Podcasts about stats nz

Throwing in a CV and cover letter in response to a job ad may not cut it anymore, as young people face high unemployment rates. Stats NZ data shows jobs filled by 15 to 19-year-olds dropped 10% in the last year – representing over 12 thousand roles. The overall drop nationally is 1.2%. Youth Inspire Chief Executive Zainab Ali told Ryan Bridge the tactical approach to training youth has been forced to change. She says in the past six months she's relied on relationships with business partners for job opportunities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Welcome to another bonus episode of the Property Apprentice Podcast, hosted by Debbie Roberts, financial adviser and co-founder of Property Apprentice. In this episode, Debbie unpacks how New Zealand's aging population is reshaping the future of property investment, interest rates, housing supply, and banking services. What happens to house prices as more Kiwis reach retirement age? Will there be an oversupply of large homes in aging regions? How could long-term interest rates shift due to demographic trends? What are the implications for retirement planning, reverse mortgages, and rental demand? We'll also dive into insights from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ), Stats NZ, and the New Zealand Treasury, highlighting potential risks and opportunities for investors—especially with the median age projected to rise to over 45 by 2050. Whether you're a property investor, a future retiree, or a Gen Z planning ahead, this episode offers crucial takeaways: Why smaller, single-level, low-maintenance homes are becoming more attractiveHow shrinking working-age populations affect NZ Superannuation sustainabilityWhat changes banks may make in response to higher deposits and fewer mortgagesTips for adapting your investment strategy in a changing economic environmentRegister for our FREE event: "How to Succeed With Property Investing"

Recent statistics on inflation published earlier this week showed that consumer prices had risen by 2.7% in the last 12 months to June. Stats NZ identified the main contributor to inflation as local authority rates and payments, which were up 12.2%. Earlier this week, the Green party recently called on the government to lower the minimum voting age to 16, which was in response to a move by the UK government last week, where they announced their plans to lower the voting age to 16 in time for their next general election. And the most recent figures from the Ministry of Social Development were published which showed that benefit sanctions have increased by 27% compared to last year, with the number of people receiving the benefit also increasing by 6.6%. For our weekly catchup with the Green party, Oto spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March to get the party's take on all of these issues.

