Podcast appearances and mentions of Ruth Richardson

The fact that life is a bit of a grind for many people, and has been for some time, means we start to question the natural order of things. When you can pay your bills, have time to spend doing what you enjoy with the people you love, when there aren't glaring inequities, when the failure of the present system and the people who run it aren't up in your face, when you don't see homeless people and beggars and violence, then everything's good. You accept the status quo; things are chugging along nicely. Democracy, capitalism, everybody's getting their fair share, everything's fine. But when things start to go wrong, and go wrong the Western world over, you start to wonder. Thomas Hobbes was a 17th century political philosopher who formulated the social contract theory, whereby people collectively agree —you'll remember this from your political theory studies back in the days of yore— to surrender some of their individual freedoms and transfer their power to a central absolute authority. In exchange, that authority —in this case our government— provides security, maintains order, and guarantees the preservation of life. In modern life, we've wanted a bit more than the preservation of life, we've wanted a little bit of fun, some enjoyment. Be that as it may, without the social contract, Hobbes argues that man's life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. And when you look at his definitions, we're heading that way. Solitary he defines as the constant distrust that prevents people from forming lasting bonds or cooperation. He didn't know anything about social media at the time, but that's what you're starting to get solitary individuals who don't want to or don't know how to connect with others. Poor he defines as having no incentive to build, farm, or invest labour, as others will simply steal the fruits of your work. Nasty violence and conflict are ever present. Brutish life devolves into a primitive existence stripped of any kind of enjoyment, civilisation, art, culture. And short the perpetual threat and danger of a sudden violent death looming over everyone. It might not be violence that gets us, but if our healthcare systems are failing and you can't afford private care, death or a long unpleasant illness might be our version of Hobbes' short life. We are not there yet. If you've popped into the car and think, “bloody hell, she's a depressing tart, honestly, she does go on," consider me the canary down the coal mine. I'm warning we could well be on our way there. Look at his definitions and tell me I'm wrong. Solitary, poor, nasty as in violent, brutish where there's no time or money to enjoy the nicer things in life. So if the social contract is failing us, we need a better system. And what is a better system than an MMP government and capitalism? When MMP was voted in, it was voted in in anger. People were either devastated or appalled, or they'd seen New Zealand's old way of life completely destroyed by Rogernomics and by Ruth Richardson. Now, maybe it had to be done, but it was done pretty brutally, and people suffered as a result. So the public voted First Past the Post out as a punishment to those politicians, but also because the smaller parties that came up as an alternative, like Social Credit and New Zealand Party, despite getting 20% in the case of Social Credit, 12% in the case of the New Zealand Party, they had very few MPs or no MPs in Parliament despite having so many people. And in '78 and '81, Labour actually got more votes than National, but fewer electorates, so they stayed in opposition and National was in power. So with MMP, Ruth Richardson argues that we have a high level of representation, which is great, but a really low level of government, which is failing us. Helen Clark says MMP has produced a stop go, stop go system of policies which has been detrimental to New Zealand in the long run. So where do we go from here? I'd argue that we're at a point in the Western world where we're on a descent and we need to ascend. With MMP, we were trying to find a better way of doing things. We looked at what a First Past the Post government did and said, “No, we don't want this to happen again. So we're going to bring in MMP and things will be better.” I don't think they are. Having lived under both, I don't think they are. Capitalism well, what's the alternative to capitalism? Communism doesn't work and has caused far more harm to the ordinary person around the world than capitalism has, but there'd be others who'd argue against that. What do we do from here? We're willing to cede our own individual powers to an authority, a government, to live a better life. If we're not getting that better life, then where do we go from here? What alternatives do we have? If this system right now and I'm talking the Western world, not just New Zealand, because have a look at any other country and you can't really see a shining example of where democracy and capitalism is working. Is there anything better, or do we just have to wait for this system to recover? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Finance Minister has praised the direction of the Budget, but says there are some “heroic assumptions” about getting back to surplus in 2028/29. It comes sooner than previously forecast, the date based on the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC. Ruth Richardson told Andrew Dickens that the economy is resting on the shifting sands of what may happen in the Middle East, so we shouldn't be banking it as a surplus slam dunk. “Debt continues to rise, the operating allowance continues to rise, numbers can change, there are a lot of heroic assumptions in those numbers, and it's all on a promise that while they're spending for now, we will have savings later,” Richardson said. She also warned if Superannuation was not addressed it would “monster” the Budget. