesies: For local, and international markets.Easy Crypto: To buy and sell digital assets.Sharesight: For tracking and reporting on your portfolioExodus: Get rewards on your first $2,500 of swapsRevolut: For a new type of banking.Online courses:The Home Buyers Blueprint: Get a better home; Get a better mortgage.The KiwiSaver Millionaire Roadmap: Get a Rockstar Retirement!New Wealth Foundations: Personal finance from a wealth-builder's perspective.Take the free, 5-part online course Crypto 101: Crypto with Confidence Get Social:Check out the most watched/downloaded episodes hereFollow on YouTube , Instagram, TikTok: @theeverydayinvestor, X (@UngaroDarcy), LinkedIn.www.ungaro.co.nz

The Reserve Bank gets another chance to cut interest rates next week. So far 2025 has seen the RBNZ make three consecutive cuts to the official cash rate, which was widely expected by economists up and down the country. But next week, for the first time this year, there's doubt. Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado joins Bernard Hickey to assess our central bank's options leading into next week's monetary policy statement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices