Podcasts about nicola willis

Clint, Meg and Dan kick off St. Patrick’s Day with Irish throwbacks and chat, then dive into teeth-whitening mishaps, first calls, and a game comparing Oscar nominations. They follow up on Katrina finally ending a long-distance relationship, attempt EZ Money for $10k, and discuss Ed Sheeran’s unusual will plans. Comedian Ursula Carlson joins to plug her “Fatty on a Yacht” tour, while Nicola Willis explains rising fuel prices and the government’s fuel-stock plan. Producer Neps hits a Ponsonby Z to run a “stop on exactly $10” pump challenge, and the team debates celebrity A/B/C-listers—plus Dan’s car-noise “talent” that gives everyone the ick. 00:00 Breakfast Show Kickoff01:52 Irish Throwback Song Battle04:53 Teeth Whitening Kindness08:26 First Call Truck Driver12:18 Oscars Nominations Game16:29 Parenting Swear Rules20:54 Katrina Breakup Update25:24 EZ Money Quiz Attempt27:42 Ed Sheeran Will Pranks36:37 Ursula Carlson40:53 Oscars Records Recap44:52 Dan’s Unsexy Talent Tease53:18 EZ Money 10K Game55:20 Nicola Willis59:27 Get Pumped Fuel Challenge01:02:24 St Patrick’s Day AI Songs01:08:02 A List Celebrity Revote

Nicola Willis: How petrol will be prioritised in worst-case scenarios Finance minister Nicola Willis spoke to Q+A about how the war in Iran and unfolding fuel crisis could affect New Zealand in worst case scenarios, including if there are widespread cancellations of deliveries on force majeure grounds. She discussed how the government is considering prioritisation if that happens. She also discussed other scenarios in which there's a much longer term issue with higher prices, and what that will mean for the wider economic position for the country. How CEOs are preparing for Iran war fallout Q+A canvassed a group of CEOs for a business insight into how they're preparing their companies in case the fallout from the Iran war gets worse. We spoke to Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray, Mainfreight Managing Director Don Braid, and Ballance Agri-Nutrients CEO Kelvin Wickham. The district with nowhere for elderly to go Q+A reporter Whena Owen goes to Wairoa where the district is facing an acute shortage of rest home places, after the last facility closed due to damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. But is help now on the way? How drones have taken over the “kill zone” in Ukraine Drones and other unmanned weapons systems have never been more effective on the battlefields of Ukraine, making the concept of front lines non-existent. Instead, a kilometres-wide area now sits between the two armies, where humans are constantly at risk of being targeted. Brigadier Stuart Nasse describes it as being like “the opening scene of Terminator 2”, and says the way war is waged has changed radically. He leads the multinational coalition on drones supporting Ukraine, and was in New Zealand to speak at the Centre for Strategic Studies. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Markets around the world are feeling the effects of the conflict in the Middle East, which has led to a spike in oil prices. Kiwis are already paying more at the fuel pump, with costs starting to flow on to other goods. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Corin Dann.

Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins; Nicola Willis discusses the economic impact of Middle Eastern conflict on New Zealand, particularly rising costs and supply chain pressures; Dr Curtis Walker responds to a new warning that dialysis treatment for kidney patients may need to be rationed; Karen BillingsJensen responds to frustrations among SuperGold Card holders who are being excluded from grocery discounts; Lokesh Padhye discusses research showing that flax can potentially help remediate chemical pollution, offering a sustainable solution for environmental contamination.