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2023, the National Party's main campaign messaging was around the economy, and how the Labour-led Government had mismanaged the economy and country, causing high inflation, rising living costs, and increasing crime. It wasn't surprising then that the 2024 and 2025 budgets were all about fiscal discipline, a halt to excessive spending, reduced borrowing and “living within our means.” Tax cuts aside, the Government has, for the most part, managed to present its decision making as fair and reasonable. Too reasonable for some people's liking. Ruth Richardson argues that Nicola Willis has not gone far or fast enough in restoring New Zealand's fiscal position, and that the Government is balancing political caution with fiscal repair, instead of making harder and more impactful structural changes. This week, the Government presented a harder edge as it doubled down on reducing the number of public servants and rearranging parts of New Zealand's welfare system. Once again, messaging was key. Some of it was good. Some just made the Government look mean. A change in social housing policy was announced, which aims to balance the support provided for those struggling in social housing with those struggling in private rentals. We absolutely want to make sure those who can look after themselves do so, and those in genuine need are able to access social housing. However getting those in social housing to fit the bill with increased rents to subsidise people in private rentals doesn't appear to be getting anyone ahead - we're just asking one disadvantaged group to help another. There is some interesting thinking around this policy - changing the RMA to allow for an increased supply of long-term, low-rent properties, or properties catering to people with mental health issues or disabilities, so that people can move out of social housing and into private rentals while still getting an accommodation subsidy isn't a bad idea. If you can pull it off. But Nicola Willis' flippant comment that social housing tenants had "won the lotto" - which she expressed regret for - reduced the big picture down to a policy that implied the Government reckons you've got it too good so are going to kick you out of your home. This week, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston introduced the Disability Support Services Bill to Parliament. While supposedly intended to provide clarity and stability to the system which supports thousands of disabled New Zealanders, it did pretty much the opposite for those who look after a disabled family member by sidestepping a 2025 Supreme Court ruling. The Bill allows the Government to now claim the Crown is not the employer of family carers, those who care for loved ones, sometimes 24/7 and sometimes for their entire lives. It had been a long hard battle for carers to be heard and recognised, and it feels like a recently resolved issue of fairness has been sacrificed. While people affected by the announcements this week may not naturally vote for the current Government, New Zealanders respond well to a sense of fairness. Regardless of who we vote for, we're a decent bunch and don't want to see policy decisions that feel like the final tug of the rug from underneath New Zealanders genuinely in need, at a time when fuel and other costs are increasing. This doesn't mean we can't change systems. This doesn't mean we can't find a more efficient, sustainable and fairer means of looking after as many New Zealanders in need as needed. But you don't have to be or look mean doing it. Thursday is Budget day. The Finance Minister has reduced the amount of new money the Government is giving themselves for day-to-day spending, and is still working to get the books back in balance and the debt curve bending down. Are changes to the public sector or social welfare going to cut it? Maybe it's time to also rethink tax cuts, landlord tax incentives, tobacco breaks and many of the other election incentives that get in the way of achieving this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by former Finance Minister and Taxpayers' Union Chair Ruth Richardson for a no-holds-barred warning about New Zealand's worsening fiscal mess.From exploding debt and runaway interest costs to bloated bureaucracy, superannuation reform, and a Government that still hasn't found its “brave pills”, Ruth lays out why the country may be sleepwalking towards a fiscal crisis — and what needs to change before taxpayers are left carrying the can.Support the show

The Government's new goal of cutting public service staff costs, by telling departments to replace staff with AI, is expected to save $2.4 billion over the next four years, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.PSA National Secretary Duane Leo joins us to talk about what this means.We'll also highlight several stories around the new Government policy including saying they'll use AI but not being able to articulate what AI is, or how they would use it.++++++++++++++++++++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.

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.

Gone By Lunchtime is taking a break over summer. We'll be back soon with new episodes but, until then, here's one of our favourites from 2025: After the breakneck reforms of the 80s, Jim Bolger's promise of a calmer, more inclusive New Zealand hits the spot. Emerging from the shadow of Muldoon and shaking off the nuclear baggage, Bolger leads the National Party to a landslide victory under the “decent society” banner. But even before the celebrations are done, the hangover hits: the state-owned BNZ is on the brink, and the government books are in a parlous state. Ruth Richardson wastes no time as finance minister in making the most of crisis mode, and within weeks is driving through some of the most dramatic social, economic and labour reforms New Zealand has ever seen.  Picking up where the award-winning first season of Juggernaut left off, this first episode includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Jenny Shipley, Don McKinnon, Bill Birch, Michael Wall, Rob Eaddy, Michael Laws and more.  Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. This episode was originally published on November 11 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell to recap the highs and lows of 2025 on the final Politics Wednesday for the year. They also discussed the retail crime numbers, the state of the Government's books, the need for a social media ban, and the situation with Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The disgraced lawyer at the centre of the Russell McVeagh #MeToo scandal has been granted a new practising certificate by the Law Society, which says he's fit to return as a barrister. Do we believe in second chances? The Government has pushed out the return to surplus for another year - and Ruth Richardson has responded by calling off the debate between her and Nicola Willis. What do we make of this? Auckland Council has moved to scrap a proposed trial for fortnightly rubbish collection in some Auckland suburbs. Do we think this is the right move? Will the new MCERT mega-Ministry actually improve anything? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're going to start this morning with the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update, which was actually the Three-quarter Year Economic and Fiscal Update. It delivered news we all expected, and that is that we're getting there as a country. It's just taking longer than we thought. Treasury's half-year update, published on Tuesday, predicted a return to surplus in 2029/30, a year later than it forecasted in May. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she'd continue to aim for 2028/29 and said we're on target to return the books to surplus faster than they will in Australia, the UK, Canada, and many other advanced economies, while maintaining a prudent debt position. She's doubled down on what she calls her disciplined plan for returning the books to surplus, and says she's not willing to implement more brutal spending cuts, as the Taxpayers' Union have been advocating for, warning that their prescription would deliver human misery and hurt frontline public services and depress already weak demand in a recovering economy. She points out that the Taxpayer Union proposed, among other things, scrapping all Working for Families tax credits, reducing the average weekly income of the recipients by about $180. She said beneficiaries and low-income families would be at the brunt of any change like that, delivering a level of human misery she was not prepared to tolerate. She said of Labour's criticism, that their approach to spending is reckless and would further delay a return to surplus. She said that the Government had delivered about $11 billion a year in savings during its term. Without this disciplined approach, she says the year's deficit would be $25 billion, and debt would be on track to blow out to 59% of GDP. So, according to Finance Minister Willis, she and her government are on track, and that being castigated by the Taxpayers' Union for being too soft, too wimpy, and being criticized by Labour for being too harsh, means she's charting the right course. It is a fine balance she has to strike. You, me, everybody can see where she can make cuts. The winter energy payment, making it a needs-based payment, making a number of allowances needs-based, the fees free, that sort of thing. There's a lot of low-hanging fruit you could pluck off and save a few cents here and a few cents there. What a lot of households have done over the past few years. But she is bound by her agreements with coalition partners. There are some things she cannot touch. She's working in an MMP environment. There are plenty of things I'm sure she'd love to do, things that Ruth Richardson could do, but even allowing for the human misery factor, there are coalition partners she has to placate, and the Government wants to get re-elected. It is utterly pointless steering the right course, but only for three years. It is utterly pointless saving a few billion here, only for it to be squandered next time round. So what do you suggest she does? I'm sure she gets plenty of reckons from all sorts of people – the most recent and the most high profile was former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson, who really should pipe down. I'm glad that debate's off. That was just farcical. But Ruth Richardson needs to pipe down because she could do things, and did do things, that simply aren't possible for this Finance Minister to do under MMP. And also, it's a lot harder to get elected under MMP and to have a big say in the direction of the government unless you've got a big platform. So anything Nicola Willis does has to be with an eye to being the biggest party to form a government. So, I tend to think she's right, that if you've got the Taxpayers' Union going, you're too soft, you're too wet, you're too pathetic, you've got Labour going, you're too cruel, you're too harsh, you're too brutal, then she's pretty much on the right track. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a week of back and forth for the Taxpayers' Union and the Finance Minister. Nicola Willis has challenged Union chair and former finance minister Ruth Richardson to a debate, which was met with a sweet treat sent to Nicola and media. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Tonight on the podcast... KING Homeboy give a little https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/king-home-boy-whip-round Stuff article from dec5: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360910267/hip-hop-champ-hits-mute-beatboxing-after-brain-surgery Shubz on Willie Jackson and John Tamihere, Nicola Willis vs Ruth Richardson, and Chris Bishop's RMA reforms — a massive week in New Zealand politics and media, and Duncan's got the whole thing laid out. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