Rates, rent and power are a trio of factors responsible for driving up inflation, which has now jumped to a 12-month high. Stats NZ data showed food costs were also surging, alongside rates shooting up by 12.2% and electricity rising by more than 8%. However inflation is still within the Reserve Bank's target band and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said it is under control. But the opposition said it shows the cost of living is still a problem. Kiwi bank Economist Jarrod Kerr spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Experts have offered reassurance our high inflation isn't a sign of things to come. Stats NZ figures show the Consumers Price Index reached 2.7 percent for the year to June. Inflation fell to just 2.2 percent last year - from 7.3 percent three years ago - but has been rising since. Kiwibank senior economist Mary Jo Vergara says this is likely a spike, so should go back down. "If you look at domestic inflation, that's really trending down - so I don't think this is going to be something that is persistent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ recently reported annual inflation increased to 2.7 percent in the three months to the end of June, and it's sparked concerns among experts. Economists had all been expecting annual inflation would be recorded at 2.8 percent or 2.9 percent - close to the Reserve Bank's 3 percent target band. Harbour Asset Management spokesperson Shane Solly revealed what this could mean for the economy going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts have offered reassurance our high inflation isn't a sign of things to come. Stats NZ figures show the Consumers Price Index reached 2.7 percent for the year to June. Inflation fell to just 2.2 percent last year - from 7.3 percent three years ago - but has been rising since. Kiwibank senior economist Mary Jo Vergara says this is likely a spike, so should go back down. "If you look at domestic inflation, that's really trending down - so I don't think this is going to be something that is persistent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ recently reported annual inflation increased to 2.7 percent in the three months to the end of June, and it's sparked concerns among experts. Economists had all been expecting annual inflation would be recorded at 2.8 percent or 2.9 percent - close to the Reserve Bank's 3 percent target band. Harbour Asset Management spokesperson Shane Solly revealed what this could mean for the economy going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising inflation is hitting low-income households hard, but is expected to spark hikes to the OCR. New data -- due out from Stats NZ this morning -- is expected to show inflation has risen to between 2.6 and 2.9 percent in the year to June. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says households are facing rising energy and food prices. She says inflation could surpass three percent in the year to September, but the Reserve Bank isn't likely to change course. LISTEN HERE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Households are still finding it tough to pay for the basics, with high prices not easing yet. Stats NZ has revealed the cost of food rose 4.6 percent in the 12 months to June. It's largely driven by double-digit increases for products like red meat, cheese and milk Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says the general economy is still experiencing intense price pressure and weakness - which isn't comforting. "Mince prices are now hitting nearly $22 a kilo. You can't even have a cheap mince meal at a cheap price." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may have to get used to paying more for butter. Kiwi consumers are now consistently paying more than twice as much for butter as they were a decade ago, according to latest Stats NZ figures. Supermarkets and suppliers have been under pressure to lower prices. Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean told Andrew Dickens there's been a global trend towards consuming more butter, especially in the last five years, ramping up even further in the last twelve months. However, he says, what goes up normally comes down, which these bubbles normally do. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim and Lianne discuss the latest in politics, including the recent Stats NZ milestone where the number of people who moved away from New Zealand was greater than the number who migrated here, in the months of April and May. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's immense pressure for young New Zealanders trying to find work as opportunities decline. Stats NZ data shows 16 percent of Kiwis aged 15-24 are unemployed. NZ Careers Expo director Mark Gillard says the market conditions show it's a tough market for young workers. "It's not anybody's fault, the onus is certainly there on employers, on industry organisations to engage with young people. There's been a propensity to step back and let the internet do all the talking, but we know face-to-face engagement with young people is what really inspires them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's immense pressure for young New Zealanders trying to find work as opportunities decline. Stats NZ data shows 16 percent of Kiwis aged 15-24 are unemployed. NZ Careers Expo director Mark Gillard says the market conditions show it's a tough market for young workers. "It's not anybody's fault, the onus is certainly there on employers, on industry organisations to engage with young people. There's been a propensity to step back and let the internet do all the talking, but we know face-to-face engagement with young people is what really inspires them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston's done it again. The old political workhorse of the Pacific just keeps getting more popular. New Zealand First has overtaken ACT in the latest Taxpayer's Union Curia Poll - it's now the third most popular party. I'll give you a break down of the numbers shortly, but this has got to be ego bruising for Seymour. He's just got his feet under the Deputy's desk and he's been overtaken in the polls by the bloke he's replaced. Not that simply being the Deputy PM gets you votes, but he's trying to make a good fist of it. Seymour's holding press conferences left, right and centre. Yesterday, a stand-up reacting to no change in the OCR. Today, a stand-up on Stats NZ numbers. Luxon's overseas on holiday. Winston's East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Seymour's been bogged down with Regulatory Standard's Bill, the Treaty bill and school lunches. Winston's been flying around the world keeping us in line with China and staving off Trump's tariffs... all while celebrating his 80th birthday. And to top it off, he's keeping cash in circulation. Winston is popular because he speaks his mind and knows what he's talking about. He commands respect. When he speaks, people listen. He's a good example of a man who keeps it simple. Do your job and do it well. Work hard and stay focussed. It's a pretty simple formula that's seen him through the last 40+ years in politics and ion these numbers will see him through atleast a couple more yet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emeritus Professor David Brown joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk about the research behind what harsher prison penalties leads to. This government is telling us it's the answer...Professor Brown will explain to us if that is correct or not.Paul Goldsmith embarrassed himself on Breakfast this morning thinking he had turned up to a joke-fest with Kieran McAnulty...he had not as the Minister and the MP talked about bias in the media and the RSB and Tens of thousands of New Zealanders packed their bags for Australia last year, with a net migration loss across the Tasman of 30,000 people. Stats NZ released its net migration figures for 2024 on Thursday, which confirmed the “brain drain” remained high, at a rate similar to 2012 which bodes the question why do our best and brightest flee when a right wing party gets voted in?=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

20% of New Zealanders are struggling to pay their power bills with 11% cutting back on heating their homes, according to Consumer New Zealand's latest energy survey. Stats NZ figures show the price of electricty has gone up almost 9% in 12 months. Some people have told Checkpoint they are in bed by five to save on heating costs, others are taking extreme measures like turning off their hot water cylinder or bathing in cold water. Consumer's Manager of Powerswitch, Paul Fuge spoke to Lisa Owen about how to keep your power bill down this winter.