The Government is actively monitoring the impact international fuel prices are having on the price we're being asked to pay at the pump. Crude oil prices have topped US$100 a barrel for the first time in three years, and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents in the weekend. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking that they're conscious that the price at the pump impacts not only most New Zealanders, but also freight costs and other costs across the economy. But she says they need to understand what the bigger picture looks like before they overreact, as any money they throw at the problem is money they will need to borrow. “We need to be prudent about New Zealand's fiscal position.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10th of March, we look at the share market and what will happen to prices at the pump after oil prices spiked. Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses the potential for the Government to scrap the fuel tax next year, plus inflation pressures from the war. And Kiwi country up-and-comer Zac Griffith performs his new single and details his self-taught rise in the country scene. 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 Government is actively monitoring the impact international fuel prices are having on the price we're being asked to pay at the pump. Crude oil prices have topped $100 US dollars a barrel for the first time in three years - and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents in the weekend. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government's working with key industries to keep an eye on prices, in case there's a global shock. "We can assure New Zealanders that there's enough fuel for at least 60 days, and then beyond that - of course, fuel companies will be responsible for having their own orders in." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luxon faces an onslaught of questions from the media over Friday's poll results and speculation that he's out the door.The price of Crude oil has dramatically increased, and the stock market taking a hit in the wake of the war in Iran, but Nicola Willis insures NZ that we are in a good position to weather any possible economic impact.World leaders are bending over to the US, offering boots on the ground and support for an unjust war in Iran.++++++++++++++++++++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 is actively monitoring the impact international fuel prices are having on the price we're being asked to pay at the pump. Crude oil prices have topped $100 US dollars a barrel for the first time in three years - and our petrol prices surged another 14 cents in the weekend. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government's working with key industries to keep an eye on prices, in case there's a global shock. "We can assure New Zealanders that there's enough fuel for at least 60 days, and then beyond that - of course, fuel companies will be responsible for having their own orders in." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Luxon should not bow down to negative polls. What a weekend it's been for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. And strangely enough, the whole situation really kicked off right here on this show on Friday morning with a little chat with Nicola Willis. The results of the poll were out, people were talking about miserable they were, the Nicola Willis interview kicked it off. It started the conversation again — a question about pressure and about how bad a poll has to be before a change in leadership is talked about — and then suddenly it grew legs. By the afternoon it was on national television, it was on Heather du Plessis-Allan's show, and the Prime Minister himself was fronting it. And he said it clearly - he is absolutely not stepping down. Now I've got to tell you something honestly — all Friday afternoon I kept thinking to myself, good. I hope he doesn't quit. Because look around the world right now. Everywhere you go, people are unhappy with the leader they've got. Why? Governments are being hammered by economic pressure, global instability, wars, the aftershocks of the pandemic, and recession. It's not exactly an easy time to be in charge of a country. The latest polling hasn't been kind to Luxon. A Freshwater Strategy poll reported by The Post shows 51% of voters say he should be replaced as National Party leader, while only 36% believe he should stay. Now, another survey from Curia Market Research put the New Zealand National Party at 28.4% support, its lowest level under Luxon. So yes, there's pressure. But here's the thing that really struck me over the weekend — most of that push for change isn't coming from National voters. The polling shows 67% of National supporters still back Luxon, and 60% of ACT voters support him too. The loudest calls for him to go are coming from Labour, Green, and Te Pāti Māori supporters. Which raises a pretty obvious question. Why on earth would a governing party sack its leader because the opposition