Friday has come and Heather du Plessis-Allan was joined by Kerre Woodham and Tim Wilson to Wrap the Week that Was. They discussed Air New Zealand's new safety video, the Willis v Richardson debate, the quote of the year, and artificial intelligence. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis is defending her economic track record in the face of a lobby-group's satirical campaign. The Taxpayers' Union has sent MPs Nicola Willis-branded fudge, claiming she favours treats today and taxes tomorrow. It suggests Willis should cut spending more. Willis says the Government has reduced taxes and delivered significant cost savings - while keeping frontline services. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained why Nicola Willis is keen on making the debate with Ruth Richardson happen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 11 December 2025, the Health Minister reacts to a report that predicts the number of cancer diagnoses is expected to skyrocket - and why he wouldn't eat KFC. US Immigration lawyer Brian Hunt explains why travellers to the US will soon be asked to provide five years worth of social media history - and what border officials will look for. Jetstar has been rapped over the knuckles for using dodgy scales at Wellington Airport. Plus, the Huddle debates Nicola Willis' fudge and why the big debate against Ruth Richardson has taken on such a life of its own. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Brigitte Morton from Franks Ogilvie joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Taxpayers' Union has released some packaged fudge taking aim at Nicola Willis' track record as a Finance Minister - ahead of the debate between her and Ruth Richardson that's supposed to be taking place. What do we make of all this? The US is reportedly looking to require tourists to hand over their social media accounts in order to travel there. How do we feel about this? Would it put you off travelling to the US? Cancer diagnoses are set to skyrocket in the next 20 years, but experts say at least half of these could be prevented if we smoked less, drank less, ate better and got more exercise. Do we need to take more responsibility for our health? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis is defending her economic track record in the face of a lobby-group's satirical campaign. The Taxpayers' Union has sent MPs Nicola Willis-branded fudge, claiming she favours treats today and taxes tomorrow. It suggests Willis should cut spending more. Willis says the Government has reduced taxes and delivered significant cost savings while keeping frontline services. Kiwiblog author and co-founder of the Taxpayers' Union, David Farrar told Kerre Woodham that putting aside personalities, it's not a bad thing for people to realise we still have a real fiscal challenge in New Zealand. He says that while the Government has cut spending in a number of areas, we're still spending more than we're bringing in in taxes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you see any advantage or benefit to the country in having a former Finance Minister and the current one debating fiscal policy? The current Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, has challenged the former Finance Minister, Ruth Richardson, to a debate. Now, that is misguided in my view, but to be fair, she was grievously provoked. Ruth Richardson is the chair of the Taxpayers' Union. The Taxpayers' Union is a pressure group, a ginger group, founded in 2013 to scrutinise government spending, publicise government waste, and promote an efficient tax system. Its basis is its membership is mainly conservative, centre-right, right-wing figures, and it's regarded as a right-wing pressure group. Normally you would think they'd be scrutinising Labour and Labour's spending. Last week, the Taxpayers' Union sent out a provocative pamphlet and an accompanying box of fudge, accusing Nicola Willis of not delivering on her election promises to rein in reckless spending, unsustainable borrowing, and the hiring of endless bureaucrats. The Union accused Willis of failing to deliver the goods and fudging it, hence the fudge that arrived with the press release. Provoked and incensed beyond reason, Nicola Willis swiped back. She said, "My message for Ruth Richardson is a very clear one: come and debate me face-to-face, come out of the shadows. I will argue toe-to-toe on the prescription that our government is following. I reject your approach, and instead of lurking in the shadows with secretly funded ads in the paper, come and debate me right here in Parliament. 'm ready anytime, anywhere, I will debate her." So you can see she was a little bit brassed off. Willis said she stood by her decisions in government and wanted Richardson to defend her legacy, having introduced the infamous Mother of All Budgets in 1991, when her government under Bolger came in and were left with, I would argue, an even worse fiscal mess than this government inherited. It's all got very personal. I don't think there's anything wrong in critiquing decisions made by government ministers, looking at how they're going, giving updates, having a reckon, especially when the ministers came in on a campaign of fixing the economy and reining in irresponsible spending, it's fair enough to say, "Okay, have you?" The Coalition Government possibly hasn't done enough, been innovative enough to suit the Taxpayers' Union agenda. They wanted more. They wanted cuts in spending, they wanted slashing of and wholesale firing of bureaucrats. That's what they wanted, but the Government's in the tricky position of having to be responsible stewards of the public purse and get re-elected. And that's a tricky one. The Taxpayers' Union doesn't have to worry about getting elected. It's a stand-alone lobby group. The Taxpayers' Union has criticised Nicola Willis for a measly 1% reduction in public servants, but as David Farrar from Kiwiblog points out, this may well be the first government in history to actually reduce the number of public servants. They're the first ones to have done it. It was never going to be easy inheriting the situation left by the previous government, and it never is. The Labour governments spend, that's what they do. But there's also nothing wrong with critiquing the performance of the government. The Taxpayers' Union shouldn't have made it so personal. Nicola Willis should have showed superhuman restraint and not lashed back. The debate is a pointless waste of time in my view. I know that we're all political tragics here and we take far more interest than the average person does and if I thought there was any merit whatsoever, and if lessons could be learned or if as a country we would benefit from having these two Finance Ministers thrashing out points of economic order, fine. I just don't see it. I think it's egos have been wounded and it is the equivalent of challenging somebody to 50 press-ups – a pointless exercise. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers Union is taking aim at government spending with a campaign that has finance minister Nicola Willis at its centre. Taxpayers' Union chair and former finance minister Ruth Richardson spoke to Corin Dann.