Do you know why your health insurance premiums are paying for someone elses operation? The cost of insurances have shot up recently; Stats NZ figures show as at March last year house insurance was up almost 25%, contents insurance up about 28% and car insurance up almost 23% compared to the previous year. Some companies offering health insurance as part of employment packages are looking to ditch or downgrade their cover as costs go up. Southern Cross had about 955,000 members last financial year or about 60% of Aotearoa's health insurance market by customer numbers. Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Regan Savage spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister has promised to take action in the coming months to tackle the cost of living crisis. Christopher Luxon has acknowledged it is still tough out there for too many kiwis and the government's focus is on unlocking economic growth. According to Stats NZ the price of food has gone up 4.4% in the last year. Electricity is up almost 9% and gas is up more than 15%. As of March last year house insurance was up almost 25 % and contents insurance up about 28%. This week figures from Centrix showed almost half a million people are behind on debt repayments. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Lisa Owen.

Some pensioners are resorting to extreme power rationing to keep up with rising costs. Turning off hot water cylinders for days at a time and heading to bed as soon as it's dark to save on electricity. Stats NZ figures show electricity costs have gone up almost 9% in the twelve months from June last year. Gas has gone up almost 15.5% over the same period. The government's winter energy payment for those on super and a number of other benefits is up to $700 over five months. But Age Concern Canterbury says it's not enough with an increasing number of people relying on super alone; there's only so many expenses they can trim. Chief Executive of Age Concern Canterbury, Greta Bond spoke to Lisa Owen.

A price tag of more than $80 for just over 3kg of prime New Zealand lamb is a little too rich, even for a former chef who devoted decades to fine dining. According to Stats NZ in the past year food prices have gone up 4.4% percent. That's the biggest jump since December 2023. Tony Astle ran the legendary Auckland fine dining restaurant Antoines in Parnell for almost 50 years. He spoke to Lisa Owen about how to keep cooking costs down.

A rising number of people are considering ditching insurance, taking a gamble to cope with rising prices. New figures from Centrix show almost half a million people are behind on debt repayments, with nearly 22,000 in mortgage arrears. Company liquidations have risen 27% year-on-year. Stats NZ figures show as at March last year house insurance was up almost 25 %, contents insurance up about 28% and car insurance up almost 23% compared to the previous year. Checkpoint spoke to a number of people weighing up the cost of insurance.

Consents keep dropping but the energy in the building sector may be beginning to turn. Stats NZ figures show new home consents fell 3.8% in the year to May and plunged 8.6% for multi-unit dwellings. Stats NZ says it's levelling off, but NZIER's latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion shows only 3% of building firms expect conditions to improve, down from 6% three months ago. But Combined Building Supplies Co-Op CEO Carl Taylor told Mike Hosking that building consent data is only a small part of the industry, and as a whole, it's starting to feel better across the board. He says that some stats are normally three or four months behind, and instead they track what their members are spending across their merchants, which has seen a 10% increase on the previous month. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment is currently at 5.1%, with 156,000 people out of work. As the cost of living crisis continues to ravage discretionary spending, according to Stats NZ food prices have also gone up 4.4% in the past year. Inflation has continued to rise and lower income households have been hit hard. Kiwibank Chief economist Jarrod Kerr spoke to Lisa Owen.

Whether it's a block of butter or cheese, a kilo of mince, a dozen eggs or a cooked chook, food prices have gone up rapidly. The latest Stats NZ figures show in the past 12 months food prices have gone up 4.4% - the highest increase since December 2023. Over the last three years Checkpoint has been tracking a weekly shop from the same suburb at a Countdown and Pak'n SAVE supermarket to see just how much things have gone up at the checkout. Louise Ternouth reports.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.In this bonus episode of the Property Apprentice Podcast, host and financial adviser Debbie Roberts breaks down the latest Stats NZ and Westpac building consent data and what it means for property investors, homeowners, and developers across New Zealand.While April 2025 saw a 17% drop in new dwelling consents, there's more beneath the surface. We unpack:Why the fall in multi-unit consents isn't a cause for panicThe resilience of stand-alone houses, with consents rising 2.4% over the past yearWhat economists are saying about the stabilisation of the construction sectorHow lower mortgage rates, rising house prices, and OCR cuts could trigger a recoveryCommercial construction trends: why businesses remain cautious in 2025Despite short-term volatility, the numbers reveal that New Zealand's residential building sector may have found a floor—and recovery could be on the horizon.Whether you're planning to build, buy, or invest, now might be the ideal time to act before momentum shifts.Tune in for expert insights on how to read the signs and prepare for the next upswing in property development.If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone interested in the property market.Ready to take the next step? Join our free “How to Succeed with Property Investing” event at propertyapprentice.co.nz or book a meeting with Paul Roberts for tailored advice.Sources:https://www.westpaciq.com.au/economics/2025/05/first-impressions-nz-building-consents-april-2025?ai=1748561589863&cd=76673&cid=edmhttps://www.stats.govt.nz/news/home-consents-down-in-the-month-of-april-2025/https://www.mpamag.com/nz/news/general/new-zealand-home-building-consents-down-in-april-but-long-term-trend-stabilises/537692?hsmemberId=47647101&tu=&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=20250602&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--YrJXReTc3eQOqMAy7EO9Ko9vdd_4dgJZJ3CPUMsmL0-PMA5ofqHXx4mqYe5LmHjGzaTPjwYz1935lqz-vySTA8uyA1tvzAMaG1lJQVSbmahcNmGM&_hsmi=364501099&utm_content=&utm_source=Support the show*Nothing from this episode should be taken as individual financial advice. *Property Advice Group Limited trading as Property Apprentice has been granted a FULL Licence with the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand. (FSP Number: FSP157564) Debbie Roberts | Financial Adviser (FSP221305) For our Public disclosure statement please go to our website or you may request a copy free of charge.