wants them gone? Of course they want them gone, they'' want anyone gone. And then we get into the horse-race stuff. If Luxon were pushed out, the poll says Chris Bishop would be the most preferred replacement on 18%, followed by Nicola Willis on 11%, Erica Stanford on 10%, and Mark Mitchell on 9%. But here's my view. Changing Prime Minister in the middle of a tough economic recovery is exactly the kind of instability New Zealand does not need right now. We've come through COVID. We've been through inflation. We've had interest rates crushing households. We've had a recession. We've had tariffs. Globally we're watching wars in the Middle East and instability all over the world. This is not the moment for political musical chairs. So, my message to Christopher Luxon is pretty simple this morning. Don't quit. Don't wobble. Don't let the noise get to you. I want you to - front up. Stand up. Be stronger. New Zealand doesn't need another leadership drama right now. What it needs is steady leadership — even if it's not perfect — while the country gets itself back on track. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it was an interesting end of the week when it comes to domestic politics. With rumours swelling on Friday that the Prime Minister was considering his future over the weekend, he had to act quickly. There was absolutely no way he could go into the weekend with even the hint of speculation he was considering his future. When a sitting Prime Minister signals they are “considering their future”, it is almost always politically damaging. In parliamentary systems like ours, leadership authority depends heavily on perceived confidence and control. Once a leader questions themselves publicly it rapidly weakens their position with the party and the electorate. Honesty and transparency in this case doesn't buy sympathy, it is more likely to create a trigger moment that encourages internal challengers. Be anything but unequivocal on Friday and the Prime Minister may as well have poured himself a Coke No Sugar and started planning a nice winter getaway. The sudden announcement he would appear on Heather de Plessis-Allan Drive just after 5pm on Friday evening was unusual enough to raise an eyebrow. But he was turning up to do exactly what needed to be done to remain credible - to get ahead of the story. He explained to Heather why he decided to appear - to set the story straight. After some easily clipped soundbites from his party deputy Nicola Willis, who told ZB's Wellington Morning host Nick Willis that it hadn't been a “great week for the Prime Minister”, Christopher Luxon made it very clear that he has the full support of his team and caucus. Since then, everyone has been very well behaved. Over the last few days, I've been reflecting on what a tough gig it is. There's quite a lot of luck and timing involved in being a successful Prime Minister. A successful career in politics isn't just about talent and ability, or the possession of that rare relatable charisma - it also comes down to what the country and the world throws at you. And - let's not forget - what the previous Government left you. Look around the world and most leaders are dealing with the same issues we have - a slow economic recovery, the high cost of living, housing, a weird international trade environment, and much more. We haven't seen much alternative policy from opposition parties to show us there are other, more likely to be successful, scenarios under alternative leadership that we're currently missing out on. The reality is that the recovery was going to be difficult for whoever was in charge. But it's especially difficult for a leader who takes on a cheerleading role with the vigour Luxon does. There's a disconnect between the aspirational words and the reality of a Government that's cutting rather than growing as much as we'd like, and when signs the economy is finally turning the corner are likely to squashed by conflict in the Middle East. The only thing keeping Luxon in play is his ability to control his troops, the party's desire to avoid the instability that comes with changing leadership, and the lack of an obvious replacement who could win an election. But history tells us that if the polls continue to trend downwards for the Nats, the Prime Minister may be organising that mid-winter break before you know it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What on earth is going on with the National Party? That's the question that seems to be on lots of lips as new polling shows the party only a couple of points above its disastrous 2020 numbers. The latest Curia Poll, released by The Taxpayer's Union, National is sitting at 28 percent, down three points from the same poll last October, and 10 points from the last election. Already today Nicola Willis, National's Deputy Leader, has said publicly she's not happy with the number, and that they have to do better. To offer his own analysis director of Capital NZ, former National press secretary, and political commentator Ben Thomas is with Jesse.