So, to the Nicola Willis v Ruth Richardson debate. Here's a challenge to Nicola Willis: do it this year. Do it next week. I'm hearing that having challenged Ruth Richardson to the debate, Willis' office would prefer to do it next year. I can understand why. By next year the momentum will be gone and we'll all have moved on to other things and it, probably, won't get as big of an audience. Next week though is a big week. The Government is opening its books. It sounds like Nicola might be pushing out surplus, again, for the second time in two years. Then we've got the GDP number and that's coming off the back of the Taxpayer's Union campaign calling her out for her big spending, which kicks off today. So next week there's much more energy around a debate. If it's pushed out to next year, I would read it as the first sign of losing courage. And if I was cynical, it's the first sign of them hoping this will fizzle and die because frankly, it was a political mistake to challenge Ruth Richardson to a debate. Regardless of what you think of her, Ruth can article all the problems with Nicola's big spending budgets and debt gathering in a way that most members of the media can't, which is to say she will mount a case that Nicola is spending too much and taking us down exactly the same path of economic trouble that Grant started us on. And I suspect that will convince a lot of voters that we have a problem here. And we do. We have a problem when we have a government that promised to cut spending and yet spends more than Grant and will, by mid next year, have taken on $45 billion more in debt, which will by then account for almost a quarter of our total debt. This is an important debate, because what is more important for a government to do well than run the country's books? So, next week? How about it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Wallace for New Zealand's most explosive 30 minutes of politics. He is joined by panellists Annabelle Lee-Mather, Wayne Mapp and David Farrar. On the show tonight: a one-in-a-generation reform of the Resource Management Act: they're scrapping the whole thing with a refocus on property rights. How does this balance the public and private needs of citizens? Is Europe between a rock and a hard place in the ongoing negotiations in the Ukraine/Russia peace process? Christopher Luxon says no to Jack Tame, but yes to IKEA. How do the managers of politicians decide where they appear? And the coming debate between Nicole Willis and Ruth Richardson; a pointless sideshow or a much-needed debate.

Nicola Willis has walked straight into a political trap, and tonight we get into why it matters. The finance minister didn't just respond to a provocation from the Taxpayers' Union and Ruth Richardson, she elevated them, turning a sideshow into a headline feud. We break down why that was a rookie mistake, and what she should have done instead. Then Chris Bishop joins us to unpack the biggest RMA shake-up in 30 years. He explains how the new system could cut consent times, strip out pointless red tape and finally make it faster and cheaper to build in New Zealand. Bishop talks land costs, simplified zones, digital planning, fast-track projects and the potential for real economic growth if we get this right. Plus we read your messages on government waste, council rates, and the frustration many feel about firearms rules. It's a lively one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Nicola Willis-Ruth Richardson showdown looks like it'll go ahead next week after the HYEFU release. As you'll know from listening to this show on Monday night, Nicola's not happy with Ruth. And Ruth isn't too happy with Nicola. We have a structural deficit and we're not addressing it. Surplus is probably going to be pushed out - again - to 2030. So we have a showdown. But you might be wondering why the current Finance Minister is debating a former one (of some 30-odd years ago) at all. Well, here's the comms strategy on this: Ruth has credibility, as least on the right. The left reckons she permanently scarred the country, but you can't deny something had to be done. And people forget the growth and jobs that followed. Nicola's still earning her credibility, and things have not been going terribly well on that front. Spending's higher than Grant and surplus keeps getting pushed out. The growth is anaemic. So this is a way of tackling Ruth's attacks head-on and putting them to bed. Usually, ministers don't give oxygen to debates because it gives their opponent equal standing with them. A bit of the Treasury bench rubs off and can make your opponent seem credible. Which is why you wouldn't see Luxon near Hipkins outside of a Bollywood dance off - except during mandatory campaign debates. So, sorry Chlöe and sorry Barbara, this is a Ruth thing. But there's also a smarter strategy going on here from Willis, I reckon. By debating somebody on the right, she makes herself seem more centrist in the public's eyes. She distances herself from the Scrooge argument. She highlights how much they are still spending and haven't cut. And will argue cuts now would mean job losses and less growth. It's basically framing the economic debate as one between the right, and even more right. Which leaves the left out in the cold. And also looking a little trigger happy on the country credit card. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers' Union has raised concerns about Nicola Willis' skills as a Finance Minister - and one of her predecessors has expressed interest in a debate. Willis challenged Ruth Richardson to a debate yesterday, after Richardson criticised the Government's fiscal track. Richardson's agreed - but a date's yet to be set. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is hitting out at the Taxpayers' Union as it prepares to launch a campaign against Finance Minister Nicola Willis. The lobby group is questioning Willis's track record on the economy. Willis has responded, challenging chair and former finance minister Ruth Richardson to a debate. The Labour Leader told John MacDonald the Taxpayers' Union has a view of "entrenched privilege". He claims the organisation is funded by a group of rich people who want to keep all of their money. Hipkins is also unimpressed by Willis' decision to agree to the debate, which he says shows deep divisions among the National Party. He calls it petty and says Willis should be focused on things like creating jobs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick and Labour MP and spokesperson for health Ayesha Verrall. They discussed the potential for NZ to follow Australia in banning social media for under 16s and other regulations. Verrall and Butterick then hit the other big political news of the week including Coster blaming Mark Mitchell and Chris Hipkins for getting McSkimming too late, as well as RMA changes and ACC going back on working from home orders. Also, they give their take on who will win the financial debate between Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's first MMP government gets off to a rocky start, beset by boxer-short scandals and lousy poll numbers. Jim Bolger declares “springtime for New Zealand”, but the economic weather won't play ball. He leaves for Europe oblivious to the plans being cooked up by a small, secretive group of MPs called “The Te Puke Bypass Committee”. When Bolger returns from overseas, Doug Graham is there to deliver the news – Jenny Shipley has the numbers; the game is up. Many are relieved, many distraught. Winston Peters is furious. The frost between Peters and Shipley never thaws, and before long an almighty, unprecedented cabinet conflagration ensues.  The final episode of Juggernaut 2: The Story of the Fourth National Government goes beyond the end of that term, to explore questions of legacy – how did this period in our history change New Zealand, for better or worse, and how will Jim Bolger, who died in October 2025 at the age of 90, be remembered? Includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Ruth Richardson, Rob Eaddy, Doug Graham, Tau Henare, Helen Clark, Sandra Lee-Vercoe and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1990s in New Zealand have dawned with images of harmony projected to the world, but longstanding divisions still acute at home. The Bolger government comes to power promising to uphold the Treaty and provide redress for injustice.  Negotiations over the Sealords fishery quota and with two of Aotearoa's largest iwi, Waikato Tainui and Ngāi Tahu face pushback from all directions: in cabinet and the National Party base, from the public, and within te ao Māori, where the concept of the “fiscal envelope” is widely considered anathema.  Plus: how Jim Bolger outmanoeuvered Ruth Richardson on Te Papa. The fifth episode of Juggernaut 2: The Story of the Fourth National Government includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Anake Goodall, Doug Graham, Tau Henare, Jenny Shipley and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some of the most hectic months in the history of New Zealand politics, Jim Bolger faces a white-knuckle byelection in Tamaki. In the seat vacated by the pugnacious Rob Muldoon, even the National candidate seems to be standing against the government.  With the impacts of radical and painful reforms still raw, a general election rapidly approaches. It will go right down to the wire, and serve up an unforgettable pair of election night speeches from Bolger and Mike Moore.  On the left, a new force challenges Labour for supremacy: Jim Anderton's Alliance. Helen Clark mounts a coup. And Bolger confronts a critical question: what to do with Ruth Richardson? Plus: a very strange visit to Moscow prompts a nuclear-submarines-for-butter proposition.  Includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, Sandra Lee-Vercoe, Rob Eaddy, Bill Birch and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the breakneck reforms of the 80s, Jim Bolger's promise of a calmer, more inclusive New Zealand hits the spot. Emerging from the shadow of Muldoon and shaking off the nuclear baggage, Bolger leads the National Party to a landslide victory under the “decent society” banner. But even before the celebrations are done, the hangover hits: the state-owned BNZ is on the brink, and the government books are in a parlous state. Ruth Richardson wastes no time as finance minister in making the most of crisis mode, and within weeks is driving through some of the most dramatic social, economic and labour reforms New Zealand has ever seen.  Picking up where the award-winning first season of Juggernaut left off, this first episode includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Jenny Shipley, Don McKinnon, Bill Birch, Michael Wall, Rob Eaddy, Michael Laws and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A mood of protest sweeps New Zealand in 1991, sometimes spilling over into violence, as the reform machine powers on. Benefits are slashed, the Employment Contracts Act fundamentally reshapes the labour market, the health system is restructured, and Jim Bolger U-turns on a “no ifs, no buts, no maybes” promise around superannuation. Here Ruth Richardson tells the story of the Mother of All Budgets – what she was hoping to achieve, and how it got that indelible name.  In a whirlwind first year of government, Richardson takes some drastic steps. And National's challenges come not just from outside, but from within – Muldoon continues to lurk the halls, and there's a charismatic, increasingly popular young MP making trouble, too: Winston Peters.  Includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Jenny Shipley, Susan St John, Helen Clark, Bill Birch, Rob Eaddy, Michael Laws and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Bolger's first Finance Minister says the former Prime Minister - who died yesterday aged 90 - sometimes sold himself short. Bolger served as an MP from 1972 and led the country for seven years. Ruth Richardson says in recent years, Bolger criticised some neo-liberal policies he oversaw. She says Bolger made tough decisions at a tough time. "His hand was forced by dreadful economic circumstances that we faced - a real baptism of fire. We did what was right." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Finance Minister, Ruth Richardson spoke to Corin Dann regarding the death of Jim Bolger.