According to one expert, last week's GDP figures are a sign New Zealand's economy is on the up. Stats NZ says our gross domestic product grew a strong 0.8 percent in this year's first quarter. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further, LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data out of Stats NZ reveals the country's gross domestic product grew by 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025. It's a stronger result than predicted by the Reserve Bank and Treasury. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann unpacks these results - and voices his concerns about the future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwibank's chief economist says GDP figures released today show good momentum - but the next report isn't looking as good. Stats NZ says our gross domestic product grew a strong 0.8 percent in this year's first quarter. It's much higher than predicted by the Reserve Bank and Treasury. Jarrod Kerr says there is less optimism around the quarter ending June. "The data that we talked about was for the first quarter - obviously, it pre-dates Trump's tariff announcements, which has thrown a whole lot of uncertainty into the year. And it also predates the recent spike in oil prices." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GDP figures just out are stronger than economists had forecast. Stats NZ says New Zealand's gross domestic product grew 0.8% in the March quarter – overtaking predictions of 0.7%. It follows a 0.5% increase the quarter before. Herald Business Editor-at-Large Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham it could mean the OCR won't get another cut next month. He says it raises the odds the Reserve Bank will keep things on hold. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data out of Stats NZ reveals the country's gross domestic product grew by 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025. It's a stronger result than predicted by the Reserve Bank and Treasury. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann unpacks these results - and voices his concerns about the future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwibank's chief economist says GDP figures released today show good momentum - but the next report isn't looking as good. Stats NZ says our gross domestic product grew a strong 0.8 percent in this year's first quarter. It's much higher than predicted by the Reserve Bank and Treasury. Jarrod Kerr says there is less optimism around the quarter ending June. "The data that we talked about was for the first quarter - obviously, it pre-dates Trump's tariff announcements, which has thrown a whole lot of uncertainty into the year. And it also predates the recent spike in oil prices." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns scrapping the traditional census won't deliver the desired results. Stats NZ is moving to a system using Government collected admin-data, saying the current five yearly Census is financially unsustainable. Census-style questions will still be asked in much smaller annual surveys looking at a small fraction of the population. Former national statistician Len Cook told Mike Hosking data-wise, this won't cut it. He says admin-data comes from about a dozen different sources, none of them complete. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy is expected to look better than earlier predictions. Figures —due out from Stats NZ this morning— are expected to show the country's GDP grew 0.7% for the first quarter of the year. It's slightly higher than 0.4%, predicted earlier this year. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking things are expected to slow through the middle half of the year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Statistics Minister says his agency is well up to transforming how the Census is done in New Zealand, despite previous short-comings. The five-yearly census is being replaced by a smaller, annual survey - and using Government department data. Stats NZ has faced past criticism over poor Census response rates But Shane Reti says it's ready to turn that around. "There's been some fall-overs with Stats NZ - and actually, part of our job is also to build trust and to build quality with Stats NZ. I believe they'll be able to rebuild their reputation and deliver quality." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The traditional census as we know it is coming to an end. Stats NZ is moving to a system using Government collected admin-data, saying the current five yearly Census is financially unsustainable. Census-style questions will still be asked in much smaller annual surveys looking at a small fraction of the population. Auckland University of Technology Professor Rhema Vaithianathan told Ryan Bridge the price of census is eye-watering. She says admin data also allows information to be released yearly, which is more useful than waiting five to find out what's happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's goodbye to the five-yearly Census from 2030, and hello to a smaller annual survey. They're changing things up, instead assessing a smaller chunk of the population yearly. Information people have already provided to Government departments will be used to inform the data, and Stats NZ says the changes will help provide more accurate and timely information. Population and Housing Statistics spokesperson Sean Broughton told Kerre Woodham the traditional approach to the Census is no longer sustainable. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food prices increased 4.4 percent in the 12 months to May 2025, following a 3.7 percent increase in the 12 months to April 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ. Higher prices for the grocery food group and the meat, poultry and fish group contributed most to the annual increase in food prices. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen unpacks the factors behind this data. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch is acting as a magnet for thousands of Kiwis making the move down South. The latest Stats NZ census data shows 85,000 people moved to the South Island between 2018 and 2023. Around half of those have gone to the Canterbury region. ChristchurchNZ Chief Executive Ali Adams told Mike Hosking the Garden City's versatility is being recognized. She says people are realizing you can have a brilliant career and a great life. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief New Zealand's entering the early stages of an export-led recovery. Stats NZ data reveals it's at $1.4 billion in April, compared with a $12 million deficit last year. The dairy sector's been the big winner, up $601 million to $2.2 billion. Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking it's promising on the back of a tough three years in the sector. He says domestically people aren't spending a lot, so imports aren't coming in, but fortunately the world is buying more from us which is a great point in the cycle. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A strong primary sector performance has produced a billion-dollar monthly trade surplus - for the first time in five years. Stats NZ data reveals it sat on $1.4 billion dollars in April, compared with a $12 million dollar deficit for the same time last year. Export NZ Executive Director, Joshua Tan, says it's a team effort across the food and fibre sector. He says dairy, red meat, fruit and wood exports have all risen by millions of dollars. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bustle of butter-buying at Auckland's Costco - where it costs $10 a kilo. Stats NZ figures show the price of a block of butter has soared 65 percent in the past year. Videos on social media show shoppers piling boxes of the spread into carts at the bulk-buy supermarket. Former Costco managing director, Patrick Noone, says the store's very unlikely to try to stop bulk buying. He explained they did it once when eggs were short - but if they can supply it, they'll let people buy as much as they can. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soaring food prices might be hard to swallow. Stats NZ figures reveal prices rose 3.7% annually last month, with increases across all food categories. Butter prices increased 65.3%, milk and cheese went up 15.1% and 24% respectively. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin told Mike Hosking there's pressure on products we're getting export success from. He says it's a fantastic part of the story, but the impact on consumer is clear. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Butter, cheese and milk were the biggest drivers of a rise in food prices for the year to April 2025, new figures from Stats NZ show. Food prices increased 3.7 percent in the 12 months to April - well ahead of the annual inflation rate at 2.6 percent. That follows a 3.5 percent increase in the 12 months to March 2025. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what's going on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Net migration is expected to stay low, with global affairs keeping many people where they are. Stats NZ data shows there was a net migration gain of only 26 thousand in the year to March, down from more than 100 thousand the year before. It says the fall is mainly due to fewer migrant couples arriving, with a slight increase in departures. Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking a big question mark hovers around the migration figures. He says he's unsure whether the numbers will keep, or if it's going to keep dropping and New Zealand will see something similar to the net loss seen during the global financial crisis. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An observation the recession hasn't been felt evenly. Stats NZ data out this morning could show unemployment has hit its highest point since 2016 during the March quarter – reaching around 5.2%. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking she expects it will have bigger impacts on different age groups and communities. She says young people as well as Māori and Pacific communities have always been on a bigger rollercoaster when it comes to the labour market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures from Stats NZ show livestock numbers have dropped substantially over the past decade. The total number of sheep dropped by 21 percent and the total number of dairy cattle also fell by 13 percent over a 10-year period. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacks what could be causing these drops. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's livestock numbers are on the decline. Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014. The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period, coinciding with the increase in land being converted for forestry. Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard told Mike Hosking he believes the costs around RMA and other rules and regulations are partially responsible. He says one farmer he visited gave up and converted entirely to forestry as dealing with the wetland rules and requirements were too hard and costly. Hoggard hopes the work they're doing around RMA will allow farmers to make smart decisions on their farms as opposed to giving up and planting trees. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key services are lagging behind in Canterbury's Selwyn district as it tries to cope with exponential population growth. Stats NZ data shows it remains the fastest growing district in the country, with 3200 new arrivals in the year to June. Rolleston and Lincoln experienced the biggest jumps, at 9.6% and 8.1% respectively. Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking Selwyn falls behind when it comes to infrastructure. For example, he says that of the 20-odd primary schools with more than 700 students, five of them are in Selwyn. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ says the Consumer Price Index rose 0.9 percent in the three months ended March, taking the annual rate to 2.5 pct