Nicola Willis and Barbara Edmonds joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

Winston Peters responds to the latest actions in the Middle East; Weekly Political Panel with Nicola Willis and Barbara Edmonds; Housing minister, Chris Bishop; A tourism boom in the Mackenzie District; Kiwi comedian scores role as writer on new UK version of Saturday Night Live.

The conflict has seen oil prices jump, and could mean higher costs at the pump. But Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it doesn't mean we need to re-think the Marsden Point oil refinery. It ceased refining operations in 2022 and has been converted to an import-only fuel terminal. Willis says it would still have needed to import the oil - but adds there's some resilience in the system. "Last year, the Government made changes to regulations, which mean that fuel suppliers in New Zealand have to keep 28 days worth of fuel on supply." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Geoffrey Miller joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk the war in Iran. Dr Miller is a geopolitical and strategic analyst with a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago for his thesis on New Zealand's relations with the Gulf states.After a ton of promises to fix the economy, Nicola Willis is now saying that New Zealanders are ‘impatient' for expecting quick cost-of-living turnaround, which is the opposite to what they were promising before the last election. Is it any wonder that the latest IPSOS NZ Issues Monitor has Labour being trusted more by New Zealanders than National and has neither of National's coalition partners 'most trusted' in any area at allPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has fired back at former Prime Minister Helen Clark after she labelled the Government's response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran a “disgrace”. Speaking to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Luxon defended his position and strongly criticised the Iranian regime, “Ultimately, that's up to the Americans and the Israelis to assert,” Luxon said when asked whether the strikes were legal. ++++++++++++++++++++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 has highlighted issues within the KiwiSaver Act that have prevented a number of Kiwis from using their accounts to buy a home. Many workers in rural areas, like farm workers, rural police and teachers, are often required to live in housing provided by their employer - which stops them from being able to withdraw their KiwiSaver for a first home as they're unable to live in it. These issues have also stopped farmers from being able to purchase their own farm as it's not covered by current legislation. Changes announced this morning would remove those barriers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A barrier stopping rural workers from using KiwiSaver is being lifted. Farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence staff have been unable to make first-home withdrawals, because they're required to live in employer housing. The Government's now allowing them to use their savings, including towards buying a farm. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge that these workers have been locked out of the KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal for too long. She says if people are working hard to get ahead, where they live shouldn't exclude them from the property ladder. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been revealed UK supermarket giant Tesco declined the Finance Minister's invitation for a meeting to discuss the issues in our grocery sector. Nicola Willis announced a request for information last year, aiming to explore what barriers prevented a new competitor from breaking up Woolworths and Foodstuffs duopoly. The supermarket opted not to participate in the process, alongside two other supermarket giants, Aldi and Lidl. Grocery policy expert Ernie Newman says this news is disappointing, but not all that surprising. "I think any international firm would need rocks in its head to come into New Zealand at the present time - the Commerce Commission and some of the experts in the field reckon they would need 120 to 150 new stores almost from day one...that's the wrong way to go." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning Nicola Willis and Tangi Utikere joined us for our weekly political panel. We also heard from a mother in rural Hawke's Bay who says proposed cuts to school bus services could have negative economic impacts on the region. A pharmacist spoke to us about another hacked medical database and what information may have been accessed, while Pharmac is widening access to two medications used to treat advanced melanoma. If you are considering a lifestyle change, Antarctica New Zealand has 40 jobs available on the ice, and we spoke to someone who knows what it is like to work on the continent.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

So, the People's Select Committee of former MPs has reported back today and, completely unsurprisingly, has slammed the Government for scrapping the pay equity law last year. Which is fair enough in some ways, it was a shoddy process. The MPs say it offends the rule of law and they're probably right. It was done in a hurry to save last year's Budget, rushed through under urgency and changed the rules retrospectively. It's all really cynical stuff from a Government and too much of that sort of behaviour undermines confidence in the way the system works. But even though they make some fair points and mount some fair criticism of the way Nicola Willis and Brooke van Velden ran this thing out, I can't get past the next question I have, which is: so what? What do these former MPs think will happen as a result of this report? The pay equity scheme is not going to be brought back in the form it previously existed. It's far too expensive. The cost to the Government was estimated at $13 billion over four years. The cost to the entire economy would have been much, much higher. The former MPs want political parties to make it a bottom line to reintroduce the scheme after the election. No party can credibly commit to that. Where would they find $13 billion, other than by making the country's already worrying structural deficit even worse and adding to our already far-too-large debt? Chippy will make noises about bringing it back, but press him a little harder - ask him where he's going to find the money - and you don't get any sufficient answers. Ultimately, that's where the argument ends - where do you find the money? Yes, it was bad lawmaking. Yes, people were hurt by it. Yes, it's fair to criticise. But where do you get the money? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

The Finance Minister says there's no mandate to reduce the state's shareholding in Genesis Energy. The Crown's directing $200 million towards new shares to retain a 51% shareholding in the company, following a $400 million capital raise. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking if we don't take part in this raise, we'd be breaching the law requiring the state to maintain majority ownership – something the coalition's committed to. She says we don't want to be a barrier to these energy companies growing in the way New Zealanders need to secure electricity supply. 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.