Ruth Richardson does not want to see Nicola Willis resign. But the Former Finance Minister is calling on the current Minister to take a chainsaw to certain areas of spending. Recent GDP numbers have shown a worse-than expected economic picture - with a 0.9 percent dip in the June quarter. Ex Finance Minister Sir Roger Douglas is calling for the Minister's resignation. But Richardson says Superannuation's unsustainable and a bloated public service. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Treasury report has pointed out that government spending is still near its peak during the pandemic. This comes after finance minister Nicola Willis said her government won't repeat the previous government's mistakes. Former finance minister Ruth Richardson told Heather duPlessis-Allan that ‘[Nicola Willis] needs to face up to what the Treasury is telling her.' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Jones is fast becoming my favourite politician. And he might have summed up the Government's issues with one on of his increasingly famous quips. "The Ruth Richardson bare austerity approach is not delivering the economic growth we need." He is right, isn't he? Classic liberal politics, trimming and cutting, is not the massive bomb we need under us. As Chris Bishop yesterday was offering more detail on RUC rates and a move away from petrol taxes, all of which is fine, Shane and his mate Winston were wandering around Marsden Point and talking of making it a special economic zone. It'd have tax treatment and incentives to get people to invest and do things. Marsden has got land and a port, it's close to shipping lanes, etc. Ireland has made these things famous. They cut a deal on rates, or tax, bring 'em in, stoke 'em up and watch the growth explode. Image might be a problem. Shane and Winston both come from, well, Marsden, so it's a bit nepotistic. But the idea is sound. Shane has also this week announced a massive upheaval of fishing, the biggest in decades. So it's the big stuff that we may need because the regular size stuff hasn't provided the heft we hoped for. Yes, yes, yes, they inherited a mess, we get that, but the results are what count. As ACT changed the laws around garden sheds and Nicola talks about supermarkets, it might just be ideas beyond our normal comprehension are what are actually called for. The irony of the Jones' idea is it's not part of the coalition deal. I could ask, why not? Is the Ruth Richardson line an acceptance that what they thought would work, hasn't? Another irony – I'm not sure how Shane and Winston can wander around Marsden blue-skying their way out of recession, when it's them that's holding up the foreigners from buying a house after they have invested tens of millions into the country. But credit where credit is due, Jones seems to have taken on the mantle of the arse kicker. He is where a lot of us are at. This is not a bad Government, far from it. It's perhaps just a timid Government. And with October 26 and a ballot box getting closer, maybe we need to shift it up a gear. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minnesota is still reeling from the horrific state legislator shootings and the following manhunt that played out over the weekend. It ended with the arrest of Vance Boelter Sunday evening. Investigators found a list of potential targets in Boelter's car, including officials, businesses and Planned Parenthood locations. Ruth Richardson is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Central States, as well as a former Minnesota state legislator. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about threats to Planned Parenthood – and remember her former colleague Melissa Hortman, who was killed on Saturday.

With Ruth Richardson, Ben Picton, Steve Abel and Cameron Brewer

I cannot recommend a piece of reading enough in the Listener, and reproduced elsewhere, on a longitudinal study that now spans 35 years and 12 elections. It's gripping. A couple thousand people each election are given dozens of questions. Its weakness is some of the questions are vague enough to throw up responses around things like health care and public services. We like them and we want more, no surprises there. But how much more? What if the money is wasted? We don't get to know that stuff. The David Lange Government of 1984 blew it big time, went way too far and upset too many people. I remember it well. We love strong leaders. We are more socially conservative than you might think. The electoral system doesn't represent what we actually want, or like. We like the death penalty, yet we've never had it. There are two highlights for me: Labour's moves around Māori and introducing Treaty of Waitangi principles into some legislation. The majority of us, decades ago, didn't want it. We don't have the 2023 results yet, but I bet you nothing has changed. Which I would have thought would lead you to ask, why hasn't it been fixed? It's a bad idea that's been allowed to fester and cause ongoing angst and upset for decades. Secondly, there are signs of increasing dissatisfaction, concern and unhappiness. The authors say it's not like the 90's. I remember the 90's. It was Ruth Richardson and Jenny Shipley. It was welfare reform, the mother of all Budgets, the burning of effigies on Parliament grounds. You can see the edginess these days with similar discourse and protest. But it's suggested political polarisation has declined over the past decade. Really? Do you believe that? I don't. I don't think we have ever been more divided and never been more stark in our views of the country and the world. Social media, distrust, fake news, polarising views and stands – I have no idea how they've concluded this. Read it and see if you disagree. But on most stuff, we haven't changed. The times change, the circumstances change but, broadly, we don't. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let me make a prediction for you on this pay equity drama that's been playing out for the last 24 hours - the Government is going to pay for this in a big way. I reckon that this could become one of the defining moments of this Government when we look back on it in years to come. Kind of like the 'Mother of All Budgets' came to define Ruth Richardson and Bolger's Government and the way the cup of tea came to define David Lange's Government - I think this is a moment for this Government. Not because it's the wrong thing for this Government to do, but because of the underhanded and sneaky and cowardly way that they have done it. Now, I personally think that the pay equity system did need an overhaul. I mean, I think it is ridiculous to have librarians, as I said yesterday, compare themselves to engineers to justify similar pay. You can see those jobs are not even the same, right? But I do not think that it should have been rushed through with the shock and awe that it has been. ACT, in particular, has spent so much time in the past criticizing the previous Labour government for using parliamentary urgency to get around normal processes and keep people out of deliberations. And yet, here they are doing exactly the same thing because it suits them. And this is significant. It should have been flagged with people because it affects so many people - and yet, there was no indication whatsoever until yesterday that this was going to happen. Where was it on the list of the Prime Minister's action plans for the first quarter, or even the 2nd quarter or any quarter? It's just popped up absolutely out of nowhere and it's taken everybody by surprise. And what's more, they need to stop pretending in Government that this isn't being done in a hurry to have an impact on the Budget. This is being done in a hurry to save money for the Budget. We know that - because David Seymour said so yesterday. So everyone, and especially the National Party, needs to pretend that this is being done for some sort of principle, when actually what it's being done for is to save billions and billions and billions of dollars. The primary problem here, I think, is cowardice. It feels like these guys are rushing this through as quickly as possible with as little notice as possible, so they do not have to own their own decision. They should own it. It's not a bad decision, but they're making it feel like a bad decision. And I'll tell you what, oppositions can sense weakness - and they know that these guys are weak on this and they're going to strike on it, which is why I think this Government is itself making this a defining moment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we chat with Ruth Richardson, a seasoned hospice palliative care nurse educator who has dedicated her career to empowering patients, families, and healthcare providers through her compassionate and holistic approach. She shares her strategies for breaking down misconceptions about palliative care, equipping patients to advocate for themselves, and creating community-based learning experiences that foster resilience and connection. We also discuss her work educating the public, supporting grieving communities, and inspiring the next generation of nurses! To learn more about Ruth's work visit: https://champlainpalliative.ca/about-us/ Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the Map Project, or to see our resources. https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/

Finance minister Nicola Willis is on a mission to crunch the size of government debt from well over 33% of GDP to under 30% within a few years, as well as fire up growth in an economy experiencing its worst-ever recession per capita. Doing one would be hard, but both at the same time seems a mission impossible for a politician wanting to win a second term. Bernard asks her how the government will both keep its promises and engineer even bigger spending cuts in per capita terms than those delivered by Ruth Richardson in the early 1990s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruth Richardson is President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. She became the first Black woman to lead the five-state affiliate in October 2022. She is a lawyer, health equity champion, and a trailblazer. Ruth brings her unique perspective as the first Black woman to lead the five-state affiliate and as a former Minnesota House Representative, to illuminate the intersections of voter rights, reproductive justice, and the essential nature of civic engagement. www.conversationswithchanda.com IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Nicolle Wallace is joined by Neal Katyal, Pete Strzok, Lisa Rubin, Ruth Richardson, Mara Gay, Rep. Jason Crow, Sarah Longwell, Miles Taylor, Michael Steele, Daniel Ziblatt, and Steven Levitsky. 

Over the years, we've heard Qanon believers loudly protest the alleged misappropriation of human remains – whether they're being used to supply “adrenochrome farms” or consumed during satanic cabal dinner parties. As is often the case, the reality is far more disturbing than the conspiracy theory. This week, Allie Mezei joins us to bring us horrific tales from the real ‘tissue trade', a feud between the bodies of the living and the dead that stretches all the way back to the eighteenth century. Unfortunately, the corpse trade is very much alive, even today, and continues to be a depressing reminder of the ruling class's war against the poor. Subscribe for $5 a month to get an extra episode of QAA every week + access to our archive of premium episodes and ongoing series like PERVERTS, Manclan, Trickle Down and The Spectral Voyager: https://www.patreon.com/QAA Written by Allie Mezei https://twitter.com/pinealdecalcify Music by Pontus Berghe and Nick Sena. Editing by Corey Klotz. https://qanonanonymous.com SOURCES: https://www.alreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dotson-Complaint.pdf https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/01/11/us/alabama-prison-inmates-missing-organs-lawsuit/index.html https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/massachusetts-bill-allowing-prisoners-donate-organs-reduced-time/story?id=96989325 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9996393/ https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2024/01/alabama-still-cant-find-heart-missing-from-prisoners-body.html https://abc3340.com/news/local/family-says-organs-including-brain-missing-from-deceased-inmate-body-in-noticeable-state-of-decomposition-adoc-uab-st-clair-county https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3162231/ https://evolution.berkeley.edu/the-history-of-evolutionary-thought/pre-1800/comparative-anatomy-andreas-vesalius/#:~:text=Right%2C%20Vesalius%20found%20that%20the,not%20seven%20as%20Galen%20claimed. Peter Linebaugh, the Tyburn Riots Against the Surgeons in Albion's Fatal Tree https://www.versobooks.com/products/2212-albion-s-fatal-tree Ruth Richardson, Death, Dissection and the Destitute https://books.google.com/books?id=NEuthk74yG0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/about/journeytyburn https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24794 https://scholarworks.harding.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1139&context=tenor https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/usa-bodies/ https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/7475/congress-takes-significant-step-to-regulate-body-brokers https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4275?s=1&r=29