The latest Freshwater poll is out, and it is a total shocker for National. With the party sliding to 30 percent, senior figures like Nicola Willis are suddenly facing the axe. Duncan, Rachel Smalley, and Ashley Church dive into whether a leadership change is coming and why Winston Peters is suddenly looking like a potential Prime Minister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On last night's The Bradbury Group conservative commentator Matthew Hooton suggested the data around the Māori Wards debate may find that is Winston Peters referendum on Māori seats went to a vote, that conservatives may well side with keeping them as opposed to losing them. Hooton suggests maybe it's time to call Winston's bluff and put it to the vote.Carmel Sepuloni and Nicola Willis clash on RNZ this morning talking about inflation, potholes versus more rail and tolls on bridgesChippy was on fire in the house attacking the government on the racist language that is already become evident in their campaign already++++++++++++++++++++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/

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined us for our weekly political panel; Shane Jones joined us following the death of a woman who was attacked by dogs in Northland; The government is seeking advice on whether to toll Auckland's Harbour Bridge, we spoke to Greater Auckland's Matt Lowrie; Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger joined us with an update on the flooding across the region. And we spoke to Jono Ridler who is swimming the length of the North Island - he came up for air and we gave him a call to find out why he's doing it

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

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.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 12th of February, the Government has announced an independent review into the monetary policy during Covid – practical or political during an election year? The All Whites have secured a game against England just before the World Cup – their highest-profile game in decades. And country-pop singer Maren Morris is in the country and joined for a chat about her career, from starting a 15-years-old to winning a Grammy. 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 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.

A Government inquiry into the Reserve Bank's decisions through the Covid era could have come far sooner. The bank printed $55 billion worth of digital money, costing taxpayers more than $10 billion. The review's findings will be released just weeks before the election – a move that's cast speculation of an underlying political motive by the Finance Minister. Former Reserve Bank senior staffer Geof Mortlock told Mike Hosking the Government's taken too long to get on with it. He says he's been advocating for it, including to Nicola Willis, for at least two years, so it's well overdue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Morris Williamson, Auckland councillor and former National Party minister, and Jack Tame, host of Saturday mornings and Q&A, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Nicola Willis announced a surprise inquiry into the Reserve Bank's actions during Covid with questions arising over the timing. And, Winston Peters visits Saudi Arabia and sits ringside at Joseph Parker's fight. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 11 February, 2026, Nicola Willis tells us why the Government's now decided to do an inquiry into Reserve Bank actions during Covid-19. We ask the Safeguarding Children chief executive if an abuse awareness campaign is likely to be effective in the wake of the murder of five-year-old Malachi Subecz. The publisher of a new book on Ron Brierley explains why he thinks people need to hear the disgraced businessman's story. And on the Huddle, Jack Tame and Maurice Williamson on whether they'd sample a michelada - beer with tomato juice. 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.

This morning we were joined by Nicola Willis and Megan Woods for our weekly political panel; We spoke to Justice minister Paul Goldsmith following the decision to pull the pin on the government's retail crime advisory group four months early; A coroner's report into the death of five-year-old Malachi Subecz (mella-kai shoe-bex) describes New Zealand's response to child abuse "a national disgrace", We spoke to Paediatrician Dr Patrick Kelly who is an expert in child protection; Zoi Sydowski-Synnott joined us following her silver medal performance at the Winter Olympics; And, we spoke to a 70 year old man in Whanganui who is handing over control of his treasured backyard miniature railway.

Nicola Willis and Megan Woods joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

The Finance Minister says the newly announced facility for importing liquefied natural gas will save Kiwi households more money. The Government plans to impose a levy on electricity users to pay for the importation facility, expected to be around a billion dollars. A contract's expected to be signed later this year. Nicola Willis says this will help fund a more secure energy supply, meaning lower costs for households. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Economic Growth Minister says things are picking up in some regions sooner than others. Unemployment's hit a ten-year high nationally, reaching 5.7% in Bay of Plenty, 5.8% in Wellington, 5.9% in Waikato, and 6.4% in Auckland. But it's fallen to 3.7% in Canterbury and just 2.3% in Otago. Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking employment is rising in many sectors, but it's not even around the country. She says Canterbury in particular has seen a big rise job numbers. LISTEN ABOVE 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.

Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel.

This morning we spoke to Kris Faafoi as more people report trouble getting insurance in parts of the South Island; Are we losing the battle against the yellow-legged hornet? Biosecurity New Zealand joined us; We looked into what the government's changes to the driver's license process could mean for new drivers; Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni joined us for the weekly political panel; And we took a look at the new social media network for AI bots. What could possibly go wrong?

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.

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 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.

Four standout guests. Four conversations that shaped how we think about money, markets, and growth.In this special episode, we've pulled together our favourite guest moments from 2025 - revisiting the ideas, debates, and insights that sparked the biggest conversations throughout the year. From investing psychology and compounding, to housing reform, economic recovery, and scaling global businesses, this episode captures the thinking that mattered most.Register now: Buying a home, investing, or want better control of your money? Join Michael Vincent and James Blair for a practical 2026 financial planning webinar.Featured Guests & Key Discussions00:00 - Luke Kemeys- Compounding vs income investing and why behaviour matters more than perfect maths- The psychology of money, motivation, and consistency- Debt repayment strategies and getting early wins that keep people on track07:20 - Nicola Willis- Housing affordability and the future of home ownership in New Zealand- Planning reform, land supply, and replacing the Resource Management Act- Red tape, building constraints, and how supply impacts affordability- Creating economic growth beyond rising house prices13:45 - Mahesh Muralidhar- Scaling Canva from a small startup to a global business- Lessons from hyper-growth, leadership, and big ambition- Why New Zealand needs more global role models- Thinking bigger and building companies that can scale internationally21:00 - Jarrod Kerr - Interest rates, economic recovery, and why the turnaround took so long- Business confidence, hiring decisions, and investment signals- Housing market confidence, GDP outlook, and what to watch next- Where momentum is starting to return in the New Zealand economyFor more money tips follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lighthousefinancialnz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lighthousefinancialnz/The 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.

Finance minister Nicola Willis has ended the year on a high with a surprise 1.1% increase in GDP for the most recent quarter. Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray spoke to Corin Dann.

Finance minister Nicola Willis has ended the year on a high with a surprise 1.1% increase in GDP for the most recent quarter; Gloriavale's leaders have announced they'll challenge the forced closure of its school; Auckland Council is securing more burial and cremation spaces as the city's cemeteries begin to run out of capacity; We crossed the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh; One News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and former All Black captain Taine Randell discuss this weekend's sport action.

Nicola Willis is doubling down on her strategy for getting the government's books back in order - even as new forecasts show yet another delay to that plan. Treasury officials unveiled their half-year update this afternoon - revealing a bleaker picture than last predicted - and no sign of a surplus this decade. A year ago they were predicting a surplus by 2029 - now they're picking 2030. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

The debate over a debate between Finance Ministers - past and present - has descended into farce - with both sides now accusing the other of chickening out. Nicola Willis had challenged Ruth Richardson - who chairs the Taxpayers' Union - to a public debate over the government's fiscal strategy. But they can't seem to agree on a location. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.